Sunday Monitor 09 -15 October 2022

POLAD: 300 New Inside
Not yet Chegutu brooms Liverpool’s
Uhuru, families at ZIDA
Page 12 unusual
says face season spell
MDC-T eviction
Page 4 Page 8 Page 16

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CIVIL SERVANTS

SALARIES: GUESS

GAME CONTINUES

The

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Page 2 09-15 October 2022 National News

Civil servants salaries: Guess game continues
important to highlight that we would not be in a position to whether the financial position that we would get answers
Nkululeko Sibanda had not accepted the govern- accede to our demands. We of government would allow as soon as the one and a half
ment offer because we felt that were told that they needed those adjustments to be effect- week mark passed but we are
CIVIL servants say they are the money was not enough and to have a discussion with the ed. still in the dark and this makes
continuously playing a so insufficient that members ministers of things difficult for members
guessing game as to wheth- remained in the same pit that “They had asked for a week who want to plan their things
er government will accede to they have been in before. Public and a half to get back to us but in line with these salary ar-
their demands for a review of Service and rangements.
the salary and allowances struc- “We explained that apart that of Finance who would we are surprised that as we
ture amid concerns failure to from the United States dol- be in a position to indicate speak, that one and a half They cannot plan going for-
increase these could lead to a lar denominated allowances, weeks has since lapsed ward because they are unsure
strike. there was need for the govern- and there is no word of what the outcome would
ment to increase the actual sal- from the representa- be,” he said.
The government, through the ary in Zimbabwean dollars be- tives of government.
Ministry of Public Service, La- cause service providers such as We are now guessing Repeated efforts to get com-
bour and Social Welfare, and health insurances, transport- on what could have ments from the ministries of
its workers, as represented by ers, housing and accommo- been the response Public Service, Labour and
the Apex Council, have been dation were increasing their that these represen- Social Welfare and that of Fi-
locked in discussions where bills by over 150% in some in- tatives were given by nance and Economic Devel-
the latter has demanded that its stances and the current salary government over our opments yielded negatives as
salaries be reviewed upwards. that members are getting could demands.” officials kept promising to pro-
The former, however, has not not meet these demands,” Dz- Civil servants, Dzatsunga vide responses but to no avail.
had it easy in meeting up with atsunga said.
the demands of the employees, added, were now disturbed Recently, the workers’ body
with most government sourc- He added: “We were advised by the silence that they were indicated that its members had
es claiming the financial purse that the representatives of the getting from government. become paupers because of the
was constrained to allow for public service ministry, alone, inadequate salaries that the
any increments. “We are disturbed by this employer was paying them.
sudden silence. We thought
Apex Council secretary gen-
eral, David Dzatsunga told the
Sunday Monitor in an interview
that the government employ-
ees were now lost as to what
the position of the employer
is over the salaries and allow-
ances issue.

He said government officials
were shifting from pillar to
post when confronted by the
workers on the fate of their de-
mands.

“We met with the employer
some few weeks back where
we held discussions on the is-
sue of the welfare of our mem-
bers. Our demands to govern-
ment were that there was need
for an urgent review of the
allowances that civil servants
were getting and that there was
also need for government to
review the Zimbabwean dollar
component of the salaries that
our members were getting on
a monthly basis,” Dzatsunga
said.

He added that the demand
was premised on the realiza-
tion that the US$100 that gov-
ernment was paying to the civil
servants was becoming too lit-
tle as the cost of basic services
and goods was increasing on a
regular basis.

“We made representations
that the US$100 was now be-
coming inadequate to meet the
daily and life demands of our
members. We explained that
the cost of living was going up
out there and the US$100 was
now becoming inadequate to
cushion civil servants from the
harsh economic situation.

“Following the presenta-
tions, government then of-
fered to increase our allow-
ances by US$25 so that civil
servants would get US$125 as
their monthly allowance on
top of the Zimbabwean dol-
lar salaries. Government had
indicated that it would main-
tain its US$75 Covid allowance
that members were getting- a
development that would see
members getting US$200 per
month plus the salary in Zim-
babwean dollars,” he added.

Dzatsunga, however, said the
Apex Council had not accepted
government’s offer.

“From our permutations,
we were hoping that mem-
bers would get approximately
US$250 for the month of Octo-
ber plus the Zimbabwean dol-
lar component. But from the
look of things, there is a like-
lihood that that would not be
the case.

“As the Apex Council, it is

National News Page 3 09-15 October 2022

Page 4 09-15 October 2022 National News

POLAD: Not yet Uhuru, says MDC-T

… As grouping embarks on international engagement

Nkululeko Sibanda was invited) so that he pres- He said the manner in which stitutive document of POLAD soon as they are through they
ents our submissions on the POLAD was composed made it must be amended,” Damba will get in touch with us and
OPPOSITION MDC-T par- proposed amendments we ex- appear as if it was an exclusive said. we take it from there.”
ty says there is need for a pect to be made into POLAD “boys and girls” club.
wider inclusion of stakeholders so that it becomes inclusive,” He emphasized: “One last Meanwhile, POLAD’s interna-
in the Political Actors Dialogue Damba said. “At present, the constitutive thing we all have to know is tional relations and re-engage-
(POLAD) if the mediatory body document of POLAD is exclu- that Zanu PF has insisted that ment committee says it will
is to come up with tangible solu- He added: “Our proposal is sive only to those people who dialogue must take place in- embark on an international
tions that would take Zimbabwe that it (POLAD) must include participated in 2018 presiden- side POLAD and we have also mission where it seeks to hold
out of its socio-political and a platform of political parties tial elections and we have re- insisted that dialogue must be discussions with countries that
economic quagmire. (that are) in Parliament just fused to join it under the cur- inclusive and should involve have imposed sanctions on
like COPAC. Once it includes rent state. Parliament. Zimbabwe with a view to table
This comes after President political parties in Parliament, a call for the complete repeal of
Emmerson Mnangagwa met it now means the church, tra- “Last year, the party’s na- “So in any negotiation, it’s the measures.
members of POLAD on Friday ditional, leaders and all civil tional council resolved that we about give and take. You can-
at State House where he sought society organizations will be can only join POLAD on condi- not win everything. POLAD’s Rapporteur on In-
to brief the “principals” on the included because there will be tion that its structure has been ternational Relations and
state of the nation as well as get thematic committees that in- changed to include a platform As for now we have not joined Re-Engagement, Kwanele
feedback from them on how to clude these,” he added. for political parties in Parlia- POLAD since its members are Hlabangana told the Sunday
tackle the challenges facing the ment and this means the con- still consulting and deliber- Monitor that they would soon
country. ating on our proposals and as embark on the international
offensive against sanctions.
Friday’s meeting also saw SAFETY TIPS
MDC-T leader, Douglas Mwon- He said the committee’s
zora also attend in what the mits 103 robberies over 7 years watch (CPF) factors in 68% on • Don’t stop your security plans had been delayed by the
party says was honouring an before getting caught. whether they go in or not, so awareness at the outside walls Covid-19 pandemic.
invitation that had been ex- having a good neighbourhood of your house. Your yard ar-
tended to the party’s leader • Most attackers’ homes or watch in the area can be a ma- eas (if any) also deserve at- “We have lagged behind in
by Mnangagwa given that the ‘bases’ are a 10 to 30 minute jor deterrent.” tention. In general, don’t leave terms of fulfilling our mandate
opposition leader’s party had drive from the target address. anything around the yard that as the international re-en-
a significant majority in the Before you leave your house… might help a burglar get into gagement committee of PO-
House of Assembly. • Electric fences • Make sure all shrubs and your house. Ladders, stack- LAD because of mainly the
• Detection beams trees are trimmed back so that able boxes or any garden tools Covid-19 pandemic. We had
Social media was, howev- • Closed Circuit Television they do not allow a burglar should be put away, prefera- planned to engage some coun-
er, awash with reports that (CCTV) to conceal himself while at- bly in a locked cabinet. Many tries such as the United States
Mwonzora had joined POLAD- • Small dogs that sleep inside tempting to open a window or burglars have used the proper- on some re-engagement exer-
a proposition that earned the the house (robbers consider door. If possible, plant bush- ty owner’s own tools to break cise around the impact of the
maverick politician ridicule on this to be the biggest deterrent es with prickly thorns around into a home. sanctions.
Twitter. of all.) these locations.
• A patrol or neighbourhood “Since Covid-19 is now be-
In a statement, Mwonzora’s hind us, we have plans to re-
spokesperson, Lloyd Damba start our programming that
said Mwonzora had only been we had put on hold and visit
invited to present his party’s those countries that were on
position on how POLAD could the plan earlier before Covid
be strengthened. started. Most of our activities
have been restricted to with-
“Today (Friday), the MDC in Zimbabwe where we have
President Douglas Mwonzora visited embassies of coun-
was invited to attend a PO- tries such as the US to discuss
LAD Meeting at State House…. with them the negative im-
(It is important to mention that pact of the sanctions and the
he has) not joined POLAD, (he need to have them removed,”
Hlabangana said.
Understanding robberies in
Zimbabwe • Don’t place outdoor fur-
Based on in-depth inter- niture tables nearby the
views with convicted rob- house, as these could be-
bers, this is what we found: come an easy stepladder to
• 8 out of 10 residential rob- the roof. Rather move them
beries are committed with inside in the evening.
the help of information from
maids, gardeners and former • Second-story windows
employees. are often left unsecured,
• Robbers will monitor making it easy for the crim-
the home for as long as two inal to get into the house. To
weeks. discourage potential climb-
• Most attacks occur be- ers, spread grease on any
tween 19:00 and midnight metal drainpipes if they are
as people are relaxed, sleep- close to windows. Use Vase-
ing, cooking or watching line or clear automotive
TV and the security systems grease, depending on the
and beams are not activated. colour of the pipe (or replace
Robberies can continue until with plastic pipe).
04:00.
• 97% of robbers are armed. • A barking dog, changing
• On average, an armed rob- your daily routine and the
bery gang has four members. presence of CCTV camer-
• The average age of a house as could make your home a
robber is 19 to 26 years of age. less attractive target to crim-
• An average of 30% of all inals.
house robbers have either
committed murder, or won’t • Make sure your post of-
hesitate to commit murder. fice box is always empty. A
• Only 17% of house robbers full post box makes it seem
are foreigners. like you are never home.
•The 10% who had been
employed gave up their jobs • Since robbers can watch
when confirming how much your movements for as long
they could ‘earn’ from a rob- as two weeks, try to devi-
bery. ate from your usual routine
• Most victims or targets are regularly. Leave and return
affluent persons who open- home at different times, use
ly display their wealth, for different routes and visit
example wearing expensive different shops to what you
jewellery. typically do.
• The average robber com-
• Take extreme care when
hiring domestic workers
and other service providers
cannot be underestimated.
Be careful who you let into
your home.

