NewsHawks 18 December 2020

Price

US$1

WHAT’S INSIDE Friday 18 December 2020 BUSINESS SPORT

NEWS Starafrica Facing All
auditors raise Blacks’ haka
Police stake red flag over will be ‘surreal’
out judge over asset valuation for Zimbabwe
controversial
bail ruling Story on Page 16 Story on Page 34

Story on Page 3

CIO team
investigates
US$45m
CAPS deal

Merry Human-wildlife conflict explodes in Hwange
Christmas ALSO INSIDE

Page 2 News NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

CIO investigates US$45m CAPS deal

BERNARD MPOFU

ZIMBABWE’s state security ser- President Emmerson Mnangagwa (left) has held some meetings with Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya (middle) and CIO Director-General
vice, the Central Intelligence Or- Isaac Moyo (right) over the CAPS deal.
ganisation (CIO), is investigating a
volatile commercial dispute that has Court judge Justice Owen Tagu said the original owners Little Company out prior consultation, Tagu ruled ance. The TB had face values of
erupted between the government the issue of shareholding first needs of Mary. that the minister should stop pro- US$8 million (Treasury Bill num-
and interim trustees of Caps Phar- to go for arbitration as both parties ceeding with the process. ber ZTB1826 20161223E); an-
maceutical Trust involving a US$45 seemed to have a legitimate claim. After recapitalisation and resus- other US$8 million (Treasury Bill
million deal, The NewsHawks has citation of the company, a dispute Nzenza had proposed to appoint number ZTB1826 20161228A)
established. In the meantime, Nzenza had to erupted between Majaka and his new board members for Caps (Pvt) and US$ $7,545,948.90 (Treasury
stop appointing a new board. colleagues on one side and govern- Ltd ahead of an annual general Bill number ZTB1826 2017110A).
This comes as the High Court ment on the other over the share- meeting that was scheduled for 30
earlier this month ruled that govern- Tagu said on paper Caps Phar- holding structure. October 2020, a move which trust- Chinamasa wrote a letter to
ment should seek arbitration with maceutical Trust, as represented by ees of Caps Pharmaceutical Trust Mangudya to issue TBs in respect
Caps Pharmaceutical Trust to ascer- Majaka and management, had a The row exploded into the pub- opposed. of the payment of the 67,56%%
tain the shareholding structure that genuine claim to the majority share- lic domain in October following an shareholding.
emerged and movement of money holding of one of the strategic enti- attempt by Nzenza to appoint new In his interim relief handed down
involved when the state bought into ties, Caps (Pvt) Ltd, which is central board members for Caps (Pvt) Ltd. on 21 November, Tagu interdicted However, Caps Pharmaceutical
the pharmaceutical giant. to the new ownership structure that the minister and the board mem- Trust says government had acquired
emerged after the unbundling of Apart from the appointment of bers that had been appointed from 67.56% in all entities which had
Government in 2015 acquired a Caps Holdings Ltd. directors by government, the dis- carrying out their duties until the been unbundled except Caps (Pvt)
majority 68% shareholding in Caps pute involved the issue of shares arbitration process has been final- Ltd which it owns 51%.
Holdings Ltd and all its subsidiar- Following its delisting from the to government, instruction to First ised.
ies. The deal, which was bankrolled Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) Transfer Secretaries for change of According to the trustees, gov-
through Treasury Bills (TBs), was in 2011, Caps Holdings and the company documentation and share “The 1st respondent (Nzenza) ernment acquired 67.56% of the
approved by cabinet on 19 Novem- central bank entered into an agree- registers to reflect the spirit of the be and is hereby interdicted from balance of the 49% shareholding
ber 2015. ment for the sale of a majority stake agreement and effect of the acqui- interfering with the affairs of 3rd in Caps (Pvt) Ltd which effectively
from Mutanda, the then single larg- sition; loans to Caps (Pvt) Ltd and respondent (Caps Pvt Ltd) and meant that government had 32%
A week later – on 27 November est majority shareholder who owned assistance with regulatory require- appointment of any persons as di- equity. Given this dispute, the
2015 - cabinet also approved pay- the company through various enti- ments. rectors, employees of or consultants CIO has been investigating several
ment of US$45 million for the eq- ties. to the 3rd respondent. The current aspects of the transaction. Docu-
uity stake. There was also the issue of sei- directors as appointed by the share- ments show they want to know:
According to a sale of shares zure of assets, interference with the holders shall continue to administer Who owns what and how much was
Documents seen by The News- agreement seen by The NewsHawks, Zimbabwe Asset Management Cor- the 3rdrespondent’s affairs,” reads paid for the purchase of the equity
Hawks from various parties in the the Fred Mutanda Family Trust, poration and a recent court case, the interim judgment in part. in those companies?
dispute show that the deal started through its entities, vehicles and as well as a claim of a controlling
rolling on 19 November 2015 in individuals that include Fredex Fi- shareholding of Caps (Pvt) Ltd by Besides the dispute over the ap- Before delisting, the Caps group
a cabinet meeting chaired by the nancial Services, FCM Investment Caps Pharmaceutical Trust. pointment of the board, questions had been reporting losses from
now late former president Robert Limited, New Africa Nominees, IH have also been asked about the val- 2005 to 2011. In 2009, the group
Mugabe in the presence of Presi- Nominees, Frederick Charles Mu- While government says it owns uation of Caps Holdings after the reported a loss of about US$500
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa (then tanda and Gloostone Investment, all the entities, including Caps then single largest majority share- 000 and in 2010 a loss of about
Vice-President). held the 67.56% shareholding. Manufacturing Ltd, 68%, Caps holder – Mutanda – disposed of his US$1 million was incurred. Hence
Pharmaceutical Trust insists it con- 68% stake to government, repre- the payment of TBs with a face val-
Mnangagwa has been involved Government bought that equity trols one of the unbundled com- sented by the RBZ. ue of US$45 million also became a
throughout the process. At later through Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe panies – Caps (Pvt) Ltd – 51%. It subject of interest in the CIO-led
stages, current Vice-President Con- (RBZ) through TBs. says government owns 68% of the A week after the first cabinet probe.
stantino Chiwenga also got involved 49% it acquired in that entity from meeting which approved the deal,
in the deal. Before delisting from the ZSE on Mutanda; effectively meaning it has government authorised payment The scope of the investigation,
30 September 2011, Caps Holdings’ 32% of Caps (Pvt) Ltd. for the shares. Information gath- documents show, also included es-
The CIO was also involved from subsidiaries included Caps (Private) ered shows cabinet approved that tablishing why the central bank is-
the beginning as its former Direc- Limited, Hermes Laboratories (Pri- This has become a logjam in the government would take over Caps sued TBs with a face value of US$20
tor-General Happyton Bonyongwe vate) Limited, Autosterile (Private) whole deal. Tagu said this imbroglio Holdings through TBs spread over million to Mutanda before the sale
attended meetings to clinch the Limited, QV Pharmacies, St Anne’s must be untangled through arbi- three years. Documents further was fully completed. A source in-
deal. Hospital and Geddes Limited. After tration. After Caps Pharmaceutical show that after the agreement was volved said this was done because
the delisting, some of the compa- Trust took Nzenza to court three signed, the central bank issued an- Mutanda had refused to sign before
Documents show CIO has grilled ny’s assets were attached to pay off weeks ago to block the appointment other three TBs to pay off the bal- he was paid.
a number of parties involved in- debts. St. Annes was sold back to of a new board Caps (Pvt) Ltd with-
cluding former Finance minister
Patrick Chinamasa, Reserve Bank
of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John
Mangudya, Caps Pharmaceutical
Trust chief executive Justice Majaka
and former Caps Holdings majority
shareholder Fred Mutanda, among
many others.

CIO, documents say, has also
been briefing its current Direc-
tor-General Isaac Moyo and Mnan-
gagwa on the investigation. Mnan-
gagwa - now as president - has held
several meetings with Moyo and
Mangudya over the complicated
transaction and the resultant blaz-
ing dispute.

The intelligence service has al-
ways been involved in the deal right
from the beginning as Bonyongwe
would attend all crucial meetings re-
lating to the transaction.

Despite initial grey areas, all has
been well until October when In-
dustry and Commerce minister
Sekai Nzenza tried to appoint a new
board for one of the entities, Caps
(Pvt) Ltd, ahead of the annual gen-
eral meeting.

Caps Pharmaceutical Trust took
Nzenza to court over her move
ahead of an annual general meeting
which was set for 30 October.

In a subsequent judgment on
that matter earlier this month, High

NewsHawks News Page 3

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Police stake National police spokesperson
out judge over Paul Nyathi failed to shed light
controversial on the visit, saying he was not
bail ruling aware of it.
“I am not aware of that visit.
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE on the police wanted list for 20 decision, The NewsHawks has Justice Benjamin Chikowero I have also checked with the
years and was arrested after a been informed. relevant department and they
THE Zimbabwe Republic Po- shootout with the police in Au- “There is concern that the judge he should also be questioned said we are not aware of insin-
lice on Wednesday visited the gust — has already resulted in might also be liable, and that on what informed his ruling,” uations that police visited the
Judicial Service Commission the arrest of prosecutor Tapiwa a government source told The honourable justice,” Nyathi
(JSC) head office at Causeway Kasema, who had consented to NewsHawks. said.
Building in Harare inquiring the granting of bail. However, the police re-arrested
about the whereabouts of High Officials at the JSC referred Abdul on Tuesday, hours after
Court judge Justice Benjamin the police to Judge President he had been granted bail by
Chikowero, following his deci- George Chiweshe, whose office Justice Chikowero.
sion to grant bail to suspected is at the High Court and who Prosecutor-General Kumbirai
serial armed robber Musa Taju supervises judges. Hodzi suspended Kasema, who
Abdul. There have been calls within appeared in court yesterday.
The granting of ZW$5 000 the government for the judge The prosecutor has been pre-
bail to Abdul — who had been to be taken to task over the viously arrested for facilitating
the release of the passport of
ex-minister Ignatius Chombo’s
who faced corruption charges.
The passport was later confis-
cated again.
Abdul was yesterday charged
with three fresh robbery cases
with eight other alleged ac-
complices. Harare magistrate
Vongai Muchuchuti remanded
him in custody to 30 Decem-
ber 2020. He has been linked
to 53 cases.

Tapiwa Kasema

Public prosecutor Tapiwa Kasema was this weel arrested for con-
senting to serial armed robber Musa Taj Abdul and his accomplic-
es’ bail application despite the hitman being on the police most
wanted list for 20 years.

The controversial Kasema was previously arrested for facilitat-
ing the release of former finance minister Ignatius Chombo’s pass-
port while he was facing corruption charges. Chombo’s passport
was later confiscated by state security agents at the Robert Gabriel
Mugabe International Airport in Harare when he tried to leave the
country for medical attention in South Africa.

-STAFF WRITER

Page 4 News NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Zim Rtd Col. Dyck holds fort in Moza
...Sadc leaders meet in Maputo
SOUTHERN African Develop-
ment Community leaders gathered committed are unlike anything I authorities to tackle the problem. land and sea. I believe we have been Jihadists militants in Cabo Delgado
for an emergency meeting this week have seen before and I’ve seen a lot Using a mix of experienced game- successful in slowing their advance wary of soliciting their help. This
in Maputo, Mozambique, following of wars, in a lot of different plac- scouts and former special forces but this war is far from won. We may be because they are unsure
a recent get-together in Gaborone, es. The massacre that followed the personnel, he accepted. have to start a selection and train- of what the quid pro quo will be
Botswana, to discuss the volatile po- attack on Quissanga Police Post ing programme immediately so we but it may also have something to
litical and security situation in that involved the mutilation of bodies, Working in many cases with can get good men into the field and do with the conflict of interest US
country’s gas-rich Cabo Delgado severing of limbs and we believe tracker dogs and with air support, take the fight back to the enemy troops in Africa face. Most of the
northern region. the attackers ate some of the body- he and his men proved highly suc- from the air and on the ground. Islamic insurrections in west and
parts. Despite this barbarism, this cessful and it was on the back of We also intend to move our base of central Africa appear to be Sau-
The leaders agreed on Monday in enemy is organised, motivated and this that he was approached by the operations closer to Mocimboa da di financed and supported. Saudi
Maputo to hold yet another emer- well equipped. If we don’t get on Mozambique police chief in Sep- Praia which was attacked recently Arabia remains an American and
gency summit in January next year top of this, it’s going to spread tember last year and asked to assist by the rebels.” Israeli ally in containing Iran and
to discuss the conflict threatening not south fast and that will be a ca- in dealing with the burgeoning in- in dealing with other Middle-East
just Mozambique’s internal peace tastrophe for the entire region.” surrection unfolding in Cabo Del- Muddying the waters is dissen- hotspots and this seems to have
and stability, but also the whole re- gado. sion within the Sadc region with compromised their goals in con-
gion’s security, with Zimbabwe seri- After Independence in 1980, different members holding differ- taining the Islamic contagion.
ously vulnerable as most of its oil sup- Dyck stayed on in the new Zimba- “We have discovered it’s a nasty ent opinions and having different
plies come through the neighbouring bwean army and took command of mix of old, well-organised, crim- agendas. Dyck has been approached by
country’s port of Beira. the Zimbabwe Parachute Battalion inal networks involved in ivory, influential figures in the British
which was a mix of former RAR rubies and emeralds but the big, Tanzania, with a large Muslim “establishment” offering assistance
Those who attended the meeting (Rhodesian African Rifles), Sel- billion-dollar business is heroin population, it appears, is at best but he is wary. “I just don’t trust
included Presidents Felipe Nyusi of ous Scouts and former adversaries being moved through the area and neutral but the central govern- them; they never tell you the whole
Mozambique, South Africa’s Cyril from the Zanla and Zpra guerrilla distributed north and south. This ment appears to be doing nothing story and there is always another
Ramaphosa,   Mokgweetsi Masisi of armies. has now taken on an Islamic face to stop the flow of insurgents into agenda in play with them. I feel we
Botswana and Zimbabwe’s Emmer- and it’s a highly effective combina- Mozambique from bases in the must go it alone at this stage with
son Mnangagwa. No easy task to mould different tion with strong external support.” south of the country. the little we have and turn this
tribes and allegiances into an effec- around. It’s going to be hard but
As former Rhodesian and Zimba- tive fighting unit in the wake of a Dyck is operating on a shoe- Hoped for support from Zimba- we have to win this.”
bwean military veteran retired Colo- bitter war but he pulled it off and string. With one helicopter having bwe has not been forthcoming and
nel Lionel Dyck puts it in this article moulded the new country’s most been shot down and destroyed, he South Africa appears to prefer to At this point it looks like a
by Hannes Wessels, the stakes are very potent fighting force. Controver- has two Gazelle gunships flying, remain above the fray. Zimbabwe, semi-retired 76-year-old veteran of
high in the conflict. sially, he led these men in a hard- two “Bathawk” microlights with given its dire economic situation, many wars, in the twilight of his
fought campaign against Renamo front-guns, an old Allouette heli- may not have the resources to in- years, stands pretty much alone in
Wessels was born in 1956 in what rebels in central Mozambique, copter harmed with 20-millimetre tervene and South Africa appears to the ongoing struggle to stem the
was then Salisbury in Southern Rho- which earned him the respect and canon and two fixed wing aircraft. have taken note of a warning from spread of Islamic fundamentalism
desia (now Harare, Zimbabwe), but trust of the Frelimo administration Al Sunnah, that they intervene at and to stop the slaughter of blacks
grew up in Umtali (now Mutare) on and it is for this reason, the Nyusi With a total compliment of less the risk of a backlash that may well by blacks on the killing fields of Af-
the Mozambique border. As a young administration has turned to him than 30 men, he has almost no come from dormant, but potential- rica. And because the “good guy”
boy he met Robert Ruark on safari in for help in the current time of ground-forces and his intelligence ly dangerous Islamic groups inside has a white face and there are no
Mozambique and was later captivat- need. gathering capability is very limited. the country. white American cops involved, the
ed by his books. media appears to have little inter-
Seven years ago, with poach- “At the moment our strike capa- Further afield, the Americans est.
He wrote this article after visit- ing rampant in parts of southern bility is almost entirely airborne,” appear to be watching from the
ing Mozambique in recent months Mozambique, his Dyck Advisory he says. “We have attacked enemy sidelines. Undoubtedly they have — africaunauthorised.com
where he spoke Dyck who is holding Group (DAG) was hired by the camps from the air and we are us- the capacity to intervene, but it ap-
fort while Sadc leaders are gathering ing aircraft to interdict their sup- pears the Nyusi administration is
an intervention force to take on the plies which are being moved on
well-organised and well-equipped Is-
lamic militants fighting to establish a
caliphate in the region endowed with
gas abundance.

With the world convulsed by
the hysteria generated by the Black
Lives Matter movement, I came
away from my recent meeting with
Colonel Lionel Dyck mulling the
prevailing madness. Something
wildly ironic about a white, for-
mer Rhodesian, then Zimbabwean
army officer, talking in sombre but
selfless terms about the risks that
lie ahead of him in trying to quell
a growing and increasingly brutal
insurrection that is wreaking havoc
through Cabo Delgado province in
northern Mozambique.

Here Al Sunnah wa Jama’ah,
which is an ISIS (Islamic State) off-
shoot, seeking to establish a caliph-
ate in the province, is at the heart
of the mayhem where blacks are
killing blacks in grisly fashion with
increasing abandon and it looks
like he is the man with the finger
of fate pointed firmly at him if this
conflagration is going to be con-
fronted, contained and defeated.

“The stakes are extremely high,”
says Dyck, “but the Mozambique
Defence Forces are unprepared and
under-resourced and we have to
move fast. Some of the atrocities

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Human-wildlife
conflict explodes
in Hwange

…droughts, overstocking,
mining spark war

OWEN GAGARE a result of human invasion, lack of Two elephants died this week following their collision with a heavy mining dump truck.
infrastructure to secure the animals’
AN unusual war — between hu- territory and safe passage, and irre- alty from ZimParks so as to alleviate Clashes between humans and an- to one of the largest populations
mans and animals — is raging in sponsible road users. Let’s address any future unnecessary killing of imals have escalated due to climate of elephant remaining in Africa.
the mineral-endowed and wild- these issues.” elephants and other wildlife in the change-induced drought, over- Following public outrage, govern-
life-rich Hwange area as the battle area? At the very least, the company stocking and strict CITES regimes ment retreated and banned mining
for survival between the two species Other comments said there was involved should be taking steps to which make it difficult to cull the in the area. The eastern boundary
which are strange bedfellows inten- an urgent need to de-escalate the make amends and do something for animals. Mining encroachment has of the Hwange National Park runs
sifies. tensions between humans and an- the wildlife park. There is need to exacerbated the problem as people adjacent to Hwange Colliery—the
imals in the area by securing the pay attention that if a large animal push deeper into wildlife territories country’s largest coal producer. The
Humans are fighting to make wildlife habitats from people en- so visible can be killed by a speeding through exploration, drilling and company’s coal deposits extend
money from minerals that lie un- croachment. truck which is operated by a coal mineral extraction activities. west, deep into the park.
derground where animals are bat- mine that is clearly familiar with
tling to hold sway across the vast In an interview with The News- wildlife traffic in that area, what Only in September, government Government’s allocation of the
swathe of the wildlife ecosystem for Hawks yesterday, Farawo said they more the danger of our human pop- was forced to ban mining activities mining concessions to Chinese
survival. were still investigating the cause of ulations within Hwange?” in national parks after a storm of companies was only exposed after
the accident. protest by wildlife and environmen- a conservation group, the Bhejane
The intensity of war increased af- In recent months, communities tal activists over Chinese encroach- Trust—which monitors and pro-
ter the death of two elephants this “Unfortunately there was an ac- in and around Hwange have been ment into Hwange National Park. tects black rhino in the national
week in the area following their cident in Hwange which killed two grappling with the growing menace park—discovered a group of Chi-
collision with heavy mining dump elephants. We are investigating the and fear of problem animals roam- Government had awarded two nese nationals mining inside the
trucks on the road. This raised the cause of the accident. We are now ing around human settlements, coal-mining concessions to Chinese park.
temperature of the perennial hu- sounding like a broken record that causing destruction and social prob- companies inside the Hwange Na-
man-wildlife conflict in communi- our elephants are overpopulated lems. tional Park, the country’s flagship Following their arrest, the Chi-
ties that live on the edges of animal and this has resulted in them en- wildlife conservation area and home nese returned with a permit giving
habitats, especially where there is a croaching into communities, killing them the right to carry on with ex-
hive of mining activities. people and destroying crops,” he ploratory drilling in there.
said.
Two elephants, estimated to be A follow-up investigation re-
worth US$40 000, were rammed to “Hwange’s elephant population vealed that the mining concessions
death on Tuesday night by a speed- has more than trebled its ecological had been awarded to two Chinese
ing heavy 40-tonne dump truck at carrying capacity. Its carrying ca- companies as “special grants” which
the Zambezi Gas and Coal Mine pacity is 15 000 elephants, but we “apparently can only be awarded by
concession. The truck is owned by are now sitting at more than 45 000 the President”.
one of the coal mining companies elephants.”
near Sinamatela Camp inside the This implied that President Em-
Hwange National Park. Animal rights activists have al- merson Mnangagwa had authorised
ways questioned government ele- mining in a national park.
Reports say the driver escaped phant statistics, as they are opposed
unscathed, while the dump truck to culling, a wildlife management The coal mining concessions
remained intact although it left two practice through which animal were SG7263 granted to Afrochine
elephants dead. numbers are reduced through Energy, which is part of the Tsing-
slaughter to curb overpopulation. shan group, and SG5756 granted
Zambezi Gas, a locally owned to the Zimbabwe Zhongxin Coal
mining company with over 200 Zimbabwe is battling with the Mining group.
million tonnes of coal reserves cov- central question: To cull or not to
ering 8 000 hectares of land, is one cull? The Association for Tourism Makomo Resources, Zam-
of the entities extracting coal in the Hwange, an organisation of private bezi Coal Gasification Company,
area, together with Makomo Re- safari operators in the locality, said Hwange Colliery Company Lim-
sources near the Sinamatela Camp, mining companies operating in ited western area and mostly Chi-
less than 20 kilometres away from the area should exercise caution to nese companies are located closer to
the concession areas. avoid unnecessary loss of both hu- animal conservation areas and, as a
man and wildlife. result, forcing animals to stray into
Wildlife, particularly elephants, human settlements as they move
roam the area and sometimes dis-   “There is a certain expectation away from the noise. This fuels the
rupt mining—drawing the battle that any business operating within conflict.
lines between humans and animals. the buffer zone of a national park
would exercise the due caution and Recently, it emerged that Billy
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife care while carrying out its opera- Rautenbach will commence mining
Management Authority spokesper- tions. This instance in which the operations close to the sacred Bum-
son Tinashe Farawo on Wednesday Zambezi Gas truck driver was re- busi historic ruins at Sinamatela in
afternoon tweeted there had been portedly speeding is highly concern- Hwange, which will also generate
an “accident” which killed two ele- ing and, worse yet, we don’t know new tensions in the area.
phants. how many smaller animal species
have been killed by coal-mining
“It is unfortunate that two ele- trucks and other traffic in and
phants have been killed in a road around the entrance to Hwange
accident in Hwange,” Farawo said. National Park, though unreported,”
the association’s chairperson, Elisa-
Immediately thereafter, animal beth Pasalk, said.
rights activist Sharon Hoole asked
questions. “Urgent action should be taken
on the part of the authorities re-
“Can you elaborate…what kind sponsible for keeping the wildlife in
of road accident kills not one but Hwange safe. Is there sufficient road
two elephants?” signage? Are speed limits imposed
and enforced? Also, what is the pen-
A tweet from Captured in Africa,
a safari group, said: “Sadly road ac-
cidents aren’t unfortunate, they are

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Turf war rocks MDC-T leadership race

Douglas Mwonzora (far left), Elias Mudzuri (centre) and Thokozani Khupe.

MOSES NGWERE tious Supreme Court ruling in March which ing. In an interview with the The NewsHawks loved candidate in the party.
compelled it to return to its structures as con- yesterday, Khupe claimed she was well poised “I will beat all and sundry and they know
POLITICAL tensions have flared up in the stituted at the 2014 congress. for victory.
faction-ridden MDC-T ahead of tomorrow’s it. There is no way I can lose this election,”
elective congress amid fierce mudslinging The ruling was in terms of an appeal against “I, of course, am very confident of victory. he said.
among the party’s contenders for the top an earlier decision of the High Court which I have had a splendid campaign trail which
post. had annulled Nelson Chamisa’s presidency of sets me well ahead of the rest. I am actual- Mwonzora early this week found himself
the party, assumed in the most acrimonious ly looking at strengthening the party in the in the deep end after he was accused of steal-
Interim leader Thokozani Khupe is bat- circumstances following the demise of iconic post-congress period,” she said. ing ZW$300 000 from the party’s coffers. He
tling it out with national chairman Mor- MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in places it squarely on Komichi’s doorstep. He
gen Komichi and secretary-general Douglas February 2018. Chamisa, relying on a blend In the run up to the congress, Khupe was later absolved of the charges.
Mwonzora for the party leadership. Another of vast popularity within the movement and saw her spokesperson and lead campaign-
contender Elias Mudzuri is considered a rank ruthless political manoeuvre, outwitted both erKhaliphani Phugeni, appearing in court “These are Komichi’s people who want to
outsider, while the fifth candidate, Abednico Khupe and Mudzuri to land the leadership, to answer to a charge of raping a minor. The affect my chances of winning this election
Bhebhe, saw his quest to have the congress but his nemeses would never forgive him as charge was, however, dropped for lack of evi- by tarnishing my image, but it will be futile.
postponed following his suspension from the they went on to mount a protracted legal dence and he was quick to say the accusation There is no other candidate as loved as me
party — which effectively nullified his candi- challenge which culminated in the annul- was part of a plot by internal rivals seeking to in this party,” he said as he sang praises of
dature — flop at the High Court. ment of his dramatic ascendancy. tarnish his image and that of Khupe. himself.

