News Hawks 6 August 21

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WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS CULTURE SPORT
Zim set to Songs of ‘Need to
get US1.1bn Lozikeyi reverse our
from IMF eyes mentality’
world tour
Story on Page 3 Story on Page 42
Story on Page 38

Chinese firm that
won US$109m
Kunzvi Dam
tender mired
in scandal

ALSO INSIDE Chinese firm sues Mines minister

Page 2 News News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Chinese company that won US$109m
Kunzvi Dam tender tainted by scandal

CHIPA GONDITII

CHINA Nanchang Engineering, which was Lake Chivero is one of Harare's major water supply sources, alongside Manyame Dam.
this week controversially awarded a US$109
million tender for construction of Kunzvi Drawcard submitted a bid of US$109 432 that the matter was later resolved by consent Development Bank of Zimbabwe on its
Dam — critical to alleviating Harare’s 004, Multi Force Construction (US$121 order. website says the project is estimated at
perennial water supply problems — has a 286 896), Masimba Construction (US$140 US$865 million.
shady past. 191 249), Bitcon and Kuch Construction “Basically, the parties decided to resolve
joint-venture (US$142 377 001) and Nyagui the matter outside the court because they “The dam site is 67 kilometres north-east
The Sino company has had its accounts Construction (US$149 447 353). decided not to fight government. An out of of the capital, near Juru Growth Point on
frozen by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe court settlement was reached and the project the Nyanguvi River. The dam will have the
(RBZ) for illegal black market foreign The highest bid of US$197 139 196, almost remained with China Nanchang,” Dzvetero capacity to deliver 158.4 million cubic meters
currency trading activities. three times that of the lowest quotation, was said. of water daily. The estimated project cost is
from Exodus and Company. US$865 million and will be funded through
Besides that, it also illegally seized a US$171 Nanchang has another issue in its dodgy Public Private Partnership initiatives,” the
million dam construction tender from a Barely two years ago, Nanchang was caught past record. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe bank says.
competitor, China Jiangxi International and up in a tender scandal. Now it is at it again. governor John Mangudya on 24 January 2020
Technical Co-operation Co. Ltd, through a issued a statement, saying an investigation by “Project implementation is estimated at
smash-and-grab approach. Jiangxi, which also bid for the Kunzvi the central bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit 60 months. In addition to supplying water
Dam project, given to Nanchang under had found that Nanchang had used its bank to Harare and its catchment areas the dam
Nanchang was taken to court in 2019 murky circumstances, won a tender for the account “to inject millions of dollars into the project will provide irrigation water to
for muscling into the US$171 million construction of Silverstroom Dam in 2019. parallel market in the last few days”. surrounding communities. Furthermore, the
Silverstroom Dam project in Mashonaland city will save on treatment costs as the project
Central province outside the tender process. However, government corruptly reversed “The FIU has ordered the freezing of the is more upstream than Lake Chivero which is
that and awarded the tender to Nanchang, identified account pending further analysis downstream and heavily contaminated with
The company, now mired in a new in violation of the bidding process and the and is undertaking ongoing surveillance to effluent from industries.”
scandal over the US$108 885 000 Kunzvi law. The intervention smacked of brazen identify more culprits involved in the parallel
Dam proposal, fought to keep its ill-gotten irregularities and corruption. market transactions, particularly on the Construction Review Online in January
Silverstroom project. Ecocash platform,” he said. last year quoted Mashonaland East Provincial
In anger, Jiangxi approached the High Affairs minister Aplonia Munzverengwi
The Chinese companies, Nanchang and Court, through its lawyer Tapson Dzvetero, Mangudya said the RBZ “identify and saying US$259 million had been allocated
Jiangxi, ended up resolving the tender to fight Nanchang’s robbery. take appropriate action, in terms of the law, for the project, although the overall cost of
robbery fight over Silverstroom through an against any culprits involved in illicit foreign the project stood at US$680 million.
out of court settlement. In its application, Jiangxi cited the currency activities and manipulation of the
late Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri, foreign exchange rates”. The Infrastructure Consortium of Africa
Never far from controversy, Nanchang secretary Ringson Chitsiko, Zimbabwe in 2011 reported that a group of private
this week found itself entangled in a new Water Authority (Zinwa), Nanchang, The Kunzvi Dam project’s cost has been contractors had mobilised US$370 million
dam construction dodgy deal after Zinwa and Pocurement Regulation Authority of speculative, with wide cost variations. The needed to fund the Kunzvi Dam project.
awarded it the Kunzvi Dam tender under Zimbabwe (Praz) as respondents. figures bandied about widely vary — ranging
dubious circumstances. from US$65 million to over US$800; for the There are also many other different costs
Justice Tawanda Chitapi heard the urgent same project. Initial feasibility studies have quoted for the same project, rendering
Kunzvi Dam is located 67km north-east of application. shown cost projections going up to about Nanchang’s US$100 million winning tender
Harare near Juru Growth Point in Goromonzi US$865 million, creating room for rent- bid questionable, particularly if the price
District in Mashonaland East province. Dzvetero argued that the tender reversal seeking and corruption. variation with the lowest proposal is over
The project, estimated to have capacity to was illegal, as Jiangxi’s bid was held to be US$43 million.
produce 250 000 cubic metres of water daily, competitive in all aspects and the most cost For example, the Infrastruture
is on the upper reaches of the Nyagui River. effective by the Praz.
Its dam site is approximately four kilometres
upstream at the confluence of Nyagui River Dzvetero told The NewsHawks on Friday
and the Nora River. The main purpose of the
reservoir is to supply water to Harare, which
has serious water problems.

In the aftermath of the contentious tender
award, SinoHydro, which had submitted
the lowest and competitive bid (US$65 523
463.61) in partnership with a local company
Marmfold Engineers, has raised alarm over
Nanchang’s US$108 885 000 fishy winning
proposal.

Subsequently, it has bitterly complained
to government, through the Office of the
President and Cabinet and Agriculture
ministry, about what it says is a shady
process. SinoHydro says given its lowest
bid, capacity and experience, it had won the
tender, but the project was irregularly given
to Nanchang.

These revelations and details are contained
in documents that were leaked this week to
two local media organisations, including The
NewsHawks.

Nanchang’s US$108 885 000 bid was
ranked fifth, based on costs. The lowest
bid was from SinoHydro and Marmfold
joint-venture at US$65 523 463; followed
by Jiangxi (US$78 130 826), JR Godart
(US$83 971 779) and RDAVIS Company
(US$99 948 883).

This means Nanchang’s bid was
US$43 361 536 more than SinoHydro’s
lowest proposal.

News Hawks News Page 3

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Come August 23,
Zim set to receive
US$1.1bn: Why
this really matters

BERNARD MPOFU/BRIDGET MANANVIRE and confidence; countries and increases confidence in their Stevenson Dhlamini noted: “SDRs are not the
ZIMBABWEAN authorities — running l SDRs can easily be converted to hard ability to meet future obligations. Confidence best tool for financing economic programmes
on empty for decades now and reeling from currency anytime, so they provide a buffer matters too, since sudden large outflows of and government expenditure under normal
ballooning debt — are waiting with bated and increase confidence in the ability of the capital caused by the fear or uncertainty over circumstances, but in this case Zimbabwe
breath for 23 August to receive their US$1.1 country to meet its future obligations; the future state of the economy can itself stands to benefit by acquiring vaccines that
billion from International Monetary Fund l Channelled to industry to resuscitate become the trigger for a collapse.” will enable the country to attain beyond 60%
(IMF). production capacity; head immunity target. The head immunity
l Support exporters to boost production and About US$275 billion of the new allocation will help resuscitation of critical sectors such
The funds will be disbursed under the new bring in forex; will go to emerging markets and developing as tourism which have taken a serious hit from
US$650 billion bailout for the global economy l Be directed towards social service delivery countries, including low-income countries like the Covid-19-related lockdown regulations.”
ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic. and safety nets; and Zimbabwe.
l Free up needed resources to help fight the Former Finance minister Tendai said
A timely lifeline, the rescue package — the Covid-19 pandemic. “We will also continue to engage actively although US$1 billion is not a lot of money to
biggest Special Drawing Rights (SDR) bailout with our membership to identify viable fund an economy, it would make a difference
in history — is a big deal for Harare. IMF Managing Director Kristalina options for voluntary channelling of SDRs if wisely utilised — which is unlikely.
Georgieva said soon after approval: “This is a from wealthier to poorer and more vulnerable
Immediately and directly, President historic decision — the largest SDR allocation member countries to support their pandemic “It’s not a lot of money from an economic
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government will in the history of the IMF and a shot in the recovery and achieve resilient and sustainable point of view even for a small economy like
now have more than US$1 billion in its empty arm for the global economy at a time of growth,” Georgieva said. Zimbabwe, but if used wisely it could make a
coffers in two weeks’ time. unprecedented crisis. The SDR allocation will difference,” he said.
benefit all members, address the long-term One key option is for members that have
However, there are grave concerns of global need for reserves, build confidence, and strong external positions to voluntarily channel “But sadly we know that its impact would
transparency and accountability on how foster the resilience and stability of the global part of their SDRs to scale up lending for low- be minimal because it won’t be put to good
the money will be used given Zimbabwe’s economy. It will particularly help our most income countries through the IMF’s Poverty use. The level of rent-seeking, corruption and
shambolic public finance management system vulnerable countries struggling to cope with Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT). looting in this regime is frightening. So that
and record, as shown by the Auditor-General’s the impact of the Covid-19 crisis,” money will largely be misappropriated, wasted
reports financial years on end. Concessional support through the PRGT or stolen.
In Georgieva’s words prior to approval: “If is currently interest free. The IMF is also
The IMF board of governors approved approved, a new allocation of SDRs would exploring other options to help poorer and “However, if they were wise they would put
the general allocation of SDRs equivalent to add a substantial, direct liquidity boost to more vulnerable countries in their recovery that money into infrastructure, into road and
US$650 billion (about SDR456 billion) on 2 countries, without adding to debt burdens. It efforts. A new Resilience and Sustainability rail networks, dams, bridges, and housing and
August 2021 to boost global liquidity. would also free up badly needed resources for Trust could be considered to facilitate more university accommodation; key areas, high-
member countries to help fight the pandemic, resilient and sustainable growth in the medium impact, high-value projects that are critical to
Of that amount, Zimbabwe will get SDR800 including to support vaccination programmes term, she said. economic recovery.”
million, about US$1.1 billion. and other urgent measures. And it would
complement the range of tools deployed by What local analysts say IMF Managing Director
The exchange rate between the SDR and the IMF to support our membership in this Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Kristalina Georgieva
United States dollar is USDR1:US$1.426560 time of crisis.” president Henry Ruzvidzo said: “The SDR
as of yesterday. The value of the SDR is based funds have the potential to significantly
on a basket of five currencies — the US dollar, US-based International Trade Union accelerate progress of the economy. If used in
the euro, the Chinese renminbi, the Japanese Confederation economist and policy sustainable high-impact areas, the economy’s
yen, and the British pound sterling. adviser Lara Merling said during the process growth can be accelerated. Zimbabwe has been
developing countries like Zimbabwe need the affected by the pandemic with some sectors
The general allocation of SDRs will become money “now” and not “later”. suffering serious damage which will require
effective on 23 August. The newly created funding support for a turn around. The
SDRs will be credited to IMF member This, compared to developed nations which country has not had access to international
countries in proportion to their existing quotas sometimes do not even utilise the SDRs as Covid-19 development assistance as have
in the fund. happened in 2009 when a US$250 billion other countries these funds are therefore a very
bailout was released in the aftermath of the welcome and timely development.”
Why it matters global financial crisis in 2008. Chris Mugaga, Zimbabwe National
The bailout is critical for the global economy’s Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said:
stabilisation and recovery from the ravages of “Wealthy countries are already issuers or “There is nothing unusual about Zimbabwe
Covid-19, but more crucially as it is needed have ample access to ‘hard’ currencies, such receiving SDRs. SDRs are like a claim to
even more in countries like Zimbabwe that as U.S. dollars, needed to pay for imports currency which can be exchanged. It’s the
desperately require liquidity, financial stability and transactions in global financial markets,” allocation and management of the funds
and reserves. Merling wrote for the Initiative for Policy which should be a priority. They should be
Dialogue. able to stabilise the foreign exchange market.
Reasons why the rescue package matters for But as ZNCC, we feel they will not change the
Zimbabwe: “On the other hand, developing countries economy much.”
l A shot in the arm — a lifeline for the usually need to acquire these currencies through Applied economics lecturer at the National
economy; exports, or by attracting foreign investments University of Science and Technology
l Funds immediately and directly coming into their countries. Without enough foreign
soon; reserves to cover their external obligations,
l Debt-free liquidity with no negative side- developing countries face significant pressures
effects; on their own domestic currencies, and are
l It will boost liquidity and reserves at risk of balance-of-payments crises that,
simultaneously (without enough reserves coupled with the damage from the pandemic,
and import cover — the number of months could crush their economies for years to come.
of imports that could be covered for by a
country’s international reserves — the country “Even without using SDRs, having them
is exposed and vulnerable. Import cover is an available to exchange for a hard currency if
important they need to provides a buffer for developing
indicator of the stability of a currency);
l Restores foreign exchange market stability

Page 4 News News Hawks
CHINESE mining company Afrochine
Smelting Private Limited, which has been Issue 42, 6 August 2021
in the news for allegedly mining inside
national parks, has taken Mines minister Chinese firm sues Chitando
Winston Chitando and local company over Mavhuradonha claims
Earthlink Minerals Private Limited for
the illegal mining in the Mavhuradonha Mines minister Winston Chitando activities at Makura 100 and Makura E and
Wilderness, which has been blamed on the D, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Reserve,
Asian company. locals. world” the truth regarding what is Muzarabaani District in Mashonaland
The name “Mavuradonha” is Shona and transpiring in Mavhuradonha. Central,” Afrochine said through Mlambo.
In the urgent chamber application
filed in the High Court this week by roughly translates as “Land of Falling Water” The mining giant complained not only “What is disturbing to the applicant
its representative Qedisani Mlambo, or simply “water falls” and is regarded as about its claim being grabbed, but also is that the respondent purported to be
Afrochine denies ever carrying out mining sacred by people who live in the area. expressed concern over negative criticism Afrochine Smelting and they gained access
in Mavhuradonha and blamed Earthlink for against the Chinese community given the to the wilderness reserve without proper
hiding behind its name, generating negative For these and other reasons, the decision widespread negative publicity the activity consultation with the local leadership.
publicity and receiving a backlash locally to allow mining in the area was received has received.
and abroad. The mining giant however with much criticism. “Respondents’ actions are unsustainable
contends that it is the rightful owner of the “This is an urgent chamber application in that they are alleged to have destroyed the
claims and was in the process of carrying Afrochine cited Chitando as the to stop Earthlink from carrying out mining national heritage site in the Mavhuradonha
out environmental assessment programme second respondent, so that he tells “the Wilderness Reserve if news reports are
when Earthlink started mining chrome. anything to go by. Further, local people’s
livelihoods have been affected heavily by
Afrochine is seeking an order stopping the actions of the respondent in that water
Earthlink from carrying out operations bodies have drained and their grazing lands
and another declaring it as the lawful taken away from them.
owner of the land in dispute. The Chinese
company also says Earthlink is mining in an “Further, the respondents’ actions have
unsustainable manner. been extensively reported by all sections of
the media hence causing media backlash not
The Mavhuradonha Wilderness in only of the applicant but the whole Chinese
Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central community in the country. This is a clear
province, has been preserved as a pristine case of mistaken identity where Earthlink
ecological zone for a long time. actions are attributed to the applicant
because the mining location in question is
“If the order is not granted, there will be owned by the applicant.”
further illegal mining and environmental
degradation posing a real risk of Afrochine said it has invested significantly
contamination of water bodies, which is in acquiring mining rights in the area and
harmful to human beings and livestock. has created hundreds of jobs at the mine
Further, applicant will be liable for the “which is all going to waste if the activities
harm, as it is the registered owner of the of Earthlink are not stopped forthwith.”
mining location,” Mlambo argued.
Chitando together with Earthlink have
The company also insists that it still been accused of showing no concern when
lawfully owns the mining claims in Afrochine received all sorts of criticism.
Mavhuradonha, known as Makura 100 and
Makura E and D. “There has been a backlash as a result
of respondent’s mining activities on the
The Mavhuradonha Wilderness is situated applicant’s mining location. These have a
in northern Zimbabwe, covering some 600 negative impact on the Chinese community
square kilometres of the eastern part of the in Zimbabwe as reports claim that they
Zambezi Escarpment. are destroying the environment and yet
the actions complained of are not those of
In January 2017, it was declared a the applicant,” said Mlambo. — STAFF
national monument by the government WRITER.
of Zimbabwe, because of its historical and
cultural importance.

The area is also one of Zimbabwe’s true
wilderness zones, seldom visited even by the

The Mavhuradonha Wilderness in Muzarabani has previously been preserved as a pristine ecological zone.

News Hawks News Page 5

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

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Page 6 News News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

The late socialite Genius Kadungure was well-known for flaunting his wealth on social media.

Ginimbi’s Bentley, Rolls
Royce still impounded

BERNARD MPOFU vehicle purchase receipt that undervalued a
THE death of Harare hustler and Bentley Continental he had imported from
socialite Genius Kadungure has scuttled South Africa.
investigations into his alleged tax evasion, as
it emerges that two of his luxury cars are still In March this year, Harare lawyer
impounded by the police, Patricia Darangwa, the disputed executor
of Ginimbi’s estate, filed a Supreme Court
The NewsHawks has established. appeal against a provisional High Court
Kadungure, who was known in social order prohibiting her from processing the
cycles as “Ginimbi”, died last November in late socialite’s properties.
a horrific car crash, which also claimed the
lives of three of his associates. The order was granted recently by Justice
Police sources who spoke to The Slyvia Chirawu-Mugomba who noted “red
NewsHawks this week said the late flags” after the Kadungure family questioned
businessman’s Bentley and Rolls Royce are the legitimacy of an unsigned will presented
still impounded at Morris Depot in Harare. by Darangwa, and why she was appointed
“The two cars are at the Commercial executrix by the Master of High Court in
Crimes Unit (previously Criminal the first place.
Investigations Department HQ) at Morris
Depot. They are covered to protect them A lawyer representing Ginimbi’s family
from UV (ultraviolet light) and, once the said Darangwa’s move put his wealth at risk
case closes, police will be in position to as it delays the finalisation of the feud.
release them. One of his female associates
has taken that responsibility to cover the The appeal suspended the execution of the
cars so that they do not get damaged by the provisional High Court edict, forcing the
sun,” a source said. Kadungures to rush back to court seeking
Contacted for comment, police its operationalisation.
spokesperson Paul Nyathi asked this
journalist to call later after saying he had In a certificate of urgency, family lawyer
other engagements. His mobile number was Wellington Magaya accused Darangwa of
later unreachable. pursuing the matter to the Supreme Court
Before his demise, Ginimbi was in for reasons of greed.
February 2020 arrested for under-valuing
his Rolls Royce Ghost luxury vehicle. Court The court has been told that FNB Bank
papers showed that Ginimbi claimed that Botswana, holding some of the Ginimbi’s
he bought the car for R3 million but the finances, had given the family a moratorium
state said the actual cost was R5 million. of up to 31 March 2021 to resolve the
His arrest came two days after the hustler executorship dispute and validity of the will.
was granted bail after spending two weeks It also appears there are liabilities.
in remand prison for another fraud charge.
The deceased socialite, who was well The bank is now demanding that a
known for flaunting his wealth on social know your customer (KYC) process on the
media, had been arrested for fabricating a deceased’s company account be done in
seven days, failure to which it shall without
notice invoke loan recovery remedies
available to it at law.

Ginimbi died in a horrific car accident
last year when his Rolls Royce veered off
the road in Harare and rammed into a tree
before exploding into a fireball, killing him
and three friends on the spot.

News Hawks News Page 7

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Prominent lawyer in conflict of interest storm

OWEN GAGARE in, that entity. Consequently, a potential Ignatious Munengwa that Esoft had a solid relationship with
A HARARE-BASED innovator and for conflict does arise where matters to do documents, a reason she said could have Econet.
entrepreneur, Ignatious Munengwa, with Econet are concerned. The failure to resulted in his previous lawyers renouncing
has reported prominent lawyer Phillipa disclose her interests violated the duty of agency. Munengwa also argued that Phillips was
Phillips to the Law Society of Zimbabwe confidence to me.” still a director of Esoft when she represented
for allegedly failing to declare an alleged “However, despite all these issues and him. He submitted the company’s annual
conflict of interest when she represented Munengwa said Phillips’ conduct may obstacles, I completed and handled my returns and the CR14 as evidence.
his company M-Comm Africa (Pvt) Ltd have compromised his chances of fair mandate professionally and ethically
against Econet Wireless in High Court cases representation and prejudiced him in the following the direction and instruction “On the contrary, annual returns
HC8299/17 and HC7734/19, in which case. Following Munengwa’s letter, LSZ provided by the complainant. To that end submitted by Phillips Law in its capacity as
the innovator accused telecommunications executive secretary Edward Mapara wrote the summons were amended and filed secretary clearly state that Ms Phillips was
giant of stealing an idea he had presented to to Phillips on 23 October 2020 advising with a clear and defined mandate from the a director as at the date of the AGM, being
the company for a partnership. her of the complaint. Phillips responded to client,” Phillips said. 27 June 2019. While I would agree that it is
Mapara on 26 October 2020 arguing that common cause for documents at the Deeds
Munengwa believes Phillips undermined Munengwa’s case had no merit because her She said her former relationship with and Companies Office to take time to be
his case, resulting in him withdrawing the law firm had fulfilled its mandate. She also Esoft — which she said was her husband’s processed, this would not be a valid reason
matter from the High Court last year after indicated the complainant had suffered no company — did not prejudice Munengwa. for late submission of documents to the said
Justice Chatukuta sought comments on an prejudice and that there was no conflict office,” Munengwa argued.
alteration to summons she had made on his since she had resigned as a director of Esoft Phillips said Munengwa had not stated
behalf. on 8 March 2019, “and this was long back the conflict and how it prejudiced and “The annual returns indicating that
before the complainant engaged me for the affected him. Ms Phillips was still a director were only
Munengwa told The NewsHawks that case in question”. submitted to the Registrar of Companies
when it became clear his lawyer was refusing “During my time as a director at Esoft, on 19 August 2019 and processed on 8
to respond within the timeframe set by the She argued in the letter that she was hired I was a dormant, non-executive director January 2020. The company directorship is
High Court, while also withdrawing her with a specific mandate to amend summons and did not involve myself in the day-to- further confirmed by the CR14, which lists
services at a critical time, he withdrew the previously issued under case HC8299/17 by day running of the business. I did not and Ms Phillips and her husband Mr Sadza as
matter from court to pursue it through the Munengwa’s attorneys, at the time Donsa- could not have obtained any information the directors, and Phillips Law as secretary.
Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Nkomo Legal Practitioners. from the defendant (Econet) that could At the time of submission of the annual
Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz). have prejudiced the client because of returns, the documentation states that Ms
Phillips highlighted that she filed the Esoft’s relationship with the defendant. A Phillips was a director of Esoft and as such,
In an earlier meeting, Potraz officials had amended summons, while “consulting him relationship being inferred from Esoft being should have declared her interest to me.
informed him they could not intervene as every step of the way”. She said Munengwa an agent selling insurance namely EcoCash
long as the matter was in court, although was however consulting other lawyers on Moovah.” “I would not have chosen to continue
the authority offered a blinding platform to the side and constantly asking her to alter working with a lawyer running an Econet
resolve the issue. Mapara asked Munengwa to respond to franchise as this would have represented
Phillips’ response and he did so in a letter very clear conflict of interests.”
Potraz started investigating the complaint dated 7 December 2020, where he argued
in May this year while the LSZ has been on He also argued that Esoft had a material
the matter since October last year. relationship with Econet.

