NewsHawks 14 May 2021-min

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Deadly power struggle explodes

Mnangagwa,
Chiwenga clash
over Malaba
tenure extension

Page 2 News NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

OWEN GAGARE Deadly power struggle explodes

THE simmering power strug- Mnangagwa, Chiwenga clash
gle between President Em- over Malaba tenure extension
merson Mnangagwa and his
deputy Constantino Chiwen- Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga (left) and President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Malaba has already bene-
ga has exploded in the courts fitted. 
as the former and his allies in Tsvangirai in the presidential Malaba’s term was extend- ka’s application when he has High Court Judge President
the Judicial Service Commis- election first round. The army ed by five years on Tuesday. sometimes served as Supreme George Chiweshe Kika’s application was con-
sion (JSC) are running scared rescued Mugabe in the run- In terms of the constitution Court judge, saying this was Justice Edith Mushore solidated with that of the
that the retired army general off, which forced Tsvangirai before the amendments, Mal- suspicious. It also charged Young Lawyers Association
and his foot soldiers could to pull out citing violence, in- aba was supposed to retire by that Zhou was conflicted as of Zimbabwe and business-
sink his power consolidation timidation and killings. operation of law tomorrow at he wants to be a Constitu- man Frederick Charles Moses
and 2023 election project, midnight when he turns 70.  tional Court (ConCourt) Mutanda which deals with
sources say. Chiweshe was appointed judge. The judges dismissed the same issues, including the
High Court Judge President The extension of his tenure the issue against Zhou and Malaba case and Constitution
The plan is designed and in May 2010, succeeding Jus- by five years has triggered the said they will deal with the of Zimbabwe Amendment
calculated to propel Mnan- tice Rita Makarau. He has oc- High Court battle, fuelling other preliminary issues to- (No.2), the actual source of
gagwa’s re-election bid in casionally acted as a judge of a deadly power struggle and gether with merits, allowing the problem.
2023. Besides, Zanu PF also the Supreme Court.  cutthroat manoeuvres be- the arguments to proceed.
has an elective congress next tween Mnangagwa and Chi- Apart from giving Mnan-
year before the elections. As a result, Chiweshe’s al- wenga ahead of congress and By demanding that the gagwa power to extend the
liance with Chiwenga is for- elections. panel be disbanded and a new tenure of judges, Amendment
Sources say Chiwenga’s ally midable. That is why the JSC one be appointed by the most No.2 overrides section 328 of
in the judiciary, High Court does not want him involved Three High Court judges – senior judge after Chiweshe – the constitution which says
Judge President George Chi- in this matter. Justices Happias Zhou, Edith which means Justice Joseph incumbents cannot benefit
weshe, and his associates Mushore and Jester Hele- Musakwa – the JSC was also from changes of the law on
could collapse Mnangagwa’s The consolidated applica- na Charewa – were till late objecting to the presence of tenure. Lawyers say overrid-
personalised power consolida- tion also deals with Mnangag- last night locked in a court Mushore and Charewa, show- ing section 328 without re-
tion project.  wa’s contentious constitution- battle with the ministry of ing it also does not trust the ferring it to a referendum is
al amendments, which are the Justice, the JSC and the At- two ladies. unconstitutional. No referen-
Chiweshe, sources say, subject of looming volatile torney-General over the con- dum was held.
has two major motivations court battles. solidated application which Kika has taken 17 judges
to block Mnangagwa’s plot: has thrown the cat among the (initially 16 before Lavender As a result of a string of
He is anti-Malaba and is The extension of Malaba’s pigeons.  Makoni was added) to court illegalities, various court ap-
Chiwenga’s ally. The consti- tenure came against a back- over Mnangagwa’s bid to ex- plications are being filed in
tutional amendments, espe- drop of two unprecedented The JSC, fighting in Mnan- tend their tenures through the ConCourt to challenge
cially No.2, affect Chiwenga constitutional amendments gagwa and Malaba’s corner, amendments which they say the amendments, which have
as they remove the running and the overriding of the en- argued Chiweshe’s panel must are unconstitutional and ille- sparked widespread outrage
mate clause, which leaves him trenched section 328 of the be disbanded. It queried why gal.  and protest among stakehold-
a weak and vulnerable Mnan- constitution without going to Chiweshe was not cited in Ki- ers. 
gagwa appointee, even if he a referendum.
literally installed him in pow- These cases risk creating a
er through the 2017 military constitutional imbroglio – a
coup. messy entanglement of the
executive, legislature and ju-
The sources say Mnangag- diciary – hence crisis.
wa’s allies fear Chiweshe and
other judges, especially those The series of court applica-
on the panel appointed to tions are threatening Mnan-
hear the application of the gagwa’s re-election project,
Zimbabwe Human Rights which includes consolidating
NGO Forum executive direc- power, control and influence
tor Musa Kika – consolidated across the executive, judiciary,
with that of the Zimbabwe legislature, security sector and
Young Lawyers Association the media ahead of the elec-
– against the extension of su- tions. 
perior court judges’ tenures,
could block Chief Justice As a result, Mnangagwa has
Luke Malaba’s controversial been pushing vigorously and
term extension.  spiritedly to make changes
that give him more power and
Chiweshe is a war veteran sideline Chiwenga.
and retired major-general.
He was Chiwenga’s deputy in Mnangagwa and Chiwenga
Zanla’s political commissariat are locked in a war of attrition
during the liberation struggle.  which began soon after the
2017 military coup that top-
After Independence, he pled the long-time ruler Rob-
worked as a public prosecutor ert Mugabe. Chiwenga was
before completing law studies Zimbabwe Defence Forces
at the University of Zimba- commander during the coup
bwe.  and basically installed Mnan-
gagwa in power.
In 1983, he joined the Zim-
babwe National Army  as a However, the two fell out
major and served in the di- soon afterwards over a num-
rectorate of legal services. He ber of unresolved leadership
then rose through the ranks and power-related issues. 
and became the head, and lat-
er judge advocate-general. He Insiders say Mnangagwa
also became brigadier-general had agreed to serve one term
until his retirement in April – until 2023 – and thereafter
2001.  allow Chiwenga to take over.
He has, however, reneged
After that, he was appoint- on the agreement, triggering
ed High Court in 2001. He clashes and political brink-
later became chair of the De- manship between the two
limitation Commission in erstwhile allies.
2004 and Zimbabwe Elector-
al Commission chair in 2005. 

As elections boss, he
worked closely with Chiwen-
ga and the military when they
rescued Mugabe in 2008 after
his defeat by founding oppo-
sition MDC leader Morgan

NewsHawks News Page 3

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE of jurisdiction to grant the
consequential relief,” he said.
JSC opposes applicationTHEJudicialServiceCommis-
sion (JSC) is seeking to have Chikwanha said Kika failed
the application challenging the to include the Parliament and
extension of judges’ retirement Mnangagwa, who were re-
age from 70 to 75 years dis- sponsible for the processes that
made the amendment into law.
on judges’ retirement agemissedonseveralgrounds. 
In a responding affidavit He said failure to cite Parlia-
to lawyer Musa Kika’s appli- ment, the Speaker of the Na-
cation, JSC secretary Walter I do not mind having the next tional Assembly and the Presi-
Chikwanha also wants the most senior judge to the Judge dent of Senate as parties hereto
judges hearing the matter to President who has not acted as is a material non-joinder which
recuse themselves, alleging that a judge of Supreme Court then renders the application fatally
they would be biased. appointing another bench of defective. 
He says the application three judges to preside over this
should also be dismissed on matter.”  “I am also advised that the
technicality, on grounds of He said Justice Zhou should failure to cite the President of
incompetence, that it was not recuse himself, alleging he “has Zimbabwe in these proceed-
urgent and that it failed to cite a direct and personal interest in ings is also a fatal misjoinder as
the necessary parties in the obtaining a seat as a judge of the President is responsible for
case. the Constitutional Court”. assenting to any Constitution-
Chikwanha said the three Chikwanha further argues al Bills that have been validly
High Court judges appoint- that the amendment had al- passed by the National Assem-
ed by Judge President George ready become law and that bly and Senate.” 
Chiweshe, namely Happias Chief Justice Malaba’s contract
Zhou, Edith Mushore and had been renewed by President “I am further advised that
Jester Helena Charewa, to pre- Emmerson Mnangagwa for the the citation of the third respon-
side over the case of 17 senior next five years. dent, Deputy Chief Justice, the
judges, should be replaced. “It is respectfully submit- fourth to eighth respondents,
“There is still no explana- ted that, to the extent that judges of the Supreme Court
tion from the applicant why the application is not seeking and current acting judges of
he has not included the Judge to invalidate the Constitution the Constitutional Court; the
President. It may be that the Amendment (No.2), the relief ninth to 14th and 18th respon-
omission is purely fortuitous. sought by the applicant is in- dents, judges of the Supreme
However, it also creates a sus- competent. The amendment, Court and the 14th to 17th
picion and a perception that i.e Constitutional Amend- respondents, judges of the
the bench appointed to hear ment (No.2), is now part of High Court currently acting as
the matter may be tainted with the Constitution of Zimbabwe judges of the Supreme Court is
bias having been appointed by and is now the law. Until such Judicial Service Commission secretary Walter Chikwanha. highly improper and irregular. 

the Judge President who is not time as it is declared invalid or cated upon the Court finding Luke Malaba to cease holding night on the 15th of May “The 3rd to 18th respon-
also a respondent in the mat- set aside, no cause of action that the Constitution of Zim- the post at midnight on 15 2021, Elizabeth Gwaunza dents have no material inter-
ter,” he said. can arise in terms of the relief babwe Ammendment (No.2) May and any action he does to became/becomes the Acting est in the subject matter and
“I wish to express my objec- sought based on the previous Act, 2021, or the amendment be ruled null and void and of Chief Justice of Zimbabwe un- their citation herein is a fatal
tion to the present bench sit- unamended constitution of to section 186 of the Consti- no effect. til such a time as a substantive mis-joinder aimed at terror-
ting to preside over this matter, Zimbabwe 2013.” tution was irregular and not in “In accordance with pro- Chief Justice of Zimbabwe is ising and embarrassing the
and to request that the hon- “The main declaratory re- compliance with section 328 visions of section 181 of the appointed.  sitting judges of the Constitu-
ourable judges in that bench lief sought by the applicant of the Constitution.” Constitution of Zimbabwe “In accordance with pro- tional and Supreme Courts.”
recuse themselves from matter. (Musa Kika ) herein is predi- Kika wants Chief justice 2013, with effect from mid- visions of section 181 of the
Constitution of Zimbabwe He also argues that it is not
2013, with effect from mid- an urgent matter, also noting
night on the 15th of May that Kika’s allegation that judg-
2021, Paddington Garwe be- es had received gifts or favours
came or becomes the Acting had unnecessarily brought the
deputy chief Justice of Zimba- judiciary into disrepute.
KEEP THAT COUGH bwe until such a time as a sub-
UNDER COVER. stantive deputy chief justice of While Kika argues that the
Zimbabwe is appointed. change of the age limit had a
direct influence on the change
“In accordance with pro- of term limits, Chikwanha
visions of sections 186 (1) (a) claims that the issue of the age
Always keep that cough or sneeze into your arm or a tissue and put and 186 (2)  (of the Consti- limit was different from that
the tissue in the bin straight away. Wash your hands with soap and tution of 2013)  in their orig- of term limits which requires a
water for at least 20 seconds or more afterwards. inal from and notwithstanding referendum to be changed. 

TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THE provisions of Constitutional Chikwanha said the appli-
SPREAD AND STAY HEALTHY. amendment number 2, second cation was also defective as no
to seventeenth respondents leave was sought and granted
hold office until they reach the before sitting judges were sued. 
HELP age of seventy years, whereup-
on they must by operation of “I am advised that Rule
STOPTHE 18 of the High Court Rules
SPREAD prohibits civil process being
law retire.” instituted against judges of
AND STAY HEALTHY Chikwanha however chal- the High Court without leave
having been first granted by
lenged that, saying the High this honourable Court. I aver
Court did not have jurisdic- that the present application
tion to grant the relief sought is fatally defective as no leave
by Kika. was sought and granted before
“The consequential relief proceedings were instituted
sought by the applicant gives against the 2nd and 3rd re-
effect to an order of consti- spondents as well as the 15th
tutional invalidity without it to 17th respondents who are
having been confirmed by the judges of the High Court.
Constitutional Court as re-
quired by section 167 (3) of “... any judge of the High
the Constitution. I am advised Court has the potential to be-
that the High Court has no come a Supreme Court and/or
jurisdiction to grant the conse- Constitutional Court Judge in
quential relief sought herein by due course. If this honourable
the applicant.” Court adopts this approach
“The application must fail to litigation, it means all the
on the basis of this court’s lack Judges of the High Court in
The NewsHawks @NewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected] Zimbabwe ought to have been
cited as parties in this matter,”
he said.

Page 4 News NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Machaya rejects judges tenure lawsuit

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA Attorney-General Prince Machaya. said judges remain as re-
spondents I will have no
AT TO R N E Y- G E N E R - after 15 May to be null cannot seek a declaration imputing the enactment judges available to deter-
AL Prince Machaya has and void and that any at- of nullity or invalidity, as of the Constitutional mine any appeal which
rejected an application tempts to do so after 15 he does in his draft order, Amendment to me. I may note to either the
by Harare lawyer Musa May be equally declared in respect of a provision Supreme Court or the
Kika – also the director null and void. of the Constitutional “My third objection is Constitutional Court.
of the Zimbabwe Human Amendment which he that Applicant has not
Rights NGO Forum – to Machaya’s first objec- has identified. It conse- sought the prior leave of He said the basis of
stop Chief Justice Luke tion was that the appli- quently follows that he this honourable court to the averment and sub-
Malaba and other supe- cation raised no cause for has failed to satisfy the sue out process against mission was that the ex-
rior court judges from action. requirements for the dec- 2nd to 18th Respon- tension in the retirement
benefitting from the con- laration which he seeks. dents, who are judges, as age limit amounts to a
stitutional amendments “I say so because no- As such, he is not enti- is required by Rule 18 of “term-limit provision”
allowing judges to have where in the application tled to the consequential this honourable court as under the constitution
their tenure extended does applicant set out relief which he seeks pur- read together with Rule and, consequently, such
beyond 70 years, on five the provision which he suant to the grant of the 73 of the Supreme Court a provision cannot apply
grounds. complains of which is declaratur,” he said. Rules, 2018 and Rule to an incumbent in terms
contained in the Con- 45 of the Constitutional of section 328 (7) of the
In his opposing affida- stitution of Zimbabwe Machaya said it was Rules, 2016.” constitution.
vit, Machaya, who was Amendment (No.2) Act common cause that the
acting on behalf of Jus- 2021 (the “Constitution- constitutional amend- Fourthly, Machaya “A term-limit provi-
tice minister Ziyambi Zi- al Amendment”). Lawyer Musa Kika. ment was enacted by the objected to the citation sion under the Constitu-
yambi, the first respon- “It is that provision legislature and his role as respondents of all the tion is, in my respectful
dent in the matter, said which he effectively ar- was limited to presenting judges and acting judges view, a period-specific
the application raised no gues is a nullity as it vi- to Parliament what cabi- of both the Constitution- provision relating in ex-
cause for action, wrong- olates the Constitution. net has resolved in terms al Court and the Supreme press terms to a particu-
ly stated that he enacted Yet he fails to set it out. of section 110 (3)(c) of Court, save for citation lar public office.
the amendments, failed “Having failed to so the constitution. of second respondent
to cite the Judge Presi- set it out it does not “My second objection (Malaba). “It is not a conclusion
dent George Chiweshe serve him any purpose to is to his averments al- to be arrived at after
who appointed the panel then complain that the leging that I enacted the “It is my respectful linking different provi-
hearing the matter. He amendment in question Constitutional Amend- view that the mere fact sions of the Constitu-
also questioned the citing was not subjected to a ment. See for instance, that a person might ben- tion to each other. In any
of all Supreme Court and referendum as required paragraph 54, 58 and efit from the provisions event, the Constitutional
Constitutional Court by section 328 (9) of the 73 of Applicant’s found- of a statute if they meet Amendment does not per
judges, meaning that Constitution. First re- ing Affidavit),” Machaya certain conditions is no se extend the retirement
in the case of an appeal spondent is not in a posi- said.  basis for making respon- age. All it does is to per-
there would be no one to tion to determine wheth- “I accordingly request dents in legal proceed- mit an affected judge to
hear the case. er or not it should be upon this honourable ings. Their citation was, serve for a further peri-
referred to a referendum.    court to make an order therefore, totally unnec- od of five years beyond
Kika approached the “Further, applicant expunging all references essary,” he said. the retirement age of 70
High Court on an ur- years,” he said.
gent basis seeking to bar “My objection arises
the extension of Malaba’s from the fact that if the In his fifth objection,
term, under the recently Machaya said there was
passed Constitution of no explanation from
Zimbabwe Amendment Kika as to why he did not
(No.2) Act which was include the Judge Presi-
signed into law by Pres- dent.
ident Emmerson Mnan-
gagwa on 7 May. “It may be that the
omission is purely for-
Malaba turns 70 on 15 tuitous. However, it also
May but his term was ex- creates a suspicion and
tended for five years on a perception that the
Tuesday. bench appointed to hear
the matter may be taint-
Kika argued that the ed with bias having been
provisions which Mala- appointed by the Judge
ba would benefit from, President who is not a
that were introduced in respondent in the matter.
terms of an amendment
to section 328 (7) of the “In order to allay these
constitution, would al- suspicions and percep-
low the Chief Justice, his tions, which are quite
deputy Justice Elizabeth genuine, I wish to ex-
Gwaunza as well as Con- press my objection to
stitutional Court and Su- the present bench sitting
preme Court judges to to preside over the mat-
have their terms of office ter, and to request that
extended by the President the honourable judges in
on production of a medi- that bench recuse them-
cal certificate confirming selves from this matter,”
that such a judge would he said.
be fit enough to continue
on the bench. “As time is not on my
side I have to conclude
Section 328 requires by stating that I deny
the holding of a referen- all averments and con-
dum where an amend- clusions of law made by
ment Bill seeks to amend Applicant which are in-
a term-limiting provi- consistent with the aver-
sion.  ments which I have set
out above. I therefore
Kika sought to have pray that the application
any purported extension be dismissed with costs as
of Malaba’s term of office it has no merit,” Macha-
ya said.

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Rehashed

Malaba key to Mnangagwa’s 2023 project

OWEN GAGARE his judgment which attracted as Vice-President and sec- the Speaker of Parliament at Chief Justice Luke Malaba. A separate judgement is
widespread attention at home ond secretary of Zanu PF at 1353 hours. In the commu- which legitimised the coup. when a judge differs with col-
FORMER Deputy Prime and abroad. the expense of Joice Mujuru, nication, the former President Chiweshe had ruled that the leagues usually on reasons,
Minister Arthur Mutamba- Mnangagwa used to refer to expressed to the Speaker his military intervention by the but not necessarily on the
ra says President Emmerson It is understood that Mala- the late Chief Justice God- desire to  resign from the Of- Zimbabwe Defence Forces conclusion.
Mnangagwa is terrified of de- ba prevailed over some judges frey Chidyausiku  as muten- fice of President. which led to Mugabe’s resig-
feat in the 2023 elections and to ensure the unanimous rul- gesi (sellout) and to Malaba nation  was constitutional, as The reasoning forming the
has decided to extend Chief ing. Some judges wanted to as munhu wangu uyo (my “The Speaker must have the military sought to restore basis of the court’s decision is
Justice Luke Malaba’s tenure dissent, but were whipped in man).” advised him that for the resig- order in the country. separate from the judgment
because he is his “safe pair of line, sources said. nation to have the legal effect and is called “reasons” or “rea-
hands” in charge of a pliant In a July 2018 ruling, Mal- of bringing his presidency to He said the military’s ac- sons for judgment.”
judiciary. Government and judi- aba in a court ruling said an end, it had to be commu- tions in intervening to stop
cial officials say Malaba was Mugabe freely and voluntarily nicated to him by means of a the takeover of Mugabe’s A dissenting judgement
Mutambara said if the polls Mnangagwa’s strategic candi- stepped down, adding Mnan- written notice. functions “by those around is when a judge differs with
are rigged the opposition will date to replace the late Chief gagwa’s assumption of power him are constitutionally per- colleagues on a judgment and
sprint to the court, but that Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku was done in terms of the law, “A written notice of res- missible and lawful”. writes his or her own ruling.
will be to no avail. when he was Vice-President although it was clear he had ignation addressed to the
and Justice minister, while seized power through a coup. Speaker and signed by the Malaba and Chiweshe thus Ironically in 2013, Mala-
“Guess who will be waiting also plotting to succeed the President, on the face of it, played a critical role in sanitis- ba, then deputy chief justice,
for you in court? Malaba,” late former president Robert This followed an applica- meets the first requirement of ing and legitimising the coup issued a prominent dissenting
Mutambara said, Mnangagwa Mugabe. tion by the Liberal Democrats constitutional validity.” which brought Mnangagwa judgment in a case in which
facilitated the amendment of and Revolutionary Freedom to power. political activist Jealousy
the constitution to facilitate Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF Fighters, Bongani Nyathi, Malaba argued that “what Mawarire approached the
Malaba’s continued stay at faction, which  battled for Linda Masarira and Vusumuzi the former President said in A government official said courts to force the govern-
the apex of the judiciary be- power against the rival group Sibanda who contested the le- the written notice of resigna- Mnangagwa was convinced ment to hold elections by 31
yond 70 years, to aid his pow- that had coalesced around gality of the Mnangagwa-led tion is the best evidence avail- that Malaba is loyal to him July that year, while opposi-
er consolidation and 2023 Mugabe’s wife Grace, broad- government. able of the state of his mind at and he should stay on. tion parties wanted reforms
re-election bid, as revealed ly wanted Judge President the time.” first to ensure credible polls.
by The NewsHawks in a se- George Chiweshe to succeed They argued that Mugabe “He has demonstrated be-
ries of articles well before the Chidyausiku. But Mnangag- tendered the resignation un- “He (Mugabe) said he was yond any reasonable doubt The constitutional court
Constitution of Zimbabwe wa personally thought Malaba der duress and that Mnangag- free to express his will to re- that he is loyal to the Presi- granted the order, although
Amendment (No.1) Act and was the man for the job. wa’s ascendancy was unconsti- sign. Not only does the for- dent. He helped him during Malaba and Justice Bharat Pa-
Constitution of Zimbabwe tutional. mer President declare in the Chamisa’s ConCourt applica- tel dissented and had “reasons
Amendment (No.2) Act be- Then, as now, Mnangag- written notice that  he made tion and played a big role to for judgment” respectively,
came law. wa still wants Malaba. Chi- They further said the im- the decision voluntarily, he legitimise his rise to power. So with the judgement directing
weshe, who has a military peachment process that was gives reasons for doing so in that’s why the President wants Mugabe to hold elections by
Malaba’s contentious ex- background, is now viewed instituted prior to Mugabe’s clear and unambiguous lan- him to remain in the position 31 July 2013.
tension is tied to Mnangag- by Mnangagwa’s faction as resignation was unlawful and guage,” Malaba said. with 2023 in mind,” the offi-
wa’s political ambitions as Vice-President Constantino that it served to coerce him to cial said. This was despite the court
he  desperately wants him to Chiwenga’s loyalist. Mnan- step down. “He said he was motivat- finding that Mugabe was in
stay ahead of the 2023 elec- gagwa and Chiwenga are cur- ed by the desire to ‘ensure a All of Zimbabwe’s presi- breach of his constitutional
tions. rently locked in a simmering However, Malaba, sit- smooth, peaceful and non-vi- dential elections since 2002, responsibilities.
power struggle, although the ting in chambers, ruled the olent transfer of power that except the bloody 2008 elec-
Mnangagwa on Tuesday President now has an upper constitutional challenge was underpins national security, tions which culminated in a Malaba said the decision
extended Malaba’s tenure by hand. frivolous and vexatious given peace and sustainability’.” power-sharing government, “defied logic”.
five years. The chief justice’s that Mugabe carefully applied have been contested in the
judicial reign was set to come In his monograph on the his mind and decided to step Malaba said Mnangag- courts. After his appointment “That is a very dangerous
to an end by operation of law presidential election, Excel- down without the embarrass- wa’s assumption of office was as chief justice in 2017, Mal- principle and has no basis in
at midnight on 15 May 2021 gate: How Zimbabwe’s 2018 ment of impeachment. therefore done in accordance aba has sought to control the law. The principle of the rule
when he turns 70. Presidential Election Was Sto- with the provisions of the judiciary to help Mnangag- of law just does not permit
len, political scientist and for- “The former president’s constitution after a vacancy wa’s administration consoli- such an approach,” said Mal-
This week, we re-run an ar- mer minister Jonathan  Moyo written notice of resignation had arisen due to the resigna- date power, insiders say. aba.“I however refuse to have
ticle we published on 19 Feb- — an ex-Mnangagwa al- speaks for itself,” Malaba said. tion. wool cast over the inner eye of
ruary revealing why Mnan- ly-turned-critic — says the As a result, there have my mind on this matter.”
gagwa wants Malaba to stay. Zimbabwe Electoral Com- “It sets the context in The Chief Justice’s judg- been no separate or dissent-
mission helped Mnangagwa which it was written. He ment followed a Novem- ing judgements in the higher In his book, Moyo also says
Malaba has been Mnangag- to rig the 2018 elections. candidly reveals the fact that ber 2017 ruling by Judge courts since then. Judges are in the run up  to the coup,
wa’s long-time ally, including he had communicated with President George Chiweshe always concurring. Mnangagwa worked hard
when he was deputising the Moyo, a professor of pol- to amend section 180 of the
late former president Robert itics, says Malaba dismissed constitution to bar public in-
Mugabe, and also while serv- Chamisa’s application soon terviews for the chief justice,
ing as Justice minister well after receiving it while in Pre- deputy chief justice and judge
before the November 2017 toria, South Africa, where he president so that he could
coup. was attending his son’s wed- handpick his preferred judges
ding, which suggests a prede- when he came in.
The Chief Justice has been a termined outcome.
vital cog in Mnangagwa’s po- “When the amendment
litical machinery, helping him “While there, Malaba re- was introduced by Mnangag-
to sanitise and legitimise the ceived a copy of Chamisa’s wa shortly before the coup,
coup which toppled long- ConCourt application from a its intended beneficiaries were
time ruler Robert Mugabe, senior legal officer at the Judi- Mnangagwa himself and Mal-
thrusting him into power. cial Service Commission as he aba. It is not surprising that,
was relaxing by the swimming with the amendment in their
Malaba has also run the pool at Pretoria Sheraton Ho- pocket, now Mnangagwa
judiciary in a way that has tel,” Moyo writes. wants to raise the retirement
helped Mnangagwa’s regime, age for judges to ensure that
government insiders acknowl- “After reading the applica- Malaba remains at the helm
edge. tion, Malaba turned to the ju- of the judiciary to do in 2023
dicial officer and asked him ‘Is what he did for him in 2018,”
Crucially also, Malaba de- that all’? to which the officer Moyo writes.
livered the Constitutional replied ‘Yes Sir’. Malaba then
Court judgement which con- shook his head and remarked: Moyo says those who saw
firmed Mnangagwa’s disput- ‘Ok, akula lutho la (There is Malaba as a jurisprudentially
ed 30 July 2018 presidential nothing here). progressive judge have been
election victory, after dismiss- surprised and disappointed by
ing an electoral petition by “By those words, Malaba his  support of the coup, and
MDC Alliance leader Nelson meant there was no case and the subsequent repression.
Chamisa. he was going to have Cha-
misa’s application dismissed, “The point many have
In a unanimous ruling of even before the case was heard missed is that Malaba was an-
the nine judges of the coun- on its merits.” ti-Mugabe and pro-Mnangag-
try’s top court, Malaba said wa, not a neutral judge bound
Chamisa had failed to prove Moyo further said Malaba’s by constitutionalism. For
allegations of fraud and ma- attitude was not surprising Malaba it was personal and
nipulation of the vote during given the close relationship thus had nothing to do with
the presidential poll. between the two. justice, constitutionalism or
progressive jurisprudence.”
“Emmerson Dambudzo “When I worked close-
Mnangagwa is duly declared ly with him and Emmerson Government officials said
the winner of the presidential Mnangagwa between March Moyo was correct in his as-
elections held on the 30th of 2013 and December 2014, sessment of Mnangagwa and
July 2018,” Malaba said in in the run up to his elevation Malaba’s relations and their
2023 electoral agenda.

