WHAT’S INSIDE Friday 23 April 2021 BDUebSItNoEveSrShang, Price
Covid-19
NMEnWanSgagwa to stifle Zim: US$1
buttresses power IMF
consolidation STPayOloRrT, Ervine
quest Story on Page 20 set to return
for the T-20
Story on Page 3
Story on Page 46
Rigging strategy:
Lawyers confront
Mnangagwa over
2023 election plot
ALSO INSIDE Astonishing 63-day looting spree exposed
Page 2 News NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
OWEN GAGARE Lawyers tackle Mnangagwa
over 2023 election strategy
AT a time when President arise from the passing by the
Emmerson Mnangagwa and tion of the constitution. from 2013 to midnight on senate in accordance with the Chief Justice Luke Malaba. senate of the ninth parliament
Chief Justice Luke Malaba Following Tuesday’s passing Sunday 29 July 2018, and the provisions of the constitution. conduct, practice or custom of the Constitution of Zimba-
thought their authoritarian currently running ninth par- inconsistent with it is null bwe Amendment (No. 1) Bill,
consolidation agenda through of Amendment (No.2) Bill, it liament, whose tenure ends in “The 1st respondent failed and void to the extent of the [H.B. 1A, 2017] as the entire
roughshod constitutional seemed things were flowing 2023. to fulfil its constitutional ob- inconsistency,” his application exercise of that legislative au-
amendments to ensure their smoothly for Mnangagwa and ligation under section 131(2) adds. thority was constitutionally
2023 election plan remains Malaba, but yesterday’s unex- In terms of the law, the as read with section 117(1) of invalid, and even the assent
intact was on track – steam- pected (ConCourt) challenge executive should have re-in- the constitution in the follow- “I am also aware that in to the Constitutional Bill by
ing ahead unstoppably – law- by Bulawayo-based lawyer troduced the Bill in the cur- ing manner: terms of section 2(2) of the the 5th respondent in the cir-
yers have taken a bold move Nqobani Sithole and his team rent parliament, rather than constitution, the obligations cumstances would be of no
to derail the runaway train of could derail their plans. carrying on from the previous “On the 24th of March imposed by the constitution moment.
dictatorship. parliamentary life since it had 2021 the 1st respondent, are binding on every person,
Mnangagwa and his asso- already lapsed. through the senate, passed whether natural or juristic, in- “I am advised that if the 1st
The critical constitutional ciates are racing against time. a motion restoring the Consti- cluding the State and all exec- respondent desired to steer
amendments – Constitution Malaba, by operation of law, Section 147 of the consti- tution of Zimbabwe Amend- utive, legislative, and judicial through the Constitutionof
of Zimbabwe Amendment ceases to be chief justice at tution reads: “On the disso- ment (No. 1) Bill, [H.B. 1A, institutions (which include Zimbabwe Amendment (No.1)
(No.1) and Constitutional midnight on 15 May when he lution of parliament, all pro- 2017] to the order paper this Honourable Court) and Bill, [H.B. 1A, 2017], it
Amendment (No.2) – which turns 70. ceedings pending at the time when the said constitutional agencies of government at ev- should have commenced the
make the late former presi- are terminated, and every Bill, Bill had lapsed on the 29th ery level, and must be fulfilled process afresh in keeping with
dent Robert Mugabe, a ruth- Mnangagwa, however, des- motion, petition and other of July 2018 by operation of by them. the procedures prescribed in
less authoritarian ruler, look perately wants Malaba to stay business lapses.” section 147 of the constitu- section 131 of the Constitu-
like a saint, are designed to on for another five years to tion upon the dissolution of “I am advised that this en- tion.
consolidate power in Mnan- help him in his 2023 re-elec- In his application, in terms the righth parliament. tails that parliamentary pro-
gagwa’s hands in a bid to re- tion bid should almost inev- of section 167(2)(d) of the cesses as well as decisions of “I am advised that anything
store the imperial presidency itable election disputes spill Constitution of Zimbabwe “On the 6th of April 2021 this Honourable Court relat- other than the constitutional-
that ruined the nation in the into the courts, like what Amendment (No.20) Act of the 1st respondent, through ing to such processes should ly prescribed process is of no
first place. happened in 2018 and other 2013 as read with rule 27(1) the senate, debated and passed find their basis in the Con- consequence in that it could
previous elections. of the ConCourt rules, 2016, the Constitution of Zimbabwe stitution. I am advised that not bring about any lawful ex-
Mnangagwa and his co- which cites the Parliament Amendment (No. 1) Bill, if the 1st respondent makes ercise by the 1st respondent of
horts, including Malaba who To ensure Malaba stays in of Zimbabwe, Speaker of the [H.B. 1A, 2017] when the a decision that violates a pro- the legislative authority vested
wants to extend his tenure office, Mnangagwa, through National Assembly, Presi- said Constitutional Bill had vision of the Constitution in it.”
beyond his retirement on Justice minister Ziyambi Zi- dent of Senate, Ziyambi and lapsed on the 29th of July insofar as the conduct of its
15 May at 70, are bidding yambi, unconstitutionally Mnangagwa, Sithole is seek- 2018 by operation of section processes is concerned, and if As a result, the application
to change the constitution pushed Amendment (No.1) ing an order which declares 147 of the constitution upon this Honourable Court also says the amendment must be
without following proper Bill through Senate three that by passing Amendment the dissolution of the eighth makes a decision which is at declared null and void.
legislative and constitutional weeks ago and is now push- (No.1) Bill on 6 April after it parliament. odds with the provisions of
processes to allow the presi- ing Amendment (No.2) Bill was carried over into the cur- the constitution, then all such “I therefore seek the declar-
dent to avoid having elected – again illegally – through the rent life of parliament from “In terms of section 167(2) processes and decisions would atory orders and consequen-
vice-presidents as running National Assembly. the previous one, senate vio- (d) of the constitution this be a nullity to the extent of tial relief in the following
mates, appoint judges and lated section 147 of the con- Honourable Court has the their inconsistency with the terms: It is declared that 1st
extend their age limits, and Mnangagwa wants these stitution. jurisdiction and power to Constitution as the supreme respondent through the sen-
appoint more unelected min- amendments done before determine whether the 1st law.” ate failed to exercise its legis-
isters, among other things. 15 May to save Malaba. Zi- Sithole, a lawyer, represent- respondent has failed to fulfil lative authority under section
yambi has presidential in- ed by Ncube & Partners, a a constitutional obligation. The Sithole application 131(2) of the Constitution
This will help him consol- structions to ensure that, The Bulawayo-based law firm, is This court application for then summarises the case and of Zimbabwe Amendment
idate his grip on power and NewsHawks, which has been seeking a declaratory order on declaratory and consequential outlines the declaratory order (No.20) Act, 2013 in accor-
widen his scope of patronage following this process closely several issues, but first builds relief is accordingly brought sought. dance with the constitution
– increase seats on the gravy and reporting on it weeks on up his case, arguing: in terms of section 167(2)(d) by passing a motion to restore
train and add more slots on end, has it on good authority. of the constitution.” “I am advised that the the Constitution of Zimba-
the feeding trough – and en- “It is my sincere contention restoring and passing of bwe Amendment (No.1) Bill,
sure control. However, Sithole yesterday that the 1st respondent has In his application, Sithole the Constitution of Zimbabwe [H.B. 1A, 2017] to the order
filed a ConCourt application failed to fulfil its constitution- further argues the amend- Amendment (No.1) Bill, [H.B. paper on the 24th of March
Most of the changes which challenging the passing of the al obligation under section ment process violated the 1A, 2017] by the senate of the 2021 when the said Constitu-
the National Assembly made first amendment, arguing that 131(2) as read with section constitution and that was ninth parliament was incom- tional Bill had lapsed on the
to the Constitutional Amend- it violated section 147 of the 117(1) of the constitution dangerous in a democracy. petent in that the Constitu- 29th of July 2018 by opera-
ment (No.2) Bill, which is constitution as it straddled to have the Constitution of tional Bill had lapsed by op- tion of section 147 of the
not subject of the court chal- two different lives of parlia- Zimbabwe Amendment (No. “Our country is a consti- eration of section 147 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,”
lenge, in the committee stage ment. 1) Bill, [H.B. 1A, 2017] pre- tutional democracy, meaning constitution,” it says. it says.
materially altered clauses of sented in, and passed by the that the constitution is the
the original draft or added The Bill straddled the supreme law and any law, “Nothing can therefore “It is declared that 1st re-
new clauses that were not eighth parliament which ran spondent through the senate
there. Hence, they are uncon- failed to exercise its legis-
stitutional because they were lative authority under section
made without going through 131(2) of the Constitu-
the procedure laid down in tion by of Zimbabwe Amend-
section 328 of the constitu- ment (No.20) Act, 2013
tion. in accordance with the
Constitution by presenting
As a result, the clauses and passing the Consti-
which have been changed tution of Zimbabwe Amend-
and added to the Bill have ment (No.1) Bill, [H.B. 1A,
not been properly passed by 2017] on the 6th of April
parliament. This will remain 2021 when the said Con-
so no matter how many MPs stitutional Bill had lapsed
voted for the Bill in its final on the 29th of July 2018 by
reading on 20 April. operation of section 147 of
the Constitution of Zim-
This might also be chal- babwe.
lenged in court separately.
“It is declared that all
Constitutional Amend- processes arising from the
ment (No.1) Bill – the sub- restoration and passage
ject of court challenge – was of Constitution of Zimbabwe
passed through Senate on 6 Amendment (No.1) Bill,
April with worse problems, [H.B. 1A, 2017] by the senate
which even Constitutional on the 24th of March 2021
Court (ConCourt) judges and the 6th of April 2021
Annie-Marie Gowora and are of no force or effect. The
Bharat Patel were not com- costs of suit to be paid by
fortable with. any respondent that opposes
this application. I submit that
Justice Gowora was sting- I have made out a good case
ing in her dissenting judg- for the relief sought.”
ment on 25 February when
justices Rita Makarau and
Patel gave senate 90 days on
top of 180 days earlier given
on 31 March 2020 to regular-
ise the passing of Amendment
(No.1) Bill which had been
passed irregularly on 1 August
2017 without the required
two-thirds majority in viola-
NewsHawks News Page 3
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
...President intensifies power consolidation
will extend the President’s
OWEN GAGARE President Emmerson Mnangagwa. power to control his Cabinet
as well as extending his powers
PRESIDENT Emmerson ments will do but does not ex- clause remains part of the Bill. ident after consulting the JSC correspondingly increase the of patronage. Non-parliamen-
Mnangagwa’s dictatorial ten- plain the reasons behind them. The fact that he may withdraw consents to their doing so. influence and power of central tary Ministers, moreover, may
dencies and his power consoli- It is important that such an the clause suggests it was not government. not be amenable to attending
dation bid have been strength- explanation should be given properly thought out in the This will strip those judg- Concentration of power in Parliament and answering
ened by the expected passing because section 328(4) of the first place ‒ in other words, es of their security of tenure, the President personally questions from parliamentar-
of Constitution of Zimbabwe Constitution requires Parlia- there were no compelling rea- hence their independence, The second main theme of the ians.
Amendment (No. 2) Bill ment to convene meetings at sons for it. since they will hold office from Bill is to concentrate executive Appointment and dismissal
which allows him to concen- which members of the public (b) Extending provision for year to year subject to the Pres- power in the person of the of the Prosecutor-General
trate power in his hands while can express their views on pro- party-list members of assem- ident’s consent. President. The President’s per- At present, the procedures for
undermining other arms of posed constitutional amend- bly sonal power will be increased appointing and dismissing the
the state, such as the judiciary ments. How can members of Extending the provision for The independence, impar- in the following ways: Prosecutor-General are the
and the legislature. the public formulate sensible 60 party-list women members tiality and effectiveness of the Power to choose vice-pres- same as those for a judge. The
views on the Bill, much less of the National Assembly for courts are central to the rule idents Bill proposes to alter this by
The Bill will also allow express them, if they do not another 10 years, and adding of law and democratic gover- Starting from the election in removing the need for public
him to extend Chief Justice know why the Bill has been 10 party-list youth members nance. Judicial officers must 2023, presidential candidates interviews of candidates before
Luke Malaba’s term beyond put forward?” asked Veritas. to the National Assembly, will be independent and impartial, will have to nominate two the President appoints a Pros-
70, enabling him to be in of- increase the number of par- and must be perceived to be so vice-presidential candidates to ecutor-General, and by giving
fice during the 2023 elections Below is an assessment of liamentarians on whom the by the general public. By in- stand together with them as a the President the ultimate
when he might need him to the Bill by Veritas: government can rely on for creasing the President’s power team; if elected, the vice-pres- discretion to decide whether
superintend over any electoral Themes of the Bill support without significantly over judges, the Bill will re- idents will have the same secu- or not a Prosecutor-General
challenges, like he did in 2018. Increase in the power of the increasing the real power of duce their independence and rity of tenure as the President, should be dismissed.
Executive women and youths in politics their perceived impartiality. that is, the President will not
In addition, the Bill allows The Executive and Parlia- ‒ a goal which would be better Retreat from devolution be able to dismiss them ‒ and Once again, the President’s
him to remove the running ment achieved by appointing more One of the principles of good succession in the event of the personal power will be in-
mate close, helping him con- (a) Limiting Parliament’s women and youths as minis- governance, which itself is a President’s ceasing to hold creased. It may be noted that
tain Vice-President Constanti- power to veto loan agree- ters and putting measures in founding value of our consti- office will be fixed before the in deciding on the appoint-
no Chiwenga, who in any case ments place to ensure parties select tution, is the devolution and election. ment or dismissal of a Prosecu-
is already on the backfoot be- Clause 23 of the Bill, if pro- more women and youths for decentralisation of govern- tor-General the President will
cause of the incremental gains ceeded with, will deprive Par- election in constituencies. mental power and functions The Bill seeks to preserve not have to act on the advice
Mnangagwa has scored since liament of its right to approve The executive and the judi- [section 3(2)(l) of the Consti- the system that is currently in of his cabinet: section 110(2)
the 2017 military coup which or veto financing agreements ciary tution]. force, under which the Pres- (d) and (6) of the constitution.
thrust him into power. entered into by the govern- The Bill seeks to permit the ident chooses vice-presidents The proposed amendment will
ment with foreign entities such President to promote judges Pursuant to this principle, after his or her election and also, of course, decrease the
Government officials told as banks. This right is essential of the High Court and the Su- chapter 14 of the constitu- they hold office at the Presi- Prosecutor-General’s indepen-
The NewsHawks that through for Parliament to oversee state preme Court to a higher court tion establishes provincial and dent’s pleasure. Obviously this dence, something on which
the Bill, Mnangagwa had tak- revenues and expenditures in on the recommendation of metropolitan councils to fur- will increase the President’s great weight was put during
en a step closer to fully consol- terms of section 299 of the the Judicial Service Commis- ther the social and economic control over his vice-presi- the constitution-making pro-
idating power. constitution, and removing it sion (JSC), without the need development of Zimbabwe’s dents. cess.
would seriously diminish Par- for public interviews, thereby provinces. Appointment of non-parlia- Chief Secretary to the Presi-
“This is a giant step in his liament’s power vis-à-vis the opening the door to promo- mentary ministers dent and cabinet
consolidation bid which has executive. tions on the basis of political The Bill will reduce the size The Bill seeks to allow the By making the Chief Secretary
been on the agenda since the suitability and cronyism. of councils by providing that President to appoint up to to the Office of the President
day he came into office. The On 3 March, Justice minis- members of Parliament will seven ministers from outside and cabinet a constitutional
Bill is significant and should ter Ziyambi Ziyambi indicat- Allow judges of the Con- no longer be council mem- Parliament. At present he can office-holder, the Bill will in-
be seen as part of the consol- ed to the National Assembly stitutional Court and the Su- bers. As stated in Constitu- appoint only five. crease his or her status and the
idation drive,” said an official. that he does not intend to pro- preme Court to continue to tion Watch 5/2020, this may already extensive influence of
ceed with clause 23, but the serve beyond the current re- improve the efficiency of the Increasing the number of the President’s Office. By giv-
“It has been long in coming tirement age of 70, if the Pres- councils but it will make them non-parliamentary ministers ing the President, rather than
but it was all calculated. First less representative of the polit- the Civil Service Commission,
it was managing Zanu PF dy- ical leadership of their prov- power to fix the Chief Secre-
namics by containing his dep- inces. By making councils tary’s salary and term of office,
uty Chiwenga, by removing less influential, the Bill will the Bill will once again in-
his key military backers from crease the President’s personal
the army by, among other power because he will not have
things, giving them diplomat- to consult cabinet.
ic positions, removing com- Public Protector
manders of the units which Here, too, the Bill will increase
played prominent roles in the the President’s personal power
coup as they were seen as be- by allowing him to appoint
ing loyal to Chiwenga. and dismiss the Public Protec-
tor after mere consultation (in
“He further consolidated this case with the Judicial Ser-
by surrounding himself with vice Commission and Parlia-
his close friends and associ- ment’s Committee on Stand-
ates mostly from his ethnic ing Rules and Orders).
Karanga clan and, of course,
Covid-19 was helpful in his In other words, the office
consolidation bid as it claimed of Public Protector will be yet
the lives of Chiwenga’s closest another office within the Pres-
allies from the military, For- ident’s gift.
eign Affairs minister Sibusiso Conclusion
Moyo and Agriculture minis- The effect of the Bill will be to
ter Perrance Shiri.” remove constitutional limits
on the exercise of power by the
In a Constitution Watch executive and to concentrate
bulletin, Veritas, a lawyers’ that power in the central gov-
grouping with an interest in ernment and in the President
legal, constitutional and par- personally. It would be an ex-
liamentary issues, came to the aggeration to say that the Bill
conclusion that the Bill had represents a wholesale assault
“two primary interlinked aims, on Zimbabwe’s democracy: it
which are: to increase the Ex- does not go that far. If enact-
ecutive’s power, mostly at the ed, however, it will amount to
expense of the other arms of a chipping away at our consti-
government, namely Parlia- tutional democracy and will
ment and the Judiciary, and to go some way towards restoring
concentrate that power in the former president Robert Mug-
person of the President.” abe’s constitutional dictator-
ship.
Veritas also noted that the
constitution should not be
amended lightly and that tge
government had not given rea-
sons for the Bill.
“It has not even explained
why any of the proposed
amendments are necessary or
desirable. The Bill’s memoran-
dum does no more than state,
very briefly, what the amend-
Page 4 News NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
BERNARD MPOFU Zim to get US$1.1bn through under US financial re-
IMF Special Drawing Rights strictions, is considered a
ZIMBABWE, reeling un- pariah state in America.
der a protracted liquidity omy. It was previously branded
crunch and in dire straits, Georgieva and her board an “outpost of tyranny” by
is expected to get 800 are the last step in the pro- former president George
million Special Drawings cess before money is re- Bush.
Rights (SDR) – about leased.
US$1.1 billion – from Members states have al- Georgieva, a Har-
the International Mon- ready approved the pack- vard-trained Bulgarian
etary Fund (IMF)’s new age, making the board economist, recently issued
US$650 billion econom- meeting a formality. a statement after an infor-
ic rescue package for the An IMF source in Ha- mal meeting of the IMF
global economy ravaged rare told The NewsHawks board.
by the Covid-19 pandem- this week Georgieva was
ic. keen to push through “I am very encouraged
the process to ensure a by initial discussions on
The bailout – the big- US$650 billion increase in a possible SDR alloca-
gest SDR package in his- reserves, the largest in the tion of US$650 billion.
tory – will boost liquidity fund’s history. By addressing the long-
for struggling countries, The move will provide term global need for re-
without adding to debt badly needed reserves for serve assets, a new SDR
burdens. Zimbabwe badly poor countries struggling allocation would benefit
needs that. with economic turbulence all our member countries
and deep recessions fuelled and support the global re-
IMF managing director by the Covid-19 pandem- covery from the Covid-19
Kristalina Georgieva is set ic. The money is also need- crisis. It would also be
to table the fresh US$650 ed to buy millions of dos- a powerful signal of the
billion proposal before es of vaccines to fight the IMF membership’s deter-
the fund’s executive board virus. mination to do everything
meeting in June for final By comparison, to com- possible to overcome the
approval. Member states bat the global recession worst recession since the
have already approved the that followed the 2008 Great Depression,” the
package, making the board financial crisis, the IMF IMF said.
meeting a mere formality. shelled out US$250 bil-
lion in SDRs. “To this end, executive
A detailed plan will then Last year, the IMF pro- directors conveyed broad
be developed before dis- vided US$250 billion, a support among fund
bursements, which could IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva. quarter of its US$1 trillion members for IMF staff
start in August. The value of the SDR is lending capacity, available to formulate a proposal
based on a basket of five Why it matters: to member countries. As for a new SDR allocation
An IMF source in Ha- currencies — the US dol- part of the Covid-19-re- equivalent to US$650 bil-
rare told The NewsHawks lar, the euro, the Chinese In Georgieva’s words: “If approved, lated rapid arrangements, lion to provide additional
this week that Zimbabwe, renminbi, the Japanese yen a new allocation of SDRs would borrowing countries liquidity to the global eco-
which has not received and the British pound ster- add a substantial, direct liquidity committed to undertake nomic system by supple-
normal funding from the ling. boost to countries, without add- governance measures to menting the reserve assets
lender since 1999, will get ing to debt burdens. It would also promote accountable and of the fund’s 190 member
a lifeline from this huge US$1.1 billion will be free up badly needed resources for transparent use of these re- countries.
windfall. a huge bonanza for Zim- sources.
babwe which has been member countries to help fight the United States Treasury “I intend to present by
“The IMF managing struggling for years to pay pandemic, including to support secretary Janet Yellen told June a formal proposal
director has been clear on off arrears to international vaccination programmes and oth- the IMF panel recently that to the executive board to
this issue: US$650 billion financial institutions (IFIs) er urgent measures. And it would the SDR increase would consider a new allocation
will be availed soon to – the IMF, World Bank provide a “much-needed of US$650 billion, based
all 191 member states of and African Development complement the range of tools de- boost to global reserves”. on an assessment of IMF
the fund. This is different Bank (AfDB) – to secure ployed by the IMF to support our She said it would be im- member countries’ long-
from the US$250 billion US$2 billion in new fund- membership in this time of crisis.” portant for rich countries term global reserve needs,
provided for Covid-19 and ing. who do not need the in- and consistent with the
economic stabilisation last crease in resources to sup- Articles of Agreement and
year from which poor na- The doomed Lima Plan ply that extra support to the IMF’s mandate. IMF
tions in arrears like Zim- was about that, but Zim- poorer nations. staff will develop new mea-
babwe were not eligible,” babwe only managed to The idea of increasing sures to enhance transpar-
the source said. pay the IMF US$107.9 IMF reserves gained sup- ency and accountability
million in arrears, al- port when US President in the use of SDRs, while
“In this case, all mem- though IFIs demand that Joe Biden’s administration preserving the reserve asset
ber countries who are part their arrears be paid simul- endorsed the plan in Feb- characteristic of the SDR.
of the IMF SDR arrange- taneously – the pari passu a back seat during the ty and national debt have ruary, marking a reversal In parallel, staff would also
ment, including Zimba- rule. Covid-19 crisis, especial- risen dramatically in many from the Donald Trump explore options for mem-
bwe, will benefit. Zimba- ly in corrupt states like countries on the continent, government’s position bers with strong financial
bwe will get 800 million Ditched by IFIs for de- Zimbabwe which have including Zimbabwe. which had opposed the ef- positions to reallocate
in SDRs and at the current faulting on arrears since been rocked by serious fort. SDRs to support vulnera-
exchange rate of SDR1: 1999, Zimbabwe still owes Covid-19-related corrup- This will not be the first Republican lawmakers ble and low-income coun-
US$1.43, this means it US$7.66 billion to various tion scandals. Guidelines time Zimbabwe is getting in Congress have raised tries.
will receive US$1.1 bil- creditors, including the on the utilisation of SDRs a windfall from the IMF. objections to the increase
lion. The money is expect- World Bank, European In- are being developed. In 2009, it got US$500 in IMF resources, saying “If approved, a new al-
ed to come after the June vestment Bank, the Paris million, which was part of the hike would benefit location of SDRs would
board meeting that will Club and AfDB. The global lender-of- a US$250 billion bailout, countries seen as US ad- add a substantial, direct li-
give final approval to the last-resort still wants to in SDRs in the aftermath versaries such as China, quidity boost to countries,
package.” The US$1.1 billion release huge funding to of the global financial cri- Russia and Iran, among without adding to debt
bailout will thus come in help Africa cope with the sis which triggered an eco- others. burdens. It would also free
The SDR is an interna- handy for the broke Zim- coronavirus pandemic. nomic meltdown in vast Zimbabwe, which is up badly needed resources
tional reserve asset, cre- babwean government. Unemployment, pover- swathes of the world econ- for member countries to
ated by the IMF in 1969 help fight the pandemic,
to supplement its member However, there are con- including to support vac-
countries’ official reserves. cerns governance and ac- cination programs and
So far, SDR 204.2 bil- countability could take other urgent measures.
lion (equivalent to about And it would complement
US$293 billion) have been the range of tools deployed
allocated to members, in- by the IMF to support our
cluding SDR 182.6 billion membership in this time
(US$250 billion) allocated of crisis.”
in 2009 in the wake of the
global financial crisis.