Although all three frontrunners for the The decision resulted in the MDC further “This was meant to tarnish my image, Komichi, on the other hand, dismissed
splintered party’s top post have been attract- splitting as Chamisa went on to establish his vandalise my political career beyond resusci- the claims, saying: “I don’t operate that way.
ing very small gatherings during the cam- own outfit, the MDC Alliance, going away tation but the people of Zimbabwe kept com- My character is such that I cannot do that. I
paign period, they each are confident of vic- with a lion’s share of supporters and mem- ing to my inbox to tell me how much they have instead been calling on people to work
tory in separate interviews. bers. However, there has not been peace in loved me,” Phugeni told the press soon af- together. I, of course, am going to win.”
Khupe’s MDC-T, with tomorrow’s congress ter his acquittal at the Western Commonage
The MDC-T finds itself in search of both coming amid mudslinging and shadowbox- Magistrates Court in Bulawayo last week. Mudzuri was not answering calls on his
a leader and an identity following a conten- mobile phone, but has also previously pro-
Mwonzora also claimed he was the most claimed his victory.

...See timelines on next page

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnan- Stop frustrating potential Mugabe, not much investment
gagwa has challenged the newly investors — Mnangagwa has come into the country in the
established Zimbabwe Investment past three years. Zimbabwe has
and Development Agency (Zida) foreign and domestic investment. meaningful investment, with the continued to wallow on the mar-
to promote the ease of doing busi- “Action and results must be at country recording only US$470 gins while other African countries
ness by removing cumbersome re- million in 2018, a far cry from receive billions in investment.
quirements for the registration of the centre of this organisation, regional counterparts like Mo-
new companies. through tangible and concrete in- zambique which has been attract- “We must continuously im-
vestments towards transforming, ing inflows running into billions prove and make progress on the
Zimbabwe ranks lowly in the industrialising, modernising and of dollars per annum. Inflation, rankings of the Ease of Doing
ease of doing business index due growing our economy,” Mnangag- currency volatility and general Business,” Mnangagwa said.
to bureaucratic red tape in gov- wa said. political instability have marred
ernment departments, a situation the country’s investment image. Mnangagwa said the Zimbabwe
that has discouraged investors. He urged the Zida board to While investors were upbeat about Statistical Agency (ZimStat) will
benchmark Zimbabwe’s invest- pouring billions into the economy partner with the Finance ministry
Speaking at the official launch ment strategies against those of at- when Mnangagwa was catapulted to produce provincial economic
of Zida last night, Mnangagwa tractive regional and international into power by a military coup that data for the first time.
said: “The days when investors investment destinations. toppled long-time ruler Robert
endured the cumbersome, bu- “The crucial data, coupled with
reaucratic and lethargic referral Zimbabwe has since the turn of Zida’s-cross cutting roles must re-
pathways to set up business in our the millennium failed to attract sult in translating provincial com-
country must permanently be be- parative advantage and opportu-
hind us.” nities into viable investments that
spur growth of provincial econo-
Zida is mandated with champi- mies,” Mnangagwa said.
oning strategies that promote both
– STAFF WRITER

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

MDC infighting timeline 2014 - 2020

AS the drama of recalls of MPs and Richard Tsvangirai House largely seen as aimed at neutralising
councillors continues to unravel with- him. Morgen Komichi also loses the
in the strife-torn opposition MDC, roots connections as organising secre- to announce he had been diagnosed president. Khupe and Mudzuri boy- national chairmanship.
we trace the roots of the crisis back to tary, sweeps through the nomination with colon cancer and had undergone cott the meeting despite being also
May 2014 when the party was deeply process, winning all but one province, a surgical operation in South Africa. executive members. 31 March 2020: The Supreme
divided before and after its watershed Mwonzora’s home province Mani- With his chances of survival limited, Court rules that Chamisa is not the
congress. The party had previously caland — which nominates him for an intense jostling for his position 20 February 2018: Khupe is as- legitimate MDC leader, a judgement
been split in 2005. The splits have the position. erupts. A lawsuit is filed at the High saulted by a group of youths aligned to that reignites the leadership battle be-
continued and seem never-ending. Court challenging the appointments Chamisa during the burial of Tsvangi- tween him and Khupe. The court or-
October 2014: Chamisa comes by two party members, Patson Mu- rai at his rural home in Humanikwa ders the party to return to 2014 struc-
March 2014: A crisis engulfs the to congress as an overwhelming fa- rimoga and George Rice. The case is village, Buhera. She is forced to leave tures, with Khupe as interim leader,
party soon after it lost heavily to Zanu vourite to win the secretary-general’s subsequently dismissed on account of under police guard after some youths in preparation for an extraordinary
PF in the 2013 general election as post, boasting of the nomination of the two members lacking the neces- attempt to set a hut she has taken ref- congress. Chamisa and his colleagues
the heavyweights blame each other 12 of the party’s 13 provinces against sary locus standi. uge in on fire. A series of violent clash- reject the ruling, saying it affected an
for the loss. At the centre of it all is Mwonzora’s one. es subsequently rock the party. entity called the MDC-T and not the
33-year-old Nelson Chamisa. 6 August 2017: Tsvangirai reach- MDC Alliance. They call the ruling
Tables are, however, turned dra- es out to Biti and six other opposi- 4 March 2018: MDC provinces academic. Mwonzora and Khupe
The accusations were that the loss, matically as Mwonzora wins the poll, tion political party leaders to form a nominate Chamisa as the party’s pres- emerge from their shell and openly
especially in the parliamentary poll, getting 2 464 votes against Chami- coalition which came be known as idential candidate in the upcoming condemn Chamisa, pledging their al-
was a result of imposition of candi- sa’s 1 756. Chamisa is reduced to an the MDC Alliance. The formation general election after he turns 40 and legiance to Khupe. Most senior MDC
dates for which he was blamed in his ordinary member of the party. Most is launched at the iconic Zimbabwe becomes legally eligible to stand for MPs, however, side with Chamisa, as
capacity as the party’s national organ- party members say Mwonzora’s win Grounds in Harare’s Highfield sub- the presidency at national level. Prin- well as mayors and councillors.
ising secretary. was mainly because of Tsvangirai’s urb with less than a year to go before cipals in the MDC Alliance immedi-
influence. general elections. ately follow suit. May 2020: Havingreverted to his
Blame is also heaped on party lead- MDC-T position of secretary-gener-
er Morgan Tsvangirai who was ac- March 2015: Mwonzora, in his 16 September 2017: Tsvangirai is May 2018: Khupe announces she al, Mwonzora once again instigates
cused of overstaying in power and had new capacity as secretary-general, airlifted to South Africa for medical will contest the election with her own the recall of MDC Alliance MPs,
leadership qualities questioned. Secre- writes to Speaker of the National treatment as his health deteriorates, party known as the MDC-T. Mwon- starting with Kuwadzana West MP
tary-general Tendai Biti and treasur- Assembly Jacob Mudenda, notifying leaving Mudzuri to act as president. zora, however, sticks with Chamisa Chalton Hwende, Thabitha Khuma-
er-general Elton Mangoma emerge as him that the party was recalling 21 Khupe is reportedly unhappy with the for the time being. lo and leader of the opposition in the
leading figures opposed to Tsvangirai. MPs who had crossed the floor to decision as Mudzuri was not elected. National Assembly Prosper Mutseya-
Running battles are frequently fought PDP. The recall is effected. 30 July 2018: Zanu PF presiden- mi. The three oppose their recall in
at Harvest House, the party’s nation- 5 February 2018: President Em- tial candidate Emmerson Mnangag- court and lose. Incrementally, more
al headquarters in Harare, with the 15 June 2016: Tsvangirai, acting merson Mnangagwa visits Tsvangirai’s wa narrowly and controversially edges MPs are recalled.
Biti faction, as it came to be known, in defiance of his party’s national Highlands home and shocking pic- Chamisa in the election. Factions in
mostly on the receiving end. Biti was council, unilaterally appoints Chami- tures of a frail Tsvangirai reveal the ex- the MDC Alliance become more and The decision is also extended to
on the verge of splintering as his pre- sa and Elias Mudzuri as co-vice presi- tent of his illness. The following day, more pronounced as calls grow louder councillors and mayors who pledge
decessor Welshman Ncube and his dents along with Khupe. he is airlifted again to South Africa, for the party to convene an extraor- allegiance to MP Chamisa. Khupe,
group had done in 2005. leaving his three deputies in a serious dinary congress to elect new leaders. with the help of the army and police,
The decision, announced at Tsvan- dogfight for his position as they each Chamisa finally yields to pressure and evict Chamisa and his colleagues from
April 2014: An emergency na- girai’s private residence instead of the claim to be his preferred successor. A agrees to call a congress following a the party’s national headquarters, now
tional council is called and everyone party’s offices, torches a storm in the few days later, both Khupe and Mud- High Court ruling which declares his renamed Morgan Richard Tsvangirai
hobnobbing with Biti is expelled party as some claim the appointment zuri follow Tsvangirai to South Afri- appointment by Tsvangirai illegal and House in the heart of Harare.
from the party along with eight oth- is ultra viresthe party’s constitution ca. Chamisa is declared acting MDC that his rise was illegitimate. Once
er senior officials, including Mango- and will sow the seeds for fresh di- president. again, Chamisa squares up against 7 October 2020:Khupe and oth-
ma, Samual Sipepa Nkomo, Gorden visions. The appointment effective- Mwonzora. ers are sworn in as MP on propor-
Moyo, and Lucia Matibenga, among ly means Chamisa is now senior to 14 February 2018: Tsvangirai tional representation, despite pro-
others. Tsvangirai brands Biti an “op- Mwonzora and perfectly sets him up succumbs to colon cancer at a private 27 May 2019: Chamisa merges testations from some sections of her
portunist” who was being manipulat- against Thokozani Khupe. Divisions hospital in South Africa. from the conference triumphant. In party who argue she imposed himself.
ed by Zanu PF; just like Ncube was between them ensue and Khupe sub- his subsequent appointments to key Fissures emerge between Khupe and
described when he left. sequently stops attending party meet- 15 February 2018: Wasting no positions, Chamisa relegates Mwon- Mwonzora as the party prepares for
ings in Harare in protest. time, Chamisa convenes an emergen- zora to the position of deputy secre- an extraordinary congress set for 31
May 2014: Biti and his allies an- cy MDC national executive where tary for external relations, a decision October 2020. Both are reportedly
nounce they had formed their own 28 June 2016: Tsvangirai calls a he is confirmed as the party’s interim vying for the MDC T presidency.
party called MDC Renewal, with press conference, again at his house,
Mangoma as interim president. Biti The congress is then postponed fol-
and Mangoma are soon to clash and lowing the outbreak of Covid-19. Kh-
go separate ways. Biti goes on to form upe, Mwonzora and Mudzuri prepare
the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to battle it out for the leaders, while
while Mangoma slightly changed the organising secretary Abednico Bheb-
name to Renewal Democrats of Zim- he, another candidate, is expelled.
babwe. Bhebhe challenges that expulsion in
the courts.
Post-Biti: The departure of Biti and
his colleagues leaves the party crippled 29 October 2020: Khupe sus-
and needing restructuring. pends Bhebhe.

The party’s key decision-making 4 November 2020: Bhebhe writes
organ, the national council, meets to Khupe asking for the lifting of his
again and decides to bring its congress suspension, but the decision is not re-
forward. Subsequently, the congress is versed.
confirmed for October.
15 December 2020: Subsequent-
Serious competition for leadership ly, Bhebhe files an urgent High
positions then ensues in the run-up to Court application seeking to stop the
the congress. MDC-T congress slated for 19 De-
cember,
Tsvangirai, his deputy Thokoza-
ni Khupe and national chairperson 19 December 2020: Elective con-
Lovemore Moyo retain their positions gress.
unopposed, but there is fierce compe-
tition to fill the position vacated by
Biti, pitting Chamisa against party
spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora.

Chamisa, banking on his grass-

Page 8 News NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

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NewsHawks News Page 9

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Workers decimate Mugabe’s cattle herd

NYASHA CHINGONO The late president Robert Mugabe’s Dairy factory in Mazowe first family; they were waiting for the
opportune time,” said the source.
VILLAGERS have gone on a raid- touted as a resounding success story ed by the The NewsHawks following Kwaro.”
ing rampage on a farm belonging of Zimbabwe’s chaotic land reform a visit to the farm in Mazowe. The song Kutonga Kwaro(loosely Powerless and feeling besieged, the
to the late former president Robert programme, has affected the strug- Mugabe family is currently agonising
Mugabe in Mazowe, hunting down gling enterprise, sources say. “If not stopped, the business will translated to the liberator’s reign), over how to deal with the stock theft,
and slaughtering over 1 400 cattle suffer greatly because there have been which was performed by 2017 coup. a source said.
belonging to his family, in a which The sources revealed that the no efforts to replenish the depleted
has riled former first lady Grace, villagers are former workers who herd. Former workers are culpable Sources said the Mugabe family is Gushungo Dairy is now a pale
TheNewsHawkscan report. are still owed salaries by Gushun- for hunting the cattle at night and upset over the recent happenings at shadow of its former self, with a re-
go Dairy which has fallen on hard slaughtering them for beef. The sit- the farm which is already buckling cent visit by The NewsHawksreveal-
The raid of Mugabe’s family proj- times following Mugabe’s ouster by uation has now gone out of hand,” a under massive debts as witnessed by ing how the ailing business is strug-
ect symbolises the demise of a dicta- his protege, President Emmerson source said. the auctioning of farm equipment to gling to produce critical products
tor who ruled with an iron fist and Mnangagwa. pay off creditors. like yogurt and juices.
fear for 37 years and the powerless- “It’s also sad that some artisanal
ness of his wife who once stomped This has also affected the Gushun- gold miners have also invaded the “The recent incidents at the farm Once a hive of activity, it is now
the political landscape like a colos- go butchery which now hardly has farm and, when one asks them to are not just an act of mischief, but it a derelict factory, with milking ma-
sus. any beef in stock, as recently report- leave, they start singing Kutonga seems some former employees always chines mute, while disgruntled
had a bone to chew with the former workers go about their daily routine
Mugabe’s herd has now been dras- with crestfallen faces. The workers
tically depleted from 2 000 to 600 told The NewsHawksthat produc-
cattle since when the late Mugabe tion had drastically fallen, while sim-
was ousted in a coup in November ple orders now take time to process
2017 as villagers, mainly former due to a lack of raw materials.
workers, slaughter the beasts for
meat. The enterprise came to a screech-
ing halt when Mugabe was toppled
At one time Grace, whose family as government departments, includ-
seized more than 20 farms during ing the army and state enterprises,
Mugabe’s reign — including the abandoned the business.
one where the dairy is built — once
proudly described her late husband Before the coup, the dairy bene-
and herself as model farmers. This fitted from patronage as government
was after the family had installed departments and state institutions
a state-of-the-art milk-processing stampeded to order milk, yogurt
plant at Gushungo Estate. and ice cream to endear themselves
to Mugabe. The company’s major
She claimed it was the second-big- customers included the army, police,
gest dairy in southern Africa, capable parastatals and government hospi-
of milking 64 cows at a time. She tals. The firm, known for scooping
also said the Mugabe family owned a prizes during Zimbabwe Interna-
herd of more than 2 000 cattle. tional Trade Fair and Harare Agri-
cultural Show exhibitions as part of
The plunder of cattle, the main- an elaborate personality cult of Mug-
stay of the Gushungo Dairy business abe hero-worshipping, is now a pale
that at the peak of Mugabe’s rule was shadow of its former self.

Mutare teenager wins
damages against police

MUTARE resident magistrate Lazarus spondent while Kazembe and Matanga
Murendo has ordered Home Affairs are second and third respondents re-
minister, Kazembe Kazembe and Zim- spectively. The magistrate added, “The
babwe Republic Police (ZRP)   Com- only issue for determination is the
missioner-General Godwin Matanga quantum for damages. Obviously the
to pay ZW$151 000 compensation to second and third defendants are being
a Mutare teenager who was assaulted vicariously liable for the conduct of the
by a police officer. Jefinias Mazambani first defendant because he perpetrated
brutally assaulted the young boy  last the assault during the course and scope
year while investigating a case of phone of his employment. 
theft in Sakubva suburb, leaving him
with a perforated ear drum. “There is no issue about special
damages because those were proved by
 The police officer was then convict- the documentary evidence tendered.
ed last year after a full trial before he On general damages according to the
was sentenced three months in prison plaintiff’s testimony and medical re-
with the option of a ZW$2 000 fine.  port, the plaintiff sustained left side fa-
cial swelling, perforated right eardrum,
Mutare resident magistrate Lazarus and swelling on both knees at the time
Murendo, in ordering compensation, of the trial, the minor child was experi-
said the respondents, including Ma- encing pain of the eardrum.”
zambani, Kazembe and Matanga,
should all bear the costs, considering   The teenager had claimed special
the crime was committed while the damages in the sum of ZW$1 191
cop was conducting his duties under 000 plus general damages for pain and
the instructions of his bosses.  suffering mounting ZW$248 809. He
had also demanded that the respon-
He ruled: “The court is aware that dents pay interest on the total sum at
the quantum of the damages is not to the prescribed rate from the date of
punish the wrongdoer but to compen- summons to date of full payment plus
sate for the pain suffered by the victim.” costs of suit. 

 “The plaintiff is a minor of a rela- Murendo ruled that they pay
tively tender age. He is thus more sen- ZW$151 191.
sitive to pain than the ordinary person.
  “In line with decided cases, the
  “While the first defendant denied court feels that general damages for
any wrongdoing, the evidence on re- pain and suffering should be $150
cord and his criminal conviction and 000,00,” reads the ruling in part.
sentence conclusively lead to the only
reasonable conclusion that he indeed   Jamela was represented by Peggy
assaulted the plaintiff severely leading Tavagadza of the Zimbabwe Lawyers
to serious injuries being inflicted.” for Human Rights.

Mazambani was cited as the first re- —STAFF WRITER

Page 10 News NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

NOKUTHABA DLAMINI Hwange women demand been difficult for the two families,
justice for police shooting with Mudenda and her husband Abel
TWO Hwange residents who were Mwiya saying they now survive on
shot by police in August are seek- Zulani Mudenda showing where she was shot. perforations plus total transections food handouts.
ing justice and compensation four and open pelvic (comminuted) frac-
months after the life-changing inci- take her to hospital, gasping for air. employer (Zambezi Gas) volunteered ture.” “The wound has not healed prop-
dents. Upon admission to Hwange to pay the money. The company also erly and I hardly sleep because of
paid for her ambulance and operation Nyoni said her shooting deprived pain. We survive on asking for food
Zulani Mudenda (46) and Twa- Colliery Hospital, staff demanded fees at Mater Dei Hospital in Bula- her seven-month-old son of the op- from our neighbours because my hus-
boni Nyoni (26), both from Madum- ZW$36 000 before attending to her. wayo, where she was later transferred. portunity to grow fully on breast milk band is not working as well and we
abisa Village 2 suburb, were shot by Mudenda worked for the company as after the gunshot ravaged her right are raising three young infants,” she
police officers who were on an opera- “They said the money was for a general hand. breast. says.
tion against illegal coke vendors in the them to attend to me and give me five
area on 22 August. The two however pints of blood transfusion and drips An affidavit signed after a scan was At the time, her son was only three “Police have never helped me with
say they are not involved in the trade. that I urgently needed due to severe conducted at United Bulawayo Hos- months old. anything. They only come to take
blood loss. We did not have that huge pitals (UBH), the report states that statements here and there and just
Nyoni was hit by a stray bullet amount of money,” she said. Mudenda was shot on the “abdomi- “The incident occurred around leave without saying anything. I have
while sitting at home. Mudenda was nal wall which resulted to small bowel 8pm and I was seated by the door in made multiple inquiries about this
however deliberately shot by a po- She said medical personnel only front of my house plucking out feath- man who shot me and the answer has
lice officer as she walked home from attended to her after 2am when her ers of a chicken that I had just slaugh- never been convincing,” she said.
work. The officer went on to assault tered. I saw some police officers on
her. the road arguing with some people, “At first, they told me that they
accusing them of selling coke. I heard were still trying to identify him and
The police officers did not assist a loud gunshot and immediately felt later they said he was in custody
the women to get medical attention some excruciating pain on my right pending appearance in court, but
following the shootings. breast,” Nyoni said. what is surprising is that he has not
appeared, which makes me think that
Mudenda and Nyoni told The “I did not understand what had there is a cover up.
NewsHawks the negligent police offi- happened until I was told that I had
cers have not been brought to book. been shot. I was bleeding a lot until I “We have also been told that he
lost consciousness. My child was only was transferred to another station. We
An emotional Mudenda said she three months old but I was forced to really don’t know anything about his
was pained because her assailant de- wean him and introduce meals to him whereabouts or what’s going on with
liberately shot her. due to that injury,” the case.”

“I was walking from work to my She was taken to St Patrick’s Hos- Mathe said his family was spend-
house and, when I was just close to pital in Hwange for treatment. Her ing all their income towards his wife’s
getting in, I saw a police officer ap- husband, Chimedza Mathe, has been medical bills and have lost hope of
proaching from the opposite di- paying for her treatment since the getting justice.
rection. He was close to me and he shooting.
instructed me to immediately stop “We have lost most of our valu-
where I was. Before I could respond, “The particular breast was swollen ables trying to raise money for medi-
he shot me with his gun that he was in a way that I’ve never seen and I had cation. Even though she is recovering,
carrying,” Mudenda narrated. lost hope that she was going to sur- the damage has affected our lives in
vive,” Mathe told The NewsHawks. a way in that most of the money is
“I was shot on the stomach and I channelled towards her health yet our
fell down. Since it was just the two of “She lost so much blood and breast- income is very low,” Mathe said.
us on the road, I asked him why he feeding properly became impossible
shot me and he became cheeky and until we decided to introduce solid “I recently went to police to appeal
violent. He kicked me all over my meals to our son. Her breasts were for medical bills assistance and they
body with his boots, telling me to now pumping out milk and blood told me to keep a collection of receipts
keep quiet. through the entrance and exit bullet without any further explanation.”
wounds and it was no longer safe.
“It became more painful when he Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Law-
started to kick me where the bullet “I was only asked to buy her pain- yers for Human Rights (ZLHR) is
wound was and that’s when I grabbed killers and injections for five days, demanding accountability on the
his trousers while lying on the ground, which didn’t help much until we re- matter.
begging him to stop, but he did not.” ceived a phone call from someone tell-
ing us that we were supposed to take Represented by the ZLHR’s Prisca
Mudenda said the police officer her to a private hospital in Bulawayo Dube, she wrote letters of complaint
only let her go when a mob closed in. and this is where she was examined, to the officer-in-charge of Hwange
cleaned and stitched.” Police Station, demanding that the
“I then heard people saying my involved officers be held accountable
intestines were protruding and they Mathe says he wants the police to for their unlawful actions.
ran away from me. I was still cling- reimburse him for the medical costs
ing onto his trousers and I begged he incurred. In a statement, ZLHR says Nyoni’s
him again to save my life until one of alleged shooter has only been identi-
his colleagues came through and pre- Mudenda has been in and out of fied as a Hove while Mudenda’s assail-
tended as if they wanted to take me hospital since the shooting. Life has ant remains unidentified.
to hospital, but suddenly they walked
away,” Mudenda said. “Apart from the pain which they
endured, the incident left Mudenda
After the police officers deserted and Nyoni severely traumatised and
the scene, Mudenda said she spent unable to fully cope with life while
about three hours before her husband also fearing for their safety and that of
and neighbour sourced transport to her family,” ZLHR said.