National News Page 5 09-15 October 2022

Page 6 09-15 October 2022 National News

More moola for Shah UMD’s political ideology and
STAFF WRITER manifesto are built on devolu-
tion.
BANK of Zambia’s failure to be settled. that, “This appeal flies in the Court ruled that at law the
abide by its agreement to pay “The Bank of Zambia then face of the Bank of Zambia’s one who does not appeal will Moyo said provincial coun-
US$36,872,799 to Zimbabwean own action of having already be accepting the decision of cils were still not constituted
business tycoon Jayesh Shah, in proposed to pay at least 25% made some payments to Shah the lower court as binding on yet they were a key requisite
2014 is set to cost them an ad- of the judgment debt by 31st and his company.” them. to devolution.
ditional US$103 million. Parties October, 2014 because that was
had agreed on July 18, 2014 that the maximum amount which Court papers show liability The court also ruled that the “To this day we have not
the bank should pay Shah and the bank’s cash flow would for the payment of judgment law proposed a statutory obli- heard of provincial councils
his company Al Shams Building permit as at that time in 2014. debt was shifted from First gation on the Bank of Zambia meeting or where they meet.
Materials Limited the trust funds Merchant Bank (in liquidation) after decision to liquidate the We have never seen them,” he
by October 31 2014 but the for- “The bulk of the amount to Bank of Zambia. Bank to return all assets and noted.
mer failed to do so resulting in a would be paid in early 2015 property.
build-up of interest. because by then the Bank of In that judgement the judg- The former Bulawayo mayor
Zambia would have factored es also stated that the Bank of Musona then concluded with cited Kenya is a good example
Justice Edward Musona sit- the judgment debt into their Zambia had started the process the final nail in the coffin by on implementing devolution,
ting as the head of the Zambi- 2015 cash flows and would of liquidating the judgment finding that the bank is the as both countries experienced
an Commercial Division of the have planned their cash flows debt questioning what then Judgment Debtor. an almost similar political sit-
High Court last week ordered for 2015 accordingly. went wrong for them to stop uation.
the Bank of Zambia to pay that process. He added that earlier court’s
US$139,191,386.74. However, the bank did not findings could not be faulted. “Kenya had an inconclu-
honour this second agreement “Having started the process of sive election in 2007, while
Open disregard to their own and it became clear to the paying the plaintiffs, why stop “Now therefore, I am satis- ours was in 2008. There was a
Zambian court decisions for plaintiff that the bank was act- midstream? Why back pedal?” fied that the Bank of Zambia bloodbath in Kenya that scared
over two decades may also ing in bad faith,” said the judge. breached the agreement of many.
raise serious credibility issues On February 13 2008 the High 18th July, 2014 made between
with international funders It is thus clear that Bank of Court judgment on assessment themselves and the plaintiffs. “A delegation of eminent
and donors, whether Zambian Zambia’s continued failure to held that the Bank of Zambia persons was sent to mediate in
Central Bank can be trusted to act rationally, responsibly and now stands in the stead of the “I order that the agreement Kenya led by former Secretary
discharge their contractual ob- respect terms of agreed set- defunct First Merchant Bank be specifically performed General of the United Nations
ligations including the repay- tlement in 2014 has ended up and was bound to settle the by the Bank of Zambia by (UN), Koffi Annan,” he said.
ments of their loans. in 2022 with this additional outstanding judgment debt. way of liquidating the judg-
US$103 Million in Judgment ment debt now standing at “Koffi sat with both the war-
Above all such cases shall cer- Debt. Also, on July 28 2011 the High US$139,191,386.74 owed to the ring factions of Kenyan politi-
tainly test President Hakainde Court held that there was an plaintiffs by the Bank of Zam- cal parties and came up with a
Hichilema’s continued pledge On March 17 2004, the High outstanding judgment ordered bia as at 30th June, 2020.” Government of National Unity
and commitment that “his Court in Cause No. 1998/HP/ against the Bank of Zambia (GNU) in 2008 that produced a
government will uphold the 2097 ruled that the Bank of which is the Judgment Debtor Whilst granting leave to the new constitution of a devolved
rule of law at all times.” Zambia should settle the mat- and that Shah was entitled to Bank of Zambia to appeal the Kenya.
ter with Shah. enforce a judgement against judge imposed a stiff condition
In-depth analysis of this re- the bank. that 30% of the judgment sum In 2010, that constitution was
cent judgment of Justice Muso- This High Court ruling was being US$ 41,757,416 be first adopted by the Kenyan parlia-
na found that the Bank of Zam- upheld by the Supreme Court The judge noted with dismay deposited into Court. ment as the new supreme law
bia could have saved at least on March 28 2006. that the judgments were not of Kenya.”
US$103 million had they abid- appealed by the Bank Zambia The judge said 24 years
ed by the terms of the agree- Whilst upholding the said so there was no reason for the of litigation was too long Moyo said Kenya worked to
ment as interest was to be sus- High Court decision the Su- bank not to pay. and bad governance. put devolved institutions in
pended in 2014 if the payment preme Court stated, inter alia, - NewZimbabwe.com place, formed county legisla-
process had started by paying tures, and county executives
only US$ 1 million. and created all the institutions
that were required to manage
“Musona said the bank can- devolution.
not run away from its obliga-
tions now. “By contrast, Zimbabwe had
an inconclusive election in
“The said Dr. Kalinde of the 2008, there was a very bloody
1st Defendant (Bank of Zam- runoff and people were mu-
bia) proposed a reduction to tilated for political reasons.
the interest rate or a freezing SADC leaders, who have al-
of the interest from the date ways been complicit -coop-
of meeting of the 18th of July, erating with the Zimbabwean
2014 because the Bank of Zam- regime, realised an interven-
bia was now willing to settle tion was needed and seconded
the judgment debt. South African president Thabo
Mbeki to mediate and what
“The 2nd Plaintiff (Attorney came out of that mediation
General) was agreeable to the was a GNU in 2009.”
proposal of freezing the inter-
est provided the bank paid at Moyo acknowledged that
least a reasonable amount of the GNU’s biggest achieve-
at least US$1 million to show ment was a new constitution
commitment and also if Bank for Zimbabwe in 2013, which
of Zambia provided a firm came up with devolution.
repayment schedule within
which the full amount would “People said they want a de-
volved system of governance,”
Devolution remains a dream in Zim he said.
While the central govern- government. ment to correct the inherited as the government interfered in
ment and multilateral Devolution roots started after colonial imbalances,” said the the operations of local authori- ZIMCODD concurs with
bodies insist that there is prog- Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt ties, derailing their growth and Moyo that the government
ress in the implementation of independence when the black- and Development (ZIMCODD), development. seems to be engaged in push-
devolution of power, Civil Soci- led government realised that an economic watchdog. ing “fictitious economic blue-
ety Organisations and political for Zimbabwe to progress, gov- It was not therefore not sur- prints, policies and political
players insist that ten years since ernance and the development “Nevertheless, despite am- prising that in 2013, eight of 10 gimmicks” rather than under-
it was enshrined in the constitu- ideology had to be premised on bitions by the Mugabe admin- provinces in Zimbabwe voted taking “robust institutional re-
tion, it remains a pipe dream for socialism and inclusivity. istration to promote inclu- for devolution in the new con- forms and political will” which
Zimbabweans who voted for it in sive growth and development stitution, so they can have de- will lead to complete devolu-
the 2013 Constitutional referen- To realise this, the 1984 Prime through devolution and decen- cision-making powers and full tion of power.
dum. Minister’s Directive and the 13 tralisation, there was no suffi- responsibility, without control
Principles on Decentralisation cient commitment and politi- of the central government. “Economic blueprints and
The concept of devolution and were designed to correct the cal will from the government’s policies that do not capture the
decentralisation entails devolv- governance structure created side. Thus, a smoke screen However, devolution is yet to reality on the ground, are uto-
ing of power from the central by the colonial government un- devolution and decentralisation be implemented fully. pian as they do not bring the
government to the local gov- der Ian Smith. agenda were created,” ZIM- much-needed development
ernment level. CODD said. United Movement for Devolu- and transformation,” the or-
Smith’s exclusive governance tion (UMD) National Chairper- ganisation said.
It is a transfer of powers, re- structure was premised on the In 2008, the government son, Martin Moyo, has insisted
sponsibilities, functions and fi- alienation of the black major- abolished the post of executive there is no devolution in Zim- “This can be exemplified by
nances to local entities, where ity to boost white supremacy mayor, which had been adopt- babwe at the moment. the Transitional Stabilisation
the administrative and eco- within the central government, ed in 1997 to promote the effi- Programme (TSP) 2018-2020
nomic autonomy of local in- putting it at the epicentre. ciency of local authorities. “No one in the government which sought to bring the
stitutions undertake decisions seems to care if Section 14 of much-needed institutional re-
within their jurisdiction, which “Therefore, the attainment The abolishment of the exec- the Constitution is ever im- forms to achieve growth and
seem to be disregarded by the of independence presented utive mayor post was classified plemented. Devolution is not development.
an opportunity for the newly as a way of maintaining power, money, it is the power given to
elected Zimbabwean govern- provinces and to the people.” “Unlike the popular narrative
peddled by the government
that the TSP was a success, the
TSP was not a success as pro-
jected by its failure to initiate
viable institutional reforms to
sustain robust policy imple-
mentation.”

