NewsHawks 26 February 2021-min

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Friday 26 February 2021

WHAT’S INSIDE MNEnWanSgagwa, BUSINESS SMPyOpRaTrents
minister divided said I was
over Malaba Discord rocks a ‘mistake’:
retirement Tripartite Vermeulen
Negotiating
Story on Page 4 Forum Story on Page 35

Story on Page 14

Zim uses
Israeli spying
technology to
snoop on citizens’
calls, messages

...CIO cyber-espionage
operation stings Mohadi

ALSO INSIDE Malaba faces mountain to climb in his bid to stay on Health workers sceptical over vaccine

Page 2 News NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Zim uses Israeli spying technology
to snoop on citizens’ calls, messages

...CIO cyber-espionage
operation stings Mohadi

OWEN GAGARE came from Israeli and China, Seen in this photo (left to right) CIO Director-General Isaac Moyo, Vice-Presdient Constantino Chiwenga, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi
but the Israeli one is far the su- and President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
SPYWARE developed by Israe- perior, effective and deadlier,”
li technology company Circles an intelligence source told The world using the technology. Cyber Security and Data Pro- pression.” rocco, Nigeria, Peru, Serbia,
was used by Zimbabwe’s Cen- NewsHawks. Other nations using it in- tection Bill to reinforce its ca- Intelligence sources have Thailand, the United Arab
tral Intelligence Organisation pacity to snoop on citizens. Emirates, Vietnam, Zambia,
(CIO) to record Vice-President “Intelligence services in clude Australia, Belgium, Bo- repeatedly told The News- and Zimbabwe.
Kembo Mohadi’s sleazy calls Zimbabwe record almost ev- tswana (Directorate of Intelli- In a recent report titled Run- Hawks that Ngarivhume and
and messages to a harem of eryone, including those around gence and Security Services), ning in Circles: Uncovering the Chin’ono, including main op- “Some of the specific gov-
women — some of them mar- the President. Remember the Chile (Investigations Police), Clients of Cyberespionage firm position MDC Alliance politi- ernment branches we identify
ried — in a sensational sex scan- First Lady (Auxillia Mnangag- Denmark (Army Command), Circles, the University of Toron- cal activists like Job Sikhala and with varying degrees of confi-
dal which rocked and shook the wa)’s angry call outburst with Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, to’s Citizen Lab — which inves- Fadzayi Mahare, were targeted dence as being Circles custom-
corridors of power in Harare. Murombo (Colonel Samson Equatorial Guinea, Guate- tigates digital espionage against as the security believes they are ers have a history of leveraging
Murombo was Commander mala (General Directorate of civil society — details how the part of the nondescript July digital technology for human
Intelligence sources told The of 1 Presidential Guard Infan- Civil Intelligence), Honduras 25 governments around the 31 Movement which they say rights abuses. In a few specific
NewsHawks this week that the try Battalion based at Josiah (National Directorate and In- world are using tools developed wants to overthrow Mnangag- cases, we were able to attribute
real significance of the Mohadi Magama Tongogara Barracks, telligence), Indonesia, Israel, by Circles to snoop. wa through a popular uprising. the deployment to a particular
sexcapade is not just that it formerly KGVI Barracks) in Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico (Mex- customer, such as the Security
demonstrates the Zimbabwean Harare, which is responsible for ican Navy; State of Durango), Its technology intercepts data As internet penetration and Operations Command of the
leadership’s broken moral com- securing the President and State Morocco (Ministry of Interior), from 3G networks, allowing smartphone usage increase Royal Thai Army, which has al-
pass and rotten integrity, but House). Nigeria (Defence Intelligence the infiltrator to read messages, across Africa, including in legedly tortured detainees.”
also that citizens are vulnerable Agency), Peru (National In- emails, and listen in on phone Zimbabwe, digital spaces have
to state espionage intrusions, “Mohadi was recorded by telligence Directorate), Serbia calls as they occur. become the new democratic Circles reportedly exploits
invasion of privacy and even CIO and the recordings were (Security Information Agency), struggle battleground increas- weaknesses in the global mo-
the danger of being located by circulated to our bosses inter- Thailand (Internal Security Op- Using only a telephone num- ingly important in organising bile phone system to snoop on
trailing spooks using Israeli cy- nally and then leaked to the me- erations Command; Military ber, a Circles platform can also opposition movements, the re- calls, texts, and the location of
berespionage technologies for dia. The President (Emmerson Intelligence Batallion, Narcot- identify the location of a phone port says. phones around the globe.
political reasons. Mnangagwa) and CIO direc- ics Suppression Bureau), Unit- anywhere in the world within
tor-general (Isaac Moyo) were ed Arab Emirates (Supreme seconds without a warrant. In response, several govern- It is affiliated with NSO
Mohadi is by no means the fully aware of the recordings. Council of National Security, ments have at times shut down Group, which develops the oft-
only top politician in Zimba- Moyo got the recordings from Dubai Government and Royal Intelligence sources say the internet or blocked social abused Pegasus spyware.
bwe who has lost his moral his technical team and shared Group), Vietnam and Zambia. Zimbabwe’s security services media apps. Zimbabwe in Jan-
compass. them with Mnangagwa. The — especially CIO — uses the uary 2019 shut down the inter- NSO Group Technologies
leaks were later done by CIO Zimbabwe, under Mnan- software to snoop on citizens, net amid social unrest sweeping is an Israeli technology firm
The top executive — the analysts for political reasons; to gagwa, has developed closer mainly those in strategic posi- the country. whose spyware Pegasus enables
presidium comprising Presi- expose and stop Mohadi from relations with Israel. Part of tions holding sensitive infor- remote surveillance of smart-
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa, brazen abuse of office and em- the Israeli telecoms surveil- mation inside the system, op- More recently, however, phones.
co-Vice-President Constantino barrassing the government. The lance software was acquired by position activists and influential some regimes have turned to
Chiwenga and Mohadi himself idea was not to remove him Mnangagwa in 2018. The first individuals. digital surveillance technology It was founded in 2010 by
— has a sordid record regarding from office, but to contain him. was secured in 2013. The third for more subtle ways to crush Niv Carmi, Shalev Hulio and
women as public office-hold- That is why Mnangagwa didn’t more recently. The CIO has many files on resistance. Zimbabwe is doing Omri Lavie, hence NSO. It is
ers, which makes them morally force him out even if he could opposition and civic activists just that. based in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv,
bankrupt leaders. have done so. The best way to Last August, Mnangagwa that it is keeping under surveil- Israel.
contain Mohadi was to expose appointed Israeli citizen Ron- lance, mainly for state security “Using Internet scanning,
Mnangagwa has always been and stop him. Some people ny Levi Musan as Zimbabwe’s and political reasons. we found a unique signature Circles, whose products work
associated with a retinue of close to him had previously honorary consul in Israel. associated with the hostnames without hacking the phone it-
women and has countless chil- raised these issues with him be- “Three Circles platforms were of Check Point firewalls used in self, says it only sells its spying
dren. But the late journalist fore all this, but he didn’t listen. This signalled strengthening detected in Zimbabwe. The use Circles deployments. This scan- software to nation-states.
Godfrey Majonga’s excruciating So CIO went all out to stop diplomatic relations between of one dates back to 2013, while ning enabled us to identify Cir-
saga was the public highlight of him through this operation by the two countries amid a major another was activated in March cles deployments in at least 25 According to leaked docu-
his dramatic personal life. leaking the recordings strategi- policy shift away from Zanu 2018,” the Canadian investiga- countries,” the report says. ments seen by the investigators,
cally (there are actually many of PF’s long-standing support for tion report says. Circles clients can purchase a
Majonga was reportedly them), especially because one Palestinians. “We determine that the system that they connect to
forced by Mnangagwa to jump of their officers was involved; “The Zimbabwean govern- governments of the following their local telecoms companies’
from a high-rise apartment in married women and young girls To facilitate spying, Zim- ment has long targeted its crit- countries are likely Circles cus- infrastructure, or can use a sep-
the Avenues in Harare, which were also entangled in it. babwe has an Interception of ics and opponents. Last year, in- tomers: Australia, Belgium, arate system called the “Circles
got him crippled for the rest of Communications Act that en- vestigative journalist Hopewell Botswana, Chile, Denmark, Cloud,” which interconnects
his life, over a girlfriend. “So in short, this was a CIO ables monitoring of people’s Chin’ono and opposition poli- Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, with telecoms companies
operation to stop the maraud- calls and messages. tician Jacob Ngarivhume were Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, around the world.
Chiwenga’s record with ing Vice-President, who was detained ahead of anti-govern- Honduras, Indonesia, Israel,
women, especially his estranged acting like a bull in a China It is also working on a new ment protests. Circles technol- Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mo- Its spyware has been widely
wife Marry, has caused public shop, from abusing office and ogy may be facilitating this re- used on human rights defend-
outrage, particularly how he has tarnishing the image of gov- ers and journalists.
subjected her to arrests, deten- ernment, but political vultures
tions and medical treatment, as were already circling over his
well as bank account complica- potential political carcass,
tions during their nasty divorce. which was an unintended con-
sequence. The predators or vul-
And now Mohadi’s immoral tures still see an opportunity.”
adventures have refocused pub-
lic scrutiny on them. While a bruished Mohadi
came out this week to inco-
All of these cases smack of herently claim that the record-
abuse of power and moral de- ings were “fake”, “hacked” and
pravity that have compromised “cloned” — which cannot all be
their suitability and capacity to true at the same time — it has
govern. emerged he was recorded and
exposed by the CIO using the
Mohadi’s case has brought Israeli spying technology, sourc-
the issue to the fore. es say.

“Mohadi was recorded by Circles spyware is sold to na-
CIO. Our intelligence services, tion-states only. Zimbabwe is
especially CIO and military one of the 25 countries in the
intelligence, have technologi-
cal capabilities to record calls,
messages, snoop emails and
locate people through their
smartphones. The technology

NewsHawks News Page 3

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Immigration in 2010 with no official com-
directors up for munication. The abuse con-
sexual abuse tinued when she was later pro-
moted to regional immigration
MORRIS BISHI two bosses from the department perform typing work in his of- bally. In 2009, the complainant when Museki proposed love but officer and she was not advised
of Immigration. We operate dif- fice. The advances by Museki was promoted to the position of she advised him that she was by the bosses, which she viewed
IN a case which exposes ram- ferently with the Gender Com- continued and, when the com- assistant regional immigration married and not interested, but as hostile conduct in reprisal for
pant sexual abuse of female mission so after receiving the plainant refused, he was offend- officer after passing the inter- that led her verbal transfer back turning down his love propos-
subordinates by officials within report, we set our own board to ed and began to abuse her ver- views and it was in that period to Harare International Airport als.
government entities, two Im- investigate the issue according
migration department directors to our protocols. It was during “The commission’s findings
are being charged for allegedly that period when the accused point to a culture of workplace
sexually abusing juniors, The persons approached the courts violence at the department of
NewsHawks can report. to challenge the process. How- Immigration and a laissez faire
ever, we are still waiting for the approach to protection of wom-
The charges against Stephen court outcome so that we can en from violence in the work-
Phinias Museki and Admire proceed with our investigations” place by the parent ministry
Herbert Makani were filed by said Wutaunashe. of Home Affairs and Cultural
three former employees who Heritage and the Public Ser-
allege they were victimised on Efforts to get comments vice Commission which is the
frivolous grounds after resisting from Museki, who is the direc- employer. It also emerged that
sexual advances. tor in charge of administration there are inadequate legal pro-
and Makani, the principal im- tection mechanisms for women
The matter was investigat- migration officer, were fruitless in workplaces since the existing
ed by the Zimbabwe Gender as their mobile phones went laws such as the Labour Act and
Commission in 2018 under unanswered. An employee who the Public Service Regulations
case ZGC/4/2018 and a report, answered the phone at the de- do not comprehensively cover
whose copy is in the hands of partment’s head office said she the issue of sexual harrassment
The NewsHawks, was later pre- was not allowed to talk to the in and at the workplace,” reads
sented to the parliamentary media but said she was aware of part of the report.
committe on Gender by the the case.
commission’s chairperson, Mar- 3 Ply
gret Mukahanana Sangarwe. “I am not allowed to speak to
the media and it is also not my Disposable Masks
According to the Interna- duty to give you their contacts.
tional Labour Organisation I am aware of that case which Isolation Gowns
(ILO) sexual harrassment is was investigated by the gender
unwelcome conduct of a sexual commission. Why can’t you talk Cleansing Wipes Oximeter
nature which makes a person to the complainants for more
feel offended, humiliated and details?” said the employee. Thermometers Faceshields
or intimidated. It includes sit-
uations where a person is asked Immigration Workers’ Union Bulk Discounts availble
to engage in sexual activity as a chairperson Nkosana Mthunzi
condition of that person’s em- told The NewsHawks that the Ts&Cs apply
ployment as well as situations department is run mafia style
which create an environment where married women are being
which is hostile, intimidating or abused on a daily basis without
humiliating for the recipient. anyone being charged. He said
some managers in the depart-
The commission held a full ment are corrupt, costing the
hearing in which all witnesses government millions of dollars
involved were given the op- as they employ relatives and
portunity to testify. After the their runners into key positions.
hearing, the two directors were
found guilty of sexual abuse and “It started during the ten-
recommendations were made to ure of Masango where the de-
the ministry of Home Affairs, partment was run like a family
department of Immigration, tuckshop. As l am speaking, l
Public Service Commission and was suspended by the cartel for
ministry of Justice Legal and leading protests against the rot. I
Parliamentary Affairs in which was fired retrospectively in 2018
they were ordered to take action for being absent from work for
against the two to restore the a day in 2012. I appealed at the
dignity of women employees Labour Court and the case is
within the Immigration depart- still being heard. They fired me
ment. after hearing that we appealed
to the Gender Commission so
The abuse happened when my letter of dismissal came a
Clemence Masango was still few days before we appear in
the principal director of the de- parliament. We are worried that
partment. Masango appeared these sex maniacs are still within
before the hearing on 12 De- the department after the inves-
cember 2018 where he denied tigations. People are promoted
the allegations of failing or re- through nepotism depending
fusing or neglecting to address on who is your relative. Vehicles
complaints of sexual harassment are being abused with bosses
which were lodged by the four using department cars at their
complainants in the matter, say- rural homes,” said Mthunzi.
ing the four never reported their
cases when he was still in charge According to the report, one
of the department. of the complainants is a married
50-year-old Bulawayo woman
Public Service Commission who joined the department in
secretary Jonathan Wutaunashe 1991 stationed in Victoria Falls.
told The NewsHawks that he is She was transferred to Harare
aware of the case and his com- where she worked at the then
mission was in the process of in- Harare International Airport. In
vestigating the matter when the August 2007 she was transferred
two accused persons approached to the department’s head office.
the courts to challenge the pro-
cess. He said the commission is She alleged that from the
waiting for the court outcome time she arrived at the head of-
before proceeding with investi- fice, Museki used to look at her
gations. lustfully, showing sexual interest
in her.
“I am aware of the report by
Gender Commission regarding Museki later ordered her to

Page 4 News NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

OWEN GAGARE Mnangagwa, minister divided ond secretary of Zanu PF at
over Justice Malaba retirement the expense of Joice Mujuru,
WHILE President Emmerson Mnangagwa used to refer to
Mnangagwa wants Chief Jus- against the extension because the behest of the President — livered the Constitutional Chief Justice Luke Malaba the late Chief Justice God-
tice Luke Malaba to continue they believe it sets a wrong he or she loses his or her inde- Court judgement which con- In his monograph on the frey Chidyausiku as muten-
serving until 2023 so that he precedent. The argument is pendence as they will always firmed Mnangagwa’s disput- presidential election, Excel- gesi (sellout) and to Malaba
becomes his last line of de- that the constitution should have to pander to the whims ed 30 July 2018 presidential gate: How Zimbabwe’s 2018 as munhu wangu uyo (my
fence should the presidential never be amended to serve the and caprices of the appoint- election victory, after dismiss- Presidential Election Was Sto- man).”
election be contested in court, interests of an individual,” ing authority who has discre- ing an electoral petition by len, former minister and MP
senior Justice ministry offi- a senior government official tion on renewals. MDC Alliance leader Nelson Jonathan Moyo — a former In a July 2018 ruling, Mal-
cials are opposed to the move, said. Chamisa. Mnangagwa ally and now aba in a court ruling said
arguing it is bad to amend the As revealed by The News- fierce critic — says the Zim- Mugabe freely and voluntarily
constitution for the benefit of “They also think an exten- Hawks last week, Mnangagwa In a unanimous ruling of babwe Electoral Commission stepped down, adding Mnan-
an individual. sion would damage Malaba’s wants Malaba to stay ahead of the nine judges of the coun- helped Mnangagwa to rig the gagwa’s assumption of power
reputation and that of the the 2023 elections. try’s top court, Malaba said 2018 elections before Malaba was done in terms of the law,
Government officials told judiciary, while also bringing Chamisa had failed to prove secured victory through the although it was clear he had
The NewsHawks this week Jus- further negative attention to Malaba has been Mnangag- allegations of fraud and ma- courts. seized power through a coup.
tice minister Ziyambi Ziyam- the judicial system, which of wa’s long-time ally, including nipulation of the vote during Moyo, also a professor
bi and permanent secretary late has faced a lot of criti- when he was deputising the the presidential poll. of politics, says Malaba dis- This followed an applica-
Virginia Mabhiza, among cism, including allegations of late former president Robert missed Chamisa’s application tion by the Liberal Democrats
other officials, were firmly being captured by the state. Mugabe, and also while serv- It is understood that Mala- soon after receiving it while in and Revolutionary Freedom
against the idea, although ing as Justice minister well ba prevailed over some judg- Pretoria, South Africa, where Fighters, Bongani Nyathi,
they have privately said they “There is also concern that before the November 2017 es to ensure the unanimous he was attending his son’s Linda Masarira and Vusu-
support his extended stay. there will be resentment by coup. ruling. Some judges wanted wedding, which suggests a muzi Sibanda who contested
other judges. Retaining Mala- to dissent, but were whipped predetermined outcome. the legality of the Mnangag-
Malaba’s judicial reign is ba may be seen as a vote of no The Chief Justice has been into line, sources said. Moyo further said Malaba’s wa-led government.
coming to an end by opera- confidence in the competence a vital cog in Mnangagwa’s attitude was not surprising
tion of law at midnight on 15 of other judges, which will be political machinery, helping Government and judi- given the close relationship They argued that Mugabe
May 2021 when he turns 70. problematic.” him sanitise and legitimise the cial officials say Malaba was between the two. tendered the resignation un-
coup which toppled Mugabe, Mnangagwa’s strategic candi- “When I worked close- der duress and that Mnangag-
For Malaba to extend his A judicial official said the and thrust him into power. date to replace the late Chief ly with him and Emmerson wa’s ascendancy was unconsti-
stay, The Constitution of other issue is that age-lim- Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku Mnangagwa between March tutional.
Zimbabwe Amendment (No. its ensure judges during the Malaba has also run the when he was Vice-President 2013 and December 2014,
2) Bill [H.B. 23, 2019], ga- course of their service enjoy judiciary in a way that has and Justice minister, while in the run up to his election The Chief Justice’s judg-
zetted on 17 January 2021, security of tenure throughout helped Mnangagwa’s regime, also plotting to succeed the as Vice-President and sec- ment followed a Novem-
must be passed into law. their term. However, when a government insiders acknowl- late former president Robert ber 2017 ruling by Judge
judge is given extensions — at edge. Mugabe. President George Chiweshe
Public consultations on the which legitimised the coup.
Bill were held from 14 June Crucially also, Malaba de- Chiweshe had ruled that the
2020 to 19 June 2020. The military intervention by the
amendment process is still on. Zimbabwe Defence Forces
which led to Mugabe’s resig-
If passed, the amendment nation was constitutional, as
will allow the President to the military sought to restore
extend the tenure of a judge order in the country.
who has reached the age-lim-
it by up to five years through He said the military’s ac-
options of one-year exten- tions in intervening to stop
sions at a time. the takeover of Mugabe’s
functions “by those around
Already, The Constitution him are constitutionally per-
of Zimbabwe Amendment missible and lawful”.
(No. 1) Act, published in
an Extraordinary Govern- Malaba and Chiweshe thus
ment Gazette on September played a critical role in sani-
7, 2017, gives the President tising and legitimising the
power to appoint the Chief coup which brought Mnan-
Justice, deputy Chief Justice gagwa to power.
and the Judge President of the
High Court after consulta- A government official said
tions with the Judicial Service Mnangagwa was convinced
Commission. that Malaba is loyal to him
and he should stay on.
The law has however been
invalidated pending its proper “He has demonstrated be-
passing by Senate which had yond any reasonable doubt
initially allowed it through that he is loyal to the Presi-
unprocedurally. dent. He helped him during
Chamisa’s ConCourt applica-
But even if the second tion and played a big role to
amendment is passed into legitimise his rise to power. So
law, the constitution does not that’s why the President wants
allow the law to be applied in him to remain in the position
retrospect, meaning incum- with 2023 in mind,” the offi-
bents cannot benefit. cial said.

Mnangagwa and Malaba In his book, Moyo also says
however think there could be in the run up to the coup,
a way around the problem, Mnangagwa worked hard
including amending Section to amend section 180 of the
328 of the Constitution. constitution to bar public
interviews for the Chief Jus-
Section 328 provides tice, deputy Chief Justice and
that “an amendment to a Judge President so that he
term-limit provision, the ef- could handpick his preferred
fect of which is to extend the judges when he came in.
length of time that a person
may hold or occupy any pub- “When the amendment
lic office, does not apply to was introduced by Mnangag-
any person who held or occu- wa shortly before the coup, its
pied that office, or an equiva- intended beneficiaries were
lent office, at any time before Mnangagwa himself and Mal-
the amendment”. aba. It is not surprising that,
with the amendment in their
A “term-limit provision” is pocket, now Mnangagwa
defined as “a provision of this wants to raise the retirement
constitution which limits the age for judges to ensure that
length of time that a person Malaba remains at the helm
may hold or occupy a public of the judiciary to do in 2023
office”. what he did for him in 2018,”
Moyo writes.
“Ziyambi and Mabhiza,
among other officials, are

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Chawatama been confirmed and ratified by
victimised central government through
for exposing the office of the responsible
corruption: minister in terms of the ap-
Lawyers plicable law should a quorum
not have been or impossible
CHRIS MAHOVE February 2021 and addressed spoke with his personal assis- ness in the pending criminal Zvenyika Chawatama of being constituted…During
to acting mayor Stewart Mutiz- tant and assured her that their cases facing substantive Town {Acting Town Clerk},” the law- the period before your receipt
LAWYERS representing the wa and copied to the ministry client was not wanted by the Clerk, Mr (Hosiah) Chisan- yers wrote. of your appointment letter, you
City of Harare’s director of of Local Government and the police. go wherein he faces a raft of worked with our client in his
works, Zvenyika Chawatama, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption charges bordering on corrup- They said Chawatama had acting capacity. In your capaci-
have made a veiled claim that Commission, Zinyengerere The two, the lawyers alleged, tion and criminal abuse of of- not appointed himself acting ty as the de facto acting mayor,
their client is being victimised turned out to be council police fice. Our client’s statement was town clerk, but was appoint- you appointed him following
for exposing corruption at the Rupapa Legal Practitioners, officers; one of them identified recorded at Morris Depot on ed by the acting mayor and Dr (Prosoer) Chonzi’s sabbat-
local authority. representing Chawatama, said only as Shiripinda allegedly the 5th of September 2020. was executing his duties at the ical,” they said.
their client had not committed visited the personal assistant’s direction of the of the acting
Chawatama, accused by the a crime. house in Borrowdale suburb, “Your good office, for good mayor, including attending The law firm said the under-
police allege of being on the which they ransacked, osten- measure, has not vitiated any meetings and making commit- takings by Chawatama were
run, is a key witness in a case “He has not been contacted sibly in search of Chawatama. of our client’s actions for which ments and undertakings which now being pursued by the in-
in which town clerk Hosiah by any member of the police. he executed in the said capacity benefitted the City of Harare. cumbent and council in their
Chisango is alleged to have il- His telephone numbers are “Our client is a key state wit- client’s absence and were part
legally sold residential stands both official records with your “Your acting position has of council’s work plan, adding
in Kuwadzana suburb. office and no one has attempt- that council continued to reap
ed to communicate with him. the fruits of his industry and
The council boss is now ac- He remains of fixed aboard engagements with external
cused of appointing himself and his residence is not a secret partners and the public in the
acting town clerk, a charge his from his employer,” they said. main.
lawyers also dismissed.
The lawyers said the two They said on several oc-
He was last week report- people alleged to be members casions, Chawatama had in-
ed to have evaded police who of the Special Anti-Corruption quired from Mutizwa if it was
wanted to arrest him in a high- Unit who visited his offices on proper for him to execute the
speed car chase in Harare. 1 February have not attempted town clerk’s duties, and the
to contact him although they acting mayor would indeed,
However, in a letter dated 18 through written communica-
tions, direct him to serve coun-
cil. National police spokesper-
son Assistant Commissioner
Paul Nyathi, however, insisted
that Chawatama is on their
wanted list.

“He has not yet been found,
investigations are ongoing and
once he has been arrested we
will let you know,” he told a lo-
cal newspaper last week.

Mutizwa did not respond
to questions sent to him via
WhatsApp.