Budget process failed the test of openness

MERLIN GARWE a Ministry of Finance official revealed which showed that public knowledge in the budget cycle, gaps still persist calendar in order to allow sufficient
that the delay in the release of the BSP of the BSP is low. across all the stages of the process. time for the pre-budget consultation
THE 2021 national budget was pre- was caused by the delay in the finali- These include timeous availability of processes.
pared without a budget strategy paper sation of the National Development The survey also revealed that cit- critical budget documents, limited
(BSP), with the Finance ministry only Strategy (NDS1 2021-2025) which izens are not aware of the various involvement of oversight institutions “There is need to strengthen over-
releasing the document on the last at the time the government was cur- nodes in the budgeting process where in budget processes, lack of systems sight institutions for effective mon-
day of the budget consultation meet- rently preparing. they can exercise their right to partic- to monitor recommendations of the itoring of the budget. This entails
ings, a new study has shown. A BSP ipation. Auditor-General’s reports, lack of capacity building of Parliament, in-
serves as a key instrument under the The NDS will succeed the Tran- publication of internal audit reports, cluding the Parliamentary Budget
top-down component of a budgetary sitional Stabilisation Plan which is “As such, the notion of demanding lack of harmonisation of critical laws Office, though it is a technical arm,
framework, outlining the aggregate coming to an end in December 2020 accountability remains elusive and to the constitution, particularly on councils and boards for effective
key issues. as the country moves towards attain- respondents to the survey that have promoting gender equity and lack of monitoring of executive organs in the
ing a middle-income status economy ventured in that direction had stories inclusive mechanisms to ensure effec- implementation of budgets through
An open budget survey document in 2030. to tell of battles of attrition with the tive citizen participation in budget ensuring compliance with budgeted
launched by the Zimbabwe Coalition local council, being passed from pillar processes during emergencies such as expenditure,” Zimcodd said.
on Debt and Development (Zim- This implies that the budget for to post when requesting for copies of Covid-19.
codd) showed that the government the 2021 financial year was prepared budgets, minutes from budget con- Recommendations to strengthen
released the schedule for budget con- without the BSP as government had sultations etc,” Zimcodd said. To this end, Zimcodd recom- systems and mechanisms to monitor
sultation ahead of the BSP. already released the schedule for bud- mended that strategic pre-budget the implementation of the findings
get consultation ahead of the BSP,” The civil society organisation not- policy documents be prepared early and recommendations of the Audi-
“The Ministry of Finance released reads the study in part. ed that although there are initiatives and made available and accessible to tor-General’s reports were also made,
the BSP on the last day of the con- at both central government and local the public in line with the budget with emphasis on compliance with
sultation meetings. An interview with The survey results were therefore authority levels to ensure transpar- best practice.
based on access to the 2020 BSP ency, accountability and inclusivity

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

2020 another
lost opportunity
for real reform

NYASHA CHINGONO the procurement of medical con- Mandaza said the militarisation liance and MDC-T. President Emmerson Mnangagwa
sumables at the start of the year. of government and the civil service Political analyst Eldred Masun- “2020 has been hard for all peo-
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnan- was detrimental to the economy as ple of all nations. But 2020 seems
gagwa’s administration has failed The scandal sucked in former they have no idea how to rescue the ungure said the fragmentation of to have been a year when Zimbabwe
to implement sweeping reforms to Health minister Obadiah Moyo country from the economic and po- the MDC has weakened opposition got stuck in a very deep rut in which
save Zimbabwe from unrelenting who is facing trial for his role in litical quagmire. politics in the country. nothing went forward. There have
economic problems in 2020, while awarding the US$60 million tender been no convincing reforms, no
his party hardliners have spurned to a shadowy firm, Drax Interna- “This is a real military state. It is He said 2020 was a grim mile- convincing financial improvements
overtures for broad-based national tional. the only country in southern Africa stone for the contemporary oppo- and, indeed, there has been a sense
dialogue to address the country’s which has a military state. People sition which came into being in of going backwards,” Chan said.
multifaceted crisis. While he reacted to the Covid-19 like Chiwenga and SB Moyo are 1999 and mounted a formidable “Human rights in terms of free-
scandal by firing Moyo, not much not meant for government. Training challenge to Mugabe, giving Zim- dom of speech have suffered, the
Since assuming power on the has been done to deal decisively that you get in civil service and in babweans hope of an alternative opposition has splintered, and the
back of a military coup that brought with corruption, in a case in which the military are different,” he said. government. government keeps repeating a mes-
Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule to a his son has been implicated. sage of upbeat reform and econom-
dramatic end in 2017, Mnangag- Mnangagwa’s government re- “The fragmentation of the op- ic optimism which realities on the
wa’s administration, though pledg- Other ministers, like former mains bullish about attaining a position is a major development in ground simply do not support. I re-
ing to roll out far-reaching reforms, Public Service minister Prisca Mup- middle-income status by 2030 as 2020 where the opposition is at its gret that 2021 seems set for an even
has failed to break with the past. fumira who was implicated in a espoused in the National Devel- weakest since 1999. This has created deeper rut and more backwards
US$95 million National Social Se- opment Strategy One which was despondency in the people of Zim- movement,” he added.
Mnangagwa has continued on curity Authority scandal, is walking launched in October after the elapse babwe. The hope and expectations Chan said 2021 does not present
the ruinous path and lacked the free, as her case drags on. of the Transitional Stabilisation Pro- have been replaced by despair,” prospects for meaningful political
spine to deal with corruption that is gramme (TSP). Masunungure said. dialogue.
bleeding the country US$1 billion If Mnangagwa is serious about “There is no prospect of dialogue
annually, according to Transparency attracting investment in 2021, he The year 2020 also exposed the While the opposition camps are between government and opposi-
International Zimbabwe (TIZ). needs to deal with graft which con- fragility of the country’s health sys- at each other’s throats, Zanu PF has tion and, besides, what would they
tinues to make the southern African tem which has often been blighted remained relatively stronger, despite discuss? Neither side has any new
With gold smuggling and si- nation poorer. by nurses and doctors’ strikes. simmering tensions between Mnan- ideas that would take Zimbabwe
phoning of mineral wealth continu- gagwa and Vice-President Constan- upwards and forwards,” Chan said.
ing to run riot in the country, with The year 2020 also saw Mnan- At the height of the Covid-19 tino Chiwenga which played out The year 2020 has been a lost op-
some of the cases linked to Mnan- gagwa continue on the ruinous path pandemic, the health sector was during the party’s recent district co- portunity for Mnangagwa to walk
gagwa and his family, critics say the of jailing political opponents and caught flat footed and exposed ordinating committee elections. the talk and show compassion for
head of state has lacked probity and human rights defenders. Journalists for lack of preparedness. Without millions of suffering Zimbabweans.
sincerity in tackling corruption. have also been arrested under the enough test kits, ventilators and Masunungure said political fa-
cover of Covid-19. health centres to admit patients, tigue has crept in, while the econ- Obadiah Moyo
‘Mnangagwa’s Mnangagwa’s government had to omy continued on a downward
government The arrests of journalist Hopewell rely on donors for Covid-19 sup- trend.
lacked depth to Chin’ono and the abduction of plies. The high-profile death of
deal with the media studies student Tawanda journalist and television personality “You hear of a budget surplus,
country’s unre- Muchehiwa in July cast a dark spell Zororo Makamba was a wake-up but it has not translated into food
lenting problems.’ on Mnangagwa’s government. call for government to act on the on the table for the normal Zimba-
shortage of Covid-19 supplies. bwean. The re-engagement has not
While Zimbabwe is battling to The government is also culpa- been a resounding success. The EU
contain the Covid-19 pandemic ble for other violations which were Government can also be ap- and US have hardened their stance
amid depleted resources, the coun- perpetrated under the cover of plauded for instituting a national while we wait to hear how the UK
try was plunged into a multi-mil- Covid-19 where the security ser- lockdown earlier. It helped save lives will respond after Brexit,” Masun-
lion-dollar scandal over the han- vices brutalised citizens for allegedly despite the effects on livelihoods. ungure said.
dling of US$60 million meant for flouting lockdown rules.
The political arena in Zimbabwe Largely, 2020 has been a missed
Priscilla Mupfumira Human rights violations are an continued to be riddled with fis- opportunity to show the world that
indictment on Mnangagwa’s re-en- sures, especially in the opposition Mnangagwa’s government is serious
gagement agenda which has over MDC. about reforms.
the past three years gone off the
rails, with the West maintaining Hopes for an alternative govern- Zimbabwe remained stuck in the
a belligerent stance towards the ment were dashed when fighting in rut of corruption and misgover-
southern African nation. the MDC turned nasty, with end- nance, said Stephen Chan, a profes-
less wrangles between the MDC Al- sor of world politics at the Universi-
While the ministry of Finance ty of London.
bragged of a budget surplus, it did
not translate to a better quality of
life for the generality of Zimbabwe-
ans.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube
remained bullish over the possibili-
ty of an economic resurgence, while
international financial institutions
were more conservative, forecasting
a -7,5% economic slump.

Analysts say Mnangagwa’s gov-
ernment lacked depth to deal with
the country’s unrelenting problems.

They cited the Covid-19 pan-
demic and a prolonged drought
which is currently threatening live-
lihoods in the country.

Political analyst Ibbo Mandaza
said Mnangagwa’s cabinet lacked
quality to bring solutions to the
country and there was a need for an
overhaul in the civil service.

“This is the worst government
ever in terms of the quality of gov-
ernment personnel. It is the worst
since 1980. We used to have high
quality government officials,” Man-
daza said.

Page 12 News NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

LIZWE SEBATA Binga hit by thirst on said in an emailed response on Tues-
BINGA residents are forced to fetch Lake Kariba shores day.
water from the crocodile-infested
Zambezi River after the Zimbabwe Binga runs dry despite proximity to the Zambezi River “They are yet to honour the com-
National Water Authority (Zinwa) cut mitment and without the payment, it
off supplies to the town over an out- are not enjoying, leading to protests of Kariba Dam. by the local council to honour its becomes extremely difficult for Zin-
standing debt. recently. Binga is not well developed but it commitment to make part-payments wa to resume supplies. The Authority
towards clearing the debt. needs to cover operational costs such
Zinwa disconnected water supplies In October, Binga police arrested as is popular not only as a major fishing as water treatment chemicals, electric-
to the Binga Rural District Coun- many as 40 residents who took to the hub but also as an amazing tourist des- “As part of the discussions, Binga ity, fuel and spares for it to sustainably
cil in late September over an unpaid streets demanding that water supplies tination in view of its scenic views and Rural District Council had promised provide service. The Authority sin-
ZW$1.5 million bill. be restored. cultural heritage. A sandy beach on the to make a payment of ZW$300 000 cerely hopes that the matter will be
shores of Lake Kariba holds promise towards the resolution of the debt resolved in the shortest possible time.”
The state-run Zinwa is the sole Binga was established in the 1950s for tourism development. There are while the rest of the debt would be re-
supplier of water in Binga. when Tonga villagers were forcibly also hot springs. According to Zinwa, tired through a payment plan,” Zinwa Binga district administrator Farai
moved to the area from their ancestral the water authority has not re-con- corporate communications and mar- Marinnyame, however, insisted the
The local council handed over the lands on the banks of the Zambezi nected supplies owing to the failure keting manager Marjorie Munyonga “situation is under control” when
water and sewer management services River to pave way for the construction contacted for comment.
to Zinwa in 2004, citing viability
challenges. Zinwa bills the council for “Everything is under control. We
bulk water supplies that the local au- have engaged Zinwa, council and
thority re-distributes to residents. the community and I can assure that
something is being done. It is a pro-
However, the council is in arrears, cess but eventually the water problem
resulting in Zinwa turning off the wa- will be addressed,” Marinyame said
ter valves which supply the suburbs on Tuesday in a telephone interview.
of Govera and Emasotsheni. This has
seen residents of the town, situated Zinwa is at loggerheads with sever-
on the shores of Lake Kariba, share al councils over control of the water
water sources with animals, risking resource. Government allowed Zinwa
contracting diseases and being killed to take over all water functions coun-
by crocodiles. trywide in 2006, a decision that was
later reversed following protests from
“The situation is desperate,” Moffat local authorities.  
Mutale, the Binga District Residents’
Association (BIDRA) secretary-gen- However, Zinwa still controls the
eral, said in an interview. water supply and sewer infrastructure
of some councils such as Gwanda mu-
“It has taken too long for this mat- nicipality which has taken the water
ter to be resolved by the parties in- authority to court, but without suc-
volved. The rights of Binga residents cess. Last week, President Emmerson
are being violated as access to water is a Mnangagwa ordered Local Govern-
right as enshrined in the constitution.” ment minister July Moyo to ensure
Zinwa hands over all water manage-
Section 77 of the constitution and ment rights to Victoria Falls, putting
international instruments like the UN to rest a long-standing dispute over
Human Rights Council  Resolution control of the resource between the
18.1 (September 2011) affirm that two parties. Mngangwa was in Victo-
access to safe and affordable drinking ria Falls for an event to grant the resort
water is a basic human right. However, town a City status.
it is a right frustrated Binga residents

NewsHawks News Page 13

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

‘Citizens must take charge of their destiny’

OPPOSITION leader Jacob our mandate and that is all we say and tion, irrespective of who you are, where Jacob Ngarivhume What is important is to remain fo-
Ngarivhume, who has been put on that is all we believe in. you are coming from, this is for every cused, it is to keep our eyes on the ball
surveillance from the Central Intel- Zimbabwean and we must be coming notes, we speak to one another and it and never allow ourselves to be distract-
ligence Organisation for mobilising Because of our intention to achieve together. And we should never, never is important to keep that unity going ed from that focus. So whatever hap-
citizens against bad governance, said that we are so determined and so personalise this struggle, the struggle is forward and this is the relationship that pens we continue to build, we continue
he will soon be launching a civil rights strong, so yes all those things might be for all Zimbabweans and this is who we I have with the MDC Alliance and to consolidate and come together. Look
movement focused on fighting corrup- there, but the resolve is equally strong, are and what we are saying. other opposition groups and this is the at the (31 July) movement, this is a plat-
tion and rights abuses in Zimbabwe. our resolve is unquestionable. BM: Are you going to run for presi- relationship we have with all Zimba- form calling for national convergence
Ngarivhume (JN) was speaking to dent in the 2023 national elections or bweans. We are saying come let us work and Zimbabweans are responding to
The NewsHawks’ investigative journal- Our strength and belief in ourselves you are still open to a coalition? together for this important movement. it, and this is our focus. Our focus is
ist Bridget Mananavire (BM) on his that we can achieve the things we are JN: For now, all focus is to fully build an BM: What is your relationship with not to be diverted by whatever they are
political stance and future. Below are calling for is so strong that it takes away anti-corruption movement in Zimba- MDC Alliance deputy chairman Job doing amongst us. I think the opposi-
excerpts of the interview: all the fear and, above everything, we bwe, and we would not want to divert Sikhala, whom you seem to have tion understands that, we understand
BM: You have been a politician for a have utmost faith in God, that at the from that attention. It is an important partnered and are working with? that Zimbabweans need to stay focused
while, and it is only now that we are end of everything, He will protect us focus which the people of Zimbabwe JN: He is my friend and compatriot, and that is enabling us to grow from
seeing you being more radical. What and preserve us and guide us from all have defined to us, they have asked us we shared the same cell at Chikurubi strength to strength. I understand that
informed this position? evil. to lead that initiative and we are doing Maximum Prison, we shared the same there are challenges that are posed by
JN: My position is always informed BM: What is your end game? it with many other Zimbabweans and ordeal and we have gone through same this infiltration, but ultimately I think
by what the people of Zimbabwe want JN: It is to see a better Zimbabwe where what is important right now is to focus experiences, so is Hopewell Chin’ono, the opposition will emerge stronger
and how they want it addressed. And national resources are used for the bene- on that drive and how the people of my compatriot and brother again. from all the distractions that the ruling
you may have picked a shift in my ap- fit of everyone, where there is respect for Zimbabwe want to define the future, it party is trying to throw in our way.
proach to what you are referring to as human rights and the rule of law, where is entirely up to them. We developed a friendship which is BM: What’s next after the 31 July
radicalism but let me say to you, it is everyone is equal before the rule of law purely focused on our fight and drive movement?
more about how the people of Zimba- and the Constitution of the country is We are saying Zimbabwe, let’s come against corruption and we are calling JN: The 31st July protests were just but
bwe are charging me to execute what respected, where access to resources is together, we are building this national many other Zimbabweans, to come and the beginning, this marked the birth of
they are calling me to do, and this is for everyone and not just a group of convergence to make sure we achieve be with us, we want this initiative not the anti-corruption movement, of the
what I do, I simply go out there, do individuals. the anti-corruption objectives that we to be led by a few but by many of us so civil rights movement to fight against
what the people of Zimbabwe want me have set, and this is our focus currently. that we drive it into the direction and corruption, to fight for rights to life, ed-
to do, speak what the things that they This is our goal, and this is the Zim- Should the people of Zimbabwe want guidance that the people of Zimbabwe ucation, social justice, to protest. There
want me to speak and act accordingly. babwe we want to see and this is the to define the future, it would be pre- expect. are many civil rights that have been
So, everything that I do is informed by Zimbabwe we hope to achieve. mised on what we achieve now and it trampled upon by the regime for years
that position and by the call from the BM: We have seen people being mil- is important to focus on this drive we So, yes, there is a very special relation- and the people of Zimbabwe are realis-
people that I serve and, as they call, I itant before and they ended up just are looking at. ship with my compatriots Chin’ono ing a need to come together to fight for
respond and that is what has been hap- being state-sponsored projects. The BM: What is your relationship with and Sikhala and many others who are that. This is a birthing of a movement
pening. same is being said of you, how would the MDC Alliance? coming on board and we cherish that to keep standing in the gap, to keep
BM: What makes you persistent and you respond to this? JN: The MDC Alliance is a very im- relationship. fighting corruption and to keep fight-
what drives you? JN: The anti-corruption drive is not my portant movement whose voice is crit- BM: There seems to be infiltration of ing for the people’s rights. So the protest
JN: It is what the people of Zimbabwe project, let us come together and work ical in the fight against corruption. My the opposition. In light of this, how was not an event but the birthing of a
ask me to do. The call to end corrup- together for the greater good of Zimba- call to the MDC Alliance and other strong is opposition politics at the movement which is now galvanising
tion in this country is deep-seated in bwe. Let’s preach unity, let’s not person- groups is for us all to join hands and moment? and gathering momentum and soon it
me. I completely subscribe to the no- alise such a national movement that is work together, to deal with this can- JN: Infiltration is bound to happen will be officially launched.
tion of us defying corruption, defiance. gathering momentum. cer that is destroying our country and everywhere, we understand that as the BM: Do you think a revolution will
killing our heritage and our future. We opposition there could be some infiltra- be the solution for Zimbabwe?
We have got to defy the things we are It’s never about individuals but for engage like compatriots, we exchange tion, just like there could be infiltration JN: Let me define what a revolution
seeing happen, we have to defy the ab- the good of the people of Zimbabwe in the ruling party as well, a lot of infor- would mean in this case. A revolution
normal which has been normalised in and we are reaching out to all Zimba- mation is coming out from the ruling would not mean people taking up arms
this country. And the people of Zim- bweans irrespective of political affilia- party so it’s neither here nor there. to fight anybody, no no no.
babwe are tired of that and they have
mandated us to speak on their behalf. To me a revolution would mean the
shifting of the mindset of the people of
They have asked us to lead as far as Zimbabwe to say we have had enough,
this fight is concerned and we have ac- let us deal with corruption and deal
cepted the challenge and we have hum- with corruption effectively and bring it
bly taken this obligation and responsi- to an end. And deal with looting effec-
bility to speak out against corruption tively and bring it to an end.
and speak the mind of the Zimbabwe-
ans and this is what we are doing. And And deal with looters effectively and
our belief in that call is so strong that it make sure that looters are not in posi-
forms the basic engine of what drives tions of authority. So this is the revolu-
us. tion that is emerging and a revolution
BM: You are one of the politicians that is bringing and converging Zimba-
that have been placed under the bweans together.
Central Intelligence Organisation
surveillance. Do you fear for your life Be you Zanu PF, be you Transform
and that of your family? Zimbabwe, be you MDC Alliance,
JN: I wish I did not fear that, but who be you whichever opposition political
cares given where I am? This is part of party, you come together, whether you
the price to pay. These things have been belong to any religious organisation or
happening for some months now. You a common citizen, and whether you
know you are under surveillance; you are young people eager to see a better
face intimidation, you face harassment Zimbabwe.
every day, you know they build false
cases, false narratives. They build weird A revolution that is emerging in this
and strange stories, they threaten, they country is a revolution bringing all of
do everything. them together under one organisation
to say enough is enough, let’s build a
But that never moves us from the po- better nation.
sition that we hold, the need to fight for
a better Zimbabwe, the need to speak And that is the revolution Zimba-
out against evil, the need to speak out bweans are building going forward, it’s
against that which is wrong and the not a revolution to take up arms but a
need to converge Zimbabweans wher- revolution to speak truth to power, to
ever they are and whoever they are to deal with evil, to deal with violence, to
come together to speak together with deal with people who are looting the
one voice to say we are sick and tired resources in this country and, in that
of a nation that is going down the drain sense and context, yes, a revolution is
and yet we are a blessed nation. That is the way to go and the people of Zim-
babwe are ready for that revolution, not
a revolution of violence, get me right.

But a revolution to get Zimbabwe to
a better place and this is where we are
going, and I know we will get there.

Page 14 Editorial & Opinion NewsHawks

CARTOON Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Zim has everything
except good leaders

TO say the year 2020 has been tumultuous would be an un- Silver lining on a dark cloud
derstatement. The year will go down in history as remarkable,
unprecedented and, in many ways, epoch-defining. AS the year 2020 draws to a close – an of coup. er with the ANC’s endorsement of the
annus horribilis for the world, more so Lack of strategic thinking at criti- pivot, demonstrates that South Africa
When reports began filtering through in January that cases for a crisis-ridden country like Zimba- is convinced Zimbabwe can do better
of “unusual pneumonia” had been detected in Wuhan, China, bwe – it is important to look at the sil- cal junctures defined and changed the and that things have got to change.
very few took notice. In a world characterised by a blister- ver lining. It’s not all doom and gloom. course of history. For if the opposition
ingly fast news cycle, people rarely focus on a story for more had supported the rejected govern- In the aftermath of the 31 July pub-
than a week. An earthquake can devastate a city in a certain For Zimbabwe, there is still a sign ment-sponsored constitutional draft in lic protests - through a massive boycott
part of the world but, when the next story about deadly floods of hope even if the country is now in 2000 which would have forced Mug- – South African President Cyril Rama-
hits the headlines, the planet’s attention is drawn to the latest state of collapse and despair; in some abe to go in 2010, the course of histo- phosa sent a delegation to engage his
event. Life goes on. respects far worse than it was when the ry would have been different. Just like Zimbabwean counterpart President
late former president Robert Mugabe if the opposition did not support the Emmerson Mnangagwa on a new wave
Within a month, Covid-19 had killed 100 people and left through a military coup in Novem- 2017 coup. Those were defining mo- of repression and human rights abuses.
spread to 16 countries. As the coronavirus spread across the ber 2017. ments, and the opposition was on the
world, the epicentre shifted to Europe, where the respiratory wrong side of history. The delegation led by former pres-
disease had by that time killed almost half of the world’s 10 The ray of hope is that Zimbabwe- ident Thabo Mbeki’s point man in
000 casualties. ans, neighbours and the international Yet the opposition played a historic Zimbabwe Sydney Mufamadi signalled
community have not given up on the role in challenging Mugabe’s rule amid a new approach by Pretoria in which
Zororo Makamba, a promising broadcaster, became Zimba- country. There are countries where cit- terror and killings. Opposition leaders direct engagement had become un-
bwe’s first reported death. It was a wake-up call for the incom- izens and outsiders have all but given were brave and still remain so despite avoidable.
petent authorities whose false claim that the country was ready up on them. Usually those are failed their current lethargy.
to tackle the disease was exposed in the most tragic of ways. states like Somalia. The meeting between Mnangagwa
The public was shaken. Zanu PF has fully capitalised on and Ramaphosa’s envoys was uneasy. It
Zimbabwe is a troubled state. It the coronavirus to unleash new forc- showed that it was no longer business
By the end of March, the government would impose a has been convulsed by a protracted as usual. Predictably, the meeting was
Covid-19 lockdown with the twin objectives of slowing down political and economic maelstrom Hawk Eye characterised by hostile rhetoric and
the spread of the infection while giving the moribund health for more than two decades. Citizens recriminations on both sides. Zanu PF
delivery system enough time to get its house in order. It was have fought bitterly amid fierce re- Dumisani was more strident as usual. The ANC
not smooth sailing, of course, and Zimbabweans were mor- pression, violence and brutality to Muleya was typically reticent.
tified by fears of a doomsday scenario. The disease has killed rescue the country from the clutches
more than 300 Zimbabweans. of a violent authoritarian regime. es of repression under the cover of After that an ANC delegation flew
Covid-19. This has been the strategy in to meet Zanu PF. The meeting was
Soon enough, the Zanu PF government’s true colours The region and international com- of many repressive regimes around the even more acrimonious. While the
emerged. The lockdown presented a glorious opportunity for munity have tried to help. However, world. mood and tone of the meetings made
political control and power consolidation. change has not been secured. There progress difficult, a point had been
have been some democratic gains, no In the midst of all this chaos and de- made: Pretoria no longer supported
Civil liberties were trampled upon, with impunity. By crim- doubt, but no sea change or a new dis- spair, Zimbabweans and outsiders are Harare’s repressive rule.
inalising dissent and virtually suspending the Bill of Rights, pensation. Mugabe’s removal, predict- still pushing for change. Everybody,
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government lost all credi- ably as some of us warned repeatedly at except those profiting from misman- Where South Africa usually offered
bility in the eyes of the world. the time, only led to giving Zanu PF agement and corruption, knows Zim- diplomatic solidarity and mild crit-
a new lease, hence authoritarian con- babwe can do better than this and its icism, it was now prepared to up the
An ambitious diplomatic effort by the post-coup govern- solidation. people deserve better. ante and confront the Zimbabwean
ment to re-engage with the international community was re- leadership.
duced to tatters. While Zanu PF has been the ma- South Africa also knows that.
jor stumbling block to transition and Pretoria’s recent move away from its South Africa and the ANC should
The regime repeatedly shot itself in the foot. change, the opposition has also been traditional “quiet diplomacy”, togeth- thus maintain pressure on Mnangag-
The unleashing of state brutality on citizens drew the at- culpable. It missed several glorious op- wa’s regime on reform and to enter
tention of the international community. Even some promi- portunities to secure change as it did in into a broad-based dialogue with op-
nent Africans who had ignored previous crackdowns on hu- 2000 during the constitution-making position, civil society and churches for
man rights changed tack this time and spoke out against the process. And also in 2017 at the height a new Zimbabwe. That can be a silver
state-sponsored terror. A social media hashtag #Zimbabwean- lining.
LivesMatter trended worldwide, focusing the world’s attention
on the victimisation of journalists, civil society activists, oppo-
sition figures and human rights defenders.
Decades of misrule have shown that Zanu PF cannot sus-
tainably build a nation through oppression, corruption, in-
competence and bad governance. And yet the ruling party
continues on its ruinous path.
A new economic blueprint, the National Development
Strategy One, is now on the table.
If the political leaders of this country are to make headway
in achieving the socio-economic transformation envisaged in
Vision 2030, they must embrace a new governance ethos.
Without a genuine shift in leadership culture, economic
blueprints are a waste of time. Zimbabwe has all the crucial
ingredients for success: a solid human resource base, a young
and dynamic population, vast natural resources and plenty of
arable land.
There is one missing link: competent and corruption-free
leadership.