ZIMCODD said the tragedy of
TSP could be exemplified by
its failure as far as devolution
and decentralisation are con-
cerned.

National News Page 7 09-15 October 2022

Page 8 09-15 October 2022 National News

300 Chegutu Poverty impedes fight against child marriages
families face Johannesburg (IPS) - Child mar-
eviction riage continues to be a scourge the government had employed
in many African countries – de- 30 000 teachers in rural areas,
CHEGUTU: - AROUND 300 Mnangagwa) said the land projects are common with the spite legislation and efforts of more was needed.
families in Chegutu East, are reform programme is not re- State accused of failing to ade- many, including parliamentar-
facing potential displacement versible and no one must be quately consult people, protect ians, to keep girls in school and “Keeping children in school
and eviction to pave way for a displaced but here four farms their rights, or honour promis- create brighter futures for them. was critical to lowering the
proposed platinum project by a are about to be seized by a few es regarding compensation and This was the view of participants incidence of child marriage,”
Chinese firm, it has emerged. people,” he said. resettlement. in a recent webinar held under Kasune said.
the auspices of the African Par-
The Chinese firm is reported- “We know them; they are Between 2012 and 2014 , 20 liamentary Forum on Population Muwuma Milton, MP Ugan-
ly working with a local com- retired generals, and they are 000 people were displaced and Development (FPA) and UN- da, agreed that culture played
pany linked to the country’s working together with the from the Tokwe-Murko- FPA East and Southern Africa Re- a part in eliminating harmful
military. Chinese company.” si dam basin and relocated to gional Office (ESARO). practices like child marriage.
Chingwizi in a chaotic process The country was applying a
Representatives of the Chi- He added; “What will hap- fraught with human rights The webinar, supported by multifaceted approach to elim-
nese investor have reportedly pen to us and our loved ones’ problems. the Asian Population and De- inating this – including school
started surveying, mapping graves? velopment Association (APDA) feeding schemes, providing
and pegging the area without Another recent controversy and the Japan Trust Fund, heard sanitary packs for girls, and
formally communicating with “We have been here for so surrounds government’s plans how progressive legislation encouraging young mothers to
the community. many years; where do you to evict 13,840 Indigenous prohibiting marriage for ado- return to school after delivery.
want us to go? What does our Shangani people from their lescents under 18, and in one
Villagers believe corrupt and culture say about this? communal land in Chilonga, case, 21, was not enough to stop “A challenge is that the coun-
powerful retired generals are Chiredzi district to make way the practice. try has unmet needs for family
using political connections and “We cannot be removed from for lucerne farming by a pri- planning services, which stands
they have the blessing of two our ancestral land by fellow vate local dairy firm. Dr Kiyoko Ikegami, Executive at 30%, and there is a culture
government ministers to push black people simply because Director, and Secretary General, that believes that once a girl
through with the evictions. they have money.” Human rights organisations APDA, noted in her opening ad- reaches menstruation age, they
have called on the government dress that the COVID-19 pan- are old enough to get married,”
However, angry plot hold- The community depends on to respect the rights of local demic had affected child mar- Milton said.
ers told NewZimbabwe.com small-scale farming and most communities. riage prevention programmes
Thursday that they will fight of them are retired civil ser- and increased poverty and in- Matthew Ngwale, an MP from
for their land. vants who were allocated their President Emmerson Mnan- equality, which was a driving Malawi, noted that his country
plots by the government. gagwa’s promises to respect force in child marriages. adhered to the Southern Afri-
“Platinum is drilled from 600 human rights ring hollow in can Development Community
metres to 1000 metres depth, The farmers also said the face of this wanton disre- Chinwe Ogbonna, UNFPA ES- (SADC) protocol that condemns
and so, it does not affect us as they have lost faith in their gard for the humanity and dig- ARO Regional Director a.i, said the marriage of people under
farmers,” one of them said. Member of Parliament nity of the Chilonga people,” while there had been consid- 18.
Webster Shamhu whom they said Human Rights Watch. erable achievements since the
“This is just a way to take our said only visits the area during 1994 ICPD conference in Egypt The Malawian constitution,
land under the guise of plati- elections. “His government should – the work was not yet done. Marriage, Divorce, the Family
num mining; this is a typical urgently take the necessary Relations Act (2015), and the
case of powerful people who Efforts to get a comment steps to provide them effec- She encouraged the parlia- Childcare Justice and Protection
just want to chase us away. from Shamu and the pro- tive protection by respect- mentarians to commit them- Act all reinforce this policy.
vincial affairs minister Mary ing their land and property selves to actions they agreed to
Another community member Mliswa-Chikoka had not been rights and peacefully engag- at a regional meeting in Addis But, Ngwale said, despite
vowed that would not go any- successful at the time of pub- ing with them on its plans.” Ababa in June, which included “progressive legislation, Mala-
where leaving their homes and lishing. -NewZimbabwe.com “amplifying evidence-based wi has one of the highest rates
relatives’ graves. advocacy.” In Africa, she said, of child marriage in the world,
Cases of communities be- teenage pregnancy and HIV where approximately 42% of
“Our President (Emmerson ing displaced for government prevalence are high. girls get married before the age
of 18, and 9% are below the age
Gender-based violence was of 15. Approximately 7% of boys
on the rise, and femicide and marry before the age of 18.”
the harmful practices of child
marriage, and female genital He also noted that child mar-
mutilation continued. riage is higher in rural than
urban areas. Rural girls are 1.6
The webinar heard from times more likely to marry
members of parliament in vari- early than their urban counter-
ous countries across the African parts.
continent.
Poverty is a clear driver, with
Fredrick Outa, from Ken- women in the predominant-
ya, FPA Vice-President, told ly ‘poor’ south marrying at a
the delegates that while Ken- slightly lower age than those in
ya had made ambitious com- the ‘wealthier’ north and cen-
mitments, FGM was an area of tral regions.
concern. Kenya was commit-
ted to strengthening coordina- “In Malawi, children from
tion in legislation and policy more impoverished families
framework, communication are twice as likely to marry
and advocacy, integration and early than those from wealthier
support, and cross-border co- families,” Ngwale said, and in a
operation to eliminate FGM. country where data shows that
51.5% of the people live below
Kenya aimed to eliminate the poverty line, which is high-
GBV and child and forced mar- er in rural areas at 60% com-
riages by “addressing social and pared to urban areas at 18%.
cultural norms that propagate
the practice while providing Traditional initiation prac-
support to affected women and tices, done as part of a rite of
girls.” passage when a girl reaches pu-
berty, encouraged early sexual
An MP from Zambia, Prin- activity, Ngwale said, and the
cess Kasune, said it was of prevalence of child marriage is
concern that the Zambia De- higher among matrilineal than
mographic and Health Survey patrilineal groups.
(ZDHS) of 2018 indicated that
29 percent of women aged 20- “Due to food insecurity, child
24 reported being married be- marriage often becomes a more
fore 18. The country had various likely coping mechanism as
programmes to address this, in- families seek to reduce the bur-
cluding partnering with tradi- den of feeding the family,” he
tional rulers and civil society to said.
fight early child marriage.
Climatic challenges, such as
“Chiefs and headmen have droughts and floods, have be-
made commitments in the come more frequent and cata-
fight against child marriage strophic.
“Traditional rulers are them-
selves champions in the fight Child marriage impacts sec-
against child marriage,” Kasune ondary school completion
said. rates. In Malawi, only 45% of
girls stay in school beyond 8th
She said the practice contin- grade.
ues even though the Marriage
Act prescribes 21 as the mini- Ricksani Alice, 19, who was
mum age for marriage. married at a young age but
is now back in school hop-
However, customary law dif- ing to complete her education
fered, and there needed to be thanks to the Spotlight Initia-
consistency in legislation. tive talks with UNFPA Gender
Programme Officer Beatrice
The other crucial campaign Kumwenda at Tilimbike Safe
against early marriages was to Community Space in Chi-
keep children in school. While ludzi village, Dowa, Malawi.
Credit: UNFPA ESARO