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Mnangagwa expands his powers
over national wildlife heritage
PRESIDENT Emmerson
Mnangagwa will soon be get- President Emmerson Mnangagwa. of the national park, botani- a written agreement between
ting exclusive powers to au- cal reserve, botanical garden, the Authority and the person
thorise all mining activities in Zimbabwe’s Parks and Some of the protected areas tional park, botanical reserve, sanctuary, safari area or rec- concerned which has been ap-
national parks, as the country Wildlife Estate covers about where mining takes place in- botanical garden, sanctuary, reational park before the date proved by the Minister; or
forges ahead with lifting a ban 12.5% of the country’s surface clude the Chegutu/Mupfure safari area or recreational park when such area became a na-
imposed in September 2020. area and some of the game Recreational Park, Umfurudzi except in terms of the Mines tional park, botanical reserve, “(b) in accordance with
parks have rich mineral depos- Safari Area in Shamva, Doma/ and Minerals Act [Chapter botanical garden, sanctuary or any mining rights lawful-
The plans are captured in a its that include gold and coal. Chewore Safari Area, Rhodes 21:05] except “a) in terms of recreational park.”  ly acquired in respect of the
memorandum to cabinet by Estate (Matobo National a permit issued by the minister area of the, botanical reserve,
Environment, Climate, Tour- Conservationists estimate Park), Nyanga National Park with the consent of the Minis- The proposed restrictions botanical garden, sanctuary,
ism and Hospitality Industry that approximately 1.31% of and Chimanimani National ter of Mines; or are supposed to ensure there safari area or recreational park
minister Nqobizitha Manga- 5 million hectares of the en- Park. is no destruction of wildlife before the date when such area
liso Ndlovu which highlights tire Parks and Wildlife Estate “(b) in accordance with any and ecosystems which mining became a botanical reserve,
the proposed principles to is under both legal and illegal The document also proposes prospecting rights lawfully ac- activities have the potential of botanical garden, sanctuary,
amend the Parks and Wildlife mining activities.  to ban prospects within a na- quired in respect of the area causing. recreational park or acquired
Act, Chapter 20:14 of 1975. land.
Zimbabwe has provisions
Ndlovu discussed the for mining in protected areas “Notwithstanding this Act,
amendments with stakehold- as the mining sector is one a person may pick any special-
ers, including officials from of the main foreign currency ly protected indigenous plant
the Zimbabwe Parks and earners. It accounts for 60% of or indigenous plant where the
Wildlife Management Author- total foreign currency, accord- picking is necessary for the
ity (ZimParks) on 5 May.  ing to the Mid-Term Budget working of any mining loca-
and Economic Review of July tion and in accordance with
The ban on mining in na- 2020. the exercise of mining rights
tional parks was imposed after lawfully acquired in terms of
an outcry by environmentalists In 2019, Zimbabwe set the Mines and Minerals Act
following an announcement a target to attain a US$12 [Chapter 21:05].” 
that some Chinese mining billion mining economy by
companies had been awarded 2023. The sector is also pre- The proposed amendment
special grants to prospect for dicted to play a leading role also states that the minister
coal in Hwange National Park in anchoring the realisation of may prescribe additional terms
under the Mines and Minerals Vision 2030 when Zimbabwe and conditions for mining and
Act with the consent of Zim- is expected to have become an prospecting botanical reserve,
Parks. upper middle-income econo- botanical garden, sanctuary,
my. safari area, recreational park or
According to the amend- acquired land.
ment proposal, the whole sec- Other proposed changes
tion (119), which pertains to also state that: “No person According to the proposal,
prospecting and mining shall shall acquire or work any any person who contravenes
be repealed. mining location in terms of the mining and prospecting
the Mines and Minerals Act laws shall be guilty of an of-
It will be substituted with [Chapter21:05] within a bo- fence not exceeding level five
the introduction of a sub-sec- tanical reserve, botanical gar- or to imprisonment for a pe-
tion which specifically states den, sanctuary, safari area, riod not exceeding six months
that no mining shall take place recreational park or acquired or to both an imprisonment
without the authority of the land except— (a) in terms of and a fine.
President.

“No mining shall be con-
ducted in a National Park ex-
cept where the President has
given authority through no-
tice published in the Govern-
ment Gazette,” the proposed
amendments read in part.

LIZWE SEBATHA Bulawayo water woes unrelenting day clear water with 4 out of 7
pumps functional,” the council
BULAWAYO City Council delays in the completion of re- If unchecked, backflow caus- mega-litres (ML) of water per water due to the non-func- report adds.
(BCC) has no timeline for the habilitation works at Criterion es the pump to spin in reverse day, 30ML more than the city’s tioning of some filter beds and
lifting of its water-shedding re- Works and Ncema/Fernhill which is a potentially damaging daily requirements. 50ML to 60 ML/day out of the Council officials on Wednes-
gime after failing to meet the pumping stations. action for the pump.” expected 140ML/day of raw day admitted that there is no
March deadline, blaming this “Ncema waterworks had a water. On the other hand, Fern- timeline or deadline for the lift-
on a combination of electricity The delays are partly caused Upon completion of the two capacity to pump a maximum hill had a maximum capacity of ing of water shedding.
outages and unfinished water- by a council blunder to pur- projects, council claims it would of 25ML to 40 ML/day out of pumping 52ML out of 70ML/
works rehabilitation projects, chase water pumps with “signifi- be able to pump as much as 180 the expected 80ML/day clear “For now, we cannot say
among other reasons. cant design and manufacturing” when water shedding will be
defects at Criterion Works and lifted. Of course, we will con-
The local authority in Febru- Ncema/Fernhill water pumping tinue easing the timetable but
ary eased the week-long shed- stations. The pumps were pur- there has to be an appreciation
ding regime to two days per chased and installed under the that we face other challenges in
week, promising to totally lift US$33.6 million Bulawayo Wa- our water restoration strategy
water cuts in March, buoyed by ter and Sewerage Services Im- such as power cuts at our water
massive inflows into the city’s provement Project (BWSSIP) treatment plants. This affects
supply dams that were as low funded by the African Develop- our pumping capacity,” depu-
as 30% in 2020. As of March ment Bank (AfDB). ty mayor Mlandu Ncube said
2021, Bulawayo’s supply dams when contacted for comment.
were cumulatively 70.63% full, “A significant problem oc-
enough to last the city till the curred during the testing prior The Matabeleland Zambezi
next rainy season without any to commissioning of the new Water Project (MZWP), which
water shedding, according to a Flowserve pumps in that four involves the construction of
council report of the engineer- of the total six non-return valves the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and
ing services department. (NRVs) failed due to design and piping water from the dam to
manufacturing defects,” the re- Bulawayo, is seen as a long-term
However, to date, residents port reads. solution to the city’s perennial
still endure water shedding out- water woes.
side the two-day timetable with “The NRVs have an im-
some suburbs such as Pumula portant function to protect The dam will have an estimat-
South not getting any supplies the pumps; when a pump is ed holding capacity of 650 mil-
at all and forced to rely on water switched off or when there is lion cubic metres, slightly above
bowsers and boreholes. a power outage, the NRV pre- the total holding capacity of the
vents backflow from city’s six supply dams. The gov-
A report from the city coun- ernment floated a tender for the
cil’s engineering services com- the water in the rising main. construction of the pipeline in
mittee attributes failure to lift April following a ground-break-
the water-shedding regime to ing ceremony by President Em-
merson Mnangagwa.

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

NYASHA CHINGONO President’s proxies in superstitious
hunt for Mugabe’s ‘mystic sceptre’
PRESIDENT Emmerson
Mnangagwa’s regime is hound-
ing the late former president
Robert Mugabe’s family amid
strange demands that the re-
mains of the veteran leader be
exhumed and reburied, The
NewsHawks can report.
As part of Mnangagwa’s
grand scheme to arm-twist the These rites were being done in
Mugabe family into giving up the presence of Mnangagwa,” a
the long-time ruler’s remains, family source said.
interred in a courtyard at his
rural home in Zvimba, the state “Owen Ncube arrived at the
has gone on a rampage persecut- State House and found these
ing the family. characters there. He made a
Gold panners, with the ac- complaint that the chief had not
quisance of the authorities, have been cleared by the security but
invaded Mugabe’s sprawling Mnangagwa snapped and repri-
citrus estate in Mazowe and in- manded him.”
stalled a gold milling plant.
Aerial pictures of the estate For the ritual to be successful,
show massive destruction and the chief needed soil from Mug-
mining activities at the citrus abe’s grave, the source said.
plant, situated at the heart of
Mazowe, with sources saying “They were told that the ini-
Mnangagwa’s sons oversee op- tial ceremony did not work. So
erations. that is why there is this whole
Gold mining activities have furore about reburials.
gone on for months, while at-
tempts to remove the panners “They could not gain access
from the estate are proving fu- to the grave because the for-
tile. mer First Lady built a huge wall
This also follows revelations around the grave,” added the
that villagers in Mazowe went source.
on a rampage, slaughtering over
1 400 cattle belonging to Mug- Since Mugabe died, Grace
abe’s family. Sources told The has guarded his remains, amid
NewsHawks that the villagers fears that Mnangagwa and Zanu
slaughtering the cattle could be PF were after them for ritual
heard chanting pro-Mnangagwa purposes.
slogans.
Stocktheft has dealt a ma- The late president Robert Mugabe above and below is his grave. Grace, who is in Singapore
seeking medical treatment,
jor blow on the dairy business mambo). So, they think he must has built a mausoleum around
which, as earlier reported by this have been buried with the scep- Mugabe’s grave, located in a
publication, has crumbled since tre. This is where the issue of courtyard at his Zvimba rural
Mugabe was removed in a mil- exhumations is coming from. It home.
itary coup in November 2017. is to verify if he was buried with
Former first lady Grace’s or- the sceptre,” the source said. His casket was also concealed
phanage has also been subjected by a metal cover before burial,
to constant raids by state agents, Since Mugabe died, Mnan- with a lock to secure his body
ordering that some of the chil- gagwa has made spirited efforts while concrete slabs were also
dren be removed from the facil- to recover the sceptre, believed used to cover the grave.
ity. to possess spiritual powers to
The children’s home has been command authority. The family source said Grace
part of Grace’s sprawling empire is unperturbed by Chief Zvim-
in Mazowe, which includes a Mnangagwa even tried to use ba’s summons, where she is also
school, the Gushungo Dairy Equatorial Guinea President ordered to pay a fine for “flout-
Farm and Gushungo Estates. Teodoro Obiang’s son to gain ing” cultural practices.
Some of Mugabe’s closest rel- access to Mugabe’s grave, to no
atives have also been hounded avail. “She was laughing about it.
off their farms, with the latest We were laughing about the fact
being Walter Chidhakwa’s wife “Since the old man was bur- that the decision to bury Mug-
who lost her farm to Zanu PF ied, there have been frantic ef- abe was made by the family.
officials. Chidhakwa is Mug- forts to gain access to the grave. By the family I mean the Gus-
abe’s nephew and was vocal There was even a ploy to bring hungos, so if this Zvimba was
against Mnangagwa’s bid to Obiang Nguema’s son to come a traditionalist he would have
bury the late former leader at and act as if he is paying his re- known the right person to cite,
the Heroes’ Acre. spects but working on behalf of either Robert Jnr because he is
Chidhakwa’s wife has lost the state,” the source said. the heir apparent or any other
250 hectares and is left with 181 Acre against his wishes, Grace area. garoo court,” a source close to such close relative. This is be-
hectares of less fertile land. had the last laugh, interring the In a letter dated 29 April Grace said. “Fortunately, Grace was not cause this one is not even a close
“She travelled with Grace to freedom fighter-turned-despot there, but he proceeded and relative; he is not even from the
Singapore and the government in a courtyard at his rural home 2021, Chief Zvimba ordered A family source told The failed to access the burial site. Karigamombe family,” said the
even facilitated her travel, but in Zvimba. Grace to attend the village court NewsHawks that the latest move There have been those spirited source.
she lost part of her farm and the next Thursday at Gonzo Guzha by the state is part of a desperate efforts. Why would you insist
state argues that she is absent,” Before the burial, Grace stuck Hall at Murombedzi growth move to “repossess” the elusive on going when the family is ab- “At the funeral, Chidhakwa
a family source told The News- to Mugabe’s casket amid fears point at 9:30 AM. sceptre. sent?” made it clear that the decision
Hawks. that the state wanted to hijack to bury Mugabe would be made
Patrick Zhuwawo, Mugabe’s his body for rituals. Mnangag- “You are facing charges of During the coup, state agents Obiang’s son had requested by the Karigamombe family. So,
nephew, last year lost his farm to wa has been accused of being burying the late Robert Gabriel who had already shifted alle- to take pictures besides Mug- the former First Lady is saying,
Sports minister Kirsty Coventry. an occultist, having been on a Mugabe at his homestead. This giance to Mnangagwa seized abe’s grave but was denied entry these guys are mad. In fact, what
Coventry snatched Zhuwawo’s spirited hunt for a mystic scep- is unheard of in Chief Zvimba’s some artifacts at State House by the Mugabe family. do they want to do? There is a
Cockington Farm in Zvimba. tre, which Mugabe is believed area. At the same time, you are belonging to Mugabe. mausoleum built there.”
Grace’s sister Shuvai Gum- to have possessed during his 37- accused of abandoning Rob- “He had said he wanted to
bochuma also lost her Kachere year stranglehold on power. ert Gabriel Mugabe’s property Mugabe had left behind take pictures on the grave. It Mugabe, a controversial char-
Farm in Concession to a top which is scattered nationwide,” some wooden carvings, includ- would help his campaign. The acter in life as he is in death,
Zanu PF official in 2018, as Mnangagwa is said to believe the chief said. ing several sceptres, which state family ended up suspecting that continues to hog the headlines
Mugabe’s family continues to that the sceptre bolsters the au- agents believed carried spiritual something was up.” nearly two years after his death
be hounded by Mnangagwa’s thority to rule and it is crucial “I want you to rebury the late powers. as the state fights for his remains.
regime. that he acquires it as he seeks president in accordance with In a desperate and bizarre
The hounding of Mugabe’s another mandate in 2023. our traditions and in Zvimba at Upon realising that the move to appease Mugabe’s Nearly two years ago, Mnan-
family is at the heart of a fierce a place designated by the fam- wooden carvings carried no spirit, who is believed to have gagwa was left with egg on his
battle for the veteran leader’s Strange ritualistic concerns ily and his late mother. These spiritual significance, Mnangag- died a bitter man, Mnangagwa, face after Mugabe’s family re-
body that ensued following his surfaced again this week when charges you are facing attract a wa last year ordered Mugabe’s Chief Zvimba and a business- fused to bury him on the hill-
death on 6 September in 2019. Chief Zvimba summoned fine of five cattle and a goat.” family to collect the stuff, which man (name supplied) are said to top-located Heroes’ Acre, saying
Despite spirited attempts to Grace to appear before a vil- included the sceptres. have performed a ritual at State they were following his dying
bury Mugabe at the Heroes’ lage court to answer charges of Strangely, the summons were House last year. wish.
“inappropriately” burying the allegedly served by an officer “Last year, Mnangagwa’s peo-
country’s late former president from Mnangagwa’s office, laying ple asked the Mugabe family to “Then there is this thing that According to Mugabe’s fami-
at the family homestead, saying bare the state’s plan to exhume come and pick up the artifacts. happened in September last year ly, the veteran leader died a bit-
the move is “unheard of” in his Mugabe’s body from Zvimba. They had taken the artifacts, when Chief Zvimba, a headman ter man and refused to be buried
thinking that they would find under him and the businessman among his “tormentors” after his
“She will not attend that kan- the mystic sceptre (tsvimbo ya- went to the State House pur- unceremonious exit from power
porting to do a ritual ceremony in 2017.
of bringing back the dead back.
Mnangagwa, his long-time
student, tried to arm-twist the
family by bribing some family
members, but Mugabe’s wish
prevailed.

Page 8 News NewsHawks

Govt dumps Issue 30, 14 May 2021
SA investor for
Russia over
nuclear deal

BERNARD MPOFU Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mo- Nuclear power station in Czech Republic
rocco, Nigeria, Niger and
ZIMBABWE has dumped a Sudan have been consider- the Office of the President deal would have to spend there will be none for Zim- Zimbabwe and the Russian
US$6.5 billion nuclear en- ing nuclear power. Despite and Cabinet. We were in- at least US$550 million on babwe.” Federation State Atomic
ergy deal with a South Afri- concerns over radiation, formed that President Em- loan repayments just for Energy Corporation, which
can investor, opting instead nuclear power is considered merson Mnangagwa was the construction of a micro Jorum Gumbo, Zimba- was presented by the Attor-
to do business with the competitive as it has no pleased with our project but power plant, not including bwe’s minister of State in ney-General on behalf of
Russian government, after carbon emissions and is re- we have been frustrated by the debt that could arise if Charge of Policy Imple- the chairman of the cabinet
the Office of the President liable. These countries have the Office of the President certain areas fail to pay their mentation, could not be committee on legislation,”
and Cabinet frustrated an already engaged with the and Cabinet. power bill, monthly main- reached for comment at the Information minister Mon-
ambitious plan by an inves- International Atomic Ener- tenance etc. The total debt time of publication.  ica Mutsvangwa told jour-
tor from the neighbouring gy Agency (IAEA) to assess “As it is, Russia is having for some countries could be nalists last month.
country, The NewsHawks their readiness to embark to loan Egypt 80% of the between US$550 million Last month, cabinet ap-
has established. on a nuclear programme. funds to build their nu- and US$4 billion annual- proved the signing of an “The memorandum seeks
clear power station. Egypt ly. “Thus, Zimbabwe now agreement with the Russian to facilitate higher level of
A perennial energy One of the lead partners will be in debt with Russia has the opportunity to car- government as Zimbabwe cooperation between the
deficit, worsened by anti- who spoke to The News- for decades to come as the ry out an energy deal and explores nuclear energy two countries in the use of
quated power plants and Hawks on condition of an- amount owed will grow due supply other nations, as the possibilities. nuclear energy, by laying a
limited investment in the onymity said the investors to interest,” said a source. funding scheme designed is foundation for the execu-
capital-intensive sector, has are now considering work- solid and covers all costs so “Cabinet considered tion of the agreed areas of
become a major obstacle to ing with South Sudan and “A country that is inter- and approved the memo- cooperation.”
economic development. Burundi. ested in pursuing an energy randum of understanding
between the Republic of
Information gathered “I recommended three
by The NewsHawks shows nuclear power plants in
that nearly two months af- Zimbabwe which would
ter proposing an ambitious add 3 600 megawatts to the
power project, little prog- country’s supply, and can
ress has been made on the supply Botswana, Mozam-
nuclear deal. The proposal, bique and South Africa as a
according to a document back-up,” said the source in
seen by this publication, a telephone interview. 
was expected to commence
in 2023.  “It has been 18 months
since I engaged senior gov-
Since 2018, a total of 30 ernment officials from the
African countries including Foreign Affairs minister and

Airport emerges as major smuggling gateway

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Masinire failed to declare the investigate the latest case. Karanda, also of ZMF, claimed the arrest of two senior police ing with court documents that
gold and did not have any per- Airports Company of Zim- that the gold belonged to First officers from the Criminal incriminated Mohammed,
THE Robert Gabriel Mugabe mit or licence authorising him Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and Investigations Department’s fingered by Rushwaya as the
International Airport is emerg- to be in possession of the min- babwe boss Tawanda Gusha her son Collins although Rush- Minerals, Flora and Fauna organiser of the smuggling at-
ing as a gateway for mineral eral. The Hawks were called in said work to enhance security waya later said it belonged to unit, Superintendent Douglas tempt.
smugglers, particularly gold, to effect the arrest and conduct at the country’s airports was in a Pakistani businessman, Ali Shoko and Detective Chief
with state security agents at the further investigations. progress.  Mohammed. Inspector Paul Chimhungu, They were charged with
centre of the criminal syndi- who were accused of tamper- criminal abuse of duty.
cates. Masinire appeared in court “We are however working Investigations resulted in
on Monday where he was on improving the monitoring Smuggling through the
In the latest case, police granted R100 000 bail. and screening of passengers at country’s airports continues to
have arrested a Central Intelli- the airports. Interpol installed be rife despite the heavy pres-
gence Organisation operative, Following the arrest, police facial recognition systems at ence of state security agents
Chamakandiona Nyahunde in Zimbabwe launched investi- the airport. We are working to among them the CIO, CID’s
also known as Vincent Moyo, gations to establish how Masi- ensure that those systems are Minerals, Flora and Fauna unit
for assisting a former aide of nire smuggled the gold leading monitored 24/7.” and military intelligence.
Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation to Nyahunde’s arrest.
president Henrieta Rushwaya In October last year, Rush- Officials reveal that apart
to smuggle 23 pieces of gold Home Affairs minister Ka- waya, was nabbed at Robert from state security agents, dip-
worth R11 million (US$782 zembe Kazembe earlier this Gabriel Mugabe International lomatic passport holders are
712) to South Africa. week revealed that preliminary Airport trying to smuggle six also involved in facilitating
investigations and closed-cir- kilogrammes of gold worth smuggling.
Tashinga Nyasha Masini- cuit television images showed US$360 000 to Dubai. 
re was arrested at  OR Tambo that Masinire walked into the A report by a global re-
International Airport in Johan- airport without luggage. She was arrested in the de- search group, the International
nesburg on Saturday by the parture lounge after going Crisis Group, estimated that
Hawks, South Africa’s serious This suggested that he could through all formalities includ- Zimbabwe is losing at least
organised crime investigation have been assisted by airport ing security clearance after US$1.5 billion a year through
unit, after a scan of his luggage staff or security personnel.  being assisted by President the smuggling of gold, mainly
by the South African Revenue Emmerson Mnangagwa’s se- to Dubai. Kazembe has pre-
Service customs section at in- National police spokesper- curity aide, Stephen Chenjerai viously said Zimbabwe loses
ternational arrivals. son Paul Nyathi told The New- Tserayi and Central Intelli- US$100 million worth of gold
sHawks that local law enforce- gence Organisation operative every month through interna-
South African police said ment are collaborating with Raphios Mufandauya. tional smuggling rings and the
the International Criminal Po- country’s porous borders.
lice Organisation (Interpol) to Rushwaya’s accomplice, Gift

NewsHawks News Page 9

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Police investigate how smuggled

gold left Harare to OR Tambo

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE “That one is being han- that Masinire was linked year.  Tashinga Nyasha Masinire.
dled by the police. The to Zimbabwe Miners’ A report by a global
POLICE say they are in- gold passed through our Federation president
vestigating circumstances airport, something must research group, the In-
under which a former aide have happened.  We are Henrietta Rushwaya, ternational Crisis Group,
of Zimbabwe Miners’ Fed- not ruling out human in- who was also nabbed at estimated that Zimbabwe
eration president Henriet- terference. But I have not Robert Gabriel Mugabe is losing at least US$1.5
ta Rushwaya smuggled 23 yet received an update on International Airport try- billion a year through the
pieces of gold worth R11 the investigation yet,” Gu- ing to smuggle six kilo- smuggling of gold, mainly
million (US$782 712) via sha said. grammes of gold worth to Dubai.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe US$360 000 to Dubai in
International Airport to “We are however work- October last year.  Kazembe has previous-
South Africa. ing on improving the ly said Zimbabwe loses
monitoring and screening Rushwaya, who is out US$100 million worth of
National police spokes- of passengers at the air- on bail, said she was no gold every month through
person Paul Nyathi told ports. Interpol installed longer involved with her international smuggling
The NewsHawks that local facial recognition systems former driver and aide as rings and the country’s
law enforcement is col- at the airport. We are he resigned in August last porous borders.
laborating with the Inter- working to ensure that
national Criminal Police those systems are moni- Shining Light In The Dark Corners
Organisation (Interpol) so tored 24/7.”
they can connect the dots EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM
on what happened. Nyathi said police can
only give an update on the Conference Room that “just works” to help your
Tashinga Nyasha Ma- investigations when they presenters perform condently and participants
sinire was arrested at OR have enough information. interact naturally.
Tambo International Air-
port in Johannesburg on “I cannot give a time- Ÿ Wi-Fi
Saturday by the Hawks, frame on when the inves- Ÿ Stationery
South Africa’s serious or- tigations will be done be- Ÿ Catering Services
ganised crime investiga- cause we are also waiting Ÿ Projector
tion unit, after a scan of for a full report of what Ÿ White Board/Flip Chart
his luggage by the South happened at OR Tambo
African Revenue Service’s International Airport,” he
customs section at inter- said.  
national arrivals.
Home Affairs minister
South African police Kazembe Kazembe how-
said Masinire failed to de- ever this week revealed
clare the gold and did not that preliminary investi-
have any permit or licence gations and closed-circuit
authorising him to be in television images showed
possession of gold and the that Masinire walked into
Hawks were called in to the airport without lug-
effect the arrest and con- gage.
duct further investigation.
This suggests that he
Airports Company of could have been assisted
Zimbabwe boss Tawanda by airport staff or security
Gusha said the investiga- personnel or another ac-
tions are being handled complice. 
by the police although on
Tuesday he said human Masinire appeared in
tampering with airport court on Monday where
security systems could not he was granted R100 000
be ruled out.  bail. 

Meanwhile, The News-
Hawks this week revealed

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Page 10 News NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Woman defies indirectly being groomed to be
traditional what I am today as a tradition-
leadership al head,” Mamina said.
stereotype
“We have had our village
NHAU MANGIRAZI my rulings. I nearly gave up her a focal person for food aid cided that I must take over Village head Joice Mamina. court operating as it used to do
as I could not stand the heat. programmes and agricultural the post as I was acting for six cases without bias for justice during my husband’s days. The
HURUNGWE - Joyce Mam- When I took over, some males input schemes, among other months when my late husband to prevail.” jury has always been there and
ina (59), a female village head never respected me when I development initiatives that was bedridden. I was around I just work closely with them
in Chief Dandawa’s area of called them to order during require mass mobilisation. and helped him during his Mamina explained that the for guidance and we have nev-
Hurungwe district, is proving traditional court sittings. tenure in office. I have three “village court” has been func- er strayed as a committee on
that women in leadership can Some were rude and under- Mamina took over as vil- grown-up sons who are work- tional as usual. judgments.” 
work well in communities to mined my authority,” she said. lage head after the death of her ing in Harare and Gweru who
serve the interests of justice at husband Dickson Mhosva in said they could not come back She further explained that Mamina said her sons are
local level in roles traditionally “It was a challenge and I 2019. home to take over their father’s before her husband’s death she supportive of her role as the
preserved for menfolk. was about to give up as I felt traditional post and I was offi- was already being “groomed” village head and do not inter-
I had no constituency of my “My husband was the tradi- cially given the reigns by Chief to take over.  fere with her rulings.
In her past two years in own although I had the man- tional leader as a village head Dandawa late in 2019. He has
office, Mamina, known as date from Chief Dandawa. I here since 2000 after taking been our beacon of wisdom as “I was helping him pre- “Once in a while when the
Sabhuku Mhosva, who lives in however decided to soldier on from his late father,” she said. he teaches us how to handle side over traditional matters sons come home they usually
Deve, ward 24, has excelled in and face the challenges head- brought before him for arbi- ask me what has been going on
the discharge of her duties de- on.” “Following my husband tration, especially social con- and are very supportive of my
spite the resistance she initially death in 2019, my family de- flicts, boundary feuds, among role. It gives them hope and
faced.  Mamina says Chief Dan- others. It worked well as I was pride because I am just and
dawa has also been a pillar of fair in my approach to justice
She hails from Deve, a rural strength as he has encouraged in the community,” she said.
outpost located about 100 ki- her and other female tradi-
lometres west of Karoi farming tional leaders to be firm while “My promotion to be sub-
town. stamping their authority.  stantive village head does not
mean to say there are no males
“The road has not been easy, Born in a family of six, Ma- in our family. My sons volun-
given that we are living in a mina never thought she could tarily gave me the option to
patriarchal society. Some men land such a powerful tradi- take over after their father’s
were reluctant to appreciate tional post which has made death. Now I have enjoyed it
as local villagers support me
during our regular develop-
mental meetings. We are now
united.

