Price
US$1
Friday 26 March 2021
WHAT’S INSIDE NFrEeWshSdetails BUSINESS TSPhOirRdTAfcon
emerge on qualification
Mnangagwa’s Tobacco yield in a row
land heist lower but for Warriors
quality higher
Story on Page 6 Story on Page 49
Story on Page 23
Zingman incarceration:
Arrest of Mnangagwa’s
shadowy business crony
opens can of worms
...Full story on next page
ALSO INSIDE Zingman cuts deals on private luxury jet: From Moscow, Minsk, Lusaka to Harare
Page 2 News NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
BERNARD MPOFU Arrest of Mnangagwa’s mysterious
business crony opens can of worms
THE explosive arrest on
17 March 2021 of Pres- President Emmerson Mnangagwa with Alexander Zingman officially opening Zimbabwe’s Belarus Consulate.
ident Emmerson Mnan-
gagwa’s shadowy Belar- dential guard chief who is Kagame, in what would be officials. The two are linked on American sanctions, as have had a serious fallout
usian business associate wanted for war crimes, are another violent confronta- to Russian arms dealing in part of an elite network of after the collapse of the
Alexander Zingman in hiding in Zimbabwe. tion similar to the bloody Africa and elsewhere. DRC and Zimbabwean coalition between Head-
Lubumbashi after meeting Second DRC War. officials who pillaged Con- ing for Change and the
former Democratic Re- Only this week, General Mnangagwa has on sev- golese minerals. Common Front for Congo
public of Congo (DRC) John Numbi, former police Tshisekedi, backed by eral occasions been pub- since the 2018 disputed
leader Joseph Kabila in- and army chief, suspected the Kigali strongman, licly photographed with Kabila met Mnangagwa elections. Kabila’s coalition
volves a deadly cocktail of of having ordered the as- has fired the first warning Zingman, one time at his on 2 March in Harare to controlled parliament.
politics, mining deals and sassination of two people, shots across Kabila’s bows Harare home with his son discuss the political and However, Tshisekedi is
arms trade in the miner- fled to Zimbabwe. For a by arresting Zingman, his Emmerson Junior, with security situation in the now purging Kabila allies.
al-rich central African na- long time, Numbi — one ally, and Mnangagwa’s as- his wife Auxillia’s portrait DRC. He visited Zimba-
tion, security sources have of the most prominent sociate. He is also after right in front of them. The bwe at the end of a tour Tshisekedi has in re-
told The NewsHawks. generals in the Congolese Numbi, now hiding in three were sitting in a com- that took him to Abu Dha- cent months been purging
army who has been placed Zimbabwe. fortable and cosy posture, bi, United Arab Emirates, Kabila’s political allies —
The sources said Zing- under international sanc- discussing what would cer- and Dar es Salaam, Tanza- including Prime minister
man’s arrest threatens to tions and is very close to The murky Belarusian tainly have included pri- nia. During his stopover in Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkum-
open a can worms, with Kabila — had been holed oligarch, who on the sur- vate business. Harare, Kabila had dinner ba — removed through
Mnangagwa perilously in up on his farm in Lubum- face is a lowkey business- with Mnangagwa. a vote of no confidence,
the eye of the storm. The bashi in south-eastern man who runs his mining In the DRC, Mnangag- leading to a collapse of the
Belarusian tycoon’s where- DRC. and agricultural company wa remains close to Kabi- Zingman was arrest- power-sharing arrange-
abouts remain unknown from Minsk and Dubai, la. The two worked closely ed while on his way from ment.
since his arrest. He was Kabila has also retreated has a vast network of con- together during the sec- Lubumbashi to meet
seized together with his to his farm to strategise on tacts in Africa running ond DRC war from 1998 Mnangagwa. He had met In a bid to sideline Kabi-
colleague Oleg Vodchits how to fight Tshisekedi. from north, to the west, to 2002. Zimbabwe was, Kabila just before that. la, the DRC Parliament
and their Italian business east and southern Africa. together with many other This was barely two weeks supported Christophe
associate Paolo Persico. While Mnangagwa is He hobnobs with presi- countries, involved in the after Kabila visited Harare Mboso, who had defect-
close to Kabila, Kagame dents and their cronies, war. Mnangagwa was the to see Mnangagwa amid ed from the former presi-
Executives at his com- is a Tshisekedi ally. At the purportedly selling mining late former president Rob- rising tensions in the Great dent’s Common Front for
pany AFTRADE in the same time, Mnangagwa and agricultural equip- ert Mugabe’s point man in Lakes region. Kabila’s vis- Congo party in December
Belarusian capital Minsk and Kagame have good ment. the Great Lakes conflict. it was exclusively covered to rally behind Tshisekedi.
and Dubai are frantically relations. Zimbabwe and by The NewsHawks.
searching for Zingman, Rwanda just recently Zingman was at the cen- Zimbabwean political This followed the oust-
Zimbabwe’s Honorary signed five memoranda tre of Zimbabwe’s US$58 and military leaders cut di- Besides being Kabila’s ing of former speaker
Consul in Belarus. Some of understanding to es- million agricultural equip- amond deals in the Congo. ally, Mnangagwa is part Jeanine Mabunda, another
of Zingman’s friends met tablish a joint permanent ment deal with Belarus in Stories of bags full of mon- of the Sadc troika on pol- Kabila ally, recently and
at his Falcone restaurant in commission on co-opera- 2019 and a comprehensive ey changing hands during itics, defence and security, the resignation of Ilunk-
Minsk, a source said. tion and a series of other US$350 million trade ar- the time were common- together with Botswana amba. Kabila’s other ally,
agreements, including on rangement between the place. President Mokgweetsi Ma- Alexis Thambwe Mwam-
“We are deeply con- criminal matters, showing two countries. sisi and his South African ba, was also removed as
cerned by Alexander strengthening ties between Mnangagwa and Kabi- counterpart Cyril Rama- Senate President. This then
Zingman being unlawful- Mnangagwa and Kagame. Mnangagwa is close to la dealt with each other phosa. Mozambican Pres- gave Tshisekedi control of
ly detained in the DRC. Zingman, Belarus’ long- on various issues, includ- ident Filipe Nyusi is the the House of Assembly
He was in the country on Yet Kabila wants Mnan- time authoritarian leader ing official deals under Sadc chair. and Senate, leaving Kabila
a legitimate business trip gagwa to help him against Alexander Lukashenko’s the aegis of Zimbabwe’s angry.
for generating agricultural Tshisekedi, who is backed runner and his fixer Victor moribund Osleg military “The issue is about pol-
trade with our partners in by Kagame. Sheiman. Both Zingman company, and have re- itics, mineral deals and Residing since late De-
Africa,” a company spokes- and Sheiman have been to mained close. A 2002 UN guns,” a security source cember at his farm in
man told The NewsHawks. This means if Mnangag- Zimbabwe several times to Security Council report told The NewsHawks. Kashamata, Kabila is said
wa helps out Tshisekedi, he meet Mnangagwa and his cites Mnangagwa, who is to have been refining his
“We call (upon) DRC will inevitably clash with Tshisekedi and Kabika
authorities to release Mr
Zingman, his colleague
Oleg Vodchits, and their
Italian associate Paolo Per-
sico immediately. To detain
Western businessmen on a
business visit is not helpful
for our efforts to promote
trade with Africa.”
The source of the prob-
lem is the deadly political
fight raging on in the DRC
between President Felix
Tshisekedi and Kabila.
The two had a governing
coalition after the 2018
elections which collapsed
recently, with Tshisekedi
seizing control of parlia-
ment and purging Kabila’s
allies.
Mnangagwa and Zing-
man are caught up in the
messy DRC conflict.
Zingman’s arrest raises
the stakes and complicates
Kabila’s relations with
Mnangagwa.
However, Mnangagwa
remains a pillar of support
for Kabila and Zimbabwe
is a refuge for his allies.
Several DRC rebel com-
manders, including Protais
Mpiranya, a former presi-
NewsHawks News Page 3
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
strategy to counter Tshise- resources needed, as well as of the capital Kigali and 5 000 to 7 000 fighters the Rwandan government, Chad, Namibia, and Zim-
kedi’s manoeuvres to con- the implications. most of Rwanda by Ju- and 332 000 refugees in working with its allies babwe, allied himself with
solidate control and push ly-August 1994. By that Bukavu, South Kivu. Burundi and Uganda, re- Hutu armies and the In-
him out. The situation is further time, an estimated 1.7 sponded to the cross-bor- terahamwe militia, Rwan-
complicated by Rwanda, million Rwandan Hutus So a large part of the der attacks by supporting dan and Ugandan-backed
From Lubumbashi, which faces an existential had fled to Zaire (renamed former Rwandan state se- the Alliance of Democratic rebels.
in Haut-Katanga, Kabi- threat from former Hutu DRC in 1997), Tanzania, curity apparatus went into Forces for the Liberation Joseph Kabila, who took
la has conducted a series army troops and com- and other countries. exile in the DRC, where of Congo, an alliance of over after his father was
of consultations on the manders who retreated they built a quasi-state run Congolese rebel groups led assassinated, inherited the
fightback. Kabila has writ- into eastern DRC after the An estimated 34 by their “government in by Laurent-Désiré Kabila hostilities with Rwanda.
ten to the African Union 1994 genocide and the rise 000 to 37 000 members exile”. The Hutu rebels ex- that later toppled Zairean This partly is the source
and United Nations, and of President Paul Kagame. of the former army, pres- ploited Rwandan refugees dictator Mobutu Sese Seko of problems between Kabi-
has dispatched envoys to The Hutu forces have been idential guard led by Pro- and local resources, taking in May 1997. As Kabila la and Kagame. Tshisekedi
South Africa, Egypt and attacking the country since tais Mpiranya, gendar- advantage of the weak- sought to free himself from is trying to fix the problem
Kenya, among other coun- then. merie, and Interahamwe, ness of local authorities to Rwandan control, a new with Kagame now. Last
tries. That is why he met along with hundreds of consolidate their strength Congolese rebellion erupt- year, a picture of Kagame
Mnangagwa in Harare. The assassination on 6 thousands of Rwandan in these remote regions. ed under the Congolese and Tshisekedi firmly hold-
Zingman was coming to April 1994 of President refugees, formed part of For the rebel leaders, these Rally for Democracy, lead- ing hands at a meeting in
see Mnangagwa after his Juvénal Habyarimana, a the exodus. Most of them refugees would become ing to the Second Congo- Kigali went viral and sent
meeting with Kabila to Hutu, sparked a geno- gathered in two eastern human shields, a pool for lese War of 1998–2002. tongues wagging in DRC
discuss mining deals, how cidal wave which left 800 provinces: 20 000 fighters recruitment, and a source where the anti-Rwandese
to help the former DRC 000 Tutsis and moderate and 850 000 refugees in of income and political In a dramatic shift, Kabi- sentiment remains strong.
leader fight Tshisekedi and Hutus dead. Goma, North Kivu, and legitimacy. In late 1996, la, supported by Angola, Representatives of
Kagame gained control
Rwanda’s and DRC’s de-
fence and security forces
met recently in Kinshasa,
and made several import-
ant decisions on coopera-
tion in eastern DRC.
During the meeting,
which took place from
KEEP THAT COUGH 15 March to 19 March,
UNDER COVER. François Beya – “Mr Secu-
rity” for Tshisekedi – and
Always keep that cough or sneeze into your arm or a tissue and put Jean Bosco Kazura, Rwan-
the tissue in the bin straight away. Wash your hands with soap and da Defence Force Chief-of-
water for at least 20 seconds or more afterwards. Staff, reviewed the previous
meeting. They had earlier
TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THE met from 12 February to
SPREAD AND STAY HEALTHY. 14 February in Kigali, with
other security officials, to
HELP develop a joint strategy to
address security-related is-
STOPTHE sues.
SPREAD The teams, on behalf of
Tshisekedi and Kagame,
AND STAY HEALTHY drew up an operational
plan to carry out joint mil-
itary actions against rebel
groups operating in east-
ern DRC. These include
the Hutu-led Democratic
Forces for the Liberation
of Rwanda, whose com-
mander Slyvestre Mudacu-
mura was killed in 2019,
and its splinter groups,
the National Council for
Renewal and Democracy
and Rally for Unity and
Democracy-Urunana, and
the March 23 Movement.
Like many Rwandese
Hutu rebel commanders
based in the DRC, Mu-
dacumura was wanted for
war crimes. Beya and Ka-
zura decided to reinforce
surveillance measures at
the border. Tshisekedi re-
ceived the military and se-
curity officials of both del-
egations for a briefing.
The United Nations says
Rwanda and Burundi are
conducting military oper-
ations in the east, accusa-
tions both Kigali and Gite-
ga (Burundi’s capital) deny.
Released on 23 De-
cember 2020, a 200-page
UN document says “from
late 2019 to early Octo-
ber 2020, members of the
Rwandan security were
The NewsHawks @NewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected] present in North Kivu”.
Page 4 News NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Zingman cuts deals on private luxury jet:
From Moscow, Minsk, Lusaka to Harare
DRAMATIC footage of Presi- mentioned arms deal with
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa with Belarus tycoon Alexander Zingman and his son Emmerson Junior. Rosobornexport was brokered
shadowy business associate in the past.
and Belarusian tycoon Alex- son Junior’s mother, right in tion in three different compa- bia acquiring two Mil Mi-17 Zimbabwe and Belarus signed
ander Zingman’s unexpected from of them. ny registries: Russia, Cyprus helicopters and five Sukhoi US$58 million worth of deals Among the passengers
arrest in the Democratic Re- and the Virgin Islands. Superjet 100 planes (SSJ100). across various economic sec- found on flight logs are Rene
public of Congo (DRC) on One revealing report on Rosobornexport and tors, including agriculture Ndonuei, Cameroonian and
17 March shows the mysteri- Zingman’s jets says previ- Smart Jet provides oper- Mnangagwa as well as top and forestry equipment, min- prominent UK banker, Ni-
ous figure being aggressively ously unknown flight logs ational services for private local elites are under United ing and transportation. kolai Asaul, deputy minister
shoved around a private jet from 2018-2019 for a Russian planes, including a hangar States sanctions, but in Janu- of Transportation of Russia,
with its engines still running. private jet, including destina- and a pilot. Sources say Ro- ary 2019 Zingman, who holds Zimbabwean Vice-Presi- Harry Findlay, under US
tions and passenger lists, give zelda, as well as the plane, are dual American and Belarusian dent Constantino Chiwenga sanctions for drug trafficking,
Six plainclothes security a stunning peek into how his owned by US citizen Vitaly citizenship, was announced and Chief of Presidential Af- Mabasa Chabarwa, principal
details in the southern city of private jet apparently flew to Feldman, a businessman and Zimbabwe’s honorary consul fairs of Belarus Victor Shei- administrative officer in the
Lubumbashi are seen pushing and from tax havens and Afri- close relative of Zingman — in Belarus. man signed the memorandum Zimbabwean government,
Zingman, who looks fright- can countries, carrying world the main person listed for use Mnangagwa attended the of understanding. Sheiman — Mnangagwa, Leya Mnan-
ened while he tries to resist, leaders, businessmen and, of the plane. According to its ceremony in Minsk where Lukashenko’s righthand man gagwa, Lucky Igbinedion,
away from the plane into the salaciously, escort girls. Zing- flight history, in March 2018 he also met with Belarus’ au- — has been to Zimbabwe ex-governor of Edo state in
airport terminal building to man has a wide and firm foot- the plane went from the re- thoritarian leader Alexander several times. Shieman and Nigeria and top members of
effect his arrest and detention. print in tough African market nowned offshore tax shelter is- Lukashenko in January 2019. Zingman have been linked to the DRC’s former ruling Peo-
terrains. He hobnobs, dines land of Jersey to Burkina Faso, He took a huge business del- arms dealings, although they ple’s Party for Reconstruction
Judging by his behaviour, and wines with presidents and then to Zimbabwe, again egation with him and signed deny it. and Democracy – ex-presi-
Zingman had clearly underes- executives. to Burkina Faso and then to co-operation agreements. dent Joseph Kabila’s move-
timated their resolve. Egypt, Latvia and Belarus. They also visited Russia. He The deals, worth US$350 ment from 2001-2019 – and
The Embraer jet is owned met Russian President Vladi- million, were followed up on others.
The pilot looks on help- by Rozelda Investments Ltd, a On all these trips, one pas- mir Putin. later that year, in September.
lessly as he advances towards company listed in the Virgin senger was present in every Zingman, whose jet made This involves agricultural A more lascivious detail re-
the scene. Outnumbered and Islands. instance — shadowy business- six flights to Harare in four equipment and buses, which vealed by the passenger lists:
cornered, Zingman is whisked man Zingman. months between March and seem to be a cover for other four Russian escorts were on-
away by two security agents While the identity of its July 2018, has been linked to money-spinning deals, espe- board the plane in four differ-
who stampede him away from owners is unknown, due to Zingman has had meetings several high-profile deals in cially on mining and possibly ent instances. All four work
camera view, into the building the islands’ strict privacy pol- with Mnangagwa and Zambi- the country: In March 2018, arms trade. for the Queens Palace agency
and an uncertain future. icies, the plane has also been an President Edgar Lungu and in Moscow, Russia.
linked to Moscow-based Rus- Russian arms dealer Rosob- Logs also show three flights
While the private jet’s regis- sian company Smart Jet Avia- ornexport, resulting in Zam- to Zambia, where the afore- So, a Belarusian-American’s
tration mark and livery are not private jet, owned by a Virgin
clear in the footage — only its Islands company and oper-
wing around which Zingman ated by a Russian company,
is manoeuvred is visible — a regularly flies African busi-
Belarusian freelance journalist nessmen and leaders to and
Hanna Liubakova, former- from the continent. Zingman,
ly with Belsat TV and Radio as it seems, knows how to par-
Liberty, posted an interesting ty, but also how to close big
tweet: deals; his brokerage resulted
in hundreds of millions of
“Unbelievable. Zingman is dollars’ worth of contracts for
being detained. One year ago, his homeland of Belarus.
we wouldn’t even imagine
this. His plane (most proba- In the United States, ques-
bly) is in the background — tions have been raised as to
M-ABEC”. whether Zingman, being a US
citizen, should be trading and
The NewsHawks spoke to dealing with countries, com-
Liubakova from Minsk, the panies and individuals under
Belarusian capital, about the American sanctions.
incident which sent shock
waves in the corridors of pow- This has kept him under
er in the East European nation scrutiny in the US.
and Zingman’s company AF-
TRADE DMCC, which has Zingman’s flights to Zim-
offices in Minsk and Dubai. babwe and dealings with
We also communicated with Mnangagwa and his close
AFTRADE to enquire on the associates are questionable,
issue. as well as some of the people
who have been flying to Hara-
Company executives told re with him.
The NewsHawks they desper-
ately want him out and are While details of passengers
pleading for his release. on the jet after 2019 are not
available, the aircraft’s flight
Zingman cut some of his history from November to
best deals while flying his December 2019 shows that
friends and executives in a Zingman continued to fly
luxury jet around the world. from Minsk to Lusaka and
Harare.
The aircraft (registration
M-ABEC) is an Embraer In fact, when he was ar-
ERJ-135 Business Jet Legacy rested in Lubumbashi on 17
600, managed by Smart Jet March, he was coming from
Aviation in Moscow, Russia. meetings with Kabila and was
Reports say on 25 July 2020, on his way to meet Mnangag-
Zingman hosted Mnangagwa wa, who recently secretly met
on his private jet with Leya the former DRC president in
Mnangagwa (nee Travis), the Harare.
President’s daughter-in-law –
Emmerson Junior’s wife. The links between Mnan-
gagwa, Lukashenko, Shieman,
Mnangagwa and his son Zingman and Kabila point
Emmerson Junior hobnob to what looks like an under-
with the deal-maker Zingman world network, complete with
a lot. In one picture, they were Eastern European dodgy deal-
photographed sitting with ers, pushing shady deals and
him in a room at their home big money. —The NewsHawks/
with the portrait of First Lady Kingsmeninternationalgroup.
Auxillia Mnangagwa, the blogspot.com
President’s wife and Emmer-
NewsHawks News Page 5
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
OWEN GAGARE Felix Munyaradzi: A land baron’s
gripping tale of corruption and jail
HE has been in and out of
jail several times. Sometimes, Delatfin boss Felix Munyaradzi (right) with his wife. “As a result, Zimra was
he would even get VIP treat- prejudiced of more than
ment in prison, allowed to allocation and distribution with its main project being honour the agreed sharing Company) located in Ma- US$10 000 000 in Value
attend funerals and sleep out of land in the area when he the development of Sandton ratios and instead took the rondera,” it says. Added Tax.”
at his upmarket Borrowdale appeared before the commis- Residential and Commercial whole area without any pay-
West home in Harare. sion at the Chinhoyi Univer- area in Zvimba District.” ment. Even the 10% com- The actual value of resi- On the land deal, Hlohla
sity of Technology Hotel in The project was developed in monage was never paid for. dential stands sold at US$18 said the Zvimba Rural Dis-
The man — notorious Ha- July 2019. three phases, as highlighted per square metre is: trict Council had resolved
rare land baron Felix Mun- below: “Delatfin sold more than · Phase 1: US$ 28 080 000 in 2011 to partner Delatfin
yaradzi — has been as slip- Hlohla, who was contact- · Sandton Phase 1: Approx- 900 residential stands in ex- · Phase 2: US$ 33 750 000 to service the land at Hay-
pery as an eel. Yet he is in jail ed by The NewsHawks this imately 1 200 stands, mea- change for motor vehicles · Phase 3: US$ 18 000 000 don Farm before acquiring
right now, once again. week, named principal direc- suring an average of 1 300 as way of tax evasion. The Total: US$ 79 830 000 the property measuring 744
tor for rural authorities Chris- square metres each; same vehicles would be used hectares. They then pro-
Munyaradzi, facing fresh topher Shumba and principal · Sandton Phase 2: Approxi- to purchase cattle which are The document says in duced a layout plan covering
allegations of US$14 mil- director of physical planning mately 1 500 stands, measur- currently kept at a farm in 2016, Zimra attempted to 266 hectares. The other area
lion tax evasion from a whis- Ethel Mlalazi, among senior ing an average of 1 250 sqm Norton,” the document says. garnish the Delatfin CBZ measuring 295ha was for a
tle-blower who has reported government officials involved each; Bank and Stanbic Bank ac- jatropha project, while the
him to the Zimbabwe Reve- in corrupt land deals. · Sandton Phase 3: Approxi- The motor vehicles were counts when the tax collector remainder was reserved for
nue Authority (Zimra), was mately 800 stands measuring supplied by mainly the fol- had established non-com- miner Lovemore Kurotwi.
arrested this week for alleged- Munyaradzi was at the an average of 1 250 sqm each; lowing garages/companies: pliance, amid bribery allega-
ly trying to defeat the course centre of the land corruption tions. Hlohla said Kurotwi’s land
of justice in relation to the narrative. While Munyaradzi “Sandton Phase 1 and Panjap Car Sale owned included 70ha for Cornway
case of police commission- battles for bail, fresh corrup- Phase 2 belongs to Zvimba by Brighton Ushendibaba; “Delatfin did not honour College and a Diamond Pro-
er Erasmus Makodza whom tion allegations involving Rural District Council and Hutock Motors owned by the agreement, leading to cessing Centre which needed
he reportedly got arrested failure to pay tax between the sharing ratios were 60:40 Kuziva Zimunya; Chiko; Zimra freezing Delatfin bank 30ha.
through the Zimbabwe An- 2013 and 2018 erupted this in favour of the developer, Kudzi; a Mr & Mrs Chady- accounts in 2017. Mun-
ti-Corruption Commission week. while Sandton Phase 3 be- iwa; Scholar; and Whatmore. yaradzi moved to register a Council entered into an
(Zacc) using his friend, Eric longs to ZRP Support Unit. new company National Earth agreement with Delatfin,
Chacha, an investigator “Delatfin Investments Phase 3 was fraudulently ac- “Other residential stands Moving Company (Private) came up with a plan for
there. (Private) Limited, a duly quired and was not meant were sold in exchange for Limited and instructed all about 1 000 low-density
registered company with the for residential development,” machinery with a company clients to divert payments stands with amenities, two
Chacha has been accused registrar of companies and the document says. The whis- called Elimobile (Private) meant for Delatfin to the institutional stands, one each
of abuse of office by Mako- the Zimbabwe Revenue Au- tleblower says Delatfin also Limited located in Souther- new company,” the docu- for primary and secondary
dza, who was arraigned for thority, has since 2013 been duped ZRDC by failing to ton, others sold in exchange ment says. schools. The parties opened
allegedly helping a girlfriend involved in a well-calculated for a going concern Gypsite a bank account with about
to lease a police farm. Zacc strategy to evade payment of Electrical (Private) Limited US$5 000, but no money
is conspicuous by its silence taxes both Income and VAT located in Southerton, oth- was deposited in it thereafter.
over internal allegations of taxes,” the document says. ers sold for going concern
corruption, compromising its known as Mazongororo (Sy- Initially, Delatfin was not
integrity and credibility. “It operates as a proper- ringe Manufacturing part of the deal as it did not
ty development company, have equipment. However,
A document sent to Zim- the company was imposed by
ra, obtained by The New- ministry officials. Unsurpris-
sHawks, says Munyaradzi ingly, it failed to deliver.
made US$79.8 million in
deals involving land and car Delatfin had a 60% stake
sales, but did not pay tax to in the partnership, while
Zimra. council had 40%, which
included 10% for the com-
In court on Tuesday, monage. The Delatfin boss
Munyaradzi claimed there failed to fulfill its side of the
is a “third force” behind his bargain, but sold the stands
repeated arrests on criminal and pocket the money. He
charges. He was applying for grabbed 120ha of land that
bail before Harare magistrate was not part of the project
Vongai Muchuchuti. Mun- without council approval,
yaradzi has several pending leading to a fierce row.
criminal cases, mostly relat-
ing to swindling clients on Munyaradzi even seized
residential stands from his land on an area reserved for
company Delatfin Invest- the schools and other social
ments, a property developer. amenities.
The Munyaradzi story in- Amid all this brazen cor-
volves land corruption on ruption, the ministry sought
a grand scale. While it has to regularise the corrupt allo-
been reported many times in cation involving the 120ha.
the media, it played out big This came as allegations grew
in mid-2019 during Justice that officials had been bribed
Tendai Uchena’s Commis- with stands and cars. Those
sion of Inquiry into Urban involved in trying to regula-
State Land since 2005. rise the scam included Shum-
ba, Mlalazi, who has now left,
The commission heard and acting deputy director of
that senior government offi- State Land Department Kris-
cials at the ministry of Local tina Koswa Chikotera.
Government, Public Works
and National Housing head Such has been the story
office in Harare were cor- of Harare’s most notorious
ruptly involved in land deals land baron who flies below
with Munyaradzi at housing the radar most of the time,
projects around Mt Hamp- only making headlines for all
den, where the government is the wrong reasons - when ar-
constructing the new parlia- rested and jailed for corrupt
ment building and intends to deals.
establish a new city.
Former Zvimba Rural
District Council (ZRDC)
chief executive Peter Hlohla
spilt the beans on fraudulent
Page 6 News NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE the writ was simply dropped
at the gate to immovable
Fresh details emerge on PresidentPRESIDENT Emmerson property which T&C seeks
Mnangagwa, through the to attach, which property
Sheriff, transferred vast tracts to date of this application
of disputed land to Augur remains in the name of the
President of Zimbabwe,” the
Mnangagwa’s Harare land heistInvestments’ nominee com-
pany Doorex Properties fol- application reads.
lowing a secret deed of settle- to businessman and land de- “Further, the immovable
ment that also offered Augur veloper Ken Sharpe. The val- President Emmerson Mnangagwa. 2019, the City of Harare was property that T&C wishes
unusual immunity from any uation of the said property also involved in legal battles to attach in execution is reg-
litigation on the land. was put at US$4.8 million. with Augur to get back land istered in the name of the
it had given the company as President of Zimbabwe and
The title deed for the land According to the deed of payment. The city wanted no consent has been sought
was being held in escrow by transfer signed by Chinawa, the land back, arguing Augur from the President for the at-
Coghlan, Welsh and Guest the transferor of the land is failed to complete the project tachment of such property.”
Legal Practitioners at the mentioned as The President as agreed.
time of the secret agreement of Zimbabwe, while the Stand 654 Pomona was
as the land was being con- transferee is Doorex Proper- Augur in July 2019 filed an Augur’s security as well as
tested between Augur and ties. urgent court application for for payment for future work
Trucking and Construction stay of execution on a court and equipment hired for the
(T&C) Private Limited, a Mnangagwa together with ruling in favour of T&C. It contract between T&C and
company it had subcontract- Moyo, the City of Harare claimed the land could not Augur for the project.
ed to construct part of the and Augur Investments rep- be seized by T&C as it was
Airport Road. resentatives were at the be- registered in Mnangagwa’s T&C, represented by Mu-
ginning of this month sued name. tumbwa, Mugabe & Partners
The deed of settlement by the Zimbabwe Homeless Legal Practitioners, went to
signed on 28 May 2019 be- People’s Federation and Ha- “The writ of execution it- court for the release of the
tween Tatiana Aleshina on rare residents over the par- self was not served on the piece of land and payment
behalf of Augur and Local celling out of land to Augur correct domicilium citandi after Augur had reneged.
Government minister July Investments. executandi of Augur. Instead
Moyo, seen by The News- The land, transferred to
Hawks this week, was given Augur and shelf companies
the status of a High Court linked to the company, was
order. It stated that within payment for the Airport
24 hours of signature, Moyo Road project, which was nev-
was to issue an instruction er completed.
for the release of the title At the time of the deed of
deed for stand 654 Pomona settlement, the City of Ha-
from escrow. rare was trying to recover its
According to deeds of land from Augur.
transfer and other docu- Previously, former Local
ments, the Sheriff granted Government minister Sav-
the power of attorney to iour Kasukuwere had also
Augur and Doorex lawyer tried to seize back the land
Douglas Chinawa in No- given to Augur.
vember 2019, with the land However, Moyo, acting on
being transferred in January behalf of the state, undertook
2020. to immediately withdraw
“I Macduff Madenga, in all and any criminal cases
my capacity as the Sher- against Augur, its associated
iff for Zimbabwe, acting companies, representatives
in terms of an order of the and its directors.
High Court of Zimbabwe In the secret deed of set-
at Harare passed under case tlement, attached as an an-
no HC4520/19 on 3rd June nexure to T&C’s court doc-
2019 for The President of uments, Moyo, representing
Zimbabwe do hereby nom- himself and Mnangagwa,
inate, constitute and ap- gave Augur assurances that
point Douglass Chinawa, or the company would not face
Takunda Emmanuel Gumbo litigation from the govern-
or Anna Mapanzure or Bless- ment, Harare municipality
ed Ngwenya or Effort Dube or third parties regarding the
with power of substitution land.
to be my lawful attorney and As a result of the secret na-
agent in my name, place and ture of the immunity deal, it
stead to appear before the was emphasised that the ar-
Registrar of Deeds at Ha- rangement involving Mnan-
rare and there and then as gagwa and Moyo must be
my act and deed to make treated with “utmost confi-
transfer to Doorex Properties dentiality”.
