NewsHawks 18 June 2021-min

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WHAT’S INSIDE Friday 18 June 2021 BZUimSIwNoEnS’St SRPoOnaRlTdo
get international breaks Euro
NcSotEamWtepSdainaymfoainlsd Covid-19 finals record
to account for rescue package
US$400m Story on Page 44
Story on Page 10
Story on Page 3

CIO boss
behind
Malunga
farm grab

ALSO INSIDE Whistle-blower turned against Zimra over unsettled millions

Page 2 News NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

CIO boss behind Malunga farm grab

OWEN GAGARE A section of Malunga’s Esidakeni Farm. Hopkins University in the
United States (2004), Rocke-
A TOP Zimbabwean Cen- tell us that the Zim(babwean) quired by government almost Waramba as a going dairy con- by Kershelmar which, in turn, feller Foundation pre-doctoral
tral Intelligence Organisation govt (government) has acquired two decades before”. cern, but retained land owner- is controlled by Malunga, fellowship (1995 to 1998),
(CIO) director and senior rul- our privately-owned farm and Provincial minister Moyo ship. Dhlamini and Moyo. This is post-doctoral research fellow-
ing Zanu PF officials in Ma- tomorrow they are coming to was quoted by state media as contrary to the authorities’ ship at the University of Not-
tabeleland North province are peg it, and give it to people saying the government does Waramba ran the dairy proj- claim that the three investors tingham, and post-doctoral sci-
behind the illegal seizure of a they have allocated it to. This not remove black farmers from ect, which he had acquired bought Keshelmar without the entist at DuPont Incorporated
farm belonging to a local inter- isn’t about land reform and we farms if they do not own land from Swindells, without buying farm, when in fact the prop- in the United States.
national human rights lawyer will fight it in every way.” elsewhere. the farm itself. Besides thinking erty is even officially referred
and a consortium he works “The farm in question be- that it was owned by Waramba, in the government gazette to He was awarded support
with on the highly productive One of the owners, Dhlami- longed to a white farmer by the the other reason government as Kershelmar Farms (Private) from the UK-South Africa Sci-
property in Nyamandlovu. ni, National University of Sci- name of Swindells. When gov- did not take over the farm Limited. ence and Technology Research
ence and Technology Applied ernment compulsorily acquired is that it was a dairy project. Fund in 1997. His interests
Investigations by The News- Genetics Testing Centre direc- land in the 2000s, we did not Dairy farms were spared from This shows that the farm is extend to current affairs and
Hawks, which involved talking tor, was a lecturer at the Uni- immediately resettle people compulsory acquisition.  inextricably linked to the com- military strategy.
to farm workers and Lands versity of Zimbabwe. He also because there was a black man pany.
ministry officials as well as worked for the Food and Agri- by the name Eddie Warambwa “Waramba ran the dairy Mazithulela was born in
searching the deeds and com- culture Organisation in Rome, who claimed to have bought project successfully until he Official sources say Mazith- 1971 and did secondary ed-
panies registry, show CIO Italy, and for the International the farm from the white man,” went bankrupt from other ulela, a distinguished top ucation in Bulawayo. He was
co-deputy director-general Atomic Energy Agency as a Moyo told state media.  businesses, particularly Lybon scientist and former Nation- among the 270 pioneers at
Gatsha Mazithulela, Zanu PF consultant in Vienna, Austria. “It was only after his death Investments. His creditors al University of Science and Nust in 1991.
secretary for administration that we realised that he was a ostensibly judicially attached Technology pro-vice-chancel-
Obert Mpofu and Matabele- Dhlamini was among front- front of the white man and equipment and other proper- lor (innovation and business He graduated with a Bache-
land North provincial minister line workers in Bulawayo lead- measures were taken to re- ties, as well as the farm itself,” development), has been vig- lor of Applied Science (Hons)
of state Richard Moyo are be- ing the battle on Covid-19.  possess the land. There is no an informed source said. orously pushing for the farm in biology and biochemistry in
hind the orchestrated political victimisation here. Maybe seizure for political reasons. He 1994. He received a scholar-
plot to grab Kershelmar Farms Moyo is a businessman who Mr Malunga and his partners “As a result, creditors tried wanted to use the farm issue as ship from the President’s Office
(Private) Limited from its legal also has interests in mining. bought assets on the farm, but to sell the farm at an auction leverage and a gagging instru- – under which the CIO falls
owners who are indigenous certainly not the land as it be- believing it was his. The auc- ment against Malunga, a strong - and later a Rockefeller Foun-
Zimbabweans. The three raised funds and longs to government. We are tion and the property were governance, accountability and dation doctoral scholarship to
pulled other resources together in the process of allocating the advertised in the government anti-corruption advocate. study genetic engineering at
The farm, generally known to invest in agriculture. land and those who were on gazette. But it later emerged the John Innes Centre in the
as Esidakeni, is owned by inter- the farm will benefit just as any that Waramba did not own Mazithulela, who was United Kingdom.
national human rights lawyer However, in a notice of ac- other Zimbabwean if they do the farm, as Kershelmar, under awarded a scholarship by the
Siphosami Malunga – Open quisition of the farm under not have another piece of land which it is registered, was still President’s Office, which ex- Mazithulela graduated with
Society of Southern Africa section 72 (2) of the constitu- elsewhere.” controlled by Swindells. plains why he eventually for- a PhD in genetic engineering at
(Osisa) executive director and tion (General Notice 3042 of Investigations show that the mally joined CIO, is currently the age of 27 and worked in the
the son of prominent national- 2020), Lands minister Anxious government story is misleading “Malunga, Dhlamini and the chairperson of the Nation- US and the UK. He obtained
ist Sydney Malunga – and his Masuka said this week the state and untrue. The facts: the farm Moyo initially tried to buy al Authority of the Chemical an MBA in London.
business partners Zephaniah was expropriating the land with was not designated by govern- the farm at the auction, but Weapons Convention, Zimba-
Dhlamini and Charles Moyo. immediate effect. The notice is ment, let alone acquired to start after some due diligence they bwe Chapter. He also created his own piece
dated 18 December 2020. with. By its own admission, the realised it was not owned by of history by becoming the
Malunga senior was a Zapu government believed it was Waramba, but Kershelmar. Besides, Mazithulela is a se- first Nust graduate to obtain a
stalwart and outspoken MP. Government claims it des- owned by Waramba, a black They then traced the own- nior business executive with PhD in 1998 after accepting a
He died in a mysterious road ignated and compulsorily ac- farmer, hence it was not taken.   er, negotiated with him and years of strategy and board-lev- challenge from the institution’s
accident in 1994 and is buried quired the farm in 2004 under Information gathered then bought Kershelmar and el experience in diverse high founding vice-chancellor, the
at the National Heroes’ Acre in the often violent and chaotic shows the farm was owned by its properties, including the technology industrial research late professor Phineas Makhu-
Harare. land reform programme which white farmer Jeffrey Swindells farm. That is why the Deeds environments, including large- rane.
started in 2000. through Kershelmar (Pvt) Ltd. and Companies registry reflects scale nuclear, chemical and bio-
The farm measures slightly Swindells then rented it out to Malunga, Dhlamini and Moyo technology energy industries.  Further, he holds an MBA in
over 550 hectares. It says Malunga and his part- ownership of the farm.” the valuation of new technolo-
ners later “bought a shadowy Listed among his achieve- gies using real options in finan-
In terms of the law, the company that claimed to own In its 18 December 2020 ments are the Fogarty Aids cial mathematics.
government cannot seize land the farm” – meaning Kershel- notice to acquire the farm, International Training and
from local black people. There mar – “but did not have exclu- government admits it is owned Research Scholarship at Johns He has served as an innova-
is a High Court judgement on sive ownership of the land in tion manager for the Council
that legal position obtained by question since it had been ac- for Scientific and Industrial
Advocate Thabani Mpofu. Research’s Biochemtek divi-
sion, director of the South Af-
The CIO boss is spearhead- rican Aids Vaccine Initiative at
ing the farm seizure in a clear the South African Medical Re-
case of abuse of office. search Council and managing
director of Secure Plan Invest-
“Mazithulela has made it ment Limited in the UK.
clear that he has an interest in
grabbing the farm. He told Si- The Zimbabwean technocrat
pho (Malunga) sometime last served as a board member for
year that government will seize the Cape Biotechnology Trust,
the property because he is criti- Anvir Biopharmaceticals (Pty)
cal of government,” a worker at Ltd and chairperson of Eleva-
the farm said. tion Biotechnology (Pty) Ltd.

“Mpofu has also been here He also served as National
to the farm. So we have been Research Foundation of South
under siege from Mazithulela Africa vice-president, Nucle-
and Zanu PF leaders in this ar Technology Products (Pty)
region. This is clearly political. Limited, at the South African
It has nothing to do with land Nuclear Energy Corporation
reform.”  corporate development consul-
tant.
Malunga, an outspoken gov-
ernment critic like his father However, Mazithulela left
was, worked around the world South Africa under a cloud of
for the United Nations at its controversy. When he returned
New York headquarters, Oslo home, he became one of the
in Norway, Afghanistan, South successful farmers in Matabele-
East Asia, especially in Timor, land region. This shows he does
and Johannesburg, South Af- not need to seize Malunga’s
rica.  farm for agricultural reasons,
but for political agendas.
He is now with Osisa in Jo-
hannesburg where he has do- Before joining the CIO,
nated medicines and medical Mazithulela worked for the
equipment to Zimbabwe to government as principal direc-
fight the Covid-19 pandemic. tor in the then senior minister
Simon Khaya Moyo’s office
Although Malunga was not when he was also Zanu PF
available for comment, he post- chair.
ed on social media earlier in the
week, saying: “Today we re- He was also appointed Bu-
ceived a call from Mr Dodzi at lawayo special councillor after
the land office in Bulawayo to losing Zanu PF primaries in
Bulawayo.

NewsHawks News Page 3
Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company
Issue 35, 18 June 2021

State diamond firm fails
to account for US$400m

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE state that a customer should priate evidence to support these according to Chiri.
pay for their parcels within amounts.” Five carats of diamonds
THE Zimbabwe Consoli- three days of winning a tender. 
dated Diamond Company On the governance issues, worth US$2 075 belonging to
(ZCDC) has failed to account Chiri expressed concern that Chiri noted that the mining a producer also went missing
for the use of money exceed- “possible pilferage of invento- company did not have inde- at the MMCZ during a weight
ing US$400 million, while also ries may occur and go unde- pendent directors as all board verification exercise. 
failing to properly account for tected.” members in the interim had in-
352 583.11 carats of diamonds terests in other related parties.  “In addition, the CCTV
worth about US$146.3 million She also said material vari- video footages could not be re-
which were in stock, raising the ances between physical stock The company also had trieved as there was an internal
possibility that they could have and theoretical stock may go some goods worth US$352 control system failure,” the Au-
been stolen. undetected. The audit was not 068 which were long paid for ditor-General said. 
able to verify the valuation (re- but not yet received, indicat-
In her 2019 report on sta- coverability) of amounts owed ing possible deficiencies in the The ZCDC paid board fees
teenterprises, Auditor-General by related parties with a balance company’s supplier selection or and allowances that were above
Mildred Chiri said she doubted exceeding US$300 million on capacity of selected suppliers to the approved rates during the
the company’s ability to contin- the company’s statement of fi- fulfil contractual obligations, year under review, according to
ue operating due to losses while nancial position. Chiri.
questioning some of the invest-
ments of the company. “I was not able to verify
the valuation (recoverability)
The Auditor-General is wor- of amounts owed by related
ried that ZCDC may not be parties with a balance of $304
able to recover money it invest- 258 953 on the company’s
ed in companies which have statement of financial position.
since folded.  Some of the amounts are owed
by companies that have since
Diamond revenue has been closed down whilst ZMDC
a contentious issue with the have not acknowledged the
late former president Robert amount due. Management
Mugabe once claiming that failed to provide persuasive au-
revenue of up to US$15 billion dit evidence on how and when
had been stolen. Although the these amounts would be recov-
figure was largely doubted, it ered. Consequently, I was un-
was seen as confirmation that able to determine whether any
indeed there was looting in the adjustments to the above stated
diamond mining sector. amounts were necessary,” she
said.
Chiri said ZCDC was fail-
ing to conduct a stock count of “I was not able to verify the
the diamonds at the sort house, valuation (recoverability) of
risking possible pilferage of in- amounts owed by related par-
ventories, which may go unde- ties with a balance of $24 347
tected. 454 on the Company’s state-
ment of financial position.
“There was no evidence of
a documented formal process The amounts are owed by
of reconciling physical stock companies that have since
counted to theoretical stock. closed down. Management
For instance, the following have failed to provide us with
anomalies were noted in re- persuasive audit evidence on
spect of diamond stocks which how and when these amounts
then necessitated post year-end would be recovered.” 
adjustments to the financial
statements which had been Chiri said she could also
presented for audit,” Chiri said. not verify the valuation of the
investment of US$20 295 856
“In 2019, 297 660.41 car- and US$178 799 841 into
ats of diamond stock held at DTZ- OZGEO Limited as the
MMCZ (Minerals Marketing company failed to enable the
Corporation of Zimbabwe) was office of the Auditor-General
not counted at the time of the to asses the fair valuation.
stock count. These parcels were
packed for customers and held In addition, the ZCDC
at MMCZ. However, at year- management also failed to pro-
end, during the stock count, vide the Auditor-General with
these stocks were not included an impairment assessment for
in closing inventories; and in the investment in the subsidi-
2018, 41 699.85 carats of di- ary. 
amond stocks held at MMCZ
were excluded from the stock “Consequently, I was unable
count. It was assumed at the to determine whether any ad-
time that these stocks had been justments to the above-stated
sold to customers.   amounts were necessary,” Chiri
said.
“An additional 13 222.85
carats were excluded from the “I was not able to verify the
final stock sheet in error.”   valuation of accruals with a bal-
ance of $51 613 628  (US$51.6
The Auditor-General also million) and trade creditors
noted that at the time of the with a debit balance of $82 686
audit in April 2020, there had 279 (US$82.7 million) and the
been a sale of diamonds to a rights and obligations of the
local customer in September company thereon. Delays in
2019, which has not been paid recording of invoices into indi-
for or collected, eight months vidual supplier accounts meant
after the sale. She said this was that as at the time of our report,
in breach of tender rules which management had not provided
me with sufficient and appro-

Page 4 News NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Parastatals incur huge losses “I could not satisfy myself on
due to rife mismanagement the completeness and accuracy
STATE enterprises and para- of the reported bank balance as
statals incurred loses of about Zesa Holdings offices in Harare some transactions were not post-
US$1 billion in 2019 due to ed to the cash books. I was un-
corruption, mismanagement tinue as a going concern, with Highlights: Auditor-General’s 2019 report able to verify through alternative
and bad corporate governance, losses running into billions of means, the accuracy and validity
pushing a majority of them to Zimbabwean dollars. Treasury incurred unautho- Ministries negligently failed of the disclosed cash balances as
the brink of collapse. rised excess expenditure to collect ZW$444.6 million the authority did not maintain
“…draw attention to fact that amounting to ZW$6.8 billion owed to the government separate cash books for the three
In her 2019 audit report pre- the company recorded an oper- bank accounts that it operated
sented to Parliament this week, ating loss before tax of ZW$ 924 Dodgy payments in Health Ministry of Lands says bene- and the only CBZ bank account
Auditor-General Mildred Chiri 576 859 (2018: 2 348 661 135) ministry totalling ZW$2.9 ficiaries of land reform owe that was maintained out of the
revealed the parlous finances of for the year ended December million govt ZW$145.4 million for three was incomplete with only
state entities, bringing into ques- 31, 2019. As at December 31, inherited farm infrastructure, payments made and no receipts.
tion their ability to continue op- 2019, the Company’s current Murky payments totalling but auditors say there is no Payments made from CBZ bank
erating. liabilities exceeded its current ZW$1.4 million in Public Ser- database of such farmers account amounted to two mil-
assets by ZW$5 168 114 975 vice ministry lion one hundred seventy-six
This comes as 34 state-owned (2018: ZW$4 794 391 397),” Ministry of Youth has not thousand three hundred for-
enterprises failed to submit their she said. No evidence of how received two Nissan NP300 ty-six and twenty-eight cents
financial statements for audit, ZW$657.5 million Transport pick-up trucks, yet the suppli- (US$2 176 346.28).”
while 54 audits were still in The company also owes cus- ministry funds were spent er, AMC Nissan, was fully paid
progress and 52 audits had been tomers who made advance pay- in 2017 She added that the author-
completed.  ments for connection of electric- Ministry of Health had bud- ity operated a number of bank
ity.  geted to spend ZW$155 Ministry of Lands: accounts and the cash book
Entities whose going con- million on hospital refur- • Bought four vehicles total- maintained for one of the bank
cern status is questionable are “However, the company was bishment, ambulances and accounts was incomplete as it
the Zimbabwe Consolitated not connecting electricity for provision of water, but only ling ZW$207 540 in 2017 showed only payments made
Diamond Company (ZCDC). these customers. As a result, the ZW$2.1 million was eventually from Solutions Motors, amounting to US$2 176 346
Chiri questioned the mining total amount paid for connec- spent which have still not been without any receipts yet the re-
firm’s capacity to recover money tions which remained outstand- delivered cords (bank statements) showed
exceeding US$400 million. ing increased from ZW$3 212 High risk of ghost workers as • Nine vehicle registration that the authority was collecting
964 in 2018 to ZW$4 137 715 ZW$1.8 million in salaries was books are missing revenue. 
Concerns were also raised in 2019.” not reconciled • Three Toyota Land Cruiser
over the Zimbabwe Electricity Prados acquired in 2017 “In addition, the Authority
Transmission and Distribution Chiri also found that Line ministries flouting public have still not been regis- did not maintain separate cash
Company (ZETDC) which in- ZETDC was not remitting the procurement law tered books for three other bank ac-
curred losses totalling ZW$924 rural electrification levy to the counts that were in use. I also
576 859 (Compated to ZW$2 Rural Electrification Agency the Procurement Regulatory liably measure administration I therefore could not satisfy my- noted that bank reconciliations
348 661 135 in 2018). The (Rea) in breach of the law.  Authority of Zimbabwe  which fees at the point of award as self on the accuracy of adminis- were not being prepared for the
power utility’s liabilities exceed- does not have a mechanism to the direct awards were prone tration fees amounting to US$1 accounts,” she said. 
ed its current assets by ZW$5 “REA levy outstanding as at monitor how direct awards were to variations and cancellations. 514 280 (2016) and US$1 329
168 114 975 (2018: ZW$4 794 31 December 2019 amounted being executed and could not As a result, the authority wrote 650 (2017) and the existence Chiri also noted that the
391 397). to ZW$224 392 693 (2018: support the administration fees off US$2.39 million due to in- and valuation of related trade Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife
ZW$108 465 723).  The Com- with signed contracts, resulting adequate contract information receivables amounting to US$2 Management Authority  (Zim-
In addition, the Procurement pany had debtors amounting to in the authority writing of debt. which resulted in failure to ad- 380 983 (2016) and US$717 Parks) was awarding each board
Regulatory Authority of Zimba- ZW$2.2 billion as at equately collect amounts owing. 200 (2017),” Chiri said. member 300 litres of fuel per
bwe had to write off US$2. 39 “The authority could not re- month, without ministry ap-
million due to inadequate con- December 31, 2019 (2018: proval. 
tract information, which result- ZW$1.1 billion). The debtors
ed in the failure to adequately age analysis revealed that 45% of “There was no evidence to
collect amounts owing.  the Company debtors were aged show that the monthly 300 li-
90 days or more. tres of fuel per board member
Chiri also said she was not had been approved by the parent
convinced of the accuracy of “The Company received loan Ministry. The fuel allowance was
administration fees amounting amounts from Ministry of Fi- given from January to Septem-
to US$1 514 280 (in 2016) and nance and Economic Develop- ber 2018. I also noted that the
US$1 329 650 (2017) and the ment. However, there was no fuel allowance was not taxed. 
existence and valuation of relat- agreement for the loan amounts.
ed trade receivables amounting As a result, there were no stip- “In addition, one of those sev-
to US$2 380 983 (2016) and ulated terms of repayments and en board members was also a di-
US$717 200 (2017). interest. As at December 31, rector of a company which had
2019, the amount outstanding entered into a lease agreement
“…governance issues have was ZW$1 179 454.” with the Authority on 5 June,
continued to dominate my re- 2018 for a site located in Ma-
port for State Enterprises and Another entity whose ac- rongora Safari. This company
Parastatals. Out of sixty-nine counts were in a shambles is had outstanding fees amounting
(69) issues I am reporting; fif- to $34 620 as at December 31,
ty-three (53) relate to the area 2018.”
of governance while sixteen
(16) relate to revenue collection, “In addition, I noted that
employment costs and procure- management applied tax rates
ment,” Chiri said. on board fees and sitting allow-
ances which were lower than the
“Governance issues reported prescribed withholding tax rate.
in the current year are in respect As a result, the tax deducted
of payment of board fees and amounted to $1 252 instead of
allowances without approval of $8 655, leading to an underpay-
the responsible Minister, fail- ment of $7 403,” she said.
ure to declare interest by board
members, absence/ unbalanced In response, the ZETDC
composition of the Board of Di- management said the practice
rectors and other issues on inef- had been stopped and the new
fective internal control systems.” board that came in September
2018 is not getting the 300 litres
Some of the highlights by of fuel per month.
Chiri included: lack of evidence
to show that ministerial approv- Chiri also raised a red flag
al had been sought and granted against the Zimbabwe National
for some extra board perks such Roads Administration.
as fuel, board members failing to
make any declarations of interest “Infralink (Private) Limit-
and that ZETDC had US$1.2 ed received a garnishee order
million worth of cables undeliv- for understated Income Tax
ered since 2015. and Value Added Tax (VAT) of
US$46 977 476 in 2015. Man-
“The Mining Promotion agement did not accrue for these
Corporation had no substantive amounts because they contend
Chief Executive Officer since that the tax status of the Com-
2016 whilst Petrotrade did not pany is still to be established.”
have a Board of Directors since
2015.  Some parastatals were “The effect of non-accrual of
paying board allowances that these tax obligations is an over-
had not been approved by the statement of retained earnings
minister while others grossed up by US$46 977 476 and an un-
board fees and also paid board derstatement of US$46 977 476
members sitting allowances for in trade and other payables.
attending workshops,” she said.
“No tax assessments were
Regarding the ZETDC, Chi- performed for 2016, 2017 and
ri said its losses indicated that a the current financial year there-
material uncertainty exists that fore there is potential additional
may cast significant doubt on exposure of 3 years,” the Audi-
the company’s ability to con- tor-General said. 

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

OWEN GAGARE Whistle-blower turned against
Zimra over unsettled millions
ZIMBABWE’S leading whis- ment and partaking in atten-
tle-blower Evans Kujinga – When Kujinga approached which was signed by the three received in May 2020. Zimra offices in Harare. dant financial rewards.
who has reported over 300 Zacc to report Zimra, a case of you. There were discussions “The recommendations therefore encourage you to ap-
companies as shown by latest was opened for investigations. held once again when this proach Zacc so that they can This endangers the  security
records to the Zimbabwe Rev- The reference for the case was letter was received,” Ndlovu from the forensic report, re- finalize their investigation and of whistle-blowers and  dam-
enue Authority (Zimra) for tax Zacc RR 35-39/10/19. wrote to Kujinga and others. garding the Delatfin case, was provide Zimra with their find- ages the image of the tax  col-
evasion and racked in millions that the Revenue Assurance ings. This will enable Zimra lector. The most recent case
in the process – once took the In a letter to Kujinga and “The position of the Au- Division was to re-visit the to advise you of the findings, involved  three whistle-blowers
tax collector to the Zimba- other whistle-blowers dated 10 thority has been that this case case with the assistance of oth- as  per the recommendations — Norman Nyabadza, Martin
bwe-Anti-Corruption Com- September 2020 over the fight was never taken up for inves- er divisions. This was done but from the forensic auditors. Macharaga and Evans Kujinga
mission (Zacc) for corruption. on the Delatfin (Pvt) Ltd case tigation in 2013. There is no a conclusive decision could not — who had reported notorious
which was stolen from three informant form on record that be arrived at as the Zacc final “Kindly note that this letter Harare land baron Felix Mun-
Documents obtained from whistle-blowers, who included was filled in by anyone in 2013 report was also required. Zacc will be emailed to your indi- yaradzi to  Zimra for tax eva-
Zacc show Kujinga reported Kujinga, and given someone for this case. The Authority was contacted for their report. vidual email addresses that sion involving US$12 million,
Zimra to Zacc over a number different, Zimra’s acting reve- was, last year, informed by the They advised that their inves- you provided. We need to which is the case being referred
cases due to unpaid commis- nue assurance commissioner Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption tigation was not yet conclud- minimise contact as much as to in Ndlovu’s letter.
sions and an attempt by the tax Lonto Ndlovu said Zacc was Commission (Zacc) that Zacc ed. Zacc advised that they are possible during this Covid-19
collector’s top officials to rob investigating the matter. was also investigating the issue still waiting for the three of pandemic period and commu- Although Kujinga later re-
him and other whistle-blowers surrounding this case. Zacc you to avail yourselves to Zacc, nicate with each other through solved the matter with Zimra,
of their legal dues. “RE: STOLEN CASE OF gave its reference for the case as and have statements recorded.  the telephone, email or other tables turned and the tax col-
DELATFIN (PVT) LTD Zacc RR 35-39/10/19. electronic platforms like Mic- lector in March wrote to Mun-
That was an usual situation “The other divisions we rosoft Teams.” yaradzi demanding payment
in which whistle-blowers blew “I refer to the abovemen- “Fast forward to this year. were referred to by the forensic for an outstanding bill or else
the whistle on their benefactor tioned matter and the various As you are all aware, we had auditors for review of this case In April,  The News- they would  garnish his busi-
amid internal contradictions at inquiries and discussions we a forensic audit which was then said they required the Hawks  reported Zimra was ness accounts.
Zimra sharpened by corrup- have had over time regarding conducted on Sect. 34B cases final Zacc report on the mat- caught in a  corruption storm
tion and greed. the same matter. I also make in 2019 up to early this year. ter before they can express an in which its senior officers were Munyaradzi was then given
reference to a letter on the De- The forensic audit report was opinion on the case. I would accused of  conniving with tax seven days to pay or face  the
“Sometime in 2019, Kujin- latfin case dated 29 July 2019 evaders in  exchange for pay- consequences. 
ga, fed up by Zimra’s failure to
pay his commissions on time Under the whistle-blower
due to corruption and greed by facility, Zimra is supposed to
top officials, reported the tax reward legitimate informants
collector to Zacc for corrup- on cases relating to tax evasion
tion,” one of the documents under Section 34B of the Rev-
says. enue  Authority Act (Chapter
23:11)  as read with Statutory
“Reasons for that included Instrument 150 of 2020. 
delays in payment of com-
missions, slashing of tax bills Statutory Instrument 150
for companies evading tax of  2020, gazetted on 26 June
for bribes, manipulation of 2020,  regulates payment of
the whistle-blowing system, rewards to  informants upon
for instance stealing cases by whistleblowing and recovery of
top Zimra officials from cer- revenue. The reward is 10% of
tain whistle-blowers and giv- the  amount recovered on the
ing them to their cronies for basis  of information supplied,
payment, paying the wrong but corrupt Zimra officials al-
whistle-blowers for self-inter- ways manipulate that. 
est, claiming that companies
which are not paying tax have Zimra also undertakes to
shut down when they haven’t, protect the identity  of the in-
protecting tax offenders and formants at all times as provid-
shifting goalposts on whether ed for in the secrecy provisions
informants are entitled to a of the Revenue Authority Act,
commission from the principal but it has failed and  endan-
amount alone or also on in- gered whistle-blowers.
terest and penalties on unpaid
taxes.” Following The NewsHawks’
recent report, Zimra sourc-
Tax cases in  which Kujinga es  have provided further de-
reported Zimra to Zacc fol- tails, including an audit report
lowing disputes over payment dating back  five years which
include MetBank, BancABC shows a frenzy  of looting of
Second Nominees, Fuels Af- public funds under  the whis-
rica, Traverse, NetOne, Jinan, tle-blower facility. 
Zimbabwe Sugar Sales, Sec-
ond Nominees, Solid Ground,
African Centuries, CABS and
Delatfin (Pvt) Ltd, among
many others. 

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

How whistle-blowers are
gaming the Zimra system

BERNARD MPOFU sHawks, massive corruption — continued unabated. Millions in reward legitimate informants on
which has dragged on for years — taxpayers’ funds have been stolen cases relating to tax evasion un-
WHILE the gazetting of a statu- is rocking the Zimbabwe Revenue through the racket. The network der Section 34B of the Revenue
tory instrument on whistle-blow- Authority (Zimra)’s multi-mil- works like this: senior Zimra of- Authority Act (Chapter 23:11) as
ers who help sniff out tax evad- lion-dollar whistle-blower fund ficials get information from whis- read with Statutory Instrument
ers was seen as a useful move in which the tax collector’s senior of- tle-blowers and then help them to 150 of 2020.
promoting accountability, recent ficials are looting in cahoots with consolidate and process their cases
events and investigations have a corrupt network of informants fast using inside information for a Statutory Instrument 150 of
shown that the system is not wa- acting on insider information. huge cut.This week, The New- 2020, gazetted on 26 June 2020,
tertight after all. sHawks spoke to insiders and regulates the payment of rewards
Following  The NewsHawks’ other sources on how the Zimra to informants upon whistleblow-
There are concerns pertain- recent report, Zimra sources have whistle-blowers’ facility is fraught ing and recovery of revenue.
ing to the culture of opaqueness provided further details, includ- with irregularities as well as how
around how the whistle-blowers’ ing an audit report dating back whistle-blowers like Evans Kujin- The reward is 10% of the
facility operates. A large num- five years which lifts the lid on ga could have managed to cash amount recovered on the basis of
ber of conflicted transactions has the frenzied looting of the whis- in millions of dollars from the information supplied. Corrupt
over the years aided underhanded tle-blower fund. The audit cov- facility. Under the whistle-blow- Zimra officials always manipulate
dealings. ered the period 2009-2016. er facility, Zimra is supposed to that.