National News Page 9 09-15 October 2022

Lupane State University boss on tenterhooks

Nkululeko Sibanda watered down by authorities at
the institution.
THE Zimbabwe Gender Com-
mission (ZGC) has descend- When contacted for com-
ed on under-fire Lupane State ment at the time, Kuipa stuck
University (LSU) pro-Vice to his guns in the same manner
Chancellor, Pardon Kuipa who that he has done with the Zim-
stands accused of sexually ha- babwe Gender Commission in
rassing female members of staff this instance.
and bedding students at the ed-
ucational institution, The Sun- “I have not slept with any
day Monitor can report. woman from Lupane State
Prince Butshe Dube, a law- University. I have not even
yer with Mathonsi-Ncube Law slept with any student at
Chambers, who is Kuipa’s legal Lupane. All these are lies that
counsel, confirmed to the Sun- are being peddled against me,”
day Monitor on Friday his cli- was all Kuipa could say when
ent had met with the commis- contacted for comment by the
sion representatives to explain Bulawayo Buzz last year.
his side of the story.
“I do confirm that my cli- Efforts to establish why the
ent (Kuipa) did appear before authorities at the LSU, chief
the gender commission on the among them the university
28th of September 2022 here in council, had been quiet when
Bulawayo,” said Dube. such a lieu of allegations were
He added that the commis- burying the person of the vice
sion had placed before his cli- chancellor have yielded no
ent a coterie of allegations. claimed that he was busy but have had challenges in deal- Kuipa would pester some of his results as the council has re-
the commissioners told him in ing with him and handling this victims into submission, bed mained mum on the issue.
“(At that meeting) certain al- no uncertain terms that they matter on his behalf. It is clear them, and given them money
legations were put (to Kuipa). would not entertain his hide that he has been trying to cov- as a way of silencing them. Our sources said council offi-
My client denied all of them. and seek antics. er his tracks on this matter and cials would not say a word as
The Zimbabwe Gender Com- ensure that he stifles it from The scandal, the sources they were afraid that opening
mission indicated that they “At one point, he claimed being a can of worms that it is,” said, exploded when two of up on this saga would invite the
were going to continue with that his principals would not said another source. the staffers clashed over Kui- wrath of Kuipa whom sources
the investigations and should it release him for engagements pa inside the workplace as said was a vengeful character.
be necessary, they would then with the ZGC to answer to his Kuipa’s nightmares date back by-standers were treated to a
want us to come back to the shenanigans but the commis- to last year when our sister pa- free boxing bout involving the “Expecting the council to say
commission again for further sioners kept the foot on the per, the Bulawayo Buzz report- staffers. Some sources claimed anything is like expecting wa-
engagements. pedal and told him that they ed that the LSU boss was at the that the man had turned him- ter to come out of a rock. All
could assist him appear by centre of controversy where- self into a home wreaker as those councillors are afraid
“Basically, that is what I am at asking the LSU principals to in he was accused of bedding most of his victims had failed of Kuipa. They are afraid that
liberty to say at this stage,” he release him specifically for the women at the institution, some to keep their ordeal away from should any one of them be
added. investigations. That is when in return for favours, while their husbands- disclosures quoted in newspapers saying
he saw that he had no place for others, it was just for the that had eventually led to the anything about the scandal,
Sources at LSU told this pub- to hide and gleefully agreed to quenching of his insatiable ap- collapse of some marriages. they would eventually be re-
lication last week that Kuipa meet the commissioners in the petite for coital activities. moved from the council be-
had been trying to avoid meet- presence of his lawyers,” the Kuipa, the sources alleged cause Kuipa has a way around
ing with the ZGC to answer source added. The report, carried in the 25 at the time, had given some the minister (Professor Amon
questions over his alleged con- July-01 August, 2021 edition of the students whom he had Murwira). Fear is abound that
duct for some time, with the It was revealed Kuipa had of the newspaper, stated that slept with and impregnated once Kuipa targets you for say-
sources saying he had tried to been running from one law Kuipa had “bedded” a sizeable money to travel to South Africa ing anything, he can influence
hide under a claim that he was firm to another to seek legal number of his subordinates and stay there- something the the minister to remove a mem-
busy with university business. counsels who would repre- while at the same time bedding sources at the time said was a ber of the council from being a
sent him. However, a number students, some of whom he ploy to keep them away from councillor. That is why no one
The ZGC, the sources said, of lawyers in the city allegedly had impregnated. the eyes of the community in of those councillors would
would have none of Kuipa’s renounced agency on the back Lupane as well as the student have the guts to say anything.
excuses. of claims that Kuipa was a dif- He had, according to sources population at the institution. They have been aware of this
ficult person to deal with. at the time, promised some of scandal for some time but they
“The man is clearly clutching his victims, work-related pro- In the report, it was high- are hapless to act on it,” said
at straws,” said a source. “He has tried many firms motion in the event that they lighted that at one point, Kui- another source.
but most of the lawyers argue agreed to his sexual advances. pa was accused of bedding 14
“He has been trying to avoid that he is intransigent and they women with the matter being LSU official spokesperson,
engagements with the com- It was alleged, at the time, that Zwelithini Dlamini was not
mission for some time. He has readily available for comment
on the matter yesterday.
ZESA forecasts end
to power shortages
The Zimbabwe Supply Au- ond Republic is opening busi-
thority (ZESA) Holdings says ness opportunities. Zimbabwe’s power crisis has forced the power utility to import energy from regional power bodies such as Es-
it has come up with a raft of kom
home-grown solutions to im- “We have been getting addi-
prove power supply and put an tional electricity from ESCOM
end to power cuts which have South Africa and they are also
affected the country in recent facing their problems and as
weeks. such, we were cut off.

The power utility says the “After realising this we have
imminent commissioning of now said it’s time we do it on
Hwange Thermal Power Sta- our own,” he said.
tion Units 7 and 8 is set to add
600 megawatts to the nation- Zimbabwe has off late ex-
al grid and significantly ease perienced serious outages, in
power challenges in the coun- certain situations affecting the
try. whole country.

Speaking in Munyati recent- These have been attributed to
ly, ZESA Executive Chair Dr breakdowns, amid aging pow-
Sydney Gata, said the initial er generation equipment.-On-
phase will see Unit 7 being line
commissioned next month,
adding 300MW to the national The power utility says
grid while the other unit is set the imminent com-
to be completed next year. missioning of Hwange
Thermal Power Station
“What people need to un- Units 7 and 8 is set to add
derstand is that as a nation, we 600 megawatts to the
have been experiencing phe- national grid and signifi-
nomenal growth in infrastruc- cantly ease power chal-
ture development as well as in lenges in the country.
the field of agriculture.