(Private) Limited of certain The land in dispute –
273,2923 hectares of land stand 654 Pomona town-
called 654 Pomona Township ship (273.29 hectares) – has
held under deed of grant No. opened a Pandora’s Box,
2884/2010 dated 1st of July showing the deep involve-
2010; subject to the condi- ment of Mnangagwa and
tions mentioned or referred Moyo.
to in the said deed; which A company subcontracted
land the said The President by Augur for civil works on
of Zimbabwe, terms of an the road project — Trucking
order of the High Court of and Construction (T&C)
Zimbabwe at Harare passed Pvt Ltd — is claiming the
under case No 4528/19 on land in a bid to recover its
3rd June 2019, is obliged to US$4.8 million for services
transfer to Doorex Proper- and equipment provided
ties,” the power of attorney during the project.
document reads. Before the dodgy agree-
Augur is a company linked ment, signed on 28 May
NewsHawks News Page 7
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Ken Sharpe’s
company
responds to
land scandal
lawsuit
CONTROVESIAL land affidavit. basis alone,” said Aleshina. In this regard they ap- said. Tatiana Eleshina.
developer Kenneth Ray- “It is not clear and readi- Court papers filed on 10 plied for an order “setting In addition, Aleshina
don Sharpe’s Augur In- aside the transfer of the uct of wild imagination,”
vestments, which was ly apparent what the cause March show that a secret property covered in the also argues that the suit she told court.
recently caught up in a of action against myself, deed of settlement was ex- Deed of Settlement to the in this matter has been
messy land scandal impli- Sharpe and Blerk have ecuted on 28 May 2019 7th respondent (Doorex brought against Augur Aleshina said the third
cating President Emmer- been cited in this matter. at the behest of Moyo Properties) being a cer- Investments OU which is applicant, Pikicha, de-
son Mnangagwa and Local This is so more particular- who also claimed he had tain 273,2 hectares of land described as a company scribes himself as an un-
Government minister July ly in that Sharpe is mere- Mnangagwa’s authority. called Stand 654 Pomona duly registered according employed housing land
Moyo, has challenged the ly described as a serious Township.” to the laws of Ukraine and activist who is homeless or
accusations. land baron who owns ex- The court was told that which is said to be trading a squatter.
tensive land in Zimbabwe Herbert Gomba, the then The applicants also want and operating extensive-
The company has filed through the medium of mayor of Harare, signed the original agreement be- ly in Zimbabwe, yet the “He is both landless
a response to the applica- Augur Investments. It is for the local authority. tween the City of Harare factual position is that the and jobless. His prospects
tion by opposition MDC not competent for a per- and Augur for the devel- company is not the firm of buying land in an area
MP Norman Markham, son to own land through The deal gave Sharpe’s opment of Airport Road said to be registered in like Borrowdale are virtu-
Tavonga Savings Scheme the medium of a company. Augur Investments dubi- declared null and void on Ukraine but a different en- ally nil. He has no real and
and Jacob Pikicha who ous and illegal immunity the basis that besides the tity altogether registered substantial interest in the
recently pressured Mnan- “The company owns from litigation over dis- illegal signatures on the in Mauritius. present litigation,” reads
gagwa to explain a secret land in its own name as a puted vast tracts of land deed of settlement, the Aleshina’s affidavit.
land deal with Sharpe. separate legal entity. There he acquired through the deal did not go through “The applicants have
is no valid legal basis Airport Road construction tender and did not com- thus proceeded against a She also told the court
The deal involved 273 shown why Sharpe is being project which was howev- ply with Zimbabwe’s in- wrong party. The first re- that rules require that leave
hectares of prime land in cited in an action against er not completed. vestment laws. spondent on whom the of the court be obtained
Harare’s Pomona suburb, Augur which is a company application was served was before any civil suit can
worth US$205 million. and a separate legal per- Court papers showed In response to the appli- thus wrongly cited,” she be instituted against the
sona. On my own part, there is no evidence to cation by the trio, Alesh- submitted. President, but such leave
The High Court was I am simply said to be ‘a suggest that Sharpe paid ina told the High Court was neither sought nor
told the land was alleged- shareholder in the first re- for the land he was given that stand 654 Pomona She said Markham has obtained by the applicants
ly undervalued to US$20 spondent as well as in the by Harare. Township, which is regis- not demonstrated that he despite their decision to
million. satellite operations of the tered in the name of Do- has a real and substantial enjoin Mnangagwa.
second respondent’.” It is alleged that when orex Properties, has since interest in this matter as
Markham demanded the local authority was been subdivided into 1 his founding affidavit does She also denied being
that the deal between the Aleshina said it is bad at trying to regain the land 120 individual stands. not show that the land is Ukrainian but Russian
City of Harare and Sharpe law to cite an individual in through the courts, Moyo, in his constituency. and denied allegations
be reversed so that the land an action against a compa- representing himself and She said several clients that Sharpe is a fugitive.
benefits the homeless. ny merely because they are Mnangagwa, signed a se- of Doorex Properties have “With regards to the
a shareholder in the com- cret deal offering Augur bought stands from the second applicant, it is dis- “There are no pend-
It is alleged the deal was pany. and its associated compa- subdivided property and puted that it is a common ing criminal proceedings
forced through by Moyo. nies, directors, and repre- will suffer serious financial law universitas or that it against him to substanti-
“Even assuming a cause sentatives immunity from prejudice if ownership of is a member of the said ate this libelous false ac-
Augur Investments was of action had been shown past, present and future that land is interfered with Homeless People’s Feder- cusation. There is no court
cited as the first respon- against me, it would be litigation over the land by by the relief sought in this ation. order calling for his incar-
dent while Sharpe was cit- still incompetent to cite the government, council matter. ceration. The law enforce-
ed as the second respon- me in a supposed action or any third parties. Without proof of reg- ment agents in this coun-
dent in the application against Sharpe merely by “They clearly have an istration and a register of try are not even looking
while other respondents, virtue of my association The applicants argue interest in the outcome of members, the number of for him.”
from third to ninth, in- with him. I am a separate that the deed of settlement these proceedings yet they members alluded to by
cluded Tatiana Aleshina, legal persona from him,” is not only illegal but a have not been cited,” she second applicant is pure Aleshina prayed for a
Michael John Van Blerk, she said. clear case of theft of prime speculation and is a prod- judgment in their favour
City of Harare, Local council land. and for the application by
Aleshina said the cita- Markhan to be dismissed
Government minister, tion of Blerk is even more with costs. – STAFF WRITER
Doorex Properties Private ridiculous and thought-
Limited, the Registrar of less.
Deeds and Mnangagwa.
“He is cited merely be-
Through Aleshina, Au- cause he is said to be an
gur Investments filed employee of Sharpe, a
its response at the High natural person and again
Court, complaining that a separate legal persona.
there was no need for the In the circumstances my
complainants to include citation as well as that of
them as individuals in Sharpe and Blerk being
company-related matters. improper and bad at law,
the application as against
“I further depose to this us ought to be struck off
affidavit on behalf of Au- with costs on an attorney
gur Investments whom I and client scale on that
have been associated with
by the applicants,” said
Aleshina in her founding
Page 8 News NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Chilonga community artificially carved out by the
Land Apportionment Act.
HLENGWE Shangani peo- To then say we can’t own
ple in Chilonga have filed a that land is absurd.”
Constitutional Court appli- They also shed light into
cation seeking an order to their Nguni rites and cus-
toms, for instance how de-
sues govt over land grabset aside Section 4 and Sec-
tion 6(1)(b) of the Com- ceased elders and heads of
munal Lands Act [Chapter through?” Chukutu’s affida- the land the government families are buried inside
20:04], which they say is a vit reads. wants to evict them from their houses in a crouching
perpetuation of colonialism “Quite clearly there is is theirs and they can trace posture, holding a spear in
practices and a threat to some ulterior motive be- their history and how they line with their proud histo-
their dignity. hind our intended ejection. settled in Chilonga. ry.
Livison Chikutu, Phe- Our fear as a community “In our case, we were According to the court
neas Chitsange and Albert being that probably the not placed in south-eastern documents, when some
Dhumela said their planned land we occupy has miner- Zimbabwe in the Lowveld prominent members of the
removal from their ances- als such as diamonds that by colonialism. Our land community die, particularly
tral land would be a breach have been discovered, and is not a by-product of Trib- the “masvikiro” (spirit me-
of the constitution and the the Government is forcibly al Trust Lands unlike the diums), they are wrapped in
loss could never be com- trying to eject us so that majority of rural land in cow hide and buried inside
pensated or quantified. i t benefits from our dia- Zimbabwe. The white man the cattle kraal.
The villagers, who are monds. found us already there. The “For the rest and ordi-
being represented by prom- “We do contract farming white man did not touch us nary members, we have sa-
inent lawyer Tendai Biti, for Delta for its Chibuku because our territories are cred places where we bury
said they wondered why and Ingwebu brews. We too hot and too dry,” the our people. Elders are not
the Zimbabwean govern- also do some contract farm- affidavit reads. buried in coffins but young-
ment was continuing with ing for some cotton compa- “Therefore, our land was er people are buried in cof-
the colonial stipulation that nies. We therefore do not Lawyer Tendai Biti. not artificially created and fins,” the application reads.
blacks could not own land understand why the lurcene
in communal areas, a prac- grass growing project can-
tice meant to control and not simply be contracted to
demean blacks, 41 years af- us in the same manner that
ter Independence. Delta does contract farm-
They also argued they ing with us with regards to
would want to stay on their small grains.”
land to protect their sacred Chikutu said they did
places, traditions and cul- not understand why 12 500
tural practices. people can be ejected for
Lands, Agriculture, Wa- the interest of one white
ter, Climate and Rural Re- farmer.
settlement minister Anxious “We find this more ironic
Masuka, Local Government in the context of the libera-
and Public Works minister tion struggle. Furthermore,
July Moyo, President Em- it is wrong and myopic, the
merson Mnangagwa, and belief that private big es-
Attorney-General Prince tates are the only vehicle for
Machaya are cited as re- economic transformation
spondents in the applica- despite the widespread ev- Innovative risk solutions to
tion, filed on Monday. idence of their detrimental
The government pub- effects on the African conti- protect growth and prosperity
lished notices indicating nent,” Chikutu said.
that approximately 12 940 “The purpose of this
hectares of communal land application is to set aside
would be taken from the Section 4 of the Commu-
Chilonga villagers and set nal Lands Act [Chapter
aside for lucerne grass pro- 20:04] as well as Section
duction by a private compa- 6(1)(b) of the same Act on
ny, Dendairy. the grounds that, the same
On 9 March 2021, Moyo are an infringement of our
then published Statutory In- right to life, our right to
strument 63A of 2021, the human dignity, our right
Communal Lands (Setting to property, our right to
Aside of Land) (Chiredzi) equal protection and bene-
Notice 2021, (correction of fit of the law and our right
errors) in respect of which to culture and language as
he changed the purpose of protected by Sections 48,
the land being taken away 51, 71, 63 , 56(1) and Sec-
from lurcene production to tion 68 of the Constitution
“the establishment of an ir- of Zimbabwe.”
rigation scheme”. Section 4 of the Commu-
The villagers said it did nal Lands Act vests all com-
not make sense for over 12 munal land in Zimbabwe
000 people to be displaced with the President.
for an irrigation system that “Section 4 was born out
is purportedly meant to of an ideology of racial seg-
benefit them, accusing the regation and discrimina-
government of lacking sin- tion, that regarded Africans
cerity over the real reason as too uncivilised to possess
of displacements, which property rights. White peo-
they suspect to be mining ple were allowed to own ru-
activities. ral land and have title deeds
“Besides, what kind of an in the same communities.
irrigation scheme will occu- Whereas us Africans who
py a piece of land of more were next door were not With a reputation for strength, stability and innovation, we offer
than 12 940 hectares in allowed to own land,” the balanced risk taking to ensure you thrive, survive and grow.
Phase One and eventually application reads.
21 000 when the project is The Shangani people said
A member of ZHL group Email: [email protected] |Website: www.emeritus.com
NewsHawks News Page 9
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
First Lady plays key role in Uebert Angel appointment
BERNARD MPOFU Angel of Hope Foundation patron First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa receives a consignment of maize meal from Uebert Angel Foundation a hand to Angel of Hope
represented by Beverly Angel, Uebert Angel’s wife, at State House recently. Foundation. We under-
FIRST Lady Auxillia stand the First Lady, our
Mnangagwa played a key Eyebrows were raised fol- mother, has got a great
role in the appointment lowing his appointment burden of taking care of
of controversial clergy- amid concern that his the nation and she also
man Uebert Mudzanire credentials were question- needs players to assist her
as ambassador-at-large as able. for the benefit of the vul-
it emerged his charitable nerable members of the
foundation is one of her Insiders told The New- society. As Uebert Angel
main benefactors, The sHawks that the man of Foundation, we are there
NewsHawks have learnt. the cloth was rewarded for to assist her, Chikase said.”
his donations to the First The consignment was re-
Last week, President Lady’s philanthropic proj- ceived by Molly Dingane,
Mnangagwa yesterday ect. Information gathered representing the Angel of
appointed Mudzanire, by this paper shows that Hope Foundation. During
who goes by the name donations which to An- this donation, Dingane
Uebert Angel, as presi- gel of Hope Foundation, who read a speech on be-
dential envoy and am- which is run by the First half of the First Lady say-
bassador-at-large to the Lady, were handed over at ing this was not the first
Americas and Europe State House instead of the time that Mudzanire had
whose responsibility will foundation’s offices in Bel- donated to the First Lady’s
be to seek trade and in- gravia. foundation.
vestment opportunities.
“Contrary to what peo- “I would like to thank
ple think that the tribes- Uebert Angel Foundation
man card was played on for giving to the cause that
this appointment, Angel Angel of Hope Founda-
is closer to the first lady tion has devoted itself to
than she is to H.E (Presi- fulfilling,” she said.
dent Mnangagwa). Angel’s
foundation has been oiling Last October, the Ue-
the First Lady’s project and bert Angel Foundation
for that he was rewarded,” partnered the First Lady
a source familiar with the in donating food packs
developments said. and personal protective
equipment to the San
Early this year, before community in Plumtree
the appointment, Uebert and the Doma people in
Angel Foundation donat- Kanyemba.
ed seven tonnes of maize-
meal to the First Lady’s Mudzanire’s wife, Bev-
foundation. erly, then said she was so
grateful to work with the
Handing over the con- First Lady.
signment, Felix Chikase,
a pastor, said the Uebert “First of all, I would
Angel Foundation had want to really appreciate
committed itself to con- our highly esteemed First
tinue lending a hand to Lady for everything that
the First Lady and her or- she has been doing, she
ganisation. said. “It hasn’t gone unno-
ticed. We have seen all her
He said the donation efforts to really push char-
was not a once-off and ity in our country. We all
pledged to continue work- love our country and she
ing with the mother of the really has been in the fore-
nation in support of her front and we are following
vision. her footsteps on so many
things she has done.”
“We are grateful for be-
ing granted the opportu- During that particular
nity to come here and give donation, the First Lady
acknowledged the part-
nership with the Uebert
Angel Foundation.
“I would want to wel-
come this gesture and that
it came at the time when
I needed this most,” she
said. “Uebert Angel is also
a foundation and they un-
derstand what a founda-
tion is expected to do.
“They have come on
board to assist me and this
is going to go a long way
in terms of helping our
people in need out there in
the country. We are saying
everybody who is in need
should not be left behind.”
Page 10 News NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
NewsHawks News Page 11
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
MORRIS BISHI Zanu PF MP under fire and what Musikavanhu is do-
from sugarcane farmers ing has created a rift between
SUGARCANE farmers in him and the other three legisla-
Chiredzi are up in arms against in the lowveld were in the pro- Chiredzi West MP Farai Musikavanhu. tors of the area.
the member of the National cess of forming a political party
Assembly for Chiredzi West, with the intention of challeng- when it comes to politics,” said Dennis Masomere said farmers ongoing amendment of the law “He was part of the man-
Farai Musikavanhu, accusing ing Zanu PF in 2023. Mashingaidze. are happy with the work being which governs the sugar indus- agement which imposed unfair
him for abusing his oversight done by their consultant who is try. He said the current DoP is policies on farmers and it is now
role by siding with sugar pro- Efforts by The NewsHawks Mkwasine Sugarcane Farm- representing them during the not viable to outgrower farmers difficult for him to see the pol-
ducer Tongaat Hullet in the on- to get a comment from Musika- ers’ Association chairperson icies being removed. So far we
going amendment of the Sugar vanhu were fruitless after he are happy with the movement
Act of 1963. said he was busy in a meeting. being done by our consultant
He further ignored text messag- and it is our hope that the
The squabbling has re-ignit- es sent to his mobile phone. ministry of Industry and Com-
ed Zanu PF factional wars in merce will accept our grievanc-
Masvingo province. The chairperson of Triangle es,” said Masomere.
Mill Group, Gibson Mashin-
Musikavanhu, who won the gaidze, told The NewsHawks A Chiredzi legislator who
ticket to Parliament during the that legislators should separate requested not to be named told
2018 general elections, is a for- politics from business and stop The NewsHawks that Musika-
mer director of agriculture at abusing their power. He said vanhu is taking other legislators
Tongaat Hullet where he served Musikavanhu tarnished the in the area for granted. He al-
from the early 1980s before image of farmers by aligning leged the legislator, who is serv-
he was forced to retire a few them to a non-existent political ing his first parliamentary term,
months before elections. project which has nothing to is abusing his power to further
do with the day-to-day business his interests within corporates.
He also made headlines a few of sugarcane farmers who are
weeks ago after making a speech currently fighting to have their “We were shocked after his
on behalf of legislators repre- money which was unfairly col- comments over the Chilonga
senting Chilonga area which lected by Tongaat Hullet since issue while the legislators for the
will see more than 12 000 peo- 2014. area are silent. If we look back,
ple being evicted to pave way this guy got more votes that
for a Lucerne grass project. He “It is disgusting to note that the President during the 2018
was supporting the project and an elected official is raising un- elections in his constituency
his speech was implying that founded allegations that farm- and what he is doing is expos-
the people of Chilonga were ers formed a political party in ing his sellout tendencies. All
consulted before the govern- his bid to dismiss a move being the legislators in this district are
ment decided to evict them. taken by farmers to address sugarcane farmers and except
business issues. We hired a con- him, all others are in this battle
Sugarcane farmers, through sultancy firm to represent us together with farmers,” said the
their various associations, hired during the amendment of the legislator.
a consultancy firm, Leadway Sugar Act, but the MP, who
Partners, for it to assist them seems to be against this move, is The division of proceeds has
in reviewing the Division of raising issues which are non-ex- been a contentious issue be-
Proceeds (DoP) ratio which is istent. I called him and told tween farmers and millers for
currently at 77:23 whereby, af- him to stop that and l did it many years. In June 2014, by
ter supplying cane to Tongaat using my mandate as chairper- way of a directive, the minis-
Hullet, which is the miller, the son of Triangle Mill Group with tery of Industry and Commerce
farmer is given 77% with 23% many farmers as its members. issued a directive ordering the
being for milling costs and oth- Elected officials should know implementation of an interim
er charges. The farmers feel that where to use their oversight role DoP of 82.65:17.35%. The
the current DoP which was set not to abuse their power. He is interim directive subsisted until
by Enerst and Young in 2014 is a junior person to most of us November 2016 when it was
unfair to them since they will be superseded by the current DoP
left with nothing. of 77%:23%. Farmers filed an
urgent High Court application
After realising that farm- seeking to interdict the minis-
ers are united over the issue, try and Tongaat Hullet from
Musikavanhu is alleged to have implementing the DoP, which
informed minister of state for was however dismissed for lack
Masvingo province Ezra Chad- of urgency.
zamira that sugarcane farmers
Gweru City Council workers mobilise strike
STEPHEN CHADENGA ployer have for a long time failed er offering “meagre salary incre- rently earning a basic salary of tion, the local authority’s doors said.
to yield the desired results.” ments.” ZW$4 500. But mayor Josiah were open for negotiations. “We are however concerned
GWERU City Council and Makombe said although delib-
its employees are headed for a Hwande said a works council He said council proposed erations in the works council be- “Whatever is discussed in in with the welfare of our workers
showdown after workers’ rep- meeting held on Tuesday ended an increase of ZW$2 000 for came binding through a resolu- the works council is not final and our doors are always open
resentatives this week began in a stalemate with the employ- the lowest graded worker, cur- until council approves it,” he for engagement. However, we
consulting their membership have to balance between ser-
to brace for a “massive” strike vice delivery and meeting salary
over poor salaries and working increments, but that however
conditions, The NewsHawks can depends on the revenue we col-
report. lect.”
The least-paid worker at the Commenting on the salary
local authority earns a basic pay clashes at council, ZUCWU
of ZW$4 500 with the employ- national general secretary Ku-
ees demanding at least a poverty dakwashe Munengiwa said the
datum line-pegged wage. offer by the city fathers pointed
to inevitable industrial action.
According to the Zimbabwe
Urban Council Workers’ Union He said there was no way
(ZUCWU) Gweru branch sec- workers were going to “enter-
retary, workers began voting to tain” an adjustment of earnings
embark on industrial action this below the poverty datum line
Monday with the process ex- (PDL).
pected to end early next week.
“We have heard the incon-
“We have started the process clusive salary negotiations at
of engaging workers and they Gweru council and obviously
are voting early in the morning the situation on the ground
and during lunch whether they points to an inevitable strike,”
are in favour of downing tools,” Munengiwa said.
he said.
“Any offer below the PDL,
“We hope the process ends which is now well above ZW$20
early next week but so far the 000, is an insult to workers and
votes count indicate an over- cannot be entertained.”
whelming support for engaging
in a strike. Workers are not hap- He said after finishing con-
py that efforts to engage the em- sulting workers early next week,
the process of preparing for a
“full-blown strike” would begin.
Page 12 News NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Chilonga’s “Reconnaissance results and
real treasure is detailed follow-up results for
underground EPO 858 were generally dis-
appointing. The targets gen-
NYASHA CHINGONO (SI) 50 of 2021, setting aside and 858/1/D were further investigated by trench- beyond which relatively fresh material could easily erated a reconnaissance were
the eviction of Chilonga peo- ing. This resulted in the discovery of a kimberlite, be salvaged. Triangle 04 body is currently protect- followed up by detailed 300m
FOR decades, various min- ple, who could still be in danger later named Triangle 04 kimberlite. This kimber- ed by claims,” reads the EPO 858 report. and 50m interval grid sampling
eral exploration expeditions of eviction due to vast mineral lite is a dyke of about 25m along strike and about as outlined above. No new po-
have been undertaken in the wealth discovered along the 10m wide. However, the results were generally disappoint- tential prospecting targets were
Lowveld by different compa- Lowveld belt. ing, according to De Beers EPO 858 reconnais- generated from this follow-up.
nies, in a vast area encompass- “The kimberlite is weathered to a depth of 4m sance results seen by The NewsHawks. From the amount of heavy
ing Chiredzi and under which The belt further extends to mineral sampling conducted
Chilonga falls. Maitengwe area in Bulilima dis- over the northwestern portion
trict, in Matabeleland South. of the tenement around which
In 2019, the ministry of the Triangle 04 kimberlite was
Mines and Mining Develop- The world’s largest diamond discovered, it is fair to conclude
ment, through the local firm producer, Alrosa, has begun that very small kimberlites oc-
Aero Surv in partnership with preliminary exploration at Bubi currences, possibly dykes exist
Xcalibur Airborne Geophys- in Beitbridge East where it has on that ground. Any reason-
ics of South Africa, conducted discovered diamonds. ably large kimberlites should
an aeromagnetic survey which have been constrained at the
discovered vast deposits of di- Down in Beitbridge West 300m and 50m heavy mineral
amonds and gold in Chiredzi there was River Ranch Dia- sampling. Kimberlitic Searched
and Mwenezi areas. mond Mine, not far across Limited therefore decided to
the Limpopo River border drop this ground and divert
Mines and Mining Devel- from South Africa’s Venetia resources elsewhere,” reads the
opment minister Winston Diamond Mine, the country’s EPO 858.
Chitando was upbeat that the largest diamond operation. Al-
survey would lead to a discovery rosa Zimbabwe Limited, jointly However, the scouting of
which could contribute towards owned by Alrosa and Zimba- minerals in the area continues
plans to develop a US$12 bil- bwe’s state-owned diamond as witnessed by the govern-
lion mining industry by 2023. mining company, Zimbabwe ment’s renewed interest in the
Consolidated Diamond Com- area following the Chilonga
“In terms of the develop- pany (ZCDC), are working on debacle.
ment of the diamond industry the project.
last year we produced 2.8 mil- For those who can’t
lion carats and the whole idea Alrosa, which accounts for keep their distance...
is for this to go up to at least almost a third of the world’s
10 million carats by the year rough diamond production, To buy all your motor insurance, download the Autosure App on google play
2023 I said at least (10 mil- has 70% in Alrosa Zim, with or visit dmp.credsure.co.zw and avoid any stress.
lion) because that projection is 30% owned by ZCDC.
based on geologically proven _0390
sites and, with the exploration, Announcing the results of
which is now taking place, the diamond survey in June last dmp.credsure.co.zw.
who knows what can happen?” year, minister of state for Mas-
Chitando said. vingo Ezra Chadzamira said A MEMBER OF THE
huge diamond deposits were
“This event is important in discovered around the Ching-
the sense that exploration activ- wizi area of Mwenezi, while
ities of this nature would enable gold was found in northern
us to improve our diamond Chikombedzi following the
production beyond the 10 mil- aeromagnetic survey commis-
lion carats.” sioned by the government.
Another kimberlite pipe “Huge diamond deposits
search survey was done by were discovered around the
Sandvic, which identified 120 Chingwizi area in Mwenezi,
kimberlite pipes in different while gold was found in north-
parts of the country, including ern Chikombedzi following an
the Chilonga area. A top-se- aeromagnetic survey commis-
cret report was produced and sioned by the government,”
submitted to the government, Chadzamira said.
including the President’s Office.
“The ministry of Mines will
However, out of the 120 outline the next course of ac-
kimberlite pipes, only four are tion after this discovery, but we
said to be diamondiferous. are excited as a province because
this will help grow our provin-
A survey by leading South cial Gross Domestic Product
African diamond mining giant and also help the nation achieve
De Beers in the 1950s revealed its target to make mining a
deposits of kimberlite diamonds US$12 billion industry by
and gold in the Chilonga area. 2023.”
However, a De Beers survey In the 1990s, South African
conducted between 1994 and mining giant De Beers con-
1999 concluded that the find- ducted an exploration which
ings were disappointing. found kimberlite along the belt
through an exclusive prospect-
Only recently, diamonds ing order (EPO) 858.
were discovered by Rus-
sian company Alrossa in the EPO 858 (Rutenga) is lo-
Chiredzi’s neighbouring dis- cated in the Masvingo Mining
trict, Beitbridge. The diamond District and lies approximately
kimberlite pipe in the Lowveld halfway between Beitbridge
extends from Chiredzi down to and Masvingo towns and shares
Beitbridge – the Malipati zone. a common boundary with EPO
869 (Mwenezi) to the south-
This area is just over 240km west. The tenement is straddled
south of Chilonga, which has by the main Beitbridge to Mas-
been the theatre of a raging vingo road that runs northwest
controversy as the government southwest.
was pushing for the eviction of
12 500 villagers to make way The EPO 858 discovered the
for Dendairy’s lucerne grass Triangle 04 kimberlite.
project.
“The heavy mineral anom-
Last week, the government alies over the follow-up blocks
reversed Statutory Instrument 858/1/A, 858/1/B, 858/1/C
NewsHawks News Feature Page 13
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Human-wildlife conflict stokes food insecurity
…as hippos wreak havoc in Karoi
of the wider challenges at
NHAU MANGIRAZI Hippos terrorising people in Karoi. hand. The root cause is not
EMA allowing that because we
SEKAI Kida is a 35-year-old hippos. Regulations, cultivation of a with stakeholders. Over time are in Kebvunde, Magororo, lack any such authority. The
widow and mother of four “ZimParks are the official wetland, land within 30 me- we even went a step further Chirimudombo, Muvhami, scenario just represents the sad
who relies on peri-urban farm- tres of the highest flood level to institute livelihood-centred amongst others in Hurun- reality when nature is violated
ing to ensure food security for custodians of these animals of any water body, bed, banks interventions to address driv- gwe,’’ Nhariswa said. and retaliates. Climate change
her family. and must compensate those or of any river or stream is ers of streambank cultivation and water shortage are some
who lost out. If people take prohibited without a licence through establishment of con- He said human-wildlife of the immediate issues which
Kida lost her husband six the law into their hands and issued by the agency. solidated gardens. The thrust conflict requires full apprecia- might result in such, thus let’s
years ago, and looking after kill the animals, they risk be- is on improving community tion of community leadership all confront the challenges.
her children since then, aged ing arrested. Something must “As EMA, our approach has livelihoods at the same time and members. The multi-stakeholder ap-
between six and 15 years, has be done as matter of urgency,” been pro-active through en- protecting water bodies. Such proach is the way to go and as
been her responsibility. It is said Charuma. gagement of communities, lo- active consolidated gardens “…The encroachment of EMA we are ready to partner
a tough task given the harsh cal leaders and working closely such wildlife into human set- all concerned stakeholders to
macro-economic climate in Hippos can travel more tlements might be symptoms find a lasting solution. Specific
Zimbabwe. than 35 kilometres at night case scenarios require further
in search of food. The three investigation.’’
All her children are now hippos have been seen around
in school with the youngest several farms faraway from In the resort town of Kari-
having enrolled for early child Karoi town. ba, councillor Rodrick Gwani-
development (ECD) while the ra said human-wildlife conflict
eldest will be writing Ordinary Another resident, Colom- occurs daily.
Level examinations next year. ed Tembo, felt that ZimParks
officials have not done enough “We have witnessed de-
Kida is unemployed and over the years to protect farm- struction of property by ele-
stays in her late father’s house ers. Other residents also felt phants daily. We have lost lives
with her widowed mother. the Environmental Man- here in Kariba. This is a cause
agement Authority had also for concern. As we speak, there
Farming therefore plays a contributed to the increase is a bull elephant which is now
critical role in enabling her to in human-wildlife conflict by a menace in our neighbor-
meet the nutritional needs of not clearing the sewer ponds hood.
her family while also reduc- which are a habitat for the
ing the cost of food, given the hippos. “We must reserve our wild-
meagre resources at her dispos- life but also human life is
al. ZimParks spokesperson Ti- precious. Several reports have
nashe Farawo confirmed re- been made but to date there is
For this farming season, ceiving reports of the conflict no action. Sometime ago the
Kida was happy after being a but said human beings were same bull destroyed a room
beneficiary of government’s encroaching into the hippos’ (single quarter) in Mahombe-
Pfumvudza programe where space, resulting in conflict. kombe. The bull is unavoid-
farmers were assisted with in- able, because it comes to our
puts including maize seed and “As an authority we will doorsteps most of the times.
fertilizer. The rains were also ensure that we carry out com- ZimParks must act profession-
good and a bumper harvest is munity awareness campaigns ally and have better options to
promising. over these challenges where deal with problem animals,’’
hippos have been destroying
Kida was already counting crops. We call on residents to Human-wildlife conflict has
her chickens well before the stop riverbank cultivation and scaled up in recent years and
eggs had hatched. limit these areas for animals,” is fueled by poaching in some
Farawo said. affected communities, for in-
For a long time, her stance in the Guruve area of
two-hectare plot situated about EMA provincial advocacy Mashonaland Central prov-
a kilometre from Chikangwe’s and education officer Mun- ince as well as Gwanda and
ward one in the farming town yaradzi Nhariswa said in terms Victoria Falls.
of Karoi was promising a good of section 20 (1) of Statutory Daily distress calls
yield, which would go a long Instrument 7 of 2007 (Envi- Farawo said ZimParks receives
way in easing her family’s food ronmental Impact Assessment distress calls daily triggered by
burden for a year. and Ecosystems Protection) human-wildlife conflict.
But her plot, among other He said while in some cases
plots in the locality, were in- human beings were encroach-
vaded by hippos, which deci- ing into wildlife areas, in some
mated the crops. cases the ballooning wildlife
population had also resulted
Kida’s piece of land is in conflict.
among several plots adjacent
to Zimbabwe National Water “The biggest challenge con-
(Zinwa) sewer ponds which fronting Zimbabwe is that we
have been frequented by hip- have overpopulated animals
pos from nearby dams since that working against the car-
2003. rying capacity. This can’t be
addressed overnight and we
“We have lost out after the continue with awareness cam-
hippos destroyed the maize paigns to reduce human-wild-
fields in February. National life conflict that has resulted in
Parks and Wildlife Manage- loss of lives and crops, thereby
ment Authority (ZimParks) affecting communities around
deployed officials to track the country,” Farawo said.
them down but nothing came
out. They could not get rid of As the authorities prepare
the hippos which are destroy- to devise “amicable solutions
ing crops while also endan- on human-wildlife conflict”,
gering the community,’’ Kida people like Kida are bearing
said. the brunt.
“It means we are bracing for “Problem animals are de-
a tough year, despite having stroying our fields and we are
done well in the field.” losing out. We have nowhere
Food security affected to run,” Kida laments.