“At times, I take the op-
portunity to counsel young
girls to be wary of early sexual
activities that may fuel early
marriages.”

She said those who initially
undermined or doubted her
were now warming up to her
work ethic.

Don’t Speak loudly, Govt still committed to
Speak Effectively re-engagement: Shava

Register with your FOREIGN Affairs and In- Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Frederick Shava.
ternational Trade minister
Executive Speech Coach & become Frederick Shava says he is strategically harness our re- “In broad terms, the min-
committed to bolstering the sources.” istry’s strategies will include
226 Sherwood Road government’s re-engagement but not be limited to increas-
Avondale West Harare - Enhance your language efforts to end Zimbabwe’s iso- Re-engagement efforts with ing global visibility, building
lation. the West have suffered set- strong alliances at both bi-
- Overcome your stage fright backs, with renewed sanctions lateral and multilateral levels
Speaking at a meeting with being imposed on more poli- and boosting attractiveness by
00777785 071306 490815 - Set yourself up for success the country’s media editors on ticians and businesspeople ac- building a positive image to
Friday, Shava said his vision is cused of perpetrating human the outside world,” Shava said.
to promote policy directives rights abuse and fuelling cor-
laid down by President Em- ruption. Shava said he will also “We will redouble our ef-
merson Mnangagwa in No- continue to implement the forts towards fulfilling our
vember 2017 to make Zimba- Foreign Affairs ministry’s de- primary economic diplomacy
bwe a friend to all. velopment strategies focused role of facilitating economic
on championing Zimbabwe’s and commercial exchanges be-
“The ministry will strive efforts to improve the coun- tween Zimbabwe and strategic
to end the country’s isolation try’s image and international partners. In so doing, our end
through continued engage- relations. goal is to position our business
ment and re-engagement with sector to increase exports to
all members of the internation- The government has in the a diversity of markets and at-
al community. “Rebranding past engaged several interna- tract sustainable investments
our country’s battered image, tional public relations firms to from strategic countries to
consolidating old friendships spruce up the country’s image, Zimbabwe.” —STAFF WRITER.
and opening new economic but to no avail.
frontiers of mutual beneficial
co-operation will thus remain
a critical foreign policy objec-
tive,” he said.

“Through forging strong
alliances with old, new and
future allies, Zimbabwe can
regain its rightful place in the
international arena. In pursuit
of His Excellency the Presi-
dent’s vision of seeing Zim-
babwe actively participating
in the multilateral arena, the
ministry will step up its ef-
forts and engage directly with
our cooperating partners to
increase our global influence.
Through building strong al-
liances, Zimbabwe has great
potential to influence global
developments, if only we can

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

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Service.

Page 12 News NewsHawks
NOTES from a meeting of
the Infrastructure Consor- Issue 30, 14 May 2021
tium for Africa, hosted by the
African Development Bank The economic rationale of the
(AfDB), on Kazungula road- US$260m Kazungula Bridge
rail bridge over a decade ago
shed light on the economic Zambia and the Democrat- have shifted their route to it would make an equal con- tive of the secretary of Min- tober 2014. It ended in De-
rationale of the project and ic Republic of the Congo the Kazungula crossing. tribution and be allowed istry of Finance and National cember 2020. Construction
likely massive benefits for to Botswana and the port of back. After preliminary Planning (Zambia). supervision was awarded to
Botswana and Zambia. Durban in South Africa. “As traffic to the Kazungu- studies which date back to the  Kazungula Bridge  Con-
“Forecasts of traffic pat- la crossing increases year by 2001, on 29 October 2006, Zimbabwe was not repre- sultants-Joint Venture com-
The bridge is built at the terns following construction year, it is expected that the the governments of Zambia, sented at the steering com- prising of Nippon Koei Co
quadripoint of Botswa- of the Kazungula Bridge project will greatly contrib- Botswana and Zimbabwe mittee. The committee was Ltd, Chodai Co Ltd, Gibb
na, Namibia, Zambia and predict that, by 2015 traffic ute to the regional economic signed a Memorandum of involved in the review of in- (Pty) Ltd, Bothakga Burrow
Zimbabwe. Initially, it was crossing the Zambezi will development and integration Understanding on the de- terim reports for the studies Botswana (Pty) Ltd, CPP
supposed be a project for grow between 1.75 times of the Sadc economy, since tailed study of the Kazungula and held its last meeting on Botswana (Pty) Ltd and
Botswana, Zambia and Zim- (low growth scenario) and the project is directly relat- Bridge. 26 February 2007. Zulu Burrow Development
babwe, but Harare tried in 2.56 times (high growth sce- ed to the overall Botswana/ Consultants Ltd at a cost of
vain under the late former nario). Zambia north-south Cor- On 21 November 2006, In the spring of 2008, Sadc US$15,7 million  funded  by
president Robert Mugabe’s “In addition, the construc- ridor improvement study the AfDB approved a grant finished the design study of Jica.
regime to sabotage the devel- tion of the Kazungula Bridge currently conducted by Sadc amounting to US$ 2.2 mil- the Kazungula Bridge, at
opment and ended up being will most likely promote lo- and outside consultants.” lion for the Southern African which point final develop- After six years amid delays,
left out. cal industry in Zambia, Zim- Development Community ment plans were finalised. the bridge was commissioned
babwe and Botswana. The Botswana and Zambia are (Sadc) north-south corridor on Monday - 10 May 2021.
As a result the bridge, reduction of local transpor- both major member states improvement study, which According to the financial Opening was delayed due to
which was supposed to be tation costs will potentially of Sadc and they both play includes the Kazungula and economic evaluation Covid-19 pandemic issues.
constructed mainly on Zim- lead to the reduction of con- an important economic role Bridge. conducted under the Japan
babwean territory as that was sumer prices of agricultural in the region. However, free International Cooperation The 923-metre-long (3
the most suitable site for it, products, as well as the de- movement of trade goods The Sadc secretariat was Agency (Jica) study, the 028  ft) by 18.5-metre-wide
ended up curving into Na- velopment of socio-econom- and people between the two the implementing agency for high internal rate of return (61  ft) bridge has a longest
mibian territory from Bo- ic activities at community countries has been obstructed the study whose objective was suggested that the project span of 129 metres (423  ft)
tswana to Zambia. This made level. This increase in local due to lack of a reliable road to prepare an update on the had the potential to attract and links the town of  Kazu-
the bridge longer and more economic activity can result network across the Zambezi economic feasibility, detailed private funding under such ngula in Zambia with Kasane
costly. in an increase of tax revenues River. The Kazungula bridge engineering design, and ten- arrangements as the Build- in Botswana .
for the local government.” could significantly contrib- der documents for the Kazu- Own-Transfer.
The total cost for the Ka- The minutes added: “At ute to the reduction of the ngula Bridge and other key Kazungula is a small bor-
zungula Bridge was initially present, transportation number of bottlenecks that infrastructure facilities along Botswana and Zambia der town in Zambia, lying
estimated at US$70 million, across the Zambezi River is are hindering further trade the trade corridor within Bo- hoped that construction on the north bank of the
with an additional US$30 conducted at two river bridg- and integration. tswana and Zambia. would begin in the summer Zambezi River about 70
million required for the bor- es: the Chirundu Bridge and of 2008. kilometres west of Living-
der control facilities. Nippon Victoria Falls Bridge, both In 2018, four years after The overall coordination stone on the M10 Road. At
Koei and Oriental Consul- located on the border be- the project had started, Presi- of the study was adminis- The project cost US$259.3 Kazungula, the territories of
tants had estimated that con- tween Zambia and Zimba- dent Emmerson Mnangagwa tered by the Joint Steering was funded through a co-fi- four countries come close to
struction would take four bwe. These two routes have was invited to a ceremony at Committee, chaired by the nancing arrangement be- meeting at a quadripoint.
years, excluding engineering the problem that steep and the bridge with his Botswana Executive Secretary of Sadc tween Botswana and Zam-
studies, but it took six years. winding sections act as trans- and Zambian counterparts and comprising the perma- bia, and Jica. Kasane is a town in the
There were delays due to portation bottlenecks, and where he was given an oppor- nent secretary for the Min- north-eastern corner of Bo-
Covid-19 disruptions. complicated customs clear- tunity to re-join. istry of Works and Trans- In August 2007, the gov- tswana, near the border.
ances are causing further de- port (Botswana), permanent ernments of Zambia and Bo-
They also estimated to- lays at the border. Therefore, Mnangagwa was also invit- secretary for the Ministry of tswana announced a deal to The bridge feature a sin-
tal project revenues of up in recent years many vehicles ed to the official commission- Works and Supply (Zambia), construct a bridge to replace gle-line railway track be-
to US$605 million over a ing of the bridge on Monday. a representative of the secre- the existing ferry system. tween two traffic lanes and
period of 30 years, result- tary of Ministry of Finance pavements for pedestrians,
ing in a Financial Internal However, Zimbabwe is (Botswana) and a representa- Construction of the proj- and connects to the  Mose-
Rate of Return between 5% currently negotiating for a ect, which includes inter- tse-Kazungula-Livingstone
and 14%, depending on the tripartite agreement in which national border facilities Railway. — STAFF WRITER
toll rate. The project’s de- in Zambia and Botswana,
velopment objective was to officially began on 12 Oc-
improve efficiency of transit
traffic through the Kazun-
gula border to facilitate and
increase trade activities and
global competitiveness of
Botswana and Zambia; im-
prove regional connectivity
through the North-South
Corridor; and contribute to
regional integration. The ex-
pected outcomes included:
reduced border transit time;
improved procedures on
trade facilitation; better bor-
der management operations;
and consequently more traf-
fic throughput, as well as re-
duced time-based transport
and trade cost.

“The Zambezi River is
a significant barrier to the
movement of goods in
Southern Africa. Virtually all
traffic between South Afri-
ca, Botswana, Mozambique,
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Congo,
Tanzania and Malawi de-
pends on this specific trans-
port corridor,” ICA minutes
say.

“The construction of the
Kazungula Bridge would en-
hance transport operations
along the regional north-
south corridor, which links
the mineral-rich regions of

NewsHawks News Page 13

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

History will absolve me: Mwonzora

MDC-T president Doug- but I went straight to busi- MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora. on democracy. Why the
las Mwonzora (DM) has ness.  change of heart? 
often been described as a NC: Your critics say you a tried and tested strategy.  Mr (Tendai) Biti was the DM: There was no change
sellout and likened to Rho- The first business, of have been captured and Most of the people who secretary-general and we of heart. In fact, the amend-
desia-Zimbabwe quisling course, was to deal with the co-opted by Zanu PF to had Welshman Ncube and ment provided for about six
Bishop Abel Muzorewa. issue of the Covid-19 pan- destroy the opposition in are criticising us, especially Patrick Chinamasa, so they main items. The first item
Mwonzora, nicknamed demic. Zimbabwe. from the opposition, are had already started work- was the extension of the
“Mwonzorewa” by crit- DM: This is very wrong. people who do not under- ing together. The result was women’s quota by another
ics who are determined to We were the first political There are people who are stand the essence of opposi- better conditions for elec- 10 years. The second one
ensure that the Muzorewa party to talk about it and to parading that falsehood. tion. To be an effective op- tions in 2008 before the was the extension of the
analogy sticks for posterity, talk about the need for peo- They are mainly basing it position, you do not have violence after 29 March. women’s quota to cover the
took over from Thokozani ple to be vaccinated. We are on the new political ap- to be rude to the opponent, After that, we had the pe- local authorities. In other
Khupe as party leader at last also embarking on the re- proach that we have taken. you do not have to be un- riod of the Government of words, 30% of the council-
year’s congress. He has been structuring exercise. Our pleasant to the opponent. National Unity, where we lors are going to be women. 
accused of working with restructuring meetings are We have jettisoned the saw the lives of our people
Zanu PF to weaken the op- being well attended. I also politics of acrimony and You can still be effec- changing for the better. The third one was the
position by recalling MDC had to set the tone for the violence. We have been ex- tive and civil. We want to That is, for me, the period introduction of the youth
Alliance MPs and then con- philosophy, the new tra- tremely adaptable, and we change the politics of this that changed my mind re- quota; one youth is going
niving with the ruling party jectory that the party must know the politics that is ap- country, to make sure that garding collaborative poli- to be elected by each prov-
to make wholesale changes take. We have changed propriate now. At this point Zimbabweans choose lead- tics.  ince to come into the Na-
to the constitution in sup- from the politics of hatred, in time, there is no need to ers that they want, free of NC: That brings us to tional Assembly. The fourth
port of President Emmer- the politics of violence, pro- go back to the traditional, coercion and we are suc- Constitution Amendment dealt with devolution. The
son Mnangagwa’s power paganda, and so on. And opposition politics that we ceeding in that politics. (No.1). You voted for it, fifth dealt with the removal
consolidation and 2023 we are now embarking on had in the past, because it care to explain why? of the running mate clause.
re-election agenda. A man the politics of rational dis- does not make sense now. We have not collaborated DM: It was very inconse- And the sixth dealt with the
who is never far from polit- putation and tolerance. It is with Zanu PF in any way. quential. In fact, it was in extension of the term of of-
ical controversy, Mwonzora receiving good review from We are pursuing dialogue If you look at the Amend- fulfilment of a Supreme fice of the judges. Of these
voted for Constitutional youngsters, from people as a political strategy. And ment Bill, the Hansard is Court judgement, which six items, the MDC is in
Amendment (No.1) while who traditionally did not the reason why we chose di- there to speak for itself, and is simply talked about, not favour of four. It is against
11 of his senators voted for want to concern themselves alogue is that it has a histo- so on. We have a good ex- that the amendment itself two. If you look at the end
Amendment (No.2), which with politics. So, it has been ry of success in Zimbabwe. planation regarding why was wrong, but it is simply of the day, when the Bill
scraps the running mate a very good term for me so After the war of liberation, some of our MPs have vot- said that the procedures goes to committee stage,
clause and gives President far. I am in the office for, people sat down at Lancast- ed the way they voted. were wrong. Besides vot- this is the stage where the
Mnangagwa the power to I think, the fourth month er and negotiated indepen- NC: What motivates your ing for it, there is nothing MPs vote or discuss clause
handpick judges as well as now. I have also been get- dence, it worked. idea to engage Zanu PF in of substance that my critics by clause. That is where
extend their tenure beyond ting very good support political dialogue?  point to in Amendment most of the debate hap-
70 years. For Mnangagwa’s from my technical staff After the Matabeleland DM: That approach which (No.1). As for Amendment pened in the Senate.
power consolidation and mostly.  massacres, people still the MDC had taken did (No.2), I opposed it. On
2023 presidential election sat down and concluded not yield much success. If two occasions, I led my par- We argued against the
bid to succeed, he desper- So, we are there, we are the Unity Accord, and it you look at 2008, there had ty in forcing a deadlock in judges’ clause, the extension
ately needs Mwonzora to getting there. We were writ- worked. After the 2008 vi- been discussions that took the Senate. of the office of the judg-
be on his side since Zanu ten off by our opponents. olence, with the interven- place, culminating in the NC: Your senators voted es, and the removal of the
PF no longer commands a But I am sure now they are tion of Sadc and the Afri- promulgation of Amend- for Amendment (No.2), running mate clause. Our
two-thirds majority in Par- showing signs of desper- can Union, we sat down ment (No.18), that was which has ramifications argument was that the run-
liament. The NewsHawks ation in trying to contain and concluded the Global collaboration between the ning mate clause was being
reporter Nyasha Chingono us. They tried using hate Political Agreement and the MDC and Zanu PF. removed before it was even
(NC) interviewed Mwon- language on social media, lives of our people changed tested. It was apparently to
zora (DM) to discuss his propaganda on social me- for the better. For us, it is a The Kariba draft (consti- deal with Zanu PF power
political ambitions, hear his dia. Now they have resorted tried and tested avenue; it is tution) was drafted while dynamics. 
response to accusations of to cartoons on social media,
co-option and the future of daily cartoons on me. They On the judges’ clause, our
opposition politics in Zim- are also now trying to phys- impression was that it was
babwe. Below are excerpts ically target our supporters illegal. When amending
of the interview: and to disturb our meet- section 328 of the consti-
NC: You have been ings. They did that even tution, you must go via ref-
MDC-T president for in Bindura, they did that erendum. On the first day
some months now. What in Harare West. Most of there was a deadlock and
is the current state of your these people were coming Chief Fortune Charumbi-
party? from Mr (Nelson) Chami- ra reported the progress.
DM: The good thing is that sa’s party (MDC Alliance). When they say report prog-
I have been in leadership, That is an act of desperation ress, it means that there has
senior leadership of the by people who had thought been a deadlock. And then
MDC for years now, having they could write us off. And the second time there was a
started as the spokesperson we are only four months. deadlock, people were then
of the party. I was sitting in NC: You have had fierce forced to vote. Regarding
the national standing com- clashes before with the judges, we were beat-
mittee, then I rose to be Thokozani Khupe over en by the sheer superiority
the general secretary of the the MDC-T. What is the of numbers. Now, the last
party. status of your relation- stage, which was the voting
ship?  stage, at the voting stage,
I was basically in the se- DM: Well, I do not know MPs vote either yes or no
nior leadership. Having about her. But for me, I for the entire Bill. 
worked with (former MDC viewed Dr Khupe as a very
leader Morgan) Tsvangi- long-standing member of So, if you say yes, you say
rai and then having taken the party. She was the for- yes to everything in the Bill,
over as president, the office mer acting president, whom including those things you
was not too new to me. We I succeeded, and she is the don’t like. If you say no,
knew what was supposed to most senior official after you mean no to everything,
be done. We knew that we myself and I have person- including those things that
had, first, to unite the party, ally treated her with respect you like. Now, here was a
to stabilise it. It was not an regardless what her attitude value judgement.
easy thing, because some of towards me is. I would not
the people who did not win know the private side of Now, there were four
were still fighting the result, things, but I do know we items that the MDC fa-
buried the hatchet. voured. They were two that
we did not favour. But,
most importantly, most of
the MDC legislators who
voted in the National As-

Page 14 News NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

sembly and in the Senate DM: The MDC did not made part of the legal vancement of women. Say- clause then extended term from Manicaland, there is
for the Bill are women. support the amendment. team because I had told ing no to this amendment limits to benefit the sitting no other reason. They liken
And these women viewed The MDC did not support them that it was unwinna- also meant saying no to judges and that was a ter- me to Muzorewa because
the women’s quota, the 60 the running mate clause. It ble. Now, if you compare the advancement of wom- rible mistake. But also im- Chamisa likens himself to
seats, as incremental gain does not support the judg- his election petition to the en that we struggled to get portant is that an amend- Mugabe. Now history will
and they did not want to es’ clause and, when it came election petition in Kenya, into the constitution. Of ment of that section should judge who between the two
lose that advantage. to voting, the MDC had to the election petition in course, saying yes also en- be done only via a referen- was correct. And I think
what we call a conflictual Malawi, you will see the tailed accepting what we dum. It was not amended in the fullness of time the
They also voted for the vote. Part of our members difference in quality.  did not agree with. It was via referendum. Zimbabweans will answer
youth quota, they voted voted for the Bill and others NC: You were part of a value judgement that was on who ruined their econo-
for devolution, they voted did not. Those who did not Copac during the con- involved and the MDC did There are three clauses my more than the other.
for the quota of women in vote for the Bill felt strong- stitution-making process not make a mistake. The that should be amended via
the councils. Now, that was ly, including myself, I felt in 2013 and was instru- MDC was correct because a referendum in the con- They will also answer
not unreasonable. That was strongly about the judg- mental in the success of it allowed the people to stitution: the clauses deal- on who murdered people
extremely, extremely un- es’ clause and the running the process, don’t you vote using their conscience. ing with human rights, the in Matabeleland, black on
derstandable. And I did not mate clause. These are what think that Constitution And in the process, it did clauses dealing with land black more than the oth-
find it necessary to whip the we call power clauses. Those Amendment (No.2) is set- not oppress anyone, the and the clauses dealing with er, they will also answer
MPs. Now, when you whip who voted yes felt strongly ting a wrong precedent majority prevailed. term limits, so we are still who destroyed the political
Members of Parliament, about women’s advance- by giving the President NC: Do you think that fortified that it was wrong ethos of this country? And
basically you also provide ment, youth advancement; too much power, the very this will set the wrong to bring that amendment. they will also answer on
for punishment in the event what we call empowerment same power you wanted precedent and maybe lead In fact, that amendment what brought hate language
of defiance. How could we clauses. So, there was a vote whittled down?  to the removal of presi- had not been gazetted, that in this country. The lead-
whip women against their for power clauses and em- DM: I do not support the dential term limits?  bit of the amendment, was ership of Muzorewa and
gender? powerment clauses, and I eecond amendment, by DM: As I argued, in terms not gazetted, it was not in Mugabe is going to be a
could not say, as a leader the way. That is why I vot- of section 328 of the con- the original Bill. There- matter of future debate for
How could we then, af- of my party, that empow- ed against it. That is why I stitution, if there is a need fore, we accused the min- generations. 
ter whipping them, punish erment clauses were less spent all those minutes on to extend a time limit, that ister (of Justice, Legal and NC: What do you think
them for voting to defend important than the power the Senate chamber floor, extension does not benefit Parliamentary Affairs) of your legacy is going to
their historic gain? Re- clauses. There is a mistake arguing and leading my the incumbent. We inserted smuggling that bit into the be as a politician in Zim-
member, I was the head of that mostly Chamisa peo- team in arguing against that clause and I personal- constitution, and I still be- babwe and do you think
Copac (Constitution Par- ple are making. And it is to the offensive clauses. But ly insisted on that clause at lieve that it is illegal. It was your party will pose a
liamentary Committee) in assume that Mr Chamisa having been the drafter of the drafting stage, because a mistake. Yes. formidable challenge to
2013 when we did the con- lost the presidential elec- the constitution, we did we wanted to disincentivise NC: Some Zimbabweans Mnangagwa? 
stitution, and it is us who tion petition because Jus- not seek only to limit the presidents who would use say history will judge you DM: My legacy will be of
brought the women’s quo- tice (Luke) Malaba was the President’s powers, we also their popularity to extend harshly for betrayal and a person who has perse-
ta. And we did it for a rea- Chief Justice. As everybody sought to advance the cause their terms of office as is they liken you to Zimba- vered in bringing change
son because of the treachery saw, Mr Chamisa lost the of women and youth. done by some African presi- bwe-Rhodesia’s quisling to Zimbabwe. I am the
of Zimbabwe’s politics. election petition because dents, by then saying that if Bishop Abel Muzorewa. longest-serving member of
his case was badly present- When the amendment you extend that term of of- How do you feel about the opposition right now,
Less women participate ed. It was badly prepared, came, it touched on the fice, it does not benefit you. that?  having started in 1988 as a
in competitive politics and and I pointed it out because things that we at the end DM: That is tribalism and young student at the Uni-
we found the women’s quo- I was the secretary-general.  of the day saw as the ad- Now, unfortunately, this it is because we both come versity of Zimbabwe. I was
ta as a way of accommodat- involved in fighting against
ing more women in Parlia- That is why I was not the one-party state. I was
ment and when the women involved in three attempts
continued to vote for that, to draft the constitution of
it was very understandable Zimbabwe.
to me.
NC: Did you explain to The first one was the draft
them the ramifications of that we did under Margaret
voting for the Bill?  Dongo. Then we had the
DM: Yes, we did. We had NCA (National Constitu-
a caucus, where we advised tional Assembly) draft that
them of the party’s position we did with the then Dr
regarding the six clauses, Lovemore Madhuku, it was
that the party supported the rejected by government. 
four that I have mentioned,
it did not support the two. And then I was involved
If you go to the Hansard in Copac. And when I was
and to the debate that the involved in Copac, I was in-
women did in the National strumental in bringing the
Assembly, you will find that rights that you see in the
it follows that pattern. constitution right now. So,
I am a constitution maker,
But when it comes to I am a reformer, and I am
voting now, it involves val- against hate, I am against
ue judgement. I have heard tribal prejudice. I will obvi-
people saying that the judg- ously go down in history is
es’ clause was more im- a very adaptable politician
portant than the women’s and as a politician who will
clause. I do not think the cause major upsets in this
women think so. country. People are talking
very disparagingly against
The women think their my person and so on, but
clause is more important. they are not looking at the
As a politician myself, I history. What I know is that
think women’s issues are history will absolve me, one
more important than any- day they will eat humble
thing else because we are pie.
dealing with redressing a
historic wrong that was cre- I am not worried, but
ated by our forefathers, that why do they despise me on
was created by tradition. the social media? That is
We are also dealing with hate. And hate is the great-
over 52% of the population est weakness that a human
and they must be represent- being can ever have.
ed in governance. 
NC: Do you think the I am very happy that I do
MDC-T made a mistake not possess it. As (Nelson)
by voting for the constitu- Mandela says, we must nev-
tional amendments? er allow bitterness to get the
better of us. I do not have
bitterness.

NewsHawks News Page 15

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Special Covid-19

PANDEMIC coverage

Broke funeral companies Covid-19
survive on a wing, prayer complacency
could harm
BERNARD MPOFU normal also brought about riod under review, none of the for the year-ended 31 Decem-
additional operating costs for funeral assurers had any reas- ber 2019 to ZW$46.88 million Masvingo
ZIMBABWE this year ex- insurers and pension funds, as surance arrangement in place, for the year-ended 31 Decem-
perienced a deadly wave of they sought to capacitate staff to meaning the sector remains vul- ber 2020. In real terms the prof- MORRIS BISHI
Covid-19 infections at a time work remotely. nerable to economic shocks. it before tax increased by 107%
less than half of the country’s fu- from ZW$5.04 million for the THERE are fears that Covid-19 cases in Masvingo
neral assurance companies were “As at 31 December 2020, Despite being undercapi- year ended 31 December 2019 could rise as many people are no longer observing
undercapitalised, the sector’s all funeral assurers were not talised, the funeral assurance to ZW$10.45 million for the the World Health Organisation (WHO) prevention
regulator has revealed. compliant with the minimum industry’s inflation-adjusted year ended 31 December 2020,” guidelines.
prescribed asset ratio of 10% as gross premiums written (GPW) Ipec said.
In January, the authorities an- stipulated by the Statutory In- increased by 76.81% from The province recorded two new cases on Wednesday
nounced a national lockdown to strument 206 of 2019. The total ZW$34.56 million for the 12 For the 12 months ended 31 after 113 tests, increasing the number of active cases
reduce the spread of the respira- amount invested in prescribed months ended 31 December December 2020, two players to five. More than 25 000 people were arrested for
tory ailment after new cases and assets was ZW$0.21 million 2019 to ZW$61.11 million for dominated the funeral assurance violating the lockdown since last year.
fatalities spiked after the festive against the required minimum the comparative period in 2020. sector in terms of GPW with a
season. amount of ZW$86.79 million, total market share of 81.25%. The province is warming up to the vaccination pro-
which is 10% of the industry’s “Profit before tax for the The remaining six funeral assur- gramme as more people are now going to health insti-
The total number of con- total adjusted assets.” funeral assurance industry in- ers accounted for the difference tutions to receive the vaccine. To date, 33 580 people
firmed Covid-19 cases record- creased in absolute terms by of 18.75%, Ipec said. have received the first dose while 12 402 received the
ed globally since the onset of Ipec also said during the pe- 830% from ZW$5.04 million second dose at health centres across the province.
the pandemic exceeded 83.1
million, with over 1.8 million The province’s Covid-19 taskforce spokesperson
deaths as at 31 December 2020. Rodgers Irimayi told The NewsHawks that his task-
There is increased uncertainty force is concerned by the increasing number of peo-
and concern over the mutation ple who are violating regulations aimed at stopping
of Sars-Cov-2 virus following the spread of the deadly virus. He said active cases are
two variants detected in South fluctuating after two more people tested positive on
Africa and Britain in December Wednesday, raising fears infection numbers could rise
2020. again since many people have dropped their guard.