“The appetite for growth has
never been this big as the Sec-

Page 10 09-15 October 2022 Leader Page

COMMENT
Minister Murwira...Please act on
Lupane State University crisis... Zimbabweans do not want to be
a burden on SA’s health system
This week, we report of an investigation that has been rolled
out by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission on the conduct of a population of 15 million is in people, like that woman in the
Lupane State University pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Pardon the same category as nations Limpopo hospital. They care
Kuipa who stands accused of sexually harassing a female sub- such as India – with its popula- only for themselves.
ordinate. tion of over a billion – in terms
of exporting skills. We are los- Our crisis is not just a health
We have been reporting on this matter since last year when ing skilled people more than crisis or an economic crisis. It
our sister paper, the Bulawayo Buzz first wrote and exposed this countries that are at war. is essentially a governance cri-
scandal. What followed was a very nauseating silence from au- Which industry are all these sis. Nelson Mandela once said
thorities such as the minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, skilled people coming from? there was a “crisis of leader-
Professor Amon Murwira. Many are coming out of our ship in Zimbabwe”. The global
hospitals. Not only are our icon was right. We are facing
The general public would have expected that the university medical staff unable to feed the consequences today, and
council would be the first one to stand up and condemn these their families, but they also so too is the entire region.
dastardly acts. One would have expected that the council would have to face the emotion-
have launched its own investigations, having suspended the al and psychological trauma We have a plan to turn this
pro-Vice Chancellor first to pave way for the investigations. of watching their patients die around. We have a New Great
Like many people in Zimba- from what should be easily Zimbabwe plan to build and
That would not have meant that the council would have passed bwe and elsewhere around treatable ailments. transform Zimbabwe into glo-
a guilty version on Prof. Kuipa. But as normal and standard the world, I recently watched a Our healthcare system fails ry.
practice and corporate governance ethic would detect, when video in which Dr Phophi Ra- the most basic tests.
someone has been accused of any crime, the authorities in that mathuba, the Limpopo MEC for The current doctor-to-pa- Zimbabwe is not poor. It is
particular space would first suspend the so accused, investigate Health, spoke to a tient ratio and nurse-to-pa- poorly led. It is simply a lead-
the allegations, and then take appropriate action from there. tient ratio in Zimbabwe is de- ership crisis. And we will fix it.
Zimbabwean patient seeking pressing.
Surprisingly, this was never to be with Prof. Kuipa’s case as he care in a hospital. The last survey revealed 1.6 The cartels that smuggle
was allowed to carry on with his duties without any hindrance doctors per 10,000 people (23 US$1.6 billion worth of gold
as if everything was normal. As I listened to my dear com- doctors per 10,000 people is from our country every year
patriot expressing gratitude the WHO recommendation). will be stopped. We will re-
Prof Kuipa has been denying any wrong doing, accusing shad- to the MEC, I was filled with a Zimbabwe has 7.2 nurses per dedicate a more significant
ows of plotting his downfall. As the story in this and other edi- deep sense of regret, sadness, 10 000 people, which should proportion of our national
tions would show, Prof Kuipa says he has not slept with any of and rage. be 83 per 10 000 people. budget to critical social ser-
the women that he is accused of having slept with. It is his right As I write this, more than 700 vices, and away from the over-
to deny but it is the evidence that would be presented in any The patient’s vulnerability children have been killed by priced vanity projects designed
enquiry that would either free or tie the professor to his case. reminded us of real impact of measles, a disease that should to oil corrupt cartels. We will
poor leadership on the lives not be afflicting us in this cen- increase the budget for health
Now that a government or constitutional body, the Zimbabwe and dignity of our people. For tury. and ramp up support to our
Gender Commission has taken it upon itself to investigate the me, it deepened my resolve to Our maternal mortality rate professionals.
veracity of the allegations levelled against the professor, it be- change it. is 462 per 100 000 live births,
comes imperative that the professor is asked to step aside for one of the highest in the world. We will treat our people at
a moment until these allegations are either thrown out or sus- Like many other Zimbabwe- Our neonatal mortality rate is home, in our own first-class
tained. ans who have had to shelter 31 deaths per 1 000 live births. hospitals.
outside our borders, she did This rate has not changed since
We are aware that the university council might be at a disad- not want to be there. It was 1988, showing the lack of This all starts with solving the
vantaged position to deal with the professor for a reason or two. not her choice. She is there be- progress in healthcare. governance crisis once and for
It is this reason why we implore the minister responsible, Pro- cause her leaders back at home Re- cently, our hearts all. We need reforms. We must
fessor Murwira to come in and institute the necessary measures do not care about her. broke after prepare and have a pre-elec-
that would see Professor Kuipa going home for a few days until seven ba- tion pact on electoral and po-
the matter is finalized. She is not alone. bies were litical reforms.
A burden for too long . By Advocate stillborn
In very petty cases such as theft or rape or even murder, one is Zimbabwe has been a burden in one Our call to our neighbours is
granted bail and ordered to reside at their given addresses. They to her neighbours for far too Nelson Chamisa night at this; we appreciate your be-
are also ordered not to interfere with witnesses. We are aware long. It is time we changed this. nevolence and patience, but
there have been attempts to intimidate the key witness in this By the Zimbabwean govern- Harare you should not have to carry
enquiry by deploying surreptitious characters outside the com- ment’s own estimates, since Central this burden any longer than
plainant’s home. These have not only been intimidating the vic- this regime took power, people Hospital be- you already have.
tim by merely sitting or lying outside the victims home but have have left the country at a high- cause their
also resorted to taking pictures of the complainant- something er rate than at any time in our mothers did not get the care Please help us to hold cred-
that we are sure is meant to intimidate the complainant. history. The national statistics they needed in time. ible elections. We are en-
agency recently released data couraged that President Cyril
We reiterate that Professor Kuipa should be allowed to be at showing that emigration peak- Corruption and misrule are Ramaphosa has said the immi-
home for a while until the enquiry is completed. This can only ed in 2021. to blame gration crisis will be discussed
be done by the minister and we hope and trust that the minister Nowhere is this exodus felt at a regional level.
is not seen to be supporting the professor but will uphold the so strongly than in our critical There is a reason why our
principles of proper administration and suspend Professor Kui- health sector. hospitals are in this state. Now, more strongly than
pa until he is cleared by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission at In a period of 12 months in We know why patients are ever, SADC must demand re-
the end of the enquiry. March 2020, the UK took in crossing the borders to seek forms. We do not ask for any-
1 059 Zimbabweans on that treatment in neighbouring thing new, only that Zimba-
Prof. Murwira, you serve under a President who says he is a country’s skilled work visa. countries. It is because of cor- bwe hold elections that meet
listening President. We are hoping that you also listen, not only By 2022, that number had in- ruption, bad governance and already existing SADC guide-
to us but to the cries of all those that believe they have been creased to 5 549 visas to Zim- poor leadership under ZANU lines.
wronged by Professor Kuipa who want a logical conclusion to babweans for skilled work. Put PF misrule.
the investigation. We hope you will listen at some point. in other terms, the number of This, more than shaming the
skilled workers that have left Millions were lost in Covid-19 innocent victims of misrule, is
Do you have any Zimbabwe to work in other procurement deals, and no- what will solve the crisis.
news tips? countries has gone up by 424% body was held accountable.
in just two years. The political elite gets treated Zimbabweans do not want
Contact us on Zimbabwe is among the top overseas. This is who they are; to cross the borders for ser-
+263 774 666 954 five recipients of these skilled they do not care for ordinary vices or jobs. They do not want
visas to the UK. A country with to be a burden. They have not
or email us on chosen this life. They have not
chosen their leaders. It is time
[email protected] they did.

Advocate Nelson Chamisa
is the leader of the opposition
Citizens Coalition for Change
in Zimbabwe.

OP-ED Page 11 09-15 October 2022

Politics the curse of Zim’s SOEs

ByEddie Cross

Iworked for a State Owned en- we survived and even thrived. are the remedies? the very rigorous selection a single person arrested and
tity for over 20 years, rising The key, a dedicated Board of We need to accept that the process that determined State the case closed – millions of
from a lowly economist to Chief Directors who knew the indus- leadership in China. You can dollars’ worth of railway infra-
Economist and then CEO of two try and were all, themselves, main mistake we have made see that in everything they do. structure destroyed and equip-
major SOE’s. During my years as successful and self-made peo- since Independence is that we ment rendered idle.
an economist, the Board of the ple. My staff were all selected have appointed Boards of Di- Such political leaders, them-
organisation I worked for was on merit and were required rectors of these major State selves survivors of a very In addition to these funda-
a combination of a number of to operate without corruption Owned Enterprises (SOE’s) tough competitive climb to the mental failures of management
outstanding individuals. and to meet the high standards and management on a political top, do not tolerate mediocra- and control, is the failure of
demanded and the targets set patronage basis. cy in their subordinates or the policy. The ANC came to pow-
I think we could have in their budgets. institutions they lead and con- er in South Africa, like Zanu
matched that Board against Ministers, representing the trol. Such values and norms PF in Zimbabwe, accepted and
any other group of a similar I was able to select and train shareholders, viewed these are often not even found in our took for granted the infrastruc-
nature, anywhere in the world. my successors and when the enterprises as cash cows. If private sector organisations ture they inherited from the
We were responsible for about time came for me to leave, I was they needed something not and companies. This process previous Governments and
US$3 billion in annual sales, able to leave behind a team that provided for in their budgets, is reinforced by a near total put social and political needs
employed 25 000 people and I had every confidence would they called the Chairman or intolerance for corruption or first. Charges for services were
generated perhaps a quarter of maintain the organisation and the CEO. Often this led to ma- self-interest. manipulated, people allowed
our national foreign exchange its standards. nipulation of the accounts or not to pay for what they con-
receipts. We operated under the audit at the year end. It In Africa, by and large, such sumed and fantastic organisa-
one of the harshest sanctions My next job was with a larger was not long before the rot set malpractices are not only tol- tions like Eskom, were eaten
regimes ever adopted, imposed division – over 5000 staff and in and the whole management erated, but they are also ac- alive. Today they have a debt
by the Security Council of the a major export program. In the structure, built up over many cepted as a ‘normal’ part of bigger than most States in Af-
UN and backed by the Roy- middle of a drought and a man- years, collapsed and the SOE life. The spectacle of a manager rica and very little to show for
al Navy which blockaded our agement crisis. A much tough- with it. driving a top of the range lux- it. Installed capacity for 60 000
main Ports. Despite all of that, er assignment but we were ury vehicle out of the gate of megawatts is performing at
we thrived. able to maintain our activities, It is interesting that China and a derelict state owned plant is less than half its capacity. Their
even expand our market reach many other countries in the Far not queried. We build a state most recent power station
Looking back, I now appreci- and support one of the largest East have maintained their SOE of the art glass factory near a came in at three times its bud-
ate the expertise and enterprise businesses of its kind in Africa. structures and in fact been able mountain of the raw material, get and years late and only op-
of those men who worked for It was a profound experience to build them up into highly see it opened by the State Pres- erated for days before failing.
very little. There was some and we had a great time. To- competitive enterprises. The ident, stop operating a week
corruption but it was negligi- day that organisation is bank- reason, a national policy of later and never reopened, and The consequences of these
ble. rupt, its industry base less than progression on merit – both in no one asks why? We watch failures of policy and manage-
a third of what it was and the the States political leadership 300 kilometres of electric ca- ment are immeasurable and
Then when I moved to man- basic suppliers are either out of and at corporate level. A Chi- ble stolen from the railway line impact on the daily lives of ev-
agement and was appointed business or suffering under a nese delegate to their embas- between Gweru and Harare, eryone. They exacerbate pov-
CEO of a large division, em- much diminished regime. sy in Harare told me once that costing over US$100 million, in erty and joblessness and are
ploying 3 500 people and serv- very few of the leaders in the broad daylight. No outcry, not totally self-inflicted.
ing all households and retail How does this happen? What Western nations could survive
stores in Zimbabwe on a dai-
ly basis. We had to overcome
sanctions, isolation, the inabil-
ity to transfer funds and buy
essential inputs and spares.
Our farmers were fighting a
bush war and were themselves
under constant pressure, yet