NewsHawks News Page 5
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Page 6 News NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Frenzied 63-day land use, procure goods and
IN 63 days in 2008, the looting spree exposed services without going to
government fraudulently tender while also flouting
parceled out vast tracts of Bona and her husband Simba Mutsahuni’s house, still under construction, which was facilitated by former Local Government minister employment procedures.
land, amounting to 188 Ignatius Chombo (insert).
451 square metres, belong- An investigative report
ing to the City of Harare it costs upwards of US$7 use from recreational to through a company linked which the caretaker coun- which was commissioned
while entering into dodgy million. accommodation purpos- to him – Harvest-net En- cil ran the affairs of Bula- by the late former Prime
contracts without going to es. He also acquired stand terprises (Pvt) Ltd – with- wayo, it made resolutions minister Morgan Tsvan-
tender, a 2010 investiga- Initially, Chombo cor- 293 Avondale Township of out going to tender. to sell various tracts of girai’s office in 2010 de-
tion found. ruptly acquired the proper- Lot 48 Avondale block D, council land, change land tails how, in 63 days be-
ty before changing its land During the 63 days in tween April 2008 and June
The massive corruption, 2008, Chombo, through
which benefitted senior the caretaker council, en-
government officials and tered into dodgy deals that
businesspeople connected stripped council land and
to Zanu PF and govern- compromised its opera-
ment officials, was done tions.
after the appointment of a
caretaker council, chaired This comes as the crimi-
by Michael Mahachi, to nal abuse of office charges
run the affairs of the City cases against Chombo,
of Harare by former Local who was arrested during
Government minister Ig- the military coup in No-
natius Chombo. vember 2017, are dragging
on in court.
After the March 2008
elections, Chombo de- Chombo is challenging
layed the swearing in of his placement on remand.
elected councillors for 63
days, in breach of the Ur- The caretaker council
ban Councils Act. also controversially entered
into the Airport Road con-
Instead, he appointed struction deal with Augur
a caretaker council led by Investments.
Michael Mahachi, result-
ing in the massive sale of “The issue of the ap-
land and other unproce- pointment of the caretaker
dural acts being carried council in unclear circum-
out by council. stances is not a matter that
should be viewed in isola-
Chombo was one of the tion. The picture that has
biggest beneficiaries of the emerged from its dealings
land heist. and decisions is one of
a well-orchestrated plan
The then Local Govern- to plunder government
ment minister approved and council resources on
change of land use for a a grand scale,” the report
prime piece of land, num- reads.
ber 61 Helensvale, mea-
suring 20 hectares, which “The irresistible con-
is now owned by former clusion to draw from the
president Robert Mug- events that occurred after
abe’s daughter Bona and the harmonised election
her husband Simba Mut- of March 2008 is that the
sahuni. Caretaker Council was
appointed for a specific
The Mutsahunis paid purpose which minister
a meagre US$2 300 al- Chombo felt could only
though at current prices best be achieved outside
the scrutiny of an elected
Shining Light In The Dark Corners council. The awarding of
the Airport Road project
EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM to Augur Investments was
one such project which
Conference Room that “just works” to help your was meant to escape elect-
presenters perform condently and participants ed council scrutiny. There
interact naturally. is substantial circumstan-
tial evidence points to the
Ÿ Wi-Fi fact that minister Chom-
Ÿ Stationery bo’s irregular appointment
Ÿ Catering Services of a caretaker council in
Ÿ Projector 2008 was calculated to de-
Ÿ White Board/Flip Chart rive some personal benefit
on his part.”
Suitable for all Conference Meetings For more information visit Contact Details
48 square meters big The NewsHawks Charmaine 0735 666 122 “There was no plausible
Accommodates 36 delegates #100 Nelson Mandela Avenue Ruth 0784 674 193 explanation advanced at
Beverly Court E-mail the time or indeed at any
6th Floor [email protected] time thereafter as to why
the minister handpicked
The NewsHawks TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected] three individuals to run
the affairs of the city where
there were elected council-
lors waiting to be sworn
in.”
According to the report,
the caretaker council ap-
proved the employment of
a total of 742 people.
The posts ranged from
junior posts such as gen-
eral hands to senior posi-
tions such as the head of
human resources, and the
vacancies were not adver-
tised.
NewsHawks News Page 7
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Police boss fling the feathers of bigwigs,
guns for Zacc Zacc has done well.
investigator
Zacc says in 2020 it man-
NYASHA CHINGONO cases himself, accused Cha- Police commissioner Erasmus Makodza. aged to complete 90 dockets
cha of getting him arrested in for prosecution against a target
POLICE commissioner in January in a bid to rescue his is Eric Chacha’s wife. Our cli- capital later that day, Makodza ing a deal for his girlfriend of 80. Out of that, 29 of the
charge of Matabeleland North close friend Munyaradzi, a ent believes that she is dealing was arrested after an interview Mawonei Chapfudza to enter dockets are at trial stage, with
province Erasmus Makodza’s controversial land baron who corruptly with Felix Mun- with Zacc on 1 February. into a farming joint venture 15 having trial dates already.
lawyers have written to the is Delatfin Properties director, yaradzi or that she is simply with police over Lendy Farm in
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption in a court battle with him after a conduit for Eric Chacha to News of his arrest was leaked Marondera in 2019. Chacha is accused of getting
Commission (Zacc) chairper- he was swindled US$40 000 receive money from Felix Mu- to the media while the inter- Makodza who, as police com-
son Loice Matanda Moyo to cash in a botched residential nayaradzi,” further reads the view was still going on. And now it is Chacha’s turn missioner in charge of Mata-
remove investigating officer stand deal in Sandton Park, Mt complaint. to be roasted and arraigned. beleland North province, is in
Eric Chacha from the ongoing Hampden, just outside Harare. Eric Chacha was in action the third tier of police com-
investigations, citing a corrupt “In that regard, our client re- and secured the detention of Makodza has reported Cha- mand after the police commis-
relationship with bogus land Makodza’s lawyers say Cha- quests that he be recused from the decorated policeman at cha to the Special Anti-Cor- sioner-general and his deputies,
baron Felix Munyaradzi. cha abused his office by dis- the investigation.” Mabelreign police station in ruption Unit (Sacu) in the arrested in a bid to rescue Mun-
closing information regarding Harare. The following day, 2 President’s Office for abuse of yaradzi, a controversial land
According to a letter gleaned an investigation of a public Makodza has an illustrious February, Makodza was out on office — a similar charge to his baron who is Delatfin Proper-
by The NewsHawks, Makod- official. record as a top cop who has ar- bail. — over a court case in which ties director, in a court battle
za’s lawyers say there is ample rested a number of high-profile his notorious land baron friend with the senior policeman who
evidence to prove that Mun- “Our client is aggrieved at Zimbabweans, including the Chacha was reportedly be- Felix Munyaradzi defrauded was swindled
yaradzi and Chacha had com- the fact that Eric Chacha vio- ENG Capital founders Nyasha side himself with rage. His be- the top cop US$40 000.
municated between December lated the Official Secrets Act Watyoka and Gilbert Mupon- haviour at Harare’s Rotten Row US$40 000 cash in a resi-
2020 and February 2021. and abused his authority as da, flamboyant businessman magistrates’ court during the The case risks discrediting dential stand deal in Sandton
a public officer by disclosing Wicknell Chivayo and Zesa di- case was described by witnesses Zacc, which has been making Park, Mt Hampden, just out-
“Our client also advises that information regarding an in- rectors, among others, in many as apoplectic — spitting mad. noise about fighting corrup- side Harare.
incidentally on the day of this vestigation of a Senior Public big cases he has dealt with. He could not imagine his big tion, although it has clear-
arrest Felix Munyaradzi and Official,” reads the letter. catch wriggling off the hook ly failed so far to investigate Munyaradzi was arrested
Eric Chacha spoke to each oth- After driving from Hwange, just like that. high-profile corrupt cartels for duping several people, in-
er for close to a minute. It is our In the latest letter of com- where he is based, via Bulawayo around President Emmerson cluding controversial business
contention that Eric Chacha plaint dated 21 April, Mako- en route Harare on 30 January Makodza was arrested on Mnangagwa. dealer Delish Nguwaya, an
disclosed information regard- dza’s lawyer Tapiwa Makanza and 31 January, arriving in the charges of criminal abuse of Epworth schoolteacher Maria
ing his investigation against our also alleges that Constable office for allegedly structur- On other cases, besides ruf- Gabaza, Harare man Ronald
client to Felix Munyaradzi,” the Fortunate Dube, stationed in Dondo and Makodza in the
letter reads. Marondera and married to dodgy residential stands deal.
Chacha, has been receiving fi-
The lawyers further argue nancial and material benefits He is currently out on bail.
that: “Our client takes this from Munyaradzi, who is in- At one time Munyaradzi was
view because Felix Munyaradzi volved in the US$40 000 fraud said to have given former min-
warned an acquaintance of our court case in which his client is ister Ignatius Chombo, who
client that he (Commissioner the complainant. spent many years in charge
Makodza) would soon be ar- of Local Government during
rested which subsequently hap- “In addition , we have also the late ex-president Robert
pened. The only person to dis- made a complaint on behalf Mugabe’s era, 125 stands for
close such information could of our client against Fortunate resolving his dispute with other
only be Eric Chacha.” Dube, attested police officer Zvimba developers.
who has been receiving Eco- Makodza says Chacha got
Makodza, who has deal with Cash payments from Felix him arrested out of person-
many high-profile corruption Munyaradzi. Fortunate Dube al interest as he is a friend to
MAPUTO - Lionel Dyck’s men Munyaradzi. Makodza and
were unloading guns from heli- Back from Mozambique, mercenary sees Munyaradzi are locked in a
copters in the northern Mozam- ‘only hardships’ for insurgent-hit north court battle over the US$40
bique town of Pemba when they 000 stand. The matter is be-
were informed of a jihadist attack zambique has ever had,” Dyck didn’t run away,” he recalled. countries, including Mozam- air support to foot soldiers, send- fore the courts and has been set
unfolding further north in Palma, warned, noting that soldiers were In 1990, Dyck retired from bique. ing choppers from the provincial down for 24 February – next
days before the mercenaries were both under-trained and poorly capital Pemba when attacks were Wednesday.
due to leave the country. equipped. the army and moved to neigh- Mozambique’s government reported. The policeman says Cha-
bouring South Africa, where he first asked DAG to help fight the cha got him detained at Mun-
They rapidly re-armed and “This is an enemy that has got started a de-mining company and insurgency for a couple of weeks Without air cover “troops that yaradzi’s behest in a bid to
flew to the scene, where local its tail up and there is nobody to sought new thrills. in September 2019, and then were on the ground were always stall the court case, which he
troops had already been overpow- fight them,” he added. called them back in February last vanquished,” Dyck said. charges is an abuse of office
ered. “I’m quite an adventurous year. and an attempt to obstruct the
“Unless something miraculous person,” he said, noting: “I have “So we would get into the area course of justice.
“We were actually standing happens they will dominate the climbed all the big mountains in Rtd. Colonel Lionel Dyck. and stop these raids.” report accusing his mercenaries
down when that raid took place,” whole area. I see no ships, only the world and sailed across most “It’s not that different to chas- of indiscriminately firing into
said Dyck, the founder of Dyck hardships.” oceans.” He claimed the army’s heli- crowds, resulting in hundreds of
Advisory Group (DAG), a pri- Born a soldier ing poachers that... kill animals,” copters, Mi-24 gunships, were civilian deaths.
vate military company hired by Dyck was born in 1944 in the But Dyck’s fondest memories Dyck said. These are “terrorists not suited to “jungle” guerrilla His men fought their last ji-
the Mozambican government to then British colony of Southern were of the “pretty big battles” he with weapons, they shoot at you”. warfare because they did not turn hadist attack in Cabo Delgado on
help fight militants in the gas-rich Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. fought in the country he still calls Jungle’ tactics swiftly enough. March 24, when militants staged
Cabo Delgado province. Rhodesia. DAG was contracted to provide coordinated raids on the coast-
He joined the army aged 17 Using technology and survivor al town of Palma that were later
“If they had waited another and fought against black nation- “In the movies they say it’s a testimonies, claimed by the Islamic State.
four or five days we would not alists in a brutal 15-year conflict terrible thing to shoot at some- “We got quite a lot of bullet
have been there.” that ended white minority rule in body,” he chuckled. “I don’t DAG was able to locate and holes in our helicopters,” Dyck
1979. know that it is... it’s what I was raid rebel bases, gaining some in- said.
DAG’s counter-insurgency trained to do.” sight into the jihadists’ tactics. Fighting raged for days, during
contract ended on 6 April, less “My mother told me that the which dozens of people were
than two weeks after rebels staged moment I stood up I wanted to South Africa has a number “Some of the bases were huge,” killed and thousands displaced.
an attack on Palma, considered be a soldier,” he said. of nostalgic retired soldiers, cast Dyck said. “Dug in with over- The government assures the
one of the worst acts of Islamist aside after the end of apartheid head camouflage, only cooking at town has now been retaken -- a
militancy in southern Africa. Dyck remembered lying reduced military needs. certain times and dissipating the claim Dyck described as “wishful
awake the night he was named smoke.” thinking”.
Speaking to AFP from his officer, wondering whether he Some have joined battles He alleged the military did not
home on South Africa’s west would be able to lead men and abroad as mercenaries, employed “All we could do was shoot follow up with house-to-house
coast, the 77-year-old retired not flee from bullets. by homegrown private military at them from the top,” he add- fighting after the militants seem-
Zimbabwean army colonel ex- firms. ed. “But they then needed to be ingly retreated, failing to reduce
pressed concern at the security “It was a huge relief, the first cleared by soldiers... that weren’t the risk of further attacks.
vacuum created by DAG’s depar- time somebody shot at me, that I Dyck launched DAG in 2012, there.” “That didn’t happen,” he
ture. initially offering de-mining and claimed.
anti-poaching services to other Dyck declined to comment on The defence ministry did not
“The gap with nobody there is a recent Amnesty International respond to AFP requests for com-
the most dangerous period Mo- ment.
Now back in South Africa,
Dyck was disappointed by his
inability to continue fighting the
extremists.
“Any professional soldiers
would... be just as frustrated as I
am,” he said.
— AFP.
Page 8 News NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Pay Congo War veterans: Ex soldier
LIZWE SEBATA billions of dollars in lost mil- Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri. that those who did combat in
itary arsenal while also chok- Congo must be compensated.
GOVERNMENT must com- ing the economy. A number arrival in Congo, as a com- the command of the likes of times; those were abnormal Our blood must be compen-
pensate soldiers who par- of Zimbabwean soldiers lost pany, where we fought along- Colonel Lizwe Nyathi,” said times fighting the enemy. sated.”
ticipated in the Democratic their lives but the exact figure side Namibian soldiers who Ndlovu narrating the DRC
Republic of Congo (DRC) has not been disclosed. were getting US$900 while ordeal. “Those who fought in the Mugabe paid ex-combat-
war, a former army captain we being paid USD$320 but liberation war were com- ants an unbudgeted ZW$50
deployed to the battlefield, Several reports show that fighting the same war yet we “We had 84 contacts pensated. Why is that since 000 in 1997 for their partic-
Solomon Ndlovu, said as he the Zimbabwe National were the ones commanding during that year (1999) in we also fought in the DRC ipation in the liberation war.
expressed frustration at the Army (ZNA) and top army the Namibians and under Ikela with the enemy; we war, we have not been com-
failure by the authorities to brass benefited from the war couldn’t sleep during those pensated? The bottom line is “When we came to Zimba-
recognise their efforts more through lucrative mining bwe after one year in Congo,
than two decades later. contracts, leaving Ndlovu and the government promised us
other soldiers who were de- farms but to date we have
The call for compensation ployed on the battlefield wal- not received anything. What
for participating in the DRC lowing in misery and poverty. we only have are the bravery
war comes at a time when medals which we received.
the Southern African Devel- “Our children always ask The bravery medals did not
opment Community (Sadc), us why we even went to the come with any financial ben-
Zimbabwe included, mulls DRC war since we have noth- efits. We were also given one
military intervention against ing to show for it; and we rank one up but that was not
terrorists in Mozambique. have no answer. Some chil- enough,” he added.
dren are fatherless owing to
Military action by the that DRC and there has been Ndlovu is yet to be re-in-
Mozambican government, no compensation; what are stated into the ZNA after
including the use of merce- we saying about those chil- his acquittal by the courts
naries, has not stopped the dren who lost their fathers with the latter claiming the
attacks amid fears that, if left in a needless war?” asked ex-army captain had been dis-
unchecked, the insurgency Ndlovu who is seeking re-in- charged from duty, a claim he
could spill into neighbouring statement into the ZNA af- denies.
countries. ter successfully appealing his
six-year jail term at the High “We fought a war in a for-
The late president Robert Court in 2019. eign country and we deserve
Mugabe deployed an estimat- compensation. Our children
ed 10 000 troops in DRC at Ndlovu, a former chaplain will demand that compensa-
a cost of US$3 milion per at Mbalabala Barracks in Ma- tion on our behalf after we
month to provide support tabeleland South, was con- depart from this earth as that
to the late President Laurent victed in January 2018 and war history is on record.”
Kabila’s embattled regime, sentenced to six years in jail
saving Kinshasa from military for theft of a motor vehicle by According to reports in
takeover by rebels backed by a Beitbridge regional magis- 2018, President Emmerson
Burundi and Rwanda. trate. Mnangagwa approached the
then DRC president Laurent
Zimbabwe’s involvement He appealed the sentence Kabila demanding US$1 bil-
in the war, which erupted in at the High Court. lion compensation for Zim-
August 1998, cost the army babwe’s participation in the
“We were sent to Ikela on war.
STEPHEN CHADENGA chairperson Kudakwashe
Gweru factories converted Munengiwa, the few compa-
A STROLL in the heavy in- to new places of worship nies that remain operational
dustrial zone of Gweru, the have downsized drastically.
Midlands capital, leaves one nies such as Zimcast, Fort an opportunity and are now matic preacher Walter Maga- Dairibord is now home to
with the impression of a Concrete, Radar Castings, using these once economical- ya’s PHD Ministries last Sun- PHD Ministries’ Gweru “The remaining companies
stranegly serene atmosphere. Kariba Batteries and David ly productive buildings for day on premises that used church. The branch has 78 are operating at extremely
Whitehead. The firms have church meetings. to house Cembee furniture members and gets weekly low capacity and the major-
The quiet surroundings shut down in the past two manufacturers. visitors who are greeted with ity of them have retrenched
can be mistaken for a laid- decades, rendering thousands “The rentals in the indus- a huge banner emblazoned workers in the past few
back picnic venue, some- of workers jobless. tries are a bit favourable and Cembee used to employ with Magaya’s portrait. Con- years,” he said.
thing not synonymous with that is why you find us here,” hundreds of people who gregants take turns to wor-
an industrial area. Ordinari- But enterprising religious said Josphat Muroyiwa, who made quality furniture, but ship as they endeavour to ad- According to a recent
ly, the place should be a hive organisations have spotted attended a service by charis- the building located behind here to Covid-19 regulations. ZCTU report, new players in
of activity, characterised by the industry operating at full
the sound of machinery with This conversion of facto- capacity included Chinese
smoke billowing above the ries to churches in Gweru companies such as Jin An,
rooftops. has given policymakers a lot Xin Yu and Nelson Holdings.
to ponder in a country grap-
A visit by The NewsHawks pling with chronic high un- Over the years, the gov-
to the industrial zone on employment. ernment’s promises to re-
Sunday was an eye open- suscitate the city’s industries
er. The soothing sound of “Although as a local au- have come to nought as the
church melodies wafted from thority we have facilities that harsh economic environment
huge, dilapidated build- can be hired by various organ- continues to repel investors.
ings. The giant chimneys that isations including churches,
used to discharge smoke now most churches however pre- In 2014, the then MDC
churn out religious hymns fer to take space in the closed Gweru Urban legislator and
and prayers. industries as they are cheap former local government
and affordable,” said Gweru deputy minister in the Gov-
This is what a city which mayor Josiah Makombe. ernment of National Unity,
used to be the heartbeat of Sesel Zvidzai, announced
central Zimbabwe has been “We also used to collect plans for the Gweru Indus-
reduced to. Residents have revenue through rates when try Revival Initiative. It was
converted factories into the industries were fully op- aimed at reviving major
churches which they flock erational, but now the situa- companies that used to an-
to every Sunday to ironically tion has changed.” chor the city’s economy and
pray for jobs and economic employ thousands of people.
salvation. According to Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions Seven years later, the idea
On week days, the area (ZCTU) central region is still pie in the sky. The fac-
resembles a ghost town. It tories in the Midlands capital
certainly can be a perfect set- have morphed into churches
ting for a horror movie, but where long-suffering citizens
this is an area which used to flock to every Sunday to seek
be home to thriving compa- succour from unemployment
and poverty.
NewsHawks News Page 9
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
ZIMBABWE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
PRESS STATEMENT
22 April 2021
RE: RELEASE OF NOVEMBER 2020 ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION RESULTS
Introduction
The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Board and Management are pleased to inform the nation of the release of the results of the ZIMSEC Advanced
Level examinations that were written from December 2020 to January 2021. Heads of Examination Centers will be able to collect the results for their respective
schools/centers from the ZIMSEC Regional Offices starting Friday, 23 April 2021. The results will also be accessible online to candidates who sat for the exam-
inations as well as to authorized personnel through the ZIMSEC portal available at www.zimsec.co.zw in the morning of Friday, 23 April 2021. Candidates are
advised to click on their respective region where they will be redirected to the portal on which they can access their results. Please take note that this portal will
be open for 5 days only.
It is important to remind the nation that the delays in the writing, marking and publication of the results was as a result of the some measures that were put in
place to contain the spread of the corona virus. ZIMSEC wishes to thankfully recognize the support rendered by the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Edu-
cation; Health and Child Care; examiners and parents towards the entire process of the conduct and marking of the examinations.
Candidate Entry
The total number of candidates who sat for the November 2020 examinations was 50 287 compared to 51 862 in 2019. This entry decreased by 3%.
Candidate Performance
The number of candidates that wrote two or more subjects in the November 2020 examinations was 49 153. Out of this number 39 802 obtained Grade E or
better in two or more subjects, translating to 81% pass rate. In November 2019, however, 50 774 wrote two or more subjects and 42 169 obtained Grade E or
better in two or more subjects translating to a pass rate of 83,1%. This shows a national percentage decrease of 2,1 in the 2020 pass rate. The percentage pass
rate in the examinations on the Competency-Based Curriculum of 2018, 2019 and 2020 was 81, 9; 83, 1 and 81 respectively.
The total number of school candidates in the November 2020 was 42 231 as compared to 42 543 in November 2019. Of this number, 41 691 wrote two or more
subjects and 34 597 obtained Grade E or better in two or more subjects, yielding a percentage pass rate of 83%, whereas in November 2019, the total number
of school candidates was 42 543. Of this number, 42 157 wrote two or more subjects, with 36 515 obtaining Grade E or better in two or more subjects, thus
yielding a pass rate of 86,6%.
In November 2020, the total number of private candidates was 8 056. Of this number, 7 462 wrote two or more subjects and 5 205 obtained a Grade E or better
in two or more subjects, which translated to a percentage pass rate of 69,8%, while in November 2019, the total number of private candidates was 9 319. Out
of this number, 8 617 wrote two or more subjects and 5 654 obtained a Grade E or better in two or more subjects, which also translates to a percentage pass rate
of 65.6%. It is important to note that the performance of the November 2020 private candidates was better than that of the same cohort of 2019 by 4,2% while
that of school candidates went down by 3,6%.
The total number of special needs candidates who sat for the November 2020 Advanced level examinations was 37. This number shows a drop from the 55 that
sat for the examinations in 2019. The November 2020 examination candidates were in 4 different categories namely; Enlarged Print, Braille, Hard of Hearing
and Physical Impairment.
Conclusion
It is important for ZIMSEC to acknowledge that the 2020 candidates wrote the examinations under unprecedented conditions that were induced by the COVID
19 pandemic, yet their performance, though lower than that of 2019, is commendable.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all those who were involved in the November 2020 examination processes. Special mention goes to the school admin-
istrators, teachers, ZIMSEC and Ministry staff for their hard work and dedication in making the examinations a success.