Reaffirming the fundamental importance The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
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NewsHawks Perspectives & Reviews Page 15

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Zim provincial GDP figures
spark marginalisation debate

Brett metropolitan produces. Put differ- severity of the de-industrialisation some to reconcile with the thought should embrace as many dimensions
Chulu ently, Bulawayo’s economy is less Bulawayo has experienced systemi- that a province such as Manicaland as possible. 
than a quarter of Harare’s economy. cally.  with diamond production, fruit pro-
LAST week, the government released We do not have the baseline data for duction, tea estates, timber, tourism The initiative to disaggregate GDP
its routine post-cabinet briefing. Of the GDPs of Harare and Bulawayo Per capita GDP results present and dairy production can lag behind to the provinces is a step in the right
interest was the publication of Gross pre-Independence and soon after serious ironies that intuitively do not Matabeleland South, prosperity-wise, direction. We need to go a step fur-
Domestic Products (GDPs) for all the Independence. As such, we can only make sense. The data would have us with  mining and a diminished ther and accompany provincial GDP
country’s 10 provinces.  qualitatively argue on the glaring believe Manicaland is the poorest beef industry and a relatively small data with more refined measures of
disparity in the sizes of the two largest province in Zimbabwe. The same horticultural sector centred around quality of life in each province and
The provincial production data provincial economies. data would also have us believe that Beitbridge’s citrus plantations. These sub-provincial polity.
from the post-cabinet briefing was Bulawayo and Harare are almost are legitimate reactions of scepticism. 
divided into two parameters: gross Intuitively, the disparity is con- equally prosperous, with Harare Human Development Indices
domestic and per capita (per person).  cerning because Bulawayo used to be being slightly more affluent. We need to understand the (HDIs) need to be measured and
Zimbabwe’s largest industrial hub. limitations of per capita GDP as a reported at provincial and sub-pro-
We need to understand the It can be strongly argued that years The same data would have us measure of relative wealth. GDP vincial levels.
meaning of these parameters—the of de-industrialisation of Bulawayo, believe that Matabeleland South is aggregates monetary value of formally
post-cabinet briefing did not define with firms relocating to Harare, the 6th most prosperous province produced goods and services; it does We need to know how many
the meaning of these two parameters. others moth-balling with others despite being the smallest provincial not measure the quality of the output people within each province and
GDP is the value of new products completely shutting down is what has economy, producing under US$1 in terms of its impact on the life of sub-province have access to clean 
made and exchanged (bought and cumulatively led to Harare’s economy billion of economic output. the people. Per capita GDP would and safe water, access to reliable pow-
sold) during a specific period of time more than quadrupling Bulawayo’s.  include the value of education expen- er, access to quality nutrition, food
in a specific geographical area. We have to reconcile these coun- diture but would not tell us about the security, access to quality education,
Two broad processes drove Bula- terintuitive results. Despite Bula- quality of education such as access to access to quality communication,
In terms of provincial GDPs, it wayo’s de-industrialisation. The first wayo’s incessant industrial haemor- education within a province and the access to quality transportation,
means a provincial GDP, as per the process was the take-all administra- rhaging, it seems to be as prosperous quality of educational facilities. quality of infrastructure, levels of
post-cabinet briefing data, is the tive structure that incentivised the as Harare. We have to look into the infant mortality rates, income levels
total value of products made in the capital as a strategic location and the population dynamics. The popula- A common outcry in Matabele- per household, access to happiness, to
province and then bought and sold excuse that water problems in Bula- tion statistics have been disputed by a land South is over high rate of school mention a few.
within both Zimbabwe and out of wayo were a risk to be compensated number of critics, with the accusa- dropouts and poorly-staffed schools.
Zimbabwe. for by relocating to the capital. tion that Bulawayo’s population is Per capita GDP does not mean equal This should lead us to revisit our
under-counted. If this claim were income distribution; it can hide national vision of transforming our
That would be the logical econom- The second process is the  destruc- true, then Bulawayo’s per capita GDP serious income inequalities. Does it country to an upper middle-income
ic definition of provincial GDP. Per tion of agro-based value chains and is exaggerated, meaning the province mean that citizens of Matabeleland economy.
capita GDP is simply the GDP divid- the disintegration of the agglom- is not that prosperous but relatively South have better incomes than those
ed by the population of the area in erations that had accreted around poorer. from Manicaland, Mashonaland As famously put by the African
which the GDP is generated within  agro-value chains. Central, Masvingo and the Midlands? Development Bank chief Akinwumi
a particular time  period. The other school of thought argues Adesina that people do not eat GDP,
Land reform had a significant that the systematic de-industrialisa- It does not intuitively seem so. we need to tie our per capita GDP
Economists use per capita GDP to impact in diminishing primary agri- tion of Bulawayo has led to the emi- The argument that our economy and per capita GNI metrics to quality
approximate the relative wealth, levels cultural production in the provinces gration of economically active people is highly informalised and therefore of life improvements—this is the true
of prosperity and standards of living. supplying raw material for value-ad- from the province to the diaspora and does not capture the entire gamut of test of prosperity.
Provincial per capita GDP should be dition in Bulawayo. to the capital city, leaving a dwindled production that is exchanged outside
taken to mean the GDP generated in population responsible for the high the informal sector can be dealt with This will also remove doubts in
a province divided by the population The agro-value chain around beef per capita GDP.  by looking at quality-of-life measures. the minds of many people who think
of the province in a particular year, production is a case in point. Loss Many point out Tsholotsho as an the provincial economic output and
2018, in the case of the data present- of beef production in Matabeleland To many people I shared the pro- aberration due to its general symbols productivity data is not credible—it
ed at last week’s post-cabinet briefing.  South directly impacted the Cold vincial per capita GDP data ranking, of relative prosperity such as well- is because people see a disconnect
Storage Company’s ability to val- the implied conclusion embedded built rural residences with modern between the quality of life they expe-
Prior to presenting a critical anal- ue-add. Sanctions linked to the land in the ranking that Matabeleland conveniences. rience on a day-to-day basis and the
ysis of issues attendant in provincial reform also meant the CSC lost the provinces are not the poorest was This reflects the impact of Gross technical economic data.
GDPs, the performance of each prov- beef export quota to the European counterintuitive. National Income (GNI), which
ince, GDP-wise, is listed. According Union.  Supporting industries such accounts for diaspora flows. There is a If people cannot see improvements
to the post-cabinet briefing, the data as the mighty mechanical engineering It led them to question the case for provincial GNIs at theoretical in their day-to-day life, metrics such
is for 2018. Bulawayo cluster and the National credibility of the data. It does not level. Practically, it is next to impos- as GDP growth or which province
Railways of Zimbabwe were strangled make sense for many to accept that sible to measure provincial GNIs as has the biggest economy or is more
Based on the data in the post-cab- as a result of the disintegration of Manicaland is the poorest province such foreign inflows come through productive than the other are mean-
inet briefing, the GDP performance the beef value chain. It does not and that Matabeleland South is sig- informal means. This challenge but- ingless.
of each province, in order of size make sense for Mashonaland East’s nificantly wealthier than Manicaland, tresses that our analysis of prosperity
from the biggest to the smallest is economy to be practically the size of Midlands, Masvingo and Mashona- \Quality of life is the nub of the
as follows: Harare US$9.56 bil- Bulawayo—it strongly underlines the land Central. matter. 
lion, Bulawayo US$2.26 billion,
Mashonaland East US$2.22 billion, It causes cognitive dissonance for We need to correct the economic
Mashonaland West US$2.14 billion, production disparity between the
Midlands US$1.94 billion, Mani- northern  and southern provinces,
caland US$1.46 billion, Masvingo especially the huge disparity between
US$1.41 billion, Matabeleland Harare and Bulawayo.
North US$1.16 billion, Masho-
naland Central US$1.08 billion, Resuscitating agricultural value
Matabeleland South US$0.94 billion chains in the southern provinces
on a per capita (per person) GDP ba- will revolve around addressing the
sis, from the highest per capita GDP security of tenure of the beef farms
to the least, the performance turns and water development.
out as follows: Harare US$3 614, Bu-
lawayo US$3 048, Mashonaland East Normalising relations with inter-
US$1 408, Matabeleland North US$ national power brokers is a must as it
1 333, Mashonaland West US$1 will re-establish export value chains
206, Matabeleland South US$1 once enjoyed by southern provinces.
186, Midlands US$1 026, Masvin- Value-addition within provinces
go US$820, Mashonaland Central must be a key policy imperative in
US$784, Manicaland US$743. the National Development Strategy
One and Two. Imagine what would
There are a number of salient happen to the economy of Mutare if
issues embedded in the provincial diamond polishing were,  as a matter
economic production data. of policy,  done in Manicaland where
the gemstones are produced? Any
Assuming the provincial GDP data national economic growth must
originating from ZimStat is accurate, result in increases in incomes in all
the disparity in terms of economic provinces and sub-provinces. 
production between Harare metro-
politan and Bulawayo metropolitan Brett is a management consul-
is astounding. Harare metropolitan tant and a classic grounded theo-
produces 4.23 times what Bulawayo ry researcher who has published
research in an academic peer re-
viewed international journal. He
can be contacted through email:
[email protected]

Business

MATTERSNewsHawks

MARKETS CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE
EUR/USD
USD/JPY 1.225 -0.001 -0.098 *NAT GAS 2.681 +0.045 +1.71
GBP/USD
USD/CAD 103.51 +0.41 +0.4 *SILVER 26 -0.181 -0.69
AUD/USD
1.352 -0.007 -0.486 *COPPER 3.626 +0.025 +0.68

1.275 +0.003 +0.24 *GOLD 1,884.7 -5.7 -0.302

0.759 -0.003 -0.394 *OIL 48.29 -0.07 -0.14

Starafrica
auditors
raise red flag
over asset
valuation

MERLIN GARWE come out of the woods follow- ties, freehold land and buildings. risks associated with currency StarAfrica factory in workington, Harare
ing its rescue by the Zimbabwe The properties were valued using trading did not reflect the risks
STARAFRICA Corporation Lim- Asset Mismanagement Corpo- USD denominated inputs and associated with property trading. notable issues included failure
ited’s external auditors have ex- ration (Zamco) and is poised to converted to ZWL at the inter- The group’s properties are held by Starafrica to comply with In-
pressed concern over the compa- offload 54,7% shareholding to a bank exchange rate. at a fair value of US$ 1 082 938 ternational Financial Report-
ny’s valuation of properties and new investor. 649 as at 30 September 2020 (30 ing Standard (IAS) 21 on “The
freehold land and buildings, say- There was a unique disconnect March 2020:US$ 393 802 017). Effects of Changes in Foreign
ing this has presented a unique In its evaluation of the com- between the currency in which Exchange Rates in Prior Peri-
disconnect in the currency used, Starafrica’s results for the six the rentals are being paid (ZWL) “The Group’s properties were od, Inappropriate Application
it has been learnt. months ended 30 September and the currency in which the valued using unobservable in- of IAS 8 on Accounting Policies,
2020, EY noted that the dis- properties are being valued puts denominated in the United changes in Accounting Estimates
Improper valuation of prop- connect was caused by the fact (USD),” EY said. States Dollar currency and con- and Errors, exchange rates used
erty was one of the matters that that the company was valuing verted to local currency using the (non-compliance with IAS 21)
saw Ernst & Young Chartered its properties in US dollars yet EY stressed that the US dol- interbank rate,” EY noted. and consolidation of Foreign
Accountants (Zimbabwe)(EY) rentals were being paid in Zim- lar inputs used may not be a true Associates using inappropriate
failing to express an audit opin- babwean dollars. Owing to the reflection of market dynamics as The auditors noted that other exchange rates”, among others.
ion on the financial accounts of nature of the matter, EY was un-
Starafrica, saying the results did able determine the appropriate
not reflect the true value of the inputs and therefore could not
company’s financial position. quantify the potential impact.

This is coming at a time the “We also disagreed with the
company, which produces sugar valuation of investment proper-
and other sweeteners, has just

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NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 17

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

DUMISANI NYONI Caledonia acquires icntWoomnostumiinnffeiuennreg
mining claims in Gweru
NEW York Stock Exchange-listed NYASHA CHINGONO
resources firm Caledonia Mining Caledonia considers making an initial payment of US$2.5 million in cash, followed Caledonia of the claims, or US$10 SEXUAL and physical abuse of
Corporation has entered into an by a further payment of US$2.5 million, payable in cash or shares. million until the tenth anniversa- women in mining continued to rise
option agreement which gives it ry of operation or US$5 million in 2020, with most cases linked to
the exclusive right to explore and at the discretion of the vendor) dor on gold it produces from the thereafter.”   the security forces, entrenching a
acquire the mining claims over an which would be payable should it area,” the statement reads. highly securitised mining industry, a
area known as Glen Hume, situat- decide to exercise its right to ac- Commenting on the matter, report has revealed.
ed in the Gweru mining district. quire the mining claims. “The NSR can subsequently be Caledonia chief executive officer
bought out at Caledonia’s discre- Steve Curtis said as they approach Women in mining continue to
The area has historically pro- “Caledonia has agreed to the tion for a lump sum payment of the completion of the central shaft, suffer in silence, as they fear retribu-
duced significant quantities of payment of a one per cent net US$15 million within the first five their production is expected to in- tion from security forces, especially
gold. smelter royalty (NSR) to the ven- years following the acquisition by crease by 45% to 80 000 ounces by police and army personnel stationed
2022, “we also expect to realise a in the Marange diamond fields and
“The agreement covers an area substantial increase in cash flow surrounding areas. Brutality at the
of approximately 350 hectares as a result of increased produc- hands of security forces has also
with substantial evidence of gold tion, reduced costs per ounce and raised the spectre of human rights
mineralisation including histori- lower capital expenditure.” abuses in the mining sector.
cal mining activity.  Caledonia has
conducted airborne geophysics “This gives us the financial and In a report released this week
which indicates attractive explo- management capacity to take on entitled Guns, Power and Politics:
ration targets and has also con- new opportunities in Zimbabwe Extractives and Violence Against
ducted preliminary metallurgical and we are pleased to enter into Women in Zimbabwe, the Centre
work indicating favourable grade this option agreement which gives for Natural Resources Governance
and recovery,” the company said us the right to explore and subse- (CNGC) notes several violations of
in a recent statement to share- quently to acquire mining claims women’s rights around mining areas.
holders. over this property,” he said.
Interviewed women suffered sex-
“A preliminary contract has “This agreement represents the tortion, sexual abuse, extortion and
been signed with the existing first step towards our goal of in- were deprived of a fair opportunity
drilling contractor and a drill pro- creasing our portfolio and becom- to own mining licences, unlike their
gramme has been put in place.” ing a multi-asset gold producer in male counterparts. The report also
Zimbabwe, one of the last gold notes over-militarisation of the min-
Caledonia said it has acquired frontiers in Africa.” ing industry, especially in the dia-
the right to explore the area for mond sector. Military personnel have
a period of up to 15 months and Caledonia operates Blanket been accused of demanding bribes
subsequently, if exploration is Mine in Gwanda, Matabeleland and brutalising small-scale miners.
successful and at its sole discre- South, one of the country’s biggest
tion, acquire the mining claims bullion extraction outfits. The Police Support Unit has also
over the area. been implicated in the report for de-
manding bribes to allow female min-
The company said the total con- ers to work in the Marange diamond
sideration is an initial payment of and gold fields.
US$2.5 million in cash, followed
by a further payment of US$2.5 “The Support Unit [a paramilitary
million (payable in cash or shares arm of the police] is the biggest ex-
tortionist and they used to be nasty
Bleak hotel bookings for Vic Falls to us. We decided to share the spoils
from our mining with them to main-
NOKUTHABA DLAMINI holidaymakers. will begin improving on 23 Decem- worrying. tain our mining venture. We bribe
Statistics obtained from the ber at 47% occupancy to 78% on “The ZTA updated statistics of them a dollar per head every Mon-
ZIMBABWE’S tourism regulator 24 December. day and Friday,” one of the victims of
has painted a bleak picture in the ZTA show that occupancy levels our occupancies over the festive sea- extortion said in the report.
sector after projecting that top ho- at the five-star Victoria Falls Hotel, After Christmas Day, which is son are quite worrying right now,”
tels in the country’s premier tour- the Kingdom Hotel, Safari Lodge, projected to record 81% occupan- Musonza noted. “The DTZ mining company
ist destination, Victoria Falls, will Cresta Sprayview Hotel, Matetsi cy, the Boxing Day rate will decline guards tried to frighten us off this
record an average occupancy level River Lodge and Stanley and Liv- to 68% and subsequently to 41% “We can only for now hope that riverbed, but we negotiated with the
of 42% during the festive season, a ingstone Hotel will be subdued this thereafter. our numbers are going to improve farm owner on whose land this river
report has shown. year. as we approach the dates because passes. We pay him something too
From 28 December until 2 Janu- the statistics were only done for top so that he allows us to mine on this
Statistics obtained The stats, which are based on ex- ary, room bookings will decline and hotels in the resort town and it is river. Other members of law enforce-
from the ZTA show isting bookings, revealed that from range between 20% and 40% and not exactly where we would like to ment such as the police extort money
that occupancy 20 December, the occupancy will on New Year’s Day bookings will be. from other gold panners, and they
levels at the hotels begin at 17% and Christmas Day slightly rise to 47% before falling to leave us alone, now that they know
in Victoria Falls will have the highest occupancy at 20% on 2 January. “Most of our visitors, about 90% we pay the Support Unit for the right
will be subdued this 81%. of them are domestic arrivals while to mine here,” another artisanal
year. Analysing the bookings, the the other 10% derives from region- miner revealed in the report. Sextor-
The hotel occupancy will rise by chairperson of the Hotels Associa- al and international markets.” tion has also been rife in the mining
An outbreak of the Covid-19 4% while 22 December will see the tion of Zimbabwe chapter in Ma- sector, the report notes.
pandemic restricted global travel rate go up to 27%. According to the tabeleland North, Arnold Musonza, Musonza said for medium to
as countries battled to contain the projection, the hotel occupancy rate said the 42.6% room bookings were small accommodation facilities, Sextortion is a global phenome-
respiratory ailment that has claimed the association had not reconciled non that causes serious harm, rob-
over a million lives worldwide. the figures but suspected the occu- bing women of dignity and oppor-
pancies might be higher compared tunity, and undermining confidence
A second wave of infections in to the top hotels, considering their in public institutions, according to
Europe, Zimbabwe’s tradition- pricing models. rights groups. Many women striv-
al source market, has resulted in a ing to become mine proprietors are
sharp decline in arrivals, experts say. Almost all accommodation tormented by sexual predators, who
As Zimbabwe swings into the festive charges for the festive season have demand sexual favours at every turn
season, the Zimbabwe Tourism Au- been lowered by almost 50% to at- in return for permits and protection
thority (ZTA) sees hotel occupancy tract visitors. in the industry. CNRG interviewed
for the top-end hotels in Victoria women who fell victim to sextortion
Falls dropping to 42% with locals Victoria Falls occupancy around in the mining sector, who revealed
accounting for the majority of the the festive season traditionally the dark side of mining in Zimbabwe
grows by more than 100% due to where women remain vulnerable.
activities such as the annual Vic
Falls Carnival which last year at- According to Transparency Zim-
tracted close to 10 000 internation- babwe International (TIZ), more
al and domestic tourists, and this than 57% women in Zimbabwe have
year’s reversal of fortunes has been been forced to offer sexual favours in
largely attributed to the Covid-19 exchange for jobs, medical care and
pandemic travel restrictions. even seeking placement at schools for
their children.

Page 18 Companies & Markets NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Implications of closed mines on economy

DUMISANI NYONI

ZIMBABWE has a large number of
large-scale mines that have shut down,
a development which has become a
major stumbling block as the country
seeks to build a US$12 billion mining
sector and position it at the centre of
an ambitious economic revival blue-
print, a new report has revealed.

In its latest report titled State of
Closed Large- and Small-Scale Mines
and their Relationship with Artisanal
Mining, the Zimbabwe Environ-
mental Law Association (Zela) said
the mines closed due to government
interference, mismanagement, poor
economic and political environment.

The report, conducted between
August and November 2020, says
some of the closed mines are Nan
Jiang Africa, Mashava Mines, Athens
Mine, Ran Mine, Alaska Mine, Ma-
zowe Mine, Madziva Mine, Giant
Mine, Shabanie Mine.