As first reported by The New- However, the plunder has Zimra also undertakes to pro-
tect the identity of the informants

Zimra acting commissioner-general Rameck Masaire.

at all times as provided for in the job would have been done, the
secrecy provisions of the Revenue companies would quite often be
Authority Act, but it has failed to found on the wrong side of the
do so and is endangering whis- law and some would negotiate
tle-blowers. for payment plans. In line with
the regulations, a whistle-blower
Information gathered by The would have a meeting with the
NewsHawks shows that the whis- Commissioner of Investigations
tle-blower facility was designed in who would be in the company of
a way to ensure that those who the Director of International Af-
come forward with information fairs. These people can be bribed.”
are positioned to know the tax
situation of companies or rather Other whistle-blowers would
insiders. find it difficult to access the Com-
missioner of Investigations, the
“At most a person can do whis- source added.
tleblowing for not more than two
companies,” a source familiar “You would find backlogs of
with the system said. over 50 companies and some cases
would not be attended to because
But Kujinga, described by the whistle-blowers who made
sources as a smooth operator,  the reports had no influence. For
has under his name 80 compa- those who were influential, they
nies which have been reported to would also deal directly with the
Zimra for violating the country’s debt office in making follow-ups
tax laws.  This ordinarily would for the payments,” the source said.
have raised eyebrows to insiders.
But how did he ever lay his hands The source said once the tax
on critical information that has obligations are paid or payment
made him pocket millions of dol- plans are agreed upon, some whis-
lars from the facility? tle-blowers are informed by insid-
Mastering the system ers on such arrangements and
Insiders said Kujinga, whom at promptly they would demand
one time enrolled at the Univer- their pound of flesh.
sity of Zimbabwe medical school,
knows his way around. It is also established that
during an investigation conduct-
“He monopolised the facility ed at Zimra, external auditors
and became a de facto legitimate Deloitte interviewed officers from
agent for other agents,” another the debt office who admitted that
source said. they had received payments from
one of the whistle-blowers to pro-
Sources said one way which vide them with insider informa-
whistle-blowers like Kujinga tion. This information was then
could have collected critical in- handed over to the Zimra internal
formation on companies was by audit team.  
approaching businesses and mis- Banks as conduits 
leading them that they wanted to Sources said shrewd whistle-blow-
partner them.  ers also work with bank employ-
ees who would provide infor-
“Once they were in possession mation of companies’ cashflow
of the company profile which positions.
included the clients and bank
accounts, some whistle-blowers “Some bank employees were
would visit the Zimra debt office also bribed by whistle-blowers to
and bribe officers in that office provide critical information on
to check whether or not those companies,” a source said. 
companies were tax compliant,” a High-profile whistle-blowers as
source said. agents
The sources said once high-pro-
“If not, they would pay the file whistle-blowers established
Commissioner (Investigations) that other leads provided by lit-
personal assistant to schedule tle-known informers were turned
an appointment with them. In down, they would, in turn, ap-
this meeting, the commissioner proach them, promising to facili-
would act swiftly by instructing tate the process in return for a fee.
the investigations officers to car-
ry out an on-site visit on the said
companies. Because 90% of the

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

NYASHA CHINGONO Governance shortcomings ed cash in its coffers despite
in local authorities exposed government orders to banks,
BAD corporate governance, while the council also failed
corruption, mismanagement Local Government issuing not pay anything by the expi- ly receipts in the receipting Bindura  to account for ZW$1.1 mil-
and lack of accountability a directive through circular ry of their terms.” menu. As a result, the coun- Bindura paid US$90 850 to lion, written off as part of a
continued to haunt most lo- number one of 2011, which Masvingo cil lost ZW$78 000 to fraud.  Pelgin Consulting Services discount promotion.  On in-
cal authorities, resulting in prohibited the council from Masvingo failed to meet the for a front-end loader in De- quiry, Chiri noted that the
poor service delivery, Audi- selling commercial and in- water demands of the city, Masvingo also failed to cember 2018, but it had not difference was attributed to
tor-General Mildred Chiri’s dustrial stands at conces- producing only 30 megali- maintain a comprehensive been delivered at the time of cash advanced to certain em-
2019 report tabled in parlia- sionary rates to councillors, tres, against a daily target of fuel usage record. The regis- the audit. The municipality ployees. 
ment this week reveals. Gweru sold stands at 40% 48 megalitres. Chiri reports ter did not show the name of also billed 218 accounts with
discount to the councillors. that raw sewer was flow- the beneficiary, thereby in- no valid names, but had a “However, there was no
According to the report, ing into water sources, un- creasing the risk of fuel mis- balance of ZW$425 890.  documentation attached as
some councils failed to ac- “Furthermore, some coun- checked, exposing thousands appropriation.  evidence of the authorisation
count for thousands of resi- cillors did not fill in stop of residents to water borne “Unknown accounts may of the transaction,” she said.
dential stands, while coun- order forms or make any diseases.  The council could not ac- be used to commit and con-
cillors grabbed commercial payment arrangements to- count for vehicles, with ad- ceal fraudulent transactions,” The audit also revealed
and residential sands without wards the purchase price of The audit revealed that ministration failing to reg- Chiri noted. that “council in 2012 paid a
paying for them. the stands allocated to them. two clerks used a system ister some of the vehicles in Mutare supplier US$330 000 for the
Some councillors paid vary- loophole to manipulate dai- the asset register. Chiri raised Mutare chose to keep collect- supply of water pipes which
Out of 59 issues reported ing amounts while others did concern over asset misappro- were yet to be delivered at
by Chiri, 34 relate to gover- priation.  the time of audit in Decem-
nance, while 25 relate to rev- ber 2020.”
enue collection, service de- Other local authorities
livery and employment costs, Some councils continued to
among others.  operate without key policy
Gweru documents, running payrolls
Chiri, reported that some without due approval, while
Gweru councillors did not others were operating bud-
pay for the stands they ac- gets without the approval of
quired at concessionary the relevant minister of Local
rates with a condition to pay Government. 
during their term of office.
“The audit findings war-
Gweru also did not have rant the attention of manage-
supporting documents for ment and those charged with
the stands sold. governance.

“I was not availed with “The audit revealed that
supporting documents to most weaknesses related to
show that the council has a governance and service de-
record of all stands sold, their livery issues. There is need
purchase price, the beneficia- for continuous improvement
ry, amounts paid to date and in accountability and trans-
outstanding balance on each parency aspects in Local Au-
stand. During the current thorities,” Chiri said in her
year, the listing provided to recommendations. 
the audit showed that stands
worth ZW$1 714 784 were A number of local author-
sold, however the amount ities, including Bulawayo
could not be traced to the City Council, Harare City
financial statements,” Chiri Council and Kadoma City
said. Council, had not submitted
their accounts for auditing as
Despite the ministry of at 16 January 2021.

Farmers still unpaid for 2018 crop deliveries

MORRIS BISHI their grain to private buyers. saying their records are missing l was given proforma receipts information is missing from He asked The NewsHawks to
They have been waiting to get information about deliveries for all deliveries, the receipts their system. This has affected submit questions concerning
HUNDREDS of farmers in payment from the GMB since made at Chizvirizvi. which l can give you. Since our farming programmes and Chiredzi farmers in writing so
Chiredzi who delivered maize October 2018. He said several that year, we are yet to be paid we are now thinking of selling that he can check the details
and sorghum to the Grain visits to Nandi depot are yield- “I am a farmer from Chizvi- and officials from the main de- our grain to private players,” with Chiredzi depot before
Marketing Board (GMB) in ing nothing since officials are rizvi and l supplied 14.5 tonnes pot in Chiredzi are saying our said Bandama. responding. Kate had not yet
2018 are yet to be paid al- of grain to GMB in 2018 and to respond to the questions by
though the parastatal is cur- Chiredzi Rural District the time of going ro print.
rently paying farmers for grain Council ward 22 councillor
delivered this season. Wilfred Manyiyo said more “We are paying for grain de-
than 200 farmers were not livered in 2020. I am not aware
The farmers, from Chiredzi paid. of anyone who delivered grain
East and parts of Chiredzi in 2018 who is yet to be paid.
North, delivered their grain “That is the correct prevail- Submit your questions in writ-
at Chizvirizvi GMB collection ing situation. We have over ing so that l can enquire about
point located in ward 22. 200 farmers who are yet to the issue before giving you a
receive their payments from full comment,” said Katete.
Some of the farmers who GMB. I visited the depot sev-
spoke to The NewsHawks said eral times but they told me GMB Nandi depot manag-
they visited the main depot at that they are looking for in- er Sharon Darikwa however
Nandi in Chiredzi on several formation regarding deliveries said payments to all farmers
occasions, but were told that made at Chizvirizvi. People who delivered grain were pro-
their names were missing from are being disadvantaged and cessed. She asked this report-
the computer system despite it is my hope that the issue is er to bring details of unpaid
the availability of proforma in- addressed quickly,” said Many- farmers to her office so that
voices which they were issued iyo. she can check in the depot’s
with after delivering the grain. system. After production of
Ward 32 councillor Aspect unpaid proforma receipts,
Tonderai Bandama from Mashingaidze said he was told she later said she was failing
Chizvirizvi, who supplied 14.5 that the depot lost information to locate the names of affect-
tonnes of maize to the GMB, regarding Chizvirizvi collec- ed farmers. She attributed the
told The NewsHawks that most tion point. GMB spokesperson failure to the change of system
people in his area, which is un- Joel Katete said the grain util- by the GMB’s information
der Chief Tshovani, are now ity is in the process of paying technology department.
entertaining the idea of selling for deliveries made in 2020.

Page 8 News NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Land beneficiary records in a shambles

BERNARD MPOFU December 2019 on ap- came in the backdrop of Farmers’ Union of Zim-
propriation accounts and mounting pressure from babwe in July 2020.
THE ministry of Lands fund accounts is that Trea- the country’s freedom
says beneficiaries of the sury incurred unautho- fighters. According to the Au-
land reform programme rised excess expenditure ditor-General’s 2019
owe the government amounting to ZW$6.8 Last year, the govern- released this week, the
ZW$145.4 million for billion (see highlights). ment announced that it country’s Agriculture
the infrastructure they in- The audit lays bare the would pay white farmers ministry, which is in
herited on allocated land, government’s shambol- a whopping US$3.5 bil- charge of food security,
but the Auditor-General ic record-keeping in the lion as compensation for supplying throughput to
says there is no database Agriculture ministry. the losses incurred from the manufacturing sector
of such farmers and farm The country embarked the fast-track land reform and carrying out land re-
improvements. on a fast-track land re- programme of 2000. The distribution, has over the
form programme at the agreement, termed the years been mis-stating its
The major highlight turn of the millennium Global Compensation financial records.
of Auditor-General Mil- to address colonial own- Deed, was entered into
dred Chiri’s report for ership imbalances which between the government “Contrary to Section
the financial year ending and the Commercial 35 (6) (a) of the Public
Finance Management Act

Auditor-General Mildred Chiri.

[Chapter 22:19], which valuation of the farms
requires the Accounting acquired during the
Officer to keep or cause land reform programme
to be kept proper records would be finalised once
of account, there was no the government com-
credible database for the pletes its land audit.
beneficiaries of the land
reform programme to “The observation is
support the outstanding noted. The database for
revenue amount of $145 A2 allocations is avail-
404 199 disclosed in the able but changes happen
outstanding revenue re- as some offer letters are
turn,” Chiri said in the withdrawn and others
report. downsized. The Zimba-
bwe Land Commission
“I could not there- is doing a comprehen-
fore, verify the accura- sive land audit which
cy and completeness of will give us the final data
the return. Furthermore, for the uploading of the
some farms allocated information onto the
to the beneficiaries had database. Phase 1 of the
not been valued by the land audit has been done
valuation section of the and the Zimbabwe Lands
Department to ascertain Commission will provide
the value payable by the the Department with the
farmer for farm improve- details to upload onto
ments such as dams, the database, the minis-
barns, farm buildings and try responded.”
access roads, implying
that outstanding revenue “The Department has
may have been mis-stat- no Accountants at Dis-
ed.  The outstanding rev- trict levels so as to reach
enue return might be ma- all farmers. Accountants
terially mis-stated in the from Head Office and
absence of completeness Provincial Offices do rev-
of revenue records.” enue collection trips in
Districts as and when the
The Department of resources are available.
Land Resettlement and Most farms have been
Security of Tenure, Chi- valued, however, the pro-
ri added, should come cess is ongoing as there
up with a comprehensive are reports that need to
consolidated database for be produced and Com-
beneficiaries of land re- pensation Committee
form which should form meetings will be held to
the basis of revenue com- determine values for bill-
putation in compliance ing purposes.”
with Section 35 (6) (a) of
the Public Finance Man- Commenting on the
agement Act [Chapter response of the ministry
22:19]. officials, Chiri said: “The
database for A2 farm-
In response, officials ers referred to was not
from the ministry said availed to audit.”

NewsHawks News Page 9

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Page 10 News NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

BERNARD MPOFU Zim won’t get international financing to stabilise its econ-
Covid-19 rescue package omy, was conspicuous by its
ZIMBABWE will not receive absence at the Paris Summit
a dime from a multi-bil- the country’s ability to clear World Bank headquarters in Washington DC. which was attended by Fran-
lion-dollar facility organised arrears.  cophone, Saxophone and Lu-
by international financial in- impacting both households world’s advanced economies Covid-19 pandemic caused sophone countries this week.
stitutions which seeks to help “Government’s ability to and the private sector (small are expected to parcel out part economic shocks on the con-
countries of the global South respond to the pandemic is and medium enterprise), and of their International Mon- tinent. Paris took the lead and Countries which adopt-
in dealing with the socio-eco- constrained by limited access further exacerbating poverty etary Fund Special Drawing made a firm commitment to ed the declaration included: 
nomic impact of the Covid-19 to concessional sources of fi- and impeding livelihoods.”  Rights (SDR) to shore up lobby advanced economies to Algeria, Angola, Belgium,
pandemic due to non-pay- nancing. External debt arrears developing countries current- parcel out part of their SDR Benin, Burkina Faso, Cam-
ment of arrears to lenders, the that reached 78 percent of This comes after The New- ly reeling from the impact of to weaker economies. eroon, Canada, China, Co-
World Bank has said. external public debt in 2020 sHawks last month reported Covid-19. moros (a Chinese ally which
have prevented Zimbabwe that Zimbabwe could lose out A declaration of the docu- counterbalanced Russian and
Covid-19 pandemic has led from benefitting from finance on a French-backed US$650 In May, France hosted the ment which was seen by  The Indian influence in the In-
to an unprecedented econom- from International billion economic support Paris summit on supporting NewsHawks shows that Zim- dian Ocean), Congo, Dem-
ic crisis worldwide, with di- programme under which the African economies after the babwe, which badly needs ocratic Republic of Congo,
sastrous social consequences. Financial Institutions (IFIs) Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia,
After 25 years of continuous and global initiatives, such as France, Germany, Ghana, It-
growth, Africa is severely hit the global Debt Service Sus- aly, Japan, Kenya, Mali, Mau-
and suffered a recession in pension Initiative (DSSI). ritius, Mauritania, Morocco,
2020. The DSSI is intended to sus- Mozambique, Netherlands,
pend debt payments from the Niger, Nigeria, Portugal,
The southern African na- poorest countries to official Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sene-
tion defaulted on arrears bilateral creditors based on gal, Spain, South Africa, Su-
payments at the turn of the countries’ requests for for- dan, Tanzania, Chad, Togo,
millennium, resulting in the bearance, with a view to pro- Tunisia, United Arab Emir-
failure to access long-term viding immediate liquidity ates, United Kingdom, Unit-
funding for multilateral lend- to tackle challenges posed by ed States of America, Zambia.
ers such as the World Bank, Covid-19,” the World Bank
International Monetary Fund said.  The summit was also at-
and the African Development tended by the chairperson of
Bank. “IFIs have also put in place the African Union, the chair-
programmes to assist in the person of the African Union
Official figures show that Covid-19 response, including Commission, the president
public and publicly guaran- procurement of PPEs, vacci- of the European Council and
teed external debt stood at nations, however Zimbabwe the president of the European
83% of the Gross Domestic is not eligible for this support Commission.
Product (GDP) in 2019, of due to arrears. The GoZ has
which 61% of GDP was ex- therefore opted for collat- Meanwhile Zimbabwe has
ternal arrears. Domestic debt eralised external borrowing made token payments to the
financing is limited due to on commercial terms, which IFIs as the country seeks full
shallow financial markets and may complicate future arrears re-engagement with its credi-
negative real interest rates, clearance operations. Given tors.
which discourage lending.  Zimbabwe’s inability to ac-
cess IFI finance, spending on “Regarding financial re-en-
According to the latest those affected by the pandem- gagement, the IMF Staff vis-
World Bank economic up- ic was considerably lower than its were concluded. Payments
date on Zimbabwe, although in other developing countries, to the following institutions
management of central gov- have been made:- World
ernment finances improved Bank, US$1 million; AfDB
in 2019, sizeable contingent USD0.5 million and Euro-
liabilities coupled with a con- pean Investment Bank (EIB)
siderable debt burden and USD0.1 million,” Monica
limited access to concessional Mutsvangwa told a post-cab-
financing continue to limit inet Press briefing this week.

There is a future.

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

SUPPORT KIDZCAN
KINDLY DONATE

STAY KIDZCAN, NMB BANK - BORROWDALE, 260055798
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ECOCASH MERCHANT NUMBER: 87391
6 NATAL ROAD, BELGRAVIA, HARARE

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

AT least 200 villagers from Land reform boomerang: 200 Life is hard for us here,
Maganga village near Ma- Chief Svosve villagers evicted considering that we are
rondera who invaded land living in the open.”
belonging to Hunyani Es- campaign tool during the dential elections as well as Land invasions in Zimbabwe. ed the Maganga villagers
tate at the onset of Zim- 2000 parliamentary elec- subsequent polls. between last week and Meanwhile, minister of
babwe’s chaotic fast-track tions and the 2002 presi- with an eviction order and Wednesday. The villagers State for Provincial Affairs
land reform programme in Hunyani Estate, armed backed by heavily armed were dumped near the Ha- and Devolution Aplonia
2000 have been evicted. riot police, forcibly evict- rare-Mutare road. Munzverengwi has con-
firmed that the farm be-
The Maganga area is lo- Maganga kraalhead longed to Hunyani Estate.
cated in Marondera East, George Siyawamwaya re-
20 kilometres from the vealed that they invaded “The farm was given to
town. It is under Chief the farm at the height of Hunyani Timbers who
Svosve who mobilised his the fast-track land reform were the rightful owners
people to invade farms, programme after which of this land, so we have
thereby spearheading the they were promised offer been sent a request to the
land reform programme. letters. minister of Lands, Agri-
culture, Water, Climate,
The Svoswe people, with According to the minis- Fisheries and Rural Re-
the encouragement of the try of Lands, Agriculture, settlement to consider
late Chief Svosve Enock Water, Climate, Fisheries these farmers who have
Gahadza Zenda, armed and Rural Resettlement, been staying at this place
with hoes and axes, moved illegal settlers are defined for many years so that he
into the Ruzawi commer- as those without an offer grants 210 hectares to al-
cial farming belt east of letter, permit, lease or title locate these farmers,” said
Marondera in 1998. They deed. Munzverengwi. 
invaded farms owned by
white commercial farm- “We began living at this “We want to thank min-
ers, arguing they were re- place in 2000. We were ister Anxious Masuka for
claiming ancestral land promised offer letters, giving these farmers 210
expropriated from their but nothing has come our hectares since they were
forefathers by the colonial way,” Siyawamwaya said. evicted by Hunyani Tim-
settler regime.  bers.
“In 2017, officials from
The Svoswe people’s ac- the Lands ministry told us “Every farmer is going
tion was a precursor to the that they will allocate 200 to be allocated one hectare
land reform programme, hectares of land to us, but and we are now working
as it later inspired war today it is another story. on how we can establish
veterans to invade farms an irrigation set-up to
with support from Zanu these farmers,” said Mun-
PF, which used it as a zverengwi.

—STAFF WRITER.

CFU asks dispossessed farmers to compile evidence

DUMISANI NYONI committed to paying US$3.5 under the controversial pro- have continued. . for both land and improvements
billion in compensation to local gramme can apply for land allo- For instance, in September Early this year, Zanu PF Mas- because the farms were bought
THE Commercial Farmers’ white farmers whose land was cation as they can be offered land vingo provincial officials grabbed by white farmers using private
Union (CFU) has urged its forcibly taken by the government elsewhere if compensation proves 2020 Martin Grobler, who had a a massive flourishing ranch in capital.
members who were evicted from to resettle black families, moving unworkable. farm in Ruwa, 30km outside the Chiredzi owned by an Italian na-
their farms since 2000 to bring a step closer to resolving one the capital, Harare, was evicted after tional despite it being ring-fenced The CFU said the only way
forward photographs and videos, most divisive policies of the Rob- But despite the government’s he was given 24 hours’ notice. under Bippa between Zimbabwe agricultural investment could
among other evidence, showing ert Mugabe era. commitment to compensate and Italy. move forward is if security of ten-
how they were removed from white farmers and protect prop- Grobler said Ivy Rupandi, The government is bound by ure and the respect of property
their properties, as a way of keep- The government also said erties held under Bilateral Invest- a government official with the Bippas to respect property rights rights are enshrined in the coun-
ing the matter burning at a time foreign white farmers settled in ment Promotion and Protection ministry of Lands, told him to and payment of compensation in try’s constitution.
disturbances are continuing on Zimbabwe whose land was seized Agreement (Bippa), land grabs move out of the property with currency of a farm owner’s choice
farms. The CFU’s membership immediate effect. “The only way to instil max-
consists of a large number of imum investment in the com-
white farmers. mercial agricultural sector is to
resolve these ongoing issues as
In its latest update to mem- soon as possible. If not speedily
bers, the CFU said there were and satisfactorily resolved, this
still a few ongoing incidents of would instead instil massive dis-
farm disruptions which “we are investment in the near future,”
keeping our eye on which act as the CFU said.
barometers as to exactly how the
matters are now being dealt with “Please remember that it is ab-
since the signing of the GCD solutely essential that all reports
(Global Compensation Deed).” of incidents on farms or court
cases should still continue to be
“Unfortunately, none of the sent to (name supplied) as soon
four (cases) have yet been re- as any problems may appear be-
solved although they have been cause we are still able to assist if
regularly reported to the powers notified early.
that be since September 2020. As
of this date, the above-mentioned “Should any of you still have
four are still yet to be satisfactori- records, photographs, videos and
ly resolved. Unfortunately, this is reports on what happened to you
showing a very bad light in as far on your farms from 2000 on-
as the necessary confidence boost- wards, we are still very interested
ing measures are concerned,” the in having copies of the same so
update reads in part. that we can complete our work.
We are still doing on recording all
Thousands of white farmers of the incidents which occurred
were forced from their land, often over the last 18 years. It must not
violently, in the fast-track land be allowed to be forgotten.”
redistribution programme. The
seizures were meant to redress A land audit carried out by the
colonial-era land ownership im- government exposed huge irregu-
balances, but contributed to the larities in the allocation of farms,
country’s economic decline and with some children as young as
ruined relations with the West. 10 years old getting land, while
high-ranking government and
In August last year, Zimbabwe security officials own multiple
farms.

Page 12 News NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Drug menace reduces mothers to tears

NYASHA CHINGONO Memory Ndoro sobs uncontrollably as she narrates her son’s addiction to crystal meth. Macdonald Chihiya.

“IT is painful to watch my that I do not see my child Nyapa Munyepfu (right) being consoled by a friend during an interview with The NewsHawks. centres, with the available
child being destroyed by suffering from drugs. private facilities charging
drugs,” Memory Ndoro Parents fear that one Ndoro is worried. Struggling to get help fees that are too prohibitive
sobs uncontrollably as she “All my relatives have day they could find their “My son used to work, Most parents in Chitung- for poor families.
narrates her son’s addiction turned their backs on me. children dead. They have and everything was fine, wiza whose children are
to crystal meth.  He used to help many, but pleaded for urgent help but the trouble start- drug addicts are struggling According to psychia-
now I am left all alone with from the authorities. ed when he started using to find help.  trists, crystal meth users
Once a healthy and my son. They have deserted drugs. He is now stealing often suffer from mood
promising young man, us. My friend is helping me “This drug problem is my money and home appli- With numbers growing swings, hallucinations or
Melvin*, who worked on a to get him back on track. now rampant here and par- ances to sell. He has stolen daily, community volun- “kutsomwa” in street lingo,
cruise ship in Europe, has Indeed, when days are ents are now helpless. We most of my clothes. He has teers are inundated with while prolonged use also
become a pale shadow of dark friends are few,” she do not even have the mon- sold most of his clothes, hourly calls for help, while causes irritability and anx-
his former self. lamented. ey to take these children trading them in for mu- the government remains iety.
to rehabilitation. I do not toriro (crystal meth),” the mum on how to deal with
Emaciated, blood-shot Melvin often gets aggres- have enough for me and widowed Ndoro said. the problem.  ‘My friend must return
eyed and always craving for sive when he does not get my son. These drugs are de- “He has disappeared for to work’
a fix of crystal meth, Mel- a fix. This has strained the stroying our children. Most one-and-a-half week. He As the consumption of
vin has gone from grace to mother-son relationship, of the children here are into took with him my bedding illicit drugs has risen, the Visibly intoxicated, Mel-
grass in just a year.    Ndoro says.  drugs, parents might not and some home items. I mental health of addicts has vin gazes into the cloudless
know, but it is happening,” just hear that he is around, taken a severe battering. Six sky as he begins to narrate
He blew all his savings “We have become oil and Ndoro said.  but I do not see him. It is out of 10 patients admitted his addiction to drugs. 
on the addictive drug, water. He is now aggressive. very tough to live without to mental institutions in
eventually selling his only It shows that he is no lon- Her sister, Raina Ndoro, knowing the whereabouts Zimbabwe suffer drug-re- With mood swings vis-
car for a pittance to fund ger the same. I used to get has been having problems of my son. I do not know lated issues. About 30% ibly at play, Melvin starts
his cravings.  angry, but I got counselling with her 27-year-old son when it will end. I really are hooked on to drugs, ac- talking about how has
to help me understand his Blessing, who is addicted to need help to get him de- cording to narcotic experts. been experiencing spiritual
The 26-year-old has trad- situation,” she said.  crystal meth.  toxed and get sober. He dreams, even suggesting he
ed most of his clothes and used to work for himself But the destruction of is a messenger of God. 
often disappears at night, Endemic drug abuse in Blessing has been stealing and provide for the family.” young people and families
looking for a fix in nearby the country’s townships money, home appliances has not prompted any deci- Melvin has also turned to
bases.  has caused social upheav- and clothes to buy the illic- sive action from the govern- snuff and cannabis. 
al, with families struggling it drug. He has disappeared ment. Zimbabwe does not
“I do not sleep when he to cope with the growing for one-and-a-half weeks.  have public rehabilitation It helps him spiritually,
is not at home. I have be- number of youths hooked he claims. He immediately
come hypertensive from on crystal meth and other composes himself and be-
constant stress, and it is eat- drugs.  gins to narrate how he got
ing me up. This is not how addicted to crystal meth. 
he should have turned out,” Crystal meth is sweeping
Ndoro laments.  across the country and has “It started off as fun
been described as a silent when I visited a couple of
It is 11am in St Mary’s epidemic, threatening to friends sometime in De-
Chitungwiza where the destroy a generation, amid cember 2016. That is where
abuse of crystal meth and calls for urgent action to I started experimenting
other deadly substances rescue suffering families.  with crystal meth. I then
has become very rampant got addicted in 2019 when
among youths, destroy- Following a series of sto- I came back home for hol-
ing families as parents fail ries on how the drug has iday and eventually stayed
to cope with the effects of destroyed lives amid a few because of the lockdown. I
drugs. glimmers of hope as some used up all the money I had
youths are successfully un- saved. My money ran out
Ndoro narrates how dergoing rehabilitation, in November last year, this
Melvin got hooked onto The NewsHawks tracked forced me to sell my car,”
dangerous narcotics during down families struggling to Melvin says. 
Zimbabwe’s first Covid-19 cope with children who are
lockdown last year.   addicted to crystal meth.  “Most of the friends who
used to like me when I had
Melvin had come home Melvin’s mother is among money left.”
for a short break when the many parents enduring
Covid-19 ballooned into a sleepless nights, worried But Melvin is willing to
global pandemic.  about their children.  change and has volunteered
to check himself into a re-
Stuck in Zimbabwe habilitation facility.  He
with no prospects of going
back on the cruise, Melvin
turned to drugs and has
been hooked ever since. 

“My child is everything
I have. How will I survive
if he does not go back to
work? I used to go to South
Africa to trade, but my
son asked me to stop and
assured me that he would
take care of me. I never
lack anything when he is
working, so seeing him in
this situation hurts me. I
really want him to stop do-
ing drugs, he needs help.
He grew up as a very good
child, respectful, but all this
began when Covid start-
ed. I am in pain. I do not
sleep whenever he is not
at home,” the 50-year-old
widow laments. 

“He sold his car and I
do not know where he put
all that money. I want my
son to go back to his origi-
nal state. I am hypertensive
and I often wish to die so

NewsHawks News Page 13

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

longs to return to his cruise me. I do not have anyone thief and you can never be-
ship job after rehabilita- to tell,” she said. lieve that he has done it.” 
tion.   Promising lives destroyed  
Like Melvin, Gladmore* “Since returning from
“I really would want to (26) had a promising ca- Bahrain, he has become
go back to work.” reer as a barista in Bah- troublesome, stealing ev-
rain.  When he came back erything at home just to
“My mother does not like home last year in February buy crystal meth. He lied
this. Who wants their child to renew his visa, Covid-19 to us that he is getting a
doing drugs? The drugs are struck. His mother Manetsi job, but the job never ma-
killing the streets every day. Masaka (56) explains how terialised.” 
It is condemned already. I her son got hooked on to
do not only want to change crystal meth during lock- She pleaded: “We need
for myself and family, but down and is failing to get help. These children are dy-
for the community too. help.  ing because of drugs. The
President should take this
“When you are work- “Our neighbour’s son got seriously and catch all these
ing on the ship, you get to help from a private facility, druglords. We do not have
meet people from 71 na- but they are expensive. I do peace; I cannot live with
tionalities and learn a lot not have money; my hus- my child anymore. We have
of things, languages, skills band is a pensioner,” she become prisoners in our
and other things. This is said.    own homes.”
what helped me sharpen
my mind.” “I have become hyper- But until these mothers
tensive because of this get help for their children,
As Melvin narrates his child. He has become a they will continue to en-
ordeal, his friend David dure sleepless nights. Mel-
carefully listens. David vin* is not his real name.
(27), a hairdresser, has been
off crystal meth for two the 20-year-old gets angry  _0141
months and desires to go Last week, Macdonald
back to work. David wants
his friend to get help. broke out of the house, tak-
ing with him home appli-
“I have been off mutoriro ances and his father’s shoes. 
for two months now. I try
to stay out of the streets, “A few days ago, he
it has been difficult, but I took his father’s shoes and
have managed to stay clean. sold them. A fight ensued
Sometimes I feel the crav- and his father threatened
ings,” David says. to get him arrested. He
broke out of the house that
He has tried in vain to night, stole our home the-
show his friend the new atre, a suitcase, and other
path. things. He is staying with
his friend, who is also an
“I have tried telling my addict. He is currently at
friend to stay off the streets. loggerheads with his father,
He has changed for the and they are not on talking
worst. I really need him to terms,” Chihiya said.
get help because whenever
he goes out, he is selling “I have tried to get the
something, either clothes police to help but they
or shoes. He has become seem uninterested because
stranger at times with they are getting something
mood swings. Sometimes from these drug peddlers.”
you often think that he has
changed yet it is one of the Chihiya pleaded for ur-
episodes,” David laments.  gent help for her son and
other youths addicted to
“He really wants to go mutoriro.
back to work, but right now
he cannot go back because, “Government should
he needs help. He has be- help us stem this drug
come too demanding and problem; we are losing our
often suffers depression.” children. We have lost a
Prisoners in their own generation. I have become
homes hypertensive because of
Chitungwiza is a sea of pov- stress. I hardly sleep. I have
erty as families scrounge for bought new locks because
a living, through vending he steals,” she said. 
and other menial jobs. 
Chihiya’s sister Njaka
But beneath the hustle is Munyebvu (48) weeps as
the pain of mothers, who she narrates how her son
fear losing their children to threatened to kill her for
drugs.  destroying his crystal meth
smoking apparatus, which
Pension Chihiya (45) is comprises of a straw and a
now afraid to reprimand florescent bulb. 
her son Macdonald (20)
who has become violent “My son is now a thief
due to his drug problem.  and I have tried engaging
the police, but there is no
“Whenever he comes help. It is now hard to live
home, I hide all sharp ob- with him, he has become
jects because he can be dan- violent. The other day, he
gerous. He becomes scary threatened to kill me and
when he is intoxicated. Last his young brother after I
year, he threatened to beat destroyed his crystal meth
me up when I confronted apparatus,” Munyebvu said
him over an issue. His fa- as she breaks into tears. 
ther intervened, but he es-
caped and spent two days Munyebvu has given her
without coming home,” son an ultimatum to leave
Chihiya tells The News- the house. 
Hawks. 
“I have asked him to leave
Macdonald has resorted the house because I cannot
to stealing home goods for stay anymore. He does not
sale and, when confronted, respect me anymore. I wish
his father were there to help

Page 14 News NewsHawks

MANAGEMENT at Shabanie mine workers Issue 35, 18 June 2021
Shabanie Mashaba Mine cry foul over evictions
(SMM) led by administra- reconstruction, as to how cer-
tor Afaras Gwaradzimba has tain issues need to be handled,
come under fire from work- it would be best to allow those
ers for allegedly clandestinely negotiations or discussions to
selling houses to FBC Bank, proceed without outside in-
Midlands State University terference. I hope you agree
(MSU) and Great Zimbabwe with this position.”
University (GZU) ahead of
workers, some of whom are Chinhema said the scheme
being evicted.  workers they were being sold was also skewed, given that
The employees’ representa- at US$25 per square metre. houses in high-density suburbs
tives, the Zimbabwe Diamond This is corruption,” Chinhe- where a lot of workers stay –
and Allied Minerals Work- ma said. such as Mashava, Maglas and
ers’ Union (ZDAMWU), Kadondo – were being sold
told The NewsHawks that He also said workers were for between US$15-US$25
management was not only being offered unserviced per square metre.
short-changing the workers stands. 
but also dabbling in question- In low-density areas such
able practices.  “Stands being offered to as Hillview, Noelview and
Shabanie is owing workers workers have not been ser- Birthday, prices were peggwd
substantial amounts in salary viced at all but they are being around US$10 per square me-
arrears. The company has of- charged from US$2-US$25 tre. 
fered the ex-workers houses per square metre to work-
and residential stands to offset ers. The mentioned institu- Chinhema said in Masha-
the arrears.  tions are buying the stands at va the houses were all pegged
“Workers who reached re- US$7,” Chinhema said.  at US$10 per square metre
tirement – from the date of regardless of whether they
retiring – started to accrue “This, I believe, is being were in the low-density or
rentals and some have been done to make sure the poor high-density surbubs. 
evicted. Their money is now workers end up owing the
so little to buy the offered mine. Where would a retired “This scheming was done to
houses. These workers were worker get the balances rang- accommodate Great Zimba-
owed money, and were told to ing from US$2 000 to above bwe University which now has
stay in the houses until their US$20 000? all the houses. Inhabitable and
money is paid. There is no condemned houses in King
explanation how the employ- “Gwaradzimba and his Mine are now being offered to
ee suddenly becomes a lodg- management gang is stealing workers. Stands that are not
er in a house that he or she from the poor under the guise serviced are sold to workers
was given as an employment of settling salary arrears.” at the same rate. Workers are
benefit. We suspect this was being evicted from the houses
done to push out workers so Gwaradzimba refused to they have stayed in for all their
as to accommodate outsiders,” comment on the allegations. working life and given a stand
ZDAMWU general secretary One of the evicted families stands guard over the property in the Shabanie Mine compound. in a mountain,” Chinhema
“I appreciate the way you said.
Justice Chinhema said.  “After valuation by three did not sell the houses or the properties sold to FBC, have gone about identify-
Chinhema said SMM man- estate agents, namely Dawn properties to outsiders using MSU and GZU, you can find ing yourself. However, I do SMM workers are also
agement did not sell proper- Real Estate, Central Real Es- the values as recommended by that the same houses sold to not consider it proper that I pushing for Gwaradzimba’s
ties as per the recommenda- tate and ministry of Public the valuators,” he said.  these three went for US$10 go about publicly discussing ouster, through the courts, for
tions of the valuators.  Works, SMM management per square metre while to the SMM matters in the manner failing to turn around the for-
“For instance, looking at expected from the questions tunes of the asbestos giant for
you have texted to me,” he the almost two decades he has
said. been at the helm. The workers
filed a court application on 17
“If SMM is negotiating May 2021.
with relevant parties to its
— STAFF WRITER.