Phillips, who at one time served as a lawyer “From common franchising business
to former president Robert Mugabe’s son- practice, no entity places their logo and
in-law Simba Chikore, as well as a director brand on a business without a defined
in dodgy airline Zimbabwe Airways, is a agency or franchising relationship. To
partner at Phillips Law, a local boutique operate under the brand of another entity
law firm specialising in immigration; requires terms and conditions that ensure
citizenship, compliance and corporate law. the brand is properly represented since
it is an extension of the principal. Esoft
“I am raising a complaint against the was entrusted to represent Econet and its
lawyer Phillippa Phillips and the law firm, subsidiary brands to the market. There was
Phillips Law on a matter of failure to likely a commercial benefit through the
disclose what appears to be a conflict of brand equity of Econet, in having the public
interest whilst she represented our company, seek services through the Econet Shop,” he
M-Comm Africa (Pvt) Ltd against Econet, said.
in the above-mentioned case. Phillipa
Phillips owns the legal practice Phillips “Econet provides their franchisees with
Law and is also involved as a director in training and funds the full branding and
an entity, Esoft (Pvt) Ltd, which is, among equipping/furnishing of the Econet Shops.
other things, an agent/affiliate of Econet in Econet were due to remove their branding
Harare,” Munengwa wrote to the LSZ. but where delayed due to Covid-19. Since
I reported this matter to the Law Society
“I have confirmed that during the time beginning of October 2020, all branding
that Phillips Law represented our company and furniture/fittings belonging to Econet
between July 2019 and has since been removed.”

February 2020, a relationship between Munengwa’s complaint over Econet’s
Esoft (Pvt) Ltd and Econet had been, and alleged unethical business practices is now
was still in effect. The head office address of being investigated by Potraz following
its business on their website shows the same a meeting with director-general Gift
address as Phillips Law: Suite 101 Sanlam Machengete on 19 May followed by a
Centre, Newlands, Harare. As of the end letter dated 28 May in which the company
of September 2020, the branding on the outlined its conflict quarrel with Econet.
Esoft (Pvt) Ltd premises still indicated
an affiliation with Econet as per images He said M-Comm Africa, through
attached hereto. At no point was I advised Munengwa, approached Econet Wireless
that my lawyer had a potentially conflicting in October 2011 with a proposal to partner
interest. the company with the provision of panic
button rapid response security services.
“Even if she acquired no knowledge that
compromised either party and she did not Munengwa said he continued engaging
in any event have personal dealings with Econet until June 2015, when the then chief
Econet; had I known that she had an interest commercial and customer services officer
in a business that is so closely associated with of Econet, Stanley Henning, responded
my adversary, I might not have engaged her. advising that the company would not
As a director of a company there is definitely pursue the idea.
some form of responsibility towards,
possible benefit from and therefore interest In November 2015, however, Econet
launched “Connected Home”, which
included a Panic Button and Rapid
Response Service.

Page 8 News News Hawks
BERNARD MPOFU
ZIMBABWE’S elite forces Issue 42, 6 August 2021
from the Special Air Services,
Commando and Parachute Zim’s elite forces to spearhead
regiments will be the first to be army training in Mozambique
deployed to train the Mozambican
army which is fighting to repel The conflict in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province has resulted in the death of hundreds of civilians.
violent extremists in the country’s
northern Cabo Delgado province, elite forces, as compared to will be a sure sign that the conflict deployed again, but this time to agreement (SFA) signed on 8
with the help of Rwandese and infantry troops, are deployed has intensified. But as it stands, train Mozambican soldiers.” July 2021 is confined to combat
Sadc forces, The NewsHawks has in small numbers. Once we see recce (reconnaissance) elements, activities only,” Muchinguri-
established. government deploying more, that who were there earlier on, will be Rwanda was the first African Kashiri said.
country to deploy its army on a
Last week, Defence minister bilateral basis to help Mozambique A leaked detailed document
Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri told repel the Islamist insurgents in of the Sadc military plan shows
a press briefing that Zimbabwe Cabo Delgado, while Botswana that regional leaders, following
would deploy 304 non-combatant and South Africa recently sent the technical assessment
soldiers to Mozambique’s conflict- contingents of soldiers under the mission, wanted the immediate
ridden region. The conflict, which auspices of Sadc, to help reclaim deployment of security forces
broke out nearly five years ago, has lost ground and restore peace. covering maritime, air and ground
resulted in the death of hundreds Following these deployments, strategic areas.
of civilians while hundreds of reports show that the insurgents
thousands have been displaced. have over the past few weeks been The technical assessment team
losing ground. came up with a detailed deployment
Military sources who spoke to plan and recommended that Sadc
The NewsHawks said the size of the Addressing a press conference in dispatch a force of 2 916 soldiers
contingent to be deployed reflects Harare, Muchinguri-Kashiri said to Cabo Delgado to “combat
the role the soldiers are assigned the government had approved the and neutralise” the insurgents
fulfil in the conflict. deployment of a training team and recapture territory they have
of 303 instructors to train one taken, including their capital,
“In the military, 300 represents infantry battalion-sized unit at Mocímboa da Praia.
three companies and each a time. She said the government
company (coy) ordinarily should had also approved the deployment “The SFA pertaining to
be under the command of a major of a specialist officer to the co- training is yet to be signed. It
who serves as the field officer. If ordination mechanism of the Sadc must, therefore, be noted that
Zimbabwe was keen on engaging standby force headquarters in the countries that are currently
in a serious assault on the Maputo. deploying are doing so on the
insurgents, it would at the very strength of the SFA signed on July
least deploy a battalion, which is “Taking cognisance that there 8, 2021.”
made up of at least 1 000 men,” a are two major elements to the
source said. deployment, namely combat She said the army would be
and training, the status of force deployed after the signing of the
“Due to their specialities, SFA.

Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri

News Hawks News Page 9

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Esidakeni Farm

wrangle turns

nasty, amid terror

IN a move which underlines a further In a Government Gazette last December, him of assaulting Dumisani Madzivanyati. he will send a truck to ferry our property
deterioration in the rule of law and Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka said Madzivanyati, a lecturer at Nust, is one of to Tsholotsho, our home. We have been
property rights under President Emmerson the farm known as Esidakeni measuring here since 2017 and we have been working
Mnangagwa’s government, Esidakeni Farm 553 hectares and situated in Nyamandlovu, the invaders claiming to have been given an peacefully until last month,” she said.
manager Makhabane Nkomo was on Matabeleland North province, was being offer letter by government.
Thursday evening hounded out of the land in compulsory acquired under section 72(2) of A farmworker, who identified herself as
Nyamandlovu with his family — and forced the country’s constitution. “Some men arrived around 11pm last MaKhumalo, said they were summoned on
to sleep in the bush — by a group of thugs night. They asked to see Makhabane, one of Thursday night by seven men who told them
who claimed they had taken over the hotly- This has attracted scrutiny and widespread them identified himself as Gumbo. They told to stop all operations at the farm.
contested property. condemnation. Masuka has distanced himself Makhabane that they were pursuing him for
from the saga, saying its Matabeleland North what he had done two weeks back,” Nkomo’s “We were summoned last night by about
The farm is legally co-owned by Siphosami political leaders behind the move. wife identified as Ndlovu said. seven people who were in a car. We have never
Malunga, director of Open Society Initiative seen them before. They told us not to report
for Southern Africa, businessman Charles On Friday, Malunga posted on his Facebook “Makhabane told them that he didn’t do for duty today (Friday). They threatened us
Moyo and National University of Science page that a group of men had invaded their anything wrong then they alleged that he that whoever would report for duty would
and Technology (Nust) scientist Zephaniah farm and barred Dhlamini from accessing the was part of people accused of assaulting one deal with them. However, they explained that
Dhlamini. property. Madzivanyati. They gave him 30 minutes to whatever is happening has nothing to do with
vacate the house or they would come back for us. They said it was between them and the
While Malunga and his colleagues are When a CITE news crew farm owners,” MaKhumalo said.
heavily invested in the farm and production visited the farm on him.”
is thriving — in a country where farms lie Friday afternoon, Ndlovu said initially they Contacted for comment Dhlamini told
derelict due to lack of production — Zanu visibly shaken farm ignored the instruction to leave, CITE that the ring-leader identified as
PF provincial political leaders Obert Mpofu workers said but then the group of men Davison Gumbo had been arrested and was
and Richard Moyo, who have their owns they had been returned for the second in police custody.
farms, have been wreaking havoc on that land ordered to stop time that was when they
through proxies. all operations fled their home. “The police have cleared us to continue
until further “They came back a with our work at the office. Gumbo has been
Central Intelligence Organisation co-deputy notice. few minutes later and arrested and is being charged with several
Director-General Gatsha Mazithulela has also ordered that we charges, including trespassing and breach of
been deeply involved in the nasty wrangle. They said should be gone in peace. According to the evidence, we gathered
Nkomo had 30 minutes. We fled he was sent by Madzivanyati,” Dlamini said.
Mpofu, who is Zanu PF secretary for spent the night and spent the night
administration, Richard Moyo, Matabeleland in the bush in in the bush. I returned “Initially, Gumbo was claiming that he
North provincial affairs minister, and hiding with his home around 1pm and was part of the beneficiaries at the farm,
Mazithulela have been identified as the wife after a group started removing all but when the police asked him to produce
architects of the illegal bid to seize the farm of men besieged our property from documentation to that effect he couldn’t.
from its legal indigenous black owners, which his compound the house. My However, for now, all has returned to normal
is unlawful. around 11pm on husband and workers will be resuming their duties.”
Thursday night said
Mpofu has been quoted on media as saying accusing Madzivanyati denied the allegations saying
he is not involved, although he purported to Siphosami he was not aware of the developments at
know the history of the farm and claimed Malunga the farm and was away in Harare on a work
to know it was not owned by Malunga and assignment.
others.
Malunga and his business partners have
Malunga and his business partners actually applied for a court interdict against invaders.
have the title deeds to the farm. They are also challenging the farm seizure. —
CITE/The NewsHawks.

Page 10 News News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Gold output rises as smugglers are
grounded by Covid-19 restrictions

DUMISANI NYONI smuggling into neighbouring Gold smuggling is estimated which compares favourably combined US$304.5 million.
South Africa and the United to cost Zimbabwe US$100 with the 55.8% delivered for In total, the country received
ZIMBABWE’S gold output Arab Emirates, among other million each month, according the same period in 2020. US$1.903 billion in exports,
rose by 6% to 12 779.29 countries. to Home Affairs minister up 37.8% in the prior period.
kilogrammes between January Kazembe Kazembe. “Gold exports in 2021 are A report titlef "Illicit Gold
and July this year as compared For instance, just recently, forecasted to be higher than Markets in East and Southern
to the corresponding period 33-year-old Tashinga Masinire Presenting his Monetary in 2020 on account of the Africa" by the Global Initiative
last year, due to the Covid-19- was arrested at OR Tambo Policy Statement on Thursday, recently introduced 2.5%-5% Against Transnational
induced restrictions that could International Airport in Reserve Bank governor John gold delivery incentive and the Organised
have curtailed gold leakages Johannesburg on 8 May 2021 Mangudya said there was Covid-19-induced restriction Crime (Global Initiative)
through smuggling, the central with smuggled gold worth R11 a remarkable surge in gold that could have curtailed gold reveals that gold buyers were
bank governor has said. million (about US$730 000). deliveries to Fidelity Printers leakages through smuggling,” selling between 10% and 30%
and Refiners (FPR) in the he said. of their gold to the FPR only
Last year in the same period, Masinire flew into one of months of June and July 2021. to maintain their gold licences,
gold output stood at 12 Africa’s busiest airports with 23 In terms of value, gold with the rest being sold on the
017.85kg. pieces of gold which he did not In June, for instance, gold contributed US$309.9 million illicit market.
declare. deliveries to FPR were 2 924.3 through exports, up 31.9% Major foreign buyers, often
Since 2009, the mining sector kg compared to 1 409.6 kg compared to the same period from South Africa, partner
has become the fastest growing On October 26 last year, delivered in June 2020. last year. with Zimbabwean dealers to
with both small-scale mining Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation buy large quantities of gold on
companies, artisanal miners (ZMF) president Henrietta Similarly, gold deliveries for Other minerals also the illicit market, the report
and multi-national companies Rushwaya was arrested at July 2021 stood at 2 824.6 contributed positively to the says.
taking part in the gold rush. Robert Gabriel Mugabe kg compared to July 2020 country’s fiscus, with platinum Government officials have
International Airport in Harare deliveries of 1 406.4kg. contributing US$1. 181 billion, been also accused of having a
But due to illicit financial for allegedly attempting to chrome ore and ferrochrome hand in the smuggling of gold.
flows, the southern African smuggle six kilogrammes of Small-scale gold producers (US$39.4 million), diamond
nation has been losing billions gold worth US$360 000 to contributed 52.8% of the total (US$68.2 million) and
of dollars through gold Dubai. She is out on bail. gold deliveries to FPR during other minerals contributed a
the first seven months of 2021

Henrietta Rushwaya Tashinga Masinire

News Hawks News Page 11

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

ZTA goes for 2yrs without
substantive chief executive

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE certain disclosures for the purpose of Karikoga Kaseke appointment of the CEO,” a source at the
THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) avoiding conflicts of interest.” Likuma’s appointment by Mupfumira was authority said.
has been operating without a substantive controversial and she was at the helm of the
chief executive officer and board chairperson “Before appointing a chief executive authority until August, when Chidzidzi was Another source also told The NewsHawks
for more than two years, a situation that has officer, the board of a public entity shall: again appointed to act in that position. it was a difficult for substantive progress to
affected decision making at the authority. publish, in a newspaper circulating in the Although there have been some initiatives happen as no one had a clear mandate on
area in which the public entity concerned to keep the tourism sector running during their job.
This is at a time Karikoga Kaseke, who conducts its activities, at least two the Covid-19 era, the lack of a substantive
suffered a stroke in November 2018 and advertisements calling for applications to fill management is slowing down progress at “I understand that the board had an
has failed to report for work since then, is the post of chief executive officer.” the authority. agreement with KK (Karikoga Kaseke) to
refusing the exit package being offered by This is an entity is responsible for the relinquish his position. But there have been
the interim board, further complicating the After the stroke in 2018, the authority’s licensing and registration of tourism players disagreements around his package.
processes to appoint a substantive CEO. chief operating officer, Givemore Chidzidzi, in Zimbabwe, investment, promotion,
acted for about three months before the public relations, branding and international “We also have an acting board chairman
ZTA is the state entity responsible then Environment, Tourism and Hospitality marketing of the Zimbabwe tourism and acting board committees. There have
for marketing and the branding of the Industry minister Priscah Mupfumira destination. not been substantive appointments yet since
Zimbabwe destination, as well as the appointed Rita Likukuma as the acting “There is no board chair to guide the some of the members left due to resignations
licensing and registration of tourism players. CEO from 1 February 2019. and other things. We have acting directors
and managers and they have been acting for
Apart from the top positions, other years as well. The ZTA is in sixes and sevens
posts affected by the lack of substantive really. The minister is failing to build a solid
appointments are the managers and case on the person he really wants.”
directors.
In an audit report published in July 2019,
The authority also does not have a Auditor-General Mildred Chiri reported
substantive board chairperson after the that Kaseke had been leading the authority
resignation of Osborne Majuru in mid- without a contact of employment.
2019, putting the appointment of a CEO
on hold. “There was no contract of employment
for the chief executive. The reference point
The CEO position has been open since of the conditions of service for the chief
Kaseke, who steered the tourism authority executive was his contract of employment
for 15 years, suffered a stroke in 2018. with his previous employer. The implications
thereof are no basis for legal recourse in case
According to section four of the Public of disputes hence a contract of employment
Entities and Corporate Governance Act, the should be negotiated, documented and
board of every public entity shall ensure that signed,” the audit report read.
the post of CEO of the entity is never left
vacant for more than six months. In the report, management responded,
saying that Kaseke was being paid in
“The entity’s deputy chief executive accordance with the instruction from the
officer, if there is one, is appointed to act Secretary to the President and Cabinet, as
as chief executive officer; or if there is no he had been appointed though the Office of
deputy chief executive officer, a member the President, hence his contract was to be
of the entity's staff or a board member is deemed to be in existence.
appointed to act as chief executive officer;
pending the appointment of a substantive Kaseke’s terms and conditions of
chief executive officer,” the Act reads. employment, according to the report, were
supposed to be the same as the one he had
“As soon as possible after being appointed while he was at the Civil Aviation Authority
or re-appointed a chief executive officer of Zimbabwe, where he had been transferred
must comply with section 37, requiring from.

Page 12 News News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Kurotwi left in the
cold, govt clinches
new diamond deal

Zimbabwe is endowed with diamonds, but critics accuse authorities for lacking transparency in resource exploitation.

BERNARD MPOFU Kurotwi’s plant. Lovemore Kurotwi
GOVERNMENT has courted a The coming in of Ashelroi Trading
new investor to set up a diamond
cutting and polishing plant as the Systems comes at a time Kurotwi has
fallout between the state and one of been engaged in a protracted wrangle
the local pioneers of gem processing with the authorities to reclaim
continues. equipment at his diamond mining
operations.
Zimbabwe is endowed with
diamonds, but critics have over the Kurotwi said he set up a US$25
years criticised the authorities for million diamond cutting and
lacking transparency in resource polishing plant in Mt Hampden
exploitation and failing to show and the facility has been lying idle
seriousness in ensuring mineral following his legal battle with former
beneficiation. Mines minister Obert Mpofu.

The government sees the mining In 2010, the government seized
sector becoming a US$12 billion Kurotwi’s equipment and money
industry in the short term, driven that was in the company’s vaults,
by strong growth in gold, platinum, accusing him of prejudicing the state
diamond and chrome. of US$2 billion in potential revenue.
The officials also seized mining
Infirmation minister Monica equipment meant for operations.
Mutsvangwa said the new investor
would participate in the auctioning At the peak of the fallout between
of the gems. Kurotwi and the government, he
was arrested together with his fellow
“In the diamonds sub-sector, director Dominic Mubaiwa, after
Cabinet noted the need to facilitate the government accused them of
a new investor, Ashelroi Trading prejudicing the state of revenue to
and Services, to participate in the tune of US$2 billion.
the diamond auction system as
already stipulated in the diamond Kurotwi claimed that Mpofu
value-addition chain in the demanded a US$10 million bribe to
National Development Strategy 1,” facilitate meetings and subsequently
Mutsvangwa said. a deal that would have seen Core
Mining’s partners, BSGR, pour
“The new investor will construct money into the diamond mining
an advanced diamond cutting and venture.
polishing plant in Zimbabwe and
promote skills and technology The matter went to court, where it
transfer on cutting and polishing.” was ruled that there was no sufficient
evidence to sustain the allegations
Mines minister Winston Chitando raised by the state.
did not respond to questions on how
much the new investor would inject Kurotwi was quoted as saying
into the business and why government Mpofu’s move cost his diamond
had not considered processing the business US$160 million, an
gems at local businessman Lovemore investment he said would have seen
part of the proceeds being channelled
towards the diamonds centre.

News Hawks Feature Page 13

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Remittances
into Zim
record strong
performance

DUMISANI NYONI case in 2020,” Mangudya said in which is financing development Consequently, foreign currency 29.1% increase in foreign currency
RESERVE Bank governor John his Monetary Policy Statement. from diaspora remittances, being a deposits in the banking sector supply.
Mangudya said on Thursday official good example. have increased and now stand at
remittances from the diaspora were “Personal transfers from US$1.7 billion. Reflecting the Mangudya said taking into
up 73% to US$649.47 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora are Mangudya said foreign payments strong external sector performance, account the foreign receipts and
between January and June this expected to remain steady and processed by banks on the hand foreign currency receipts amounted payments, the current account
year as Covid-19 lockdowns forced resilient, as the economies in key amounted to US$2.9 billion for the to US$4.02 billion in the first half balance for 2021 is projected to
people to send cash home via source markets recover from the six months ended 30 June 2021, of the year, compared to US$3.12 remain in a surplus position, albeit
official channels. Covid-19 induced slow-down and representing a 45.5% increase from billion received over the same at a moderated level of US$611.6
investments from Zimbabweans in US$2 billion recorded during the period in 2020, representing a million, compared to US$1.096.3
Diaspora remittances are an the diaspora rebounds.” same period in 2020. million recorded in 2020.
important source of foreign
exchange for Zimbabwe, which is His remarks come at a time the
in the grip of its worst economic government has refused to give
crisis in more than a decade that millions of Zimbabweans in the
has seen worsened dollar shortages. diaspora the right to vote.

Most of Zimbabwe’s more than Opposition political parties and
two million-strong diasporans live civil society organisations have
in South Africa, and often send been calling the government to
money via unofficial channels, reconsider its stance given the
including buses and trucks. significant remittances the people
living in the diaspora have been
When Zimbabwe and South contributing over the years.
Africa closed their land borders
as part of measures to contain the If the demand is granted, they
spread of coronavirus earlier in say, they will be nudged to do
2020, many Zimbabweans started more. Besides giving them political
to use money transfer agencies to rights to vote, the government can
send money to families back home. also offer incentives like diaspora
infrastructure bonds to finance
“Diaspora remittances and other investment in capital projects, they
transfers, which constitute the said.
secondary income account, are
projected to continue driving the There are a number of African
current account balance as was the countries that are already recording
dividends from mobilising funds
from the diaspora, with Ethiopia,

RBZ governor John Mangudya (top picture) claims foreign payments processed by banks amounted to US$2.9 billion for the six months ended 30 June 2021.