Illegal settlements expose Gweru City Fathers

STEPHEN CHADENGA and maintenance is contrib- “There is no going back on toured the unauthorised set- agement committee to deal kombe said council had al-
uting to flooding in most set- making sure land develop- tlements in Gweru and said with all roads, to deal with all ready begun probing officials
A DAMNING report by the tlement schemes.” ers compensate people who the government had chipped dysfunctional water and sew- whose activities violated the
government which recently would be moved,” Mavhima is moving to address the er systems and to deal with local authority’s code of con-
revealed 100 illegal settle- The government has since said. problem. everything local authorities duct which prohibits workers
ments in the Midlands prov- recommended investigations have destroyed,” he said. from engaging in duties out-
ince has further exposed the into housing schemes to un- National Housing minister “We (central government) side their employment con-
deep-seated corruption mas- earth the irregularities. Daniel Garwe who last week now have a disaster man- Gweru mayor Josiah Ma- tracts.
terminded by Gweru City
Council employees who con- “In the Garikai/Hlalani “Some of our employees
nive with private land devel- Kuhle Ascot Extension hous- had conflict of interest when
opers in illegally approving ing scheme there is need to they were contracted by land
engineering designs for hun- conduct investigations on the developers in the designing
dreds of house owners, prej- circumstances leading to the and implementation of sew-
udicing the local authority of creation, disposal and im- erage and water reticulation
revenue, The NewsHawks can plementation of the irregular systems as well as illegally
report. 410 stands in order to ensure approving building plans and
accountability and corrective we have since instituted dis-
The report, released this action,” recommended the ciplinary measures against
month, comes barely two government. some, and more heads are go-
years after another forensic ing to roll,” he said.
land audit conducted by the The report further revealed
Local Government ministry that in the Tinshel housing Makombe said council lost
which implicated workers in scheme the layout plan for thousands of dollars through
council’s engineering depart- the houses was not available the illegal actions of its em-
ment in similar corruption. in council’s subdivision regis- ployees, money which could
ter. The government has since have been used for service
According to the report, recommended the relocation delivery.
the Midlands capital is now of 57 houses constructed
littered with houses built on within the 30-metre flood But Gweru United Pro-
wetlands. This has prompted buffer. gressive Residents and Rate-
the government to intervene payers Association director
in a bid to address the anom- The government has noted David Chikore said there was
alies. the need to investigate delays a need for council to conduct
in the installation of water a lifestyle audit on its work-
“Of the 100 dysfunction- and sewer services as well as ers.
al settlements (existing and the construction of houses
emerging) in the Midlands without council approval. “Some council employees
province, 25 are on wetlands lead lavish lifestyles and we
with 16 of them being in Gwe- In several other housing have always wondered where
ru district, two each in Gokwe schemes, houses were built on they get the money. A lifestyle
South, Kwekwe and Shurugwi flood-prone terrain and with- audit will unearth unscrupu-
whilst Mberengwa, Mvuma out environmental impact as- lous elements at the local au-
and Zvishavane districts have sessment permits. thority,” he said.
one each,” reads the report.
Midlands provincial affairs Over the years, land devel-
“Besides construction on minister Larry Mavhima said opers across the country have
wetlands, poor roads and land developers must com- been accused of engaging in
stormwater drain installation pensate affected house own- corrupt dealings with local
ers who built on wetlands and authorities.
other unsuitable terrain.

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Health workers warm up to Covid-19 vaccine

NYASHA CHINGONO tered 28 days apart. Acting Harare town clerk, Prosper Chonzi, said between 600 to 700 health workers are receiving the of the Sinopharm vaccine.
The efficacy of the Sino- Sinopharm shot daily. According to the Zimba-
DESPITE widespread scepti-
cism among frontline health pharm vaccine has been ques- they are frontline health high.” reach a wider audience. bwe Nurses’ Association pres-
workers over the efficacy of tioned by some experts who workers,” Zimbabwe Associ- Doctors this week took to “Since we were advocating ident, Enock Dongo, nurses
the Sinopharm vaccine, num- argue that the Chinese shot ation of Doctors for Human were demanding full informa-
bers of those inoculated have should undergo local clinical Rights president Norman social media, openly display- for vaccines, they wanted to tion on the side effects of the
been encouraging, health au- trials to ascertain its effective- Matara said. ing their vaccination cards. see if would be the first to get vaccine.
thorities say. ness against emerging variants the vaccine,” Matara said.
and mutations. Matara added: “If we don’t “It is something that will Failure to convince the
In Harare, more than 1 take it (vaccine), risks of ex- go a long way in advocating While doctors are buoyant nurses to participate in the
000 health professionals have Last week, the Zimbabwe posure are high and chances for the vaccine. So, we en- about the vaccines, nurses first phase of the vaccination
been immunised, while hun- Lawyers for Human Rights of being absent from work are courage each other to post have continued sitting on the programme could result in
dreds have received their first wrote to the government, on our statuses so that we can fence, resulting in low uptake low public confidence, Don-
dose in Bulawayo and other urging the authorities to en- go warned.
provinces. sure that local clinical trials
are conducted to ensure the “There are some nurses who
Zimbabwe last week re- safety of citizens. have been inoculated; I do
ceived 200 000 doses of the not have the statistics. They
Sinopharm vaccine from Chi- However, Chonzi said are sceptical because there is
na, with vice-president, Con- based on the successful coun- no information. There is a lot
stantino Chiwenga volunteer- trywide rollout of the Sino- of misinformation out there,”
ing to receive the first shot. pharm vaccine, Zimbabweans Dongo said.
should be safe.
The acting Harare town “We encourage govern-
clerk, Prosper Chonzi, said “Having local clinical trials ment to talk to employee or-
between 600 to 700 health would just boost confidence ganisations to deal with mis-
workers are receiving the Sin- in the vaccine but the vaccine information. I think if should
opharm shot daily. has been widely used. From not miss this opportunity to
a scientific point of view, we instil confidence in the pub-
“The uptake has been good. should be fine. In the mean- lic.”
It is a new vaccine but if you time, studies are still being
are vaccinating between 600 done for a cure over and above He added: “We are just
to 700 per day, that is good,” the masking, sanitisers and letting our members decide
Chonzi told The NewsHawks. social distancing. We should whether they want to get the
be fine,” Chonzi added. vaccine or not. We might
However, Chonzi admitted have a problem if the turnout
that there was still widespread The country’s doctors who remains low. The citizens will
scepticism among the front- have been in the forefront refuse the vaccine if we don’t
line health workers, some of of demanding vaccines, this get the nurses’ buy in.”
whom are adopting a cautious week launched an online
approach. campaign to encourage their On Wednesday, China
colleagues and the public to pledged a donation of a fur-
“The scepticism is under- undergo vaccination. ther 200 000 doses of the
standable, and many peo- Sinopharm vaccine, while the
ple will eventually come on “Most doctors are getting government is planning to
board. We have been getting the vaccine and it is encour- take delivery of 600 000 shots
requests from the parliament, aging. next week.
lawyers and other groups who
are not necessarily frontline It is important because it According to the Finance
health workers,” Chonzi said. helps instil confidence in the ministry, the government has
public. People trust us so they set aside US$100 000 million
“We started on Monday, so would also take the vaccine for the purchase of vaccines,
it has just been a few days, but when it becomes available. I as the country intensifies the
we have already breached the have convinced several people fight against Covid-19.
1 000 mark and I am happy.” to change their minds on the
vaccines; a lot of people were Zimbabwe has seen a surge
The vaccination of front- afraid. in Covid-19 cases since the
line workers is voluntary, and Christmas holidays, recording
the two doses are adminis- It is also crucial because more than 1 000 fatalities.

Chiwenga distances govt from vaccine controversy

NYASHA CHINGONO Health does not reflect the of- Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga His statements triggered a run concurrently with the ac-
ficial government position and South African variant. ed against the variant coming letter from ZLHR demanding tual vaccination programme
THE Zimbabwe Lawyers for it is not accurate pronounce- “Government will be con- out of South Africa. So, at the clarity from the government and that results of the trials
Human Rights (ZLHR) has ment of the development pro- ducting clinical trials to verify moment no one knows wheth- and threatening a lawsuit. be made public before a mass
backtracked on its intention cess of the said vaccine,” reads whether the Sinopharm vac- er it works or does not work,” rollout.
to file a lawsuit against the part of the letter to ZLHR. cine will work as when it was Mudyirandima told journal- ZLHR wrote to the govern-
government after Vice-Presi- manufactured it was not test- ists. ment urging the authorities to “Clinical trials cannot be
dent Constantino Chiwenga “The correct and official assure the public of the safety conducted simultaneously
distanced himself from a re- pronouncements relating to of the vaccine following state- with the actual vaccination of
cent statement by a Health the vaccine were made by the ments by the ministry official the population as the Acting
ministry official suggesting Minister, the deputy minis- that during the rollout, tests Health Secretary appears to
that Zimbabwe was “blindly” ter and the ambassador of the would be conducted to mea- suggest. If that happens, many
administering the Sinopharm People’s Republic of China,” sure the vaccine’s effectiveness lives would be put at risk as
vaccine without the requisite further reads the letter. on current mutations that in- they may be victims to irre-
clinical trials. clude the South African vari- versible side effects,” argued
ZLHR lawyer Andrew Ma- ant.   the lawyers.
In a letter written on his koni confirmed that the law-
behalf by Fortune Chimbaru, yers will not go ahead with the ZLHR argued that the effi- On Wednesday, China
director of the civil division in lawsuit and are waiting for a cacy of the vaccine was ques- pledged  the donation of a
the Attorney-General’s office, detailed letter from the gov- tionable without undergoing further 200 000  doses of the
Chiwenga distanced the gov- ernment explaining the vacci- quality control. Sinopharm vaccine, while
ernment from the utterances nation programme. government is planning to
of acting permanent secretary “It is therefore our client’s take deliver of  600 000  shots
Robert Mudyirandima that “There is no legal action as view that clinical trials precede next week. According to the
the authorities would conduct of now because government the rolling out of the vacci- Finance ministry, the govern-
clinical trials to verify whether responded although they nation programme, the aim ment has set aside US$100
the Sinopharm vaccine would promised to give a detailed re- being to establish whether the million to purchase vaccines,
work on the South African sponse,” Makoni said. vaccination drug undergoing as the country intensifies the
variant. trials is safe to administer and fight against Covid-19.
Upon taking delivery of 200 will not have adverse side ef-
“Our instruction so far is 000  doses of the Sinopharm fects,” reads the lawyers’ letter Zimbabwe has seen a surge
the alleged statement by the vaccine, Mudyirandima stirred to the ministry of Health. in infection cases since the
acting Permanent Secretary for controversy suggesting the Christmas holidays, recording
government was unsure if the The lawyers argued that more than 1 400 fatalities.
Chinese shot worked on the the clinical trials should not

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Rumbles of
discontent as
govt fails to
buy security
vehicles

BERNARD MPOFU by hyperinflation, liquidity Treasury coffers have improved vehicles for senior government commanders in the case of col- to be depleted. It’s been three
challenges and high unem- in the past two years due to officials such as chief directors onels got first preference upon years since newly promoted
MORALE in the security ser- ployment rate, largely attribut- several belt-tightening mea- (previously known as principal their promotion. For police officers got new vehicles,” a
vices may soon hit rock bot- ed to bad governance and poli- sures. directors), senior servicemen officers, dispols (officer com- security source told The New-
tom as the government battles cy inconsistency. were still entitled to vehicles manding district) also enjoyed sHawks.
to plug a massive backlog of Sources said while Ncube bought by the government. this preferential treatment be-
personal service vehicles for se- Information gathered by had released a circular on per- cause Treasury coffers appear The senior officers, sourc-
nior officers amid deteriorating The NewsHawks shows that sonal loans for the purchase of “As it stands, only battalion es added, are entitled to sin-
working conditions, The News- senior officers in the military, gle-cab trucks such as Ford
Hawks has established. police and prison service who Rangers. Critics have in the
are entitled to service vehicles past condemned the govern-
Zimbabwe’s financially-be- have been on the waiting list ment for splurging millions
leaguered government has over for close to three years without of dollars on the importation
the years splurged millions of taking delivery of the vehicles. of cars for senior officials at a
United States dollars on top- time the state-owned car as-
of-the-range vehicles which Sources said nearly 300 lieu- sembler, Willowvale Motor
include Land Rover Discov- tenant-colonels who were pro- Industries, is collapsing.
ery, Mercedes-Benz and Lex- moted from 2018 to date are
us sports utility vehicles at yet to get their vehicles. In the Questions sent to Vincent
a time President Emmerson police and prison service, more Hungwe, chairperson of the
Mnangagwa’s administration than 50 superintendents who Public Service Commission,
has been pleading for a bailout were promoted to the rank of Defence Forces Service Com-
package from development chief superintendent have not mission, Police Service Com-
partners. received their service vehicles mission and Prison and Cor-
during the same period, sourc- rectional Service Commission,
The southern African coun- es said. This comes against the were not responded to at the
try is facing its worst economic backdrop of Finance minister time of going to print.
crisis in a decade, characterised Mthuli Ncube’s claims that
Last year, Defence minister
McDonald Sichele shows his covid -19 vaccination card after being vaccinated at Nyabira clinic yesterday. /Pic: Aaron Ufumeli Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri
told parliament there was dis-
quiet among members of the
Zimbabwe National Army and
morale had hit rock bottom as
a result of the economic chal-
lenges in the country, and con-
firmed some soldiers were now
engaging in corrupt activities
for survival.

Muchinguri-Kashiri ap-
peared before the parliamen-
tary portfolio committee on
Defence and Home Affairs led
by acting chairperson Chiredzi
South MP Kalisto Gwanetsa
(Zanu PF), where she outlined
a myriad of challenges soldiers
are facing in the discharge of
their duties, including hunger,
inadequate transport and ob-
solete machinery.

“To all intents and purpos-
es, they do not go on strike
when others go on strike.
They are the ones brought in
to bridge that gap. This is al-
ways the case, especially with
the ministry of Health medi-
cal personnel who are almost
always on strike,” she said.

Page 8 News NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Wondedzo gold rush: Army investigates major

MORRIS BISHI phone. sHawks that the three-member pened on the day of the protest. that the army is in the process of minerals in any area belong to
Wondedzo B village head team also interviewed him and “They came to my place for instituting disciplinary measures the people who should benefit
THE Zimbabwe National he told them what exactly hap- questions, they informed me against Makufa and I was happy before any leader.
Army has launched investiga- Saina Chinomwe confirmed about that move. We are a bitter
tions against a military major the development to The New- community since we helplessly “I heard that some of my rel-
whose gold ore was confiscicat- sHawks, saying members of watch officials looting gold from atives and village heads went to
ed by villagers in Wondedzo in military intelligence visited his our area using their power.” the hill using my name for them
Masvingo North who were pro- home on Sunday to question to be given a chance by police to
testing the looting of the mineral him on the involvement of A military officer from the extract ore. This was done with-
by authorities after a gold rush Makufa during the gold rush. area told The NewsHawks that out my knowledge and l called
erupted in their area. He said the officers came again Makufa’s conduct soiled the im- for a meeting where l charged
on Monday with a typed state- age of the army. He said the mil- them and they will pay fines de-
The angry villagers confront- ment which he was asked to read itary has a strict code of conduct pending on their involvement.
ed Zanu PF and police syndi- before signing. and the major could be suspend- These are natural resources
cates who denied them the op- ed or fired. In a related case, the which must leave communities
portunity access the resource. “I can confirm that mem- local traditional chief, Bornface developed than benefitting a
bers of the military police came Musara, has charged his rela- few. There are many challeng-
An army major, Partson to my home on Sunday asking tives, mainly village heads, for es in this area, which include
Makufa, who is based in Hara- about the authenticity of Maku- looting gold ore from Wond- schools, roads and clinics and
re, was captured on camera after fa’s involvement in the gold rush edzo Hill using his name. it was our hope that with such
the villagers barricaded the road at Wondedzo Hill. As the com- resources, priority should be giv-
and offloaded gold ore from his munity, we are unhappy with Musara confirmed the issue en to development,” said Chief
vehicle. looting of our resources by peo- in an interview with The New- Musara.
ple using their offices and l gave sHawks and said resources like
Three officers from the mil- them a full account on what
itary police department visited happened to Makufa on the
the area on Sunday to interview said day. They interviewed other
traditional leaders and com- community members who also
munity members on Makufa’s gave them a true account of the
involvement. They also visit- events and they came back on
ed the area on Monday with Monday with typed statements
written statements and asked which we signed after confirm-
the interviewed community ing what we had told them. We
members to append their signa- are now waiting for more infor-
tures, a sign that the military is mation about their procedure
probing Makufa. Efforts to get and it is our hope that they will
a comment from army spokes- inform us,” said Chinomwe.
person Leiutenant-Colonel Al-
phious Makotore were fruitless Community member Felix
as he was unreachable on mobile Chinomwe also told The New-

Criminals loot
parks solar panels

NOKUTHABA DLAMINI death during the dry season.
To mitigate the negative im-
THOUSANDS of wild ani-
mals in the Hwange and Zam- pacts, Lane said they had begun
bezi national parks are at risk of engaging with law enforcement
perishing in the dry season after officials and other conservation
poachers stole solar equipment agencies to tackle the challenge.
that powers water pumps inside
the game reserves, a local con- “This is an ongoing struggle
servationist has warned. but we have engaged our con-
servation partners like police
Trevor Lane, an official from and Zimbabwe Parks and Wild-
Bhejane Trust, a conservation life Management Authority
organisation operating in the (ZimParks) rangers to monitor,”
Hwange and Victoria Falls area, he said.
told The Newshawks that the
daring criminals, according to “Parks have mounted a big
investigations, cross into the operation to protect the pan-
country from Zambia through els and try and find out who is
undesignated areas armed with behind it, but to date no luck.
crowbars and hacksaws to A large reward has also been
vandalise solar panels dotted offered by one of the operators,
throughout the two parks. without any result so far.”

“With the collapsing econ- Lane claimed to know where
omy and increasing levels of some of the poachers came
desperation, we are experienc- from, but lamented poor en-
ing a new challenge – the theft forcement of law on poachers.
of solar panels,” Lane told The
NewsHawks. “We know the villages the
thieves come from,” he said.
“The Zambezi and Matetsi
areas have been particularly hard “We have some names, and
hit by a very determined profes- you can guarantee all the vil-
sional gang of thieves, who have lagers in Zambia along the river
resorted to using crowbars to frontage know what is going on.
break the retaining clamps on
the panels, and have even, in “One good, honest investi-
one instance, smashed seven gator in Zambia could stop all
panels to steal two.” this stealing instantly, but unfor-
tunately it seems such a person
Hwange National Park is does not exist on that side of the
home to one of the largest ele- river. The Zambians consistent-
phant populations in Africa. ly fail to cooperate on issues of
theft and poaching along the
There are an estimated 44 Zambezi.”
000 pachyderms inhabiting
the 14 651 square kilometre The alleged thieves are target-
park, which is almost half of ing solar panels of the Grundfos
Zimbabwe’s whole elephant type which have a very high
population, hence the need to voltage, and are specialised to
install several water pumps in the Grundfos pumps.
and around the park to save the
animals from dehydration and On wildlife poaching trends,
ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe
Farawo said he did not have the
specific statistics yet to give a
comment.

NewsHawks News Page 9

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

After 70 days Allan, a student leader from
in detention, the University of Zimbabwe
student activist (UZ), allegedly addressed
unshaken commuters at a bus rank in
Harare last year, calling for a
NYASHA CHINGONO came face-to-face with the de- going to stay one month but His father, Jephias Moyo, Allan Moyo violent revolt against Presi-
plorable state of the country’s it turned into months. I real- who spoke to The News- vation and conservation. We dent Emmerson Mnangagwa,
WHEN 23-year-old student correctional facilities, he says. ly got to understand the state Hawks recently while his son all envisage a better future for the state alleges.
activist Allan Moyo visited of our judicial system as cap- was incarcerated, recounted the young and the old. We do
his friends who were detained Sharing a cell with 80 in- tured and incompetent,” he his pain upon seeing Allan not want to become a foot- During the speech, Allan
at a police station in Harare mates, some with serious said. behind bars. note in history,” Allan said. denounced endemic corrup-
in early December, he had mental health conditions, tion in government, partic-
no idea he was giving up his Moyo longed for his warm Outside prison, his fellow He expressed worry over “The future of Zimbabwe ularly concerning Covid-19
freedom. bed and the company of his students and other activists his son’s safety in prison. has nothing for the youth funds.
loving family. ran a passionate campaign Moyo feared Allan would under the present administra-
Upon arrival at Braeside under the hashtag #FreeAllan. contract Covid-19. tion. I have met difficulties, Alan’s story is one among
Police Station on 7 Decem- His hair unkept and clad but I am not broken. I am endless tales of the state’s un-
ber, Moyo was immediately in dirty prison garb, Moyo Civil society organisations Speaking after Allan’s re- sure some have experienced relenting repressive bid to si-
arrested, charged with incit- thought he would spend only and foreign embassies also lease, he said: “I am now very worse. I am going to contin- lence dissent.
ing violence. a month behind bars, but joined in the campaign, de- much relieved.” ue; I am even strengthened.”
days turned into months as manding the release of the Young activists have often
“I was shocked that I had the state denied him bail. young activist. Despite spending more “What drives me is each received the full wrath of the
been on the wanted list,” than two months in prison, time I see the people of Zim- state brutality as Mnangagwa’s
Moyo told The NewsHawks “It is not a romantic affair “The solidarity of other Allan remains unfazed. babwe, I see hunger and des- government goes for broke.
in an interview this week. staying in the prison cells. We comrades and the love of my peration. That is what drove
had cellmates who contracted family kept me going,” Moyo “The reason why the youth me into making that speech,” Since Mnangagwa’s ascen-
His pre-trial detention at Covid-19 and it was scary for said. are rising against dictatorship Allan said. dancy to power in a military
Harare Central Prison would some of us. in this country is self-preser- coup in 2017, Zimbabwe has
stretch more that 70 days. witnessed sweeping arrests of
There were 80 people in political and civil society ac-
“I received a distress call a cell and, because we were tivists, opposition leaders like
one afternoon from my packed, no social distancing Job
friends who had been arrested was observed. It was terrible,”
at Braeside Police Station. I Moyo said. Sikhala, Joana Mamombe,
then gathered a few resources Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai
and organised food for them. Attempts by his family Marova and Fadzayi Mahere
Upon getting to the police to provide sanitiser and de- and journalists like Hopewell
station, I was told that I had tergent were futile as prison Chin’ono, who has been jailed
been arrested. Apparently, I guards shot down several re- three times in six months.
had been on the wanted list quests.
for six months.” The state has also upped
“My family bought sani- the ante on surveillance, tor-
The 23-year-old, a vibrant tiser and detergent, but they ture and abduction of govern-
student leader, was finally were not allowed inside. It ment critics.
granted bail last week at the was by no means a pleasant
High Court, following several affair at all,” he lamented. With this happening in the
failed attempts at freedom. full glare of local and inter-
“Living with mental pa- national media, while other
During his last bid for lib- tients is difficult, it was tor- violations have happened
erty in court, the presiding turous to the body to stay in under the cover of internet
magistrate denied him bail, that prison for that long.” shutdowns and Covid-19
claiming he was of no fixed lockdowns, Mnangagwa’s
abode. Moyo described the coun- government seems unfazed in
try’s judicial system as cap- its bid to silence critics and
While in prison, Moyo tured. consolidate power.

“Initially I thought I was As the crackdown on dis-
sent continues, activists like
Moyo live on the edge, fear-
ing arrest for any misdemean-
ours, however defined.

He says: “I am motivated
by what I see, all the corrup-
tion, poverty, misgovernance
and bad leadership. I will sol-
dier on.”

Shocking deficiencies in Matabeleland education

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE pils in Lupane were able to Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema teacher,” the report reads. The report stated that af-
read and spell in English at This comes as primary ter a reading test the pupils
RESEARCHERS are pushing the expected proficiency of showed lack of word decod-
for the government to de- that level, 40% were reading and secondary Education ing skills.
liberately recruit more local at grade five level and 30% minister Cain Mathema
teachers for primary schools were reading at grade three blamed the poor pass rate “Key reading challenges:
in Lupane following the dis- and below level. on teachers’ “indiscipline”, In class, the students were
mal performance of pupils while presenting a ministe- failing to express themselves
in the district. Among the other issues rial statement on last year’s clearly. Words with silent
that the report said need- grade seven results in parlia- letters e.g. phlegmatic are
Some schools in Lupane ed attention was the poor ment this week. a challenge. A significant
in Matabeleland North are teacher-to-child ratio which number want to pronounce
amongst the 31 in that re- detracts teachers from giv- “Clearly, this is an ele- the /p/ and /g/ in cham-
gion that recorded a 0% pass ing pupils enough attention. ment of indiscipline on the pagne,” the report states.
rate in Zimbabwe School Ex- part of the school adminis-
aminations Council (Zim- “Lobbying for policy trators if they are not mak- “End sounds tend to
sec) grade seven 2020 results change, in teacher recruit- ing sure that teachers and be substituted particular-
for its 109 primary schools. ment. Local teachers to be other school employees do ly those ending with -ting.
recruited for lower prima- what they are supposed to They are substituted with
Eighty-eight schools re- ry levels so learners can be do. We are very clear on that the ending -tion. Words
corded 0% pass rate coun- taught in their mother lan- one, and we will do the best without vowels are a chal-
trywide, with 31 of them guage. Change in the use of we can to make sure that this lenge. Learners tend to add
being from Matabeleland. teacher-to-child ratio in the indiscipline does not prevail their own.
staffing of primary school, in our schools,” Mathema
The research, led by each grade should have its said. “Omission of some sounds
Lupane State University own teacher so that there are in some words known to
lecturer Christopher Ndl- no composite classes where The 2020 national pass now and renown to now;
ovu (LSU), found that only two grades are sharing one rate is 37.11%, a drop of boys to boy. Word reversals
30% of the grade seven pu- 9.79% from 2019’s 46.9%. reading on as no.”