“Three out of the eight funer- “On Wednesday, two more people tested positive to
al assurers reported capital posi- the coronavirus after 131 tests. Cases are fluctuating
tions that were compliant with although on a low note, showing that the virus is still
the regulatory minimum capital within our province. We are worried by the number of
requirement of ZW$62.50 mil- people who are violating rules aimed at controlling the
lion as prescribed in Statutory virus. Over 25 000 people were arrested in the prov-
Instrument 59 of 2020,” the ince for violating lockdown rules and it is worrying
Insurance and Pensions Com- that many people are moving around without masks
mission (Ipec)said in its funer- and they are no longer observing social distance,” said
al assurance report for the year Irimayi.
ended 31 December 2020.
He added that the vaccination programme is ongo-
“Mandatory lockdowns due ing at all health centres, including clinics in remote
to Covid-19 disrupted business areas. He urged people to go for vaccination.
operations and income streams
during the year. Effects of the “We are seeing more people coming forward for vac-
pandemic have exacerbated cination as compared to the previous period. We are
the problem of policy lapses, urging residents to visit all health centres, including
and delayed payment of pen- those clinics found in remote locations,” said Irimayi.
sions contributions, premiums
and benefits/claims. The new A senior health official in the province told The
NewsHawks that there is a need for the government,
Ekusileni hospital opening postponed again through the ministry of Health and Child Care, to
embark on a campaign to educate people in rural areas
LIZWE SEBATA facilities after the Catholic-run pleted within agreed timelines,” Due to funding constraints, about the advantages of Covid-19 vaccination. He said
Mater Dei, United Bulawayo Ncube said. the bed capacity at Ekusileni health officials at rural clinics are not giving people
THE re-opening of Bulawayo’s Hospital (UBH) Old Bartley had been reduced to 15 from enough information about vaccines, leading to low
Ekusileni Medical Centre, a Memorial Block (BMB) and Bulawayo City Council the initial 50 beds. Recently, the turnout as people are yet to be assured about the safety
brainchild of the late Vice-Pres- Thorngrove. UBH’s BMB was health services director Edwin authorities at the health institu- of the vaccine.
ident Joshua Nkomo, which opened in December last year. Sibanda added: “It (Ekusileni tion blamed contractors for al-
was set for this Friday, has been Elangeni Training Centre is opening) has been moved to a legedly delaying completing the “There are various myths about the Chinese Sino-
postponed, yet again, to ostensi- designated for asymptomatic yet-to-be-announced date. The refurbishment works. pharm vaccine and the other vaccine from India. Peo-
bly allow for the completion of patients. idea is to officially open all the ple believe that if they are vaccinated they will die so
refurbishment works. facilities at one go.” “Initially they set Febru- the government should engage people in rural areas
However, it is the planned ary 28, 2021, then March 21, who are not able to access information through the ra-
Ekusileni was set to be offi- re-opening of Ekusileni, a hos- Ekusileni’s re-opening has 2021 and moved to April 12, dio or newspapers. If you visit the rural areas, you will
cially re-opened today for the pital shut down in 2004, which suffered countless false starts 2021. After those three chang- hear many stories and that is the reason why at times
admission of Covid-19 pa- had excited residents. since the hospital’s closure in es, we wrote to them and also we see a low uptake of the vaccine.”
tients alongside the council-run 2004 after it emerged it had through the Public Works of-
Thorngrove Infectious Diseases However, Bulawayo Provin- outdated machinery and equip- fice, reminding them that if
Hospital, which has also under- cial Affairs minister Judith Ncu- ment. they continue having to move
gone refurbishment since 2020. be was singing a different tune their target of completion dates
on Wednesday in an interview. Even the outbreak of we might actually activate the
Thorngrove Hospital opened Covid-19 and various fundrais- deduction percentage on their
its doors to the public in Janu- “Unfortunately, the refur- ing initiatives by the state and
ary with a 28-bed facility. bishment works have not yet non-state actors have been of quotation,” Ekusileni’s acting
been completed. They are still little help in speeding up the chief executive officer Absalom
The opening of Ekusileni working on putting final touch- opening of the facility that is Dube was recently quoted as
would have seen Bulawayo hav- es; and it is our hope that all the owned by the National Social saying.
ing four Covid-19 treatment refurbishment works are com- Security Company (Nssa).

Page 16 Editorial & Opinion NewsHawks

CARTOON Issue 30, 14 May 2021

2023 election
will be won or
lost this year

BARRING a miracle, Zimbabwe is headed for yet Journalists are not a threat to 
another disputed and discredited general election in govt, a threat to incompetents 
2023. The country is sleep-walking into a renewed
bout of illegitimacy. All the objective facts point to ON Friday Foreign Affairs minister Fred- sullied past, was welcoming and friendly. lations with the media, there is need for
that stark reality. erick Shava met with the country’s media He sounded and appeared genuine. It was frank engagement. Talking about uncom-
managers and editors under the aegis of a good show. fortable issues, while ensuring the dis-
Instead of aligning the country’s laws with the 2013 the Zimbabwe National Editors’ Forum cussions are productive. Sustainable rela-
constitution, the Zanu PF government has done the (Zinef ) at the Rainbow Towers in Harare. His message was also on point. It was tions can’t be built on fake dialogue and
opposite. The supreme charter has been mutilated in a a departure from the recriminatory, ran- self-censorship. 
sinister quest to buttress President Emmerson Mnan- The meeting was at the request of the corous and venomous deliveries by some
gagwa’s power consolidation and re-election agenda. minister. It had been postponed a cou- of his colleagues who are still stuck in the Yet we could not miss the opportuni-
ple of times as he was either engaged or Mugabeist mindset and warped paradigm. ty to raise important issues: the need for
A national constitution, which was overwhelmingly still trying to settle down after he had to government to address critical issues of
approved by citizens eight years ago, has been defiled abandon his tour of duty at the United In short, Shava spoke about the need good governance, economic reform and
and desecrated by a clueless power monger who has Nations in New York to take over his new for Zimbabwe to work to end its damag- tackling the problems which in the first
failed dismally in reviving the economy. He has squan- position as the country’s Foreign minister ing isolation and rejoin the community of place led to Zimbabwe’s isolation. 
dered international goodwill, making it more difficult after the recent death of Sibusiso Moyo. nations.
for Zimbabwe to harness support for economic devel- These include leadership, policy and
opment. Even Zanu PF’s so-called all-weather friends, Shava came with his deputy David Mu- He also highlighted the need to priori- governance failures, as well as authoritar-
including China, are not keen on loosening the purse sabayana, ministry officials and staff. Un- tise economic diplomacy to facilitate busi- ian repression, human rights abuses and
strings for a regime that has shown no willingness for like some ministers who keep journalists ness and commercial exchanges between economic mismanagement.
genuine reform. waiting for ages until ZBC cameras arrive, Zimbabwe and strategic partners; increas-
Shava arrived early and had to wait until ing exports to a diversity of markets, at- Of course, criminalisation of media was
Mnangagwa has used the Political Actors Dialogue we pitched. Very unusual with Zimba- tracting sustainable investment including an issue.
(Polad) as an instrument of deception. The captured bwe’s arrogant fat cat ministers who, of FDI and promoting trade as well as infra-
opposition was sold a dummy. He pretended to heed course, can’t justify their pride with de- These issues filtered through the dip-
their misgivings on the constitutional amendments, livery. Hawk Eye lomatic tone and spirit of the meeting.
but proceeded to spit in their faces. I raised some of these issues with a mea-
Zinef, which I chair, was there in full Dumisani sured approach. Chinaka also did in a bal-
Mnangagwa is not done yet. Soon, he will unveil the force; with its young generation senior Muleya anced way.
Patriotic Bill which seeks to criminalise dissent. Zim- journalists, editors and veterans like
babweans must come to terms with the brutal realities Tommy Sithole, chairman of Zimpapers, structure development and tourism. What is important is that government
of not only a one-party state but also one-man rule. and Cris Chinaka. “The ministry will strive to end the should address issues affecting the majori-
ty: economic and social matters. These re-
After forcing the Patriotic Bill down the throats of Editors, from the public and private country’s isolation through continued volve around governance. If authorities do
his captured opposition minions, the strongman will media, as well as digital platforms, are engagement and re-engagement with all their job properly, journalists won’t have
put the icing on the autocratic cake by defying any now working together and pulling in the members of the international communi- issues with them.
demands for electoral reform. same direction broadly, which has helped ty,” he said. “Rebranding our country’s
lesson tensions, polarisation and toxicity. battered image, consolidating old friend- Journalists are not a threat to the state,
The 2023 election is giving Mnangagwa sleepless ships and opening new economic fron- government or ministers. They are a threat
nights. He craves legitimacy, but knows he is unelect- In a country where relations between tiers of mutually beneficial co-operation to corrupt officials and perpetrators of hu-
able. The 2018 election gave him a rude awakening. At the media, especially private media or- will thus remain a critical foreign policy man rights abuses.
the grassroots in many areas, it was clear that disgrun- ganisations, and government have largely objective.”
tled Zanu PF supporters were voting for the party’s been hostile and even acrimonious, such Government’s energy, time and resourc-
parliamentary candidates, but on the presidential bal- meetings are always welcome with curios- In so doing, he stayed away from pol- es must be deployed on delivery, not on
lot they would vote for MDC Alliance leader Nelson ity, anxiety and sometimes tension. itics, especially needless hostile rhetoric, trampling on political and civil liberties,
Chamisa. while keeping the discussion constructive.  human rights abuses and tearing apart the
Orwellian control and media tyranny constitution. 
This is one of the reasons why Mnangagwa desper- have been prevalent in Zimbabwe for a But for government to improve its re-
ately needs a pliant and compromised judiciary; when long time. This has kept relations between There is no need to spend so much time
it comes to the crunch — as was the case in 2018 — government and media uneasy, indeed amending the constitution to take the na-
the bench is a key component of the political calculus. openly hostile at times. tion back to the Mugabe era, or arresting
journalists. Journalism is not a crime. But
Electoral reforms are not coming. Pro-democracy Shava, who was appointed amid a then again, engagement is important, es-
campaigners must devise their strategies with that in storm of fierce media criticism over his pecially in a divided society like Zimba-
mind. The securocrats are too deeeply invested in this bwe.
authoritarian kleptocracy to even countenance reform
of any kind. And those whose hands are dripping with
the blood of innocents will not surrender power no
matter what.

But history has shown that election rigging has its
limits. Electoral theft can be countered, and decisively
so. It will depend on the pro-democracy movement’s
ability to marshal broad popular support. Time is run-
ning out.

Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
tance of freedom of expression and me- content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Charmaine Phiri Council of Zimbabwe
dia freedom as the cornerstone of de- Media which is owned by Centre for Public Cell: +263 735666122
mocracy and as a means of upholding Interest Journalism Assistant Editor: Brezh Malaba [email protected] The NewsHawks newspaper subscribes to the
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in its various forms and manifestations Harare, Zimbabwe Subscriptions & Distribution: fair and balanced news reporting. If we do not
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Email: [email protected] 24Hr Complaints Line: 0772 125 659

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Business

MATTERSNewsHawks

MARKETS CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE
USD/JPY
GBP/USD 109.29 +0.38 +0.35 *OIL 63.47 -1.54 -2.37
USD/CAD
USD/CHF 1.38 -0.014 -0.997 *GOLD 1,769.5 +1.2 +0.068
AUD/USD
1.229 +0.001 +0.07 *SILVER 25.94 -0.145 -0.56

0.913 +0.005 +0.53 *PLATINUM 1,201.6 +4 +0.33

0.771 -0.006 -0.76 *COPPER 4.458 -0.029 -0.65

MANY farmers in the prime Tobacco farmers bemoan
tobacco-growing area of Karoi lopsided marketing system
are shunning auction floors
and opting for side-marketing, the banks, it’s taking you ages A snap survey by this pub- the farmers, citing cash con- much more stable because of a not received their payments for
citing the slow processing of to get your money, be it bond lication shows that as the to- strains as a liquidity crunch constant exchange rate, among sales dating back two  weeks.
payments and unfair pricing, notes or US dollars. There is bacco season inches towards continues. other factors.
The NewsHawks has learnt. no money,” a farmer told The its peak, banks are struggling However, those farmers
NewsHawks. to ensure timely payment to This is despite the govern- As of last week Friday, many who had contractual agree-
The unauthorised tobac- ment insisting the economy is farmers in Karoi said they had ments to grow the crop said
co buyers are offering as low they had no choice but to take
as US$2 per kioogramme the crop to the official market
compared to official channels until they pay off the debt.
which offer up to US$3.50 per They feel trapped in a lopsided
kg, but the frustrating delay in arrangement that is not serv-
receiving the money has left ing their best interests.
farmers at the mercy of illegal
tobacco buyers. “I took my tobacco to the
floors last week because I was
Besides the slow process, contacted to grow tobacco.
farmers say they are not hap- I’m afraid if do not take it
py with the official marketing there, I won’t be given inputs
system which forces them to next year, but the truth is we
liquidate 40% of their sale are suffering. Banks have no
proceeds into local currency money. But once in a while I
at the official exchange rate also engage the “buyers” for
as prescribed by the Reserve quick cash because they pay us
Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). on the spot,” said a farmer.

Last month, the Tobacco While the tobacco growers
Industry and Marketing Board acknowledged that the buy-
(TIMB) announced that ers were taking advantage of
growers would be paid 60% of them, they implored the gov-
their sales proceeds in foreign ernment to relook into the
currency after deductions of payment issue to address the
approved forex-denominated undesirable situation.
loans, and the 40% portion,
shall be converted at the pre- “We want our money soon
vailing auction exchange rate after selling our crop. I think
on the day of sale and paid in government should just give us
local currency. 100% forex. That way even if
it comes late I’m assured I have
While the industry togeth- real money,” said a farmer.
er with the RBZ jointly put
in place “improved payment After buying the crop for
measures” to ensure that to- cash from farmers, the un-
bacco growers get full value authorised buyers, some of
for their crop, farmers still say whom have grower numbers,
they were getting a raw deal. then take the crop to the auc-
tion floors where they fetch
“Government is getting for- better prices.
eign currency from our hard
labour. Why are we getting —STAFF WRITER
paid in RTGS? Forty percent
is just too much. I would rath-
er sell to the buyers who come
here to get the tobacco and
I’m assured of my US dollars
timeously. Even if you go to

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Page 18 Companies & Markets NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

DUMISANI NYONI AfCFTA prepares trade But more importantly, we are
financing for women working with Afreximbank
AFRICAN Continental Free to ensure that we establish
Trade Area (AfCFTA) secre- double this trade if non-tariff hard to make sure we prevent a relative industrial base and “One way of doing that is an adjustment fund which
tary-general Wamkele Mene barriers are also reduced. this divide from being en- those that do not have an in- establishing value chains so will be aimed at assisting
says the organisation is at an trenched, this divide between dustrial base to benefit from that we allow countries to ad- countries who will experience
advanced stage in negotiating The World Bank estimates African countries that have AfCFTA,” he said. vance their own value chains. short-term revenue losses,” he
a trade finance facility to as- that the trade pact could said.
sist small and medium enter- boost regional income by
prises (SMEs) led by women 7% or US$450bn, speed up Mene said the adjustment
benefit from the trade pact. wage growth and lift over 30 fund was critical for industri-
million people out of extreme al development for produc-
Trading under the Af- poverty by 2035. tive sector investment.
CFTA officially commenced
on 1 January 2021, after years Speaking during the Zim- It is estimated that the fis-
of ambitious planning and babwe National Chamber of cal losses associated with the
negotiations and in the face Commerce trade conference removal of trade tariffs would
of the Covid-19 pandemic. in Bulawayo recently, Mene amount to over US$4.1 bil-
said the trade finance facility lion in the short term.
The main objectives of would assist women partake
the AfCFTA are: to create a in the AfCFTA. Afreximbank is, therefore,
single market for goods and working with the African
services, facilitate the move- “We are at advanced stages Union (AU) to introduce a
ment of persons, promote of negotiating a trade finance US$5 billion AfCFTA Ad-
industrial development and facility so that small-to-me- justment Facility—a com-
sustainable and inclusive so- dium enterprises that are pensation mechanism—to
cio-economic growth, and primarily led by women are help AfCFTA member coun-
resolve the issue of multiple able to access this trade fi- tries better adjust to the fis-
membership, in accordance nance facility, so that they, cal and other impacts of the
with the African Union’s too, have an opportunity to trade agreement.
Agenda 2063. expand into the rest of the
continent and benefit from The facility would cover
It lays a foundation for the the AfCFTA,” he said. the short-term fiscal losses
establishment, in future, of a and support medium-to-long
continental common market. Mene said it is true that term adjustments of pro-
“not all countries will ben- ductive activities in African
The AfCFTA will bring to- efit immediately (from the countries to enable them take
gether all 55 member states of AfCFTA), there are some advantage of the opportuni-
the AU covering a market of countries that already have ties arising from the AfCFTA.
more than 1.2 billion people, industrial base and capacity
including a growing middle and these countries are the Mene said it will take Af-
class, and a combined gross ones that in the short term rica decades to fully industri-
domestic product (GDP) of will reap benefits.” alise.
more than US$3.4 trillion.
“But we want to work He also said the AfCFTA
Estimates from the Eco- would not rely on tariffs as
nomic Commission for Af- a tool for revenue generation
rica (Uneca) suggest that the but use tariffs as a tool for in-
AfCFTA has the potential dustrial development.
both to boost intra-African
trade by 52.3% by elimi- “I think that is a very crit-
nating import duties, and to ical transition that as a con-
tinent we simply had to do,”
he said.
... Zimbabwe not ready for African free trade

DUMISANI NYONI more than US$3.4 trillion. going to come after us? If you saddled with a trade deficit furniture from China and ex- Covid-19 came as a wake-up
Speaking during a ZNCC are exporting raw chrome to of US$2 billion annually – porting timber to China. call to show us what we are
THE fact that Zimbabwe’s China or wherever in Europe which is unsustainable. The Teak, all that is coming from supposed to do. I am very
export basket is still domi- trade conference in Bulawayo and the same things are com- export basket is dominated Tsholotsho and other places happy Covid-19 came to
nated by primary commod- recently, the organisation’s ing back in the form of jew- by primary commodities, and, in turn, we get furni- wake us up, to say wake up,
ities such as minerals is a vice-president, Golden Mu- elry, cars, etc.”  mainly minerals and tobacco ture. We need to change,” he don’t rely on others, rely on
clear sign that the country oni, said Zimbabwe should (over 70%). said. yourself,” Muoni said.
is not ready for the African invest in product beneficia- “Where we are exporting
Continental Free Trade Area tion. they are depositing, they are The manufacturing con- The main objectives of “Don’t import, don’t do
(AfCFTA), the Zimbabwe not using everything. They tribution to total exports, the AfCFTA are to create a that. We are not producing
National Chamber of Com- “It’s (Africa) a market of might be using about 5% according to official figures, single market for goods and anything as Africa. Where
merce (ZNCC) has said. 1.2 billion people but Zim- of what they are importing has gone down from 40% in services, facilitate the move- are our pharmacists? We are
babwe is importing a lot of from Africa, from Zimbabwe the 1980s to less than 15% ment of persons, promote waiting for Europe, Ameri-
Trading under the Af- goods which are finished and and the remainder is depos- currently. Exports of services industrial development and ca and the Chinese to make
CFTA officially commenced at the same time we celebrate ited to use for the next other have also stagnated at an av- sustainable and inclusive so- vaccines for us. Are we not
on 1 January 2021, after saying we have done US$4 generations but Zimbabwe erage of US$500 million an- cio-economic growth, and human beings? That needs to
years of ambitious planning billion of exports. Of what? is saying we have exported nually–contributing around resolve the issue of multiple be corrected.”
and negotiations and in the What are we exporting? Pri- US$4 billion. US$4 billion 10% to total export earnings. membership, in accordance
face of the Covid-19 pan- mary goods like tobacco, of what? We need to export with the African Union’s “We have to correct that
demic. The AfCFTA brings gold, platinum, coal,” Muoni US$4 billion of finished Muoni said Zimbabwe Agenda 2063. abnormality by making sure
together all 55 member said. products,” he said. needed to beneficiate what- that we are self-sustaining,
states of the African Union ever she is producing, be it in It lays a foundation for the rather than for us to wait for
(AU) covering a market of “Are we doing ourselves Zimbabwe’s exports have agriculture or mining, so that establishment, in future, of other nations to produce cer-
more than 1.2 billion people, any favour? We are dealing averaged US$4 billion annu- “we are going to see ourselves a continental common mar- tain drugs or vaccines which
with non-renewable resourc- ally against an import bill of and other generations that ket. we are going to use. Africa is
briinncglusdinygoaugrowing middle es which can be depleted in US$6 billion in the past de- are going to come after us.” a disgrace! Not a single Afri-
Eefvoarcdlloeaumss!eeastnaicdnpadrocdoumctbi(nGedDPg)roossf the next 50 to 100 years. cade. “Africa here we come. This can country is producing a
What are we going to do for “What kind of legacy are is one of the biggest trade vaccine to date,” he said.
other generations which are The country has been we leaving? We are importing blocs in the world. I think

Register now for a FREE TYPO:
Trial Subscription. In a recent interview, we quoted Zimbabwean businessman Ken Sharpe as saying: “We have
been accused of not putting money in. That question has NOT been dealt with in terms of the
To receive a free copy of audits of the companies, the joint venture companies. And it is transparent that we put all the
TheNewshawks E-paper money in that we needed to put in.”
(PDF), send your Full Name, There was a typo. It should have read: “We have been accused of not putting money in. That
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Address to

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 19

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Zim must use ance on more expensive
IMF money domestic or external debt
productively: for building reserves.
Zimcodd
“Emphasis, however,
DUMISANI NYONI money. Countries can ex- IMF headquarters in Washington DC. should be placed on trans-
change their SDRs in re- parency and accountability
ZIMBABWE should use turn for foreign currency In its latest report, the mended that the resources are the most ideal as they in the management of the
the money it expects to re- with other IMF members. Zimbabwe Coalition on be used to ensure the im- are not debt induced and SDR allocation and, most
ceive from the Internation- It is important to note that Debt and Development proved socio-economic have low interest rates,” importantly, in ensuring
al Monetary Fund (IMF) SDR allocations do not (Zimcodd) said the allo- status of all Zimbabweans. Zimcodd said. that the allocations are put
to procure Covid-19 re- add to a member country’s cation is necessary for the to good use – for purpos-
sources and finance the public debt burden. country’s economic recov- “With its external debt “In addition, the SDR es of alleviating a crisis, in
recovery of the informal ery and, as such, it recom- estimated at US$8.2 bil- allocation will allow Zim- this case, procurement of
sector, economic justice SDRs were created in lion, SDRs for Zimbabwe babwe to reduce its reli- Covid-19 resources and
campaigners have said. 1969 for purposes of pro- securing recovery for the
viding financial options informal sector as the most
The country is expect- and alleviation in a crisis. affected,” it said.
ed to get €800 million in
Special Drawing Rights The savings can be In its April report, IH
(SDRs), which is about withdrawn when urgent- Securities (IH) said should
US$1.1 billion, from the ly needed, for instance the SDRs be success-
IMF. during pandemics or nat- fully issued, Zimbabwe
ural disasters. The SDRs would potentially receive
SDRs are a reserve as- are allocated based on the US$1.2bn, boosting local
set, an accounting unit for financial strength of mem- foreign currency reserves,
IMF transactions with its ber states. Richer countries and this would further sta-
member countries and a are allocated more SDRs bilise the local currency.
stable asset in countries’ in- than those allocated to
ternational reserves. They developing and/or poor “These reserves could
supplement a country’s countries. also be used to repay ex-
reserves by making use of ternal debts and fund
the collective strength of Countries in a stronger productive sectors of the
the international financial financial standing can, on economy.
institution’s membership. a voluntary basis, agree to
assist other countries when “Countries that convert
SDRs are not tangible the need arises. their SDRs into hard cur-
rency do not have to pay
back that hard currency
by any specific deadline;
they just have to pay any
interest owed to the IMF.
Interest rates on SDRs are
significantly lower,” it said.

In addition, IH said the
“cash injection” does not
necessarily come with the
prerequisite for immediate
reforms; reforms can take
place at a gradual pace.

BA/Comair resumes
Jo’burg-Vic Falls flight

THE resumption of flights be- Zimbabwe as a tourist destina- retracing one of its most lucra-
tween Johannesburg and top tion. tive routes.
tourist attraction Victoria Falls
has signaled the restoration of “We have grown in leaps “Comair will be resuming
confidence in Zimbabwe as a in bounds in terms of do- its operation in Victoria Falls
safe destination after the coun- mestic tourism. We have seen (JHB-VFA-JHB) on the 13th
try embarked on an aggressive a healthy growth within our of May 2021… “And please
drive to slow down the spread borders with this campaign take note, tickets will be as
of Covid-19, an official has which we have been pushing cheap as US$192 return to
said. which we have coined the Zim Johannesburg. So take the
Bho campaign,” Koti said in opportunity to experience the
The tourism industry, one an interview with The News- Hospitality of British Airways/
of the hardest hit key econom- Hawks. Comair,” said Comair in a
ic sectors, is slowly making statement, which included a
baby steps out of the woods “However, the coming of detailed introductory flight
following the outbreak of the Comair is an attestation of the schedule. The airline is target-
respiratory ailment which re- confidence that the market has ing 1 June 2021 as a date for
sulted in many airlines being in destination Zimbabwe. The the return of daily flights be-
grounded while many workers confidence that they have on tween the two cities.
have lost their jobs. the fact that we can bounce
back, we are leading also in Tourism players welcomed
Godfrey Koti, Zimbabwe terms of our vaccination with- the development, saying the
Tourism Authority spokesper- in Africa.” resurgence of the tourism in-
son, said the resumption of dustry is now in full speed.
flights was an endorsement of South African airline Co-
mair said it is excited to be — STAFF WRITER.