A resident, Young Charuma
(49), said several residents will
face food shortages due to the
destruction of maize fields by
Page 14 News NewsHawks
CONFERENCE ROOM Issue 23, 26 March 2021
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NewsHawks News Page 15
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Special Covid-19
coverage
Manangazira’s The European Union
push for free embassy in Zimbabwe, in a
Covax vaccines tweet on 24 February, was
frowned upon hopeful the country would
receive 1.152 million doses
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE dow was closed. Although plying deadline passed, she to the Global Alliance for Dr Portia Manangazira. under the Covax scheme,
the application was re- used her contacts to secure Vaccines and Immunisa- to which the EU is the big-
AT the time she was ar- ceived, World Health Or- an extension, resulting in tion. Zimbabwe did sub- limited vaccines. gest contributor.
rested for corruption, the ganisation (WHO) officials the application being ac- mit documents to Gavi, so Health minister John
director of Epidemiology say it is unclear whether the cepted late.” Zimbabwe has expressed According to the Gavi
and Disease Control in country will receive vac- Zimbabwe’s prospects of interest in Covax. As time Mangwiro said Zimbabwe website, from the publica-
the ministry of Health and cines under the facility. getting a vaccine under the goes on, Zimbabwe might was still waiting for a re- tion of an interim distri-
Child Care, Portia Manan- Covax facility are still un- get Covax,” Charimari said. sponse from the WHO, bution forecast and based
gazira, was vigorously Covax is co-led by the clear as a decision is yet to but added that he was not on current knowledge of
pushing for Zimbabwe to Global Alliance for Vacci- be made as to whether the “The Gavi did acknowl- worried by allegations that supply availability, this
get 40% of its Covid-19 nation and Immunisation country will receive an al- edge that they did receive Zimbabwe dragged its feet. first round of allocations
vaccines under the Covax (Gavi), the Coalition for location and when. Zimbabwe’s documents. provides information on
facility with the remaining Epidemic Preparedness In- Zimbabwe has also not The status of Covax, “We signed the docu- the provision of doses of
60% coming from China novations (CEPI) and the yet authorised emergency whether Zimbabwe will get ments and are waiting for the AstraZeneca vaccine
and Russia. WHO. Its aim is to accel- use of vaccines dispensed Covax or not, unfortunate- them to respond. We how- to Covax facility partici-
erate the development and under the Covax facility, ly I’m not competent on ever continue the vaccina- pants through May 2021.
She was being frustrat- manufacture of Covid-19 namely Oxford-AstraZen- that. Some countries, Ken- tion process with the avail- This first round of alloca-
ed by government officials vaccines, and to guarantee eca, Covishield and Pfiz- ya, Nigeria, Ghana and so able vaccines,” Mangwiro tion outlines delivery of
keen to ensure that the fair and equitable access for er-BioNTech. forth, have received or are said. doses of the AstraZeneca
country buys all its vac- every country in the world. WHO Zimbabwe receiving Covax vaccine, vaccine – manufactured by
cines. Covid-19 response manag- mainly the Oxford-Astra- “If we signed that means AstraZeneca and Covish-
Health officials say senior er Lincoln Charimari told Zeneca.” that is the ministry’s posi- ield, licensed to and man-
Manangazira was arrest- government officials were journalists at a workshop in tion, an individual’s opin- ufactured by the Serum
ed last month and charged reluctant to get vaccines Gweru last week that Zim- In an earlier report, The ion does not change the Institute of India – to 142
with criminal abuse of duty under Covax primarily be- babwe submitted its doc- NewsHawks reported that ministry’s position. The facility participants.
as a public officer. cause they wanted to have uments, but the status of by the end of January Zim- Covax system is being as-
control over the process its application has not yet babwe had not yet applied sisted by the African Union In addition to this first
She is accused of pay- and also benefit privately been confirmed. for the vaccines under the and Sadc and there are round of allocations, a dis-
ing facilitation fees to un- from the procurement pro- “You submit documents Covax facility at a time channels.” tribution of 1.2 million
deserving ministry staff, cess. other African nations were doses of the Pfizer-BioN-
flouting tender rules when stampeding to secure the Zimbabwe is planning Tech vaccine, anticipat-
she bought US$280 529 “Manangazira was push- on buying 1.8 million dos- ed for delivery in the first
of goods and services and ing hard for Zimbabwe es from China, but has re- quarter of 2021, was also
allegedly diverting diesel to get vaccines under Co- ceived 400 000 doses as a announced in early Febru-
coupons for 3 290 litres to vax, using her contacts donation. ary.
private vehicles. at WHO. Ministry and
government officials were Zimbabwe is yet to reg-
Health ministry and however dragging their feet ister the Covax vaccines as
government officials how- and frustrating the process, it has so far registered Sin-
ever told The NewsHawks because they preferred to opharm and Sinovac from
that the arrest came af- buy the vaccines, which China as well as Covaxin
ter Manangazira had ruf- was quite surprising even from India, and Sputnik-V
fled feathers by vigorously to WHO officials, who felt from Russia.
pushing for vaccines under that Zimbabwe qualified to
the free Covax facility. Her get the vaccines given its Cabinet has announced
efforts were however being lack of capacity to acquire that any company intend-
frustrated by ministry and vaccines for the entire pop- ing to import vaccines for
government officials. ulation,” an official said. its employees has to select
from the ones already reg-
Zimbabwe applied for “When the Covax ap- istered in the country and
the vaccines when the win- do so through the govern-
ment.
African countries that
have received the Covax
vaccine so far are Angola,
Benin,
Cote d’lvoire, Eswatini,
Ghana, Kenya, Malawi,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra
Leone, Gambia, Togo and
Uganda.
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Page 16 News NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Sinopharm vaccine uptake increases
NYASHA CHINGONO
THE second phase of the Minister of Defence Opah Muchinguri-Kashiri being vaccinated with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine for Covid-19 in Victoria Falls on Wednesday.
Sinopharm vaccine pro-
gramme, which kicked off daughter and her husband Think of other people. They “Frontline which has since killed over concerning the vaccine,
this week, has seen an in- were still okay after almost should think of the rest of workers like 1 500 people in the coun- Nomore Mudovaviri, a
creased uptake of the Chi- a month of getting the vac- the population, so they teachers, nurs- try. nurse, was upbeat about
nese jab among the elderly cine. I felt I should also do should get vaccinated be- es and other getting his second vac-
with increased traffic at the my part,” Madzima said. cause there is nothing to be professionals About 36 786 people cine. Since taking the first
country’s vaccination cen- afraid of at all,” he added. queued to get have been vaccinated so vaccine, Mudovaviri had
tres. Madzima, a former health their first jab, far during the first 20 days, not suffered any side effects.
worker herself, said vaccina- Despite the growing up- while others cabinet announced.
Inoculation centres in tions have always been part take of the Sinopharm vac- lined up for “I just feel the same, it’s
Harare were characterised of the health system and cine, the numbers have been their second While the number of like the first dose. I do not
by large numbers of teach- urged Zimbabweans to take worryingly low as health dose. those inoculated remains have any side effects. I am
ers, nurses, the security the vaccine when more vac- experts cite disinformation low, government efforts a nurse, and I needed this
forces, the elderly and other cines are made available. and a lack of information as to spread the vaccination vaccine,” he said.
persons categorised under the factors fuelling public across the country and sec-
the second phase od the Peter Hadingham (82), scepticism. tors received a boost last Mudovaviri urged Zim-
priority list. who was last week turned week after Zimbabwe re- babweans to heed to official
away as health officials cit- Last week, cabinet an- ceived 400 000 doses from information about the vac-
Parirenyatwa Hospital ed old age and his asthmat- nounced that 1 839 peo- China. cines.
in Harare recorded large ic condition, said he was ple have been inoculated
numbers of those seeking thrilled to finally get his with the Sinopharm vac- Although the doses from “I think people do not
vaccination as Zimbabwe- first jab. cine daily since Zimbabwe China are a drop in the want to get the vaccine
ans warm up to the Chinese launched the first phase of ocean, they are welcome because of rumours and
shot. “I came last week and the national vaccination as the country battles to some of these churches are
they wouldn’t vaccinate me programme as daily inocu- counter an impending third not helping at all; they are
At Wilkins Hospital, also because I was too old, but lations remain low, further wave amid growing warn- breeding fear among their
in Harare, frontline work- now they have relented, complicating the country’s ings from health experts. congregants,” he said.
ers like teachers, nurses and and I got my first vaccine. fight against Covid-19.
other professionals queued I have a bit of asthma and a With Mnangagwa receiv- Nurses and doctors have
to get their first jab, while failed back so I cannot walk The worryingly low fig- ing his first Sinovac vaccine accused the government of
others lined up for their straight, but otherwise I am ures of daily vaccinations this week, the government failing to effectively com-
second dose. healthy,” Hadingham said. will make it difficult for hopes such prominent per- municate the side effects of
Zimbabwe to achieve 60% sonalities can help ramp up the Sinopharm vaccine to
Among those inoculated “There is no difference. herd immunity and deci- the numbers. Zimbabweans, saying this
were the elderly, most of I have a flue vaccine every sively tackle a pandemic would affect the uptake of
them above 80 years old. year, there is no difference. While many Zimbabwe- the Chinese jab.
ans remain on the fence
Several senior citizens
had been turned away in
previous weeks, as health
professionals cited medical
complications that may be
associated with receiving
the vaccine at an advanced
age.
However, on Wednesday,
several elderly persons were
inoculated after a vetting
session with nurses admin-
istering the jab.
The candidates were
asked if they were hyperten-
sive or had any underlying
health issues.
According to the min-
istry of Health and Child
Care, the elderly are part
of the priority group for
inoculation during the sec-
ond phase of the vaccina-
tion programme launched
by President Emmerson
Mnangagwa in Victoria
Falls this week.
Senior citizens who spoke
to The NewsHawks were up-
beat about the vaccination
programme, urging Zim-
babweans to participate as
the country works towards
achieving 60% herd immu-
nity.
Esther Madzima (85) of
Mt Pleasant suburb, who
arrived for inoculation with
her daughter, said although
she was sceptical at first,
seeing most of her family
members vaccinated gave
her courage.
“I never wanted to hear
about this, worse the fact
that they would be intro-
ducing part of Covid-19
into my body, that made
me extremely sceptical.
But after seeing that, my
NewsHawks News Page 17
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
NOKUTHABA DLAMINI Tourism players hail and this is exactly what the
Vic Falls immunisation country is doing to ensure that
GOVERNMENT officials all people are protected from
and tourism players have the pandemic.”
urged Victoria Falls residents
to debunk skepticism around Vice-President Constan-
Covid-19 vaccines as the tino Chiwenga, who is also
country prepares to fully re- the Health and Child Care
open the resort city following minister, dismissed the myths
a complete year without inter- around the Chinese, Russian
national tourist inflows. and Indian vaccines the coun-
President Emmerson try is currently administering,
Mnangagwa on Wednesday saying that the inoculations
launched the second phase of were scientifically approved.
the vaccination programme
which targets all residents “I want to take this oppor-
in the city where Zimba- tunity to reaffirm that the vac-
bwe recorded its first case of cines which were endorsed by
Covid-19 on March 20 last your government are safe, so I
year. would like to urge citizens to
Victoria Falls is the coun- undertake vaccinations until
try’s prime tourist destination. we achieve a herd immunity
“Here in Victoria Falls, we of 60% of our population,”
envisage the vaccination of all Chiwenga told the delegates a
eligible residents so that the few minutes before President
city is safe to receive visiting Mnangagwa received his first
tourists,” Mnangagwa said. vaccination jab.
“The intensified vaccination
exercise should, in turn, pave “This will see the residents
way for the growth of unlim- of Victoria Falls being giv-
ited tourism activities in the en a chance to be vaccinated
country. Riding on the immi- and the launch will also open
nent benefits of our national floodgates of unlimited tour-
Covid-19 vaccination pro- ism activities in the city which
gramme, I urge stakeholders is home to the seven wonders
in the tourism and hospitality of the world. “
industry to act with speed to-
wards positioning Zimbabwe’s Zimbabwe launched the
tourism sector for growth in first phase of its vaccination
the post Covid-19.” drive on 18 February with
Anald Musonza, chairper- Chiwenga becoming the first
son of the Hospitality Asso- citizen to receive China’s Sin-
ciation of Zimbabwe (HAZ) opharm vaccine. He received
in Matabeleland North who his second jab last Thursday.
also heads the Covid-19 re-
sponse taskforce team in Vic- This was after Zimbabwe
toria Falls, said the tourism received its first batch of Sin-
city has been isolated for too President Mnangagwa taking his first Covid-19 vaccine in Victoria Falls where he launched the second phase of the vaccination programme. opharm vaccines that were
Looking on is Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. donated by China. Last week,
long and the domestic tourism “Vaccination is Zimbabwe also took delivery
workers have endured unfore- and peri-urban settlements so by We Are Victoria Falls, a lo- key for us as an of the country and the world, of another batch of Sinopharm
seen tough economic turmoil, that we prepare to re-open. cal hospitality industry initia- had been greatly affected. vaccines donated by China,
hence a need for complete tive, the Covid-19 lockdown and an additional batch of the
re-opening. “To us, these vaccinations has affected 94% of the people “As a province we are hope- Sinovac vaccine that it pur-
are timely because we want industry to re- ful that the launch of the vac- chased from the same Asian
“Vaccination is key for us as our guests to be safe while employed in the sector. cines will boost the tourism country.
an industry to restart and give even us as tourism players and Musonza’s sentiments were sector,” Moyo said.
confidence to the internation- residents are equally safe so echoed by Matabeleland start and give “Vaccinating the popu- Frontline workers, journal-
al market and also protect our- we surely can’t wait to re-open North’s Provincial Affairs and confidence to ists, port staff and immigra-
lation in Victoria Falls and tion officials were targeted un-
selves,” Musonza said. and welcome our visitors even Devolution minister Richard the international encouraging Covid-19 adher- der phase one while the second
“We have been promised at global level while we ensure Moyo. ence measures will give confi- phase will target teachers and
to receive 70 000 Sinopharm that families are able to sustain He said since the advent of market and also dence to tourists who visit the workers in the tourism and to-
vaccinations and the target is themselves.” protect ourselves. city from different parts of the bacco industry, among others.
the pandemic, the city’s eco-
to vaccinate everyone in urban Findings of a recent study nomic activities, like in the rest country, region and the world Zimbabwe is targeting to
vaccinate 60% of its popula-
tion, to achieve herd immu-
nity..
Page 18 News NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Let’s remain vigilant in Covid-19 fight: Gono
FORMER Reserve Bank of Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono being vaccinated at Trauma Centre in Harare. ventions akin to what we did Gono said Zimbabwean
Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor when the country was going stakeholders must pull to-
Gideon Gono says while the through extremely difficult gether and form a common
country has relatively stood times during the first decade front against Covid-19.
firm in its battle to keep at of the new millenium.
bay the rampaging Covid-19 “At a political level, there
pandemic, people must re- “Partisan politics and is no doubt that the pan-
main on high alert to avoid emotions aside, we had to demic became, and still is,
regression to the ravages of shelve conventional eco- the elephant in the room
the disease seen during the nomics and monetarism as in respect of the stability of
first quarter of the year. we knew them to survive governments, ruling parties
as a nation. We simply had and their leaderships. It is af-
“We must remain on high no choice, even though we fecting politics, economies,
alert,” Gono told The New- knew there were going to governance, budgeting and
sHawks yesterday soon after be serious consequences. In spending priorities, but deci-
getting vaccinated with his the end, we had an emer- sions have to made for better
family at Borrowdale Trau- gency that had to be tackled or worse. What is required
ma Centre in Harare. “We urgently and we resorted to during times such as these is
can’t afford to relax and the only available options unity of purpose among po-
be complacent like we did at the time. I always wish litical players, the population
late last year and suffered we had other better choic- at large and the international
the consequences. Every- es, but we didn’t. We are in community in order to win
one; government, business, a similar situation now, that the fight against the pan-
workers, civil society and the is in an emergency, hence demic. In Zimbabwe, we are
population in general must governments the world over not faring that badly on the
continue to hold the line and are printing money to ad- Covid-19 front, but we have
fight on to push back against dress the situation. This is once again witnessed the fu-
the pandemic to save our not a justification, but a re- tility of trying to deal with
lives, families, communities ality check. We need to learn crisis situations and moving
and society.” from the past to manoeuvre forward in an environment
and manage the situation of endless and pointless con-
Zimbabwe is vaccinating better in the present and fu- flict among ourselves.”
people at snail’s pace, tar- ture.”
geting 10 million out of 15 —STAFF WRITER
million citizens.
should remain in the trench- cult as it keeps mutating and
President Emmerson es to contain, push back and manifesting itself differently,
Mnangagwa and Vice-Pres- hopefully defeat the pan- usually in more deadly forms
ident Constantino Chiwen- demic. and variants.
ga have already been vac-
cinated. Mnangagwa was “The Covid-19 pandem- “This pandemic has ca-
vaccinated on Wednesday ic has ravaged so many a pacity to mutate in ways
with his first shot of Chi- people the world over such scientists are still grappling
na’s Sinovac Covid-19 dose that anything that comes up to understand. You hear of
in the resort city of Victoria to offer hope to either slow the UK variant, the South
Falls where he launched the down or cure the disease, in African variant, a new way
second phase of the coun- the absence of a definitive in England, Italy and all over
try’s immunisation drive, cure, ought to be welcomed the world. The world is not
as the government tries to by anybody who values life. safe as long as there is one of
overcome scepticism about For me and my family, God us who is a carrier of the dis-
the process within the pop- has been very kind to keep ease,” he said.
ulation. us safe, but we cannot be
complacent. God looks af- “Therefore, I don’t be-
Mnangagwa’s vaccination ter those who also look after lieve that any nation has
follows that of Chiwenga themselves and taking the conquered this pandemic
who received his second and vaccine is a way of looking as yet. It seems to me that
final shot of China’s Sino- after ourselves,” Gono said the infection is cyclical, but
pharm vaccine on March 18. after being vaccinated. due to the short period we
have experienced it, a dis-
Mnangagwa urged Zim- “I’m generally sceptical cernible pattern that gives
babweans to embrace vac- about everything from the rise to comfort levels is yet
cination as the only way to foods I eat, the water I drink to emerge. I don’t think that
fight the pandemic and en- and the friends I have. Some we are out of the woods to-
sure the country embarks of the foods end up causing wards flattening the curve as
on post-Covid-19 recovery. stomach aches, the water yet. We must remain on high
Zimbabwe got its first 200 causes frequent visits to the alert.”
000 doses from China last toilet, while some friends be-
month as a donation and tray you. Nothing should be He said the impact of
secured another free 200 taken for granted in life and Covid-19 has been devas-
000 doses, which came re- that’s no different from the tating and the ramifications
cently together with 200 decision to take this or any serious.
000 bought doses. drug from anywhere. To be
born or to be alive today is “The impact of the pan-
The country has already to risk dying tomorrow, but demic across the socio-polit-
purchased from China 600 live we must still try to, re- ical and economic spheres of
000 doses and will further gardless. I don’t think that lives of nations and individ-
pay for 1.2 million doses, government would bring in uals has been catastrophic.
bringing the total to 1.8 and authorise vaccines that For the first time throughout
million doses bought. With kill its own people. For me, the world people stopped
the 400 000 donated doses, it was not about whether worrying about printing of
it will have 2.2 million doses the vaccine is Chinese, In- money in times of emergen-
from China. dian, American, Russian or cy in favour of social needs
English. It’s about science, and for welfare spending
Zimbabwe so far has re- safety and government-ap- without precedent,” Gono
corded 36 778 Covid-19 proved vaccines which of- said.
cases and 1 518 deaths. fer hope where nothing else
known is available.” “This realism that surviv-
Cumulatively, by yester- al is more important than
day 54 892 people had got- Gono said defeating the nice statistics vindicated
ten their first immunisation coronavirus would be diffi- my belief that extraordinary
dose, while 4 095 had their situations demand extraor-
second dose. dinary measures and inter-
Gono said Zimbabwe
NewsHawks News Page 19
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Lockdown heightens children HIV risk
with HIV were aware of their
BERNARD MPOFU Law enforcement agents turned away expecting mothers from accessing basic health services during Covid-19 lockdowns. status and of those aware of
their status, 97% were on an-
ZIMBABWE may experience a cal transmission of HIV during on the increase during that pe- WhatsApp groups etc. But at engage in webinars and Zoom ti-retroviral treatment. Among
rapid increase in parent-to-child that period.” riod as social support systems the end of the day, we discov- meetings,” she said. those on treatment, 90.3%
transmission of HIV after law remained constrained. We had ered that the majority of women achieved viral load suppression.
enforcement agents turned away Westerhof said the violations to advocate for new technol- who are in the community just According to the Zimbabwe
expecting mothers from access- had also resulted in an increase ogies and new ways of doing have that basic phone (hand- Population-based HIV Impact The survey further shows that
ing basic health services during in mental health cases. business—the social media, set) which cannot make them Assessment survey (ZIMPHIA the rate of annual new HIV in-
Covid-19 lockdowns, a leading 2020), 86.8% of adults living fections among adults in Zim-
pressure group has warned. “Mental health issues were babwe is 0.38% (0.54% among
women and 0.20% among
Over the past 12 months, men) or approximately 31 000
the country has enforced strict persons over a year. The prev-
lockdowns to reduce the spread alence of HIV among adults
of the disease. Human rights was 12.9%, which corresponds
watchdogs also blame the au- to approximately 1.23 million
thorities for failing to bring to adults in Zimbabwe living with
book members of the security HIV in 2020. Generally, the
services who were accused of survey found that HIV preva-
human rights violations such as lence was higher among women
assault, intimidation and sexual than men (15.3% vs. 10.2%).
harassment at checkpoints.
Last year, the Zimbabwe As-
Tendayi Westerhof, the sociation of Doctors for Human
PAN-African Positive Women’s Rights (ZADHR) raised the red
Coalition Zimbabwe (PAP- flag after personnel manning
WC-ZIM) national co-ordina- Covid-19 checkpoints turned
tor, said Covid-19 restrictions away people who were seeking
in Zimbabwe may result in a passage to access healthcare fa-
higher infant mortality rate as cilities.
many women failed to access
healthcare. “This is a clear violation of
section 76(3) of the Zimba-
“Pregnant women had chal- bwean constitution which states
lenges of registering for ante-na- that ‘no person may be refused
tal clinic, viral load testing and emergency medical treatment in
getting prophylaxis for the baby any health institution’. Whilst
born from an exposed moth- we note the requirement is in
er,” Westerhof told The News- place to protect fellow health
Hawks in an interview. workers, we advise that pub-
lic health institutions should
“Some deliveries of ba- have the testing facilities read-
bies were done outside health ily available for emergency
institutions because of the cases such that patients are not
lockdowns. So prevention of turned away and told to get test-
mother-to-child transmission ed in private institutions,” ZA-
programme was impacted neg- DHR said in a statement.
atively, therefore there is an an-
ticipated increase of infant verti-
OBERT SIAMILANDU Covid-19 negatively affects hunting revenue
THE Covid-19 pandemic worse still, we continue to from major source markets, “Covid-19 adds more daily nationwide. Flights to Zimbabwe Parks and Wild-
has severely crippled wildlife face a rapid and more em- in particular the United States pain to a very bad situation Zimbabwe are still severely life Management Authority
conservation initiatives which boldened anti-hunting lobby of America and the United and is punctuated by wide- restricted with the United (ZimParks) and other en-
depend on tourism. and retrogressive legislation Kingdom,” Fundira said. spread cancellation recorded States of America, Europe and abling departments are fully
South America still under the funded.
This has been largely a re- grip of a second wave of this
sult of cancellation or post- terrible pandemic.” SOAZ, in collaboration
ponement of trips by tourists with the Zimbabwe Tourism
thus disrupting the wildlife Cancellations for the year Authority (ZTA) and Zim-
budgets and making it diffi- 2020 were close to 95% of the Parks, has also lobbied the
cult for conservation to op- hunts booked for 2020. government to ensure the
erate. hunting sector is considered
“The foregoing does not for forex liquidation exemp-
In 2015, Zimbabwe takes bode well with our conser- tion (already granted), tax
in US$24.8 million worth vation efforts, in particular relief, including moratorium
of direct hunting revenues anti-poaching programmes on other statutory fees, exten-
compared to US$1.5 million which are now grossly un- sion of leases and deferment
in 2020, a deficit of US$23.3 der-resourced and require ur- of levies in order to pre-empt
million in five years. gent funding. business closures in the face of
challenges.
Safari Operators Associa- “Notwithstanding the
tion of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) above and in order to militate Tourism industry is po-
president Emanuel Fundira against this dire situation, as tentially Zimbabwe’s fast-
said the Covid-19 pandemic SOAZ we continued to advise est-growing sector, provid-
had been brutal on the sec- members to persuade inter- ing 6.1% to Gross Domestic
tor, already reeling from other national clients to postpone Product and employing about
challenges. bookings to a future date in- 90 000 people.The sector also
cluding 2021 and beyond,” creates countless business op-
“This pandemic, unfor- Fundira said. portunities.
tunately, came at a time
when Zimbabwe has been in He added that his asso-
the throes of a debilitating ciation is lobbying the gov-
drought and still not fully ernment to ensure that the
recovered from the effects of
Cyclone Idai in 2019 and,
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Page 20 News NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Tongogara refugees sing the blues
RESIDENTS at Tongoga- He told The NewsHawks Women seen selling clothes at Tongogara Refugee Camp after the easing of lockdown regulations. centres based on their own
ra Refugee Camp (TRC) in that he was distraught. decisions, the camp was not
Chipinge who are in business “We could not do anything in Mbare and run a vegetable trator Johanne Mhlanga said liable to those who do so on
are struggling to salvage their “I have to try and build during the lockdown, we are stall that sells traditional Con- while some people get clear- their own.
enterprises after months of my business again. Covid-19 now only starting,” she said. golese food at Mbare Musika. ance to go venture out of the
being grounded by Covid-19 made me broke,” Pascal said camp and even stay in urban “The government of Zim-
regulations. at the camp. The couple rents a room Tongogara camp adminis- babwe implements an en-
campment policy in refugee
Some refugees and asylum “I was not able to travel to protection. However, there
seekers resident at Tongogara sell the donated foodstuffs. I are some who get approval to
are running businesses to sup- could not do anything.” stay in urban areas. It is based
plement their handouts. Some on their decision to do so.
had become so prosperous Pascal arrived in Zimbabwe
that they were renting hous- in 2008, fleeing from xeno- “While we strive to ensure
es as far as Harare – 550km phobic attacks that had erupt- the safety of everyone, we can-
away from the camp – to fa- ed in South Africa. not be held liable for anything
cilitate their business, most- that happens to such individ-
ly the buying and selling of The camp is home to more uals,” Mhlanga said.
foodstuffs and vegetables. than 14 800 “persons of con-
cern or refugees” from eight He said while they did not
The residents said they African countries mainly recommend the sale of donat-
could not travel to their trad- within the Great lakes region: ed products, the refugees had
ing places and market stalls DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, autonomy in terms of how
owing to the national lock- Ethiopia, Sudan, South Su- they wanted to use their do-
down and local travel restric- dan, Central African Repub- nations.
tions imposed by the govern- lic and Mozambique – where
ment at the begging of last political instability and insur- “Development is defined
year to curb the spread of the gency continue unabated. by an individual. All we do is
respiratory disease. to distribute what we should
The NewsHawks also distribute, but the onus is
Kinduele Pascal, from the caught up with a 21-year-old upon an individual to decide
Democratic Republic of Con- woman who was travelling to what to do with what is do-
go (DRC), who runs a tuck- Harare to relieve her husband nated. People have rational
shop in the camp, would buy at theirmarket stall in Mbare, choice to decide what they
some of the donated food- which they were trying to re- want as human beings.
stuffs from his colleagues for vive.
resale in Checheche and Chi- “While it is highly discour-
pinge and return with fresh She however refused to be aged for refugees to sell do-
farm produce, fish and other named, citing that it would be nated goods, it is also difficult
products. in breach of refugee laws and to stop that,” Mhlanga said.
a gamble with her security.
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NewsHawks News Page 21
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
HEALTH expert Profes- Covid-19 will decimate us victim, it doesn’t matter
sor Solwayo Ngwenya, if we relax: Ngwenya warns what class of society you
who is also the acting CE are in. So, I think every-
of Mpilo Central Hospital Mpilo Hospital acting chief executive Professor Solwayo Ngwenya one should now take per-
and founder of the Royal sonal responsibility.
Women’s Clinic in Bul- ened actually and a lot DN: How genuine are very worrying threat. It’s ing to any crowded plac-
awayo (SN) has warned of education needs to be fears of a third wave hit- an everyday threat. es. Right now the most Each family, each mem-
of an imminent erup- done to help the people, ting the country? DN: What does Zim- super-spreader events are ber and so forth should
tion of a more dangerous especially using media, SN: My genuine fear for babwe need to do to be going to be your schools, make sure that we con-
Covid-19 third wave cou- television and so forth. the third wave is that no safe in the likelihood of funerals, your churches tain these measures and
pled with deadly variants, DN: What are your views one has got immunity to a third wave? and so forth. Others will also to be on their look-
which could result in an on Zimbabwe’s Covid-19 beat this coronavirus. The SN: The third wave is be the queues that peo- out so that they are aware
unprecedented spike in containment measures? moment you allow people almost here and the be- ple are still doing in town of the Covid situation in
fatalities. Ngwenya told Has there been an im- to mix and mingle and haviour of the people, as queuing for money and so the country and in their
The NewsHawks reporter provement? What has so forth, there are going I said, is appalling and forth. community so that they
Dumisani Nyoni (DN) to be done to slow the to be mass infections in- contributing and fuelling DN: What is your gen- can avoid attending those
that the third wave will be spread of the virus? deed and, as we approach it. So, until there is a par- eral advice to people to super-spreader events that
much stronger than the SN: So far, Zimbabwe winter, we will see a lot of adigm shift in the way we prevent infection from are mentioned about.
last two waves as people had done well in the pre- infections happening in take this virus, I am afraid Covid-19? DN: How effective are
are relaxed and no longer vious two waves; we were the communities. Usual- of the likelihood of a third SN: My general advice is home remedies like
abiding by Covid-19 pre- having early lockdowns ly, once the infections are wave. that everyone must now zumbani/umsuzwane?
vention protocols. Below containing the measures. widespread, people start pay attention really. This Do they work against
are excerpts of the inter- Unfortunately, right now to die from the coronavi- As I said, it has already is not scare-mongering Covid-19?
view: as we speak there has rus. So, I have grave fears started appearing in small or any fear-mongering SN: Home remedies really
DN: Reports show that been a lot of relaxation for the country, once the pockets, small hot-spots or anything sensational. like umsuzwane probably
there is low uptake of in the containment mea- third wave hits. This time and so forth. So what This has been drawn out have no role to play as you
the Covid-19 vaccine, sures and we are seeing a the wave will be much needs to be done, as I from a genuine fear for saw in the last wave there
particularly by frontline lot of people mixing and stronger than the last two said, is a paradigm shift, the people’s lives because was a lot of umsuzwane
workers. What do you mingling not following waves because we are now massive changes in the not many people are actu- used in Harare just before
think are the reasons for any laid down procedures. having new variants and way we behave, every in- ally aware what sort of a a second wave hit. So, I
this low uptake? Thereby, this is going to a lot of people, instead of dividual, every family, to serious crisis we are facing am not really encouraging
SN: There has been quite cause a lot of infections just remaining asymptom- make sure that they do here. people to spend so much
a lot of low uptake on the to spread in the commu- atic, they will be actually not come into contact on umsuzwane and so
vaccine, particularly the nities. sick and needing a lot of with anybody without A pneumonic pan- forth. If it was working,
frontline workers, due to healthcare intervention. wearing a mask properly, demic, as long as you are it would have stopped the
a lot of misinformation So a third wave really is a washing hands, not go- breathing, you can be a second wave.
or lack of information to So shelve it.
enable them to accept the DN: Lastly, was it a wise
vaccine. Probably, they decision for the govern-
need a lot of informa- ment to open schools in
tion. As you are aware, the middle of a pandem-
they read a lot as well. So, ic? What is your take on
I think a combination of this?
misinformation and lack SN: I have always said
of information (has result- it and will always say it
ed in the low uptake). that, to me really, open-
DN: What needs to ing schools, borders and
be done to encourage so forth in the middle of
people to take up the a pandemic is not a real-
Covid-19 vaccine? ly wise idea. Schools, yes,
SN: For people to accept they have opened them,
vaccines, it’s due to the so- you will see that schools
cial media and global mes- will close faster than they
sages circulating about open because the virus is
vaccines. People need a going to force the author-
lot of information and in- ities to act and the com-
volvement of key players munities will see all these
in the sector so that they warnings that we have
have confidence and trust given. It will be so obvi-
in the vaccines. That will ous to them and by then
allow them to therefore they will agree that indeed
take part in the vaccina- schools don’t need to be
tion programme. With- opened during a pandem-
out trust and a whole lot ic.
of information, we might
see that the uptake will be What happens if you
low. open schools during a pan-
DN: Are you happy with demic, you will then allow
the information dissemi- a lot of human-to-human
nation process regarding interactions and children
the country’s vaccina- are vectors.
tion programme? Some
feel the government did They move the virus
not do much to educate around. Most of them
people on taking the jab. are asymptomatic and
SN: Information dissemi- not feeling anything but
nation has to be strength- they can move the virus
around. So it’s a matter of
weeks and months. You
are going to see a lot of
infections rising.