ZIMSEC hereby takes this opportunity to wish all the candidates the best of luck in their future studies and endeavors.
Page 10 News NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Zanu PF should also benefit since
MP hijacks it is a government pro-
tick grease gramme. People in my
distribution ward protested earlier this
week before distribution of
MORRIS BISHI bution of tick grease which the commodity in my ward
but he continued with the
he is allegedly parcelling out Zaka Central MP Davison Svuure. programme, leaving out
ZAKA Central legislator to Zanu PF members only. many deserving farmers,”
Davison Svuure is accused Councillors and villagers control steriliosis disease farmers countrywide. The province, decimating the said Tererai.
of hijacking a government are fuming. in cattle, the government is disease has claimed hun- national herd. Tick grease
programme for the distri- distributing tick grease to dreds of cattle in Masvingo is used to supplement dip- Svuure denied the alle-
As part of measures to ping chemicals which were gations when The New-
sHawks reached him for
recently in short supply in comment. He said all de-
the country. Zaka Rural serving people are bene-
INTERNAT IONAL WOR District Council ward 19 fitting and those who are
KERS’ DAY councillor Peter Imbayarwo aggrieved should approach
(MDC Alliance) told The him so that the matter can
NewsHawks that opposi- be solved. However, he
tion supporters in his ward agreed that he is using rul-
hardwork are not accessing the com- ing party districts to distrib-
modity after Svuure, who is ute the commodity.
also a Zanu PF district co-
ordinating committee vice- “The programme is not
chair, declared that the par- selective of opposition
better returns ty organ is now in charge of members or anyone. All
distributing the commod- deserving farmers are ben-
ity. He said the move will efitting and l took a deci-
see many deserving farmers sion to give anyone, even
losing their livestock to dis- those who are not on the
eases just because they sup- veterinary lists so that no
port MDC. one is left out. So far the
Every hard work requires an “Our legislator is distrib- programme is going on well
uting tick grease on parti- and l know my political op-
equal matching benet. If san lines in Zaka Central. ponents are the ones who
hard work really pays lets are raising those issues. We
make it work. As councillors, we were are left with two party dis-
involved together with tricts where the commodity
government officials, but should be distributed,” said
Svuure recently declared Svuure.
that the programme is now
under Zanu PF DCC and Masvingo provincial
no one should cry foul over veterinary officer Enerst
that. He is even giving rul- Dzimwasha told The New-
ing party supporters who sHawks the distribution of
do not have cattle, leaving livestock chemicals is done
out deserving farmers. This by his department. Howev-
is not the first time, we used er, he said his department
to clash during distribution was facing transport short-
of aid and other products ages which forced them
coming from government,” to approach Zanu PF for
said Imbayarwo. transport, but the politi-
Ward 8 councillor Tere- cians are only transporting
rai Tererai (Zanu PF) told the chemicals from Grain
The NewsHawks that Svuure Marketing Board and have
is abusing his power by nothing to do with the
Participate, advertise and share your sevices with involving himself in the choosing of beneficiaries.
The NewsHawks on this year’s Labor Day. distribution of tick grease
without the involvement “We are in charge of dis-
1May 2021 of government officials. He tribution of all livestock
said earlier this week people chemicals in the prov-
Deadline for bookings-29th of April in his ward protested the ince. Since we were fac-
issue. ing transport problems,
“Svuure is abusing his we approached Zanu PF
Please contact Charmaine-0735 666 122 power by involving him- which offered us the service
Ruth-0784 674 193 self in programmes which through their legislators but
should be undertaken by those legislators have noth-
[email protected] government officials. The ing to do with listing of
beneficiaries. As you know,
worst thing is that he is we know our farmers and if
victimising his opponents there is something bad hap-
Shining Light In The Dark Corners within the party as well as pening during distribution
we have nothing to do with
opposition members who it,” said Dzimwasha.
A senior government of-
ficial in Masvingo told The
NewsHawks that politicians
are grabbing every opportu-
nity to campaign for 2023.
He said there are many
reports of politicisation of
government programmes,
but as civil servants they
have no power to intervene
since they fear victimisation.
NewsHawks News Page 11
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Cotton farmers fume
over delay in payments
MORRIS BISHI industry is removed. I Cottco operations di- they delivered to us last
rector Munyaradzi Chika- year. Cotton is subsidised
A PROMISE to the Na- supplied more than 10 sha told The NewsHawks by government and at
bales of cotton last year, that cotton is heavily sub- the moment we are wait-
tional Assembly this week but l am yet to get my sidised by the government ing for the release of the
by Lands and Agricul- payment since the com- and his company is still funds from fiscus. Gov-
ture permanent secretary pany is giving us endless waiting for the release of ernment assured us that
John Basera that the gov- promises. We are already the funds by government. the money will come be-
ernment will pay cotton harvesting this year’s crop He said the government fore this year’s crop is de-
farmers ZW$1.5 billion and it is difficult for us to promised that farmers livered. We collected 91
by mid-May for last year’s distribute it to them. They will be paid before this 000 tonnes last year and
crop is expected to defuse breached our contract and year’s crop is delivered. we are expecting more
escalating anger among this is the ripe time for us tonnage this year,” said
growers. to act like what they did “It’s true that we are yet Chikasha.
The cotton farmers are to us. Like other farmers, to pay farmers for what
threatening to withhold we need capital, but they
their crop until the Cot- are abusing their monop-
ton Company of Zimba- oly by ignoring us,” said
bwe (Cottco) pays them. Mlambo. Don’t Speak loudly,
Cottco says it has no Rutendo Chiwara, Speak Effectively
money and is banking on a cotton farmer in the
a disbursement from the Mazare area of Masvin-
government. go North, said she failed
The company, which to pay school fees for her
received 91 000 tonnes children after Cottco’s
of cotton in 2020, paid failure to pay her for the
only a few farmers by way five bales she produced
of groceries. The unusu- last year. She said with-
al payment irked farm- holding her produce this
ers who felt the move is year is the only solution
a breach of contract that that will compel the com-
will leave them unable to pany to pay her dues.
return to the fields. “This is the only crop
The farmers accused which l produced with the
the company of using intention to raise money
state machinery and un- for my kids’ school fees
fair legislation to push since l am a widow. I will
out private players who not give them (cotton) Register with your
have capacity to meet cot- until they pay all my dues
ton growers’ demands. and together with other Executive Speech Coach & become
They are also accusing farmers in our area we all
the leadership of a farm- agreed on that position,”
ers’ body, the Cotton Pro- said Chiwara.
ducers and Marketers As- Chairperson of the
sociation, of siding with Cotton Producers and
Cottco and also dabbling Marketers Association of
in politics, compromising Zimbabwe Stewart Mu-
their representative role. bonderi said the situation
Maxwell Mlambo, is difficult for farmers but
a cotton farmer in the government promised to
Chinyamukwakwa area of pay them before new de-
Chipinge, told The New- liveries. He dismissed al-
sHawks that it is difficult legations that the associ-
for farmers to release their ation’s leadership is being
cotton to Cottco this year used by cotton companies
after the company failed and the government, add-
to pay for what they deliv- ing that the move to stop
ered last year. He said for payments was done to
a farmer to go back into stop inflation which was
the field a lot of money is being caused by EcoCash
needed and most of them dealers.
used their own funds to “Things are not good
grow the crop. He add- for farmers since they are
ed that by failing to pay yet to be paid for deliver-
them, Cottco had already ies made last year. We are
breached the contract pushing as an association
which they signed and it and saying we are working 226 Sherwood Road
is fair for them to with- with cotton companies is Avondale West Harare - Enhance your language
hold their product this unfair. The move to stop
season until payment for payments was meant to - Overcome your stage fright
last year is done. stop inflation as well as
“We are farmers similar control those who were 00777758 071306 948015 - Set yourself up for success
to those who grow tob- abusing the EcoCash plat-
baco, maize, beans, sug- form. Government prom-
arcane and other crops. ised to pay the money be-
I think it’s time the mo- fore new deliveries,” said
nopoly of Cottco in the Mubonderi.
Page 12 News NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Corruption destroys Zim health sector
CHIPA GONDITII
ZIMBABWEANS have ex- director Muchaneta Mundopa this is money which can be used tain forms of corruption such in most instances, reputable he said.
pressed dissatisfaction with the said corruption in the country to help the country finance the as bribery, absenteeism, illegal pharmaceutical companies are “There is need to prioritise
country’s health delivery service, is affecting the health delivery implementation of Sustainable referrals, moonlighting and sell- sometimes left out in the bid-
citing corruption as a serious system. Development Goals (SDGs),” ing of government posts. ding processes whilst briefcase the fight against corruption as
impediment, a new report has she said. companies with links to politi- it devaluates human life direct-
revealed. “Corruption has become en- “Corruption in public pro- cally exposed persons are given ly and indirectly, for example
demic both to the private and The report further highlights curement within the health preferential treatment and given the right to health is violated
According to Transparency public sector and it affects the that the mass exodus of health sector is facilitated by various the specifications of the tender when there is tampering and
International Zimbabwe’s lat- government’s ability to provide workers from the public to the factors such as weak oversight before it is even advertised,” diversion of medicine, bribe re-
est report on corruption in the quality health service delivery, it private sector is also responsible procedures and institutions, the reads the report. quests, procurement fraud and
public health sector, most Zim- also destroys the social contract for corruption at grassroots lev- discretion afforded to stakehold- embezzlement of health system
babweans have been victims between the state and the citi- el, whilst most of the corruption ers without any accountability Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption resources,” he said.
of corruption and do not have zens. in procurement is perpetrated mechanisms, undue influence, Commission (Zacc) deputy
faith in the health system. by those in power. conflict of interest in decision commissioner Phenias Murapa Zimbabwe’s total budget
“Corruption should not be a making and cartelism. Health said ultimately it is the citizens towards the healthcare sector
“Forms of corruption prev- life sentence for Zimbabweans, “The key informants inter- sector procurement is particu- who suffer due to corruption in remains below 15% of the na-
alent in the health sector con- this is why we continuously viewed revealed that there is larly vulnerable to corruption the health sector. tional budget, in violation of
tribute to the lack of trust in embark on initiatives and part- a mass migration of qualified due to its technical complexity, the Abuja Declaration.
the healthcare sector. 75% of nerships that seek to contribute health workers from govern- numerous stages and require- “It is the majority of Zimba-
the respondents in the study ex- towards anti-corruption initia- ment or local council clinics ment of high expertise. bweans who suffer dispropor- Despite the existence and es-
pressed a lack of confidence in tives which have the potential to private sector institutions tionately from corruption. tablishment of anti-corruption
Zimbabwe’s public healthcare of reducing corruption.” or outside the country, creat- “Key informants stated that laws and institutions, corrup-
sector and 81% pointed out ing a vacuum in the sector. In most of the corruption in pub- Therefore, in the fight against tion levels continue to be on the
that they have witnessed or ex- “The discourse to take deci- some cases, public health sector lic procurement largely occurs corruption it is important that rise. The 2020 Corruption Per-
perienced various forms of cor- sive action against the endemic workers are dividing their time in the high echelons of power, we as players in the criminal jus- ceptions Index (CPI) by Trans-
ruption,” the report reads. corruption in the country in between the public and private such that no punitive action tice system know and recognise parency International places
general is growing. The country sectors. is taken against the perpetra- the economic, social and cultur- Zimbabwe at a score of 24 out
The report also shockingly is losing billions of dollars an- tors. They further stated that al freedoms that communities of 100 with a ranking of 157
reveals that corruption has been nually as a result of leakages and “This inevitably leads to cer- require to live a life of dignity,” out of 180 countries.
regularised within the health
sector with salary gaps between
employees being cited as the
reason.
“Corruption has been nor-
malised in Zimbabwe as evi-
denced by everyday practices
in health-related services which
many do not consider as cor-
ruption.
However, their accumula-
tion and acceptance by various
stakeholders has a detrimental
cumulative effect on the perfor-
mance of the public healthcare
system,
“The huge salary/income gap
between public service employ-
ees and private sector employees
in Zimbabwe results in a dif-
ference in living standards and
wide income gap between the
private and public sector. This
further serves as motivation for
those employed in the public
sector to engage in corruption
when they compare themselves
with their clients,” the report
reads.
Types of corruption preva-
lent in the health sector include
bribery, nepotism, fraud, sex-
tortion, embezzlement and fa-
cilitation payments.
Speaking at the launch of
the report, Transparency Inter-
national Zimbabwe executive
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NewsHawks News Page 13
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Special Covid-19
PANDEMIC coverage
Covid-19 will leave nations broke: IMF
DUMISANI NYONI financing, and more help to had a dramatic impact on 2021 and the new common IMF offices in Washington DC. said.
deal with the region’s debt.” local economies, prompting framework will be helpful in ever, official resources may The region entered the
LOW-INCOME countries sub-Saharan Africa to shrink this regard, and a US$650 bil- not be sufficient. The legacy
in sub-Saharan Africa, such A year ago, most African by an extraordinary -1.9% in lion special drawing rights al- from this crisis may also pro- Covid-19 crisis with less fiscal
as Zimbabwe, face addition- countries swiftly implement- 2020 — the worst outcome location would provide about vide a valuable opportunity space than at the onset of the
al external funding needs of ed national lockdowns to on record, the IMF said. US$23 billion to sub-Saha- for innovative new financing global financial crisis, with 16
US$245 billion over a five- contain the virus and spare ran African countries to help approaches, which may help countries either at high risk
year period, to recover ground the region the worst of the The international lend- boost liquidity and fight the sub-Saharan Africa mobilise of debt distress, or already
lost during the Covid-19 cri- crisis. While vital in saving er said the extension of the pandemic. private-sector funds, partic- in distress in 2019, the IMF
sis, the International Mone- lives, these measures added Group of 20 (G20) debt ser- ularly in light of the region’s said.
tary Fund (IMF) has said. to the global recession and vice initiative to December “Over the long term, how- investment requirements,” it
It said the G20 Debt Ser-
The entire sub-Saharan Af- vice Suspension Initiative has
rica region will need US$425 provided some scope to main-
billion. tain critical spending, by tem-
porarily deferring payments
In its April 2021 region- without reducing the overall
al economic outlook report level of debt.
for sub-Saharan Africa titled
“Navigating a Long Pandem- “But Covid-19-related fis-
ic”, the IMF said the money cal packages in the region
would help strengthen the averaged only 2.6% of GDP
pandemic response spending in 2020. This is markedly less
and accelerate income con- than the amounts spent in
vergence. other regions (spending in ad-
vanced economies was almost
“More broadly, to recover triple this amount at 7.2% of
ground lost during the crisis, GDP in 2020) and has often
sub-Saharan Africa’s low-in- come at the expense of essen-
come countries face addition- tial spending in other areas,”
al external funding needs of the IMF said.
US$245 billion over 2021–
25, to help strengthen the “The result is that most
pandemic response spending countries in the region have
and accelerate income conver- been unable to cushion their
gence. The corresponding fig- economies to the same extent
ure for all sub-Saharan Africa as elsewhere, and have conse-
is US$425 billion,” the report quently suffered greater out-
reads. put losses.”
“The region can cover only Although policies were less
a portion of these needs on its supportive than in many oth-
own. The international com- er regions, the IMF said pub-
munity, including the IMF, lic debt nonetheless increased
has moved swiftly to help in sub-Saharan Africa to al-
cover emergency needs over most 58% of GDP in 2020
2020. But further support — the highest level in almost
will be essential — including 20 years and an increase of
through more concessional more than 6% points in just
one year.
LIZWE SEBATA Bulawayo requests for more galiso Ndlovu.
Covid-19 vaccine doses “We had limited doses. This
BULAWAYO’S available
Covid-19 vaccine stocks will is because the vaccines that
run out in a fortnight and local had been sent to the province
officials are appealing to central were limited and targeting only
government to avail more doses frontline workers like health
to ensure the city’s vaccination workers,” Ndlovu said in an
drive gains wider reach. interview.
Meanwhile, in Matabele- have a lot of vaccines in stock.”
land South the inoculation This comes at a time the “However, the province has
programme was beset by short- since received 20 000 doses
ages of vaccines until recently government plans to roll out a with more expected ahead of
when the Health and Child mass vaccination drive in Bul- the rollout of a mass vaccina-
Care ministry availed 20 000 awayo and Harare on a yet-to- tion drive in the border towns
doses, a cabinet minister told be-announced date, according of Beitbridge and Plumtree
The NewsHawks on Wednes- to Local Government minister where we have two major land
day. Matabeleland South had July Moyo, who was also in at- borders.”
only received 11 000 doses as tendance. Sibanda said the city
of February. has been “vaccinating between The government says it plans
The country’s Covid-19 vac- 2 500 to 3 000 daily”, figures to vaccinate about 25 000 peo-
cination has entered the second he said can be easily ramped up ple in Plumtree and 26 000 in
phase targeting teachers, mem- if more vaccines are made avail- Beitbridge, the busiest port of
bers of the security services, ju- able. In Matabeleland South, entry. As of Tuesday, the Health
diciary security, judicial sector the same challenges have beset and Child Care ministry said
and citizens with chronic dis- President Mnangagwa launched the second phase of Covid-19 vaccination in Victoria Falls. the vaccination programme, the country had recorded 37
according to the provincial 875 cases, 35 058 recoveries,
eases, among other groupings. tion drive, city officials reveal win Sibanda told a provincial at the moment can last us be- chairperson of the ad-hoc in- 1 554 fatalities and vaccinat-
However, more than a week that the shortage of vaccines is Covid-19 taskforce meeting on tween 10-13 days and it is not ter-ministerial taskforce on ed 288 229 people across the
after this publication highlight- persisting. Tuesday this week that vaccines good enough to call the people Covid-19, the minister of En- country. The government has
ed the challenges hampering are inadequate. “The 39 000 to come for vaccinations. We vironment, Climate, Tourism authorised the use of China’s
Bulawayo’s Covid-19 vaccina- Bulawayo City Council’s vaccines that we have in stock want a situation whereby we and Hospitality Industry, Man- Sinopharm and Sinovac vac-
director of health services Ed- cines, Russia’s Sputnik V and
Covaxin from India.
Page 14 News NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
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NewsHawks News Page 15
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Vaccination goes rural in Mat North
NOKUTHABA DLAMINI Covid-19 vaccine which was donated by China arrived in the country early this year site, please go to Victoria Falls
Hospital where your main re-
THE Matabeleland North cases are currently 11. mated 19 100 residents have their first doses to come again “For now, to our residents, cords are held. Please do not
provincial health department Victoria Falls was used as a received their first dose in the in numbers so that by the we would like to advise them miss this second vaccination,
says it has begun adminis- tourist city. end of this rollout, most of to please attend the same stat- it is essential to activate your
tering Covid-19 vaccination pioneer in mass vaccination, our people would have been ic site where you were origi- immunity levels.”
to the rural population amid with all residents between the The target is 25 000 resi- vaccinated as we try to open nally vaccinated for your sec-
impressive numbers as villag- ages of 18 and 65 benefitting. dents. our tourism destination,” she ond vaccine dose.” As of Wednesday this week,
ers are keen on getting inoc- District medical doctor Fun- said. 7 402 received their first dose,
ulated. gai Musinami said an esti- “We would like to encour- “If you attended a mobile bringing the cumulative first
age the residents who received doses to 295 631 while 587
According to the provincial received their second dose,
medical director, Munekayi bringing cumulative second
Padingani, jabs will be ad- doses to 37 365.
ministered at local clinics and
district referral hospitals. On the same day, the
Health and Child Care min-
“This is a national rollout istry reported that there were
and as Matabeleland North 41 hospitalised cases nation-
we would like to urge our wide. The report said only
people in those rural areas eight patients presented se-
to take up these vaccinations vere signs with four being in
without any hesitancy in or- intensive care.
der for us to be able to man-
age the situation,” he said. The national recovery rate
stands at 92.9%.
“This includes everyone
who is between 18 to 65 years Padingani called for con-
without any chronic illness tinued adherence to Covid-19
and expecting or breastfeed- prevention guidelines even af-
ing mothers, so all those who ter one has taken their second
fit in the category, be it in vaccination doses.
Nkayi, Lupane or Tsholotsho,
should make sure that they In Victoria Falls, vaccina-
visit our health institutions tion is administered at Vic-
for vaccination.” toria Falls Hospital, clinics,
lodges, schools, at the open
The province had the low- space, Victoria Falls Inter-
est Covid-19-related deaths, national Airport, restaurants
at 17, while active positive and Sprayview military camp
and other points.
There is a future.
ZIMBABWE
CHILDREN’S CANCER RELIEF
EARLY
DETECTION
IS THE BEST PROTECTION!
STAY IF YOU SUSPECT EYE CANCER
ALERT! VISIT YOUR CLINIC TODAY
Page 16 News NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Africa CDC urges greater scrutiny on vaccines
BERNARD MPOFU ported any clots with the So if you see something tine monitoring system,” Whether it’s because they the pandemic.
Chinese vaccines. But it happening, one in a mil- Gede said. haven’t noticed that they “Africa has a big demo-
THE Africa Centres for is also true that the Chi- lion cases and it happens are happening or there
Disease Control and nese vaccines have been in a country like Zimba- “So the Africa Centres is something genetical- graphic advantage. If you
Prevention (CDC) has used in countries whose bwe, chances are that you for Disease Control has ly different about the study the risk of severe
sharpened its scrutiny of surveillance programmes won’t see it because there begun an active surveil- Russian population, it is infections, probably the
countries such as Zim- are not the most robust. just isn’t an effective rou- lance programme, essen- somewhat unclear. most important driver
babwe that are adminis- complains of headache acid) vaccines have no tially saying if anybody for adverse outcomes is
tering Chinese vaccines or confusion we probably reported link with clots, kind of viral vector vac- According to the Africa age,” Dr Gede said.
following reports of low- have to do scans and see if the inactivated vaccines cine which the Russians CDC, the MRNA vac-
er efficacy rates and side there is clotting. But as far have no link with clots. made which is exactly cines teach our cells how “Although we have
effects associated with as we know, the mRNA The viral vector vaccines the same as the Johnson to make a protein — or noticed that compliance
some innoculations, a (messenger ribonucleic both do. There is a third & Johnson vaccine, they even just a piece of a pro- with public health mea-
leading immunologist haven’t reported clots. tein —that triggers an sures throughout sub-Sa-
has said. immune response inside haran Africa has not been
our bodies. any higher than other
Zimbabwe was among parts of the world, the
the first countries in the To trigger an immune rate of infection trans-
region to take delivery of response, many vaccines mission appears lower.
Sinopharm and Sinovac put a weakened or in- I think what is really
vaccines (both manufac- activated germ into our happening is that there
tured in China) in early bodies. Not mRNA vac- is a lot of asymptomatic
as part of the southern cines. Instead, they teach transmission going on
African country’s mea- our cells how to make a and in younger people it
sures to reduce the sever- protein—or even just a doesn’t make them sick
ity of the respiratory dis- piece of a protein—that enough.
ease which has claimed triggers an immune re-
millions across the globe. sponse inside our bodies. “What is certainly true
That immune response, is that all the healthcare
Tina Gede, an Oxford which produces antibod- providers in sub-Saharan
University-trained im- ies, is what protects us Africa are worried about
munologist, said coun- from getting infected if the possibility of a third
tries administering the the real virus enters our wave.
Chinese vaccines had bodies.
weak surveillance sys- “The fear is grounded
tems, a realisation which Covid-19 mRNA vac- in fundamental scientific
promoted the CDC to cines give instructions for data that our immunity
move in. Less than 5% our cells to make a harm- rate at a population level
of Africa’s population has less piece of what is called are very low.
been vaccinated against the “spike protein.” The
Covid-19. spike protein is found on “So we did a study
the surface of the virus called the seroprevalence
“What’s not clear is that causes Covid-19. study, where we would
with vaccines like Sino- just measure and say how
pharm and Coronavac, Gede also warned that many people have Covid
will there be concerns a recent study carried out antibodies. It is still less
with clotting? What’s in Africa had shown that than 1%. So to all intents
true is no one has re- most people have low an- and purposes, everybody
tibodies required to fight is still significantly vul-
nerable to Covid-19.”
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NewsHawks Feature Page 17
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Inmates elated at leaving Chikurubi hellhole
NYASHA CHINGONO Freed prisoners under presidential amnesty walk out of Chikurubi Farm prison on Saturday.