Page 12 09-15 October 2022

PRESIDENT Emmerson Business News
Mnangagwa has appointed a
new Zimbabwe Investment De- New brooms
velopment Agency (ZIDA) top at ZIDA
management executive team
charged with the responsibili-
ty to attract meaningful invest-
ments into the country. Prior to that, he was She holds a Bachelor
ZIDA is an investment agen- managing director at of Science degree qual-
cy responsible for promoting Zimnat Asset Manage- ification in Civil and
and facilitation of both local ment and managing Water Engineering,
and foreign investment in the director again at King- and an MBA in Proj-
country. It came up as an in- dom Asset Manage- ect Management and
tegration of three investment ment. Business Administra-
authorities, which were pre- tion from the National
viously housed in different He holds a Bache- University of Science
government ministries and de- lor of Science Degree and Technology.
partments. Honours in Statistics
"In line with Section 9 (1) of from the University Other appointments
the ZIDA Act and on behalf of of Zimbabwe as well include Duduzile Shin-
his excellency, the president as a Master of Science, ya, a highly qualified Tafadzwa Chinamo
of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Leadership and Change reputable accountant
we are pleased to advise of the Management from the to the position of chief Harare central business
following appointments and Leeds Metropolitan finance and corporate district’s death continues
confirm executive commit- University. affairs officer.
tee deployments in a bid to
strengthen the Agency , im- "Tafadzwa is an avid She is also the presi-
prove investment facilitation strategist and institu- dent of the Institute of
and strategic partner engage- tion builder who views Chartered Accountants
ment," said ZIDA in an update. successful outcomes of Zimbabwe (ICAZ), The rich will compete harder for high- ue to act as hindrances against further
The latest developments will as both achieving spe- the third female to end residential properties, demand growth in the residential sector devel-
see Tafadzwa Chinamo, an ac- cific objectives and hold such a position for suburban office space will keep ris- opments.”
complished business leader improving an organi- in the organisation's ing, while demand for industrial and re-
and executive with proven ex- sation's ability to deal 103-year history after tail space firms. As for the Harare CBD, its For the rich, there is a race for high-
perience in finance and invest- with its next wave of Emilia Chisango (Cas- rapid death will continue. end properties, and this is making these
ments taking over the helm as challenges," reads the sava Smartech Zimba- properties even more expensive. As
the Chief Executive Officer. appointment state- bwe FD) and current This is according to recent assessments other capital markets such as the stock
He takes over the position ment in part. ICAZ chief executive of the Zimbabwe property market by market falter, investors are rushing into
previously held by the late officer Gloria Zvara- two leading players in the sector, Knight property. But there just isn’t enough to
Doug Munatsi. Engineer and former vanhu. Frank and Mashonaland Holdings (Mas- buy.
Chinamo has previously permanent secretary hold), which give an insight into the
served CEO at the Securities in the National Hous- Kudakwashe state of the economy. Says Mashold: “Middle to high-in-
and Exchange Commission of ing and Social Ameni- Nyashanu was also come residential properties continue
Zimbabwe. ties Ministry, Silibaziso appointed to the po- According to Knight Frank, most of the to present investors with an avenue for
Chizwina has also been sition of chief human office space in the Harare CBD is empty. value preservation as the inflation trend
appointed Chief devel- resources officer. - remains uncertain, the high demand
opment officer. WIRES “With persistent issues regarding against static supply has seen proper-
parking, street vendors and high levels ty values in this market segment going
of pollution, coupled with the increased up.”
rents, demand for CBD office space has
fallen sharply, leaving voids of around To meet demand for industrial space,
60% on average,” Knight Frank says in Mashold has bought a 4-hectare prop-
its latest report on the African property erty in the Pomona industrial park and
market. appointed a project team. Construction
starts in October and an anchor tenant
Mashold agrees, and says CBD property has been secured. The company has also
owners are carving up their spaces into started building a private hospital in
smaller units, a sign of the dominance of Milton Park, Harare, which will be com-
informal businesses in the economy. pleted in August next year.

“The office sector however remains As the Harare CBD dies, office space
subdued, particularly in the CBD, with hunters are moving to the suburbs.
new lettings being recorded through
innovative solutions providing flexible “The real estate market remains in
and miniaturised office space,” Mashold limbo; however, the suburban office
says in its latest half-year report. market remains buoyant due to ongoing
relocation activity away from the CBD,”
According to Mashold, “despite the fal- according to Siza Masuku, MD of Knight
tering economic activity, the occupier Frank Zimbabwe.
submarket’s retail and industrial sectors
have remained relatively resilient”. Knight Frank says as more corporate
clients move away from the city, more
However, investors are not building residential properties in Eastlea, Belve-
enough new projects because of rising dere, Milton Park, Alexandra Park and
inflation and high interest rates. PPC Belgravia will be converted into offices.
says it has raised its USD cement pric-
es three times this year, by a cumulative Knight Frank’s research shows “par-
12%. ticularly high potential for office de-
velopment in the Northern suburban
Mashold says: “The development areas”.
submarket is the most affected as con-
struction costs remain on an upward The company adds: “In the industrial
spiral in both currencies. As a result, the sector, demand remains strong but is
sub-market continues to be dominated largely unfulfilled due to limited sup-
by residential property projects and a ply. The positivity in the sector is to an
few small-sized commercial develop- extent continuing to be tempered by
ments. The high interest rates on mort- power outages, low capitalisation, poor
gage lending coupled with declining water supply and deteriorating infra-
disposable incomes however contin- structure.”- WIRES