Page 22 Editorial & Opinion NewsHawks
CARTOON Issue 23, 26 March 2021
A fully fledged
authoritarian
kleptocracy
NOBODY should be surprised that the Zanu PF government Govt must be transparent on Chilonga
has criminalised dissent.
IT seems the Chilonga saga is not and their hangers-on. It is owned by set aside 12 940 hectares of land in
Even legislators can now be victimised for exercising their about to die down. Civil society the collective of its citizens. That’s a Chiredzi for what was originally said
rights to freedom of thought, conscience and expression. The groups, media, communities, villag- no brainer. to be a lucerne grass farming venture.
sovereignty of Parliament has been torn to shreds. ers and professionals won’t let it go.
Not because they have a score to settle Even if political, business and mili- The SI required residents to vacate
Any right-thinking person would conclude that these po- with government, particularly Presi- tary elites colonise the state and plun- the land immediately.
litical manoeuvres are part of a sinister ploy to consolidate dent Emmerson Mnangagwa and his der, they still don’t own it. That co-
what Zanu PF’s director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi Dendairy business associates. lonial mentality of Cecil Rhodes and On 9 March, SI 63A of 2021 was
recently described as a push towards the creation of a one-par- Leopold II of Belgium must perish. published to correct certain mistakes
ty state. Investment and business are good, that were in SI 50 of 2021. The new
not just for the shareholders, but also The point is government must re- SI 72A of 2021 maintains the origi-
On Wednesday this week, we were told the 118 sitting and for workers, communities, the econ- spect citizens and consult. When that nal intent, with the land now said to
former MDC members of the National Assembly and sena- omy and development. People, es- is done, people will naturally cooper- be set aside for an irrigation scheme.
tors who sang, remained seated or walked out when President pecially in impoverished economies ate and help those who want to invest What has changed is the removal of
Emmerson Mnangagwa came to Parliament on five formal like Zimbabwe, would like to see in- and bring development. Why would the clause requiring the immediate
occasions should be found in contempt of Parliament, fined vestment and jobs being created, but anyone refuse development, especially vacation of the land by residents.
ZW$400 000 each and lose their diplomatic passports. This not at the cost of their constitutional in poor rural and vulnerable commu-
was recommended by Parliament’s Privileges Committee, rights, ancestral land, history, culture nities? As a result, some people celebrated
chaired by lawyer and Mudzi South National Assembly mem- and identity. in the aftermath of SI 72A of 2021
ber Jonathan Samkange (Zanu PF). There is always a need to balance thinking a people’s victory has been
Jobs that come that way are not community interests and develop- won following the outrage and push-
The report was tabled before the Senate and must now be welcome. People would rather die ment. In other words, balance com- back over Chilonga.
debated by the two Houses for a final decision. poor than allow their identity and munity interests and the common
heritage to be destroyed by crony When the government gazetted SI
The committee recommended that two legislators, namely capitalism – investment which comes Hawk Eye 50 of 2021, simultaneously SI 51 of
Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala who is also deputy national through a nexus of greedy political 2021 was gazetted.
chairperson of the main opposition MDC Alliance and for- and business elites, especially if there Dumisani
mer Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya, pay additional fines is corruption involved. Muleya SI 51 of 2021 changed designation
of ZW$800 000 for “disrespecting” the committee when it of the same piece of land from being
was carrying out its work as well as disrespecting the Presi- So government must withdraw good. Not this authoritarian and arro- communal land to being state land. SI
dent. Their individual fines will reach ZW$1.2 million. from Chilonga. If there are diamonds gant approach we see from rulers who 51 of 2021 has not been repealed.
or any other minerals in the area, can’t even run the country properly.
This comes in the backdrop of the recall of more than 40 there is a way of engaging commu- The effect of this is clear: the land
opposition legislators and 80 councillors through a contrived nities and following the law to ensure So Chilonga must be properly reset. on which the people of Chilonga live,
political strategy designed to subvert the will of voters and such investment and development are A statement by civil society today has been taken away from them, and
essentially obliterate every remaining iota of democracy. accommodated. helps on what should be done. is now state land.
Last week, on 16 March 2021,
The attack on representative democracy is escalating daily. People need to respected and con- the government published Statutory That same piece of land remains
Perhaps the time has come for the real opposition movement sulted about issues that affect their Instrument (SI) 72A of 2021 (Com- targeted and set aside under the new
in this country to seriously think whether it it still worth- rights and wellbeing. Bulldozing in munal Land (Setting Aside of Land) SI 72A for a purported irrigation
while to continue participating in the National Assembly and the name of power and influence (Chiredzi) Notice, 2021), which re- project.
Senate. This question is relevant, in view of the relentless ef- doesn’t work. Nobody owns this pealed SI 50 of 2021. Gazetted on
forts by the Zanu PF regime to weaponise the law, manipulate country as private property. Not even 26 February 2021, SI 50 of 2021 had So effectively nothing has changed.
public institutions and subvert the precepts of constitution- those who delude themselves claim- Accordingly, the people of Chilonga
al democracy. But most citizens can see Zanu PF’s political ing they are the owners, saying “this remain at risk of eviction.
skulduggery for what it is. The vicious assault on democracy is our thing”. A country cannot be
will not be solved by the courts or by compromised tribunals owned by a group of corrupt cronies That is why prominent lawyer Ten-
but by the masses in the streets and villages across the length dai Biti’s court challenge against the
and breadth of this country. These are the ultimate owners of colonial land tenure system governing
Zimbabwe and their voices cannot be ignored. communal areas and rural communi-
ties like Chilonga is more than wel-
A few days ago, Sydney Gata, the executive chairperson come.
of state-owned power utility Zesa Holdings, confirmed what
Zimbabweans have known for decades: this country is a fully
fledged authoritarian kleptocracy. Ministers and their cronies
run parastatals like their backyard tuckshops, with zero regard
for corporate governance.
Just this week, cabinet approved the Public Finance Man-
agement (Amendment) Bill which will enable the President
to disburse taxpayers’ money from the Consolidated Revenue
Fund during the dissolution of Parliament. This dovetails well
with spirited attempts to whittle down the legislature’s over-
sight powers on matters pertaining to public finance manage-
ment, including the erasure of accountability for opaque and
toxic public debt. Zimbabwe has morphed into something
more frightening than a one-party state: a fully fledged au-
thoritarian kleptocracy.
Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
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USD/CAD 1.402 +0.005 +0.34 *GOLD 1,785.3 +10.3 +0.58
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Tobacco yield drops but quality higher
DUMISANI NYONI
TOBACCO yields this year ed Arab Emirates. auction; implying total hect- ers remain paramount so set to be opened on 7 April. prevailing auction rate on
are estimated to be lower “Though yields will be ares planted could be close to that their general livelihoods “This is a first. It is dis- the day of sale payable into
than last year by 10%, giving 130 000,” it said. are protected, as tobacco vi- local currency growers’ ac-
a crop estimate of between down, the quality of this ability diminishes each sea- heartening to note that count, both amounts pay-
180 million kilogrammes season’s crop is better than ZTA said the payment son. despite growers’ bodies for- able net of foreign currency
and 185 million kilo- 2020. While disease affected, modalities announced by mally writing to the TIMB denominated loans.
grammes due to excessive thinner crops may not be ac- the central bank will not im- “Tobacco growing cur- requesting for time to final-
rainfall which has resulted ceptable by all buyers, there prove growers’ viability this rently is not an attractive ise payment modalities, the However, it said the 60%
in some areas experiencing remains a strong demand. season. It said the stagnant crop to venture/expand into board proceeded to engage falls short of its foreign cur-
waterlogging, the Zimbabwe Much firmer USD (United growth this season reflects and such growth will remain with the honourable Min- rency-denominated cost
Tobacco Association (ZTA) States dollar) prices are ex- this. subdued,” it said. ister of Lands, Agriculture, of production component
has revealed. pected that should push the Water, Fisheries and Rural which reflects a minimum
national average price sig- “Every season growers ZTA said the pricing of Resettlement knowing full of 70%. Compounded by
In its latest report, ZTA nificantly up on last season,” find themselves with little contract tobacco (95% of well growers, the primary this shortfall is that 40% of
said despite the problem of the report reads in part. profit or in debt with their national production) cannot producers, had not submit- sales proceeds will be paid at
too much rain, the quality of contractor. This debt is in continue to be based on the ted any input into the date,” the official rate of $84: USD
the crop cured is very better ZTA said seed sales re- USD and carried forward to minimum of tobacco prices it said. versus re-tooling rates above
compared to last year. flected a 27% increase at the next season, with more paid on the auction floors $100: USD.
940kgs sold. This could have USD loans and debt add- (5% of national production). “This lack of consultation
“Yields in general are es- potentially planted close to ed. 90% of growers are now by the regulatory body on “Growers’ viability will
timated to be below last 150 000 hectares, it said. 100% USD borrowed from This is outdated legisla- such an important issue is not improve with the reten-
season by 10%. Yield rang- their contractor, implying tion that needs to be speedily very concerning.” tion levels announced and
es, depending on area, vary The association said the no new USD comes into the changed by the authorities, we plead with the authorities
from 3 200 to 4 000kg per number of registered grow- country until USD loans are it said. ZTA said it appreciates to review the foreign curren-
hectare,” the report reads in ers has remained static at repaid,” it said. that for the purpose of forex cy retention level before the
part. 146 000 with minimal new The association said the retention levels, tobacco start of the selling season.
entrants. “So while on paper tobac- announcement of the open- growers will now enjoy the Improving growers’ viability
“Yields have been esti- co sales may earn US$500– ing of the auction and con- same level as other exporters, is paramount in ensuring the
mated to be much lower “Auditing of contractors US$600 million per season, tract selling floors as an- that is 60% in foreign cur- targeted growth in the sector
than last season because of submissions is still under- real inflows are about a nounced by the TIMB was rency payable into growers’ is achieved and the country
the very wet weather experi- way, but it could be esti- quarter of this. Roll out of done without consulting foreign currency accounts realizes improved foreign
enced in January and Febru- mated that 124 000 hectares diversification cropping pro- growers. and 40% converted at the currency inflows,” it said
ary. Estimates go as low as 2 were put under contract plus grammes for tobacco grow-
000kg/ha up to 3 000kg/ha a further 5% of crop under The auction floors for the
for commercial growers and 2021 marketing season are
800kg/ha to 1 400kg/ha.
“The higher-than-normal
rainfall has resulted in some
areas experiencing waterlog-
ging of fields and leaching of
some crops. A thinner crop
is expected. Disease, such
as frog eye, angular, wildfire
can be found in a major por-
tion of the crop. Potential
overall quality however re-
mains good. Sucker control
varies from good to poor.
“National average yields
will be lower than last year
at 1400 kg/ha – giving a
crop estimate of 180 and
185 million kilogrammes,”
ZTA said, adding that the
Tobacco Industry Marketing
Board (TIMB) and Agritex
are finalising their crop as-
sessment for more accurate
figures.
Last year, Zimbabwe
generated about US$748
million from 184 million
kilogrammes of tobacco ex-
ported to countries such as
China, South Africa, Indo-
nesia, Belgium and theUnit-
Page 24 Companies & Markets NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Innscor registers growth across key units
ZIMBABWE’S light manufac- the prior comparable period. Innscor Africa Limited chairman Addington Chinake. to ensure viability and profitabil-
turing conglomerate Innscor The group’s assets grew ity of the group’s operations,” it
Africa Limited’s volumes across 2020/21 agricultural marketing view that margins will further jectives with appropriate return said.
operating units closed the re- 95.6% y/y whilst liabilities grew season just weeks away, it is our contract as we expect full cost levels, carefully managing the
porting period in positive ter- 136.7% attributable to the high view that this bottom of the indexation and re-alignment go- overhead cost profile whilst also “We forecast revenue
ritory, Inter-Horizon Securities cost of borrowing locally. NAV pyramid liquidity will drive a re- ing forward.” ensuring balance sheet value re- will grow 395% in FY21 to
(IH) says. resultantly went up by 64.7% bound in consumer spend which mains protected. ZWL$55.19bn, up from
from ZWL$7.32bn in 1H20 to we foresee trickling especially It said Innscor management ZWL$11.16bn recorded in
In a financial results analysis, ZWL$11.99bn in 1H21. into consumer facing names like has committed to adapting their “Given their track record, we FY20. EBITDA is expected to
IH, a securities trading company Innscor driving up volumes and operating models according to are optimistic that the business grow 208% from ZWL$3.41bn
facilitating trades on the Zimba- An interim dividend of the topline to FY22. It is our the current environment, this will continue to adjust their to ZWL$10.49bn over the same
bwe Stock Exchange, said Inn- ZWLc110 was declared for the includes balancing volume ob- strategies and plan accordingly period. We estimate Innscor
scor registered above inflation period, payable on the 23rd of trades on a P/E (+1) of 5.2x to
performance. April 2021. Shares will be traded 2021, below its historical average
cum-dividend up to the 6th of of 6.2x and relative to regional
“Influenced by a relatively April 2021. Dividend yield for peers trading at an average P/E
stable macro-environment, vol- 1H21 stood at 5.8%. (+1) of 15.73x. We forecast an
umes in the majority of Innscor’s EV/EBITDA (+1) of 3.5x com-
operating units closed the period IH also ddalth with balancing pared to peers at an average EV/
in positive territory,” IH said. growth objectives and cost con- EBITDA (+1) of 9.09x. Using
tainment. a blended DCF and multi-
“For the Mill-bake segment, ples-based valuation we have ar-
the Bakery division experienced “We anticipate that as lock- rived at a target price of $130.40
a 26% increase in volumes as downs start to ease and the op- for Innscor implying upside
flour availability improved, vol- erating environment normalises of 90.3% at current levels. We
umes however are still trending on arrival of vaccines, the group there maintain our buy recom-
below historical norms. Volumes will start to scale up on re-es- mendation on Innscor.”
at National Foods yielded a 25% tablishment of its trading chan-
uptick to 264 000mt owing to nels,” it said. Inter-Horizon Securities (Pvt)
improvements in the trading Limited is a company facilitating
environment whilst Profeeds re- “Change in consumer spend trade on the Zimbabwe Stock
corded a 18% improvement in is looking to be the biggest driv- Exchange. IH Securities has as-
feed volumes, with the segment er of growth for the group as low sembled a well-regarded Equity
focusing on diversification of its disposable incomes in the most Research team. The scope and
operations. recent past periods weighed on quality of our Equity Research
volumes performance. We be- gives us a deep understanding
“In the protein segment, lieve that Q3 volumes will come of our clients businesses and the
Colcom reported a rebound in in weaker relative to 1H21 due markets in which they operate,
performance as sales volumes to muted demand which was as enabling us to provide the best
increased 31%, with processed a result of the strict lockdown possible advice. Our Research
product volumes being up imposed in the first two months team provides clients with time-
199%. Irvine’s recorded a 10% of the year. ly, accurate and unbiased views.
growth in table eggs production
off a high base effect, whilst fro- “We however expect a vol- —STAFF WRITER
zen chicken and day-old chick umes recovery in Q4 as trading
volumes were up 6% and 14%, hours normalise and econom-
respectively.” ic activity picks ups. With the
IH says Innscor growth was
largely spread across various di-
visions and brands.
“Owing to continued growth
of the retail network, volumes
at AMP Group improved by
9% against the prior period.
Growth was observed across all
Other Light Manufacturing and
Services segments, where Nat-
pak and Prodairy experienced
volumes improvement of 26%
and 47%, respectively, whilst
Probottlers delivered a 57% in-
crement in volumes,” it said.
“Probrands volumes were
43% higher than those in the
previous comparable period.
Complying with IAS 29, Inns-
cor presented inflation adjusted
results, however, for the purpose
of our analysis historical finan-
cials were considered for the pe-
riod under review.”
On volumes recovery across
most segments, revenue grew by
774% to ZWL$25.34 billion.
The group realised exchange
rate gains of ZWL$530.68 mil-
lion in the period whilst fair val-
ue adjustments on livestock and
listed equities fell into negative
territory at ZWL$50.37 on pla-
teauing of inflation.
Its EBITDA - earnings be-
fore interest, taxes, depreciation,
and amortisation; a measure of a
company’s overall financial per-
formance used as an alternative
to net income in some circum-
stances - growth trailed revenue
growth a 546% to ZWL$6.16bn
in 1H21 from ZWL$953.70m
in 1H20 due to a steady reversal
in the cost lag.
The EBITDA margin subse-
quently shrunk to 24.36% from
32.9% for the same period.
The group reported 457%
y/y growth in profit after
tax to ZWL$5.52bn from
ZWL$990.68mn reported in
1H20. Operating cashflow to
EBITDA came in at 46% com-
ing from a negative position in
NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 25
Issue 23, 26 March 2021 Valela rises to the helm at Delta
BERNARD MPOFU Despite the lustre of the considered the CE’s job CEOs spend their time Matlhogonolo Mothibedi Valela. with the board, being the
role, serving as a CE can be so specialised that he felt don’t show the difference face of the company to
ZIMBABWE’S largest all-consuming, lonely, and executives could prepare between a good use of time leadership approaches, and external stakeholders, and
integrated beverages con- stressful. for the post only by hold- and a bad one. Academic extract a set of empirical, managing one’s own time
glomerate Delta Corpora- ing it. “Many of the CEOs research also demonstrates broadly applicable insights and energy.
tion Limited, significantly Just three in five newly we’ve worked with have that traits such as drive, re- on how excellent CEs think
owned by Anheuser-Busch appointed CEs live up to expressed similar views. In silience, and risk tolerance and act,” it says. It then broke those down
InBev SA/NV, the world’s performance expectations their experience, even ask- make CEOs more success- into 18 specific responsi-
leading brewer, this week in their first 18 months on ing other CEOs how to ful. “We also offer a self-as- bilities that fall exclusively
announced high-level exec- the job.The high standards approach the job doesn’t sessment guide to help to the CE. For example,
utive management chang- and broad expectations help, because suggestions “This insight is helpful CEOs (and CEO watchers, setting a corporate strategy
es, signalling a new era at of directors, shareholders, vary greatly once they go during a search for a new such as boards of directors) requires that the CE make
Sable House in Borrow- customers, and employees beyond high-level advice CEO, but it’s hardly one determine how closely they the final call on an overall
dale. create an environment of such as ‘set the strategy’, that sitting CEOs can use adhere to the mindsets and vision, a set of strategic
relentless scrutiny in which ‘shape the culture’, and to improve their perfor- practices that are closely moves, and the allocation
Matlhogonolo Mothibe- one move can dramatically ‘get the right team’,” Bower mance. Other research has associated with superior of capital. Some of that in-
di Valela – known to some make or derail an accom- says. tended to produce such CEO performance. Our cludes corporate strategy,
as Matts or just Vax – takes plished career. findings as the observation hope is that all CEOs, new vision, making bold moves,
over as the chief execu- “Perhaps that’s not sur- that leaders are effective or long-tenured, can use resource allocation, or-
tive (CE) with effect from For all the scrutiny of the prising — industry con- in some situations and in- these tools to better apply ganisational realignment,
1 July. He immediately CE’s role, though, little is texts differ, as do leadership effective in others — in- their scarce time and ener- managing skills and talent,
comes in as chief operating solidly understood about preferences — but it illus- teresting, but less than in- gy.” organisational culture and
officer. what CEs really do to excel. trates that fellow CEOs structive.” combining speed with sta-
don’t necessarily make reli- A model for CEO excellence bility.
Valela, a chartered ac- To show which mindsets able guides. In its study, McKinsey To answer the question,
countant who trained at and practices are proven set out to show which “What are the mindsets Focusing on those 18
the University of Zim- to make CEs most effec- “Nor has academic mindsets and practices are and practices of excellent responsibilities, McKinsey
babwe and Schmulian & tive, McKinsey studied and other research on the proven to make CEs most CEOs?,” McKinsey started conducted extensive re-
Sibanda Chartered Ac- performance data on thou- CEO’s role done much effective. “It is the fruit of with the six main elements search to determine what
countants, has been group sands of CEs and revisited to illuminate how CEOs a long-running effort to of the CE’s job — elements mindsets and practices dis-
finance director since July its first-hand experience think and what they do to study performance data on touched on in virtually all tinguish excellent CEs. It
2011. helping CEs enhance their excel. thousands of CEs, revisit literature about the role: mined proprietary database
leadership approaches. our first-hand experience setting the strategy, align- on CE performance, which
He joined the company For example, recent helping CEs enhance their ing the organisation, lead- is the largest of its kind,
in 1996 as an accountant McKinsey’s long-time studies that detail how ing the top team, working containing 25 years’ worth
and rose through the ranks leader, Marvin Bower, of data on 7 800 CEs from
to become group treasurer 3 500 public companies
in 2003. It has been a long across 70 countries and 24
journey to the top – 25 industries.
years.
“We also drew on what
Valela replaces Pearson we’ve learned from help-
Gowero who steps down on ing hundreds of CEOs to
retirement on 30 June, co- excel, from preparing for
incidentally after 25 years the job and transitioning
with the group, of which into it, through navigating
nine was at the helm. difficult decisions and mo-
ments of truth, to handing
Apart from Gowero, their responsibilities over
Valela has other illustri- to a successor,” it says.
ous corporate executive
predecessors: Joe Mutizwa “The result of these ef-
and John Patrick Rooney. forts is a model for CEO
This means he is coming excellence, which pre-
into a position which has scribes mindsets and prac-
been held by other top tices that are especially like-
executives who raised the ly to help CEOs succeed
bar and flew the company at their particular duties.
flag high. Valela has been What follows is a detailed
replaced by company sec- look at these mindsets and
retary and group treasur- practices. Although our
er Alex Makamure who findings are most relevant
comes in as finance direc- to CEOs of large public
tor from 1 April. companies, owing to our
research base, many will
Delta’s executive pro- also apply to CEOs of oth-
gression is well-planned, er bodies, including private
unlike the country’s chaot- companies, public-sector
ic leadership succession. organisations, and not-for-
profit institutions.”
Coming in against a
backdrop of a difficult eco- The results were interest-
nomic situation, largely ing as shown in the exhibit.
caused by political lead- Corporate strategy: Focus
ership, governance and on beating the odds
policy failures, and com- It is incumbent on the
pounded by the Covid-19 leader to set the direction
pandemic, while charac- for the company — to
terised by low purchasing have a plan in the face of
power and depressed de- uncertainty. One way that
mand, Valela has his work CEs try to reduce strategic
cut out for him. uncertainty is to focus on
options with the firmest
According to McKinsey business cases.
& Company – an Amer-
ican global management Research shows, howev-
consulting firm – a com- er, that this approach de-
pany has only one peerless livers another sort of out-
role: chief executive offi- come: the dreaded “hockey
cer. It’s the most powerful stick” effect, consisting
and sought-after title in of a projected dip in next
business, more exciting,
rewarding, and influential
than any other.
What the CEO, or sim-
ply CE, controls — the
company’s biggest moves
— accounts for 45% of a
company’s performance.
Page 26 Companies & Markets NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
year’s budget, followed by more likely. hired CEs are more like- Source: McKinsey and Company ten years create 50% more
a promise of success, which Furthermore, CEs who ly to move with boldness Resource allocation: Stay value than companies that
never occurs. A more real- and speed than those pro- active reallocate more slowly.
istic approach recognises make these moves earlier moted from within an or- Resource reallocation is
that 10% of companies in their tenure outperform ganisation. CEs who are not just a bold strategic The benefit of this ap-
create 90% of the total eco- those who move later, and promoted from internal move on its own; it’s also proach might seem obvi-
nomic profit (profit after those who do so multiple roles should explicitly ask an essential enabler of the ous, yet a third of compa-
subtracting the cost of cap- times in their tenure avoid and answer the question, other strategic moves. nies reallocate a mere 1%
ital), and that only one in an otherwise common de- “What would an outsid- of their capital from year to
12 companies moves from cline in performance. er do?” as they determine Companies that real- year. Furthermore, research
being an average performer their strategic moves. locate more than 50% of using our CE database
to a top-quintile performer Not surprisingly, data their capital expenditures found that the top decile
over a ten-year period. also show that externally among business units over of high performing CEs
are 35% more likely to dy-
The odds of making the namically reallocate capital
jump from average to out- than average performers.
standing might be long,
but CEOs can greatly in- To ensure that resourc-
crease the probability of es are swiftly reallocated
beating those odds by ad- to where they will deliv-
hering to these practices: er the most value rather
Vision: Reframe what than spread thinly across
winning means businesses and operations,
The CE is the ultimate excellent CEs institute
decision maker when it an ongoing (not annual)
comes to setting a compa- stage-gate process. Such
ny’s vision (where do we a process takes a granular
want to be in five, 10, or view, makes comparisons
15 years?). Good CEs do using quantitative met-
this by considering their rics, prompts when to stop
mandate and expectations funding and when to con-
(from the board, inves- tinue it, and is backed by
tors, employees, and other the CE’s personal resolve
stakeholders), the relative to continually optimise the
strengths and purpose of company’s allocation of re-
their company, a clear un- sources. Given all this, the
derstanding of what en- stakes are high for Valela in
ables the business to gen- his new role; not just for
erate value, opportunities the company, but also for
and trends in the market- him personally as someone
place, and their personal with 12 668 500 ordinary
aspirations and values. The shares worth about US$4
best go one step further and million.
reframe the reference point
for success. For example,
instead of a manufacturer
aspiring to be number one
in the industry, the CE can
broaden the objective to be
in the top quartile among
all industrials.
Such a reframing ac-
knowledges that compa-
nies compete for talent,
capital, and influence on
a bigger stage than their
industry. It casts key per-
formance measures such
as margin, cash flow, and
organisational health in a
different light, thereby cut-
ting through the biases and
social dynamics that can
lead to complacency.
Strategy: Make bold
moves early
According to McKinsey
research, five bold strate-
gic moves best correlate
with success: resource re-
allocation; programmatic
mergers, acquisitions, and
divestitures; capital expen-
diture; productivity im-
provements; and differen-
tiation improvements (the
latter three measured rela-
tive to a company’s indus-
try). To move “boldly” is
to shift at least 30% more
than the industry median.
Making one or two bold
moves more than doubles
the likelihood of rising
from the middle quintiles
of economic profit to the
top quintile, and making
three or more bold moves
makes such a rise six times
NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 27
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Delisting from
Toronto Stock
Exchange pays
off: Caledonia
DUMISANI NYONI the NYSE. the NYSE American and TSX new record for annual produc- mined and increase metallur- It said the net financial per-
Depositary interests repre- in the six months prior to the tion. gical recoveries. formance for the year when
CALEDONIA Mining Cor- de-listing,” it said. compared to 2019 was ad-
poration says following its senting shares also continue It said the strong per- The company said the ro- versely affected by the large
de-listing from the Toronto to trade on the Alternative In- Meanwhile, Caledonia re- formance, despite the im- bust operating performance foreign exchange gains and a
Stock Exchange (TSX), li- vestment Market (AIM) of the vealed that production in the pediments arising from the was supported by a rising gold significant profit arising on the
quidity in its shares listed on London Stock Exchange. year 2020 was 57 899 ounces, Covid-19 pandemic, reflects price. As such, profit for the sale of a subsidiary which were
the New York Stock Exchange which was at the top end of the measures taken in previous year was US$46.6 million – recognised in 2019.
(NYSE) has increased by over “Since the company’s shares the guidance range and was a quarters to improve tonnes almost 50% higher than 2019.
150% to approximately 114 were listed on the NYSE
0000 shares per day. American in 2017, trading on
that market provides the most
Caledonia owns Blanket liquid market for Caledonia’s
Mine in Gwanda, Matabele- shares. Accordingly, the finan-
land South. On 5 June 2020, cial and administrative costs
the resource group announced associated with maintaining
that it had applied for a volun- its listing on the TSX were no
tary delisting from the TSX ef- longer justified,” the company
fective as of the closing of trad- said in its latest management’s
ing on June 19, 2020, saying discussion and analysis.
financial and administrative
costs associated with listing “In the six months follow-
on the bourse were no longer ing the delisting from the
justified. TSX, liquidity in the com-
pany’s shares on the NYSE
Following delisting, the American increased by over
company’s shares have contin- 150% to approximately 114
ued to be listed and trade on 0000 shares per day compared
to the combined liquidity on
Lockdown propels
surge in data usage
BERNARD MPOFU 59.3% to record 25.7 million The telecommunications sec-
minutes from 63.1 million tor was not an exception. Like
DATA usage in Zimbabwe minutes recorded in 2019,” most essential sectors, the
increased by nearly 37% last Potraz said in the report. industry found itself on the
year as consumers switched to frontline, using all of its capac-
e-learning and telecommuting “On the other hand, the ity to deliver connectivity to
due to Covid-19 restrictions sector recorded a surge in in- homes, businesses and govern-
which restricted global travel, ternet and data usage due ments, to keep nations afloat
a report by the country’s tele- to the increased adoption of as the pandemic raged on”, the
coms regulator has shown. e-learning and telecommuting. report reads.
A total of 48,781 TB (terra-
Zimbabwe, like many oth- byte) of mobile internet and “The Covid-19 will not to
er countries in the world, last data were consumed in 2020. go away so soon but its spread
year enforced strict guidelines This represents a growth in will decrease owing to ongoing
to contain the spread of the usage by 36.5% from 35,733 vaccinations across the globe
respiratory ailment which has TB recorded in 2019. Used and at national level…Resul-
claimed over 1 500 lives locally international incoming band- tantly, we are likely to witness
since the first case was detected width capacity also increased a surge in demand for commu-
last March. by 36.6% to record 159 665 in nication services, in particular
2020 from 116 927 recorded data and courier volumes as
According to an annual re- in 2019.” consumers adapt to the new
port from the Postal and Tele- normal of life.”
communications Regulatory The year 2020, the report
Authority of Zimbabwe (Po- says, was characterised by a Potraz said while demand
traz), the sector was one of the trend of growing revenues, for data services had spiked,
hardest hit despite an improve- amidst rising operating costs the pandemic exposed the wid-
ment in revenues. across all sub-sectors, owing to ening gap between the haves
the inflationary economic en- and have-nots.
“Total mobile and fixed vironment. Annual sector rev-
voice traffic declined by 0.9% enue for 2020 was ZW$38.8 “Notably, the Covid-19
to record 6 095 683 710 min- billion up from ZW$4.5 bil- pandemic has exposed the ex-
utes in 2020 from 6 150 783 lion recorded in 2019; this rep- tent of exclusion and deepened
671 minutes recorded in 2019. resents an annual variance of pre-existing inequalities in
International voice traffic re- 751.7% and an inflation-ad- access to digital services. The
corded a huge decline in 2020. justed growth rate of 89.9%. broadband gap between the
International incoming traffic urban and rural areas is more
declined by 20.6% to record “The Covid-19 pandemic evident and is an obstacle to-
136.7 million minutes from negatively affected various sec- wards the implementation of
172.4 million minutes record- tors posing economic hardship programmes such as e-learning
ed in 2019. International out- for consumers, businesses and at national level,” the telecoms
going traffic also declined by communities across the globe. regulator said.