Page 14 News News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

NYASHA CHINGONO

How I survived Covid-19IT feels good to be outside my gate and see
little children play in the dirt. attack: A personal account
“Uncle how are you,” yells one. I am

pretty sure they missed me, or the few notes
I often give them to buy sweets.
For the past two weeks, I have been in
isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.
The closest I have been to the action Even though I do not fancy taking
medicine, I never stopped taking my
outside was a peep through the gate as I medication until a nurse at Wilkins Hospital
yearned to go outside and talk to neighbours.
The walls in my room sternly stared at cleared me of Covid-19.
Thankfully, I never required oxygen, as
me for the past 14 days, as I endured the I was breathing well. Chewing raw onion,
gruelling journey to recovery.
I constantly prayed and finally emerged garlic and ginger became my daily routine.
healed. “You are positive.” Those three I literally stank of herbs, but they helped
a great deal. Homecare and support from
words by the nurse would change my world. loved ones I was blessed to have a caring
The week had started off busy and I paid
little attention to the flu-like symptoms I family, especially my nephew Brendon.
The young man was always there to care
was feeling. Even though there was a cold for me and kept my spirits high, the few
front sweeping through southern Africa and
Zimbabwe in particular, I felt colder than times I met him in the corridor. He often
made fun of my lazy walk as I dragged my
everyone else around me. feet to sit in the sun.
A jersey and a winter coat completed my
daytime attire at work as I tried in vain A homely environment is critical to
recovery as the stress of staying in isolation
to shrug off the flu. At night, I struggled can be crippling.
to keep warm as the biting cold triggered
shivering and a dry cough. By Tuesday of I have come to realise that what makes
Covid-19 patients deteriorate is lack of a
that week, the flu-like symptoms worsened warm family environment. It is, therefore,
as I felt an uncomfortable choke in my
throat. important for families to ensure enough
support and often check up on their beloved
A colleague and I insisted we go to ones holed up in isolation. Because it can be
Domboshava to cover a Covid-19 story. traumatic in isolation. What also kept me
Although it was a largely successful trip,
I struggled with a dry cough, fatigue and going and encouraged were constant calls
from my beloved sisters.
a cold. To deal with the nagging cold, I My pastors and friends often checked up
thought steaming and lemon tea would do
a quick job, but the cough grew worse. I on me too and their prayers kept me in high
immediately knew something was wrong Covid-19 swab test, the symptoms had nephew and his partner, who had blindly spirits and looking forward to recovery.
when the sweating and headaches worsened grown. By this time, I felt tightness in my cared for me, not knowing we had a bigger
that night. chest, high temperature and a runny nose. problem. In the queue, I had met a middle- Constant messages from workmates also
aged man, who also tested positive for gave me comfort that my colleagues were
Taking a day off work to monitor the My nephew insisted that I get tested and Covid-19. His story was tear-jerking. thinking of me and wishing me well.
situation later proved wise as it marked the we took off for Wilkins Infectious Diseases
beginning of my isolation, although I had Hospital. While in the queue, I was already He stays alone and was worried about Coping mechanisms
not been tested. As a journalist, I knew that preparing myself for the worst possible how he would spend two weeks alone. As I became stronger, I turned to things I
the propensity to move around, doing my news. I was one of a dozen people waiting love doing to cope with isolation.
work, would make me susceptible to the for test results when my name was called “Who will take care of me, even fetch me A little reading and playing guitar helped
virus somehow. It was only a matter of time. out by the nurse. She immediately said: a cup of water?” he asked. me wind down the days in isolation.
“You are positive.” I also discovered a new passion in writing
Before I made the decision to get a I really wonder what happened to him. short blogs on life experiences, encouraging
My heart sank. I worried about my I pray he is fine. We received counselling readers on LinkedIn. Surprisingly, the short
from a health officer, who encouraged me to writings made so much impact and I gained
SUPERLIFE be strong and gave me advice on how I was many followers too. Talk about something
STC30 to conduct myself during isolation. positive from isolation!
As we age our stemcells (basic building blocks in our body for Although I pray daily as a child of God,
The drive home that day was a long one. my prayer life grew tremendously in
repair processes), like other cells, they age, get weakened, die Like the man in the queue, I also wondered isolation, and I read the Bible a lot too.
and get depleted in process (owing to the heavy toll our lifestyle how my two weeks in isolation would be It was a spiritual awakening for me, and I
like. A torturous journey to recovery, it realised all we have is hope for eternity. All
has on them) proved to be. is vanity when you are fighting for dear life.
Social media can be traumatic too as
STC30 stemcell supplement, made to allow your Medication condolence messages for people who died of
body to regenerate, heal itself and deal effectively Apart from home remedies like steaming, Covid-19 flood your timeline.
with: drinking ginger, garlic and zumbani tea, The first thing that comes to mind is: I
adherence to prescription medication is could be part of the statistics too.
Ÿ Arthritis crucial for speedy recovery. Vitamin C, So, I minimised the time spent on social
Ÿ Diabetes zinc and azithromycin tablets were very media, especially Twitter and focused on
Ÿ Acids important to my recovery. television, watching the Olympics.
Ÿ Eyesight Problems, Prostrate Disorder A dose of painkillers provided some It was an emotional roller-coaster. I cried
Ÿ Cysts welcome relief for the splitting headaches I too, at times.
Ÿ Skin Disease suffered during the first four days. Desperate
Ÿ Allergies to stop the painful headaches, I took the Importance of vaccination
Ÿ ETC highly effective ibuprofen. It triggered more I beat Covid-19 because my body had a
headaches and dizziness, which worsened fighting chance and I encourage the public
Ÿ the Covid-19 symptoms. Laying in bed, I to get a shot.
prayed that I see another day, to take care Vaccination certainly played a pivotal role
WhatsAPP +263 71 379 6159 of my nephew and family, as I am the in helping me recover fast from Covid-19.
breadwinner. We can all beat this if we play our part.
My nephew cried as I lay motionless on My condolences to the families of those
the bed, he thought the worst was about who succumbed to the virus. To those
to happen, but God certainly was not yet who are still battling the infection, I wish
done with me. I later found out from a you speedy recovery. Thank God, I beat
brother-in-law, a medical doctor, that the Covid-19 and you can beat it too.
combination of strong painkillers and Here is to telling more stories and making
Covid-19 medication was a recipe for music!
disaster. Immediately, I stopped taking
ibuprofen and the headaches subsided.

News Hawks News Page 15

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

How I defeated Covid-19 shock

MARY MUNDEYA During the days that followed, I was check on me on a daily basis, it was difficult such that I would sweat like no man’s
ON 19 July 2021, a Parliament of Zimbabwe optimistic I would recover. to comprehend the amount of information I business. Thereafter, I would freeze as if I
public relations officer announced in a was receiving on what home remedies I was had been dumped in a deep freezer. My chest
WhatsApp group that every journalist But on some days when the Covid-19 supposed to be using to complement the would become heavy and start aching.
interested in covering parliamentary symptoms were at a peak, my confidence vitamin and zinc pills. Sometimes I would
proceedings must undergo a Covid-19 test would hit rock bottom. I would have panic receive forwarded messages detailing how The pain would disappear, for some time,
and present a medical certificate showing the attacks, unable to eat on some days. In such bad things were around the world due to if I steamed.
results. a situation, I would wonder whether I was Covid-19, which added salt to the wound.
soon going to be part of the Covid-19 fatality The confusing part of it all was that I
With confidence, I submitted my name statistics. After a week had passed, my temperature would really be ill today and maybe for
because I wanted to cover the Senate the began increasing and decreasing drastically the following day or two be perfectly fine,
following day, a Tuesday. As much as I had a lot of people who would only for the pain to resurface from nowhere
whenever it felt like it. I am certain that for
That Tuesday morning, I rushed into a moment, the people who would constantly
central Harare because I wanted to be tested check on me on a number of intervals
at the Parliament of Zimbabwe carpark, thought that I had lost my mind due to
where an outreach Covid-19 vaccination and the everchanging accounts that I was giving
testing programme was being done. them, on my battle with the coronavirus.

I tested positive and was in real shock. Several days before my two-week
For a moment, I was certain that I was quarantine was over, I started experiencing
having a terrible dream. This could not be more vivid Covid-19 symptoms like a sore
real, I thought to myself. throat, coughing and sneezing.
How was it possible that someone
without any symptoms could test positive I could not help but worry that my
for Covid-19? Besides, inasmuch as I am Covid-19 re-test was going to turn out
a frontline worker, I had actually gained positive. As a freelance journalist who does
a reputation for being very careful when it not have a basic monthly salary, being
came to adhering to Covid-19 preventative unable to work for two weeks was already
measures. bad enough. Another period in quarantine
In fact, I was so observant of Covid-19 was surely going to be disastrous.
prevention protocols that my colleagues had
found befitting nicknames for me. Some I fought on, and on Monday, I tested
colleagues had given me the name Miss negative for Covid-19.
Sanitiser, while others called me “vema mask”
(the one who does not take her face mask I had won my fight and could finally go to
off). So where had I gone wrong? work and get vaccinated too.
I also did not recall having been exposed to
anyone who had tested positive for Covid-19, Being a Covid-19 survivor has taught me
so where had I contracted the disease from? that no Covid-19 preventative measure is
In my quest to figure out what more important than the other; the least we
had happened, I found myself crying can do is combine all the available options
uncontrollably for some time until I managed and increase our chances of not getting
to gather the courage to call close family and infected with the virus because things are
friends to break the news. Like me, most changing.
were left in shock.
But this was reality. New variants are emerging, so must get
The pain of passing through Africa Unity vaccinated, wear our masks and practice
Square and seeing a huge number of people good hygiene. We can never be too sure, just
not wearing their masks properly really got because the next person is not showing any
to me, as I went back home. symptoms does not mean they are Covid-19
I could not help but wonder how many free.
awareness campaigns we needed for people
to understand that we are at war with Let us all fight this pandemic.
Covid-19. The numbers, both cumulative
infections and the death toll, are there to
prove it is a war.
My journey back home was that of a
defeated individual who was waiting to die.
I went to the extent of buying myself my
favourite meal. In my opinion, having a feast
before I kicked the bucket would not be a
bad idea.
I could not help but wonder what life was
going to be for my family after my death. I
then wrote my final wishes and sent them
to a friend of mine who was going to share
them at my funeral.
I then decided to make my Covid-19 status
public, and the results shocked me, to say the
least. The love and support I got from a lot of
people was amazing.
Some Covid-19 survivors got in touch and
shared their experiences. It was only then
that I realised that Covid-19 was not a death
sentence.
I was also fortunate to have a guardian who
is an Econet Wireless employee and is part
of the Econet Wellness Club. My guardian’s
assistance and experience was invaluable.

Page 16 News News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Picturesque Warren
Hills vanish as gravel
extraction gets worse

Ruvimbo Muskwe/Virginia Zifesho The residents of Warren Park are concerned An excavator loads gravel onto a waiting truck at the Warren Hills on
IT is a Tuesday morning, at the top of a about the environmental damage and the Wednesday — Picture: Aaron Ufumeli.
section of Warren Park’s rolling hills. One is fact that the hills are fast disappearing.
welcomed by the singing of various people, erect a fence around the pits. They (the pits) aware of the extraction of gravel in Warren
some as individuals and others in small “At this rate, we could be telling our are very deep and I had to stop them from Park, adding the local authority is not
groups, and all kinds of prayers. children that ‘once upon a time’ there were continuing because they were advancing committing an offence.
hills in this place,” Milton Moyo, a local towards the houses. They then went to
In these times of Covid-19, where churches resident, said. another side,” Mhetu said. “These borrow pits have been in existence
and other gatherings are banned, people have before Ema was established, although an
resorted to finding places to pray in the hills “Every single day, we are seeing truck He also said the City of Harare should be environmental management plan was
and mountains. The hills in Harare’s Warren after truck loading gravel from the area. environmentally friendly in its approach by submitted by Harare City Council to
Park suburb, which separate Warren Park 1 Right from the start of the hills, just after filling up the pits, among other measures. the agency (Ema) and we are constantly
and 2 from Warren Park D, have become the TelOne offices along Bulawayo Road, to monitoring the gravel extraction activities
prayer venues. Mereki Shopping Centre, they are destroying “When a house is so close to a very deep taking place,” Sibanda said.
the hills. These trucks are also destroying pit like that, it’s no longer safe. That’s my
All sorts of people come here: Some are the roads by causing potholes and yet the concern,” he said. In an article published by Ubuntu Times,
silently meditating, while others are shouting companies don’t invest in fixing the roads. environmentalists complained that soil from
prayers at the top of their voices, with some However, besides the safety of people, dug up areas below and on top of Warren
speaking in strange tongues for long periods. “Sometimes I think they are taking especially children, the extraction of gravel Hills is being washed into Lake Chivero,
advantage of us because we are in high- also has environmental effects. contributing to siltation.
At the base of the hills in Warren Park 1, density suburbs. Why don’t they destroy
the residents in nearby houses often hear the the hills in Chishawasha, Glen Lorne or Other than their safety, residents again Chivero supplies water to Harare and
hilltop prayers. Borrowdale Brooke?” complained about noise pollution from the Chitungwiza. Sibanda denied the siltation.
trucks, earthmovers and bulldozers, as well
Joyce Chiname (45) is at home doing her For residents living at the foot of the hills, as explosives used to blast rock. “The gravel extraction taking place on this
chores. A street vendor passes by and she however, there is a greater concern of life- site is not on wetlands. Land degradation
stops her to buy tomatoes while shouting at and-death proportions. Despite all these effects, Mhetu said he that takes place on wetlands is the one that
her two minor children who had crossed the believes when the City of Harare settled for primarily affects our water sources,” she said.
road to play. Mellissa Magarasadza, whose house is 100 extracting gravel, it had complied with all
metres away from a very deep gravel pit, said Ema requirements. The extraction of gravel is likely to continue
Directly in front of her house, there is a she regrets moving to the area because she is going forward.
deep pit left by City of Harare workers when constantly worried about the welfare of her “We haven’t received any communication
they extracted gravel. minor children. or complaint from Ema seeking the “Let’s see what this area will look like after
punishment of the City of Harare, so it 20 to 30 years. I am sure these hills will be
The pit is a constant reminder of an “We are new here, but I am living in shows they are complying with the Ema non-existent or badly scarred such that they
unfortunate incident that befell her tenant fear because I have to constantly check Act,” he said. will become a real eyesore. And as long as the
three years ago. The tenant’s seven-year-old on my children. What frustrates me the pits are not filled, there will be many broken
baby girl went missing, only to be found a most is that they are continuing to create Mhetu however said there was no excuse limbs or deaths caused by this extraction,”
week later floating in the water-filled gravel more pits without filling the old ones,” she for the failure to fill the gaping pits. warned Moyo, the local resident.
pit in front of their house. said, pointing to an earthmover that was
manoeuvering its way up the hill. Ema’s senior environmental education and “It pains my heart and this view is widely
“When I look at these pits, it opens up publicity officer for Harare metropolitan shared.”
old wounds. My tenant’s daughter was Trucks can also be seen taking turns to carry province, Batsirai Sibanda, said the agency is
playing with other kids and when the others gravel. It happens all day long, Mugarasadza
returned home, she did not come with points out.
them,” Chiname says, with tears welling up
in her eyes. The result has been that, even from a
distance, one can easily see the ugly scars on
“We reported the case to the police when the hills.
the child went missing and they only told us
to wait for 48 hours. Even when we found City of Harare spokesperson Michael
her, we told the DA (district administrator) Chideme confirmed that the local authority
about these pits, but nothing has been done,” has been extracting gravel for road
she added. construction from Warren Park.

For years, the City of Harare and The councillor for ward 15, Tichaona
construction companies have been extracting Mhetu, said although the Environmental
gravel for the rehabilitation and construction Management Authority had not complained
of roads from Warren Hills, destroying large about the goings-on in Warren Park, he had
sections of the once picturesque landscape. complained to senior City of Harare officials
about the environmental damage.
Besides being an eyesore, the extraction has
left large pits open, while causing large-scale He said he had invited the city’s chief road
environmental damage. engineer and the director of works to assess
the environmental destruction.

“I suggested that the works department

News Hawks Feature Page 17

Issue 42, 6 August 2021 Forgotten San community
scrounge for food handouts
LIZWE SEBATHA
Jobless San youths: On the right is Lethu Tshuma, Thema Maphosa (centre) and Drought Moyo (on the left).
AS President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
administration rejoices after Zimbabwe San . . . Greater Ndebele (girl) and Fantu Ndlovu have never been to school.
recorded a bumper harvest, the same joy is
not shared by the San people in Tsholotsho, A study published in July 2021 titled drivers of the failed San communities’ The researchers also uncovered that
Matabeleland North province, who are Marginal Communities and Livelihoods: transition include poor farming techniques, the neighbouring Ndebele and Kalanga
facing starvation following a poor harvest in San Communities Failed Transition to a marginalisation, systematic structural communities often cheated and exploited
the 2020/21 farming season. Modern Economy in Tsholotsho, Zimbabwe, oppression by the Ndebele and Kalanga San after hiring them for casual jobs such as
by Thulani Dube, Cornelius Ncube, Philani ethnic groups, poor market linkages and the herding cattle.
The country expects to harvest an estimated Moyo, Keith Phiri and Nhlanhla Moyo, natural environmental challenges such as
2.8 million tonnes, a number harvest cites a combination of toxic factors as being climate change. “Most of these casual jobs were
against annual national consumption of 1.8 behind the failure of the San community remunerated in food and money. A common
million tonnes, thanks to the good rains to climb up the social ladder and transition “There were several major drawbacks to problem raised by most San respondents
that characterised the 2020/21 agricultural from a hunter- gather economy to an agro- the agricultural practice of the San people. about this livelihood pathway was that they
season. based one. Firstly, they were faced with the challenge of felt exploited by the Ndebele and Kalanga
draught power. Consequently, they had small employers. San respondents pointed out that
“In Zimbabwe, between 2020 and 2021, “Wild animals were widely cited as a fields which they ploughed manually due to they were often underpaid for their services.”
crop yield is expected to increase by 199% major factor undermining the success of lack of draught power,” the study adds.
for maize harvest, 128% for the harvest of San community livelihood portfolios. However, with the announced government
traditional grains (and) 94% for cotton Participants in the focus group discussions “Because of high poverty levels in the intervention measures, the San community
harvest,” Mnangagwa was quoted as saying explained that animals were responsible for San communities, food aid perennially are hopeful that their troubled fortunes will
during a high-level dialogue on feeding destroying their crops and thus leading to constituted an important livelihood pathway change, the Tsoro-o-Tso San Development
Africa held under the theme: Leadership to perpetual insecurity. in these communities. Keeping seeds for Trust says.
scale unsuccessful innovations. the next farming season was found to be
“It was indicated that after many years of generally a challenge amongst mostly poor “The entire San community is hopeful
In May, Reserve Bank governor John interfacing with human beings, these animals households in the study areas. It was noted because it is the first time in years that
Mangudya announced that Zimbabwe has, were no longer afraid of traditional methods that due to shortage of food, most villagers government ministers took time to visit the
as a result, suspended maize imports, saving used to scare them,” the study reads in part. ate their seeds, especially groundnuts, before area to document problems we face, unlike
the country an import bill of over US$300 the planting season.” in the past when they would rely on our
million. The study found out that some of the reports,” Ndlovu says.

However, the San community in
Tsholotsho have nothing to celebrate, as they
continue begging for food handouts.

There are an estimated 3 000 San
community members in Tsholotsho,
according to a recent “census” by the Tsoro-o-
Tso San Development Trust, an independent
organisation that advocates the development
of the Tjwa/San people in Zimbabwe.

“The food situation is very, very critical
and dire,” Davy Ndlovu, the coordinator
of the Tsoro-o-Tso San Development Trust,
told The NewsHawks in an interview on
Wednesday.

“We had so much rain, but the same rains
destroyed the little that the community
had planted, owing mainly to poor farming
techniques. Those that did harvest did not
get much.

“The community faces hunger and we
plead with state and non-governmental
organisations to chip in with food assistance.”

Begging for food assistance is nothing new
for the San, who survived on hunting and
gathering in the area where Hwange National
Park is located, before they were translocated
in the 1920s.

Poverty is rife among the San, who survive
mostly on casual work in neighbouring
Ndebele and Kalanga communities.

The San community suffers deep structural
and systematic marginalisation, government
acknowledged recently as it announced a
number of intervention measures to assist
them. This followed a report presented in
Cabinet after a visit to the San community
by a government delegation led by Local
Government minister July Moyo.

“The delegation noted that the San
people lack birth certificates and identity
documents, encounter high teenage
pregnancies, as well as very low school
completion rates at primary and secondary
school, and suffer food insecurity, mainly
due to human-wildlife conflict and failure to
practise modern agriculture,”

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa
said in a post-Cabinet briefing recently.

Government intervention measures
include the building of clinics, primary
and secondary schools, waiving entry
requirements for learners, facilitating the
issuance of birth and identity documents
and appointing headmen and chiefs to
“enhance the participation of the San/Tjwao
in governance.”

Page 18 News News Hawks
FOLLOWING successive droughts,
Zimbabwe experienced normal rainfall Issue 42, 6 August 2021
during the 2020/21 season and the
government has declared a bumper Livelihoods strained despite
harvest. Despite a largely successful bumper harvest — WFP rep
agricultural season, with the authorities
already halting grain imports, the WFP says the country’s food crisis will continue in 2021.
Covid-19 pandemic continues to worsen
livelihoods and, according to the World will continue to receive assistance until is currently serving the needs of 326 000 prevent overcrowding at redemption sites.
Food Programme (WFP), deteriorating December 2021. The remaining group of people through cash-based assistance. NC: Which provinces will face acute food
food insecurity increased by 12% since people (42% of the original caseload) have
2019. According to the World Bank, 7.9 been re-prioritised with households in more Like every organisation, resourcing will shortages this year?
million Zimbabweans will face acute levels urgent need of urgent humanitarian support. always be a challenge in meeting the needs FE: In rural areas, results show that
of poverty and, despite the bumper harvest, It is important to remember that WFP is of every household. At the beginning of the
the unrelenting food crisis will continue still serving the same number of beneficiaries year, we set our best intentions to serve up to Matabeleland North province is expected to
in 2021. Although food insecurity used (326 000) with cash-based assistance from 550 000 people throughout the year — and have the highest prevalence of food insecurity
to be the problem of rural folk, urban August to December 2021. this is something we will continue to work (43%), followed by Masvingo (36%) and
areas are facing acute food shortages, with towards, with the generous contributions Matabeleland South (35%).
millions facing hunger. The WFP has NC: How many families are receiving cash- from our partners.
escalated its food assistance programmes based assistance in urban areas? Who are the In urban settings, Harare (1 152 388)
to assist families around the country. The people facing more vulnerable circumstances It is also important to acknowledge the has the largest food insecure population,
NewsHawks reporter, Nyasha Chingono in communities? collaborative work of the government of in contrast to Mashonaland Central (33
(NC) interviewed Francesca Erdelmann Zimbabwe and other humanitarian agencies 213), which recorded the lowest levels.
(FE), WFP Zimbabwe representative and FE: WFP assists a total of 326 000 people in meeting other equally important and Other urban areas impacted include Ruwa,
country director. Below are excerpts of the across 23 urban domains in Zimbabwe. intersecting needs of urban populations. Goromonzi, Chinhoyi, Epworth, Kwekwe,
interview: Based on regular consultation and feedback These include access to social protection, and Marondera, to name a few.
from communities, WFP prioritises the water, health, shelter, protection and
NC: How many people are you predicting most vulnerable social groups for assistance, education. NC: What steps is the government taking
to be food insecure this year in both the including households headed by children, to end poverty in the country and what other
urban and rural areas? people living with disabilities, elderly-headed NC: How has the WFP managed to measures could help with this goal?
households caring for orphans, pregnant operate during the lockdown and how has
FE: The latest ZimVac (Zimbabwe and lactating women, as well as those with the pandemic affected your operations, FE: Achieving zero hunger in Zimbabwe
Vulnerability Assessment Committee) chronic illnesses. especially in urban areas, where restrictions will be the result of collective efforts of the
report indicates that during the peak lean are tougher? government, international and national
season (between January 2022 and March It is important to remember that household organisations who work across a range of
2022), up to 27% of rural households or vulnerability can change over time due to FE: Lockdown measures have made it intersecting areas to reduce hunger.
2,9 million individuals will be food insecure. relocation, changes in family size, employment difficult for some beneficiaries to access
The situation in urban areas is similar, with status, or the receipt of assistance from other outlets where they can receive their assistance, The government has taken strong efforts
up to 2.4 million people expected to be food social support programmes. It is important as movement in and around city centres to design and develop effective and efficient
insecure, according to the latest 2020 urban to re-assess circumstances regularly to ensure has been limited. WFP has been working national assistance programmes — which
livelihoods assessment. we are capturing these changes to reflect who closely with partners, including government will provide communities across Zimbabwe
receives priority over assistance. (Ministry of Public Services, Labour, with more comprehensive support. WFP
NC: On the back of a three-year drought, and Social Welfare), non-government has been working alongside the government
Zimbabwe was said to have scored a bumper NC: According to the 2020 Urban organisations, financial service providers and to strengthen its capacity to deliver social
harvest this season. Is this likely going to Livelihoods Assessment, 2.4 million urban retailers to find timely solutions — so that assistance programmes through a range of
reduce the number of food insecure people dwellers in Zimbabwe are food insecure. people most in need are able to receive life- technical, operational and policy guidance.
in urban areas? Is the WFP able to support all affected saving humanitarian assistance.
populations in need? More efforts are required across sectors
FE: Of the last five agricultural seasons WFP ensures that Covid-19 precautionary collectively to ensure programmes are
in Zimbabwe, only two received typical FE: WFP aims to assist as many people measures are observed at all programme sites, building the resilience of communities.
rainfall. The rest were characterised by severe impacted by food and nutrition insecurity. including social distancing, handwashing, Investing in the longer term through skills
drought. The good news is that the 2020/21 While we know that 2.4 million urban temperature checks and the use of facemasks. and capacity strengthening will help farmers
agricultural season has had higher crop dwellers are classified as food insecure, WFP Disbursements have been staggered to and urban dwellers to better withstand
production in comparison to previous years. sudden shocks such as economic, health or
This is largely due to better rainfall patterns climate-related events.
and availability of agricultural inputs such as
seeds and fertilizer in some areas.