THE raw euphoria of dozens conditions, which they said gesture,” Mutede said.
of prisoners chanting cele- put inmates at risk of both For prison official Alvord
bratory songs fills the air at starvation and disease out-
Chikurubi Maximum Prison break. Gapare, the amnesty has
where hundreds of inmates Journalist Hopewell come at the right time, con-
have been released on presi- Chin’ono, who has been jailed sidering constrained resources
dential amnesty. at Chikurubi three times in at Chikurubi.
six months, spoke of prison-
Another song erupts as ers’ abuse by prison guards “The amnesty will go a long
a group of female inmates and feared Covid-19 infection way to reducing the prison
dances in celebration of their while in prison. population and that obviously
release. With no constant supply of means a reduction in the ex-
water or soap, inmates are also penditure for the prison. And
Tawanirwe Nyasha, Isu forced to spend the day in an in terms of Covid-19, it is a
Tawanirwe Nyasha (We have overcrowded courtyard. huge advantage to us,” Gapare
found divine favour), the fe- “There is never enough food said.
male inmates erupt into song in prison so the lockdown
as their counterparts inside meant we had to go hungry He said prisons in the cap-
the prison fences look on. because our families could ital had recorded 173 con-
not bring us food. It was the firmed Covid-19 infections
“There is going to be an- hardest moment in my prison and one death.
other amnesty soon, you will life,” Patience Gabhure, who
be out,” they comfort their had been jailed for six months Due to rising coronavirus
counterparts who could not for assault, said. infections in the country’s
make it out. pardon. to eat. back of a military coup in No- Richard Mutede, a former prisons, the government had
All females imprisoned for Described by pro-democra- vember 2017. inmate, was elated at his re- suspended visits. The suspen-
“We are still choked here, lease. sion of visits has made life
but we will be out soon,” re- non-violent crimes and who cy activist Evan Mawarire as Political activists who have “I am free now, I am a free more difficult, particularly for
plied one inmate clad in pris- had already served at least a “designed to kill your spirit”, been sent to prison as part of man. I would like to thank new inmates.
on garb. third of their sentences were Chikurubi is inhabitable for a government crackdown on the President for this kind
also released, as well as dis- inmates who sometimes must dissent have spoken of dire Between March and June
For many of these prison- abled persons convicted of survive on beans and sadza or last year, Mnangagwa released
ers, Chikurubi has been their non-violent crimes. badly cooked cabbage. 4 000 inmates in a bid to de-
home for years, while some congest the overcrowded pris-
had been caged for months. Mnangagwa also converted Political activists have ons.
death sentences to life sen- borne the brunt of the ruth-
The joy of their release is tences for many prisoners on lessness of Chikurubi, as they Tafadwa Chagato being interviewed by journalists soon after her release from Chikurubi Maximum
pulpable. death row. While Zimbabwe are often kept in leg irons and Prison on Presidential pardon last Saturday.
maintains the death penalty, denied home-cooked meals.
For some, the amnesty is no death row inmate has been
an emotional moment and a hanged in years, as anti-death Over the past year, Chiku-
chance to make things right. penalty activists call for the rubi has been home to polit-
abolition of capital punish- ical prisoners, most of who
Youthful Tafadzwa Chan- ment. are charged with inciting vi-
gadzo is one of the lucky olence. Those charged with
inmates released under Presi- With a carrying capacity of inciting violence will not ben-
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 17 000 prisoners, the coun- efit from the current amnesty.
prison amnesty. try’s prisons house about 22
000, a situation that has led to Mnangagwa, who worked
Convicted of theft, Chan- the overcrowding of prisons. for decades as the brutal en-
gadzo was lucky to serve only forcer of the late former pres-
two months of her sentence The rising number of in- ident Robert Mugabe, has
before the amnesty was de- mates at the high-walled Chi- been accused of using lawfare
clared. kurubi has put a strain on re- against political opponents
sources as there is not enough since rising to power on the
“I was serving eight months,
but I couldn’t serve all of them
because the Almighty Lord
came to my rescue,” a visibly
elated Changadzo said.
A remorseful Changadzo
said: “I would like to apolo-
gise to my parents for what I
did, and I cannot wait to see
them.”
It is Saturday, at the high-
walled Chikurubi Maximum
Prison, which houses the
country’s most dangerous
criminals.
Dozens of former inmates
wearing makeshift masks walk
in single file as they exit the
last gate out of Chikurubi.
Some may never see these
grimy prison walls again --
unless the proverbial long arm
of the law drags them back
into the cells.
Two male inmates ex-
change contacts, copying
phone numbers on small bi-
bles.
Their crumpled shirts are a
dead giveaway; these prison-
ers have been away from soci-
ety for a while.
About 400 prisoners were
released from Chikurubi Pris-
on and other jails in the cap-
ital, Harare. More have been
released from prisons coun-
trywide after Mnangagwa de-
clared amnesty.
Those released had been
convicted of non-violent
crimes while some convict-
ed of crimes such as murder,
treason, human trafficking,
and sexual offences did not
benefit from the Presidential
Page 18 Editorial & Opinion NewsHawks
CARTOON Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Spare a thought
for exploited
Zim farmers
IN December last year, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube
announced a plan to launch an agricultural commod- Bad governance in Zimbabwe
ities exchange, assuring the country that the prices of and its negative consequences
farm produce would no longer be fixed.
ONE of the biggest problems Zimbabwe clear meaningful realisation of fundamental doing in recklessly amending the constitu-
Last week, barely four months later, the state-run faces is bad governance. It is central, among rights could only be ensured in a constitu- tion unconstitutionally without following
Grain Marketing Board announced producer prices for many other issues, to the current state of na- tional democracy were rule of law and diver- legislative and legal processes properly is
seven commercial crops. This is in addition to prices of tional failure and practical collapse. sity are paramount, not in an authoritarian problematic.
maize and soyabean which are already controlled. system.
There are various difficulties that Zimba- It is a serious reflection of bad governance.
The government’s latest action defies economic logic. bwe faces, yet the interface, intersection and Yet there is another bigger manifestation Through Constitutional Amendment
Instead of setting and controlling prices, the authorities vortex of the current crisis is bad governance. of bad governance in Zimbabwe: trampling (N0.1) and Constitutional Amendment
must operationalise the commodities exchange, facili- It’s the common denominator. on the constitution and lack of constitution- (N0.2) – designed and calculated to widen
tate an open market and allow price discovery. alism. presidential powers as part of an authoritar-
Whether a president is abusing power ian consolidation process - Mnangagwa and
As fate would have it, the calamitous impact of price or office, that is bad governance. Betraying Constitutions provide the basic legal his officials have been violating legislative
fixing was laid bare this week when Lands and Agricul- public trust, that’s bad governance. Wheth- framework for democracy, accountability and constitutional processes with reckless
ture permanent secretary John Basera testified before the er leaders come up with and advance failed and the rule of law. abandon in a bid go to fast-track and bull-
National Assembly on the problems plaguing the cotton policies, it’s bad governance. doze their despotic agenda.
sector. They are essential to building peace; they Constitutions are amended usually to im-
Whether they are part of corruption and create inclusive institutions in divided societ- prove critical areas and tighten democratic
Shockingly, cotton farmers have still not been paid for looting of public resources, that’s bad gover- ies. Hence, it comes as no surprise, then, that governance. That is done as part of reform.
last year’s crop. nance. Whether they are ruling by coercion constitutional reform plays a central role in But Mnangagwa’s amendments are totally
and violence, including abductions and kill- many political transitions; whether it was in unjustified and, in fact, irresponsible. They
The cotton fiasco provides vivid lessons on the im- ings, instead of consensus and legitimacy, 1979 in Lancaster or other historical epochs are part of an autocratic agenda meant to
portance of respecting the basic laws of economic logic. that’s bad governance. in Zimbabwe. allow him to continue to appoint vice-pres-
idents (that had been changed in the 2013
In a series of costly blunders, the government set an Whether they are violating human rights That is why constitutions seek to protect constitution albeit delayed implementa-
unrealistic cotton producer price last year. It was way systematically on a grand scale and relent- tion), give him powers to appoint judges,
above the prevailing international market prices. lessly, it’s bad governance. Whether they Hawk Eye appoint a public protector, control the pros-
trample on the rule of law and property ecutor-general and make a series of other
The Cotton Company of Zimbabwe -- in which the rights, it’s still bad governance. Dumisani material changes which would need public
state holds a controlling stake -- is dead broke and has Muleya consultations before they are adopted.
no money to pay for cotton delivered in 2020. As a re- Whether they open the floodgates for Even the way Mnangagwa came to power,
sult, the taxpayer must now fork out ZW$1.5 billion to their family members, relatives and cronies themselves from dictators. The Zimbabwe- it was unconstitutional. A coup – an over-
pay farmers by mid-May. to invade the state, public institutions and an constitution protects itself too. Section 2 throw of the constitutional order – is by defi-
loot like parasites in the name of it’s our tells us so in clear and unequivocal terms. It nition unconstitutional.
Farming is business. How does the government justify time to eat, that’s bad governance. provides for “supremacy of constitution”. After the coup, Mnangagwa and his
a situation where farmers are unjustly deprived of their coup-plotters did not even bother to follow
dues in such a heartless manner? Farmers need money It’s bad governance to corruptly give ten- “This constitution is the supreme law of the constitution on how to come in. They
for inputs, labour, bills, school fees and living expenses. ders to relatives, friends and associates. Zimbabwe and any law, practice, custom or just clumsily bulldozed, but are now failing
conduct inconsistent with it is invalid to the to right the wrongs of the coup.
All these headaches could have been avoided through Whether they systematically marginalise extent of the inconsistency,” it says. This regime is not just corrupt and in-
the operationslisation of a commodities exchange. the poor, the vulnerable, minorities or the competent, but also rogue. It’s a band of
disabled in public appointments, access to “The obligations imposed by this consti- clueless outlaws. It doesn’t respect the consti-
An open market enhances price discovery and lessens opportunities and resources – and indeed tution are binding on every person, natural tution and rule of law. It behaves like Banana
arbitrage, giving farmers better reward for their toil. whether they reject inclusivity, pluralism or juristic, including the state and all execu- Republic rulers.
To be sure, a commodities exchange is not utopia; it and diversity – multiculturalism - in favour tive, legislative and judicial institutions and In his first inaugural address, former
is still a regulated platform, but the proper pricing of of narrow identity politics, ethnicity and the agencies of government at every level, and American president Ronald Reagan said:
agro-produce enables farmers to plan their business in bigotry which comes with all that, it’s bad must be fulfilled by them.” “Government is not the solution to our
better ways. Even from a risk perspective, a commod- governance. problem; government is the problem.”
ities exchange makes it possible for farmers or traders This brings us to why what President This is so true in Zimbabwe.
to transfer risk to insurance companies. This opens up In short, leadership, policy and gover- Emmerson Mnangagwa and his cohorts are
opportunities for agricultural development and invest- nance failures, as well as corruption and hu-
ment promotion. man rights abuses define and sit at the heart
of Zimbabwe’s protracted problems. They
An open trading platform also helps farmers in ac- are a summation of bad governance.
cessing credit facilities. Small-scale farmers should not
remain small in perpetuity; they must eventually grow The relationship between democracy and
and contribute to overall economic transformation. human rights is always debatable, but it is
But for the farmers to maximise the benefits, they
need to get organised. They can form marketing groups,
arrange better storage facilities for their produce and
empower themselves with better deal-making skills. In
the cut-throat world of agricultural contracts, the sleek
men in suits do not hesitate to dupe uninformed farm-
ers.
The government must stop controlling prices and al-
low a free market to thrive.
Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
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NewsHawks New Perspective Page 19
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
This is an extract from a Ten years on – reviewing the made by Rwanda, Liberia,
report by Standard Bank of trends driving Africa’s allure Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivo-
South Africa, Africa’s biggest ire, Angola, Uganda and
bank which owns the Stan- Africa’s biggest bank Standard Bank of South Africa Ethiopia.
bic Bank subsidiaries across
the continent, including in view, changes in these three extreme end, the impact nounced for a relatively the disruptive influence of • In sum, this report
Zimbabwe. The bank says areas are foundational of violence in Nigeria has small cluster of economies, the Arab Spring), Gambia, draws together a wide vari-
political and institutional elements of Africa’s future increased by US$41bn many of which are located Côte d’Ivoire, and Mada- ety of data points that mea-
reforms are critical for eco- socio-economic trajectory (PPP) over the past decade, in the so-called “arc of in- gascar. sure Africa’s current state of
nomic progress. and will in many ways while it has declined by stability” (stretching from political and institutional
PEACE and stability; determine the divergent US$43bn (PPP) in South Mauritania to Somalia). In terms of the EIU stability (or instability) and
democracy; and the rule fortunes of the conti- Africa. Indicatively, in 2019, nine Democracy Index, four that map the changes in
of law – the key factors to nent’s various economies in countries in Africa (Camer- countries in Africa have these areas that have taken
economic development. the decades ahead. • A closer assessment of oon, Niger, Chad, Nigeria, regressed since 2010, and place over the past two
each variable yields inter- Libya, Burkina Faso, Mali, six have progressed. And, decades.
• Thus far in this review • What is immediately esting results, too. Regard- Somalia and Mozambique) considering Freedom
series, we have focused on clear from our analysis is ing peace and stability: experienced conflicts with House’s evaluation, seven Here, critical divergences
revisiting and updating our how divergent Africa’s in- much of the continent Islamic State within their countries have seen their become apparent, and add
views on four of the five stitutional progress in these remains broadly “unstable” territories. levels of freedom decline institutional weight to the
trends that we outlined, a areas has been since 2000. (by global comparison), since 2010, and five have findings from the previ-
decade ago, to be behind Drawing together data on but this generalisation • Democratic change seen theirs increase. ous reports in this series.
Africa’s deepening structur- all three measures, exactly masks critical and sweeping has been notable – if Of course, the kind of
al allure. To this end, we half of the countries on the progress made in deepen- uneven – too. According Importantly, support cross-continental analysis
have reviewed Africa’s de- continent have made col- ing political reform and re- to WGI data, over half of for democracy in Africa is that we have used in this
mographic and income de- lective institutional prog- ducing violence since 2000. the continent has achieved high, and also increasing: report can skew the analysis
velopments; the opportu- ress since 2000, with the Since 2000, 21 countries in either modest or mean- in a recent poll across 36 towards the extreme ends
nities and risks that emerge other half regressing. The Africa have seen improve- ingful democratic gains countries, almost 70% of (focusing on the strongest
as a result of the continent’s countries that have made ments in their WGI peace since 2000. Separately, respondents stated that and weakest performers),
rapid urban growth rates the greatest strides since and stability scores. And, according to the Centre democracy is ‘preferable’ to and mask more modest
; the powerful technolog- the turn of the century today, well over half of the for Systemic Peace, Africa’s other forms of governance. but no less vital institu-
ical change that is driving include Liberia, Sierra Le- continent is regarded as overall polity score has tional gains and regressions
progress in key economies one, Rwanda, Angola, Côte enjoying either a “high” or lifted from -5.4 in 1985 • Much still needs to be across other countries on
on the continent ; and the d’Ivoire, Kenya, Ghana and a “medium” state of peace. to 0.2 in 2000 and 2.6 in done to improve the rule the continent. Yet, still,
importance of growing Senegal. While those suf- Further, while the number 2018. According to this of law across Africa. Still, the analysis provides some
financial inclusion. fering the greatest retreats of conflicts has risen in same measure, the number only a handful of countries useful indicators regarding
include Mali, Libya, Egypt, Africa since 2000, there has of African democracies (Mauritius, Botswana, Na- the extent and shape
• In this, the fifth and Eritrea, Madagascar, Cam- not been a commensurate has doubled since 2000. mibia, Tunisia, Ghana and
final, report in the series, eroon and Burkina Faso. elevation in the number Today, 33 African countries South Africa) provide an of institutional change
we consider the vital role of countries affected by are regarded as being fully internationally competitive in Africa, and points to the
played by political and Since 2010, the conti- this same instability. As democratic, democratic, defence of the rule of law. countries that appear to be
institutional reform in de- nent’s greatest advances we explain in this report, or “anocratic” with a trend Indeed, today all but eight best placed to harness post-
termining Africa’s ongoing have been made by Tunisia, there has been a change in towards democracy, while countries on the continent 2000 or post-2010 reforms
socio-economic trajectory. Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and the shape of conflict over the number of autocra- have negative WGI rule of in these areas to ground
To do so, we focus on shifts Rwanda (amongst others), the past two decades, too: cies has declined from law scores. And progress their future trajectories
in three areas of institu- and its greatest declines put simply, cross-border 10 in 2000 to 3 in 2018. since 2000 in this area has Trend 5: peace and stabili-
tional change in Africa have been reflected in Mali, terrorist organisations Amongst the continent’s been more gradual than ty; democracy and the rule
since 2000: (1) peace and Mozambique, have replaced opposition/ most impressive democratic in the peace and stability of law.
stability; (2) democracy; rebel groups as the primary reformers since 2010 have and democracy areas. Yet,
and (3) the rule of law. Burundi and Tanzania. counterpart in state-based been Tunisia (which has reforms in some other Thus far in this review
These divergences are conflict on the continent. managed, unlike Libya and countries have nonetheless series, we have focused on
Our assessment leans on further reflected by changes Here, the effect is pro- Egypt, to positively harness been important: here, the revisiting and updating
the World Bank’s World in the economic impact of most impressive relative our views on four of the
Governance Indicators, violence since 2010: at the gains since 2000 have been five trends that we out-
as well as a wide variety lined, a decade ago, to be
of alternative and com- behind Africa’s deepening
plementary data points to structural allure. Thus far,
tease out trends in political we have reviewed Africa’s
and institutional reform on demographic and income
the continent over the past developments (see here);
two decades. the opportunities and risks
that emerge as a result of
• Our reasoning in the continent’s rapid urban
focusing on this area of growth rates (see here);
change is straightforward: the powerful technologi-
such institutional progress cal change that is driving
is evidentially vital for progress in key economies
Africa’s economic advance on the continent (see here);
to be both sustained and and the importance of
sustainable. According to growing financial inclusion
the Institute for Economics (see here). In our origi-
and Peace, for instance, nal series, our fifth driver
countries with the largest focused on the continent’s
improvements in peace resources potential, both
since 2010 have recorded in terms of its abundant
seven times higher per-cap- commodity reserves, and
ita GDP growth than those its largely underappreciated
that saw the most marked agricultural potential. We
deterioration during that still believe that Africa’s
same period. Over time, wealth in these areas will
democratic change has continue to influence
been shown to have a growth and progress in the
robust positive impact on decades to come.
economic growth and the
reduction of income in- However, in this final
equality, too. And a strong trend report, we turn to
or strengthening rule of law a different theme – one
is known to be a critical that has been evidentially
component of longer-term vital in shaping the path of
institutional and economic change and the durability
change. Indeed, in our of socio-economic progress
on the continent over the
past decade: peace, the rule
of law, and the strengthen-
ing of democracy.
Business
MATTERSNewsHawks
MARKETS CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE
USD/JPY
GBP/USD 105.53 -0.13 -0.123 *OIL 59.62 -0.9 -1.49
EUR/USD
USD/CAD 1.402 +0.005 +0.34 *GOLD 1,785.3 +10.3 +0.58
AUD/USD
1.214 +0.005 +0.41 *SILVER 27.535 +0.457 +1.69
1.26 -0.008 -0.631 *WHEAT 660.25 -5 -0.75
0.788 +0.011 +1.39 *COPPER 4.057 +0.156 +4
Debt overhang, the very high levels it was in
Covid-19 to during 2019/2020 on account
stifle Zim: IMF of the droughts that Zimba-
bwe and Zambia had suffered
BERNARD MPOFU overhang would stifle Zimba- IMF headquarters in Washington DC. from. That said, given the ab-
bwe’s growth prospects. sence of new inflows, we do
DESPITE a bullish outlook to be proven wrong on — if between the official exchange single-digit levels in the short see a constrained environment
by the authorities in Harare, “Starting with growth, growth is higher, we would be rate and parallel market has to medium term, Selassie said and much more constrained
the International Monetary an important reason why very happy.” widened by 36%, with a US it was too early for Zimbabwe evidence for supply of goods
Fund (IMF) has maintained a we are more conservative in dollar selling for up to 120 to come out of the woods. and services -- so we expect
conservative economic growth our growth projections is, of The Zimbabwean dollar Zimbabwean dollars on the inflation to be a bit higher,”
projection on Zimbabwe due course, exactly the point you now trades at 84 to the US parallel market. Commenting “Turning to inflation, he said.
to limited access to conces- made that Zimbabwe, unfor- dollar on the official market on the government’s ambi- again, it really comes back to
sionary funding. tunately, continues to have after being pegged at parity tious plan to lower inflation to the same factors. We do see Ncube is sticking to Trea-
very limited access to external just two years ago. The gap inflation coming down from sury’s economic growth es-
Zimbabwe, which fell into concessional support,” Selass- timate of 7.4%, even after
arrears with major interna- ie said. President Emmerson Mnan-
tional financial institutions gagwa said the projection
at the turn of the century, is “And of course, domesti- would have to be lowered. In
currently relying on domestic cally also, the government’s contrast with the optimistic
resources and grants to stimu- ability to finance itself -- by outlook on growth, Zimba-
late growth. But Finance min- issuing bonds or borrowing bwe still faces a 241% infla-
ister Mthuli Ncube remains from the banking system -- tion rate and foreign-curren-
bullish that the southern Af- is very constrained given the cy shortages. The disposable
rican nation will achieve a ro- monetary and exchange rate incomes of most workers who
bust growth of 7.4%. framework that the country earn in local currency have
has a susceptibility to infla- been wiped out.
Abebe Aemro Selassie, the tion. So, we feel that with the
director of the African de- limited fiscal support, with “Zimbabwe is coming
partment at the IMF, told the toll of the pandemic on through this recovery phase
journalists during an April economies, on peoples’ lives, quite well,” Ncube told
2021 Virtual Spring Meetings livelihoods, we feel that the Bloomberg TV this week.
Regional Economic Outlook robust growth recovery this “Mining remains strong. Our
Press Briefing on sub-Saha- year will be constrained to the infrastructure investment pro-
ran Africa that the outbreak order of 3%. But we — this gramme is also quite strong.
of Covid-19 and a huge debt is a point we’d be very happy There’s really a recovery across
the board, except the tourism
sector.”
Mnangagwa said at the
weekend Treasury would
“have to revise” its projection
in view of expectations that
new waves of coronavirus in-
fections will curtail economic
output.
Amplats output for first-quarter increases
DUMISANI NYONI by 6% to 594 500 ounces, smelting higher tonnage and mance this quarter, despite work process particularly at however, was affected by the
including a 17% production performing ahead of expecta- the ongoing implications of Amandelbult and Mototolo,” planned maintenance at the
ANGLO American Platinum increase from Mogalakwe- tion, the company said. Covid-19. Viljoen said. Base Metals Refinery.”
Limited (Anglo) has reported na, while joint operations
strong first-quarter perfor- PGMs production (mined PGMs sales volumes (ex- “Although we had no The Anglo boss said they “Sales volumes were strong
mance, with total platinum and purchase of concen- cluding sales from trading) work-related fatalities in the saw strong recovery in their in Q1, increasing 66% as
group metal (PGM) produc- trate) increased by 6% to 200 increased by 66% to 1.13 quarter, we are disappointed refined production, which refined production was sup-
tion increasing by 7% to 1.02 700 ounces, according to the million ounces as sales from with the increase in injuries increased by 59% compared plemented by the drawdown
million ounces attributable company’s production report production were supplement- and plans are in place to con- to the first quarter of 2020, of minor metals from refined
to the lower impact from for the first quarter ended 31 ed by the drawdown of minor tinue safety improvements as processing operations were inventory, following robust
Covid-19. March 2021. metals from refined inventory and ensure a sustained turn- back at normal operating ca- demand for these metals,”
in support of increased de- around.” pacity following the comple- Viljoen said.
The company mines 40% Refined PGMs produc- mand. tion of the ACP rebuild in
of the world’s platinum met- tion (owned production) “Total PGMs production November 2020. The company said pro-
als at the Bushveld Complex increased by 59% to 973 Commenting on the per- increased by 7%, largely due duction guidance for met-
in South Africa and the Unki 000 ounces, as the processing formance, Anglo Ameri- to a 17% increase in produc- “Since then, the ACP has al-in-concentrate is un-
mine in Zimbabwe. assets were back at normal can Platinum CE Natascha tion from Mogalakwena, and been performing ahead of ex- changed at 4.2 to 4.6 million
operating capacity, with the Viljoen said the company despite continuing implica- pectations, and able to smelt ounces. The same applies to
Own-managed mines Anglo Converter Plant (ACP) had strong production and tions from Covid-19 which more tonnes from Polokwane refined production guidance
PGM production increased refined production perfor- led to a longer return-to- smelter. Refined production, at 4.6 to 5.0 million ounces.
NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 21
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
NMB Holdings reaps fruits of digitalisation
BERNARD MPOFU
NMBZ Holdings Limited, NMB Group chief executive Benefit Washaya.
a local financial services
company registered on FY19. “Nevertheless, the board resolved not to de- from the MBA Facility at continue to drive revenue ZWL$1.84bn, marginally
the Zimbabwe Stock Ex- bank has set maximum clare a dividend as the a maximum 10% above as the banking experience up from ZWL$1.81bn
change and London Stock limits for investment se- group is firmly focused on the borrowing rate to en- moves from the brick-and- posted in as we do not
Exchange, is reaping the curities in order to ensure achieving the revised min- sure recovery of the pro- mortar business model explicitly expect a repeat
dividends of its aggressive that most of the funds are imum regulatory capital ductive sector effectively and therefore forecast fee of the tax credit in FY20.
digitalisation process, an channelled towards the requirement of the Zim- putting an interest rate and commission income Deposits are expected
analysis of its financials by productive sectors of the babwean dollar equivalent cap of 40%. The material of ZWL$2.04bn for FY21, to maintain an upward
IH Securities says. economy. Loans and ad- of US$30 million for a concentration of NMBZ up from ZWL$815.54mn growth trajectory as a
vances were up 356.12% tier-1 bank by 31 Decem- loans and advances is recorded in FY20. Revalu- result of the bank’s ag-
“The operating environ- y/y at ZWL$3.73bn, up ber 2021. within the services and ations in land and build- gressive deposit mobili-
ment proved largely tur- from ZWL$817.96m in agricultural sector and de- ings should start to soften sation efforts in pursuit
bulent from a mix of the FY19 driven by the con- “We are of the view that pending on their exposure on account of stabilising of the broadening of the
unstable exchange rate in tinued upward uptake in as inflation slows down, to the MBA facility, this exchange rates.” Bank’s target market seg-
the first half of the finan- corporate loans. Loans and post-lockdown oper- might mean limited return ments.
cial year and Covid-in- and advances for the pe- ations scale up across the for the bank. The IH Securities report
duced restrictions to FY20 riod were mainly concen- country, FY21 is expected says NMB income will “We forecast a sharp
(full-year 2020), affecting trated in services (28% vs to offer better prospects “With stricter credit grow significantly. correction in RoaE (return
business operations,” IH 24% in FY19) and agri- for the banking sector at vetting measures, we do on average equity) from
Securities says in a report. culture and horticulture large on account of in- not foresee a drastic up- “We are anticipating 91.4% in FY20 to 42.6%
(23% vs 23% in FY19). creased economic activity. swing in lending activity total income to close at in FY21 and RoaA to
“Despite these imped- Deposits for FY20 closed The RBZ is expected to at the bank especially for ZWL$3.51bn for FY21, moderate from 30.3% to
iments, net interest in- at ZWL$3.49bn, up from maintain a tight grip on retail clients with loans up from ZWL$2.67bn 14.6% respectively. We es-
come registered a 665% ZWL$1.19bn.” liquidity reducing some expected to grow 46% to in the comparable peri- timate that NMBZ trades
growth y/y (year-on-year) of the downside risk of ZWL$5.47bn. We fore- od. We believe that oper- on a P/BV (+1) of 0.83x
from ZWL$53.66m to The reports say the bank another run of inflation cast that interest income ating expenses moderate and P/E (+1) of 2.37x ver-
ZWL$410m, outper- maintained strict credit which was affecting viabil- will continue punching on assumption that infla- sus regional peers at P/BV
forming 348.49% annual underwriting which led to ity in the regulated sector,” below its weight in the tion maintains its current 0.88x and P/E (+1) 2.87x.
inflation. The bank con- a further drop in non-per- it adds. composition of revenue downward trajectory,” it Resultantly, using a com-
tinued its aggressive drive forming loans from 1.37% in the short term. Net in- notes. bined DDM and Static
to leverage on digitisation to 0.44%, albeit still high- “On the other hand, the terest income for the peri- ROE model, we come to a
of its services with fees er than the sector average central bank has also an- od is anticipated to reach “We have there- target price of $9.85, yield-
and commission in- at 0.30%. Loan-to-de- nounced that banks that ZWL$839.41mn, up from fore forecast opex of ing a downside of 9.63%
come increasing 835% posit ratio resultantly fell access the Medium-Term ZWL$410.58mn reported ZWL$1.05bn for FY20, at current levels. We there-
y/y to ZWL$815.54m y/y from 68.7% to 58.2% Bank Accommodation in FY20. It is our view that up from ZWL$814.19bn fore place a HOLD rating
from ZWL$87.24m. recorded in FY19. The facility (MBA) can only digital banking fees will in FY19. Overall, for on NMBZ.”
Resultantly, the group on-lend the proceeds FY20 net income is ex-
recorded a 499% y/y pected to remain flat at
growth in revenue to
ZWL$1.44bn in FY20
from ZWL$250.77m in
FY19 bolstered by strong
performance inthe digital
banking platforms.”
The report says the
group also benefitted from
property fair value revalu-
ations.
“Fair value adjustments
on investment properties
of ZWL$1.23bn drove
operating income to
ZWL$2.67bn up 498%
y/y from ZWL$447.39m
in the comparable pe-
riod. Total comprehen-
sive income for the year
net of tax registered at
ZWL$2.70bn on a
ZWL$891.19m revalua-
tion uplift of land and
buildings,” it says.
“Operating expenditure
for the period grew by
669% to ZWL$186.41m
due to staff rationalisa-
tion costs and increased
administration costs from
measures taken to be com-
pliant to Covid-19 regula-
tions.
“Cost-to-income ratio
consequently registered
at 30.2% in FY20 versus
23.7% in FY19. Invest-
ment securities, which
comprised of treasury bills
and government bonds,
closed the period at
ZWL$1.09bn, up 910%
from ZWL$107.57m in
Page 24 Companies & Markets NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
RONALD MUCHENJE Price controls could stymie or improvements in the
commodity exchange market availability of new farmer
ZIMBABWE’S proposed technologies,” said Fbc Se-
commodity exchange ini- supported by a warehous- cultural season, the gov- Finance minister Mthuli Ncube. wheat are controlled by the curities.
tiative could be hampered ing receipt system, imply- ernment announced that government.
by a thin market for agri- ing the government will no the cotton floor producer using the prevailing inter- The firm noted that a
cultural produce after the longer fix prices of agricul- price will be US$1 per ki- bank rate and this month In the same context, Fbc well-functioning com-
government placed key tural commodities. logramme or the Zimba- soya beans was also made a Securities in its econom- modity exchange could re-
crops on a list of controlled bwean dollar equivalent controlled crop. ic commentary, said the duce transaction costs and
commodities, a local secu- For the 2020/21 agri- government is planning risks of exchange, thereby
rities firm has said. Already, prices of food to establish a commodity shrinking the wedge be-
crops including maize and exchange and a warehouse tween prices received by
Besides grappling with receipt system. farmers and prices paid by
a thin market, the govern- consumers.
ment also has to guarantee “The major challenge
the success of the initiative facing this commodity ex- “However, for this com-
by ensuring that, among change initiative is a thin modity exchange to suc-
other requirements, it market for agricultural ceed the following should
has in place a pre-existing crops after the exclusion of be in place: a pre-existing
spot market, potential to the controlled crops. These spot market, potential to
achieve sufficient volume controlled crops dominate achieve sufficient volume
traded across the exchange the cumulative agricultural traded across the exchange
to cover fixed costs and production in the coun- to cover fixed costs, modes
modes of institutional gov- try leaving thin scope for of institutional governance
ernance. the commodity exchange. and appropriate incentives
Zimbabwe previously had a to motivate rapid learning
In December 2020, the Commodity Exchange (ZI- on the part of the exchange
government launched an MACE), which was closed management and govern-
agricultural commodity when the government gave ment commitment,” Fbc
exchange meant to ensure the monopoly to buy and Securities said.
that farmers get market-de- sell maize and wheat to the
termined prices for their GMB in 2001. Commod- The government believes
produce. ity exchanges are unlike- the exchange will encour-
ly to bring about major age the formalisation of
Previously, the state-run reductions in input costs small-scale farmers, there-
Grain Marketing Board by ensuring sustainability
(GMB) had a monopoly of farming activities, access
on maize and wheat. to credit facilities through
collateralisation of agricul-
Launching the system, tural produce and enhance
Finance minister Mthuli farmers’ contribution to
Ncube said the commodi- employment creation.
ty exchange, which will be
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NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 25
Issue 27, 23 April 2021 Why Zimbabwe leather strategy failed
DUMISANI NYONI The beef and leather or obsolete equipment.
sub-sectors face daunting The newly-launched
IN a bid to transform the and varied problems, key of
country’s leather value which include low produc- leather sector strategy aims
chain, the government in tivity at farm level; irregular at increasing capacity utili-
2012 launched the Zimba- supply of good quality hides sation of value added prod-
bwe Leather Sector Strategy and skins due to poor an- ucts from 30% to 75% by
(2012 to 2017). imal husbandry practices, the end of 2030; enhance
lack of appreciation of the the application of sustain-
The strategy was to trans- value of skin by farmers giv- able production technolo-
form the Zimbabwe leath- en low prices by collectors, gies from the current 10%
er value chain from the improper flaying techniques to 60% of the manufactur-
production and export of and inadequate collection ing companies; increase the
raw materials and partly and storage system. export of leather products
processed products to the from 10% of production to
production and export of Some included low-level 40%; and to lobby for the
value-added products such entrepreneurial and tech- development and reform of
as finished leather, footwear nical skills and weak insti- 70% of identified policies
and other items. tutional support as well as and legal frameworks for the
production of poor-quality transformation of the leather
For instance, the targets of products due to inadequate sector.
the strategy were to reduce
the export of wet salted hides value addition. The leather CORONA VIRUS
from 229 000 hides in 2011 industry, previously one of COVID-19
to 20 000 hides in 2017; the thriving industries in
increase intake of wet salted Zimbabwe, is currently op- SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP
hides by domestic tanneries erating below capacity due STOP THE SPREAD
by 140% to 467 000 hides to a myriad of constraints
in 2017; and to increase ex- ranging from lack of capi- Cough and sneeze Use a tissue
ports of wet blue leather by tal, obsolete technology and into your arm
domestic tanneries from 1 competition from cheap
250 tonnes in 2011 to 2 500 imports. Until 2000, Zim- Bin the tissue Wash your hands
tonnes in 2017. babwe produced 17 million
pairs (of which four million TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THE
It also aimed at increasing pairs have leather uppers) SPREAD AND STAY HEALTHY
the intake of finished leath- per annum. By 2011, shoe
er from domestic tanneries production had plummet- The NewsHawks TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]
by domestic manufacturers ed to one million pairs per
from 229 000 square metres annum due to ongoing cri-
to 460 000 square metres; ses, competition from lower
increase production of leath- quality imports and exports
er shoes by 120% to 2.2 mil- of hides and skins.
lion pairs in 2017; increase
export of leather shoes by On the demand side, Zim-
517% to one million pairs; babwe consumes approxi-
and to increase sales of local- mately 14.3 million pairs of
ly produced leather shoes by footwear per annum, made
40% in 2011 to 1.4 million of leather, canvas, synthetics
in 2017. and plastic. With an annual
production estimated at be-
But, according to a report tween 1 million and 1.5 mil-
accompanying the Leath- lion, it entails that the bulk
er Sector Strategy (2021 to of it is being exported.
2030) which was launched
recently in Bulawayo by The report says the Zim-
Vice-President Constanti- babwe footwear bill has in-
no Chiwenga, most of the creased from US$2.8 mil-
proposed targets were not lion in 2001 to US$14.6
met because of a number million in 2017, despite the
of constraints ranging from acute shortages of foreign
inadequate finance and in- currency in the period post
stitutional challenges. 2004.
“Implementation of the This is a marketing oppor-
Leather Sector Strategy tunity that the new entrants
(2012 to 2017) was charac- into the industry may capi-
terised by low performance talise on.
in all five strategic objectives
for the period. The full-scale The leather value chain
implementation of the strat- was well developed, boasting
egy stalled due to the general of more than 10 tanneries,
macro-economic value chain more than 20 footwear and
with up to 30% of hides be- leather goods manufacturing
ing unaccounted for. The units up to until 2000.
coordination mechanism of
the value chain, which had Bata Zimbabwe Limited
been identified as a critical was among the few African
success factor for the strategy plants south of the Sahara
2012 to 2017, was stalled,” to manufacture internation-
it reads. ally-branded sport footwear
under franchise in the 1990s.
Value chain players also However, the industry was
did not have a shared vision, decimated post-2000 and
it said. today many large footwear
companies and tanneries are
On the positive side, the either closed down or oper-
report said there was some ating below capacity.
investment in developing
the value chain skills base Footwear production is
through the clustering and now dominated by artisans,
training approach. This re- who make two to three pairs
sulted in the formation and a day.
strengthening of clusters in
Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru,
Masvingo and Mutare, with
Bulawayo and Harare hav-
ing equipment procured for
Page 26 Companies & Markets NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Edible oil sector employers challenge salaries
THE Detergents, Edible Oils are challenging the arbitration the transport allowance on the (PPE) and sanitiser being pro- in US dollars for their prod- “The arbitration award
and Fats Employers’ Asso- order. basis that employees use illegal duced by sector players were ucts. constitutes a palpable ineq-
ciation (DEOFEA) has ap- private transport instead of being sold in US dollars were uity against the sector’s em-
proached the High Court “The arbitrator based his ZUPCO buses which are the untrue. The association said in the ployers and implementing it
seeking an order to suspend an quantification of the housing only lawful means of trans- few instances where compa- would cripple the industry
arbitration order which effect- allowance and the transport port,” argued the employers’ They blamed the arbitrator nies charge in US dollars, such and threaten its sustainabil-
ed a minimum monthly basic allowance on illegalities. He group. for ignoring the submission business constituted less than ity, leading to job losses and
wage of US$140 alongside considered that most land- that not every employer in the 10% of the total sales and such lost livelihoods and that it is
other allowances. lords were charging rentals in DEOFOU told the court sector is manufacturing san- foreign currency is not even contrary to the public policy
foreign currency, which was that claims by employees that itiser and PPEs and that very enough to restock the import- of Zimbabwe,” the employers’
DEOFEA argues that the unlawful, and he quantified personal protective equipment few employers were charging ed raw materials. group said.
increment violated Zimba-
bwe’s public policy. DEOFOU is proposing a
minimum wage of US$69.50,
This follows the decision by housing allowance US$24.50
the arbitrator, Percy Shawatu, and transport allowance
directing the sector’s employ- US$17.50.
ers to pay a minimum basic
wage of US$140 per month However, the sector’s em-
payable at the prevailing offi- ployees, who are represented
cial exchange rate. by the Detergents, Edible Oils
and Fats Workers’ Union, are
A housing allowance of opposing the court challenge,
US$25 payable in hard cur- arguing that the application
rency and a monthly trans- is based on general disgrun-
port allowance of US$20 at tlement with the arbitration
the prevailing auction rate was award as there is no proof to
also directed. dismiss the award.
The increments, which were “There is nothing submit-
due to be effected around the ted showing that the incre-
beginning of the year, were ment is outrageously illogical
arrived at after the arbitrator or immoral in the reasoning or
considered the obtaining eco- conclusions reached by the ar-
nomic hardships as well as the bitrator to warrant a different
fact that most products being conclusion. No case has been
manufactured in the sector proved for setting aside the
are being sold at prices rated arbitral award,” the employees
against the US dollar. added. —STAFF WRITER.
But the sector’s employers
NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 27
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM
For all your Conferences, Events, Corporate and Meeting Room Requirements
Contact Charmaine on 0735 666 122/ Ruth on 0784 674 193 or E-Mail
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Page 28 Executive Chat NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Citizens must bravely defend
democratic values: Mafume
HARARE mayor Jacob Ma- party who competed against Office of the President. So is they’ve developed a formu- Harare mayor Jacob Mafume. then invaded without paying
fume says the overbearing con- your agenda and he becomes there’s literally very little that la where they spread out the fence as soon they finish the in- to the state. There is a law that
trol on local authorities by cen- the one who has supervisory you can do as council. To talk money that Harare motorists vestigations. You never know, manages cooperatives, but
tral government through the board authority over you, the about roads, Zinara took over pay and they make it as if it’s a maybe after investigating they these cooperatives have not
Local Government ministry is power to suspend and recom- the issue of roads in 2009 and national levy whereby it is then might come up to the conclu- been sending audits, there has
crippling council operations as mend the setting up of tribu- proceeded to destroy them. distributed to game parks, ru- sion that they were wrong, or not been a check on whether
the Zanu PF government has nals, that shouldn’t happen. They have not been able to ral areas and other areas and they might want to continue. they have membership. But
been blocking several projects. We should have other mecha- build a new road since 2009, it does not repair the roads We have not had any indica- they were given huge pieces
In an interview with The New- nisms to deal with disciplinary when they took over the roads, which the Harare motorists are tion of where they might be of land and they proceeded to
sHawks reporter Bridget Ma- issues of management of local all these roads that were in the using. So it’s disproportionate, going. populate those pieces of land,
nanavire (BM), Mafume (JM) government. urban areas were built by the it does not make sense. Zina- BM: There have been many without reference to council,
also spoke about the terrible cities and had been destroyed ra wants to build the roads in reports on the illegal sale of without developing it. It is
state of the roads, service de- Secondly, the mayor of Ha- by Zinara through central gov- game parks with money com- land in Harare and corrup- only now that we made the res-
livery and illegal sale of land in rare is a ceremonial mayor. This ernment. ing from Harare motorists, so tion allegations around land olution that these settlements
Harare. is a big city, which is creeping BM: But Zinara has been it is a bizarre arrangement, but allocation. How are you deal- have to be regularised. But
BM: What is your status, are towards three million people if arguing that they have been the Harare motorists are suf- ing with this? how do you regularise? There
you the mayor or you are on you consider the greater Harare giving councils money to re- fering and our citizens have to JM: There are a lot of issues must be regularisation with
suspension? populations, that is Chitung- habilitate roads. Has the Ha- pay more attention to some of around urban land. There are accountability. You have to
JM: Well, I am still the mayor wiza, Ruwa, Norton, Epworth, rare City Council not been these things and demand that three types of ownership: the look at what that land was sup-
of Harare. I was under suspen- Mt Hampden, Caledonia and receiving the money? the cities be given the right to land is either owned by coun- posed to be used for in the first
sion, but my suspension ex- Harare South. If you aggregate JM: If you look at the statis- get the money to use for roads. cil, the state or private. Now place. If it was supposed to be
pired. It was a suspension for all of those areas you will see tics, a kilometre of tarred road, what happened post the inclu- used for residential, there is no
45 days wherein if there had that it’s almost a population of if you look at the African De- BM: Moving to your arrest sive government (2009-2013) point taking it from somebody
been a case for me to answer, three million. The population velopment Bank statistics, it’s in November last year for is that there was a creation of and giving it to somebody
the matter would have been of Harare is bigger than some anything between US$400 allegedly allocating housing empowerment initiatives run else. It is for the government
referred to a tribunal. The 45 small countries like Botswana, 000 to US$600 000 to do a stands to your sister and a by various ministries, women’s to work out the mechanisms
days have expired, they expired Namibia, Gambia, it is almost kilometre of tarred road, and colleague, how far has that ministry, youth ministry, and on how it will be paid for the
two weeks ago, no tribunal was bigger than populations of al- they gave us less than that case gone? so forth and they created what land. The council works out
constituted and therefore for most 10 countries in Africa last year. The ZW$40 mil- JM: The cases are in the courts. they called housing coopera- the mechanism where it is paid
all intents and purposes, I am and it is managed by a cere- lion they are talking about We have been remanded, the tives. These housing coopera- for the development, tarred
the mayor of Harare as elected. monial mayor, a mayor who is translates to about US$400 police are investigating, or tives were not registered with roads, sewer, water and so
We still have matters pending supposed to be part time, not 000, that is only enough to they’ve finished investigating. I council. They were registered forth. Where a school is sup-
before the court, but our con- an executive mayor. That may- do about a kilometre of road. don’t know at what stage they with (ministry of ) Women’s posed to be or a clinic is sup-
stitution states that someone is or is supposed to manage a city The Harare motorists pay the are but we wait for our day in Affairs and were named af- posed to be, a common usage
innocent before proven guilty. that has a road network that is bulk the licences because we court and we will be able to de- ter Sally Mugabe, Tongogara, area, shops, recreational areas,
So therefore, there is nothing longer than the road networks have over 800 000 vehicles and fend ourselves. The allegations there is no housing cooperative they move the limited number
that bars me from carrying of other countries, that has you would expect the bulk of are baseless but we will not that is called Morgan Tsvangi- of people that are in those ar-
out my duties. I’ve had discus- polyclinics. We have a com- that money to be used in Ha- pre-empt a matter that is sub rai, Judah Jongwe, Chamisa. eas. We have people who in-
sions on that with the minister plement of close to a thousand rare. But what they’ve done judice, we will outline our de- Those cooperatives were then vaded paddocks, where we are
of Local Government (July nurses and doctors. It has over given state land, which they supposed to be keeping our
Moyo) and he is working out 30 primary schools and some cattle, we have over 3 000 peo-
a few things. And as soon as of the schools have enrolments ple living on them, and if you
he’s done we should be able to of over 2 000. We employ go back you see they are Zanu
resume our duties in full effect, around 1 500 municipal po- PF-linked cooperatives, the
but for all intents and purposes lice, we are in charge of dams same happened in Caledonia
I am the mayor of Harare. and of the biggest mechanical and Harare South. But what
plant in the country, Morton do you do? Do you just raze
BM: You said you are wait- Jaffray. The GDP of some ar- them down? No. Uou try and
ing for the minister to work eas like Mount Pleasant is big- regularise. And some of these
out some things before you ger than the GDPs of certain moves were done by Zanu PF
can resume work, should this cities. We are in control of the to gain votes. I believe demo-
even go to the minister and two largest infectious disease litions are a crime against hu-
do you feel the Local Govern- hospitals outside South Africa manity like the UN special en-
ment minister has overbear- in southern Africa. The budget voy Anna Tibaijuka reported.
ing powers over council? of Harare is bigger than that of So we need to deal with that
JM: It should not go to the other small countries, and that in a more organised manner, in
minister in that regard, the is being managed part time by a more strategic manner. And
suspension is finished and I non-executive mayor. It’s un- we look at who benefited from
should just simply report for workable and citizenship has that land and if the wrong per-
duty. But out of courtesy be- to understand that you need son was paid, then arrests are
cause we have to have a good executive mayors for the great- made.
working relationship, we do er Harare area, and we are in BM: But we continue to see
that but I will exercise my right charge of the biggest firefight- demolitions taking place in
as defined by the law and he ing brigade in southern Africa Harare with council and gov-
cannot interfere with those outside South Africa and prob- ernment playing the blame
rights without abusing the law. ably Angola. They removed game, what is really going on
We are guided by the operation executive mayors because Zanu there?
framework and the law as it PF was aware that it will not JM: As the mayor, I am against
stands. However, the situation win the big cities and therefore wanton
with local government in Zim- it sought to take away the pow- demolitions. You do not watch
babwe is a very tricky situation, er of executive mayor because people building a lot of houses,
in the sense that the devolution the mayor is elected, they put and you then come and de-
has not been given full effect. in appointed officials. stroy people’s livelihoods. It’s
The first thing is that the min- a lifetime investment. The fact
istry of Local Government acts The other handicaps are that that you might have power to-
as a supervisory body. The the minister appoints senior day and sign a paper that says
oxymoron is that you compete officials of all urban councils destroy, it doesn’t mean you
against a party which is Zanu from grade three to grade one. need to exercise it. It has to be
PF and you win the mayoral So, the mayor and the council- exercised a bit more circum-
race as MDC but, you’re then lors can only recommend, but spectly. So you have to follow
supervised by a member of the the minister has veto power. So a programme that allows for
party you’ve defeated. You’re literally the executives are ap- regularisation, that allows for
supervised by a member of the pointed by the minister. Then compensation.
you have a situation where
the budget that you come up ...To next page
with must be approved by the
ministry. Then procurement,
to procure things like tissue
paper, is housed under the
NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 29
tries in Africa do more col-
Issue 27, 23 April 2021 laborative work to achieve
things at national level, but
Public in Zimbabwe it is sad to say
speaker there is a spirit of selfish-
eyes top ness. People will be doing
Africa post their own things, yet there
is no large scale to what
CHIPA GONDITII brand ambassadors. Professional speaker Walter Chimene. they are doing,
In an interview with The
AWARD-WINNING pro- flowing in their networks. so when these monies flow tial for Zimbabwe to engage “Whatever can influence
fessional speaker Walter NewsHawks, Chimene said Now part of our challenge as around, Zimbabwe is out of in collaborative efforts with and shape the continent
Chimene has been nomi- if he lands the post, Zimba- Zimbabwe is that our brand the table so if i get the post other organisations so as to is about scale, that is why
nated for the post of chief bwean brands could benefit out there is not likable. In the first thing I will do is to broaden the country’s busi- even people in our network
adviser to the Africa Entre- immensely from AEGI’s many of these conversations put Zimbabwe on the ta- ness opportunities. in Zimbabwe we push them
preneurship Growth Initia- fund raising initiatives. over the past years, Zimba- ble,” he said. to think about Sadc and
tive (AEGI). bwe has not been involved, “We need more collabo- Comesa so instead of look-
“If I get the post, I will He also said it was essen- rative efforts. Other coun- ing at 14 million people we
AEGI is a pan-African be at the centre of AEGI’s are now looking at 100 mil-
network of multi-stake- fundraising initiatives. lion people. So if you think
holder investors that have Right now they have got a scale, it means your ideas
interests in sustainable de- US$1 billion fundraising move faster because the tar-
velopment, entrepreneurial programme so this will be get is much bigger,” he said.
growth and grassroots em- beneficial to Zimbabwe-
powerment. ans because local products, Chimene is the pioneer
projects and brands will of platforms that include
Its mandate is to create now have access to fund- Gorindemabwe Frontier,
advisory and collaborative ing,” he said. Eloquent Solutions, Wolf
innovation funding while Wealth Africa Network
working closely with heads “Although this current and Innovation Roundtable
of state, high net worth fundraising project is tar- Zimbabwe. He also sits on
philanthropists, venture geting US$1 billion, if you boards that include Read-
capitalists, investment re- research you will see that ership Zimbabwe, Entre-
searchers and celebrity these kinds of ecosystems preneurship Fund ForumX
have up to US$3 trillion and Brand Revolution
Council.