Page 28 Companies & Markets NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Stanbic posts improved 2020 results
LEADING financial ser- during the year and could patterns, low business mestic Product (GDP) is Reserve Bank of Zimba- during the last quarter of
vices institution Stanbic not match the 14% av- confidence and high in- estimated to have declined bwe. 2020, some of the Gov-
Bank has recovered from erage month-on-month flation levels. Gross Do- by 4.1%, according to the ernment’s efforts aimed at
a ZW$44 million loss inflation on account of “On a promising note, promoting price stability
in 2019 to post an infla- market and regulatory have started to bear posi-
tion-adjusted after-tax constraints and, in turn, tive outcomes as evidenced
profit of ZW$1.1 billion contributed to the reced- by the relative stability in
for the year ended 31 De- ing interest income. both the official (at a range
cember 2020. of US$1:ZW$81-83) and
“The Bank recorded a black-market exchange
The Standard Bank sub- 53% increase in its net fee rates,” Sebborn said.
sidiary posted a ZW$3.1 and commission income,
billion profit in the period growing from ZW$1.7 He commended the in-
under review, exceeding billion in 2019 to ZW$2.6 troduction of the weekly
the comparative period’s billion. The improvement foreign exchange auction
performance of ZW$477 in our fee and commission system, saying it breathed
million. income was largely under- life into the economy with
pinned by the impact of major highlights being the
In a statement accompa- the rapid depreciation of decline in annual inflation
nying the results, Stanbic the local currency against from a high of 837.5% in
chairperson Gregory Seb- the USD on our foreign July 2020 to 348% by De-
born said the bank ended denominated commission cember 2020 as well as the
the year with a qualifying income,” Nyanhongo said. slowdown in Zimdollar
core capital of ZW$3.8 money supply growth and
billion up from the 2019 Sebborn said apart from improved foreign currency
figure of ZW$651.2 mil- Covid-19, other perenni- availability to the produc-
lion, well ahead of the al challenges constraining tive sectors of the econo-
regulatory minimum of economic growth pros- my.
ZW$25 million. pects in 2020 include
erratic weather/rainfall – STAFF WRITER
In the period under re-
view, Stanbic also man-
aged to raise the required
minimum capital thresh-
old for 2021. The Reserve
Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)
has set a minimum capital
threshold of US$30 mil-
lion.
Despite the significant
recovery, Sebborn be-
moaned the adverse effects
Covid-19 on the bank’s
profitability, citing the
prolonged lockdown peri-
ods.
“The outlook for 2021
remains grim on account
of the resurgence in the
number of Covid-19 in-
fections. Sustenance of
the positive developments
achieved in the second half
of 2020 will be hugely de-
pendent on the impact of
Covid-19 in the outlook
and potential government
interventions to control
any adverse developments.
The GDP growth rate of
7.4% projected by gov-
ernment for 2021 could
be at risk if the impact of
Covid-19 on economic
performance is not signifi-
cantly mitigated through
availability of a sustain-
able and affordable vac-
cine,” Sebborn said.
The bank’s adjusted net
interest income declined
18% from ZW$2 billion
in 2019 to ZW$1.7 bil-
lion, despite the strong
growth in the bank’s gross
lending book from an in-
flation adjusted balance of
ZW$4.3 billion to ZW$9
billion as demand for lo-
cal currency funding con-
tinued to increase in line
with growing working
capital requirements.
In an accompanying
statement, Stanbic Bank
chief executive Solomon
Nyanhongo said lending
rates remained subdued
NewsHawks Stock Taking Page 29
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Price Sheet A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE
Friday, 26 March 2021
Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP (cents) Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Traded Traded
AFDIS Consumer Goods Ticker Price (cents) 4275.00 Volume Traded Change Change (%) Cap
African Sun Consumer Services Price 220.00
ART 640.56 - Value ($) (cents) (%) ($m)
Ariston Industrials - 210.00 83,100
Axia Consumer Services AFDIS: ZH 4275.00 220.00 1752.65 - - - 78.13 5,014.83
BNC ASUN: ZH 191.18 640.00 499.53 1,800 182,820.00 28.82 15.07 29.41 1,895.90
BAT Consumer Goods ARTD: ZH 650.00 210.00 80000.00 8,600 -9.44 -1.45 34.20 2,799.10
CAFCA Basic Materials ARISTON: ZH 200.40 1800.00 13200.00 11,500 11,530.00 9.60 4.79 56.72 3,417.53
Cassava AXIA: ZH 1700.00 500.00 1314.14 101,000 18,060.00 52.65 3.10 91.34 9,550.09
CBZ Consumer Goods BIND: ZH 525.08 7200.00 201,555.00 -25.55 -4.87 31.46 6,243.41
Dairibord Industrials 80000.00 - 1722.05 - 504,530.00 45.45 16,506.81
Delta BAT: ZH 13200.00 - 4895.55 - - - 46.83 1,153.03
Econet Technology CAFCA: ZH 1299.24 1320.00 1904.52 740,800 - - - 102.18 34,043.81
Edgars Banking 7200.00 - 350.00 - - 14.90 1.15 -15.75 49,480.68
FBC CSZL: ZH 1724.85 1720.00 2550.08 2,200 9,735,170.00 - - 31.45 6,164.95
Fidelity Consumer Goods CBZ: ZH 4113.25 4935.00 518.81 428,100 - -2.80 -0.16 115.18 62,881.44
First Capital Consumer Goods DZL: ZH 1794.90 2100.00 195.17 2,182,000 37,885.00 782.30 19.02 101.54 49,338.05
FML Telecommunications 352.73 350.00 2080.00 7,400 20,957,860.00 109.62 6.11 191.67 1,144.47
FMP Consumer Services DLTA: ZH 2581.67 2550.00 549.09 65,100 41,556,560.00 -2.73 -0.77 69.85 17,135.26
GBH ECO: ZH 520.00 510.00 66.29 4,200 25,900.00 -31.59 -1.22 172.06
Getbucks Banking EDGR: ZH 189.99 200.00 35.80 663,700 1,660,100.00 -1.19 -0.23 77.43 565.10
Hippo Financial Services FBC: ZH 2080.00 2080.00 14937.12 100 21,790.00 5.18 2.73 98.10 4,209.27
Innscor FIDL: ZH 545.00 550.00 7256.91 2,200 1,295,310.00 - - 69.47 14,354.98
Lafarge Banking FCA: ZH 60.00 72.00 5000.00 22,900 2,080.00 4.09 0.75 176.21 6,798.60
Mash Financial Services FMHL: ZH 35.80 - 179.98 - 12,080.00 6.29 10.48 186.40
Masimba FMP: ZH 13200.00 14900.00 1407.47 15,100 15,180.00 - - 65.97 355.70
Medtech Real Estate GBH: ZH 7113.40 7460.00 10.93 121,700 - 1737.12 13.16 95.98 416.40
Meikles Industrials GBFS: ZH 5000.00 - 4285.21 - 2,255,505.00 143.51 2.02 420.83 28,831.71
Nampak HIPO: ZH 174.70 178.00 850.00 65,400 8,831,660.00 - - 93.53 40,985.32
NatFoods Financial Services INN: ZH 1423.53 1400.00 31600.00 15,000 - 5.28 3.02 25.67 4,000.00
NTS Consumer Goods LACZ: ZH 11.60 11.45 960.61 888,300 117,707.00 -16.06 -1.13 38.35 3,345.96
NMBZ MASH: ZH 4298.10 4295.00 798.00 139,800 211,120.00 -0.67 -5.78 94.74 3,401.20
OK Zim Industrials MSHL: ZH 800.00 850.00 1504.78 400 97,116.65 -12.89 -0.30 272.40 332.25
Padenga Industrials MMDZ: ZH 31600.00 - 2710.19 - 5,990,730.00 50.00 6.25 425.79 10,826.42
Proplastics Real Estate MEIK: ZH 960.00 1000.00 2265.00 13,200 3,400.00 - - 3399.49 6,423.01
RTG Industrials NPKZ: ZH 798.00 798.00 195.50 1,700 - 0.61 0.06 99.48 21,614.43
RioZim Healthcare NTFD: ZH 1523.28 1520.00 2040.00 288,500 126,800.00 - - 67.20 2,438.72
SeedCo Industrials NTS: ZH 2680.11 2500.00 2160.89 237,900 13,566.00 -18.50 -1.21 28.97 3,225.29
Simbisa Industrials NMB: ZH 2255.00 2265.00 3428.77 11,500 4,341,290.00 30.08 1.12 163.07 18,761.79
Star Africa Consumer Goods OKZ: ZH 190.02 195.50 49.99 700 6,447,530.00 10.00 0.44 1.96 14,678.21
Truworths Industrials PHL: ZH 2040.00 - 110.00 - 260,475.00 5.48 2.88 36.44 5,706.34
TSL PROL: ZH 2160.89 - 4300.00 - 1,368.50 - - -6.05 4,878.69
Turnall Banking RTG: ZH 3372.10 3500.00 320.00 69,400 - - - 185.31 2,489.40
Unifreight Consumer Services RIOZ: ZH 49.07 48.50 1595.00 7,273,800 - 56.67 1.68 85.15 5,305.59
Willdale SEED: ZH 98.43 110.00 90.44 1,800 2,379,565.00 0.92 1.87 272.88 19,276.02
ZB Consumer Goods SIM: ZH 4300.00 4300.00 3200.00 500 3,636,144.00 11.57 11.75 149.28 2,357.07
Zeco Industrials SACL: ZH 330.00 320.00 300 1,980.00 - - 244.09 422.47
Zimpapers TRUW: ZH 1600.00 1595.00 0.02 300 21,500.00 -10.00 -3.03 8475.27 15,355.41
Zimplow Consumer Services TSL: ZH 90.95 89.00 175.00 405,400 960.00 -5.00 -0.31 182.63 1,577.73
ZHL Basic Materials TURN: ZH 3900.00 3200.00 750.00 100 4,785.00 -0.51 -0.56 33.33 1,698.26
TOTAL UNIF: ZH - 205.75 - 366,657.00 -700.00 -17.95 1,608.02
Consumer Goods WILD: ZH 0.02 175.00 600 3,200.00 - - - 5,606.10
Consumer Goods ZBFH: ZH 170.16 750.00 3,000 - 4.84 2.84 78.57
Consumer Goods ZECO: ZH 750.00 206.00 400 1,050.00 - - 50.00 0.09
Consumer Services ZIMP: ZH 206.09 13,879,500 22,500.00 -0.34 -0.16 -34.37 1,008.00
Consumer Goods ZIMPLOW: ZH 823.00 1,787.86
ZHL: ZH 3,154.84
Industrials 111,375,842.15
Industrials 524,565.66
Industrials
Banking
Industrials
Consumer Services
Industrials
Financial Services
ETFs OMTT.zw 181.17 180.00 180.28 343,673 619,582.79 -0.89 -0.49 79.88 144.22
Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF
FINSEC Financial Services OMZIL 2730.00 - 2730.00 27,053 -- - 3.02 2,266.22
Old Mutual Zimbabwe US$m
48.23
VFEX (US cents) Consumer Goods SCIL:VX 20.00 - 20.00 - -- - 11.11
YTD %
SeedCo International +115.18
+29.41
Index Close Change (%) Open YTD % Top 5 Risers Price Change % +65.97
ZSE All Share Delta +272.88
Top 10 4,432.50 +3.42 4,285.91 +68.58 African Sun 4895.55c +782.30c +19.02 +176.21
Top 15 2,580.33 +5.64 2,442.66 +55.96 Hippo 220.00c +28.82c +15.07
Small Cap 2,949.65 +5.01 2,808.88 +51.41 Truworths +13.16 YTD %
Medium Cap 47,327.53 +0.14 47,263.41 +298.51 GBH 14937.12c +1737.12c +11.75 +33.33
10,487.48 +0.18 10,468.45 +88.48 110.00c +11.57c +10.48 +38.35
66.29c +6.29c +31.46
+244.09
Top 5 Fallers Price Change % +34.20
ZB
Medtech 3200.00c -700.00c -17.95
BNC 10.93c -0.67c -5.78
Turnall -4.87
ART 499.53c -25.55c -3.03
320.00c -10.00c -1.45
640.56c
-9.44c
SALES & TRADING: Davide Muchengi: [email protected] | Lungani Nyamazana: [email protected] | Tatenda Jasi: [email protected]
RESEARCH: Batanai Matsika: [email protected] | Precious Chagwedera: [email protected] | Tafara Mtutu: [email protected]
Tel: (+263) 08677008101-2 | Email: [email protected] | Address: 1st Floor, Block D, Smatsatsa Office Park, Borrowdale, Harare
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content.
Page 30 Executive Chat NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
MANY government min- Our hands are clean over dubious
istries and departments as companies fleecing govt: Praz
well as local authorities have
been duped by dubious com- on public procurement issues
panies which are conniving on cases that the commission
with suppliers, resulting in will be investigating.
the gouging of prices and
non-delivery of purchased With Transparency Inter-
goods. national Zimbabwe, the in-
tegrity pact yielded positive
For example, Karoi Town results as Praz in partnership
Council is locked in a legal with TIZ launched a pro-
battle with Solution Motors curement handbook to ease
after the car supplier failed to public procurement burden
deliver a refuse truck ordered on parastatals and govern-
in 2017. Solution Motors ment departments.
prejudiced the Zimbabwe-
an government of vehicles The handbook simplifies
worth US$207 540 worth complex procurement re-
which have still not been quirements while ensuring
delivered since December transparency and account-
2018. Auditor-General Mil- able spending in public enti-
dred Chiri’s 2018 report re- ties and is meant to close the
vealed the scandal. Such pro- gaps emanating in the public
curement scams have been procurement cycle.
common. This week, The
NewsHawks Mashonaland There is a continuous
West correspondent Nhau training by Praz in collabo-
Mangirazi (NM) caught up ration with TIZ to capacitate
with Procurement Regulato- stakeholders to ensure high
ry Authority of Zimbabwe integrity in public procure-
(Praz) acting chief executive ment.
officer Clever Ruswa (CR) NM: What are the key mea-
to talk about procurement sures that you have put in
issues and the Karoi scandal. place to curb corruption,
Below are excerpts of the in- especially on procurement?
terview.
NM: What is the role of Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe acting chief executive officer Clever Ruswa CR: The Public Procurement
Praz when councils and and Disposal of Public As-
government departments to ensure that these measures bid notices and shortlists, are challenge proceedings procurement scandal? sets Act (Chapter 22:23) and
float tenders? Please clarify are adhered to. manage bid process and eval- highlighted in the Public regulations themselves are a
on the Karoi Town Council NM: What challenges are uation and any post-qualifi- Procurement and Disposal CR: Praz undertook mon- measure to curb corruption
scandal pertaining to the you facing as an organ- cation negotiations required. of Public Assets (General) itoring and evaluation of in public procurement. The
undelivered refuse truck. isation according to the Regulations (2018) in which Covid-19 procurements. formation of Praz through
CR: The Procurement Reg- mandate you were given as The whole procurement either the procuring entity Public procurements that the Public Procurement and
ulatory Authority of Zimba- blame is you for taking too lies with the accounting of- write to Praz challenging the did not follow procedure and Disposal of Public Assets Act
bwe started in January 2018. long to approve some ten- ficer. The only tenders that PEs procurement process. were seen to be of a criminal is a measure to curb corrup-
The procurement of the re- ders? come to SPOC are those NM: Has Praz blacklisted nature were submitted to the tion on procurement. The
fuse truck you are referring CR: The authority (Praz) is above specified thresholds. some suppliers who fail to Auditor-General’s Office for reason for reform of the State
was before Praz’s formation not facing any challenges in As Praz, these are presented deliver and abuse of public further investigation. Procurement Board was to
as it was done in 2017 un- terms of implementing its to SPOC for review in which funds? If so, can you name align with the provision of
der the State Procurement mandate. SPOC only reviews the pro- the companies? In the case of Drax that Section 315 of the Consti-
Board. cess and does not award CR: It is true that Praz has you are referring to, the case tution of Zimbabwe Amend-
The PPDPA Act (Chap- tenders. A response is made acted by blacklisting some of is before the courts, therefore ment (No. 1) Act 2013 that
Praz is taking its watchdog ter 22.23) devolved to ac- within seven working days of the suppliers that put pub- it will be contempt of court required the establishment
role as regulator through the counting officers who are receiving the bid documents. lic tenders and bidding into for Praz to comment. of an Act of Parliament that
following: responsible for all their pro- This means that PEs should disrepute. Praz has so far NM: You have signed any would prescribe the pub-
curements. The PMU is now plan their procurements to blacklisted some and among memoranda of understand- lic procurement role, for all
Each procuring entity compelled to plan the pro- avoid delays of the procure- the top three are Solution ing with Zimbabwe Anti- state institutions and agen-
(PE) is now responsible for curement activities of its pro- ment process on their part Motors, Tokologo and RMC Corruption Commission cies of the government at
managing the procurement curement entity and come up and avoid blaming Praz. DIAMOND and Company. (Zacc) and Transparency all levels so that public pro-
where the value of the pro- with yearly plan. NM: How do you respond NM: There have been cor- International-Zimbabwe curement is undertaken in a
curement required is below to allegations that Praz as ruption allegations around (TIZ) as integrity pacts on manner that is transparent,
the prescribed threshold for The PMU is also respon- an organisation is in com- procurement of Covid-19 the prevention of corrup- fair, honest, cost-effective
procurement above the pre- sible for securing the adop- plicity with some dubious drugs and other essentials. tion. What have been the and competitive.
scribed values. PEs is sup- tion of appropriate methods companies milking coun- Can you take us through results of your efforts so
posed to get written authori- of procurement; prepare cils and government de- the process and explain why far? The government’s motive
ty from Praz, subject to terms bid documents in compli- partments of public funds? Praz has in the past dis- CR: We have yielded posi- for the reforms was to also
and conditions specified by ance with the provisions of CR: These allegations are tanced itself from scandals tive results and this is a con- help strengthen corporate
the authority. Responsibility the Act, designing contract not true. If an institution like the Drax International tinuing process. Praz assists governance and accountabil-
for compliance with the Pub- specification and evaluation that is regulated by Praz has Zacc with technical advice ity in the management of
lic Procurement and Disposal criteria. The PMU will also issues with a supplier, there public resources while im-
of Public Assets Act (Chapter be responsible for preparing proving service delivery. The
22.23) now devolves upon reform was also aimed at pro-
the entities accounting offi- fessionalising and modernis-
cer. ing procurement systems to
fight corruption.
To promote transparent NM: You have engaged the
public procurement system, Auditor-General’s Office
PEs are now compelled to es- to assist you with detailed
tablish procurement manage- audit reports on red flags
ment units (PMUs) which that have been raised in
shall be responsible for man- procurement matters. How
aging the entity procurement far has the process gone and
activities in accordance with when do we expect the au-
the Act. The PMU, according dit results?
to the Act is headed by the
accounting fficer. CR: The Auditor-General’s
Office, once they are done
The formation of the spe- with the audits, the reports
cial procurement oversight are forwarded to Parliament.
committee for certain sen-
sitive or especially valuable
contracts outlined in the Act
also ensures transparency
through checks and balances
of the procurement.
To ensure there compli-
ance by PEs and PMUs, Praz
has a monitoring and evalu-
ation division that monitors
compliance and performance
NewsHawks News Analysis Page 31
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
PALESA MUWANI Can Zim’s opposition parties counter
Mnangagwa’s one-party state project?
THE recall of six MDC Alli-
ance members of Parliament MDC Alliance co-Vice-Presdient Tendai Biti. strations against Zanu PF,”
including its vice-president Masunungure said.
Tendai Biti last week points to This was after the Zimba- hamper the MDC Alliance’s sition party has resorted to Nkomo said the MDC
an urgent need by the opposi- bwe Electoral Commission impact as an opposition party begging party members for Alliance should “deal with “The opposition has tried
tion party to come up with a had announced that by-elec- with the harmonised elections funding. It has also begun a the issue politically” if it is to a number of times to demon-
coherent and effective strategy tions would be held in Decem- in 2023 looming. The recalls drive dubbed the “one million succeed in coming up with a strate and the cost has been
to prevent the decimation of ber last year. also mean the MDC Alliance campaign” to recruit more robust response to the siege by quite heavy with some of the
the party by President Em- has lost critical funding after members to the party. the state. opposition party officials still
merson Mnangagwa with the “These regulations may money allocated to political being dragged through the
harmonised elections just two be cited as the Public Health parties was handed over to the The US Senate Foreign Re- Chamisa, through his na- courts.”
years away. (Covid-19 Prevention, Con- MDC-T instead. It also lost lations Committee and the tional address earlier this
tainment and Treatment its headquarters in the capital State Department expressed month, outlined how his party Mnangagwa’s administra-
The august House an- (Amendment) Regulations to the MDC-T, leaving the concern this week over what intends to respond to the at- tion has descended heavily on
nounced the recall of six key pursuant to subsection (2), the MDC Alliance without a base. thet attempts by Mnangagwa tacks. any attempts by the opposi-
legislators at the behest of holding of any by-election to In plans to further stifle the to decimate the country’s big- tion to hold demonstrations
little-known Benjamin Ru- fill a casual vacancy in Parlia- opposition, the government is gest opposition party. “We will peacefully resist with protesters either being
kanda purporting to be Peo- ment or in local authority is looking to introduce the Patri- and oppose institutions that beaten up severely or jailed.
ple’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the duration of the period otic Bill. “The recall of @Biti Tendai oppress us the people. We The Mnangagwa regime accus-
secretary-general. This brings of the declaration of Covid-19 and other members of parlia- will peacefully resist and op- es the MDC Alliance of try to
the number of MDC Alliance as a formidable epidemic dis- The proposed law will crim- ment in #Zimbabwe last week pose illegal enforcements. We use demonstrations as a tactic
MPs who have lost their seats ease, suspended, and if such inalise and impose stiff penal- is yet another example of the will peacefully resist and op- for overthrowing a constitu-
through recalls to 48 since last vacancy occurred while such ties on private correspondence systematic dismantling of the pose unconstitutional laws. tionally elected government.
year, a development which has declaration is in force, no part by “self-serving citizens” with elected political opposition We will peacefully resist and
disillusioned supporters on the of the period from the date of foreign governments or any and subversion of the will of oppose weaponisation of laws This has resulted in the as-
ground while further weaken- such vacancy to the date of officer or agent. the Zimbabwean people,” the and judiciary systems. We will sault and abduction of oppo-
ing the opposition in parlia- the end of declaration she be committee said on the microb- peacefully resist and oppose sition members and even co-
ment, which in any case was in counted for the purpose of sec- The Bill “prohibits any Zim- logging site Twitter. the illegitimate oppressors medians have not been spared
the minority. tion (158 (3) of the Constitu- babwean citizen from wilfully that stole the election. The from the state’s vicious crack-
tion,” Statutory communicating messages in- The MDC Alliance has to people’s agenda is to maintain down.
The parliamentarians re- tended to harm the image and come up with a political strat- the fight for democracy and
called last week are Tendai Biti Instrument 225A of 2020 reputation of the country on egy to counter the attacks by to overcome the obstacles that Several MDC Alliance
(Harare East), Willias Madzi- reads. international platforms or en- the state which include pulling have been placed in our way. officials have been arrest-
mure (Kambuzuma), Settle- gaging with foreign countries out of Parliament altogether, We will use 2021 to reconnect ed, including the party’s
ment Chikwinya (Mbizo), However, this has not with the intention of commu- according to political analyst with the grassroots which re- vice-chairperson Job Sikhala,
Kucaca Phulu (Nkulumane), stopped Zanu PF from hold- nicating messages intended to and Habbakuk chief executive mains the anchor of the party, spokesperson Fadzai Mahere,
Sichelesile Mahlangu (Pumu- ing its district co-ordinating harm the country’s positive Dumisani Nkomo. to embark on a major recruit- Harare West MP Joana Ma-
la), and Regai Tsunga (Mutasa committee elections nation- image and/or to under its in- ment drive, both at home and mombe and Biti with some of
South). wide. tegrity and reputation”. This is “I think the MDC should the Diaspora,” Chamisa said. them still fighting their cases
apparently in response to the not fight this attack in instal- in court.
This came after High Court Mnangagwa has also lured global condemnation of the ments,” Nkomo said. However, political analyst
judge Sylvia Chirawu-Mu- a number of MDC officials to Zimbabwean government af- Eldred Masunungure warns of Masunungure believes that
gomba ruled recently that defect to Zanu PF, including ter the successful Zimbabwe- “One option is pulling out the pitfalls of taking on Mnan- the Chamisa-led outfit should
the PDP faction led by Lucia Lilian Timveous and Blessing an Lives Matter Twitter cam- of Parliament completely to gagwa’s government through go on a major rebuilding pro-
Matibenga had the power to Chebundo. This has left the paign driven by the opposition create a crisis.” demonstrations. gramme as it prepares for the
recall its MPs seconded to the MDC Alliance in sixes and and civil society activists. 2023 elections instead of using
MDC. sevens. Given that the Covid- He said the MDC Alliance “The MDC Alliance will the courts and streets to fight
19-induced ban on by-elec- The cash-strapped oppo- should forget about taking the come second best if it goes the state.
This is similar to the ruling tions is indefinite, it will fight to Mnangagwa through through the route of demon-
which recognised Thokozani the courts as they are seriously “The MDC Alliance should
Khupe as the legitimate succes- compromised. start rebuilding the party in
sor of the late founding MDC preparation of the 2023 har-
leader Morgan Tsvangirai and monised elections. It is better
interim leader of the party. off focusing on the political
This was after the ruling last terrain,” Masunungure said.
year determined that MDC
Alliance leader Nelson Chami- He said the rebuilding ex-
sa’s rise to the party’s presiden- ercise will galvanise the party
cy was irregular. Khupe lost and prevent a situation where-
the leadership to Mwonzora by the party’s large grassroots
during an extraordinary con- support becomes disillusioned.
gress held in Harare.
Prominent lawyer and for-
A total of 80 councillors mer adviser to former prime
have also been recalled by the minister Morgan Tsvangirai,
MDC-T, drastically weaken- Alex Magaisa, has warned that
ing its control of city councils the MDC Alliance should mo-
in various cities. bilise resources for the by-elec-
tions when they are held to
The MDC Alliance has frustrate Mnangagwa’s plan of
been under siege with Mnan- taking advantage of the oppo-
gagwa using various methods sition party’s parlous financial
to severely weaken the coun- state.
try’s biggest opposition party.
“When he (Mnangagwa)
Commentators say lawfare eventually calls for by-elec-
is a big part of it. Lawfare is tions, they will be all over the
the misuse of legal systems and country, stretching the op-
principles against an oppo- position’s capacity at a time
nents for the purpose of dam- when he has starved it of re-
aging or deligitimising them. sources. He will want to rig
those by-elections so that he
To ensure that the MDC can pronounce a “rout” of the
Alliance does not reclaim its MDC Alliance not long be-
seats through by-elections trig- fore 2023,” Magaisa wrote on
gered by the recalls, Vice-Pres- Twitter.
ident Constantino Chiwenga,
who is also Health minister, “That’s why the MDC Al-
late last year banned the hold- liance must plan ahead and
ing of by-elections to fill va- not wait for events to un-
cancies in Parliament and local fold. If by-elections come, as
authorities for as long as the they ought to, they will be
Covid-19 remains a formida- a mini-general election with
ble epidemic. the majority of seats in MDC
strongholds. The urgency of
Chiwenga promulgated a mobilising resources cannot be
Statutory Instrument amend- overstated.”
ing the Public Health (Covid
19 Prevention, Containment
and Treatment) Regulations to
enforce the ban.
Page 32 The Big Debate NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
True patriotism not forced upon citizens
Sabelo J. tion-building. figures from the dominant neighbour in the same Zimbabwe National Assembly. In the final analysis,
Ndlovu-Gatsheni Curriculum has to be ethnic groups were im- manner that one loves genuine patriotism is
posed on the nation. himself or herself and it is imposed by force. organic and automatic for
THE simplest definition used for nation-building. other selves. In non-democratic the nation. But it is not
of nationalism is love for Renaming of streets and The social plurality of a zero-sum game. Pride
one’s nation to the extent other infrastructure has to the country was viewed as This dimension ex- situations, the state and in one’s nation can be
of being prepared to die be done for nation-build- a problem that had to be pressed itself in terms of the party are conflated into destroyed by failure of the
for it. ing. The flag and the physically eliminated. black consciousness and one political monstrosity. state and leadership.
national anthem have to pan-Africanism.
It is the simplest but assist in nation-building. Perhaps being based in The party and the leader, Pride can turn into
most meaningful defini- Music and galas have to be Mozambique where Samo- However, most of the beginning with those who shame if everything has
tion because very few of for nation-building. ra Machel and his gener- African leaders confused is- arrogated to themselves the failed. Where there are no
the people who claim to be ation of leftists strongly sues of nation, state, party, title of “Father of the Na- jobs, no security of prop-
nationalists today meet the Equitable distribution believed that for the nation and leadership for selfish tion”, are often conflated. erty, no service delivery,
criteria of love and sacrifice of national resources, to live, the tribe had to die. political reasons. where the state is violent,
for the nation. including land, has to This informed the Za- People are invited to where an ideological-
be for nation-building. nu-PF approach to nation The very coupling of compose praises, songs and ly bankrupt and failed
Basically, to love one’s National history has to be building. nation and state into poems for these politically leadership survives by
nation is to love the people a narration of the nation nation-state opened the constructed montrosi- violence, where democracy
in the same manner one in such a way that it unites Gukurahundi seemed floodgate to political abuse ties. Bills are introduced and human rights have
loves himself or herself. the nation. Did we do this to be informed partly by of the two terms. Often through a dissempowered been thrown out of the
This love for the people in Zimbabwe? No, we did this idea and partly by the when selfish leaders talk of parliament on patriotism. window, it is not surprising
entails making sure their not. raw will to absolute power the nation they normally that attempts are made to
lives matter. ring-fenced by a one-party mean the state. Patriotism is miscon- impose patriotism through
Nationalism was turned state. strued to mean pacifici- coercive means and prose-
For a people like those into narrow partisanism. But states come and go cation of critical citizens. cutions.
of Zimbabwe and many Ethnicity replaced the State-building itself together with regimes and Citizens are reduced to
Africans who experienced nation. Party politics was became batardised into the the nation as the people re- defeated voters who are This is a poignant sign of
90 years of dehumanising allowed to run amock. invasion of state institu- mains. One can give many fearful and every five years failure by a regime to build
colonialism which de- Media was used to divide tions by the party, leading examples of states which are invited to endorse the any form of trust, confi-
nied their very humanity, the nation. to the rise of a party-nation came and went: Torwa politically constructed dence, and love from the
African nationalism was and a party-state. state, Mutapa state, Rozvi monstrosities in what people. Everything is now
expected to be a rehuman- Music was used to divide state, Ndebele state, and Thandika Mkandawire delivered through rule by
ising force. the people. Not only leaders have to Rhodesia state. A state, as termed choiceless democ- law including patriotism.
love their nation but even Marxists schooled us, is an racy.
It was expected to enable History was re-written in citizens have to love the apparatus of powers con- It is an absurd logic for
self-recovery and self-re- partisan terms, not nation- nation. trolled by the dominant Patriotism in this case any leader to think that
constitution under the al interests. Terence Ranger class to dominate others. is devoid of self-love and through rule by law a re-
banner of self-determina- coined the term patriotic For citizens to love the has nothing to do with gime can prosecute hungry
tion not only for the state history to name such a nar- nation is an act of self-love. It is never the nation. the nation but everything people until they say they
but for the people. Self-de- row partisan conception of It is intrinsic to a people At the centre of the state to do with destruction have food, jobless people
termination for the people history. since hating the nation is is a dominant regime of of opposition and active until they say we have jobs,
is not reducible to the an act of self-hate. power at a given time. In citizenship. violated women until they
mere right to vote, which Monuments ignored all a democracy the regime is say we are safe, and desen-
in Zimbabwe is yet to be other figures from the rest In this love of the elected. In other instances Patriotism itself is being chated citizens until they
liberated from those who of the country as ethnic nation, there is always the appropriated and used say we are happy. As
think the gun can never be caveat of also loving one’s instrumentally to silence
defeated by the pen and the nation. Zimbabweans, we have a
the “x”. right to be angry about the
situation we find our coun-
To reduce voting to a try in, about the looting
mere putting of an x on of resources by cartels and
ballot paper is the most cabals that are connected
absurd understanding to those in power!
of self-determination of
a people. Zimbabwean In short, the Harare
nationalism at its very regime must not waste
birth was troubled by the time on the Patriotic Bill.
problems of ethnicity and Zimbabwean are among
ego-politics of individu- the most patriotic people
al politicians who were in the world. Patriotism is
bent on using nationalism automatic where there is
instrumentally to attain everything to be proud of.
power for the sake of
power with no love for the We are currently in a
people. shameful state of affairs.