THE ministry of Local Gov- Marondera municipality in hot
ernment has deployed a soup over poor service delivery
four-member investigating
team to the Marondera Mu- The letter was written on 24 health hazards to residents. acting timeously to blockages MAROF director Tapiwa livery.
nicipality after residents raised May. “Residents have also advised and at times ignore or refuse to Chengeta said residents are “As Marondera Residents
concern over corruption and log in reports,” reads the letter. unhappy with poor service de-
poor service delivery. “The council is not picking that your plumbers are not re- Open Forum we remain sad-
up refuse from most areas and dened by the poor delivery of
This comes at a time service there is no clear plan on reg- service in areas that have pe-
delivery in the Mashonaland ular and recurring services in rennially gone for years with-
East capital is deteriorating.  this regard,” reads part of the out water. 
letter.  
The Environment Manage- “Areas like Morningside,
ment Agency recently dragged “Several complaints have Rusike and Ruware have con-
Marondera Municipality to been raised over the conduct tinued to be sidelined despite
court over emissions of raw of the refuse workers, in par- several assurances from the
sewer into Rufaro Dam, the ticular their erratic and at council,” said Chengeta.
city’s supplier of water. times nuisance times that they
suddenly pop up without giv- “We also decry the electric-
Residents have been accus- ing residents a chance to pre- ity lights that remain unat-
ing council of releasing 150 pare their garbage and cart it tended despite residents pay-
hectares of land to a local com- out on the kerbside. ing rates. Residents have paid
pany in exchange for motor rates and by council’s own ad-
vehicles and other equipment “Street lighting in the wards mission more than 70% have
without proper consultations. is very poor and in some areas paid and our expectation is for
it is no longer working and council to own its obligation.”
In addition, council officials there are no visible attempts
were also allegedly parceling to attend to the problems, re- Chengeta said section 77 of
out commercial stands among sulting in muggings and poor the constitution of Zimbawe is
themselves. The investigations safety for residents.” very clear on the responsibility
were triggered by a letter from of local authorities to provide
Marondera Residents’ Open MAROF raised concern not only clean water but also
Forum (MAROF) addressed over poor sewer drainage sys- essential services.
to Mashonaland East minis- tem, saying it poses serious
ter of State for Provincial Af- — STAFF WRITER.
fairs and Devolution Applonia
Munzverengi, Marondera dis-
trict development coordinator
Mr Clemence Masawi and
Marondera mayor Simbarashe
Nyahuye. 

NewsHawks News Page 15

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

BERNARD MPOFU Zimbabwe govt unsettled by bwe?” she said.
non-renewal of SA permits “In our discussions,
AS details of South Africa’s
recent bilateral talks with South African Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi. we’ll raise the important
Zimbabwe emerge, the au- need for the opposition
thorities in Harare are now its “five million votes” tween the two countries,” Special Permit (ZSP). beginning on 1 January to be able to function, but
in panic mode after Preto- campaign which it hopes another source added. The initial Special Dis- 2018 and expiring on 31 this is something we think
ria announced plans to sus- will assure Mnangagwa of December 2021. Zimbabweans must dis-
pend the temporary work resounding victory. George Charamba, the pensation for Zimbabwe- cuss together…We’d also
permits of Zimbabweans Deputy Chief Secretary ans was approved in April Pandor, who has in the like to send back our three
who fled their country due Sources said should in charge of Zimbabwe’s 2009 to document Zimba- past admitted that Zim- envoys because their vis-
to socio-economic factors, South Africa send back presidential affairs, could bwean nationals who were babwe needs dialogue to it was incomplete, in that
The NewsHawks have es- home hundreds of thou- not be reached for com- in South Africa illegally. address its multifaceted they met Zanu PF, but it
tablished. sands of Zimbabweans ment at the time of pub- The ZSP allowed appli- problems, was last week didn’t meet external stake-
before the next polls, the lication. cations from Zimbabwe- quoted by South African holders. We think it is nec-
It is estimated that Zanu PF government — ans with a valid passport, media as saying Pretoria essary.”
South Africa is now home which has been employing In 2017, the South evidence of employment, would want to resume
to nearly three million Machiavellian politics to African government an- business or accredited talks with Harare. During the same meet-
Zimbabweans who fled weaken Chamisa’s party — nounced new regulations study and a clear criminal ing, the two ministers dis-
the country seeking better will have to go back to the for the new four-year record. Successful appli- “I really would like to cussed the African Renais-
economic prospects as well drawing board to re-strate- non-renewable permit cants were granted permits put the question that I al- sance Fund project, a R50
as political asylum. Most gise on its campaign. for nearly 200 000 Zim- to stay and work, study or ways put to my colleagues, million (US$3.5m) pledge
of them have no proper babweans working and run a business in South this will be the first time made after Cyclone Idai,
documentation, accord- “The government is not studying in South Africa. Africa. we are having a formal that will be used to bolster
ing to organisations such sure what Pretoria has up meeting. He’s the new Zimbabwe’s food security.
as the International Or- its sleeves, more so in the The old permits, known The ZEP permits were minister of Foreign Affairs
ganisation for Migration. context of recent diplo- as the Zimbabwean Ex- to be issued for a maxi- and I just want to ask him: Sources told  The News-
Zimbabwe is battling high matic engagements be- emption Permit (ZEP), mum period of four years, How can we help Zimba- Hawks that Zanu PF hard-
inflation, high unemploy- replaced the Zimbabwean liners are resisting any di-
ment and political intol- alogue that would include
erance, among a litany of opposition leader Nelson
problems, amid calls for Chamisa.
South Africa to intervene.
President Emmerson
Fresh details gathered Mnangagwa, sources said,
by The NewsHawks show preferred that any talks be
that South Africa’s   In- held under the umbrel-
ternational Relations and la of the Political Actors
Cooperation minister, Dialogue which features
Naladi Pandor, last month peripheral opposition par-
met President Emmer- ties.
son Mnangagwa and her
Zimbabwean  counterpart Lindiwe Zulu, chairper-
Frederick Shava at State son of the ANC’s sub-com-
House where Zimbabwe mittee on International
pleaded with its southern Affairs, last year told this
neighbour to delay the de- author in an exclusive in-
portation of locals whose terview that South Africa’s
documentation is invalid.  governing party believes
there is a crisis in Zimba-
“With Zanu PF in elec- bwe and liberation move-
tion mode, the minister ments have to be frank to
(Shava) felt that the move each other.
to suspend the temporary
permits would affect the Zulu was among ANC
governing party’s 2023 officials who were de-
election campaign,” a ployed to Harare to engage
source familiar with the in bilateral engagements
development said. with Zanu PF as political
temperatures in the south-
Mnangagwa, who se- ern African nation shot
cured a wafer-thin victory up on the backdrop of a
over his rival Nelson Cha- weakening economy.
misa during the contro-
versial 2018 election, is However, days after the
seeking re-election in two ANC team left for Johan-
years’ time. The governing nesburg, acting Zanu PF
party has already launched spokesperson Patrick Chi-
namasa accused Pretoria of
meddling in Zimbabwe’s
internal affairs.

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Page 16 News NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

AirZim debt efficiencies.  AirZim has over
assumption the years grappled with gross
promotes mismanagement and outright
corruption sabotage by the government as
the late former President Rob-
ZIMBABWEAN taxpayers followed by the appointment the business growth instead of of badly and fraudulently run al for the public to finance their ert Mugabe sought to replace
continue to be burdened by of a new board and new man- paying off debts,” an AirZim parastatals. These parastatals (Zanu PF) lifestyles and small the airline with ZimAirways. 
debt from parastatals which are agement to run the airline, thus official was quoted as saying.  have become feeding troughs houses,” Biti said. 
riddled with mismanagement permitting its exit from the re- for the boys and Zanu PF,” Biti In 2018, the Zimbabwe
and corruption, with the latest construction order.” However, former Finance told The NewsHawks.  “Citizens should refuse to Anti-Corruption Commission
being the assumption of Air minister Tendai Biti said the carry the Bill of fraud and lav- (Zacc) probed Mugabe’s son-
Zimbabwe’s huge debt, as gov- The Bill will provide a debt assumption is tantamount “To reward inefficiencies is ish lifestyles.” in-law Simba Chikore over the
ernment rewards inefficiencies.  framework for debt assump- to rewarding fraudulent para- not only wrong but also uncon- US$70 million aircraft scandal,
AirZim’s debt comprises two tion processes and procedures, statals.  stitutional.” While the Bill will help in a scheme that was allegedly
components: ZW$349 million validation and reconciliation of fulfilling AirZim’s Debt Con- used to siphon millions of dol-
(local) and US$30 million (for- the liabilities, debt assumption Biti said the Bill had not Biti said the government struction plan, continuing to lars out of the country under
eign).  modalities, terms and condi- been scrutinised by Parlia- unilaterally approved the Bill.  offload the debts of non-per- the guise of building a new
tions of the debt settlement ment’s Public Accounts Com- forming parastatals on to tax- airline. 
This week, the government plan, and the recovery plan for mittee, adding that citizens “The debt should be referred payers is not only detrimental
passed the Air Zimbabwe Debt the debt paid by the govern- should reject the Bill through to Parliament. to the country but also breeds At the time when Zacc insti-
Assumption Bill, which will see ment on behalf of the airline. litigation.  a culture of rewarding corrup- tuted a probe into the ZimAir-
the taxpayer shouldering the Parliament should go tion, mismanagement and in- ways transaction to establish
burden of servicing the debt.  The government’s delay in “It is wrong to take over debt through every line of the debt. how the murky airline contro-
moving ahead with the debt It is wrong and unconstitution- versially purchased two Boeing
The government says the assumption plan had eroded 777 long-haul jets for US$18.5
debt assumption is meant to the airline’s chances of courting million and US$16.5 million,
facilitate a turnaround of the new partners after the company totalling US$35 million.
airline, whose fortunes have was placed on debt reconstruc-
dipped due to mismanagement tion in 2018, according to of- It also planned to buy two
and grand corruption.  ficials.  Embraer aircraft for US$6 mil-
lion using Treasury Bills. This
“Cabinet advises that the The debt has spooked po- brought the total of the revised
principles underpin the draft- tential investors who have ex- deal to US$41 million.
ing of the Debt Assumption pressed interest in pouring mil-
Bill for Air Zimbabwe Hold- lions of dollars into the airline.  Before revising the deal,
ings (Private) Limited and Air the government had initially
Zimbabwe (Private) Limited,” “No investor would come planned to spend US$16.5
Information, Publicity and to Air Zimbabwe as long as million each, while the oth-
Broadcasting Services minister Air Zimbabwe is saddled with er two would be bought for
Monica Mutsvangwa told jour- a US$380 million debt. All the US$18.5 million apiece, bring-
nalists at a post-cabinet briefing investors, if they are to come ing the total to US$70 million.
on Tuesday. in, they would want at least a
clean company. They would Initially, ZimAirways was
“The Bill is required to allow want to work with something touted as a private company,
for the clearance of the airline’s where whatever fresh capital in- although Chikore, who was
domestic and external debt, jected will be directed towards AirZim’s chief operations offi-
cer, played a critical role in its
creation. 

Despite several probes, the
ZimAirways saga has not been
brought to finality.

Apart from the ZimAirways
saga, the airline has been rid-
dled with mismanagement. 

The company inherited 18
aircraft at Independence in
1980, but is left with only two
planes. — STAFF WRITER

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NewsHawks News Page 17

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Govt hunts mentally challenged teachers

LIZWE SEBATHA Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe. and teaching. May this infor- ing symptoms and not the real
mation reach this office no problems facing teachers.
GOVERNMENT has begun inspectors dated 11 June, Ma- names of teachers “exhibiting the Discipline office a list of later than the16th June 2021,”
compiling names of teachers tabeleland South Primary and mental problems” in the prov- all teachers exhibiting mental acting provincial Primary and “The slave drivers (govern-
suffering from depression and Secondary Education officials ince no later than 16 June. problems and the challenges Secondary Education minis- ment officials) are trying to deal
other mental health conditions requested the submission of they are presenting to learning try provincial director one G. with one of the symptoms of
in a clear admission that the “May you kindly submit to Mathuthu wrote. the incapacitation crisis, mental
country’s socio-economic chal- health. We insist that the only
lenges are taking a toll on edu- Primary and Secondary  Ed- way out of this crisis is to pay
cators. ucation ministry spokesper- teachers a living wage. Teachers
son  Toungana  Ndoro said this should receive the pre-October
However, the exercise has is a national exercise to ensure 2018 salaries, a minimum of
drawn an angry reaction from teachers with mental challeng- US$520,” Artuz president Ob-
teacher unions, which are argu- es are attended to under the ert Masaraure said.
ing that this is a waste of time ministry’s Learner Welfare, Psy-
as long as the needs of teachers, chological Services and Special According to Masaraure, a
particularly the demand for Needs division. survey conducted by Artuz in
United States dollar-denomi- January revealed that one in five
nated salaries. “As a ministry, we are taking teachers were suffering from
note of any of our staff members one case of mental health to the
Teachers used to earn about that may have mental health other.
US$520 pre-October 2018 but concerns and we are moving
also equivalent in bond notes, towards having them attend- PTUZ secretary-general
a parallel currency introduced ed to professionally so that we Raymond Majongwe added:
in 2016 to solve physical cash deliver our mandate of quality “This is unprecedented because
challenges and officially pegged and wholesome provision of ed- the question that one must be
to the US dollar. In reality, the ucation for all Zimbabweans,” asking themselves is ‘why is it
bond note was much less as it Ndoro said on Wednesday. that all of a sudden somebody
kept depreciating. has noted that we have several
“Looking after mental health teachers who are psychological-
The introduction of Zim- preserves our teachers’ ability to ly unbalanced now?’
babwean dollar in 2019 by Fi- enjoy life. Conditions such as
nance minister Mthuli Ncube stress, depression, and anxiety “Government needs to ad-
and associated currency reforms can all affect mental health and dress the real challenges, not to
did not help matters. Already, disrupt a teacher’s routine.” go about asking who is men-
teachers have vowed not to re- tally unstable ‘so that you do
turn to class when schools re- The Progressive Teachers’ what with them?’ We expect the
open for the second term on Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Mnangagwa government not to
28 June until the salary issue is and Amalgamated Rural Teach- boast about surpluses, but to
addressed.  ers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Ar- make sure that the surplus goes
tuz), however, argued that the into the hands, mouths and
In a memo to district schools government is simply address- pockets of the teachers.”

Hospitality sector screams as Covid-19 bites

DUMISANI NYONI vate sector and public sector not enough to cover costs
to combat this pandemic,” he such as rentals, wages, refrig-
ZIMBABWE’S hospitality said. eration, security and many
industry has lost significant statutory licences payable to
business due to cancellations Shearwater Group public the government.
of hotel bookings for confer- relations manager Clement “Contrary to a common
ences, workshops and other Mukwasi, who is also the misperception, well-run
events, following the govern- Employers’ Association of restaurants are not venues
ment’s promulgation of new Tourism and Safari Opera- for spreading Covid-19, but
Covid-19 containment mea- tors president, said there were are hygienic in concept and
sures. “workshops and seminars operation, posing little if any
that were postponed due to threat to customers, certain-
In a bid to curb the pan- the new regulations” but re- ly no greater than any other
demic, Vice-President Con- mained hopeful that the mea- business or home environ-
stantino Chiwenga, who also sures will curb the spread of ment,” Zamchiya said.
doubles as the Health and Covid-19. “We have been and remain
Child Care minister, last week in full support of the national
announced the new Covid-19 He said the long-term ben- effort to eliminate Covid-19,
regulations. efits of the new regulations but as a trade we are now at
were more valuable in the a crossroads and require a col-
Restaurants, except those circumstances. Mukwasi said lective rethink.”
at hotels and lodges, are not since the beginning of the Zamchiya said a survey car-
allowed to sell food to sit-in year, business in the tourism ried out in February this year
customers. and hospitality industry has showed that takeaways con-
been critically low. tribute between 8% and 18%
Beerhalls and nightclubs re- of most businesses’ revenue
main closed while bottle stores In a statement released fol- and this was not sustainable.
will operate from 10am to lowing the announcement Restaurants have either
4pm with retailers and shops of new measures, Restaurant been closed or in partial oper-
operating from 8am to 6pm. Operators Association of ation for the past 14 months
Zimbabwe president Bongai and many have closed perma-
All gatherings except fu- Zamchiya said the latest reg- nently due to financial chal-
nerals are banned while com- ulations threaten livelihoods lenges.
panies have been directed to of restaurateurs, staff and sup- He urged the govern-
decongest their staff by 50%. pliers. ment to consider re-opening
ery,” Hospitality Association we want to play our part by ship in enforcing all Covid-19 restaurants, saying operators
Chiwenga also directed that of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria ensuring none of our business protocols, thus allowing “us to He said the industry was are committed to ensuring
meetings be held virtually. Falls chapter president Anald activities aid the spread of the operate our businesses in a re- hit hard by previous national Covid-19 compliance in ad-
Musonza told The News- Covid-19 pandemic but help sponsible manner.” lockdowns and the new mea- dition to the fact “that our
However, the new measures Hawks. curtail its spread and also save sures will further crush it. venues are more hygienic than
seem to have started crippling both lives and livelihoods.” “As a country, we have just about any other business
the hospitality industry which “We just hope we won’t get the best Covid-19 pandemic “The livelihoods of restau- operation or service.”
relies heavily on conferences into a hard lockdown as this Musonza said players in the mitigation measures and we rateurs, staff and suppliers Some restaurant operators
and events. will extinguish all the little hospitality sector believe in should apply them religiously are on the brink of collapse who had called workers back
flickers of hope we had for win-win approaches. In that so that we curtail the pandem- and the only options available to work are now stuck and
“The new Covid-19 pan- hospitality and tourism recov- spirit, he appealed to the play- ic. We need more collabora- were urgent re-opening or im- will struggle to pay salaries.
demic mitigation measures ery this year. As an industry, ers to show responsible leader- tive efforts between the pri- mediate and substantial finan-
have come with the down- cial support,” he said.
side of cancellations of hotel
bookings for conferences and Zamchiya said business-
events. This has affected hotel es cannot survive on income
occupancy which had started from takeaways only as it was
to show some signs of recov-

Page 18 News NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Poor citizens wallow in untold poverty

NYARADZO MUSHANYUKI/ A vendor sells vegetables near the Simon Muzenda (Fourth) Street bus terminus in Harare. Weeks after the SI was en-
NYASHA CHINGONO acted, the market has seen
ing, and sometimes begging seen some people shunning because their father does not bite. prices shooting up.
VICTOR Chiyadzwa (38) sits for survival. supermarkets as they can no work. We just hope things will Prices of clothes in bou-
miserably in his wheelchair longer keep up with the pric- get better, but now it is bad,” With fuel prices spiking,
waiting for elusive customers Skyrocketing prices of ba- ing,” she said. she says. tiques have also shot up, with transport fares have shot be-
to visit his vending stall in Ha- sic commodities have forced traders seeking to recover prof- yond the reach of many strug-
rare’s central business district. millions into poverty, with “My business is now pick- Urban poverty has more its lost during the Covid-19 gling Zimbabweans.
the World Bank estimating ing up because people are than doubled since 2020 as lockdown.
Clad in a blue T-shirt and that 7.9 million Zimbabweans looking for cheaper commod- Covid-19 continued to deci- Hundreds of commuters are
red track bottoms, Chiyadzwa will continue wallowing in ex- ities.” mate livelihoods in towns. Statutory Instrument (SI) seen queueing daily for Zup-
toils daily to eke a living, of- treme poverty this year. 127 of 2021 plunged the mar- co buses which are relatively
ten running into troublesome But her newfound stream Prices shot up in recent ket into a quandary as new cheaper but largely unreliable.
municipal police officers, a Of the 7.9 million, more of income is not enough to weeks, with basic commodi- foreign currency measures,
menace to street vendors in than a million are minors who provide for her two school-go- ties such as cooking oil going among other stipulations, pro- Mercy Maphosa (30) waits
the city centre. have plunged into child pov- ing children. for ZW$449.99 (US$5), flour hibit business operators from impatiently for a Zupco bus
erty. ZW$229.99 (US$2.90) and charging above the official ex- which costs ZW$45 per trip
Displaying winter hats, Living from hand to mouth sugar ZW$249.99 (US$2). change rate and punish those from Chitungwiza and she is
socks and gloves, Chiyadzwa Prisca Nhiwatiwa (37), a has forced her to register for who refuse to take the spiked running late for work.
looks to take advantage of the mother of two, decried the food relief with local non-gov- Super beef costs ZW$714 prices.
cold weather to earn more unrelenting economic hard- ernmental organisations. .00 per kg (US$8.50), with On her meagre salary, Ma-
money. ships which forced her out of prices of other commodities The government late last phosa can afford only public
employment. “My rentals shot up last also shooting up. month gazetted the new rules transport.
On a good day, Chiyadzwa month and I am now paying under SI 127 to tame the ex-
makes US$5, which is barely A former waitress, Nhiwati- US$35. It may sound like a Families have been forced change rate on the parallel Braving the cold to catch
enough to pay monthly rent- wa told The NewsHawks that low amount, but I struggle to to substitute meat with sour market while stabilising the the early bus, Maphosa impa-
als, food and transport. life has been unbearable since pay it. My children’s school milk, kapenta, soya chunks local currency. tiently waits in a long, wind-
she lost her job last year. fees are also hard to come by and offals as economic woes ing queue.
The marauding council
police have compounded his Now surviving on selling “With my salary, I can-
misery, demanding bribes to budget basic commodities in not afford to use commuter
allow him to operate in town. the Unit M area of Chitung- omnibuses, which are US$2
wiza, Nhiwatiwa says people per trip. I always run late for
Many vendors like Chi- are shunning supermarkets work due to the unreliability
yadzwa have endured daily selling goods at expensive of transport. I fear contracting
raids, losing wares worth a prices. Covid-19 because the buses
fortune, often to unscrupu- are too crowded,” she said.
lous police officers. Nhiwatiwa buys basic com-
modities and repackages them To alleviate the plight of ur-
The 38-year-old has been into smaller quantities such ban commuters, who are find-
struggling to provide his hy- that a family can buy a prod- ing it hard to pay commuter
pertensive mother with chron- uct enough for a day or week, fares, the government in Jan-
ic medication. He has also be it cooking oil, mealie-meal uary 2019 introduced a public
been forced to cut on meals, or other products. Some re- transport system coordinated
eating only once a day. packed groceries are so aus- by the state-owned Zimbabwe
tere they have been likened to United Passenger Company
“Life has been difficult “emergency rations”. (Zupco) at heavily subsidised
since the lockdown began last fares.
year, and the city council has “It has become a hassle to
not made things easier. I am acquire basic foodstuffs such The move was also meant
trying to recover the little in- as cooking oil, sugar and flour to pacify restless citizens as
come I lost, but I always lose at affordable prices. This has social discontent and public
my goods during raids,” Chi- anger grew over government’s
yadzwa told The NewsHawks. inability to solve the country’s
economic woes.
“As you can see, I am dis-
abled. I cannot run away like With companies closing
others. It becomes difficult to shop due to a lack of prof-
protect my stuff,” he laments. itability, many have found
themselves jobless.
Vulnerable communities
have borne the brunt of the According to the World
Covid-19 pandemic which has Bank, more than 500 000
affected Zimbabwe’s econom- people have lost their jobs
ic prospects. since the first lockdown last
year, a situation that has dec-
Chiyadzwa narrates his dai- imated livelihoods.
ly struggles working in central
Harare, often falling prey to Wage earners in urban ar-
unscrupulous passers-by. eas were also disproportional-
ly affected by the pandemic,
Those who offer to push his as their pay was cut, or no
wheelchair end up stealing the pay was received at all. Rural
little money and food he has. households, which rely less on
wage employment and depend
“This place is a jungle and on farm business, were less af-
not fit for people like me. I fected.
cannot count how many times
people have stolen from me. Independent analysts say
How do you steal from a man Zimbabwe has 90% unem-
who is also struggling to make ployment, with millions in the
a living?” Chiyadzwa lament- informal sector.
ed.
Some companies in the pro-
Life at home has worsened ductive sector have shut shop,
since Zimbabwe plunged into as most of the companies are
its first Covid-19 lockdown. failing to stay afloat.

“Money is difficult to come Three years into office, Pres-
by these days. Not many peo- ident Emmerson Mnangag-
ple come to buy. I will be wa’s government has failed to
lucky if I get enough to pay resuscitate the economy.
rentals. My landlord is often
complaining about late pay- Mnangagwa is presiding
ments, but there is nothing I over an imploding economy
can do,” Chiyadzwa said. while international funders
continue shunning the coun-
Zimbabweans continue try over growing debt arrears.
suffering in silence as the eco- His re-engagement drive,
nomic woes persist. which was meant to re-open
lines of credit with interna-
With no end in sight to the tional funders, has failed dis-
daily struggles, Zimbabweans mally in the face of gross hu-
are determined to toil for a liv- man rights violations.
ing, doing menial jobs, vend-

NewsHawks News Page 19

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Special Covid-19
PANDEMIC coverage

Vaccinated people still catching Covid-19

NHAU MANGIRAZI/ hospital while the other two positive to the virus. If one is 183 people testing positive in of the infected staff members kombi that ferried mourners
MORRIS BISHI are from Chidamoyo Mission vaccinated, he or she can be in- eight days in the district. had attended burials of the de- while one infected nurse was
Hospital. fected but will not be severely ceased the following weekend. among those who were in the
SEVERAL people who are ful- The list also included 14 affected by the virus. People In the first week before lo- Nyaradzo bus for the burial in
ly vaccinated are still contract- expecting mothers who were should visit vaccination centres calised lockdown, Hurungwe Masocha confirmed that Hurungwe,’’ said Masocha.
ing Covid-19, highlighting the under Mothers Shelter in Chi- to receive their jabs to avoid se- district, which covers Karoi among those who tested posi-
need for vigilance.  damoyo. vere symptoms when infected farming town, had registered tive from Karoi Hospital were He added that all of them
Health officials said there by the virus,” Irimayi said. 118 new cases and three staff members who went to are now in two-week self-iso-
Among those who recently is nothing amiss about people deaths. Rusape for the burial of a de- lation and recovering at home.
tested positive despite being getting infected after vaccina- The ministry of Health and ceased nurse (Merjury Matu-
vaccinated are 12 health offi- tion, but the important thing Child Care placed Hurungwe The NewsHawks also gath- tu), who died in the ambu- ‘‘Those infected are all
cials from Karoi and five peo- was that the severity is less- and Kariba districts under a ered that some of the health of- lance accident.  looking better as they are in
ple from Chiredzi, The News- ened.  two-week localised lockdown ficials who attended the burial self-isolation. We have not
Hawks has established. Masvingo provincial following the spike in infec- of Karoi ambulance accident ‘‘One of the staff members yet received any report of se-
Covid-19 taskforce spokesper- tions. Testing and contact trac- victims in Rusape and Hurun- who attended the burial of Ma- vere illness. Our calls are for
Karoi is one of the areas son Rodgers Irimayi said the ing is still ongoing. gwe tested positive.  tutu (in Rusape) was among the communities to be cau-
declared a hotspot by the gov- development should not raise the infected while another one tious of Covid-19 infections
ernment following a spike in alarm since it is normal. As of Monday night this The accident killed five peo- who attended the and adhere to World Health
infections. “Receiving vaccines does week, 65 of the 215 people ple at the 196-kilometre peg Organisation guidelines. We
not mean that one cannot test who were tested in Hurungwe along Harare-Chirundu on 4 burial of the ambulance must work well to contain the
Mashonaland West acting turned out positive. June 2021. driver in Kazangarare in infections that may get out of
provincial medical director Hurungwe was also infect- hand,’’ Masocha said.
Gift Masocha told The News- This resulted in a total of According to primary con- ed. Some of these were in a
Hawks that some of the health tact tracing and testing, some Health minister Constan-
officials who were fully vac- tino Chiwenga last week said
cinated are among those who the country was experiencing
tested positive. a surge in cases, hence the in-
troduction of new measures to
‘‘I can confirm that 12 of contain the spread of the coro-
the health officials who tested navirus with effect from Mon-
positive at Karoi Hospital were day this week.  
fully vaccinated against the vi-
rus with both first and second These include stricter en-
vaccination jabs.  forcement of preventive mea-
sures such as the mandatory
“The medical history of wearing of masks in public
the other 20 people who test- places, maintaining social and
ed positive was unknown to physical distancing.
health authorities at the time
of testing. This was the first He also called on the close
batch of 32 people who were monitoring of Hurungwe and
tested in Hurungwe. All of Kariba districts, now regarded
those who tested positive had as hotspots.
not traveled out of the country.
‘‘With regards to manage-
“Let me clarify that be- ment of local hotspots (Hurun-
ing fully vaccinated against gwe, Kariba and Kwekwe),
Covid-19 doesn’t stop anyone there will be daily national
from being infected. The truth updates of hotspots as part of
is that the infection will be the daily Covid-19 situation-
weaker unlike for those who al report. The public is being
have not been vaccinated,’’ advised not to travel to these
added Masocha hotspot areas and there will be
increased testing and contact
Of the 14 health officials tracing within the hotspot ar-
who tested positive, 12 are eas,” Chiwenga said.
from Karoi referral district

MORRIS BISHI Morgenster hit by disease infections. 
“There is an outbreak at
OVER 63 students at Chiredzi remains the
Morgenster Teachers’ hardest hit district in Mas- Morgenster Teachers’ Col-
College in Masvingo test- vingo province, recording lege where 23 tested pos-
ed positive for Covid-19 30 new cases on Tuesday. itive on Saturday and 40
over the weekend after Among them, five were were also positive on Sun-
a student from Kwekwe infected despite receiving day. The numbers are in-
brought the virus into the first and second jabs of creasing, but our greatest
institution, raising fears Covid-19 vaccines. fear is that one of the stu-
that the Indian variant Masvingo provin- dents travelled from Kwe-
which prompted the Kwe- cial Covid-19 taskforce kwe and we are waiting
kwe lockdown could pose spokesperson Rodgers for gene tests to acertain
serious harm to the educa- Irimayi told The News- if it is the Indian variant.
tional institution. Hawks that health offi- The index case at Bondol-
cials are waiting for tests fi Teachers’ College died
The development came to ascertain if the virus last Wednesday after being
after over 120 other stu- which affected students in intensive care unit for
dents at Bondolfi Teach- at Morgenster is from In- days. She had underlying
ers’ College tested positive dia. He said the institu- conditions,” said Irimayi.
to the coronavirus two tion was put on complete
weeks ago.  lockdown to avoid further Masvingo has 172 active
cases after 37 new cases
The index case at Bon- were recorded on Tuesday.
dolfi, a lady, succumbed to Out of the 37, Chiredzi
the respiratory disease last had 30, Masvingo 6 and
Wednesday. Chivi 1. 