The person who lands
the coveted post will be
announced on 25 May via
Zoom.
Citizens must defend democratic values
...From previous page plement it on how to deal with cles to collect refuse? BM: What is the situation as old as Methuselah, it has not like conducting a second coup
BM: Why then does council that situation. JM: We don’t have enough ve- with regards water supply? been invested in. Sometimes against the opposition, install-
wait for people to build the BM: Let us talk about the hicles in the city. At any given the water moves using mem- ing an opposition that they
houses, to only come in and recalling of MDC Alliance time, there will be 17 or 16 op- JM: Our water situation is ory, because it knows it used want, which is in the image
demolish? councillors. How has that af- erating and we need a comple- that of sheer incompetence to move in this direction, but of the ruling party. And this
JM: Our hands are tied. I told fected council operations? ment of 33 vehicles. We have by central government. The there is no pipe, that’s why the has been done through abuse
you that I’m not an executive JM: That’s been a devastat- got 16 vehicles stuck in South last dam for the greater Ha- water is sometimes dirty. Zin- of the constitution. It is actu-
mayor. We control a police ing and crippling effect on Africa because of the foreign rare area was built in 1976. wa took over water for a while ally the heaviness of the blow
that does not have arresting council operations. Over 24, currency situation. They were There was a programme to and the infrastructure was left that shows the strength to the
powers. We can only put up that’s over half of the council- bought a long time ago, but build dams. Kunzvi Dam was to collapse. We have not been opposition. It is the extent of
notices. When people see oth- lors, have no representation. have not been delivered. The supposed to be built by now. allowed to invest in infrastruc- the abuse of state institutions
ers benefiting from random They don’t know what to do city has grown, the population Musamhi, Mudha dams were ture, debts are forgiven, reve- that shows the strength of the
lawlessness, disorder and so if rubbish is piling up, sewers has grown, but our truck fleet supposed to have been built nue collection is at a low point, opposition. The weak opposi-
forth, it becomes part and par- break, water pipes burst, they has not grown. The instability by now. These have not been there is little investment, huge tion is given trinkets, sweets,
cel of the DNA of people. And have nowhere to go, no one to of the (Zimbabwean dollar) built because government ate infrastructure in cities requires and money, because precisely,
they prevent our people from tell, the roads, the schools, the currency also creates a prob- the money. Every year, Kunz- a municipal bond, which we they are weak, we are attacked
doing their work. clinics, everything. We have a lem in terms of operational vi Dam is on the budget, there are not getting from govern- because we are strong.
vaccination programme that is issues fuel, and repairs. Some is resource allocation. Zinwa ment, but they are banking
If people get a cooperative, supposed to be national, there are stuck in the workshops be- is busy building dams where private hotel bonds. The liberation of the coun-
they go to the ministry and are are no councillors to explain to cause of the lack of liquidity, they are of no immediate use, try will have to be a collective
allowed. the people who elected them, and they cannot be repaired. in game parks. They build a BM: In terms of politics, peo- effort. It is not centred around
who have confidence in them, big dam in Masvingo and say ple are saying the opposition one person or one political en-
To settle on state land we to tell them that look, it’s safe Secondly, we have issues they want to export the water. has been made weak. Does tity, it is a broad civil society
cannot do much about it, we to be vaccinated. with our dump site and the Simply because it’s controlled the MDC Alliance have a effort, because the very values
tell them to come to planning machinery at the Pomona by the MDC, you don’t build plan? that make Zimbabwe are the
so that their plans are approved It has also crippled commit- dump site. dams in that area. So it is weird ones that are under attack. Yes,
and get compliance certificates, tees, there is barely a quorum. policymaking. JM: There’s been a conflation we will carry the heavy lifting,
but they go ahead and build. And that is why the city is col- We need to create anoth- Secondly, we have an old of government and the party, we are ready to do the heavy
lapsing. er bigger dump site for the machine at Morton Jaffray. Zanu PF has captured the state lifting as the opposition, but
Look, for example, we are whole of greater Harare. We You will be surprised that these and is using government infra- at this moment in time, at this
stuck with Caledonia, that’s 30 The recalls have the effect of don’t have a recycling culture machines are not in a museum, structure, the security sector, to particular crossroad that we
000 stands on state land, over collapsing a city. People must in Zimbabwe, so everyone they are now modern equip- act against the opposition. have arrived at, there is a coup
100 000 people, no school, call for by- elections, they must throws everything away. Waste ment for water treatment. We We are witnessing the arrest against our democracy. There
no shopping centre, no clinic, call for the representatives to is wealth in other countries. should have a water treatment of opposition members indis- is a sustained assault against
nothing. go back. Harare was built over In Zimbabwe, we are still old plant in Manyame right now. criminately and no arrests of the values Zimbabweans live
many years, but it’s easy to de- school. We throw away every- Another thing, because we use ruling party members. It’s al- and want to be governed by,
No water, no sewer, just a stroy. And if you allow a de- thing. We throw away paper, lake Chivero for recycling, we most like the MDC Alliance and the dignity of the work-
huge, gigantic slum that has structive situation to continue, throw away plastic, throw use more chemicals that we has been criminalised. The ing class, and the peasantry of
been allowed to emerge on you will need a lot more time away bottles. We behave like ought to and they are expen- judiciary no longer recognis- Zimbabwe has been attacked,
state land. And they have got again to rebuild what has been a rich nation, yet we are poor. sive. es the existence of the MDC and it can only be solved by
papers, leases from the state, built rather than maintain. What we need is to develop a Our pumps at Warren Hills as an entity. The political fi- a collective effort, by a con-
saying they are allowed to BM: You spoke about rub- recycling culture so that some are sometimes down, some- nancing Act, the money we vergence of everyone in every
settle there. What do you do bish, what is going on in the of the things are not consigned times there is no electricity, the were supposed to get, is be- sector in society, outside and
as council? Be that as it may, city, do we have enough vehi- to waste. There are valuable pumps are very old. We have ing given by our competitor within government to say look,
they are Zimbabweans, we are things that can be recycled. leakages, our piping system is to somebody else. It’s almost this is not the Zimbabwe we
where we are and we have to want to live in.
come up with a plan and im-
Page 30 Stock Taking NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Price Sheet A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE
Friday, 23 April 2021
Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP (cents) Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Ticker Price Traded Traded Traded Change Change (%) Cap
AFDIS Consumer Goods (cents) 4600.00 Volume Value ($) (cents) ($m)
African Sun Consumer Services AFDIS: ZH Price 200.31 (%)
ART ASUN: ZH 4600.00 530.08 -
Ariston Industrials ARTD: ZH 203.98 - 199.42 76,700 - - - 91.67 5,396.08
Axia Consumer Services ARISTON: ZH 610.00 200.00 1603.92 2,136,300 153,636.00 -3.67 -1.80 17.83 1,726.22
BNC 190.00 530.00 403.76 11,324,150.00 -79.92 -13.10 11.06 2,316.33
BAT Consumer Goods AXIA: ZH 1575.15 200.00 79995.00 9,500 9.42 4.96 48.82 3,245.35
CAFCA Basic Materials BIND: ZH 401.06 1600.00 12000.00 39,500 18,945.00 28.77 1.83 75.10 8,739.67
Cassava BAT: ZH 79995.00 402.00 1272.90 304,300 633,550.00 2.70 0.67 6.25 5,046.42
CBZ Consumer Goods CAFCA: ZH 12000.00 9200.00 1,228,656.00 45.45 16,505.78
Dairibord Industrials CSZL: ZH 1260.82 - 1569.09 - - - 33.48 1,048.21
Delta CBZ: ZH 9450.00 - 4573.82 - - - - 95.83 32,975.46
Econet Technology DZL: ZH 1567.37 1300.00 1896.14 30,700 - 12.08 0.96 7.65 63,225.32
Edgars Banking DLTA: ZH 4577.06 9200.00 299.33 15,400 390,780.00 -250.00 -2.65 19.78 5,617.36
FBC ECO: ZH 1934.35 1530.00 2600.13 6,600 1,416,800.00 1.72 0.11 101.04 58,748.94
Fidelity Consumer Goods EDGR: ZH 300.00 4600.00 550.00 24,900 103,560.00 -3.24 -0.07 100.65 49,120.96
First Capital Consumer Goods FBC: ZH 2600.00 1895.00 230.89 161,400 1,138,880.00 -38.21 -1.98 149.44
FML Telecommunications FIDL: ZH 544.78 290.00 2100.00 216,100 3,060,365.00 -0.67 -0.22 73.19 978.78
FMP Consumer Services FCA: ZH 230.00 2600.00 530.99 158,100 646,847.00 0.13 0.01 188.41 17,471.57
GBH FMHL: ZH 2033.25 550.00 70.00 300 4,110,800.00 5.22 0.96 109.90
Getbucks Banking FMP: ZH 535.42 235.00 40.00 7,500 1,650.00 0.89 0.39 100.00 599.08
Hippo Financial Services GBH: ZH 60.27 2050.00 12500.00 961,500 17,317.00 66.75 3.28 63.89 4,979.65
Innscor GBFS: ZH 40.00 530.00 6500.80 307,300 20,191,480.00 -4.43 -0.83 191.67 14,493.00
Lafarge Banking HIPO: ZH 12500.00 70.00 4800.00 200 1,631,730.00 9.73 16.14 220.00 6,574.49
Mash Financial Services 6505.00 - 170.00 - 140.00 - - 38.89
Masimba INN: ZH 5000.00 - 2005.31 - - - - 75.56 375.61
Medtech Real Estate LACZ: ZH 187.93 6505.00 13.47 187,600 - -4.20 -0.06 400.00 465.25
Meikles Industrials MASH: ZH 1957.63 4800.00 5503.01 800 12,195,500.00 -200.00 -4.00 82.80 24,127.57
Nampak MSHL: ZH 12.52 170.00 1250.00 1,300 38,400.00 -17.93 -9.54 79.05 36,714.99
NatFoods Financial Services MMDZ: ZH 5530.77 2000.00 31600.00 106,300 2,210.00 47.68 2.44 70.51 3,840.00
NTS Consumer Goods MEIK: ZH 1250.00 13.50 900.00 96,700 2,131,645.00 0.95 7.59 150.08 3,160.43
NMBZ NPKZ: ZH 31600.00 5500.00 1000.00 8,300 13,029.00 -27.76 -0.50 447.65 4,845.91
OK Zim Industrials NTFD: ZH 900.00 1250.00 1510.92 1,800 456,750.00 - - 425.79 409.46
Padenga Industrials 1062.50 - 2994.36 - 22,500.00 - - 3178.69 13,903.14
Proplastics Real Estate NTS: ZH 1451.18 900.00 2100.00 400 - - - 149.97 9,445.60
RTG Industrials NMB: ZH 2979.45 1000.00 200.00 1,200 3,600.00 -62.50 -5.88 67.88 21,614.43
RioZim Healthcare OKZ: ZH 2100.00 1500.00 2040.00 7,100 12,000.00 59.74 4.12 42.49 2,284.85
Simbisa Industrials PHL: ZH 200.00 3000.00 3008.03 5,500 107,275.00 14.91 0.50 143.91 4,041.72
Star Africa Industrials PROL: ZH 2040.00 - 58.38 - 164,690.00 - - 4.30 18,838.34
Truworths Consumer Goods RTG: ZH 3062.96 200.00 97.00 13,300 - - - 36.44 16,217.26
TSL Industrials RIOZ: ZH 60.14 - 4295.00 - 26,600.00 - - 150.30 5,290.65
Turnall SIM: ZH 96.92 3000.00 302.00 103,400 - -54.93 -1.79 116.22 4,990.99
Unifreight Banking SACL: ZH 4300.00 58.00 1000.00 102,100 3,110,300.00 -1.76 -2.93 228.81 2,489.40
Willdale Consumer Services TRUW: ZH 302.00 97.00 97.25 2,300 59,603.00 0.08 0.08 148.99 16,910.69
ZB TSL: ZH 1000.00 4295.00 3800.00 15,800 2,231.00 -5.00 -0.12 224.73 2,752.67
Zeco Consumer Goods TURN: ZH 97.00 - - 678,610.00 - - 5276.34 372.55
Zimpapers Industrials UNIF: ZH 3800.00 1000.00 0.03 100 - - - 203.91 15,337.55
Zimplow WILD: ZH 97.00 176.38 3,200 1,000.00 0.25 0.26 58.33 1,488.98
ZHL Consumer Services ZBFH: ZH 0.03 3800.00 666.88 1,027,500 3,112.00 - - 50.00 1,064.74
TOTAL Basic Materials ZECO: ZH 176.38 - 212.75 - 39,045,000.00 - - 79.98 1,729.11
ZIMP: ZH 670.00 - - - - - 33.38 6,657.24
Consumer Goods ZIMPLOW: ZH 212.92 670.00 1,600 - -3.13 -0.47 -32.13
Consumer Goods ZHL: ZH 212.75 5,400 10,670.00 -0.17 -0.08 0.14
Consumer Services 6,148,000 11,488.50 1,015.95
Consumer Goods 1,589.71
104,165,499.50 3,262.18
Industrials
Industrials 524,045.77
Industrials
Banking
Industrials
Consumer Services
Industrials
Financial Services
ETFs OMTT.zw 176.06 165.00 166.93 101,000 168,602.72 -9.13 -5.19 66.56 133.54
Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF
FINSEC Financial Services OMZIL 2800.00 - 2800.00 - -- - 5.66 2,324.33
Old Mutual Zimbabwe
VFEX (US cents) Consumer Goods SCIL:VX 18.00 US$m
SeedCo International - 18.00 - -- -- 43.40
Index Close Change (%) Open YTD % Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
ZSE All Share GBH
Top 10 4,444.19 -0.30 4,457.53 +69.02 Medtech 70.00c +9.73c +16.14 +191.67
Top 15 2,563.85 -0.28 2,571.04 +54.96 Ariston 13.47c +0.95c +7.59 +70.51
Small Cap 2,918.92 -0.20 2,924.85 +49.84 OK Zim 199.42c +9.42c +4.96 +48.82
Medium Cap 43,231.89 +1.32 42,666.73 +264.02 FML 1510.92c +59.74c +4.12 +67.88
10,706.35 -0.40 10,749.18 +92.41 2100.00c +66.75c +3.28 +100.00
Top 5 Fallers Price Change % YTD %
ART
Mash 530.08c -79.92c -13.10 +11.06
NMBZ 170.00c -17.93c -9.54 +82.80
Lafarge 1000.00c -62.50c -5.88 +149.97
Star Africa 4800.00c -200.00c -4.00 +400.00
-2.93 +116.22
58.38c -1.76c
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content.
NewsHawks News Analysis Page 31
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Vaccine messaging plays crucial role
NYASHA CHINGONO “The protection rates of
all vaccines in the world are
REVELATIONS that the vaccination rollout owing to has halted the use of the John- tive vaccines. Centre for Disease Control sometimes high, and some-
Sinopharm and Sinovac vac- concerns about vaccine effica- son & Johnson vaccine after The Zimbabwean authori- and Prevention, Gao Fu, re- times low. How to improve
cines have lower efficacy rates cy. In February, South Africa several women developed cently admitted that the vac- their efficacy is a question
than other vaccines should returned one million doses of blood clots. ties have not commented on cines needed improving. that needs to be considered by
not deter Zimbabweans from the AstraZeneca vaccine after the efficacy of the vaccines al- scientists around the world,”
being vaccinated, medical lab tests showed that it was Despite the need to fight though a top-ranking Chinese “We will solve the issue that Gao said. “In this regard, I
professionals say. unable to deal with the new the pandemic, South Africa official was quoted as saying current vaccines don’t have suggest that we can consid-
Covid-19 variant. has taken drastic decisions to there is need to bolster the ef- very high protection rates. er adjusting the vaccination
Zimbabweans had warmed protect its citizens from po- ficacy rate. It’s now under consideration process, such as the number
up to the vaccination drive, This month, South Africa tentially harmful or ineffec- whether we should use dif- of doses and intervals and
only to be startled by infor- The director of the Chinese ferent vaccines from different adopting sequential vaccina-
mation that vaccines being technical lines for the immu- tion with different types of
used in the country had rela- nisation process,” Fu said. vaccines,” Gao told Chinese
tively low efficacy. state media.
Zimbabwe Association of
While vaccines developed Doctors For Human Rights The executive director of
by Pfizer, Moderna and Rus- (ZADHR) president Norman the Community Working
sia’s Sputnik had delivered Matara said the revelations by Group on Health (CWGH),
protection rates of about Chinese authorities on the low Itai Rusike, said officials
90%, the Sinovac vaccine, vaccine efficacy could affect should ensure that there is
which Zimbabwe started ad- the national rollout although discord in communicating the
ministering during the second he urged Zimbabweans to vaccine, its efficacy and possi-
phase of the national rollout, continue seeking vaccination. ble side effects.
was said to be just above 50%,
according to Chinese officials. “I think it is going to affect “Conflicting messages
the uptake,” Matara said. cause fear and panic among
Other Chinese shots like the public, especially in Zim-
the Sinopharm vaccine has Matara said the Chinese babwe where people are be-
79% efficacy. vaccines, could still go a long ginning to warm up to the
way in fighting the disease in vaccine. It is important that
Despite earlier threats by the country by reducing hos- authorities be clear and build
the pro-democracy campaign- pitalisations and deaths. confidence, given that there
ers to force the government has been misinformation and
to publish information on “What the official said was disinformation which has
the vaccines and conduct vac- nothing new because we had caused vaccine hesitancy and
cine trials before the rollout, already dismissed the vaccines low uptake,” Rusike said.
the government launched the based on earlier studies. But
Covid-19 vaccination pro- what he was saying was that “We need more uptake of
gramme soon after taking there is need to improve the the vaccine and in order to
delivery of 200 000 doses of vaccines so that the efficacy achieve that we need to pack-
the Sinopharm vaccine on 18 rate reaches nearly 100%,” age the information in a man-
February. Government also Matara said. ner that encourages uptakes.”
failed to learn from neigh-
bouring South Africa which “People need to know that He added that discord in
has twice halted its national if they get infected after get- information sharing could
ting the vaccine, they will not dampen the uptake which was
get severe sickness, be hospi- beginning to take off.
talised or die because the vac-
cine can prevent all that from “When a negative message
happening. Due to misinfor- comes, it takes us back to the
mation, people may think stage where people are highly
that the vaccine is totally use- sceptical,” Rusike said.
less, but it is not.”
Rusike urged the author-
Even though the Chinese ities to improve accessibility
official backtracked on his of the vaccines in low-lying
initial sentiments on the Sin- areas, peri-urban zones and
opharm and Sinovac vaccines, growth points.
his remarks had already raised
the spectre of doubt. “In bigger urban centres
like Harare and Bulawayo, up-
Gao said he had been mis- take has been encouraging but
quoted, adding that it was im- low-lying areas are still low in
portant to improve the effica- uptake. So, there is need for
cy rate of the vaccine through better accessibility. There is
sequential inoculation of dif- also need for a clear commu-
ferent types of vaccines. nication strategy to encourage
uptake,” Rusike added.
Vaccine hesitancy has
blighted the government’s
vaccination programme.
Frontline workers have also
been hesitant to get the vac-
cine, citing lack of critical in-
formation on the Chinese jab.
Despite the growing uptake
of the vaccine, the numbers
are still relatively low as com-
pared to the projected figures.
For a country aiming at
inoculating 10 million to
achieve herd immunity by
December 2021, Zimbabwe
is moving at snail’s pace.
At least 231 632 people
have been administered their
first dose since the inocula-
tion programme began in
mid-February, but over a mil-
lion doses remain unused as
the government continues to
scout for more supplies.
While health officials have
warned of an impending third
wave of infections during
winter, an increased uptake of
the vaccine would allay fears
of a likelihood of fatalities.
Page 32 Opinion NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Politics of appointing a chief justice
— from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe
TERERAI MAFUKIDZE
Beginning this week, The New- Zimbabwe’s current Chief Justice Luke Malaba.
sHawks will publish a series of
articles written by Johannes- This is despite that the in many parts of the world, dented event where they al- The legal pitfall that befell daughter of Hercules Jarvis,
burg-based Zimbabwean law- judiciary is considered the sadly, political. Zimbabwe is leged improper allocation of the amendment was salvaged former mayor of Cape Town.
yer Tererai Mafukidze about weakest organ of the state as no exception. Not every ap- cases by the chief justice. through an order issued by The first European judiciary
the history and politics, as well it neither commands an army pointment though raises po- the Constitutional Court, In 1890, Zimbabwe was con-
as the dynamics of appointing nor controls the budget. It litical interest or concerns. As will emerge from later which is bizarre to the extent quered by the BSAC which
a chief justice in Zimbabwe, depends for its influence on discussions on the historical that in a February 2021 judg- operated under a Royal
tracing the genesis of the issue enjoying public confidence However, the appointment role of the chief justice in ment, one of the judges has Charter granted by the Brit-
back to 1927, five years after which gives it moral suasion of the chief justice, who is the Zimbabwe, the ability to allo- admitted that the order of the ish monarchy to Rhodes’s
Southern Rhodesia rejected in that forces citizens and other head of the judiciary, is fre- cate cases and set up benches court to revive a Bill and place company. As soon as the
a referendum joining the South arms of the state to respect quently a decision based on to hear cases can be used to it before a new Senate was it- BSAC established some ru-
African Union, when the first and implement its decisions. political considerations. This undermine judicial indepen- self without legal foundation. dimentary administration,
head of the judiciary was in- Its central responsibility is to is why political leaders want dence, pander to political the company’s first adminis-
stalled. resolve disputes which arise to influence the decision as whim and for corruption. In fact, two judges, An- trator of Mashonaland, A.R.
and to try criminals. Most of much as possible. It has polit- nie-Marie Gowora and Bharat Colquhoun, decreed through
Voters had to choose between its work is not controversial ical implications, sometimes No sooner had Zimba- Patel, pointed out serious proclamation No.1 of 28 Sep-
establishing self-government, and goes without much pub- serious. bweans decided in 2013 in a flaws in the process. tember 1890 that the laws of
joining the Union of South lic notice. new constitution that the ap- the Cape Colony (South Af-
Africa or continuing under the The chief justice is consid- pointment of the head of the The swift amendment was rica) were to be applicable in
British South Africa Company It is when the judiciary de- ered the first amongst equals judiciary, like that of other intended to return the direct the new territory.