Page 10 News NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

THE refusal by bigger com- Undocumented migrants bolster
panies like Botswana Couri- indigenous truck owners’ businesses
ers, Sprint Couriers, Skynet
Couriers, UPS, TNT Express Many businesses in Bo- send food items back to their only consider space occupied tinue to run to Botswana as With the number of Zimba-
and FedEx to accept parcels tswana, especially farmwork- families in Zimbabwe,” said and weight. economic refugees looking bwean migrants in Botswana,
from individuals without ers, casual labourers and con- Madimu. for better opportunities. a lot of money is generated
identity documents has creat- struction workers are able to “Because of the needs of for government coffers.”
ed an opportunity for indige- benefit from cheap labour “Undocumented migrants our clients we are flexible This is because until the
nous truck owners willing to offered by migrant commu- have however been able to about pricing,” said Madimu. beginning of the global reces- Chivasa maintained that
transport basic necessitaties nities, especially from Zim- create a niche business oppor- “Undocumented migrants sion in 2008, Botswana has when you look for piece
for families and relatives of babwe. tunity for smaller transport are routinely abused and of- maintained one of the world’s jobs you are habitually ha-
undocumented migrants companies like ourselves. We ten pay bribes to avoid de- highest economic growth rassed by the police. If you
back home in Zimbabwe. However, they often have are forced to be cheaper due portation from the country.” rates since its independence are an undocumented mi-
to deal with hostility from to competition and consider- in 1966. Although Botswana grant, anybody employing
“Most undocumented mi- the host country and puni- ing economic hardships faced Hyperinflation in Zimba- has grown very modestly un- you is charged P1 000 and if
grants send goods like build- tive tariffs by their govern- by undocumented migrants. bwe has followed a process of til 2017, due to a downturn there are more than six such
ing materials, food and even ment which is responsible for ” radical transformation of the in the global diamond mar- employees, the employer is
medication to families back the deteriorating economic economy beginning with the ket, it remains very stable. charged P10 000.
in Zimbabwe. They prefer situation in their country of Madimu maintains that forcible expulsion of white
us because of the less oner- origin. somebody may want to send farmers and an ambitious “The economy of Zimba- “When you are arrested,
ous conditions,” said George a second-hand bed to Zimba- land reform process ushering bwe is bad and it is only the you are taken to the cells and
Madimu, a truck owner op- “Most undocumented bwe. It would not make sense in a period of instability in rich who can afford to put you meet people from differ-
erating along the Western migrants are struggling, a to charge the same price as a Zimbabwe that began in Feb- food on the table, especially ent places. There will be more
Bypass bordering Gaborone’s situation which is worsened new bed and so their pricing ruary 2007. In March 2020, those aligned to Zanu PF. The than 10 of you in a small cell
new central business district. by the coronavirus and now tends to be flexible. The big- with inflation above 500% bulk of the people live in pov- with no social distancing de-
they are being overcharged to ger multinational companies annually, Zimbabweans con- erty and a bulk of the young spite persisting concerns over
He said: “We do not re- people who come to Botswa- the coronavirus. You are then
quire documentation like na do so to look for jobs and transported to Francistown
passports or IDs from people earn money. But it is not al- and held in a cell with other
sending their goods. We only ways possible to get permits people before being taken to
require full details of the re- because authorities will say the border. People are taken
ceiver so that they can collect there are Batswana who can to the border and many re-
parcel from the bus.” do those jobs,” said Patrick turn before the government
Chivasa (not his real name), a vehicle arrives in Gaborone,”
A fleet of six fully loaded Zimbabwean carpenter with said Chivasa, whose son grad-
23-tonne trucks leaves for three children who entered uated from the Teacher Train-
various destinations in Zim- Botswana legally in Septem- ing College recently.
babwe almost every week full ber 2001 but whose permit is
of tightly wrapped parcels for not being renewed. Chivasa is a deeply trou-
undocumented migrant la- bled man because his chil-
bour. This is because the big- “You will pay P1 500 for a dren have spent all their lives
ger courier companies refuse work permit application and in Botswana and have no
to undertake the responsibil- they will reject your appli- contacts in Zimbabwe. He
ity because they perceive the cation. You will also have to believes they will struggle to
exercise to be too risky apply for a residence permit reintegrate into a new envi-
and you will pay P1 500 and ronment..
“DHL needs adequate you are likely to be rejected.
documentation, so undocu- —The Tswana Times
mented migrants cannot send
their parcels. There are many
undocumented migrants in
Botswana supporting fami-
lies back in Zimbabwe. It can
also be an inconvenience for
recipients if documentation
is required,” said Madimu.

“Oxygen bottles are very
scarce in Zimbabwe. Most
of our clients who are un-
documented migrants also
have Covid-19 positive rel-
atives and so send them to
Zimbabwe to help those at
home. These oxygen bottles
help Covid-19 patients to
breathe.”

Madimu says the trucking
companies have to pay a full
rebate at the border for cli-
ents because they do not get
a rebate for undocumented
migrants on Zimbabwe side.
They only have to pay 30%
rebate for those who are legal
migrants.

The result of these policies
is that many undocumented
migrants who have fled Zim-
babwe because of the deterio-
rating economic situation in
the country feel like they are
being unduly punished.

They are subjected to daily
acts of xenophobia and have
their hard-earned monies for
services provided often un-
der charged to secure jobs
to make ends meet as well
as being charged despite be-
ing vulnerable members of
society as the poorest of the
poor, in a deeply fragmented
society.

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Page 12 New Perspective NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Brett Dissecting through economic logic
Chulu
ity of affordable working capital,  stability for at least three months, The current wholesale prices of pensive in terms of inputs. Just one
TWO issues on our economy will increased demand for goods and causing producers to revert to tomatoes are 75-80 cents per kg. hectare of tomatoes for many new
be dissected in this article. services and competitiveness of survival mode. At least six months entrants has capital requirements
outputs against substitutes and of an environment pulling down It is my contention that the price that are beyond the financial capaci-
The first issue is that the  most imports.  growth is expected. That should drop will follow the usual cycle of ty of many would-be small-scale en-
current data from the International significantly push down any projec- prices of tomatoes from past years trants. Capital is a big entry barrier
Monetary Fund (IMF) shows that Here are the challenges arising tions Treasury had in mind. for several reasons. We will likely for many who want to venture into
the IMF is projecting Zimbabwe’s  from this analysis. see wholesale prices of tomatoes tomatoes at scale. 
real Gross Domestic Product On a balance of probabilities, the dropping to 20 cents per kg and as
(GDP) to decline by 10.4% for First, availability of affordable IMF’s -10.4% real economic growth low as 15 cents per kg in the next Third, very few entrants can af-
2021.This stands in sharp contrast capital remains under immense projection seems unrealistic. Trea- two months. ford putting up protected environ-
to the Zimbabwean Treasury’s constraints due to lack of progress sury’s 7.4% growth projection was ments for winter tomato produc-
projection of real growth of 7.4% in the treatment of sovereign debt also over-optimistic even without What may be different from the tion. Those that can afford will find
for 2021. arrears with respect to the IMF, the Covid-19 resurgence as it was previous years is that the wholesale  it difficult to do tomatoes at scale in
World Bank, African Development based on an unrealistic assumption tomato prices may hold at about 15 protected environments. 
The gulf between the two pro- Bank and the Paris Club, owed in that the government alone would cents per kg for much longer that
jections is extremely wide. It raises excess of US$8 billion and still ris- drive 94.6% of the growth for has historically been the case.  Fourth, as Covid-19 restrictions
questions as to what the IMF is ing due capitalised unpaid interest.  2021. We should expect growth for are eased, many with the finan-
seeing that our own technocrats are 2021 to be positive but below 2%.  Here are the reasons why I think cial capacity to undertake tomato
failing to pick. The government’s insistence on Tomato tsunami exaggerated the wholesale tomato price will not production will return to their
non-concessionary loan facilities There is fear being stoked in the drop below 15 cents per kg even vocations.
Unfortunately, the IMF has not from Afreximbank are a stumbling tomato production horticultural with increased supply.
unpacked the reasons for arriving block to any future debt treatment sub-sector that an imminent col- About the writer: Brett is a
at such a devastatingly negative negotiations with the international lapse in tomato prices will be much First, tomatoes are always a big management consultant and a
prognosis summed in that -10.4% financial institutions (IFIs). deeper than in previous years as a challenge to grow in winter due to classic grounded theory research-
number.    result of many new entrants attract- the risk of frost. Those first-timers er who has published research
The IFIs have made it clear to ed by the high tomato producer attracted by the current high prices in an academic peer reviewed
The second issue is the fear in Zimbabwe that the non-conces- prices still persisting. will have to contend with frost. international journal. He can
the market that there will soon be a sionary loans the government is We do not expect a very significant be contacted through email:
price tsunami for tomatoes.  contracting are a potential deal increase of supply of tomato due to [email protected]
IMF projection extreme breaker. The unresolved outstand- the winter challenge. 
We need to disaggregate the sources ing sovereign debt with respect to
of growth our Treasury sees as IFIs will continue to be a stumbling Second, tomatoes are very ex-
driving their 7.2% real economic block to foreign inflows of capi-
growth. Treasury sees consump- tal and will raise the interest rate
tion adding 2.6% to real growth, premiums for the private sector
granulated as follows: government seeking to raise international credit
consumption to add 1.9% and lines. Capital drought means the
household consumption to add private sector cannot upgrade
2.1% to real growth. Gross capital productivity enablers and new
formation (infrastructure, machin- production driven by foreign direct
ery, etcetera) is seen by Treasury as investment will be very minimal.
the biggest driver of real economic
growth, accounting for 5.8% of real This will mean the private
growth. sector’s productivity growth will
remain in limbo. The government
The government’s gross capital alone cannot sustainably generate
formation is seen adding 5.1% to new growth in the economy via
real growth, with the private sector consumption and infrastructure
(including not-for-profits) adding development without causing
0.7% to real growth. From this long-term harm to future economic
disaggregation, it is clear that our growth via increased taxation and
Treasury hopes that government’s generating fiscal deficits.
infrastructure expenditure will
account for 87.9% of the envisaged Second, with the private sec-
real growth. In fact, overall, the tor failing to lead in productivity
government alone is expected to growth, the country’s ability to
add 7% to real growth in 2021. expand the labour workforce will
remain severely constrained, sug-
This is the case when both its gesting increased risk of generating
consumptive and infrastructure extremely low growth. 
expenditure are put together. Put
differently, the government is The positive changes in agri-
expected to drive 94.6% of the real cultural productivity as a result
growth for 2021. Non-government of the adoption of new simple
sectors  (including the private sec- technologies and adoption of pri-
tor) are expected to directly drive vate sector funding for large-scale
real growth of 0.4%.  commercial agriculture, coupled
with above-normal rainfall in the
How an above-normal rainfall 2020-2021 cropping season, will
season impacts the growth of our definitely increase agricultural out-
economy is key to reconciling the put at the primary level.
IMF’s negative growth projection
and Treasury’s positive growth This can potentially increase the
projection. availability of raw materials to the
secondary industry. There are risks
On paper, increased inflows attendant in agriculture such as 
of rainfall into our major water potential post-harvest losses that if
bodies, especially Lake Kariba, not compensated for properly may
should significantly increase our make 35% of the primary agri-
power-generation capacity. In cultural output unavailable to the
theory, this potential increase in secondary industry.
power availability should increase
the capacity utilisation of producers The plan to handle increased
in all sectors of the economy whose agricultural output is not convinc-
production potential was limited by ing as it is not based on modern
power availability. Such an increase warehouse technology aimed at
does not solely contribute to in- handling agricultural output. 
creased output per worker.
There was the unforeseen resur-
Other systemic factors include gence of the Covid-19 pandemic
the availability of foreign currency that has slowed down production
to import raw materials , availabil- and aggregate demands across many
product areas for a three-month
stretch. A quarter of depressed
economic activity will shave off any
projected economic growth.

Post-Covid recovery may de-
stabilise price and forex exchange

NewsHawks Editorial & Opinion Page 13

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021 CARTOON

Tinkering with symptoms
while the economy burns

RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Man- Zimbabweans’ wrong call on
gudya presented a Monetary Policy Statement last week coup perpetuates suffering
in which he attempted a delicate balancing act between
ensuring macro-economic stability and stimulating FIRST things first, Zimbabweans should agree lowed suit, committing self politicide. lem of political ignorance or uninformed polit-
growth. that, with hindsight, supporting the 2017 mil- An opposition calling itself Movement ical decisions in our midst? It is people’s dem-
itary coup was a disastrous political miscalcula- ocratic right to choose a leader or path of their
The policy intervention had its fair share of strengths tion which will have a profound impact on the for Democratic Change supporting a coup? own, for better or worse.
and weaknesses but, on the overall, it fell short on the country’s future. Change of government through an overthrow
most important of all benchmarks: instilling confidence. of the constitution? And thus setting a wrong This is like some people saying that even if
Even though it was as clear as daylight there precedent. voters choose whoever they want out of polit-
Every level-headed analyst can see that the central was no basis to think President Emmerson ical ignorance, that’s all right — they are just
bank chief is merely tinkering with symptoms of a Mnangagwa and his cronies - enforcers and en- Listening to their rationale and justification exercising their individual democratic freedom.
deep-seated structural malaise. ablers of the late deposed leader Robert Mug- of the decision, it was very difficult to under-
abe’s despotic rule - would usher in reform and stand the political and strategic imperative. Ap- John Stuart Mill effectively refuted this sort
One example of this is the idle boast in corridors of change, let alone reset politics and embark on parently, there was none. of lazy argument 150 years ago when he point-
power that the authorities have successfully tamed the a transformational agenda, people still naively ed out that voting is not just an individual’s
currency monster. flooded the streets blindly thinking they were It is easy to understand where ordinary Zim- choice, but about the collective and future of
marching for a new Zimbabwe. babweans who had suffered immensely under the nation.
It is a futile exercise in self-deception. Zimbabwe’s Mugabe were coming from.
economy is largely informalised. The centralisation of But then again people were to be forgiven Rather, as he put it, it is “the exercise of pow-
foreign currency allocation via the official forex auction for their ecstasy, having spent 37 years under But even then it impossible to decipher how er over others.” When we vote for people who
system cannot be a permanent solution to the currency Mugabe’s calamitous rule. people thought those who were behind Mug- will occupy positions of political power, they
conundrum. abe’s rule would suddenly change, and be mov- do not just rule over those who voted for them,
The coup jubilations were characterised by ers and shakers for change and progress. they rule over the entire society.
The only sustainable way of solving Zimbabwe’s cur- joy, contradictions and dramatic irony writ
rency woes is to allow the economic laws of supply- large. When the coup was stalling as Mugabe dug And when we exercise power over other peo-
and-demand to take root and dictate the real direction in on constitutional trenches, the army had to ple in that way, we have a responsibility to be
of the forex market. To begin with those behind the coup were resort to political means to push it through. at least reasonably informed in the way that we
the very same people who supported Mug- do so.
In this country, public officials are in the habit of abe’s leadership and governance failures until Hawk Eye
complicating what should otherwise be simple econom- the corrolary of corruption and incompetence So we do have good reason to be concerned
ic logic. started affecting them. Dumisani about public political choices.
Muleya
In an economy ravaged by Covid-19 and in which They were and still are beneficiaries of Mug- And the evidence is overwhelming that the
companies have been sold a dummy about a fictitious abe’s misrule and the associated pillage of na- The demonstrations and impeachment mo- amount of political ignorance out there is pret-
“rescue and stimulus package”, why on earth would tional public resources. tion were the leverage that ultimately forced ty severe and has helped ruin this nation.
the central bank drop a bombshell by hiking the cost Mugabe’s hand.
of borrowing? By increasing the interest rate through Most of what they have now can easily be So if truth be told without fear or favour,
this “money market operation”, it is clear the RBZ is traced back to Mugabe’s rule and its spoils. With the country at crossroads, it became Zimbabweans’ political naivety in the after-
desperate to tinker with market liquidity ahead of the difficult to have a common vision and way for- math of November 2017 military coup is
re-opening of the economy when the Covid-19 lock- Most people now pretending to be an- ward. Coup supporters insisted Mnangagwa largely responsible for renewal of Zanu PF au-
down eventually ends. ti-Mugabe among Mnangagwa’s supporters was the leader to take Zimbabweans from the thoritarian rule and the attendant failures that
were firmly his backers and pro-status quo. proverbial Egypt to Canaan, a founding myth it comes with.
The central bank, it appears, is anxious to smother They didn’t want change in the system, but of the Israelites denoting delivery from slavery
any speculative tendencies in the post-lockdown period. change in guard - a new captain of the wrecked to prosperity. As time moves on away from the coup, it
But it is a double-edged sword; the few companies that ship already sailing in the wrong direction. becomes increasingly evident that supporting
remain afloat are already facing bankruptcy and will Sceptics repeatedly warned that the coup the coup by Mnangagwa and his cronies was
now find it increasingly difficult to access finance. Not to change direction, but to rather path was leading to hell: renewed despotism, not just a bad political decision, but political
to continue in the wrong direction while in authoritarian consolidation and even worse. suicidal. People in Sudan handled the coup
While it is crucial to control money supply growth, charge; enjoying the gravy train rich pickings. differently.
the RBZ must also take responsibility for its own indis- Underlying all this were emotions, that is
cretions in that regard. In recent weeks, we have heard Then there was the opposition MDC lead- jubilation driven by the hate of Mugabe, wish- So are people in Myanmar where hundreds
from the now-disbanded Monetary Policy Committee ers. After years of fighting the Mugabe regime ful thinking and wilful ignorance by coup sup- of thousands marched on Wednesday, rejecting
how tonnes of money are being printed every week for they became cheaply opportunistic. They porters. the army’s assertion that the public supported
the purchase of gold. Quasi-fiscal activities are unten- thought there was an opportunity to sneak its overthrow of elected leader Aung San Suu
able. back into power through the back door after I have heard people say, well it was their Kyi and vowing they would not be cowed in
their time in the feeding trough through the choice so there is no need to worry about that. their bid to end military rule.
The true test of the RBZ’s monetary measures will 2009 unity government.
come in the aftermath of the lockdown. As demand Why should we even care about the prob- Instead of succumbing to the coup entice-
for forex shoots up, there will be pressure on the ex- The late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, ment and pressure, Zimbabweans should have
change rate. The gap between the unrealistic official who was already ailing at the time, jumped out and indeed still should demand reform, demo-
exchange rate (at ZW$83:US$1) and the parallel rate of his deathbed to endorse the coup from Jo- cratic transition and transformational change,
(at ZW$130: US$1) is a stark expression of the conse- hannesburg, South Africa, which was an ill-ad- not embrace capture of the levers of power and
quences of mindless economic distortion. It fuels arbi- vised decision. the state for personal aggrandisement by a cor-
trage. rupt and incompetent coterie.
All other senior MDC leaders generally fol-
What the economy needs is thorough root-and-
branch reform. There is no stimulus package for strug-
gling companies, national resources are being looted,
and there are no social safety nets for the poor majority.
Tinkering with symptoms will not address these serious
problems.

Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
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Business

MATTERSNewsHawks

MARKETS CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE
USD/JPY
GBP/USD 105.53 -0.13 -0.123 *OIL 59.62 -0.9 -1.49
EUR/USD
USD/CAD 1.402 +0.005 +0.34 *GOLD 1,785.3 +10.3 +0.58
AUD/USD
1.214 +0.005 +0.41 *SILVER 27.535 +0.457 +1.69

1.26 -0.008 -0.631 *WHEAT 660.25 -5 -0.75

0.788 +0.011 +1.39 *COPPER 4.057 +0.156 +4

Discord rocks

Tripartite

Negotiating

Forum

STAFF WRITER gagwa’s agenda and accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa
the current administration of
DESPITE commitments by stifling dialogue. if that were not enough, the package for businesses hard to no avail. There is therefore suggestions that have been
President Emmerson Mnan- government proceeded to hit by Covid-19-induced need to improve the imple- discussed in cabinet,” he said.
gagwa in reforming the Tri- Moyo said social partners amend Statutory Instrument lockdowns, the need to pro- mentation mechanism,” add-
partite Negotiating Forum now have the task of digging 142 and allowed businesses to vide relief to non-working ed Murefu. He said some of the sug-
(TNF), social partners believe themselves in as opposed to trade in foreign currency but citizens affected by the pan- gestions made by the social
that no tangible progress has digging themselves out as the left out wages to be ravaged demic through direct mone- However, Public Service, platform have informed gov-
been made in addressing the “second republic” is failing to by inflation,” added Moyo. tary assistance, and the need Labour and Social Welfare ernment policy and program-
socio-economic challenges.  resolve the socio-economic to relax some lockdown mea- minister Paul Mavima dis- ming while outlandish posi-
problems because it is pursu- President of another key sures to allow businesses to missed Emcoz and the ZC- tions were not adopted.
Founded in 1988 in a bid ing the same old policies of TNF stakeholder, the Em- operate during the first two TU’s concerns, arguing that a
to promote dialogue, the the past. ployers’ Confederation of tight lockdowns of 2020, lot of progress has been made “So in my view, TNF has
TNF brings together repre- Zimbabwe (Emcoz), Israel nothing was implemented by the TNF under the new done fairly well. There are
sentatives of labour, business He said since Mnangagwa’s Murefu, also criticised the dispensation. some people who do not
and the government. takeover, the government has tripartite platform for lacking “We also agreed that the properly place the TNF in
refused to repeal Statutory In- an effective implementation National Social Security Au- “The enactment for TNF relation to cabinet or govern-
Emerging from a history strument 142 of 2019 which mechanism. thority should give some was done in the new dispen- ment. Yes, recommendations
of disagreements and lack of banned the use of US dollars, relief to contributing com- sation. So there can’t be any of TNF should be consid-
progress under the country’s consequently leading to the He said despite agreeing panies during lockdowns by comparisons since the plat- ered, but they cannot be ad-
previous administration, the erosion of wages and salaries on a number of issues like the allowing payment plans but form met as prescribed by opted lock, stock and barrel,”
inception of the “second re- despite the fact that the TNF putting in place of a stimulus the law and has always made added Mavima.
public” in 2017 was a new era had tasked the minister of
for the TNF after President Labour to inform cabinet.
Emmerson Mnangagwa com-
mitted to uphold inclusive The labour leader said gov-
dialogue for socio-economic ernment continued to im-
development. plement unilateral decisions
outside the TNF, violating
Appearing to fulfill his the spirit of dialogue.
promise in June 2019, Mna-
gagwa launched the first-ev- “Early this year, govern-
er legislated social dialogue ment announced the level
platform in a bid to legalise four (Covid-19) lockdown
the platform’s decisions. measures without consulting
other social partners. The en-
But like before, key part- forcement measures affected
ners still exhibit deep ideo- both labour and business,
logical differences, raising but government continues to
questions on the platform’s extend them without input,”
effectiveness in achieving the said Moyo.
required level of dialogue.
He said the social partners
“The so-called new dispen- have since sought clarity on
sation came with the promise who exactly will handle funds
to do things differently but after the promise by the gov-
they moved one inch forward ernment to extend a stimulus
towards reforms and quick- packages to provinces, but
ly moved back to the era of no answers have been forth-
the previous state institutions coming. The ZCTU leader
which were strictly moni- accused the government of
tored and some completely not divulging information
captured unlike in the pre- on Covid-19 procurement,
vious regime,” said Japhet vaccine rollout plan and how
Moyo, secretary-general of suppliers are chosen.  
the Zimbabwe Congress of
Trade Unions. “Our nominees seconded
to the ministerial taskforce
He said the political will to have been excluded from the
reform is no longer on Mnan- taskforce meetings and, as

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 15

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Fiscal discipline key to exchange rate stability

STAFF WRITER is set to widen given the supply growth, which can trend if the local currency is Finance minister Mthuli Ncube 55.4% of money stock, while
introduction of US$-based upset the macro-econom- stable,” FBC Securities said of November 2020. Con- local currency deposits con-
ZIMBABWE may soon dis- presumptive tax and the ic stability brought about in its research note. sequently, foreign curren- stituted the remainder.
continue the partial dollar- extension of IMTT to US$ by exchange rate stability. cy deposits increased from
isation of the economy as transactions; this will help Should fiscal discipline im- The exchange rate de- ZW$12.45 billion in Janu- FBC Securities added
foreign currency revenues contain the funding gap in prove, we expect reprieve preciated from ZW$17.35: ary to ZW$102.18 billion that the pace at which mon-
improve following the in- 2021. The central bank has emanating from a stabi- US$1 in January 2020 to in November 2020, thus ey supply grows should be
troduction of tax heads now been keeping a hawk’s eye lising local currency. The ZW$57: US$1 at the first significantly accounting linked to the development
paid in hard currency. on liquidity, as it maintains economy is less likely to foreign exchange auction for the expansion in mon- of a healthy economy.
a stranglehold on money continue its dollarisation in June, and further to ey supply. Foreign curren-
The outbreak of the ZW$81.82:US$1 by the end cy deposits accounted for Broad money supply as
Covid-19 pandemic re- of November 2020 stood at
sulted in the easing of the ZW$190 billion, an annual
country’s exchange controls growth rate of 750% with
as the authorities allowed the government recording
the use of free funds for the a “surplus” of ZWL$3.8 bil-
purchase of goods and ser- lion for the year to Septem-
vices. The government also ber 2020. As at end of De-
introduced US dollar-based cember 2020, reserve money
presumptive tax and the was ZW$18.76 billion, com-
extension of intermediate pared to a year-end target of
money transfer tax (IMTT) ZW$25.20 billion. Money
to US dollar transactions supply increased over the
as Treasury seeks to boost year, rising from ZW$36
foreign currency inflows. billion in January 2020 to
In his 2021 budget presen- ZW$184 billion in Decem-
tation, Finance minister ber 2020.
Mthuli Ncube reviewed
presumptive in US dol- The growth in money
lars, extending them to the supply was largely attrib-
informal sector while also utable to the impact of ex-
extending the IMTT to US change rate movements on
dollar incomes. the 60% foreign currency
component of the deposits.
While the country had
previously banned the use “Empirical studies have
of the multi-currency basket indicated that measures of
declaring Zimbabwean dol- the money supply through
lars as the sole legal tender, time have exhibited close
the country has self-redolla- relationships with import-
rised with the government ant economic variables
also introducing dollarisa- (GDP, price levels). Money
tion through the back-door supply provides important
use of free funds. information about the near-
term course for the econo-
In June last year, the gov- my and determines the level
ernment introduced a for- of prices and inflation in the
eign currency auction sys- long run. Level of money
tem which has brought a supply in the economy is
measure of stability to the critical and should be well
exchange rate. FBC Securi- monitored and controlled
ties in its 2021 outlook and through the monetary poli-
investments research note cy. It is the duty of the cen-
said while the central bank tral bank to have money
had been keeping a hawk’s supply maintained at sus-
eye on liquidity, should the tainable levels.
fiscal discipline improve,
a reprieve emanating from “The pace at which mon-
the stabilising currency was ey supply grows should be
expected. well linked to the econom-
ic development of a healthy
“The US$ revenue space economy,” FBC Securities
said.