Page 20 Companies & Markets NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

DUMISANI NYONI Record-breaking rains production increases.
disrupt gold mining In December, the com-
CALEDONIA Mining South has been resolved
Corporation says gold and this high-grade area is Caledonia chief executive officer Steve Curtis. pany announced it had
production at its unit in back in full production,” entered into option agree-
Zimbabwe fell by 7% to he said. with the increase in the He said the cost per usage of diesel generators ments on two properties,
13 197 ounces in the first on-mine cost per ounce tonne mined increased by because of continued grid Glen Hume and Conne-
quarter of this year due to “The underground predominantly due to low- only 4% in the quarter supply problems. mara North, in Gwe-
the underground flooding flooding which resulted in er grades and recoveries, compared to the first quar- ru mining district in the
which resulted in five lost five lost production days which has now been ad- ter of 2020 and this was Given the high fixed cost Midlands. These options
production days. was caused by exception- dressed. due largely to increased base, he expected that costs give the company the right
ally heavy rains; rainfall in per ounce will decline as to explore each property
Caledonia operates Blan- the first quarter was more for periods of 15 and 18
ket Mine in Gwanda, Ma- than two-and-a-half times months respectively.
tabeleland South province. higher than the average for
the same period in previ- “If our exploration is
In the corresponding pe- ous years. successful, these proper-
riod last year, the mining ties will add further im-
concern produced 14 233 “In response, we in- petus to our growth. We
ounces of gold. creased our pumping ca- have made good progress
pacity so that we can man- on the drilling campaign
However, despite the low age any repetition of this at Glen Hume and we are
gold production, gross rev- event in future. On the evaluating the results of the
enue increased to US$25.7 positive side, the heavy first phase. At Connemara,
million from US$23.6 mil- rain means that water sup- where we have the bene-
lion recorded in the same ply, which has sometimes fit of evaluating historical
period last year, on the been a cause for concern, is drill data,
back of high gold prices.   assured for the foreseeable
future,” Curtis said. we are preparing a geo-
Revenue includes the logical model before we
sale proceeds of 1 584 Curtis said gold pro- commence drilling this
ounces of gold in work-in- duction in April showed summer,” Curtis said.
progress brought forward a marked improvement,
from 2020. registering 5 470 ounces in The Caledonia boss said
April, which is better than their immediate strate-
Earnings before inter- planned. gic focus is to convert the
est, taxes, depreciation, commissioning of the Cen-
and amortisation, exclud- “The strong recovery in tral Shaft project into high-
ing net foreign exchange performance has continued er production, lower costs
gains and the export incen- into May and we are con- and increased cash genera-
tive credit, amounted to fident that we will achieve tion.
US$9.5 million. our full-year guidance of
between 61 000 and 67 Curtis said the firm will
Caledonia chief exec- 000 ounces,” he said. also finalise exploration
utive officer Steve Curtis activities at Glen Hume
said that during the first Curtis said operating and Connemara North
quarter the mine experi- costs were well controlled while “evaluating further
enced underground flood- investment opportunities
ing, resulting in the loss of in the gold and precious
five production days. metals sector in Zimbabwe
and in other jurisdictions,
“The first quarter of with our long-term vision
2021 raised several chal- of becoming a mid-tier,
lenges which I am pleased multi-asset gold producer.”
to say have now rectified.
The fall-of-ground at AR

There is a future.

MINISTR ELFARE ZIMBABWE
Y OF HEALTH & CHILD W CHILDREN’S CANCER RELIEF

SUPPORT KIDZCAN
KINDLY DONATE

STAY KIDZCAN, NMB BANK - BORROWDALE, 260055798
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NewsHawks Executive Chat Page 21

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

A PAN-AFRICAN leader in Tackling fuel theft in transport
the logistics IOT (Internet management needs technology
of Things) space, Fanset In-
ternational, says it is poised Fanset co-founder Benson Nyahokwe. we need to have innovations However, our passion for Af-
for more innovations in fu- that eliminate delays at ports, rica has not stopped, we have
ture following its successful improve transparency and re- some inquiries coming from
launch of usage-based insur- duce running costs. As Fanset different countries across Af-
ance (UBI) and fuel monitor- we are working on solutions rica confirming that there is
ing technology solutions in we believe are going to revo- great potential in those coun-
Zimbabwe. lutionise the logistics space. tries so we will keep our eyes
These include coordination open and be ready to move
Fanset co-founder Ben- of goods and passenger move- into those countries when the
son Nyahokwe (BN), who ments, security of goods and time is right.
spoke to our reporter Ronald insurance of the goods. We RM: Where do you see Fan-
Muchenje (RM), said Zim- would like to bring together set International in the next
babwe is still in its infancy different players in the logis- five years?
in this business, presenting a tics industry for improved BN: We definitely see big
fresh market for new innova- efficiencies. The launch will things coming. We are aiming
tions. Below are excerpts of be announced in a few weeks’ high.
the interview:  time. RM: What can be the stum-
RM: Last year you an- RM: Which other countries bling blocks to the vision
nounced your launch of us- are you targeting and why? and how do you intend to
age-based insurance (UBI) BN: So far we are focused on go around them?
in Zimbabwe. We also un- growing the markets we have BN: We are very dynamic in
derstand your most popular set up and you will realise the execution of our oper-
offering is fuel monitoring. that it is deliberate that we ations. I’m certain this will
How has this product been are in a few countries in East, assist greatly in going around
performing? West and Southern Africa some of the challenges we
BN: Thank you so much for such that our further expan- might encounter along the
the time. Yes, we launched a sion in each of these regions way. It is obvious that there
usage-based insurance solu- will be easy. Since the start of will always be stumbling
tion targeted at reducing in- the Covid-19 pandemic, we blocks, for example things
surance fraud by 90% at a slowed down a bit on our ex- like policy changes are inev-
time when we have been of- pansion project and focused itable, but we believe we are
fering fuel monitoring solu- on ensuring the sustenance unstoppable.
tions mostly to truckers and of operations where  we are
bus operators and so on. The already set up operationally.
solution continues to be re-
ceived well because it greatly other countries in which logistics industry in Zimba- wishes all Muslims a happy...
solves the biggest challenge you operate. What is your bwe and the region in rela-
faced when running any fleet comment on the Zimbabwe- tion to the coming of the Eid
of vehicles, which is fuel theft an market compared to oth- African Continental Free Mubarak
and fraud. The biggest trans- er countries? Trade Area (AfCFTA)?
port companies are now en- BN: The AfCFTA came into Landline no:0242 721 044/5
joying the benefits of using BN: As Fanset this solu- effect on 1 January 2021,
our solution. tion is being used in more starting with the lowering of
RM: What major challenges than five countries now. First tariffs on goods originating
have you faced in delivering we launched in Zambia be- from Africa, which means we
this product to Zimbabwe? fore coming back home and are up for a boom in the logis-
BN: Developing and launch- expanded into South Africa, tics sector.
ing innovations is never with- Malawi, Rwanda, Ghana,
out its challenges, the devel- Nigeria and Tanzania. Zim- The logistics industry gen-
opment part was the easier babwe is home so it was the erally, not only in Zimbabwe,
bit for us. However, getting easiest. Coupled with fuel needs a technology revolu-
the first client to believe the shortages the country faced tion to manage a lot of the
product was one of the big- over the past few years and inefficiencies at all levels of
gest challenges. the continued increase in the transport value chain.
the fuel price, fuel theft is so First with transport owners
It took quite some time to rampant that it is important and managers, to ports of
break into the market, that to monitor the fuel of your entry and exit, the current
was around end of 2016 into trucks or buses.  inefficiencies along transport
early 2017. It was a bit frus- RM: Do you think Zimba- corridors and border manage-
trating because we knew we bwe has the right conditions ment systems increase costs to
had built a solution that is that encourage technologi- transporters.
robust and addresses the real cal innovations?
pain points of logisticians, BN: Compared to say South These delays, according to
but it was not moving as fast Africa or Nigeria, Zimbabwe one report by the Federation
as I would have wanted. is still a fresh market for new of Eastern and Southern Af-
innovations. Not much has rica Road Transport Associa-
As you might know, in been happening on the tech- tions (FERSATA), cost coun-
running a fleet of trucks or nology front in the past few tries millions of dollars. So,
buses, around 50% to 60% decades. Zimbabwe needs to improve and become more
of the operating cost goes to to catch up in creating op- competitive there is need to
fuel and, based on our exten- portunities for technology capacitate regulatory bodies,
sive experience, up to 30% of companies to make room for combine law enforcement ef-
that is lost through theft and innovations that will leapfrog forts with technology to avoid
fraud, so unlike basic vehicle Zimbabwe into the future. numerous truck delays at
tracking, which has been of- From our end, we have an roadblocks and, most impor-
fered in the market, we had innovation that we will be tantly, removing corruption
introduced a real game chang- announcing in the next few and harnessing the political
er. weeks that we expect to drive will to improve things in this
the logistics sector into a dig- important sector.
At the beginning, trans- ital future. RM: What key innovations
porters could not believe that RM: What have been the would you want to see in the
it is possible to monitor fuel key observations that you logistics space to improve
accurately and in real time have made in relation to the the operating environment
from their mobile phones or and efficiencies?
computers. BN: As mentioned earlier,

We realised it was because
there were so many other big
companies that had tried and
failed, so starting back then in
2016, that trust was difficult
to earn. But we are now glad
that it’s now in the past. 

RM: You have already
launched this product in

Page 22 Stock Taking NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Price Sheet A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE

Friday, 14 May 2021

Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Ticker Price Traded (cents) Traded Traded Change Change (%) Cap
(cents) Volume Value ($) (cents) ($m)
AFDIS: ZH Price 6000.00 (%)
ASUN: ZH 6000.00 240.00 -
AFDIS Consumer Goods ARTD: ZH 234.89 - 760.00 4,000 - - - 150.00 7,038.36
African Sun Consumer Services ARISTON: ZH 700.06 240.00 250.76 1,200 9,600.00 5.11 2.18 41.18 2,068.25
ART AXIA: ZH 224.93 840.00 2202.06 2,500 9,120.00 59.94 8.56 59.23 3,321.03
Ariston Industrials BIND: ZH 1841.52 269.00 599.52 567,700 6,269.00 25.83 11.48 87.13 4,080.86
Axia Consumer Services 512.15 2200.00 80000.00 95,500 12,501,110.00 360.54 19.58 140.40 11,998.90
BNC BAT: ZH 74900.00 600.00 11000.00 3,700 572,546.00 87.37 17.06 57.77 7,493.14
BAT Consumer Goods CAFCA: ZH 11000.00 80000.00 1641.47 2,960,000.00 5100.00 6.81 45.45 16,506.81
CAFCA Basic Materials 1429.31 8000.01 - 22.36
Cassava CSZL: ZH 8000.00 - 1700.00 683,900 - - - 152.53 960.86
CBZ Consumer Goods CBZ: ZH 1600.00 1700.00 6280.25 47,000 11,226,000.00 212.16 14.84 -6.39 42,523.55
Dairibord Industrials DZL: ZH 6030.98 8000.00 2587.50 0.01 0.00 29.77 54,978.60
Delta DLTA: ZH 2367.36 1700.00 350.00 600 3,760,005.00 100.00 6.25 176.04 6,086.01
Econet Technology ECO: ZH 349.82 6500.00 2826.53 1,387,900 10,200.00 249.27 4.13 173.81 80,667.37
Edgars Banking EDGR: ZH 2975.64 2600.00 600.00 220.14 9.30 191.67 67,031.18
FBC FBC: ZH 600.00 350.00 316.58 13,600 87,163,600.00 0.18 0.05 88.27 1,144.47
Fidelity Consumer Goods FIDL: ZH 313.74 3000.00 2109.39 1,200 351,900.00 -149.11 -5.01 214.63 18,992.87
First Capital Consumer Goods FCA: ZH 2093.33 600.00 800.35 4,200.00 187.80
FML Telecommunications FMHL: ZH 680.00 370.00 73.23 30,800 870,570.00 - - 100.89 653.54
FMP Consumer Services FMP: ZH 78.97 2100.00 79.00 304,600 2.84 0.91 147.02 6,827.74
GBH GBH: ZH 66.00 816.00 14500.00 139,800 1,827,600.00 16.06 0.77 205.13 14,557.81
Getbucks Banking GBFS: ZH 14424.52 74.00 9000.00 21,300 442,582.00 120.35 17.70 532.00 9,909.59
Hippo Financial Services HIPO: ZH 8500.38 79.00 5300.00 11,300 449,300.00 -5.74 -7.27 61.11
Innscor INN: ZH 5300.00 14500.00 239.51 969,000 90,440.00 13.00 19.70 143.05 392.94
Lafarge Banking LACZ: ZH 234.62 9000.00 2660.00 709,642.50 75.48 0.52 452.08 918.86
Mash Financial Services MASH: ZH 2500.00 13.00 500 395.00 499.62 5.88 157.54 27,987.98
Masimba MSHL: ZH 12.59 - 7879.49 700 101,500.00 137.50 50,829.88
Medtech Real Estate MMDZ: ZH 7247.19 270.00 1843.75 20,400 - - 64.56 4,240.00
Meikles Industrials MEIK: ZH 1850.00 2660.00 31800.00 1,836,000.00 4.89 2.08 258.08 4,452.67
Nampak NPKZ: ZH 31800.00 13.00 950.00 - - 160.00 6.40 707.78 6,427.99
NatFoods Financial Services NTFD: ZH 950.00 7500.00 1105.83 9,200 0.41 3.26 429.12 395.17
NTS Consumer Goods NTS: ZH 1125.00 1800.00 2063.38 1,400 22,035.00 632.30 8.72 3360.84 19,907.22
NMBZ NMB: ZH 1752.27 3602.29 4,976,200 37,240.00 -6.25 -0.34 176.42 13,932.26
OK Zim Industrials OKZ: ZH 3598.30 - 3500.00 17,700 646,866.00 129.26 21,751.23
Padenga Industrials PHL: ZH 3030.00 - 230.00 2,400 1,394,670.00 - - 71.42 2,411.79
Proplastics Real Estate PROL: ZH 226.67 1100.00 2050.00 44,250.00 - - 306.51 4,469.45
RTG Industrials RTG: ZH 2050.00 2100.00 4010.00 - -19.17 -1.70 19.95 25,726.49
RioZim Healthcare RIOZ: ZH 3978.01 3605.00 82.15 - - 311.11 17.75 37.11 19,509.77
Simbisa Industrials SIM: ZH 76.73 3500.00 109.52 600 - 3.99 0.11 233.67 8,817.75
Star Africa Industrials SACL: ZH 100.00 230.00 4000.00 175,700 6,635.00 470.00 15.51 204.26 5,739.64
Truworths Consumer Goods TRUW: ZH 4000.00 - 302.02 531,300 3,625,365.00 3.33 1.47 271.25 2,501.60
TSL Industrials TSL: ZH 300.00 4500.00 1292.31 100 19,138,970.00 - - 131.88 22,543.61
Turnall TURN: ZH 1300.00 83.00 169.04 1,200 3,500.00 31.99 0.80 224.75 3,873.44
Unifreight Banking UNIF: ZH 146.67 110.00 4700.00 - 2,760.00 5.42 7.06 6847.90 420.63
Willdale Consumer Services WILD: ZH 4700.00 4000.00 0.03 59,800 - 9.52 9.52 428.25 14,284.10
ZB ZBFH: ZH 0.03 305.00 174.00 401,600 2,397,980.00 - - 95.83 1,489.08
Zeco Consumer Goods ZECO: ZH 169.93 1300.00 689.43 114,800 329,914.00 2.02 0.67 50.00 1,375.98
Zimpapers Industrials ZIMP: ZH 680.00 170.00 295.86 229,400 125,730.00 -7.69 -0.59 77.55 3,005.53
Zimplow ZIMPLOW: ZH 291.75 - 23,500 9,176,000.00 22.37 15.25 37.89 8,233.96
ZHL Consumer Services ZHL: ZH - 1,300 70,975.00 - - -5.62
TOTAL Basic Materials 174.00 224,000 16,800.00 - - 0.14
680.00 - 378,656.00 4.07 2.40 1,002.24
Consumer Goods 291.75 - - 9.43 1.39 1,643.47
Consumer Goods 12,800 - 4.11 1.41 5,380.67
Consumer Services 8,800 22,272.00 640,506.50
Consumer Goods 1,400 60,670.00
11,100,400 4,142.00
Industrials 162,408,009.50
Industrials
Industrials

Banking
Industrials
Consumer Services
Industrials
Financial Services

ETFs OMTT.zw 174.48 190.00 175.83 136,749 240,447.25 1.35 0.77 75.44 140.66

Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF

FINSEC Financial Services OMZIL 2800.00 - 2800.00 - -- - 5.66 2,324.33

Old Mutual Zimbabwe

VFEX (US cents) Consumer Goods SCIL:VX 18.00 - 18.00 - -- -- US$m
43.40
SeedCo International

Index Close Change (%) Open YTD % Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
ZSE All Share 5,436.39 +5.05 5,175.11 +106.76 Getbucks 79.00c +13.00c +19.70 +532.00
Top 10 3,127.76 +5.52 2,964.21 +89.05 Axia +19.58 +140.40
Top 15 3,505.18 +4.80 3,344.60 +79.93 OK Zim 2202.06c +360.54c +17.75 +129.26
Small Cap +2.47 48,402.18 +317.62 FMP 2063.38c +311.11c +17.70 +147.02
Medium Cap 49,596.70 +4.54 12,687.78 +138.38 BNC 800.35c +120.35c +17.06 +57.77
13,264.23 599.52c +87.37c

Top 5 Fallers Price Change % YTD %
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NewsHawks News Analysis Page 23

Issue 30, 14 May 2021 Zimbabwe gold smuggling is Mnangagwa, a self-pro-
masterminded by high office claimed sworn enemy
NYASHA CHINGONO of corruption during his
smuggling scandal in No- However, Auxilia dis- phios Mufandauya as well gling to even afford clean early days as Zimbabwe’s
ZIMBABWE should vember, investigations tanced herself from the as Gift Karanda, from water and healthcare.  leader, has somewhat
strengthen its minerals pointed to organised failed gold heist chal- Rushwaya’s ZMF. failed to tackle this social
regulatory framework and smuggling, where security lenging police Commis- Also saddening is the cancer head-on. 
ensure tighter border con- cameras and detectors at sioner-General Godwin The involvement of pace at which the author-
trols to plug gold smug- the airport were switched Matanga to investigate Tserayi in the scandal, ities deal with smuggling If there is any grain of
gling. This worsening cri- off to ensure Rushwaya’s and clear her family’s first broken by The New- cases at court. truth in the allegation that
sis is costing the country safe passage with the con- name.  sHawks, also brought the Mnangagwa has become
billions annually as the traband. spotlight on Mnangagwa To add to the lethargy one of the country’s gold
criminal syndicates con- President Mnangagwa’s as he worked at the heart in prosecuting offenders, magnates, owning many
tinue hitting headlines, A security official at- family has often been im- of state security. the cases normally drag mining concessions, the
analysts say. tached to Mnangagwa’s plicated in gold rackets, for months and some- fight against gold smug-
security team assisted bringing to question his Zimbabweans were times years as impunity gling is near-impossible
This week, a 33-year-old Rushwaya to circumvent willingness to deal with alarmed that security de- continues to reign.  to win. 
gold smuggler was nabbed security.   smuggling, illicit financial tails, who are mandat-
at OR Tambo Interna- flows and corruption.  ed to keep the country’s A common thread run- It is incumbent upon
tional Airport in South After being cornered, ports safe, most impor- ning through most of the Zimbabwean authori-
Africa, trying to smuggle Rushwaya frantically tried Court documents show tantly intercepting illegal these smuggling cases is ties to show political will
23 pieces of gold worth to call the First Lady, Rushwaya was allegedly contraband, have become protection from either the in dealing with smug-
R11 million (US$782 Auxillia Mnangagwa, who assisted by a member of part of the criminal syn- presidium or top govern- gling. 
000). Tashinga Nyasha was unreachable. One Mnangagwa’s close secu- dicate robbing Zimbabwe ment officials. 
Masinire, an ex-driver and of the suspects arrested rity, Stephen Chenjerai billions annually.  “Enforcement of ex-
aide of controversial gold in connection with the Tserayi (45) and a Central This promotes impu- isting laws should be
dealer Henrietta Rush- smuggling, Gift Karanda, Intelligence Organisation By conniving with crim- nity for offenders, who strengthened and com-
waya, was released on bail said the gold belonged to (CIO) operative based at inals, security officials are often walk away scot free plied with,” said mining
after appearing before a the First Lady and her son Robert Gabriel Mugabe sabotaging Zimbabwe’s to enjoy the fruits of their executive Issac Kwesu. “It
Johannesburg court fac- Collins. International Airport, Ra- economic interests at a loot or are given a light is a sensitive issue, but our
ing charges of smuggling, time the country is strug- sentence which is not de- laws are clear and need to
months after his former terrent. be reinforced, especially
boss tried to smuggle out in the gold sector.”
6kgs of gold. 
According to the In-
Rushwaya, president of ternational Crisis Group,
the Zimbabwe Miners’ Zimbabwe loses US$1.5
Federation (ZMF), is cur- billion to gold smuggling
rently before the courts every year.  
on similar charges.
Finance minister Mthu-
An in-your-face figure li Ncube is on record as
who also left a trail of saying the country lost 30
controversy from her days to 34 tonnes of gold in
as chief executive officer 2019.
of the Zimbabwe Football
Association, Rushwaya, The country’s bullion is
who is related to President often smuggled to Dubai,
Emmerson Mnangagwa, a prime destination for
has cosy relations with most buyers. 
top government officials. 
Smuggling also flour-
While smuggling has ishes under Zimbabwe-
become a growing cancer an law which forcea gold
in Zimbabwe, bleeding suppliers to sell the pre-
billions in potential rev- cious metal to Fidelity
enue, it is baffling how Printers, where they get
huge amounts of the paid 70% in foreign cur-
precious metal are being rency. 
moved through the Rob-
ert Gabriel Mugabe Inter- Part of the problem is
national Airport.  that payments to small-
scale miners are “consid-
It is apparent someone erably lower” than the
is either sleeping on duty, spot price of gold, push-
or there are officials work- ing them to look for more
ing in cahoots with crimi- lucrative markets. 
nal gangs to siphone large
amounts of gold out of However, political an-
the country.  alyst Stephen Chan said
nothing can be done to
Thanks to the South Af- deal with smuggling in
rican crime-fighting unit, Zimbabwe. 
the Hawks, Masinire was
caught and is current- “Without doubt, how-
ly before the courts. But ever, in Zimbabwe there
how many smugglers have is collusion between the
gone undetected at these smugglers and their pa-
ports of entry?  trons in high places,”
Chan remarked. “Noth-
While it remains a mys- ing can be done to stop
tery how Masinire smug- this unless those responsi-
gled a large quantity of ble at the top are brought
gold through the airport, to justice and dealt with
it is clear the bullion heist in an exemplary fashion.
was carefully planned.  There is, however, at this
stage little chance of that
If the Hawks had not happening. Smuggling
intercepted Masinire’s has long existed in Zim-
contraband, Zimbabwe babwe. Diamonds were
would have lost US$782 smuggled before gold. It
000 worth of gold. is also common in many
other African countries.
The same may not be For instance, parts of
said for the authorities in endangered animals are
Zimbabwe, who only get smuggled to China for
energised when trampling folk medicines from plac-
on the rights of political es like Kenya. Ivory was
opponents. for a long time an illicit
trade.”
When The NewsHawks
reported on the 6kg gold

Page 24 The Big Debate NewsHawks

2023 elections stampede: Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Prof. Arthur He is certain about this. He
expects to lose the election
History repeating itself?Mutambara and then proceed to rig the
WHAT is the dilemma we face outcome. Then what? The op-
with respect to the 2023 elec- position will then go to court
tions? to challenge and contest the
fraudulent results. Who will
Can these elections address they find at the courts? A com-
the national question – politics promised Malaba and his pli-
and economic affairs of Zim- ant judiciary will be waiting for
babwe? What are the lessons them! That is Mnangagwa’s le-
we can draw from the histo- gal strategy. He has already ex-
ry of stolen or rigged polls in tended Luke Malaba’s tenure as
Zimbabwe? Is there a stampede Chief Justice on 11 May 2021.
towards the 2023 elections? Is The over-age Chief Justice is
history of electoral theft about now a grateful beneficiary of
to repeat itself in Zimbabwe?  Zanu PF patronage and lar-
How do we avoid this repeti- gesse. He is now compromised
tion? What needs to be done?  and vulnerable. He is now a
What is the way forward?  “safe (for junta) pair of hands”
to preside over any challenges
To address the above ques- to the expected fraudulent poll
tions, we need to appreciate in 2023. That is the method to
the nature and calibre of elec- the madness of the illegal and
tions that can resolve the na- unconstitutional constitution-
tional question. This speaks al amendments. Mnangagwa
to a variety of issues: election is very clear that rigging is not
management, the credibility of enough. He wants to rig with
the election processes, the elec- unassailable impunity in 2023
toral laws, voter registration, – that is his ambition. This is
the quality of the opposition the political rationale behind
parties, and the nature of the Constitution Amendments
Zimbabwean state. No.1 and No.2.

Brief history of rigging outcome but did not challenge officially, there was a paltry treason, afford to lose power in of public goods and services, As already explained with
The starting point is a quick the parliamentary results. This difference of 304 000 votes 2023? That is the Zimbabwean and a dysfunctional patron- the unelected vice-presidents,
overview of the recent history was a strategic mistake. Of between Mnangagwa and dilemma.  age-based public service. All Mnangagwa seeks power to
of rigged elections in Zimba- what value would a presiden- Chamisa. More importantly, this anchored on pervasive and manage the factions in Zanu
bwe, which starts in earnest tial victory within the context Emmerson scrapes through In any case, when we investi- systemic corruption, primitive PF, undermine his rivals, al-
in 2000. There were disputes of Zanu PF’s two-thirds ma- and avoids a run-off by a mea- gate the history of coup d’états, tribalism and shameless clans- lowing him and his clansmen
about polls before, but after jority? Zanu PF would just im- sly 0.67% or a dishonourable it is instructive to observe that manship. To compound our to determine Zanu PF suc-
2000, electoral fraud was now peach the new president out of 48  000 votes. What did the they come in pairs – twins. The situation, the regime has tak- cession beyond 2023. What
on an industrial scale – poll office or stop him from passing regime learn from this rigged military interventions in Gha- en advantage of the Covid-19 escapes him is that all these
theft on steroids.   any legislation including bud- outcome? What insights did na, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso pandemic to shut down all shenanigans can be a recipe for
gets. This means the efficacy of the opposition pick up from are ample testimony to this. democratic spaces. Moreover, another coup d’état – the twin
According to official results, the this fraudulent exercise? Consequently, the Zimbabwe- the opposition is divided. It is of the first one. Mnangagwa’s
in  2000 Zanu PF  obtained 62 The dilemma an junta is scared stiff of a sec- at its weakest. Some of its el- clumsy and amateurish coup
MPs against the newly formed presidential court challenge From 2000 to the present, ond coup d’état. Hence, they ements have been co-opted by d’état-proofing might lead to
MDC’s 57. In 2002, after sub- was not thought-through. Zimbabwean elections have are busy coup d’état-proofing the regime such that Zanu PF another coup d’état. Sad.
jecting Morgan Tsvangirai to a been rigged. What will be dif- their administration now has an opposition party
frivolous treason trial during As of today, Zanu PF has ferent or new in 2023? The doing its bidding for it – the These nefarious legal efforts,
the elections, Robert Mugabe lost one MP to a recall and 2018 elections were a for- through the unconstitution- MDC-T. That is the state of including the Patriotic Bill,
gave himself 56.2% of the three to death. Hence their gone conclusion. They had to al amendments, establishing play in Zimbabwe as we hur- are part of what is called rule
vote and 42% to a man with lower House representation be won by the junta, by any a tribal hegemony, a clans- tle and stampede towards the by law. We do not want that.
a hangman’s noose around his stands at 176, while the  MDC means necessary. The purpose man-based patronage system 2023 elections. What we want is the rule of
neck. The year 2008 was the Alliance has lost two MPs to of those polls was to cure and and systemic corruption. For Restating the challenge law. We demand more than
best year for the opposition. death and suffered 12 Zanu sanitise the coup d’état of No- example, removing the run- The regime is not planning to constitutionality. We want
In the lower House, Zanu PF PF-induced recalls (gifted to vember 2017. Otherwise, what ning mate clause is meant go anywhere anytime soon! constitutionalism.
had 99 MPs, MDC-T 100 the Zanu PF surrogate par- would be the point of the mili- to neutralise potential rivals, The recent illegal amendments
and MDC-M 10. For the first ty – MDC-T – which Doug- tary intervention? while the change in term limits are part of lawfare – the wea- In order to achieve fraud-
time, Zanu PF was in the mi- las Mwonzora leads), leaving for judges creates a compro- ponisation of the law. Mnan- ulent polls and entrench dic-
nority – its 99 MPs against their parliamentary strengths Why carry out a coup d’état, mised and pliant judiciary. It gagwa’s eyes are set and fixated tatorship in 2018, the Zanu
the opposition’s combined at 73. Clearly, Zanu PF lacks commit treason, and then hand is textbook and classic authori- on the 2023 elections. There is PF junta has complementary
strength of 110. After holding a two-thirds majority in both over power to the opposition? tarian consolidation. clear consolidation of power strategies to the amendments.
onto the presidential results for the lower House (176 short It would not make sense. Now, Context of the 2023 elections and repurposing of state insti- These are the Patriotic Bill be-
six weeks, the Zanu PF regime of four) and upper House (53 today in 2021, we have a mil- So, in summary, the context of tutions in pursuit of the same. ing drafted, deployment of un-
then announced that Mugabe short of one). It follows that itary-based regime, a product the 2023 elections is defined restrained, naked and violent
had lost to Tsvangirai 43.2% Mwonzora’s MDC-T enabled of a coup d’état. In 2023 we by a coup d’état-based gov- Why does he want a pliant, repression (six people killed on
to 47.9%, while Simba Ma- Zanu PF to pass the recent will still be within the context ernment – a securocratic state. partisan, compromised and 1 August 2018 for protesting
koni was awarded 8.3% of the illegal and unconstitutional of a coup d’état! Can a coup Furthermore, there is state and captured judiciary in 2023? about elections, 12 dead after
vote. “There was no winner. Constitutional Amendments d’état-based regime, consist- party (Zanu PF) conflation. This is because he knows that fuel riots in January 2019); ha-
Let us go for a runoff,” they 1 and 2. ing of people who committed There is a collapsed economy, he is going to lose the polls. rassment, persecution and vio-
declared. What can the oppo- a dismal and inefficient supply lence against opposition, tam-
sition learn from the outcomes It is significant to note that ing, co-optation and bribing
of 2008? What did the regime in the 2018 presidential poll, of elements of the opposition,
learn from its rigging efforts in political patronage, systemic
that year? After the lapse of the corruption, primitive tribalism
GNU, Zanu PF went for the and shameless clansmanship.
jugular and attained 160 MPs
to the MDC-T’s 49. Robert The net result of all this is
Mugabe claimed a handsome power retention and consoli-
61.1 versus  Tsvangirai’s mea- dation at any cost in 2023. It
sly 34.9%. What does this all is authoritarian consolidation
mean? anchored in despotic power
retention. Elections then just
Fast forward to the 2018 become an irritation – an in-
harmonised elections, Zanu PF convenient nuisance. Needless
again secured a two-thirds ma- to say, all this has a devastating
jority of 180 MPs in the lower impact on the economy, busi-
House while the MDC Alli- ness, jobs, lives and livelihoods.
ance settled for 87 MPs. Em-
merson Mnangagwa scraped As we stampede towards
through with 50.67% of the the 2023 elections, we must
vote to Nelson Chamisa’s to understand the differences be-
44.39%. The MDC Alliance tween Mugabe and Mnangag-
challenged the presidential wa. The latter believes in the
quick use of excessive force.
He is more brazen with mur-
derous tactics, as evidenced
by the killings in August 2018
and January 2019. Mnangag-
wa’s disposition and strategy
are straightforward: “Violence
works! Use it as a first resort.