Unfortunately, however, despite the
positive harvest, many people in urban
communities are facing deteriorating food
insecurity (increased by 12% since 2019).
Rising vulnerability levels are attributed
to the Covid-19 pandemic, as measures
implemented to curb the spread of the
virus have resulted in the widespread and
prolonged loss of urban livelihoods. While
the bumper harvest will likely increase the
availability of staple foods in urban markets,
households will still struggle to purchase
basic food supplies without employment or
income.

NC: The WFP recently conducted a re-
assessment exercise in eight urban domains
that have been receiving cash-based assistance
in 2021, under its urban food security and
resilience building programme. What were
your major findings? How food insecure are
urban dwellers?

FE: A total of 163 000 existing beneficiaries
were re-assessed between April and June 2021,
using a revised targeting tool. In addition, up
to 114 000 people from surrounding food
insecurity hotspots were also assessed for
the first time, to ensure WFP is responsive
to the changing circumstances of affected
populations.

From the results, we can confirm that more
than half (58%) of existing beneficiaries

News Hawks News Page 19

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

STEPHEN CHADENGA Midlands cities run out of burial
space, as Covid-19 wreaks havoc
IT is a sunny Saturday mid-
morning as three Gweru City
Council grave diggers take a short
rest at the municipality’s Central
(Mtasa) Cemetery. Their task is to
ensure that the day’s requirement
for burial space is met without fail.
They have to take a very short
breather because of the high
number of graves they must dig.
On normal days, the council
workers would not labour like
this, but the demand for graves
has drastically increased since the
onset of the Covid-19 pandemic
last year.
According to council
spokesperson, Vimbai
Chingwaramusee, from January to
date, 65 people have been buried
at the local authority’s cemeteries,
compared to 45 from the whole of
last year.
She said Covid-19-related
deaths account for the bulk of the The demand for graves has drastically increased since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

burials. Kasipo said council-run
The situation is more dire cemeteries, namely Amaveni,
in the city of Kwekwe, where Mbizo and Msasa Park, will run
the authorities say the current out of space in three years’ time
cemeteries will run out of space in due to increased deaths.
two years’ time owing to a surge in
coronavirus deaths. “We are facing a looming EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM
The government has declared disaster, considering the rate at
both Gweru and Kwekwe as which people are dying from
Covid-19 hotspots, with the Covid-19-related deaths,” she
latter placed under strict localised said.
lockdown in May following the
detection of the highly infectious “As a local authority, we have
Delta variant. to identify new burial sites as a
Government hospitals and matter of urgency. Imagine in
funeral service providers in the July alone we had 140 burials and
two cities are struggling to cope. this is overwhelming not only our
Morgues are overwhelmed with graveyards but workforce as well.”
dead bodies.
Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe In a virtual meeting last week,
this week told The NewsHawks funeral service providers from
that the situation at council across the country said the
cemeteries is being aggravated by pandemic had seen their morgues
the manual grave-digging system flooded with corpses.
currently used by workers.
“Since the onset of the Covid-19 The situation is the same at
pandemic, the demand for burial public hospitals in the Midlands
space at our cemeteries has and the country in general.
increased,” Makombe said. For all your Conferences, Events, Corporate and Meeting Room Requirements
“The major challenge has been Newly-appointed Midlands Contact Charmaine on 0735 666 122/ Ruth on 0784 674 193 or E-Mail
that grave digging is being done provincial medical director Dr [email protected].
manually. We were hoping that if Mary Muchekeza said she could Visit us at The NewsHawks, #100 Nelson Mandela, Beverly Court, 6th Floor
not comment on the issue, as
we get funds we automate grave she was still “settling and getting
digging.” handover reports from officers and
Makombe said the rate at which districts.”
people were being buried at
council cemeteries required new However, after meeting the
planning to allocate more burial provincial Covid-19 taskforce last
space in the city. week in a closed-door engagement,
The same sentiments were former vice-president Kembo
echoed by Kwekwe mayor Mohadi told journalists that it was
Angelina Kasipo, who said last worrying that over 300 people in
month alone more than 140 the Midlands had succumbed to
burials were recorded at council the disease within a three-week
cemeteries. period. The NewsHawks TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]

The government has since
extended lockdown measures, as
well as ramping up the vaccination
drive to curb the spread of the
respiratory disease.

Page 20 News News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Redcliff gets new Covid medical facility

A MEDICAL facility in Redcliff belonging Former African Union representative to the United States Arikana Chihombori-Quao
to the former African Union representative
to the United States, Arikana Chihombori- said. “PPEs are not enough for our health in Zimbabwe only needed oxygen
Quao, is now ready as a Covid-19 treatment She however revealed that even if the practitioners here, while the health workers supplementaries to keep them alive for three
centre. have not been properly trained. They are still to four days while the body is building up
facility was to be completed, “it’s very small afraid of Covid-19 and have a good reason to immunity to fight the disease. Very few
The US-based Zimbabwean-born medical and will not cope” if cases rise. do so. Without proper protective equipment, people need intensive care admission. So we
doctor is also the chief executive and founder your chances of survival as a health worker can save thousands of lives in the event of
of Bell Family Medical Centre in America. Two major medical facilities in the district, are very low,” he said. a major outbreak just by having admisison
Kwekwe General Hospital and Silobela facilities,”he said.
Redcliff mayor Cayton Masiyatsva said District Hospital, do not have have the Madzorera said, for most people who
Chihombori-Quao gave the municipality capacity to handle a major outbreak. succumb to Covid-19, the main reason is Madzorera added that the few patients
authority to use the facility, which has been lack of oxygen. who eventually need the intensive care unit
lying idle for almost a decade. Dr Madzorera said it is not only admission can be transferred to Bulawayo or Harare. -
facilities which are proving challenging in “Most of the people who die of Covid-19 STAFF WRITER.
“Bell Medical Centre is now ready as Kwekwe, but also lack of personal protective disease here in Kwekwe and elsewhere
an isolation centre. The centre is now equipment (PPE) for health practitioners.
fully furnished and we are ready to receive
patients,” Masiyatsva said.

The facility is, for the time-being, housing
doctors from Kwekwe General Hospital,
whose premises were recently gutted by fire.

“We are currently housing doctors from
Kwekwe General Hospital, who lost their
premises in an inferno. Furthermore, we
are going to use Torwood Hospital as a
quarantine centre,” Masiyatsva said.

Kwekwe district did not have adequate
Covid-19 admission facilities, raising fears of
many deaths if infections soar.

Health expert Dr Henry Madzorera, who
was Minister of Health during the inclusive
government, welcomed the development
given the shortage of Covid-19 treatment
facilities in Kwekwe.

“Kwekwe is not prepared at all to handle
a full blown Delta Covid-19 situation. We
have no admission facility,” Madzorera said.

For the past two years, Kwekwe has been
working on having an infectious disease
hospital after turning a local beerhall into a
hospital.

Garandichauya pub, in the Mbizo area, is
not yet ready to handle any admissions, as it
is still incomplete.

“We converted Garandichauya into an
infectious diseases hospital. The hospital is
almost complete. We are at 95% completion
and only need some furnishings,” Kasipo

CHIPA GONDITII Pandemic derails Aids response: WHO
THE Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted
every aspect of life over the last 18 months, countries, including Zimbabwe. had disrupted the girls’ education, while of death for adult women (aged 15 to 49
including efforts to accelerate progress “Beginning in March 2020, the number also making them vulnerable to HIV and years).
towards eliminating HIV and Aids Aids through early child marriage.
transmission in the country, a study by the of women living with HIV who received In the report, WHO also advised the
World Health Organisation (WHO) has anti-retroviral therapy during pregnancy fell “Covid-19 resulted in the widespread focus countries to scale up HIV prevention
revealed. from pre-pandemic levels, with the sharpest disruption of many services for adolescent services at community levels.
decline occurring in April 2020,” the report girls and young women. The pandemic
Although Covid-19 has claimed 4,25 reads. deterred many adolescent girls and young “Multi-month dispensing should be
million lives worldwide, with a staggering women from seeking health services, scaled up in all countries, especially since
199 million cases having been recorded, “Among the seven focus countries impeded the ability of peer mentors differentiated service delivery strategies
HIV and Aids have claimed more lives, providing data to UNAIDS, four (Ethiopia, to maintain contact and undermined serve a growing proportion of women living
as 36,3 million people have died from South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe) educational opportunities as a result of with HIV and since pregnant women are
Aids-related illnesses since the start of this reported at least a 15% decline from January school closures,” the report reads. deemed eligible for differentiated HIV
epidemic. and February levels to April 2020 in the service delivery under WHO guidelines,”
number of pregnant women tested for HIV “In addition to disrupting essential WHO said.
Locally, the Covid-19 has claimed at prenatal clinics. prevention, testing and treatment services,
3 676 lives, whereas 1,23 million adults Covid-19 has also exacerbated the “To support elimination efforts, family
are estimated to be living with HIV in “Although testing and treatment services underlying vulnerabilities of adolescent girls planning services need to be integrated
Zimbabwe. for pregnant women began to recover during and young women (15). Before Covid-19, into differentiated service delivery models.
2020, service uptake was still below pre- 132 million girls were out of school (16), Integrating targeted HIV testing into
People living with HIV experience more Covid-19 levels as of August 2020 in four of and pandemic-related school closures have family planning clinics, primary health care
severe outcomes and have higher co- the seven countries,” the report reads. only increased girls’ education gaps.” and sexually transmitted infection clinics
morbidities from Covid-19 than people not enables women living with HIV to be
living with HIV. In 2020, Zimbabwe was under lockdown In sub-Saharan Africa, six out of seven diagnosed before becoming pregnant and
due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Inter-city new infections among adolescents (aged 15 to plan pregnancies to minimise the risk of
According to the WHO Start Free, Stay travel was banned for the better part of the to 19 years) are among girls; adolescent girls transmission to their children.”
Free, Aids Free final report on 2020 targets year. and young women (aged 15 to 24 years)
released in July, there was a decline in the account for 25% of HIV infections, despite The global rollout of HIV treatment has
provision of HIV treatment services last This, in turn, prevented people living with representing just 10% of the population. saved millions of lives, with an estimated
year, owing to Covid-19. HIV from accessing crucial services aimed 16,2 million Aids-related deaths have been
at combating their ailments. Aids-related ailments are the leading cause averted since 2001.
The study was conducted in seven
The report also highlighted that Covid-19

News Hawks News Page 21

Issue 42, 6 August 2021 Zimbabwe expects 2,5 more million doses of vaccine through direct purchase this month.

‘98% Covid KEEP THAT COUGH
infections UNDER COVER.
in Harare
are of Delta Always keep that cough or sneeze into your arm or a tissue and put
variant’ the tissue in the bin straight away. Wash your hands with soap and
water for at least 20 seconds or more afterwards.
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THE
SPREAD AND STAY HEALTHY.
NINETY-EIGHT percent of the Covid-19
infections in Harare are of the Delta HELP
variant; Cabinet revealed this week, with
indications that the variant is accounting STOPTHE
for about 80% of infections the whole SPREAD
country.
AND STAY HEALTHY
According to research, the Delta variant,
first detected in India, spreads at a faster The NewsHawks @NewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]
rate than other variants, as it is more
transmissible.

Zimbabwe had recorded 113 526
cumulative cases since the first case in
March 2020 and 3 711 deaths as at 4
August.

“A genomic sequencing for Covid-19
samples collected in Harare revealed that
98% of the samples were of the Delta
variant.

“The citizenry is informed that the
national genomic sequencing survey is in
progress and the results will be announced
to the public,” cabinet briefed this week.

Although the cases are going, Tuesday’s
Cabinet meeting resolved that there was
need to exercise caution and compliance of
the Covid-19 protective and preventative
guidelines, protocols and measures in
order for the country to register a further
decline in cases.

Government also announced that the
country was expecting 2,5 more million
doses of vaccine through direct purchase
in August 2021, while a further 3 500 000
doses will be received during the month of
September 2021 under the Covax facility.

“In order to accelerate the vaccination
programme and achieve herd immunity
by the end of 2021 Cabinet has approved
the following strategies: extending
the vaccination programme to private
hospitals and private clinics to complement
Government efforts.

“The vaccines will remain free. The
institution may claim for the injection
costs based on medical aid tariffs,” the
briefing read.

“Continued collaboration with the
Security Sector to assist in the vaccine roll
out; Increasing outreach teams for hard-to-
reach areas, from an average of two to four
teams; Increased provision of transport
and fuel for the outreach teams; reviewing
the payment model of allowances for the
vaccinators to be based on the number of
persons vaccinated.”

This comes as the Health Services
Board has written to Treasury seeking
concurrence to recruit retired nurses to
participate in the vaccination programme.

There are also plans to use non-medical
staff such as data capturers to free nurses
so that they concentrate on vaccination.

The vaccination programme will also be
extended to clinics in higher and tertiary
learning institutions.

Page 22 Editorial & Opinion News Hawks

CARTOON Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Stealing from the
poor outrageous

IN today’s rapidly evolving economic and political landscape, Mnangagwa bio: Many shades of grey
there are many words that describe the depraved actions
of crooked leaders. One of these terms is “authoritarian IT was great to see that Zimbabwean where political leaders, especially those insight and understanding on
kleptocracy”, a system in which corrupt leaders use political economist Eddie Cross, a former from the liberation struggle generation, Mnangagwa’s role as an individual
power to embezzle the wealth and resources of a country to opposition MDC MP, whose political hardly write about their interesting and as part of the collective in the
the detriment of the wider population. They line their fat past and activities are rather dodgy, life histories, a well-researched and history of the liberation struggle and
pockets while ruthlessly silencing any citizen who would dare has written a biography on President contextualised biographical work post-colonial Zimbabwe. It cowardly
demand good governance and democracy. Emmerson Mnangagwa. would have provide insight into the avoided tackling the big elephant in
wider historical context in which the room: Gukurahundi.
Another term is “thievocracy”, which, as suggested, literally That Mnangagwa is one of the most Mnangagwa lived.
refers to rule by thievery. In such a polity, as may be imagined, prominent and dominant political Yet is not possible for any serious
thieves rule the roost and public officials face no repercussions figures in contemporary Zimbabwean Conversely, a biography like this biographer to write about Mnangagwa
for stealing taxpayer funds. history is not in doubt. So his may have demonstrated the influence without talking about Gukurahundi.
biography would always attract a lot of of that historical epoch and context
Oligarchy is another term of interest. It refers to an elite interest, especially for a leader whose over his persona. Mugabe was the architect of
grouping of private individuals who are not part of the personal history and his liberation Gukurahundi, a shorthand for
government in the formal sense, but exploit high-level struggle credentials have too many The influence of the persona and that genocide, and Mnangagwa the
connections to amass massive wealth, often at astonishing shades grey areas. of time, setting and space act in various executor-in-chief. It’s the inflection
pace. The oligarchs use their proximity to government leaders ways; historical forces attendant to point in his political career.
to pocket vast amounts of money. In post-coup Zimbabwe, Even basic stuff about him is difficult that are not unidimensional.
citizens have witnessed this phenomenon. to verify. For instance, his origins and In life, people are usually remarkable
roots are needlessly a matter of public Hawk Eye and outstanding for what they have
In high-stakes corruption, a lot of taxpayer funds are conjecture when he could easily just achieved, but they are also notorious
misappropriated through dodgy public procurement clarify that. He is Zimbabwean and Dumisani for their nefarious deeds. They are
activities. In fact, the proverbial “gravy train” is the sum total like many other Zimbabweans, may Muleya distinguished or known by how
of compromised government tenders, which run into billions have roots elsewhere in the region, they have also influenced history
of dollars every year. The guiding philosophy of corrupt public Zambia in this case. Biographical works usually offer (conventional biography), for better
procurement, if we may term it that, is that a lot of money can a unique opportunity to get an or worse.
be pocketed for very little effort. No big deal. Just a simple clarification understanding of how ontologies —
would do. Mnangagwa’s biography the existence, being, becoming, and Further, they may also be
Another word in the colourful lexicon of corruption is is important. Yet it could have been reality — have emerged as a product remarkable for ontological reasons,
“prebenderlism”, referring to a political system in which leaders more significant for its contributions of interaction between environment, their philosophy and actions, and
and bureaucrats claim entitlement to state revenue. Without on his own history and that of the context and individuals. how they have been shaped by the
shame, they grab public money and national resources, which period through which he lived. dynamic interface between structure
they channel to their patronage network of ethnic lackeys, Such writings allow insight in the and agency.
business cronies and lumpen foot soldiers. This is how they However, it is more significant for process of searching for meaning
buy support at the expense of the wider citizenry. its glaring omissions — which create in broad fields of study such as the But sadly Mnangagwa’s book is a
revisionism and distortion — when it political, economic and religious in shoddy hagiography, rather than an
“Khakistocracy” refers to a political system in which the could been a seminal and compelling different historical settings, contexts enlightening biography.
military, in collusion with elites and corporate classes, rule piece of work. By omitting critical and contemporary realities.
a country to their selfish benefit. While “khakistocracy” is chapters in his own life history, such as Without that — and indeed
literally rule by men in khakis, in other words military rule, his role as State Security minister in the So while Mnangagwa’s various other key episodes of human
it should not be confused with “kakistocracy”, which is a 1980s, Gukurahundi and his cutthroat prosopography is welcome in that rights abuses, aspects of Mugabe's
government in which the worst people are in charge. battles with his mortal enemy, the late regard, it fell on the author and his rule, relations with apartheid South
retired General Solomon Mujuru, as subject’s lack of courage to confront Africa and also international powers
Of late, a relatively novel category of corruption has gained well as other issues like his relations difficult issues at stake. That was a during the Cold War, geopolitics, the
traction in this country: the looting of donations. with Mugabe, elections in Zimbabwe litmus test and they failed it. Mozambican and DRC wars, elections
and the DRC War, the biography does theft, especially 2008 polls, and
Zimbabwean bigwigs have perfected the crime of looting a great disservice to its subject and the The book failed to provide new corruption issues, as well as the coup
donated money and goods meant for disaster victims. reader. story in detail, among many other
matters that can’t be ignored by any
As reported by The NewsHawks on 12 June, officials cannot But in a country and continental serious author, the book is not worth
account for Cyclone Idai donations totalling US$4.5 million. the paper it is printed on.
This week, Parliament has heard how donations meant for the
Covid-19 response have been looted.

Auditor-General Mildred Chiri says government officials
concocted the names, identity numbers and contact details
of beneficiaries, in a shocking looting spree that lays bare the
terrible perversion of public finance management. As a result,
the government cannot account for part of the Covid-19
donations worth millions of dollars.

When Zanu PF politicians and senior civil servants steal, in
broad daylight, foodstuffs, face masks and medicines meant
for poverty-stricken Zimbabweans, they are sending a clear
message: they do not care about anyone else as long as their
own bellies are full. Politics has gone to the dogs? No. The
dogs have gone to politics.

- content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital EDITORIAL STAFF: Charmaine Phiri Voluntary Media
tance of freedom of expression and me- Media which is owned by Centre for Public Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Cell: +263 735666122 Council of Zimbabwe
dia freedom as t he c ornerstone o f de- Interest Journalism [email protected]
mocracy and as a means of upholding No. 100 Nelson Mandela Avenue Assistant Editor: Brezh Malaba [email protected] newspaper subscribes to the
human rights and liberties in the con- Code of Conduct that promotes truthful, accurate,
stitution;our mission is to hold power Harare, Zimbabwe News Editor: Owen Gagare Subscriptions & Distribution:
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to account by exposing abuse of power Trustees/Directors: Digital Editor: Bernard Mpofu meet these standards, register your complaint
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and accountability i n the public i nter- Professor Wallace Chuma, Teldah Mawarire, Reporters: at No.: 34, Colenbrander Rd, Milton Park, Harare.
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Website: www.vmcz.co.zw, Facebook: vmcz Zimbabwe

News Hawks News Page 23

Issue 42, 6 August 2021 Trigger-happy police pay
the price for impunity
Corrupt bigwigs not taking
Auditor-General seriously