Page 20 News NewsHawks

NHAU MANGIRAZI Business as usual in Mash Issue 35, 18 June 2021
West Covid-19 hotspots
AUTHORITIES in Mashona- The NewsHawks observed cha-
land West are failing to enforce not been effective here, people Mashonaland West acting itive cases.  tive on Tuesday.   otic scenes at Karoi District
localised Covid-19 lockdown are going about their everyday provincial medical director At Chitindiva rural clin- In Karoi town, retail chain Hospital where health per-
measures imposed on Hurun- lives,’’ he said. Gift Masocha was in a meeting sonnel were overwhelmed by
gwe and Kariba, with people when contacted on Thursday ic under Chief Chundu, four N. Richards was briefly closed mostly tobacco workers who
in the two districts going about The Vahombe Performing and said he could not speak people tested positive amid rev- for fumigation, after several had turned up for random test-
their business as if there is no Arts street theatre duo of Sam- about the Covid-19 response. elations that one of the women workers tested positive. ing.
public health emergency. son Kabvura (34) nicknamed had travelled from Guruve in
Mabhodhi and Wilbert Chima- Over 184 people, including Mashonaland Central prov- OK Zimbabwe and Pick It emerged that the hos-
The two districts were de- rizeni (36) nicknamed Penzura, 12 health officials at Karoi Dis- ince. Three people also tested and Pay TM also had several of pital has run out of the new
clared hotspots after a spike in who travelled from Harare to trict Hospital, tested positive positive in Mwami under Chief their workers testing positive. Covid-19 vaccination cards
infections. Karoi to sell their drama discs, and are now in self-isolation. Kazangarare. The workers are now in isola- featuring new bar codes.
said they have been hit hard by Rural infections rise tion. At Karoi District Hospital
This comes as President Em- the lockdown. Rural clinics in Hurungwe dis- Both areas are in Hurungwe some community village work- ‘‘I only got a piece of paper
merson Mnangagwa on Thurs- trict have begun recording pos- North constituency. In Zvi- ers tested positive. with my details and other in-
day night further tightened the ‘‘We perform in the streets monja under Magunje constit- Chaotic scenes  formation and was stamped at
lockdown in the districts, in- and can’t risk being at home uency, two people tested posi- the back but these ‘cards’ are
cluding Makonde, prohibiting even though the Covid-19 just pieces of papers. Our gov-
any entry and exit. infections are rising. We are ernment must be serious on
facing crisis both at home as health matters. We can’t blame
Mnangagwa also imposed we need to feed our families nurses or doctors here as they
a 6pm to 6am curfew and re- yet government through the will never foot the stationery
duced business operating hours Health ministry wants us to bill for the public institution
to seven hours from 8am to stay indoors. As artistes we have like the referral hospital,” said
3pm, among a raft of other been hit hard as our clients are a civil servant who got his first
measures.  no longer stable to see us per- vaccination jab.
form,’’ Lockdown hotspot highlights
A survey conducted by this As of 16 June, Zimbabwe had
publication since Monday It was also business as usual 40 566 confirmed cases includ-
showed that informal traders at Chikangwe old flea market, ing 37 075 recoveries and 1640
and the bulk of residents are with the place crowded with deaths.
not abiding by the stipulation buyers and sellers.
to stay indoors, citing econom- A total of 697 399 people
ic challenges. On Thursday, the farming have been vaccinated against
town lost Engineer Oswell Covid-19.
However, liqour stores and Mazvimbakupa (46) who suc- Hotspots
other beer outlets have been cumbed to Covid 19. Besides Hurungwe, Kwekwe
forced to close as police are and Kariba that are under local-
raiding them. In a statement the council ised lockdown, other towns in-
said it was a sad loss for Karoi cluding Chinhoyi and Mhan-
Street vendors vowed to con- town, Hurungwe and nation at gura in Mashonaland West are
tinue selling their wares, saying large. now hotspots.
it was the only way they would
be able to put food on the table.  “Mazvimbakupa will be re- The Health ministry also
membered for his philanthrop- added Chiredzi, Masvingo and
‘‘There is no reason to justify ic work, commitment to family some Bulawayo surburbs under
myself to be at home as I have and community at large. He the “hotspots” category.
a family to feed at home. I can’t was a hard worker who thrived
stay at home when my kids are to see Karoi as a better town to In a move likely to affect the
hungry,’’ said Memory Chaita, live,’’ the statement read. public transport sector in lo-
a mother of three. calised towns including Karoi
and Kariba, the mass public
A street vendor who sells transporter Zupco withdrew its
cellphone gadgets, Robert services just as the government
Museya (40), said the localised decreed the localised lockdown.
lockdown has not been effec-
tive. 

‘‘Localised lockdown has

Soldiers receive Covid-19 allowance
while civil servants sing the blues

BERNARD MPOFU navirus.  ties have announced that downs were paid ZW$54 Sources told The New- Presidential Guard and
The authorities have a new wave of infections 000 (US$633 at the of- sHawks that soldiers from the Special Air Services.
ANXIETY has gripped has struck Zimbabwe.  ficial rate) in May. The 2 Presidential Guard, lo-
frontline workers after since the outbreak of the allowances were depos- cated in Harare’s Dziva- This came just a few
Treasury last month paid pandemic imposed two Official figures show ited into bank accounts resekwa suburb, Central months after Mnangag-
Covid-19 allowances to lockdowns to slow down that new cases of the nov- of those who benefited Intelligence Organisation wa made drastic changes
soldiers who tested posi- the disease. The govern- el coronavirus have dou- and did not reflect on (CIO) personnel and po- to his security team after
tive for the pandemic in ment promised to pay bled in the past week and payslips,” a government lice officers from the Po- nearly 20 soldiers from
their line of duty yet oth- allowances to frontline experts have warned that source said. lice Protection Unit un- the Presidential Guard
er essential service per- workers such as health this new wave may have Questions sent to derwent Covid-19 tests Brigade, including some
sonnel are yet to be paid, professionals and mem- more serious implications the ministry of Finance ahead of Mnangagwa’s that were deployed to
The NewsHawks has es- bers of the security ser- than previous ones. spokesperson Clive Kwekwe trip. The tests his motorcade, tested
tablished. vices who are classified Mphambela were not were conducted at State Covid-19 positive a few
under essential services in Information gathered replied to at the time of House. Currently, tests days before the arrival
The World Health terms of Covid-19 regu- by The NewsHawks publication. Early this for Mnangagwa’s security of his visiting Malawi-
Organisation (WHO) lations. Already, the Pub- shows that soldiers year during his annu- team are still being con- an counterpart Lazarus
declared Covid-19 as a lic Service Commission who tested positive to al leave, President Em- ducted at State House Chakwera last October.
pandemic on 11 March has gazetted monthly risk Covid-19 were paid al- merson Mnangagwa was and City Sports Centre.
2020. The pandem- allowances which appear lowances. forced to abandon a trip The government
ic has significantly im- on payslips. Treasury is to his Sherwood farm in Mnangagwa’s secu- has declared a series of
pacted global, domestic also making addition- “Other frontline work- Kwekwe after several se- rity includes the CIO, Covid-19 lockdowns
and economic activity as al payments to essential ers such as the police and curity personnel and his the Zimbabwe Repub- since the end of March
governments implement workers who test positive. health officials are unsure farm manager tested pos- lic Police (VVIP Police last year in a bid to con-
measures to mitigate the on whether or not they itive for Covid-19. Protection Unit) and the tain the pandemic. More
transmission of the coro- The payments come at will be paid the allowanc- military which entails the than 1 600 deaths have
a time when the authori- es. Soldiers who tested been reported.
positive during the lock-

NewsHawks Editorial & Opinion Page 21

Issue 35, 18 June 2021 CARTOON

Debt assumption
simply corruption
CABINET has placed the burden of Air Zimbabwe’s
huge debt on the shoulders of taxpayers after approv- Zimra corruption should be
ing the principles of the Air Zimbabwe Debt Assump- addressed comprehensively
tion Bill this week.
FOR weeks on end, The NewsHawks has Zimra also undertakes to protect the support his cases.
Following decades of mismanagement and corrup- been reporting on widespread and deep identity of the informants at all times as In fact, it turns out that Kujinga has
tion, the flag carrier owes foreign creditors US$30 corruption engulfing the Zimbabwe Rev- provided for in the secrecy provisions of
million and local creditors ZW$349 million. In fact, enue Authority (Zimra), especially its the Revenue Authority Act, but it has over 300 cases, which means perhaps
not so long ago the debt had reached a mind-boggling whistle-blowing system. failed and endangered whistle-blowers. more than double the US$15 million
US$341 million before the authorities resorted to which he stood to be paid at one time.
sleight of hand to magically whittle it down overnight. Massive corruption — which has Following  The NewsHawks’ recent re-
dragged on for years — is rocking Zim- port, Zimra sources have provided fur- At the time of the audit, he had been
The practice of debt assumption promotes misman- ra’s multi-million-dollar whistle-blower ther details, including an audit report paid over US$1 million and stood to be
agement, corruption and lack of accountability in fund which the tax collector’s senior of- dating back five years which shows a paid over US$15 million when all collec-
state-owned enterprises. It should be condemned by ficials are looting in cahoots with a cor- frenzy of looting of public funds under tions due had been paid up. 
every citizen who believes in the principles and values rupt network of informants acting on the whistle-blower facility. 
of good governance enunciated in the constitution. insider information. This money was at various stages of
However, corruption has continued processing: cash due for payment; cash in
Bad governance has reduced Zimbabwe to a laugh- In April,  The NewsHawks  reported unabated. Millions in taxpayers’ funds debt which was being collected; money
ing stock. State-owned enterprises have become so Zimra was caught in a corruption storm have been stolen through the racket.  from cases under audit, matters not yet
compromised — at the level of organisational be- in which its top officers were accused of audited and transactions submitted.
haviour and rules — that these entities are, in the conniving with tax evaders in exchange The network works like this: senior
main, no longer serving the interests of citizens. They for payment and par-taking in attendant Zimra officials get information from The interactions between the audit
are largely serving the interests of political elites and financial rewards. whistle-blowers and then help them to team and Zimra officials were revealing. 
their cronies. consolidate and process their cases fast
This endangers the security of whis- using inside information for a huge cut. Debt management: This stage was very
How many scandals have been unearthed at AirZim tle-blowers and damages the image of the vital as Zimra officers would view client
over the years? Which culprits have ever been brought tax collector.  Alternatively, and more corruptly, se- accounts and provide information about
to justice? Who can forget the US$10 million aviation nior Zimra officials use inside informa- the tax status of each client to Kujinga
insurance fraud which rocked AirZim a decade ago? The most recent case involved three tion on individuals and companies’ tax such as which tax heads the client was
whistle-blowers — Norman Nyabadza, returns and tax evasion to empower their not complying on.
The shambolic manner in which parastatals and Martin Macharaga and Evans Kujinga — cronies to come and report cases in re-
other public institutions are managed is generally a who had reported notorious Harare land turn for huge payments, which they then The same debt management officers
reliable barometer for the health of the economy and baron Felix Munyaradzi to Zimra for tax share. would also quicken the payments col-
the wellbeing of citizens. evasion involving US$12 million. lection for clients reported by Kujinga
This becomes lucrative fake whis- through constant follow up.
The calibre of state-owned enterprises built by the Zimra in March wrote to Munyaradzi tle-blowing. The money-spinning fraud-
Zanu PF government since 1980 does not inspire con- demanding payment or else they would The same officers would also provide
fidence. Parastatals which used to contribute signifi- garnish his business accounts.  Hawk Eye information on which client had paid
cantly to the gross domestic product have regressed and how much.
spectacularly, becoming a huge drain on the fiscus and It is not clear whether they got their Dumisani
burdening the taxpayer. money paid, which is very unlikely, Muleya This information was crucial for fol-
or they have started garnishing Mun- lowing up with the commissioner. This
These entities are invariably run by incompetent yaradzi’s Delatfin Investments. Mun- ulent scheme has been so lucrative that was also evidenced by the specific infor-
and inefficient managers who are put in those lofty yaradzi was in March given seven days one whistle-blower infiltrated the Zim- mation Kujinga would use when doing
posts by their political overlords or clansmen. Meri- to pay or face the consequences. ra system, guaranteeing himself US$15 the follow-ups, for instance knowing
tocracy does not exist in the lexicon of self-interested million. when Liquid Telecoms had paid US$150
politicians. Under the whistle-blower facility, 000 to Zimra, the audit report says.
Zimra is supposed to reward legitimate But the use of insider information led
The constitution spells out the principles of good informants on cases relating to tax eva- to a prejudice to Zimra of US$10 mil- Now given all this, government and
governance, including transparency, accountability, sion under Section 34B of the Revenue lion on one occasion. One prolific whis- state agencies responsible for investigat-
integrity and responsiveness. Authority Act (Chapter 23:11) as read tle-blower – Kujinga – who was an in- ing and combating abuse of office and
with Statutory Instrument 150 of 2020. formant to over 80 cases obtained much corruption should act urgently and deal
These values ought to bind the state and all public of the information from inside Zimra to with this mess. 
institutions and agencies. Statutory Instrument 150 of 2020,
gazetted on 26 June 2020, regulates Zimra sits at the heart of government’s
The calibre of leadership matters. Leaders must be payment of rewards to informants upon revenue collection system. 
committed to excellence. We also have to keep in whistleblowing and recovery of revenue.
mind the relatedness of things. A parastatal in a de- If it is rotten to the core like this and
caying economy is bound to wallow in mediocrity. The reward is 10% of the amount re- nothing is done about it, then it means
covered on the basis of information sup- government will become even more
Good governance is the bedrock upon which a gov- plied, but corrupt Zimra officials always broke, hence social service delivery will
ernment can hope to achieve anything useful. manipulate that.  collapse even further with this lack of ac-
countability and transparency as well as
Managers and politicians must never be allowed to rampant corruption.
plunder state-owned enterprises and then shift the
debt burden to taxpayers.

If accountability is not taken seriously, this country
will continue sinking in the quicksand of authoritari-
an kleptocracy.

Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
tance of freedom of expression and me- content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Charmaine Phiri Council of Zimbabwe
dia freedom as the cornerstone of de- Media which is owned by Centre for Public Cell: +263 735666122
mocracy and as a means of upholding Interest Journalism Assistant Editor: Brezh Malaba [email protected] The NewsHawks newspaper subscribes to the
human rights and liberties in the con- No. 100 Nelson Mandela Avenue [email protected] Code of Conduct that promotes truthful, accurate,
stitution; our mission is to hold power Beverly Court, 6th floor News Editor: Owen Gagare
in its various forms and manifestations Harare, Zimbabwe Subscriptions & Distribution: fair and balanced news reporting. If we do not
to account by exposing abuse of power Digital Editor: Bernard Mpofu +263 735666122 meet these standards, register your complaint
and office, betrayals of public trust and Trustees/Directors: with the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
corruption to ensure good governance Beatrice Mtetwa, Raphael Khumalo, Reporters: at No.: 34, Colenbrander Rd, Milton Park, Harare.
and accountability in the public inter- Professor Wallace Chuma, Teldah Mawarire, Bridget Mananavire, Nyasha Chingono, Enoch Muchinjo
est. Doug Coltart Telephone: 024-2778096 or 024-2778006,
Email: [email protected] 24Hr Complaints Line: 0772 125 659

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
WhatsApp: 0772 125 658, Twitter: @vmcz

Website: www.vmcz.co.zw, Facebook: vmcz Zimbabwe

Business

MATTERSNewsHawks

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

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

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

BERNARD MPOFU IMF projects 6% growth embodied in their National
for Zimbabwe this year Development Strategy need
ZIMBABWE’S economy is to be fully operationalised
this year projected to reg- IMF headquarters in Washington DC. and implemented. Durable
ister 6% growth buoyed by macro-economic stabili-
agricultural output, the In- nomic and political reforms tion trends and accelerate Covid-19 related econom- climate and reducing gov- ty and structural reforms
ternational Monetary Fund which will form the bedrock reforms. The near-term ic and humanitarian chal- ernance vulnerabilities are would bode well for the re-
(IMF) has said. for normalising relations macro-economic imperative lenges. In line with the last essential for ensuring sus- covery and Zimbabwe’s de-
with her creditors and access is to improve the coordina- Article IV consultation, the tained and inclusive growth,” velopment objectives.
The country, which expe- long-term funding. tion among fiscal, foreign mission highlighted that the IMF said.
rienced two years of decline exchange and monetary structural reforms aimed “Zimbabwe has been
between 2019 and 2020 due “Further efforts are need- policies, while addressing at improving the business “To this end, the authori- a Fund member in good
to the Covid-19 pandemic ed to solidify the stabilisa- ties’ strategy and policies as standing since it cleared its
and other exogenous shocks, outstanding arrears to the
is this year expected to recov- IMF in late 2016. The Fund
er, according to an IMF team provides extensive techni-
which recently concluded cal assistance in the areas of
a virtual staff visit with the economic governance and
Zimbabwean authorities. financial sector reforms, as
The staff visits, from June well as macroeconomic sta-
1–15, discussed recent eco- tistics. However, the IMF is
nomic developments and the precluded from providing
outlook. financial support to Zimba-
bwe due to an unsustainable
“Despite the authorities’ debt and official external
timely actions to support the arrears. A Fund financial ar-
most vulnerable groups and rangement would require a
businesses during the pan- clear path to comprehensive
demic, real GDP contracted restructuring of Zimbabwe’s
by 4 percent in 2020, after a 6 external debt, including the
percent decline in 2019,” the clearance of arrears and ob-
IMF mission said in a state- taining financing assurances
ment.  from official creditors; a re-
form plan that is consistent
“However, an econom- with macro-economic sta-
ic recovery is underway in bility, growth and poverty
2021, with real GDP expect- reduction; a reinforcement
ed to grow by about 6 per- of the social safety net; and
cent, reflecting a bumper ag- governance and transparen-
ricultural output, increased cy reforms.”
energy production, and the
resumption of greater man- The IMF projections are
ufacturing and construc- above the World Bank con-
tion activities. Uncertainty servative forecast of 3.9%
remains high, however, and growth. The World Bank,
the outlook will depend on one of Zimbabwe’s key credi-
the pandemic’s evolution, tors, last week said while the
the pace of vaccination and country is this year expected
implementation of sustain- to recover from two years of
able policies.” contraction, serious head-
winds continue confronting
The multilateral lender the fragile economy.
said Zimbabwe should im-
plement far-reaching eco-

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NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 23

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Poor rental
yields subdue
property sector

RONALD MUCHENJE ity prime commercial Harare Central Business District.
real estate. 
THE commercial real es- benefit from provisions onto assets as value pres- office and retail sectors. ty maintenance, while
tate segment is expected “Value preservation of Statutory Instrument ervation strategies. Net property income the business remained
to remain an occupiers’ and cashflow manage- 85 of 2020.  focused on accelerating
market due to excessive ment remains critical in Revenue for the quar- grew at a slower rate of digital strategies and tal-
supply of space as the the immediate to short “Transactions within ter increased by 411% 331% during the period ent retention.
property sector is tradi- term as the impact of the property market con- compared to the corre- due to re-investment in
tionally the slowest to re- Covid-19 on rentals, oc- tinue to be concentrated sponding period in the repairs and maintenance, Investment properties
act due to the nature of cupancy levels and cash- around the residential prior year, driven by rent to improve space quality at 31 March 2021 were
the asset despite expect- flow generation evolves. sector. reviews, higher turnover and accelerate leasing ef- valued at ZW$9.663 bil-
ed growth in economic To this end, the group rentals and the occupan- forts.  lion following a directors’
activity, The NewsHawks will actively seek new “Commercial sector cy level rising to 89%, valuation, representing a
has learnt. tenants and improve transaction activity re- mainly attributable to A total of ZW$7.037 3% increase from 31 De-
space quality in line with mains subdued as prop- net lettings in the CBD million was spent during cember 2020.
A real estate player, occupier requirements to erty owners seek to hold the quarter on proper-
First Mutual Properties, sustain occupancy levels
in its first-quarter trading and earnings,” the firm
update, said the positive said. 
outcomes to the proper-
ty sector linked to gross Meanwhile, the com-
domestic product growth pany said the property
will be felt post-2021, as market continued to ex-
demand for space will be perience low demand for
driven by any positive space, with the central
effect on the productive business district (CBD)
sectors of the economy.  office sector worst affect-
ed, while the retail and
Rental yields are ex- industrial segments of the
pected to remain weak market remained resilient
due to the slow nature of with steady demand.
price discovery of rent-
als, coupled by limited The office park sector
upside on rentals due to continued to display re-
excess supply of space, silience with steady de-
while recent revaluations mand while pricing of
of properties will apply space continued to mi-
pressure on any growth grate towards inflation
in yields.  and currency-indexed
models to preserve value,
Rental yields for prime while there was an in-
assets are also expected to crease in foreign curren-
remain competitive due cy-denominated leases as
to limited supply of qual- property owners seek to

THE Zimbabwe Stock ZSE pushes lucrative incentives capital gains tax has seen
Exchange (ZSE) has ta- to encourage company listings the ZSE being one of the
bled plans to push for lu- most expensive exchanges
crative incentives in a bid in the Southern African
to encourage companies Development Communi-
to list on the bourse. ty region, which unfor-
tunately makes the mar-
The informal sector foreign currency resources ket less attractive,” Bgoni
is booming while many for the listed entities and said.
companies shun listing on this also motivates com- He emphasised that the
the stock exchange, fear- panies to list.” ZSE will continue lob-
ing tax burdens and oper- bying for the exemption
ational complications. He said the ZSE had of the capital gains with-
since recommended low- holding tax, as this will
But speaking to The er corporate tax for listed aid in reducing the over-
NewsHawks this week, companies, the recogni- all transaction fees, hence
ZSE chief executive of- tion of listing expenses as increase the participation
ficer Justin Bgoni said being deductible for tax of both retail and foreign
efforts to lobby the gov- purposes, and tax cred- investors.
ernment to offer lucrative its for investment losses However, market
incentives to encourage incurred in investing in watchers believe that
listings were at an ad- exploration companies’ apart from these efforts,
vanced stage. securities.   the authorities also need
to address the country’s
“We recommend that “The ZSE has also been risk factors which have
listed companies get extra Exchange, the exchange ers,” Bgoni said.  companies and this moti- lobbying for the remov- dissuaded foreign inves-
tax credits for listing, for lobbied for increased ex- “Lower corporate tax vates them to want to be al of the capital gains tors from venturing into
example, initial listing ex- port retention of up to listed. Increased export withholding tax which is Zimbabwe. — STAFF WRITER.
penses could have special 100% for listed export- implies greater retained retention implies more currently 1% on the sell
tax exemption status. On earnings for the listed side. The inclusion of the
the Victoria Falls Stock

Page 24 Companies & Markets NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Shepco feels the heat from cheap imports

DUMISANI NYONI “So, these are really posing Chawira said BMA has a we need to retool to increase as well to commission another tooling and resuscitating some
quite a big challenge for us plant with installed capacity capacity utilisation. So defi- production line this quarter,” of the lines.”
SHEPCO Group, which oper- in terms of the local demand of 500 tonnes conversion a nitely, we are on course. We he said. 
ates Shepco Industrial Supplies and export. We haven’t even month but, due to imports, it did commission another man- For retooling, Chawira said
and Shepco BMA Fasteners, restarted the export because operates at 20% capacity. ufacturing line at the end of “Definitely, that’s the di- BMA needs about US$2 mil-
is facing unfair competition we are not competitive. When last year and we are on course rection that we are taking to lion. 
from imported sub-standard we get to around 50% capac- “So capacity is there, but increase our production by re-
imports many of which are ity utilisation, I am sure then “That’s what we need for
smuggled into the local mar- we can start talking about ex- retooling and unfortunately,
ket, the group’s chief execu- ports,” he said.  currently as the financial mod-
tive officer, Shepherd Chawira els are available in the econ-
says. Goods entering into Zim- omy we will not be (borrow-
babwe from other countries ing). The interest rates are a bit
Shepco Industrial Supplies must be declared at ports of high at the moment. Besides
manufactures mining equip- entry but this is not happening that, the short-term finance
ment such as locomotives and due to leakages. is not good for retooling,” he
underground loaders while said. 
Shepco BMA Fasteners makes Chawira, who is also Con-
bolts, nails among other prod- federation of Zimbabwe In- The Shepco boss said they
ucts. dustries Matabeleland chapter were hoping that the govern-
president, said during the first ment would work with banks
Chawira told The News- quarter of this year Shepco In- to come up with a stimulus
Hawks that cheap imports dustrial fared well, operating package for long-term retool-
coming into the country were at over 80% capacity utilisa- ing. He said in retooling, com-
posing a serious challenge for tion. panies would need about 5 to
them in terms of the local de- 15 years of finance because it is
mand and export. “But for Shepco BMA, al- quite a huge outlay. 
though our capacity utilisa-
“We have various challenges tion increased, we are still at Chawira said at Shepco In-
there (Shepco BMA), initially below 30%. It increased in the dustrial they have expansion
it was forex for the raw ma- last quarter going into the first projects and have started man-
terials which is now available. quarter. People are very pos- ufacturing conveyor rollers. 
We can now go to the auction itive at the moment, I think
market and buy. The biggest for most of our industries, this “That one was completed in
challenge that we are currently stability that has been brought the last quarter of 2020. Then
facing is that our products are about by the foreign auction we have the second phase
expensive compared to the re- and also the enablers like fuel which is now almost complete
gion,” Chawira said.  are now available,” he said.  and we are hoping that we will
commission that one at the
“We are operating at 20% “We all agree that most of end of second or third quarter
capacity utilisation whereas last year going into early this this year,” he said. 
a company in South Africa, the first quarter, power supply
China or India, for instance, has been fairly stable. These “If you go there, there are
is operating at 100%. The oth- have really strengthened the quite huge expansion proj-
er biggest challenge is that we position from where compa- ects going on at the moment.
have cheap imports coming nies have been operating from. Shepco Industrial is really
into the country and some of Stability can be sustained and trying, but it’s all due to the
them are actually smuggled definitely, we are geared to- stability which has prevailed
into the country.” wards growth.”  in the last few months or so,
which we are hoping will con-
tinue,” he said. 

THE Zimbabwe Congress ZCTU warns govt over parastatal from interfering in the col-
of Trade Unions (ZCTU) collective bargaining meddling lective bargaining process
has hinted at reporting the they should not blame any-
government to the Interna- services by state enterprises. ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo. “If government one if they find themselves
tional Labour Organisation In the circumstances you don’t refrain from back before the ILC to an-
(ILO) for violating a ratified are advised not to conclude tions that they ratified and mechanism to answer to its interfering in the swer their transgressions.”
convention following unjus- any collective bargaining domesticated. failure to adhere to what the collective bargain-
tified interference into wage agreement without seeking authorities committed to. ing process they He said the ZCTU views
increase issues involving state guidance and authority from Previously the government should not blame the letter as direct interfer-
enterprises. the Minister,” Chinyanga or- had to appear before the “I don’t think they will anyone if they find ence with the work of the
dered. International Labour Con- want to appear before the themselves back boards as well as collective
The union leader was re- ference (ILC) supervisory Committee on the Appli- before the Inter- bargaining processes.
acting to a leaked letter dated The circular was directed national Labour
22 April 2021 signed by the to the Traffic Safety Coun- Conference super- Moyo said the govern-
Transport and Infrastructure cil of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe visory mechanism ment’s actions were in direct
Development ministry’s per- National Road Administra- to answer their violation of ILO Convention
manent secretary, Engineer tion, Airports Company of transgressions. 98 on the Right to Organise
Theodius Chinyanga, order- Zimbabwe, Civil Aviation and Collective Bargaining of
ing parastatals under his pur- Authority of Zimbabwe, cation of Standards (CAS) 1949 and ILO Convention
view to cease forthwith the Road Motor Services and the considering their stage fright 154 of 1981 on Collective
effecting of salary increments National Railways of Zimba- every time they appear be- Bargaining.
without following govern- bwe chief executive officers. fore the International Labour
ment protocol. Conference,” Moyo said. “Yes, some of the para-
But speaking to The News- statals have been black holes.
Chinyanga said the gov- Hawks this week, ZCTU sec- “But if they don’t refrain They are poorly managed
ernment had noted the prac- retary-general Japhet Moyo and they have been a burden
tice whereby state enterprises accused the government of to the fiscal. Some have op-
and parastatals are conclud- violating ratified ILO con- erated outside the law with-
ing unsustainable collective ventions which prohibit any out boards while some have
bargaining agreements with form of interference in wage wrong people in key areas,
workers. issues. Zimbabwe ratified resulting in massive corrup-
and domesticated conven- tion.
He bemoaned the fact that tions that deal with collective
these agreements are at times bargaining. The government “Salaries and packages
underpinned by quarterly in- is expected to give effect in paid to key managers are not
dexation to parallel market practice to all the conven- commensurate with the op-
exchange rate movements. erations output of some para-
statals, but there is a need to
“This is notwithstanding put in place proper systems
the exchange rate stability for checks and balances and
witnessed since mid-2020 avoid direct interference,” he
thereby inadvertently affect- added.
ing the price of goods and
— STAFF WRITER.