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 25

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Show no mercy and deal with fairly and justifiably. It is also prudent to review independence in the man- Let us push for massive voter gle.
the outrage and fallout later.” They were divided anyway. the general state of the opposi- agement of our elections. All registration, followed by mas- Resolving the dilemma
tion in Zimbabwe. stakeholders must agree on sive voting and defending the Yes, Zimbabwe can be made
On lawfare (weaponisation If they were united, they would and implement political re- vote. This is what will stop ready for the 2023 elections.
of law), Mnangagwa is more have won! It is the opposition’s The securocratic govern- forms, thus guaranteeing un- history from repeating itself. Polls can solve our nation-
crass and brazen than Mug- fault. They must shape up or ment has embarked on the disputed poll outcomes. We Heavy voter registration and al question. However, there
abe. His background is from ship out!” The opposition di- steady decimation of all op- must resolve perennial polari- massive turnout on election is a big caveat. This can only
the intelligence services, hence vision creates a plausible ratio- position, specifically MDC sation due to stolen or rigged day will make it difficult, if not happen if a number of things
rampant abuse of intelligence nale or explanation for rigged Alliance. The Zanu PF-creat- elections. impossible, to rig the elections.  articulated in this treatise are
resources, particularly falsified election results. ed MDC-T is both inept and implemented in the next two
military intelligence against intellectually bankrupt. They As explained earlier, for Strategies must be put in years. Is history about to repeat
political rivals and opponents. An excellent and instructive have no social base. history not to repeat itself, we place to stop further con- itself? Not necessarily. If we are
It is now common cause that illustration of this phenom- must devise strategies to stop stitutional changes such as woke, it will not. The Zimba-
falsified military intelligence enon is from the 2008 presi- However, it is instructive to Zanu PF from clinching a two- presidential term limit and bwean dilemma requires all
was used against the Gamatox dential elections. The rigged note that the differences of the thirds majority in 2023. presidential age requirement. hands on deck; civil society,
and G40 groupings in Zanu poll results were as follows: MDC Alliance and MDC-T Political mobilisation and pub- business, political parties and
PF. Joice Mujuru, Rugare Mugabe 43.2% against Tsvan- can only be settled by a nation- We must focus intensely on lic campaigns against the two ordinary folks. No one is com-
Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa girai’s 47.9%, with Makoni al election. Will MDC-T keep parliamentary seats, not just amendments and the Patriotic ing to save us but us.
were obvious victims of such as a distant third with 8.3%. those ill-gotten MPs? the presidency. Improve the Bill. All this must be done by
methods. Of course, the MDC Looking at these results, here is quality of opposition (presi- putting civil society and ordi- There have been discussions
Alliance is in the thick of such the view from the uninitiated, Another strategy to stop the dency and parliament) candi- nary people, particularly wom- about having an electoral sab-
victimisation as we speak. “Why were these guys divided? repetition of history in 2023 dates by putting a premium en and the youths, at the centre bath, where elections are sus-
Between Morgan and Simba, is to increase the opposition on (a) technical competence, of all our struggles. pended in favour of collective
Unlike Mugabe, Mnangag- they have 56% of the vote. If victory margin dramatically (b) proven capabilities (c) de- Limitations of the law national reforms under a Na-
wa is a man of limited ability Makoni and the MDC-M had before results are rigged. The monstrable commitment and While legal action must con- tional Transitional Authority
and talents in every respect. He backed Tsvangirai, the oppo- smaller the margin, the greater ethical leadership, (e) strategic tinue against Amendment (NTA). This is an ideal and
is a man of very scanty imagi- sition would have won. How the temptation to rig. With a thinking, and (f ) a track record (No.1), which is a legal nullity, preferred pathway, but wholly
nation and intelligence. This is foolish can these opposition narrow loss of 11 780 votes in of measurable achievements and that against Amendment unrealistic. It is pie in the sky –
the foundation of his profound leaders be?” the US state of Georgia, Don- Political (electoral) reforms  (No.2), which is in total and just an unattainable dream. In
insecurity leading to the tragic ald Trump was tempted to rig. We must demand the over- fatal breach of the constitu- the context of national polar-
vices described above. Well, that sounds logical. He phoned Georgia’s state sec- haul of Zimbabwe Electoral tion; we must be alive to the isation, induced by a military
However, it is the wrong in- retary and remonstrated with Commission (Zec) in terms limitation of law as an instru- junta, it is highly unachievable.
Here is a man who used to terpretation of rigged election him, begging the official to rig of its structure, member ap- ment of struggle. During the The arrogant and brazen con-
be a violent hatchet man for outcomes. It is misplaced and the elections: “I just want to pointment method, and inde- liberation struggle in Zim- stitutional amendments by an
Mugabe. Now he is a violent unsophisticated analysis. Mor- find 11 780 votes.” pendence. In professionalising babwe, the freedom fighters over-confident junta whose au-
hatchet man for himself. What gan Tsvangirai actually won Zec, we can pick lessons from quickly realised the futility of thority is derived from a coup
do you expect? Furthermore, despite Makoni. He won de- Of course, Trump did not the electoral commission of seeking justice from the ene- d’état constitute an eloquent
Mugabe was a subtle and so- spite the lack of backing from succeed in his rigging ambi- South Africa, also known as my’s illegitimate courts. Taking besmirching of any prospects
phisticated tribalist. Mnan- MDC-M. He got comfortably tions. America’s strong institu- the Independent Electoral legal action against the Smith for an NTA. Moreover,  the
gagwa is an unimaginative, above 60% of the vote. By the tions and men and women of Commission (IEC). The ap- regime in Smith’s courts was bitterly divided opposition will
primitive tribalist steeped in way, this is now a well-known integrity such as the state secre- pointment of the Zec chair- futile. The Madzimbamuto not cooperate on the NTA.
clansman politics. and accepted fact. When the tary of Georgia and vice-presi- person should not be done by v. Lardner-Burke (1969) case More significantly, the differ-
Stopping history repeating Zanu PF regime was implod- dent Mike Pence stopped him. a national president who is an where the legality of Ian Doug- ences between the MDC Alli-
itself ing in factionalism leading to Well, in Zimbabwe where are interested party in the elec- las Smith’s Unilateral Declara- ance and MDC-T can only be
The starting point is to empha- the coup d’état, the feuding our strong institutions? Who tions. tion of Independence (UDI) settled by a national election.
sise the role of ordinary people factions generously shared the are our women and men of in- was tested is a classic example. The opposition needs a nation-
(you and I), civil society and details of the rigging of the first tegrity? We must answer these We must overhaul our elec- Smith’s courts ruled that UDI al election to determine who is
political parties. We must all round of the 2008 presidential two questions in the affirma- toral system, for example (a) was legal. It is not sensible to who among them, not an NTA
take charge of our lives. In par- elections. tive before 2023. 100% proportional represen- seek justice from the enemy’s Concluding remarks
ticular, we must all have unity tation (big parties dislike this, courts. There was an appeal to Unfortunately, there will be no
of purpose if we are going to What does this all mean? It is also important to note so civil society must drive the the Privy Council (highest of suspension of elections in 2023
stop the repetition of history It means that by entering the that a small margin of victo- agenda), (b) 50-50 gender par- the Commonwealth), which – no electoral sabbath so that
in 2023. Of paramount im- 2008 elections divided, we ry makes the rigging exercise ity (c) Diaspora vote (the dias- ruled that UDI was illegal. The Zimbabweans can work on na-
portance is opposition unity in played hostage to fortune. easy in addition to tempting pora remittances are sustaining Smith regime just ignored the tional reforms. It will not hap-
contesting elections. While our disunity did not riggers. The message is that in the Zimbabwean economy. judgement. pen. There will be no NTA in
Opposition unity damage Tsvangirai’s electoral 2023 the opposition must aim There should be no taxation Zimbabwe. In any case, a con-
Does the opposition in Zim- strength, it proved a plausible to win by a massive ratio. Can without representation). We Next door, in South Africa, stitutional amendment will be
babwe understand the strategic rationale for the rigged elec- you imagine if in 2023 Mnan- need a different election man- it was futile to take legal action required to enable the NTA ar-
value of unity? Do the party tion outcome. The rigged re- gagwa gets 20% and the op- agement system and a trans- against the apartheid regime in rangement. An overconfident
leaders understand the mean- sults looked reasonable! Going position candidate gets 80%? parent delimitation exercise. apartheid courts. Now here is and arrogant Zanu PF will
ing of a divided opposition and forward, the opposition parties How do you even begin to rig the challenge to Mnangagwa not give power to the NTA.
the implications thereof? and their leaders must under- that? It is harder than rigging a Media reforms must ensure and Zanu PF:  “Is it you de- The amendment will not pass.
stand the strategic value of close election. equitable and fair access during sire to become an illegal regime Moreover, depending on the
Opposition party disunity unity beyond the summation the pre-election period, the characterised by illegal judges format of the NTA, there will
does not just imply dividing of votes. By the way, it is not only the campaigns, the elections them- and an illegitimate judiciary? be no takers of this noble idea
the votes of supporters. Nei- good people who learn from selves and beyond. It is import- Is it your ambition to become from the opposition. How can
ther does unity only achieve They must internalise the rigged election results. The ant to note that some of the a rogue regime in the mould ambitious politicians surrender
the addition of followers’ votes.  phenomenon of disunity pro- junta also learns. political reforms might require of Ian Smith and apartheid?” national political power for five
No. It is much more than viding a plausible rationale for constitutional amendments. Make up your mind. You have or 10 years to a group of un-
that. Disunity demoralises the rigged outcomes. Unity must Here is their lesson from the For others, new ordinary Acts a historic decision to make. If elected non-political players?
broader and general opposi- also aim to stop Zanu PF from 2018 presidential election: In of Parliament will be sufficient. your choice is illegality and No chance. The NTA is not
tion-inclined achieving a two-thirds majori- 2023 the rigging strategy is as What more needs to be done illegitimacy just like Smith or feasible.
ty in the legislature. follows: “Avoid a run-off and We need both people power the apartheid system, then we
electorate beyond ardent get a percentage much higher and progressive lawfare. We have news for you: Let us concentrate on
party supporters and mem- The MDC Alliance is the than 50% say 55% or high- must pick up lessons from achieving credible elections in
bers. On the other hand, unity bona fide opposition party in er. Just more than 50% is not previously exposed rigging ev- “We will not be coming to 2023, which can resolve our
energises the entire electorate. Zimbabwe. It is the most pop- enough. idence and activities. We must your illegitimate courts for jus- national question. We can use
A united opposition has a mas- ular political party in the coun- identify and disable the en- tice!” lawfare (legal strategies) while
sive psychological impact on try. Consequently, this party Get way above 50%. Make ablers of rigging – both institu- understanding the limitations
voters hungry for change. A must show leadership. rigged outcome unequivocal. tions and individuals – such as The liberation armies Zanla thereof. We must deploy peo-
united platform is a mobilising This will cheapen and demor- the military, the system and the and Zpra did not ask for the ple power (political strategies),
tool. “What? The opposition It must reach out to all op- alise any legal challenge and Joint Operations Command. vote from Smith’s courts. Josi- pursue political reforms, and
parties are united?  They have position parties and their presi- provide plausible justification We must ensure the prescribed ah Tongogara, Herbert Chite- unity of purpose in the oppo-
one presidential candidate dential candidates, for example for victory. Also, get two-thirds route and destination of the po, Nikita Mangena and Jason sition.
against a repressive regime. Nkosana Moyo, Lovemore majority in parliament.” election results are bona fide Moyo did not plead for free-
Change is definitely coming! Madhuku, Noah Manyika and What needs to be done for both presidential and par- dom, justice and independence There must be involvement
Let us register and vote en Jacob Ngarivhume. Negotiate Civil society and political par- liamentary elections. We must from Ian Smith’s courts. Why of civil society, women and
masse.”  with them and get their can- ties must push for political ensure the fidelity of the elec- did they not do that? What are youths. We must involve all
didates off the ballot sheet. reforms, including constitu- tion results computer server. the lessons from their example? stakeholders – an ecosystem
That is the strategic value of MDC Alliance must not be tional amendments to enable approach. We must be our
unity. arrogant because of its strong free, fair and credible elections. Opposition parties must South Africa’s MK and Apla own liberators through (a)
and popular base. Zanu PF is doing the oppo- field election agents in all the fighters did not ask for freedom massive voter registration, (b)
An even more significant site. They are implementing country’s 10 985 polling sta- and justice from apartheid massive voting and, of course,
strategic value of unity is re- Neither should it be inse- constitutional amendments — tions. They must deploy agents courts. Chris Hani and Joe (c) defending the vote. 
moving plausible rationale or cure towards high-quality pres- political reforms — to enable in all 1 985 ward centres, 210 Slovo did not beg for freedom
explanation for rigged election idential candidates like Moyo. and safeguard the rigging of constituency centres, and 10 from apartheid courts. Why We, the people of Zimba-
outcomes. If the opposition is MDC Alliance must reach out elections. provincial centres. We must did they not do that? What are bwe, must become the elector-
divided and a repressive regime to all political players. Do not understand institutionalised the lessons from their example? al revolution we wish to see in
defeats them through the rig- be arrogant. Do not be inse- How cynical can you get? rigging by Zec and combat 2023. 
ging of polls; doubt is planted cure. It is a terrible combina- We want political reforms to this. Going to court has its limits.
in the minds of many citizens tion. Of course, Mwonzora improve democracy, deepen Please, lawyers, “our learned History must not repeat it-
and observers on whether rig- and his MDC-T constitute an freedom and expand the dem- People of Zimbabwe, there friends”, explain to the people self.
ging has actually taken place. interesting and tricky propo- ocratic space, leading to free, are things we directly control. of Zimbabwe the limitations of
“Maybe the opposition lost sition, given their direct Zanu fair, transparent and credible law as an instrument of strug-
PF parentage. Nevertheless, elections in 2023.
give them the benefit of the
doubt. Talk to them. We want professionalism,
transparency, integrity and

Page 26 The Big Debate NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Constitutional amendments about power
consolidation by Mnangagwa: Madhuku

CONSTITUTIONAL law President Emmerson Mnangagwa. ness of the amendment – that
expert Lovemore Madhuku, a is what politics is: “This is bad,
University  of Zimbabwe profes- understanding that the Bill who is in office and that is a are noticing that this is actually The boast that “2030 ndinenge this is unacceptable; this is
sor of law, says the current con- would not be pursued, and very dangerous approach. what is happening. It is a dan- ndichipo” might actually bad, this is unacceptable.” We
troversial constitutional amend- we were out in the public do- gerous trait and we have to call debate it that way. That debate
ments, which have sparked main praising that stance that The debate on the running upon Zimbabweans to be alive mean that there is a target to is very different from a debate
public outrage and a storm of had been taken within Polad. mate clause being removed, the to that process because there is amend the constitution again. that says, “this is legal, this is il-
protest, as well as court battles, Unfortunately, that did not debate on the power to appoint no other reason why the Pres- legal; this is constitutional, this
are about President Emmerson happen. judges or to extend the term ident will ignore every other Our third point as NCA is unconstitutional”. 
Mnangagwa’s quest for power of judges and so forth… it is advice that he was given. is what we believe is the way
consolidation to entrench his au- The Polad one is just one all about the personal love for forward for Zimbabweans. We Such a debate is good, but
thoritarian rule. example of public opinion, power by President Emmerson If you look at that amend- have an NCA approach which it must not be the primary de-
but we also know that there Dambudzo Mnangagwa, and ment, there is this thing that is we call upon Zimbabweans to bate for the country because
Madhuku, who is also leader was public consultation by this is what is reflected in the actually creating a lot of prob- embrace and to understand, such a discussion will focus it
of the National Constitutional parliament where the report amendment.  lems, where the constitutional and it is that constitution-mak- on lawyers and those who un-
Assembly party, spoke to report- of the parliamentary portfo- amendment is put in place just ing is a political issue. Zimba- derstand what is legal and what
ers on 12 May about Constitu- lio committee showed that As NCA, we notice a very days before the retirement of bweans must engage with this is illegal, what is constitutional
tion of Zimbabwe Amendment a majority of Zimbabweans dangerous trait in Amendment the Chief Justice (Luke Mala- issue politically, meaning we and what is unconstitutional.
(No.2) Act gazetted into law last who were consulted said “no” (No.2), it takes it a level above ba). engage in a debate that this is
Friday. to the amendment process. It what we are used to. not right, this is not fair, this We call upon Zimbabweans
was clear that there was over- The message being put is unjust.  to take the debate at a higher
Constitutional Amendment whelming public opinion We have been in this game across to the public is that level and say what has hap-
(No.1) became law before No.2. against going ahead with the to say that we need a peo- there would be certain individ- Our debate must focus on pened is bad, and we all agree
amendment. ple-driven constitution and uals, certain persons who are that and we go down to all that it is bad. We cannot just
In a chilling observation, at one point we were dealing more important than others, people to make them under- change the constitution the
Madhuku also said Mnangag- Our second point as NCA is with President (Robert) Mug- in other words they could be stand that what has happened way it was done. That will be
wa, under fire for despotic ma- that we notice in the amend- abe and some people thought such unique individuals that is bad. the NCA; in our approach we
noeuvres, is proving to be more ment that the content is ex- it was all about Mugabe.  the country cannot do with- will politicise it, we will con-
power-hungry and worse than tremely dangerous for the out. We find that a very dan- What has happened con- tinue to criticise the Zanu PF
his mentor and predecessor, the country. It is a continuation of What has happened with gerous trait. firms the NCA’s fear in 2013 approach, we will continue to
late former president Robert what is already in the constitu- Amendment (No.2) is that when we campaigned for a no do it on all platforms and we
Mugabe. In his own words: tion where power is consolidat- the current President has gone We respect the Chief Justice vote because of our belief that a will go down to the people to
ed in the president, but what much beyond what President and the work that he has done, constitution must never come mobilise.
I WILL make four points is even more dangerous in re- Mugabe was doing in terms of but we do not believe that this from politicians, it must never
on behalf of the National Con- spect of this amendment is that loving power as a person, and is a time where individuals can come from the ruling politi- As NCA we support the ini-
stitutional Assembly (NCA). it personalises that consolida- concentrating it. It shows the say to the world, “I’m so cru- cians.  tiatives by other Zimbabweans
Our first point as the NCA is tion. It is very clear that pow- trait where the President came cial, you cannot do without me who have a different view on
that we are condemning the er is now being concentrated out in a video and was record- and so I would accept a person- This amendment and the how to approach this issue.
enactment of Constitution not in the hands necessarily of ed as saying “2030 ndinenge al extension of a term of office way it happened shows that we Other Zimbabweans have
of Zimbabwe Amendment an office, but of an individual ndichipo” (2030 I will still be via a constitutional amend- were right after all, we are still their own approach and we re-
(No.2) Act. We are condemn- here) – this is what Amend- ment.” That is very dangerous. right and the debate must be spect that. Our approach is: let
ing the amendment of the con- ment (No.2) is all about, we more about engaging people us politicise the matter, let us
stitution in the manner that it on the goodness and the bad- go out there and tell ordinary
happened. people so that they become
part of the debate. It must not
The reason we are condemn- become a social media, an elite
ing the amendment is very or clan debate. That is our ap-
clear, we have two grounds that proach, but we realise that oth-
are very solid. The first one is er Zimbabweans have another
that the amendment is not a approach and that approach
people-driven process, which is is to go to court and challenge
contrary to what a constitution these things, we support those
must do. The making of a con- approaches. We are not here to
stitution must be by the peo- say that strategy does not work.
ple, its amendment must also
be by the people. So, both the Finally, number four, does
process of making a constitu- this affect the NCA’s partic-
tion and its amendment must ipation in Polad? The NCA
be people-driven. This did not will remain in Polad. We failed
happen. on Constitution of Zimbabwe
Amendment (No.2), and that
The amendment process was is done. But we do not believe
purely and exclusively driven that we will fail in other ini-
by Zanu PF as a ruling elite, tiatives that are on the agen-
by Zanu PF as a political party da. We had two items on the
and Zanu PF politicians. agenda. 

The second ground why we The first one was on the
are condemning the amend- constitution-making process
ment process as NCA is that which was a governance issue.
it was done contrary to very We did everything, we mobil-
solid and overwhelming pub- ised other members in Polad
lic opinion against it. So, and they accepted our view-
apart from the fact that Zanu point, but Zanu PF pushed it
PF did it single-handedly and out and we failed.
for its own purpose, there was
overwhelming public opinion The second thing was on
against it. electoral reforms ahead of
2023. There is already an
As NCA, we have evidence Electoral and Political Parties
of that public opinion against Amendment Bill that is being
it: we are members of the Po- discussed within Polad with a
litical Actors Dialogue (Po- number of reforms within the
lad), and within Polad there proposed Electoral Amend-
was a lot of discussion around ment Bill and the proposed
Constitution of Zimbabwe Political Reforms Bill. We will
Amendment (No.2) Bill then. remain there for the purposes
of ensuring that that attempt is
The position that was ad- exhausted. We do not support
opted in Polad was that this the view that when you are
Bill must be withdrawn, that disappointed on one, then you
there must be further consulta- throw away everything else.
tions to ensure that you actual- There are Zimbabweans out
ly only amend the constitution there who might not take that
to address other concerns that view, but that is our view.
would address electoral re-
forms ahead of 2023.

At one point we got some

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 27

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Contractors accused of rescuing white
workers first after Mozambique attack

SURVIVORS of a recent White contractors airlifted to safety before local black people drinking water. We man-
attack by Islamist insur- Hotel manager took two dogs on rescue helicopter, leaving aged to get to the beach
gents in Mozambique have people behind and catch a boat to go to
told  Amnesty Internation- Afungi, where we got help,”
al that private military con- in decisions about who to which] we are aware of a evacuations for the prioriti- The DAG’s operations in the witness said.
tractors prioritised white evacuate from the Amarula rescue mission being at- sation of white contractors Cabo Delgado have been
workers for evacuation as hotel … with white con- tempted, and it was only and called for a thorough controversial. The com- Security sources told the
the extremists closed in tractors obviously receiv- when white contractors investigation. pany has been praised for Guardian that insurgents
during days of confused ing preferential treatment,” were deemed to be at risk.” successfully rescuing doz- had infiltrated the area
fighting. said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty interviewed 11 ens during the Palma at- around the town before
Amnesty’s regional director Muchena blamed the people who sought refuge tack with light helicopters, that attack, hiding weap-
An estimated 220 civil- for east and southern Afri- “total lack of coordination in the Amarula hotel. They despite coming under fire, onry in caches. Many were
ians sought refuge in the ca. between the Mozambique all said the hotel manager but also criticised for tac- disguised as community
Amarula hotel in Palma, security forces and Dyck and DAG operatives, who tics used against insurgents. members and some wore
in the northern province “Despite similar previ- Advisory Group (DAG)”, were in charge of the res- army or police uniforms.
of Cabo Delgado, during ous attacks by al-Shabaab, a private company that cue attempt, prioritised the Mozambique’s security
the attack in late March. this is the first instance [of carried out the helicopter safety of white contractors. forces fled in the first hours Government infrastruc-
of the attack on the town ture in the town was target-
Twenty white contrac- and subsequently appeared ed systematically. The local
tors were prioritised to be unable to mount any res- police station and military
airlifted to safety while the cue missions or retake the base were overrun and de-
others, mainly black local town during several days of stroyed and at least two
people or citizens of Mo- desultory fighting. Most of banks were raided, local se-
zambique, were abandoned the thousands who fled the curity sources said.
to take their chances, the attack
campaign group said in  a Amnesty said evidence
report published on Thurs- were eventually evacuat- suggested there was a dis-
day, which alleges that “ra- ed by sea. agreement between Mo-
cial discrimination jeop- zambique’s security forces
ardised rescue efforts”. Survivors at the hotel ini- and the DAG over respon-
tially understood there was sibility for rescuing people.
The insurgency in the far a plan to prioritise the heli-
north copter evacuation of wom- The country’s defence
en, children, and people ministry told Amnesty it
of  Mozambique, which with disabilities, but that could only speak about res-
started four years ago, has plan was apparently aban- cue missions that its own
killed thousands of people doned, Amnesty said. forces had conducted in
and displaced almost half a Cabo Delgado, and that
million. A series of increas- When it appeared there race was not a factor in
ingly sophisticated attacks was no chance of a rescue their response.
culminated in the assault by helicopter, some of those
on Palma. still at the hotel decided to The DAG did not re-
risk an escape attempt by spond to emailed questions
The attack started on 24 road but were almost im- from the Guardian.
March and prompted tens mediately ambushed by
of thousands of people to insurgents. An unknown The recent successes
flee. Witnesses described number of people, possibly of  the insurgents in Mo-
beheadings and mass ab- dozens, were killed. zambique  have prompted
ductions as the extremists global fears of a new ex-
ran rampage through the One survivor of the es- tremist Islamist enclave in
small port town. Palma cape attempt said insur- southern Africa. The group
is a base for many foreign gents had broken up the remains in control of much
contractors who have been surface of the road to a of the port of Mocímboa
working for a multibil- nearby beach to prevent da Praia, 50 miles (80km)
lion-dollar liquified natu- passage. south of Palma, which it
ral gas  project  run by the seized last year.
French energy company “They shot at our car,
Total. [it] flipped over. I was in- Factions affiliated to  Is-
jured … We left the road lamic State  and al-Qaida
Amnesty said it had and stayed in the woods for have grown in strength
based its conclusions on six days, without eating or across the continent in re-
the statements of dozens of cent years, one of the few
witnesses. “Witnesses told regions of the world where
us of racial discrimination both have expanded.