(BSAC). The BSAC had gov- cides constitutional, political – just like a prime minister. judges, should be subject to power of appointment to the
erned Southern Rhodesia since and electoral disputes that its a competitive and transparent President. That alone tells us The inappropriately named
October 1889 when it was role in the state becomes con- Three years ago, the su- interview process than voters why the debate about wheth- South Africa Order-in-Coun-
granted a mining exploration tested terrain. This is because preme court of India had to witnessed an immediate push er current Chief Justice Luke cil of 1891 authorised the
charter by the British govern- such disputes have far-reach- decide a matter in which the to amend the freshly-minted Malaba should stay or retire High Commissioner for
ment. ing consequences beyond the litigants challenged the role constitution to give the Presi- remains largely a political South Africa to establish by
litigants concerned. In other of the chief justice of India dent the power to choose the question. proclamation a legal system
Its founder, Cecil John words, its decisions in such and demanded the publica- chief justice, the deputy chief in the new territory of pres-
Rhodes, was given permission matters affect all citizens, tion of the guidelines and justice and the judge presi- The choice of chief justice ent day Zimbabwe. Acting
to explore the area north of the their future and the nation’s framework for rational and dent of the High Court. — from Sir Murray Bisset in terms of this power un-
Transvaal with unlimited pow- fate. transparent allocation of cases to Malaba — or should it be der the High Commissioner,
ers. After its pioneer column and constitution of benches That is under Zimbabwe from chief magistrate James- by proclamation of 10 June
invaded the country through Any political interest in to hear cases. Constitutional Amendment on, has been deeply a political 1891, established a system of
Tuli in Matabeleland South in power wants to control the (No.1) passed by Senate on question. magistrates’ courts in Masho-
1890, the BSAC founded the judiciary. Politicians prefer The court said that since 6 April. It now awaits presi- naland.
town of Salisbury (now Ha- a supine judiciary when it the chief justice of India is dential assent. Constitutional Bisset (14 April 1876 –
rare) and named the territory comes to handling controver- a high constitutional func- Amendment (No.2), passed 24 October 1931) was a The proclamation declared
Rhodesia in honour of Rhodes. sial matters. It is in this regard tionary, there cannot be any by the National Assembly on Test cricketer who captained that the law to be adminis-
From 1890, the company op- that the judiciary is contested distrust about the responsibil- 20 April and which expands South Africa before moving tered shall as nearly as the
erated as the government of terrain in any polity. Some of ities he discharges to ensure power of the President, gives go Southern Rhodesia where circumstances of the country
Southern Rhodesia until 1923. the contestations are held qui- that the supreme court carries him more power to appoint he served as chief justice and will permit, be the same as the
THE first judicial officer to etly, while others are fought out the work required under other judges in consultation briefly as the country’s gover- law for the time being in force
be known by the title chief in pitched battles between the constitution. with the Judicial Service nor. in the Colony of the Cape of
justice in Zimbabwe was only political rivals. Commission, discarding the
appointed in 1927. For the The case arose after a press public, open and transparent Born in Port Elizabeth, Bis-
first 37 years of colonial rule Judicial appointments are conference was held by some process based on interviews. set was the fifth son of James
that position did not exist — of the senior-most supreme Bisset, former mayor of Wyn-
at least not by that name. court judges in an unprece- berg, and Emily, née Jarvis,
However, if one were to
loosely apply the term chief
justice to the person who
heads the judiciary, it would
be accurate to say that the
medical doctor, Dr Leander
Starr Jameson, Cecil John
Rhodes’s best friend, was the
first. Since this ominous be-
ginning, the position of chief
justice has remained deeply
a matter which attracts huge
political and public interest.
The is the third pillar of the
government and it is critical in
a democracy. Its function and
responsibility is to interpret
and apply the laws in specific
cases and settle disputes. The
real meaning of law is what
the judges decide during the
course of their work.
In a constitutional democ-
racy where the power of the
executive is limited by checks
and balances, the judiciary
is critical because it protects
the constitution and guards
against executive and legis-
lative and excesses. Role of
judiciary as the guardian-pro-
tector of the constitution and
fundamental rights of the
people makes it more critical
and of huge public interest.
NewsHawks Opinion Page 33
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Good Hope, provided no Act Zimbabwe’s first Chief Justice Sir Murray Bisset (14 April 1876 – 24 October 1931). All such trial records had
passed after this time there to be sent to the Cape for the
shall be deemed to apply to tween Fort Tuli and Fort Vic- a higher colonial authority that there appeared to be just police — ending a big police conviction and sentence to
the said territory. toria on their journey from based at the Cape. Once the treatment of the natives. This search. be confirmed. Because of the
the Transvaal to present-day sentence was confirmed by was important for politics in public baying for Jim’s head,
When the pioneer column Harare. the High Commissioner at England. When news of the capture Jameson sent his report of the
arrived in Mashonaland, the Cape, as required by law, of Jim spread, the mob of crime and trial to the high
Jameson appointed himself Andries was arrested and Andries had to lose his life at Once the gallows were lu- white pioneer drunkards and commissioner at the Cape by
the chief magistrate of Mash- charged with murder. His the hands of the state -- ru- bricated with white blood, other sorts of characters tried telegraph. He asked the high
onaland. Jameson had aban- trial was before Jameson and dimentary as that concept of it became easy to hang the to break into cells and gov- commissioner to skip the usu-
doned his thriving medical four assessors. Caldecott was state was at the time! natives — not that Zulu Jim ernment buildings in order al formalities and delays that
practice in Kimberley, South the public prosecutor and An- was originally a local. With to deliver vigilante justice to would be caused by use of
Africa, to try his luck in the dries was defended by Harry It must have come as a sur- the Mashonas enjoying the Jim. This inflamed environ- the post. He wanted the high
new goldfields. To assist him Kinloch. It seems Kinloch prise to the pioneers that the reputation of leaving employ- ment was not in the compa- commissioner by return to
with his work, a prosecutor was a multitasking lawyer. locals did not have gallows to ment after a few days or weeks ny’s interests. It threatened confirm that execution could
named Alfred Caldecott was He combined bar skills with hang the condemned. In the and being unreliable, one Ma- the charter. immediately be carried out.
appointed. As the chief magis- hunting down Ndebele kings. circumstances, a 20-foot high rondera farmer, James Grady, It was important for political
trate, he was the highest judi- He subsequently perished to- gallows had to be constructed considered it good fortune to It was only the interven- ends that Jameson delivered
cial authority within the terri- gether with Allan Wilson at in what is today known as Af- employ one Jim — a Zulu, as tion of the administrator swift justice against the na-
tory. Jameson was so powerful Shangani River while pursu- rica Unity Square in Harare. his given monicker suggested. and chief magistrate James- tive.
that he issued instructions to ing King Lobengula. He had come up from Na- on that calmed the situation
Colquhuon despite the fact Of course, there was an- tal, South Africa, employed with the words: “You damned But Sir Henry Lock, the
that he actually held no offi- The Andries case seemed other shocker. The locals by a wagon driver. After the fools! Don’t you know that the high commissioner, would
cial title or position. He was to depend entirely on cir- had no hangman to take a farmer’s cattle went miss- country is expecting a boom. have none of it. He re-
Rhodes’s point man in the cumstantial evidence. Most fellow human being’s life ing, Grady suspected Jim. In A boom! But there will be no plied:“… certain and not hur-
colony and enjoyed incredible settlers believed in Andries’s at the instance of the state. turn, Jim offered to show the boom if the world sees there is ried execution is the greatest
political power. innocence. The evidence was The pioneers had to find one farmer where the cattle were. no respect for the law and order. protection to the safe and effi-
in some respects weak. At the amongst their number. A The farmer, out of caution, Are you going to be such fools as cient administration of justice.”
It was not long before the end of the trial, Jameson and down and out settler named put manacles on his employ- to ruin the boom, for which we
aggressive medical doctor the four assessors adjourned. Morton thought this was a ee-suspect and headed out have been waiting for so long After receiving the high
forced Colquhuon to resign They returned within 30 min- lucrative venture. He agreed with his friend, a neighbour- by this stupid action? Jim has commissioner’s confirmation
as administrator. Jameson im- utes of adjournment and an- to act as the hangman. On ing farmer named Mackenzie, got to have a fair trial, how- in due course, on 3 May 1893
mediately replaced him by as- nounced their verdict. 17 April 1893, Andries was wife and child. Somewhere ever guilty he may be. Let the (six weeks after the murders),
suming the role of administra- hanged still pleading his in- during the cattle recovery law take its course. If you carry Jim was publicly hanged on
tor, but continued to be chief Jameson pronounced it nocence. The hanging was trip, Jim managed to grab a out your plan you will ruin the the gallows that were erected
magistrate as well. Jameson thus: “Prisoner at the bar, you to be done at 8am. Jameson firearm in the wagon and shot coming boom!” for Andries. Unlike with the
now became the judicial and have been found guilty of mur- secretly changed the hanging Grady, his wife, child and Andries execution which was
administrative chief of the der. As a doctor it has always time from 8am to dawn in or- Mackenzie. Grady survived, An eloquent exposition done before dawn contrary
territory — a combination of been my study and purpose to der to avoid spectators. though badly injured. of the relationship between to the 8am time publicly
executive and judicial respon- save life and now I am bound justice and economic per- announced by Jameson, Jim
sibility would be considered to take it away.” For his troubles, Morton, Grady gave his evidence formance delivered by the was hanged in front of a large
an abomination today. the pioneering hangman, from the hospital bed and self-appointed chief magis- crowd in the Fort area. Even
It is reported that James- became an outcast in all of subsequently died, bringing trate who had not been to in those early years, it was im-
But Rhodes knew that ju- on then with great emotional Salisbury, shunned by all and Jim’s body count to four. Jim any law school. But then the portant for the colonial proj-
dicial and political power struggle ordered that Andries sundry for having acted as went on the run. He turned up good excitable Dr concluded ect to project a difference be-
needed to be aligned for his be hanged by the neck until the hangman. This probably near Mukuvisi in present-day his speech by stating: “And tween white and black justice.
project to succeed. Politicians he is dead. It is said Jameson explains why from then on Mbare and was recognised by if we don’t hang Jim you can
with the support of the judi- then collapsed in his chair the name of the hangman is a a native named Charley who hang me”. Now what justice Father Hartmann was pres-
ciary are more powerful. and had to be assisted from state secret to this day. was a brickmaker. Jim sent awaited Jim? Jameson knew ent to do his religious duties.
the court. A weak chief jus- Charley out to buy some to- the political importance of It is said that Jim was hand-
The 39-year-old Jameson tice is not a good thing — There was equal concern bacco and a pipe. Charley appeasing the settlers. ed a cup of brandy which
now had absolute author- at least in the eyes of his or about reports of brutality turned out to be a sellout. he hastily swallowed before
ity over the administrative her appointees. It could not meted out against natives Instead, he went to the police Three days later and, true Morton the hangman hanged
machinery of the colony. have escaped the notice of by the settlers. Jameson and in Victoria Street. Charley, in to his promise, Jameson and him. As G.H Tanser records
He took under his wing the the BSAC that the person in Rhodes were concerned that return for a reward, with the four assessors convicted Jim tantalisingly: “But in the same
half-a-dozen police officers whom they entrusted justice such reports could result in help of his brother arrested and sentenced him to death. week that Jim was hanged yet
Colquhuon had appointed as had no courage to dispense it. the cancellation of the char- Jim and brought him to the There is no record of Jim be- another violent death occurred
magistrates. ter. Jameson therefore had ing afforded legal counsel at at Borrowdale. Jameson sar-
It was required that such the responsibility to ensure his trial. donically suggested the scaffold
As chief magistrate, James- sentence be confirmed by should remain a permanent in-
on had the powers of a High stitution.”
Court judge. Yet he had no
legal training. Jameson subsequently be-
came Prime Minister of the
As W.D. Gale puts it in his Cape Colony between 1904-
book One Man’s Vision: “He 1908. He died on 26 No-
was a medical man, with no vember 1917 during the First
legal training whatsoever. Law World War. In line with his
books had no meaning for him wishes, his body was kept in
and he usually tried his cases a vault in England and it re-
without their aid, depending mained there until the end of
on his own common sense to the war. Before his death he
arrive at a reasonably just de- had declared that he was to
cision. The necessity of main- be buried next to his friend,
taining law and order was his Rhodes, at Matopos, out Bu-
principal guide.” lawayo in Zimbabwe. After
the end of the war, his body
During 1892, Jameson was then carried from En-
and Caldecott became wor- gland to Zimbabwe. On 22
ried about the rise in deaths May 1920, Jameson was bur-
among white invaders which ied next to his friend who had
appeared suspicious. In fact, predeceased him in 1902.
the rumours were worrying
Rhodes as they were circulat- By that time, rudimenta-
ing in England. There was a ry state and judicial struc-
serious political risk that the tures had been established in
Crown could withdraw the Southern Rhodesia.
charter on account of this
lawlessness. *About the writer: Advo-
cate Tererai Mafukidze is
Jameson was very clear now a member of the Johan-
about this political risk. The nesburg Bar. He practises
system then resolved to make with Group One Sandown
an example of any person who Chambers in Sandton, Jo-
was accused of causing the vi- hannesburg. His practice
olent death of another. areas at the Bar are: general
commercial law, competi-
The unfortunate example tion law, human rights, ad-
fell on the head of one Jewish ministrative and constitu-
fortune-hunter named Lou- tional law.
is Andries who was accused
of murdering a fellow for-
tune-hunter somewhere be-
Page 34 Reframing Issues NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 2)
Bill: Understanding the History and Motivation
This article is an extended excerpt from Professor Arthur Mutambara’s
upcoming book: In Search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream: Volume 3.
Arthur Zimbabwean GNU leaders celebrating (dancing) after the all-stakeholder adoption of the 2013 Constitution, 22 October 2012. succession struggle between
Mutambara Nelson Chamisa, Khupe and
Mugabe is overly impressed stitution: The parties are ed immediately to resolve ing process. It is clearly not Elias Mudzuri. Even though
INTRODUCTION: and is engulfed in profound agreed! succession matters in their two completely people-driven! The Chamisa eventually “wins”
All-stakeholder endorsement exuberance and exhilaration. On 17 January 2013 – during parties. However, other equally exercise is slowly and danger- the fight using unortho-
of the 2013 constitution He and I have come a long a breezy Monday morning – ambitious party members are ously sliding and degenerat- dox methods characterised
There are extensive delibera- way since my time as a Uni- we meet at the final negotiat- concerned that they might not ing into an undertaking to by violence, misogyny and
tions back and forth in May, versity of Zimbabwe student ing platform for the new con- be the chosen ones as running establish an elite pact – not constitutional violations, the
June and July 2012, resulting leader from 1988 to 1990. stitution – the 2013 national mates; hence they are circum- a people-driven democratic MDC-T party name withers
in the Constitutional Parlia- constitution. It is a gathering spect about this clause. It is charter. away because of the resultant
mentary Committee (Copac) According to ZTV News on of the GNU principals, our instructive to note that if this disputes, while the MDC-Al-
formally adopting a draft 23 October 2012, Mugabe negotiators, the minister of Le- provision is procedurally ad- When the running mate liance (MDC-A) seeks to
national constitution on 21 says: gal and Parliamentary Affairs opted in 2013, Mujuru would clause is brought to just replace it. However, Chamisa’s
July. This document is taken and the three Copac chairper- be the primary running mate the three of us – Mugabe, ascendancy is short-lived,
for adoption at the Second “Fellow Zimbabweans, edu- sons. Before us are matters that for Mugabe, while Thokozani Tsvangirai and me – in an as the Zimbabwe’s Supreme
All-Stakeholders’ Conference cation is very virtuous. Look at our three sets of negotiators Khupe would be the number earlier principals’ meeting, it Court on 31 March 2020,
– the fourth phase in the con- this young man. He now speaks have not been able to resolve. one running mate on Tsvangi- is immediately killed because declares his presidency of the
stitution-making process. It is like a statesman – Oxonian, These outstanding issues rai’s ticket. Pure and simple. neither Tsvangirai nor Mugabe MDC-T illegitimate, by ruling
held on Monday and Tuesday, PhD, Professor and all! Asi, include: (1) the running mate wants to appoint a running that Tsvangirai’s appointment
from 22 to 23 October 2012, zigomana iri raisombondinet- clause (2) the Attorney-Gener- However, there is confusion mate. In particular, Mug- of two extra MDC vice-presi-
at the Harare International sa chose paUniversity yedu al transitional mechanism, and all over the place because these abe has outright contempt dents (Chamisa and Mudzuri)
Conference Centre (HICC) in apa. Rainditema nematombo. (3) devolution. two key potential running for Mujuru as his successor. in 2016, was in violation of
Harare. It is quite a celebra- Manje iko zvino matombo mates have limited influence Tsvangirai is equally dismissive the MDC constitution and
tory affair, with performances tave kutemwa tese. (Well, this The running mate clause in the negotiations of the of Thokozani Khupe. They that Chamisa’s manoeuvres to
from various artistes includ- rascal used to give me hell while is a provision uncreatively 2013 national constitution. both want their succession succeed Tsvangirai were illegal.
ing Oliver Mtukudzi. Who he was at the University of borrowed by our negotiators Although he is neither a questions to remain open. In Even the May 2019 congress
could have imagined the top Zimbabwe. He was so radical from the United States and negotiator nor a vice-presi- fact, I get a sense that each that formally elects Chamisa
leadership of the country – and used to throw stones at, Malawian constitutions – dent in Zanu PF, Emmerson one of them wants to succeed as MDC president is rendered
Robert Mugabe, Joice Mujuru, and violently criticise, those in where a presidential aspirant Mnangagwa is the key player. himself! This is one discussion a legal nullity by the Supreme
Morgan Tsvangirai and yours authority, including me as Pres- must choose a person to be his Having orchestrated – to- in which I find Mugabe and Court judgement. Clumsy,
truly – dancing together at a ident of the country. Now that or her partner as they contest gether with the army, police Tsvangirai in enthusiastic and unsophisticated and patently
public platform to Mtukudzi’s he is in government, we are now the election, such that, in the and the Central Intelligence ecstatic agreement. They are dishonest arguments that this
rhythmic beats? viciously attacked together). The event of victory this person Organisation – the bloody and like little mischievous and congress was for a new party
tables have turned, Professor. We becomes the vice-president. In fraudulent 2008 June run-off naughty kids as they vigor- – MDC Alliance – and not
The objectives of this are now the enemy together!” fact, the proposal is to have at presidential election, he has ously and garrulously defend the MDC-T do not cut it. So
conference – which is attended least one running mate and at asserted his closeness to Mug- their perverted positions. They much avoidable chaos, drama
by around 1 400 delegates The entire HICC erupts most two (i.e., a maximum of abe and improved his standing laugh derisively as they cherish and self-inflicted pain and
– include receiving from and roars into uncontrollable two elected vice-presidents). in the party. Mugabe owes this rare, though dishonour- disarray!
the three co-chairpersons laughter and cheering, some Should the President die, his presidency to him and the able, common ground: “Suc-
of Copac: the report on the banging tables and others resign or is incapacitated, the securocratic state. In fact, the cessor? What for?” Those are Indeed, strategic incoher-
constitution-making process, whistling as they give Mugabe vice-president automatically Zanu PF negotiators, Patrick their dismissive and nauseating ence on steroids!
the draft national constitution, a standing ovation. Mugabe takes over as President to Chinamasa and Nicholas Go- rhetorical questions.
comments and recommen- laps it all up, before he pro- complete the presidential term che, report to him first before All this could have been
dations on the draft national ceeds with his official remarks. of office. The efficacy of the going to Mugabe. History has borne out the circumvented if Tsvangirai had
constitution. At this forum, running mate clause is that it folly of this misguided and understood the importance of
the three Government of Na- As part of the conference, brings certainty to succession Consequently, there is no unstrategic thinking on the institutionalised, transparent,
tional Unity (GNU) principals the draft national constitution and involves the citizens in appetite from the Zanu PF part of these two political predictable, constitutional and
speak. is reviewed, and processes that process. By voting for negotiators to immediately leaders – my fellow GNU democratic succession in his
begin for its final adoption the presidential ticket of a implement the running-mate principals. Tsvangirai dies in political party – MDC-T.
We thank Copac teams and – incorporating new and President and a vice-president, clause if it means elevating office on 14 February 2018,
their leadership and express agreed recommendations – by the people are choosing both Mujuru. In MDC-T the two as the president of MDC-T, On the other hand, Mugabe
our satisfaction with the Copac and the top leadership a President and his potential negotiators, Tendai Biti and even after a protracted battle is forcibly removed from office
tremendous progress. In my of the three political parties. successor. This provision is a Elton Mangoma, have no with terminal colon cancer by a coup d’état in November
remarks, I emphasise that: (1) It is quite a tedious, conten- source of disagreement and interest in crowning Khupe. had provided him with ample 2017, after firing both Mujuru
the constitution we seek to tious and iterative process, acrimony among the negoti- There we are. All this speaks time and opportunity to (in 2014) and Mnangagwa (in
craft is for posterity and must with several meetings at the ators. Ambitious elements in to the direct and detrimental resolve the MDC-T succession 2017) from their vice-pres-
not be unduly influenced by different levels – Copac team, both Zanu PF and MDC-T impact of intraparty inter- challenge systematically and idential posts in both Zanu
present-day circumstances and the Global Political Agreement would want it implement- ests, dynamics, competition, proactively. He leaves his party PF and government; and
ambitions; (2) the people’s (GPA) megotiators and the self-interest and hierarchies on exposed to an avoidable, nasty, having incredulously expressed
views and aspirations must GNU principals. the national constitution-mak- primitive and acrimonious interest in running again for
remain central in terms of the Adoption of the new con- the presidency in 2018, ridic-
content of the document; and ulously and unashamedly at
(3) we must think beyond the age of 94. With hindsight,
the constitution as a piece maybe if the running mate
of paper, learn from history, clause was implemented in
embrace constitutionalism and 2013, the political history of
address economic affairs of our Zimbabwe could have been
nation with the same national different. Anyway, that is the
enthusiasm and cohesion. price we pay for the utter lack
of leadership in both Zanu PF
I vigorously stress that and the opposition parties.
the coming into law of a
new constitution does not In April 2021, has anything
automatically guarantee a changed? On 22 October
new constitutional order or 2019, as the rumours and in-
constitutionalism. There must trigue of a political tussle with
be a paradigm shift of mindset his ailing deputy – Constan-
on the part of every citizen. tino Chiwenga – Mnangagwa
My full speech on this grand announces that Zanu PF will
occasion is elsewhere in this seek to amend the constitu-
memoir. tion to remove the running
mate clause. There is absolute
After my presentation, silence from the opposition
MDC Alliance. Once again,
there is perverted agreement
and a disgraceful meeting of
minds on this matter. In fact,
on 31 December 2019, the
Zanu PF government formally
publishes the Constitution
NewsHawks Africa News Page 35
Issue 27, 23 April 2021 Mozambique Channel violence
A GORY two-week siege threatens shipping, regional stability
in Palma, a port city on the
northern end of the Mozam- Dr. David Brewster for the In- gle heroin from Afghanistan is increasingly smuggled along zambique to accept security channel until March 2023,
bique Channel, rattled the do-Pacific Strategy Series. “… down Africa’s coast to Mo- the channel. assistance from other coun- according to South Afri-
southern Africa region and Failure to contain the conflict zambique, a major funding tries, including the South ca’s Sunday Times newspaper.
drew calls for international will leave a vacuum for other mechanism for insurgents. Groups drawn from Mus- African navy, which has The U.S. government also has
intervention. actors to fill.” The heroin usually is then lim communities on Africa’s combated maritime security deployed special operations
shipped to Europe and other east coast started the insur- threats in the channel since forces to Mozambique to train
The terror group Ansar Piracy, illegal fishing and areas, according to a report gency in 2017. Since then, 2011. its Marines in anti-terrorism
al-Sunna (supporters of the smuggling operations have in The Interpreter, a site observers say insurgents in techniques.
tradition) claimed responsi- thrived on the channel for run by the Lowy Institute. Cabo Delgado have shown Days before the attack in
bility for the attack that left decades. Crystal methamphetamine greater proficiency in carrying Palma, the South African navy Mozambique is negotiating
about 60 people dead, includ- produced in Afghanistan also out maritime attacks. announced plans to increase with France, other Europe-
ing children. In recent years, the trade anti-piracy patrols in the an nations and India about
route has been used to smug- Piracy concerns led Mo- possible military support,
By April 4, Palma was back including marine patrols.
under government control,
but the damage was severe. “We can come up with as
many solutions and recom-
“The population is return- mendations as we want,”
ing, but they have nothing to security analyst Jasmine Op-
eat because the terrorists have perman said last year during a
looted almost everything,” webinar on maritime security
Agostinho Muthisse, a Mo- hosted by the Institute for
zambican military command- Security Studies Africa. “It
er, told reporters in Palma. is a regional risk, there is no
denial, but this is a Mozam-
The attack illustrates why bican problem that needs a
security experts worry that the Mozambican solution.”
Mozambique Channel — a 1
600-kilometre-long waterway Since 2017, terror groups
between Madagascar and East in northern Mozambique
Africa that carries about 30% have launched more than 800
of global tanker traffic — is attacks, resulting in at least
becoming a maritime security 2,600 deaths and the displace-
hot spot in the Western Indi- ment of more than 600,000
an Ocean. people.
Weak maritime security Opperman has argued that
along the channel leaves it is well past the time to face
important coastal cities in the problem, telling South
Mozambique and other Africa’s Eyewitness News that
countries, including Djibouti, the entire region “should have
Kenya, Tanzania, and island been concerned” about the
states such as Mauritius and insurgency in Mozambique
the Seychelles, vulnerable to “long ago, to be quite frank.”
maritime threats.