NewsHawks Stock Taking Page 25

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Price Sheet

Friday, 18 June 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 Traded Change Change (%) Cap
(cents) 7000.00 Volume Value ($) (cents) ($m)
AFDIS: ZH Price 510.00 (%)
ASUN: ZH 7000.00 720.00 -
AFDIS Consumer Goods ARTD: ZH 516.71 - 325.00 600 - - - 191.67 8,211.42
African Sun Consumer Services ARISTON: ZH 800.00 510.00 2100.00 1,600 3,060.00 -6.71 -1.30 200.00 4,395.04
ART AXIA: ZH 314.22 720.00 510.00 25,200 12,640.00 -80.00 -10.00 50.85 3,146.24
Ariston Industrials BIND: ZH 2153.12 325.00 90000.00 5,500 82,520.00 10.78 3.43 142.54 5,289.04
Axia Consumer Services 509.27 2100.00 12500.00 442,500 117,700.00 -53.12 -2.47 129.26 11,442.78
BNC BAT: ZH 90000.00 510.00 1545.00 2,256,975.00 0.73 0.14 34.21 6,374.27
BAT Consumer Goods CAFCA: ZH 12500.00 8499.73 - 63.64 18,570.17
CAFCA Basic Materials 1575.96 - 2360.00 - - - - 39.04 1,091.89
Cassava CSZL: ZH 8499.73 - 6725.00 78,500 - - - 137.69 40,024.42
CBZ Consumer Goods CBZ: ZH 2366.95 1545.00 2750.00 - 1,211,625.00 -30.96 -1.96 -0.54 58,412.84
Dairibord Industrials DZL: ZH 6897.01 - 345.00 54,100 - - - 80.15 8,448.82
Delta DLTA: ZH 2734.40 2360.00 2900.00 524,200 1,319,000.00 -6.95 -0.29 195.59 86,380.02
Econet Technology ECO: ZH 348.64 6725.00 660.00 701,500 35,915,490.00 -172.01 -2.49 191.01 71,240.86
Edgars Banking EDGR: ZH 2955.02 2750.00 385.00 2,400 19,290,050.00 15.60 0.57 187.50 1,128.12
FBC FBC: ZH 750.00 345.00 2800.00 15,000 8,300.00 -3.64 -1.04 93.16 19,486.55
Fidelity Consumer Goods FIDL: ZH 384.01 2900.00 1600.00 2,600 435,070.00 -55.02 -1.86 246.09
First Capital Consumer Goods FCA: ZH 2800.00 660.00 186.00 25,300 17,200.00 -90.00 -12.00 250.00 718.89
FML Telecommunications FMHL: ZH 1600.00 385.00 800.00 100 97,273.00 0.99 0.26 166.67 8,303.37
FMP Consumer Services FMP: ZH 155.00 2800.00 17000.00 800 2,800.00 - - 393.83 19,324.01
GBH GBH: ZH 800.00 1600.00 8905.00 34,100 12,800.00 - - 675.00 19,810.52
Getbucks Banking GBFS: ZH 17002.25 186.00 6750.00 2,100 63,426.00 31.00 20.00 6300.00
Hippo Financial Services HIPO: ZH 8946.15 800.00 358.00 7,300 16,900.00 - 0.00 88.89 998.05
Innscor INN: ZH 6750.00 17000.00 3495.00 95,300 1,241,000.00 -2.25 -0.01 140.49 9,304.95
Lafarge Banking LACZ: ZH 351.21 8905.00 16.90 - 8,449,575.00 -41.15 -0.46 603.13 32,813.50
Mash Financial Services MASH: ZH 3500.00 - 8400.00 4,800 - - - 284.95 50,293.34
Masimba MSHL: ZH 16.51 358.00 1479.96 80,300 17,094.00 6.79 1.93 212.05 5,400.00
Medtech Real Estate MMDZ: ZH 8481.91 3495.00 33200.00 184,700 2,768,950.00 -5.00 -0.14 113.92 6,655.48
Meikles Industrials MEIK: ZH 1479.96 16.90 1245.00 87,100 30,562.30 0.39 2.36 281.74 8,445.80
Nampak NPKZ: ZH 38000.00 8400.00 1200.00 - 7,336,990.00 -81.91 -0.97 548.39
NatFoods Financial Services NTFD: ZH 1245.00 - 1500.00 10,200 - - - 452.41 513.72
NTS Consumer Goods NTS: ZH 1200.00 33200.00 2800.00 - 3,387,100.00 -4800.00 -12.63 4435.52 21,222.27
NMBZ NMB: ZH 1619.40 - 2800.00 500 - - - 199.96 11,183.29
OK Zim Industrials OKZ: ZH 2767.35 1200.00 340.00 650,700 6,000.00 - - 66.67 22,708.84
Padenga Industrials PHL: ZH 2800.00 1500.00 2940.00 180,900 9,859,430.00 -119.40 -7.37 33.24 3,160.71
Proplastics Real Estate PROL: ZH 290.56 2800.00 4195.00 51,800 4,992,940.00 32.65 1.18 225.21 4,850.06
RTG Industrials RTG: ZH 2940.00 2800.00 125.00 1,600 1,450,400.00 - - 77.31 18,702.19
RioZim Healthcare RIOZ: ZH 4140.63 340.00 135.00 - 5,440.00 49.44 17.02 96.63 15,164.62
Simbisa Industrials SIM: ZH 113.71 - 4000.00 28,200 - - - 249.06 7,054.20
Star Africa Industrials SACL: ZH 121.88 4195.00 339.47 67,300 1,182,090.00 54.37 1.31 362.96 8,484.68
Truworths Consumer Goods TRUW: ZH 4000.00 125.00 1500.00 6,000 86,024.00 11.29 9.93 357.63 3,587.67
TSL Industrials TSL: ZH 339.47 135.00 200.00 5,100 7,900.00 13.12 10.76 131.88 23,583.65
Turnall TURN: ZH 1503.90 4000.00 7700.00 - 204,000.00 - - 265.02 5,893.86
Unifreight Banking UNIF: ZH 189.87 - 0.03 100 - - - 7964.52
Willdale Consumer Services WILD: ZH 7700.00 1500.00 195.00 814,200 1,500.00 -3.90 -0.26 525.00 518.49
ZB ZBFH: ZH 0.03 200.00 810.00 72,100 1,628,260.00 10.13 5.34 220.83 14,284.10
Zeco Consumer Goods ZECO: ZH 195.00 7700.00 320.00 - 5,551,700.00 - - 50.00 1,673.72
Zimpapers Industrials ZIMP: ZH 857.21 - 3,500 - - - 98.98 1,597.11
Zimplow ZIMPLOW: ZH 292.48 195.00 115,900 6,825.00 - - 62.00 3,556.00
ZHL Consumer Services ZHL: ZH 810.00 5,500 936,880.00 -47.21 -5.51 2.08 13,489.68
TOTAL Basic Materials 320.00 4,389,200 17,955.00 27.52 9.41
110,031,444.30 0.14
Consumer Goods 1,123.20
Consumer Goods 1,930.88
Consumer Services 5,819.70
Consumer Goods 695,813.15

Industrials
Industrials
Industrials

Banking
Industrials
Consumer Services
Industrials
Financial Services

ETFs OMTT.zw 190.15 190.00 189.14 80,679 152,593.31 -1.01 -0.53 88.72 151.31
Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF

FINSEC Financial Services OMZIL 2800.00 - 2800.00 - -- - 5.66 2,324.33
Old Mutual Zimbabwe

VFEX (US cents) Consumer Goods SCIL:VX 18.00 US$m

SeedCo International - 18.00 - -- -- 43.40

Index Close Change (%) Open YTD % Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
ZSE All Share GBH
Top 10 5,941.21 -0.52 5,972.50 +125.96 RTG 186.00c +31.00c +20.00 +675.00
Top 15 3,172.69 -0.89 3,201.27 +91.76 Truworths 340.00c +49.44c +17.02 +77.31
Small Cap 3,607.32 -1.35 3,656.79 +85.17 Star Africa 135.00c +13.12c +10.76 +357.63
Medium Cap 116,880.97 +0.89 115,846.45 +884.16 ZHL 125.00c +11.29c +9.93 +362.96
15,626.42 -0.12 15,645.37 +180.83 320.00c +27.52c +9.41 +2.08

Top 5 Fallers Price Change % YTD %
NatFoods
Fidelity 33200.00c -4800.00c -12.63 +452.41
ART 660.00c -90.00c -12.00 +246.09
OK Zim 720.00c -80.00c -10.00 +50.85
Zimplow 1500.00c -119.40c -7.37 +66.67
810.00c -47.21c -5.51 +62.00

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 be reliable but which

it has not independently verified; MORGAN & COMPANY makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to the accuracy or completeness of its content.

Page 26 Executive Chat NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Mash Holdings bullish about new projects

MASHONALAND Holding increase new housing stock incor- Mashonaland Holdings Limited managing director Gibson Mapfidza. dollar based. As such, you end up
Limited recently unveiled the porating modern house designs. with a situation where most proj-
latest addition to its portfolio, JM: The property has faced a ment of the projects following the pending with the projects coming which deals with valuation of the ects in the market are not viable as
Mashview Gardens, a 25-unit myriad of challenges relating to lockdowns. The proposed Char- out of our pipeline and also ma- various interests that are traded cost is higher than market value.
cluster housing development in construction. What is your ter House boutique hotel, for jor rehabilitations to our existing in the property market, SI 185 This resulted in a situation where
Harare’s Bluffhill suburb. The comment on this? instance, is through a partnership investments. The property cycle of 2020 helped improve access to perhaps only projects that were
company is working on a number GM: Our construction value with a Chinese-based operator. has also been going through a market information. Before the motivated by other primary rea-
of projects in line with a business chain in Zimbabwe is, in many The operator hasn’t been able to downturn with demand of space SI, most freehold and leasehold sons other than purely investment
diversification strategy. It is also ways, highly inefficient. This, get approval from its government decline, thereby reducing demand sales transactions were taking would see the light of day. For
finalising design approvals for in part, has been caused by lack to come and commence works of new stock. We however are place clandestinely as SI 142 of instance, owner-occupiers would
the ambitious project to convert of activity for a long time and on site due to Covid-19 restric- looking forward to the econom- 2019 had outlawed transactions have a dual motivation of satisfy-
Charter House, an iconic build- causing our construction practic- tions. Secondly, the Covid-19 ic rebound which should see us in any currency other than the ing own utility through use and
ing in central Harare, to a bou- es and legislation to lag behind. pandemic has lowered econom- churning more projects out of our Zimbabwean dollar, which has partly investment. This explains
tique hotel. The industry at a global level has ic activity marked by a negative pipeline as there would more tak- been highly unstable. However, why construction activity in Zim-
significantly improved in terms GDP growth in 2020. What it ers of the new developments.   no rational property owner would babwe is currently dominated by
The NewsHawks’ Jonathan of deployment of technology to means is the value of our com- JM: What can you say about the sell, even if they have to, an infla- house construction as the motiva-
Mbiriyamveka (JM) speaks to improve construction efficiencies, pleted developments have gone return on your investments so tion-hedging asset in a currency tion to use the completed house is
Mashonaland Holdings Limited quality and project risk manage- down against a static cost of de- far? that would result in them losing greater than the investment mo-
MD Gibson Mapfidza (GM) on ment practices. velopment. Essentially, projects GM: Generally, our property re- value in real terms as the trans- tivation.
these issues and how hyper-infla- that were forecasted to be viable turns in Zimbabwe are lagging action is taking place. The dual
tion, currency uncertaintiwa and The other challenge that has in 2019 are now unviable thanks behind the region, which mirrors pricing regime therefore led to In summary, SI 127 of 2021
policy flip-flops all negatively af- been affecting property devel- to the Covid-19 pandemic. the low economic activity in the property sellers openly marketing and the broader intention be-
fect new and existing real estate opment is around viability. Our local market. We are however en- their assets in a stable currency. hind it, which the market greatly
investments. Read the excerpts: construction costs are generally In addition to the Covid-19 couraged by the stabilising econo- Most superior assets which were fears, reverses all these gains in the
JM: You have launched your high in the region. We import a effects, the general economic my and expectant that the author- withdrawn from the open market property market. The SI unfortu-
cluster house project. May you lot of materials including rein- challenges the country has been ities will continue on its thrust on following SI 142 of 2019 were nately provides a fertile ground
kindly take us through this forcement steel, tiles, aluminium, facing before the Covid-19 pan- disciplined monetary and fiscal taken back to the market by their for arbitrage in the property mar-
project? roof sheets, plumbing and electri- demic also affected our projects. measures. Most importantly, we owners following the dual pric- ket where, for example, a tenant
GM: The project, a modern cal goods, etc. As long as our local The hyper-inflation, currency need to keep restoring confidence ing regime. The property market receiving 100% of their revenue
cluster housing development, industry is not producing these uncertainties and policy flip-flops in the market. This should see thrives on transactions.   in US dollars opts to now pay in
sits on a total of 2.3 hectares in materials, we will remain uncom- all negatively affect new and exist- our property returns as a coun- Zimdollars. Over time, the land-
the heart of the affluent Bluffhill petitive. The high costs, mainly ing real estate investments. There try leapfrog the regional returns. Secondly, for the occupier lord is unable to keep up with
neighbourhood and has a total of driven by inflation and foreign have been challenges as well in Locally, we are fairly happy that sub-market charging rentals in enhancing functionality of the
25 stands. The stands sizes range exchange movements is, on the accessing long terms and compet- we continue to deliver reasonable a stable currency helped pre- property through regular reha-
from 600 - 900 square metres and other hand, met by falling prop- itively priced international fund- capital and income returns to our serve value for investors, which, bilitations. This, in turn, might
the actual house floor area under erty values as effective demand is ing from your IFC (International shareholders. The organisation in turns, helps refurbishing the affect the tenant’s operational ef-
roof is 190m². Installation of bulk pulled down by the deteriorating Finance Corporation), Shelter Af- will keep scavenging for oppor- assets and also deploy revenues ficiencies and capacity to generate
infrastructure consisting of roads, disposable incomes. In the end rique, Swedfund and other long- tunities to further enhance its re- towards new developments. As revenue. It is therefore important
potable water and sewer reticu- it means construction costs are term international infrastructure turns to shareholders and value to a result, property market returns for both landlord and tenants to
lation was completed in 2019. higher than  the market value of financing institutions. These or- all our other stakeholders. significantly improved and, to an exercise fair, ethical and mutually
We have just completed a model the completed  development. All ganisations are actively financing JM: What’s your comment on extent, narrowed the gap with re- beneficial and enduring business
show house as proof of concept these challenges call for creative real estate developments in the re- the implication of  currency gional peers. Thirdly, in the devel- practices in light of the policy
to enable our prospective cus- ways of navigating, especially the gion. Real estate development by changes on rentals and the sec- opment sub-market, the charging flip-flops. The inherent problem
tomers to experience the house, supply side of these developments its very nature is capital intensive tor at large? of rentals in a stable currency in of arbitrage practices in a long
input into the design concept to as the demand side is affected by and it needs competitively priced, GM: The ushering in of the dual the occupier sub-market led to term business relationship is the
accommodate different tastes and macro-economic environment long-term and patient funding. pricing regime through Statuto- improvement in project viability. real danger of killing the goose
preferences, especially on the final factors beyond the control of There is a general dearth of such ry Instrument 185 of 2020 was What has also been clear is that that lays the golden eggs.  
finishes. The construction of the any developer. The expected im- funding in the local capital mar- greatly welcomed by the property construction materials continued JM: Do you have any regulatory
house also enabled the entire proj- provement in performance of the ket. market in various ways. Firstly, to be sold at US dollar-bench- challenges in the sector? Kindly
ect team to identify ways to opti- economy seen through the GDP JM: How much have you com- for the investment sub-market, marked prices even during oper- share.
mise our construction efficiencies forecasts for 2021/2022 will, with mitted to your capex investment ation of SI 142 of 2019. So when GM: In addition to the currency
and deliver value, and only value, no doubt, resolve some of these in the past five years? appraising new developments you issues, the industry also has to
to our customers. inherent challenges. GM: The numbers fluctuate de- have a scenario where your con- contend with archaic town plan-
JM: Of what significance is it to JM: What other projects do you struction costs is US dollar based ning regulations and building
you and the property sector? have in the pipeline? against rental income that is Zim- bye-laws which need review. For
GM: As an organisation, we have GM: Mashonaland Holdings instance, whilst the government
been mainly focusing on com- Limited is working on a number has been encouraging vertical de-
mercial developments for onward of projects in pursuit of its port- velopment as a way of containing
leasing. However, the key princi- folio geographical and sectorial urban sprawl and invasion of the
ples of Socially Responsible Prop- diversification strategy. The or- green belt urban land by human
erty Investments (SRPI), which ganisation is finalising design ap- settlement, very little has been
the organisation subscribes to, provals for the Charter House re- done in terms of reviewing the
calls for us as  a leading property vitalisation project to a boutique various local plans dictating the
investment company to deploy hotel. The project got delayed by bulk factors or permissible build-
our investment resources where the Covid-19 pandemic following ing height across the city zones.
there is a greatest social impact. the approvals granted by the local
The over two million housing planning authority in December There is an urgent need for the
waiting list calls for organisations 2019.   The organisation is also key city stakeholders to come to-
like ours to creatively play a part working on a 42-hectare mixed gether and have a working forum
towards satisfying that demand. use development in Ruwa. The to share thoughts and come up
We anticipate to embark on big- development permit was secured with a holistic and shared vision
ger social housing projects as in 2020 and now the company is for our cities going forward. At
the economy improves,  effective working on securing the sub-di- the moment the various city stake-
demands firms up and prices of vision permit. The office park holders have no one vision for all
building materials stabilise as in- project in Belgravia is also on the our cities across the country. It is
flation recedes. The lessons we are cards, having been affected by not enough to say ‘Sunshine City
learning on the Mashview Gar- viability challenges. The organ- by 2025’ without a working and
dens development will be very isation partnered with a health shared implementation plan by all
handy as we embark on bigger insurer and service provider to stakeholders to realise the vision.
affordable housing projects in the develop  a  bespoke hospital for JM: What’s your outlook for the
medium to long term. the operator. The project is still at rest of 2021?
pre-construction stage. Selling of GM: Whilst the economic funda-
As for the property market, stands in Ruwa’s Windsor Park is mentals are all seemingly point-
we believe if we can deliver the ongoing. ing northwards, the Covid-19
project successfully and viably, JM: What have been the major pandemic looks set to dominate
it would induce other investors obstacles in your dream proj- economic themes, at least for the
to actively play a part in hous- ects? remainder of 2021. We also hope
ing  projects.  The supply of new GM: The Covid-19 pandemic that the authorities, in resolving
housing stock with title deeds significantly affected the imple- certain unfair market ‘monetary’
has been depressed lately owing mentation plan for most of our practices, will keep up the good
to a myriad of challenges in the projects in two ways. Firstly, we work so far on the monetary and
property market’s development were forced to defer commence- fiscal fronts. Otherwise, the econ-
sub-market  and the investor un- omy is showing early signs of re-
friendly residential rent regula- covery amid inherent macro-eco-
tions. There is therefore a need to nomic fragilities.

NewsHawks News Analysis Page 27
The cyclone ravaged
Issue 35, 18 June 2021 Looting of Cyclone Idai through southern Africa,
donations very shameful killing over 1 000 people in
NYASHA CHINGONO Zimbabwe, Mozambique and
Malawi. Hundreds of thou-
REVELATIONS that sands were displaced.
US$4.5 million in donations As a result, Mnangagwa
by international aid agencies declared the cyclone a nation-
and well-wishers meant for al disaster on 15 March 2019.
Cyclone Idai victims were The government and donors
misappropriated are not only immediately swung into ac-
scandalous but prove that tion with various rescue mis-
President Emmerson Mnan- sions to mitigate the disrup-
gagwa’s fight on corruption tion of lives and suffering.
rings hollow.  There were subsequent
Mnangagwa, who has pos- stories and concerns that the
tured as a sworn enemy of aid was being politicised, di-
graft since being propelled to verted and looted by corrupt
power by a military coup in ruling Zanu PF and govern-
2017, has failed to walk the ment officials always hunting
talk in dealing with corrupt to make political capital even
officials. on dead bodies.
It is embarrassing that South Africa, one of the
some malcontents in the country’s major donors
government pounced on aid during the disaster, also ex-
meant for Cyclone Idai vic- pressed concern over the pos-
tims, most of whom are still sibility that donations were
living in tents, two years after looted.
Zimbabwe’s most devastat- This could also explain
ing natural disaster struck, why Zimbabwe is not trusted
leaving them homeless and with direct lines of credit by
mourning their dearly de- the international community,
parted.  with foreign partners choos-
Instead of commiserating ing to work with non-govern-
with the victims whose lives mental organisations instead. 
took a nasty turn because of Political analyst Ibbo Man-
the disaster, the government daza said the government
used less than 1% of funds to should appoint an indepen-
assist victims, as revealed in a dent commission of inquiry
special audit report by Audi- to investigate all forms of
tor-General Mildred Chiri. graft, bleeding the country
Tonnes of foodstuffs need- US$1 billion annually. 
ed by desparate villagers were “Nothing unusual, another
allowed to expire, yet the vic- scandal. We expected that to
tims were going hungry.   happen. It is a pity that Chiri
In the wake of the cyclone reveals corruption, but noth-
donation scandal, citizens are ing happens,” Mandaza said. 
asking: whose interests does “We have always called for
the government serve? an independent commission
Chiri’s report vindicates of inquiry. We are losing a
critics who have repeatedly lot of gold and other min-
questioned why Idai victims erals to smuggling annually
were still living in tents and and it keeps going on. Zim-
begging for their next meal, babweans on the other hand
yet millions of dollars were are not making enough noise,
donated.  the opposition also -- it’s pa-
Last week, The News- Survivors of Cyclone Idai. thetic.” 
Hawks published an exclu- raising the risk that donations ciaries.” of accountability is likely to ic procedures, this will also Looting has deprived the
sive story on the looting that “may be misappropriated”. As a result, Chiri observes spook donors and deprive the discourage investors who will country of investment oppor-
happened after disaster struck country of future aid in crit- ask questions to do not only tunities as foreign businesses
in March 2019.  “There was no uniformity “accountability and trans- ical times.  with honesty but efficiency.”  remain on the fence or use
“The objective for which in accounting for donations parency was compromised”. proxies to engage in business
the funds were donated may from Manyame air base to This means she was unable to “The revelation that only Chan added: “In the next with Zimbabwe. 
not be achieved,” Chiri says Manicaland and Masvingo trace the donations. In other 1% of donations reached the humanitarian emergency, It is also sad that the na-
in the report.  provinces as there were no words, the government was cyclone victims will alarm many donors from the inter- tion could fail to attract aid
Even though Zimbabwe detailed dispatch documents unable to account for the aid.  foreign donors who have bat- national community -- gov- in future when similar disas-
received a lot of aid, which and receiving registers for au- tled their own governments ernmental and NGO -- will ters happen. 
included foodstuffs, med- dit trail. Only a list of donat- The government’s horrific to maintain humanitarian hesitate to give to Zimba- Chiri’s report also proves
icines, temporary shelter, ed items was submitted for accountability and transpar- aid even while developmen- bwe.” lack of seriousness in chang-
building materials and mon- audit,” Chiri says. ency failures – which reflect tal aid programmes are being ing the plight of the suffering
ey, Chiri noted that there are deep-seated and underlying slashed,” Chan said. Cyclone Idai struck Zim- who now survive on the be-
no proper records of the aid.  “Furthermore, there were structural governance prob- babwe in March 2019, leav- nevolence of foreign donors.
The Auditor-General ob- no full descriptions of items lems – point to gross incom- “It will have a knock-on ing in its wake a trail of dev- Lack of transparency in gov-
served that “no proper re- such as the quantities or units petence, abuse or looting of effect on the ‘Zimbabwe is astation, death, and mayhem ernance could mean that ne-
cords for relief items received received to determine the to- donations at a time people open for business’ mantra in the Eastern Highlands, farious activities in the gov-
and disbursed were main- tal quantities/volumes. I was were dying from the devastat- -- for, if even funds to help particularly in Chimanimani ernment are going unnoticed. 
tained” from the time they ing weather impact. those in distress are stolen, in- and Chipinge.
left Manyame Air Force base therefore not able to match vestors will divert their funds
to the affected provinces, the items received and dis- A political analyst at the away from Zimbabwe. In so At least 347 people were
patched to the districts and University of London, Ste- far as some of the funds were killed, while 344 others went
from the districts to the dis- phen Chan, said the Zim- swallowed up by bureaucrat- missing. More than 50 000
tribution centres and benefi- babwean government’s lack were left homeless.

Page 28 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

IN November 2019, Faith Faith Zaba: The day social Issue 35, 18 June 2021
Zaba was appointed the media turned on me
editor of the Zimbabwe with this? 
Independent. In his fare- Editor of the Zimbabwe Independent Faith Zaba. FZ: I can proudly say
well  memo, outgoing editor
Dumisani Muleya praised over my head. I was about to face the fact that some of those attacks women, namely the New Horizon we are the most gender
Faith’s nose for news, her one of the most difficult periods in were coming from women. Instead and Economic Agenda.  inclusive newspaper in the
networks, experience and my journalism career. of celebrating that one of their own country. There is no other
work ethic. “Gender was WN: What happened on social me- had been entrusted with leading one As part of ensuring that there is newspaper that amplifies
also an issue. Talented wom- dia, specifically on Twitter? of the most powerful media organ- gender inclusion, we are increasing women’s voices like we
en in the media, as in other FZ: I was attacked on social media isations in the country, they ques- women’s voices in stories. We are also do — not as victims but
facets of society, sometimes for more than a month. Trolls on tioned my professionalism and wrote profiling more women executives. as powerful beings doing
go unnoticed in professional Twitter said my rise would result in me off. We have new exciting projects, like their part in shaping the
elevations due to patriar- the collapse of the  Zimbabwe In- WN: All this was happening online the Zimbabwe Independent Special country’s history, and driv-
chy. We still live in a society dependent. They described my ap- at a time when you were having Report.  ing its economic growth
where men have a chokehold pointment as the end of Indepen- to edit the newspaper by yourself. and direction.
on power,” Muleya wrote. dent journalism. They labelled my Why was that? Our numbers on social media WN: What impact did
But what should have been elevation as state capture. They said FZ: After the promotion, we lost have risen –  we now have more than the WIN Leadership Ac-
a ringing endorsement of her there was political pressure on Mr some of our most senior journal- 100,000 followers on Twitter, which celerator have on you?
talents and been celebrated Ncube to promote me. Sexual innu- ists, and these included my deputy rises each week. FZ: I am very grateful for
in Zimbabwe and beyond endo and connotations were thrown and assistant editors. It took several the WIN programme. Let
instead turned into one of at me. They went as low as attacking months to replace them. We are redesigning our website to me share that when we
Faith’s lowest moments in my children, making some serious WN: What has changed at the Zim- make it more interactive. We were did the career roadmap, I
her 20-plus years of practis- allegations about their paternal par- babwe Independent since you took the first to push an e-Paper in the remember stating that I
ing journalism. Zaba (FZ) entage. My kids came across these, so over? market when Covid-19 hit. We also wanted to be an editor in
shares her story with Women you can imagine the emotional trau- FZ: We have made a number of have monthly special sector reports three years. Even as I wrote
In News (WN) – and how ma they went through. changes to include the voices of and have introduced an intelligence that, I didn’t think it would
she fought back.   youth and women. We have new, unit, which will provide in-depth be possible to achieve it. 
WN: Congratulations on My 27 years of experience and young contributors to add to na- analytical reports for businesses, in-
that major promotion – professionalism were thrown out the tional debate and become part of vestors and the government. We have What WIN did for me
please tell us about that window. The fact that I acted as ed- national dialogue. We have also add- several partnerships lined up, and is to provide a sisterhood.
day. itor on several occasions, sometimes ed columns, whose contributors are our advertising revenue is rising. There was a time when I
FZ: It was so unexpected. for months at a go, did not matter. also quit after I was pro-
We were called into the They attacked my integrity.  WN: You are a #WINner and moted to the deputy editor
boardroom by the Alpha WIN is committed to seeing more position. I met so much
Media Holdings Chairper- What saddened me the most was women brought on board in the resistance. I was depressed
son Trevor Ncube. At the drive to have more gender-bal- for three months. What
time, we had already been anced content across the news in- pulled me through were
informed that the then ed- dustry. How well are you doing the WINners. My sisters
itor of the  Zimbabwe In- urged, or should I say
dependent, Dumisani Mu- nudged, me on. Whenever
leya, had been reassigned.  I needed an ear, they were
there for me. That support
Social media was awash made me stronger and
with speculative stories more determined. 
and conspiracy theories
on why he had been re- I told myself that if I
assigned and why I was ever quit, it would be on
replacing him. Nothing my terms and that I would
good was said about me. not allow the boys’ club to
determine my destiny.
The few voices  that
spoke in my support were The media management
drowned out by negative course also helped me be-
comments.  come a better leader and
team player. Sharing our
At that moment, I was stories and meeting with
not an award-winning some of Africa’s strong and
journalist. I stopped being powerful media women
the Faith Zaba who had has shaped the woman and
broken so many big stories journalist I am today. The
and one of the country’s programme was very valu-
few true investigative jour- able. 
nalists.  WN: What would you say
to a woman journalist as-
I was attacked on social piring to take on a lead-
media before I was even ership role?
appointed. Mr Ncube then FZ: Never give up, contin-
informed us of the new ap- ue to persevere, you can be
pointments and congrat- good at your job and also
ulated me and the new ensure that there is a bal-
editor-in-chief. Instead of ance with your social/fam-
celebrating this milestone, ily life. Don’t allow your
the attacks on social media male colleagues to deter-
intensified.  mine your destiny.

The newsroom was Build a sisterhood in
deeply divided over the your country. Support and
issue. The announcement mentor young and upcom-
was not met with joy and ing women journalists.
jubilation. I remember Anyone can be an editor,
many of my colleagues and women make some of
not even congratulating the best in the world.
me. The atmosphere in the
newsroom was tense. Believe in yourself and
just have the drive and
You could feel the ten- determination to succeed.
sion when you walked in. I did it within the three
Instead of it being the hap- years of my career road-
piest day of my life, there map. —Women In News.
was a dark cloud hanging

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 29

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Judges and the Lancaster House talks