—Guardian.

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Page 28 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

The Chief Justice who refuses to go
criticism from many quarters should not be the one selecting
Alex T. and has created opportunities was passed by Parliament was office regardless of the consti- Chief Justice Luke Malaba. judges for the hearing of the
Magaisa for a constitutional crisis. One significantly different from the tution which by his oath he is Court to make the final deci- constitutional dispute because
of the criticisms is that the ex- Bill that was presented to the sworn to uphold and defend. sion regarding the legality of a he is conflicted. It is challeng-
THE problem of clinging on tension of the retirement age to public for consultations. This The game had been played long presidential election. If there ing why the Judge President
to office used to be a monop- benefit a sitting Chief Justice means Amendment (No.2) before the amendment was should be a dispute in 2023, has not been sued along with
oly of politicians. Zimbabwe’s without going to a referendum circumvented and violated passed. President Mnangagwa Mnangagwa wants someone he other senior judges as he some-
Chief Justice has challenged breaches the Constitution. A sections 328 (3) and (4) of the was sure to make it clear twice can rely on and no better than times sits
and eclipsed the politicians. provision of the Constitution constitution. in the letter that it was he, the a man in his debt.
Chief Justice Malaba celebrates prevents sitting officeholders Chief Justice, who had elected in the Supreme Court. The
his 70th birthday on 15 May from benefitting from a change The difference between the to remain in office for anoth- This raises questions over JSC says the omission of the
2021. The birthday had an to a term limit provision. On original Constitutional Bill and er five years. It is not unusual the situation of the Judge Pres- Judge President “… creates
added significance: it was also that basis, Chief Justice Mal- what Parliament passed is pal- for constitutional provisions ident, George Chiweshe. Sure- a suspicion and a perception
going to mark the end of his aba was not supposed to ben- pable. While the original Bill to be named after the individ- ly, he must feel snubbed. Five that the bench appointed to
tenure as a judge under Zim- efit from the extension of the permitted a judge to extend his ual whose conduct prompted years ago, he thought it was hear the matter may be tainted
babwe’s constitution. A pro- judicial retirement age because or her term after reaching the the amendment. It might be his turn to succeed Chidyausi- with bias having been appoint-
vision of the constitution that that is equivalent to extending age of 70, he or she could only that the provision was craft- ku, but he lost out to Malaba. ed by the Judge President who
was adopted in 2013 made 70 a term limit provision. get a one-year extension de- ed to prevent certain conduct When they attempt to stop is not also a respondent in the
years the maximum age of re- pending on a certificate of med- associated with an individual the judicial interviews flopped, matter.” These are strong accu-
tirement for all judges. Ordinarily, the notion of ical fitness and the President’s or to benefit an individual. Chiweshe withdrew from the satory words against the Judge
mandatory retirement age consent. The Amendment Act This amendment is set to go process. Having lost out then, President. It is astounding that
A lot of Zimbabweans had might seem like a mere age that was signed by President down in history as the “Malaba he would have been looking the body which represents
taken an interest in the Chief limit, not a term limit. How- Mnangagwa states that a judge clause” because it was crafted forward to his opportunity judges and must defend judi-
Justice’s birthday. But this was ever, a term limit provision is who has reached 70 can extend specifically to benefit him. He when Malaba reached 70. He cial independence should be
not because they were wishing specifically defined by the Con- his or her term for another five wanted to remain in office and did not even participate in the casting aspersions on one of its
him well. Rather, they were stitution. Section 328 defines a years depending on a certificate Mnangagwa delivered the ex- judicial interviews for the role senior members. Even after this
looking forward to his depar- term limit provision as “a provi- of medical fitness and the Pres- tension. This explains the rush of Constitutional Court judge controversy is over, relations
ture. His short reign as head of sion of the Constitution which ident’s consent. The major dif- to pass the Bill in Parliament last year. He might have been between the two men are likely
Zimbabwe’s judiciary has been limits the length of time that ference here is that the final bill and to give it presidential assent angling for a direct appoint- to be characterised by tension
remarkably controversial. Apart a person may hold or occupy that was passed by Parliament just a week before the Chief ment by the President under and friction.
from sanitising the coup that a public office”. To the extent and approved by the President Justice’s birthday. Amendment (No.1). But now
toppled Robert Mugabe from that the provision for a max- gives a guaranteed five-year ex- it has slipped away again, with As for Mnangagwa and
power in November 2017, he imum retirement age limited tension whereas, under the Bill, But as the saying goes, there Malaba retaining office for Malaba, the apparent alliance
presided over the highly con- the length of time that a person the extension was only for one is no free lunch. Mnangagwa another 5 years. Chiweshe’s between the two men is a re-
troversial presidential election could hold office, it qualifies as year, renewable on an annu- did not just gift the Chief Jus- chance might never arrive. markable turn of fortunes in
challenge following the 2018 a term limit provision. al basis. This was a significant tice with an extension of his Now there are whispers that a a relationship that seemed un-
elections. change from the Bill that was term of office. One view may senior judge will be given a dip- easy just 5 years ago. Back in
If there was any doubt, it is presented to the public and the be that it was Mnangagwa re- lomatic posting, although it is 2016, when the then Deputy
On 11th May 2021, the Of- settled by section 328(7) which Bill that was passed by Parlia- paying a debt to Malaba fol- unclear that he is the candidate. Chief Justice was vying to suc-
fice of the President delivered states that “… an amendment ment. Legally, the new and sig- lowing favourable judgments Mnangagwa has perfected the ceed Chief Justice Chidyausi-
a much-awaited letter to the to a term limit provision, the nificantly different term should during the coup and after the art of shipping difficult lieu- ku, who was retiring, Mnan-
Chief Justice. The President effect of which is to extend the have been subjected to the 90- 2018 presidential elections. tenants to diplomatic postings gagwa seemed to be working
“has considered your election length of time that a person day notice and public consulta- Another is that he is now more far away to cause any trouble at so hard to stand in his way.
to continue in the office of may hold or occupy any pub- tion required by sections 328 beholden to Mnangagwa. He is home. There was a tussle between the
Chief Justice beyond the age of lic office, does not apply to any (3) and (4) of the constitution. now in Mnangagwa’s debt, hav- Chief Justice’s office and the
seventy years for an additional person who held or occupied The fact that this was not done ing been granted 5 more years The tension between the Minister of Justice, Legal and
five (5) years … I am pleased that office, or an equivalent renders the provision illegal. at the helm of the judiciary. But Chief Justice and the Judge Parliamentary Affairs which re-
to advise you that … the Pres- office, at any time before the as with any debts, they must be President is evident in the on- sulted in the former being sent
ident has accepted your elec- amendment”. One might ar- One might have thought repaid-with interest. Mnangag- going legal drama over the on leave towards his retirement.
tion to continue in the office gue that there is nothing wrong with these illegalities, the Chief wa certainly has future polit- constitutional amendments. Mnangagwa was the Justice
of Chief Justice …”, stated the with changing the retirement Justice would smell the odour ical and legal controversies in The Judicial Service Commis- Minister. Eventually, Chief Jus-
letter from Dr. Misheck Siban- age of judges. What is wrong that would come with an ex- mind. He wants an ally at the sion which is representing the tice Chidyausiku prevailed and
da, Chief Secretary to the Pres- though is to allow it to bene- tension to his term of office. head of the third arm of the Chief Justice and other judges returned to work whereupon
ident and Cabinet. fit a sitting officeholder at the He did not take notice. He state. The Constitution gives who are being sued has raised he commenced the process of
time of the amendment with- did not care, because all that power to the Constitutional questions over the role of the choosing his next successor. At
The letter was sweet music out going to a referendum be- mattered to him was retaining Judge President in the matter. the time, candidates for the role
to the Chief Justice. The clock cause that would be a disguised It says that the Judge President of Chief Justice were subjected
had been ticking relentlessly amendment of section 328 to a rigorous public interview-
towards retirement. But by the (7) of the constitution. To the ing process. Mnangagwa be-
stroke of a pen, the President extent that Chief Justice Mal- gan to push an amendment
had granted him a new lease of aba’s term has been extended of the constitution just when
life at the helm of Zimbabwe’s without going through a ref- Chidyausiku started the judi-
judiciary. erendum - illegality, his future cial appointments process. A
reign will be illegal. It should litigant was sponsored to block
The change came after a cho- have been approved by citizens the judicial appointments pro-
reographed but controversial through a referendum. It has cess, pending the passage of
plan to change the country’s not been so approved - there the amendment. Chidyausiku
constitution. Constitutional has been no referendum and stood his ground and prevailed
Amendment (No.2) was passed therefore, it is illegal. It is that again. Ironically, Malaba was
by the Senate on 4 May 2021. simple. the beneficiary of that insis-
Just three days later, it was tence on principle, performing
gazetted showing that it had The second ground of crit- very well in the public inter-
received presidential assent in icism is that the amendment views so that it was futile to
terms of which it became law. has been done in violation of block him.
Amendment (No.2) changed another provision of the con-
the mandatory retirement age stitution which requires pub- At the time, it was widely
from 70, extending it to 75 in lic consultation following the thought Mnangagwa’s favoured
the case of judges of the Su- gazetting of a Constitutional choice was the Judge President,
preme Court and the Consti- Bill for at least 90 days. Section George Chiweshe. That might
tutional Court. It is this provi- 328 (3) of the constitution re- have been a deception, but the
sion that breathed new life into quires the Speaker of the Na- efforts to which the Mnangag-
Chief Justice Malaba’s career, tional Assembly to give at least wa faction went to stop the
just a few days before it was set ninety days’ notice of “the pre- judicial interviews suggested
to expire. cise terms of the Bill”. The key sinister motives. In any event,
phrase in this regard is “precise Chief Justice Malaba seems to
The amendment is contro- terms” because this has impli- have found favour with Mnan-
versial and has attracted serious cations where the terms of the gagwa, especially after con-
Bill are significantly changed doning the coup which was a
during the parliamentary pro- blatant violation of the consti-
ceedings long after the end of tutional order. The handling of
the public consultation peri- the presidential petition could
od. The contention is that the only have confirmed that he
“precise terms” of Amendment was a worthy ally who could be
(No.2) were changed quite sig- relied upon.
nificantly during parliamentary
proceedings so that the Bill that Zimbabwe has had some
bright lights of honour at se-

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 29

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

nior levels of the judiciary. 60 ple of an independent judiciary choose a different panel. solve the dispute. It will be re- dispute over the legality of the cide the illegality of the exten-
years ago, Sir Robert Tredgold of strength and integrity.” The It is astounding that they do membered that a constitutional amendment. sion is also a disgrace. He could
resigned as Chief Justice of the story of Chief Justice Fieldsend crisis occurs when existing con- have gave saved the courts from
Federation of Rhodesia and and what happened during the not see the double standards of stitutional arrangements are no Finally, it would have in- the ignominy of deciding this
Nyasaland after the govern- UDI-inspired constitution- their argument. They are being longer capable of providing a sulated judges from having issue by taking the decent route
ment had issued the notorious al crisis is recorded in this old represented by the Judicial Ser- solution to a constitutional dis- to preside over legal disputes and walking away. Now junior
Law and Order (Maintenance) BSR. vice Commission, which is also pute. in a matter where they have a judges have to decide the legal-
Bill. “The Bill outrages almost supposed to be representing the direct interest. Instead, arro- ity of his reign.
every basic human right and When Chief Justice Chidy- interests of the judges whom As it is, therefore, the Chief gance and stubbornness have
is, in addition, an unwarrant- ausiku was reaching retirement they are accusing of bias. The Justice and his fellow judges led the country into this mess. His predecessor took the de-
ed invasion by the executive age, he did the honourable JSC cannot choose one set of fear that the High Court panel That the Chief Justice sees cent route and save the courts
of the sphere of the courts. thing and began to prepare for judges over the others because cannot be fair with them, but nothing wrong with all this is from this indignity. It used t
These are the custodians of his successor. Ironically, that doing so is a selective applica- the applicants who are suing disappointing. Ultimately, it is be that the courts are the ones
individual rights and are my successor was Chief Justice tion of its mandate which is them fear that the judges of the he who holds the key to put a who have to decide on the le-
special responsibility,” said Sir Malaba. Many people hoped unfairly discriminatory. Either Supreme Court and the Con- stop to all this constitutional gality of politicians having to
Tredgold when quitting his job that he would bring a new the JSC stands in support of all stitutional Court cannot be fair mess. He can walk away and extend their stay in office. That
based on principle. He was a culture of constitutionalism, judges involved or it remains with them because they have join the league of judges who the Chief Justice is the subject
man of remarkable scruples to respect for the rule of law, and quiet and let the matter play an interest in the amendment. have placed the constitution of this question is embarrassing
give up the privileges and ben- dignity to the judiciary which out. There can be no better illustra- ahead of their privileges and and ignominious. Even if he
efits of high office in protest had become too politicised. tion of the constitutional crisis. interests. He will not do that, stays, e has lost moral authority
at draconian legislation. The However, these hopes were But the crisis goes further: But this constitutional conun- but it would be the right thing as head of the judiciary. How
iconic courthouse in Bulawayo misplaced. Chief Justice Mala- if there is to be an appeal af- drum could have been easily to do. But perhaps he does not can he even retrain the execu-
is named after Sir Tredgold. ba’s leadership of the judiciary ter the decision of the High prevented. It could have been care anymore for his integrity tive when he fails to obey the
Based on this stance, it is high- has left more questions. Last Court, to which court would it avoided if the amendment had and reputation. He arrived in highest law in the land? It’s
ly unlikely that he would have year, he had to retract a direc- go? It cannot be heard by the been submitted to a referen- the Chief Justice’s seat late in utterly farcical. The only hope
accepted to remain in office on tive that essentially reduced judges of the Supreme Court dum as required by section 328 life and career and 4 years at is that his subordinates dare
the grounds of an amendment High Court judges to the status or the Constitutional Court (9) of the constitution. The the helm has not been enough to save him from himself. The
that violated the Constitution. of students who had to submit since they are conflicted. They citizens would have decided for him. Kenyan precedent, where judg-
their judgments to their supe- are conflicted because they are whether it was a good idea to Conclusion es have told the President that
Chief Justice Tredgold was rior before they issued them. parties to the case and because raise the retirement age of judg- The Malaba amendment he has violated the Constitu-
not the only judge to take a This directive was vehement- they have a direct interest in es from 70 to 75 years. This has should have been submitted tion must work as an inspira-
principled stand against dra- ly resisted until he relented. Amendment (No.2) since they three major advantages: to a referendum It is illegal be- tion to Zimbabwean judges to
conian legislation. Before the While judicial interviews must are beneficiaries of the exten- cause it was not submitted o safeguard and promote consti-
end of the sixties, two more be robust, there is a view that sion of judicial tenure. The First, it is consistent with a referendum. The purported tutionalism.
judges walked the same path he has publicly humiliated sub- same fears of bias that the JSC the fundamental constitution- amendment is therefore null
of principle. Justices Fieldsend ordinates during some inter- and the judges are expressing al principle that authority to and void. It is a disgrace that he *About the writer: Dr
and Dendy Young resigned in views. His refusal to leave at 70 would apply where an appeal govern, and judicial authority elected to stay in office based Magaisa is a law lecturer at
protest in the wake of a con- also means subordinates must is made against the High Court derives from the citizens. on illegality. The fact that judg- Kent University in Britain
stitutional crisis caused by the wait another 5 years, and there decision. This means there is es have been called upon to de- and former adviser to Zim-
Unilateral Declaration of Inde- is no guarantee that this will an absence of an independent Second, it would follow the babwe’s late Prime Minister
pendence (UDI) in 1965. UDI not be changed again. and impartial judicial forum to special procedure of amending Morgan Tsvangirai.
had essentially toppled the ex- such a provision, avoiding the
isting constitutional order and The great worry is that the
it was the judges who had to extension of the Chief Justice’s
interpret the legality of what term is part of a wider political
had happened. This came up in scheme to safeguard Mnangag-
some of the most important lit- wa’s nest. He is turning all the
igation that has ever been han- key state institutions in his fa-
dled by our country’s courts. vour. This includes the Zimba-
bwe Electoral Commission, the
The world-famous case Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption
of Madzimbamuto v Lard- Commission which is com-
ner-Burke dealt with the legal- promised by his Gestapo outfit
ity of the actions of the UDI called the Special Anti-Cor-
government. In a related case, ruption Unit located in the
three black men convicted of belly of his presidential office.
murder had been sentenced to Amendment (No.2) has also
death. However, Her Majesty given him powers to handpick
the Queen acting on the ad- the Prosecutor General. The
vice of the British government extension of the Chief Justice
had exercised the prerogative term adds to the circle of politi-
of mercy saving them from the cal referees that he needs on his
hangman’s noose. The UDI side as he prepares for the next
government disobeyed the elections. There will be payback
royal prerogative. This clash time for the Chief Justice, with
over who had lawful authority a significant amount of inter-
in Rhodesia was tested in the est. There are likely to be more
Rhodesian courts. The majority amendments in the future to
of the court ruled that although strengthen Mnangagwa’s hold
illegal the acts of the UDI re- on power and to thwart polit-
gime had to be obeyed because ical opponents.
it was in effective charge of the
country. Most of the judges It is embarrassing that the
had succumbed to the wishes Chief Justice is extending his
of the executive. The three men term in conditions of a consti-
were executed. This was the last tutional crisis. Last week, we
straw for Justice Fieldsend, real- explained conditions in which
ising that the law was no longer a constitutional crisis might
able to safeguard citizens. The arise. This week has dramatised
other judge who also walked the constitutional crisis with
away, giving up his privileges as the litigation that was launched
a matter of principle was Justice to challenge Amendment
Dendy Young, who served in (No.2). The litigants had to
the Bulawayo High Court. go to the High Court because
all the judges of the Supreme
The principled stand taken Court and the Constitutional
by Fieldsend did not go with- Court are conflicted. They are
out recognition. When Zimba- conflicted because they are all
bwe gained independence, the beneficiaries of Amendment
new democratic government (No.2) and have an incentive
led by Robert Mugabe remem- to defend it since it raises their
bered his principled approach age of retirement. But now that
during the constitutional crisis the case is at the High Court,
and invited him. He became the Chief Justice and his fellow
the first substantive Chief Jus- judges are uncomfortable with
tice of the newly independent this situation. They think the
country, a reward for his cour- Judge President and the panel
age and moral scruples. As re- of judges that he selected are
counted by his obituarist after biased against them. They want
his death in 2017, “Sir John them to be removed from the
Fieldsend left behind in Zim- case and for another senior
babwe the memory and exam- judge of the High Court to

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 30

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Minister Shava meets national media editors

HONOURABLE Dr. David Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Frederick Shava. believe that this, coupled with
Musabayana, Deputy Minister creating a Diaspora friendly
of Foreign Affairs and Inter- Business. bwe. advantage of Duty-free access Through building strong al- environment, effective com-
national Trade, Ambassador As we pursue this vision, we As a Ministry, we will en- to markets in Europe and the liances, Zimbabwe has great munication and Diaspora
James Manzou, Secretary for UK. potential to influence global recognition will unleash the
Foreign Affairs and Interna- will continue to implement the deavour to vigorously pursue developments, if only we can potential within this critical
tional Trade, Chairperson of Ministry’s development strate- our responsibilities, which are: Focusing on export growth strategically harness our re- community.
Zimbabwe National Editors gies which focus on champion- will enable us to offset the sources.
Forum, Mr. Dumisani Mu- ing Zimbabwe’s efforts to im- To enhance Zimbabwe’s negative impact of sanctions Ladies and gentlemen,
leya, Editors here present, Se- prove the country’s image and reputation as a reliable eco- to a greater extent. The 10% Ladies and gentlemen, Another major role of the
nior Ministry Officials, Ladies international relations. nomic, trade and investment annual growth in exports that Zimbabwe has a rich human Ministry is to improve the
and Gentlemen. cooperation partner, and pro- had been set before the com- resource base scattered around battered image of the country.
In broad terms, the Min- mote the country as an attrac- ing in of COVID-19 can still the globe. The Second Repub- Under my leadership, the Min-
I greet you all and welcome istry’s strategies will include tive tourism destination. be achieved at sectoral level. As lic values the contributions of istry will play its part to see that
you most sincerely to this in- but not be limited to increas- such, the Ministry will support the Diaspora and is keen to en- Zimbabwe returns to its right-
terface, the first that I am ing global visibility, building To promote and expand ZimTrade to achieve that. gage them in all aspects of the ful place in the community of
holding after my appointment. strong alliances at both bi- Zimbabwe’s exports of a diver- development of the country. nations, after years of isolation
Let me start by expressing my lateral and multilateral levels sity of goods and services to a Ladies and gentlemen, The Zimbabwe Diaspora is and confrontational diploma-
regret that it has taken us this and boosting attractiveness by diversity of markets. The Ministry will strive to a force to reckon with as evi- cy. We can boost the country’s
long to meet. Please be assured building a positive image to end the country’s isolation denced by the increased remit- attractiveness by telling the
that the delay was not deliber- the outside world. To promote and facilitate through continued engage- tances that totalled more than world our narrative through
ate. There were some proce- Foreign Direct Investment ment and reengagement with a billion in 2020. We may not robust communication.
dural issues to be fulfilled and I Ladies and gentlemen, (FDI) into the various sectors all members of the interna- be able to quantify their phil- Role of the Media
also needed to wind down my I shall devote the bulk of of our economy, including tional community. Rebranding anthropic work or exchange Zimbabwe’s Foreign Policy
affairs in New York. my remarks on the economic infrastructure development our country’s battered image, programmes or other contri- equation would be incomplete
diplomacy thrust of our For- projects. The downward trend consolidating old friendships butions, therefore, Diaspora without the critical role played
Let me also express my sin- eign Policy, which is going to in FDI inflows needs to be re- and opening new economic remittances become a proxy by the media in its implemen-
cere apologies for previously remain our top priority going versed. frontiers of mutual beneficial for their input. tation. While the conduct of
postponing this event at the forward. I fully intend to build co-operation will thus remain In light of this huge contri- foreign policy in Zimbabwe is
last minute due to some un- on the significant gains that The Ministry has to ensure a critical foreign policy objec- bution to the general growth driven by the chief diplomat,
foreseen circumstances. were registered in the past two that all its work contributes tive. of the economy and the better- His Excellency the President
and half years by my predeces- to the attainment of national Through forging strong alli- ment of the livelihood of our and implemented by the Min-
These delays notwithstand- sor. economic development objec- ances with old, new and future people, the Ministry is man- istry of Foreign Affairs and
ing, this engagement has re- We will redouble our ef- tives and also to strengthening allies, Zimbabwe can regain its dated to promote and protect International Trade and other
mained a priority because of forts towards fulfilling our Zimbabwe’s relations with the rightful place in the interna- their interests and welfare. state actors, the Fourth Estate,
the importance of the strategic primary economic diplomacy international community. tional arena. The Ministry will thus ag- as the media is usually referred
role that the media plays in ar- role of facilitating economic In pursuit of His Excellency gressively pursue Diaspora di- to, because of its explicit capac-
ticulating any foreign policy. and commercial exchanges be- Zimbabwe needs to reclaim the President’s vision of seeing plomacy. ity for advocacy and implicit
tween Zimbabwe and strategic its poll position of contribut- Zimbabwe actively participat- Key to our engagement ability to frame political issues
I therefore thank you all for partners. In so doing, our end ing significantly to intra-Africa ing in the multilateral arena, thrust with our Diaspora, is in the world, is a fundamental
accepting my invitation to this goal is to position our business trade. To achieve this, we will the Ministry will step up its ef- the aspect of bridging the con- piece of the puzzle. It is the
occasion. I hope we can use sector to increase exports to a need to tap into the preferen- forts and engage directly with fidence and trust gap that had lens through which Zimbabwe
this time to get acquainted and diversity of markets and attract tial market access opportuni- our cooperating partners to developed over many years. We is viewed globally.
forge strong partnerships as we sustainable investments from ties we have in Africa under increase our global influence. Therefore, the Ministry
all seek to promote and protect strategic countries to Zimba- SADC, COMESA, the Tripar- regards the media as a very
the interests and image of Zim- tite Free Trade Area, and the important arm, which wields
babwe and its citizens. African Continental Free Trade tremendous power and in-
Area. We also need to fully take fluence that plays a pertinent
I am hopeful that together nation-building function of
we will be able to correctly and enlightening and educating
rightly re-position our country the public on current develop-
within the broad Community ments, programmes and poli-
of Nations. cies.
I firmly believe in the prin-
Ladies and gentlemen, ciple of the media being an
Let me share my great hon- ally in public diplomacy that
our and privilege at the con- provides opportunities to com-
fidence that the President, municate with the public and
His Excellency Cde. E. D. the world at large. I will place
Mnangagwa, showed in me engagement with both public
by appointing me as Minister and private media at the heart
of Foreign Affairs and Interna- of the Ministry’s communica-
tional Trade. tions strategy and we will al-
I come from a diverse back- ways endeavour to provide ac-
ground that includes labour, curate and timely information.
business, politics and diploma- We aim to use all news me-
cy, among others. This gives me dia and other channels of ex-
a firm foundation to begin my ternal communication in all
service at the helm of the For- possible languages to reach out
eign Ministry. Together with to indirect stakeholders, opin-
my team, I will strive to attain ion leaders and the wider com-
the set goals and objectives of munity. Together, we can build
the National Development the Zimbabwe we want.
Strategy 1(NDS1). I will also We, therefore, expect the
ensure that the Ministry fully media to disseminate correct,
contributes to the achievement factual and objective informa-
of Vision 2030. tion to the consumers. In that
Since this is our first en- regard, please do not hesitate
counter, let me broadly lay out to contact my office, the Com-
my vision for the Ministry. I munications Department or
will also outline my hopes and any other department within
aspirations on the synergies the Ministry, should you have
that I would want to see fur- issues that require our atten-
ther strengthened between the tion.
Ministry and the media. Going forward, I hope to
My vision is to continue to interact more with all of you
promote His Excellency, Pres- as we endeavor to tell a posi-
ident E. D. Mnangagwa’s for- tive and constructive story to
eign policy directives that he the world about our beloved
laid down in November 2017 Zimbabwe.
whose main pillars are: I thank you for your kind
(i) that Zimbabwe would be attention!!
a friend to all and an enemy of Stay safe!!!!!
none;
that Zimbabwe would pur-
sue a policy of Affirmation,
Engagement and Re-Engage-
ment; and
that Zimbabwe is Open for

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 31 Issue 29, 7 May 2021

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA Selmor Mtukudzi at Dyertribe studios in South
looks outside music Africa, except a single house
IN a world turned upside-down “The business has been long Tuku’s Black Spirits, Tanga track which was done by Mc-
by the Covid-19 pandemic, time coming but we never got Selmor Mtukudzi on stage with Piki Kasamba. WekwaSando, Kwekwe Band, Dee.
it is not only musicians who to do it but because now we Jabavu as well as Pax Afro.
have embarked on side hustles; have all the time on our hands The experience she gained Steve Dyer is renowned for
many Zimbabweans are think- we opened the shop. At the from these bands propelled her producing Oliver Mtukudzi’s
ing outside the box to make moment we are renting the launch a solo career. platinum album Tuku Music.
ends meet in a tough econom- building from my mom and He also produced the albums
ic climate. our products we get them both With a career spanning 10 Bvuma and Paivepo, which to-
locally and outside. Already, years, Selmor rose to national tally changed Mtukudzi’s mu-
By and large, the pandemic there are people who want to stardom in 2013 after releasing sic fortunes. 
has upended the world but it partner us after I posted a pic- her album Expressions which
has also created space for new ture of me behind the count- features the hit Nguva Yangu, On the other hand, Mc-
things and new ways of doing er.” a danceable number. The track Dee is credited for producing
business. topped the charts and was Selmor’s popular house tracks
The 37-year-old Selmor said nominated for a National Arts including Hangasa and Nguva
Although Zimbabwean mu- she was enjoying brisk business Merit Award (Nama). Yangu.
sicians rely mostly on live per- with customers riding on her
formances more than record popularity. To date, she has released Veteran Black Spirits mem-
sales and streams on YouTube, six albums including Shungu, bers Eric Picky Kasamba,
the sector has been massively “Usually, when people rec- Ndinewe – I am with You, Never Mpofu and drummer
pegged back since the begin- ognise me they then ask for Tendai and Selmor Live, Ex- Sam Mataure also featured
ning of the year. selfies before they buy one or pressions and the latest Dehwe on the album. Kasamba did
two items. But when I am not ReNzou that features the sin- backing vocals and percus-
This has prompted the at the shop my sister will be gle Mandidzimbira, dedicated sion whilst Never Mpofu and
songstress Selmor Mtukudzi to store keeping. I am actually to Oliver Mtukudzi.  Sam Mataure played bass and
open a grocery shop in Dom- regretting why I took long to drums, respectively. Legendary
boshava, some 30 kilometres open the shop,” she said. A fusion of Afro-jazz and South African musician Vusi
outside Harare. traditional local beats, Dehwe Mahlasela, popularly known as
She provided backing vocals Renzou is an 11 track album. The Voice, also features on one
Selmor is the daughter of for several bands, including It was produced by Steve Dyer of the tracks.
the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi
– the man many regard as one Selmor, the Afro-jazz sing-
of Zimbabwe’s most important er-songwriter, performer, wife
musical figures of all time. and mother of three children,
is married to Tendai Manat-
“Well, it is not just musi- sa, son of the legendary Zexie
cians who need other streams Manatsa. The couple has be-
of income but everyone else come a formidable force with
should do so. This is perhaps Selmor on the vocals and Ten-
one lesson we learnt about dai on guitar.
Covid-19,” she said.