Such power-hungry No amount of rule
leaders could not even by law will contain our
invest in nation-build- critique of this shameful
ing. Nation-building is moment. Patriotism is nev-
a complex art. Ideally, er an empty shell or slogan
nation-building is to be bereft of content. Jobs,
predicated on love of the food, security, democracy,
people and must be done human rights, and service
for their sake. delivery deliver dignity to
a people and automatically
At its centre is the craft generate patriotism.
of turning popular nation-
alism into post-colonial *Sabelo J Ndlovu-Gat-
horizontal patriotism. sheni is Professor and
Media has to be used to Chair of Epistemologies
do this. Monuments have of the Global South with
to be used to achieve Emphasis on Africa at the
nation-building. Sports University of Bayreuth in
have to be used for na- Germany. He is a leading
decolonial theorist with
over 100 publications
in the fields of African
history, African politics,
African development and
decolonial theory.rn the
fate of the continent.
NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 33
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
The Chinese political and economic model:
Why it has worked for China, not for Africa
This article is an extended excerpt from Professor Arthur Mutambara’s
upcoming book: In Search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream: Volume 3.
Arthur
Mutambara
DIVERSE views have been Shopping Mall in Guangzhou, China.
expressed about the Chinese
socio-political and economic up lessons from China.” continent have largely failed to self-serving. This has damaged commercial sale in which the This is a colossal economy
model. Of course, learning from advance African economies. In Africa while benefiting China. African has no say on the unit consisting of a population
some cases, the Chinese have price. The foolish African ends and market of 1.3 billion
These range from the China is what they do not do. ruined African economies by You cannot blame China up paying more than they Africans, a potential GDP of
Chinese themselves who, of Well, both groups of Afri- egregious natural resource for that. We must blame would have paid if it were a US$2.5 trillion and a massive
course, uncritically praise stripping without benefi- ourselves. The Chinese folks purely commercial transac- collective resource base. The
their system as a faultless cans are wrong in their assess- ciation, ruinous financing coming to do business in tion. Sad. Tragic. scale, scope and impact of this
model, their competitors in ment of the Chinese model. arrangements and support- post-independent Africa are gigantic continental bloc will
the West who condemn it Their critiques are as unsound ing and sustaining despotic not the comrades of Chairman The current Covid-19 give us the leverage to unlock
outright as reprehensible and as they are unscientific. regimes. Mao’s era. vaccine donations and sales to economic value when we
undesirable, and Africans who African countries are a good interface with China.
are of mixed, confused and Indeed, there is poverty Hence, the Chinese model They are shrewd business- demonstration of this malefi-
unthought-out emotions. and a dearth of analysis with has neither benefited Africa as people, in most cases shrewder cence – the Chinese mischief. This AU framework should
respect to the efficacy of the a transportable developmental and savvier than their Western be the only front we present to
Some folks from the con- Chinese political and econom- model nor as a basis for com- counterparts. They are vicious- More significantly, why China in all negotiations, deals
tinent, who are unquestion- ic system. mercial diplomacy, trade and ly and mercilessly chasing are we approaching China and financial relationships.
ing disciples of the market, China and Africa economic partnership. cash. The Chinese in Africa are as small, fragmented states There should be no bilateral
naively, unscientifically and The state of play not Father Christmas. There without bargaining power? We deals between any individual
primitively denounce the Right from the start, let us Yes, the Chinese model and is no love, comradeship or must not engage with China African country and China. As
Chinese model primarily state the summarised factual activities have not and will charity involved. Just cash. as individual countries. No. just explained, SA and Nigeria
on behalf of their Western and empirical position, which not likely benefit Africa in the We are too small to unlock are not big enough to unlock
associates or because of their we can then demonstrate and future. If Africans are disorganised, any meaningful economic economic value in bilateral
terrible experiences with, and explain in the ensuing dis- do not put together a capable value as individual nations. deals with China.
or fears of, a disempowering cussion. The Chinese model Yes, African state capital- technocratic team selected We get short-changed.
and corrupt one-party state. has worked for China and the ism (efforts to replicate the on merit, they will be shafted Indeed, there are many
Chinese people. There is no Chinese model) has failed in by the Chinese. They do not Even South Africa, with good reasons why the Afri-
This disparaging and question about that. Africa. These are fair observa- think twice about taking 58.6 million people and a ca-China relationships have
disdainful African attitude is tions. However, one cannot advantage of an incompetent US$351 billion GDP, is too not benefited Africa. However,
exacerbated by the parasitic However, no African coun- judge the Chinese model by and desperate government. small to engage with Chi- these terrible African experi-
and self-serving nature of try has been able to replicate African failures to replicate it. When that happens, why do na meaningfully. The same ences cannot be transplanted
some of the current (and past) this model in its entirety There are good reasons why we blame the Chinese? applies to Nigeria, with its into a simplistic dictum that
Chinese business expeditions effectively. Hence, no African this decontextualised adop- population of 201 million and the Chinese model does not
in the continent. country has unlocked any of tion of the model has been We must blame our incorri- a GDP of US$448 billion. work. No.
the positive attributes that unsuccessful. gibly incompetent and corrupt
“The Beijing model is China has enjoyed. selves. We must engage with Chi- The Chinese model has
a non-starter. It leads to a More importantly, the Chi- na as one continental econom- worked exceptionally well for
corrupt one-party state. That Furthermore, Chinese nese relationship with Africa Even the so-called dona- ic bloc – the African Union China. Period. Whether it has
system is evil. In any case, business activities on the post-liberation has been, for tions from China to African (AU) and its AfCFTA (African helped Africa or will help Afri-
look at how the Chinese are the most part, parasitic and countries are not exactly Continental Free Trade Area).
short-changing us in business free. Each freebie is tied to a
deals on the continent.”
That is the African pon-
tificating in both ignorance
and despair, ad nauseum, ad
infinitum.
Most Africans who defend,
eulogise and embrace the Chi-
nese political and economic
system are usually unrepentant
despots with an insatiable
affinity for undemocratic
practices, the one-party state
system, misgovernance and
corruption.
They have an inordinate
lust for autocratic power and
unreservedly despise account-
ability, transparency and good
governance. In their wicked
and perverted minds, the
Chinese model would deliver
goodies to fulfil their self-in-
terests as political elites.
However, they do not
express their diabolic inten-
tions publicly. Instead, they
say: “Development is more
important than democracy.
Let us follow the Chinese way
and attain radical economic
transformation. We must pick
Page 34 Reframing Issues NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
ca is a different conversation. President Emmerson Mnangagwa with Chinese President Xi Jinping. and noisy unskilled activists.
Strengths of the Chinese Some African countries
model socialism and capitalism with tion. ponderance of highly technical committee (PSC) is the
The Chinese model (so- Chinese characteristics. They None of the African leaders expertise, in particular engi- supreme organ that consists of have never had an engineer in
cio-economic and political put a premium on Chinese neering. The following recent the Chinese Communist Par- cabinet.
system) is about leadership culture, values, history and who have tried to copy the Chinese presidents demon- ty’s top leadership. Historically
– visionary, strategic, tech- interests. Chinese model uncreatively strate this: Xi Jinping (chemi- it has been composed of five Why are we surprised when
nocratic and meritocratic have executed any of their cal engineer), Hu Jintao (civil to 11 members and, currently, our efforts to replicate the
leadership. It is driven by a According to the assertive colleagues for corruption. engineer) and Jiang Zemin it has seven members. Over Chinese model fail?
long-term shared national and overconfident Prof Zhang: In fact, they prosecute and (electrical engineer). the past three decades, on
vision, strategic thinking, stra- “Today’s Chinese system of incarcerate those who fight average, 80% of the PSC It is also important to note
tegic planning, effective imple- meritocracy makes it incon- against corruption. Surely, the A similar pattern is members have been engineers. that every 10 years, all the top
mentation, monitoring and ceivable that anyone as weak Chinese model cannot work observed with respect to leaders are changed without
evaluation. All this is anchored as George W. Bush or Donald in such a corruption-tolerant Chinese premiers: Wen Jiabao There you have it, Africans. exception in the Chinese
by a hard work ethic, national Trump could ever come close environment. (geo-mechanical engineer Technology-savvy leadership model. There is a new presi-
cohesion, profound self-be- to the position of top leader- - postgraduate), Zhu Rong matters. dent and a new premier every
lief, efficient use of national ship.” What a vicious but in- Let us say more about the (electrical engineer) and Li decade, without exception.
resources and zero tolerance to cisive put-down of the world’s calibre and pedigree of the Keqiang (lawyer and PhD in Our governments are dom-
corruption. leading democracy! Chinese leader. A brief review economics). inated by lawyers, political That is political renewal
of recent key Chinese leaders’ scientists, economists, business and rejuvenation on steroids,
Chinese values, history, tra- Indeed, the much-touted qualifications shows the pre- The politburo standing majors, historians, teachers achieved without popular
ditions and philosophy inform Western popular democracy democracy.
and inspire the model. The model has its own weakness-
socio-economic and political es. It has been described as Of course, African leaders
system is characterised by an “the least bad option”, which who eulogise the Chinese
unrelenting commitment to, allows for the exit of incompe- model do not like this aspect.
and effective deployment of, tent and content-free leaders For example, Robert Mugabe
high technology and advanced like Donald Trump and was in power for 37 years,
science as the drivers of George W. Bush. Neverthe- Kenneth Kaunda (27 years),
economic development and less, why does the system even Julius Nyerere (21 years) and
transformation. allow the ascendency of such Muammar Gaddafi (42 years).
ignoramuses and buffoons to
The Chinese have eagerly the presidency? Obviously, this lack of
and systematically embraced leadership renewal is part of
and leveraged the Fourth The Chinese are not the rationale why any efforts
Industrial Revolution. impressed by that flaw in the at duplicating the Chinese
Western model. model have been disastrous on
Some of the Chinese mod- the continent.
el’s strengths are ably articu- The Chinese system
lated by Zhang Weiwei – a embodies a meritocratic Of course, in 2018, the
Chinese international relations system of “the best of the best Chinese took a strategic
professor at Fudan University. options”, where leaders of the review of the two-term limits
He is also a senior research fel- highest expertise, capacity and (10-year renewal) to accom-
low at the Chunqiu Institute. calibre are chosen. The system modate their rapid growth
Professor Weiwei is the author combines the best option of ambitions and address their
of the book “The China Wave: selecting well-tested compe- geopolitical concerns through
Rise of a Civilisational State”. tent leaders and the least bad ensuring continuity and
option of ensuring the exit strong leadership.
He identifies merits and of incompetent and corrupt
flaws in the Chinese system ones. Again, this shows that
and contrasts the China model model is dynamic and can be
with its Western equivalents. In fact, corrupt leaders are changed by the Chinese in
He argues that although the shot! They are placed before pursuit of Chinese interests.
Chinese model is not perfect, a firing squad in the public It is not some dogmatic and
it is a strong alternative model glare, so that the anti-corrup- unchangeable disposition bor-
to Western ones and, more tion message is unequivocal rowed or imposed from some
significantly, it has delivered and ingrained in the popula- foreign land. They introduced
for the Chinese people. it and it served its purpose.
China’s economic ascen- Circumstances demand-
dancy has attracted global ed a different tactic, so they
attention, and many pundits changed the provision.
and scholars have focused on
the country’s economic aspects In future, depending on
of the model. their strategic interests and
prevailing challenges, they
However, equally important might re-introduce it. That
are the political aspects of the is the Chinese model, totally
model. Quietly, Beijing has es- controlled by the Chinese.
tablished a meritocratic system
called “selection and election” They do not have to please
where competent leaders are any prying and uninvited
selected on the basis of per- external players, such as the
formance and broad support United States. Their retort to
after a vigorous process that the Americans would be very
includes screening, opinion apt and crude:
surveys, internal evaluations
and elections. This process is “Mind your business. Our
anchored on the Confucian
tradition of meritocracy – a
Chinese philosophical frame-
work. Leaders are judged,
appraised, and chosen based
on their experience and com-
petence in poverty eradication,
job creation, local economic
growth, social development,
and, increasingly, environmen-
tal protection.
The Chinese model is
organised around the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP)
with its various structures
such as the National People’s
Congress, the Politburo of the
CCP, and CCP Advisory Pan-
els anchored in their Chinese
concepts of solidified consen-
sus, democratic supervision,
dynamic democratic central-
ism, continuous renewal and
rejuvenation.
All this is grounded in
NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 35
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
economy is performing better is emerging as the geostrategic and economic model, or any Three Gorges hydropower the short-term inconveniences model
than yours. If we withdraw investor and partner to the other model for that matter. plant with an installed capaci- for the long-term collective No doubt, the Chinese
our investments from your continent. ty of 22.5 gigawatt. This is the good, use of world-class tech- model has issues. Some of the
country, your economy will Indeed, the state is not the largest hydropower plant in nology. limitations of the model have
collapse! More importantly, we Furthermore, the decen- answer for everything. the world. Construction start- already been articulated. It is
will soon be overtaking you in tralised and delocalised pro- ed in 1994, and the project In 2020, China added intolerant of dissent. They will
terms of GDP anyway. Give duction and productivity has Similarly, the market has its was completed in 2012, after 71.6 gigawatt of wind power crush any threat perceived as
us a break!” benefited the southeast Asian limitations. a cost of US$32 billion. The generation capacity to reach existential for the “collective
economies, boosting regional Chinese put it together with- an installed (wind) capacity good”.
When you are successful, economic development. Africans must not be too out the IMF or World Bank. of 281 gigawatt. Both China’s
no one can patronise you. harsh and unscientific on installed (wind) capacity and They will execute corrupt
All these achievements are state capitalism in China. A In fact, the West tried to new (wind) capacity in 2020 officials by firing squad, which
Game recognises game. due to the successful Chinese damning indictment of the sabotage the construction. are the largest in the world by is not such a bad idea! In a cri-
Indeed, it is self-evident model. Even on Covid-19, Chinese model as a system is The Chinese prevailed, using a significant margin. sis, they unashamedly suspend
that the Chinese model is it is containing the pandem- problematic. domestic resources. There are any pretence to democratic
more about strategic leader- ic better than the Western lessons for us right there. This The second-placed compet- freedoms and rights as they
ship, rather than showmanship countries. Yes, given our failed experi- dam is an engineering marvel itor, the United States, added did during Tiananmen Square
and ability to raise campaign ments with the Chinese model with phenomenal socio-eco- 14 gigawatt in 2020 and has in 1989 and the Covid-19
finance, as exemplified by the China is the most active on the continent and our less nomic impact. It represents an installed (wind) capacity pandemic in 2019 and 2020.
United States. nation in vaccine research, than satisfactory economic the emphatic and distin- of 118 gigawatt. Indeed, re-
We must understand that development, and manufac- partnerships with them, we guished commitment by the newable energy is at the centre All these are the harsh but
China’s meritocratic gover- turing. It has produced no less can argue that China’s state Chinese to infrastructure. of China’s economic growth necessary manifestations of the
nance challenges the tradition- than five different vaccines. capitalism is not the answer strategy. model.
al dichotomy of “democracy for Africa. Indeed, infrastructure is
versus autocracy”. The content Chinese products developed the economy. The economy is In terms of total (non-re- In fact, some scholars have
or substance is as important as and manufactured by the However, we must un- infrastructure. newable and non-renewable) argued that if the Chinese
the form. Within the one-par- companies Sinopharm and equivocally accept that it installed capacity, the entire authorities had not decisively
ty state system, the Chinese Sinovac have proven to be has worked for them as the For comparison, Grand African continent is at a crushed the students at Tian-
have delivered good gover- safer and more efficacious than Chinese people. Inga Hydropower Project measly 168 gigawatt, whereas anmen Square in 1989, their
nance, competent leadership, vaccines produced by Western would be 40 gigawatt and China showcases a staggering system could have collapsed,
poverty eradication, and competitors. Sadly, in their naive and overtake Three Gorges as the 2 200 gigawatt. as did the Soviet Union in
shared economic prosperity. unsophisticated understanding largest in the world, Grand 1990. The Chinese authorities
Despite its many limita- If the preceding articulated of the state, some Africans Ethiopian Renaissance Hydro- In just one year, China had to silence the students
tions, including a democratic Chinese achievements are not do trash the Chinese model; power Plant, currently under was able to add wind power swiftly and brutally.
deficit and disrespect of hu- evidence of a successful politi- without any nuances or intelli- construction, is 6.35 gigawatt. generation capacity equiva-
man rights, the Chinese model cal and economic model, then gent thought. Also, Itaipu Hydropower Plant lent to 43% of Africa’s total In summary, the weaknesses
has produced the world’s success has no definition. in Brazil and Paraguay is 14 generation capacity. In 2021 of the Chinese model include
fastest-growing economy and Some folks implicitly dis- gigawatt installed capacity, an- alone, China will increase its conflation of the state and
has dramatically enhanced It becomes a meaningless pute the possibility of success- other Chinese plant – Xiluodu total installed capacity by 169 party, egregious and predatory
the quality of life for most notion. ful Chinese state capitalism in Hydropower Plant is 13.86 gigawatt, which is 100% of lending in Africa (advan-
Chinese people. China for China. This is un- gigawatt installed capacity, and our total installed capacity as tageous to the Chinese but
Successes of the Chinese One cannot think of any scientific. The Chinese model’s our own Kariba Hydropower Africans. detrimental to the Africans),
model other political and economic efficacy as a unique system for Plant has installed capacity of abuse of human rights, and
At this point, it is instructive model which would have de- the Chinese, benefiting the 1.626 gigawatt. Shame on us. disrespect for civil liberties and
to enumerate the successes livered these gains to China. Chinese, is beyond doubt. Clearly, infrastructure, in political rights.
of the Chinese model. Let us The Chinese model and Clearly, the Grand Inga particular energy, is a vital
walk through some of the sta- Let us give the devil his infrastructure Dam would be a game-chang- driver of the Chinese model. Oh yes, there are some
tistics that demonstrate how due. I have been to China about er in Africa. It will dramati- In terms of construction, objectionable matters with
the system has worked for the seven times, every time I am cally transform the socio-eco- this is the most visible display respect to the Chinese model
country. China has been able It is imperative to note that impressed as if it is my first nomic fortunes of the entire of China’s meteoric economic currently and historically.
to pull 800 million people out this is a model wholly owned time!! continent. development – the roads,
of poverty since 1978. They by the Chinese and inde- highways, railway systems, Obviously, the Chinese
ended abject poverty (US$2 pendently designed by them The mega-cities, extensive However, as Africans, we bridges, dams and brand new themselves will not dwell on
a day existence) in February while leveraging their own and massive finished and have been talking about the cities. that, save to say: “There are
2021. Their GDP is US$14.3 history, culture, values and in-progress infrastructure Grand Inga Dam for close to China used more concrete limitations of our model,
trillion, the second largest intellectual strengths. projects. It is all daunting. a century, ad infinitum and ad in the first 16 years of the 21st but we are working on them.
after United States (US$21.4 nauseam. No action. Are there century than the United States However, our system is suc-
trillion). It is not copied or im- Shanghai makes New York any lessons from the Chinese did in the entire 20th century. cessful most of the time!”
In fact, China is poised to posed from elsewhere. If we, look like the small town of model on how to get that Wow!
overtake the United States as as Africans, can design and Mutare! project off the ground? Indeed, this is industrial They are quite proud
the world’s biggest economy in develop a model, where 20% expansion on steroids. defenders of the system! How-
2027. In March 2021, experts of the above achievements are The Chinese model has Continental internal re- Thanks to the efficacious ever, that pride is not without
in the United States predict attained, we would have come enabled China to successfully source mobilisation, continen- Chinese model. ample justification or basis, in
that China will be the world’s of age. embark on, and complete tal economies of scale, leverage Limitations of the Chinese any case. It is an undisputed
artificial intelligence (AI) su- massive 10-year to 15-year a 1.3 billion people tax base, fact that their model delivers
perpower ahead of the United Yes, we can discuss the costs projects, whose individual unity and leadership, sacrifice economic prosperity for its cit-
States in AI innovations and of the Chinese successes or the impact on the economy is izens while propelling China
other 4th Industrial Revolu- sustainability of their model. staggering.
tion (4IR) technologies. Those are fair questions, but
China has produced global the same questions can be For example, consider the
business giants that appear in asked about the US political
and are slowly dominating,
the world’s top 10 lists by
any category, be it market
capitalisation, annual revenue
or profitability.
These companies include
Alibaba, Tencent, Sinopec
Group, State Grid, China
National Petroleum, and In-
dustrial and Commercial Bank
of China (ICBC).
Clearly, it is an undisputed
fact that the Chinese model
delivered and continues to
deliver economic prosperity
for its citizens while propelling
China towards unquestion-
able global dominance. From
a backward and struggling
nation right into the second
biggest economy globally, now
closing in to be the biggest
economy in the world.
That is a miracle.
A nuclear power with the
largest army in the world and
a thriving space programme.
China is also the number one
trading partner for Africa and
Page 36 Reframing Issues NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
towards unquestionable global ing caps on and design our tries to promote beneficiation Senegal). We must design and create the Chinese system lock, stock
dominance. own unique socio-economic in Africa. Their preference is With the scale, critical mass our own developmental mod- and barrel, that would not
Why Chinese model has not and political systems that for Africa to produce and sell els as united Africans from work because that model only
benefited Africa address our specific challenges raw materials to them while and consensus achieved in Cape to Cairo. works in a unique Chinese
The reasons why the Chinese in pursuit of our dreams and selling refined and value-add- these clusters, value-addition cultural and historical context.
model has not improved aspirations. ed goods to Africa. and beneficiation will be com- We must radically rethink
Africa fortunes have been mercially viable on the African and proactively reorganise our Fresh thinking is required,
articulated throughout this Evidently, there are lessons We are on our own on this continent. In fact, we will geostrategic partnership with even in nomenclature. The
treatise. It is, however, prudent from the Chinese success industrialisation agenda. then control prices of these China. The lessons we pick up naming of our own models
to summarise them here. story. More importantly, we commodities, while moving from other countries’ models must not make any reference
must learn from ourselves – The raw material critical up the value chain. must be linked to our own to capitalism or socialism.
First and foremost, there our history, culture, values, mass required for beneficiation novel ideas and ingenious stra-
is a failure to understand that pre-colonial legal systems, and is achievable only if we work Thus, we can achieve indus- tegic frameworks, the result of Surely, we can also create
the model has both political indigenous knowledge sys- in regional value-addition trialisation with or without which we then apply within new, untainted names. Of
and economic aspects, not just tems. Furthermore, Africans industrial clusters and engage the blessing or involvement the African context. course, the content of our
political ones like the one-par- must seek to involve more China through these. of China or the wealthy African developmental models
ty state. In Africa, we have of their scientists, mathema- Western countries. If they so Whatever we produce as a will be the critical matter.
focused on the political only. ticians, computer scientists For example, we can define desire, they will participate in political and economic model
and engineers in political and a diamond cluster (Zimba- beneficiation on the continent must have unique “African More importantly, exe-
Secondly, even with the economic leadership; strategic bwe, South Africa, Botswana, on our terms. That is what we characteristics”, to paraphrase cution, execution and more
political, we have been copy- thinking and planning; and Angola and the Democratic want. a Chinese concept. execution – the African must
ing the problematic bits only. public policy formulation and Republic of the Congo, a Conclusion study, master and practise the
Most of the African coun- implementation. platinum cluster (Zimbabwe When all is said and done, we Imagining that there is doctrine of implementation
tries have selfishly sought to and South Africa), a cocoa should be our own economic an ideal system out there for science.
adopt its worst aspects – the More significantly, we must cluster (Ghana, Ivory Coast emancipators. us just to copy and paste is
one-party state, human rights embrace the 4IR and put high and Guinea), and a petroleum delusional. Copying and pasting will
violation, state control of the technology and advanced cluster (Nigeria, Algeria and not cut it.
economy and intolerance to science at the centre of our Even if we were to adopt
dissent. models. Our work is cut out for us.
J&oPianythe Fidelity way.
They ignored the mod- We ought to understand member of
el’s enabling tenets such as that scale – a population of You can join the Fidelity Life family, wherever you are
meritocracy, systematic and 1.4 billion people, a GDP of by signing up for a funeral policy on WhatsApp. You
structured leadership renewal, US$14.3 trillion and a vast can also pay for your policy on the platform.
such as the 10-year renewal resource base – is a key driver
provision where the entire of the Chinese model. At Fidelity our aim is to make your life easy and
top leadership is replaced by convenient.
new faces, particularly the Hence, as we work on our
president and the premier. national models, a key and Save and WhatsApp
We have neglected efficacious common component should “Hi” to +18 639 008 090 to start chatting.
economic modelling and the be regional and continental
anti-corruption thrust – where integration leading to the Harare Office
corrupt officials are summarily United States of Africa – one Fidelity House | 66 Julius Nyerere Way
shot! I guess we did not find country with a population of +263 24 2 750 927 - 37
it desirable nor convenient to 1.3 billion people, an exten-
place ourselves before a firing sive resource base and a collec-
squad! tive GDP of US$2.5 trillion.
Replication of the Chinese Only then can we unlock
model on the continent has the kind of massive achieve-
miserably failed. ments that the Chinese have
enjoyed.
As already discussed, China
is the number one trading With respect to our trade
partner to Africa, but the and business partnerships with
relationship has been largely China, we must be proactive
detrimental to Africa. How instead of reactive. We must
do the Chinese compare with not merely respond or react
the West when it comes to the to China’s ambitions. Africa
continent? must have its own strategy
towards China, independently
Of course, we have already crafted by Africans, driven
described the arrangement as by what we want, and not
parasitic and self-serving on unduly influenced by Chinese
the part of the Chinese. The aspirations.
only difference with the West
is in form and not impact. As already explained, we
must not engage with China
In some ways, the Chinese as individual countries but
are worse because they posture as one continental economic
as our historical friends, com- bloc through the AU for now
rades in arms, fellow victims and the United States of Africa
of imperialism, and then they in the future.
shaft us at the first opportu-
nity! There should be no bilateral
Way forward: The case for deals between any individual
an African developmental African country and China.
model
Indeed, the Chinese political Not a single one!
and economic model has Only when operating as one
worked for China and not united political and economic
benefitted Africa. The answer entity can Africa unlock eco-
for the continent and its nomic value from commercial
countries is not to copy the relationships with China.
Chinese, Western, Scandina- We can trade and partner
vian or Singaporean political better with them, leverage
and economic systems. their lessons more effectively,
and prosper together with
We must create our own them, if we engage them as
models. Yes, we must learn one united continent, not
from everyone; China, the fragmented, non-viable and
West, Scandinavia, India, dysfunctional states.
Singapore and many other Competent and techno-
countries. As Africans, we cratic African teams must be
must digest and grasp the gist established to engage with the
and import of the Chinese Chinese investors to avoid
model. The system’s strengths, predatory lending and egre-
ingredients and drivers as gious deals.
articulated in this treatise must In terms of our raw materi-
constitute a source of inspi- als, we must insist on benefi-
ration to us as we fashion our ciation and value addition on
own models in our different the continent. No raw min-
African countries. erals must leave the continent
for China. Not an ounce!
We ought to put our think- We must understand that
it is not in China’s interest or
that of wealthy Western coun-
NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 37
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Power shift Mukuntu Kiyana, who was
in the DRC retained as auditor-general of
cracks open a the Supreme Military Court,
door to reform stands accused of failing to
apprehend senior officials
A shift in the balance of power within implicated in the killing of
the National Assembly enhances the two United Nations officials
influence of President Felix Tshisekedi investigating human rights
and represents a step toward long-delayed abuses in Kasai in 2017.
democratic reforms.
In July 2020, the Senate
A GLIMMER of hope something that could change Fayulu’s Lamuka coalition armed groups. The instabil- DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and National Assembly
emerged in the Democratic now that reformers appear to held the remaining 90. In ity in the DRC has resulted Speakers, the FCC Coordi-
Republic of the Congo’s be increasing their numbers the Senate, the FCC claimed in the forced displacement of inertia. If the arithmetic nator, and former National
(DRC) barren political land- in the National Assembly. 99 of 109 seats, compared to over 6.5 million Congolese, continues to swing his way, Assembly Speaker Jeanine
scape in December 2020 Tshisekedi’s three. FCC also making it the largest source Tshisekedi could secure a Mabunda blocked President
when the National Assembly Until the anticipated secured a landslide in the of internally displaced per- new mandate to lead a com- Tshisekedi’s three nominees
voted to remove its Speaker, changes materialise, how- provincial assembly polls, sons and refugees in Africa. prehensive effort to reform to the Constitutional Court.
a longtime ally to former ever, the FCC continues to bagging 16 of 24 provinces. While Congo’s repressive Congo’s long-neglected They were eventually sworn
president Joseph Kabila, control 42 ministers in the These results were widely climate has eased signifi- institutions. Efforts toward in by Parliament in October,
Jeanine Mabunda. 65-member cabinet and seen as dubious given FCC’s cantly since Tshisekedi took this end have begun with the after the CACH coalition
holds the key portfolios of failure to secure even 20% office, a cohesive effort to DRC’s corruption-plagued garnered the numbers to
The move was significant finance, defence, mines, and of the presidential vote as address its complicated and fragmented security secure their confirmations.
because, despite being out justice. shown in the CENCO and conflicts and craft a more services. In 2020, This marked yet another
of office since January 2019, leaked CENI tallies. Tsh- democratic, inclusive, and incremental step in Tshise-
Kabila has continued to All 27 judges on the isekedi’s power-sharing deal accountable political system Tshisekedi removed kedi’s struggle to free himself
wield the levers of influence Supreme Court are Kabila with Kabila has been seen remains elusive. The FCC’s former director of national from Kabila’s grip on power,
in the DRC’s patronage-lad- appointees and many of the as a betrayal of his party’s stranglehold on Parliament intelligence Kalev Mutond, with the two men now
en political system through country’s lower courts are supporters, the promise of has frustrated him at every head of its internal security counting four judges on the
his control of key govern- controlled by Kabila allies. reform, and the legacy of turn. Both houses shot down department Roger Kibelisa, Court likely to back them.
ment bodies. his late father, Etienne, who his proposals to reform the former army chief General The FCC, however, retains
This lopsided arrangement is revered as the “father” of mining industry, control John Numbi, and General full control of CENI follow-
The unseating of the lies in the murky pow- the Congolese democratic systemic corruption, combat Gaston Ilunga Kampete, the ing the appointment in July
Speaker from the lower er-sharing deal crafted be- movement. human rights abuses, and former Republican Guard 2020 of Ronsard Mulonda,
house of Parliament followed tween Kabila and Tshisekedi Tshisekedi, therefore, has gain better control of state commander. They have all a Kabila loyalist, as its new
months of consultations during a delay in announc- faced intense pressure from revenues. They also rejected been sanctioned for human head.
among President Felix ing the election results. within his party to shift his plans to appoint new rights violations and abuse
Tshisekedi’s alliance partners, the balance of power. For boards to state-owned enter- of office. Made by the National
fellow opposition deputies, Their unlikely alliance months, he has sought new prises and kept the security Assembly, the CENI ap-
and receptive lawmakers converged around short- alliances by reaching out to dockets firmly in Kabila’s Tshisekedi has also made pointment triggered massive
from Kabila’s Common term interests: Tshisekedi “the broader opposition and hands. numerous promotions and protests across the country
Front for Congo (FCC), wanted the presidency, and re-assignments. However, that left five people dead and
suggesting that a path to Kabila wanted influence reformist elements of the Kabila loy- Kabila loyalists remain injured hundreds. The Lay
reform is possible. after stepping down. While FCC. Through the oust- alists remain entrenched in the police Coordination Committee
the polls brought the oppo- er of the speaker, and the and intelligence services of the influential Catholic
The replacement, in sition into office, marking appointment of a new prime whose patterns of abuse Church, which spearheaded
February 2021, of powerful Congo’s first post-indepen- minister, these efforts are remain unchanged. All told, and co-ordinated nearly 18
executive Prime Minster dence peaceful transfer of beginning to yield results. entrenched in far-reaching reforms are a months of nationwide pro-
Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, power, they were tainted long way off and will depend tests against Kabila’s failure
from Kabila’s FCC, with by fraud and backroom Why this shift matters the police and on the extent to which the to leave office, has channeled
Sama Lukonde Kyenge, deal-making. The DRC has seen a pro- intelligence balance of power, especially some of this anger. It has
a key ally of Tshisekedi, liferation of armed groups whose patterns in Parliament, unfolds. stepped in to mobilise other
marks an additional shift in Leaked results from the emerge during Kabila’s ten- of abuse remain structures of civil society to
the balance of power that Independent Electoral Com- ure. These represent a host unchanged. Similar dynamics are at “depoliticise CENI.” The
could bring about a more mission (CENI), corroborat- of causes from fighting gov- play in the judiciary. In Feb- marches it led against Mu-
loyal cabinet to advance his ed by an independent tally ernment predation, ethnic The recent parliamentary ruary 2020, six senior law londa’s appointment, which
reform agenda. by the Congolese Catholic rivalries, regional autonomy, shifts and new prime minis- officials were brought in to were attended by thousands
Bishops Conference (CEN- and terrorism. The epicentre ter are particularly significant fill top court positions and of demonstrators, under-
Tshisekedi’s stature has CO), showed that the real of this fighting is in the Ituri considering this institutional serve on the judiciary’s gov- score the ongoing pressure
been boosted further by his winner was Tshisekedi’s and South Kivu regions, erning council. However, the on Tshisekedi.
appointment as chairperson fellow opposition candidate, involving more than 140 appointments are finely bal-
of the African Union, a role Martin Fayulu. anced between Kabila and If Tshisekedi fails to
that will see him steering the Tshisekedi loyalists, reflect- continue reconfiguring
continental body’s agenda in He garnered 47%, with ing the fierce power struggle Parliament and using his
2021. Tshisekedi coming in second between them. General new appointments to push
at 24%. Kabila’s preferred forward with his promised
Many Congolese view successor, Emmanuel reforms, his reputation could
Tshisekedi’s growing influ- Ramazani Shadary, garnered be damaged further. His
ence as a hopeful sign for only 19%. supporters also expect him
advancing Congo’s democra- to find common ground
tisation process. He has been Kabila’s seeming setback with fellow oppositionists,
in a tenuous position since in losing the presidency including Fayulu’s Lamuka
winning the controversial was balanced by the FCC bloc, without which a solid
general election of Decem- alliance gaining near-total parliamentary majority that
ber 2018. control of Congo’s bicam- is faithful to democratic
eral legislature, implausi- principles and not merely
His coalition, Course bly claiming 350 of the a game of political control
for Change (CACH), has 500 seats in the National cannot be secured.
been minority partner in all Assembly compared to Priority reforms
branches of government, Tshisekedi’s CACH alliance, “While a working parlia-
which won just 49, while mentary majority will be
vital, the methods of achiev-
ing it should demonstrate
fidelity to constitutional
principles and a commit-
ment to democracy.”