DUMISANI NYONI Foreign direct investment dries up agement Agency, RBZ,
National Social Security
FOREIGN investment istered 42.5% growth to the risks associated with the flows decreased significantly one can begin the process Authority, Zimbabwe En-
inflows to Zimbabwe US$845.21 million where- Covid-19. No one was ac- to US$280 million in 2019, and conduct a name search ergy Regulatory Author-
last year fell by 23.7% to as income receipts and tually going to be investing. compared to US$745 million online via the ZimConnect ity, Zimbabwe Tourism
US$40.06 million com- non-governmental organisa- But already the crisis before recorded in 2018. web portal. Authority, the State En-
pared to the same period tions contributed US$56.85 was associated with declin- Zimbabwe ranked 140th terprises Restructuring
in the previous year, with million and US$647.75 mil- ing foreign direct invest- out of 190 countries listed in In February 2020, the Agency, and specialised
analysts attributing the lion, respectively. ment (FDI),” economic ana- the World Bank’s 2020 Do- government passed legisla- investment units within
decline to the outbreak of lyst Godfrey Kanyenze said. ing Business Report, gaining tion creating the Zimbabwe relevant line ministries.
Covid-19 pandemic. In total, foreign currency 15 places from the previous Investment Development
receipts for 2020 increased Zimbabwe has been strug- year’s report. Agency (Zida) to act as a In order to attract great-
According to a Mone- by 14.9% to US$6.288 bil- gling to attract significant Policy inconsistency, one-stop investment centre, er FDI and improve the
tary Policy Statement re- lion. foreign investment due to administrative delays and replacing the Zimbabwe In- country’s competitiveness,
leased by Reserve Bank of toxic policies and unsta- costs, and corruption are vestment Authority. the government has en-
Zimbabwe (RBZ) gover- Economic analysts at- ble political environment, some of the challenges hin- couraged public-private
nor John Mangudya last tributed the decline in among other factors. dering business facilitation Zida houses several agen- partnerships and empha-
week, foreign investment foreign investment to the in the country. cies that play a role in the sised the need to improve
declined from US$53.47 outbreak of the Covid-19 According to the Unit- Zimbabwe does not have licensing, establishment and the investment climate by
million to US$40.06 mil- pandemic which heightened ed Nations Conference on a fully online business reg- implementation of invest- lowering the cost of doing
lion in 2020 while interna- the risks. Trade and Development istration process, though ment projects including the business and restoring the
tional and diaspora remit- (UNCTAD) 2020 World Zimbabwe Revenue Author- rule of law and sanctity
tances increased by 57.6% “The decline in foreign Investment Report, FDI in- ity, Environmental Man- of contracts. Implemen-
to US$1.002 billion. investment is because of tation, however, has been
inadequate.
Loan proceeds reg-

Page 16 Companies & Markets NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Positive trade balance projected: Experts

DUMISANI NYONI tion system, which prioritise ductivity riding on a stable “In our view the country is performance—all of which stability within the monetary
allocating foreign currency to domestic macro-economic en- positioned to report a positive points to an enhanced stability space which has reduced pre-
ZIMBABWE is positioned to industry raw materials, rather vironment. trade balance in 2021 premised to sustain the foreign exchange miums between formal rate
report a positive trade balance than consumptive goods.” on further downward pressure auction system as long as disci- and parallel rate.
this year, premised on further Imports are projected to on imports in light of a strong pline is maintained,” IH said.
downward pressure on im- He said growth of exports grow in line with the reopen- agriculture output season and “We are cautiously optimis-
ports in light of strong agricul- will be driven mainly by in- ing of the economy and growth a sustained positive exports Last year, Zimbabwe record- tic that inflation will remain on
tural output and a sustained creased production and pro- pressures thereof, he said. ed a trade deficit of US$589.67 a downward trajectory, provid-
positive exports performance, million after exporting goods ed that the discipline displayed
an advisory firm has said. and services worth US$4.39 in 2020 is repeated in 2021; we
billion against imports of do however expect the country
In its macro-economic up- US$4,98 billion. to potentially overshoot the set
date report focusing on the inflation targets partly due to
latest Monetary Policy State- In 2019, the country re- unpredictable external pres-
ment, IH Securities (IH) said corded US$4.79 billion im- sures on domestic pricing,” it
the country is expected to re- ports against US$4.28 billion said.
port a positive trade balance exports, giving a trade deficit
this year. of US$514.54 million. “We remain bullish on
consumer names in the equi-
The projection is in line Despite some negativity ties space as we see an uplift
with Finance minister Mthuli around the foreign exchange in consumer liquidity and
Ncube’s expected outlook. auction system, IH said its demand in this year despite
view is that its introduction Covid impacts.”
In his 2021 national bud- provided a much-needed de-
get, Ncube indicated that the valuation, whilst Statutory Meanwhile, IH also said
current account is projected to Instrument 185 allowing busi- the introduction of the sec-
remain positive, despite vul- nesses to price in hard currency ond foreign exchange auction
nerabilities in the global econ- further enhanced confidence. system specifically to cater for
omy, driven by “continued re- small to medium enterprises is
covery of exports and imports, The firm said a disciplined a good step towards creating
coupled with an increase in approach to money supply greater convergence over time
remittances and efficient for- growth and restrictions on between formal and informal
eign exchange market auc- mobile money platforms have rates.
all combined to bring a fragile

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 17

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

New trends way by the time Covid-19
to watch in struck. The pandemic sped
2021 for PR that up with social media be-
professionals coming the new department
store. Retailers that have never
Lenox Lizwi Goodfuse PR say that has permeated digital and tra- ferred in-person, face-to-face ingful participation. used e-commerce need to pivot
Mhlanga brand and communica- ditional media alike,” Fleming meetings. The technology lacks Another development that to where their audiences spend
tions leaders should ask and Walker observe. sophistication which perhaps the most time: Instagram, for
AS we entered 2021, it became themselves first: How is augmented and virtual reality became apparent last year and example, with its 121 million
apparent that the new normal their brand relating to This, they say, is the begin- may help solve. is likely to pick up in 2021 is monthly users.
that we predicted was here to people’s actual psyches, ning of the age when content the change in content con-
stay, is very much part of life emotions, and complexi- became “real” to reflect the In 2021, Fleming and Walk- sumption habits. We have seen Facebook and
now. The second wave of the ties? And second, are they fragility of humanity and our er say, brands and companies Instagram ramping up their
Covid-19 pandemic has af- missing the mark by leaning ability to adjust while remain- will embrace technologies that With many people around in-app purchasing and “be-
firmed this and the resultant into their virtual and artificial ing sensitive to the emotional humanise meetings to help or- the globe at home, people are cause they know you better
flurry of lockdowns across the personas, roles or abstract pro- impact of our actions. ganisers “read the room.” These consuming more content, but than you know you, the right
globe. This also means the im- files? humanised interactions need differently. stuff will always pop up in
portance of communications “Many brands have taken a “For example, corporate to better mimic the human dy- your feed”.
will continue to hold sway more focused, consumer-cen- executives have changed their namics of real-world meetings “People aren’t commuting
over executives as they plan tric approach, but talking the profile pictures from wear- — including voice, gesture, to and from the office. Down- Fleming and Walker pre-
business strategy. talk isn’t enough. Look under ing suits in an office to wear- and social and hierarchical dy- time at your desk doesn’t exist dict that in 2021, users will
the hood and rework your en- ing polos in their home with namics. when you have children doing flock to digital retail establish-
These means that com- tire internal and external com- their kids in the background remote learning with you at ments more than ever to re-
municators, public relations munications strategy to focus to showcase the realities of life “Technology companies the kitchen table. Brands need search and purchase products
(PR) professionals, have to on the individuals you’re try- during the pandemic,” they that quickly upgrade their vid- to serve up content and reach and services. This will elevate
continue to step up and offer ing to reach,” they say. say. eo conferencing platforms to audiences differently,” the two the role of re-targeted social
critical counsel to the “ruling Whether it be customers or incorporate the dynamics of say. ads, as audiences visit owned
coalition” in organisations. At employees, it might surprise Television ads are being conversation will find broad channels to research and learn,
the beginning of every year, you to find that your messag- “produced” to look as if cre- adoption by organisations We have already seen how and social media will provide
experts identify trends that PR es are not deeply engaging for ated in real-time, while others hungry to humanise video in- short-form story telling (60 re-targeted ads to those users
professionals have to watch in your audience. Being in-mes- are using raw footage to share teractions and fight ‘Zoom fa- seconds max) has become the to push them further into the
order to align their strategies. sage during a crisis can win a similar sentiment. The year tigue’,” they predict. only way to capture an audi- funnel.
trust and realism to one’s cam- 2021 will be that of “real” con- ence’s attention. This is ready-
Olga Fleming & Courtney paigns. There is nothing more tent featuring “real” people liv- To enrich communication made content on social media Another opportunity that
Walker of Goodfuse PR exam- off-putting for target audienc- ing “real” lives. tools, video screens augment- platforms such as WhatsApp, PR professionals will have to
ine several important develop- es than approaches that lack ed by smart overlays will allow Telegram, Twitter and Tik Tok. exploit is that of promoting
ments that we should note as emotional intelligence. Even online meetings have participants to better monitor Any longer and an impatient their executives and senior
we plan for the New Year. The other key development become more human. Video the human dynamics of meet- audience will skip it. leaders by giving them a re-
involves the growth of video conferencing is a step back- ings and facilitate more mean- newed voice and purpose.
The emotional impact of as a tool to connect with col- wards from the much-pre- The growth of online stores The pandemic has had people
the pandemic has been phe- leagues and loved ones. This had already made some head- more socially aware than ever
nomenal. With so many out has grown significantly as the before. Consumers are look-
of work and many more un- pandemic hit home, with the ing at the companies they do
able to work, brands need rise of tools such as Zoom, business with to see what their
to understand who they are Blue Jeans, Skype, Microsoft stance is on issues, thus cata-
communicating with on a hu- Teams and Google Classroom. pulting business leaders into
man-to-human level. “These tools are fuelling our the limelight.
ability to conduct business as
In such a crisis, Olga Flem- usual, connect with family and “In 2021, executive thought
ing & Courtney Walker of friends and have created a new leadership campaigns and
acceptable casual aesthetic that content will be invaluable as
consumers seek to do business
with and align themselves with
organisations that share similar
values and beliefs as they do,”
Fleming and Walker advise.

Proactively use social media
to give your leaders a platform
and a voice to make a real dif-
ference in people’s lives.

About the writer: Mhlan-
ga is managing consultant at
Sunshine Corporate Com-
munications, a boutique
consultancy that specialis-
es in reputation and image
management. He can be con-
tacted on mobile: +263 772
400 656 or email: lenox@
sunshinecomms.com

Page 18 Stock Taking NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Price Sheet

Friday, 26 February 2021 A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE

Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP (cents) Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Ticker Price Traded Traded Change Change (%) Cap
(cents) Traded Volume Value ($) (cents) ($m)
Price (%)
3600.00 1,400
AFDIS Consumer Goods AFDIS: ZH 178.50 4000.00 3929.57 97,300 55,000.00 329.57 9.13 63.73 4,609.62
African Sun Consumer Services ASUN: ZH 654.12 185.00 181.13 176,244.00 2.63 1.47 6.55 1,560.93
ART ARTD: ZH 233.99 670.00 668.66 6,700 14.54 2.22 40.09 2,921.89
Ariston Industrials ARISTON: ZH 1600.09 200.00 226.30 21,300 44,800.00 -7.69 -3.29 68.88 3,682.80
Axia Consumer Services 631.47 1600.00 1600.00 103,900 48,201.00 -0.09 -0.01 74.67 8,718.31
BNC AXIA: ZH 86990.00 636.00 639.27 53,400 1,662,400.00 7.80 1.24 68.23 7,989.96
BAT Consumer Goods BIND: ZH 11000.00 86990.00 341,369.00 - 58.16 17,949.10
CAFCA Basic Materials BAT: ZH 1031.70 - 11000.00 - - - 22.36
Cassava CAFCA: ZH 8500.00 11000.00 3,100 - 33.81 - 63.92 960.86
CBZ Consumer Goods CSZL: ZH 1928.21 6,917,200 341,000.00 3.28 -12.24 27,602.86
Dairibord Industrials CBZ: ZH 4611.69 1130.00 1065.51 51,800 73,703,330.00 -1000.00 -11.76 48.09 51,542.38
Delta DZL: ZH 1712.09 7500.00 7500.00 23,400 3,885,000.00 11.79 0.61 104.18 6,945.22
Econet Technology DLTA: ZH 350.00 1940.00 1940.00 311,500 453,960.00 33.52 0.73 86.46 59,665.92
Edgars Banking ECO: ZH 2750.41 4650.00 4645.21 25,000 14,469,840.00 49.95 2.92 191.67 45,647.00
FBC EDGR: ZH 300.00 1770.00 1762.04 5,800 440,510.00 - - 83.50 1,144.47
Fidelity Consumer Goods FBC: ZH 187.77 350.00 350.00 48,000 4.59 0.17 57.32 18,512.22
First Capital Consumer Goods FIDL: ZH 1550.00 2755.00 2755.00 6,400 20,300.00 - - 70.72
FML Telecommunications FCA: ZH 569.00 300.00 300.00 710,200 1,322,400.00 0.02 0.01 77.14 326.77
FMP Consumer Services FMHL: ZH 29.72 187.75 187.79 310.00 20.00 75.93 4,050.10
GBH FMP: ZH 31.05 900 19,200.00 1.00 0.18 34.42 12,836.66
Getbucks Banking GBH: ZH 14395.14 1860.00 1860.00 1,100 1,333,664.00 2.54 8.55 148.40 7,057.50
Hippo Financial Services GBFS: ZH 6023.53 570.00 570.00 5,300 - - 35.48
Innscor HIPO: ZH 2760.00 35.00 32.26 16,740.00 -15.30 64.73 173.10
Lafarge Banking 117.60 31.05 - 6,270.00 -2202.28 1.27 187.50 361.15
Mash Financial Services INN: ZH 1900.00 - 2,800 1,710.00 76.29 - 48.73 23,534.73
Masimba LACZ: ZH 388,600 - 17.62 69.64 34,450.35
Medtech Real Estate MASH: ZH 7.48 13000.00 12192.86 - 20.72 - -5.06 2,208.00
Meikles Industrials MSHL: ZH 4448.00 6100.00 6099.82 - 341,400.00 - 0.27 104.52 2,571.47
Nampak MMDZ: ZH 700.00 2760.00 110,700 23,703,900.00 0.02 1.18 206.68 4,591.42
NatFoods Financial Services MEIK: ZH 26610.00 - 138.32 52.35 - 342.76 227.98
NTS Consumer Goods NPKZ: ZH 141.00 1900.00 - - - - 327.14 11,369.96
NMBZ NTFD: ZH 97.75 7,736,000 153,116.00 - 19.95 60.95 5,289.54
OK Zim Industrials 643.89 - 7.50 1,108,100 19.50 - 90.73 18,201.27
Padenga Industrials NTS: ZH 1602.33 7.50 4500.35 - - 7.13 66.11 297.67
Proplastics Real Estate NMB: ZH 3179.43 4500.00 700.00 9,400 580,138.52 114.28 9.79 167.14 2,602.42
RTG Industrials OKZ: ZH 2300.00 700.00 26610.00 - 49,868,360.00 311.24 - -16.62 21,402.91
RioZim Healthcare PHL: ZH 159.75 - 0.08 40.45 18,905.24
SeedCo Industrials PROL: ZH 2100.00 - 500 65,800.00 0.13 - -6.05 5,794.52
Simbisa Industrials RTG: ZH 2160.89 - - - - 69.26 3,989.80
Star Africa Consumer Goods RIOZ: ZH 2021.71 117.25 117.25 - 0.62 96.30 2,562.62
Truworths Industrials SEED: ZH 52.91 - 643.89 169,000 586.25 12.45 0.17 137.29 5,305.59
TSL SIM: ZH 70.00 1716.61 37,500 - 0.09 - 149.28 11,435.74
Turnall Banking SACL: ZH 4300.00 1800.00 3490.67 158,800 - - 61.29 2,498.99
Unifreight Consumer Services TRUW: ZH 150.00 3500.00 2300.00 63,600 2,901,075.00 - - 4168.82 268.85
Willdale TSL: ZH 662.00 2300.00 159.88 1,309,000.00 - 19.94 79.50 15,355.41
ZB Consumer Goods TURN: ZH 56.30 160.00 2100.00 4,500 3,652,400.00 132.00 2.02 66.67 739.56
Zeco Industrials UNIF: ZH 4000.00 2100.00 2160.89 - 1.14 - 845.41
Zimpapers WILD: ZH 2034.16 101,681.50 - - - 1,021.28
Zimplow Consumer Services ZBFH: ZH 0.02 - 434,200 94,500.00 - 12.02 14.31 7,007.63
ZHL Basic Materials ZECO: ZH 100.00 2120.00 293,700 - 12.02 - 64.00
ZIMP: ZH 820.00 - -1.64 -34.32 0.09
TOTAL Consumer Goods ZIMPLOW: ZH 209.33 53.00 53.00 300 8,832,335.00 -3.43 645.24
Consumer Goods ZHL: ZH 70.00 70.00 - 155,661.00 1,954.72
Consumer Goods 4300.00 - 210.00 3,157.14
Consumer Services - 150.00 - 492,494.35
Consumer Goods - 100 -
60,300 794.00
Industrials 794.00 794.00 34,639.00
Industrials 58.00 57.44 - -
Industrials 4000.00 - -
- 0.02 16,100 18,036.00
Banking - 112.02 3,600 29,520.00
Industrials 112.00 820.00 596,600
Consumer Services 820.00 205.90 19,588,100 1,228,400.00
Industrials 205.00 191,413,490.27
Financial Services 51,158

ETFs OMTT.zw 178.70 179.00 178.61 91,372.82 -0.09 -0.05 78.22 142.89

Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF

VFEX Open (US cents) Close (US cents) Change (%) YTD (%) Mkt Cap (US$m) Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
SCIL 18.00 0.00 43.40 FML 1860.00c +310.00c +20.00 +77.14
18.00 - NTS +19.95 +327.14
FINSEC Open (cents) YTD (%) Mkt Cap ($m) Unifreight 117.25c +19.50c +19.94 +4168.82
OMZIL 2913.87 Close (cents) Change (%) 9.96 2,418.85 Mash 794.00c +132.00c +17.62 +48.73
2913.87 - Zimpapers 138.32c +12.02 +14.31
Index 112.02c +20.72c
ZSE All Share Top 5 Fallers +12.02c YTD %
Top 10 Hippo +35.48
Top 15 Close Change (%) Open YTD % CBZ Price Change % -12.24
Small Cap 4,154.37 -0.41 4,171.30 +58.00 Ariston -15.30 +68.88
Medium Cap 2,469.42 -1.77 2,513.90 +49.25 ZHL 12192.86c -2202.28c -11.76 -34.32
2,847.26 -1.55 2,892.12 +46.16 Axia 7500.00c -1000.00c -3.29 +74.67
+4.70 24,989.55 +120.31 226.30c -7.69c -1.64
26,164.14 +1.92 9,514.85 +74.27 205.90c -3.43c -0.01
9,697.12 1600.00c -0.09c

SALES & TRADING: Davide Muchengi: [email protected] | Lungani Nyamazana: [email protected] | Tatenda Jasi: [email protected]

RESEARCH: Batanai Matsika: [email protected] | Precious Chagwedera: [email protected] | Tafara Mtutu: [email protected]

Tel: (+263) 08677008101-2 | Email: [email protected] | Address: 1st Floor, Block D, Smatsatsa Office Park, Borrowdale, Harare

MORGAN & COMPANY has issued this document for distribution to its clients. It may not be reproduced or further distributed in whole or in part for any purpose. This document is not and should not be
construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe to any investment. MORGAN & COMPANY has based this document on information obtained from sources it believes to
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of its content.

NewsHawks Executive Chat Page 19

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

IN the past week, research Massive debt burden ed. The decades of isolation
analysts have predicted that weighs heavily on Zim have created further prob-
Zimbabwe will struggle to lems for the economy. For
settle its debt this year with AFRODAD senior policy analyst Tirivangani Mutazu the international community,
arrears weighing heavily on re-engagement has become
the country which has been fight Covid-19, procuring the AFRODAD our African Bor- the government to address to clear external arrears to the tied to improvements needed
in debt distress for years. Ac- vaccine and stimulating the rowing Charter sets the ceiling the issue of public debt. international financial insti- in governance, human rights,
cording to the 2021 National economy. at 50% of GDP. The National What have been the key tutions. The strategy entailed land tenure security, and elec-
Budget, external debt stood at Budget statement if 2021 es- sticking issues in your quest? repayment of the IMF arrears toral reforms. The process of
US$8.02 billion as at Septem- MG: What can you say timated that public debt by (US$120 million) using Zim- reaching political agreement
ber 2020, with domestic debt about Zimbabwe’s debt sta- end of 2020 was at 78% of TM: The government has babwe’s SDR (Special Draw- on normalisation will require
pegged at ZW$1.547 bilion. tus and the country’s eco- GDP, which is well above the come up with a number of ing Rights) resources at the the country, and the inter-
Our nomic performance? thresholds set and parliament strategies in an effort to resolve fund, repayment of US$896 national community, to con-
did not approve the ratio to be the debt overhang which is af- million IBRD (International front and reconcile the exist-
Reporter Merlin Garwe TM: Public debt can be exceeded. Transparency and fecting economic growth. In Bank for Reconstruction and ing disconnect and many of
(MG) this week spoke to used to stimulate economic accountability are still a big 2011, government adopted the Development) arrears using the predetermined narratives
AFRODAD senior policy growth and human develop- issue in the contracting and Zimbabwe Accelerated Arrears a term facility syndicated by that have been forged over the
analyst Tirivangani Mutazu ment but it depends on the utilisation of borrowed funds. Clearance, Debt and develop- the African Export and Im- years. The clearing of arrears
(TM) who says Zimbabwe’s conditions by the creditor Some sections of the Zimba- ment Strategy (ZAADDS) to port Bank (Afreximbank) also requires reaching agree-
debt situation is entangled in and the productive use by the bwean community estimate deal with the country’s arrears and Lazard Freres, and repay- ment with IFIs on a range of
politics. borrower. Between 2010 and the external debt to be well and debt overhang, as well as ment of US$260 million and reforms which require gov-
2019, about 53% of borrowed above US$20 billion due to laying a solid foundation for US$601 million IDA (Inter- ernment to demonstrate its
Below is the interview: loans were allocated to fuel some loans which are acquired economic growth supported national Development Asso- commitment to implement,
MG: Zimbabwe has re- and power sectors. The fuel secretly without following the by investment from both do- ciation) and AfDB (African as the country seeks to nor-
mained in debt distress for sector was heavily subsidised. legislation. A case in point is mestic and external resources. Development Bank) arrears malise relations and benefit
a long time with market While power imports were the Afreximbank loan which ZAADDS was a hybrid debt respectively, with a bridging from access to international
watchers having expressed crucial, these resources were the minister (of Finance) was resolution strategy, which en- facility from Afreximbank. markets in a rapidly chang-
fears that this year arrears not used for generating more forced to gazette recently. tailed adoption of tradition- In late 2016, government ing global context. Critical
might weigh heavily on the revenue since the subsidised There is also speculation that al debt resolution initiatives cleared its arrears to the IMF, offshore credit facilities con-
country as it has no capacity fuel was monopolised by a there are huge loans which combined with leveraging the and allowing the country’s tracted by the private sector
to service its debts. What is few. were acquired and backed by country’s natural resources to PRGT (Poverty Reduction will remain expensive on ac-
your comment? mineral resources of this coun- achieve sustainable economic and Growth Trust) eligibility count of perceived country
TM: Zimbabwe’s debt cri- This then creates a further try but outside the purview of development. In 2012, gov- to be restored and the dec- risk, and foreign direct invest-
sis resolution is entangled in challenge when such loans parliament. Zimbabwe has for ernment adopted the Accel- laration of non-cooperation ment inflows subdued due to
politics. It requires political mature. Government loans several years been ranked by erated Re-engagement Eco- to be lifted. The government depressed investor confidence
negotiations between the are usually borrowed against Transparency International as nomic Programme (ZAREP) further adopted an agenda and unfavourable business
country and its creditors. anticipated high economic one of the countries with high to prepare for eventual arrears focused on macro-economic environment. Reforms, if
Debt restructuring is very growth rates which will then level of corruption, which clearance and debt relief by stabilisation and reforms sup- managed with support from
much linked to politics and be used to service the loans may imply that the tender- establishing a track record of ported by an IMF Staff-Mon- the IMF and the World Bank,
the interests of creditors, es- without affecting allocations ing processes in some of the sound macro-economic man- itored Programme adopted in will boost market confidence,
pecially the powerful share- to other important sectors. projects funded by borrowed agement in the context of the May 2019, the IMF has since private sector investment and
holders in the international There is a threshold level of money may have been cor- IMF’s Staff-Monitored Pro- declared the reforms off-track, unlock new, fresh lines of
financial institutions such as debt-to-GDP level which, ruptly awarded, which affects gramme (SMP), which was due to delays and missteps in credit. Debt relief can be a re-
the IMF (International Mon- when exceeded, the debt will performance of the project. approved in 2013. In 2015, implementation. The Medi- ality with the commitment of
etary Fund). What happened start to have negative effects another plan was developed, um-Term Debt Management government and stakeholders
to the envisaged bilateral loan on economic growth. The Sadc MG: AFRODAD and oth- the Strategy for Clearing Ex- Strategy (2017-2021) has re- in implementing sound re-
to clear arrears to the World region set the level at 60% er civil society organisations ternal Arrears and Supportive mained largely unimplement- forms.
Bank Group? Why is it that it of GDP while in Zimbabwe have repeatedly pushed for Economic Reform Measures,
did not materialise? Does the the Public Debt Act sets the MG: There has been con-
country have a re-engagement limit at 70% of GDP but as cern that the issue of debt
strategy with international in- is too complicated for the
stitutions? We hear that con- ordinary citizen who bears
cerns are being raised about the burden of the debt at the
governance, corruption, hu- end of the day. What efforts
man and property rights. have been made to ensure
What are the government’s this issue is understood by
incentives for reform? everyone?
Zimbabwe has been strug-
gling to repay its external debt TM: AFRODAD works
since 2001 which resulted in with national debt coali-
multilateral institutions such tions in many of the coun-
as the IMF and World Bank tries where we implement
suspending further disburse- interventions. In Zimbabwe,
ments and new loans. Since we work closely with ZIM-
then, arrears on both prin- CODD (Zimbabwe Coali-
cipal and interest payments tion on Debt and Develop-
on external debt have been ment). ZIMCODD has many
accumulating and interest effective programmes on debt
compounding. As of Septem- where it demystifies and sim-
ber 2020, total external debt plifies debt issues for an ordi-
was US$8.2 billion of which nary man who bears the bur-
77% (US$6.34 billion) are den of the debt to understand
arrears. This chokes economic and relate to. The strategies
growth and increases country used are debt awareness cam-
risk for new investment. The paigns, provincial debt policy
government spent ZW$378.5 dialogues, summer schools,
million on interest payment university programmes, com-
for government debt in 2019 munity indabas and radio
and in 2020 they anticipated programmes.
spending ZW$1 billion main-
ly servicing domestic debt MG: Do you think there
which as of 30 September is a link between inability to
2020 was ZW$12.5 billion. service debts and high levels
The government has been of corruption in Zimbabwe?
using inflation and exchange
rate to reduce its domestic TM: Corruption has been
debt. Token payments have shown to increase public debt
been made towards servicing as loans are contracted with-
active external debts. With out approval of parliament se-
Covid-19 reducing govern- cretly and only emerge when
ment revenue through disrup- debt servicing falls due. Loans
tions in production and ex- may also be diverted from
ports, it seems to be clear that their original use to benefit
the government revenue is se- individuals. Under these two
verely constrained in the face circumstances, illegitimate
of additional expenditures to debt or odious debt emerge
as a result of corruption. For
instance, Farm mechanisation