TERERAI MAFUKIDZE Rhodesian Chief Justice Hector Macdonald. contents of the letter from So- cal player and adviser to both
ames and replied in strong and Muzorewa and Ndabaningi
ACCORDING to Benjamin judges of the Appellate Division ficials were reluctant to appoint continue in office.  angry terms. Something had Sithole. 
“Bennie” Goldin, a South Af- would not want to stay in office him due to his closeness to Soames went on to state that moved. He claimed that the
rican-born Zimbabwean law- and would wish to retire. This Joshua Nkomo and his mem- position he had communicated Further, Smith also accused
yer who served as a judge on information may be divulged by bership of Zapu.  he had discussed the matter regarding the position of the Macdonald of making a major
the Rhodesian and post-inde- Lord Carrington to the PF and with the incoming Prime Min- judges of the Appellate Divi- contribution in undermining
pendence bench, Chief Justice may be made public.” However, another Zapu ister, Robert Mugabe, who had sion was intended to assist the Rhodesia’s position at the talks
Hector Macdonald was invited man, Enoch Dumbutshena, no objection to the publicly British Government during the and adds: “Chris Andersen, our
by the chair Lord Peter Car- The message was revealed later on got the job. stated retirement dates of the negotiations and was also a re- Minister of Justice, expressed his
rington to spend a week at the by the Lord Privy Seal Sir Ian three judges.  sponse to attacks made during strong feelings over the inexplica-
Lancaster House talks in Lon- Gilmour at the conference, re- Speaking in the House of the talks against the judiciary.  ble behaviour of our chief justice.
don in 1979.  sulting in jubilation from the Assembly on 13 July 1982 In that regard, Macdonald He subsequently informed me
Patriotic Front members.  on the renewal of the state would retire from active ser- He added: “I believe that that the other judges of the Appel-
The Lancaster House talks of emergency in Zimbabwe, vice from 1 May 1980 and go Lord Carrington would not ap- late Division had expressed pos-
led to a ceasefire, elections and The Patriotic Front was dis- Home Affairs minister Herbert on leave pending formal retire- prove either of the terms or the itive views in opposition to and
Zimbabwe’s Independence in trustful of the Rhodesian bench Ushewokunze referred to the ment on his 65th birthday on 3 tone of your letter. On the con- condemnation of the stand Mac-
1980 after a protracted civil and had disclosed its intentions bench as hostile and went on November 1980. Justice Harry trary, I am sure he would depre- donald had taken at Lancaster
war between the Rhodesians to appoint Leo Baron (previ- to criticise several of its deci- Davies would retire from active cate its contents.”  House. If people are prepared to
and the liberation movement. ously a Rhodesian detainee), sions. He then cited the media service on 1 April 1980 and go make a stand on principle and
who was a member of Zapu reports that came out on 7 No- on leave pending formal retire- He went on: “The imminent live with it, that is one thing. But
While there, he was asked by and was in fact its legal adviser vember 1979 articulating the ment on 24 June 1980 when retirement of Judge Davies and in this case, once the whole sordid
Carrington what the attitude at the Lancaster House talks, as position of Macdonald and his he attained the retirement age myself at this crucial time has, affair was in place, and (Robert)
of Rhodesian judges would chief justice at Independence.  appellate colleagues should the of 65.  notwithstanding that we are re- Mugabe and his communist dic-
be should the Patriotic Front Patriotic Front win as evidence tiring at the normal age of 65, tatorship installed, Macdonald
(Zanu and Zapu) win the 1980 Baron was imprisoned for of the existence of “recalcitrant Justice John Lewis would been a source of great concern cashed in his pension and asso-
elections. Macdonald told Car- 17 months and released in the and reactionary members” on continue to serve until 14 in important and influential ciated benefits and beat a hasty
rington that should the Patri- late 1960s on condition that he the bench.  August 1981 after which he sections of the community.” He retreat to live in a comfortable
otic Front win, he and several leaves Rhodesia. would also take six months’ warned about the risk posed by home on the coast of South Af-
other judges would resign and He added that: “Our posture leave and retire formally on his the loss of experienced judges. rica.”
leave the bench.  He went to Zambia where he during constitutional negotia- 65th  birthday on 14 February He did not identify this im-
was appointed a judge and later tions with the British that the 1982.  portant and influential section In an instance of irony,
Carrington sought permis- Zambia’s deputy chief justice. judiciary must be disbanded, can of the community. Smith records that he congrat-
sion from Macdonald through Baron, a British immigrant, now be understood with a lot of Soames stressed that the ulated Dumbutshena (to be fu-
the cabinet secretary George had represented Zimbabwe’s hindsight.” “there would be no question in It seemed in the end, Mac- ture chief justice) on his contri-
Smith (later on a judge of the nationalists over many years as Calling the bluff this case of yourself or either of donald was detested by both bution at Lancaster House the
High Court) to make public a lawyer. Baron was appointed The elections came and the two your two colleagues electing to his master and his opponents previous day critical of Muzore-
the position of the Rhodesian a judge of the Supreme Court Patriotic Front parties, Zanu continue to serve until the age of in equal measure.  wa’s proposed unconstitutional
judges. The Patriotic Front was of Zimbabwe. and Zapu, secured a total of 77 70, as would be theoretically pos- action. He concludes that the
putting pressure on Carrington seats. Zanu had 57, while Zanu sible under section 86(1) of the In his autobiography  A idea that Muzorewa had ex-
to make this public as they felt He sat on the bench from had 20.  Constitution of Zimbabwe.” Bitter Harvest, the late for- pressed was no doubt “placed in
it would show that the judges 1980 until 1983. At one point mer Rhodesian premier, Ian his mind by Hector Macdonald’s
were stooges of the Rhodesian he acted as chief justice.  On 13 March 1980, Lord Owing to the publicly stated Smith, portrays Macdonald irresponsible outburst at Lancast-
government.  Arthur Christopher Soames, decision to leave if the Patriotic as a vain character. For exam- er House”.
Could Baron’s non-appoint- who was the governor during Front won, Soames was under- ple, Smith says that on 3 July
It turned out when Mac- ment when Macdonald retired the transition, addressed a let- lining the fact that no exten- 1978, Macdonald went to him Consistent with Macdon-
donald expressed the position have had anything to do with ter to Macdonald on the issue sion of their terms was possible to complain about the lack of ald’s injudicious statement in
to Carrington, he had not can- the Zapu-Zanu tensions at the of tenure. He reminded him of despite legal possibility. In oth- recognition of his importance the Bishop Lamont judgment,
vassed the views of every judge. time? George Kurekwaivanane the Lancaster House discussion er words, the new government at the funeral of ex-Rhodesian Smith states that Macdonald
Under pressure from London in his seminal book The Strug- regarding judges and stated that would not extend the terms as president Clifford Dupont.  indeed believed that the Pa-
to confirm that the position gle Over State Power in Zimba- Macdonald had said that in the the judges had decided to leave triotic Front would not win.
could be made public, Mac- bwe  states that Baron was not event of a Patriotic Front victo- as a protest to its victory in the “I had often said that the less He states that General Peter
donald called Goldin who was appointed the substantive chief ry he and two of his Appellate elections. This underlines the I had to do with protocol the bet- Walls, Central Intelligence Or-
the senior judge at the High justice after the retirement of Division colleagues would not politics around discretionary ter. But, he insisted that he was ganisation head Ken Flower,
Court. He instructed him to Fieldsend in 1983 despite be- extensions.  second in standing to the Prime Macdonald and his minister
canvass the views of the other ing the most senior judge on Minister, and therefore should be David Smith had fallen into a
judges, which he immediately the bench because Zanu PF of- Macdonald did not like the treated differently. I had heard trap laid by Carrington and the
did.  about his sensitivity over his posi- British Foreign Office and that
tion, and that those around him it was becoming more difficult
Goldin records that: “They had to be on their guard lest they for them to refute the evidence
all disagreed with what the chief failed to acknowledge this situa- that Mugabe was heading for
justice had told Lord Carrington. tion.”  victory unless they succeed-
Each emphasised that judges do ed in preventing intimidation
not resign because of a change of This theme of Macdonald which they were failing to
the political party in power. This calling himself second in sta- do.  On Macdonald’s resigna-
was contrary to principle and the tus only to the prime minister tion, a bitter Ian Smith records:
role of a judiciary. One of them is repeated by Smith discussing “On 3 April, Hector Macdonald
said that even if he were to intend Macdonald and his difficult announced his resignation as
to resign after a Patriotic Front attempts to meet Carrington Chief Justice (it was retirement
election victory he would consider during the Lancaster House though). Having supported the
it a personal private matter.” talks.  British at Lancaster House, he
was now about to retire to South
This attitude naturally dis- Smith states that when Africa because things had gone
pleased Macdonald. He was Macdonald finally met Car- wrong. Some of his colleagues in
now discovering that he was in rington he was “eating out of the Appellate Division told me he
the minority on this issue.  his hand” and had converted was wasting a lot of their time
him to the British cause. Re- trying to explain away his deci-
As Goldin records: “I tele- vealing Macdonald’s delving sion to ‘take the gap’.”
phoned the Chief Justice and into politics, Smith stated:
reported the result. He was sur- “That evening Macdonad had What Smith misses is that,
prised and vehemently expressed a long session with Muzorewa like Macdonald, his two appel-
the view that we misunderstood and his colleagues, assuring them late colleagues had taken the
the need and advisability of of the British government’s good position that they would resign
supporting him. All judges were intentions of producing an agree- in the event of a Patriotic Front
present when I spoke to him. He ment that would ensure a return victory – which they did. 
said that he would cable that he to power of Muzorewa and his
and ‘several other judges’ would UANC. The undertaking had *About the writer: Advo-
not stay. I stressed that if he did so been given to him personally by cate Tererai Mafukidze is a
without naming the judges who Carrington that very day.”  member of the Johannesburg
supported his view we would be Bar. He practises with Group
compelled to issue a statement Macdonald also got involved One Sandown Chambers in
dissociating ourselves from his in the meeting between Mu- Sandton, Johannesburg. His
proposed reply. He, therefore, de- zorewa’s UANC and Smith’s practice areas at the Bar are:
cided to identify the judges who Rhodesian Front on the side- general commercial law, com-
agreed with him…”  lines of the Lancaster House petition law, human rights,
talks. Smith states that he was administrative and constitu-
In the cable sent through surprised to find Macdonald tional law.
Smith, Macdonald stated that: sitting at the top table to the
“The Chief Justice confirms that right of Muzorewa who chaired
if the Patriotic Front were to win the meeting. Smith portrays
the next elections, he and other Macdonald as an active politi-

Page 30 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Sabelo J. The African idea of Africa: A tribute
Ndlovu-Gatsheni to Kenneth David Kaunda of Zambia

Introduction: and assess the trajectory of the The late former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda. ated African nationalism. Of
Is it an end of an era? African nationalist revolution course, colonialism through
THE historian Paul Tiyam- to which Kaunda sacrificed Africa. This agenda materi- African nationalism and the consciousness did not develop its racism was already provok-
be Zeleza depicted the time so much. At the very centre alised within a context where African national revolution among Africans using what ing “black consciousness”. En-
of struggles for independence of the African nationalist rev- colonialists were propagating Colonialists denied that Af- Edward Said termed the “law slavement had already contrib-
in Africa as the “proudest olution has been the making the idea of a “dark continent” rican people were organised of division” and Mudimbe uted to “black consciousness”
moment in African history” of the very idea of Africa and inhabited by a people whose into “nations” and had na- termed the “paradigm of dif- as a transcendental identity.
predicated on “nationalist redefinition of Africanness. humanity they questioned, tional consciousness. In fact, ference”. African nationalists contribut-
humanism”. Kenneth David and denied that they had any Africans did not exist in the ed to the paradigm shift from
Kaunda was a leading propo- From the idea of Africa to history and any role to play in colonial imaginary and colo- But what must not be for- the “idea of Africa” emerging
nent and indeed an advocate the African idea of Africa The human history. nial practices. They preferred gotten is what Homi Bhabha from Europe to the “African
of the philosophy of libera- cognitive empire operates to define Africans as “tribes” in The Location of Culture idea of Africa” emerging from
tion underpinned by African through aggressive invasion Such intellectual-cum-ideo- — more specifically incho- (1994) posited about co- Africa. The making of Afri-
humanism. Nelson Mandela of the mental universe of the logical formations as Gar- ate and contending “tribes” lonialism, that despite its can nationalism involved the
was another who drew inspira- world and subjects its targets veyism, Negritude, African always fighting against each overwhelming presence as a painstaking process of mobil-
tion from the spirit of ubuntu. to its own ways of know- Personality, Pan-Africanism, other. The leading Ugandan modern power structure, it ising colonised people who
Julius Nyerere embraced it as ing and imposes a particular African Socialism, African Hu- intellectual Mahmood Mam- was simultaneously riddled were deliberately divided by
African socialism founded on memory. “Discovery” is its manism, Black Consciousness, dani in his works Citizen and with contradictions, internal colonialism into rigid invented
African familyhood (ujamaa). key trope. What is claimed to Afrocentricity, African Renais- Subject: Contemporary Africa instabilities, tensions, and in- tribal cages into “nations” wor-
Leopold Sedar Senghor com- have been “discovered” is con- sance, and many others, were and The Legacy of Late Co- completeness. For example, thy of the right to self-deter-
bined Negritude and Marxism quered, named and owned. all initiatives aimed at making lonialism (1996) and Define while it was preaching and mination and self-governance.
to advance African socialism. With specific reference to Africa from a Black and Af- and Rule: Native as Political implementing the discourse Kaunda’s book Zambia Shall
Kwame Nkrumah explicated Africa, The Congolese intel- rican vantage point. What is Identity (2013) have provid- of “tribes”, it was also mak- Be Free (1962) was part of a
a synthetic philosophy of de- lectual Valentin Y. Mudimbe distinctive about them is that ed us with details on the log- ing a few openings for African resource produced in the pro-
colonisation and the remaking in two celebrated works The they emerged from the battle- ics and operations of colonial people to undergo modern cess of making nationalism.
of a new African personality in Invention of Africa: Gnosis, fields of history and human governmentality as well as the education. It was the African
terms of Consciencism, which Philosophy, and the Order of struggles for re-existence and colonial invention of political educated elite who actively op- Therefore, what was revolu-
involved tapping into the best Knowledge (1988) and The re-membering after centuries identities in Africa. His core posed colonialism and spear- tionary about African nation-
values from African, Islamic Idea of Africa (1994) wrote of being denied existence and thesis is this: “Unlike what is headed African nationalist rev- alism was its reinvention of a
and Euro-Christian traditions.   about how Africa was invent- being subjected to colonial commonly thought, native olutions, of course mobilising people who were reduced to
ed from outside. The active technologies of dismember- does not designate a condition peasants and workers as foot “subjects” and socially ordered
With the death of Kaunda inventers being missionaries, ment and dehumanisation. At that is original and authentic. soldiers. Kenneth Kaunda was into “tribes” to united “na-
at the age of 97 at a hospital colonial/imperialist ideologues their centre were the overarch- Rather, … the native is the part of this African educated tionals” fired up to fight and
in Zambia this week, Africa and anthropologists and oth- ing agendas of self-definition, creation of the colonial state: elite. Their task was not easy. sacrifice lives for liberation
has lost the last standing gi- ers. However, Wole Soyinka self-representation, self-writ- colonised, the native is pinned They carried a heavy burden. from colonialism. However,
ant of the first generation of in his book Of Africa (2012) ing and indeed re-humani- down, localised, thrown out African nationalism had to the phenomenon known as
African nationalist liberation posited that unlike other con- sation. Inevitably, they were of civilisation as an outcast, be created within a context “tribalism” always haunted the
fighters. This point was deliv- tinents which were claimed confronted with limitations confined to custom, and then in which colonialism was sus- African nationalist revolution
ered forcefully in a tribute by to be “discovered”, there is and even contradictions.  For- defined as its product.” taining African divisions for with some who claimed na-
the former president of Nige- no one who claims to have mations and knowledges born its own purposes. This is why tionalism during the day con-
ria Olusegun Obasanjo. In his discovered Africa as a conti- of struggle are never perfect This thesis dovetails with Kwame Nkrumah posited that tinuing to be entrepreneurs
tribute, Obasanjo wrote: “The nent. Soyinka goes on to argue and finished products. With- Eric Hobsbawm and Terence he was not born in Africa, Af- and advocates of “tribalism”
demise of President Kaunda at that “This gives it [Africa] a out this background, African Osborne Ranger (1983)’s rica was born inside him. This during the night. What com-
the grand age of 97 brings to self-constitutive identity, an nationalism and African na- widely cited notion of “in- must form the deepest under- plicated the African national
an end the pioneers and fore- unstated autochthony that is tional revolution will not be vention of tradition”. This standing of the concept of “fa- revolution was that there was
fathers who led the struggles denied other continents and fully understood and Kaunda’s became a key aspect in how ther of the nation”. It means always the power question.
for decolonisation of the Afri- subcontinents.” It would seem legacy will not be properly Europe ruled Africa and how conceiving the idea and mak- This meant that while prose-
can continent and received the the existence of Africa was comprehended by the present it actively made sure national ing it alive. Kaunda and his cuting the struggle against co-
instrument of independence”. known. How can it be other- generation.         generation of nationalists cre- lonialism, African nationalists
According to Obasanjo, Africa wise, since Africa is the cradle also fought among themselves
must gain solace from the fact of humankind! Of course, Soy- for power.  The African people
and knowledge “that President inka accepts that the colonial themselves also did not dis-
Kaunda has gone to a well-de- paradigm of difference did not card their other narrow iden-
served rest and to proudly take spare Africa in the sense that tities for the bigger national
his place besides his brothers the Europeans claimed to have identities easily. This is why
such as Jomo Kenyatta of Ken- “discovered” ancient ruins, one found such nationalists
ya, Kwame Nkrumah of Gha- sources of big rivers, mountain as Samora Machel of Mozam-
na, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, peaks, exotic kingdoms and bique positing that “for the
Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia, sunken pyramids—but no one nation to live, the tribe must
Leopold Sedar Senghor of claimed to have “discovered” die”. The leftists inclined Afri-
Senegal, Nnamdi Azikiwe of Africa itself.   can nationalists who thought
Nigeria, Ahmed Sekou Toure that ethnic consciousness was a
of Guinea, Felix Houphou- The African idea of Africa false consciousness that has to
et-Boigny of Cote d’Ivoire, as compared to Mudimbe’s be replaced by true conscious-
Patrice Lumumba of Congo, idea of Africa speaks to Af- ness, which is class conscious-
Nelson Mandela of South Af- rica’s self-constitution and ness.  This did not solve the
rica, to name but a few.”  self-representation by Africans problem. Karl Marx had said it
themselves. It was Ngugi wa that workers have no country,
What is noticeable is that Thiong’o in Re-membering hence he urged them to unite
Obasanjo never mentioned Africa (2009) who challenged across national borders for a
any of Kaunda’s “sisters”, only Mudimbe’s idea of Africa and proletarian revolution. This
“brothers”! This immediate- laid down “the African idea, implied that “nation-states”
ly raises an urgent issue not as African self-representation.” were under the control of
about the departed Kaunda While Ngugi wa Thiong’o saw bourgeois and the states were
but about how the African this idea as “forged in the di- used for the oppression of class
nationalist pantheon is dom- aspora and travelled back to enemies. Indeed, post-colo-
inated by men. Women are Africa”, Ali A. Mazrui in his nial states were abused to even
often ignored. This issue aris- influential article “We Are eliminate those considered
es poignantly because such a all Africans” (1963) under- as ethnic enemies of those in
moment as this one where we scored how African leaders charge of them. Nation-build-
have lost a “father” of the Afri- like Kwame Nkrumah, Julius ing had to be done within this
can nationalist revolution, our Nyerere and Kenneth Kaun- problematic context.     
duty is not to mourn but to da actively contributed to the
reflect of what they stood for making of the African idea of

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 31

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Nation-building and It was also Nyerere, Kaunda standing Kaunda’s “we” con- da built the Frontline States the African leaders of today ply turned into problematic
post-colonial patriotism and Mandela who embraced sciousness? West elaborated formation as a liberation front seem to be suffering terribly mini-corporations manned by
Kenneth Kaunda and Ju- the third option and tried to that a “we” consciousness is and risked being attacked by from lack of ideology. Most of a rapacious elite, which facil-
lius Nyerere are given as ex- create something new. Kaun- concerned with the needs of apartheid South Africa. The them, if not all of them, have itate the movement of global
amples of successful nation da antagonised over how to others and is driven by the Frontline States matured into succumbed and capitulated capital. Inevitably, rule of capi-
builders compared to others translate popular anti-colonial willingness to “renounce petty the Southern African Devel- to neoliberal capitalism and tal is naturalised and, as Ngugi
who never even invested in nationalism into post-colonial pleasures and accept awesome opment Community (Sadc). their refrain is about inviting wa Thiong’o once put it, “theft
the nation-building projects. patriotism and pan-ethnic burdens”. This is what Kaunda All this was possible because capitalists to Africa under the is holy”. The idea of revolution
Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, a comradeship. The glue for this did for Africa in general and Kaunda embodied true ideas name of foreign direct invest- has been replaced by the neo-
leading intellectual from the became his philosophy of Afri- for southern Africa in particu- and living theories.  ment. African resources are liberal idea of “transitions”.
Democratic Republic of Con- can humanism. He never de- lar. In Kaunda, we indeed have Conclusion: Rest in peace exposed to external plunder This is why Obasanjo said that
go, posited that at the time generated into tribalism. His a very “worthy ancestor”, to KK as the elites in charge of our when he visited Kaunda in
of the attainment of political well-known slogan became borrow a term from the South Let me end by joining states have turned them into 2015 and asked him whether
liberation in Africa, African “One Zambia, One Nation.” African sociologist Xolela Obasanjo is saying that the what the historian Frederick the Africa of today represents
leaders had three options to Like Nyerere, Kaunda and Mangcu.  departure of Kaunda must Cooper termed “gate-keeper” what he fought for, he simply
pursue. The first option was Mandela can be best depicted The “we” consciousness is remind us of the vision that states. Rents collected at the “broke down and wept”.
just to inherit what was left by as “Mwalimu” (pedagogical opposed to the “I” conscious- his generation had for Africa gates line the pockets of the
the colonialists and continue nationalist teachers who spent ness laid down by Rene Des- and let us not compromise the ruling elites and their clients.   
from where they left. The sec- energy inviting their people cartes in his “Cogito, ergo principles of decolonisation. Leadership has been turned About the writer: Professor
ond was to look back to the into the nation and preaching sum”. Together with Nyerere, Colonialism, as Walter D. Mi- into technical managerialism Sabelo J Ndlovu-Gatsheni is
pre-colonial times and try to the gospel of national unity). Machel, Sir Seretse Khama of gnolo warned us, “is not over bereft of any ideology. The chair in Epistemologies of the
rebuild post-colonial Africa But the greatest experiment Botswana, and Eduardo Jose but all over”. It is a pity that consequence is that post-co- Global South at the University
using values and ideas that in creating something new in Dos Santos of Angola, Kaun- lonial states in Africa are sim- of Bayreuth in Germany.
were considered African. The post-colonial Africa was sym-
third option was to be creative bolised by Nyerere’s Arusha
and invent something new Declaration: Policy of Social-
for Africa.  This is the radical ism and Self-Reliance (1967).
position of Frantz Fanon on Here one sees an attempt to
decolonisation as more than implement a philosophy of
a counter-force to colonialism life. Mandela was creative in
but a creative one for a better imagining a “rainbow nation”
world.  as a new political community
While many took the first borne out of the vicious sys-
option of taking over what was tem of apartheid colonialism,
left by the colonialists, includ- in which erstwhile enemies
ing state institutions, this easy reconciled and lived together. 
option was the most problem-
atic in terms of advancement That these initiatives did
of the decolonisation agenda not succeed as expected does
and fulfilling what Issa G. not render them useless. There
Shivji termed the “great expec- were many forces organised
tations” of the masses. The first against their success. Neo-co-
challenge was that the colonial lonialism was one such major
state was nothing but despotic enemy of African progress. In-
political formation which was vention of new post-colonial
bifurcated and used colonial formations of service to the
law as an unmediated force of African without an epistemic
violence and conquest. How revolution could not always
can such a formation be of use work because old knowledges
to deliver promises of decol- and epistemologies of equi-
onisation? It is not surprising librium are always subversive
that many of those who chose against is new. Nationalist ide-
this path interpreted taking alism, which often predicated
over the colonial state as an these radical initiatives on as-
“arrival” and an end in itself sumed change of attitudes of
and began to immediately the people, was inadequate to
use its despotic institutions to the task. The reality is that old
terrorise the population and attitudes take time to die. For
even to commit genocide and Mandela, the attempt to create
ethnic cleansing. This option a new political society without
created what Achille Mbembe addressing the justice pro-
(2001) termed the “postcolo- voked new formations that are
ny” underpinned by what he threatening his legacy to the
depicted as “commandment”. extent of calling him a sell-out.                          
The second option was also Kenneth Kaunda and the
problematic in the sense that praxis of the “we” conscious-
the wheel of history could ness
not be turned back. However, If there is any African leader
there was a way through which who embodied what Cornel
the nationalist invention of West (2014) depicted as the
post-colonial Africa could still “Black prophetic fire” pred-
draw positive aspects from Af- icated on a very strong “we”
rican pre-colonial history for consciousness, it was Kenneth
their purposes. Unfortunate- David Kaunda. West defines
ly, most of what was claimed the “Black prophetic fire” as
to have been borrowed from local in content and interna-
pre-colonial Africa was mixed tional in character. Kaunda’s
with what was left by colo- African humanism was just
nialists to create what became that. It is a philosophy aimed
known as imperial presiden- at lifting one’s voice against
cies underpinned by one-party all forms of injustice, violence
state regimes. However, Nyer- and war. Even if Kaunda is
ere, Kaunda and Mandela gone to his ancestors, his voice
drew from African culture and of justice and peace remains.
history to layout a post-colo- Kaunda practically lived what
nial nationalist humanism as he believed in. How would
a departure from colonialism’s one explain his welcoming
paradigm of difference and of Zapu, Zanu, and ANC as
capitalism’s naturalization of liberation movements into
exploitation of people by oth- his country without under-
er people. 

Page 32 The Big Debate NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021
Africa has a chance to fill lower-value
output gap left by ascending China

Young popu-
lation, raw ma-
terials, cheap
labour and an
ability to scale
quickly puts
continent in
pole position

ADAM MOLAI sation. to come very close. a granulated urea plant in mostly sourced from West and become the world’s al-
China went from a Third Taking steps Nigeria that will produce Africa. The region exports ternate producer.
THOSE of us still deep Better technology will help fertiliser products. the cocoa to the developed
in the Covid-19 trench- World country to a global Africa achieve the lower world where it is processed We will take what we
es have observed over the powerhouse in 30 years, le- end of the cost curve that TRT Investments has and then exported world- have in abundance —
last few months, in sheer veraging its low cost base of it previously had difficulty taken a substantial stake wide, including back to Af- manpower and raw materi-
amazement, how China has employees to manufacture in doing, strengthening its in SA’s largest non-food rica, at a premium. als — throw in technology
roared back. low-value items. It has now credentials to be the world’s fast-moving consumer Intellectual property and the vacuum that has
moved up that curve, leav- next source of production. goods (FMCG) contract But the developed world opened up due to China
From shuttered factories ing a gap for the lower-val- manufacturer, KAS, to ex- does more than just pro- moving up the value curve,
and ghost industrial towns ue items that Africa,  with Local industrialists, en- pand it to East and West duce chocolate from co- and add AfCFTA and
just more than a year ago, its abundance of low-cost trepreneurs and businesses Africa in the next few years. coa; it creates brands and agents of change such as
the world’s second-biggest but well-skilled labour, can are committed to and in By rethinking where we demand for these brands Dangote and similar-mind-
economy and largest glob- easily fill. Apart from its a position to drive the in- intersect with the produc- — such as Lindt, Ferrero ed individuals.
al supplier is projected to growing population, abun- dustrialisation of the conti- tion cycle, we plan to turn Rocher, Nestle, Cadbury
grow 8.1% in 2021 due dant raw materials and the nent. Industrialists such as KAS into the world’s largest and Nutella — that enable The result will be a dif-
to strong exports and a low cost of labour, several Aliko Dangote and others non-food FMCG contract them to sell it at a premi- ferent ending to previous
gradual recovery in house- recent developments have are already taking steps to manufacturer in five to six um. This is where the real efforts — it will ensure
hold consumption. Gross greatly improved Africa’s upend the status quo. years. value lies, not in the raw that Africa becomes the
domestic product growth ability to realise its indus- materials but in their pro- alternate source of pro-
in 2022 is projected to be trialisation ambitions. In his quest to reverse Traditional beneficiation cessing, packaging and duction for the world. It
5.5%, according to the the decades-old system of models focus on starting branding. will take Africa from the
Asian Development Bank. The most significant is exporting crude oil and at the beginning — at pro- global menu to a seat at the
the African Continental importing refined petro- cessing raw materials, then Instead of starting at the world’s economic table, or
China is clearly back Free-Trade Agreement (Af- leum products such as moving on to intermedi- beginning, we thus plan to maybe even more ambi-
with more than just a bang, CFTA), which came into petrol, diesel and lubricat- ary goods and ending up start at the end of the cy- tiously, allow us to create
and with its re-emergence force in January. While ing oil, Dangote, Africa’s with finished goods. Yet cle, move backwards and our own table on our own
goes — or so one would change will not be felt richest man, is building a Africa lacks the intellectual vertically integrate as we terms.
imagine — the aspirations overnight, AfCFTA is a 650,000-barrels-a-day re- property to do that from go along. We will create
of anyone who thought game-changer for Africa as finery in Nigeria. The re- the outset. We are able to intellectual property out —Business Day.
to use the pandemic as a it will assist in driving down finery, set to be the world’s produce things in Africa, of those products that will *About the writer: Mo-
launch pad to supplant the economies of scale for pro- second biggest — is sched- but we haven’t created fin- allow us to generate the lai, an African industri-
Asian nation as the world’s duction on the continent. uled to start operating at ished goods or brands out most value out of it. That is alist,  is founder of TRT
main source of production. While being unable to gen- year’s end. As part of his in- of them, which is where the how Africa will achieve its Investments, which has
Yet despite China’s stun- erate the economies of scale dustrialisation drive, Dan- real value lies. industrialisation ambitions operations in Nigeria,
ning turnabout, the pan- China was able to produce, gote has also established South Africa, Zimbabwe,
demic provides Africa with AfCFTA will allow Africa Take chocolate, which Zambia, Mozambique
an opportunity to become is made from cocoa that is and Botswana.
the world’s alternate supply
chain.

While China has been
quick to shake off the effect
of Covid-19, the rest of the
world has not — and the
global pandemic (just the
first of many, according
to experts) has reinforced
the dangers of the world’s
over-reliance on one source
of production. China’s re-
covery has thus not negated
the world’s desire for alter-
nate sources of production
but has highlighted the
need for it.

Africa — with its young
population, abundant raw
materials, low cost of la-
bour and an ability to scale
quickly — is in pole posi-
tion to take up the mantle.
But how can Africa, which
almost consistently fails to
live up to its promise, do it?
On the back of industriali-

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 33

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Last Chance For Zimbabwe’s ConCourt
ON 14 July 2021, the Con- a re-appointment. Malaba
stitutional Court will either Constitutional Court, Pro- It seems fairly clear to exercised no election to re- issues to what is peculiar to would be invalidly in office.
descend into an eternal ere- fessor Lovemore Madhuku. me that the judges of the main in office beyond the him and does not touch on
bus of shame or will salvage Just days before, Madhuku Constitutional Court are age of 70. their respective situations. It has been suggested that
the little of what remains had addressed a Press con- hopelessly conflicted in This is where matters be- Malaba is aware of this legal
of its tattered and shattered ference at which he had that matter. However, it It does seem to me that come interesting. conundrum and is fretting
reputation. expressed support for the does seem to me that Mad- the judges may reasonably over it. The error in the au-
court challenges that had huku has not thought his hold that they are not con- The High Court found thorship of the letter cannot
The make-or-break case been brought in response to case through, with the re- flicted in respect of the first that Malaba had turned be corrected, the train has
that presents the court with Constitutional Amendment sult that the judges of the order which only relates to 70 at 00:00 hours on 15 already left the station.
the opportunity to decide (No.2). There he was, pros- Constitutional Court have Malaba.  They are, howev- May 2021. This seems to
which way to go is the con- tituting himself and acting now been given the oppor- er, definitely conflicted in be common cause. It also This is an important mat-
troversial case brought in as a shameless enabler. tunity to do the right thing respect of the second order found that by law, a judge ter because it completely
favour of Luke Malaba by for once in their lives. Their given that it relates to them. must before they turn 70 distinguishes Malaba’s situ-
a Zanu PF youth league In a move ever so deceit- failure to do the right thing If they do not see the con- exercise an election, if they ation from that of the other
member Marx Mapungu. ful and reeking of corrup- cannot be put down either flict, they must sit together are so inclined, to extend judges. It is only this issue
tion, Madhuku, on behalf to law or necessity and must with Malaba and not allow their tenure to 75 years. It that the judges can prop-
On 15 May 2021, the of Zanu PF member Marx be taken to be a clear deci- themselves to be used. Sure- was the finding of the High erly and legitimately deal
High Court, in a land- Mapungu, brought an ap- sion to be recalcitrant. That ly, if they hear the whole Court that the process is with. Anything beyond this
mark judgment, the kind plication before the Con- would be the saddest story matter, even African na- that of an extension and not would be a crass act of mis-
of which one expects under stitutional Court by which of our time. tions may find it necessary appointment or re-appoint- conduct.
a new constitutional order, he seeks an order for the to place them on sanctions ment.
held that Luke Malaba had setting aside of the High The judgment of the and some international It seems to me that this is
on that day ceased being Court judgement. The ap- High Court issued two or- criminal organisation could By good grace, the let- what the respondents must
Chief Justice of Zimbabwe. plication does not cite the ders. The first order relates issue arrest warrants against ter purportedly extend- present as their argument. 
The case had so many in- judges of the Constitution- solely to Malaba who by them. This would be the ing Malaba’s tenure says
teresting features which in- al Court who were party to the date of the judgment biggest scandal of our time. that the extension was to If this argument is pre-
clude the fact that all judges the proceedings in the High had turned 70 and whose take effect from 16 May sented, the ConCourt must
of both the Supreme Court Court. The intention is to purported attempt to have My view is that the judg- 2021. That means Malaba isolate Malaba, deal with
and the Constitutional have those judges pretend an extension was held to es must refuse to deal with would have gone for a full him and ensure that his
Court were cited as respon- that they have nothing to be ineffectual. The second the second order owing 24 hours without being a name fades into everlasting
dents. do with the matter, with the order deals with all the oth- to their hopeless conflict Chief Justice of Zimbabwe. oblivion. He has, at any
result that they will hear it er judges of the Supreme which amounts to miscon- The “extension” on 16 May rate, not been an addition
The significant judgment and inevitably set the judg- and Constitutional Courts duct. However, they can try 2021 would therefore not to the judiciary and has be-
obviously drew the ire of ment of the High Court who, as matters stand, have to deal with the first order be an extension but a re-ap- littled judges even in pub-
the government of Zimba- aside. not yet turned 70 and have which solely pertains to pointment. The constitu- lic. Only last year, a scath-
bwe and, in a manner ever Malaba, provided they limit tion makes no provision for ing letter was written by
so crass, Justice minister Zi- judges complaining about
yambi Ziyambi launched a his unbecoming conduct. 
scathing attack on the judg-
es of the High Court. His That Malaba has been
anger was both contrived selfish and in his pursuit of
and unrighteous because, narrow interests put the en-
according to reports, he was tire judiciary into disrepute
not rooting for Malaba to is beyond any doubt. This
continue in office. It might he must be punished for
be that this was the most otherwise the judges would
sensible decision that he has have been complicit in his
taken in his error-ridden exploits in bringing the ju-
pilgrimage as minister and diciary into disrepute.
it is a pity that political con-
siderations forced him to For them to regain their
revise that decision, making honour and protect the in-
a complete fool of himself tegrity of the judiciary, the
in the process. judges of the ConCourt
must punish him for all
Hamstrung by the con- this. This will also avoid
cise reasoning of the court them having to deal with
as well as the fact that all a matter in which they are
judges of superior courts hopelessly conflicted. This
were cited, the Mnangagwa is their only opportunity.
administration groped in
the dark and showed itself At any rate, it must of-
to be clueless and desper- fend the judges that they
ate. For the first time, it had are being told that they
been exposed before its own cannot ascend to the high-
courts. The young and hun- est judicial office in the
gry lawyers of Zimbabwe land. To have a whole con-
teamed up with Frederick stitution amended for just
Mutanda, who has been at one person is the height of
the receiving end of many impropriety. If judges can-
injustices, and the kicking not speak out against this,
Musa Kika. They came, saw we might as well kiss our
and conquered. chances of getting any jus-
tice from them goodbye.
In such moments, even
brilliance cannot save you. I say those who have de-
At any rate, the administra- signed the Mapungu evil
tion has a huge deficit of it. must be hoist by their own
It accordingly had to turn respective petards. Zimba-
to a previously de-registered bwe needs to send out the
legal practitioner, who has message that it is a serious
never won a matter in the country which does not
personalise institutions.
The time is now. — Special