Tshisekedi came into
office with a five-year plan
focusing on 13 strategic
Page 38 Reframing Issues NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
reform pillars, from justice The DRC National Assembly. of the executive, judiciary, opposition between Tshise- on the other, has further It also created guardrails
and rule of law to anti-cor- and legislature have under- kedi on one side, and Fayulu undermined the reform to ensure the independence
ruption, professionalisation movement and a working mined both. Furthermore, and another veteran opposi- programme. To build on the of the three branches.
of the civil service, strength- parliamentary majority. the three-way split of the tion leader, Moise Katumbi, momentum from the shift in
ening institutional checks The formidable obstacles the National Assembly and Kabila weakened these
and balances, and security created by the FCC’s control appointment of a new prime provisions by coopting op-
sector reform. Developed minister, the CACH coali- ponents, bribing lawmakers
through wide-ranging con- tion will need to reconcile to defect, and issuing exec-
sultations with Congolese with Fayulu and the larger utive orders. Bit by bit, he
professionals at home and in opposition bloc. Moreover, increased his parliamentary
the diaspora, independent while a working parliamen- numbers from 94 in 2006 to
African experts, and civil tary majority will be vital, 341 in 2017. To get around
society and opposition ac- the methods of achieving it the difficulty of changing the
tivists, this programme seeks should demonstrate fidelity Constitution (which requires
to lay a foundation to build to constitutional princi- two-thirds majorities in both
“a proud, democratic, and ples and a commitment to chambers, as well as in pro-
unified society” in the Con- democracy. A mere game of vincial assemblies), he simply
go by the end of the current numbers and Machiavellian ignored it, as shown by his
presidential term in 2023. scheming run the risk of refusal to organise elections
“We will be making a clean casting Tshisekedi in the when his term ended in
break with everything that same light as Kabila, who 2016. Those same provisions
happened before I came to employed manipulative that Kabila spent his entire
power,” Tshisekedi promised tactics to coopt opponents, presidency dismantling —
in April 2019. weaken checks and balances, especially those granting ex-
and gain undue influence tensive powers to Parliament
This ambitious plan was over the branches of govern- — are ironically benefiting
premised on two require- ment. him now. That may well be
ments that remain elusive: coming to an end given the
unity within the broader “While a ongoing realignments in
Congolese democratic Thisekedi’s favour.
working parlia- Conclusion
mentary major- Tshisekedi is seen as the
ity will be vital, inheritor of Congolese
the methods democratic aspirations
of achieving it spearheaded by his father
should demon- who founded the DRC’s
strate fidelity to oldest opposition party, the
constitutional UDPS, and led it against
principles and a the kleptocratic govern-
commitment to ments of Mobutu Sese Seko,
democracy. Laurent Kabila and his son
Joseph. Tshisekedi invoked
Parliament’s role as a this legacy in 2018 when
centre of gravity in Congo- he responded to questions
lese politics flows from the regarding his inexperience
2003 Sun City Agreement by saying, “It is true, I don’t
that ended the Second have experience in bad
Congo War. It created a governance and pillaging
political system that checks my country, but I have
the presidency with a strong experience respecting human
and independent legislature rights and civil liberties.”
as a remedy for the abuse
of executive power that had While many believe that
bedeviled the Congo since his deal with Kabila un-
independence. dermined these democratic
credentials, the ongoing
shifts in the balance of
power provide him an
opportunity to reboot, reach
out to opposition colleagues,
and advance his reform
agenda, something that has
been blocked by Kabila’s grip
on the country’s key insti-
tutions. While the reform
movement would be in a
stronger position had the
opposition alliance resisted
overtures by Kabila, it is now
able to regain some of this
momentum.
It is important to remem-
ber that large majorities
of citizens have voted for
opposition candidates at
both the presidential and
legislative levels. This means
there is strong popular
backing for reform. This
popular support will need to
be continually harnessed to
keep up political pressure for
change. By doing so, reform-
ers may be able to finally put
the DRC on its long-delayed
democratic trajectory.
—Africa Centre for
Strategic Studies
NewsHawks Opinion Page 39
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Chilonga community deserves justice
LAST week, on 16 March, as what was to be achieved is not divorced from broad- recent past. ulates the absence of security land for the purported ir-
the government of Zimbabwe under SI 50. The end game er trends of displacement this This is emerging as a pattern of tenure on communal land rigation purposes.
published Statutory Instru- being eviction of the people country has witnessed in the holding despite communal • That the government of
ment (SI) 72A of 2021 (Com- of Chilonga from the targeted where the government manip- land being ancestral land to Zimbabwe start a process
munal Land (Setting Aside piece of land. many of Zimbabwe’s commu- to review communal land
of Land)(Chiredzi) Notice, nities. holding laws, including a
2021), which repealed SI 50 of The government’s conduct wholesale revision of the
2021. violates sections 56, 68 and 74 The Communal Land Act, Communal Land Act, to
of the constitution on equal as it is currently structured, align it to the constitu-
Gazetted on the 26 Feb- protection and benefit of the is potentially in violation of tion, and to give owner-
ruary, SI 50 of 2021 had set law, administrative justice, the constitution insofar as the ship rights and security
aside 12 940 hectares of land and protection from evictions President and the minister re- of tenure to dwellers of
in Chiredzi for what was orig- without a court order. sponsible for the administra- communal land. The
inally said to be a lucerne grass tion of the Act are given certain Communal Land Act was
farming venture. The SI re- It remains unclear why the powers to alienate land from its passed in 1982, and needs
quired residents to vacate the people of Chilonga have been traditional occupiers and right significant reform to speak
land immediately. targeted when there is other holders. to the needs of today.
vacant land that could be des- As civil society, we will con-
Days later, on 9 March, SI ignated for such a project. As Given the above, we make tinue to engage with the af-
63A of 2021 was published to far as we are aware, the people the following demands: fected communities and with
correct certain mistakes that of Chilonga were not consult- • That the government of the government to ensure that
were in SI 50 of 2021. ed and did not provide free unjust displacements, evic-
and informed consent for the Zimbabwe immediately tions and illegal divesting of
The new SI 72A of 2021, mooted project to continue on and permanently with- land rights are halted, in the
maintains the original intent, their land. draw SI 51 of 2021; and Chilonga community specifi-
with the land now said to be set • That the government of cally, and in all communal land
aside for an irrigation scheme. Any eviction of the people Zimbabwe amend S1 72A nationally. —Civic Groups.
What has changed is the re- of Chilonga from this land of 2021 by removing the
moval of the clause requiring which they call home violates clause which continues
the immediate vacation of the section 74 of the constitution, to set aside the Chilonga
land by residents. which requires that there be a
court order for one to be evict-
As a result, there were some ed from their home.
celebratory statements in the
aftermath of SI 72A of 2021, The constitution is the su-
celebrating what was seen to be preme law of the land, and oc-
a people’s victory following the cupies pride of place above all
widespread pushback mounted other laws.
against the government’s con-
duct. Invoking constitutional-
ly questionable clauses of the
However, we note that those Communal Land Act does not
celebrations were premature, override constitutional stipula-
and in many ways ill-con- tions.
ceived.
Equally offensive is that
When the government ga- while the government proposes
zetted SI 50 of 2021, simulta- to have set aside the commu-
neously SI 51 of 2021 was ga- nal land to be state land, the
zetted. SI 51 of 2021 changed authorities have proceeded to
designation of the same piece invoke the Communal Land
of land from being communal Act to set aside the same piece
land to being State land. SI 51 of land for an irrigation project
of 2021 has not been repealed. – when SI 51 of 2021 has in ef-
fect transformed the land from
The effect of this is obvious: being communal land.
the land on which the people
of Chilonga live has been tak- The Communal Land Act
en away from them, and is now is no longer applicable to this
State land. That same piece of piece of land.
land remains targeted and set
aside under the new SI 72A This reveals the extent to
for the purported irrigation which the government is des-
project. perately dabbling in illegalities
in the manner it is approach-
What this means is that the ing this issue.
people of Chilonga have been
divested of their rights to the Finally, we take note that
land, and the land has been the government’s conduct in
transferred to the state. Accord- the specific case of Chilonga
ingly, the people of Chilonga
remain at risk of eviction and
the land becomes open for in-
vestment purposes for the pur-
ported irrigation scheme for
which it was set aside.
The repeal of SI 50 of 2021
has no meaningful effect, and
is at best government’s attempt
to mislead the nation into be-
lieving that it has retreated
from its offensive strategy.
We are aware that a number
of civil society organisations
had challenged the govern-
ment’s plans.
Those cases are currently
falling away on the basis that
government has now with-
drawn SI 50 of 2021, yet in ac-
tual fact, the intent and effect
of SI 51 as read together with
the new SI 72A, is the same
Page 40 World News NewsHawks
How China Issue 23, 26 March 2021
is replacing
America as an arsenal of high technology
Asia’s military weapons; millions of soldiers
titan were demobilized. But cor-
ruption became endemic.
IN 1938, in the midst of a largest fighting force. At the China and the United States China’s Ministry of Na- is boosting defense spend-
long campaign to bring Chi- core of this vision of nation- in these waters would be de- tional Defense, the U.S. In- ing, rebuilding its navy and Xi’s two predecessors, Ji-
na under Communist Party al renewal is a loyal, corrup- structive and bloody, particu- do-Pacific Command and the urgently developing new ang Zemin and Hu Jintao,
rule, revolutionary leader tion-free military that Xi de- larly a clash over Taiwan, ac- Pentagon did not respond to weapons, particularly longer were civilians who took office
Mao Zedong wrote: “Who- mands must be prepared to cording to serving and retired questions for this article or range conventional missiles. without a network of support
ever has an army has power.” fight and win. senior American officers. And detailed summaries of its It is expanding military ties among PLA brass. They fos-
despite decades of unrivaled findings. with other regional powers, tered loyalty through patron-
Xi Jinping, Mao’s latest His push to project power power since the end of the including Japan, South Ko- age, pay rises and budget in-
successor, has taken that dic- abroad was accompanied by Cold War, there would be This account of Xi and rea, Taiwan, Australia, Sin- creases, according to Chinese
tum to heart. a power play at home. Xi has no guarantee America would the PLA - which despite the gapore and India. And it’s and Taiwanese analysts and
purged more than 100 gener- prevail. “army” in its name comprises conducting an international retired officers. Under the
He has donned camouflage als accused of corruption or all military branches - is based diplomatic and intelligence weak leadership of Hu in par-
fatigues, installed himself disloyalty, according to the “The US could lose,” said on interviews with 17 cur- campaign to counter Chi- ticular, they say, senior offi-
as commander-in-chief and official state-controlled me- Gary Roughead, co-chair rent and former military offi- na’s cyber-attacks, tradi- cers exploited their positions
taken control of the two mil- dia. of a bipartisan review of the cers from China, the United tional espionage and intel- to siphon off money, partic-
lion-strong Chinese military, Trump administration’s de- States, Taiwan and Australia. lectual property theft. This ularly from the logistic and
the People’s Liberation Army. A raw demonstration of fense strategy published in Many would only speak on campaign includes efforts to equipment budgets. Rank
It is the biggest overhaul of his authority came when November. “We really are at condition of anonymity. It contain the global reach of buying became rampant.
the PLA since Mao led it to state television broadcast a a significant inflection point draws on the accounts of Chi- Chinese telecom companies
victory in the nation’s civil laudatory documentary se- in history.” nese officials and people with Huawei and ZTE Corp. The military hierarchy Xi
war and founded the People’s ries about the PLA, “Strong ties to the senior leadership The confrontation comes inherited had become a law
Republic in 1949. Military.” In one scene in the Roughead is no armchair in Beijing who have known as the administration of unto itself under Hu, accord-
2017 series, an elderly man theorist: A retired admiral, as Xi Jinping and his family for President Donald Trump ing to Li Nan, a scholar of
Xi has accelerated the sits in a military court at a former Chief of Naval Oper- decades and are familiar with is waging a tariff war aimed the Chinese military at the
PLA’s shift to naval pow- desk marked “defendant,” ations he held the top job in his career as he rose through at reducing China’s massive National University of Singa-
er from a traditionally land- looking frail in a navy-blue the US Navy until 2011. His the party and government trade surplus with the United pore. “It was out of control,
based force. He has broken civilian jacket. It is Guo Box- alarm reflects a growing view bureaucracy. It also relies on States. in a sense,” said Li. “Now the
up its vast, Maoist-era mil- iong, a former general and across the American defense Chinese government publica- power is centralized in the
itary bureaucracy. A new the most senior officer con- establishment. In their re- tions describing Xi’s political However the trade conflict hands of Xi Jinping.”
chain of command leads di- victed in Xi’s purge. He reads port, he and his colleagues thinking, his speeches and is resolved, a graver risk is the
rectly to Xi as chairman of his confession to charges of issued a dire warning. The official documentaries show- possibility that the deeper Xi, a so-called princeling,
the Central Military Com- bribery from a sheaf of papers United States faces a “nation- casing his leadership of the tensions could boil over into grew up as a member of
mission, China’s top military gripped in both hands. al security crisis,” principally military. an armed clash between Bei- China’s Communist Party
decision-making body. Op- arising from growing Chinese Xi rises through the ranks jing and Washington and its aristocracy, even though his
erational leadership of naval, “The Central Military and Russian military power. In Washington, the world’s allies in the hotly contested family suffered separation
missile, air, ground and cy- Commission dealt with my “US military superiority is no pre-eminent military pow- maritime zones off the Chi- and persecution in Mao’s
ber forces has been separat- case completely correctly,” longer assured and the impli- er is mobilising to respond. nese coast. chaotic Cultural Revolution.
ed from administration and says Guo, who had once cations for American interests After decades of seeking en- His late father, Xi Zhongxun,
training - a structure that served as vice-chairman of and American security are se- gagement in the expectation The rise of the PLA is not was a revolutionary military
Chinese and Western defense the body. “I must confess my vere,” the panel concluded. that Beijing would become a all Xi’s doing. Long before leader who became a top gov-
analysts say borrows from guilt and take responsibility cooperative partner in world he took power, the military ernment official in the early
U.S. military organization. for it.” Guo was sentenced to It is clear that Xi wants to affairs, the United States is had been transformed from years of Communist rule. He
life in prison. bring the era of U.S. domi- treating China as a strate- the massive but rudimentary was later purged in Mao’s
The Chinese leader is not nance in Asia to an end. “In gic competitor bent on dis- land force that swept Mao upheavals, before emerging a
just revolutionizing the PLA. In a series of stories, Re- the final analysis, it is for the placing it as Asia’s dominant and his comrades, including key leader of China’s market
Xi is making a series of moves uters is exploring how the people of Asia to run the af- force. Xi’s father, to victory over the reforms in the 1980s.
that are transforming both rapid and disruptive advance fairs of Asia, solve the prob- Nationalists in 1949.
China and the global order. of Chinese hard power on Xi lems of Asia and uphold the Largely in reaction to Xi’s dramatic accumula-
He has abandoned reform Jinping’s watch has ended the security of Asia,” he said in a this challenge, Washington Decades of steep increases tion of power was unexpect-
architect Deng Xiaoping’s era of unquestioned US su- 2014 speech to foreign lead- in defense spending paid for ed. He took a low profile as
injunction that China should premacy in Asia. In just over ers on regional security. he slowly worked his way up
hide its strength and bide its two decades, China has built a the Communist Party and
time. The waiting game is force of conventional missiles state bureaucracy, according
over. Xi’s speeches are pep- that rival or outperform those to multiple Chinese familiar
pered with references to his in the US armory. China’s with his early career.
“Chinese dream,” where an shipyards have spawned the
ancient nation recovers from world’s biggest navy, which His first job out of univer-
the humiliation of foreign in- now rules the waves in East sity in 1979 was serving in a
vasion and retakes its rightful Asia. Beijing can now launch junior post as a uniformed
place as the dominant power nuclear-armed missiles from aide to General Geng Biao,
in Asia. an operational fleet of ballis- then minister of defense. Xi’s
tic missile submarines, giving official biography records this
The effort includes signa- it a powerful second-strike three-year posting as “active
ture shows of soft power: Xi’s capability. And the PLA is duty.” In this role, he had
multibillion-dollar “Belt and fortifying posts across vast access to classified military
Road” program to build a expanses of the South China documents, including files on
global trade and infrastruc- Sea, while stepping up prepa- the 1979 Chinese invasion of
ture network with China at rations to recover Taiwan, by Vietnam, according to sourc-
its center, and his “Made in force if necessary. es with ties to the leadership.
China 2025” plan to turn He had to memorize hun-
the country into a high-tech For the first time since Por- dreds of telephone numbers
manufacturing giant. tuguese traders reached the and was not allowed to rely
Chinese coast five centuries on a telephone book, in case
But the boldest stroke is ago, China has the military it was lost or stolen, they said.
his expansion of China’s hard power to dominate the seas
power, through his remak- off its coast. Conflict between He then began a series of
ing of the PLA, the world’s provincial government and
party postings. In these roles,
his performance was relative-
ly unremarkable.
As governor of the south-
eastern Province of Fujian,
for instance, he was obsessed
with the bureaucratic routine
of political study sessions
where officials review Com-
munist Party documents and
speeches of senior leaders, ac-
cording to people who knew
him at the time.
...To next page
NewsHawks World News Page 41
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
RISING cases of coronavirus Covid third wave may overrun
in Africa threaten to overrun Africa’s healthcare, warns WHO
fragile healthcare systems and
test the continent’s much-tout- Patients receive oxygen outside hospita in Yaba, Lagos. detrimental to health services
ed resilience to the disease, ac- delivery amidst the pandemic.
cording to the World Health ported cases with 14 000 cas- last one year,” Kenya’s health others to die to get a bed,” he ed the health workforce in the This month has recorded an
Organisation’s regional office es reported this month alone. ministry tweeted, amid re- tweeted. African region. Since the be- increase in healthcare workers’
for the continent. More than 2 000 Kenyans ports that all the country’s ginning of the pandemic, 267 infection, there are currently
have died from the disease intensive-care unit beds had The WHO said there were health worker infections have 10 doctors admitted in vari-
The global health body stat- since March 2020. been filled by Covid-19 pa- inadequate facilities for testing been recorded on average ev- ous facilities across the coun-
ed that infections were on the tients and doctors had fallen and isolation and that health- ery day, translating to 11 new try and this indicates the need
rise in at least 12 countries in The government and medi- ill with the virus themselves. care workers were now bearing health worker infections per for extra precaution by mem-
Africa including Cameroon, cal personnel have now sound- the brunt of the pandemic hour,” the WHO. bers of the public,” it said in a
Ethiopia, Kenya and Guinea. ed alarm bells, warning Ken- Alfred Mutua, governor through “work overload, poor statement.
yans of a tough time ahead. of Machakos county, said all infection prevention and con- The Kenya Medical Practi-
Across the continent, doc- “We are in the third wave of ICU and high-dependency trol measures”. Healthcare tioners, Pharmacists and Den- The situation was exacerbat-
tors, nurses and other health- this virus, and it’s a wave that unit beds as well as all oxygen worker infections account for tists Union urged citizens to be ed by some healthcare work-
care workers are stretched to threatens to erase all the gains points in his area were at full 3.5% of the total number of cautious when visiting medical ers’ reluctance to be vaccinat-
the limit as the total cumula- we have made as a country in capacity with Covid-19 pa- Covid-19 cases in Africa. facilities. “The acute shortage ed in what the KMPDU said
tive number of infections this fighting the pandemic over the tients. “People are waiting for of doctors across the country is was a lack of “sensitisation and
week rose above 4.1m, with “Covid-19 has heavily jolt- awareness” among staff.
more than 110 000 fatalities,
a sharp rise on the 2.7m in- In neighbouring Tanzania,
fections recorded at the end of where the WHO last month
December. South Africa leads called the situation “very con-
with more than 1.5m reported cerning”, the government has
cases and more than 52,000 yet to report on Covid-19
deaths. situation, with analysts hop-
ing the new president, Samia
The WHO said only 7 mil- Suluhu Hassan, will now step
lion people had now been vac- up action. The former pres-
cinated in a continent of more ident, John Magufuli, died
than a billion people. this month and had repeatedly
trivialised the threat from the
The second wave of disease, instead promoting
Covid-19, which began to- prayer and herbs as a cure.
wards the end of 2020, hit
African countries more aggres- There was much specula-
sively, with a 30% rise in infec- tion that Magufuli had con-
tions compared with the first tracted the disease when he
wave. However, fewer public disappeared from public view.
health measures were imple-
mented than in the first wave, Tanzania has lost several
according to a study this week prominent people to Covid,
in the Lancet medical journal. including Seif Sharif Hamad,
first vice-president of Zanzi-
By the end of 2020, the bar, in February. He had earli-
continent had recorded 3-4% er disclosed that he had tested
of the global total of Covid-19 positive for Covid-19.
cases – and more than 65,000
deaths. But some scientists —The Guardian.
now worry that a significant
underestimate of the true pic-
ture could distort the detec-
tion of new variants.
In Kenya, positivity rates
are up to at least 20% and the
country has some 123 000 re-
How China is replacing America as Asia’s military titan
...From previous page the top of the party, govern- said Li from the National Chinese and Western ob- rades since the 1949 Com- senior officers, according
And he was far from ment and military. University of Singapore. Xi servers of the PLA. Others munist victory. In the most to Chinese and Western
universally popular. He fin- replaced them with 15 new hail from his home prov- recent of these displays, Xi analysts. Qin had worked
ished last in elections for “When I talk to my agencies that report direct- ince of Shaanxi or are fel- has taken the salute from closely with the Chinese
alternate members of the mainland friends, they all ly to the Central Military low princelings. the troops without sharing leader in a top post in the
party’s 200-strong Cen- say he is a risk taker,” said Commission he chairs. the podium with the usual Central Military Commis-
tral Committee during the Andrew Yang Nien-Dzu, At the 19th Party Con- line-up of fellow party lead- sion before his promotion
15th Communist Party former defense minister of He also scrapped the gress in October 2017, Xi ers and elders. in 2017 to his navy role,
Congress in 19 Taiwan. “You never know seven geographically based further tightened his grip China’s official military me-
This nondescript record what his next move will be.” military regions and re- over the top military lead- In a massive naval ex- dia reported.
appears to have worked in placed them with five ership, paring the Central ercise in April last year, Xi
his favor. During his period Xi tames the military joint-service theater com- Military Commission from boarded the guided-missile Xi was also in fatigues
as China’s paramount lead- From the beginning, Xi’s mands. These new regional 11 members to seven and destroyer Changsha to re- again in July 2017 at a mas-
er, President Jiang Zemin corruption purge and pro- commands, comparable to stacking it with loyalists. Xi view the Chinese fleet of sive military parade to mark
handpicked Xi for senior motion of loyal officers those that govern the U.S. knew most of them from 48 warships in the South the 90th anniversary of the
office because the young- made it clear he had big armed forces, are responsi- Shaanxi and Fujian. China Sea. State-run televi- PLA at the Zhurihe train-
er man was perceived to plans for the PLA. Then, in ble for military operations sion showed the navy com- ing ground in Inner Mon-
lack ambition, according mid-2015, he cut 300 000 and have a strong focus on As he burnishes his mander, Vice Admiral Shen golia. He took the salute
to sources with close ties mostly non-combat and combining air, land, naval military credentials, Xi Jinlong, and navy political from the parade command-
to the Chinese leadership. administrative personnel and other capabilities of draws on his early service commissar, Vice Admiral er, General Han Weiguo,
Xi was also thought to be before launching a sweep- the Chinese armed forces to in uniform. In speech- Qin Shengxiang, standing an officer who served in
a pliable candidate because ing overhaul of the military suit modern warfare. es to military audiences, to attention as they report- Fujian while Xi was a par-
he lacked a power base, one structure. he describes himself as a ed to Xi and saluted. Xi ty and government official
source said, speaking on He broke up the four Xi also promoted fa- soldier-turned-official, ac- then gave the order for the in the province. Han has
condition of anonymity. sprawling, Maoist-era vored commanders, many cording to reports in the exercise to proceed. enjoyed a meteoric rise un-
But as China’s top leader, “general departments” of of them officers he knew state-controlled media. In der Xi, being promoted to
he has shown a willingness the PLA that had become in Fujian and Zhejiang distinctive PLA camouflage Both navy chiefs are Xi command China’s ground
to impose radical change at powerful, highly autono- provinces, where he served fatigues, cap and combat protégés. Shen has been forces shortly after this pa-
mous and deeply corrupt, the bulk of his early career boots, he has overseen some rapidly promoted under Xi, rade. —Reuters.
as an official, according to of the biggest military pa- leapfrogging other, more
Page 42 Books & Culture NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Author empowers youths across Africa
SOUTH African author South African author Nomawele Njongo. primary objective is to let
and executive director of Africa tell her own stories
a youth publishing proj- place. own experiences to be in- Zimbabwe,” Njongo told with youths to start build- and promote pan-African
ect, KwaziThina Publish- However, after con- volved in story-telling. So The NewsHawks. ing them now, pique their knowledge systems, un-
ers, Nomawele Njongo, I thought it would be a interest in the subject and derstanding of issues and
says she is keen to expand fronting and bringing good idea to come up with “Africa, with its rich his- help to capacitate them solidarity.”
her initiative to build net- down a sexual predator, for a youth story-telling proj- tory, culture and diversity, to tell their stories. After
works across Africa and now Njongo is focusing ect which targets teenag- as well as diverse flora and that we publish their sto- The project will be open
help promote the conti- on helping the youth write ers, not just in South Afri- fauna species, varied en- ries and come up with an to youths between the ages
nent’s cohesion through their own stories through ca alone, but also in other vironments and beautiful anthology of their work, of 13 and 19 years living
story-telling. Africa Teen Authors Book Africa countries such as scenery, has so many sto- which can then be distrib- in Africa. The youths are
Initiative, working with ries that need to be told by uted across the continent invited to submit their
Njongo, the author of KwaziThina Publishers. Nigeria, Ghana, Zam- its own people. The best for others to read. Our own stories under the
the revealing Abortion bia, Malawi, Lesotho and way to do so is to work theme African Teens in the
by the Womb of Democ- “I was inspired by my Covid-19 Era. Entrants
racy: Surviving Political are open from February
Sexual Masculinity in 2021 to April 2021.
SA, which chronicles the
horror of her sexual as- “We intend and strive
sault and harassment by to provide a credible sto-
the former ruling ANC rytelling platform for Af-
chief whip Mbulelo Go- rican teens throughout
niwe who was eventually the continent to help Af-
booted out of his job and rica tell her stories. We
had his party membership also want to give youths
suspended, says she is pas- an opportunity to devel-
sionate about helping the op and hone their writing
youth to tell their African skills whilst young, while
stories, share experiences promoting literary literacy
and develop interrelations among African youths.”
in a continent sometimes
plagued by divisions, con- However, Njongo will
flict and hate. always have the shadow of
her brave book following
Her experiences work- her.
ing as a parliamentary as-
sistant in Cape Town com- This book is an empow-
ing from university until erment tool that is hard to
her career and dreams were put down. The reality is
shattered by her superior’s that so many women let
insatiable desire for sex sexual harassment go as
have taught her a lot of they find it too daunting
things about story-telling. to fight it.
So she wants to use that to
help the youth to express She says the worst part
themselves, tell their sto- of this is that women
ries and have a positive abusers at workplaces live
attitude towards life, she among victims’ families
says. and communities on a
daily basis, and usually it
Njongo’s book was de- is people who hold power-
scribed as a brave and ful positions in political,
ground-breaking effort business and even reli-
by Vytjie Mentor, for- gious spaces.
mer ANC MP and caucus
chair. Njongo brings her au-
dacity into context from
“This is a compelling the start of the book by
David-and-Goliath story giving a glimpse into her
of our lifetime that should upbringing, moving from
be told to girls in primary emaMpondweni in the
and high school, colleges Eastern Cape to KwaZu-
and universities as well as lu-Natal and back, while
in politics and the corpo- learning new things about
rate world,” Mentor said. life and overcoming diffi-
cult challenges.
The woman who
brought down the dis- Now she says the time
graced Goniwe for sexual has come for her to help
harassment in 2006 – in Africa’s youth to bravely
fact his sex predatory in- confront their environ-
stincts destroyed him – ments, circumstances and
says a lot needs to be done realities by telling stories
to protect women from that give a picture of what
falling victim to sexu- is happening on the con-
al assault at the hands of tinent and sharing their
powerful men in the work- experiences, while pro-
moting awareness and co-
hesion. —STAFF WRITER
HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED YET?
To receive a free copy send an email to [email protected]
The NewsHawks @NewsHawksLife www.newshawks.com [email protected]
Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model
&Life Style
STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING
Page 43 Issue 22, 19 March 2021
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA But this rise in popularity over the
years has come with a downside, as
THE hustle and bustle of Mbare unscrupulous people take advantage
Musika is at its all-time high and of his fame.
many are going about their business. “There was a case in Lalapansi
where some listeners were duped by
The touts are whistling, buses rev- con artists that KB and Bhozhongora
ving and taxis honking. And in the were coming to the area. The people
midst of all that noise and chaos, were made to pay US$20 each to see
there is one voice that overrides ev- the two presenters but it turned out
erything as the clock strikes 10.30am that they were imposters.
every day of the week. “So, I am fully aware that there are
many people out there purporting to
This is when many Zimbabweans be Bhozhongora when they are not,”
tune in to National FM’s Bhozhon- he said.
gora segment, to hear the hot topics When asked how his show com-
of the day courtesy of Washington pares to other programmes like Tilda
Marimira (45), who is affectionate- Moyo’s Star FM slot on bizarre occur-
ly known by his moniker on radio rences, Bhozhongora said his work
— Bhozhongora. Oh by the way, stands out.
tge name Bhozhongora, loosely “Well, I have not listened to Tilda’s
translated, means to demolish. So show and I think that question will
as Bhozhongora tells his stories on be best answered by someone who
radio, he literally demolishes every- has listened to both shows. But, what
thing and leaves no stone unturned. I know is we reach out to a wider au-
dience, including diaspora. The other
“I come from a chieftainship in thing is that I go to places that only
Nembudziya, Gokwe. My father is a few can reach because more often
Chief Makore so whenever we are at than not the news we hear on radio
a village court I am usually the one is about towns and cities, ‘minister so
to give the last word. And when I do and so has said this or the President
that everyone will be satisfied and has said this’. There is hardly any-
there won’t be additions and subtrac- thing from the villages and minority
tions. So they call that kuBhozhon- groups,” he said.
gora meaning to say everything is One of the most memorable
well said,” he said. and typically bizarre stories he has
covered include a father-in-law in
His stories range from the bizarre Gokwe who played mid-wife to his
to the outrageous, and from the hi- daughter-in-law. The story left the
larious to the unthinkable. community shocked while anoth-
er equally riveting story was about
It is an understatement to say the a man who cheated with a married
programme has grown in both stat- woman in Murambinda. The two
ure and reach, especially during the are now suffering from an unknown
Covid-19 lockdown when National Bhozhongora unmasked! ailment which causes ants, instead of
FM and Radio Zimbabwe were si- urine, to come out of their private
mulcasting. parts.