Page 20 Executive Chat NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

which was then assumed by need to negotiate with indi- prehensive debt audit to de- port on Illicit Financial Flows committees on Public Ac- this year. This multi-stake-
government through the RBZ vidual creditors. A number termine what is legitimately and government should join counts and committee on Fi- holder conference is key for
Debt Assumption Bill saw of African countries have re- owed by Zimbabweans and the Extractive Industry Trans- nance and Budget and other our engagements and pursuit
US$1.35 billion being placed quested for debt restructuring if odious debts are identified parency Initiative (EITI). key stakeholders on the debt to find lasting solutions to
on citizens who did not bene- under the framework. These legal action should be taken issue. Zimbabwe is in debt the debt crisis the country is
fit from the arrangement. include Chad, Zambia and as in the case of Mozambique Debt transparency and ac- distress. Our advice borders facing. We have managed to
Ethiopia. Projections are high so that those who benefitted countability should be im- around what debt resolutions bring government policymak-
Corruption reduces do- that a record number of Af- from the loans repay. proved to instill confidence mechanisms or options are ers to the conference and we
mestic resource mobilisation rican countries already faced again in the lenders and citi- available for the government are quite confident some of
through tax avoidance or pay- with record-high debt levels There should be responsi- zens. to get out of this debt crisis. our debt policy recommen-
ing lower taxes. Zimra (Zim- request for inclusion. The ble borrowing. Loans should The country needs to clear it dations will find their way
babwe Revenue Authority) tax G20 framework is a welcome be borrowed for priority and MG: Going forward, what arears. AFRODAD research into official policy documents
compliance is at about 30% arrangement but the best out- productive projects and parlia- is your game plan around shows that the majority of Af- and get implemented. We
which implies that significant come will be achieved through ment should approve all loans debt issues in Zimbabwe and rican countries went through urge government to: engage
revenue is lost through bribes win-win transparent negotia- before they are contracted. other countries you work in? many debt restructuring epi- in responsible borrowing be-
and tax avoidance. Africa is tions accompanied by prudent sodes: Highly Indebted Poor haviours; reduce the recourse
estimated to lose over US$50 financial management and the Compliance with national TM: As a regional organisa- Countries, Multilateral Debt to collateralised external bor-
billion annually due to illicit institution of fiscal discipline debt legislative frameworks tion and think-tank, we seek Relief Initiative, Paris Club rowing; put in place a debt
financial flows. These illic- by African governments. is key. Any unsanctioned to influence African govern- Rescheduling and many more. management framework; be
it financial flows are more in breaches must be punished. ment policies on public debts We bring that analysis to the transparent with debt infor-
countries that export com- As you know Covid-19 – contraction, management table for government to learn mation; debt relief is a politi-
modities and such flows are has generated an economic Government needs to and resolution. We therefore from. AFRODAD, jointly cal process; aim for a win-win
also high in countries with recession in the Africa region continue improving fiscal work very closely with the with ZIMCODD, organise outcome; and do not under-
high levels of corruption. This and further exacerbated the governance and aggressively government of Zimbabwe and host an annual debt con- mine parliament’s debt man-
essentially limits the ability of negative effects caused by a fighting corruption.Illicit fi- through engagements with ference running into third year agement roles.
a country to service its debts collapse in global commodity nancial flows should be curbed the ministry of Finance, Debt
due to deprivation to domes- prices, a collapse in tourism through implementing recom- Management Office, and par-
tic revenues. Parastatals have and a collapse in remittanc- mendations of the Mbeki Re- liament, especially portfolio
often been used by politicians es? These multiple econom-
to siphon resources from gov- ic shocks have deepened the
ernment and such debts will profound sovereign debt cri-
be transferred to government sis. Many African countries
when the company faces via- are already in receipt of IMF
bility challenges. Public pro- bailouts, and more countries
curement is also another area are seeking debt relief. Zimba-
where corruption is rife. Pro- bwe needs debt relief in order
curement in the public sector to support the expansion of
is about 10% to 15 % of GDP healthcare and social protec-
(World Trade Organisation) tion in the face of Covid-19
and corruption consumes and to accelerate the imple-
about between 10%-30% of mentation of national devel-
cost of capital for the project opment plans and the SDGs
(Transparency International, ( Sustainable Development
2020). Such huge loss in re- Goals).
sources for a project has neg-
ative implications on the per- MG: Should the country
formance of the project. manage to clear its debts,
what is your comment on
MG: Do you see Zimba- issues of confidence when
bwe being able to clear its it comes to the multilateral
external debts in the near lenders?
future?
TM: The government
TM: No country will be somehow might have lost the
in debt distress forever. Cred- confidence of the multilat-
itors need their monies, so eral lenders such as the IMF
debt resolution solutions need and World Bank. An IMF
to be found somewhere. The Staff-Monitored Programme
hurdles to Zimbabwe being adopted in May 2019 has since
able to clear its external debts declared the reforms off-track,
in the near future are largely due to delays and missteps in
political. The clearance of ex- implementation. The govern-
ternal debt arears very much ment needs to take economic
depends on re-engagement policy measures which will
with the creditors and West- build the trust and confidence
ern countries’ economic and of all lenders. Coming from a
political reform demands on civil society perspective, mul-
Zimbabwe. Internally, the tilateral lenders, especially
government must continue the IMF, have their share of
to address corruption and problems. In Africa, the IMF
strengthen economic gover- has a history of pain and an-
nance. guish among the citizens as a
result of poor economic pol-
The country should tap icy advice through the eco-
into the new international nomic structural adjustment
debt relief initiatives brought programmes in the 1980/90s.
by the Covid-19 pandem- The African citizens lost confi-
ic. Firstly there is the Debt dence in the lender, even up to
Service Suspension Initiative today. Currently, a number of
(DSSI) endorsed by the IMF, African countries on an IMF
World Bank’s development programme are implementing
committee and G20 Finance economic austerity measures
to help developing countries that do not sit very well with
manage the severe impact of the citizens.
the Covid-19 pandemic. The
main goal of the DSSI is to MG: What strategies do
allow poor countries to con- you think Zimbabwe needs
centrate their resources on to employ to manage its ex-
fighting the pandemic and isting and future debts?
safeguarding the lives and
livelihoods of millions of the TM: There is a need for a
most vulnerable people than debt resolution mechanism –
service debts. government needs to engage
its creditors and clear the ar-
Secondly the G20 came up rears to the World Bank and
with the “Common Frame- AfDB as a matter of urgency.
work for Debt Treatment be- This will unlock prospects for
yond the DSSI”. Under this debt restructuring.
framework, debtor countries
There is a need for a com-

NewsHawks News Analysis Page 21

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

BERNARD MPOFU to put a leash on money
supply growth given that
THE hiking of inter- Hiking of interest rates there are few financing
est rates by the Reserve a double-edged sword options for government
Bank of Zimbabwe on account of Covid-19-
(RBZ) could serve as a 35% to 40% per annum ness leaders however induced pressures,” Chi-
double-edged sword for and the medium-term doubt that Zimbabwe tambara said.
the economy which will lending rate for the pro- will achieve significant
arrest speculative foreign ductive sector lending growth as high interest Zimbabwe National
exchange trading on the from 25% to 30% per rates may result in the Chamber of Commerce
parallel market on one annum. crowding out of produc- chief executive Chris Mu-
hand while stifling the tive sectors. gaga said the monetary
growth of productive sec- He said the decision policy would do little to
tors on the other, analysts on interest rates takes Prosper Chitambara, a stimulate growth due to
have said. into account the current researcher at the Labour high interest rates.
liquidity conditions in and Economic Develop-
RBZ governor John the market and the need ment Research Institute The MPS comes against
Mangudya last week an- to continue controlling of Zimbabwe told The the backdrop of subdued
nounced a lukewarm speculative borrowing. NewsHawks that with no consumer spending, in-
Monetary Policy State- budgetary support, the vestment inflows are
ment (MPS) at a time “Notwithstanding country must resist the sagging and the country
Zimbabwe is under these Covid-19-relat- tempation to print more is fighting hard to bring
Covid-19 restrictions ed challenges, the Bank money into the system to macro-economic conver-
which have brought remains optimistic that maintain economic sta- gence through both price
many businesses to a the expected economic bility. stability and exchange
grinding halt. As the growth of 7.4% in 2021 rate stability.
economy opens up, mar- is achievable. The Bank “The monetary policy
ket players expected the also projects annual in- seeks to build on some “On my part, I think
central bank to announce flation to close the year at of the successes that were the MPS is a bit out of
policies which would below 10%,” Mangudya achieved last year such as touch with reality. I think
drive domestic consump- said. price stability. But going you would appreciate
tion. forward, the challenge is that most economies, be
Economists and busi- it in Africa or elsewhere,
The MPS comes at have loosened their mon-
a time when the glob- etary policy somehow to
al economy is grappling try and inject some li-
with the debilitating ef- quidity into the market
fects of the Covid-19 in the midst of the chal-
pandemic which are lenges which the private
causing incredible hu- sector is facing,” Mugaga
man and economic hard- said.
ships across the country
and around the world. “But our monetary
These challenges have policy, if you look clos-
seen most central banks er, you will see it’s a pol-
adopting monetary eas- icy statement which is
ing, by taking accommo- fighting hard to try to
dative measures to keep complement the Bud-
their economies afloat. get Statement of 2021
in somehow tapering or
Zimbabwe becomes restricting the growth
the third country after of the economy because
Zambia and Mozam- if you are targeting a
bique to tighten its mon- growth rate of over 4% in
etary policy. 2021 and you are hiking
the interest rates, defi-
These challenges have nitely you are militating
seen most central banks against the ethos of your
adopting monetary eas- policy statement.
ing, by taking accommo-
dative measures to keep “If you look at the
their economies afloat. 2021 Budget, it had a
high propensity for tax
Mangudya announced hikes and the MPS is
its appetite to maintain complementing that by
an iron grip on the coun- also pushing for an inter-
try’s foreign exchange est rate hike while there
auction system despite has been no significant
several calls by some mar- shift in withdrawals, be it
ket players to liberalise individual and corporate.
the system. It’s a very contractionary
monetary policy which
To buttress price and might make it more diffi-
financial system stability, cult to achieve significant
the apex bank announced growth in 2021 because
a cocktail of measures it’s not open for allowing
which include increas- liquidity injection.”
ing the RBZ policy rate
for overnight accommo- A contractionary mon-
dation from the current etary policy is typically
intended to reduce the
rate of monetary expan-
sion to fight inflation.
The policy reduces the
money supply in the
economy to prevent ex-
cessive speculation and
unsustainable capital in-
vestment.

Page 22 Opinion NewsHawks

Sexploitation, Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021
sexualisation
of women in
politics: The
Mohadi case

Taona T. such as Josiah Magama Tongoga- chimbwidos. paid collected funds from that Deafening silence from stake- sand and adopting a lukewarm
Denhere ra and others were notorious for In post-colonial Zimba- pool. Therefore, the income holders business-as-usual approach. Mo-
engaging in midnight raids into inequality which is dispropor- As the deluge of Mohadi’s hadi’s sexgate scandal was not
THE late Zimbabwean musician female accommodation. Their bwe, the high-profile case of tionately weighed against this obscene sexually explicit phone only an opportune point-scoring
Paul Matavire, who was a social objective was to treat themselves adultery and infidelity in the top particular lady demonstrates the chats saturated and suffocated moment for the MDC Alliance,
commentary genius, in the late to the rich pickings of female echelons of power undoubtedly imbalance of power dynamics in the social media ecosystem of but also an opportunity for
1980s composed a song titled cadres for their selfish sexual involved the late Robert Mugabe these so-called consensual sexual Zimbabwe, there was a small them to demonstrate and prove
“Tangawandida”. gratification. and his then secretary and later relationships. minority of Zimbabwean their credentials as a government
wife Grace Marufu. Mugabe netizens and citizens who called in waiting or a credible and
Loosely translated it means The powerless women were engaged in an extramarital affair According to online tabloid for his resignation. However, progressive alternative to Zanu
that “you must first love me”, objectified and sexualised as with Grace, when his wife Sally ZimLive, one of the young la- conspicuous by its absence in PF mis-governance.
but figuratively, the song was warm blankets by senior Zanla Mugabe was battling a debilitat- dies who Mohadi was supposed rebuking nor vociferously calling
indicting the perverse culture of military operatives. According to ing kidney disease. Prima facie, to meet at a hotel in Bulawayo for Mohadi’s resignation was the However, another school of
sexual exploitation of women in Chung, these predatory sexual this typified the gross imbalance was a beneficiary of his scholar- organised opposition, both the thought argues that the MDC
the competitive male-dominat- escapades which satisfy the crim- of socio-economic and cultural ship programme. Consequently, MDC Alliance and MDC-T. Alliance senior officials have
ed job market and patriarchal inal threshold of rape became so power dynamics. A president there is a clear case of Mohadi’s This was coupled with the fact equally a fair share of aldultery
society. unbearable and traumatising on had such an enviable astronom- conflict of interest and exer- that there were neither femi- and infidelity skeletons in their
female cadres that at one point, ical profile that is irresistible to cise of undue influence over nist outcries from the so-called cupboards. Hence, they lacked
This practice became euphe- they had to hide away each time any particular woman and in this young beneficiary he had women’s rights groups. the moral courage to vociferous-
mistically known in Zimbabwe the Tongogara raiding party this case the power was wielded planned to meet at the Holiday ly demand the resignation or the
as “carpet interview”. The song invaded the female places of over a mere typist by a powerful Inn. It is a historic fact that firing of Mohadi.
demonstrated that the sexuali- accommodation. leader. resigning on the grounds of
sation of women in socio-eco- We could not know for incompetence, misrule or moral Crucially missing in action
nomic affairs of Zimbabwe is The trauma inflicted by this Taking this detour into the certain whether this scholarship decadence is unheard of in both are the so-called women’s rights
an old age and deeply ingrained sociopathic and psychopathic past was very essential to enable was awarded in “tanga wandida” the government and Zanu PF. and feminist organisations. Over
tradition. sexual depravity of Tongogara us to re-contextualise the sexca- fashion or it was above board. Resignation is considered a sign the last few years Zimbabwe has
and his comrades upon these pades and sexual misadventures Nonetheless, there is a great of weakness rather than a sign of witnessed the mushrooming of
Social psychological studies powerless innocent female currently haunting Mohadi. possibility that it came with responsible leadership. a plethora of gender activist or-
have provided evidence that sex- cadres was aptly captured in the conjugal rights attached to it. ganisations, all claiming to fight
ualisation of female members of paranoiac insecurities of female Over the past few days, Zanu PF establishmentari- for the feminist rights of the girl
society is directly correlated with cadres. the Zimbabwean social media These graphic and sexual- ans typify leadership without child and women’s rights.
systemic gender inequalities and ecosystem has been saturated ly explicit phone calls which responsibilities.
institutionalised patriarchy. In her book, Chung narrates with graphic sexually explicit implicate Mohadi prima facie However, their deafening
a particular incident when she hacked phone chats of Mohadi have the hallmarks of gross Thus, the highs of responsible silence in light of Mohadi’s
That is, in top-down and visited a camp clinic, but found with four different women. misconduct, dereliction of duty leadership of Maurice Nyagum- display of moral depravity was
horizontal patriarchal societies, it deserted. However, upon Clearly, from the recorded and high disregard of profes- bo who resigned and ultimately disconcerting and disappointing.
social stratification and margin- searching around, she found conversations, Mohadi sounded sional boundaries by the public committed suicide as a result of
alisation of women in socio-eco- female clinic staff hiding in the like a perverted sex-addict with office holder, in this case the his corrupt misadventures in the They were presented with an
nomic affairs of their country nearby thicket of bushes. prodigious unquenchable sexual Vice-President of the Republic Willogate Scandal, nor that of opportunity to show their femi-
breed income inequalities. This appetite. Moreover, the choice of and second citizen. Edmund Garwe who resigned nist claws and fangs and to stand
ultimately conspires to make The female cadres then told the lexicon deployed was quite as an Education minister after up against the abuse of power by
them the unwitting subjects and Chung they had heard footsteps disconcerting and unsettling. This should have automati- his daughter leaked an ‘O’ Level powerful men in our society.
victims of sexualised objectifi- approaching in the direction cally resulted in the suspension English language examination
cation. of the clinic and, like rats in a Especially, the word f*ck, this of the Vice-President to allow paper are a distant memory Nonetheless, they decided
granary, scampered for cover clearly shows the callous obscene investigations into abuse of and far cry from the current to see no evil, hear no evil and
Accordingly, the recent expo- thinking that it was the raiding sexual objectification of ladies office. Resignation would have moral debasement and ethical speak no evil. There was an
sition of graphic sexual misde- party of sexually addicted senior who came into contact with followed forthwith. debauchery. uninspiring belated rebuke and
meanours by Vice- President Zanla commanders. Mohadi. It gives us an insight condemnation of Mohadi’s
Kembo Mohadi in the public into the sociopathic and psycho- Over the last 15 years, Zim- Accordingly, it was against perverted behaviour from the
domain has elicited public out- Suffice it to say that, this pathic mindset of Mohadi. babwe had made significant in- this backdrop that despite the conflicted Women’s Coalition
cry and revulsion from certain warm blanket sexual misad- roads and positive developments fact that the MDC Alliance of Zimbabwe, together with
sections of the Zimbabwean venture was exported into the For him, women were mere in combating the scourge of was accorded an open mouth the Zimbabwe Human Rights
community. liberated zones of colonial sexual objects to be f*cked, not HIV infection and transmission. goal-scoring opportunity to NGO Forum.
Rhodesia by the rank-and-file to be loved. Relationship special- It has resulted in considerable claim the moral high ground
Automatically, it reignited an Zanla cadres. ists argue that a f*ck is an emo- reduction of HIV infections and over Mohadi’s acts of depravity Furthermore, the usually
intense and divisive debate on tionally empty, but power and death. Both government and and abuse of state power, it vocal Priscilla Misihairamb-
aspects of sexploitation and the It is reputed that during authority-driven sexual conquest donor-driven HIV awareness failed to display any signs of wi-Mushonga, who at one time
gender and power dynamics that the all-night vigils of political that normally happens between and education programmes had the appetite to advocate for the touted herself as the femi-
underpin such sexualised rela- mobilisation and indoctrination a client and a prostitute. a profound effect on behavioural fair treatment of women in the nist-in-chief of the Zimbabwean
tionships or lack thereof. Precise- known as “pungwes”, Zanla patterns and citizen responsi- patriarchal and unequal Zimba- chapter of #MeTooMovement,
ly, this article attempts to locate combatants would occasionally F*ck is a pejorative term bility. bwean context. did not even so much as whisper
the socio-economic, cultural and pick some teenage girls and which in the context of Mo- truth to power against the sexu-
political dynamics that normalise young women, some of whom hadi’s sex tapes show a hideous However, the indiscipline To the utter dismay of many ally perverted Mohadi.
and encourage such behavioural had acted as war collaborators, defilement of female bodies. and promiscuous behaviour people, the MDC Alliance was
traits. It is also aimed at exposing chimbwidos, for their sexual of the second-highest-ranking found wanting. Neither its Civil society and civic
the dearth of progressive politics gratification. This is despite the fact that citizen of the republic have the women’s assembly, information republicanism is now considered
of vigilante vanguardism in civil the telephone conversations unintended consequences of department nor the presidency as the fifth estate in the civic,
society, organised opposition and Crucially, these two pre-in- showed consenting adults ar- reversing the hard-won gains issued a robust rebuke. There governmental and public affairs
the sunshine and pseudo-femi- dependence sexploitations of ranging to have consensual sex. of combating HIV and Aids were no statements holding of the country.
nist groups. female combatants and female infections. Mohadi to account over his
From beds to office desks war collaborators were all un- However, the aggravating depravity and gross misconduct. Therefore, this was a tragic
Veteran war liberation national- derpinned by inequitable gender factor to this consensus is the Mohadi’s sexual escapades The MDC Alliance failed to rise failure of the civil society organ-
ist, educationist and a brilliant dynamics that were informed imbalance of socio-economic send a very wrong and retro- to the occasion by not demon- isations in Zimbabwe, especially
academic Fay Chung in her sem- by socio-political and power rela- dynamics at play. For instance, gressive signal and message to strating proactive alternative the so-called women’s rights and
inal war memoir titled Re-Living tionships that defined them. one of the ladies can be heard the young and sexually active leadership acumen to Zanu PF’s feminist groups.
the Second Chimurenga aptly saying that she was desper- citizens of the republic, who gross incompetence. Instead,
and forensically captures the Tongogara had Frankenstein ately in need some money for happen to be the most econom- they adopted the ostrich mental- They failed to step up and
objectification and sexualisation socio-political and military “round”. ically active demographic. Thus ity by burying their heads in the exercise militant, radical and
of women cadres by senior male influence and power that com- ordinary folks look up to public progressive vertical accountabil-
Zanla commanders. manded both fear and respect Round is an informal officials for exemplary and disci- ity against the sexual depravity
from top-ranking Zanla/Zanu collective savings scheme where plined leadership and direction. and ethical debauchery of Mo-
Senior Zanla commanders cadres to the lowest ranking foot individuals contribute to a pool hadi and this was dissapointing,
soldier. of funds and get turns to be to say the least.

On the other hand, the Zanla
guerrillas equally command-
ed fear and respect from the
ordinary villagers in the liberated
zones. Symbolically carrying the
Kalashnikov (AK) rifle tipped
the balance of power in favour
of guerrillas against female

NewsHawks Opinion Page 23

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

The Motlanthe Commission report:
Two years on, what has been done?