Nan Jiang Africa around the area, including Bosmine of preventing it from collapsing and “Slowly the mines started to dete- to take over King Mine to extract
In Bikita, close to the Save Valley and Lenox Mine, which used to mine saving jobs,” the report reads. riorate—spare parts were not being chrome, but was not successful. Many
Conservancy, there is an abandoned asbestos, but are now mining gold, replaced, vehicles breaking down and former workers opine that the gov-
diamond mine, Nan Jiang Africa. The which is being done by artisanal min- “Some former workers argue that not being repaired, water levels rising, ernment took something it could not
mine was set up at the height of the ers. the takeover of the mines from Maw- low worker morale, salaries not paid, manage.
Marange diamond fiasco. A consor- ere by government was not proper, and electricity bills started accumulat-
tium of Chinese and Zimbabwean Diso Mine in the area used to ex- while others state that while govern- ing,” the report reads. In 2019, there were reports that
firms registered Nan Jiang Africa Re- tract asbestos. All these asbestos min- ment had failed dismally to run the King Mine would resume produc-
sources Ltd. ing companies are closed. There were mine, Mawere had duped them and Some workers are owed in excess of tion in 2020 when the de-watering
three mines in Mashava, including did not pay them their dues as he was US$40 000, it said. process and repairs on the mill were
However, the mine was closed Gaths Mine, King Mine and Tem- stashing money and asbestos fibre in done. However, as it stands, the mine
prematurely due to a dispute with eraine Mine which were allegedly South Africa.” “Now, only 600 workers remain is still in a derelict state. Mountains of
the Ministry of Mines and Mining owned by Mutumwa Mawere un- on unpaid leave and 10 workers are asbestos mine waste and dump can be
Development following reports that der the banner of Shabanie Mashava The report says interviews with responsible for de-watering the mine. observed around Mashava.
the mine had set up offices and pro- Mines (SMM) through Africa Re- current and former workers at King They are being paid RTGS1 500.
cessing facilities before submitting sources Limited (ARL) before they Mine indicated that in 2004 govern- King Mine used to employ around Zela witnessed the sad reality of
the application for a mining licence. were taken over by the government. ment officials held a rally at Gaths 5 000 workers at its peak,” the report poverty, economic decay and loss of
The company had built structures for Mine Stadium where they declared says. former glory in old mining towns.
more than 100 workers from Bikita “Mawere was specified by the gov- that they had taken over the mines.
and Buhera. ernment on allegations of externalis- “King Mine is only open for pump- An interview with one of the for-
ing $30 billion in foreign currency. The following were notable govern- ing water out of the mine so that it mer employees revealed that some
In March 2013, it was reported Government passed the Presidential ment officials who rallied the workers does not flood. However, sometimes ex-employees and dependents of late
that diamonds were discovered in four Powers (Temporary Measures) (Re- and villagers at the stadium: Emmer- this is affected by electricity outages workers were evicted from the compa-
kimberlitic pipes at Devuli Ranch in construction of State-Indebted Insol- son Mnangagwa (current President), due to non-payment.” ny houses at King Mine.
Bikita by this consortium. Since the vent Companies) Regulations of 2004 Patrick Chinamasa (former minister
consortium only had a prospecting to take over SMM under the pretence of Justice), Jonathan Moyo (minister Zela said it was reported that the Zela said there is an upsurge in arti-
licence, upon its expiration they left of information) and others. state-run Zimbabwe Mining Devel- sanal chrome and gold mining activi-
without any recorded production, re- opment Corporation (ZMDC) tried ties around the Mashava Mines.
porting that there were no diamonds
on site. Most of the workers on retirement,
those retrenched, on forced leave or
“This misrepresentation of infor- currently at work now depend on
mation calls for government action to artisanal chrome mining in the King
invest in exploration to increase infor- Mine concessions.
mation in the ministry’s geological da-
tabase. The mine has never operated Those who are still at work at King
since it was set in 2014,” report reads. Mine, for example, conduct artisanal
chrome mining during their off days,
“The Nan Jiang fiasco demon- at weekends or after work. Some man-
strates how companies lost money agers at King Mine are also reported
in the diamond rush in areas around to be running chrome-mining syndi-
Marange. A massive loss in capital cates or groups while others have ven-
was discernible—the mine invested tured into artisanal gold mining.
in mining equipment, a processing
plant and diamond sorting facilities. The artisanal miners sell chrome
Socially, the community expressed for US$1 per wheelbarrow to the
concern over the company’s failure to Chinese.
adequately consult them and to give
them information on the nature of In an interview, a chrome buyer
their operations and reasons for ter- at King Mine who buys from artis-
mination of operations.” anal miners indicated that he buys a
tonne for US$10 to sell to Chinese
Presently, Zela said even the secu- smelters in Gweru who, in turn, buy
rity guards who used to protect the at US$35-US$40 per tonne.
big mining complex which houses
the mine offices and diamond sorting There is a lot of chrome in the
room appear to have abandoned the area. At some point a company called
site. GD was granted permission to mine
chrome near King Mine, but has since
“Villagers in the area reported that stopped, Zela said.
the company had told them that they
have not been getting enough quanti- “However, the situation is distress-
ties of diamonds for them to continue ing for many families and former
mining. For the villagers, the poten-
tial for diamond mining in the area
had brought hope for employment
of youths in the drought-prone Budzi
area in Bikita,” it said.
Mashava Mines
Zela also visited Mashava Mines, lo-
cated 40 kilometres from Masvingo
town. Asbestos was mined in the area.
Mashava had different mines dotted

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 19

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

workers. Houses have been aban- Artisanal miners are often tempted to takeover disused large mines exposing themselves to danger ancient workings in Zimbabwe.
doned while most of the infrastruc- It was the centre of smelting and
ture at the mine is collapsing,” it not- “camps”, have been constructed. market. However, Pickstone has taken over
ed. Zela said the machinery at King “The company is not providing res- Since 2014, the workers were the mine and has conducted explora- refining operations for all the Loma-
Mine and Temeraine is highly depre- tion at Giant Mine, which it acquired gundi copper mines. The first smelt-
ciated and outdated. Gaths Mine was idents with water. On remuneration receiving their salaries in erratic in- in 2014. ing was undertaken in 1956. The
sold to Great Zimbabwe University conflicts, one interviewee noted that stalments. The company, which had company used to employ more than
and is now being run as a university she was earning less than US$15 as a more 1 000 workers, has been left Currently, there are no mining 1 500 miners, although now there are
in the midst of mountains of mine formal employee to Aurora, but after with skeletal staff of about 150 peo- operations going on at Giant Mine, only security personnel on site.
waste. joining the ASM (artisanal small-scale ple. except mine development (shaft sink-
Athens Mine mining) sector she is realising USD80 Madziva Mine ing) and several assay values being col- “The discussions we had with local
Athens Mine is located in Mvuma per week,” it said. Madziva Mine is a nickel operation in lected to ascertain the profitability of people indicated that there are plans
in the Midlands Province. The gold Shamva that closed in 2001 and was the mine. for resuscitation and technological
mine was closed and is under care and More than 1 000 artisanal and owned by Bindura Nickel Corpora- upgrades to bring in the mining gi-
maintenance. The ownership of the small-scale miners are operating at tion (BNC). The mine commenced The mine belongs to Black Ridge ant into the 2030 mining vision, al-
mining claim was passed from Falcon Ran Mine, the interviewee estimated. mining in 1966. BNC owned Madzi- group under Dallagio Investment. though these plans may be affected
Gold, to Lonrho, and to Duration va Mine and Trojan Mine, which In 2017, Danangwe District Mining by the unstable macro-economic and
Gold since the time of closure. On housing conflicts with miners, both closed around the same time. Youth Cooperative (DDMYC) op- political environment obtaining in
there are reports that no due diligence BNC argues that the closure was due erated the mine. The contract with the country,” Zela said.
Mvuma is now a pale shadow of its procedures were undertaken in the to declining nickel prices and unsta- DDMYC ended in 2019 after a court
former hustle and bustle and high sta- blasting procedure as noted from ble ground conditions. resolution following the violation of Alaska mine is under the manage-
tus. Gold mining began in 1910 and some houses that have developed the tributary agreement with Pick- ment of Zimbabwe Mining Develop-
production ceased in January 1998 cracks. However, some locals argue that stone Mine. There are no other opera- ment Corporation (ZMDC) and was
due to unstable ground conditions it closed for political reasons follow- tions at the mine. closed 20 years ago due to the poor
which caused a major accident. “Of interest is that, during the ing the land reform programme. The Shabanie Mine economic and political environment
blasting process one house collapsed former mining area is located near the Shabanie was an asbestos mine locat- in the country, leaving more than 1
When the mine was operating at and one casualty was recorded. Some Umfurudzi game park. The Madzi- ed in Zvishavane, Midlands province. 500 workers unemployed.
full capacity, job seekers came from families were said to be literally min- va mining site now houses Madziva It used to be one of the biggest pri-
across the country and neighbouring ing in their homesteads because the Teachers’ College. vate sector employers in the Midlands “The infrastructure at the mine is
countries of Mozambique, Malawi area is generally mineral rich.” with more than 2 000 workers. The rotting and phased out. Most of the
and Zambia seeking employment at Mazowe Mine “The mine owners left most of the mine was closed in 2004 due to low equipment is being stolen by people.
Athens Mine which, according to re- The Mazowe gold field and claims mining equipment and the former demand for white asbestos. In 2008, However, many artisanal miners are
cords, in 1914 employed 110 Euro- belong to Metallon Gold, which was mine workers argue that anyone can the mine was taken over by the gov- mining in the area and these are min-
peans and 1 500 Africans. formerly owned by South African buy the equipment,” the report notes. ernment. The mine, under adminis- ing copper from the mine dumps,” it
mining entrepreneur Mzi Khuma- tration, is currently producing 260 said.
A mine shaft collapse affected pro- lo. Mazowe Mine is one of the old- Closure of Madziva Mine left tonnes per month of asbestos fibre Way forward
duction and the low price of gold, est underground mining operations many workers stranded without any through a dump re-processing system. Zela said the government should con-
resulting in the halting of operations in Zimbabwe. The mine has a total source of income, forcing many to Alaska Mine sider conducting a comprehensive
in 1998. Residents attest that when of 247 claims in 2 939 hectares of venture into illegal artisanal gold min- Alaska Mine is a large open pit copper assessment and audit of closed mines
Athens Mine was closed it was tak- landholding. The mine was closed in ing activities in the protected area of mine which is 20km from Chinhoyi around the country and share the
en over by a local company, Dura- September 2018 due to massive oper- Umfurudzi National Park. The gold town. In pre-colonial times, miners findings publicly.
tion Gold—headquartered in Bula- ational challenges. The mine had been produced by the artisanal miners is were believed to have mined about
wayo—working the gold ore dumps. placed under administration for a re- sold on the parallel market. a million tonnes of ore at the mine The government should also con-
construction order together with an- Giant Mine and it was regarded as the largest of sider, through a public tender system,
Closure of the mine left the min- other of Metallon Gold’s operations, Giant Mine is another closed gold all closed mines under the control of
ing community of Mvuma poverty Shamva Mine. The mine is currently mine located in Chegutu district. ZMDC and other state entities to
stricken. Historically, more than 75 on care-and-maintenance. attract responsible investors whose se-
000 people living in the central region curity of tenure should be guaranteed.
district of Chirumanzu depended on Following closure and stoppage
the now-dilapidated town. of mining, Jumbo Mine, owned by “There is a need for the country
Metallon Gold, has been a theatre to come up with a framework that
“Unemployment is high as the of illegal gold mining, violence and facilitates co-existence between the
town does not have other sustainable criminality. Some artisanal min- large-scale mines and artisanal and
forms of industrial activities employ- ers would come from Kwekwe and small-scale miners. In this case the
ing many people. The local commu- Shurugwi to control gold and under- model of tribute agreements which
nities are surviving on gold panning ground shafts at mine in Mazowe and is already included in the Mines and
and small-scale chrome mining,” this resulted in deadly conflicts. Minerals Act should be implemented
the report says. On a positive note, as a way of formalising artisanal min-
Zela said Duration Gold instituted Some police officials reportedly led ing,” it said.
a mining scheme for artisanal and the way in manipulating and con-
small-scale miners to work on its gold trolling the syndicates at the mine. Zela said the government should
claims as cooperatives. finalise the minerals policy with the
Zela said there are a lot of mining objective of promoting responsible
Interviews with artisanal miners activities in the locality, anyone can investments in the sector. An audit or
indicated that Duration Gold intro- mine anywhere, with no questions assessment of the situation at closed
duced a new programme to promote asked and incidents of farmer-min- mines should recommend measures
formal mining by artisanal miners. er conflict have been recorded in the or programmes that can be adopted
The mine entered into agreements area. for helping former mine workers and
with the artisanal miners to work on families. These may include granting
the old mine pits and dumps at Ath- Most of the gold produced by the them mining rights or other social
ens Mine. It was reported that more illegal miners is sold on the parallel programmes, it said.
than 30 miners are working as coop-
eratives of artisanal miners in the area. “Formalisation of artisanal mining
Ran Mine should be considered a priority by the
Ran Mine is a gold mine located in government through passage of min-
Bindura. It has been in the news of ing legislation that creates a permit
late, after more than 10 miners were system for artisanal miners or sim-
trapped in a disused mine shaft. ply through the approving of tribute
agreements that include mining com-
The mine was exploited by GNP panies or licenced small-scale miners
Industries, a German company, for with artisanal miners.”
103 years and closed in 1999. After
the closure, Exdrill Mining contin- “The government or other stake-
ued with the mining operation and holders can institute a contract mon-
employed 20 workers who then lost itoring project in the ASM sector to
their jobs after the company ceased understand the existing contractual
operations. The workers who were arrangements, their effectiveness and
working under the former company, weaknesses,” Zela said.
despite being given assurances that
they would be employed by the suc- The ministry of Mines and Mining
cessor company, lost their jobs. Development should re-introduce
regular mine inspection to monitor
Currently, Aurora Gold began ex- contract performance while large-
ploiting the mining claims through scale miners must transfer safety skills
a sub-contract and thereafter issued to artisanal and small-scale miners, it
eviction notices to the Exdrill work- opined. The mining industry has po-
ers. Aurora’s workers stay a few me- tential to resuscitate the Zimbabwean
tres away from the mining facility economy if the fluid and never-end-
and that is where their homes, called ing macro-economic, political, hu-
man rights and property rights factors
and problems are comprehensively
addressed by the government.

Page 20 Executive Chat NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Culture of corruption must be dismantled

ON 9 December, Zimbabwe joined to provide social safety nets for vul- Transparency International Zimbabwe director Muchaneta Mundopa It is also our recommendation that
the rest of the world in commem- nerable members of society. In Zim- stakeholders such as the National
orating International Anti-Corrup- babwe, people opted to risk con- ness include the non-implementa- more. Investigation of corruption Prosecuting Authority make use of
tion Day at a time the scourge is tracting Covid-19 whilst defending tion or selective implementation should not be used for political ex- the Unexplained Wealth Orders to
growing in the country. The News- livelihoods. This shows that it is the of the laws that exist as a result of pedience only. However, for Zacc to ensure that the perpetrators of cor-
hawks reporter Merlin Garwe (MG) ordinary citizens who bear the brunt the lack of independence of some succeed, there must be political will ruption do not benefit from the pro-
this week spoke to Transparency of corruption and, as such, it is inte- of the anti-corruption institutions to see the institution succeed. This ceeds of crime.
International Zimbabwe (TIZ) di- gral that anti-corruption be imbed- (political interference), a general entails political actors, senior public MG: What are the key sticking is-
rector Muchaneta Mundopa (MM) ded in all sustainable development lack of expertise and resources by officials and politically exposed per- sues around transparency and ac-
who reflected on TIZs journey efforts. anti-corruption bodies, poor com- sons respecting the rule of law and countability that you think need
against corruption as well as the im- munication and coordination be- constitution which provides that to be addressed?
pact of graft during the Covid-19 As an institution, we have been tween the different anti-corruption Zacc is an independent institution MM: Transparency and account-
era. Mundopa says countries with encouraged by the increased dis- bodies and in their relation with which is not subject to the direction ability are compromised across the
low levels of corruption were able course by ordinary citizens on the various anti-corruption stakeholders and control of anyone and must public sector. However, we are of the
to provide social safety nets to vul- state of corruption in the country (we anticipate that the National An- exercise its functions without fear, view that there is need to put con-
nerable members of society while in and the exposing of corruption ti-corruption Strategy will be able to favour or prejudice. It also entails certed efforts in the extractive indus-
Zimbabwe people opted to risk con- thereof. This is testament of the address the issue of coordination). ensuring that the institution is well tries and public procurement. The
tracting Covid-19 whilst defending fact that citizens are now aware of MG: What is your comment on resourced, and its staff capacitated. country continues to lose a lot of
livelihoods. the negative impacts of corruption. the work done by Zimbabwe An- Corruption is a complex and highly revenue through leakages in the ex-
However, of concern to us has been ti-Corruption Commission so far? technical phenomena on, which re- tractive industry and through public
Mundopa also bemoaned the le- the imbalance between the impetus quires resources. procurement as noted by the Audi-
thargic pace at which cases of corrup- by the citizens for a corruption-free tor General in her annual reports.
tion involving politically-connected Zimbabwe and the pace and the MM: The Zimbabwe Anti-Cor- MG: There have been concerns of Corruption in the extractives is ram-
persons are progressing. Below are manner in which cases of grand cor- ruption Commission is one of the corruption involving bigwigs, tak- pant due to limited contract trans-
excerpts of the interview: ruption or those involving political- constitutionally mandated insti- ing long to be resolved. What is parency and secrecy clauses therein.
MG: What can you say about the ly exposed persons or high-ranking tutions to combat corruption and your comment?
journey you have travelled in the public officials are being handled, crime in terms of Chapter 13 of the MM: Corruption in Zimbabwe is This is further worsened by high
fight against corruption in Zim- the culture of impunity continues Constitution. They have the respon- politically contested and those polit- cost of compliance in the formalisa-
babwe and the country’s commit- and this remains detrimental to the sibility to investigate, combat and ically connected seem to be afforded tion processes. Public procurement
ment to tackling the scourge? fight against corruption. receive complaints on corruption. a high degree of impunity and pref- processes on the other hand remain
MM: Since 2003, the 9th of De- MG: What are the challenges you Zacc has evolved over time and, in erential treatment once arrested. We at the centre of political debate and
cember has been set aside annually are facing in trying to combat cor- our view, it is progressively growing have noted with concern the way are characterised by complex dy-
as the International Anti-Corrup- ruption in Zimbabwe? in its strength and reach, especial- senior public officials or politically namics of political/state capture,
tion Day. This is a United Nations MM: Just like most civil society or- ly in terms of coordinating various exposed persons are afforded prefer- failure to adhere to procurement
observance with connections to the ganisations in the country, our chal- stakeholders in the fight against cor- ential treatment when they appear at processes, weak accountability and
United Nations Convention Against lenging moments have been around ruption through the spearheading the courts. A case in point is how the enforcement institutions, and a con-
Corruption (UNCAC) to which the shrinking of civic and demo- of the country’s maiden National former minister of Health (Obadiah tinued culture of impunity.
Zimbabwe is one of the state parties. cratic space. This has contributed Anti-Corruption Strategy. Zacc has Moyo) was afforded bail at his first
For TIZ, we do not take this day to lack of safety for anti-corruption also been influential in prioritising court appearance despite the seri- This has allowed for the contin-
as ordinary commemorations, but activists as Zimbabwe does not have asset recovery and initiating investi- ousness of the allegations he faces. ued leakages of public funds through
we also take it as an opportunity to mechanisms in place to protect gations of high-profile cases. How- Corruption involving funds meant skewed processes, despite having
reflect on how far the country has whistleblowers. Fighting corrup- ever, it faces challenges in complet- for Covid-19 poses as a threat to the progressive legislative frameworks
gone in terms of fighting corruption tion by its very nature is dangerous, ing high level cases and in achieving right to life. guiding public procurement and
and our contribution thereof as an therefore there must be sincerity and quantifiable results. disposal of public assets. The lack of
institution. TIZ has been in exis- political will to protect those who The fact that these cases are tak- beneficial ownership transparency
tence since 1996. The past 24 years expose corruption coupled with re- This may be attributable to the ing too long to conclude warrants laws creates loopholes for political-
have been filled with lessons, chal- spect for fundamental rights such as fact that prosecution of cases is the relevant stakeholders to relook at the ly connected persons to be awarded
lenges, and milestones in the fight access to information. preserve of the National Prosecuting effectiveness of our justice system in government contracts.
against corruption. MG: In your statement on An- Authority. Due to the endemic lev- dealing with corruption cases, es- MG: Do you see Zimbabwe em-
ti-Corruption Day, you highlight- els of corruption, there is the obvi- pecially cases of grand corruption. bracing a new anti-corruption
The institution has been instru- ed that corruption remains one of ous expectation for Zacc to be doing ethos?
mental in advocating and lobbying the governance challenges despite MM: Corruption has become a cul-
for institutional and policy frame- robust legal frameworks. What tural trait, from petty to grand lev-
works that contribute to the eradi- do you think could really be the els of corruption. It is embedded in
cation of corruption in Zimbabwe problem? people’s daily transactions and for
such as the 2020-2024 National MM: Indeed, corruption in Zim- ordinary citizens has been necessitat-
Anti-Corruption Strategy. We are babwe remains endemic despite ed by the need to acquire basic pub-
cognisant of the fact that fighting the vast legal frameworks that exist lic services: “survival corruption”.
corruption requires a holistic and to combat it. This is evidenced by
multi-faceted approach and, as such, Zimbabwe’s low ranking on various This cultural trait is difficult to
we have been working with various corruption and governance indices deconstruct without responding to
stakeholders in the anti-corruption such as the Transparency Interna- key social and economic facets such
chain such as Parliament, private tional Corruption Perceptions Index as the declining economy and the
sector, churches, government de- (CPI), where the country has a score impunity afforded to politically con-
partments, the media and the ordi- of 24 out of 100 with a ranking of nected persons.
nary citizens. 158 out of 180. Such low ranking
and score coupled with the ordi- Such impunity provides justifica-
The theme of this year’s Inter- nary citizen’s dissatisfaction with tion for the ordinary citizen to en-
national Anti-Corruption Day was regards to the lack of transparency, gage in corruption. There is the gen-
“Recover with Integrity” in light of accountability and integrity in both eral disintegration of integrity within
the Covid-19 pandemic. This pan- the private and public sectors poses a our society where those who engage
demic has not only exposed how question on the effectiveness of our in acts of corruption are awarded
corruption thrives during times of anti-corruption policies and the will “hero status”, what we at TIZ have
emergencies or disasters but has also by political actors in fighting cor- termed “mbingarisation of corrup-
amplified the effects of corruption ruption in Zimbabwe. tion” whilst those who ejke out an
on the state’s ability to respect, pro- honest living have to contend with
tect, and fulfil fundamental human Whilst we are aware that fighting a failing public sector. Addressing
rights and freedoms. The state of our corruption has incremental gains, this level of corruption, therefore,
public healthcare is deplorable such there is the desire and urgency by requires new thinking and strategic
that we have ministers and other citizens to see anti-corruption pol- leadership that discourages corrup-
high-ranking public officials opting icies transforming institutions of tion from the highest level as well
to seek medical attention outside governance and curbing corruption, as targeting the young in the fight
the country, yet Zimbabwe is one due to the disastrous impact of the against corruption: “catch them
of the countries endowed with vast scourge. As an institution, we believe young”. Zimbabwe has the potential
minerals. that the reasons for such ineffective- to embrace a new culture, if there is
a mindset shift and general approach
Whilst Covid-19 is unprecedent- of institutional strengthening.
ed, we noticed that countries with
low levels of corruption were able

NewsHawks Taking Stock Page 21

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Price Sheet

Thursday, 17 December 2020 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) 2200.00 Volume Value ($) (cents) (%) ($m)
Price 165.00
AFDIS Consumer Goods AFDIS: ZH 2200.00 430.00 - - - - 589.66 2,580.73
African Sun Consumer Services ASUN: ZH 164.00 - 122.00 900 1,485.00 1.00 0.61 560.00 1,421.92
ART ARTD: ZH 425.14 165.00 600.11 200 4.86 1.14 3207.69 1,879.00
Ariston Industrials ARISTON: ZH 120.17 430.00 333.98 575,000 860.00 1.83 1.52 543.80 1,985.42
Axia Consumer Services AXIA: ZH 555.74 122.00 41000.00 1,865,900 701,491.00 44.37 7.98 896.86 3,269.97
BNC BIND: ZH 305.27 666.00 7500.00 360,500 11,197,440.00 28.71 9.40 1964.15 4,174.27
BAT Consumer Goods 41000.00 330.00 419.85 1,204,014.00 758.64 8,459.74
CAFCA Basic Materials BAT: ZH 7500.00 6227.93 - - - 4113.01
Cassava CAFCA: ZH 419.97 - 900.00 100 - - - 199.89 655.13
CBZ Consumer Goods 5438.96 7500.00 60.00 2,750,400 7,500.00 -0.12 -0.03 8834.06 10,876.54
Dairibord Industrials CSZL: ZH 900.00 419.75 2496.72 975,200 11,547,440.00 788.97 14.51 2005.26 42,800.31
Dawn CBZ: ZH 60.00 6500.00 720.52 200 60,734,800.00 - - 721.92 3,222.01
Delta Technology DZL: ZH 2407.33 900.00 100.00 1,800.00 - - 632.71 1,474.30
Econet Banking DAWN: ZH 734.41 1455.12 - 89.39 3.71 382.15 32,069.40
Edgars DLTA: ZH 100.00 - 150.90 409,500 - -13.89 -1.89 376.19 18,665.62
FBC Consumer Goods ECO: ZH 1487.50 2500.00 87.00 185,600 10,224,090.00 - - 2130.07
Fidelity Real Estate EDGR: ZH 150.90 700.00 780.00 1,337,277.00 -32.38 -2.18 1550.98 326.99
First Capital FBC: ZH 88.96 100.00 210.00 100 - - 874.24 9,777.68
FML Consumer Goods FIDL: ZH 660.00 1500.00 17.00 349,900 100.00 -1.96 -2.20 2263.64
FMP Telecommunications FCA: ZH 210.00 12.50 5,091,450.00 120.00 18.18 1135.29 164.37
GBH Consumer Services FMHL: ZH 17.00 - 6000.00 - - - 608.33 1,876.35
Getbucks FMP: ZH 12.50 87.00 3352.65 281,700 - - - 4.17 5,383.12
Hippo Banking GBH: ZH 6000.00 780.00 800.00 245,069.00 - - 2976.92 2,600.13
Innscor Financial Services GBFS: ZH 3317.04 79.05 600 - - 846.43
Lafarge HIPO: ZH 800.00 - 902.66 - 4,680.00 35.61 1.07 344.44 91.22
Mash Banking INN: ZH 89.50 - 7.86 - - - - 913.46 145.39
Masimba Financial Services LACZ: ZH 1000.00 - 1784.35 - - -10.45 -11.68 4900.89 11,581.23
Medtech MASH: ZH 7.87 6000.00 130.00 - -97.34 -9.73 417.11 18,934.98
Meikles Real Estate MSHL: ZH 1784.35 3350.00 6010.00 15,200 -0.01 -0.13 602.50 640.00
Nampak Industrials MMDZ: ZH 125.50 - 27.45 34,000 912,000.00 - - 80.56 1,469.60
NatFoods MEIK: ZH 6010.00 79.00 360.00 1,139,900.00 4.50 3.59 567.04 2,181.31
NTS Financial Services NPKZ: ZH 27.45 900.00 708.43 - - - 1176.74 238.93
NMBZ Consumer Goods NTFD: ZH 304.98 7.80 1910.21 68,900 - - - 778.05 4,508.09
OK Zim NTS: ZH 684.05 - 192.49 94,000 54,462.50 55.02 18.04 1182.46 982.34
Padenga Industrials NMB: ZH 1994.61 130.00 580.00 2,425,100 848,500.00 24.38 3.56 654.28 4,110.85
Powerspeed Industrials OKZ: ZH 180.00 - 188.00 190,729.50 -84.40 -4.23 862.45 69.69
Proplastics Real Estate PHL: ZH 552.24 - 1120.00 - 12.49 6.94 607.32 1,455.02
RTG Industrials PWS: ZH 188.00 360.00 2180.00 700 - 27.76 5.03 1196.55 8,832.80
RioZim Healthcare PROL: ZH 1120.00 710.00 900.03 910.00 - - 377.41 10,345.57
SeedCo Industrials RTG: ZH 2185.22 2000.00 26.72 - - - 1262.50 720.38
Simbisa Industrials RIOZ: ZH 872.57 192.50 16.79 - - -5.22 -0.24 616.47 1,461.23
Star Africa Consumer Goods SEED: ZH 26.74 580.00 864.00 40,800 - 27.46 3.15 652.68 4,691.53
Truworths Industrials SIM: ZH 18.05 - 78.00 274,600 146,880.00 -0.02 -0.07 783.68 1,366.73
TSL SACL: ZH 864.00 - 15.50 23,500 1,945,340.00 -1.26 -6.98 1040.59 5,352.51
Turnall Banking TRUW: ZH 78.00 2180.00 27.00 937,000 448,900.00 - - 609.09 5,059.83
Unifreight Consumer Services TSL: ZH 15.50 901.00 2300.00 1,268,300 1,803,610.00 - - 72.22 1,259.87
Willdale TURN: ZH 26.53 27.00 0.02 - 7,356,140.00 - - 671.43 64.48
ZB Consumer Goods UNIF: ZH 2300.00 16.00 85.00 - - 0.47 1.77 3094.44 3,085.37
Zeco Industrials WILD: ZH 0.02 - 405.00 7,200 - - - 384.57
Zimpapers Industrials ZBFH: ZH 85.00 78.00 260.00 908,600 156,960.00 - - - 16.50
Zimplow ZECO: ZH 400.00 - 18,000 8,177,681.00 - - 534.33 480.06
ZHL Consumer Services ZIMP: ZH 260.00 27.00 7,600 4,809.50 5.00 1.25 569.42 4,029.38
TOTAL Basic Materials ZIMPLOW: ZH 2300.00 - 1,276.00 - - 1633.33
ZHL: ZH - 42,200 - 0.09
Consumer Goods - - 32,916.00 489.60
Consumer Goods 405.00 61,700 - 965.44
Consumer Goods 260.00 2,500 16,659.00 3,986.68
Consumer Services - 57,500.00 252,664.28
Consumer Goods - -
200 -
Industrials 6,500 810.00
Industrials 13,992,400 16,900.00
Industrials 125,612,379.50