RONALD MUCHENJE

THEREisgenerallyalackofpolitical BRIDGET MANANAVIRE are taken, but like I said, each cited, together with police
will to implement Auditor-General matter is treated differently,” said
Mildred Chiri’s recommendations Nyathi. Commissioner-General Godwin
in government, local authorities Matanga and Home Affairs
and parastatals partly because IMPUNITY in the use of The police were last month forced minister Kazembe Kazembe.
of the influence of politically excessive force is costing the to provide proof of payment of
exposed persons benefitting from Zimbabwe Republic Police huge ZW$1.4 million in compensation Human rights defenders said this
the rot and non-accountability to Loveness Chiriseri, a victim of could help create deterrence by
prevailing in the institutions, the sums of money in compensation indiscriminate shooting. reminding police officers to refrain
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and to victims.
Development (Zimcodd) says. The government has however Chiriseri was shot and wounded from arbitrary and excessive use of
in August 2018 after the police force against civilians.
Like audit reports of previous been reluctant to make the court- shot at a taxi in which she was a Again, last month, Harare
years, the Auditor-General’s ordered payments, with Treasury passenger, when the driver failed
2019 reports exposed massive Mildred Chiri officials dragging their feet in to stop at a police roadblock in magistrate Winfilda Tiyatara
malpractices, corporate governance Harare. ordered Matanga and Kazembe
failures, lack of accountability and the Auditor-General. processing damages. to pay more than US$10 000 to
abuse of resources leading to the “There is generally lack of political In a new report, the Zimbabwe In July 2020, Justice Edith
loss of millions of dollars. Lawyers for Human Rights Mushore awarded the damages to a couple that had been brutalised
will by the responsible authorities Chiriseri, saying: “Police officers by the police and the Zimbabwe
The malpractices and lack of to implement recommendations (ZLHR), which has been have one chief and primary duty National Army in Chitungwiza in
compliance touched on parastatals, from the OAG (Office of the handling most of the legal of care and that is to protect
government ministries and Auditor-General). There is lack cases, says the country is yet civilians… culpability should 2019.
departments, local authorities and of monitoring framework to be assessed subjectively to the Canaan Machando and his
other statutory and constitutional track the implementation of the to introduce comprehensive particulars of the event and the wife Sipetangani Machando
bodies. OAG’s recommendations in public legal and institutional reforms wrongdoer’s actions”.
entities, which makes it difficult which would signal a break were each awarded US$5 000 or
In the Appropriation Accounts, to assess the extent to which In November 2020, Mushore its equivalent in local currency
Finance and Revenue Statements recommendations are put into with the culture of violence and ordered the government to pay for being assaulted and tortured
and Fund Accounts report, practice,” Zimcodd said. impunity that has characterised ZW$4.3 million to the family
Chiri noted that government the operations of state security of Tinashe Choto, Varaidzo during fuel price hike protests in
ministries had taken minor steps to “There is also need for a legal Chiyanike and Julius Choto, after January.
implement her recommendations provision for the establishment of agencies. The reforms could also the young footballer had been The two, according to court
from the previous years. a specialised committee in each allow for full accountability and shot and killed in Chitungwiza
public entity, constitutional entity effective reparation. during the January 2019 protests. proceedings, were assaulted in
Out of 356 recommendations and local authorities, a committee front of their two children.
made in 2018, only 94 were fully which is responsible for the “Under the ‘New Dispensation”, Not only was Choto’s widow In another incident, the police
implemented, 88 were partly enforcement of recommendations additional regressive trends Varaidzo awarded damages for
implemented and 174 remained from the Office of the Auditor- continue to undermine the fight loss of support for her and her and the Central
unimplemented. General. State capture and the daughter, she and the deceased’s Intelligence Organisation
influence of politically exposed against impunity,” the ZLHR non- dependent father were also paid ZW$7 000 to a victim of
However, of key concern is persons is one of the major factors report reads. awarded damages for nervous
the fact that this dates back behind the low uptake of OAG “With regard to anti-impunity shock. assault, 32-year-old Tomufadzanei
to 2017 where out of the 435 recommendations. So many public Murindagomo.
recommendations she made, only institutions are captured, resulting litigation, the report has In this case, the officer involved, Murindagomo had been arrested
25% were fully implemented, 19% in some huge contracts being highlighted numerous challenges Rachid Siri, was also personally
partially implemented and 56% awarded to politically powerful faced by ZLHR in obtaining from his home and detained by a
were not implemented at all. people such that it becomes difficult group of eight security officers
to follow up in case of non-delivery effective remedies for victims and put in the car boot of one of
In the state enterprises and of services and products.” ranging from vexatious technical
parastatals report, Chiri envisaged defences to policies resulting in the officers in August 2017.
a situation where the performance The organisation added that there He was then driven around
of state enterprises and parastatals was an urgent need for political devaluation of judgment debts. for between 30 to 45 minutes,
would greatly improve should her will to deal with state capture while “In spite of these hurdles, ZLHR
recommendations find resonance in some public entities and local continues to obtain numerous until being released into police
the new Public Entities Corporate authorities lack the capacity and custody, where he was held at
Governance Act. requisite skills to implement some damages awards for victims. Glen Norah Police Station
of the issues raised by the Auditor- More recent cases indicate
“The audit findings warrant General. a judicial willingness in without charge.
the attention of management and The police are also
those charged with governance. With a weak skills base in some courts to adopt a being taken to court
The audit revealed that most of public entities, Zimcodd said progressive approach in
the weaknesses emanated from the implementation of the anti-impunity claims.” for assaulting Victoria
governance issues. It is therefore recommendations remains low. Falls-based award-
imperative that State Enterprises National police winning poet Obert
and Parastatals embrace provisions Zimcodd added that lack of spokesperson Paul Nyathi
of the new Public Entities Corporate capacity amongst key accountability told The NewsHawks that Dube. Dube was left
Governance Act [Chapter 10:31] institutions was also a challenge in with a fractured arm and
and incorporate these into their the implementation of Auditor- the police handled each case thigh and coughing blood,
existing structures and processes. General’s recommendations. differently on its own merits.
I envisage a situation where the “Every case is treated for allegedly breaking curfew
performance of State Enterprises “There is therefore need for a regulations.
and Parastatals will greatly holistic approach to capacitate differently in accordance with The artist said after
improve if my recommendations these institutions. Given this the Police Act. And every case
and provisions of the said Act are background, the Audit Office Act is treated on its own merits. handcuffing him, five police
implemented,” she said. must be amended to accord the officers took turns to slap, kick and
We look at whether it was done beat him up, while threatening to
Bad corporate governance has Auditor-General powers to outside duty or it was done within
been a cause for concern year in enforce the recommendations the mandate. Internal measures kill him.
year out despite Chiri doing a from the reports by all concerned
tremendous job in unearthing public entities, constitutional Paul Nyathi
both financial and non-financial entities and local authorities.
misconduct by various public Furthermore, there is need to
entities in Zimbabwe. ensure that non-compliance or lack
of implementation of the Auditor-
In its public policy commentary General’s recommendations is
for the end of July, Zimcodd said considered a criminal offence and
the recurrence of both financial the accounting officer must be held
and non-financial irregularities accountable for such an offence,”
bears testimony to the low response Zimcodd said.
of public entities to calls made by

Page 24 Stories In Pictures News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

DESERTED....Bulawayo curio vendors are going through tough times due to covid - 19 and travel restrictions as they depend much on tourists and travelers who buy their products.

Mike Banda (R) gets vaccinated at the Seed Co company’s headquarters recently.

Members of the Stapleford community wait in a queue to be vaccinated at the Seed Co company’s headquarters recently. The company has partnered with
the government in having members of the community vaccinated at its headquarters in Stapleford as part of Seed Co’s corporate social responsibility.

NewsHawks

Zim trade deficit surges to US$416m

DUMISANI NYONI pricing,” it said.
The arts and crafts sector
ALTHOUGH Zimbabwe’s
exports continue to show recorded a significant increase of
resilience, registering some 72.2% from US$2.1 million in
growth amid Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 to US$3.7 million in 2021.
the current export composition
speaks of the urgent need for Exports of collections and
the country to increase its value collector’s pieces of zoological
addition and beneficiation. constituted 92% of exports in
According to latest trade this sector and 9% being original
statistics released by the sculptures and statuary.
Zimbabwe National Statistics
Agency (Zimstat), the country’s Presenting his mid-term budget
exports stood at US$2.02 billion and economic review recently,
between January and May this Finance minister Mthuli Ncube
year, which is a 31.44% increase said the country’s external sector
compared to US$1.53 billion position has remained strong to
recorded same period in 2020. support the country’s balance of
On the other hand, imports payments requirements and to
increased by 29.8% to US$2.43 stabilise the exchange rate.
billion from US$1.88 billion in
2020. Notwithstanding the transitory
As a result, the trade deficit current account deficit realised
for the period under review during the first quarter of 2021,
stood at US$416 million, which Ncube said the current account
is an increase when compared balance for 2021 is projected
to a deficit of US$340 million to remain in a surplus position,
recorded during the same period albeit at a moderated level of
in 2020. US$611.6 million compared to
The widening trade deficit, US$1.096 million recorded in
according to analysts, is mainly 2020.
attributed to the economic
instability experienced in Merchandise exports are
Zimbabwe, the outbreak of projected to increase by 4.2%,
Covid-19 which disrupted the from US$4 931.9 million in
movement of goods and the 2020 to US$5 139.8 million in
volatility of the South African Finance minister Mthuli Ncube 2021.

rand to the US dollar. tobacco (11.7%). “The country continues to men’s or boys’ suits, ensembles, Mineral exports are expected
The bulk of the country’s On a comparative basis, the explore new markets such as jackets, blazers, trousers worth to maintain strong growth on
imports in the period under Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, US$2.8 million. account of the continued strong
review remained heavily skewed contribution of minerals and Democratic Republic of Congo, This growth follows an inward performances in Platinum Group
towards consumptive products, alloys to national exports grew and Zambia. Various trade buyer mission organised by of Metals (PGMs) and recovery
which comprise fuel, wheat, this year, from 73.56% recorded activities both inward and ZimTrade, the national trade in chrome and high carbon
medicines and vehicles. last year. outward to these countries are at development and promotion ferrochrome exports.
Some of the challenges of various stage of implementation. organisation, where a buyer from
relying on primary products for “Given the potential loss in, Expectedly, exports would clothing sector in Zambia met Gold exports are forecasted to
export are that the country might for example, value and jobs improve to these nations,” the with local clothing manufacturers remain high in 2021, on account
run out of its finite primary recorded when countries export country’s export promotion body to discuss supply of different of the recently introduced gold
products, for example precious raw products, the current export said. clothing products to the market. delivery incentives.
metals could become scarce. composition speaks of the urgent ZimTrade has also been
Without diversification, this need for the country to increase its ZimTrade said although facilitating improved “Agricultural exports, led by
would leave the economy with a value addition and beneficiation,” the main export contributors engagements between local tobacco, are expected to positively
void. the analysis reads in part. are minerals and alloys and clothing manufacturers with respond to the favorable climatic
In its analysis of the Zimstat unmanufactured tobacco, there buyers in regional markets, such conditions during the 2020-
data, ZimTrade — the country’s The major market for are some sectors that have made as Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, 2021 agricultural season.
export promotion body — said Zimbabwean exports remains a signi¬ficant growth. Democratic Republic of Congo, Manufactured exports are
in terms of export composition South Africa, accounting for 40% and Mozambique. similarly expected to rebound,
during the period under review, of total goods exported. For example, clothing, footwear, “Already, buyers in these spurred by the anticipated
primary commodities still and textiles exports increased by markets have noted that recovery in production,” he said.
dominate the country’s trade Other top export markets are 76.62% to US$19.95 million Zimbabwean clothing and textile
offerings. Major contributors to United Arab Emirates (19%), between January and May 2021 products are or high quality, Ncube said merchandise
exports during the period under Mozambique (9%). from US$11.3 million during the and strong, which is expected imports are projected to increase
review were minerals and alloys same period in 2020. to sustain export growth if local by 11.1% to US$5 245.7
(80.92%); and unmanufactured Over the same period in 2020, manufacturers get it right on the million in 2021, from US$4
South Africa accounted for 36% Major exported products in the 719.9 million in 2020, driven by
of total exports, whilst United sector were cotton not carded or increases in fuel, machinery and
Arab Emirates and Mozambique combed US$10.6 million and raw material imports.
accounted for 23% and 10%,
respectively. Food imports will, however,
be lower on account of reduced
maize imports, following a good
2020/21 agricultural season, he
projected.

Page 26 Companies & Markets News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Fdienrsievcatmivoevsetsotmo abrrkinetg Govt expenditure
target attainable if
inflation tamed

STAFF WRITER service salary reviews, leading to

marginal negative variance on
expenditure.
GOVERNMENT’S expenditure Investment analyst Enock
target for 2021 is attainable
if inflationary pressures and Rukarwa told The NewsHawks
that revenue altitudes registered
exchange rate depreciation can be growth under difficult
controlled going into the second
half of the year, analysts say. circumstances, thereby reducing
the adverse effects of negative
President Emmerson expenditure variance.
Mnangagwa’s adminstration
is targeting expenditure of “Tight control on money
supply and limited inflationary
ZW$421.6 billion, assuming pressures reduced civil service
continued containment of
spending, save for exigencies salary reviews, leading to marginal
negative variance on expenditure.
managed through re-allocations. However, revenue altitudes
Inflation declined to 106.6% in
June 2021 from 837.5% in July registered growth under difficult
circumstances, thereby reducing
2020 with current month-on- the adverse effects of negative
month inflation trends of less than
3% expected to prevail during the expenditure variance. The targeted
expenditure of ZW421.6 billion is
second half of 2021. attainable if inflationary pressures
In his mid-term budget
statement, Finance minister and exchange rate depreciation
can be controlled going into the
Mthuli Ncube last week said second half,” he said.
overall expenditure during the
period January to June 2021 While Covid-19 remains a
problem, Rukarwa believes the
stood at ZW$197.6 billion, vaccination programme will
implying that expenditure was
above the half-year budget target go a long way in reducing the
cumulative national burden.
of ZW$189.8 billion by ZW$7.8 Financial market analyst
billion.
Garikayi Munema Major expenditures were on George Nhepera said government
The anticipated economic expenditure in this budget was not
STAFF WRITER basics before expanding to other growth driven by improved compensation of employees at a surprise, considering the safety
assets. Munema said training agriculture and mining ZW$80 billion against a target
THE Financial Securities programmes were scheduled to performance created scope for of ZW$73.8 billion and non- nets which needed to be put in
Exchange Limited (Finsec) will start next week to conscientise new investment options on the place.
soon introduce derivatives to the potential investors and the market, he explained. financial assets (capital budget) at “This, in my view, was not a
market in a move that should various market participants on “The regulatory framework ZW$67.4 billion against a target
increase capital market products derivatives before introducing has opened doors to innovation. of ZW$58 billion while use of surprise, bearing in mind the
for investors. them. The environment is pointing to challenges related to the period
economic stability if we look at goods and services at ZW$29.6 such as the Covid-19 pandemic,
Derivatives are financial “We want to start with inflation and foreign currency billion performed below the target
instruments deriving value from educating investors so they exchange rate, they all point to of ZW$40.5 billion. the need to restore purchasing
an underlying asset such as gold understand we have more better prospects and stability. power for civil servants’ salaries as
or a group of assets. The most products coming to the market, “So the time is now, we want to Social benefits and subsidies well as support of the vulnerable
common underlying assets for other than the usual shares. bring these products to everyone were at ZW$14.5 billion and
derivatives are stocks, bonds, People need to understand how and allow the market to trade ZW$2.9 billion respectively. groups, especially the elderly,” he
commodities, currencies, interest these work, how they can make digitally using their mobile said.
rates and market indexes. returns from their investments devices which will enhance The increase in social benefits The government
and the risks involved. One needs transparency,” said Munema. spending, with an expenditure
The common derivatives to know when to sell or when to Of late, operators of exchanges over-run of 119%, was has over the years
include options, futures buy, that is why we want to raise have been working on products been struggling
contracts, forwards and swaps. awareness,” said Munema. and platforms that increase due to the support to contain
retail investor participation. given to the vulnerable
In an interview, Finsec general Capital markets in Zimbabwe For instance, Finsec introduced groups. expenditure, with
manager Garikayi Munema said have for years been dominated by CTrade while the ZSE launched the total public
they were looking at futures institutional investors while retail ZSE Direct to allow investors Analysts believe service wage bill
and optional derivatives for the investors’ participation remained to participate in the trading of that tight control on
Zimbabwean market, targeting limited as stock markets are shares on the stock market. money supply and accounting for
both retail and institutional regarded elitist and a preserve of 90% of the total
investors. The model will be a few. limited inflationary budget.
fully automated to ensure pressure reduced civil
transparency. As a result, financial inclusion
in capital markets has remained Mthuli Ncube
“Being something new in this very low, at around 1%, although
economy, we are starting with efforts are being made to increase
futures and optional. We want to products and ease of transacting
start with equities, so these will to encourage retail participation.
derive their value from securities
listed on our stock markets,” he Munema said the time is
said. conducive to bring in new
capital market products to
While a market can increase investment options
have derivatives backed by while also playing catch-up with
commodities such as agricultural other economies with advanced
products, more still needed products catering for both
to be done to educate the institutional and retail investors.
Zimbabwean market on the

News Hawks Companies & Markets Page 27

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Ken Sharpe scoops top award

Zimbabwean property tycoon Ken Sharpe

ZIMBABWEAN property The event, according to analysts, Furlong, President of Customs involved in over 100 businesses consolidate the property assets
mogul Ken Sharpe was among was one of the biggest and most Solutions at Forbes. and owned more than 50 into the most prominent real
top African business executives prestigious in 2021. companies and 20 partnerships. estate development company
who won prizes at a virtual Forbes Among the recipients were "He started in food distribution in Zimbabwe with high-quality
Best of Africa Awards - picking the A major highlight of it was Sam Matekane, Kwame Bediako, and manufacturing local beverages prestigious properties making an
Innovative CEO of the Year Award. the celebration of important Mahmood Ahmadu and Leo Stan like Spring Valley mineral water impact not only in the Harare
Sharpe won the award for his personalities who have and Ekeh. and African Twist Soft Drinks; He skyline but also to make a difference
business acumen and innovation. continue to have significant started first in Zimbabwe with PET in the overall social-economic
Foreign Investment Network influence on the business, political, Others include Wendy in 1999. growth of the country.
(FIN) in partnership with Forbes leadership and economic landscape Ackerman, Rajan Mahtani, Claver
Best of Africa honoured leading of Africa. Gatete and Paul Adefarasin. "However, he sold many of the "He also has several projects and
lights in business, politics, companies and today he is focused companies outside the country
innovation, leadership and the The awards came after months FIN group chairman Olayinka on real estate development and in services, property, tech and
economy in Africa. of intense research and thorough Fayomi delivered the welcome property." alternative power generation." -
verification exercise by FIN and address. Staff Writer.
Forbes and were presented by Mark It adds: Ken’s vision now is to
Sharpe's citation said:
"Over the years, he has been

No resolution to Old Mutual, PPC suspension

STAFF WRITER bourses. now listed on the Victoria Falls patterns on internationally listed Old Mutual and PPC’s listings to
THE Zimbabwe Stock Exchange Responding to questions, ZSE Stock Exchange (VFEX). shares and parallel market was also the US dollar-denominated VFEX,
(ZSE) says there is no immediate established with varying degrees of which currently has only two
answer to the Old Mutual Plc and chief executive officer Justin Bgoni In March this year, Finance and causality. listings, Seed Co International and
PPC Limited suspension which indicated key stakeholders such Economic Development minister Padenga Holdings Limited.
remains in place as their matter is as the bourse and capital markets Mthuli Ncube prolonged the “In particular Old Mutual
still under discussion. regulator were still in discussions suspension of Old Mutual and Implied Rate (OMIR) was observed Meanwhile, Bgoni said there
with the two companies. PPC’s fungibility by another 12 to be the key driver of parallel were currently no applications by
Shares of the two counters were months to 22 March 2022. market pricing behaviour with ZSE counters to shift their listings
suspended from trading last year “Old Mutual and PPC still many market players in the real to VFEX.
in June together with Seed Co remain under trading halt on ZSE,” A probe by the Reserve Bank of economy using this highly visible
International after the authorities said Bgoni without giving finer Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence rate as a benchmark for forward “Companies listing on VFEX
accused them of fuelling runaway details of the discussion, saying Unit sucked in various capital pricing and costing of goods and have to have significant foreign
inflation through exchange rate they were held in confidence. market participants. services as well as deterioration earnings and as such we do not
manipulation on the parallel of foreign exchange rates in the expect the bulk of the ZSE-listed
market. The fungibility of their On 26 June 2020, as inflation Minister Ncube said whilst there market,” revealed the Government entities to migrate to the VFEX.
shares was also suspended, meaning soared, the ZSE was closed until was no observed evidence on the Gazette.
they could not be traded on other 3 August 2020. This resulted in direct involvement of the listed “Currently there are no other
the suspension of dual-listed Old entities themselves, significant However, indications are that applications for migration to the
Mutual and PPC together with evidence of a strong link between there are negotiations to transfer VFEX that have been submitted to
Seed Co International, which is the price behaviours and transaction the ZSE,” he said.

adver t space

The NewsHawk s TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.co m [email protected] m

Page 28 Stock Taking News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

News Hawks Opinion Page 29

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Deforestation in the upper Manyame
area: Implications for climate change

LUCKSON ZVOBGO & Deforestation is now a big problem in Zimbabwe. level of carbon dioxide in today’s
JONATHAN TSOKA atmosphere is 31% higher than it
reveals that at global level, the rate Land use changes such as agriculture drivers of deforestation and forest was at the start of the Industrial
THE signing of the Paris Agreement of net loss of forests has substantially (encroachment of farms), livestock degradation is fundamental for Revolution about 250 years ago.
at the United Nations Climate decreased between 1990 and 2020 grazing, fuel wood extraction, the development of policies and
Change Conference of the Parties due to reduction in deforestation mining, and urban expansion are measures that aim to change the In response to the growing concern
(COP) 21 repositioned the global rates in some countries. causing massive deforestation in current socio-economic development and the mounting evidence of global
agenda toward sustainable forest upper Manyame. Whereas previous activities towards a more climate and climate change, the United Nations
management to address the threats of The rate of net forest loss declined studies have established the land use biodiversity-friendly outcome. Framework Convention on Climate
global warming. from 7.8 million ha per year in the changes that are causing deforestation Change was adopted at the United
decade 1990–2000 to 5.2 million in upper Manyame, the rate at which In the 21st century, remote Nations Conference on Environment
However, deforestation rates in ha per year in 2000–2010 and 4.7 the deforestation is happening as sensing, spatial analysis and geo- and Development in Rio in 1992.
many parts of the world continue to million ha per year in 2010–2020. well as the risk of forest area in informatics are providing real time
accelerate. The study evaluates the The GFR report attributes the rate of future and the implications of this solutions for advanced ecosystem The objective of the convention
rate and causes of deforestation in decline of net forest loss in the recent on the achievement of Zimbabwe’s management. They enable scientists was ‘to stabilise atmospheric
upper Manyame sub-catchment area decade to a reduction in the rate of climate change mitigation targets is and policymakers to identify the greenhouse gas (including CO2)
in Zimbabwe due to land use land forest expansion. unknown. ongoing land use land cover change concentration at the level that would
cover changes between 1990 and processes, locating the changes and prevent dangerous anthropogenic
2020. The evidence in Zimbabwe shows The knowledge gap is addressed in attributing the causes of such changes interference with the climate system’.
an increase in the deforestation this study. in less time, at low cost and with
Landsatimageryanalysisaugmented rates. Previous research indicates improved accuracy. The signing of the Kyoto Protocol
by household questionnaire survey that Zimbabwe is experiencing an Information on the rate of (KP) at the December 1997 meeting
and key stakeholder interviews were increased deforestation rate. It was deforestation is important to In this study, a remote sensing and of the Third Conference of Parties
used to assess the rate and cause of estimated that between 1990 and policymakers in upper Manyame for geographical information system- in Kyoto, Japan brought another
deforestation in the upper Manyame. 2005, the country lost 21.1% of its the harmonisation of development based approach was used to assess narrative on reducing green house gas
forest cover, at the time, this was activities in line with the climate the rate of deforestation in upper emission to reduce global warming.
Over the 30 years, the sub- equivalent to 4 694 000 hectares. The change mitigation targets that are Manyame through Landsat image
catchment lost 9.4% of its vegetation Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe set in Zimbabwe’s first nationally analysis supported by household The KP proposed to set up legally
area due to land use changes. (2011) found that the country was determined contribution. survey and key interviews to establish binding commitments for emission
Vegetation loss was mainly due to losing about 330 000 hectares of the causes of deforestation. reduction for the so-called Annex 1
urban expansion of Harare and its forest per annum. The Zimbabwean government countries (the developed countries
dormitory towns and the extensive target to mitigate climate change by Based on the background above, and the eastern European countries
peri urban agriculture mainly tobacco At that rate of forest loss, it was ensuring investments in sustainable this study aims to answers the of the former Soviet Union) to levels
harvesting. estimated that Zimbabwe could lose energy alternatives of curing tobacco. following questions: relative to their 1990 levels.
all its forests within 52 years. Post This ensures that forests are protected
Using the Markov Chain Cellular analysis of the 2000 fast-track land from deforestation linked to tobacco a) What are the spatial and The KP identified what it termed
Automata model, the study estimated reform programme estimated that curing. temporal changes of the forest area the three possible “flexibility
that in 2030 the catchment will lose about 70 000ha of Zimbabwe’s forests in Upper Manyame Sub-Catchment mechanisms” for countries to meet
approximately 3.3% of the current were lost to agricultural activities Over 120 countries in their first between 1990 and 2020? the emission reduction targets; joint
vegetation land cover area. This means mainly crop production each year. nationally determined contribution implementation, a clean development
a further reduction of the vegetation set mitigation targets that are linked b) What are the main drivers mechanism, and emission trading.
area from 20.1% to 16.8% in 2030. Although 66% of the country is to reducing carbon emission to of deforestation in upper Manyame? The key and relevant mechanism to
still covered by woody vegetation, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. this study is the clean development
There is need for harmonisation the cover in some districts such as c) How are the current mechanism as this would facilitate
of infrastructure development in Chivi now stands at only 30%. An To achieve this, forest management developmental trends in upper carbon sequestration and storage
Harare and the peri urban farming estimated 300 000ha of forest are should be integral in national Manyame affecting future forest investments in reforestation,
activities with policies that conserve converted annually to arable land and planning to reduce carbon. Countries area? What is the risk of forests in the afforestation and in reducing
forests such as the use of charcoal other land-uses. need to develop clear forest resources future due to deforestation? deforestation to qualify as emission
and eucalyptus plantations for curing conservation and management reduction credits.
tobacco instead of indigenous trees. Forests in upper Manyame strategies as forests play an important d) What are the policy
sub– catchment play an important role in the removal of atmospheric implications of the accelerated In 2008, collaborative efforts of the
This is critical if Zimbabwe is to ecological and climatological role. carbon through carbon sequestration. deforestation rates in upper Manyame Food and Agricultural Organisation
meet its climate change mitigation on Zimbabwe’s agenda to reduce and United Nations Development
targets in the nationally determined However, due to decades of land This study builds on the effort carbon as indicated in the country’s Programme launched the Redd
contribution that promotes the cover changes and deforestation in of the United Nations Framework nationally determined contribution? and Redd+ programme to reduce
implementation of Redd+. Harare, the climate (environment) is Convention on Climate Change carbon stocks through reforestation,
slowly warming with more warming negotiations that are encouraging Global forest carbon stocks, afforestation projects and reduced
Implementation of the Redd and predicted. Decades of forest excision developing countries to identify land removal, and climate change deforestation rates.
the Redd+ projects in many parts of and watershed degradation in upper use, land use changes and forestry mitigation
the world has been regarded as one of Manyame have raised ecological activities that are linked to the The Redd and Redd+ play
the positive developments to occur in and economic concerns. The forest drivers of deforestation and forest Carbon management in forests will important role in the management of
the 21st century towards keeping the loss has been attributed to land degradation and assess their potential probably be one of the important forests in the 21st century. The more
global warming below 1.5 °C or 2 °C use changes that occurred in the contribution to the mitigation of global agenda of the first half of the recent and significant effort towards
above preindustrial levels. catchment and the rapid population climate change. 21st century in the context of the reducing global emissions was the
growth of Harare and Chitungwiza. greenhouse effect and mitigation of signing of the Paris Agreement (PA)
However, despite this effort, The understanding of complex global climate change. during COP 21 in 2015.
deforestation is still a challenge in
many parts of the world, particularly The Inter-governmental Panel on The PA repositioned the global
in developing regions where Climate Chane estimates that the effort towards proactive carbon
fragmented smallholder agriculture management to limit global
production is increasing. warming below 1.5 °C or 2 °C above
preindustrial levels.
Deforestation is regarded as the
second largest source of anthropogenic For the world to achieve the PA
greenhouse gas emissions, as well climate change mitigation targets
as the major driver of biodiversity through forest-based climate
loss. Therefore, deforestation has mitigation, note that this may occur
become a concern and threat in many through conserving and enhancing
developing countries of the tropics. the carbon sink and through
reducing greenhouse gas emissions
A major concern is the rate at from deforestation.
which the deforestation is happening
in many parts of the world. This is essential because about one-
Deforestation rates around the globe third of the current anthropogenic
are increasing at an alarming rate in CO2 emissions are removed by
global forest resource (GFR) report terrestrial ecosystems, mainly forests.
estimated that 13 million hectares The PA introduced the nationally
of the world’s forests are lost due to determined contributions on which
deforestation each year. The 2005 member states are supposed to set
report note that the net loss of long-term goals to reduce national
forest area between 2000 and 2005 emissions to mitigate climate change.
was 7.3 million hectares, which was Many countries in their nationally
equivalent to a net loss of 0.18% of determined contributions to United
the world’s forest. Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change set forest mitigation
The recent report shows that forests targets through the Redd+ including
are continuously lost but the rate Zimbabwe.
has slowed. The 2020 report further