ON the 1st August 2018, 1.  Compensation for Victims – it certainly was under the that are not organised by any have to prove that an accused en the skills and capacity
demonstrators took to the Recommendation:  All victims Lancaster House Constitu- specific party or group and so person intended to incite vio- to deal with rioters.  They
streets of Harare demanding of violence, and dependants of tion.  In any event it would be have no identifiable conveners.] lence or damage) and sending should also be trained
the release of results in elec- the deceased, should be com- dangerous for democracy in 3.  Hate speech, abuse of threatening data messages (in to be professional and
tions that had been held a few pensated.  The Government Zimbabwe to require parties to cyberspace and incitement to this case a sender will be guilty non-partisan.
days before.  The demonstra- should set up a committee to register before they could take violence of the crime even if he or she • Deployment of the
tion turned into a riot which assess the amount of compen- part in elections.  The body Recommendation:  The laws merely passes on a threatening military to assist the Police
was violently suppressed by sation and establish a fund to tasked with registering parties relating to hate speech, abuse message). should be a measure of
the police and the army.  Six assist those affected. – presumably the Zimbabwe of cyberspace and incitement 4.  Electoral Reforms last resort in extraordinary
people were killed by gunfire Electoral Commission – might to violence should be reviewed. Recommendation:  ICT [infor- situations.
and 35 injured, and there What has been done?  An be coerced by the ruling party mation and communications • The Army should conduct
was considerable damage to inter-ministerial committee into refusing to register opposi- What has been done?  technology] facilities should an audit of its standing
property.  Following allega- was set up in 2019 to imple- tion parties that posed a threat Mercifully little so far, because be developed for the speedy orders and procedures
tions that the security services ment this and other recom- to the ruling party’s hegemony. some of the existing laws are transmission of election results for riot control and law
had used excessive force to mendations of the Commis- chillingly restrictive: to the Command Centre.  enforcement.  The results
suppress the riot, the President sion, but the compensation As to making political The Electoral Act should be of the audit, and the les-
set up a commission of inquiry fund has not been established.  parties accountable, no new ·        Under section 42 of amended to shorten the time sons learnt and remedial
headed by a former President Compensation has been paid measures have been put in the Criminal Law Code it is a for presidential election results measures taken, should
of South Africa, Mr Kgalema to some victims who suffered place but the existing ones were crime to make an insulting or to be announced. be published in a public
Motlanthe, to investigate the property damage caused by pretty drastic anyway.  Under grossly provocative statement report.
circumstances leading up to rioters, but families of those section 28 of the Public Order that causes offence to people of What has been done?  No • The military in con-
the riot, the conduct of the who were killed, and people and Security Act – which was a particular race, tribe, colour amendments have been made junction with the Police
police and army in suppressing who suffered physical injuries, in force when the Commission or religion.  It is a crime even if to the Electoral Act since the should adopt contingency
it and whether the use of force have not been compensated.  issued its report – conveners of the statement is true. 2018 general election.  The plans for dealing with
was proportionate. This is inexplicable since those public gatherings which turned five-day time limit for declar- emergency situations.
who were killed and injured violent were liable to recom- ·        Under section 177 ing the result of a presidential • The use of live ammu-
The Commission’s report by the military and police were pense anyone who suffered of the Criminal Law Code election, laid down in section nition as warning shots
was published on the 18th identified and named in the loss or injury, if the police had a person who makes a false 110(3)(h) of the Act, still should be discouraged and
December, 2018.  It is posted Commission’s report. not been given seven days’ statement or “does any act or stands. should be used only in
on the Veritas website and 2.  Political Parties notice of the gatherings or if thing whatsoever” realising limited circumstances of
we analysed its findings and Recommendation:  Parties the conveners had failed to there is a risk or possibility of After the country went into danger to public safety.
recommendations in a Com- should be registered to ensure obey police directives as to engendering hostility towards lock-down last year as a result • What has been done? 
missions Watch of the 31st accountability of party leaders.  how the gatherings were to police officers or exposing of the COVID-19 pandemic, Not very much, but we
January 2019. The Code of Conduct for be conducted.  Conveners them to contempt, ridicule or ZEC illegally suspended the shall deal with each of the
Political Parties and Candi- were liable even if the violence disesteem” is guilty of a crime.  holding of by-elections [see recommendations in turn:
Just over a month after dates [the Fourth Schedule would have occurred had they This section has been used to Election Watch 1/2020 of the • Deploying the military to
the report was published, to the Electoral Act] should given the requisite notice and stifle criticism of the police. 17th May 2020 [link].  Hence, assist the police:  Section
on the 28th January, 2019, be enforced, with sanctions obeyed police directives.  In even if ZEC has developed sys- 18 of the Maintenance
it was announced that the for offenders.  There should other words, their liability was ·        Incitement to violence tems for transmitting election of Peace and Order Act,
President had appointed an be a nationwide campaign to absolute.  The Public Order is a crime under section 187 results electronically there has which replaced POSA,
inter-Ministerial task force “to educate parties and the public and Security Act has since been of the Criminal Law Code, as been little opportunity to test does comply with sections
address issues arising from … on the parameters for peaceful replaced by the almost identical read with sections 36 and 89 of them. 213 and 214 of the
the findings of the Motlanthe demonstrations. Maintenance of Peace and the Code. 5.  Law Enforcement Constitution, in that it
Commission.”  Since then the Order Act of 2019, and exactly Recommendations:  The Com- requires any deployment
Government has claimed on What has been done?  the same liability is imposed on Abuse of cyberspace will mission made several recom- of the Defence Forces
several occasions that it was Nothing has been done to conveners by section 12 of the be dealt with by the Cyber mendations in this regard: to be authorised by the
implementing the report’s require political parties to latter Act. Security and Data Protection • The provisions of POSA President, and requires
recommendations but details register, but as we noted in Bill which is passing through the President to notify
have been scanty.  In October the Commissions Watch we [Comment:  The Mainte- Parliament now.  The Bill will for deploying the military Parliament promptly of
2019 the then Minister of For- referred to earlier it may be nance of Peace and Order Act, amend the Criminal Law Code should be aligned with the the deployment.
eign Affairs and International unconstitutional to do so like its predecessor, does not to create two new crimes:  Constitution. To Page 25
Trade said: cater for spontaneous demon- transmitting data messages that • The Police should be giv-
strations, i.e. demonstrations incite violence or damage to
“Zimbabwe has rapidly property (though to secure a
begun the task of imple- conviction the prosecution will
menting the Commission’s
key recommendations – that
include reforming legislation
on law and order, freedom and
liberalisation of the media and
electoral reform.”

He added that prosecutions
of those responsible would
begin in 2020, after investiga-
tions had been completed.

In June 2020 the Secretary
for Justice, Legal and Parlia-
mentary Affairs (who was also
secretary of the Commission)
told a State-controlled newspa-
per, rather ambiguously:

“There has been a lot of
compliance.  We have com-
plied fully with the Motlanthe
Commission, but some of the
processes are still ongoing.
… To a large extent, we have
complied with recommen-
dations of the commission
though some of the issues
remain work in progress.”

In this bulletin we shall look
again at the Commission’s
recommendations to see how
far they have been implement-
ed in the more than two years
since they were made.
The Commission’s Recom-
mendations
The Commission recommend-
ed the following measures:

Page 24 Critical Thinking NewsHawks

Issue 18, 19 Feb 2021

Sabelo J. ‘Moral evil, economic good’:
Ndlovu-Gatsheni Whitewashing colonialism sins

IN 2017, a professor at Ox- How war, violence and extractivism defined the legacy of the empire in Africa, and why recent attempts
ford University in the United to explore the ‘ethical’ contributions of colonialism risk rewriting history and undermining progress.
Kingdom proposed a research
project. The key thesis: that the ongoing resistance of British empire became the nevolent and always motivated is, filling the “belly” is said to Rhodes Must Fall. However,
the empire as a historical enslaved Africans from the nerve centre of armed resis- by self-interest and economic be the characteristic of African to mount a credible critique to
phenomenon – distinct from moment of capture right up to tance to fascism during the exploitation of the colonised. politics. African leadership is apologias for empire, the start-
an ideological construct – has the plantations in the Amer- Second World War (1939-45), roundly blamed for the mis- ing point is to clearly define
made ethical contributions icas. The Haitian Revolution may be accurate. But it also But without a real compre- management of economies in colonialism.
and that its legacy cannot be of 1791-1804 still stands as ignores the fact that fascism hension of the true meaning Africa. (Yes, there are econ- On colonisation, colonial-
reduced to that of genocides, a symbol of this resistance: became so repugnant to the of colonialism, there are all omies in Africa, not African ism, coloniality
exploitations, domination and enslaved African people rose British mainly because Adolf sorts of dangers of developing economies; African economies Three terms – colonisation,
repression. against racism, slavery and Hitler practised and applied a complacent if not ahistori- were long destroyed by colo- colonialism and coloniality
colonialism – demonstrating the racism that was meant for cal and apologetic view of it, nialism.) – if correctly clarified, help
Expectedly, such a project beyond doubt that the Euro- “those people” in the colonies including the one that argues in gaining a deeper under-
raised a lot of controversies to pean institution of slavery was it was a moral evil with eco- While it is true that African standing of the empire and
the extent that other scholars not sustainable. and brought it to the centre of nomic benefits to its victims. leaders contribute to economic the damage colonialism has
at Oxford penned an open Europe. This view of colonialism is and development challenges had on African economies and
letter dissociating themselves The very fact that, in the re-emerging within a context through things like corrup- indeed on African lives.
from such intended revision- Oxford research project, the Projects like Briggar’s, and where some conservative tion, the key problems on the
ism and whitewashing of the chosen description is “the others with similar thought metropolitan-based scholars continent are structural, sys- Colonisation names the
crimes of empire. One leading Atlantic and African slave trajectories, risk endangering of empire are calling for a temic and institutional. That is event of conquest and admin-
member of the project re- trades” reveals an attempt to the truth about the crimes of “balance sheet of the empire”, why even leaders like Thomas istration of the conquered.
signed from it, citing personal distance itself from the crime empire in Africa. which weighs up the costs Sankara of Burkina Faso and It can be dated in the case of
reasons. of slavery, to attribute it to the Afro-pessimism: Seeing and benefits of colonialism. Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, South Africa from 1652 to
“ocean” (the Atlantic), and to disorder as the norm Meanwhile, some beneficiaries who were not corrupt, did 1994; in the case of Zimba-
This month marks 136 the “Africans” as though they What, fundamentally, is of empire based in Africa are not succeed in changing the bwe from 1890 to 1980; and
years since the end of the enslaved themselves. Where colonialism? Aimé Césaire, also adopting a revisionist character of inherited colonial in the case of Western and
Berlin Conference in 1885, is the British empire in this the Mantiniquean intellectual approach, such as Helen economies so as to benefit the Eastern Africa from 1884 to
where Western powers met description of the heinous kid- and poet, posed this deep Zille, the white former leader majority of African peoples. 1960. Those who confused
to set the rules for how they napping and commodification and necessary question in his of South Africa’s opposition colonisation and colonialism
would divide up Africa. of the lives of Africans? classical treatise Discourse Democratic Alliance party, Today, what exacerbates conceptually, ended up push-
Historically, theoretically and on Colonialism, published in who caused a storm when she these ahistorical, apologetic ing forward a very complacent
empirically, it should be clear The second example, which 1955. In it, he argues that the said that apartheid colonialism and patronising views of the view of colonialism which
that the empire was a “death highlights the very skewed colonial project was never be- was beneficial – by build- impact of colonialism on defined it as a mere “episode
project” rather than an ethical granting of the franchise to ing the infrastructure and Africa is the return of crude in African history” (a short
force outside Europe; that a small number of so-called governance systems that black right-wing politics – the kind interlude: 1884-1960). While
war, violence and extractivism “civilised” Africans at the Cape Africans now use. embodied by former Unit- this intervention from the
rather than any ethics defined Colony in South Africa as a ed States president Donald Ibadan African National-
the legacy of empire in Africa. gift of empire, further demon- Both conservative and Trump, that remains even after ist School of History was
strates a misunderstanding of liberal revisionism in the his term has ended. It is the informed by the noble desire
But it is the continuation how colonialism dismembered studies of the empire and the strong belief in inherent white to dethrone imperialist/colo-
of revisionist thinking that and dehumanised African impact of colonialism reflect supremacy and in the inherent nialist historiography which
beckons a revisiting of the people. The fact is that African shared pessimistic views about inferiority of the rest. denied the existence of African
question of colonialism and struggles were not undertaken African development. The history prior to the continent’s
its impact on the continent for a trinket like getting voting economic failures, and indeed But right-wing politics is encounter with Europeans,
from a decolonial perspective, rights under colonialism. They elusive development, in Africa also locking horns with resur- it ended up minimising the
challenging the colonial and fought for decolonisation and get blamed on the victims. gent and insurgent decolonisa- epochal impact of colonialism
liberal desire to rearticulate rehumanisation. The disorder is said to be the tion of the 21st century, sym-
the empire as an ethical phe- norm in Africa. Eating, that bolised by global movements
nomenon. The third example, that the such as Black Lives Matter and
The “ethics” of empire?
In the Oxford research proj-
ect, titled Ethics and Em-
pire (2017-22), Nigel Biggar,
the university’s regius pro-
fessor of moral and pastoral
theology and director of the
MacDonald Centre for The-
ology, Ethics and Public Life,
sought to make two import-
ant interventions: to measure
apologias and critiques of the
empire against historical data
from antiquity to moderni-
ty across the world; and to
challenge the idea that empire
is imperialist, imperialism is
wicked, and empire is there-
fore unethical.

In support of its thesis, the
description of the research
project lists “examples” of the
ethics of empire: the British
empire’s suppression of the
“Atlantic and African slave
trades” after 1807; granting
black Africans the vote at the
Cape Colony 17 years before
the United States granted it to

African Americans; and
offering “the only armed
centre of armed resistance to
European fascism between
May 1940 and June 1941”.

But the selective use of
such examples does not paint
a complete picture. Any
attempt to credit the British
empire for the abolition of
slavery, for instance, ignores

NewsHawks Critical Thinking Page 25

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

on Africa. racial hierarchisation of the Africa of its most robust la- instead produce cash crops for legitimate knowledge systems time direct colonialism was
It was Peter Ekeh of the classified human population. bour needed for its economic an industrialising Europe. which enabled them to survive rolled back after 1945, the
This was a necessary colonial development. The second was as a people, to benefit from African leaders inherited colo-
University of Ibadan, in his process to distinguish those the exploitation of African The second zone was that their environment, to invent nial economies where Africans
Professorial Inaugural Lecture: who had to be subjected to labour in the plantations and of extractive colonial plan- tools, and to organise them- participated as providers of
Colonialism and Social Struc- enslavement, genocide and mines in the Americas without tations symbolised by the selves socially on their own cheap labour rather than own-
ture of 1980, who directly colonisation. any payment so as to enable Congo Free State which was terms. ers of the economies. These
challenged the notion that the very project of Euromo- owned by King Leopold II externally oriented economies
colonialism was an episode in The third important dernity and its coloniality. The of Belgium; Africans were The success story of the could not survive as anything
African history. He posited concept is that of coloniality. third is the colonial moment forced to produce rubber, and people of Egypt to utilise the else but providers of cheap
that colonialism was epochal It was developed by Latin where Africa was scrambled extreme violence including the resources of the Nile River to raw materials. They were and
in its impact as it was and is a American decolonial the- for and partitioned among decapitation of limbs was used build the Egyptian civilisation, are entrapped in well-crafted
system of power that is mul- orists, particularly Anibal seven European colonial to enforce this colonial system. which is older than the birth colonial matrices of power
tifaceted in character. It is a Quijano. Coloniality names powers (Belgium, Britain, of modern Europe, is a testi- with a well-planned division
power structure that subverts, the transhistoric expansion France, Germany, Italy, Spain, The third zone was that of mony of how the people and of labour.
destroys, reinvents, appropri- of colonial domination and Portugal) and its resources “labour reserves” inaugurated the continent were self-devel-
ates, and replaces anything its replication in contempo- (both natural and human) by settler colonialism. The oping and self-improving on Today, the economies in
it deems an obstacle to the rary times. It links very well were exploited for the benefit Southern Africa region was their own terms. Africa remain artificial and
agenda of colonial domination with the African epic school of Europe. the central space of settler fragile to the extent that any
and exploitation. of colonialism articulated by colonies, where Africans were The invention of stone attempt to reorient them to
Ekeh and dovetails well with The fourth moment is the physically removed from their tools and the revolutionary serve the majority of African
Eke’s definition of colo- Kwame Nkrumah’s concept current one characterised lands and the lands taken over shift to the iron tools prior people sees them flounder and
nialism resonated with that of of neocolonialism. All this by “debt slavery” whereby a by the white settlers. to colonialism is another collapse. This is because their
Frantz Fanon who explained, speaks to the epochal impact poor continent finances the indication of African people scaffold and pivot are colo-
in The Wretched of the Earth, of colonialism. One therefore developed countries of the Those Africans who sur- making their own history. The nial relations of exploitation,
that colonialism was never wonders how Africa could de- world. Overseeing this debt vived the wars of conquest domestication of plants and not decolonial relations of
satisfied with the conquest of velop economically under this slavery is the global financial were pushed into crowded animals is further evidence of empowerment and equitable
the colonised, it also worked structure of power and how republic constituted by the reserves where they existed African revolutions. This is distribution of resources.
to steal the colonised people’s colonialism could be of benefit World Bank, the International as a source of cheap labour what colonialism destroyed as
history and to epistemically to Africa. To understand the Monetary Fund (IMF), the for mines, farms, plantations, it created a colonial order and For real future development
intervene in their psyche. negative economic impact of World Trade Organisation factories, and even domestic economy that had no African and a successful move from
colonialism on Africa, there is (WTO) and other financial work. interests at its centre. economies in Africa towards
Cameroonian philosopher a need to appreciate the four institutions. All these exploit- true African economies, there
Achille Mbembe is also correct journeys of capital and its ative journeys of capital were This colonial ordering of Flourishing pre-colonial is a need to revolutionise the
in positing that the fundamen- implications for Africa. enabled by colonialism and economies in Africa has re- African economies of the asymmetrical colonial power
tal question in colonialism was Four journeys of colonial coloniality. mained intact even after more Kingdom of Kongo, Song- structures that still govern the
a planetary one: to whom does capital and entrapment than 60 years of decolonisa- hai, Mali, Ancient Ghana, fate of the continent.
the earth belong? Thus, as a Ngugi wa Thiong’o, in his Se- Empirically and concretely, tion. This is because attaining Dahomey – which were for
planetary phenomenon, its cure the Base: Making Africa colonialism radically ordered political independence did the benefit of African people About the writer: Sabelo J
storm troopers, the European Visible in the Globe, distilled Africa into economic zones not include attaining eco- – were first of all exposed to Ndlovu-Gatsheni is Profes-
colonialists, were driven by the four journeys of capital of exploitation. This reality is nomic decolonisation. At the the devastating impact of the sor and Chair of Epistemol-
the imperial idea of the earth from its mercantile period to well expressed by Samir Amin moment of political decoloni- slave trade and later subjected ogies of the Global South
as belonging to them. This is its current financial form and who identified three main sation, Europe actively worked to violent colonialism. What with Emphasis on Africa at
why at the centre of colonial- in each of the journeys, he colonial zones. to develop strategies such as this birthed were economies the University of Bayreuth
ism is the “coloniality of be- plotted the fate of Africa. Eurafrica, Françafrique, Lomé in Africa rather than African in Germany. He is a leading
ing”, that is, the colonisation The first is the “cash crops Conventions, the Common- economies – economies that decolonial theorist with over
of the very idea and meaning The first is the epoch of zone” covering Western and wealth and others to maintain were outside-looking-in in 100 publications in the fields
of being human. enslavement of Africans and Eastern Africa, where colonial- its economic domination over orientation – to sustain the of African history, African
their shipment as cargo out ism inaugurated “peasant trade Africa. development of Europe. politics, African develop-
This was achieved through of the continent. This drained colonies” whereby Africans Roadblocks to development ment and decolonial theory.
two processes: first, the social were forced to abandon Like all human beings, Afri- Fundamentally, the rn the fate of the continent.
classification of the human cultivation of food crops and cans were born into valid and economies in Africa became
population; and second, the extractive in nature. By the

Motlanthe Commission report: Two years on, what has been done?

From Page 23 the illegality of soldiers be used only in limited voters, but the main opposition Tanzania. recommendations can be de-
conducting such searches circumstances:  Live party, the MDC-A, has refused Conclusion veloped, drafted and passed by
• Training of police in riot in Constitution Watch 5 ammunition was used in to join it.  The smaller wing of It has to be pointed out that Parliament even if the country
control, professionalism of 2019. January 2019 to suppress the MDC has indicated it may some legal changes are being is in lock-down.  The pan-
and impartiality:  It is not • Soldiers man roadblocks disturbances, as we have withdraw from it as well, which made, though they are not demic has however been used
known what extra training together with the police already mentioned.  In would leave POLAD even less directly related to the Motlan- as a pretext for ignoring the
the police may have had to enforce lock-down this regard it should be representative of Zimbabwe’s the Commission’s report.  For Commission’s recommendation
in these respects, but if restrictions on movement.  noted that under our political opinions than it was example: that soldiers should be called
they got any they did Soldiers are also deployed Constitution the right to before. • a Bill to set up an inde- on to assist the police only as a
not put it to much use in to patrol high-density life is sacrosanct:  security The Government has resisted pendent mechanism for last resort. 
January 2019 when they areas and clear city cen- services, whether police or any suggestion that national or dealing with complaints As we have noted, soldiers
suppressed demonstra- tres.  Their involvement in army, are not allowed to international mediators should against the security have been manning roadblocks
tions against increases in enforcing the lock-down kill people when suppress- be brought in to help negoti- services, in compliance and helping to clear city centres
fuel prices.  Once again has been institutionalised ing even violent riots. ate a way out of the country’s with section 210 of the during lock-downs.
the army was called in, in regulations under the 6.  Nation-building and political impasse. Constitution, has been A further point we should
live ammunition was used Public Health Act, which Reconciliation 7.  Accountability drafted and is ready to make is that the Government
against demonstrators, include members of the Recommendation:  A Recommendation:  All those be presented in Parlia- has not been open about its im-
and 17 people were killed.  Defence Forces in the multi-party reconciliation responsible for alleged crimes ment. plementation of the Commis-
In a report on this, the definition of “enforcement initiative, including youths and on the 1st August 2018 should • The Access to Infor- sion’s recommendations.  The
Zimbabwe Human Rights officer”. with national and international be prosecuted.  Members of mation and Protection Commission obviously wanted
Commission [ZHRC] • Armed soldiers recently mediation, should be estab- the Army and Police who were of Privacy Act, which the public to be kept informed
condemned what it arrested 12 opposition lished to address the root causes in breach of their professional stifled freedom of about the steps that were being
termed unnecessary and party officials in Chin- of the post-election violence.  duties and discipline should be expression and press taken – for example, the Army’s
disproportionate use of hoyi, on charges that they The Zimbabwe Human Rights identified as soon as possible freedom, has been audit of its standing orders for
force by members of the gathered at party offices in Commission and the Nation- for internal investigations and repealed, though not riot control – but few if any
army and the police. contravention of lock- al Peace and Reconciliation appropriate sanction, which totally because journal- details have been disclosed.  We
• Deployment of military to down regulations. Commission should increase should include hearing from ists are still required to urge the Government to make
be measure of last resort:  • Army to audit its standing their efforts to implement their victims and their families for pay for accreditation those details public.
Soldiers have been called orders for riot control mandates. impact assessment. under the Act. On the information avail-
in to assist the police in and to publish results:  If What has been done?  What has been done?  While The pace of these changes able, it seems that very little
law enforcement on many the Army has conducted While the two Commissions rioters were arrested and pros- has been glacial however.  For has been done to implement
occasions since August such an audit, the results have certainly been active, ecuted, nothing seems to have example, the Zimbabwe Inde- the Commission’s recommen-
2018, often enough for have not been published the multi-party reconciliation been done to sanction mem- pendent Complaints Commis- dations. 
their presence to seem on the ZNA website, or initiative has not taken off.  bers of the security services.  sion Bill has taken the Govern- If the Government has done
normal rather than a last anywhere else as required The President established a Quite the reverse, in fact.  ment seven years to prepare, more than we have suggested
resort.  Recent examples by the Motlanthe Com- Political Actors Dialogue [PO- The tactical commander and needed an application to in this Commissions Watch,
are:   mission. LAD] as a forum for leaders of the unit of the Presidential the Constitutional Court by in the interests of transparency
• Soldiers and police • Army and police to adopt across the political spectrum Guard force deployed to deal Veritas to jog it along. and trust building it should
conducted house to house contingency plans for to meet and discuss issues of with the demonstrations, Brig- The delay cannot be make public what more it has
searches in high-density emergencies:  Presumably common interest.  The forum adier-General Sanyatwe, retired attributed to the COVID-19 done. As things stand, it seems
urban areas in the after- contingency plans have is open to representatives of from the Army in December pandemic because the legal that the Government lacks the
math of the disturbances been prepared but they all parties that took part in the 2018 with the enhanced rank reforms that are needed to will to implement the report
in January 2019, and have not been published. 2018 election, regardless of of Lieutenant General and democratise Zimbabwe and to properly.
later.  We commented on • Live ammunition to the support they received from was appointed ambassador to implement the Commission’s —VERITAS

Page 24 Africa News NewsHawks

Issue 18, 19 Feb 2021

POLICE have said 317 school- Kidnappers abduct 317 schoolgirls
girls have been abducted in
north-west  Nigeria, the third in Nigeria in armed night-time raid
mass kidnapping of students in waging an 11-year insurgency in
three months in an escalating children, officials told Reu- students. The hostages are yet to president, Muhammadu Bu- In December,  bandits ab- north-east Nigeria.
wave of rural attacks blamed on ters, speaking on condition of be released. hari, who has been increasingly ducted 344 schoolboys from the
groups of armed bandits. anonymity. The Nigerian gov- vilified for rising insecurity, last town of Kankara in north-west As agreements between the
ernment regularly denies such Despite several air raids and month replaced all the armed Katsina state.  They were freed governmentand bandit groups
The schoolgirls were abduct- payouts. army operations, the bandit forces chiefs. after six days  but the govern- to release kidnapped victims
ed at about 1am from the town groups have continued to at- ment denied a ransom had been have become more frequent, at-
of Jangebe, Zamfara state, from Last week, unidentified tack relentlessly and with ease. Many of the groups are made paid. tackers have increasingly court-
the Jangebe government girls’ gunmen killed a student in an The groups have killed several up of ethnic Fulanis, evolving ed public profile, without fear
secondary school, police said overnight attack on a boarding hundreds of people over the last from a land conflict between The gunmen were linked of arrest.
on Friday. Police and army of- school in the north-central Ni- year. In some areas, the militants largely Fulani pastoralists and to Boko Haram, heightening
ficers have “commenced a joint gerian state of Niger  and kid- rove freely and are known to lo- farmers of varying ethnicities fears of associations between the “Bandit leaders”, leading
search-and-rescue operation napped 42 people, including 27 cal residents and officials. The across Nigeria. armed groups and jihadists still large groups of militants have
with a view to rescuing the spoken openly to local media in
317 students kidnapped by the Nigeria, describing past attacks,
armed bandits”, Mohammed while state governors have con-
Shehu, a police spokesperson troversially advocated that the
said. groups should be given amnes-
ty and benefits. Obscure “peace
A local government official in deals” between bandit groups
Zamfara said the gunmen shot and local government officials,
sporadically and took the girls where weapons are reportedly
away. “Information available surrendered, have failed to dent
to me said they came with ve- a rise in criminal activity over-
hicles and moved the students, whelming a largely poor and
they also moved some on foot,” rural region.
Sulaiman Tanau Anka, an in-
formation commissioner, told The kidnapping is the latest
Reuters. Unicef condemned in several attacks on schools in
the attack. “We are angered and Nigeria by armed groups in re-
saddened by yet another brutal cent years. In 2018 Islamic
attack on schoolchildren in Ni-
geria,” said Peter Hawkins, the State’s west Africa branch kid-
UN body’s  Nigeria  representa- napped more than 100 school-
tive. girls from the town of Dap-
chi in north-east Nigeria, all but
A surge in armed militancy one of whom, a Christian, were
by several armed bandit groups released. A ransom was paid, ac-
in Africa’s most populous coun- cording to the United Nations.
try has caused mounting dismay,
amid a breakdown of security, Boko Haram militants  ab-
particularly in rural areas. The ducted 276 schoolgirls from the
groups operate from forest hide- town of Chibok in Borno state
outs spanning north-western in April 2014. The incident
Nigeria into Niger, where they drew widespread global atten-
have launched attacks, kidnap- tion, with several prominent
pings, theft and sexual violence personalities calling for their
on rural towns and villages. release.