Banking
Industrials
Consumer Services
Industrials
Financial Services

VFEX Open (US cents) Close (US cents) Change (%) TD (%) Mkt Cap (US$m) Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
SCIL
18.00 18.00 - -17.81 43.40 FML 780.00c +120.00c +18.18 +2263.64
FINSEC NMBZ 360.00c +55.02c +18.04 +778.05
OMZIL Open (cents) Close (cents) Change (%) YTD (%) Mkt Cap ($m) CBZ 6227.93c +788.97c +14.51 +8834.06
BNC 333.98c +28.71c +9.40 +1964.15
2650.00 2650.00 - 120.83 2,199.81 Axia 600.11c +44.37c +7.98 +896.86

Index Close Change (%) Open YTD % Top 5 Fallers Price Change % YTD %

ZSE All Share 2,139.12 +3.23 2,072.28 +829.69 Mash 79.05c -10.45c -11.68 +913.46
Top 10 1,391.42 +4.13 1,336.18 +583.21 Masimba 902.66c -97.34c -9.73 +4900.89
Top 15 1,621.49 +3.82 1,561.82 +690.08 Truworths 16.79c -1.26c -6.98 +783.68
Small Cap 9,736.04 -4.41 10,184.72 +1427.82 Padenga 1910.21c -84.40c -4.23 +654.28
Medium Cap 4,259.27 +2.10 4,171.48 +1396.84 First Capital 87.00c -1.96c -2.20 +874.24

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Page 22 News Analysis NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

DUMISANI NYONI Annus horribilis: 2020 ue inflicting this kind of damage on
ZIMBABWE’S economy remained has been very tough the rest of us.”
subdued during the course of this
year, with key sectors such as mining, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mthuli Ncube As the year comes to an end, a
manufacturing and tourism record- silver lining may be on the horizon,
ing negative growth due to drought, ulation,” he said. 2020 was exceptional for the country the value needed to keep its one-to- Robertson said.
floods, Covid-19 pandemic and Muoni said the auction system has and the rest of the world, like no one exchange rate with the US dollar,
macro-economic risks, among others. other year in the past. Robertson said. “Progress is being made rebuild-
worked very well in stabilising the ing trunk roads and completing
The economy, which opened economy. He said the Covid-19 pandem- Government denied this claim, dam-building and power station
the year in distress, is expected to ic erupted when the country was but as US dollars got scarce, the projects that started years ago. More
contract a further 4.1% by year-end, The forex auction platform has already grappling with other serious black market became the only place farming projects of reasonable size
according to Finance minister Mthuli been hailed as a game changer since it challenges, including the devastating to buy forex. Unfortunately, this are improving the prospects of better
Ncube. took off the ground six months ago. impact of climatic shocks associated trade became much more profitable harvests in 2021 and these should
Companies have described it as the with drought and cyclones, which all than any manufacturing or other reduce the costs of food imports,” he
Agriculture and forestry are driving force behind the stabilisation had a profound effect on the coun- legitimate business activity, but it was said.
expected to decline by 0.2%, mining of the Zimbabwean dollar against the try’s healthcare system, livelihoods confused by fuel, maize and electric-
and quarrying by -4.7%, manufac- greenback during the period. and the economy at large. ity subsidies that offered speculators “The country seems to have taken
turing by -9.6%, construction by additional profits. Covid-19 in its stride better than
-11.4%, finance and insurance by The auction system has defused “Whilst the mainstay sector of many others, but it has impacted on
-7.1%. the rampaging parallel market agriculture was less affected by the By the second half of 2018, Rob- trade volumes and costs. Hopefully,
rate, which has declined from a impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, ertson said the government accepted 2021 will see the country mak-
In a bid to grow the economy, high of US$1:ZW$165 before the drought had already caused the need to support its belief that ing much more progress that will
the government in 2018 expressed a its launch in June to the current some damage to the sector’s summer units in bond notes and electronic translate into employment creation,
commitment to attaining the vision US$1:ZW$81.90. season,” Ncube said. money were still equal in value to the settlement of some of our debts
of an “Empowered and Prosperous US dollars, but its decision to permit through improvements in exports
Upper Middle-Income Society by Muoni, however, said the biggest “Other sectors such as mining, forex to be deposited in separate and a recovery in our international
2030”. problem is that “we are becoming a manufacturing, tourism, construc- accounts reinforced the opposing relations.”
net importer of almost everything. tion, distribution and other service views. The black market was so great-
The vision, however, met with So as an agro-economy, we need to sectors had faced the full negative ly invigorated that in early 2019 the In the period under review,
quite a number of hurdles and risks make sure that we start producing so impact of all shocks either through government had to accept the need Zimbabwe’s cost of living kept rising,
such as drought, floods, cyclones, that we reduce the amount of what lockdowns, reduced investment to devalue the local currency. All condemning many people to abject
the Covid-19 pandemic as well as we are importing.”  inflows, lost production hours, closed these created the enormous inflation poverty.
macro-economic risks. borders, grounded distribution trans- that affected us so badly in the first
He said oil expressers should work port systems, broken supply chains seven months of 2020, he said. For instance, in October the
This, according to Ncube, under- with local farmers through contract and low demand, among others.” cost of living as measured by the
mined efforts on building “physical farming for soya bean production.    “The currency auction began to Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency
infrastructure and delivery of planned John Robertson, an independent deliver some certainty and stability (ZimStat) rose by 4.4% to ZW$18
public services, with consequences “Currently, we are importing economist, said Zimbabwe’s econom- to traders after August, bringing 750.
for attaining Vision 2030 and meet- crude oil and the value remains ic crisis continued into the first half monthly inflation down, but the
ing internationally agreed milestones where the soya is being crushed, of this year and into July, but from currency black market speculators To make matters worse, the gov-
such as the Sustainable Development which is South Africa. We hope this August onwards conditions improved left the Zimbabwe dollar at only one ernment failed to pay civil servants
Goals.” current season is going to change considerably. hundredth of its value before the a living wage, resulting in them em-
the whole economic direction where 2018 changes,” Robertson said. barking on industrial action, further
Besides natural factors like floods we are going to become productive He said the people manipulating crippling the economy.
and Covid-19, the economy suffered instead of consumptive or importing the black market exchange rate had “The savings of millions of people
a lot due to the government’s policy what we could produce locally,” he been responsible for rising inflation, were wiped out yet again and we The country’s year-on-year infla-
inconsistency, especially on the mon- said.  fuel and electricity shortages, shrink- have all had to re-learn to live under tion rate dropped to 401.66% in
etary policy front. ing buying power and worsening job challenges last experienced in 2008. November, from 471% the previ-
On average, Zimbabwe is losing insecurity since 2016. Hopefully, the black market currency ous month, according to ZimStat,
The authorities experimented a US$200 million through soya bean dealers will not be allowed to contin- meaning prices, as measured by
lot. Several statutory instruments on imports per year. People then began to realise that the all-items consumer price index,
monetary policy were issued on a Zimbabwe’s currency did not have increased by an average of 401.66%
quarterly or monthly basis, cancelling In his 2021 national budget state- between November last year and
out each other, much to the bemuse- ment, Ncube admitted that the year November 2020.
ment of investors. This further para-
lysed the badly weakened economy. Year-on-year inflation reached a
post-dollarisation peak of 837.53%
Economic analysts and captains of in July, prompting the authorities to
industry who spoke to The News- institute a raft of measures to douse
Hawks said the year 2020 has been a the flames.
mix of the bad and the good.
In August, inflation eased to
Bad, because the government 761.02% after the forex exchange
failed to cut the import bill, support parallel market was tamed when the
industry, pay civil servants decent central bank intensified a clampdown
salaries, eliminate corruption, and on mobile money agents and other
support people’s savings. digital money transfer platforms.

On the upside, experts said the The government also suspended
government managed to stabilise the trading on the Zimbabwe Stock Ex-
local currency through the establish- change in June, accusing the bourse
ment of the forex auction system. of fuelling inflation, before reopening
This also made forex for retooling it in August.
and for buying raw material available.
Even though the inflation rate has
The government also managed to been slowing down, the cost of living
address fuel and electricity shortages has generally been increasing.
as well as arresting runaway inflation.
Going forward, Ncube said,
“Because of Covid-19, we were the government will bring forward
so devastated in terms of economic business and infrastructure invest-
performance because there were ment activity, adequately prepare and
stop-starts where business was not support the forthcoming agricultural
operating fully. I think we can say season and other productive sectors,
the stabilisation of the auction was albeit in a manner that does not pro-
the biggest achievement in terms mote vulnerabilities and instability.
of arresting the runaway currency,”
Zimbabwe National Chamber of “Therefore, economic growth is
Commerce vice-president Golden expected to rebound in 2021 from
Muoni said. the consecutive two-year slump to
record 7.4%. From the supply side,
“I think for 2020, that’s what we this growth will be driven by strong
can say the government managed to recovery in agriculture, mining, elec-
achieve. They managed to stabilise tricity, construction, transport and
the currency. There was a lot of spec- communication as well as finance
and insurance,” he said.

NewsHawks Opinion Page 23

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Justice Chikowero’s judgement unmasks
rot of Zimbabwe’s criminal justice system

FIDELICY NYAMUKONDIWA known as Musa Mohammed, else. The supreme law of Zimba- Justice Benjamin Chikowero opens a can of worms. On the face
was probably Zimbabwe’s most bwe, the Constitution, makes bail of it, the case exposes the rot in
IN yet another disappointing wanted man. He had reported- a constitutional right. It mandates past two decades sit back and the manner in which some mag-
court judgement, a Harare High ly been playing cat and mouse that detained persons “be released wait to be tried? He would be istrates and judges handle matters
Court judge recently granted bail with the police for the past 20 unconditionally or on reasonable a fool if he does. The law also brought before them. The case
to Zimbabwe’s most wanted man, years. In those years, some of conditions,… unless there are provides that bail should not be also reflects on poor case manage-
Musa Taj Abdul. Justice Benjamin his accomplices were reportedly compelling reasons justifying granted if there are chances of ment by some scallywag police
Chikowero’s bail ruling is just shot dead by the police in pursuit their continued detention.” witness interference or evidence officers and officers of the NPA.
but one of the many judgements shootouts. He was finally arrest- tampering. Abdul was arrested in late August
exposing the rot in the country’s ed together with seven other gang A non-exhaustive list of the 2020, allegations being that he
justice system. members. At the time of arrest, compelling reasons is to be found Most importantly, the law committed a series of offences,
one of the gang members was a in the Criminal Procedure and provides that a magistrate or a some dating back to as far as 20
The law enjoins a court to serving member of the police and Evidence Act (CPEA). In terms of judge must not grant bail to an years ago. Close to four months
strike a balance between the the other is a former police officer this law, suspects must be denied accused person if such granting later, he was granted bail.
liberty of an accused on one hand who was sacked for misconduct bail if their release will likely will “undermine or jeopardise the
and the interests of justice on the four years ago. The gang was threaten the safety of the public. objectives or proper functioning Ideally, at least some of the
other. When news that notorious arrested for murder and several That the release of Abdul endan- of the criminal justice system, cases should have been finalised
Musa had been granted bail went armed robbery cases committed gers public safety is a no brainer. including the bail system.” within the four-months-period.
viral on social media, people were around Zimbabwe. Upon arrest, Considering the nature and seri-
quick to blame the judge. Musa and his colleagues were If there is a likelihood that It is the duty of the public ousness of the offences, by now he
allegedly found in possession of an accused will commit further prosecutor, with the assistance should be serving imprisonment
The case however took a twist a pistol, 30 live rounds, a pair of crimes, bail should not be grant- of the police to convince the for some of the offences. Was the
when it emerged that Tapiwa vehicle registration number plates ed. Abdul has been committing court that a suspect like Musa is delay in trying Abdul necessitated
Kusema, the public prosecutor and a balaclava. A balaclava is serious crimes for the past 20 or not a good candidate for bail. If by the fact that investigations are
who delt with the case, had that kind of mask you see being more years. the prosecutor does not adduce still in progress? Is it because some
actually suggested that the armed worn by robbers in the movies. enough evidence to oppose bail, a witnesses could not be located?
robber be granted bail. He has been linked to over 50 court may be left with no choice Could it be that the dockets are
It has been reported that the armed robberies. The likelihood but to grant bail. not yet ready for trial and are still
After a public outcry, the police linked Abdul to up to 53 of him committing further crimes held by the police? Could it be
Prosecutor-General hastened armed robberies. is indubitable. The CPEA also The CPEA also states that the because the NPA is still perusing
to suspend Kusema for the bail Compelling reasons for denying provides that if there is a likeli- court should consider “whether the dockets?
concession. Kusema is said to bail hood that accused persons will the release of an accused will
have been previously suspended In determining whether or not a escape they cannot be granted undermine or jeopardise public While it is a fact that some
on bribery allegations. One is left person should be granted bail, the bail. Sufficiency of evidence, seri- confidence in the criminal justice cases are complex, the Constitu-
wondering why a prosecutor with police and court officials must be ousness of the offence and likely system”. tion guarantees the right to a fair
a controversial history is allowed guided by the law and nothing sentence can induce a suspect to trial within a reasonable time. It
to handle high-profile cases in a flee. There is no doubt that releasing is an open secret that hundreds
superior court. Abdul back into the community of suspects have been on remand
Will a suspected armed robber reduces the criminal justice sys- for long periods and without any
In either opposing or consent- who has been on the run for the tem into a joke. prospects of timeous prosecu-
ing to bail, a prosecutor is guided Rot of the system tion. In some cases, courts end
by the police officer investigat- Justice Chikowero’s judgement up striking off the cases from
ing the case. A close analysis of remand. What happened to Ig-
leaked court documents leading nitius Chombo’s case? The writer
to the bail granting suggests that is reminded of the old adage,
the investigating officer was also “justice delayed is justice denied.”
comfortable with the release of If the state unjustifiably consents
Abdul. Shocking, is it not? The to bail, the court is duty bound
investigating officer ought to be to question the concession and
investigated as well. deny bail where necessary. There
are a number of cases in which the
In what looks like another latter has happened. Abdul’s case
cover-up stint triggered by public seems to be one of such cases in
uproar, the police rearrested Ab- which the judge should have que-
dul for what has been called ‘fresh ried the state’s concession. When
charges’. This happened before he alleged serious offenders like Musa
could pay the bail money. One Taj Abdul are granted bail, that
wonders whether the so-called does not only impede the smooth
fresh charges were unknown to running of the wheels of justice.
the investigating officer at the It jeopardises public confidence in
time of consenting to bail. the whole criminal justice system.
Justice Chikowero’s judgement
In Henrietta Rushwaya’s sets a very bad precedent for
straightforward smuggling case, Zimbabwe’s jurisprudence . The
the National Prosecuting Author- NPA must urgently appeal to the
ity (NPA) initially consented to Supreme Court. This is one of the
bail and then suddenly made a many cases for which the Zimba-
‘U’ turn after a public outcry. The bwe Anti-Corruption Commis-
Police and the National Prosecut- sion must spring to action. Heads
ing Authority (NPA), for strange must roll!
reasons, have once again consent-
ed to the granting of bail in an Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa
undeserving case. A few weeks is a former public prosecutor
ago, bail was vehemently opposed who writes here in his personal
in Hopwell Chin’ono’s Twitter capacity. He is the founding di-
charge. Well, that demonstrates rector for Fauna and Flora Zim-
how rot our criminal justice babwe (FaFloZim). Contactable
system is. on 0718975244/fidelnyams on
Who is Musa Taj Abdul? Twitter
Before his arrest in August
2020, Musa Taj Abdul popularly

Page 24 Opinion NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Repression and recession in a volatile,
crisis-ridden and broken Zimbabwe

THREE years after a coup ended President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia
Robert Mugabe’s rule, the situa-
tion in Zimbabwe has gone from a violent regime change agenda at and MDC-A, as well as with other sanctions and encouraging inter- PF divisions also widened amid
bad to worse, as political tensions the behest of foreign interests. political and civil society actors, its national financial institutions to a slew of government corruption
mount, the economy falls apart and efforts have yielded no fruit, in part reschedule debt or extend new lines scandals.
the population faces hunger and Moreover, despite Mnangagwa’s because authorities in Zimbabwe of credit to resuscitate Zimbabwe’s Repression and economic woes
COVID-19. promise of sweeping econom- blocked the emissaries’ attempts to moribund economy. By arming Zimbabwe’s crisis has only deep-
ic reforms, Zanu PF elites and meet opposition leaders. Without Pretoria with incentives to motivate ened since the 31 July 2018
Having signalled a desire to some of their military allies have a political compact between Zanu Harare, donors can help position presidential election. On 1 August,
stabilise the economy and ease cornered much of the econo- PF and MDC-A, the chances of it to nudge its neighbour down the security forces opened fire on
repression, President Emmerson my, profiting handsomely while meaningful reform that could open long-elusive path toward political crowds protesting the conduct of
Mnangagwa has disappointed. The ordinary Zimbabweans face public up the economy, ease political and economic reform. the polls, the first time in Zimba-
state is arresting opponents who spending cuts, skyrocketing prices tensions and lead to a roadmap for Repression and recession bwe’s history that either policemen
protest government corruption and and the COVID-19 pandemic. As clean elections down the road will The ouster of Mugabe in November or soldiers had used live ammuni-
incompetence. socio-economic tensions rise, so, dwindle. 2017 raised hopes that Zimbabwe tion against peaceful demonstrators.
too, has violent crime, with street would embark on much-needed re- Six people died. MDC-A rejected
Meanwhile, government-allied gangs increasingly prevalent, some Pretoria should not give up. Ra- forms to protect political freedoms, Mnangagwa’s narrow election vic-
businessmen are tightening their of them co-opted by rival Zanu PF maphosa’s government should use end government repression and tory, claiming irregularities in vote
grip on what is left of the economy, factions at a time when ruling-party its influence as Zimbabwe’s most revitalise an ailing economy. counting, but the constitutional
while citizens cope with austerity unity is itself coming under strain. important neighbour and trading court dismissed its legal challenge.
measures and soaring inflation. partner to keep pressing Harare to When Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s
Violence and lawlessness are on the Zimbabwe’s government has dial back repression and to demon- long-term ally and one-time vice MDC-A, which enjoys sizeable
rise. stepped up repression amid an strate commitment to real dialogue president, took power after the support in cities, has continued to
economic freefall and mounting with the opposition. Pretoria must coup, he promised “radical eco- refuse to recognise Mnangagwa as
Fearing major unrest, or even social problems in a way that could insist that Harare give its envoys nomic reforms”. He also stated the the elected president. It has also
another coup sparked by rul- propel the country toward renewed space to engage with MDC-A and country was under a “new dispen- boycotted the Political Actors Dia-
ing-party divisions, Zimbabwe’s conflict. other opposition and civil society sation”, raising hopes he would logue, set up by the government in
most important neighbour, South figures so that it can bring them to hold free and fair elections and stop February 2019 in what it said was
Africa, is ditching its tolerant Under Cyril Ramaphosa’s the table for talks. It should then systematic abuses of opposition an effort to bring together political
posture toward Harare. It should go presidency, which began in 2018, push Zanu PF and MDC-A to activists and politicians. But hope leaders to debate the national crisis.
further, pushing Mnangagwa to roll the South African government has enter negotiations about how to swiftly gave way to disappointment The opposition party argues that
back repression and begin dialogue begun to take more active steps strengthen the auditing of govern- as Mnangagwa cracked down on Zanu PF is using the dialogue plat-
with the opposition on economic to address the risk that continual ment finances and tackle high-level protesters challenging his victory form to present itself in a concilia-
reform. Pretoria could meanwhile cycles of repression and economic corruption, as a first step toward in the 2018 election, which were tory light while it continues to treat
work out reform benchmarks with failure could deliver a destabilis- stopping the plunder of state assets criticised by foreign observers for its opponents brutally.
Western governments, which would ing crisis on its doorstep. In the by unaccountable elites and reset- being less than free and fair. Once
be guideposts for when to support last eighteen months, Pretoria has ting economic governance. in office, he fell back on draconian Amid the political crisis, the
the lifting of sanctions and extend become noticeably more critical of legislation governing public order country’s economy has nosedived.
debt relief for Zimbabwe. Zanu PF’s mishandling of Zim- Meanwhile, Pretoria should reach and media freedoms to muzzle The government says its major eco-
babwe’s governance, calling out out to the US, European Union opponents. As the clampdown nomic reform effort – the Transi-
South Africa has been a key systemic corruption and capture of (EU) and UK and work with them continued, the economy also went tion Stabilisation Program launched
mediator in Zimbabwe’s political state assets by ruling elites in Hara- to develop a credible roadmap for from bad to worse. Internal Zanu in October 2018 – has delivered
crises for years. In 2008, it brokered re. But while Pretoria has appointed reform in Zimbabwe, which could macro-economic stability. But
a national unity government in the envoys to travel to Harare to en- be linked to decisions about lifting
country following international courage dialogue between Zanu PF
outrage at violence that followed
Mugabe’s refusal to accept his first-
round election defeat by Morgan
Tsvangirai, then the opposition
leader.

The deal, midwifed by former
South African President Thabo
Mbeki, was celebrated by South Af-
rican officials at the time as vindica-
tion of Pretoria’s “quiet diplomacy”
with Mugabe, whom South Africa’s
ruling African National Congress
(ANC) still viewed as a liberation
icon. But it infuriated many Zim-
babweans, who saw the policy as
appeasing a repressive strongman.
Moreover, despite its economic and
diplomatic clout with Zimbabwe,
and its role as a guarantor of the
2008 agreement, South Africa failed
to hold Mugabe to his promises
when Zimbabwe’s ruling African
National Union Patriotic Front
(Zanu PF) flouted the unity accord,
allowing Mugabe to consolidate
power and win re-election in 2013.
He proceeded to rule unchallenged
until the November 2017 coup.