Business News Page 13 09-15 October 2022

Page 14 09-15 October 2022 Arts News

HARD TIMES
NEVER KILL
By Liam Brickhill his own instruments out of gallon cals.
jugs and tree branches. Refusing to With David Aglow and the leg- Daniel Gonora lost his sight when he was in seventh grade.
Close your eyes. Picture a Zim- allow the loss of his sight to hold Photo by Munya Mataruse.
babwean. What do you see? him back, he was a member of the endary Bothwell Nyamhondera
Downcast heads in a sombrely famous Jairos Jiri Band before the providing production, this is sun- Platitudes to the resilience cades: “Let me tell you one
snaking line? A border jumper group was decimated by Zimba- gura brewed at its most potent, and resourcefulness of Zim- thing, ladies and gentlemen:
pulling free from clutching barbs bwe’s Aids crisis in the 1990s. an intoxicating mix that warms babweans, admirable though hard times never kill, but it
of wire? A jackboot falling upon a the ear and moves the feet—from those traits are, eventually pushes you where you don’t
woebegone protester? Or perhaps Gonora had no option but to take the opening notes of the anthemic assume a bitter taste in the want to go.”
a sullen face blurred behind the his music directly to the streets. football war cry of Go Bhora to the mouth for the simple reason
tumbling digits of a trillion-dollar His son Isaac joined him, aged just divine acapella closer Kuna Mam- that things need not be this Through it all, Gonora
note? See this; a sungura guitarist four, and together they supported bo. hard for so many. That in- Sounds’ music holds space
totally enraptured in the cathartic their family, even as Zimbabwe’s vites the question: how do for joy amid the pain, allow-
joy of his music. economic crisis turned the hard Making friends wherever they we honour Zimbabwean re- ing complexity to suffuse
times even harder. Despite their go, Gonora Sounds have even silience without glorifying or the mental image of what it
Hard Times Never Kill, the first tenuous and extremely limited ac- bounded exuberantly into a cross- sanitizing the reality of pov- means to be a Zimbabwean.
international release from Zim- cess to the means of musical pro- over with London-based elec- erty? Gonora Sounds pro- We might be crying, but we
babwean sungura outfit Gonora duction, they nevertheless found a tronic duo The Busy Twist to pro- vides the answer. Through are also dancing.
Sounds, is a musical expression way to survive. duce The Journey of Life, a song it is the course of this album,
of survival through hardship, a literally impossible not to dance Gonora emerges as a sort of Gonora’s lyrics are parables,
lustral soliloquy that fortifies the Fast forward a couple of years, to—and an embodiment of Zim- blind preacher nevertheless and his is both a spiritual and
spirit and energizes the body to a and their remarkable story of re- babweans’ right to joy, despite it blessed with a different sort a musical mission. Among
joyful, irresistible cabriole. silience caught the attention of all. This is music that plays well of vision, leading his congre- the many lessons and learn-
filmmaker A.a.V. Amasi, who with others, and that is indica- gation to a place of abreaction ings offered by this album,
You must feel it and you must produced an award-winning doc- tive of sungura’s border-crossing, and release where hardship perhaps the most powerful
dance, because this album exhibits umentary, You Can’t Hide from the genre-hopping history. can, at least, be survived. As of all is that which is unspo-
a defiant elation in nine beautiful Truth. That, in turn, put Gonora he says in the intro to the ken, but implied: if Gonora
songs that soar celestial on their Sounds on the radar of The Vital Arising in the late 1960s, sungu- song MaZimbabweans, which Sounds survived all this, then
feverish musicality—even as their Record, an independent record ra drew from elements of East and laments the forced econom- whatever you, dear listen-
lyrics keep you bouncing back to label whose team travelled from Central African soukous, benga, ic migration endured by so er, are going through, you
street level. New York to Zimbabwe to record kanindo, and rhumba, fusing them many Zimbabweans in the too can survive. And maybe
this album. with the distinctively Zimbabwe- diaspora for the last two de- even find a little joy and ca-
It could not be otherwise: Gono- an musical idioms of masigan- tharsis along the way.
ra Sounds were, for well over a The result is a remarkable ad- da, mhande, shangara, jiti, and
decade, a two-piece family street dition to the sungura canon, one tsavatsava. Early sungura artists - africasacountry.com.
band who found fame of a sort that embodies vital elements of brought all of these together into
through viral videos of their busk- this uniquely Zimbabwean mu- a genre that grew exponentially in
ing performances. This was Gono- sic while simultaneously reach- popularity after Zimbabwe’s inde-
ra Sounds at its most elemental, ing out beyond the boundaries of pendence in 1980.
with Daniel Gonora’s unmiked, genre to shake hands warmly with
mournful voice and battered old the likes of gospel, folk, rock, and That heritage is clearly apparent
guitar shredding through a jer- reggae. on Hard Times Never Kill. But for all
ry-rigged, solar-powered amp, the musical twists and turns this
punctuated by the rolling fills A couple of the album’s songs album takes, both joy and sadness
of his son Isaac’s DIY, scrapyard were recorded using Gonora follow, leading ultimately to ca-
drum kit. Sounds’ iconic street setup, while tharsis. There is a therapeutic ele-
another features Daniel Gonora ment to Gonora’s lyrics, providing
The first thing you will notice alone on an acoustic guitar, play- psychological release for the an-
about the elder Gonora in these ing in an empty rural classroom ger, humiliation, and frustration
videos is his nimble-fingered gui- with cows grazing in the fields that so many Zimbabweans bear.
tar style. The second is that he is outside. There are collaborations
blind. with singer Vimbai Zimuto and “My fans here follow me because
popular gospel group Vabati Vaje- of the way I write songs,” Gonora
“I lost my sight when I was in hova. There are also several songs says. “People can relate to them
seventh grade,” he explains in the featuring the band’s full setup in because I write about real-life is-
Hard Times Never Kill liner notes. “I all its glory, with Malizani Mbewe sues.”
don’t know how it happened. One on bass, Nelson “Mr. Longman”
day I just woke up blind.” Mutanda joining Gonora on gui- Giving voice to these things
tar, and Isabel Piyo and Sehlapi brings comfort both to the singer
By then, music had already found Mthombeni providing backup vo- and to his audience. It is the same
him. Gonora had learned to play with the blues, with country mu-
guitar at the age of seven, making sic, with punk rock.

Daniel Gonora with Proud Gonora. Gonora Sounds were a two-piece family street band Members of Gonora Sounds. Photo by Gorona Sounds.
who found fame through viral videos of their busking performances. - Photo by Gonora
Sounds.

Sports News Page 15 09-15 October 2022

Manchester United: Erik ten Hag
wants players to be 'smart but nasty'

Erik ten Hag has called on his United responded to their consistent level of performance week or a month. It has to be "We have seen it against Liver-
Manchester United players weekend disappointment with a and intensity from his squad. in your system. It's a demand pool, we have seen it against Ar-
to "play smart but nasty". 3-2 Europa League win over Cy- nowadays in top football. senal, but now we have to do it
priot side Omonia on Thursday. "It's physical, it's mental but on a consistent basis and that is
United saw a four-game Pre- it's also sustainability especial- "I think it's quite clear that what we have to work for now.
mier League winning run ended Ten Hag said he wants that ly," Ten Hag said. [Manchester] City is a stan-
by a humiliating 6-3 defeat by result to be a "warm-up" for dard in that, and there are more "But that will not come over-
Manchester City on Sunday. Sunday's Premier League trip to "When you had a lack of it in teams, but I think also we can night. It will also take more than
Everton (19:00 BST) as he seeks a the last years, it's not something deliver that. weeks, it will take months."
Ten Hag's sixth-placed side that you build or progress in a
have received 23 bookings in
seven games his season - the
second most in the league.

"I know nasty," Ten Hag said.
"I know what nasty is. I think
also in that matter we can prog-
ress. Sometimes also play a little
bit more smart."

The Dutch manager add-
ed: "We have too many book-
ings and some in the start [of
matches]. I heard in the Premier
League they will play tough
but I'm really wondering why
we collect so many bookings. I
don't understand."

Only Nottingham Forest (24)
have accumulated more yellow
cards than United in the English
top-flight this term. Portuguese
right-back Diogo Dalot earned
a team-high fourth booking af-
ter just two minutes in Sunday's
Manchester derby loss.

"The first booking on Sunday,
I really don't understand that.
We want to play tough, we want
to keep the game going. Then in
the second minute already it's a
booking. I think it's a duel, clear
it was a foul, but to then get
booked? Also I saw many other
bookings where I think 'OK, is
that necessary'?

"But also I take it to the play-
ers. I have to keep the mirror
[on them] that they have to play
smart, but also they have to play
nasty as well."

Hope Rubaya, a peculiar legal gymnast....
Chizuzu’s
denied? Oh My God, he knows lawyer, an officer of the court, the recall from Congress. Ru- defence laywer, is due on Oc-
Sports something about speedy expe- one day running with the baya also looked in pain as he tober 27, at which it is expect-
Corner dition of cases? hares and next hunting with fought his case, even including ed, he will throw another of his
the haunts. Ah, this football the parliament opinion (inter- endless manicured excuses to
Admire Rubaya is a wonder- Watching Rubaya crying in has given us enough nuggets esting to stretch the influence) miss the kick for the day.
fully gifted lawyer, clothed frustration that his clients are on how lawyers behave. What in his passioned plea for the This is football on trial and
with wisdom that is sometimes being hanged to dry while the with the Chenaimoyo Gumiros state to be serious. Rubaya has forever etched his
Godly. He speaks with delib- state is loafing with the case of this world offering plenty to name in the annals of football.
erate staidness and sometimes was totemic in its significance. plunder. When prosecution opposed No lawyer has stood for these
offer spasmodic vector smiles, his application for release of football crooks the way he
but like all lawyers who defend This is the same Rubaya, in Off course, it is all about the the accused from remand, he has.....
crooks, he has a digital disrup- the case of Kamambo, who money. That is why he charges looked astounded, yet this is Maybe the now completed
tion streak that speaks material is shifting every gear or lever premium and Machana has his totemic joker in the Ka- BDO audit into the Zifa books
vanity. available to make sure his cli- been paying solid for such en- mambo bribery case - AL- in which the same charac-
ent, accused of paying bribes cumbered sophistication. It is WAYS. ters are prominent, again,
Rubaya was at the magistrate for votes, is not up for trial. All hallowed to a measure. will open another tragicome-
courts this week defending the this after all witnesses have So, do these lawyers fight for dy....and Rubaya, could again,
quartet of Failton Kamambo, appeared. But is that the way of justice in justice or they bid for their fees have a fresh match, defending
Phelimon Machana, Bryton football where yellow and red more than the case? He applied them for the abuse of office,
Malandule and Joseph Mamu- This is the same Rubaya, who cards have a clear meaning? for refusal of remand, citing Covid-19 money, Fifa develop-
tse and was bitterly question- has manufactured superb al- In his Ecocashgate case which time spend without progress. ment funds and a contraven-
ing the state why for more than ibis for avoiding the matter Rubaya is defending, Kamam- But the Kamambo case has tion of the Banking Act.
three months, they are still progressing. While he is not bo has been "sick" seven times, dragged for two years. Rubaya may have failed to get
looking at the docket. guilty of the 15 such attempts including the most comical one his plateau in the matter of the
at "blocking" progress, his when he had to fake BP attack Why is it now expedient for quartet, but has been cruising
He was crying that too much number is up to eight since he only to be hospitalised in the the quartet to be tried and not safe in the Kamambo bribery
time has been wasted by state took over from Advocate Zhu- custody of a girlfriend. the same for Kamambo is his case....and such legal embroi-
and even had the cheeky to ask warara. bribery case? In all this, is Ru- dery is a gift for the fortuitous-
for removal of his clients from Sad that the magistrate was baya, with serious football in- ly talented minds.
remand until such a time they Like most lawyers who de- forced to hospital remand him. terests in Yadah FC, looking at And he is indeed in the realms
are serious with the matter. fend or have to defend crooks, But he miraculously recovered how much value the game has of Erland Haaland, a cosmo, al-
his roll of well manicured ex- the very next day to report for lost by deliberately delaying most terrestial legal boxer who
I looked on and marveled. cuses is impressive, but watch- duty at the GMB. All this Ru- the trial of Kamambo? only loses a match by TKO.
So Rubaya actually got con- ing him trying to lynch the baya knows. He may not be the But......
science? He actually believes state in the case of the quartet, actor, but is aware of the script It is interesting that region- @Hchizuzu Twitter
in fairness and justice? He ac- actually shows the other hid- to the T. al magistrate Taurai Manu- (WHATSAPP +263715001628)
tually knows something about den side of Rubaya, almost a were has ordered the state to
justice delayed being justice masonic float of some sorts. Kamambo looked in rude provide a trial for the quartet.
health. In fact he has never The Kamambo case of bribery
He looked impressively dou- been looking this good since in which, again Rubaya, is the
ble faced. The same learned