In recent months, mass kid- Most have been found or
nappings for ransom, targeting rescued by the army, or freed
schools, have become endemic, in negotiations between the
heightening fear for the welfare government and Boko Haram.
of students, and that already low About 100 are still missing, ei-
levels of school enrolment in the ther remaining with Boko Ha-
region may suffer further. A lack ram or dead, security officials
of security has left many rural say. — The Guardian
residents and schools exposed.

The rise in attacks is fuelled
in part by sizeable government
payoffs in exchange for the

Cameroon soldiers ‘raped women in revenge raid’

HUMAN Rights Watch HRW’s investigation includ- bush where I spent two months.
(HRW) says it has gathered ev- ed interviews between August I am still upset and trauma-
idence of a revenge attack near- and January with witnesses, rape tised.”
ly a year ago by Cameroonian survivors and a doctor who had
soldiers on a village where they treated them. Witnesses said that the mil-
raped at least 20 women. itary operation was a reprisal
Witnesses said that more attack to punish civilians sus-
The raid on Ebam in the than 50 soldiers entered Ebam pected of collaborating with
Anglophone South-West re- on foot at about 03:00 on 1 separatist fighters.
gion, an area where separatists March 2020, breaking into al-
are fighting for an independent most all the 75 houses in the An army spokesman dis-
state of Ambazonia, was one of village. A number of soldiers missed the report.
the worst atrocities carried out rounded up men, while others
by Cameroon’s army in recent raped women, including four “We have better things to do
years, the rights organisation with disabilities, HRW said. than react to this report. Hu-
said. man Rights Watch is clearly
Dozens of men were de- complicit in the terrorists’ atroc-
It had gone largely unreport- tained and severely beaten and a ities,” Col Cyrille Atonfack told
ed because of stigma and fear 34-year-old man was also killed the Reuters news agency, refer-
of reprisal which discourages by soldiers in a forest by the vil- ring to the rebels.
survivors of sexual violence lage, the rights group said.
from speaking out, HRW said, Anglophone activists say the
adding that there had been no “Five masked soldiers entered country’s French-speaking ma-
effective investigation. my home,” a 40-year-old wom- jority is marginalising the En-
an told HRW. glish-speaking minority.
“One year on, survivors of
the Ebam attack are desper- “It was dark, and I was alone. The secessionist violence in
ate for justice and reparations, They searched the house and the English-speaking regions
and they live with the disturb- stole my phone and money. of North-West and South-West
ing knowledge that those who One of them abused me. He Cameroon has claimed more
abused them are walking free said: ‘If you don’t have sex with 3,500 lives since late 2016,
and have faced no consequenc- me, I will kill you!’ HRW estimates.
es,” said HRW’s Ida Sawy’er in
a statement. “I was too afraid to say or do Both the separatists and gov-
anything. ernment troops have been ac-
cused of human rights abuses.
After the rape, I ran into the
—BBC

NewsHawks World News Page 25

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

US finds Saudi crown prince approved journo
Khashoggi murder but does not sanction him

US intelligence agencies con- by the Office of the Director Included in the assessment med. Mohammed bin Salman ship  with the oil-rich nation,
cluded that the Saudi crown of National Intelligence and were several bullet points that “Although Saudi officials port but  tweeted a photo  of in a major departure from the
prince,  Mohammed bin Sal- relied heavily on information contributed to the agencies’ fi- Khashoggi. close relationship the crown
man, approved the 2018 mur- gathered by the CIA, said the nal assessment, including that had pre-planned an un- prince, who is known as MBS,
der of the Washington Post agencies assessed that “Saudi Prince Mohammed had “prob- specified operation against While Khashoggi had been had with Biden’s predecessor,
journalist Jamal Khashoggi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mo- ably” fostered an environment Khashoggi we do not know assured by Saudi officials that Donald Trump, and Trump’s
but stopped short of person- hammed bin Salman approved in which aides were afraid that how far in advance Saudi of- he would be safe inside the adviser and son-in-law, Jared
ally targeting the future Saudi an operation in Istanbul, Tur- they might be fired or arrest- ficials decided to harm him,” consulate’s walls, grisly details Kushner.
king with financial or other key to capture or kill Saudi ed if they failed to complete the report concluded. later emerged – pieced togeth-
sanctions. journalist Jamal Khashoggi.” assigned tasks, suggesting they er through recording and oth- The former president de-
were “unlikely to question” the While Prince Mohammed er evidence gathered by Turk- fended and brushed aside the
The  four-page report  con- It based the assessment on prince’s orders or undertake has previously denied order- ish authorities – that described findings of his own intelligence
firmed the long-suspected the prince’s “control of deci- sensitive tasks without his ap- ing the killing or having any how a team of Saudi agents, agencies even after it became
view that the 35-year-old fu- sionmaking in the kingdom, proval. knowledge of it, the damn- who had arrived in Istanbul widely known through me-
ture king had a personal hand the direct involvment of a ing picture portrayed by the on state-owned planes for dia reports that the CIA had
in the violent murder of one key adviser and members of The report pointed to the new report raises serious new the intended purpose of kill- concluded with a medium- to
of his most prominent critics, [the prince’s] protective detail fact that the 15-member hit questions about how the new- ing the journalist – subdued, high-degree of confidence that
a columnist and former Sau- in the operation, and [his] squad that arrived in Istanbul ly publicised information will killed and then dismembered Prince Mohammed had ap-
di insider who was living in support for the using violent worked for or were associat- affect the future heir’s relation- Khashoggi using a bone saw. proved the murder. Trump was
exile in the US and used his measures to silence dissidents ed with the Saudi Center for ship with the Biden adminis- In one recording, a close ally reported to have bragged to
platform to decry the prince’s abroad, including Khashoggi”. Studies and Media Affairs at tration and other foreign and of Prince Mohammed referred the Washington Post reporter
crackdown on dissent. the Royal Court – which at the business leaders. to the journalist as a “sacrificial Bob Woodward that he had
The US intelligence agen- time was led by Saud al-Qa- lamb”. protected the crown prince
Friday’s release of the as- cies’ assessment — which was htani, a close adviser to the The revelation comes more from congressional scrutiny,
sessment was accompanied by released around 9pm Saudi prince who claimed publicly than two years after Khashog- The decision to release the telling Woodward: “I saved his
further actions from the Biden time — also found that the in 2018 that he did not make gi entered the Saudi consulate report and expected move to ass.”
administration, including the prince’s “absolute control” of decisions without the prince’s in Istanbul on a mission to issue further actions represents
unveiling of a new “Khashoggi the kingdom’s security and in- approval. retrieve papers that would al- the first major foreign policy The declassified US intelli-
policy” which is set to impose telligence organisations made low him to marry his Turkish decision of Joe Biden’s presi- gence assessment was released
visa sanctions on individuals it “highly unlikely” that Saudi The team also included fiancee,  Hadice Cengiz, who dency, months after he vowed after it was mandated by Con-
who, acting on behalf of a for- officials would have carried out a subset of the Saudi royal has since emerged as a fierce on the presidential campaign gress. The Trump administra-
eign government, engage in an operation like Khashoggi’s guard, known as the Rapid advocate for justice for her late trail to make a “pariah” out tion had ignored the law but
“counter-dissident” activities, murder without the prince’s Intervention Force, which re- partner. of the kingdom. The White the Biden administration sig-
including harassment, sur- approval. ported only to Prince Moham- House has said  it is seeking nalled early on that it would
veillance, and threats against Cengiz did not immedi- to “recalibrate” its relation- be willing to release the doc-
journalists, activists, and dis- ately comment on the re- ument.
sidents.
“By naming Mohammed
The US treasury also issued bin Salman as the amoral mur-
new sanctions  against Ahmad derer responsible for this hei-
Hassan Mohammed al Asi- nous crime, the Biden-Harris
ri, the former deputy head administration is beginning
of Saudi Arabia’s General In- to finally reassess America’s
telligence Presidency, who it relationship with Saudi Arabia
said was “assigned” to murder and make clear that oil won’t
Khashoggi and was the ring- wash away blood,” Wyden
leader of the operation, as well said.
as several members of the hit
squad that killed the journal- Its publication follows years
ist. of lobbying by Cengiz and
other human rights advocates
But even as the Biden ad- who have said that Saudi Ara-
ministration was praised for bia was never held accountable
releasing the partially redacted for the murder.
assessment there were hints of
frustration in Washington that Saudi officials initially de-
Prince Mohammed would not nied that Khashoggi had been
face personal accountability harmed in the consulate, and
for the grisly murder. had tried to create the im-
pression using a body double
Senator Ron Wyden, who wearing Khashoggi’s clothes
said there was “no question” in that the 59-year-old had left
his mind that there was more the building. Eventually, offi-
that needed to be declassified. cials in the kingdom acknowl-
edged Khashoggi had been
He added that more need- killed but blamed the murder
ed to be understood about on a “rogue operation”.
the Saudi royal’s relationship
with Donald Trump, whom Trump’s staunch support
he accused of covering up the of the Saudi heir, even in the
murder as part of his “transac- wake of the wake of the mur-
tional” relationship with Saudi der and media reports that
Arabia. said US intelligence officials
believed “MBS” had a hand in
Asked whether  Joe the killing, ultimately helped
Biden  had concerns about to rehabilitate the crown
Prince Mohammed’s posi- prince’s image, including with
tion in Saudi succession, the business leaders and politi-
White House press secretary, cians and heads of state across
Jen Psaki, said it was for Saudi Europe.
Arabia to “determine the path
forward on their future leader- Saudi prosecutors put 11
ship”. unnamed officials on trial
in what was largely seen as a
“I will say that the president sham proceeding, and later
has been clear, and we’ve been reduced the death sentences
clear by our actions that we’re of five of the men who were
going to recalibrate the rela- convicted of killing the dissi-
tionship,” she said. dent to 20-year prison terms.
— The Guardian
The partially-redacted  as-
sessment, which was released

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 26 Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA Mark Ngwazi dares to sing His sophomore album, Gudo
sungura in pidgin English Muriwo, dropped in 2017 before he
MUSICIAN Mark Ngwazi — who followed it up with Charger Yekat-
dared to sing sungura in English al- “I don’t blame people for disappointing you, I blame yourself for trusting them. sono in 2018. His third release,
beit pidgin — is riding on the suc- Trust nobody and suspect everybody, don’t tell people about your vision . . .” Mudzimu Wabudira Pambeveve,
cess of his hit song Taurai Madzoka, was released in 2020 but did not
off his chart-topping album Cha- nese and Indian artistes. I want to “The whole album has great songs It is all the more remarkable make an impact on the music scene.
mugwedugwedu Chamatindike. take sungura to a whole new level.” and there is going to be more videos that music has changed his life in a
coming out throughout the year,” he positive way, considering his back- Perhaps, it was not his time.
In the annuls of history, specifi- Taurai Madzoka literally broke said. ground where Ngwazi worked as a It was only in November 2020
cally sungura music, there has never the internet with users sampling security guard for a wholesale store that he made a big breakthrough
been an English, Chinese or Hindi the English verse which goes like After Dzimwe Nzendo Taurai in Harare. with the release of his fifth album,
song. this: “I don’t blame people for dis- Madzoka or simply Taurai Madzo- Chamugwegwedu Chamatindike,
appointing you, I blame yourself for ka went viral on social media, it in- But being a security guard was in that features the hit song Taurai
Previously, most musicians, if trusting them / Trust nobody and spired the little-known Ngwazi to no way demeaning since it gave him Madzoka. The song topped the Ra-
not all, have always sung in Shona suspect everybody, don’t tell people take music seriously. the opportunity to observe life as he dio Zimbabwe charts for months
or Ndebele and this has been the about your vision . . . “ watched over people going about on end and subsequently took the
norm. Even Joshua Sacco, a white His first start was to ensure that their business. number#1 spot on the Radio Zim-
artiste and politician, sings sungu- There have been several memes, he opens a TikTok account after babwe 2020 Top 50 countdown.
ra in Shona. However, it appears GIFs, skits and TikTok videos of some well-wishers gifted him with Music was his calling but perhaps The song could have easily won a
the 32-year-old Ngwazi is about to people lip-syncing to the song, pro- two smartphones. he was yet to try a new career path 2020 Zimbabwe Music Award but,
change all that. viding much-needed entertainment although deep down he knew he was much to the bemusement of his
during the Covid-19 lockdown. Above all, the musician also re- an entertainer. Eventually he quit fans, it was not even on the list.
“This year promises to be a good ceived lessons from his management his job and formed the Njanja band According to Ngwazi, the future
one for me because I believe I have According to Ngwazi, he did not on how to use the cellphones to ac- inspired by his rural upbringing. of sungura music looks bright and
so much to give and yet not enough expect Taurai Madzoka to go viral cess the TikTok platform. he is aiming for the stars.
time. but said a new video of the song He dropped his debut album Fans can brace for more crossover
Chamugwedugwedu, due out this He also wants to make use of oth- Zvandigumbura in 2016, but it was sungura songs in English, Chinese
“I am hoping to collaborate with monthend, will be a sure fire hit. er social media platforms such as rather lukewarm. or Hindi.
a Chinese and Indian singers on Twitter and Instagram. Who knows, maybe Ngwazi will
sungura beat. The idea is to reach write his own piece history just like
out to other borders through use of the United Kingdom-based sungura
different language,” Ngwazi said. outfit Kambo Boys – whose 2015
debut single Melo was the first sun-
When pressed to reveal the sur- gura video to play on satellite music
prise artists, he said: “I am not going channel Trace TV.
to say who will be featured on the
next project because it is going to be
a surprise. However, as I indicated
that I want to feature British, Chi-

NewsHawks Life & Style Page 27

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021 Just who is Elizabeth
‘Stambeni’ Musaka?

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA

THERE have been murmurings on social media following the
recent death of Zimdancehall star Soul Jah Love aged 31 with
users asking if Elizabeth Stambeni Musaka was his real mother.

This came to light following a picture of Soul Jah Love
standing beside his mother’s tombstone whose date of death
reads as 12-08-82. There is no specific date or month given
but only the year 1956 as the date of birth.

Now the question is: Was Stambeni (Sithembeni as
the late artist would sing) his real mother? Of course,
Soul Jah Love first hinted at his mother when he
penned the hit song Pamamonya Ipapo.

“Tovadyira bhonzo nekuwonda kudai, ti-
nongomira pamamonya ipapo, zvidya mafuta
zviya zvisingakore takanomira pamamonya
ipapo! maHorse zvimaBoss tinongomira
pamamonya ipapo, Chiba-ba chigunduru,
mwana waSithembeni, pamamonya ipapo,”
he sings

Considering that his mother died in
1982, way before Soul Jah Love was born,
how then did she give birth to the music star?

Soul Jah Love was born Soul Muzavazi
Musaka on 22 November 1989 at the Ave-
nues Clinic, at least according to his brother
Solomon Musaka.

“That is his correct date of birth and he was
born at the Avenues Clinic that you can check
for his record it’s there. But on the date of
death of his mother I am not sure what could
have happened but I suppose it’s a catastrophic
typo error which we didn’t know,” he said.

Word has it that Soul Jah Love’s mother died
when he was two-years-old before his grand-
mother took him in.

But was an error committed in inscribing
his mother’s date of death on her tombstone as
1982 instead of 1992?

Also reached for comment Partson “Chi-
paz” Chimbodza had another school of
thought, saying that both dates could be cor-
rect.

“Well, this question can only be answered
by his relatives whether or not it was a mis-
take. However, in our tradition we have this
notion of everyone’s child. You have a biolog-
ical mother and also your mother’s sisters are
also your mothers. So like I said, it depends
with the family, perhaps they should know how
and why this happened,” he said.

Soul Jah Love was declared a provincial hero
by Zanu PF and was buried next to his father,
Ephraim Ticharwa Musaka.

Musaka (senior) died on 18 February 2005.
According to the family members, Soul Jah Love’s
father was a liberation war veteran who served as a
Zpra intelligence officer.

And his mother, Stambeni, was in the Zanu PF
women’s league national executive, which was headed
by the late heroine Sally Mugabe in the early 1980s.

Zanu PF acting secretary for youth Tendai Chirau
confirmed the political history of the late musician’s
family, saying Soul Jah Love was also an active member
of the ruling party.

While thousands of fans attended the burial at War-
ren Hills provincial heroes acre in Harare, there were also
gatherings as far as London, where Soul Jah Love fans
gathered in their numbers singing and dancing to his
songs.

Videos of the scenes have also trended on social media
showing how much Soul Jah Love’s music had gained pop-
ularity beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.

While most people agree that Soul Jah Love was im-
mensely talented, there are those who feel he lived in the
fast lane.

He was a lyrical genius, yes! But while talent can open
doors, it takes character to keep you at the top.

If you listen to his words of wisdom in songs like Kana
Ndafa, Ndichafa Rinhi, Mwari Ndovatenda on Bodyslam
Riddim, and Ndini Uya Uya, you really appreciate his great
artistry.

But as one switches to Yeke Yeke, where he explicitly sings
about sex to Pamamonya Ipapo and Naka Dhula Dhaka where he
glorifies drugs, you begin to wonder what sort of impact he makes on
his fans, the majority of whom are ghetto youths.

Page 28 Life & Style NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

Focus on Books

“I had got involved with Dambudzo Marechera”—Read an excerpt
from Flora Veit-Wild’s new memoir, They Called You Dambudzo

Read an excerpt (first pub- Victory, I realised, is seduc- ‘No, why? Isn’t this free for prior registration.’ people. Do you have a press thing of nobility about her, in
lished in the Johannesburg tive. And it is deceptive. all?’ Coming from Germany, I ‘But surely the writers card?’ her demeanour and her way of
Review of Books): would not have imagined that speaking, soft-toned but dis-
AUGUST 1983. The first Ha- ‘I am sorry, ma’am,’ are you a literature conference could should be happy to have a large Trying to suppress my tinct, with that typical accent
rare International Book Fair registered?’ A young lady at the have such restrictions.  audience.’ growing irritation, I conjured of the white South African
opened its doors at the Na- entrance to the writers’ work- up all my powers of persua- educated at English schools.
tional Gallery. People flocked shop was holding me up. ‘I am sorry, no, only with ‘There are enough invited sion. I told the workshop as- Next to her was her com-
to the event. guests, I am afraid, and media sistant that I had only been in patriot, Dennis Brutus, the
the country for a short while Cape Town poet whose prison
The large hall on the ground and I did not have a press card poems had stirred the com-
floor, where you would on yet, but I was writing for a passion of the world. I would
other days find a few forlorn German newspaper. My com- meet this tireless human rights
art lovers, was transformed patriots would certainly be activist, his long grey hair tied
into a multi-coloured maze greatly interested to know how into a ponytail, at conferences
of bookstalls, posters, cloths the literary scene in Zimbabwe in later years. He would smile
and banners. An excited buzz was flourishing and what such when he saw me and say, ‘Yes,
filled the flat-roofed building. prominent writers as were as- our Dambudzo, nobody like
Crowds pressed through the sembled here had to say.  him …’ Lewis Nkosi, an-
alleys between the stalls, ad- other exiled South African,
miring everything on display ‘All right, ma’am,’ she con- was also there. He was one
from the publishing houses, ceded finally, ‘I think I can of Dambudzo’s close friends
booksellers, literary agencies, make an exception. Here is a from London times. A charm-
NGOs, writers’ associations, badge. Please wear it when you ing womaniser, in time Nkosi
cultural foundations, liter- are moving in and out of the would become my own liter-
acy campaigns, schools and meeting.’ ary mentor. 
colleges. They leafed through
books, grabbed up pamphlets It was a great moment for Ama Ata Aidoo, plump-
and catalogues to read through me. Years later, when I was cheeked, in bright West Afri-
later, asking questions, greet- teaching African literature can attire, was there, having
ing friends. School classes at Humboldt University, the left Ghana and now seeking
were paraded through the ex- tableau of illustrious African residence in Zimbabwe. I
hibits, black faces against red writers would emerge from would get to know her sharp
or green or blue school blaz- my memory, as I saw them tongue two years later, when
ers, some white faces here and lined up at the book fair at I helped organise a writers’
there, black and white teachers that inaugural conference in conference on ‘Women and
urging them on, explaining, 1983. I had not yet read many Books’ at the Zimbabwe Book
pointing to placards and post- of their works, but I had the Fair of 1985 and she asked for
ers. great chance to see them live, more money for her participa-
face to face, and get to know tion. ‘How can you let a white
I was thrilled. I wandered their voices, listen to what they woman handle our affairs?’ she
through the maze, drinking it had to say.  complained to the organisers.
all in. For me, the newcomer
to Zimbabwe, it was a great The writers were seated Seated next to her was the
opportunity to get a sense of at the front of the hall. In white-haired Gabriel Okara
the country’s book world. the centre I recognised Na- from Nigeria, looking digni-
dine Gordimer, grande dame fied and withdrawn. ‘Listen
************ and moral conscience of an- to the rhythm of your inner
The book fair, the first of ti-apartheid literature. With voice,’ was his advice to Afri-
its kind, three years after Zim- her silvery hair and fine-lined can writers, as I would learn
babwe’s independence, was a white face, she stood out much later and also teach my
showcase to the world. After among all the black faces. I al- students. 
years of isolation under the ways thought there was some-
racist settler regime, the coun- Most clearly of all I recall
try could boast a flourishing Nuruddin Farah, with his
book industry, free education twinkling eyes, the exiled an-
for all, and empowerment ti-dictatorship author from
through knowledge.  Somalia, whom I would meet
************ often in later years when I was
The fair was full of success in the position of hosting read-
stories. Nobody talked about ings with him or moderating a
the faction fighting during that discussion at a literature fes-
war dividing Mugabe’s ZANU tival. Farah and fellow-writer
and Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU Taban lo Liyong from Uganda,
and their guerrilla armies who was also present at that
ZANLA and ZIPRA. ZAPU first book fair, both seemed to
was gracefully acknowledged regard
for its ‘complementary role’ in
the freedom struggle. Nobody Dambudzo as their protégé,
mentioned that Mugabe’s Fifth the angry young man whom
Brigade, an army unit trained they had all met at the famous
by North Koreans, was killing Horizonte Festival for African
thousands of people, so-called writers in West Berlin of 1979.
dissidents suspected of hid- On that occasion Dambudzo
ing weapons and supporting had stormed onto the stage,
ZAPU, in Matabeleland. Who cursing the ‘fascist’ Germans
knew, as the good-natured who had not wanted to let
crowds strolled around the him in.
fair, that at that very moment
villagers were being rounded What an illustrious con-
up and subjected to mass beat- gregation of African literary
ings? Or marched at gunpoint nobility it was. The event also
to public places and executed, included writers from franco-
after being forced to dig their phone countries. Mongo Beti
own graves? Who would have was there from Cameroun.
imagined that families were Already in the nineteen-fifties
being burned alive in their he had been writing about the
huts? cruelty of the city and satiris-
ing colonial administrators
and missionaries. Across lan-
guage barriers—which did not
happen again in later years at
such occasions—novelists,
poets and playwrights all com-
ing together to celebrate the

NewsHawks Life & Style Page 29

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

long-awaited emergence of Zimba-
bwe from almost a century of colonial
and settler rule.

What a privilege, how exciting it
was for me, the newcomer, to witness
such an eminent moment in

Zimbabwe’s literary history. It was
a moment of bloom, of a multitude
of voices pressing forward, writers
back from exile, or from the war, or
from their solitary desks where they
had been hiding and waiting. The
winds of change, which had seen the
end of colonial rule in most other Af-
rican countries two decades before,
had finally blown across the country,
clearing the sky for the Zimbabwean
flag to soar into the blue.

‘Communication Through Liter-
ature’ was the theme the organisers
had chosen for the Harare conven-
tion, which to me seemed to preclude
controversy from the outset. This
was soon confirmed. A short man
with a pompous air about him and
serious-looking spectacles chaired
the proceedings. He was addressed
throughout as ‘Mister Chair’ and
he made sure that the deliberations
remained as general and non-con-
troversial as the theme suggested.
This was Emmanuel Ngara, as I was
told, literature professor and current
pro-vice-chancellor of the Universi-
ty of Zimbabwe. When I later read
some of his essays, I was bored by
their dogmatic ideological stance. 