legal correspondent in London

Page 34 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

JOHN HALLOWAY Issue 35, 18 June 2021

THE  World Gold Coun- Zim’s mineral abundance: Fact,
cil  thinks that throughout fiction or something in between?
history, less than 200 000
tonnes of gold have been The World Gold Council thinks that throughout history less than 200 000 tonnes of gold have been mined. In 2012 Zimbabwe produced 20 tons. Nonetheless, in that year a
mined. In 2012, Zimba- major report commissioned by the Zimbabwe government on the mineral resources of Zimbabwe, estimated that the country contained 13 million tonnes of gold.
bwe produced 20 tonnes. 
Nonetheless, in that year a still greater possibility — straightforward mining law; were anticipated; the scale gold-bearing narrow quartz es a fraction of past output,
major report (well, 150 pag- awe-inspiring in fact — that you find it and it’s yours. By of such mines would sur- veins. The early European while lithium, which made
es long) commissioned by there were gold resources contrast, until recently the pass those of the Witwa- prospectors found around headlines three years ago, is
the Zimbabwe government of an order of magnitude minerals in the ground in tersrand and small investors 4 000 abandoned gold not yet being mined.
on the mineral resources of greater than the Rand in the South Africa belonged to were not welcome.   mines known as “ancient About the writer: John
Zimbabwe, estimated that country. the landowner; prospectors workings”, in the widely Hollaway worked on cop-
the country contained 13 are not welcome. But of course, it was not held belief that they were per mines in Zambia until
million tonnes of gold.  Hyperbole still rules to be; far from harbour- originally exploited by 1967, when he was trans-
when Zimbabwe’s miner- Zimbabwe’s liberal min- ing vast mother lodes, the non-indigenous people of ferred to Hwange Colliery.
Myth-making continues al resources are discussed, ing law arose from the country was found to be unknown antiquity, despite After three years with
at the highest level.   perhaps because they are discovery that the Witwa- host to narrow, low-grade the evidence of 16th-centu- Hwange, he joined Rio
extremely diverse, echoing tersrand “banket” ore was reefs that could only be ry Portuguese records.   Tinto Rhodesia (now Rio
In 2019, the government the geology. About 35 min- an ancient alluvial deposit. satisfactorily worked on a Tinto Zimbabwe), becom-
of Zimbabwe ordained that erals have been mined — as Cecil John Rhodes’s advisers correspondingly small scale Almost all of Zimbabwe’s ing Research and Devel-
gold output would reach many as South Africa — believed that its source — — smallworkings.  gold mines were devel- opment Manager in 1975.
100 tonnes annually by but once the rich deposits the “mother lode” — might oped on these old work- In this position, he was re-
2023 (in 2020 it was 28 were exhausted it has been a still exist in what was then The smallworker was a ings, whose miners, like sponsible for developments
tonnes) and that the value hard-scrabble mining coun- known as “Zambesia”, bol- unique institution in the their 21st-century coun- leading to the creation of
of mineral output would try.   stered by an earlier fable of global gold mining indus- terparts, abandoned them a number of new mines,
reach US$12 billion (cur- enormous mineral wealth. try, arising from Zimba- once the water table was including Renco, Zimba-
rently about US$3 billion). At independence in 1980, In 1867, the German ex- bwe’s proliferation of small reached. Apart from dia- bwe’s biggest underground
There is no evidence that Zimbabwe had the lowest plorer Karl Mauch spoke of reefs and the presence of a monds, which have their gold operation, and the
the dramatic growth in out- grade underground nickel, crossing miles of goldfields population of self-sufficient own myths, Zimbabwe’s major Sengwa coalfield.
put needed to attain these copper and tin mines in and proposed that this was individuals who would mineral resources are prin- From 1981 he worked as
figures is happening. the world. Almost certainly the land of Ophir, where rather work for themselves, cipally in the Great Dyke a private consultant to the
the lowest grade gold mines King Solomon’s mines had in the bush.   — platinum group metals mining and minerals pro-
What may have misled too. Those mines have gone been located.   and chromite. This 500km- cessing sector of Zimbabwe
the government was a sud- and not been replaced. This In 1931, when Britain long intrusion has the same and beyond, undertaking
den one-off leap in annual wasn’t because the country The catch in the mining went off the gold standard mineral make-up as South more than 400 assign-
gold output from 27 tonnes was not comprehensively law was that individuals and and the price of gold took Africa’s Bushveld Complex. ments for clients in 35
in 2017 to 35 tonnes in explored; the former Rho- syndicates were not allowed an upward trend, the indus- countries.  He has written
2018, almost all of it com- desia’s Geological Survey to mine. Only public com- try really came into its own. Zimbabwe’s platinum and presented numerous
ing from the “artisanal” has been favourably com- panies were — in which By 1938 there were some reserves are about 2% of papers on mining technol-
sector.  Specifically, the pared to South Africa’s by a the Rhodes’ British South 1,500 gold mines in oper- South Africa’s, but are ogy and policy.
collapse of the mining ad- geologist who was in a posi- Africa Company would get ation, the great majority of much easier to mine, earn-
ministration allowed claim tion to know.   a free 50% shareholding. It them smallworkings. ing US$1.7 billion in 2020. — Daily Maverick.
jumpers in their tens of was another indication that Zimbabwe was known for
thousands to enter several An accident of history huge, rich gold discoveries The smallworker phe- coal, but now only produc-
thousand closed, uneco- has given the country a very nomenon arose from the
nomic underground mines extent and abundance of
and dig out the supporting
pillars in them, at consider-
able risk to themselves. At
the same time the govern-
ment agency, to which all
producers must sell, set the
gold price it paid at roughly
equivalent to the interna-
tional one, thus discourag-
ing smuggling. 

Production has dwindled
since then, not least because
most artisanal miners do
not have the resources to
access the pillars below the
water table; in 2020, output
was back to 19 tonnes, not
helped by the lower price
the government was pay-
ing. The smugglers are back
in business and the gov-
ernment’s dream of a vast
mining industry is looking
rather hapless. 
Misconception about
Zimbabwe’s mineral
wealth
Misconceptions about Zim-
babwe’s mineral wealth pre-
dated its modern history.
This began in 1890 when
Rhodes’ pioneer column
entered the country and
raised the flag of the Brit-
ish South Africa Company
at what was initially called
Fort Salisbury. Rhodes had
spoken of a “second Rand”
(Witwatersrand) in the re-
gion, but this concealed a

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 35

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Taking land from black people: Zim govt
targets human rights activist Sipho Malunga

Human rights
activists and
critics of the
government
in Zimbabwe
are unlikely to
benefit from
any state-con-
trolled resourc-
es. Zimba-
bweans know:
If they want
to get ahead
economically
in the country,
they need to
toe the Zanu
PF party line.
Or else.

THANDEKILE MOYO

POLITICAL and social jus- Vendors sell fruit at a market in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, more than 400km from the capital Harare.
tice activists are viewed as
“enemies of the state”, which This isn’t about land reform & to many Mr Dhlamini (49) To many who under- regime change tactic”, say- the late Sydney Malun-
is why they are forced to buy we will fight it in every way.” is not just a laboratory scien- stand Zanu PF politics, it is ing: “This is not the first time ga, who was persecuted by
or rent property from those tist, who is always wearing clear that the repossession is Soros has used education as Zanu PF at first during the
in the government’s good He later posted addition- white lab coats. He is an avid aimed at Siphosami Malun- a regime change weapon, es- Gukurahundi genocide and
graces.  al information stating: “The farmer getting dirty on the ga. Brian Tamuka Kagoro pecially for Zimbabwe.” throughout his time as a
farm is wholly privately owned land and is making money posted this tweet in response parliamentarian who stood
On 14 June 2021,  Open by 3 black individuals and we from the soil. to the repossession: “#Af- The story was about Soros’ up to Robert Mugabe and
Society Initiative for South- only got to see the Gazette and ricanLivesMatter Political pledge to give US$1 billion his cabinet. Sydney Malunga
ern Africa  director  Sipho acquisition notice issued on “He is part of a three-man Persecution under the guise of to the Open Society Univer- died in a suspicious car crash
Malunga  posted this on his 18 December for the first time farming venture operating Land Reforms. Compensate sity Network project.  in 1994. 
Twitter account: “Planting… today after the Lands Officer under the name Esidakeni former White Commercial
where it really starts… our gave us the number and told Farm in Umguza on the out- Farmers and Take land from The story also referred The tweet exposes the
numbers are mind-boggling. us to go to government print- skirts of Bulawayo and em- Black Farmers that bought to “Soros’ holding hand”, government’s motivation for
#150K #singabalimi #siyali- ers.” ploys 45 full-time workers.” farms & are actually farming. Malunga: “When it comes seizing the farm: “Malun-
ma #eplazini #wearefarmers Incomprehensible Pettiness to the Open Society for ga cannot expect to benefit
#thefarm #farminginzimba- Attached to the tweet This raises several ques- and Vindictiveness.” Southern Africa’s agenda, from the same gvt. which he
bwe.” was a picture showing that tions.  Soros has decided to adopt a denigrates.”
the government of Zimba- It is no secret that the gov- no-holds-barred approach to
Attached to the tweet bwe had gazetted the farm If the government is aware ernment of Zimbabwe con- the regime change politics in This acquisition is part of
were pictures of rows of Malunga co-owns with two that the farm is owned by siders Malunga an enemy of Zimbabwe. The director of a systematic and widespread
newly planted tomatoes on other black Zimbabweans: black Zimbabweans, in line the state. The government this effort is a Zimbabwean attack by the Zimbabwean
his farm in Nyamandhlovu. Zephaniah Dlamini, the with the land reform pro- has several times expressed called Siphosami Malunga.” government on dissidents
Many people comment- director of the  Applied Ge- gramme, why then is it re- its displeasure with Malun- who are abducted, disap-
ed on the tweet, sharing netics Testing Centre at Bu- possessing the farm? Seeing ga’s advocacy and with the A ghost account suspect- peared, arrested and per-
advice and compliments lawayo’s National University as the land is in use, as attest- Open Society Foundation ed to be run by one of the secuted for speaking out
on the impressive large- of Science and Technology, ed to by the Chronicle, what and its founder, George So- numerous state-sponsored against injustices. 
scale operation. That tweet and Charles Moyo, a Bula- has made the farm eligible ros.  social media trolls had this to
was posted at 8.10am. By wayo businessman. for repossession? say: “Not defending the state As we speak,  Makombo-
2.56pm,  Malunga was back In 2018, the army held but stating the truth. Malun- rero Haruzivishe, an opposi-
on Twitter  with shocking Just three weeks ago, the One Twitter user by the a press conference warning ga cannot expect to benefit tion activist, has been in jail
news, which in hindsight, state-run  Chronicle  news- name Beki Ndhlovu posted Malunga about “peddling from the same gvt. which he since February after being
should have been expected: paper  published a glowing this in response to the farm falsehoods about the role of denigrates. As a son of a Na- sentenced to 14 months in
feature story  on Dlamini, acquisition: “This country is the army in the elections”, tional Hero and beneficiary jail on trumped-up charges. 
“Today we received a call praising him for his success- full of kak. Zeph Dlamini led after he had spoken out of state resources, he must
from Mr Dodzi at the Lands ful farming operation. the Covid fight in Byo, moved about the army, electoral vi- know better. As someone Seeing as Malunga is based
Office in Bulawayo to tell us his NUST team to Mpilo olence and intimidation. who hails from uMguza, I in South Africa and cannot
that the Zim Govt has ac- In the story, the report- Hospital, caught and survived know everything about that be arrested by Zimbabwe, it
quired our privately owned er also wrote about how COVID in the process. He was On 30 January 2020, The Farm.” is clear the authorities have
farm & tomorrow they are Dlamini led Bulawayo’s paid a measly allowance for Patriot Newspaper ran an ar- decided to cripple him eco-
coming to peg it & give it to Covid-19 tests in April his efforts. Namhla babathela ticle titled “Soros funds new The account refers to nomically instead.
people they have allocated it to. 2020, saying:  “Unbeknown iplazi. One day is one day.” Malunga being the son of
— Daily Maverick.

Page 36 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Why neopatrimonialism is a growing
threat to electoral democracy in Zim

DAVID CHIKWAZA/ (at all levels of society) to Vendors sell their products at a market in Mbare, Harare on 8 April 2020. Photo EPA-EFE / Aaron Ufumeli. exercise is reciprocal.  To this
ANOTIDA CHIKUMBU get access to state resources dire for you like a dried-up end, Mnangagwa is using his
referred to as the “national leaf cut from its branch.” sway over the church for ecu-
Even though it is clear that cake”, which is usually con- menical diplomacy. 
Zanu PF has failed dismally trolled by high-ranking poli- Young people and Zanu PF
to fix Zimbabwe’s economy ticians.  Young people are becoming The appointment of Pas-
ahead of the 2023 general active members because they sion Java as vice-president of
elections, a growing num- In Zimbabwe,  Zanu PF want to enjoy access to land, the Affirmative Action Group
ber of Zimbabweans are has over the years institution- tenders, employment and of Zimbabwe  rests on the
on a crusade to congregate alised neopatrimonialism. other benefits embroidered in belief that his following will
around Zanu PF and Presi- Widespread poverty has pre- greater proximity to power. translate into votes for Zanu
dent Emmerson Mnangag- cipitated conditions for it to Even though some have not PF at the polls. However,
wa. Among them are the thrive. Since 2017, President openly joined the party, one this view breaks down when
youth, former members of Emmerson Mnangagwa has can almost sniff it in their subjected to analysis. Java’s
the opposition and clerics. increasingly entangled him- voices as they stand up in following is merely founded
Why is this happening? self in an intricate network public to defend the regime on the youth’s admiration of
built around patronage, im- in the hope that they will be his millionaire pomposity.
ANY casual observer of punity and cartels, thereby noticed and rewarded.  Young people do not follow
Zimbabwean politics would creating a bandwagon effect. Conventional means him because they approve of
agree that our electoral de- to success for the young President Emmerson Mnangagwa. all he does, including, for in-
mocracy faces many challeng- The serious shortage stance, identifying with a sys-
es: voter suppression and the of  food, shelter, sanitation, are not yielding anything. a significant number will not one ever wants to make mon- tem responsible for the tragic
muzzling of free speech; the clean water, medication and This is clearly expressed show up at the polling sta- ey in Zimbabwe, they must circumstances in which they
corrosive effect of  political quality education is forcing in Zim dancehall music tions because the fundamen- never oppose Zanu PF.  find themselves.
sectarianism;  vote-rigging a significant number of Zim- produced by the “ghetto tals are off course. Further,
and the imprisonment of babweans to bandwagon with youths” struggling in places aligning with Zanu PF will Even though there is much Opposition fragmentation
opposition leaders; efforts to the party that has a monopoly like Mbare and Chitungwiza. not fix the underlying prob- truth in Chiyangwa’s words, it As the opposition continues
disrupt the peaceful transi- over the politicised supply of Without political connec- lems facing young people. It paints a very negative picture to be fragmented through
tion of power. these goods and services.  tions, even education is no will only exacerbate them.  for investors who might be heavy infiltration by Zanu
longer an incentive for up- Clerical leaders join the interested in doing business PF, many former members
But even though it is clear A new online Dictionary of ward mobility.  bandwagon in Zimbabwe. From this  sel- are joining the ruling party.
that Zanu PF has failed dis- African Politics, published by The reality on the ground In uncertain times and an fie video  he took with Pres- This is due to a need to sur-
mally to fix Zimbabwe’s Oxford University Press, de- is that many are desperate unpredictable environment, ident Mnangagwa, it appears vive and to access the trinkets
economy ahead of the 2023 fines this phenomenon as the and they admire those who clerical leaders too are opt- Passion Java is simply heeding that come with membership.
general elections, a growing “stomach infrastructure”.  are living flamboyant life- ing to align themselves with the advice he was given. 
number of Zimbabweans are styles. The young are saddled the government instead of Many are frustrated with
on a crusade to congregate Consequently, many Zim- with enormous challenges, condemning human rights The timing also seems im- opposition politics, and par-
around Zanu PF and Presi- babweans feel they have very and they are desperate to eat violations and economic mis- portant as the country is fast ticularly with the ascendancy
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa. limited options except to the fruits of the land. They management. They also seek approaching the 2023 har- to power of  Nelson Chami-
Among them are the youth, join what appears to be the also want to enjoy impunity protection for their business- monised elections. People like sa. Former MDC politicians
former members of the oppo- winning team. As they say, as they go about doing infor- es and are after direct links Passion Java have an enor- like Obert Gutu, Elias Mud-
sition and clerics.  “If you can’t beat them, join mal deals — “kungwavha ng- that will give them access to mous following among the zuri, Douglas Mwonzora and
them.”  wavha”, in the local parlance.  more opportunities.  electorate, so it is only pru- Thoozani Khupe were partic-
Although there is an ele- As noble as the call for the dent for Mnangagwa to iden- ularly frustrated. To survive
ment of people liking Zanu Or, as Mnangagwa once youth to register to vote may In a video that went vi- tify with them. This appears and remain relevant political-
PF, its policies and its presi- remarked, “ukawona wabuda be, it is unfortunate to note ral, Philip Chiyangwa advised to reflect a twist in the work- ly, they decided to indirectly
dent, this development is not muZanu PF hupenyu hwako that even if many do register, Prophet  Passion Java  that if ings of “neopatrimonialism”, hitch their wagon to Zanu PF. 
a reflection of the people’s hunotanga kuwunyana kunge but actually just bears out the
admiration of Mnangagwa’s shizha”, meaning: “If you fact that the neopatrimonial We can surmise that their
rule. Rather, it is a preor- leave Zanu PF, things will get decisions may also have been
dained manifestation of Zanu prompted by a belief that
PF’s neopatrimonialism.  the opposition would not
win elections any time soon.
Neopatrimonialism is de- Since the 2018 election, no
fined in  Democratic Exper- electoral reforms have taken
iments in Africa: Regime place — including on issues
Transitions in Comparative relating to the Zimbabwe
Perspective as “the use of state Electoral Commission (Zec).
resources for  political legiti- For this reason, many do not
mation”. This is usually done see any prospects for change,
to secure the loyalty of voters even beyond the 2023 elec-
in the general population.  tions. 

The aim of neopatrimo- Next to nothing has
nialism is to make it impos- changed in terms of election
sible for voters to make free management and the fear is
choices and it encourages that 2018 is going to repeat
elected officials to infringe itself. This makes despair fer-
laws to further an agenda or tile ground for the entrench-
an electoral victory.  ment of neopatrimonialism.

Historically, neopatrimo- — Daily Maverick.
nialism derives from the so-
cioeconomic and political *About the writers: David
system established by colo- Anodiwanashe  Chikwaza  is
nialism and white minority a researcher and scholar of
rule, but it has also been a political science and inter-
characteristic of African pol- national development stud-
itics since independence.  ies.  Anotida Chikumbu  is
a historian and political
In  The State in Afri- economist. He is a PhD can-
ca: The Politics of the Bel- didate and assistant lecturer
ly,  Jean-Francois  Bayart de- in the department of history
fines the “politics of the belly” at the University of Massa-
as a phenomenon where there chusetts Amherst.
is a “life-and-death” struggle

NewsHawks Africa News Page 37

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Kenneth Kaunda obituary

Idealistic president of Zambia at ready, and he was christened Bu- a massive campaign of civil dis- Once UDI had been declared A turning point in the fortunes coup, which was easily put down,
the heart of the fight for African chizya, “the unexpected one”. He obedience. Initially, he opposed in Rhodesia, Kaunda declared a of both Zambia and Kaunda though many clearly had hoped
independence was educated at Lubwa Church of the 1962 constitution, written by state of emergency in Zambia. He came with the fall in copper pric- it would succeed. Demands for
Scotland mission school and then the British to accommodate both was to make many pleas to Britain es in 1973: it was the beginning pluralism were now coming
GUY ARNOLD at Munali school, Lusaka – the white settlers and native Africans, to intervene in Rhodesia, but they of what turned into a permanent from both Zambia’s national
premier secondary school for Af- which he did not think went far fell on deaf ears. At home, mean- economic crisis. Borrowing de- assembly and his party, and by
THE President of Zambia from ricans in Northern Rhodesia. In enough, but when Nkumbula while, he became involved in a veloped into a habit, until, on a the end of the year the Move-
1964 to 1991, Kenneth Kaunda, 1943 he began teaching at Lub- and the ANC decided to contest permanent balancing act between per-capita basis, Zambians were ment for Multi-Party Democracy
who has died aged 97, stood out wa mission; he then spent time the elections that October, he different ethnic power groups. He among the most indebted people (MMD) was holding rallies na-
as one of the most humane and in Tanganyika, as Tanzania was changed his mind and contested was re-elected in 1968, still the in the world. tionwide to demand change. In
idealistic African leaders in the then, before returning to become them as well. The result was in- country’s most charismatic polit- December 1990, Kaunda signed
post-independence age. A man head of his old school in 1947. conclusive and UNIP joined with ical figure, and despite the adverse Kaunda blamed events to the a bill to transform Zambia into a
of great presence and charm, he the ANC to form the colony’s first effects of UDI the price of cop- south for Zambia’s problems, but multi-party state, though includ-
played a notable role as a lead- Kaunda now became involved government with an African ma- per remained high through the after 1980, when Rhodesia be- ed in it were increased powers for
er of the “frontline states” in the in politics, first as secretary of the jority, in which Kaunda became 1960s, keeping economic pros- came independent as Zimbabwe, the president, which angered his
long confrontation between in- local young men’s farming as- minister of local government and perity at a reasonable level. this was an increasingly hollow opponents.
dependent black Africa and the sociation, which was a stepping social welfare. The CAF came to excuse. A failed coup in 1980
white-dominated south of the stone to the Northern Rhodesian an end at midnight on 31 De- But Zambia was beginning to emphasised his growing unpop- Finally, after meeting members
continent, which came to an end African National Congress (a sep- cember 1963, and a new con- suffer as a result of its landlocked ularity. of the opposition for the first time,
only in 1994 with the election arate organisation from the South stitution for Northern Rhodesia position, especially as copper was Kaunda agreed a more accept-
of  Nelson Mandela  as president African ANC, but with similar provided for self-government. both bulky and heavy and had to The following decade wit- able constitution in June 1991.
of South Africa. objectives of independence). In be transported along the Benguela nessed steadily deteriorating liv- The following month, when he
1948 he founded and became During January 1964 Kaunda railway through Angola, which ing standards for ordinary Zam- attended a football match in Lu-
He was a consummate politi- secretary general of the Lubwa led Unip in a brilliant electoral would later be cut as a result of bians. Kaunda tried austerity saka, he was pelted with oranges
cian and spent much of his time ANC branch; in 1950 he was campaign to obtain a landslide war, or along the railways to the measures, including cutting food and beer tins. Elections were held
shuffling his top party figures appointed organising secretary of victory and he became prime south with outlets in Mozam- subsidies, but this led to three in October 1991 and resulted in a
around in a chess game to balance the ANC nationally. He showed minister of Northern Rhodesia, bique. The country was increas- days of rioting and 29 deaths; he huge defeat for Unip, which held
ethnic groups and their claims to energy and administrative capac- the youngest in the Common- ingly at the mercy of its neigh- turned to the IMF but then, in only 25 seats to 125 for the new
power-sharing; he also possessed a ity in this role, and soon rose to wealth. bours and constantly obliged to May 1987, rejected its remedies, MMD. In the November presi-
ruthless streak which he deployed become secretary general of the compromise to ensure the copper while foreign creditors refused dential elections the trade union-
towards opponents, although his ANC and deputy to its leader, He attended independence got out. (The Chinese-built Tan- further support. ist  Frederick Chiluba  obtained
abhorrence of violence was a rari- Harry Nkumbula. talks in London the following zania-Zambia railway from Dar- three times the number of votes
ty in that era. May and on 24 October North- es-Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi was In 1974 he had attempted a di- cast for the incumbent.
He found himself having in- ern Rhodesia became indepen- not completed until 1976 and alogue with South Africa’s prime
One of Africa’s longest-ruling creasing brushes with the colo- dent as Zambia with Kaunda as soon ran into technical difficul- minister, John Vorster, that had Kaunda was the first African
heads of state, he, like so many nial authorities. He was firmly its first president, at the height of ties). come to nothing, but though oth- president to be defeated at the
other politicians, did not know opposed to the Central African his popularity and prestige. er African leaders criticised him polls and retire gracefully. To Chi-
when to quit. However, when fi- Federation (CAF), which came At the beginning of the 70s for it, his efforts to find solutions luba, he said: “My brother, you
nally he was defeated at the polls, into being in 1953 as an attempt However, events to Zambia’s Kaunda fell out with his old in southern Africa were rewarded have won convincingly and I ac-
he stood down with grace. by Britain to unite the three terri- south were already building up to friend and then vice-president, in 1979 when Zambia’s capital, cept the people’s decision.”
tories of Northern and Southern a crisis. Nationalist wars against Simon Kapwepwe, the most able Lusaka, was made the venue for
An idealist and visionary, he Rhodesia and Nyasaland in what the Portuguese had begun in of his supporters from the inde- the Commonwealth heads of gov- The new government hardly
lacked intellectual rigour and his would have become a white-dom- Angola (1961) and Mozambique pendence struggle. Kapwepwe ernment meeting of that year : it responded in like fashion, and it
attempt at political philosophis- inated dominion. (1964) and were to turn into was finding Kaunda’s increasingly also became the headquarters for was more than two years before
ing represented a mish-mash of civil wars when the Portuguese autocratic style hard to take, so the ANC and Swapo, the South it gave him the pension to which
ideas that were only a pale imita- In 1955 he was jailed for pos- withdrew in 1975. In Southern he broke with UNIP and formed West Africa People’s Organisa- he was entitled. In 1992 he an-
tion of the thinking of his friend sessing banned literature and Rhodesia, the end of the CAF was his own party, the United Pro- tion. Kaunda succeeded Nyerere nounced he was leaving politics
and neighbour in Tanzania, Presi- while in prison vowed to give up merely the prelude to the unilat- gressive party (UPP). Kaunda’s as chairman of the frontline states and stepped down from the lead-
dent Julius Nyerere. An emotion- smoking and drinking, a vow he eral declaration of independence reaction was to imprison him and, in 1987, he also became ership of Unip; instead, he wished
al man who often wept in public, was to keep all his life. Widening (UDI) in November 1965 by and, in 1972, make Zambia a chair of the OAU, the Organisa- to create a foundation to work
Kaunda liked singing hymns and his political horizons, he visited the white-minority government one-party state. After Kapwepwe’s tion of African Unity. for peace, democracy and African
folk songs, and was a Christian Britain for the first time in 1957 of  Ian Smith, while in South release from prison, he eventually development. By 1994, however,
inclined to mysticism. and then went on a trip to India, Africa Hendrik Verwoerd, the rejoined UNIP but the old close- Kaunda’s reputation outside he had tried a comeback that did
where he was seriously ill with tu- high-priest of apartheid, was busy ness had gone. In 1973, now as Zambia stood much higher than his reputation no good, yet such
His lack of flair for econom- berculosis. entrenching the system while also sole candidate, Kaunda won a at home. Despite his external was his charisma that Chiluba
ics proved his nemesis. At in- controlling Zambia’s neighbour third presidential term. activities, by 1990 his popular- resorted to a widely condemned
dependence in 1964, copper On his return to Northern South West Africa (Namibia). ity had sunk to an all-time low. change to the constitution in May
was booming and it provided Rhodesia, Kaunda found a dis- There was another attempted 1996 which required presidential
Zambians with a relatively high heartened ANC that was suffer- candidates to be second-genera-
standard of living, but when the ing from the faltering leadership tion Zambians (Kaunda’s parents
boom came to an end in 1973, of Nkumbula, who was seen not had come from Nyasaland). This
Kaunda showed little capacity to to be tough enough in standing would later prevent the  2014-
deal with the country’s new prob- up to white interests; in October 15 acting  president,  Guy Scott,
lems and Zambia instead became 1958 Kaunda, with a number whose parents were British, from
increasingly indebted. Econom- of other young radicals, left the being a candidate.
ic conditions deteriorated, and ANC to form the Zambia African
though the decline was not all National Congress (ZANC) with In August 1997, Kaunda at-
Zambia’s fault, Kaunda was too himself as president. tended a Unip political meeting
busy on the international stage at Kabwe; this was broken up by
and promoting “confrontation” A formative experience for him the police who fired upon him,
with the south. His critics, who was a visit he made to Ghana in wounding him slightly in the
multiplied during his last decade December 1958 to attend the first head.
in office, said that had he devot- All African People’s Conference,
ed as much attention to Zambia’s which had been called by the new- He was detained after a failed
own problems, it would not have ly independent country’s prime coup against Chiluba that Octo-
descended to the level of poverty minister, Kwame Nkrumah. ber, but denied involvement and
it reached by the end of the 1980s. There, Kaunda had the oppor- charges against him were with-
tunity to meet many of the con- drawn.
Had he resigned in 1980 he tinent’s leading nationalists. On
would have gone with his repu- his return to Northern Rhodesia Kaunda was always closely
tation high. Instead, he clung on he continued to oppose the lim- supported by his wife, Betty (nee
too long, and though he won his ited constitutional arrangements Banda), whom he married in
first six elections (mainly under a then coming from the Colonial 1946. She died in 2012. They had
one-party system) without a rival Office and ordered the ZANC to nine children, one of whom, a
to challenge him, he became in- oppose them. In March 1959 he son, Wezi, was shot dead in 1999
creasingly remote even from his was arrested for holding an illegal in what appeared to be a random
own party’s stalwarts. meeting – by then he was seen as carjacking, but the Kaunda fami-
the main opponent of the CAF in ly believed to be a political assas-
He was born at Lubwa near the colony – and was sentenced to sination. Another died of HIV
Chinsali in the northern province nine months in prison. While in and Aids in 1987; in retirement,
of Northern Rhodesia, as Zambia prison he suffered a second seri- Kaunda worked for organisations
was then called; his parents were ous bout of TB. combating the spread of the ill-
immigrants from Nyasaland (as ness.
Malawi was then). In January 1960, after his re-
lease, he formed a new party, the Kenneth David Kaunda, poli-
His father, David, was a priest United National Independence tician, born 28 April 1924, died
who became a teacher and his Party (Unip). His aim now was 17 June 2021.
mother, Helen, was one of the to take Northern Rhodesia out of
first black teachers in the colony. the CAF and achieve immediate --The Guardian.
They had been married for 20 independence, and he launched *About the writer: Guy Ar-
years, and had seven children al- nold died in January 2020.