Page 30 Opinion News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Mozambican troops on patrol

Zim plays second fiddle to
Rwanda on Moza conflict

MORE information came spokesman confirmed the RDF’s Cabo Ligado Weekly, on 24 July. motorbike between Awasse and Rwandan forces killed five
to light last week about participation in an effort to According to the spokesman, Mbau, to the southeast. Both insurgents and captured
Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) retake Awasse, Mocimboa da Rwandan forces engaged insurgents were killed, and the weapons in an engagement at
operations in Cabo Delgado, as Praia district, and outlined five insurgents at Awasse on 24 July, spokesman noted that a laptop Awasse, according to the RDF
Rwandan forces shared details clashes that Rwandan troops were killing four in the attack and containing documents written spokesman. According to another
of their engagements in a press involved in as part of that effort. recovering weapons. The same in KiSwahili was found with the source, Mozambican helicopters
presentation on 29 July. day, Rwandan forces ambushed insurgents, along with weapons. were also involved in the fight,
The first two took place just two insurgents traveling by supporting Rwandan troops on
At the presentation, an RDF before the week covered by this Two days later, on 26 July,

News Hawks Opinion Page 31

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

the ground. incidents that the Mozambican has been recorded. traveling from Pemba to Macomia limited by missing documentation.
Rwandan troops were also in government has not matched at • The seventh claim also town and back two to three times On the international front,
any point in the conflict -- have per week to offer medical services new details emerged last week
action the next day, 27 July, in led the Mozambican government concerns Mandava, claiming that in the town. There is also an about the makeup of the
an incident that was not included to make explicit the implication insurgents killed one Mozambican ambulance based in Macomia that Southern African Development
in the RDF press presentation. that Rwanda’s entrance into military officer and wounded can take emergency patients to Community (SADC) standby
Rwandan troops operating south the conflict has fundamentally another soldier in a clash there Pemba for further treatment. Even force for Mozambique. The South
of Awasse in Chinda, Mocimboa changed the situation on the on 31 July. The claim includes with the nursing teams, civilians African government authorized
da Praia district, ambushed a small ground. Mozambican defense a photograph of identification in Macomia are still relying the deployment of up to 1,495
group of insurgents, killing two of minister Jaime Neto told reporters documents of a Mozambican substantially on doctors from troops to Mozambique through
them. last week that the insurgents first sergeant, alleging that the Médecins Sans Frontières, who 15 October. At full strength,
are now being “beaten” by the documents were looted from are providing medical services in the government expects the
Also on 27 July, insurgents Rwandan and Mozambican the dead soldier. A single source some parts of the district. deployment to cost over $66
attacked the village of Chacamba, offensives. reports a clash at Mandava on 1 million, but sources in South
in Nangade district, about 10 August, in which several soldiers Development projects related Africa suggest that the South
kilometers east of Nangade But another foreign force has were killed and injured. to the conflict are also beginning African deployment is unlikely to
town. The attackers killed and an interest in countering that to bear fruit. Last week, some reach the full level authorized. The
kidnapped an unspecified number narrative. The Islamic State (IS) What is notable about these 300 young people who had SAS Makhanda, a South African
of civilians, and burned the homes has dramatically increased its pace claims, aside from their role been displaced by the conflict Warrior-class patrol ship, arrived
in the 8th of April neighborhood of attack claims in Mozambique in countering the Rwandan graduated from a job training in Pemba last week, and armored
of the village. in recent weeks. Last week alone, narrative of momentum on program in Pemba that focused on vehicles from the 43 South African
the group made seven claims, as the Mozambican government’s construction skills. The training Brigade reportedly crossed the
The incidents described at the follows: side in the conflict, is how little likely improves their prospects in border in southern Mozambique
RDF press presentation conclude they engage with the fighting the job market, but the program’s last week as well. A squadron of
on 28 July, when, according to • The first claim stated going on around Awasse. While outcome highlights the extent to South African Rooivalk attack
the RDF spokesman, insurgents that, starting on 17 July, the Mozambican and Rwandan forces which Cabo Delgado’s economy helicopters was also reported in
counterattacked Rwandan forces group had clashed with the appear to be making progress remains hostage to the ongoing Pemba as of 3 August, and images
at Awasse. During the fighting, Mozambican military and local toward Mocimboa da Praia town -- conflict. A group of at least circulating on social media show a
the RDF spokesman said, one militias at “Metope,” Mocimboa which, if they could take it, would 60 graduating students signed Botswana Defence Force convoy
Rwandan soldier was injured da Praia district, for two days. be a major symbolic and strategic contracts with Renco Energy, headed toward Cabo Delgado.
and one insurgent was killed. According to the claim, the group victory for government forces -- IS the Mozambican subsidiary of Angola also pledged soldiers to
Insurgents attacked the vehicle killed and wounded a number of is choosing to highlight operations the Italian construction firm the effort, authorizing a 20-person
carrying the injured Rwandan Mozambican troops and burned elsewhere in the province. Indeed, Renco. Whether they will get to deployment along with a transport
and Rwandan soldiers responded, buildings in the village. The claim the claims make no mention at use their new skills for Renco is, plane. The military personnel
killing two insurgents. lines up with a reported 17 July all of Rwandan forces, much less however, still an open question will service the aircraft and serve
attack on Mitope, in Mocimboa those leading the charge at Awasse. -- Renco Energy’s major contract as advisors to the Mozambican
On 30 July, the conflict returned da Praia district. This suggests that IS would rather in Cabo Delgado is to build the military, but will not engage in
to Nova Familia in Nangade direct attention away from events 200 square kilometer “Gas City” combat. Angola estimates the cost
district, just nine days after • The second describes a along the road between Mueda development on Afungi, which is of the deployment at $675,000,
insurgents last attacked there. skirmish with local militia forces and Mocimboa da Praia and currently mothballed due to the and plans to contribute over $1
In a skirmish between a joint at Mandava, Muidumbe district, instead draw focus to its ongoing, conflict. million to the overall SADC effort.
Mozambican-Rwandan force on 20 July in which two militia smaller-scale operational successes For its part, Zimbabwe will
and insurgents, three Rwandans members were killed and buildings in other districts. If insurgents According to Northern send 303 military instructors to
were wounded and 13 insurgents burned. There was a reported can score a major victory against Integrated Development Agency train Mozambican forces as part
killed. The remaining insurgents attack on Mandava on 18 July. Rwandan forces, however, the head Armindo Ngunga, these of the SADC mission. At the
fled, reaching nearby Ngongo, tenor of IS claims may soon kinds of programs aiming to announcement, Zimbabwean
where they killed one civilian and • The third says that there change. The pace of their release, help displaced people make new defense minister Oppah
wounded another in the leg. The was a clash between insurgents however, will likely remain high lives in the areas to which they Muchinguri told reporters that the
incident in Nova Familia appears and local militias in “Pangani,” as long as Rwanda continues to have fled will be a core part of instructors would not be involved
to confirm reports that Rwandan which the claim places in make the case that it is winning his agency’s work. Speaking to in combat. The deployment will
troops have been deployed to Mocimboa da Praia district, on the conflict. displaced people in Ancuabe be in addition to Zimbabwean
Nangade along with Palma, 22 July. Presumably the claim district last week, Ngunga urged training efforts already ongoing in
Mueda and now Awasse. actually refers to Pangane, a Government Response them to begin cultivating fields Mozambique.
coastal community in Macomia A report last week from Ibo and building homes in Ancuabe All of these foreign troops will
The RDF spokesman claimed district. No corresponding attack district highlights the extent to rather than plan on returning be under strict scrutiny from
that no Rwandan soldiers have was recorded in the Pangane area which displacement from Palma to their communities of origin. certain corners of Mozambican
been killed or seriously injured around 22 July. has strained systems set up to serve He said that wells were already government and civil society.
in Cabo Delgado thus far, and displaced populations in Cabo being drilled to support added
no specific claims of Rwandan • The fourth claims that Delgado. Matemo and Ibo islands agricultural production in Mozambique’s National
combat fatalities have appeared, insurgents killed three local militia have long been relatively stable the area. Ngunga’s comments Commission on Human Rights,
but multiple sources suggest that members at “Ambuda” in Palma havens for people from coastal reflect an ongoing pattern of a state institution, urged the
the toll on Rwandan forces has district on 24 July. The claim areas displaced by the conflict. the government indicating that government last week to draw up a
been significant. A source based in may refer to Nampuida, a village Last week, however, reports displaced people are unlikely to code of conduct for foreign troops
Mozambique reports that flights roughly 15 kilometers northwest emerged of widespread hunger return home anytime soon, which involved in the Cabo Delgado
left Afungi for Kigali on 25 and 26 of Palma town. No corresponding and inadequate lodging on Ilha suggests that friction between conflict.
July carrying Rwandan casualties attack was recorded in the area Matemo, with people resorting displaced populations and host The Commission expressed
from fighting near Awasse. around Palma on 24 July, but to eating cassava with coconut for communities may increase over concern that foreign troops
Another source, in Rwanda, also such a confrontation may well lack of food aid. time. might mistreat Mozambican
understands that Rwandan troops have happened, given ongoing Ilha Matemo has been a major civilians -- especially women --
have taken “heavy casualties,” but operations in the area. transit point for people fleeing There has been some progress and said that harsh punishments
no estimates for the extent of the Palma by sea, with some displaced in securing more legal protections should be handed down for any
casualties are available. • The fifth describes an people moving south from the for displaced people, regardless mistreatment.
attack on a government barracks island toward Pemba and others of where they end up living.
Incident Focus: Islamic State at Chai, Macomia district on 28 choosing to stay on Ilha Matemo. Mozambique’s Justice Ministry The call reflects the misgivings
Claims July. Cabo Ligado has not been The Ibo district administrator announced last week that
able to confirm this attack, but acknowledged the problem to it is expanding its program some Mozambicans have over
Narratives about the Cabo a single source does report that journalists, saying that new arrivals to issue birth certificates for
Delgado conflict are increasingly insurgents attacked a Mozambican have stretched the government’s displaced Mozambicans lacking the arrival of foreign forces --
being contested outside of government patrol in Chai on 28 ability to serve the over 4,000 documentation to reach 55,000
Mozambique. The RDF is giving July. displaced people on the island. people. the Commission has made no
presentations in Kigali claiming There is some positive news on
(believably) that Rwandan forces • The sixth claim the humanitarian front, however. The program has already issued equivalent call to prevent or
are making progress in retaking indicates a return to Mandava, Teams of nurses employed by the 44,000 documents, but many
areas on the route to Mocimboa da Muidumbe district on 28 July. Mozambican government are now others still have their mobility and punish the numerous documented
Praia and (less believably) that it is It says that insurgents killed two access to government programs
taking no serious casualties while militia members there and stole abuses that Mozambican troops
doing so. These kinds of claims -- weapons and motorbikes. No
at a level of detail about particular corresponding attack at Mandava have committed against civilians

in Cabo Delgado. – Ligado We

Page 32 Opinion News Hawks
FARIRAI SIBANDA
IN July 2018, Zimbabwe held Issue 42, 6 August 2021
its first general elections in the
aftermath of the November 2017 Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day:
military coup – that is in the post- Remembering 1 August 2018
Mugabe era, and while there were
concerning incidents of violence Zimbabwean soldiers in action on 1 August 2018; six people were killed, scores injured.
leading up to the polls nothing
could have prepared the nation for Motlanthe commission to ensure It claimed Virginia Mabhiza, alone telling the truth and making perpetrated by military to “rogue
what was to follow. non-recurrence of such brutality. Permanent Secretary in the peace with their victims. officers” acting of their own accord
As the country heads towards Ministry of Justice, Legal and and not on instruction. As a result,
The late former president Robert the annual commemoration of the Parliamentary Affairs, who For the victims of the violence it has mostly attributed its failure
Mugabe’s rule was characterised by Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day on also served as the Motlanthe and their families, an apology to investigate and punish the
violence and brutality, but their Tuesday, preceded by the Heroes’ commission’s secretary, had fully as a starting point would be a perpetrators to reports not being
application had not reached the Day on Monday, the need to reflect complied with the commission’s form of atonement that not only made.
heights on what happened on 1 on the role played by the military recommendations. acknowledges their pain, but
August 2018 in terms of its brazen in the 2018 violence should not be However, little has been also demonstrates contrition and In view of the Motlanthe
public display; it happened in ignored. done to implement most of the acknowledgement of wrongdoing. commission report, there can be
the full glare of publicity - social While the nation honours the recommendations, including no doubt that the evidence of
media, journalists and indeed the Defence Forces for the historical holding perpetrators accountable. Beyond a public apology, violations is well-documented, and
whole world. and current feats, victims and There have been no prosecutions there is a need for truth and it is now incumbent upon the state
survivors of the 2018 post-election of any of the soldiers who were justice; criminal prosecution is to take the lead in identifying the
It was a gory and blood-stained violence and their families will be involved in the violence and therefore not only necessary for perpetrators and holding them to
spectacle like never witnessed facing yet another day of grappling killings. accountability purposes, but also account.
before even in a country in which with the reality of suffering, So the ghosts of 1 August will be to help the victims, survivors and
large-scale violence and killings had trauma, and pain they experienced hovering over commemorations of their families heal. The state has an opportunity to
convulsed the public imagination at the hands of the military. Defence Forces Day next Tuesday not only prove its commitment
for years. This is also the reality of many as survivors of the violence and Criminal prosecution of the to improving Zimbabwe’s human
Zimbabweans who have suffered their families continue to relive the perpetrators will also enable the rights record by holding the
On 1 August 2018, protests human rights abuses perpetrated horrors of the grisly atrocities that victims and their families to know perpetrators accountable, but
broke out in Harare with by the military since 1980 – still haunt them. the identities of the perpetrators also to rebuild trust between
demonstrators demanding the Gukurahundi victims being the To date, the military has not and pursue civil litigation the state and citizens who have
immediate release of presidential worst affected. proffered any public apology for against them and the state for been subjected to systematic and
election results in which President One of the major its role in the violence nor has compensation for the pain and sustained human rights violations
Emmerson Mnangagwa and main recommendations made by the Mnangagwa done so in his capacity suffering they experienced. by state security agents, including
opposition MDC Alliance leader Motlanthe commission was as the Commander-in-Chief of the members of the defence forces.
Nelson Chamisa were reportedly that soldiers responsible for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. That is retributive justice, a
going head-to-head in a tightly killings and injuries should be held This is not surprising. response to criminal behaviour The reluctance to hold the
contested race. accountable for their wrongful Mnangagwa and other Zanu PF that focuses on the punishment of perpetrators of the 2018 post-
actions. leaders have not apologised for lawbreakers and the compensation election violence accountable
In response to the protests, At the time, the government other human rights abuses like of victims. In general, the severity for their actions only serves to
government deployed security feigned commitment the Gukurahundi massacres, the of the punishment is proportionate fuel impunity, which in turn
forces - the police and the military to implementing the violence and killings after 2000 up to the seriousness of the crime. encourages the culture and cycle of
- to quell the demonstrations. The recommendations. to 2008, and numerous enforced violence.
deployment of security agents On 28 June 2020, over disappearances by state security This is the opposite of restorative
resulted in a bloody encounter in a year after the Motlanthe agents, as well as other repressive justice which aims to involve Commemorations of Defence
which six people were killed and commission released its report, campaigns like Operation parties to a dispute and others Forces Day will be incomplete
scores were injuries. Following the state-controlled Sunday Mail Murambatsvina and recent affected by the harm - victims, without acknowledgement of the
the incident and widespread published an article claiming that destruction of people’s homes offenders, families concerned violations perpetrated by soldiers
condemnation of the violent government had fully complied deemed to illegal properties. and community members - in and ensuring accountability, while
murders, Mnangagwa in terms of with the recommendations of the Those involved are in fact dying collectively identifying harm, combating impunity.
section 2(1) of the Commissions commission. without being held accountable, let needs and obligations through
of Inquiry Act [Chapter 10:07] accepting responsibilities, making Farirai Sibanda is a human rights
through Proclamation Number restitution, and taking measures to lawyer serving as the Assistant
6 of 2018 published in Statutory heal. Transitional Justice Coordinator of
Instrument 181 of 2018 appointed the National Transitional Justice
a Commission of Inquiry (the Zimbabwe has often attributed Working Group.
Motlanthe Commission) into the human rights violations
issue.

The decision to appoint the
commission when the Zimbabwe
Human Rights Commission existed
was initially viewed with suspicion,
but victims, survivors, their
families, civil society organisations
and other stakeholders eventually
participated in the Motlanthe
commission process.

This enabled the Motlanthe
commission to produce a report in
December 2018 with interesting
findings and recommendations.
One of the crucial findings made
by the commission in its report is
that six people died and thirty-five
were injured because of actions of
the military and the police.

However, not much has been
done to ensure redress to the
victims of the violence and their
families even though there were
number of specific issues that
ought to have been done already.