Three years after Mugabe’s ouster,
Zanu PF clings to power under
Mnangagwa. Following the 2018
election, contested as fraudulent
by the Movement for Democratic
Change-Alliance (MDC-A) opposi-
tion party, Zimbabwe’s government
has stepped up repression amid an
economic freefall and mounting
social problems in a way that could
propel the country toward renewed
conflict. Beyond arresting its oppo-
nents, it accuses them of promoting

NewsHawks Opinion Page 25

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

critics have ample reason to dispute In July 2020, authorities clamped down on government critics. Corruption scandals
this claim, pointing to a currency Amid these tensions, numerous
devaluation crisis, rampant infla- measures taken to fight the disease sanctions levied by Western gov- altogether rather than risk running corruption scandals have tarnished
tion, ballooning unemployment, have hurt the economy. The police ernments. They point in particular afoul of them, and have made bor- top officials, revealing the extent
widespread poverty and pervasive and military have also been using to measures imposed by the US, as rowing on the commercial market of misgovernance and the limits of
food insecurity. coronavirus-related restrictions well as by the EU, the UK, Austra- unaffordable for banks. The upshot, Zimbabwe’s institutions in deal-
as a pretext to target opposition lia and Canada. the government argues, is that ing with high-level graft. While
Government targets of 9% members and supporters engaging These measures range from an “the average Zimbabwean pays the the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption
growth for 2019 were wildly in peaceful protest for arrest. arms sales ban to denial of visas to heaviest price”. Western govern- Commission (Zacc), which installed
optimistic, as the economy in fact Zimbabwean officials to financial ments argue that this claim is an its new chairperson in July 2019,
contracted by 12.8 per cent. In In July 2020, authorities clamped sanctions targeted at individuals exaggeration; they say the sanctions has arrested and charged several
February 2020, the International down on government critics, and commercial entities designated target elite economic actors and ministers and senior officials amid
Monetary Fund concluded that including by arresting opposition for their role in corruption and maintain that if Zimbabwean banks the president’s claims that he is
its Staff-Monitored Programme, leader Jacob Ngarivhume for rights abuses. cannot borrow cheaply, it is a result taking a “zero tolerance” approach
introduced to assist the government organising protests and by incarcer- of poor governance in Harare. U.S. to corruption, prosecutors have yet
with the 2018 Transitional Stabili- ating Booker Prize-shortlisted writer In addition, the Zimbabwe De- officials also say ZDERA provisions to deliver a conviction. In turn,
sation Programme, was “off track” Tsitsi Dangarembga for attending mocracy and Economic Recovery have not come into play, because critics have argued that, despite
and that there had been an “uneven demonstrations. The UN High Act (ZDERA), passed by the US Zimbabwe’s debt arrears prevent it the Zacc initiative, the president
implementation of reforms, notably Commissioner for Human Rights congress in 2001 and amended in from obtaining loans from interna- and his allies in the legal system are
delays and missteps in foreign ex- reacted with a statement emphasis- 2018, mandates US authorities to tional financial institutions whatev- more interested in using the probes
change and monetary reforms”. ing that Zimbabwe should not use vote against Harare’s access to new er Washington’s position. to keep senior ZANU-PF officials
COVID-19 “to clamp down on lines of credit from international Zanu PF divisions in check than in punishing them.
As the economy collapses, social fundamental freedoms, including financial institutions until it carries As Zimbabwe falls further into Zacc officials say they choose their
tensions are mounting, seemingly freedom of speech and the right to out key governance, electoral and an economic abyss, fractures are targets independently but lack the
exacerbated by the stabilisation pro- peaceful assembly”. human rights reforms. also opening in ZANU-PF power resources to tackle all the most
gram. While sold to the public as a Western sanctions circles. important cases.
reform package that would stabilise Officials in Harare portray the Mnangagwa and his supporters
Zimbabwe’s economy and promote country’s economic crisis as the portray these sanctions as pun- One fault line is between groups Meanwhile, the Zacc has decided
foreign investment, the program has combined result of drought and ishing the Zimbabwean people, loyal to Mnangagwa and those that not to investigate Kudakwashe
not delivered on its key promises, saying they have a chilling effect on oppose him, including followers of Tagwirei, a businessman close
including state-owned enterprise investors, who avoid the country Constantino Chiwenga, his deputy. to Mnangagwa and Chiwenga,
reform, infrastructure development Chiwenga is a former army general who benefitted from hundreds of
and turning the tide on corruption. who led the 2017 coup against millions of dollars in state pay-outs.
At the same time, it has exacerbated Mugabe and is now reportedly Washington has now sanctioned
economic hardship for ordinary positioning himself to challenge for Tagwirei for “public corruption”.
Zimbabweans. the party leadership ahead of the
2023 elections. At the same time, the govern-
Painful cuts in public spending ment appears to be using another
have hit public-sector workers hard; The two factions share the com- anti-corruption institution to target
many public servants are unable mon objective of keeping Zanu PF those who have exposed alleged
even to afford the commute to in office, but the tensions between corruption elsewhere. For example,
work. Strikes by teachers, nurses them are rising. the Special Anti-Corruption Unit,
and doctors protesting the drop in created in 2018 and run by Mnan-
their purchasing power have taken Evidence of such division is gagwa’s nephew out of the office of
a toll on the health and education mounting. In July 2020, for the presidency, has reportedly been
sectors. example, party spokesman Patrick involved in arrests of individuals
Chinamasa said Zanu PF had who were central to investigations
A very steep devaluation of the suspended two politburo members of former Health Minister Obadi-
country’s currency also resulted in after State Security Minister Owen ah Moyo. He was arrested in June
higher costs for imported goods. Ncube reported that posters and 2020 following Zacc investigations
As restrictions on the use of foreign fliers praising Chiwenga and calling into his alleged award of a contract
exchange have also kicked in and for Mnangagwa’s removal were for supply of COVID-19 personal
the currency is in a state of collapse, found in their homes. Chinamasa protection equipment to a United
inflation, running at over 600 also claimed that unnamed external Arab Emirates company, Drax
per cent, has further emptied the forces were “working with certain International, without going to
pockets of civil servants and other individuals in the party’s senior tender.
ordinary Zimbabweans. ranks to destabilise internal cohe-
sion”. In July, prominent journalist
With political and social tensions Hopewell Chin’ono, who is credited
mounting, and criminal violence on with exposing the Drax deal, was
the rise, the government has contin- arrested on charges of plotting to
ued to use brute force to stamp out promote public violence. Chin’ono
dissent. alleges that the special unit is
behind his arrest. The unit has also
With political and social tensions arrested police officers involved in
mounting, and criminal violence the Drax investigation.
on the rise, the government has Pretoria comes knocking
continued to use brute force to Under the presidencies of Thabo
stamp out dissent. In January 2019, Mbeki (1999-2008) and Jacob
protests – some of which spilled Zuma (2009-2018), South Africa
over into violent looting sprees – maintained a policy of “quiet
erupted across Zimbabwe after the diplomacy” toward its northern
government massively hiked fuel neighbour.
prices. The subsequent crackdown
left thirteen dead and over 1 000 ar- In practice, this policy meant
rested, amid widespread allegations generally abstaining from criticising
of beatings, abductions, torture and Zimbabwe’s governance and human
rape by security forces. rights record. Pretoria argued that
this approach allowed it to build
According to human rights confidence and friendly influence
monitors, state security agents or with Harare, but many Zimbabwe-
sub-contracted thugs have subse- ans criticise the strategy as a form of
quently continued to engage in appeasement.
these abuses. A series of arrests of
political opposition, trade union These criticisms resurfaced when
and civil society leaders on charges Mnangagwa seized power and
of subversion and treason followed Pretoria demurred from labelling
as the next phase of the crackdown, Mugabe’s ouster as a “coup”, despite
though none of the charges have the military’s obvious intervention.
stuck in court. South Africa nonetheless main-
tained its posture well after Cyril
Meanwhile, criminal violence, Ramaphosa became president in
primarily perpetrated by desperate February 2018. When Zimba-
unemployed men joining machete bwean security forces opened fire
gangs, is spiking. on protesters on 1 August 2018,

The COVID-19 pandemic,
beyond exposing the Zimbabwean
health system’s endemic failings,
has deepened the country’s political
and economic crisis. Lockdown

Page 26 Opinion NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Pretoria was muted. Later that Mphakama Mbete, speaking at An ANC delegation visited on 9 monetary operations. in getting Western sanctions lifted
month, Zimbabwe’s constitutional a meeting in Harare in February September, but like Ramaphosa’s The Zacc, which has already and lobbying for international debt
court dismissed an MDC-A peti- 2020, referred directly to Zimba- envoys, it did not meet with any relief or access to more lending.
tion contesting the election results, bwe’s governance problems and actors from the opposition or civil shown an appetite for going after South Africa has long maintained
with South Africa endorsing the how they deter foreign investment. society. top Zanu PF officials for corrup- that sanctions against Zimbabwe
decision. Pretoria also seemingly Many interpreted these remarks as Nudging Zim toward stability tion, should be given exclusive are unjust, and it continues to do so
turned a blind eye to Harare’s attack a message to Harare that Pretoria Pretoria’s move away from its agency in all national corruption even if it has increasingly expressed
on protesters in January 2019. was fed up with quiet diplomacy. traditional practice of addressing cases as well as more resources and misgivings about Zimbabwe’s eco-
Although South Africa subse- Harare’s transgressions through independence so that it can resist nomic performance.
Nevertheless, South Africa under quently turned to dealing with the “quiet diplomacy”, together with any political interference, includ-
Ramaphosa has gradually shifted its COVID-19 pandemic, appearing the ANC’s endorsement of the piv- ing pressure to target civil society In order to play the go-between,
public stance regarding its neigh- to move concerns about Zimbabwe ot, puts South Africa in a position activists and journalists exposing it will first need to work with West-
bour’s crisis, moving toward a more to the back burner, it did not do so to exert pressure on Zimbabwe’s corruption. ern governments to develop a set
assertive and critical position. “It for long. Harare’s clampdowns on political leaders to ease repression of benchmarks that, once achieved,
has taken almost two decades for prominent critics in July 2020 drew and draw up a consensual roadmap To create the conditions for a would set the stage for rolling back
South Africa to appreciate [that] international attention, including to address the country’s socio-eco- dialogue that could lead to these sanctions as well as supporting
quiet diplomacy toward Zimbabwe from Pretoria. nomic woes. agreements, however, South Africa international financial institutions
has failed to secure results”, says one will have to press Harare to begin in considering rescheduling the
South African official. Worried both about these South Africa and the ANC rolling back its repression of the US$1.8 billion of debt arrears owed
reports and the prospect that more should thus maintain pressure on government’s opponents, including to them and extending concession-
South Africa under Ramaphosa misgovernance and economic woes the government to enter talks with by taking some visible confidence ary loans to reboot Zimbabwe’s
has gradually shifted its public could lead to greater instability, Ra- the opposition and civil society to building steps such as liberating economy. Working through a South
stance regarding its neighbour’s cri- maphosa announced on 6 August review possible economic reforms. political prisoners. Pretoria should African government that can mobil-
sis, moving toward a more assertive that he was appointing two special also request that its envoys have the ise regional pressure on Harare may
and critical position. envoys to work with Zimbabwe, Given the entrenched corruption freedom to operate and meet who be a more effective way for Western
dispatching them to Harare. at the top of the Zanu PF govern- they need to in Zimbabwe so that it governments estranged from Zanu
The first glimpse of Pretoria’s ment that risks sinking the country, can start building bridges between PF to achieve their aims for better
shifting attitude toward Zimbabwe Mnangagwa, however, forbade it is clear that only a broader-based rival parties. South Africa should governance in Zimbabwe.
came during Ramaphosa’s address these diplomats from meeting with ruling coalition can create the kind actively lobby other neighbours to Conclusion
to the Bi-National Commission in opposition leaders as an ostensible of foundation for good governance join it by appealing to their mutual South Africa should have every
Harare in March 2019. Ramaphosa matter of diplomatic protocol – a that the country needs. South Afri- interest in regional stability. incentive to help its neighbour
reflected on South Africa’s own demand that appeared intended to ca and the ANC should thus main- Zimbabwe avoid tipping into
experience with “state capture” – a kill any prospect of South African tain pressure on the government to To ensure that it is not a lonely collapse. Having favoured quiet
euphemism for entrenched institu- mediation between Zanu PF and enter talks with the opposition and voice, South Africa should actively diplomacy for decades, Pretoria has
tional graft – in a passage that was the opposition. The envoys have civil society to review possible eco- lobby other neighbours to join it by now adopted a much more critical
widely interpreted as a coded signal yet to make a subsequent visit to nomic reforms that keep front and appealing to their mutual interest stance toward Zimbabwe’s failures
to Mnangagwa to tackle corruption. Harare. centre the interests of Zimbabwe’s in regional stability. Notably, it of governance. It has also taken the
Pretoria followed up this veiled people and not just its ruling party. should approach Namibia and first steps toward coaxing Harare
message in November 2019 with a Meanwhile, the ANC – which Angola, two countries with strong into convening a national dialogue,
much more direct statement. in addition to being South Africa’s Ideally, these talks would lead to diplomatic ties with Zimbabwe and ending political repression and
ruling party is a member of the an agreement to enhance controls whose ruling parties also belong to embarking on meaningful econom-
Foreign Affairs Minister Naledi Former Liberation Movements of on public finance as an initial the liberation movements’ bloc, in ic reforms. These steps have had
Pandor argued that Zimbabwe’s Southern Africa, to which Zanu PF measure to improve governance order to persuade them to apply limited effect, however, as Harare
economic, political and social also belongs – likewise changed its and help stabilise the economy and their own pressure on Harare. continues to block South African
problems were inextricably linked, stance toward Zimbabwe’s crisis. prepare the ground for broad-gauge efforts to engage with Zimbabwe’s
that they needed to be addressed On 31 August, the ANC’s National measures. The ANC should play a part in opposition figures and bring them
simultaneously and that Hara- Executive Committee adopted a this initiative. South Africa should into the same room with their Zanu
re should convene an inclusive resolution welcoming the South In public, Mnangagwa and also look to the African Union PF counterparts for meaningful di-
national dialogue to determine how African government’s initiatives to MDC-A leader Chamisa acknowl- (AU) for assistance, if possible alogue. Pretoria should not give up.
to do it. press Harare and highlighting the edge the deep corruption in both before Ramaphosa steps down as It should work with Western donors
importance of engaging with all government and MDC-A-run chair at the end of 2020. It should on a roadmap for reforms that
The reasons for this shift are part- parties in Zimbabwe in order to councils and the pernicious effect request that the AU appoint a could lead to sanctions and debt
ly rooted in Pretoria’s assessment help address the country’s problems. such graft has on the country. Any high-level mission composed of relief. It should also help Harare see
that the status quo in Zimbabwe future agreement between them on former heads of state who would the importance of finally embarking
could be damaging for South It was a major step for the ANC tackling misgovernance will, howev- travel to Zimbabwe to encourage on this long overdue journey. The
Africa, especially if more social to break with liberation movement er, require a properly resourced the government to make progress alternative to reform is likely to be
unrest leads to more Zimbabwean solidarity by raising its concerns Auditor General’s Office with an on political dialogue, governance, more instability in Zimbabwe and
migrants fleeing into South African publicly, and the Zanu PF leader- independent staff who can assess human rights and economic quite possibly in the region.
territory or another coup sets ship appears to have been both irri- the balance sheets and ownership recovery plans. Leaving aside such
Zimbabwe on a path to even greater tated and alarmed. Zanu PF quickly structures of state-owned compa- pressure tactics, South Africa should - International Crisis Group
instability. invited the ANC to Zimbabwe in nies and examine all government offer carrots in return for Zanu PF’s
an apparent attempt to influence and municipal accounts and state cooperation. Pretoria should offer
In addition, Ramaphosa increas- the party’s agenda and narrative. itself to Harare as an interlocutor
ingly sees instability in Zimbabwe,
the biggest importer of South Afri-
can goods, as a brake on Pretoria’s
plans for economic integration of
the Southern African Development
Community, especially given that
its northern neighbour lies at the
region’s geographic centre.

Moreover, even at present levels
of unrest, instability is pushing
Zimbabwean citizens into South
Africa, which feeds internal tensions
that sometimes flare in acts of xeno-
phobic violence.

Fearing Zimbabwe’s drift into
crisis, Pretoria has stepped up
attempts to facilitate a national
political agreement that could steer
the country off its disastrous tra-
jectory. In December 2019, Mbeki
travelled to Zimbabwe, where he
met with President Mnangagwa,
MDC-A leader Nelson Chamisa,
other opposition leaders and civil
society organisations, to explore
appetites for an inclusive national
dialogue. His attempt to get Mnan-
gagwa and Chamisa in the same
room fizzled, however, and Mbeki
did not follow up on his promise to
return to Harare, reportedly because
Mnangagwa refused to answer his
calls. As relations between Preto-
ria and Harare soured, the South
African ambassador to Zimbabwe,

NewsHawks Africa News Page 27

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Rival disinformation campaigns

targeted African users: Facebook

Rival French and Russian disinfor- have these two efforts from different France and Russia are both keen to position in a lucrative market.
mation campaigns have sought to de- sides of these issues using the same assert influence in Africa. Paris has ties Facebook said the two campaigns
ceive and influence internet users in tactics and techniques, and they end with many French-speaking African
the  Central African Republic  ahead up looking sort of the same,” said Na- countries, which it sees as vital to pre- largely focused on the Central African
of an election later this month, Face- thaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s head of venting the spread of violent Islami- Republic (CAR), which votes on 27
book said on Tuesday. cybersecurity policy. sation, and Moscow is jockeying for December, but also targeted users in
13 other African countries including
Facebook said it was the first time Algeria, Cameroon, Libya and Sudan.
it had seen foreign influence opera-
tions directly engage on its platforms, Ben Nimmo, the head of investi-
with fake accounts denouncing each gations at social media analytics firm
other as “fake news”. Graphika, said both campaigns used
fake accounts to pose as local people,
The company said it had suspend- sometimes sharing doctored photos.
ed three networks totaling almost 500
accounts and pages for “coordinated The French effort started in mid-
inauthentic behavior”. One network 2019 and pushed pro-French mes-
was linked to “individuals associated sages before targeting “Russian fake
with French military”, it said, while news” following Facebook’s suspen-
the other two had connections to “in- sion of a Russian-linked disinforma-
dividuals associated with past activ- tion campaign in Africa in October
ity by the Russian Internet Research last year.
Agency” as well as the Russian busi-
nessman Evgeny Prigozhin. The subsequent Russian opera-
tion attempted to promote Russian
The French defense ministry and business and diplomatic interests,
military command did not imme- as well as the candidacy of President
diately respond to requests for com- Faustin-Archange Touadera in the
ment. Representatives for Prigozhin, election, he said. Later, the Russian
who US prosecutors say directed the accounts tried to out the French ac-
Internet Research Agency to med- counts that were trying to out them.
dle in the 2016 US election, did not
immediately respond to requests for But neither side built a significant
comment. He denies the US allega- audience in CAR, he added. “They
tions. looked like two troll teams arm wres-
tling, with nobody else really paying
“You can’t fight fire with fire. We attention.”

— Guardian.

Seasons Hotel Rwanda ‘hero’ sues
Greek airline for ‘aiding kidnap’
Greetings
THE man portrayed as a hero in a dent Edgar Lungu because of his
CLOSING DATE DEC 18TH 2020 Hollywood movie about the Rwan- close friendship with Mr Rusesaba-
OPENING DATE JAN 4TH 2021 dan genocide, Hotel Rwanda, says gina.
he is suing a Greek charter flight
Management and staff wishes you happy holidays and a company for aiding his alleged kid- His lawyers denied the charges
prosperous 2021. nap. against him and Mr Lungu’s spokes-
man denied the allegation in a BBC
The NewsHawks @NewsHawksLive www.newshawks.com [email protected] Paul Rusesabagina says that in interview.
August he intended to visit Burundi
but after he boarded a private flight Mr Rusesabagina is currently in
in Dubai he was instead flown to prison in Rwanda awaiting trial.
Rwanda.
‘Bound and gagged’
He was arrested for leading “ter- He has filed a lawsuit in Texas,
rorist movements”, Rwandan offi- where he has been living, against the
cials said at the time. charter company GainJet, alleging
the company agreed to facilitate the
His lawyers denied the charges. plane journey because of its close re-
An ethnic Hutu, Mr Rusesaba- lationship with officials in Rwanda.
gina became well known after the “Paul was bound and gagged be-
2004 film Hotel Rwanda depicted fore the plane landed in Rwanda,”
his efforts a decade earlier during said his lawyer Robert Hilliard.
the genocide to save hundreds of “The pilots have an international
Tutsis at a hotel where he was a responsibility to every single one of
manager. the people on the plane. They can-
He is a fierce critic of President not be complicit with kidnappers
Paul Kagame and is the leader of the and say go ahead and tie him up,
opposition MRCD group. go ahead and drug him, go ahead
It is said to have an armed wing, and bind him, go ahead and bind
the National Liberation Front his feet and his hands and we’ll get
(FLN), which stages attacks on you to Rwanda where you can then
Rwanda. pretend he’s going to get a fair trial,”
He had been living in exile and he added.
has Belgian citizenship and a US A similar case is expected be
green card. lodged in Belgium where Mr Rus-
But he says he was tricked by a esabagina holds citizenship, reports
pastor into taking a trip to Burundi the BBC’s Africa correspondent
for speaking engagements. Catherine Byaruhanga.
Rwanda has charged him with GainJet has not responded to the
terrorism, financing terrorism, re- BBC’s requests for comment.
cruiting child soldiers, kidnapping, Rwanda’s Justice Minister  John-
arson, and forming terror groups. ston Busingye has denied  that Mr
In September, a Rwandan court Rusesabagina was kidnapped and
heard allegations that the FLN had insisted he will get a fair trial on 26
received help from Zambia’s Presi- January. — BBC

Page 28 World News NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

A host of European leaders and top Covid-19: Macron tests positive,
French officials rushed into isolation European leaders rush into isolation
yesterday after President Emmanuel statement said. The timing is awk- in Paris organised by the Organisa- Macron has cancelled a scheduled Merkel took a test a few days after the
Macron tested positive for Covid-19, ward for Macron, who is trying to tion for Economic Co-operation and trip to Lebanon, where he had been EU summit and it was negative.
upending political agendas across the handle the pandemic crisis in his own Development (OECD). European pressing for far-reaching political
continent. A flurry of contact-tracing country while keeping a close eye on Council president Charles Michel and change after a giant explosion at Bei- French Prime Minister  Jean
followed France’s confirmation that Brexit talks and a host of other inter- Spanish Prime Minister  Pedro San- rut’s port in August. Castex  will self-isolate after contact
Macron had become  the latest world national issues. chez were both at the Paris conference with Macron, his office said, adding
leader to contract Covid-19, following and are isolating. ‘Defeat pandemic together’ that he was showing no symptoms and
the likes of British Prime Minister Bo- Officials emphasised he was still Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavi- had tested negative.
ris Johnson and US President Donald working and was taking part in a con- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio er Bettel began isolating on Thursday
Trump. ference on economic development on Costa has also gone into self-isolation pending a test result after he had at- He needs another confirmed nega-
Thursday afternoon. Macron attended and cancelled all immediate events on tended the EU summit last week. tive result before he can come out of
Macron, 42, was tested after the an  EU  summit in Brussels last week his agenda after having lunch with But a German government spokes- isolation next week, his office said.
“onset of the first symptoms” and will and on Monday went to a conference Macron on Wednesday. woman said Chancellor  Angela
now self-isolate for seven days in ac- Macron’s wife Brigitte will also be
cordance with national regulations, his self-isolating but also shows no symp-
office said in a statement. toms. Fellow world leaders rushed to
wish Macron a speedy recovery.
“He will continue to work and
carry out his activities remotely,” the

President Emmanuel Macron

“Sorry to hear my friend @Em-
manuelMacron has tested positive for
coronavirus. We are all wishing you
a speedy recovery,” tweeted Johnson,
who has locked horns with Macron in
recent months over the Brexit talks.

EU Commission President Ursula
von der Leyen said she was with Ma-
cron “with all my heart”.

“We are going to defeat this pan-
demic together,” she said on Twitter.
“We will continue to work hand in
hand to immunise and protect our
citizens.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin
said he had learnt of Maron’s posi-
tive test “with alarm” and wished his
French counterpart a “speedy recovery
and good health for many years to
come”. Macron had repeatedly urged
caution against the spread of the virus
and in public he always wears a face
mask covering his mouth and nose.

France earlier this week eased re-
strictions imposed to battle the second
wave of the coronavirus but infection
rates remain high. There is still a na-
tionwide overnight curfew from 8:00
pm to halt the spread of the virus while
restaurants and cafes as well as theatres
and cinemas remain closed. Over
59,300 people have died in France
since the start of the pandemic.

More than 17,000 new cases were
registered on Wednesday alone, gen-
erating concern as people shop and
travel ahead of the Christmas holidays.