SPORT

Inside Liverpool’s unusual season spell

Last Saturday marked the too, with Salah, Alisson and 27 years 342 days old, making average of one opposition fast field, while ensuring Alexan-
seventh anniversary of Jur- Robertson among the top five them the third oldest side in the break per game, an increase on der-Arnold, scorer of a superb
gen Klopp's appointment as Premier League players for division behind only West Ham any of the last seven seasons free kick, could play a little
Liverpool manager. minutes played in all competi- and Fulham. under Klopp and another sta- more conservatively, his aver-
tions across the last five years. tistic which indicates openness. age position placing him inside
It was at roughly this point Alexander-Arnold is seventh. Have they moved too slowly his own half and reducing the
that his spells in charge of in renewing the squad? "It's about being compact, be- space opponents have so often
Borussia Dortmund and Mainz Klopp promised Liverpool ing together," said Sky Sports found behind him lately.
came to an end, leading some would come back stronger in Luis Diaz, Jota and Ibrahima pundit Jamie Carragher last
to draw parallels with Liver- the aftermath of the defeat to Konate have all come in and month. "Right now, it's too The result was a third clean
pool amid the side's stuttering Real Madrid in Paris but it is lit- contributed positively. easy to get through Liverpool's sheet in 11 games in all compe-
start to the campaign. tle wonder the side's exertions midfield, and that didn't hap- titions this season, and while
have taken a toll on his key There is confidence Darwin pen before." it remains to be seen whether
Klopp's men enjoyed some players in particular. Nunez, 23, will do the same. they deploy the same system
respite in the Champions But there have been few other The statistical differences may against Arsenal on Sunday, it
League this week, securing a Indeed, Alexander-Arnold, arrivals of note and Mane is the appear relatively minor but, has at least given Mikel Arte-
2-0 win over Rangers, but in Salah and Van Dijk have been only senior player to have been given the high defensive line ta and his staff something dif-
the Premier League they sit among the biggest under-per- moved on. Liverpool typically use and the ferent to think about, while at
ninth, 11 points behind lead- formers so far this season. Hen- amount of bodies they throw the same time giving Liverpool
ers Arsenal, their opponents derson, Robertson, Fabinho The result is an ageing team. forward, Klopp himself admits an air of unpredictability they
on Super Sunday, having won and Alisson have also struggled. Lack of cohesion exacerbates it does not take much for things were lacking.
only twice in seven games. issues to start going wrong.
The issues can be seen in the The issues have manifested "Teams, when they play
Liverpool head to the Emir- way Liverpool are starting primarily in defence. "We take risks defending, ev- against us, they know the way
ates Stadium hoping to use games, with Klopp's side con- Liverpool are still scoring erybody knows that," he said we play and they try to exploit
Tuesday's win over Rangers ceding the opening goal in nine goals and creating opportuni- ahead of the Rangers game this that," said Alisson after the 2-1
as a turning point. But what is of their last 11 Premier League ties at roughly the same rate as week. "If the timing is not right, defeat to Manchester United in
behind their poor start? And fixtures either side of the sum- last season but they are con- you open gaps." August. "They try to use that
should supporters be worried mer break. ceding twice as many as they against us."
about what lies ahead? were and their numbers for Liverpool, out of sync with
Interestingly, though, the shots faced and expected goals each other and jaded from what Arsenal might now need to
Mental fatigue and an ageing numbers show no dramat- against have also increased. Carragher describes as "five or find different ways to hurt
team ic drop-off in terms of Liver- It is clear Klopp has become six years of going full pelt" un- them but they will offer a far
pool's physical output in recent overly reliant on a core of age- der Klopp, have found them- sterner test than Rangers. In-
Last season was Liverpool's months. ing players and he has not been selves leaving those gaps far too deed, while Liverpool have
most taxing yet under Klopp; helped by injuries in the early frequently lately. made their worst start to a sea-
a season in which they con- They rank third in the Premier weeks of the campaign, forcing son in eight years, the Gunners
tested every fixture they could League this season for high-in- him to use five different defen- Change of shape gives unpre- have made their best in 15, tak-
have, cramming 63 games into tensity sprints, the same as sive line-ups and five different dictability ing 21 points from a possible 24.
a period of nine months and they did last year, while they midfield combinations in seven
fighting on four fronts right still rank top among all clubs games. It was for that reason that The contest is even more in-
until the final week of the for pressed sequences. Track- That instability has com- Klopp decided to make a sig- triguing given Arsenal's recent
campaign. ing data shows they are actu- pounded the issues around nificant change against Rangers tendency to start games in pre-
ally covering more ground than mental fatigue and Liverpool on Tuesday, switching from his cisely the opposite way to Liv-
There was, of course, a do- they were last season. are struggling to control games favoured 4-3-3 formation to erpool - quickly and clinically.
mestic double at Wembley, as a result, their openness ap- what he described as a 4-4-2. Arteta's side have conceded
but those cup triumphs could Rather, it appears the issue parent not just in the manner of first in just two of their eight
not prevent the feeling of de- of "mental fatigue" mentioned the goals they have given away "We wanted to defend differ- Premier League games this sea-
flation that came with missing by Klopp during their difficult but in the advanced metrics ently to what we usually do," son.
out on the Premier League ti- 2020/21 campaign, when their which show how easily their he explained afterwards. "We
tle on 92 points then losing to title defence ended in a third- opponents are cutting through have had to change things a lit- They have been trailing for
Real Madrid in the final of the placed finish on only 69 points, them. tle bit and that is what we have only 57 minutes in total com-
Champions League. has resurfaced. Opta measure the pace at done." pared to Liverpool's 216 min-
which a team's opponents utes.
In total, six Liverpool play- There is a general lack of fo- progress upfield using a met- The change of system allowed
ers - Jordan Henderson, Diogo cus, and a level of jadedness ric called direct speed against. Thiago Alcantara and Hender- Liverpool therefore cannot
Jota, Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, which raises questions around Liverpool's has gone from 1.38 son to play as deep-lying mid- afford to start sluggishly again.
Mohamed Salah and Sadio the current age profile of the metres per second last season, fielders against Rangers, with
Mane - played more than 50 squad. the eighth-lowest in the divi- Diaz and Salah on the flanks If Klopp is to banish talk of a
games, while three more - sion, to 1.77 metres per second and Jota and Nunez as a front seven-year curse as he reach-
Fabinho, Andrew Robertson A few years ago, Liverpool this season, the second-highest, two. es that ill-fated milestone with
and Trent Alexander-Arnold were a young group heading behind only strugglers Wolves. Liverpool, he will need a per-
- played more than 45. into their prime. The worry They are also allowing an It looked at times more like formance which looks a lot
now is that they have gone too a 4-2-3-1, or even a 4-2-4, more like the win over Rangers
Many of those individuals far the other way. with Rangers ultimately fortu- than the 3-3 draw with Brigh-
amassed similarly high num- nate to lose by only two goals, ton that preceded it.
bers in previous campaigns This season, their starting but it also gave Liverpool more
line-up has an average age of stability and control in mid-