So 1 August 2021 - the third year
since the killings, which some now
call the Harare Massacre - provided
an opportunity for Zimbabwe
to reflect on what happened,
introspect, and take stock of what
has been done to implement
the recommendations of the

News Hawks Analysis Page 33

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Military enjoys lion’s share of
budget at expense of health

PALESA MUWANI which has been worsened by the with the government burdening coup, Chiwenga was appointed between the liberation struggle
devastating impact of the scourge parents with the responsibility Vice-President. Other senior
with government hospitals, of providing children with PPE army officers such as the late and Zanu PF, between the
which previously could not even when the school term resumes. Sibusiso Moyo, Perrance Shiri and armies of liberation Zipra and
GOVERNMENT expenditure provide basics such as painkillers, Engelbert Rugeje swopped their Zanla and the national army of
which was tilted in favour of the failing to cope with the deluge It is not difficult to see why fatigues for the posts of Foreign
ministry of Defence and War of Covid-19 patients. The health the government continues to Affairs minister, Agriculture independence,” he said. “Any
sector has also been hard hit by prioritise the Defence ministry minister and Zanu PF national notion which seeks to break this
Veterans at the expense of such numerous strikes by disgruntled over all other sectors against all commissar respectively. bond should be rejected outright.”
critical sectors as health in the first medical professionals over poor common sense as it has relied
half of this year shows the heavy working conditions and a deficit on the army to maintain its grip Mnangagwa, like Mugabe, The government’s obsession
of personal protective equipment on power. In the mid-1980s the showed his heavy reliance on with power was further
reliance of President (PPE) amid the surge in Covid-19 then president, the late Robert the army soon after getting into evidenced when it acquired a
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s infections. Such has been the Mugabe, used the Korean-trained power when he deployed the
administration on the army, impact that the government is 5 Brigade to massacre an estimated troops to quell unrest prompted huge assortment of weapons and
working on introducing a new 20 000 civilians in the Midlands by the delay in the announcement ammunition in 2019 at a time
particularly in entrenching power. law to make it illegal for health and Matabeleland provinces in of the 2018 general elections on the country’s economic crisis was
According to figures availed by workers to strike for more than a murderous bid to entrench 1 August that year. In the full
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube three days at any given time. power soon after Independence glare of international television deepening, characterised by daily
in 1980. The genocide, known cameras, soldiers shot and killed power outages which lasted up to
in the mid-term fiscal policy While the government as Gukurahundi, was meant six civilians and maimed scores of 18 hours daily.
statement last week, the Defence has always managed to fund to diminish the influence and others, sparking global outrage.
and War Veterans ministry had the Defence ministry, it has support base of PF Zapu and its Despite the recommendations The government ordered
perennially failed to allocate 15% popular leader Joshua Nkomo. of a commission of inquiry weapons including 3 343 AK-47
already spent ZW$14.5 billion of the national fiscus to the health instituted by Mnangagwa and rifles, 2 000 CZ pistols, 500 P1
during the first half of the year, sector as envisaged in the Abuja Mugabe would again depend chaired by former South African
which represents 61% of its Declaration of 2001. on the army after he lost the first president Kgalema Motlanthe, pistols, 500 223 Steyrs, 500 UZI,
round of the 2008 presidential nothing has been done to bring 500 mossbergs, 500 riot guns,
annual vote totalling ZW$23.8 The Defence ministry continues election to the late founder of the perpetrators to justice and to 300 mortar tubes, 500 MAG, 300
billion. to get the lion’s share of the the opposition Movement for compensate victims.
The money spent on the budget despite the chaos that Democratic Change (MDC), SSG sniper rifles, 300 dragunov,
has hit the education sector Morgan Tsvangirai. In the Less than six months later, 100 RPG7, 1 500 Tokarev and 22
Defence ministry even dwarfs countdown to the re-run of Mnangagwa would trot out the 948 AK magazines.
the ZW$12.1 billion that was that election, the army helped army yet again after protests over
allocated to input support a 150% hike in the price of fuel in The government also purchased
spearhead a brutal campaign January 2019. Soldiers killed more 18 types of ammunition for the
programmes for the vulnerable in which scores of people than a dozen people and went on Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)
households and wheat farming for were beaten, maimed a spree of indiscriminate beatings.
the 2020/21 agricultural season and killed. The There were even accusations that Support Unit. The ammunition
MDC estimated some members of the army had was listed as “critical requirements”
during that period . that the brutality, raped women during that period. and was acquired amid growing
In stark contrast, the ministry which resulted
of Health and Child Care spent in Tsvangirai The prioritisation of the army fears that the country could
pulling out of when allocating funds from the plunge into chaos in light of the
ZW$9.4 billion during the the run-off fiscus is part of a culture that has deteriorating economy.
same period, out of the election, cost been in place since the country
ZW$54 billion 2021 the lives of at attained Independence in 1980, Among the wide array of
least 200 of its according to analyst Dumisani ammunition ordered were an
budget allocation. This members. Nkomo. assortment of multi-purpose
is despite the country The army,
battling a vicious third spearheaded “It is a culture that has been bullets, mortar bombs, grenades,
by the then developed since Independence cartridges and bores. Documents
wave of the Covid-19 Commander of which shows that the government’s show that the government acquired
pandemic which has the Zimbabwe foundation is in the military,”
resulted in a massive Defence Forces, Nkomo said. “It has to fund its two million 7.62X39 millimetre
Constantino foundation so that it remains (mm) ball, 50 000 (7.62×51mm
spike of infections and Chiwenga, carried intact. This misallocation of ball), 20 000 (7.62×51mm
fatalities. The country out a coup in resources is very damaging at a
has lost more than 3 2017 which ousted time the country is in a serious tracer), 20 000 (9×19mm), 10
Mugabe and ushered fight against the Covid-19 000 (7.62×25mm ball), 10 000
500 lives since the in his successor pandemic.” (.223 ammunition), 10 000 (12
pandemic began in Mnangagwa.
March last year. Soon after He said this practice will bore), 5 000 (7.62×51mm blank)
the have dire consequences for the and 50 000 (37mm cartridge).
The prioritisation of development of other critical The hefty allocation of resources
the Defence ministry sectors of the economy such as
over the health sector education, health and industry. to the Defence ministry at the
expense of other critical sectors is
continues despite The government’s reliance not limited to Zimbabwe alone
the deplorable on the army was made clear by
state of public the recent remarks of Zanu PF but the African continent as a
acting political commissar Patrick whole, according to economist
health Chinamasa. The former Finance Prosper Chitambara.
delivery minister boasted that the ruling
party will continue to work with “There has been a very
controversial issue which is not
the military because they were only confined to Zimbabwe
inseparable. but in Africa,” he said. “The
allocations to the military have
“Always be mindful that there crowded out funding of critical
is this unbreakable continuity resources to other important
sectors of the economy. It is
difficult to justify this at a time
the country is fighting the spread
of the Covid-19 scourge,” he said.
Chitambara said while the
funding of the military in
developed countries has led to the
creation of jobs, in poor countries
such as in Zimbabwe the funding
of the military is not productive,
Constantino Chiwenga worsening the situation.

Page 34 Analysis News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

US$650bn IMF SDR facility: Zim’s
own mini Marshall Plan moment?

ON 2 August 2021, The to reach herd immunity by
International Monetary Fund vaccinating at least 60% of the
(IMF) board of governors country’s population. This process
approved a general allocation of requires funding support since
special drawing rights to the tune the vaccines and consumables
of US$ 650 billion (SDR 456 are procured outside Zimbabwe.
billion) to IMF members to boost The availability of this US$1bn
global liquidity. The liquidity is will enable the smooth running
expected to assist economies to of vaccine rollout programmes
navigate the negative effects of and, resultantly, a quicker return
the Covid-19 pandemic and to to normalcy and eliminating the
build resilience, particularly for need for lockdowns. A return to
vulnerable countries struggling to normalcy will naturally bring with
cope with the effects of the global it increased economic activity
health emergency. on the back of increased trading
hours, unlimited movement, and
Questions have been asked as the opening up of supply chains
to whether this opportunity is a that cannot operate normally due
Marshall Plan or the economic to lockdowns.
stimulus which Zimbabwe *Productive sector support the
so desperately required. The economy is estimated to grow by
Marshall Plan, also referred to as 7.8% in 2021, up from initial
the Post-War European Recovery estimates of 7.4%. The growth is
Plan was a programme formulated anchored on agriculture, which
by US Secretary of State George is set to post double-digit growth
C Marshall in 1948 to assist in at 34% by the close of 2021. To
the reconstruction of post-World unlock maximum value from the
War Two Europe to the tune of agricultural value chain whilst
US$15bn. Under the IMF SDR boosting export capacity, there
facility, Zimbabwe will receive is a need for the government to
approximately support the procurement of seed,
fertilizer, chemicals, machinery,
US$1bn from its current SDR and other key inputs from the
holdings of 706.8m as of 30 July US$1bn available from the IMF
2021. This article proposes (in no SDR facility.
order of priority) possible areas This could be achieved through
of the funds’ deployment which the advancement of foreign
the authorities may consider in currency-denominated loans
a bid to maximise the benefit to through nominated commercial
the economy and build resilience banks for onward advance to
within the existing framework players in the agricultural value
of the National Development chain. Targeted support could also
Strategy (NDS). be extended to strategic sectors
George C. Marshal like telecommunications for
*Urgent external debt Statutory Instrument 33 of 2019 players to upgrade machinery and
repayments public sectors of the economy. *Exchange rate discovery and which separated historical foreign acquire better system capacities in
*Enhancing the foreign currency building forex reserves currency obligations (blocked light of the increase in demand for
According to the mid-term fiscal funds) from historical local data and other services due to the
policy review presented by Finance auction system (FCAS) Despite proving to be a stable currency obligations. Potentially, if Covid-19-induced new normal
minister Mthuli Ncube on 29 Since its introduction on 23 foreign currency market, the the Reserve Bank and ministry of where digital platforms are now
July 2021, the country’s external interbank auction has to a greater Finance Public Debt Management more prominent than they used
debt stock stood at US$10.5bn June 2020, the foreign currency extent failed to sustain a process Office finalise on the proposed to be.
as at December 2020. Of the auction system (FCAS) has grown of discovery. Testimony to this Blocked Funds Bill, the US$2.8bn *Getting the balance right From
US$10.5bn, US$6.5bn (77%) in leaps and bounds from a weekly is the volatile premium between could be added to the country’s the discussion above, it is evident
of it is in accumulated arrears. average allocation of US$21.95m the inter-bank and the parallel stock of external debt currently at that there are too many pressing
In the first quarter of 2021, the in 2020 to US$32.57m in 2021, market which has remained above US$10.5bn. needs competing for the limited
country had managed to commit according to the latest figures in levels of 55%. To eliminate this resources. However, the question
only US$17.04m towards debt the mid-term fiscal policy review premium or at least reduce it In light of this, the authorities as to whether Zimbabwe will
repayments. This scenario has statement. to a level commensurate to the must commit resources out of eventually manage to conjure a
complicated the re-engagement 20-30% threshold for frontier the US$1bn in SDR funds to Marshall Plan moment from this
process with the international Despite its growth, the market markets, the authorities will need settle some of the blocked funds US$1bn will revolve on whether
community under the auspices has largely failed to eliminate the to deploy a portion of the US$1bn debts. Most importantly, such a the authorities strike the right
of the Arrears Clearance and exchange rate premium between liquidity towards building a move will lessen the burden for balance between their spending
Debt Relief Strategy, which is a the parallel market and the formal healthy foreign currency reserves most companies reeling under choices.
key performance indicator before inter-bank rate. The coming in buffer to intervene in the foreign the weight of foreign currency- About the writer: Richard
bilateral and multilateral lenders of the US$1bn in SDR liquidity currency open market where there denominated liabilities which Mawarire is an economist
can unlock any concessional widens the funding mix of liquidity is a need to support the exchange undermine their balance sheets and an alumnus of the
funding to Zimbabwe. The sources for the inter-bank market, rate in line with desired macro- due to negative revaluations. US Department of State’s
US$1bn in SDR liquidity provides which was to a greater extent economic objectives. Settlement also demonstrates International Visitor
a chance for the country to realign being funded from 40% export goodwill and will go a long way Leadership Programme
its debt obligations by committing retentions and the 20% foreign *Blocked funds settlement in normalising frosty relationships (IVLP). He writes here in his
a portion of these resources currency deposit retentions. The A total of US$2.8bn worth of with foreign suppliers. personal capacity. Feedback
towards debt repayment. This will additional liquidity from the SDR outstanding payments under the on [email protected] OR
also be necessary to improve the facility ensures timeous settlement blocked funds arrangement is still *Covid-19 vaccines procurement WhatsApp +263772242941.
country’s sovereign risk ratings of auction allocations, thereby outstanding to foreign suppliers Returning to normalcy entirely
with major lenders, thereby improving the ease of transacting from Zimbabwean entities. This rests on the country’s ability
improving chances of getting new on the part of importing obligation arose as a result of
funding from both the private and customers.

News Hawks Africa News Page 35

Issue 42, 6 August 2021 Ramaphosa takes direct
control of security agency
Cyril Ramaphosa after years of profligate
rogue political operations

IN line with recommendations of the 2018 Zuma in Escourt under state watch, Cele is
High Level Panel Review into the State Security now the remaining face of the party in the
Agency, President Cyril Ramaphosa tightened region.
control over the body in a Cabinet shuffle on
5 August, locating political oversight in the As Cele’s position solidifies, that of SAPS
Office of the President. National Commissioner Khela Sitole crumbles.
“This is to ensure that the country’s It is and was under Sitole’s watch that SAPS
domestic and foreign intelligence Crime Intelligence found itself in suspended
services more effectively enable the animation, like a buffering beachball on a
president to exercise his responsibility 1991 Apple Powerbook 100.
to safeguard the security and integrity
of the nation,” said Ramaphosa when The appointment of former Speaker Thandi
announcing the changes on Thursday Modise as Minister of Defence and Military
night. Veterans was one of the most unexpected.
Adding to Ramaphosa’s shake- Modise was jailed for 10 years in apartheid
up of the wayward agency is the South Africa and was one of the highest-
appointment of Sydney Mufamadi, ranking female officers in Umkhonto weSizwe.
chair of the High Level Panel, as She is also a former president and deputy
National Security Adviser, a position president of the ANC Women’s League and
left vacant after the retirement of has chaired two parliamentary committees on
Charles Nqakula. Mufamadi defence.
will provide “support” to
the president and the A further measure to strengthen security
National Security services that have all but been eroded and
Council. repurposed is the appointment of an “expert
Zizi Kodwa was panel” chaired by Sandy Africa, Associate
appointed as Deputy Professor in the Department of Political
Minister in the Sciences at the University of Pretoria and
Presidency responsible consisting of advocate Majanku Gumbi
for state security. (former legal adviser to Thabo Mbeki) and
Police Minister Silumko Sokupa, national coordinator of
Bheki Cele’s position the National Intelligence Coordinating
was secure from the Committee (Nicoc).
start, a no-brainer in the
reshuffle sweepstakes. The panel was constituted, said Ramaphosa,
The president needs Cele “as part of the critical measures we are
in KwaZulu-Natal. With undertaking to strengthen our security services
Zweli Mkhize agreeing to and to prevent a recurrence of… events”.
step down on the strength
of a rag and bone promise to The panel would examine “all aspects
challenge the findings of the of our security response and will make
SIU report into the Digital recommendations on strengthening our
Vibes scandal and Jacob capabilities”.

Considering the accepted failure of the
security cluster to predict or prevent the recent
“attempted uprising”, it was expected that
former state security minister Ayanda Dlodlo
and former minister of defence and military
veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula would be
replaced.

While Dlodlo attempted to build stability,
clashes with her Director-General, Loyiso
Japhta, and head of foreign intelligence,
Robert McBride, thwarted this.

The High Level Panel review recommended
the separation of domestic and foreign
intelligence, and with the suspension of
McBride by Dlodlo in July and the resignation
of Sam Muofhe as domestic head as recently
as 4 August, those who will fill these positions
will be the crucial cherries on top of the new
state security pudding.

In March 2020, Ramphosa re-established the
National Security Council (NSC) to improve
intelligence and security coordination. With
seismic changes to the security architecture
on Thursday night, the president has begun
to deal with a massive and costly Zuma-era
securocrat hangover.

Perhaps it was the shock of the depth
and spread of the violence in the aftermath
of Zuma’s imprisonment that prompted
Ramaphosa to act. The tightening of oversight
over the security agency, the scene of many
a crime during the rogue Zuma years, could
not have come a minute too soon. - Daily
Maverick.

Page 36 World News News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Why the United States is
no longer winning
foreign wars
Since 1945, Washington has not
managed a clear victory with
the exception of the Gulf War
in 1991. The withdrawals from
Afghanistan and Iraq reflect its
trouble dealing with guerrilla
warfare.

AMANDA MARS

A FEW days before the fall of American soldiers on a foriegn war mission.
Saigon in April 1975, an event
that marked the end of the which are growing stronger by barely understood anything about country, and it is having trouble withdrawal of the remaining 2 500
Vietnam War, Colonel Harry the day. And in Iraq, site of the the country,” he explained in a because it does not understand troops, Washington has negotiated
G. Summers Jr of the United most unpopular war in recent telephone interview. local politics or internal dynamics with Baghdad a redefined role as a
States Army had a conversation US history, President Joe Biden purveyor of training and logistical
in Hanoi with Colonel Tu of the on Monday agreed to conclude Then-president George W. Bush Mark Perry, a defence analyst support. The Barack Obama
North Vietnamese Army at peace the combat mission by the end of launched the offensive together at the Quincy Institute for administration had already
negotiations. 2021, after 18 years. with allies barely a month after Responsible Statecraft and author announced the end of the war
9/11, because the Taliban were of a dozen books on foreign policy back in 2011, when it barely left
“You know you never defeated us The lesson of the last few years sheltering Osama bin Laden and and war, partly disagrees. any troops in Iraq, but in 2014
on the battlefield,” said Summers. is that the US should never have other Al Qaeda leaders with ties to US soldiers returned when the
The North Vietnamese colonel gotten involved in civil conflicts the attack. The goal was to destroy In his view, the death of Osama Iraqi government sought help to
reflected on this remark for a abroad, and I think we have seen this terrorist group and kick the bin Laden and the breakup of Al deal with terrorism by the Islamic
moment, then replied: “That may the last US interventions of this Taliban out of Afghanistan. Qaeda, which were the main goals, State.
be so, but it is also irrelevant.” The kind for some time to come mean that Afghanistan should not
exchange is captured in Summers’ Tierney says this needs to be be added to the list of US defeats, Perry feels that the Iraq War was
1982 book On Strategy: A Critical These are conflicts that end described as a failure. “The US even if “it certainly isn’t a victory, the biggest mistake in US foreign
Analysis of the Vietnam War. without surrender and without hasn’t surrendered to the Taliban, either.” policy in 40 years. The hawks in
victory ceremonies, where the but it has been a terribly costly the Bush administration pushed
The dialogue illustrates the US enemy is barely seen and does 20-year campaign, both in terms The problem, says Perry, is that for it on the basis of the alleged
paradox in most of the conflicts not wear a uniform. Biden has of lives and dollars, and the end the US tried to do too much. “We existence of weapons of mass
that would come later. After 1945 admitted that with Afghanistan, result is that the Taliban are have never been good at nation- destruction that were never found.
the US became a superpower; and it is not possible to expect any surging again. If we could go back building and we have wasted “We shouldn’t have gone, and if we
the fall of the Soviet Union would different results than those already to 2001 and tell people that the lives and wealth attempting it. did, we should have reached our
later leave it as the only remaining obtained. In an April speech, the Taliban would still be around two The same happened with Iraq goal of deposing Saddam Hussein
world leader, but it basically president said that the time had decades later, they’d be horrified.” and with Syria. Although Syria is and left. Now we are leaving, but
stopped winning wars. come for US troops to withdraw. a special case because we haven’t it’s 20 years later.”
In the early days of the campaign tried there.”
The country has not had a clear, Dominic Tierney, a professor there was a feeling of victory, adds According to this expert, “the
indisputable victory beyond the of political science at Swarthmore Tierney, because a small number The US has around 200 000 war on terror has been fought
1991 Gulf War. The nature of war College, has analysed the matter of soldiers were able to kick out troops deployed all over the and ended. The lesson of the last
has changed and most of them in-depth in The Right Way to the Taliban. world, although this figure varies few years is that the US should
are civil conflicts, with the enemy Lose a War: America in an Age of permanently due to withdrawal never have gotten involved in civil
taking the shape of terrorist Unwinnable Conflicts. This mirage emboldened Bush and reinforcement decisions that conflicts abroad, and I think we
groups and myriad small factions with a view to the Iraq war two get made almost on a daily basis, have seen the last US interventions
branching off in every direction – “The US is very effective at years later. But with time, two and which do not include special of this kind for some time to
pure quagmires. winning wars between states, that’s underlying problems surfaced: or secret operations. come.”
why it won in the Gulf in 1991, one, that the Taliban enjoyed
Summers, who became a writer but right now 90% of conflicts are considerable support among the Biden and also Donald Trump The events of the last few weeks
and a scholar of the Vietnam civil, with guerrillas, terrorists and Pashtun population, and that – albeit with a diametrically seem to be proving him right.
War, concluded that his North insurgents fighting within the same Pakistan was a sanctuary where opposed style – have sought to Following the assassination of
Vietnamese counterpart was right: country, and it is having trouble they could take refuge and recover reduce the scope of US efforts and Haiti president Jovenel Moise,
that regardless of action on the because it does not understand before going back to the war. “The resources in the Middle East, and the interim government anxiously
battlefield, the Americans had local politics or internal dynamics. war is over for the United States, to focus instead on the challenges requested US troops to stop
lost the 20-year-long war in such Afghanistan is a very clear case, but not for the Afghans,” he represented these days by China instability in the country. A few
a terribly profound way that it because it is a war that the US underscores. on both the economic and military days later, Biden replied that such
became a symbol and a slogan: entered in quite suddenly, with fronts. a move was not on the US agenda.
“We don’t want another Vietnam.” the 2001 attacks [on the World Right now 90% of conflicts are – El Pais.
Trade Centre in New York], and it civil, with guerrillas, terrorists and Iraq, however, is different from
They didn’t want one in insurgents fighting within the same Afghanistan.
Afghanistan, they didn’t want on
in Iraq, they didn’t want one in Rather than effect a drastic
any of the wars that the US fought
in the early 21st century and
which quickly turned into dead
ends – conflicts that are not lost
but not won either, and which are
very hard to abandon.

In the case of Afghanistan, it
will have taken two decades. The
last US troops are set to leave on
August 31, leaving the country at
the mercy of Taliban guerrillas,

Life&StyleSongs of Lozikeyi set for world tour

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

US$100 a day . . .
TinTin ‘making a
killing’ from egg
sales!

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA crates a day, but no order is too big egg suppliers in and around Harare. Main picture: Maskiri buying a crate of eggs from Tino.
AN alarming number of or too small for us.” “I have an intentional bias to Above: TinTin with a happy customer
Zimbabwean social media users
bombarded Tinopona Katsande That said, about 75% of her buy from fellow women who are exercise, except to obtain some occasionally circumstances occur
with ridicule after it came to light customers are based in the diaspora also trying to hustle and provide advantage from it? But who has any in which toil and pain can procure
that the popular ex-television and and some are users of Twitter, for their kids like I do. It’s my way right to find fault with a man who him some great pleasure. To take a
radio personality had resorted to through which they place orders for of ‘pulling her up, not pushing her chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has trivial example, which opleasure,
selling eggs for a living. their loved ones back home. down’ initiative,” TinTin said. no annoying consequences, or one but because those who do not know
who avoids a pain that produces how to pursue pleasure rationally
Unflattering comments, dripping “I am super excited that for the “Mutoko, women egg producers no resultant pleasure? But I must encounter consequences that are
with mockery and misogynist first time in my life Zimbabweans from in and around Harare and explain to you how all this mistaken extremely painful. Nor again is
innuendo, were posted from far have come out in full support of my sometimes when demand is too idea of denouncing pleasure and there anyone who loves or pursues
and wide: Has Tino fallen on hard daily hustle. high, I get from my family as praising pain was born and I will or desires to obtain pain of itself,
times? How the mighty have fallen! my nephew Michael Jarrett rears give you a complete account of the because it is pain, but because
A celebrity, selling eggs to make “I supply protein to people chickens too. He is actually the one system, and expound the actual occasionally circumstances occur
ends meet! from all walks of life in social and who inspired me try egg selling.” teachings of the great explorer of the in which toil and pain can procure
political spheres. I cannot name truth, the master-builder of human him some great pleasure. To take
This kind of reaction, perhaps, them one by one, but all I can say is She has earned more customers happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, a trivial example, which of us ever
again brought to the fore a it’s been encouraging. It is the first through her door-to-door delivery or avoids pleasure itself, because it is undertakes laborious physical
disturbing tendency by people time that people have showed me service that augurs well with the pleasure, but because those who do exercise, except to obtain some
in this country: celebrating the love, including on Twitter, without Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. not know how to pursue pleasure advantage from it? But who has any
perceived misfortune of others. tearing me down,” she explained. rationally encounter consequences right to find fault with a man who
Already, plans are afoot to supply that are extremely painful. Nor chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has
But to Katsande, brought to fame Inspired by the need to fend eggs to every corner of the country again is there anyone who loves or no annoying consequences, or one
for her role as Joyce Huni in the for her two children --- Yambuko although her major challenge is fuel pursues or desires to obtain pain of who avoids a pain that produces no
local soap opera Studio263, those Mukana (5) and Alexander Mupi costs. itself, because it is pain, but because resultant pleasure?
mocking her hustle are mistaken! (2) --- she has fearlessly grabbed
life by the horns. She is using the “Our prime service is delivery of
In fact, the cyberbullies, as she brickbats thrown at her to build a farm-fresh eggs to one’s doorstep. I
calls them, do not themselves make better future. deliver in and around Harare and
enough money in their careers as am in the process of providing a
she does from selling eggs. “I needed to raise some extra countrywide courier service.
income to help with the kids as
TinTin – as she is fondly called – I’m a full-time mom now and was “With the current inter-city
says she earns at least US$100 daily not formally employed so since the travel restrictions and the impact of
from sales. onset of the pandemic lockdowns I fuel costs in my logistics, currently
have been coming up with ventures all my profit is being absorbed into
TinTin’s egg business is literally to try and raise money to provide fuel and so I’m desperately trying to
growing by the day. A crate costs for the family,” she explained. find a way or partners to make it a
US$5 and on average she gets 20 viable venture,” she said.
orders, bringing the total earnings She said eggs, a source of protein,
to US$100 per day. were for everyone and her company and I will give you a complete
--- Mazai kwaTino ---focuses on account of the system, and expound
Suppose she delivers the same swift delivery service with a personal the actual teachings of the great
orders for 22 days excluding touch. explorer of the truth, the master-
weekends, this means she earns builder of human happiness. No
US$2 200 per month. Handsome “At the moment for the larger one rejects, dislikes, or avoids
or pretty returns indeed! orders or if by specific request, I pleasure itself, because it is pleasure,
personally deliver the eggs to one’s but because those who do not know
“Well let’s just say my sales have door and that is proving to be great how to pursue pleasure rationally
increased tremendously and it marketing,” she said. encounter consequences that are
keeps improving,” Katsande tells extremely painful. Nor again is
The NewsHawks. Asked how she is coping now there anyone who loves or pursues
that there is huge demand for or desires to obtain pain of itself,
“I’m working hard to provide a eggs, TinTin said she has engaged because it is pain, but because
good service and it’s giving back more egg suppliers, including those occasionally circumstances occur
rewards like repeat customers. outside Harare. in which toil and pain can procure
him some great pleasure. To take
“At the moment it’s US$5 a crate “I had to strategise quickly and a trivial example, which of us ever
of large eggs and I get an average of work with farm-fresh egg suppliers undertakes laborious physical
about 20 orders of more than five from my home area Mutoko and
surrounding small to medium-scale

Page 38 Life & Style News Hawks

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Songs of Lozikeyi
— the musical —
set for world tour!