NewsHawks Life & Style Page 32

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

10 most copied Zimbabwean artistes

MONO MUKUNDU/ Alick Macheso. Thomas Mapfumo. sounded like Simon Chim- biggest obstacle of the Tembo & the Band Scan-
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA betu and at times it was Tuku music is his baritone ners International. Unfor-
the true Charamba is when studio and told them to go difficult to differentiate and husky voice which is tunately, he passed away
IT takes years to build some artistes sing, for in- and find their own sound them from the real article. very unique and difficult before pursuing his dream
brands. Sadly, some musi- stance when you listen to and stop mimicking oth- The likes of Yambiro Six to copy. Very few managed further.
cians find it easy to copy Trymore Bande. ers. More often than not, Kings, Maungwe Brothers to copy. A good number
from those who made it 3. Jah Prayzah he says, they would go and others started by mim- of copycats ended up just But unlike other artistes
musically. But it becomes The moment Jah Prayzah and record at other stu- icking Chimbetu. copying his acoustic guitar who do not like to be
worrisome for musicians made a breakthrough, there dios. His fear was that 5. Thomas Mapfumo style and music arrange- mimicked, Tuku did not
who claim they are inspired has been a glut of copy- “since I also occasionally Mukanya or Gandanga is ments. But one artiste mind. He would actually
by the big stars when they cats. Some have excelled at produce JP (Jah Prayzah), one of the most copied ar- who really came close is encourage the artistes he
come across as copycats. copying him to the extent if I recorded them it would tistes in the Zimbabwean Dzivarasekwa-based Peter produced or mentored to
that you cannot differen- seem like I am the one who music industry. The cul- sound more like him.
Instead of just being in- tiate between the genuine pushed the agenda.” prits include Pio Mache- Fungisai Zvakapano Mashavave 7. Fungisai Zvakavapano
spired by an artiste, some article and a copy. Many a ka, Robbie Chagumuka, Guitarist Zivanai Masango
musicians go beyond to time, Mono Mukundu has 4. Simon Chimbetu Raymond Majongwe and and Mukundu played on
try and sound exactly like turned away artistes at the During the mid-1980s Kurai Makore, to mention Fungisai’s debut album in
their object of admiration. there emerged groups that a few who have all tried to 2001, which became an in-
This is also caused by lis- fit his big shoes, with little stant hit. The mbira-guitar
tening to one artiste only or no success. style that the two played
for too long. Guitarist Car- 6. Oliver Mtukudzi on the album was still new
los Santana once observed: During the mid-1980s a in gospel circles and, cou-
number of groups tried pled with her unique vo-
“Copying one idea from the Tuku sound. The cals, it resonated well with
a musician is stealing, but the fans. Before long, a
copying from different gui- few female artistes tried to
tarists is research.” But a lot mimick her style but, for-
of artistes do not prefer the tunately for her, they did
research approach. not last the distance.
8. Leonard Dembo
Looking at history, im- Leonard Dembo is one
itating another artiste has artiste who was copied by
proved to be a recipe for quite a number of musi-
disaster. On the contrary, cians. In the mid-1980s to
being different sells more mid-1990s, the copycats
than being a copycat.  were many, but they did
not last. The most promi-
Given this background, nent being Tongai Moyo,
we look at the 10 most who later shifted and later
copied artistes in Zimba- developed his own sound,
bwe after Independence. which was the reason he
1. Alick Macheso lasted and made it.
In the history of the Zim- 9. Peter Muparutsa
babwean music industry, Peter Muparutsa has one of
no artiste has ever been the most distinctive voices
mimicked more than this in the Zimbabwean music
guy. If you listen to some industry. Considered as
radio stations it is now dif- one of the best male voic-
ficult to tell who the real es, obviously he had no
Macheso is and who is not. shortage of imitators, the
They copy his singing style, most prominent being the
his bass technique, his in- likes of Tawanda Pashapa
strumental arrangements and Edward Chinyunyu,
and some copy his bass to mention just two. For-
solos as well as his chirimi tunately, many of his imi-
(lisp). tators did not last long.
10. John Chibadura
One time he released a In the mid-1980s to ear-
song disparaging copycats ly 1990s when Chibadu-
titled Murondatsimba, ra was on fire, a number
but the problem actual- of artistes tried to copy
ly got worse. Long back, his sound. Even Soman-
each sungura artiste had dla Ndebele’s first albums
their own sound, the likes had that Tembo Broth-
of John Chibadura, Pen-
gaudzoke and Leonard ers sound. Mukundu
Dembo, among others. played bass on Nde-
Most of his copycats usual- bele’s first recording
ly feel very offended when in February 1992
you point them out. A and was instructed to
listen to music by Joseph replicate that Tembo
Garakara, Paradzai Mesi Brothers sound. But
& Njerama Boys and Nor- when Chibadura passed
man Tapambwa will bear
testimony to how Macheso away the trend stopped.
is admired by many.
2. Charles Charamba NOTE: Mono Mukun-
The Zimbabwean gospel du is an award-winning
music fraternity is not com- music producer who runs
plete without the mention Monolio Studios in Ha-
of Pastor Charamba. He rare.
has been copied countless
times, more than any oth-
er gospel artiste. Some of
the artistes have realised a
measure of success while at
it. It is also sometimes dif-
ficult to differentiate who

Page 33 Life & Style NewsHawks

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Poet: Obey Chiyangwa Title: The darkness that lurks Poet: Andy Kahari
Poem: In the squatter camp! in the dark Poem: Palma Palma Palma!
Poet: Temba Munsaka
Sitting all alone, Palma Palma Palma!
middle of a sprawling squatter camp, Darkness is not just a state of affairs but Where are you, my coastal City?
where safely buried is my umbilical cord, more importantly it is a presence; My coastal town is now a ghostly clown.
from this vintage summit where I sit forlorn, of whimsical creatures that pervade the Nobody knew you existed, Palma.
the sights and sounds of misery are painful. crevasses of sanity. Nobody knew; Cabo Delgado Province.
the roof here is sagging, Darkness is more than just a color! Humble and quiet; you embraced exis-
entire floors are sodden, It is a tangible space of cognitive wars. tence.
people beneath are sad are mad, I have learnt to metabolize it, They did not care; So, you did not!
children sauntering about are sick are hungry, to behold and harness it, Palma Palma Palma!
the elderly sitting about are famished are an- to make sense of it, That black liquid- Boiling trouble!
gry. and to master it. Jihadist like Judas- Selling for a penny.
the blazing sun shades no mercy at this mis- In the solitude and absence of companion- As it was in Lagos and Luanda;
ery, ship and unfrequented space; Nights unslept.
pelting rains spare no pity for the hordes it has nestled its roe in my lair, As it was in Tripoli and Baghdad;
homeless at home, scrawny mongrels scratch only to hatch fingerlings in a huff, Homes will be scorched for the price
the dry land for flimsy morsels; it’s eggs never run out of fetuses! of black gold!
no one remembered to bury any beneath this At each turn, Black gold ever so black to fuel
pathetic soil, I find a confluence of creatures. hearts of men to raise a killing hand.
mewing cats paw the wet soil for crumbs and They crawl out from every fissure, Palma Palma Palma!
left overs; the fracture in my grey matter is the milt, Arms are stretched to render life-giving
rude rodents gnawed away all the slimy little and the state of being lonely is the roe, palms.
left-overs. I perceive the darkness all around me, For you, they are opening
those little girls in torn little dresses, trying to entrap me in my disequilibrium. to pull a trigger
they dress to please the loins of loitering wan- It is the conjectures that are anecdotal, and pin your daughters
nabes, the thoughts mired in quagmire, to the ground!
their rosy nipples jutting the flimsy cloth of prejudiced at every concave. Troubles are indeed bigger
their dress, Being different means alienation, than black gold.
they rouse the desires of rampant and rowdy reticent I become, Wealth a prize for citizens.
gold-panners, my cognitive, my solace, Now spoils for dissidents;
their roving young eyes speak of an innocence calligraphy my detox, too vicious to care.
long ravaged, Lexicons my nightmare, Crimson tides; Painting our faces
their suggestive gaits tell a sad tale of virginity My allegorical epigrams and aphorisms in scarlet covered decapitation.
long savaged, are an attempt to bring homeostasis. Palma Palma Palma!
those baggers straddling the dusty spines of A psychical trip to the backyard of banish- Still, you say;
rugged roads; ment, Do not worry about us!
their misery fires daggers of pain in our hope- A disturbance in the higher cortexes, We have been destitute
less hearts; I have zilch social skills, since the beginning of time.
that doddering old-age shambling this crowd- I blossom in solitude When our fathers stared
ed emptiness; and thrive on melancholy, alas, unwitting- at the Medusa-
their gawky state raises floods of tears in our ly! Hearts turned stone cold!
helpless eyes; But then; Now epitaphs, on tombstones
those skeletal topless small boys aimlessly Autistic is artistic! tell our story.
running about; Palma Palma Palma!
their pathetic mien corrodes the corridors of Silent stories are of no use.
our hurt souls. Strike the head to kill a gorgon.
But how do I strike my brother?
Poet: Andy Kahari A pooping toddler,
Poem: Crooked immersed in drugs.
Oh! My Palma Palma Palma!
Mountains so high; Find he who buys the prescription,
To dwarf all sleep to evaporate the troubles.
which dares spare a dream But the “master” has fled.
to fathom and perceive being on top. They torched his pocket
Mountains so arctic; and he runs home to cry.
To mistral all hope that never slips and falls It’s not his problem,
and be buried But it’s his oil!
in an avalanche of pessimism.
Mountains very crooked;
For every footstep
to be a winding gesticulation
of a present going nowhere slowly.

NewsHawks People & Places Page 34

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Kazungula Bridge will promote
Victoria Falls tourism magnet

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA This can only help if the des- ating to come back into the ect.  It was opened by Charles tres in length;
tination is cheaper and afford- project, but the best come- Legend has it that Rhodes Darwin’s son, Professor • 1 500 tonnes of steelwork
ALL things considered, Vic- able. Its prices must compare back will be ensuring that it George Darwin, president of was used to construct the
toria Falls is simply the ulti- favourably with competing maximises economic bene- instructed engineers to “build the British Association (now bridge;
mate all-round experience as destinations in the region. fits from tourism, especially a bridge across the Zambezi the Royal Society) on 12 Sep- • It was originally referred to
a tourist attraction and des- around Victoria Falls. where the trains, as they pass, tember 1905. The American as the Great Zambezi Bridge;
tination. It is a breathtaking Otherwise, it is an amazing will catch the spray of the Society of Civil Engineers • At one time during con-
natural wonder. place. After viewing the spectacu- Falls”. When you think con- lists the Victoria Falls Bridge struction, there were 400
lar Victoria Falls, one of the struction began at the turn of as an historic civil engineer- people working on the bridge;
From fine hotels and lodg- The completion and com- Seven Natural Wonders of the the century, in 1903, it really ing landmark. • In 1930 the deck was raised
es, the impressive scenery missioning of the Kazungula World, the second most pop- is awe-inspiring. by five feet and widened to
to the abundant wildlife, Bridge on Monday can only ular landmark at the tourism Although the bridge was accommodate a road for mo-
the world-famous waterfall, help boost tourism in Victo- magnet is the Victoria Falls Originally referred to as the Rhodes’ brainchild and vi- tor vehicles;
adrenaline activities and local ria Falls as it will allow tour- Bridge.  Zambezi Bridge, the Victoria sion, sadly he never visited • A thrilling 111-metre Bun-
culture, it justifies its claim to ists to move in and out across Falls Bridge, smaller than Ka- Victoria Falls and died before gee Jump off the bridge for
be Africa’s adventure capital.  three countries – Botswana, While it is the stunning zungula but a more daring construction began in 1902.  the adrenaline junkies;
natural beauty of the Victoria and awe-inspiring project, • A visit to the railway muse-
The resort’s only problem Zambia and Zimbabwe – Falls that takes your breath was designed by George An- However, his vision was um near the Victoria Falls for
is the pricing – it is just too and possibly Namibia as well. away, it is the man-made mag- drew Hobson from consul- realised – not only is the Vic- railway enthusiasts;
expensive. Tourism opera- ic of building a bridge across tants Sir Douglas Fox and toria Falls Bridge today the • A historical tour of the
tors and promoters need to Tourists will be able to a frightening and frankly Partners, who was assisted by only rail link between Zam- bridge where you learn about
think long and hard about move around the Chobe re- dangerous chasm down the Ralph Freeman, the designer bia and Zimbabwe – but it is the history and construction
that. If the prices are made gion and Victoria Falls with spectacular waterfall that will of the iconic Sydney Harbour also a magnificent landmark behind the bridge. The tour
affordable, that would allow less hassle, especially if Zim- really blow your mind. Bridge.  sprayed, during the high-wa- includes a guided walking un-
local and regional tourism babwe quickly upgrades the ter season, by the Victoria der the main deck; and
to boom, especially in the Victoria Falls-Kazungula Connecting the two cit- Victoria Falls Bridge was Falls showers. • Hop aboard an authentic
aftermath of the ravages of road. Victoria Falls is less ies, Livingstone in Zambia built in Britain by the Cleve- Brief facts about the bridge: steam train, sip champagne
Covid-19.  than 100km from Kazungula. and Victoria Falls in Zimba- land Bridge & Engineering • It spans 156.50 metres and journey above the bridge
bwe, the Victoria Falls Bridge Company, shipped through across the Zambezi River, just in splendour while enjoying
And the other problem is a This will be the best way was the dream of British Beira, Mozambique, and as- below the Victoria Falls; spectacular views.
lack of world-class shopping Zimbabwe can claw back into empire-builder Cecil John sembled in Victoria Falls. • The bridge is an impressive
malls, restaurants and bars. the Kazungula project after Rhodes, as symbolised by the Construction took 14 months 128 metres high and 198 me-
That needs to be addressed. bungling and being left out Cape-to-Cairo railway proj- and was completed in 1905. 
by Botswana and Zambia. Of
course, Zimbabwe is negoti-

Property
NewsHawks

Page 35 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 30, 14 May 2021

The home of prime property: [email protected]

DUMISANI NYONI Covid-19 rental arrears weigh economic activity induced by the
down FBC property portfolio Covid-19 lockdown measures.
LISTED financial concern FBC
Holdings Limited says its property mand for office space. Invariably, this impacted on prop- 14% ahead of the previous year’s com- The re-pricing of this revenue
portfolio last year continually suf- “The industrial market remained erty capital values. parative amount of ZW$7.2 billion. stream, implemented during the year,
fered from high rental arrears, low oc- was inadequate to counterbalance the
cupancy levels and rental adjustments heavily curtailed by low capacity util- Integrated Properties said occupan- Whilst foreign currency revaluation decrease in the volume of transac-
in line with inflation trends, due to isation, power cuts, and shortages of cy levels remained low in the rental gains contributed significantly to the tions, he said.
the Covid-19 pandemic. foreign currency as well as high inter- market, with empty spaces being a pe- group’s reported total income, Nkala
est rates. The group has, however, tak- rennial headache for property owners said their lending operations managed The insurance business recorded a
In a statement accompanying the en a strategic decision in appreciation in both the residential and commer- to record modest growth, as a result decrease of 5% in net earned insur-
group’s financial results for the year of the housing deficit in the country cial space. of a combination of loan growth and ance premium to ZW$845 million.
ended 31 December 2020, FBC and continued further investments in re-pricing, despite the prevailing mac- The significant decrease in insurance
chairperson Herbert Nkala said the real estate,” he said. In the period under review, FBC ro-economic challenges. premium revenues of 21% was offset
property market was not spared the Holdings achieved total income of by an improvement in premium ced-
current economic challenges and the The property market, according to ZW$8.1 billion during the 2020 “Consequently, net interest income ed to reinsures and retrocessionaires
Covid-19 pandemic. real estate agency Integrated Proper- financial year, 14% up on the com- was 20% higher with ZW$1.7 billion of 44%.
ties’ 2020 property market research parative period, owing to lending being achieved during the period un-
“This sector continually suffered report, was subdued for the greater operations which recorded modest der review, against ZW$1.4 billion re- The group’s administration ex-
from rental arrears, low occupancy part of the year 2020, with activities growth despite the prevailing macro- corded in the prior year. A 5% decline penses increased by 16% to ZW$4.5
levels and rental adjustments in line largely overshadowed by the pandem- economic challenges. in interest expense was also registered billion from ZW$3.9 billion report-
with inflation trends. Residential ic. as a result of an improvement in the ed in 2019, mainly as a result of the
property demand declined sharply Profit before tax amounted to funding mix,” he said. repricing of expenses to match the
due to foreign currency shortages and With employers allowing staff to ZW$1.6 billion while after-tax profit inflationary environment.
non-availability of forex-denominat- work remotely, the market was char- stood at ZW$1.5 billion. Nkala said net fees and commis-
ed mortgages,” he said. acterised by space surrenders. As a sion income receded 12% to ZW$1.2 The cost-to-income ratio excluding
result, landlords are losing their bar- This performance, in historical billion from ZW$1.4 billion record- the monetary loss remained static at
“Rentals in the residential and re- gaining power as tenants negotiated terms, translated to a profit before tax ed last year, mainly as a result of a 64%.
tail market sector remained highly rentals downwards, thereby lowering of ZW$3.6 billion and an after-tax marked slowdown in the volume of
volatile during the course of 2020. returns on properties. profit of ZW$3.2 billion. Total in- transactions, in line with the reduced As at 31 December 2020, the
Office occupation in the Central come was ZW$8.1 billion, which is group’s total assets increased by 19%
Business District has remained low to ZW$32.4 billion against ZW$27.1
and unchanged since 2019.” billion as at 31 December 2019.

Nkala said this was further com- The growth was mainly driven by
pounded by the Covid-19-induced an increase in deposits and the trans-
lockdowns which led to a surge in lation of forex-denominated assets.
remote working and a dampened de- The group’s total equity was up 29%
from the prior year, closing the cur-
rent year at ZW$5.1 billion.

NewsHawks Sport Page 36

Issue 30, 14 May 2021

Another Billiat blow for Kaizer Chiefs

KAIZER Chiefs coach Gavin to qualify for the MTN8 next Khama Billiat.
Hunt has revealed Zimbabwe- season.
an striker Khama Billiat has
another leg fracture and is like- Chiefs came from behind
ly to miss the remainder of the to secure the point, with both
season, a blow for the club on goals inside the first 15 min-
both the domestic and CAF utes of the game, but then
Champions League front. could not go on to win the
game. They trail eight-placed
Billiat will miss the two- TS Galaxy by two points and
legged Champions League have now played a game more.
quarterfinal against Tanzanian
side Simba, with Chiefs also “I sound like a stuck record,
sweating over defender Siy- saying the same things,” Hunt
abonga Ngezana and winger said. “Poor defending, unbe-
Dumisani Zuma. lievable missed opportunities
again and the final ball. So
“We’ve got a few out now things we need to work on. We
again,” Hunt said following should be dealing with that
Wednesday’s 1-1 DStv Pre- first goal. We should be deal-
miership draw with Swallows ing with that. It’s come from a
FC. “You know, Khama’s leg, long way out.
I’ve just been told has got an-
other fracture in it so he’ll be “Then we got ourselves back
out. He hasn’t played hardly in and had some real good op-
this season so that’s another portunities around the box.
blow. Just the final ball, especially in
the second half.
“It doesn’t give us anything
much up front. We’re short up “I’m disappointed because
front. [Leonardo] Castro with once we got to 1-1, even be-
his groin problems. fore they scored, we had good
domination of the ball. Good
“[But] In times of adversity, areas we get into. We’ve got to
we stand up and be counted. do better but we didn’t. The
We believe in the players we players are giving me a lot ev-
have available and we’re going ery day, working very hard but
to have to trust them and set sometimes they can only give
up a plan and have a go. That’s you so much down to how
all we can do. good you are.

“Obviously, Erick [Matho- “So they’re working hard
ho] got injured two games ago and that’s all I can ask of them.
so he’s been struggling. I don’t Right now you need to defend
know, we’ll see. I couldn’t the goal a little bit better. They
play him tonight. He wasn’t [Swallows] didn’t look threat-
fit enough to play. He’s got a ening. Our goalkeeper didn’t
problem with his arm.” have too much to do. Only
from balls in the box and re-
Hunt was also left frustrat- starts.”
ed after the Swallows draw,
another setback in their bid – AGENCIES

Sometimes it’s just all about the attitude 

I WOULD have liked as a fan? war and fight for us with be the hallmark of a next
to hear what Luke Jon- It reminds me of when pride – win, lose or draw. generation we envisage to
gwe said back to Hasan our football team used Such transformation bring back pride to the
Ali after the Pakistan to be the butt of jokes in takes an attitude of sorts Zimbabwe cricket team. 
fast bowler sledged the this country, with many from the players them-
Zimbabwean number six suggesting they would selves – pride, belief, Ali, man-of-the-series
batsman during the sec- rather watch paint dry maybe some arrogance in the two match-series
ond Test in Harare be- than follow the Warriors. – that you are as good as won resoundingly by the
tween the two sides last Things have changed the next guy and that on Asian side, tried to un-
week. a little bit, and current- your day you can defeat settle Jongwe with verbal
ly we do have an excit- the best the world has to sledges on the third day
I am added in some offer. of the second Test.
forum where somebody This is the
wittily remarked that the kind of at- Jongwe, who was out
face-up between Ali and HawkZone titude that on 37, hit an exquisite
Jongwe, from a Zimba- our nation- boundary on the covers
bwean viewpoint, was the al cricketers on the next ball, forcing
biggest take-away from have long Ali to return with a few
the series, in which the Enock lost. The choice words, which were
hosts lost by an innings sense of in- promptly met with the
in both Tests. Muchinjo adequacy same aggression from the
26-year-old Zimbabwean
Pretty ridiculous, is it now runs too bowling all-rounder.
not? deep, to an
ing crop of Zimbabwean alarming extent – you In the T20 series, on
Not when you are a footballers, a generation can only be second best taking match-winning
long-suffering Zimba- that has given us hope as a Zimbabwean crick- wickets, Jongwe even did
bwean cricket supporter, that we soon could be a eter! a phone call celebration,
who hardly has anything force to reckon with in As in football, this kind with his shoe!
to cheer about over the this game on the conti- of attitude could take a
past 16 years or so.  nent.  generation to eliminate.  Having been out of
It has taken genera- That is why I felt Jon- international cricket for
You see, quite a lot of tions, though, for us as gwe’s combative reaction five years, you would
cricket followers in this a nation to come thus to Hasan Ali’s psycho- feel that the slapdash ap-
country have long giv- far in football, to have a logical warfare last week proach associated with
en up on our team, the national team that can represented a refreshing this Zimbabwe team has
reason being that the make us believe again, resistance to domination, not affected the likes of
cricketers themselves do troops we know can go to an attitude that should Jongwe. 
not seem to be hurt by
results. It is contagious,
though, with this team,
So why waste emotions I fear.

Sports A winter of
Zim to reject hope and
expectation
Test cricket

model

Thursday 1 October 2020

Friday 14 May 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS CULTURE
Bangladesh’s Zim$60Covid
tariff for
visitors &
Community
radio
regulations

tourists under review

tour toCghoaamhiesaadreacStoryonPage 3 Story on Page 8

BANGLADESH’S tour of Zimbabwe in Bangladesh, and also to allow play-
outat the end of June will go ahead as to Khupeers to take part in the Dhaka Premier

scheduled, allaying fears that it could be League (DPL).
delayed due to a new wave of coronavi- Zimbabwe will be eager to return to
rus outbreak in the Asian country.
action and quickly atone for their huge-
A top official within Zimbabwe ly humiliating series against Pakistan,
Cricket (ZC) told The NewsHawks this where the African side was defeated by
week that the two countries’ cricket an innings in both Test matches against
boards have already agreed on the itin- Pakistan this month. 
Unofficial president calls for emergeODIs and three T20Is. All matches will vived debate over whether Zimbabwe
erary for the contest – one Test, three The results against Pakistan have re-

be played in Harare. should be playing Test cricket all.
Bangladesh will arrive on 29 June Pakistan legend Ramiz Raja has been
with the sole test beginning on 7 July. the biggest critic. The world-renowned
The ODIs will be played on 16, 18 and commentator labelled the one-sided
20 July. The T20Is are set for 23, 25 and matches a “joke”, adding that such re-
27 July. sults would force spectators and fans to
Reports this week said that the tour switch to other sports, including foot-
could be postponed due to a lockdown ball. – STAFF WRITER 

Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will resume their
rivalry in June and July. /Pic: ZimCricket

Delta deal confirms PSL return
BEVERAGE company Delta has pionship for US$700 000 with the age for brands Castle Larger and the funds in local currency “at the
announced a new three-year spon- remainder going towards two cup Chibuku Super Cup for the 2021- bank rate of the day.”
sorship deal for Zimbabwe’s Pre- competitions – the Castle Chal- ALSO INSIDE Finance Ministy2w02i3pepseroioudt,”$r3e.a2dBailDlioelntadsetapteo-sitorsCfoumnpdestition iZs ismet'stolastteasrtt loannd c
mier Soccer League (PSL), which
will provide US$1 130 000 per lenge Cup and the Chibuku Super ment. 22 May. Zimbabwean domestic
season, officially marking the re- Cup. The two knockout competi- “2021 will be an exciting season football was last played at the end
turn of domestic football activity tions will be run at a cost of US$55 for all, with various activities lined of the 2019 season. It will now
in the country in more than a year. 000 and US$375 000 respectively. up to restart our game in Zimba- resume after a thorough process
“Delta Beverages is excited to bwe despite the Covid-19 chal- in which stakeholders were chal-
Through the Castle Lager brand, announce the Zimbabwe Premier lenges.” lenged to adhere to Covid-19 pre-
Delta will bankroll the PSL cham- Soccer League sponsorship pack- Delta, however, will disburse ventive measures. – STAFF WRITER 

ALSO INSIDE Another Billiat blow for Kaizer Chiefs