************ and himself a poet, who was chair- officials were saying to cultural practi- Time’s fingers on the piano / play emo- recognised for her significant contri-
Much to my relief, I began to re- ing an afternoon session. ‘Hey, you, tioners, how they were warning them tion into motion / the dancers in the bution to preserving Marechera’s leg-
alise that I was not the only one in Zvobgo! Comrade Minister! What to restrain from unwarranted criti- looking glass never recognise us as their acy. What is less known about Mare-
the hall who was getting annoyed at does your government do to help the cism, and I mentioned the gagging originals.” chera and Veit-Wild, is that they had
such non-committal, general state- ex-combatants?’ he demanded. ‘You order the minister of Home Affairs This book is a memoir with a “double an intense, personal and sexual rela-
ments. The bulk of Zimbabwean are sitting up there in your offices, in had issued — under the Emergency heartbeat”. At its centre is the author’s tionship. This memoir explores this:
authors in attendance were seated your padded chairs and in your vil- Law that was still in force — prohib- relationship with the late Zimbabwe- the couple’s first encounter in 1983,
behind the row of illustrious inter- las—look at the cripples lining our iting journalists from reporting on an writer, Dambudzo Marechera, amid the euphoria of the newly inde-
national writers. I do not recall what streets, out of work, no pay, what do what was happening in Matabeleland. whose award-winning book  The pendent Zimbabwe; the tumultuous
they contributed, if at all, but I think you do to help them?’ By the time I wrote that assessment, House of Hunger  marked him as a months when the homeless writer
Musa Zimunya, the celebrated poet in November 1983, I had conducted powerful, disruptive, perhaps pro- moved in with his lover and her fam-
who, shortly afterwards, became the As the commotion rose in volume interviews with several writers. phetic voice in African literature. ily; the bouts of creativity once he
chairman of the Zimbabwe Writers and temperature, Nkosi and Farah About the author had his own flat followed by feelings
Union (and would become my fierc- walked over to Dambudzo, patting And I had got involved with Dam- Flora Veit-Wild (pictured) is Emer- of abandonment; the increasing de-
est adversary) made a statement. He his shoulder, trying to calm him. True budzo Marechera. ita Professor of African literatures at spair about a love affair that could not
always did. Mungoshi and Nyam- to his name, the ‘troublemaker’ was Humboldt University, Berlin. She stand up against reality and the illness
fukudza were also there. They did not not to be quieted. Even his friends ************ lived in Harare/Zimbabwe from 1983 of the writer and his death of HIV re-
make statements. They were men of failed. In the end Zvobgo beckoned About the book to 1993 and became known for her lated pneumonia in August 1987.
few words. to his burly bodyguard, who with- “How shall I tell our story? I hear your work on Zimbabwean literature and
But there was Dambudzo Mare- out breaking a sweat manhandled voice ringing in mine. I struggle to dis- as literary executor and biographer of What follows are the struggles Flo-
chera. the lightweight out of the room and entangle a dense tapestry of memories. Dambudzo Marechera and a founder ra went through once Dambudzo had
I saw him excitedly waving his arm drove him to a safe distance from the One thread will be caught up in anoth- member of the Zimbabwe Women died. On the one hand she became
from his seat in the back row. Heads gathering. er. Early images will embrace later ones. Writers. the custodian of his life and work, on
turned and the audience shifted on My gaze will often be filtered through the other she had to live with her own
their chairs. Triumphantly Dambudzo later your eyes, your poems. In the end I will Flora Veit-Wild is internationally HIV infection and the ensuing threats
‘What about censorship?’ Dam- told the press: ‘I have been abducted.’ not always be able to tell the original to her health.
budzo asked. ‘My novel was banned from the reflection. Just as you wrote,
by the censorship board, just like in ************
the days of Ian Smith! There is no A feature I wrote about the book
freedom of speech! And what about fair and the writers’ conference was
unemployment? What about drought published, again in my ‘home pa-
relief being only delivered into the per’ Nürnberger Nachrichten. It was
government-friendly provinces, while my first piece on literature in Zim-
the other parts are starving? And that babwe. Rereading it now, more than
so-called Fifth Brigade, who right 30 years later, I can see how my own
now is killing our people in Mata- political past moulded my take on
beleland? What about that?’ what was happening in Zimbabwe.
I found myself smiling. Finally, My view was different from other
someone had pointed the finger at the European literary critics I met during
real burning issues. I do not remem- those first years; I was wary of ex-
ber whether anyone responded to tolling the nationalist agenda of the
Dambudzo’s questions but I suspect day. 
most of the other writers preferred to ‘There is no automatic linkage be-
keep their mouths shut. The franco- tween revolution and mental and cul-
phone contingency, even if they un- tural liberation,’ I wrote in a longer
derstood what was going on, retained version of that first text. ‘The state of
their stone-like expressions—they literature in Zimbabwe today is still
were always more formal than anyone extremely precarious and unsettled.
else. The chairman, trying to hide his Writers, many of whom have re-
rising irritation but not succeeding, turned from years in exile, have not
deliberately ignored the constantly yet found their position in society.’
raised arm in the back row.  I spoke about what government
Never easily contained, Dambudzo
continued his challenging behaviour
throughout the session, jumping up
from his seat, heckling those who
were speaking, demanding that pol-
iticians respond to his questions. He
went especially wild when it came to
Eddison Zvobgo, minister of Justice

Page 30 People & Places NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

A visit to Chief Albert Luthuli’s home

AFTER a long day’s work on Wednesday settling at Nkukhwini, north of Umvoti black academic at the time. regime to leave the ANC, he instead left that produced the Public Safety Act and
with a group of southern African jour- River. The area was named after that river. Adam’s College, a historic Christian the chieftainship and later assumed the the Criminal Laws Amendment Act.
nalists involved in a migration reporting leadership of the movement.
project, we went on a tour of Durban and Luthuli’s father, John Bunyan, who be- mission school founded in 1853 at Aman- Most importantly, the Defiance Cam-
surrounding areas to learn a bit of history. came a Christian missionary, spent most zimtoti just over 20km south of Durban Luthuli led the ANC during a period paign attracted the attention of the world,
of his last years in missions in Matabele- by an American missionary, produced of political turbulence and intense repres- and racial discrimination became an in-
My group visited one of South Afri- land region in the then Rhodesia, now many South African and other African sion from the apartheid regime. ternational issue.
ca’s most famous struggle leaders Chief Zimbabwe, with Solusi as his base. leaders, including Zimbabwe’s founding
Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli’s home in nationalist leader Joshua Nkomo and It was under his leadership that the Under Luthuli’s leadership, the ANC
Groutville, 10 kilometres south of Stan- Luthuli’s mother, Mthonya Gumede, Herbert Chitepo. ANC entered what Nelson Mandela also brought together people to put to-
ger (KwaDukuza) -- Zulu King Shaka’s spent part of her childhood in the house- called the “fighting fifties.” The ANC had gether minimum demands in the form of
capital -- and 69km north of Durban. hold of King Cetshwayo, but was raised in In 1922, Luthuli became the first Afri- taken a decision to become more militant the Freedom Charter, which was adopted
Groutville. She later joined her husband can to be employed on its teaching staff. in 1949 under Alfred Xuma. in Kliptown in 1955 at the Congress of
Born in 1898 to South African parents in Rhodesia where her third son, Albert, Mathews, father of the Freedom Char- the People.
at Solusi Mission, 50km west of Bula- was born before going back to KwaZulu ter, became the first African head of the Under Luthuli’s leadership the ANC
wayo in Zimbabwe, Luthuli, Africa’s first as a youth. school in 1925. grew into a mass militant movement While Luthuli preferred non-violent
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in 1960, was and in line with its Programme of Action struggle against apartheid, his public sup-
ANC leader from 1952 until his death in When he got back home, Luthuli first Luthuli left teaching in 1936 after be- engaged in mass action such as national port for the 1952 Defiance Campaign
1967 in KwaDukuza. lived with his uncle, Martin Luthuli, who ing elected Chief of the Groutville Amak- “stay at home” campaigns, bus and potato brought him finally into direcr conflict
was the elected chief of the area at the holwa community. His last teaching post boycotts, economic boycott of nationalist with the apartheid regime.
His ethical leadership was character- time. was at Adams College, one of the early products, peasant revolts, anti-pass cam-
ised by democratic resistance to apartheid centres of political conscientisation. paigns, resistance to forced removals and As a result, he was dismissed as elected
through boycotts, defiance campaigns He went to school in the area and then mass protest rallies and demonstrations. chief in 1952.
and protests to growing discrimination later to Edendale near Pietermaritzburg Long before joining the ANC in 1945,
and oppression. for a teaching course. he had already begun participation in This period also saw the Defiance During the Defiance Campaign, Lu-
ANC activities. Campaign, the struggle against Bantu thuli was actively involved in mobilising
Luthuli took the ANC leadership just From there, he went on to run a school Education, the drawing together of all support for the protest.
four years after the rise of the re-energised in the Natal uplands. In 1946, he witnessed the minework- freedom-loving South Africans across the
apartheid regime under the Nationalist ers’ strike and police brutality against racial line into the Congress Alliance and He was particularly active on the East
Party led by DF Malan, which institu- Luthuli was later confirmed in the the strikers. He was also inspired by the the adoption of the Freedom Charter, the Rand in Johannesburg alongside the likes
tionalised and entrenched a system of ra- Methodist Church and became a lay Indian Passive Resistance Campaign of anti-pass campaign by women in 1956, of Oliver Tambo, who was to become his
cial segregation and repression. It is a fact preacher. His Christian principles pro- 1946, in which over 2 000 people defied and the launch of armed struggle in 1961. successor.
of history and life that Africa’s first Nobel foundly infleunced his ideologoy, political the government’s discriminatory laws and In his address to the 42nd annual ANC
Prize winner in 1960 was born in Zimba- beliefs and leadership style for the rest of courted imprisonment. As a teacher, tra- conference in December 1953, Luthuli These activities brought him into the
bwe, although he was South African by his life. ditional leader and successful farmer, he described the Defiance Campaign as one networks of trade unionists and other
roots, descent and parentage. could easily have turned his back on the of the “most outstanding events in the high-profile anti-apartheid activists.
In 1920, he received a government bur- struggle for freedom and led a comfort- political history of the Union of South
Luthuli left Solusi, named after Chief sary to attend a higher teachers’ training able life. Africa.” Luthuli then started travelling around
Soluswe, in Zimbabwe going back to his course at Adams College and subsequent- South Africa and outside, meeting prom-
ancestral home in Groutville in Zululand ly joined the training college staff, teach- But when pressured by the apartheid He attributed a number of subsequent inent people like United States senator
just before the ANC was formed in 1912. ing alongside ZK Mathews, a prominent events as indicating the impact of the Robert Kennedy in 1966, raising his pro-
campaign, including the holding of a file as one of the most well-known strug-
He was to lead the organisation 40 short session of the apartheid parliament gle leaders of his generation at the helm
years later. of Africa’s oldest liberation movement,
whose headquarters in Johannesburg is
The name of his home area Groutville, named after him.. – STAFF WRITER
known locally as Umvoti, is derived from
Reverend Aldin Grout who arrived in
Natal with his wife Charlotte in 1836.

Grout was part of the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Mission,
an American Christian missionary found-
ed in 1810.

His initial missionary work dates back
to 1836 when he established Inkanyezi
Mission, near Empangeni.

While at Inkanyezi Mission, he was
threatened by King Mpande who de-
ployed his amabutho (troops) to launch
a surprise attack at the mission.

That forced Grout to flee southwards,

Property
NewsHawks

Page 31 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

The home of prime property: [email protected]

DUMISANI NYONI Property sector cautious this will spur property develop-
in uncertain market ment and construction by the pri-
ZIMBABWE’S property market vate sector.
players have assumed a wait-and- to the Integrated Properties’ 2020 Invariably, this impacted on suburbs as the Covid-19 pandemic
see approach in developing land real estate market research report, property capital values. dealt a heavy blow on incomes,” it Investable real estate will grow,
banks until the economic envi- evolved in the process and investor said. it said. Integrated Properties said
ronment is stable enough for the priorities and focus were recali- For listed entities in the con- the impact of Covid-19 on the re-
return of mortgage lending by brated as the pandemic accelerated struction sector, trade was subdued Integrated Properties said prime al-estate sector cannot be ignored
banks, an advisory firm, IH Secu- e-commerce, leading to the emer- for the better part of the year but retail rentals for the commercial and will surely reconfigure the
rities (IH), has said. gence of virtual platforms. fortunes changed as volumes in- retail sector remained relatively treatment, management and oper-
creased around the middle of the stable at around US$12 to US$15 ations of real estate.
In its latest equity research re- In the process, the new operat- third quarter to the end of year as per square metre per month while
port, IH said even though Zimba- ing environment unravelled the demand for their product and ser- yields were stable at approximately “At the same time, prospects
bwe’s economic activity is expected resilience of the residential and vices improved, Integrated Proper- 6%-7%. of vaccines offer some relief. For
to improve, the property sector is industrial sectors and opened un- ties said. a while, the retail sector has been
not likely to feel the effect imme- ending opportunities for savvy par- The year 2021 began with a vir- undergoing technological transfor-
diately. ticipants. Integrated Properties said oc- ulent second wave of Covid-19, mations but the pandemic acceler-
cupant levels remained low in the amid a spike in infections and ated the shift from brick-and-mor-
“Rental yields will remain weak With the Covid-19 pandemic rental market, with empty spac- deaths. tar sales to e-commerce,” it said.
especially in light of recent proper- compelling staff to work remote- es being a perennial headache for
ty revaluations. Players in the mar- ly, the market was characterised property owners in both the resi- The property firm said the ap- “This trend will popularise ware-
ket are likely to hold off developing by space surrenders with landlords dential and commercial sectors. proval of the Real Estate Invest- housing in suburban locations, dis-
land banks until the environment losing their bargaining power as ment Trust (REIT) framework and sipating the retail space. As much
is stable enough for the return of tenants negotiated rentals down- “There was migration of tenants subsequent income tax relief will as rentals for warehousing are low-
mortgage lending by banks. From wards, thereby lowering returns on from leafy suburbs to landing sub- see the listing of a couple of new er than retail, the construction cost
a balance sheet perspective, we ex- property. urbs as they adjusted to making big developments funded through for the same is cheaper than retail
pect to see less drastic fair valua- the final move to lower-ranking the real estate capital market and shops which would make them
tions adjustments going forward,” preferred by both the tenants and
it said. investors who are all seeking to cut
costs.”
The property sector was subdued
for the greater part of the year 2020 “This will see the development
with activity largely overshadowed of conveniently located warehous-
by the Covid-19 pandemic. es within residential suburbs gain-
ing traction,” Integrated Properties
The property market, according said.

Page 32 Sport NewsHawks

Issue 19, 26 Feb 2021

ZIMBABWE talisman Bren- ‘Taylor wanted to play My parents said I was
dan Taylor made himself avail- against Afghanistan’ a ‘mistake’: Vermeulen
able for the forthcoming series
against Afghanistan in Abu start. What hurt him the most Zimbabwe have toured with Brandon Tylor From page 35 quickly, otherwise lives are at
Dhabi but asked to be excused was that he was open and clear a largely inexperienced side af- “And I gave her everything. stake, lives are at stake!”
from the first Test match, we on what was happening. He is ter batsman Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakab- I gave her my heart, I gave her
can reveal. disappointed to miss this very pace bowler Kyle Jarvis were va, Kevin Kasuza, Wessly Mad- lots of gifts, because I am a The last time Vermeulen was
important tour.” also left out of the squad on hevere, Wellington Masakadza, giver. I give everything once I in the headlines back home in
Taylor was excluded from medical grounds with seamer Prince Masvaure, Brandon start falling for somebody. And Zimbabwe was in 2015 when he
the trip due to illness, but The first Test match begins Tendai Chatara side-lined by Mavuta, Tarisai Musakan- for her, I was just a little game, sparked outrage after referring
we have established that the on Tuesday, and it will be the injury. da, Richmond Mutumbami, somebody that could be strung to black people as apes. Zimba-
35-year-old star batsman had first time the two nations will Blessing Muzarabani, Rich- along, played. She was obviously bwe’s cricket board reacted by
recuperated before the squad clash in the five-day format of Zimbabwe Test Squad: Sean ard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, loving all the gifts, loving being indefinitely banning Vermeulen
was announced, raising up his the game. Williams (capt), Ryan Burl, Donald Tiripano. shown so much love, and so from all forms of cricket.
hand for selection. much attention. And she lapped
– STAFF WRITER it up. And then, all of a sudden, In January 2016, a club in
The wicketkeeper, who one day, I saw her jump into the Cornwall, in the United King-
missed preparatory matches arms of somebody else. Yooh… dom, signed the fiery Zimba-
before the tour, told officials that was the start of the disaster bwean on condition that he did
that he was fit to play in one and now she is taking me to not exhibit racist tendencies.
of the warm-up games before court on (…not clear) charges
departure for the United Arab because I told her to ‘f’ off and For Gada – a year older than
Emirates. go and live in another country Vermeulen and a stream higher
because she is a little player. And in school – another surprise is
If Taylor had been allowed so now, women are manipu- how different a person Vermeu-
to travel and miss the first Test, lating stories to make me look len has become in adulthood.
it meant he would play in the like a bad person, but I actual-
second, as well as the three ly loved this person more than “He was a normal kid in
Twenty20 internationals on anything on this planet. And I school,” Gada comments. “Mark
tour. would protect her with my life, got on very well with everybody.
protect her life. I would do any- He socialised well with people
“The story is he had some thing for her.” of different cultures and races,
minor operation and then it The short videos were shot on as you know back then, PE was
eventually got any infection,” 12 January inside an apartment a mixture of people from many
said a source close to the for- in an undisclosed location. Ver- different backgrounds. We just
mer Zimbabwe captain. meulen mentions how excited knew Mark as a good cricketer.
he is to move into the new pad. Though I found limitations in
“About a month ago, he had However, the lack of a dining ta- his game, he had good cricket-
a golf-ball size cyst removed ble in the flat prompts Vermeu- ing intelligence, and he worked
from the back of his leg. Be- len to issue a few threats. hard. Even though limited in
fore the recovery period was “I’m hoping that this can be stroke-play, he was able to occu-
up, he had an infection which done in the next couple of days, py the crease.
delayed the recovery period by provided people start paying
another two weeks or so. He me my f****ng money,” bellows He knew what shots he had
had just recovered from that Vermeulen. to play, and what shots he didn’t
minor operation, then he just “First warning to those peo- have to play.
started feeling some Covid- ple that owe me money. I sug-
like symptoms, although his gest that you start paying rather What separated him from
tests came back as negative. other guys with more potential
Not trusting the results, he and talent, like myself, was his
decided to self-isolate, so that level of intelligence.”
he didn’t pass it to others.
He then learnt of his omis- Vermeulen played nine Test
sion from the tour through matches and 43 ODIs for Zim-
the press release sent by ZC. babwe between 2000 and 2014.
He was willing to quarantine
in Dubai before the matches

Is another humiliating defeat staring Chiyangwa & Co?

IF progressive minds are an amazing track record in what to promise them. has sought to collectively ilandu into withdrawing his Cosafa’s chosen candidate.
applied, Patrice Motsepe both commerce and sport? Motsepe’s opponents have back a South African in an candidacy in order to rally Well, it is just one vote
should be the next man to efficiently operated in the election for a crucial post in behind a single candidate
lead African football into a At first glance, the names background for a sustained the game. from the region, Jordaan. slipping away, you could say.
new future. of the other candidates vying period – engineering elec- In September 2018, all But there is more than meets
for the biggest job in African toral victories for others in members of Cosafa – save The former Malawi na- the eye.
The suave South Afri- sport would give the impres- regional confederations, at for one – publicly threw tional team player ignored
can billionaire will contest sion that Motsepe is the clear Caf, and in Fifa. their weight behind seasoned the veiled threats and arrived The real issue playing out,
for the presidency of the favourite to land the post. Having created their own South African football ad- at the Caf extraordinary if the whispers have any truth
Confederation of African clout over the years, it is now ministrator Danny Jordaan meeting in Egypt as a candi- as we believe, is that it is pay-
Football (Caf) at the body’s The other three contend- the turn of the kingmak- for a vacant African posi- date. back time for Nyamilandu,
general assembly meeting in ers are Jacques Anouma of ers to seek African football’s tion on the all-powerful Fifa a man whose influence in
Morocco on 12 March. Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal’s Au- highest office. Council. Malawi was the one The Malawian dark-horse, African football politics was
gustin Senghor, and Moroc- All four men in the run- not to join in, because the justifying his defiant stance hitherto underestimated.
Motsepe’s résumé is the can Ahmad Oul Yahya. ning for the Caf to contest the election, de-
epitome of human en- presidency have feated the highly fancied It therefore hints that the
deavour, acumen, will, and Now, these are not glam- their different Jordaan in the second round candidate Malawi is support-
achievement. orous global personalities, power bases. HawkZone of voting for the coveted seat ing belongs to the greater alli-
like Motsepe. But one thing on the politburo of world ance that swept Nyamilandu
A tycoon of note, Motsepe is sure: they are no nonen- For Motsepe, football’s governing body. to victory against Jordaan in
has managed to replicate tities. The terrain of Afri- one of these is the the 2018 Fifa Council vote.
business world success in the can football is in fact their southern African Enock On 12 March, North Afri-
sporting industry. playground. They know the part of the conti- ca will again play host to an- It will certainly mean that
language of the game on the nent. This group is Muchinjo other important election for Nyamilandu, a Fifa Council
The self-made magnate continent. Such men have the game on this continent. member, will be a key factor
is the owner of Mamelodi been lurking around for a represented by the
Sundowns, the South Afri- while in football politics on regional body, the Not this time around: this in this election. Assuming
can football team he has re- this continent, waiting for Council of Southern Africa country’s own national foot- will be the battle cry of the that the Nyamilandu win-
markably transformed into opportunities and mean- Football Associations (Cosa- ball federation boss, Walter Cosafa bloc and its allies ning team of two years ago
his country’s most decorated while creating opportunities fa), headed by Zimbabwe’s Nyamilandu, was also in the across the continent. is still intact, and that the
club in the new Premier Soc- for others. Phillip Chiyangwa. race for the much-desired voting pattern of 2018 will
cer League era. This is the second time position within Fifa. There is still something, be maintained, Motsepe will
They are political animals in just over two years that The Chiyangwa-led bloc, though, to give this coalition find himself on the backfoot.
Who else, then, fits the in the trenches of African Cosafa, under the leadership with a commanding tone, some sleepless nights.
mandate of driving Afri- football. They know people of the brusque Chiyangwa, had tried to arm-twist Nyam- The South African mogul’s
can football into a future of who matter, where to find It has been whispered in backers sure have their work
growth and prosperity better them, what they desire, and the corridors of football that cut out for them as we enter
than a business tycoon with Malawi, for a second time, is the home stretch.
not throwing in its lot with

Sports Itcannotbe A chance
business as to ‘foresee’
usual with our the future
football
Thursday 1 Ocftorboemr 20h20ere on

Friday 26 February 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS CULTURE
My parents said I was a$60Covid
tariff for
visitors &
Community
radio
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tourists under review

‘mistakeC’: hVearmmiesualerneacENOCKMUCHINJO Story on Page 3 Story on Page 8

MARK Vermeulen, the contro- out to Khupe
versial former Zimbabwe crick-
eter whose life has been plagued Unofficial president calls for emerge
by a litany of inappropriate be-
haviours, appears to be sinking Mark Vermeulen bats in one of his nine Tests for Zimbabwe and (right) with Patrick Gada in London on a Prince Edward School tour of the UK in 1995.
deeper into depression follow-
ing a bizarre verbal onslaught on three kids. But after the first kid, joke! Aah aah aah, I can’t be get- at Prince Edward. Gada, who has his other issues to deal with. From his rant against his
his own parents and a woman they didn’t want any more kids, ting f****d all the time like that, now lives in England, teamed up Sometimes these are just person- parents, Vermeulen then turns
he accuses of cheating on him. then they ended up having two this is f****n b****hit. Parents with Vermeulen in Prince Ed- al issues we outsiders won’t know his vitriol on an unnamed girl-
more. And then they thought it who tell you that they didn’t ward’s first team in 1995. about. Brothers can have some friend, who he says had been
The latest evidence of dis- would be a good idea to tell us, even f****n want you? What “To be honest, I mean, we personal issues, mother and two-timing him.
integration by the 41-year-old the other two kids, that we were kind of parents are those? Jeez, thought he had lovely parents,” daughter can have some person- In the video, Vermeulen is
ex-international batsman fol- mistakes, and that they didn’t like really!” Gada tells The NewsHawks al issues. You and I won’t see it. bleeding from one corner of his
lows previous brushes with the actually want us. I mean, what The Vermeulen boys all went from Nottingham. “The par- You and I saw and knew Mark as forehead down to his eye, appar-
law when Vermeulen was arrest- kind of moth****cked-up par- to Prince EAZdLiwmSabrOdabwBINeo’sySs cIaDHpiiEgtahl teFhnietnys dawindercaeelvoeMtryfoisrnuPpisrpitnoycrteiwvEedipowfeatrshde,outaet$etar,3leI.n2gteuBdesisslplitoohratnts’msdwaenhpearnoedswicetroiccarkns- fuetnhnetdlwysoams aanreosZur lihtmeorf'ssaaildbarltaoewveslrt.wliathnd c
ed over an arson attack in Hara- ents are those? I mean, and then School in
re, suspended from all forms of they turn around and say things city. They all appeared, from school. They made monetary judge him. We saw his parents “Reason I’m looking in the
cricket in England for 10 years like ‘aah, you choose your par- a distance, to be quite close to donations towards several events being supportive. When there state I’m looking, unfortunately,
after an altercation with a spec- ents’. What the f**k, you think I their father, a Harare dentist. It is at the school. We all saw him as were sports events, we always (is that) last year I started falling
tator, and banned by his home chose a parent that would tell me for this reason that Vermeulen’s having supportive parents. With saw them. Mark used to bat at in love with a human being that
country’s cricket board for a rac- that they didn’t f**ken even want tirade against his parents sur- Mark’s parents, I think you have number three, I used to bat at I thought was my soulmate, and
ist comment. me! F**k it, b****hit, absolutely prises long-time friend Patrick to be very careful when you talk number four, and his parents I still think is my soulmate,” re-
freaky b*****hit! Aaah…this is Gada, one of the earliest black about them. I don’t place the used to support Mark all day veals Vermeulen.
While Vermeulen was given a joke, this whole existence is a recipients of a cricket scholarship blame on them, I think Mark when we played.” To page 34
reprieve in some of his misde-
meanours – being cleared of the
arson charges in 2008 on the
grounds of mental illness and
having his 10-year-ban in the
UK reduced to three years in
2006 – his latest outburst might
shed light into the troubled life
of one of world cricket’s most
controversial characters.

In WhatsApp videos sent
to some of his friends and ob-
tained by this publication,
Vermeulen reveals his deep re-
sentment of his parents, who
he says told him and one of his
three brothers that their birth
had been a “mistake”. The for-
mer Zimbabwe Test opener has
two older brothers, Wayne and
Roland, also gifted sportsmen
like their youngest sibling. A
foul-mouthed Vermeulen, in
the videos, tells his friends that
his parents intended to conceive
only Wayne, the oldest of the
three Harare-born brothers.

“This is a culmination of
many things in my life, but I
will start with the first problem,
that is my parents,” says Ver-
meulen in one of the recordings.

“They (his parents) also claim
to be Christians, and (have)

ALSO INSIDE Is another humiliating defeat staring Chiyangwa & Co?