Lozikeyi dancers

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA and show where she hails from, Nhimbe Trust. The chairperson of the Queen “The dancing was fantastic, I
THE name Lobengula needs no shedding light into the importance According to Nyapimbi, Lozikeyi Trust, Sihlangu Dlodlo, think the young choreographers
introduction. of culture and faith not only to her the musical is already getting said: “As the Lozikeyi Trust, did a splendid job in managing
but to her people. Lozikeyi loved rave reviews and bookings at we believe that this is the time to capture the mood of the songs
The last King of the Ndebele her people. international festivals. now to celebrate the Queen as a and the story of the songs. For
nation is a well-documented figure “It feels great to get back into the national icon, a national heroine, me, the balance was well done and
in Zimbabwe’s history. But what And the songs are a celebration studio for Nhimbe Trust’s second and to use her name to motivate the whole thing came together to
of this legendary warrior’s wives? of her heroics. music studio recording after the young women, especially from present the strength and the focus
2017 Blood Tongue THE Musical. the disadvantaged sectors of that is the story of Queen Lozikeyi
Not much has been told or Queen Lozikeyi was a forward- This time it’s the Songs of Queen our society to stand up and be herself. I say ‘Hats off!’ for a job
written of the King’s better-halves. thinking leader who held Lozikeyi, working with some of counted; to draw some inspiration well done.”
However, one of the Queens, the nation together after the Bulawayo’s finest musicians. We and motivation from who Queen
Lozikeyi, was probably the best cataclysmic “Imfazo”, the Anglo- believe the music will cut a niche Lozikeyi was, because she stood up Vuyelwa Mabhena, a member of
known of Lobengula’s wives – Ndebele wars of 1893 and 1896. for itself on the world stage, both when the King had disappeared The Queen Lozikeyi Trust, dressed
believed to be more than 20. live and digitally,” Nyapimbi said. and took leadership and pushed lead singers Thandy Dlana and
She impressed on the Ndebele Among the cast are lead people to achieve something. Nkwali.
Songs of Lozikeyi, a musical the need for education. singers Thandy Dhlana and
production and collaborative effort Nomathamsanqa “Nkwali” “So this is the kind of thing Nkwali said: “It’s such a great
featuring seasoned Bulawayo- The Songs of Lozikeyi was Mkwananzi, poets Sithandazile we expect, we expect our young honour to be part of the Songs
based artistes, will reveal more birthed at the Bulawayo Arts Dube, and Thandokuhle Sibanda, people and especially young of Lozikeyi production. When
about this remarkable matriarch. Festival held in July as an initiative Prince Joel Nyoni (guitar), Obey women to stand up and be writing the song Halala Lozikeyi
of Nhimbe Trust. Mudiwa (drums), Paul Maseko counted and not to be intimidated two years ago, l had to consult the
Based on the story of Queen (bass), Mthabisi Moyo (guitar), by circumstances. elderly to learn more about Queen
Lozikeyi Dlodlo, the senior With vibrant performances in Gomez Dube (percussion), Vuyile Lozikeyi. l spoke to Khumalo,
wife of King Lobengula, herself song, dance and poetry, the festival Qongo (saxophone), and Laura “Songs of Lozikeyi was a who is also from the royal family
a descendant of Mpangazitha production featured 21 acclaimed Ngwenya on the backing vocals. brilliant show… first of all the and he told me a lot about our
the Hlubi warrior king. Queen artists working together to create a The recording is under the hands artist selection was very special Queen; she was a very powerful
Lozikeyi had the status of prime vivid musical tribute and celebrate of engineer Erustus Nleya of Loud because and Thandy Dhlana and woman and an inspiration to
minister in the court of King the life and history of the great Records and Prince Joel Nyoni. Noma Nkwali are some of the us today. I have learnt so much
Lobengula. Queen. Featured in the six-track best voices we have around. Their already from when we started
recording is the song Halala music is slightly different, but very working on the production, and
The musical takes audiences Guided by the writings of Lozikeyi by Nkwali which was complementary, so this enabled now looking forward to getting
through a journey of acclaimed historian Pathisa Nyathi commissioned by the Queen the Songs of Lozikeyi to have that into the recording studio, trying
understanding a woman who in his seminal book Lozikeyi Lozikeyi Trust, an institution necessary variety. out new things, working with
possessed many traits, some good, Dlodlo: Queen of the Ndebele and founded by her descendants to different artists from my city. I am
others questionable and most other research, the production was preserve her intriguing legacy. “Thandy came in with this jazzy very grateful to Nhimbe Trust for
misunderstood. written by Noma Damasane (also touch, Nkwali came in with the this opportunity.”
known as “Lady Tshawe”) and traditional touch and it all blended
The songs introduce Queen Thabani H Moyo, conceptualised very, very well.
Lozikeyi Dlodlo to the word and directed by Saimon Mambazo
Phiri and executive directed and
produced by Josh Nyapimbi of

News Hawks People & Places Page 39

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Qatar Airways starts Harare flights

STAFF WRITER

QATAR Airways, named 2021 Qatar Airways crew members at RG Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Zimbabwe. Qatar Airways crew in Harare
airline of the year by AirlineRatings Zimbabwe’s tourism sector and
and which has some Zimbabwean Organisation dashboard. In many many sectors. network since the outbreak of the travellers who will now have an
pilots and cabin crew members, is developing countries, arrivals were The arrival of Qatar Airways on pandemic. option to Emirates and other
set to begin flights to Harare via down by 80%-90%. airlines.
Lusaka, Zambia, today. the Zimbabwean market would be Qatar said besides carrying
The beginning of 2021was critical for boosting and reviving passengers, the flight to Harare via Qatar flies to 130 destinations
This would boost flight options worse for most destinations, with tourism. Lusaka would also have capacity around the world and has top-
for travellers and tourism in an average global decline of 88% to move 30 tonnes of cargo, the-range planes, including the
Zimbabwe whose economy and as compared to pre-pandemic The Doha-based airline, the fast becoming a component of new generation Boeing 787-9
hospitality industry have been level. The indirect effects of this fastest-growing young carrier aviation business. Dreamliner and other latest-
devastated by the Covid-19 decline are even more devastating, widely known for its impressive generation aircraft, making it
pandemic ravaging the world. as labour and capital remain innovation and safety record, It said the route would be served one of the leading and most
unused and the lack of demand for said recently the Zambian and by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on sophisticated airlines traversing
The Covid-19 pandemic has intermediate goods and services Zimbabwean capitals were its fifth Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. across six continents.
been as much an economic crisis as has a negative upstream effect into and sixth African destinations
it is about health with devastating respectively it had added to its Having another airline flying
effects on developing countries, to Harare will be welcomed by
especially those dependent on
tourism.

As governments have attempted
to protect their populations,
lockdowns, quarantines, and
major restrictions on national
and international mobility were
implemented.

This, coupled with the major
slowdown in travel, resulted in a
sharp contraction for the tourism
sector with severe economic
consequences, particularly on
countries that rely on the sector.

The number of international
tourist arrivals declined by 74%
in 2020 compared with the
previous year, according to the
United Nations World Tourism

Property
News Hawks

Page 38 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 42, 6 August 2021

The home of prime property: [email protected]

FBC bank’s Fontaine ridge housing project near Kuwadzana

News Hawks Sport Page 41

Issue 42, 6 August 2021

Ryder Cup: A difficult birth, a
turbulent growth, change coming?

JOHN KELLEY when he once parked his hired Rolls each format requiring its own notorious “War on the Shore” at averse to even breaking the rules. The
THE Ryder Cup has seen almost Royce outside one clubhouse and disciplines. And then on the third Kiawah, the “Belfry Footprints” US won 15-13.
100 years of bi-annual golf clashes used it as a change room. Snooty club day 12 singles matches, involving the saga, the “Unpleasant Brookline.”
across the Atlantic, firstly between members nationwide got the picture. entire teams blindly selected by the Even planned disruption of sleep At Brookline Country Club
the best USA and Britain or Ireland Hagen went on to captain the first six captains, offered almost half the total with early-hour phone calls to the in 1999, the American Press was
professionals and then USA versus US Ryder Cup teams. of 28 points, thus creating excitement Europeans’ hotel, was devised by campaigning for US fans’ over-
Europe, building up from informal on the final day with the two teams local newspapers and carried through enthusiasm and stirring things up.
matches to one of the sport’s greatest In 1927, the first Ryder Cup proper determined “at all costs” to reach the by locals. This resulted in excessively loud
and exciting encounters. was arranged. But it was a difficult necessary 14 ½ points for victory, or and sustained cheering and making
birth. Continuing low interest by 14 points for a tie and retention of Kiawah Island in South Carolina in loud remarks at critical moments,
The very early clashes between US media and by the public resulted in the cup for previous winners under 1991 presented a really tough course with Colin Montgomerie their
professionals and the British-Irish a “whip round” of clubs for the prize the rules of engagement. The present buffeted frequently by high winds off main target. Andrew Coltart’s ball
tended to be one-sided in favour of money falling woefully short of what holders are Europe, having defeated the Atlantic Ocean. Europe had held suspiciously went missing. The
the latter, probably because their was needed. To save the day, the USA 17 ½ to 10 ½ in Paris. Highlight the trophy for six consecutive matches wife of a British player claimed she
top amateurs had been competing at undeterred Samuel Ryder and some was Francesco Molinari winning all through the previous 12 years and was spat at. In one vital late singles
the highest level among themselves American businessmen made up the five of his matches, four of them with the Americans decided to throw match, between Justin Leonard and
already for around 50 years. There necessary difference partner Tommy Fleetwood. their intensity and volume into a Jose Maria Olazabal, Leonard holed a
was therefore low interest at first turnaround. The Europeans had been 45-foot putt that apparently seemed
among the media and also golf The American players amazingly Meanwhile, a significant change gloating about their recent record to him to square the match. There
followers. Thus it became a challenge maintained their superiority for of emphasis in international golf is and that also spurred an attempted was bedlam. The American players,
for pioneering enthusiasts with the around 50 more low-key years, seen to be taking place. A new wave reversal by any means possible. their wives, caddies and a section of
necessary money and sustained continuously threatening the annual of professional players has emerged the crowd raced in jubilation on and
interest to keep the international golf bonanza, before the obvious from the Far East and Asia, primarily A video history of the Ryder Cup around the green, many right across
matches going. and saving solution was at long last from China in recent years. There was shown at the opening ceremony, Olazabal’s line. He was wrong, but
brought about. It was decided to is speculation within a widely held entirely focused on the Americans. did he know that? Olazabal still had
Among the moneyed men on both dispense with the old concept of USA opinion they will develop into a force This was seen by the Europeans as a a putt, actually to win the hole and
sides was a core which retained their versus GBI and bring in Europeans. that will challenge the strengths of snub. Then on the eve of the match square the match. But he had to wait
vision regardless. They included Why this took so long will surely the US and also Europe. some of America’s media hatched a for some minutes while order was
primarily Walter Hagen, by far the puzzle historians. The introduction plot to encourage frequent early-hour restored. It was no surprise when he
best American player of his time and of the cream of continental players This new factor in international golf phone calls to the European hotel so missed.
who was relentlessly active. Also, a made all the difference. Though not might one day have to be faced by the as to disrupt their sleep.
Manchester (later St Albans) seed right away. The dramatic change took Ryder Cup authorities. There are said Wild celebrations by both sides
merchant, Samuel Ryder, who made place in 1979. Real competition came to be upwards of 600 professionals More than 25 000 locals poured were now common during the day’s
his millions selling small packets about with the introduction of Seve now registered in China alone. Only onto the course from the opening play match. At another hole Tom
of seed at £1 a time. Ryder had Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and a few have so far reached any sort of day, yelling and cavorting while Lehman raced 50 yards down the
powerful philanthropy motives, was others. Competition consequently prominence but there are positive wearing military-style baseball caps, fairway after holing out, fist-pumping
a determined lobbyist and strong became fierce as national pride signs of impending talent by volume. waving flags and shouting comments, the crowd. America eventually won
supporter of the concept of golf became more and more remorseless. They are still in the “acorn” stage but especially on European backswings. by a single point. Brookline and the
competition across the Europe won 26 of these matches. one day we will surely have many It became known as the “War on the other two venues will always remain
Some matches overstepped the “oak trees.” Many big-name British, Shore.” Of etiquette there was little. scars on the Ryder Cup, even though
Atlantic every two years. But traditions and courtesies of the game American and European professionals The US achieved victory by a single they happened around 20 years ago.
in those early days there was no due to the intense desire to win, with have already created new courses and point.
structured sponsorship and no title at gamesmanship, disregard of etiquette clubs throughout the East. Standards The Ryder Cup has now recovered
stake between about 1920 and 1927. in some cases and even allegations of are bound to improve. The growth is Tensions during 2002 at The Belfry its former courtesies. But the rivalry
rule breaking. as certain as the rising sun. Can the in England’s Midlands began when and competitive edge remains at full
The sequence of distorted large Ryder Cup ever become a three-way US captain Tom Watson instructed tilt, built up for days, even weeks,
victories by the British continued But on the positive side, it all match? Fortunately, the question is Payne Stewart not to autograph before the upcoming clash, with rival
through those eight years and beyond. combined to stimulate massive not for me to ponder. a menu for Europe player Sam captains Steve Stricker and Padraig
But very soon this changed right newspaper/television interest, and Torrance, thus unpleasantly breaking Harrington in the front line. The
around. The Americans established even some unwanted and unpleasant Ryder Cup rivalry between the a long-standing tradition. He thought two 12-man teams are due to be
their Professional Golfer involvement by “rabble-roused” Americans and Europeans has that it would raise tensions favouring announced shortly, nine chosen by a
spectators. occasionally degenerated into his team, but he was still no match for points system over a certain period,
Association, thus encouraging unfortunate instances of bad and the retaliatory gamesmanship of Seve three by captains’ picks, a tough and
the growth of bigger and bigger On the “plus” side, an exciting unacceptable behaviour, with poor Ballesteros in many other respects. undoubtedly controversial task.
tournament prize funds that match-play formula presented for 12 etiquette and even the alleged bending On the 15th green, veteran Ray
improved standards. The British players a side, making up arguably of rules rearing up. Over-excited Floyd walked all over the line of Peter Golf is not a “fireworks” sport – the
professionals remained for some the best 24 in the world, one or two rivalry has morphed several times Baker’s putt, leaving marks. Baker had Ryder Cup is most certainly excepted.
years almost exclusively employees of Asian and other continent players into unacceptable one-upmanship. been warned about the likelihood of What would Mr Ryder think today?
clubs. They were even, in most cases, excepted, became entrenched. Within Spectators have been dragged into it. Floyd’s antics, like ripping a golf glove *Veteran author and journalist
banned from entering clubhouses. this formula, defensive foursomes off during a swing. Baker complained John Kelley writes exclusively for
Hagen famously changed all that were followed by attacking fourballs, There were, for instance. the later that the Americans were also not The NewsHawks.

GROWING up, I thought significantly Let’s celebrate them, HawkZone is Italy’s first Olympic 100m
that Gareth Ziyambi would to Olympic success albeit but let’s let them go sprint champion in history.
become an Olympic medallist Enock
from Zimbabwe, a world under the colours of a different Gareth Ziyambi (middle) with British gold-medalists Muchinjo His Italian mother and
champion in any of the codes country. Tom Daley and Matty in Tokyo. Italian upbringing make him
he excelled at back in the day, to claim Ziyambi’s success as Italian as Fabio Cannavaro,
or maybe captain of a world- Besides, Ziyambi is Today, Ziyambi is a British have every right to because, simply put, he is a the European country’s last
beating Zimbabwean team. somebody many of us naturalised British citizen, claim Ziyambi as their own Briton now and the divers football World Cup-winning
in Zimbabwe can relate founder of a renowned whose achievement he has captain.
I could have never imagined to, a product of a strong high-performance centre because they are responsible contributed to are Britons.
the kind of reaction, nearly Zimbabwean schools sporting in that country, a qualified for his development in elite After their annihilation at
three decades later, that a system of the 1990s. physiotherapist who has sport. They have made him There is a valid point in that the hands of Jamaica’s Super
simple post about Ziyambi worked with British Olympians and given him the platform to school of thought – if you ask Trio in the 100m women’s
would generate so much I was very young, early years and World Championships be the best he can be. me. final in Tokyo, the US will not
intense debate after a local of primary school, when I first representatives across different be taking solace in Jacobs’
news website Twitted about heard of that name. sporting disciplines. The debate on the post I We have enough sporting
the revered physiotherapist of Of course, despite being spoke about earlier in this talent in this country at our feat because let us face it, the
Great Britain’s diving team at Which sport-crazy young born and schooled here, the blog, therefore, was largely disposal, both athletes and man ran under Italy’s flag and
the Tokyo Olympics. schoolboy, in the ‘90s, did not centred around why a person technical people, so much that it is their victory.
hear of Ziyambi who pretty in Zimbabwe would like we should not be resorting to
Ziyambi, originally from much played every sport at St basking in reflected glory. I would never begrudge
Zimbabwe, has received a George’s College in Harare, Tawanda Maswanhise, if the
huge amount of credit for and shone brightly in all? The world has changed Leicester City prodigy does
the success of Great Britain’s very fast. People have moved not answer Zimbabwe’s call
two diving gold-medallists in We were in awe of this from one corner of the because he feels he can make
Tokyo, Tom Daley and Matty athletic freak, and just the planet to another, taking up the England team.
Lee. sound of his name gave us nationalities different to earlier
goosebumps. family members. Not even his father Jeffrey
With Zimbabwe’s paltry five Maswanhise, a sprinter who
athletes leaving Tokyo without You could say the impact Lamont Marcell Jacobs, as represented Zimbabwe with
medals, one could be forgiven that schoolboy sporting African-American a name as
for basking in some reflected heroes like Ziyambi had in they sound and born in Texas, pride at the Commonwealth
glory given that someone my generation inspired many Games, can convince his son
with some connection to future careers and, in my case, otherwise.
this country has contributed probably inspired me to take
to the keyboard to tell the Because children do not
story of sportsmen and women choose where they are born,
of our country. where they are raised and,
ultimately, where the heart lies.

Sports Let’s celebrate
them, but let’s
let them go

Friday 6 August 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

OLYMPICS REVIEW:

‘We need to reverse
our mentality’
ENOCK MUCHINJO league in all sports will support our
local development pathways and
WITH the Tokyo Olympics local athletes more than what’s in
done and dusted, and Zimbabwe place currently. And, we know life
once again emerging medal-less, can bring us down, but we need
few people are more qualified to to reverse our mentality and breed
propose a practical way forward the positives intrinsically. Let the
than Grant Mitchell. growth mindset be at the forefront
42-year-old Mitchell played for of decisionmakers, leaders, athletes
Zimbabwe at the 2009 Rugby and all who support the ideal that
World Cup Sevens in Dubai, the is progress.”
highlight of his playing days. But
it is in his post-playing career as a Mitchell, a Human Kinetics
strength and conditioning expert and Ergonomics degree holder
that Harare-born Mitchell has from Rhodes University in South
particularly made the greatest Africa, also has a handful of Test
sporting contribution to his rugby caps for Zimbabwe, making
country. his Sables debut at flyhalf against
A vast majority of Zimbabwean Uganda in a World Cup qualifier
sportspersons– both teams and in 2004.
individuals – have been taken
through their paces by Mitchell He is also a World Rugby
over the past decade: both men’s strength and conditioning
and women’s national football educator.and pain can procure
teams, national rugby team, Scott Vincent him some great pleasure. To take
national cricket team, national this week. “We have far more Apart from Vincent and return to the podium in future will a trivial example, which opleasure,
hockey teams, Africa’s greatest talent than that in Zimbabwe Purcell-Gilpin, Zimbabwe was take massive change in attitude, but because those who do not
Olympian Kirsty Coventry, and as a nation we need multiple represented by swimmers Donata mindset and approach. know how to pursue pleasure
Zimbabwean representative sport disciplines represented Katai and Peter Wetzlar alongside rationally encounter consequences
golfers, amongst others. by individuals and teams at the sprinter Ngoni Makusha. The NewsHawks asked Mitchell that are extremely painful. Nor
Golfer Scott Vincent and rower Games. Of the team of five, to specify what those changes again is there anyone who loves or
Peter Purcell-Gilpin, Zimbabwe’s only Purcell-Gilpin and Vincent “Each athlete inTeam Zimbabwe should be. pursues or desires to obtain pain
only direct qualifiers out of the formally qualified, so the situation gave their best,” said Mitchell. “We of itself, because it is pain, but
five that were in Tokyo, have also is worse beneath the surface. I saw career high rankings, personal “It’s a great question,” Mitchell because occasionally circumstances
passed through Mitchell’s capable would say many athletes watched bests being set and what we know replied. “However, it’s the same occur in which toil and pain can
hands and he says it makes him feel from home thinking of missed we get from Zimbabweans in question asked every four years, procure him some great pleasure.
“simple, proud and privileged.” opportunities and felt misguided their best effort. Even if it wasn’t sadly. And it’s the same answer too. To take a trivial example, which
Just five Olympians, though, is by their programmes of support.” enough to progress or medals, Our athletes need more support in of us ever undertakes laborious
a stark statistic that deceives the the fact that they produced the form of human, scientific and physical exercise, except to obtain
great sporting potential of the No medals for Zimbabwe since their best-ever performances is financial resources. Our young some advantage from it? But who
country, according to fitness guru decorated swimmer Coventry’s highly commendable. Our flag athletes need access to professional has any right to find fault with
Mitchell. last heroics in Beijing in 2008, but showcased globally and worn with long-term athletic development a man who chooses to enjoy a
“This is not a good sign,” for Mitchell, the performance of great respect.” pathways and our associations pleasure that has no annoying
Mitchell told The NewsHawks the five in Tokyo should give the and governing bodies need to do consequences, or one who avoids
nation some reason to cheer. Improving on the last three it now. Not tomorrow. A more a pain that produces no resultant
medal-less Olympic Games and professional local competition pleasure?

ALSO INSIDE Ryder Cup: Is change coming?