Like other EU countries, France
is pinning its hopes on a vaccine and
Castex said on Wednesday the country
will receive 1.16 million doses by the
end of the year. Castex said the start of
the vaccine campaign was conditional
on approval from the European Med-
icines Agency, expected on December
21. Von der Leyen said on Thursday
that the EU would start inoculations
on December 27. Another problem
for the French authorities is that ac-
cording to an opinion poll, only 53
percent of people want to be vacci-
nated, among the lowest rates in the
world. —AFP

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 29 Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

THE year 2020 literally upended 2020: Year that Mbirimi confirmed his father had
the creative sector, impacting artists turned the been in and out of hospital for the
in many ways. In just a few months, past year.
artists were forced to change how creative sector March
they created, marketed and inter- upside down The best-ever Namas!
acted with their audiences. The high The 19th edition of the National
cost of internet access meant only 000, the biggest so far in the music Tytan accuses Olinda of with- rus patients. Arts Merit Awards or simply the
a fraction of the audiences were industry, courtesy of Malaysia-based holding her HIV status March Namas had a lot to prove this year
reached. Some artists grabbed the Zimbabwean young businessman Singer Tytan, real name Njabulo Mbirimi dies by delivering one of the best-ever
few opportunities, if any, that were and finance expert Teemak who lat- Nkomo, accused his ex-wife Olinda Zimbabwe’s veteran actor—Em- awards shows in recently years. The
there while others struggled to make er was accused of fraud. Chapel of trying to infect him with manuel Mbirimi—died aged 65. organisers pulled it off by delivering
ends meet as the world grappled February HIV and reiterated that he suffered a great show marked by celebrity
with the “new normal” brought because of her. In an interview with The celebrated Mbirimi died at guests, performances by Jah Prayzah
about by the coronavirus outbreak. Rumbidzayi Bvunzawabaya beamed Parkview Renal Hospital due to re- as well as the awards ceremony. And
However, Zimbabwe, like the rest on YouTube, he narrated how he nal failure. His son Tongai Mbidzo the hostess Mbo Mahocs effortlessly
of the world, went into quarantine, had to seek refuge at a friend’s house delivered the show, much to the de-
we lost a number of artists and a lot after he had been locked out of their light of the audiences.
happened within the industry. Here home.
are some of the highlights of 2020. Highlights included the Lifetime
January Achievement Award to mbira leg-
Bounty Lisa undergoes surgical end Ambuya Stella Chiweshe and
operation the People’s Award which went to
Zim dancehall singer Bounty Lisa Winky D while Tamy Moyo broke
got donations from a number of the jinx by winning her first-ever
well-wishers in Harare to undergo major award for Best Female Mu-
an operation. This came after the sician ahead of firm favourite Janet
singer appeared at Prophet Walter Manyowa and Ammara Brown.
Magaya’s church service seeking di- March
vine intervention. Born Lynette Lisa Rachel J spews bile . . . dismisses
Musenyi, Bounty Lisa had a growth Mukupe’s accusations as false
on her right thigh which caused dis- Businesswoman and songstress Ra-
comfort and high blood pressure. chel J opened up for the first time,
January refuting cheating claims levelled
Zima makes a welcome return! against her by estranged live-in boy-
friend and former deputy Finance
The Zimbabwe Music Awards minister Terrence Mukupe.
(Zima) bounced back after years of
absence with the 2020 edition held Mukupe accused Rachel J of infi-
at Newlands Country Club in Ha- delity and that she slept with South
rare. Newbie gospel singer Mambo African-based flamboyant televan-
Dhuterere led the awards with three gelist Prophet Shepherd, a claim she
nods for Best Newcomer of the Year, has since dismissed. She also dis-
Traditional Gospel and Song of the missed as false claims that she was
Year. carrying Bushiri’s baby.
January April
Enzo Ishall inked a deal with Tee- The lockdown alcohol ban
mak Promotions which included The Zimbabwe Republic Police
monthly allowances and upkeep. announced in April a ban on the
The three-year contract was estimat- sale of alcohol countrywide at bot-
ed to be hovering around US$100 tle stores in the wake of the 21-day
Covid-19 lockdown.

However, after imbibers pleaded
for a better arrangement, the police
and Delta Beverages agreed that
supermarkets and registered bottle

February
Musician Prince Musarurwa dies!
The Afro-jazz singer succumbed to
cancer. Prince shot to fame with a
chart topper Runonzi Rudo togeth-
er with Pah Chihera.

March
Journalist Zororo Makamba dies
In March, Zimbabwe mourned the
death of promising television jour-
nalist  Zororo Makamba  after he
tested positive for Covid-19 in Ha-
rare. Makamba was being treated at
Wilkins Hospital, designated as the
main isolation facility for coronavi-

Page 30 Life & Style NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

stores would resume the sale of al- ka, who went on to establish their August had issues in the past. November
cohol during the lockdown. own music stables. Shaina sets out to show Zimba- August Ginimbi, Moana die in car
April July bwean state of affairs New boss for the gallery accident
Ginimbi Twerk Parties on Insta- Sandra Ndebele breaks internet Shaina, a film which sets out to Raphael Chikukwa was appointed Socialite Genius “Ginimbi” Ka-
gram Songstress Sandra Ndebele oozed show the poor state of affairs in new National Gallery of Zimbabwe dungure died on the spot along
Flamboyant socialite  Genius “Gi- confidence in new photographs Zimbabwe, premieres. executive director. The 51-year-old Liberation Legacy Way (formely
nimbi” Kadungure  hosted  “twerk which trended and went viral on Chikukwa, who served as chief Borrowdale Road) in Harare when
or treat” dance-off  competitions social media. Sandy, as she is known While the film is about the resil- curator at the gallery for 10 years, his speeding Rolls-Royce collided
on Instagram Live, a concept that on stage, flaunted her plus-size body ience and ingenuity of Zimbabwe- replaced Doreen Sibanda said his head-on with a Honda Fit, veered
delighted voyeurs during the lock- in figure-hugging outfits showcas- ans in the face of tough challenges, wish was to see Zimbabwean art in off the road and crashed into a tree
down. ing her derierre, much to much of what you see in the mov- almost every government office to before bursting into flames. Ginim-
April the delight of ie is basically the poor state of af- promote art appreciation. bi was with friends Limumba Karim
Radio and television personality her ador- fairs which continue to bedevil the September from Malawi, a Mozambican Alicia
Peter Johns dies aged 60 ing fans. country. Drummer Scara dies! Adams, and birthday girl, Mitchelle
The internationally acclaimed PJ, as August Drummer Delroy Maripakwenda, “Moana” Amuli, who were burnt
he was affectionately known on Ra- The Hitman retires aka Scara, who played for Winky beyond recognition after the doors
dio 3, died in the United Kingdom Former top Radio 3 disc jockey Ho- D, dies after a short illness. of his supercar jammed on impact.
aged 60 due to heart failure. sea Singende — aka The Hitman September The four were coming from Moa-
— announced the launch of the Entertainment journalist Godwin na’s birthday party at Dreams Night
Arguably the greatest of all time, production of a new line of food Muzari dies! Club.
Johns was popular not only for his Herald Entertainment Editor God- November
catchy jingles but his flawless and seasoning, Cosmic Sumu, at his win Muzari died aged 40 and was Veteran comedian Lazarus ‘Gringo’
suave delivery behind the decks. rural home. laid to rest at Glen Forest Cemetery. Boora dies. An accomplished actot
April 18 The Hitman rose to fame Muzari is survived by his wife and was burried at his rural home in
Burna Boy Uhuru celebrations in the 1990s for his trendy three children. Rusape.
cancelled! music show on Radio 3, October Moana finally buried after
Grammy Award 2020 nominee — now Power FM, called Jah Master kicks fan off stage three-week-long impasse
Burna Boy — was scheduled to The Jacking Zone. A Zim dancehall musician Jah Master Socialite Michelle “Moana” Amuli,
return to the capital Harare for the short video of him pro- kicked a fan, Eric Cantona-style, who died in a horrific car accident
Independence eve concert. moting his home-made off the stage after the latter jumped on 8 November, was finally buried
sauce (sumu), which is onto the stage during his set in after the High Court resolved a
However, the gig had to be can- prepared using fresh Chinhoyi.  The incident was cap- three-week-long impasse between
celled at the onset of the Covid-19 vegetables from his tured on video and caused outrage her estranged parents over the han-
pandemic. garden, went viral. online. dling of the funeral.
May Assisted by his October
Taking a stand wife Prisca, the Hit- Zim hip-hop poorer without Cal_ Justice Pisirayi Kwenda found no
Zimbabwe’s foremost visual artist— man hopes to expand Vin legal basis to stop the burial accord-
David Chinyama—is among a few the product range be- Hip-hop artist Cal_Vin whose real ing to Muslim religion in line with
creatives participating in the Dias- ginning 2021. name is Calvin Nhliziyo died her father’s wishes.
pora-wide exhibition of powerful August after he was involved in a
contemporary voices from Africa, Seh Calaz dumps wife: hit-and-run accident. Moana’s father Ishmael Amuli
the United States and the Caribbe- ‘I’m not the first or last’ and mother Yolanda Kuvaoga de-
an taking a stand against racism and Zim dancehall star Seh The Zikhupan sired different funeral rites and dif-
violence against black people. Calaz has separated from hit-maker died aged 35 ferent grave sites.
May his wife Moira Knight, from injuries.
A new star is born saying he was not the first The burial order designated War-
The lockdown also produced new or the last one to divorce. ren Hills Cemetery as Moana’s rest-
artists, and the likes of Van Choga Calaz and Knight, the ing place, but the mother insisted
come to mind. His song Pindikiti, daughter of former Radio 2 that she be buried the Christian
streamed live on social media, went presenter Eric Knight, have way at Zororo Cemetery.
viral while his antics on stage be- December
came a talking point. Nama 2021 postponed!
June National Arts Council of Zimba-
Sha Sha makes history at BET bwe, the organisers of the annual
Awards 2020 for Zimbabwe National Arts Merit Awards, post-
Zimbabwe burst with pride when poned the show to February 2022,
Sha Sha made history after winning raising the ire of the creative indus-
the first-ever BET Award for the try.
country.
The awards show, which is jointly
The 25-year-old singer won the hosted by the NACZ and Jacaran-
Viewer’s Choice: Best New Inter- da Culture and Media Corporation
national Act award at a virtual cer- (JCMC) was scheduled for 27 Feb-
emony that “celebrated not only ruary 27 2021 but, unfortunately,
its 20th anniversary, but also the the organisers decided to push the
increased focus currently on the date back to February 2022 without
black community and culture”. wide consultation with the artists.
June
History on Netflix There has been a lot in store this
Cook Off, a Zimbabwean romantic year from across the arts spectrum,
comedy produced by Joe Njagu and including literary works,
Thomas Brickhill, made history by exhibitions, new mu-
being the first production to be se- sic and theatre, as
lected for release in May on Ameri- artists changed
ca’s streaming site Netflix. how they operate
through the use
Produced two years ago, the near- of social media
ly two-hour-long romantic film has in marketing
continued to break boundaries, and interact-
having previously showcased at a ing with fans
number of international festivals. in line with
June Covid-19 pro-
Jah Prayzah fires stablemates! tocols.
Jah Prayzah disbanded the entire
Military Touch Movement fol-
lowing resignations of other key
members, the likes of Nutty O and
ExQ as well as producer DJ Tamu-

NewsHawks Life & Style Page 31

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

JONATHAN MBIRAYAMVEKA Wenyasha aims for the stars

GOSPEL musician Wenyasha ro, who once played for Oliver drums at Anglican Church al- Time and again, he would defy he was turned down.
Chingono is arguably the big- Mtukudzi’s Black Spirits band. though his grandmother discour- his grandmother’s calls and would His big break came in 2015
gest find so far this year after he aged him from focusing on music. sneak out to go and play music.
dropped his single Ndinokudai “The reason is I enjoy Katekwe when he featured South Afri-
Mweya featuring guitar virtuoso and Afro-jazz music and I roped in While he was good in school, ca-based star Takesure Zamar on
Trust Samende and his Houz of people who I believed understood Wenyasha strongly believed in a track called Musadzokere Shure.
Gruv choir. the sound better and I was happy pursuing a career in music al-
with both Enock and Trust. My though that came with discour- A follow up came in 2016 titled
The song has captured the imag- music is for the mature although agement and at worst disappoint- Mbiri Kuna Jesu and another sin-
ination of gospel music fans with I am young,” he said. ment from those he sought advice. gle in 2017 titled Ziso Ramwari.
its Katekwe beat laced with Wen-
yasha’s natural and commanding Wenyasha was raised in Rusape In 2007, Wenyasha recorded his In 2018, he released a live
voice. where he lived with grandmother first single titled, Raramo, which DVD, Test of Glory, which again
Gogo Prisca Chingono. he took to Ngaavongwe Records, featured a host of other popular
While the video is a joy to which at the time was one of the musicians including Janet Man-
watch, the impression one gets is As a young boy, he used to play biggest recording companies. yowa.
that Wenyasha is aiming at the
stars and a promising artist and Sadly, Wenyasha was turned Wenyasha says his major goal
performer. It is little wonder, down after he was told that his now is to diversify his discography.
then, seasoned gospel artist Take- sound was not marketable.
sure Zamar has embraced Wenya- “I want to learn how to sing in
sha’s sound and to a greater extent “I was heartbroken and I almost other languages like isiNdebele,
been his mentor. quit music but something inside KiSwahili, Lingala and others.
me told me to never stop. For me
And since the release of the it was about God’s calling and that This is because music should
Ndinokudai Mweya, most fans kept me going I knew God had a speak to a wider audience,” he
have been asking just who Wen- purpose for me,” he said. said.
yasha is?
Still in 2007, he joined the A In the not so distant future, he
The 31-year-old Wenyasha is a Academy a talent scouting and wants to continue releasing singles
journalist by profession and also a singing competition which was and videos since visuals are more
member of Harvest Church. screened on ZBC-TV and again, appealing on digital platforms.

“Ndinokudai Mweya speaks to A new video is expected in Jan-
you and me. It is a song that urges uary 2021.
people to have time with God. A
time with God is a time when you
give thanks and glory to his name
so as people we need to make time
for God so he is part of our lives,”
he said.

Ndinokudai Mweya, which
premiered in early December,
also features the talents of Can-
ada-based bassist Enock Piro-

Wenyasha Chingono

Page 32 People & Places NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

DUMISANI NYONI Hillside Hideout Cafe is or along the streams.
Bulawayo’s serene eatery The park is a proclaimed bird
SITUATED at the scenic Hill-
side Dams — about eight ki- ronment and beautiful landscape al associates. Nature lovers and tion is dominated by Terminalia, sanctuary and its diversity of
lometres from the Bulawayo for those wanting a quiet place those who love hiking will defi- Acacia, Burkea, Sclerocara and habitats means that there are
central business district — the to enjoy time with family, loved nitely love the place. Peltaphorum with a greater vari- many species present.
Hillside Hideout Café is ideal ones and business or profession- ety of species amongst the rocks Ownership
for those wanting a serene aes- The natural woodland vegeta- Hillside Hideout is owned by
thetic touch to their coffee shop Dumisani Nkomo (Habakkuk
experience. Trust chief executive) and his
wife Sharon Nkomo. Sharon
Launched in September this has over 25 years’ experience in
year at the height of the lock- the hospitality industry, having
down after years of planning by worked for Simbisa Brands in
the owners, the café offers light various capacities.
meals with specialties being the Vision
Hideout Burger (bacon-wrapped The café aims to be a leading
beef burger), wraps, cake, pan- coffee shop in Zimbabwe and
cakes and coffees as well as the beyond, providing excellent ser-
famed King Mzilikazi breakfast vice, quality food and a whole-
as well as other treats. some experience. In a few years’
time, owners say outlets will be
All the meals are fresh and dotted in different parts of the
served with delectable extras country.
such as salad and chips. Festive promotion
The Hideout has a Christmas
The Hideout offers a quiet promotion for families and cou-
outdoor environment without ples. It will also be hosting birth-
the hustle and bustle of town or days and other related events. A
fast-food outlets. family braai promotion will be
held on Christmas Eve.
It offers the delight of a scenic
environment and good food in The Hillside Hideout is fast
one go. becoming one of the cafés of
choice in Bulawayo.
It is ideal for families, profes-
sionals, lovers and businesspeo-
ple unlike busier and more in-
tense places.

Hillside Dams, where the café
is located, offers a tranquil envi-

NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Property
NewsHawks

Page 33 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

The home of prime property: [email protected]

ONE of the most iconic office spac- Iconic office on Other extra features that one
es in Mt Pleasant is currently being sale in Mt. Pleasant finds on the property include a
sold for US$600 000 million as guard house, water tank, powerful
Zimbabwe’s property sector takes a generator and generator room.
knock following the outbreak of the
Covid-19 pandemic. Zimbabwe’s property sector was
one of the hardest hit by Covid-19 as
According to a notice of sale made many tenants struggled to pay rent-
by Homelea Real Estate, the prop- als following nearly three months of
erty which is on 2445square-metre shutdown to contain the spread of
stand houses some players in com- Covid-19.
merce which include bank head
offices, parastatal headquarters, and - STAFF WRITER
top financial companies, among
others. also has a beautiful glass façade and and female toilets, kitchen, fully and second reception, two offices,
on the ground floor it has a recep- functional air conditioners. conference room with walk-in vault,
“Wonderful opportunity to get tion and waiting area, four offices, toilets for ladies and toilets for gents
into the highly sought after Mount walk-in strong room, separate gents The first floor, according to the with sauna.
Pleasant Business Park along Second Real Estate firm, has a waiting room
street extension and close to the re-
vered Arundel Shopping Centre,”
the notice reads.

The double storey office block

Page 34 Sport NewsHawks

Issue 10, 18 Dec 2020

Facing All Blacks’ haka will be ‘surreal’ for Zim

ENOCK MUCHINJO

STANDING in front of the at the World Cup in 1991. for the World Cup. it, makes us want it more. Having “At the risk of sounding too
‘haka’, receiving the challenge of Going to France in 2023 and Last week, two Zimbabwe- recently seen David Pocock and cocky or arrogant, I think we have
New Zealand’s famous pre-match Tendai Mtawarira being named in too much talent to be worrying
war-cry, is something rugby play- being amongst the 20 competing an-born players — Tendai “Beast” the team of the decade, and know about Namibia and Kenya (Zim-
ers across the world aspire to ex- teams is uppermost in the Sables Mtawarira and David Pocock — they had the same upbringing as babwe’s main continental rivals),”
perience at least once in their life- utility back’s mind. were selected into a fantasy Team us, just adds to is and makes us says Chavhanga.
time. of the Decade at as part of the believe anything is possible. We
‘’Having not been at the World World Rugby Awards special edi- know we can get to the level where “In as much as I’m under no il-
The possibility of this hap- Cup for almost 30 years, we defi- tion. For Mandivenga, this is an- we can put ourselves in the right lusion that we are nowhere close
pening to Zimbabwe at the next nitely want to get back there and other motivational factor for him position to qualify.” to being title contenders, I believe
World Cup, 2023 in France, has showcase the talent that is in and his team. that we have the talent to be high-
added extra motivation for the Zimbabwe, and just make all our Mandivenga’s sentiments on the ly competitive in France. All we
southern African country, which families and people of Zimbabwe “Seeing that there is a (single) country’s world-class talent are need is to create an environment
is hoping to return to the tour- proud.” spot for an African team makes it echoed by Tonderai Chavhanga, that is conducive for success and
nament for the first time in three all to play for,” adds Mandivenga. the former Springbok winger who unfortunately that will not hap-
decades. All things being equal, Zimba- “We know that all the other Af- was recently Zimbabwe’s assistant pen without sufficient funding for
bwe — which constantly churn rican teams also want to get that coach. the Sables.”
The draw for the 2023 World out top-class rugby talent — spot and only one team can get
Cup was held this week, with should not be struggling to qualify
the world’s greatest rugby nation,
New Zealand, being placed in
Pool A alongside fellow automatic
qualifiers France and Italy.

A qualifying team from Africa
and another from the Americas
will complete the group.

Zimbabwe are hoping to clinch
the African slot, and if they do,
they will return to the World Cup
for the first time since 1991.

The prospect of coming up
against the All Blacks, three-time
World Cup winners, thoroughly
excites Zimbabwe’s captain Bran-
don Mandivenga.

“It would definitely be a surre-
al feeling as well as an incredible
achievement for us, the possibility
of facing the haka,” Mandivenga
tells The NewsHawks.

“Playing against one of the best
teams in the world, and just being
at the World Cup, will be incredi-
ble. It’s something that can give us
an extra push.”

25-year-old Mandivenga was
not yet born when Zimbabwe,
known as the Sables, last appeared

One hell of a sporting year comes to an end

ZIMBABWE was pushing for After Sri Lanka left with a hard- footballing nation and 2013 Afri- In more recent years, I have to arrive in Zimbabwe with his
a Test victory against Sri Lanka fought 1-0 win in the two-match can champions—and leaving Lu- taken a liking to the progression national side, which is coached
in January, and a packed Harare Test series, English county sides saka with a historic first away win of African sport outside the con- by young Zimbabwean Lovemore
Sports Club press box was lively, Derbyshire and Durham arrived over our northwest neighbours. tinent’s favourite pastime, football. “Dallas” Kuzorera.
most of the reporters being much in March, on a pre-season tour, So, just like with cricket, we all
younger press corps, yearning to to kick-start a congested calendar gleefully looked forward to more I had greatly looked forward There has not been any rugby
file to editors what would have year for Zimbabwean cricket. good cheer for football in 2020, this year to witnessing history be- for Zimbabwe throughout the year
been rare victory for a team now But Covid-19 had other ing made when Ghana—a rising due to Covid-19, but the footbal-
known these days as the Chevrons. ideas, though, and the grim rugby nation—were scheduled to lers and cricketers have since re-
reality of this pandemic hit HawkZone travel to continental power Zim- turned to work, albeit with con-
The excitement was not just us hard when the two En- babwe for the first contest between trasting fortunes.
about the real possibility of beating glish teams were forced to the two nations.
Sri Lanka. abruptly leave Zimbabwe Enock It is a year lost for sport, and
in March in a development Muchinjo I certainly was not the only one hopefully, the new one takes us
It was January, for crying out that told us that the elephant excited about that little piece of back to life as we know it.
loud, and who says the downtrod- was well and truly in the history.
den folk of this seemingly wretch- room. So, when my colleagues request-
ed country do not deserve a good It was frustrating, and depress- before coronavirus struck and left Herbert Mensah, who scored ed me to write a yearly round-up
start into the new year from time ing, but not just for cricket. the world with an unprecedented the winning try for Zimbabwe- of sports in Zimbabwe in 2020,
to time? Two months before Zimbabwe’s challenge. an provincial team Mashonaland I said to myself that I should not
cricketers dared a major cricket- There were so many sporting against touring Italy in 1985, is bore you with a blow-by-blow
2020 had promised to be the ing nation in a Test, our footbal- activities that I personally looked now driving the growth of rugby account of what has been a thor-
busiest year for Zimbabwean lers had gone to Zambia—a proud forward to this year. in that part of Africa in his posi- oughly frustrating sporting year.
cricket in more recent times, with tion as president of Ghana’s rugby
incoming and outgoing tours al- federation. Merry Christmas and happy
ready confirmed on the calendar. New Year to all you, good folks.
In June, Mensah was supposed

Sports Another Facing All
gem from Blacks’ haka
Thursday 1 October 2020 Highfields will be ‘surreal’
for Zim – Page 34

Friday 18 December 2020 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com new

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS CULTURE SPO
$60 Covid Community Zim
tariff for radio laun
visitors & regulations Prem
tourists under review Leag

Story on Page 3 Story on Page 8 Story o

Chamisa reach
out to Khupe

Unofficial president callsFrfenoch Lriguee1mclub Leyorn sgtarency
Tino Kadewere was raised in
Highfield, one of Harare’s old
suburbs.

Another soccer gem from

Highfield’s conveyor belt
ALWYN MABEHLA are found everywhere. Zimbabwe Grounds used to be a venue for with lots of space. We want to have a better sea-
IT is probably an open secret that some of the Names like Tapuwa Kapini, Clive Kawinga, rallies of black nationalists during the liberation son and Tino can offer us a lot,” Juninho said
most prominent Zimbabweans have their roots Tendai Tanyanyiwa, Tatenda Taibu, Francis war. Its rudimentary sports fields have also been in June.
in one of Harare’s oldest townships, Highfield. Jeyman, Mike Madzivanyika, Hamilton Ma- used by some of Zimbabwe’s finest sportsmen The lanky Lyon striker was initially coached
sakadza, Ali Sadiki, Denver Mukamba, Ashley with roots in Highfield. by his father, the late Onias Kadewere, who was
The late former president Robert Mugabe Rambanepasi, Francis Madziva, David Sen- One of them is Zimbabwean football’s hot- a stalwart of youth football in Zimbabwe in
quickly comes to mind. Mugabe’s old High- gu, Brian Badza, among others, lead a cast of test property today, Tino Kadewere, already a his lifetime. He was lucky to attend Harare’s
field residence, to this day, bears the scars of household names that hail from “Fiyo”. star forward in his first season with French Li- Prince Edward School, a famed global conveyor
the country’s liberation war. The former strong- It is probably no coincidence that while gue 1 club Lyon. 24-year-old Kadewere, who belt of sports stars across a variety of codes.
man, along fellow Highfield natives like depart- the likes of Mugabe, Chinamano and Takaw- was raised a few streets away from Mugabe’s old Arriving at Lyon, Kadewere had to fit in
ed liberation war icons Josiah Chinamano, Leo- ira were plotting to unseat the settler regime, residence, is making waves in France’s top-flight front-line consisting of the likes of Moussa
pold Takawira, Nathan Shamuyarira, Herbert a stone’s throw away from their residences the league with five goals already so far this season. Dembele and Memphis Depay. Athleticism,
Chitepo, among a host of other nationalists, set Gwanzura brothers — Eric and Phanuel — Brazilian Juninho, a Lyon legend who is now elegance and football intelligence have worked
base in the well-known high-density suburb to were constructinAg LGSwOanzIuNraS, IoDneEof ZiFmibnaa- ncteheMspionritsintgydwireicptoersaot tuhte $cl3ub.2, sBpoilkleiohnighdlyepoinstihtoe Zrsimfubanbdwesan’s favoZuir.mW'shelnatheesJtanlaunardy controv
plot the demise of the minority white regime. bwe’s foremost football grounds. of Kadewere when the Zimbabwean joined the window transfer opens in a few week’s time, it
Ironically, within shouting distance of French giants. is without doubt that Kadewere will be subject
Highfield is also the childhood home of Gwanzura Stadium is the Zimbabwe Grounds “The arrival of (Cameroonian) Karl Toko of intense speculation. It appears the sky is the
Zimbabwe’s late world-acclaimed music mae- — a place which occupies a special place in Ekambi has allowed us to change the way we limit for the ever-smiling assassin from High-
stro Oliver Mtukudzi. Zimbabwe’s history, politically and socially. play and Tino Kadewere will be able to thrive field.

On the sporting front, Highfield products

ALSO INSIDE One hell of a sporting year ends Facing All Blacks’ haka will be a ‘surreal’ for Zim