According to Bhozhongora, receiv-
Bhozhongora has captured the ing feedback about the show is a most
imagination of many Zimbabweans See how National FM storyteller has impacted the country and beyond humbling experience and it is his
not only locally but also in the dias- wish for people to learn from others.
pora. “Ultimately, the show teaches peo-
even ask witnesses and other people akin to soccer commentary, is what was made that I work with Kanyemba ple to know what is right and wrong.
But speculation is rife among peo- from the area to give their feedback keeps listeners tuned in to the pro- Bonzo and since then the programme And, most importantly, listeners
ple as to who is Bhozhongora? Are his or confirm,” he explained. gramme. He and Kanyemba “KB” has been broadcast between 10:30am should tell us their thoughts on the
stories real? Bonzo, the presenter of the show, to noon from Monday to Thursday solutions to the problems through
“The challenge is people usually smoothly complement each other, and on weekends I just feature on our WhatsApp number 0782029270.
Well, some people expect to see a mob me when they see me on the working like a tag team. any programme as and when I have Last but not least, I thank listeners
gigantic chap while others say he is phone doing my work. breaking news,” he said. and all those who contribute to the
probably not one person. Bonzo always asks the right ques- success of the show,” he said.
“Before lockdown, we used to do tions on behalf of listeners, some- Given a chance, Bhozhongora Isaac Mutinta, the National FM
Many have followed his narratives the show at Mbare Studios but now thing he mastered over time. would like to improve on his skills as station manager, confirmed the
on radio with great enthusiasm, but because of social distancing I report a citizen journalist. Bhozhongora segment was gaining
some claim he is fake. the events from wherever I am, just The advent of citizen journalism traction from the corporate world.
like here at Musika,” he explained. and social media has made it easy for “I would want to take my own pic- “We continue receiving massive
Keen to find out what makes the likes of Bhozhongora, who are tures or videos so that people can see feedback from listeners across the
Bhozongora tick, The NewsHawks “One of the biggest challenges passionate about entertaining and in- for themselves because at times radio country from the business commu-
reached out to him at his base at since I started out was that I used to forming the nation, to excel. is not enough without visuals. At least nity. As Africans, we enjoy our sto-
Mbare Musika where he runs four look for stories, but then as people through this way I can monetise the ries, especially community stories
tuckshops as his day job. warmed up to the show and with the He has had an impact on many content. Of course, I am being paid during the lockdown. We are looking
help of social media, especially now- lives in more ways than one, includ- by ZBC to do what I am doing. They at doing more for the communities
“First things first, all the stories adays with WhatsApp, the stories ing alerting the government and de- even sponsor my trips at least twice a because there is education and enter-
that you hear on the radio are true. come to me and all I do is to make cision makers on areas that need ur- week to go all over the country to get tainment value,” he said.
What happens is that I would be on follow-ups,” he said. gent attention. stories,” he said. Bhozhongora attended
the ground, giving blow-by-blow Chinyenyetu Primary and High
accounts of the events. Previously, I “Of course, there are cases where I “I am not a trained journal- But whoever said money is never schools for his primary and second-
would ask eye-witnesses to talk on need to be on the ground and those ist and I do this as a passion. It all enough must have had Bhozhongo- ary education respectively, before he
the phone but then the producers cases where I pick up the phone and started when National FM formed a ra in mind for he gets more money transferred to Plumtree High School
realised that for the purposes of keep- call the police, chiefs or headmen as WhatsApp group of listeners. Then a from his side hustle to augment his to complete his Ordinary Levels.
ing the reports short I should do the well as the people involved.” call for bureaux chiefs was made and earnings. He is married to Catherine Cha-
reporting. I was interested in the programme. guma and the couple has six children.
A gifted orator, Bhozhongora says “I would never trade my tuckshops
“But even, to show that the sto- he never forgets any of the stories for “At that time, I used to work business for anything. This is where
ries are real, we name the places but as long as he is the one who covered round the clock, breaking the news as it all started and I want to continue
we do not name people for reasons it. it happens. But with change of man- buying and selling groceries,” he said.
that some of the cases involve minors agement at National FM, a decision
and in other cases the people will be His delivery on radio, which is
on the police wanted list so we don’t
want to give the suspects the leads.
“I’d say we work hand-in-hand
with the police, the chiefs and head-
men. So for every story, we gather
the facts, which we verify as well. We
Page 44 Life & Style NewsHawks
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
UNITED Kingdom-based Fine artist who LM: I started off with the ba-
Zimbabwean artist Lavish customises sics back in 2002 at Sir John
Mac has turned his passion Kennedy Primary school in
into business. He customises your sneakers Kadoma.
sneakers through portraits and quest what they want or you However, I do suggest ways
paintings. The 27-year-old come up with your creations? to improve the custom in ways I was intrigued by the dif-
Lavish had to drop out of uni- that the client might not be ferent shade of pencils, I re-
versity just to pursue his pas- LM: Some clients are very seeing at the time. member being in grade three,
sion, which he says started at precise with what they want winning local art competitions
the tender age of five. He says and I’m perfectly fine doing I always find that to be in Kadoma. I am a fine artist,
plans are afoot to start a busi- what they want. helpful and it’s always fun to mainly focused on aesthetics
ness with other creatives to collaborate with them and cre- and detail in my paintings.
produce custom-made sneak-
ers. Lavish Mac (LM) speaks ate something better. worked for? My style is still growing, so
to The NewsHawks’ Jonathan JM: What is the reception LM: So the custom trainers maybe I’ll leave this to the crit-
Mbiriyamveka (JM) about his like for your work? are one part of what I do, I’ve ics, maybe one day I’ll be able
art. Read the excerpts: LM: I always get good feed- done works for Enzo Ishall, to define the art style. For now
JM: Are you a full-time art- back when it comes to my EXQ, Fantan, Naak Musiq, I’m just focused on working
ist/painter or you have a day work, it’s something that I ap- Anthony Joshua, Michael and expanding my skills.
job? preciate so much. I use that as Dapaah, Sneakbo, Krept, JM: How long have you been
LM: I am a full-time artist. fuel to keep me going. Coach K, Stormzy, Aitch, in the UK and where exactly
I paint every single day for JM: You have done custom- Headie One, Tion Wayne, are you based?
about 10-12 hours. I used to ised stuff for DJ Fantan of Fredo, Demarai Gray and a LM: I have been in the UK for
be at university, but I left so ChillSpot Records. Which few more UK-based artists and over 10 years now and I am
I can focus on art, my child- other celebrities you have football players. based in London.
hood dream. JM: Tell us your background JM: How big is your clien-
JM: You have done some as a fine artist. tele?
amazing artwork, drawing LM: It’s ever growing, to be
portraits and customising honest. I am constantly get-
sneakers. How did it all start? ting jobs in the UK and inter-
LM: I’ve been drawing and nationally.
painting since I was five years JM: Do you do stuff for peo-
old. I stayed on course even ple who are outside the UK?
when I was in school doing LM: Yes I do, I have shipped
other subjects. The custom paintings and shoes all around
trainers started off in 2016 the world. I go by the name
when I started my first year LavishTooNice on all my so-
at DeMontfort University. I cial media accounts.
realised a gap in the world of JM: So do you supply sneak-
trainers, meaning there were ers or clients bring their own
only a few styles of trainers in shoes to be customised?
the UK and most of the spe- LM: I supply the trainers if
cial editions sold out like hot they are easily attainable, like
cakes. I then started practis- Air Forces and Superstars.
ing mainly on Nike Air Force High-end shoes can be sent.
Ones and my style grew from JM: How can people get in
basic colours to portraiture on touch with you?
the shoes. LM: Instagram, Facebook,
JM: What do you use for Twitter @lavishtoonice or via
your paintings and what are email admin@lavishtoonice.
the subjects of your paint- com
ings? JM: Are there plans to bring
LM: I use acrylic leather paint the business home?
(angelus). The paint is water- LM: Absolutely, I would love
proof and permanent on any to open a workshop and a
type of shoe. The subjects shop. So I can pass on the
of my paintings differ from skills I have and also have an
customer to customer, it all outlet to sell my art.
depends on the inspiration
behind the custom, one ex- I would like people to know
ample would be family por- that there is more to what I do,
traits which are very personal I hope that they will go and
to people and another would check my social media (Insta-
be the Adidas Superstars I did gram) to get an idea of what
in collaboration with Adidas I do.
in London. This shoe was star
studded with UK and US-
based stars, the inspiration
came from the name essential-
ly with Kareem Abdul Jabbar
on them, he was the first ath-
lete to wear them in the NBA
(US National Basketball Asso-
ciation).
JM: Tell us, do clients re-
NewsHawks Life & Style Page 45
Issue 23, 26 March 2021
Poet: Andy Kahari Poet : Elias M. Muonde Poet: Ngugi Wamkirii
Title: I Want To Write Title: MaGumede’s Burden Title: Away From The Gourd
I want to write before any objection Aboard the Freedom Express, Soft sounds,
to fiction governance is quailed. With steam chortling and bellowing, As in the alleys of heaven,
I want to write words only to be qualified Wheels of steel whistling and chugging; Drill through my sinews.
by true governance and due diligence. Sitting calm and in the deep, The plop-plombing enigmatic sounds,
I want to write words with lasting vigilance Watching the country stream by through the Of the gourd’s magical poetry,
to forever poke enemies of the people. vapoured windows Are but distant.
I want to write words so full of breaming, All the time,clutching onto her baggage; Sorjourning the silent valleys,
to dwarf all shadows set to games of deeming. A bulgy bag with life’s treasures and trinkets; Away from the gourd,
I want to write stanzas so gigantic in beaming A woman’s burden I felt an important part of me was missing.
to set iconic visionary dreaming. Carried with pride and valour
I want to write mighty words on papers so light Marooned in the dark sands,
and never heavy to bear in times of flight. At the station at Jo’burg; Of Mat South,
I want to write with a sharp mind so bright, Tsotsi’s tap dance to the sound of Kwela; Sweating on the fringes of hefty loneli-
and forever piercing and never brittle. In the streets at Soweto; ness,
I want to write from my free thoughts School children are slain; Cut away from my very lifeline,
before they are belittled. At the forte at Robben, Mandela is crucified Away from the gourd.
And she refuses to put down her baggage;
I want to write still from belittled thoughts The burden she has carried all the years How I wished the fairies of the gourd,
for I have a clue. From Bulawayo to Azania; Would fly-by,
I want to write with words like glue; And make me drink a few tots from the
oozing to be stuck on all brains. This dark woman with dare, keg,
I want to write and wrist a word blind to blue. Sings about freedom in the shebeens, Or at least suckle at her succulent
Even though for words prisons are full. Irking the baas, breasts.
I want to write infectious words like flue: Annoying the madam,
To catch freedom from whence it flew. Thus condemned to exile Caged in the mesh of loneliness,
I want to write and not wonder and ponder With all the baggage on her head Breathing in the quire of daft existence,
which words are cursed to arrest a fool? I felt the cold,
I want to write so they all wander Woman of struggle, Away from the gourd.
and be lost in truth. Lived with the baggage balanced on her
I want to write for I know words head, No feeling transcends a disconnection,
wed all thoughts to reason. Viva! Not volunteered or willed,
I want to write even now- their reason Amandla! But fated,
desserts the real zone. The beautiful chimes of sad and sweet
I want to write more now before they blow a Finally; eulogies,
horn. She affords to put her baggage down; The sunshine I found pleasure in,
Last they blew all terror was born! To rest. Basking and drinking,
Under the fiery shadows of the Aries Rag-
_Inspired by the song MaGumede, es,
RIP Aunty Dorothy Masuka The Demented Scribes and the lethal ven-
om of the Mamba.
HAPPY EASTER
Possibly I am a prodigal son,
Easter Holiday is a period in which we honor the death of Jesus Marooned like a disarmed combatant,
Christ who died for our sins and how he rose from the dead. Feeling lost,
Away from the Gourd.
The NewsHawks is inviting all stakeholders, private, public
companies and parastatals on the 2nd of April to showcase your Tracing my footprints back,
products and services in our E-paper as well as celebrate this period. The blueprint lost not,
The signature quite clear,
Minimum editorial is appreciated and will be forwarded to the editor No more shall I be,
for consideration. NOT all editorial work is guaranteed to be Away from the Gourd.
published.
To place your adverts feel free to contact Ruth on 078 467 4193/
Charmaine on 0735 666 122 or send an e-mail to
[email protected]
The NewsHawks @NewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]
Page 46 People & Places NewsHawks
Issue 22, 19 March 2021
SITUATED just 45 kilometres Amalinda Lodge located park one may well see a good vari-
from Bulawayo in the world fa- in a spectacular vicinity ety of animals including the white
mous and picturesque Matobo Rhino.
Hills, Amalinda Lodge is an ex- you hear are those of the plentiful impressive examples of San Bush- of the British South Africa Com-
clusive, privately owned safari array of birds. men paintings which are well pany that in 1893 was ambushed The food at Amalinda Lodge is
property built into the amazing worth seeing. and annihilated by more than 3 great and is not only delicious, but
surrounding natural granite rock A short walk from the main 000 Ndebele warriors in Rhodesia beautifully presented. Definitely
formations. lodge is the swimming pool and Alternatively visitors can just (now Zimbabwe), during the First top quality.
outside bar and entertainment relax around the amazing infini- Umvukela/Chimurenga War.
That is where prominent Brit- area. The infinity swimming pool ty pool which it built on natural It’s uniqueness makes the Mato-
ish colonial empire-builder Cecil is built on natural granite and of- granite rock and offers great views Headed by Wilson, the patrol pos and Amalinda Lodge one of
John Rhodes is buried on the fa- fers sweeping views over the sur- of the area. was attacked just north of the the most sought after destinations
mous “View of the World”. rounding countryside. Shangani River in Matabeleland. within Zimbabwe.
While the camp is ideal for Its dramatic last stand, sometimes
Not far away, there is the Amalinda is situated in the Une- anyone who simply wants to re- called “Wilson’s Last Stand”, The lodge, formerly Camp
grave site of legendary Ndebele sco World Heritage Site of the the lax, there are many activities on achieved a prominent place in the Amalinda, is comfortable and
King Mzilikazi Khumalo, whom Matobo Hills which is the oldest offer which may include swim- British public imagination and, owner-run, with authentic de-
Rhodes admired for his military National Park in Zimbabwe hav- ming, guided bush walks, visits subsequently, in Rhodesian histo- signed rooms built amongst an-
exploits and heroics, and demand- ing been established in 1926 at the to a local village, game viewing ry, similarly to events such as the cient granite boulders. Visitors go
ed to be buried in his vicinity. bequest of Rhodes. in the national park, birding, or Battle of The Little Bighorn in the for the setting, the rich history and
a visit to the magnificent “View United States, the Battle of Shi- the opportunity to track rhino on
Amalinda is a uniquely designed The ‘Matopos’, as it is widely of the World” where you can vis- royama in Japan, the Battle of the foot. Besides historical and cultur-
and environmentally friendly eco- known, is also a spiritual place and it Rhodes grave and the Shangani Alamo in Texas, and the Greeks’ al activities, relatively easy rhino
lodge which has been tastefully offers the visitor a wide variety of Memorial, which depicts the his- last stand at Thermopylae. tracking, and some gentle safari
decorated with a natural African activities. toric battle between the Ndebele activities that pleasantly contrast
bush feel about it. warriors and the Major Allan Wil- The Matopos area has a wide va- with and complement the more
That’s where the traditional son Patrol. riety of birds with over 320 species safari-focused camps in the larger
There are 10 different rooms all rain-making shrine Nzelele is lo- having been recorded, including national parks.
offering something special as well cated. The amazing rock forma- The Shangani Patrol (or Wil- the famed Black Eagle. Within the
as The Homestead which is locat- tions alone warrant a visit and the son’s Patrol) was a 34-soldier unit Two thousand years ago, the
ed away from the main lodge, but Matobo Hills area boasts many Bushmen called Matopos their
accessible. home. Now visitors can also tem-
porarily do. It’s a great lodge in
All lodge rooms are African a stunning environment, and it
themed and well appointed with is well worth a visit, especially
comfortable beds and plenty of during the coming Easter holi-
space. Each affords the visitor lots days. – STAFF WRITER
of privacy and the only sounds
Property
NewsHawks
Page 47 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 21, 12 March 2021
The home of prime property: [email protected]
LIZWE SEBATA Bulawayo Egodini Mall said the civil engineering firm
project delay irks AAG cannot be blamed for delays in
A legal showdown is looming the construction project.
between Bulawayo City Council crease traffic access. black economic empowerment Bulawayo town clerk Christo-
(BCC) and the Affirmative Ac- However, only test holes drilled lobby group will not wait any lon- pher Dube however accused the “We lost a number of years
tion Group (AAG) that is push- ger and may pursue legal action to AAG of needlessly raising alarm. due to administrative blunders.
ing for the cancellation of the by geo-technical and hydrological force the cancellation of the mall He said construction of the mall For example, we submitted our
US$60 million Egodini Mall teams were in place from January construction deal. is back on track. proposal in 2012 and the council
construction tender awarded to a to October 2019 when earth- took about a year to evaluate the
South African firm, citing a lack works were done. “We demand the council man- “They are raising alarm, but as tender,” said Terracotta director
of progress in eight years. agement and their partners to far as we know as council, con- Thulani Moyo during a Bulawayo
No major works have been car- come out clean on what is real- struction has resumed and the Progressive Residents Association
The South African contractor, ried out since then, with the con- ly happening. The delays cannot first phase will be complete in (BPRA) radio programme last
civil engineering firm Terracotta tractor claiming council officials continue and we feel it’s either August (2021) as there is a pro- Saturday.
Trading (Private) Limited, won are dragging their feet in granting (council) advertises the agreed gramme of work in action,” Dube
the tender to upgrade the former a development permit to allow the implementation timeframes that claimed in a telephone interview “We thought the BCC owned
Basch Street Terminus into a re- construction works to continue. reflect progress or the deal is can- on Wednesday. all the land adjacent to Egodini,
gional public transport hub in celled,” Sita said on Friday. which was not the case, and ne-
2012 ahead of other competing Council only issued the devel- The first phase of the project gotiations had to be done. We
companies. opment permit to Terracotta in “We do appreciate the difficul- will include the construction of started earthworks in 2019, but
October 2020. ty of raising capital in the current 1 100 informal traders’ stalls, a we stopped in November.
The Egodini Mall project is environment but eight years has 100-bay taxi rank, security wall,
on a build, operate and transfer A development permit allows been too much. We will be left security tower, motor retail, taxi “We could not proceed with
(BOT) basis and would come at a property owner to construct, with no option but to approach association offices, public ablu- other works because we did not
no cost to council. It is expected renovate or make an addition to the courts to rectify the prob- tions and a service lane. have a development permit which
to feature a transport hub locat- a structure on a property locat- lem. The council patience smacks we only got late last year after
ed on Basch Street, retail sections ed within a development permit of underhand dealings between The second phase includes the we volunteered to pay the con-
and parking bays upon comple- area. A development permit must some officials of Terracotta and construction of the bus terminus sultancy fees to help consolidate
tion. be applied for and issued, prior to council as alleged at the inception building, fast-food shops and the the stands into one stand with the
applying for a building permit. of the project.” grocery anchor. Surveyor-General’s office, some-
As part of the re-design of the thing which according to the con-
terminus to handle an estimat- AAG Matabeleland chief exec- The South African contractor tract was something meant to be
ed three million passengers per utive officer Denzel Sita said the handled by the local authority.
month, council will expand exist-
ing roads into the site and create “This was just our way of show-
dedicated pedestrian routes to in- ing how committed we are in
commencing this project.”
Page 48 Sport NewsHawks
ENOCK MUCHINJO Issue 22, 19 March 2021
WITH sporting conversations Sables under spotlight as after announcing his retire-
in Zimbabwe over the past ment from international rug-
several months having been by.
dominated by the country’s In February 2020, all three
biggest two codes – football World Cup qualifiers beckon Zimbabwenativeswerenamed
and cricket – the third nation- in an “MLR Team of the
al pastime, rugby, sneaked into Week”, alongside All Blacks
the limelight this week follow- great Ma’a Nonu of the San
ing announcement of a squad Diego Legion club and other
to kickstart the World Cup roccans are currently serving a ex-international stars.
qualification campaign. ban slapped on them last year A local publication in Wash-
by the game’s world governing ington DC particularly waxed
It is a fair assessment to body, which they are appealing lyrical about Mason, who had
say that the 39-man training against, but highly unlikely to just made his MLR debut.
squad has not received the be lifted before the Tunisia leg “With the ball in hand the
seal of approval from a large of qualifiers in July. openside made 15 carries for
section of Zimbabwean rugby Meanwhile, looking at the 143 metres and he broke four
fans. Many have felt that a lot Sables’ squad of 2021, the tackle breaks. Defensively he
of the players have their best biggest piece of news is the in- made 11 tackles and made an
days behind them – or simply clusion of explosive Free State intercept that shifted momen-
lack the required talent to take Cheetahs backliner Tapiwa tum in the match as he sprint-
the Sables to France in 2023 in Mafura, a former Varsity Cup ed for 50 metres while at the
what would be this country’s star with North-West Univer- breakdown he hit 28 rucks.”
first World Cup appearance sity. This is some of the stuff
since 1991. After careful consideration, Zimbabwe will be looking for-
the South African-raised ward to in their World Cup
The way I see it, however, 25-year-old livewire has decid- quest.
is that the powers-that-be at ed that his international rugby The Sables will assemble for
ZimRugby should take the career lies with his country of camp in Harare on 16 May.
criticism, justifiable to a large birth. Before the Tunisia trip, two
extent, as something hearten- Another big coup for the preparatory matches against
ing and constructive. Sables is the scintillating Namibia and Zambia, with
24-year-old outside-centre full Test status, are in the pipe-
The kind of feedback given Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, who line.
only displays a people’s passion grew up in New Zealand from
for their sport, testimony that the age of five. Mudzekenyedzi SABLES TRAINING SQUAD
the burning desire to return to has also pledged his allegiance Forwards: Doug Juszczyk,
the World Cup is a collective to Zimbabwe after weighing Gabriel Sipapate, Simba Man-
dream shared by everybody. his options. dioma, Dean Makoni, Aaron
The Harare-born utility Sawu, Royal Mwale, Farai
To allay panic, though, it back has experience in New Mudariki, Cleopas Kundio-
must be taken into account Zealand’s Mitre10 Cup, the na, David Makanda, Jan Fer-
that the squad named this most competitive domestic reira, Sean Beevor, Takunda
week is a stop-gap one, and competition in world rugby. Kundishora, Blithe Mavesere,
that this year’s round of qual- The next big “signings” for Biselele Tshamala, Godfrey
ifiers is not as daunting as the Sables are the trio of loose- Muzanargwo, Mungo Mason,
it will certainly be in 2022, head prop Doug Juszczyk, Seb Roche, Aiden Burnett,
where major reinforcements flank Mungo Mason as well Tonderai Chiwambutsa.
are definitely needed to the as fly-half Jason Robertson.
Sables line-up if the team seri- All three have played a decent Backs: Hilton Mudariki,
ously harbour ambition to rub level of rugby in New Zealand, Dudlee White-Sharpley, Kyle
shoulders with the best on the where they grew up after leav- Galloway, Jason Robertson,
planet again. ing Zimbabwe in their young- Keith Chiwara, Tinashe Hom-
er days. biro, Matthew McNab, Rufa-
To launch the qualifi- New Zimbabwe call-ups Mungo Mason (7) and Jason Robertson (10) were named in an MLR Team of Mason and Robertson are ro Chikwaira, Takudzwa Ku-
ers, Zimbabwe will play in a the Week in February 2020 alongside Springbok legend Tendai Mtawarira. madiro, Brandon Boshi, Riaan
three-nation Pool D competi- now teammates of Spring-
tion in Tunisia this July against negotiating their way past this For Zimbabwe, hosts Tu- na Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, bok legend Tendai “Beast” O’Neill, Boyd Rouse, Marcus
the hosts and a third side yet to stage. The top two sides from nisia will provide the sternest Eswatini, Mauritius, Nigeria, Mtawarira at Old Glory DC Nel, Brandon Mudzekenyedzi,
be decided courtesy of a prior pools, four of them across the competition. The third unde- Rwanda and Morocco. in the United States’ Major Shingi Katsvere, Shayne Ma-
play-off competition. continent, will proceed to next cided spot in the group will go All are lightweights of the League Rugby (MLR). kombe, Takudzwa Chieza,
year’s final phase of World to a play-off qualifier from a game, with perhaps the excep- Mtawarira signed for the Martin Mangongo, Brandon
Provided all the players Cup qualification. list that has Botswana, Burki- tion of Morocco. But the Mo- Washington DC club last year Mandivenga, Tapiwa Mafura.
called-up turn up amidst
Covid-19 hitches – the Sables
should not have much trouble
A team lacking courage and the right quality
BEFOFE this job, I had been good, with the advantage of time the quickest bowler in The players themselves have of players like them, and as we national players in our squad,
raised on a very strong diet hindsight now, who were miles the country, never got to play lost the fire and the fundamen- always see other international nearly asking for an autograph,
of club cricket in Zimbabwe, better than most of the guys international cricket for Zim- tals we associated with previ- players of the same experience you felt.
what I call the “decade of calling themselves the Chev- babwe? ous generations of the Zimba- do for their countries.
prosperity” between 1994 and rons today. bwe team. They have accepted But I fear for somebody Most of the Zimbabwe play-
2004. It is simply because the se- their fate, “we can only lose, we like young Madhevere because ers on that trip have since re-
Post-2004, I cannot think of lection panel those days, spoilt aren’t good enough.” despite his obvious talent, the tired, with little to show from
It is no wonder that during any Zimbabwe national team for choice, had told As I watched Afghanistan kind of team culture he has over a decade of international
this same period, our national player with the all-round gifts come back to win the second walked into has long lowered cricket.
team posed a perennial threat of one Shepherd Makunura, Macmillan that pace alone standards and nor-
to some of the best teams in yet this man, in his prime, was was not good enough to earn malised mediocrity. Elgar, South Africa’s new
the world. The lowest ranked, never anywhere near an inter- him his international stripes – It is pretty easy for a Test captain, is today one of
sides, like Bangladesh – nev- national field. ahead of such men as Heath HawkZone newcomer to slowly the best players in the world
er mind the rest – were dis- Streak, Henry Olonga, Andy but surely sail with with 13 centuries in 67 Tests at
patched with ease. It was simply an era of very Blignaut, or even Brighton the wind. an average of 39.81 after only
good Zimbabwean cricketers, Watambwa. Lucky buggers, I have seen it debuting for the Proteas as late
I can testify to that, back simply so, and people like She- those selectors. Enock before, trust me. as 2012, a good seven years
in the days, there were a lot of phie will look back and think New players from after I caught him looking
very good players in club cir- how time did them an injustice As for Macmillan, had he Muchinjo other nations have at our players with child-like
cles, many of whom never even by placing them in the wrong belonged to this era, he would adoration. Or Rashid Khan,
got the opportunity to play era. If you want, for those in- walk into the current Zimba- emerged and over- who in 2015 was making his
first-class cricket, the highest clined to see things that way, bwe side without much of a taken ours at a wor- international debut in Zimba-
level of domestic competition you could call it racism, that hassle, and lead the bowling ryingly rapid rate. I bwe and, six years later, is now
in this country. sinister and sickening vice that attack. Test match in Abu Dhabi, I re- was with the Zimbabwe team considered the world’s premier
continues, fortunately, to be fused to blame a youngster like at Pretoria’s High-Performance leg-spin bowler.
These days, first-class crick- sneered at by the rest of the We have said it time and Wesley Madhevere or Ryan Centre in 2005 for a whis-
et, which forms the basis for progressive world. again, and as has the recent Burl. I put the blame squarely tle-stop tour in preparation to From a Zimbabwean play-
national team selection, is a Test and Twenty20 games on the more senior players who host Bangladesh, and I remem- er’s perspective, the process
bad joke so horrible that it is But then, how do you also against Afghanistan have scored 40s, 50s and 60s but ber a young Dean Elgar gazing of self-reflection, if the will is
actually funny. explain that one Campbell shown, the structures of Zim- did not convert, as expected in apparent awe at the inter- there, should start with a criti-
Macmillan, with the right babwean cricket are not con- cal question – so what is wrong
When I look back, I re- shade of pale skin, and at one ducive to produce half-decent with us?
member club cricketers so international players.
Sports Third Afcon
A team lacking qualification
heart and the in a row for
right quality Warriors
Thursday 1 October 2020
Friday 19 March 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS CULTURE
$60 Covid Community
tariff for radio
visitors & regulations
tourists under review
Story on Page 3 Story on Page 8
Chamisa reac
out to Khupe
Unofficial president calls for emerge
Zimbabwe pose for a team photo
before the match in Francistown.
Third Afcon qualification
in a row for the Warriors
ENOCK MUCHINJO place at the finals in Cameroon against Algeria, the reigning Af- tional debut, took advantage before the match. A makeshift Warriors line-
next year with a game to spare. rican champions, to keep alive of the ‘keeper’s howler, head- Having only been tested up controlled and dictated the
ZIMBABWE beat Botswana Chipolopolo’s hopes of qualify- ing home on the rebound for on match-day, the results then pace of the game on Thursday,
1-0 away on Thursday evening, It means Zambia, now on ing and, in doing so, end a lean the solitary goal. Kick off was arrived moments before the gifting their Croatian coach
sealing their third consecutive four points after drawing 3-3 spell for the struggling 2012 delayed for about 30 minutes scheduled 6pm kick-off, which Zdravko Logarušić his first win
Africa Cup of Nations spot with the Algerians in Lusaka, Afcon winners. after Covid-19 protocols were forced match officials to delay since being appointed at the
after Zambia failed to beat al- cannot eclipse Zimbabwe for nFoint caonnccleudMedinonisttimy ew. ipes outki$ck3-.o2ff.B TilhlieoZnebdraesp, wohsoitohards fubnedgisnning ofZliamst y'sealra. test land c
ready qualified Algeria in the the second qualification po- The WAarLrioSrOs IgNotSIDthEeir Explaining the incident, the been promised a hefty US$58 Due to Covid-19 travel re-
other Group H tie. sition of the group when the Botswana Football Association 700 bonus by their government strictions, Zimbabwe were
two neighbours meet in Hara- game’s only goal on 14 minutes claimed on its official Twitter if they defeated Zimbabwe to missing the bulk of their over-
The Warriors’ win in Fran- re on Monday in a match that after talismanic captain Knowl- page that Zimbabwe’s delega- give themselves a qualification seas-based stars, most notably
cistown courtesy of a Perfect has now been rendered a dead edge Musona’s long-range free- tion had refused to get tested chance, are also now effectively Aston Villa midfielder Marvel-
Chikwanda first-half goal cata- rubber. kick was spilt by Botswana upon arrival in Francistown on out of contention for a place at ous Nakamba and Lyon striker
pulted them to eight points on goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe. Wednesday evening, 24 hours the tournament. Tino Kadewere.
the standings, confirming their Zambia desperately need-
ed to collect all three points Simba SC forward Chik-
wende, making his interna-
ALSO INSIDE Sables under spotlight as World Cup qualifiers beckon
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