Page 38 World News NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

A silent decimation: South America’s
losing battle against Covid-19 pandemic

THE cold, tired and desper- health system, and with many play a part in the high Covid two jabs so far. the denialism in politics,” said 18, 16 and 10.
ate relatives camped outside the questions over government cor- death rate. While underinvestment, Chrystina Barros, a member of “He died because of the
Barrio Obrero general hospital ruption. Anger and frustration the group fighting Covid-19 at
in Asunción do not need charts prompted  widespread street “Our poverty markers have economics, new variants and the Federal University of Rio de health system’s inefficiency,” said
or datasets to confirm what they protests earlier this year  and grown hugely in the last de- slow vaccination programmes Janeiro. his younger sister, Patty. “Then
can see with their own eyes. a manslaughter case against the cade, our inflation rate is one bear responsibility for much of the disease consumed him.”
government has been opened by of the highest in the world, so the region’s current crisis, so do “We have a denialist pres-
As  Paraguay  records the the public prosecutor’s office. why should we be expected to many of its politicians. And no ident whose speech and be- Despite making his social se-
world’s highest daily propor- suddenly become geniuses at leader on the continent faces a haviour run contrary to medical curity payments, Héctor Araujo
tion of Covid deaths, the hud- Argentina was also seen as a managing a calamity like this?” charge sheet quite as damning as advice – and which are influ- spent 10 days in intensive care
dled families wait for news of model, with low case numbers he asks. that of Jair Bolsonaro. encing people against getting in a hospital that lacked the staff
their loved ones – and for the at the start of the pandemic the vaccine. It’s a perfect storm.” needed to deal with complicated
sudden requests for medicine when the government intro- Tensions between the ruling Brazil, about to reach the aw- cases.
and supplies that the country’s duced strong restrictions that progressive Peronists, who have ful landmark of 500 000 deaths, With average daily deaths of
chronically underfunded health were respected by the public. stood by the science but al- has been led by a president who 2,000, Brazil is becoming in- “My brother needed 24-
system cannot provide. lowed their traditional populist dismissed the coronavirus  as creasingly isolated worldwide. hour attention with specialists
But that scenario has changed reflexes to influence decisions, a “little flu”, who resisted con- Several nations – including its and ICU equipment that they
“There’s really so little sup- drastically. Covid has become and the pro business Together tainment strategies, and who neighbour Argentina – are re- couldn’t give him,” said Patty
port from the government – it’s Argentina’s main killer, far out- for Change opposition, with its was fined last weekend for fail- stricting entry to Brazilian pas- Araujo.
a disaster,” said Jessica Ortigosa, stripping heart disease and can- denialist tendencies, have not ing to wear a mask  at a biker sengers, and the country has
whose father was languishing in cer and claiming an average of helped. rally in São Paulo. He is now be- been the subject of international She, like tens of thousands of
a chair instead of a bed. “They 528 deaths a day over the past ing investigated by a congressio- opprobrium. bereaved Peruvians, is furious at
should have prepared for all this two weeks. Earlier this week, the govern- nal inquiry over his calamitous the successive governments that
from the start of the pandemic.” ment announced an overhaul of response to the public health “If Brazil doesn’t take the have invested a paltry portion of
Vanina Edul, an ICU doctor the country’s health system to emergency. pandemic seriously, it will con- GDP in the healthcare system
As she spoke, two women in Buenos Aires, says the lack of integrate public and private care tinue to affect the entire neigh- - less than half what neighbour-
collapsed on a sofa in the hospi- the kind of scenes witnessed in providers – a decision Belocop- Those involved in the Covid bourhood there and beyond,” ing countries put into public
tal’s entrance, their uncontrolla- some countries during the first pitt likens to “reorganising your response – including representa- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, health – despite two decades of
ble tears announcing the death wave of the pandemic is mis- army in the middle of a war”. tives of pharmaceutical compa- director-general at the World strong economic growth.
of Paraguay’s most recent coro- leading: “What generates the nies – have told the inquiry that Health Organization,  said  at
navirus victim. notion of sanitary collapse is And yet Argentinians re- the Bolsonaro administration the end of March. “It’s not just Days before a deeply divi-
when people die in their homes main optimistic – and largely dismissed offers to acquire the about Brazil.” sive  second round ballot  be-
Natalia Bernal, who stood or on the street, but in Argen- unaware of the high death rate vaccine last year. The country tween two candidates at op-
nearby, was relieved to be able to tina people are dying behind – as the news is drowned out by has so far managed to immunise Political upheaval – not to posite ends of the political
drop the brave face she had just closed doors in Covid wards so the country’s complex political just 11.4%  of its 212 million mention decades of underin- spectrum, a government review
put on for her mother, who lay Covid deaths remain invisible wrangling. citizens. vestment in public healthcare confirmed what Peruvians had
intubated in hospital a day after and almost unreal.” – has also taken its toll in neigh- long suspected: the true num-
losing her husband to Covid. Argentina’s vaccination pro- Worse still, acceptance of the bouring Peru. ber of Covid-19 deaths in the
Claudio Belocoppitt, the gramme is in full swing and the vaccine has also been stymied by country was 180 764 – almost
“I couldn’t let my mom see head of the Argentinian Health vaccination menu has diversi- Bolsonaro’s vehemently anti-sci- Héctor Araújo, a 51-year-old triple the official death toll of 69
me in the state I was in,” said Union, (UAS), which represents fied with Sputnik, Sinopharm ence posturing. nutritionist who worked in a 342. The belated revision made
Bernal. Still, she added, at least private health insurance firms, and AstraZeneca, the main clinic for the elderly in central Peru the country with the high-
her mother had got a bed. argues that the country’s chronic vaccines administered. Almost “The biggest issue in Brazil – Lima, died a fortnight after be- est death rate per capita  in the
social and economic problems 40% of the population has got and one that’s having a terrible ing diagnosed with Covid. He world.
“We needed intensive care at least one jab and nearly 8% effect on vaccine take-up – is left behind three children aged
yesterday for my dad and there Peru may have imposed one
wasn’t any. There just isn’t any.” of the earliest and strictest lock-
downs in Latin America back
On Wednesday this week, in March 2020, but high la-
Paraguay registered  18.09 bour informality, overcrowded
deaths per million, compared households and even  shopping
with 2.71 in India, 2.2 in South habits meant the measures failed
Africa, 1.01 in the US, and 0.14 to curtail infections.
in the UK.
The vaccine rollout has been
And as the US and Europe slow and the second wave of
begin to emerge from the pan- the virus was worse than the
demic, discard their masks and first, forcing Peru into another
ponder how best to spend the severe lockdown after a surge
recovery funds, the crisis most in infections that pushed hospi-
evident in Paraguay is play- tals to the edge of the collapse.
ing out across much of South Progress has also been scuppered
America. by the political turmoil which
saw  three presidents  in a week
India may have commanded last year, and the situation wasn’t
much of the  world’s attention helped by the revelation in Feb-
over recent weeks, but Paraguay, ruary that former leader Martín
Suriname, Argentina, Uruguay, Vizcarra and nearly 500 others
Colombia, Brazil and Peru are had been vaccinated in secret.
suffering – in that order – a si-
lent decimation by Covid unlike A caretaker government
that anywhere else in the world. steered the vaccination drive
Even in seventh-placed Peru, back on track and about two
the number of deaths per mil- million  Peruvians  – 7% of the
lion stands at 9.12 – more than population – have now been
three times the figure in India. fully vaccinated.

In the early months of the The death rate, which peaked
pandemic, Paraguay and nearby in April, has slowly decreased
Uruguay were praised as  Latin but the grief and anger remain.
America’s standout success sto-
ries in Covid management. “The strange thing about this
pandemic is that all the death
But since March the two has not sunk in,” said Patty
countries have seen an explosion Araújo. “Sometimes, I think we
of the disease, largely attributed believe it’s all a bad dream.”
to the aggressive  Brazilian vari-
ant that has torn through much Jessica Ortigosa sees little
of South America, and to de- prospect of a swift end to the
creased compliance with social nightmare as she waits for word
distancing measures. on her father and wonders
whether he’ll be able to swap his
In Uruguay, not even one of chair for a bed.
Latin America’s quickest vacci-
nation programmes has been “This is how it is,” she said
able to contain the spread. Par- amid the cold and the tears and
aguay, meanwhile, has faced the the embraces outside the Barrio
continuing emergency under Obrero general hospital. “It’s
the strain of entrenched pover- like this here every day. Every
ty, a historically underfunded day.” — The Guardian.

NewsHawks Page 39

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

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Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 40 Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Baba Harare opens
up on being a
sex symbol

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA feature on the track.
“I released the original Rita to very positive re-
IN his twenties, Braveman Chizvino left his
hometown of Masvingo and trekked to Harare views and it was well received by fans. However,
with nothing but dreams. the remix was on an Afro-pop beat. I think that
and the input from the talented Mai TT made it
Like most musicians from other towns, the an instant hit. The video was shot in various loca-
capital city is an ideal place for exploration and tions around Harare,” Baba Harare said. 
growth.
“Rita was inspired by various abstract romantic
Fortunately, he hit the big time and earned ideas. One can imagine an ideal love story when a
himself the moniker Baba Harare although he is a boy meets a girl and falls in love and lives happily
native of Masvingo. ever after. Rita is based on the ideal love story.” 

Now aged 33, Braveman or is it Baba Harare, Baba Harare dropped his debut album --- The
is indeed “running the city”.  Reason Why --- in 2018 and arguably the title
track was his best song with 2.8 million streams
“I am very proud of my background as a Mas- on YouTube.
vingo transplant. I moved to Harare in my early
twenties. The move was purely to widen my mu- His sophomore album, titled Ramba Wakadz-
sical horizon and make more connections in the vanya, was released in 2019. Although it is yet to
industry,” he explained. reach commercial success as The Reason Why, it
sort of cemented Baba Harare as a sought-after jiti
Once in Harare, he joined one of the upcom- singer.  Ramba Wakadzvanya has to date streamed
ing groups at the time --- Jah Prayzah’s Third 1.6 million views.
Generation.
According to Baba Harare, jiti as a genre is part
As a band member he rocked the live shows of the Zimbabwean cultural fabric and, if kept in
when he performed the lyrics “Baba Harare Mu- its pure form, will transcend generations.
sadaro” a popular song that sent fans into deliri-
um. “Jiti will survive for decades to come. I am
also excited to see a lot of jiti influences in other
“I left Third Generation around 2017 be- genres,” he said.
cause my vision was always to pursue a solo ca-
reer or start my own band. Working with JP (Jah “I don’t think I was influenced by anyone per
Prayzah) was as important as it moulded me to se into singing jiti but I think my love for Zim-
become the artiste I am,” Baba Harare said. babwean music inspired me to experiment with
various indigenous musical flavours and I ended
Asked if he had any regrets of leaving the up falling in love with jiti.
group, Baba Harare said he is in a good space. 
“Jiti involves a lot of satire and word play. It’s a
“I think with any life decision there is always fun genre. I think that’s the beauty of jiti. It’s a safe
going to be an element of regret. Overally, the de- space to explore word play and music,” he said.
cision to go solo was a positive one and I can live
with that decision,” he said. Asked why some of his lyrics are X-rated or
lewd, Baba Harare said it was part of the jiti vibe
For three straight weeks, Baba Harare has been to excite and entertain.
trending with his latest video featuring comedi-
enne-cum-singer Mai TT on the track Rita. Turning to the future, Baba Harare looks for-
ward to a film debut as and when the opportuni-
It is certainly not the best of songs, but for ty comes. However, he would not be drawn into
some obscure reason the song was popular among commenting on his love life, saying: “I am a very
his female fans. private person and choose to keep it that way.”

The question is, was it because of Mai TT or As they say, money cannot buy you love or
perhaps Baba Harare’s charisma? style; Baba Harare has earned style simply for be-
ing himself.
“I am flattered that my female fans see me as a
sex symbol. I see myself as a musician with a very He deliberately poses for pictures topless,
supportive female fan base,” he said. showing off his well-toned abs, much to the de-
light of his adoring female fans.
Explaining the song Rita, Baba Harare said en-
ergy was high when he approached Mai TT to

NewsHawks Life & Style Page 41

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Excitable musicians never learn!
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA It is considered taboo in
Sulumani Chimbetu in Zanu PF regalia. the Shona custom to engage
SIMON Chopper Chimbetu, in cultural ceremonies in the
Cde Chinx Chingaira and do Yeminda era. Tambaoga shows and also stopped per- Jah Love to order, telling him chanter popularly known as month of November. 
Andy Muzukuru Brown are did jingles which were quite forming Mdhara Achauya on that: “hachisi chinhu mu- Hwindi President and Uncle
some of the fallen who be- popular on television as well stage. kadaro haaridze pano” (Soul Sam. Mnangagwa rose to pow-
came more popular in death as radio stations but he sold Jah Love is nothing, if you er in November 2017 after
than when they were alive. his soul for 30 pieces of silver. Soul Jah Love was perhaps continue doing that he won’t In the letter, the youths the ouster of then president
the only artiste whose career perform). demanded that Sulu explain Mugabe in a military coup.
At the height of the cha- Tambaoga never had an was not affected by his sup- what he meant in the song.
otic and often violent land illustrious music career be- port for Zanu PF and he was And then there is Suluman While the ZIRAPYON
invasions dubbed the Third cause fans saw him as a Zanu rewarded for that after he was Chimbetu who is slowly “Zimbabwe Revolutionary had reservations about the
Chimurenga or Hondo Ye- PF apologist.  declared a liberation hero treading in his father’s ruin- and Patriotic Youth Network song, it was well within Su-
minda associated with Zim- and subsequently buried at ous path. This past week, Su- (ZIRAPYON) Harare Prov- luman’s poetic licence to ex-
babwe’s fast-track land re- Even today, Tambaoga is the Harare provincial heroes’ luman has been openly show- ince was not pleased by a song press himself. 
form programme, around still struggling to revive his acre. ing his support for Zanu PF.  released by the ambassador of
2000, -these artistes were at career. While he did well the Zimbabwe Prisons and Apparently, Sulu has faced
the forefront of speaking for in supporting the land re- He of course was hugely He posed for pictures at Correctional Service (ZPCS) a barrage of criticism from
the landless masses. form programme, he failed popular among youths for his party headquarters wearing Ass-Comm Suluman Chim- mainly Zanu PF supporters
to speak out against human songs that glorified drugs and Zanu PF regalia alongside betu featuring one chanter who took him to task over his
And that was a worthy rights abuses, corruption and substance abuse. And that Mike Chimombe, a staunch popularly known as ‘Hwindi association with the legislator
cause as artistes used their in- bad governance in Zimba- was his rallying point.  youth member.   President’. Mamombe and, lately, Zim-
fluence to highlight colonial bwe. babwe National Students’
land ownership injustices. Soul Jah Love would often This came shortly after “We seek clarity on what Union president Takudzwa
There were several jingles by Coming to the young gen- flip flop. At one time he was he was photographed in the he meant. We are sure that Ngadziore. 
these artistes in support of eration, we had Jah Prayzah singing the praises of Robert company of the opposition your esteemed office would
the landless and the message whose entry into music was Mugabe in the song Happy MDC Alliance’s Harare West also want to understand what He was the subject of po-
was loud and clear. hinged to the Second Re- Birthday Baba Mugabe, while MP Joana Mamombe.  the goodwill ambassador im- litical scrutiny after he was
public. His track Mdhara at another moment, in Ndiri plied. We join hands with captured on camera welcom-
Sadly, the same artistes did Achauya, which played out Zvinhu, a 2017 release, he hit It appears Suluman was you and all patriotic Zimba- ing Ngadziore from remand
not speak out when Robert during President Emmerson back at the Zanu PF youth taken to task for associating bweans in demanding for an prison and is on record as
Mugabe’s regime unleashed a Mnangagwa’s ascendency to leadership for belittling him with opposition members. explanation. expressing solidarity with the
reign of terror in June 2008 power, almost killed his mu- at a star rally held in Mutare. student leader. 
against opposition members sic career in an instant. In a related matter, the “A proactive response will
nor did they record jingles At that rally, Soul Jah Love Zimbabwe Revolutionary be highly appreciated,” reads This upset some Zanu PF
against the wanton murder There was resistance to the made his grand entrance, and Patriotic Youth Network the letter. members who wanted him to
and displacement of villagers. song, especially around 1 Au- causing pandemonium in the (ZIRAPAYON) wrote to the be stripped of his ZPCS am-
gust 2018 after the infamous stadium and disturbing the Zimbabwe Prisons and Cor- The song, a 2020 release, bassadorial role.
Sadder still, the same ar- shooting of civilians by sol- proceedings. rectional Services (ZPCS) urges people to admit that
tistes kept silent when, on diers.  and Justice Minister Ziyam- they wronged ancestors by The point is Suluman and
1 August 2018, opposition Zanu PF youth league bi Ziyambi on 9 June 2021 not observing the sacred other musicians should never
members were killed in cold Following that incident, commissar Innocent Haman- expressing reservations over month of November in ac- pander to the whims of poli-
blood by armed forces in the Jah Prayzah dropped the dishe, who was the emcee at the lyrics in Sulu’s song ti- cordance with Zimbabwean ticians.
streets of Harare demanding military fatigues during live the rally, quickly called Soul tled Chirwere featuring one culture.
the release of Presidential If Suluman strongly be-
election results. lieved that Zimbabwe as a
nation erred in inaugurating
If musicians are supposed Mnangagwa as president in
to mirror what happens in the sacred month of Novem-
society, what sort of mirror ber, then it was his right to
image are they giving to the say so.
society when they choose to
see no evil, speak no evil and But Suluman should also
hear no evil? stand up to the system in the
same way Thomas Mapfumo
That said, Zimbabwean did when he sang against cor-
musicians seem to only focus ruption, bad governance and
on themselves. They go to human rights abuses.
bed with oppressors who they
are supposed to speak against. Artistes should always mir-
ror the society as opposed to
Why is it that Zimbabwean being praise singers.
musicians find it easy to sing
the praises of ruling elites, The world over, free artis-
but fail to speak out against tic expression is a clear sign
injustice? of democracy. As the Black
Lives Matter Movement re-
It is a shame that artistes minded us, when musicians
only realise that they were see human rights abuses they
used when they are spent should stand up.
forces.
It was well and good to
Chopper could hardly see South African artistes,
pull crowds at his live shows, the likes of AKA and Casper
having openly supported Nyovest, adding their voic-
the Mugabe regime until his es to the Zimbwean Lives
death.  Matter movement but, sadly,
our own artistes were a big
Cde Chinx would have letdown. Superstar Oliver
died destitute were it not for Mtukudzi was one artiste
former first lady Grace Mug- who used music to air his
abe who built him a decent views without being partisan.
home in Harare’s Mabelreign
suburb. Mtukudzi’s messages were
subtle, deep and did not car-
It was a pity that Cde ry explicit political messages,
Chinx, a musician with a but he made it easy to read
rich discography, could only between the lines.
attract a handful of fans at
his live shows except when he His quest to stay above
performed at national galas. the political fray has always
made him a darling across
At the time of his death, age groups, races and the so-
Brown’s fame and fortune cial divide because he wanted
were on the wane. to remain an artiste.

He could not complete And those that he criti-
building a house at his rural cised loved him for that and
home in Mberengwa, despite they did so without feeling
all the political jingles he per- outraged by his stance.
formed.
The song Bvuma talked
Another case in point was about ageing gracefully al-
Tambaoga whose real name is though at the time most peo-
Last Chiangwa.  ple linked it to former presi-
dent Mugabe who at was over
The talented singer’s claim 70 years old and still stub-
to fame was during the Hon- born clinging on to power.

Page 42 People & Places NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021

Cafe Expresso is now open along Cork Road in Avondale, Harare. It was opened and closed a
few years ago before it reopened recently. It is currently running, although now affected by the
renewed Covid-19 lockdown. The owner Philani Magadzire runs many other restaurants, includ-
ing at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and
Lusaka airports.

Property
NewsHawks

Issue 35, 18 June 2021 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Page 43

The home of prime property: [email protected]

MILLENNIUM Heights, which is currently developed by West Property and strategically located in Borrowdale in Harare next to
Dandaro, opposite Pokugara Residential Estate, is fast taking shape and will soon be officially handed over to new property owners
at the end of the month. It is an exclusive up-market lifestyle estate characterised by modern family living. The first block current-
ly under construction is now on special offer. This apartment complex provides options from studio, one bed or two bedroomed
apartments offered on sectional title deeds. Millennium Heights apartment estate bedsitter costs US$31 000, one bed-roomed flat
US$65 000 and two- bedroomed US$96 000. Currently undergoing finishing touches, with the first block of 16 apartments at roof
level almost complete, Millennium Heights is close to shopping centres, schools and medical facilities. It is also highly secure and
sought-after development offering investors and families a variety of accommodation options ranging from studio, one-bedroomed
and two-bedroomed apartments, with back-up water and solar power as well as a wide range of outdoor leisure and entertainment
facilities. Apartments are offered on sectional title deeds and at shell stage of construction with internal finishes to be completed by
the owner to their taste. - STAFF WRITER.

Page 44 Sport NewsHawks
US sports writers are often
ridiculed for their overdose of We all do know who Issue 35, 18 June 2021
cliches, criticism I personally the real heroes are
take on the chin.  their favourite sportsmen no How vile!
David Madigora. matter how many times they But it does not surprise
Terms like “legend, great, played for the national team, me because this certain unre-
icon” are used loosely in ref- who defied Zimbabwe’s social at New Zealand’s hallowed played it with a smile and no one has the right to dis- fined chap, a Member of Par-
erence to sports stars, past and racial barriers of the ear- Eden Park, one of the most childlike purity and, more pute the fans’ choice.  liament for that matter, can
and present. ly 1980s to play internation- famous stadiums in world importantly, a player who never remotely be half the
al rugby for his country, his sport.  shared good chemistry with I was drawn this week to man David Mandigora was
Few weeks back on some shade of brown skin cutting a Joel Lupahla was a request by the Zimbabwe in his lifetime. 
forum I am, I jumped to the distinctive figure among 30- another player so Football Association (Zifa) To excel and become a
defence of one young reporter odd Caucasian teammates, quick and tricky, in to the government, that the household name in pre-inde-
who in his copy had labelled and often emerging as the his chosen sport. HawkZone deceased former Dynamos pendence Zimbabwe – when
former Zimbabwe football best player in the team. This, by no footballer David Mandigora competition was stiff because
international Joel Lupahla as means, is not a be declared a national hero.  members of the other races
a “Warriors legend.” A global trailblazer so good comparison of still played football – was an
to play in the inaugural Rug- Lupahla and Tsim- Enock The request, as you would achievement never to be un-
The feedback was outright by World Cup, back in 1987, ba.  expect, was ignored by the derestimated.
scorn: Lupahla? Legend? as the only black player in the But what I will Muchinjo suits and met with a typi- Pre-independence Zim-
How many games had he entire 16-team tournament, not do is deny our cal shrug of the shoulders. babwe, reeling under the
played for the Warriors, and some months before Chris young media col- Mandigora, who was 64 and shackles of racist minori-
what were his achievements Oti became England’s first league his opinion suffering from diabetes, was ty rule, desperately needed
in those games?  black rugby international in on a player who was probably the fans in his shortened in- duly buried as an ordinary black heroes and public fig-
82 years.  his footballing hero, a play- ternational career. citizen at Glen Forest Ceme- ures like Mandigora – due
Amidst the sea of disap- er whose searing pace and This is the kind of stuff tery in Harare on Wednesday.  to their God-given talents
proval, I chose to see things A dazzling runner and le- trickery dazzled us and left that creates heroes in people’s and exploits on the sports
the other way, in support of thal finisher who scored a a lasting mark, a player who hearts and, when they place All things being equal, field – gave their people hope
our young friend, because breath-taking solo try in that enjoyed the game always and labels of “legend or great” on guys like Mandigora are in- and pride in the pursuit of
truthfully speaking the label World Cup, arguably one deed heroes, people’s heroes freedom and fairness under
of “legend” is itself subjec- of the best ever witnessed who made an impact in their the principle that all men are
tive.  communities during a critical born equal. 
era of our country’s history.  Over and above, how befit-
We tend to forget some- ting – therefore – that Man-
times that in sport – as im- It is not up to any arm of a digora would become the first
portant as trophies, statistics, political party to declare such person to be crowned Zimba-
longevity and all the other men a hero or not a hero, to bwe’s Footballer of the Year in
tangible things are – equally declare them deserving or not 1980, the year the new uni-
important is the off-field im- deserving of a state funeral versally-recognised country
pact that stars make on their and burial at the National was born.
communities, their country Heroes’ Acre in Harare.   And then you can add on
and their sport.  his record as a coach.
I am not disappointed that Thankfully, Mandigora
It is precisely for that rea- Mandigora was denied hero was given a dignified send-off
son that you will see a little status by whoever is autho- at Glen Forest on Wednesday,
guy from Zimbabwe named rised to grant such. I am not a mainly due to the contribu-
Richard Tsimba – with just big fan of that shrine anyway, tions of very good men and
five international caps for his where men of less dignity women driven by an utmost
obscure national team – being and lower standing have been respect of their folk hero.
honoured by the global gov- honoured with entombment. As I conclude this blog,
erning body of his sport with I’m suddenly reminded that
induction into the World I am disappointed that the person tasked with col-
Rugby Hall of Fame, ahead Zifa – in their wisdom, or lecting condolence funds to-
of an absolute giant of the lack thereof – even attempted wards the funeral was in fact
game called Alun Wyn Jones, to force the hand of a politi- Joel Lupahla, a club legend
an Order of the British Em- cal regime that has long lost of Highlanders, sworn foe of
pire (OBE) recipient whose the true sense of heroism. Mandigora’s beloved Dyna-
incredible 157 Test caps for mos.
superpower Wales makes him One top official of the rul- Two men separated by
the world’s most experienced ing party even had the audac- age, generations and ethnic
international today.  ity to rebuke fellow members background. Yet, later in life
of a certain forum for “mak- to become bosom buddies,
The great Jones, of course, ing noise” over Mandigora’s brothers for life, brought
will one day join the illustri- hero status appeal, because together by this great unify-
ous list of men and women it would upset the “bosses”, ing factor called football – a
that have made an indelible who would then react nega- demonstration of the power
mark on arguably the second tively to the request. of humanity.
most popular team sport on They can keep their na-
the planet. tional hero status. The people
know who their heroes are.
Tsimba, meanwhile, is
there already, and you cannot
say he does not deserve it. 

This was a young man
(may his soul rest in peace)

PORTUGAL legend Cristia- Ronaldo breaks Euro finals record fifth taker, with the Spanish
no Ronaldo broke the Euros winning 4-2 before he had
goal record on Tuesday and list - while Romario is fourth in the competition with a late three or more goals in the last his chance.
became the first player to (743) and Ronaldo’s Barcelo- penalty, which was followed 10 minutes of a Euros match.
feature at five finals tourna- na rival Lionel Messi makes by his 11th in stoppage time. Amends were made at
ments. up the top five (719). The former United and France 2016, where Portu-
In addition to the afore- Madrid forward’s long as- gal - after a slow start where
The Juventus star - who is Of his 760 official goals, as mentioned records, Ronaldo sociation with the Europe- they drew all three group
a big legend at Manchester recorded by Opta, a whop- also set a pair of other marks an Championship began games - went all the way to
United and Real Madrid - ping 450 came during his with his double in Budapest. on home soil in 2004, but the final and beat the hosts
netted a penalty and scored nine-year spell at Madrid, hopes of a dream trophy were in Paris. Ronaldo was forced
another against Hungary while he netted 118 for At 36 years, 130 days, dashed in the final as Portu- out of the game with injury,
on Tuesday night to ensure United, 102 for his country Ronaldo became oldest play- gal were stunned by Greece, but passionately drove his
more records are added to his Portugal, 85 for current club er to score for Portugal at a leaving a teenage Ronaldo in team on from the touchline
extensive collection. Juventus and five at Sporting major tournament, break- tears. as Eder scored an extra-time
Lisbon. ing the record set by Pepe at winner.
Ronaldo now stands alone World Cup 2018 (35 years, He hoped to make amends
as the all-time record goal- The Juventus forward has 124 days). four years later in Austria and What do Euros hold for
scorer at European Champi- represented his country at Switzerland but Portugal, af- CR7?
onships, after also becoming every Euros since Portugal He also become the oldest ter topping their group, were
the first player to feature at hosted the tournament in player to score at least two beaten by Germany in the Ronaldo will have to be
five finals tournaments in 2004, and he remains the tal- goals in a European Cham- quarter-finals. at his inspirational best to
Portugal’s 3-0 win over Hun- isman of the reigning cham- pionship match, breaking help the reigning champi-
gary in Budapest on Tuesday. pions 17 years later. the record set by Andriy In 2012, Ronaldo inspired ons through a tough group,
Schevchenko when he was 35 Portugal to the semi-finals, which also includes Germany
He is already the all-time Ronaldo added several re- years, 256 days. where they took reigning and France.
leading Champions League cords to his impressive indi- world and continental cham-
and Madrid goalscorer. vidual collection of honours Portugal’s late blitz, which pions Spain to penalties, He now has 106 goals in
on Tuesday, becoming the also included an 84th-min- only to lose in the shoot-out. 176 games for Portugal -
The 35-year-old five-time top scorer in Euros history ute opener from Raphael Ronaldo infamously did not only three short of the all-
Ballon d’Or winner recent- when he netted his 10th goal Guerreiro, meant they are take a spot-kick as he was the time FIFA international re-
ly moved past Brazil legend now the first side to score cord, held by Iran’s Ali Daei.
Pele (757 goals) - who moves
down to third on the all-time — goal.com/The News-
Hawks.

Sports Zimbabwe’s
Innovate or all-weather
friends from
bust as Zim across the
Atlantic
football makes
Thursday 1cOoctmobeer b20a20ck

Friday 11 June 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS CULTURE
Flower one of the best$60Covid
tariff for
visitors &
Community
radio
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Story on Page 3 Story on Page 8

smart-minded approach to
a task. Man, you only had
to marvel! More than all the
cricketing minds aliveENOCKMUCHINJO

Chamisa reacTATENDA Taibu has paid
tribute to Andy Flower fol- technical, tactical, physical
lowing the Zimbabwean
cricket great’s induction into out to Khupeand mental help he support-
the International Crick- ed me with as a player, what
et Council (ICC) Hall of stood out was how he made
Fame. me calm as soon as I saw
Taibu, a protégé of fellow him in the changing room
wicketkeeper Flower, said before a match.”
Taibu was first introduced
the ex-Zimbabwe star and calls for emergeto his mentor by the legend-
former England coach – Unofficial president ary ex-wicketkeeper’s father,
once the world’s top-ranked Bill Flower, a stalwart devel-
Test batsman – did not get
enough praise as a player in opment coach and philan-
thropist who nurtured sev-
his pomp. eral young black cricketers
“Andy was indeed one of
the best cricketers of his era,” from Harare’s high-density
suburbs in the 1990s.
Taibu told The NewsHawks Flower was a successful
this week. “Yes, he became
world number one, but he England coach between
2009 and 2014.
never got the recognition he He led the team to three
deserved about it. The rea-
son is simple, he played for a Ashes series victories, a
Twenty20 World Cup title,
country that didn’t get much and number one status on
recognition. Andy got more
recognition for his stint as the Test rankings.
In 2011, Flower was ap-
coach with England than pointed an officer of the
he did as a player for Zim-
babwe.” Order of the British Empire
(OBE) for outstanding ser-
Flower took a young vice to sport.
Taibu under his wing and
taught him the craft at Cricket legend Andy Flower. He is presently coach-
township club Old Win- ing Pakistan Super League
stonians in the late 1990s tain is eternally grateful for. now 53, was in the twilight cricketing minds alive to- (PSL) team Multan Sultans,
and early 2000s, something They would later become of his international career. day,” Taibu said. “His hard which has on its books the
Zimbabwe’s first black cap- work about the game is sec- likes of Zimbabwe fast bowl-
teammates in Zimbabwe’s “I was lucky to learn my ond to none. Talk about a er Blessing Muzarabani. 
national team when Flower, cricket under one of the best

Kyle Jarvis retires from all forms of cricket

KYLE Jarvis, the Zimbabwe 28 in T20I and 320 first-class cision having to retire and had to start planning for the national cricket once again. County Cricket Club for all
pacer, announced his retire- wickets. it’s something that took me future.” “Every day wearing the the support over the years.
ment from all forms of cricket a long time to come to grips Jarvis had made his ODI Zimbabwe badge is a high- “I have a business which
at the age of 32.  The last he played for Zim- with. NthoebtAohdiLnySgwOthaneIytNsloStvoIeD,s”tEohpe dsFheiobntuatant cihneis Mf2i0rsi0tn9TisesattnyadwndhipTade20saIoutltiog$h3bt.e2anaBdbilIlelwiotaons vrdeerpeyrpefsooernstuittnomartyes fufinsudlflasiartltyennteiwoZniwmfhoi'rcshnlaonwteee, dsbstumltayInd c
babwe was a Test against Sri doing
One of the primary rea- Lanka in Harare in January said on Thursday. “After my outing in 2011. In 2013, he country over a 10-year career,” look forward to working with
sons was the spate of injuries 2020 since he sustained a low- back injury last year, there was decided to retire from in- Jarvis said. “I will miss walk- Zimbabwe Cricket in some
and illnesses he suffered in er back injury. As he gradually a lot of uncertainty whether I ternational cricket to pur- ing out onto the field in an in- capacity going forward,” Jar-
the last year and a half. Jarvis returned to training, he was would be able to bowl again. sue a county contract with ternational with a close group vis said. “I certainly want to
calls time on a career having diagnosed with Covid-19 and After six to eight months out, Lancashire in England. He of friends. A special thank you give back to the game which
returned 132 wickets in 84 in- a bout of malaria and tick bite I was lucky enough to make returned to Zimbabwe in to my friends, family, Zimba- gave me so much.”
ternational games, including fever at the same time. a full recovery, but I knew I September 2017 to play inter- bwe Cricket and Lancashire – Cricbuzz
46 Test wickets, 58 ODI ones,
“It was a very difficult de-

ALSO INSIDE Ronaldo breaks Euro finals record