“What has happened
Ansar al-Sunna, which lo- in Mozambique is merely
cals call al-Shabaab although another indication on how
it has no affiliation with the sophisticated the insurgents
Somali-based group, also have become, how brazen
twice seized the strategic port they have become to move so
town of Mocimboa da Praia, close to the [natural gas] site”
about 80 kilometres south of near Palma, Opperman said.
Palma, in 2017 and 2020. “It is an insurgency that can-
not be viewed, and must not
The weak security also be regarded and underplayed,
opens opportunities for terror as not only a risk to Mozam-
groups to expand and fund bique but also the region.”
their operations and disrupt
huge gas projects. In the — ADF Magazine.
wake of the Palma attack, the
energy company Total halted
construction of a liquid natu-
ral gas site.
“The insurgency in
Mozambique has the poten-
tial to destabilise southern
Africa and embolden Islamists
throughout the region,” wrote
Amendment (No. 2) Bill: Understanding the history, motivation
of Zimbabwe Amendment through the lower House to appoint his deputies. beneficiary of Zanu PF pa- but suspending it for 10 the transitional mechanism
(No.2) Bill, which seeks to on a 191 to 22 landslide – a All these changes put paid tronage and largesse. Hence, years as outlined in the Sixth outlined the Sixth Schedule
remove the running mate clear and eloquent two-thirds he will be undoubtedly com- Schedule of the 2013 national of the 2013 national constitu-
clause, among other atrocious majority. It is prudent to to our gallant efforts to dis- promised and vulnerable, and constitution in Paragraph 14. tion in Paragraph 19.
and self-serving changes. note that this outcome was mantle the imperial presiden- thus a safe pair of hands to
Again, specifically on the guaranteed and a forgone cy, which were overwhelming- preside over any challenges to With respect to the new Back to the future. It is
running mate clause, there is conclusion, given Zanu PF’s ly supported by the people of a fraudulent poll in 2023. office of Prosecutor-General essential to clearly understand
muted protestation from the 31 July 2018 parliamentary Zimbabwe in 2013. and the National Prosecut- the historical background to
main MDC Alliance. It seems two-thirds majority victory, Furthermore, by having ing Authority (NPA), Zanu the Constitution of Zim-
the MDC Alliance leader which the MDC Alliance did Obviously, Mnangagwa unelected deputies, Mnangag- PF is averse to an undefined babwe Amendment (No.2)
also does not want a running not and does not challenge. has his eyes set on the 2023 wa seeks unbridled power to occupancy of the office of Bill which cruises through
mate! In fact, he ran for the The parliamentary recalls and elections and beyond. All manage the factions in Zanu the Prosecutor-General. They the lower House on 20 April
2018 presidential elections Douglas Mwonzora’s mis- signs point to a consolida- PF and undermine his rivals, want to guarantee themselves 2021. More importantly,
without a viceresident in the guided antics and shenanigans tion of political power and thus allowing him and his protection from criminal the primitive, despotic and
party, much less a running are of no consequence to the repurposing of state institu- clansmen to solely determine prosecution. The guilty are self-serving motivation behind
mate. In 2020, there is specu- lower House vote of 20 April tions towards this objective. ZANU-PF succession. afraid. Hence, they want to the changes must be laid bare.
lation that some of the MDC 2021. The constitutional It is fair to surmise that, given ensure the continuation of Obviously, the seemingly
Alliance leaders are having changes will enable a sitting all the legal manoeuvres and How low can a leader sink? the current Attorney-General positive provisions on women
second thoughts about the President to appoint judges weaponisation of the law, Pathetic. Anyway, that is all Johannes Tomana’s role as the and youth quotas are just
term limit clause in the 2013 without public scrutiny and Mnangagwa wants a pliant, in the future. Back to our last Prosecutor-General – a man meant to camouflage the evil
national constitution. “What extend their terms of office partisan, unprincipled and GPA principals’ meeting on who, personally and insti- and narcissistic intentions of
if the people want their per- after reaching the current re- captured judiciary now, in the 2013 national constitu- tutionally, has been a GPA the Bill. No one is fooled.
son to continue? We must not tirement age of 70 years. The the aftermath of the 2023 tion, on 17 January 2013, outstanding issue throughout Nice try, though!
undermine the people.” Those proposed amendments will plebiscite, and beyond. when the running mate clause the tenure of the GNU. Zanu
are their unprincipled and also see the scrapping of the is brought up again as an area PF also wants to uphold and The history of and rationale
shameful utterances. clause on running mates that The legal strategy points of dispute, given the nefarious protect all of Tomana’s previ- for the Constitution of Zim-
was set to come into effect to an obvious intention to and self-serving agreement be- ous decisions. babwe Amendment (No.2)
Cry the beloved country! in 2023 to settle succession extend the term of the current tween Mugabe and Tsvangirai, presents a national teachable
As it turns out, on Tuesday, disputes. Now an elected Chief Justice Luke Malaba we easily and quickly duck In the end, we compro- moment.
20 April 2021, Constitution- President has the sole power whose constitutional tenure the issue. mise in deference to Mugabe,
al Amendment (No.2) sails expires on 15 May 2021. If and Zanu PF has its way. Clearly, there are lessons to
this happens, the over-age We kick the can down the The outcome is captured in be learnt across the political
Chief Justice will be a grateful road by adopting the clause divide.
Page 36 World News NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Idriss Déby Itno offered Chadians great
hope, but ended up leaving a terrible legacy
HELGA DICKOW The late Chadian president Idriss Déby Itno. itary’s decisions go against the skills. He tied people to him-
Chadian constitution, as well self – often with monetary or
THE death of Chadian cratic society. After years of objection, neither from oth- the first rumours about the as democratic principles. other favours. He also black-
president Idriss Déby Itno civil war Chad was a devastat- er countries nor multilater- wounded president start- mailed and humiliated even
from injuries sustained on the ed country. al institutions. They simply ed making the rounds in It also means that power close collaborators. And he
battlefield just days before he watched – and applauded N’Djamena, citizens of the continues to be concentrated was very adept at playing off
was to start his sixth term in Déby’s reforms were greet- Déby. capital city could see the in the hands of Déby’s clan. people, ethnic groups and re-
office has been met with ed with great relief. For the power of the Chadian mil- The Zaghawa make up only ligions against one another to
shock and incredulity. first time political parties and Since he came to office dif- itary dominated by Déby’s about 3%-4% of the popula- finally present himself as the
a free press could be estab- ferent groups have engaged Zaghawa clan. About to lose tion. Strategic alliances, like reconciler. Repeatedly former
The Chadian military an- lished, and six years after he in political and military re- its leader, it was getting ready marriages, enabled Déby to rebel leaders were convinced
nounced immediately that it came to power Chadians vot- bellions to challenge Déby’s to defend the city against the build alliances with other eth- to leave the rebellion and join
would form a transition gov- ed for a new constitution in a power. The more Déby ce- Chadian rebels “Front pour nic groups. In the past there government ranks.
ernment headed by Déby’s referendum. mented his power the more l’Alternance et la Concorde were rebels based on clan af-
37-year-old son, Mahamat members of his inner power au Tchad” (FACT) led by filiations. This time FACT Part of the oil revenues
Idriss Déby Itno, for the next Chad became a presiden- circle, like his nephews Ti- Mahamat Mahdi Ali. doesn’t appear to be based on went into strengthening the
18 months. Like his father, tial republic with a multipar- mane and Tom Erdimi and ethnic affiliation. military and security forces.
Mahamat is ty system, along the lines of others, went into rebellion Tanks blocked all the cross- What went wrong This enabled Déby to become
the French model. The first and formed different move- roads and some citizens im- The new century had begun a loyal ally of the French
highly ranked in the mil- elections took place in 1996. ments and alliances. There mediately headed across the so hopefully: Déby promised army on the Sahel battlefields
itary. He is a decorated gen- But even these foreshadowed were repeated rumours about river for refuge in Kousseri to be the right person who against Islamist terrorism.
eral. potential problems. They failed coups in N’Djamena. in neighbouring Cameroon. could assist Chad to develop
were marred by allegations of The common aim was a Fear has dominated the city as a democracy, and improve Déby successfully defeat-
The military’s decision al- fraud – a pattern that was to change of the head of state. since. The country’s borders its economy. Help was at ed rebel attacks in 2006,
ready conflicts with the con- repeat itself in all future polls The last alliance reached are closed. hand. International organi- 2008 and 2019. This was in
stitution, which provides in the country, including N’Djamena from Sudan in sations and institutions, like no small part due to his own
that, on the death of a pres- those held earlier this month. 2008. Since then battles have What happens next is open the World Bank, stepped up capacities as a good military
ident, an election should be taken place in the north of to question. The military has to the plate. The World Bank and political strategist as well
held within 90 days. Déby and his ruling party, the country. announced a military transi- provided a loan that sup- as the loyalty and support of
Patriotic Salvation Movement On a knife-edge tion regime for the next 18 ported Chad to construct a the French government.
Idriss Déby was born to a (MPS), won all of them – six Chadians are bracing them- months. But the constitution pipeline to transport oil into
herder in the northern Chad- presidential and four parlia- selves for trouble. Even as foresees elections within 90 neighbouring Cameroon. As commander-in-chief of
ian desert in 1952 – eight mentary. The opposition nev- days – not rule by the mili- the army Déby used to lead
years before Chad gained in- er had the slightest chance. tary. This means that the mil- The expectation was that, the battles against rebellions,
dependence from France in with the help of oil revenues, as well as against alleged
1960. The country was torn But there was hardly an Chad could improve its very Boko Haram attacks. He was
apart by civil wars shortly poor and undeveloped ed- joining his troops on the bat-
afterwards. Chad, with 15 ucation and health system tlefields against FACT when
million people, is bigger than and build infrastructure and he was mortally wounded in
Ethiopia. It’s ranked 187 out supply jobs. Ordinary Chad- northern Chad.
of 189 countries on the Hu- ians dreamed of a way out of A painful legacy
man Development Index. poverty. But careful observers Déby leaves behind one of
Most people live from ag- could already detect Déby’s the poorest countries of the
riculture and herding. Cot- will to consolidate his grip on world.
ton and cattle used to be the power. He invested the first
main export goods, before oil World Bank loan in a military The few Chadians who
extraction started in 2003. It helicopter to defend his rule have benefited from his rule
now ranks tenth in terms of against rebels. And reports will mourn. Like his wife
oil reserves in Africa. began to emerge that his for- Hinda, many of them might
mer allies as well as relatives have already left the country
The country never has seen wanted part of the country’s and taken their fortune with
a peaceful change of regime. riches. them. But ordinary Chad-
ians cannot leave. They will
Déby grew up to become Déby used the oil revenues cry out of fear. It is most
a military man, completing to secure his leadership: a big likely that FACT and other
part of his training in France, portion of the revenue from alliances will not just accept
which he finished in 1976. oil went into the pockets of the Déby Zaghawa clan’s con-
This cemented what was to his Zaghawa clan and close tinued grip on power and re-
be an enduring close relation- allies who took central posi- sources.
ship with France. tions in military and society.
It is most likely that these
In the 1980s he served as The hopes of ordinary movements will continue
commander-in-chief of the Chadians that their lives their advance on N’Djamena.
military under former Chad- would improve came to noth- At the moment they seem to
ian president Hissene Habré, ing. The poor became even be about 500km to 800km
a brutal ruler who was in of- poorer, health and education from the capital. However,
fice from 1982 to 1990. In system are among the worst the spokesperson of FACT
December 1990, Habré was worldwide. promised to respect the peri-
deposed by the Movement od of mourning.
Patriotique du Salut, which Déby had great tactical
was led by Déby. —The Conversation.
On taking power Déby
promised to create a demo-
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NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 37
Issue 27, 23 April 2021 Revisiting the idea of Zimbabwe
...from liberation to crisis
Sabelo J.
Ndlovu-Gatsheni
KEYNOTE address deliv-
ered at the “Zimbabwe @41
Series: Unpacking A Pro-
gressive Approach Towards a
Nation-State” organised by
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coali-
tion on 15 April 2021.
Introduction Former vice-president Joshua Nkomo (left) and former president Robert Mugabe (both late).
Thank you for the invitation
to speak at this important sexism? of a vacuum. terised by diversity of political the name Zimbabwe in their Colonialism and its rejec-
event: Zimbabwe@41 Series: • On the infrastructure and There is a context in which formations, some small in projection into a postcolonial tion of existence of Africans
Unpacking a Progressive development of the coun- scale existing as chieftaincies sovereign nation-state. The as nations
Approach Towards a New try, have we progressed or it arises. It is a question which and others big in scale to early nationalists even toyed Colonialism was against any
Nation-State. regressed? also troubled me and I wrote with the use of Matopos notion of an African nation.
• What have been our a book: Do Zimbabweans Ex- amount to kingdoms and — because of its spiritual The colonised Africans were
Let on this occasion speak successes and failures on the ist? Trajectories of Nationalism, states. We can name some and ritual significance as a nothing but inchoate and
as a concerned citizen of pertinent social questions National Identity Formation of them as Torwa, Rozwi, possible source for a name contending tribes. So, Zimba-
Zimbabwe rather an academ- of health, education, and and Crisis in a Postcolonial Barwe, Manyika, Ndebele, for the imagined postcolonial bwe was never in the minds
ic. This will enable me to employment? State (2009). The same Gaza, Mutapa as well as nation-state. With hindsight, of colonialists.
touch on the practical and ex- • More importantly, have we question troubled Professors numerous chieftaincies that we now realise that extreme
istential issues and challenges ensured internal security and Brian Raftopoulos and Alois rose, fell and resurfaced. This care has to be taken in our Our historical record and
facing us as a people. social peace of the citizens S. Mlambo to the extent of means that in our modern selection, mobilisation and experience are those of perse-
and indeed made lives of editing a volume entitled Be- creation of Zimbabwe we are deployment of pre-colonial cution of those who devel-
We are meeting at an citizens matter? coming Zimbabwe: A History informed by a rich history. symbols, heroes, and names oped the national imaginary
important time when our • How have we been using from Pre-Colonial Times to But we cannot choose one so as to make sure we are and national consciousness
beloved Zimbabwe is turning and abusing our national 2008 (2009). We can even political formation and sensitive to our diversity of an African nation called
41 years old on the 18th of institutions for progressive flash back to Ibbo Mandaza’s simplistically make it an and ensure inclusivity not Zimbabwe.
April 2021 as an independent and regressive purposes? Zimbabwe: A Political Econo- antecedent of modern Zim- exclusivity. Coming from
country. This is an Indepen- • Has our choice of leader- my of Transition (1986) where babwe because we come from diverse backgrounds does not But through colonial rac-
dence which cannot be taken ship been according to our questions of state-making and diverse political formations. in anyway mean we are not ism and exploitation of black
for granted because of the constitution and rule of law? nation-building were posed. Nation-building is always one people just like having people, colonialism provoked
sacrifices made towards its It is a question which is at about how to mould and different languages does not a nationalist sentiment on
attainment. These, to me, are pertinent the heart of the nation-state forge a common identity out mean we are not one people. which a national imaginary
patriotic questions which project. of people of diverse historical A nation-state is possible and national consciousness
This event is also tak- every Zimbabwean has to be and social backgrounds. where commonalities are used emerged.
ing place at an important concerned about and we must Taking over the Rhode- Precolonial antecedents of to create an equivalential
moment in the history of our pose them without fear or fa- sian state is not the same as Zimbabwe chain of unities. Also, by drawing bound-
beloved Zimbabwe charac- vour if indeed we are patriotic creating Zimbabwe. Zimba- The lands between the Zam- Primary resistance of 1896- aries, and destroying preco-
terised by animated debates because they are about us and bwe has never been a given. bezi River in the north and 1897 lonial social and political for-
on the Patriotic Bill. The Bill our country — they consti- Zimbabwe has never been the Limpopo River in the The Ndebele-Shona Upris- mations, colonialism brought
directly speaks to the core tute what amounts to “na- a pre-existing formation. south was, of course, inhab- ing of 1896-1897 provided black people together in the
aspect of patriotism linked to tional question” — a question As a unitary nation-state, ited by African people of a myth of foundation of towns. Through provision of
belonging and citizenship in a which is always at the centre Zimbabwe had to be created. diverse identities. Of course, African unity for a national education, colonialism creat-
nation-state. of the “nation-state building Zimbabwe has never been a our precolonial formations purpose. The liberation strug- ed the African educated elite
project” — the very making, successor state. contributed to the rise of gle drew not only inspiration who led in the struggle for an
The troubling issue is that creation and construction of a national imaginary and from this uprising but also independent nation.
every time we arrive at this Zimbabwe. They always take The late historian Stan national consciousness, for examples of heroes and hero- African nationalism and
important day of 18 April of us back to the drawing board Mudenge was being ethni- example, by providing the ines. Again, hindsight tells us imagination of Zimbabwe
every year, we not only reflect to assess our achievements cally mischievous to link Great Zimbabwe monument that our problems arise when Nationalism itself had to be
on the issue of sacrifices made and failures. postcolonial Zimbabwe to around which the imagined we become careless in our se- created and cultivated by the
for the attainment of political the pre-colonial Munhumu- nation would crystalise and lection of heroes and heroines nationalists. History, symbols,
independence, we also reflect Increasingly, a question is tapa state. This argument the nationalist movements and ignore others. songs, and grievances became
of the journey we have trav- emerging: Does Zimbabwe of Zimbabwe as our modern in the 1960s began to use important resources for the
elled since 1980 as a people. exist? It is a patriotic ques- creation must not be mis- nationalists in their creation
tion which cannot arise out taken for a dismissal of our of nationalism. The wearing
It is a moment of remem- rich precolonial history. Our of skin-hats was part of creat-
brance as well as auditing the precolonial history is charac-
journey travelled since 1980.
Some of the most important
matters arising include:
• The very meaning of being
independent and being free:
to what use have we de-
ployed and put our Indepen-
dence?
• How have we created
Zimbabwe and into what
type of polity?
• Have we managed to
cultivate inclusive belonging,
citizenship, unity, patriotism,
dignity, pride and heroism?
• How have we been distrib-
uting our national resources,
who has benefited and who
has not?
• How have we governed
ourselves since 1980 and
have we widened the scope
of justice and rights which
were denied under colonial
rule?
• Have we dealt effectively
with problems of hetero-pa-
triarchy, misogyny, and
Page 38 Reframing Issues NewsHawks
Issue 27, 23 April 2021
ing nationalism. Popular na- guaranteed by the constitu- dom Charter of 1955 which What had emerged in the Zanu PF used the period of The notion that patrio-
tionalist consciousness had to tion, not ethnicity. captured what type of a na- 1960s as popular African inclusive government to re- tism can be forced through
be generated and sustained. tion-state they wanted to live nationalism could not be gain absolute power in 2013. violence and prosecution
Why the early educated Unfortunately, even among in. Nothing like this existed translated into postcolonial Operation Restore Legacy began during Gukurahundi.
elite chose to wear skin-hats the nationalists, ethnicity for Zimbabwe. What we have horizontal pan-ethnic patriot- November 2017 Switching off media so as to
together with modern suits wreaked havoc and caused di- are Sikombela and Mugagao ic comradeship. Again, the military coup was commit atrocities began with
meant that they were con- visions and splits. We had to Declarations, which were never followed by any clear Gukurahundi. Abduction
stantly navigating tradition go into the armed liberation about power questions and The question of being nation-building project, and disappearance of people
and modernity carefully as struggles without satisfactory not the national question. patriotic emerged during the instead two moments of happened during Gukura-
they redefined themselves as resolution of ethnic divisions. In the South African case, it time of Operation Gukura- military deployments against hundi.
African nationalists. Symbol- Some of those who had was stated clearly that South hundi in its most problem- civilians have already been
ism and particular nationalist imbibed African national- Africa belonged to all who atic renditions: belonging to experienced and detention of Operation Gukurahundi
pedagogy are always necessary ism made it part of their lip lived in it irrespective of race ruling party, having a Zanu members of opposition are became a template for state
for raising people’s conscious- service and they continued in and ethnicity. PF card, not belonging to not a good sign. terrorisation of the people.
ness. practice to operate as divisive opposition, and at times Reconstitution of the political Our silence, the silence of
tribalists and regionalists. This is not to celebrate the speaking Shona language. The hope lies with the pro- the region and the silence of
The result was the emer- This gave African nationalism Freedom Charter because gressive forces consisting of the international communi-
gence of mass nationalist a bad name. South Africa has its own This emerges from the way intellectuals, students, youth, ty emboldened the politics
movements like the National The armed liberation strug- serious national question people in Matabeleland and workers, women formations, of impunity, governance by
Democratic Party (NDP), gle as a school problems, but to make a case the Midlands regions were legal formations, and church violence, and intolerance of
Zimbabwe African People’s There is no doubt that for a well-thought-out charter forced to take Zanu PF cards formations constituting political dissent. Now the
Union (Zapu), Zimbabwe Af- nothing could beat the armed of living together as citizens and to sing and speak in civil society and progressive whole country is increas-
rican National Union (Zanu). liberation struggle as the mo- of created nation-states like Shona whenever they encoun- politicians. ingly being subjected to the
Hope and expectation of a ment of heightened national Zimbabwe and other postco- tered the Fifth Brigade. Operation Gukurahundi
better life in an independent consciousness within the lonial formations. This hope is based on shock-therapy of violence
Zimbabwe had to be created black population. It remains While we all have a patri- the work done by such and death. Resolution of the
as part of mobilisation of the one of our proudest moments In desperate search for otic duty to learn all other formations as the National Gukurahundi genocide be-
people for the struggle for as a people where our love for a guiding document, the languages of our people, the Constitutional Assembly, comes our starting point for
Zimbabwe. the nation invoked the sacri- Independence Reconciliation idea of trying to force one Zimbabwe Congress of Trade nation re-building. We only
fice of lives. Armed guerrillas Speech of Prime Minister language on the rest of the Unions and the MDC in have to rise adequately to this
Nationalists had to develop continued where the nation- Robert Gabriel Mugabe of people using violence is out pushing for the reconstitu- genocide.
skills in political persuasion alists had left in mobilisation 1980, is widely cited as a of order and will always breed tion of the political through Conclusion: The question of
of the black population. and consciousness building nation-building initiative. It resistance and seed ideas of a people-driven constitution. patriotism
Of course, the ugly head of throughout the liberation was largely targeted at the secession. The 2013 constitution is a Where the nation-state build-
violence always reared itself struggle. Therefore, the white minority and its scope product of the efforts of these ing project has been aban-
also within the moment of liberation struggle was and is was thus very limited. Being a supporter of forces. Without a new con- doned, there is no national-
building nationalist momen- a major base from which to PF-Zapu carried a death stitution the political cannot ism and patriotism. This is
tum itself. But persuasive build the nation-state. The second is the coalition sentence. Speaking Ndebele be reconstituted. We have because it is those in leader-
ideology and slogans were far government of 1980 to 1982, carried a death sentence. to make sure that our 2013 ship that must embody and
more effective than coercion Nationalism had suc- which collapsed within two Having fought for the lib- constitution is alive and is the exhibit patriotism through
and violence. While mono- cessfully made the armed years. Throughout its exis- eration of Zimbabwe under basis of our politics. love for the people. The first
lithic unity became a battle liberation struggle possible. tence, Zanu PF conducted it- Zapu and Zipra carried a The essential pre-requite for essential pre-requisite for
cry of African nationalism, Armed liberation struggle self as though Zimbabwe was death sentence. nation-re-building today cultivation of patriotism as
within it there were serious had to make Zimbabwe a one-party state. PF-Zapu The open veins of the Guku- a child of nationalism is to
power struggles which always concretely possible. But there and ZIPRA were consistently Being a PF-Zapu leader rahundi problem offers us a respect and protect life of the
brought in ethnicity, tribal- were always hovering global belittled, provoked and its carried a death sentence. Even key rallying point to bring people through the state.
ism, regionalism, and death. imperial designs consisting of liberation war credentials Joshua Nkomo had to survive the nation-building project
the British who were not only down played. by escaping to exile. back on the agenda as part of A state which terrorises
The challenge was about responsible for the colony The integration of forces re-building a Zimbabwe that the nation cannot expect, let
how to collapse ethnicity so of Rhodesia but were also into a Zimbabwe National I think Operation Guku- we all want. By making it a alone cultivate, patriotism.
as to raise a national con- interested in ensuring the Army rahundi cannot be simply Matabeleland problem, we It is this type of state which
sciousness. Perhaps, it was future of the white minority The integration of forces dismissed as a “moment are again giving the perpe- ends up conjuring the idea of
because of how hard it was to settlers as well as Americans was a missed opportunity in of madness,” it was more trators an escape route from generating patriotism through
pull the people out of their and South Africa’s apartheid nation-building. The exercise than that: our problematic accountability and minimis- legal means of prosecution
ethnic identities into national regime which were bent on had a potential to contrib- nationalism with its haunting ing its foundational negative and punishment.
identity that most leftists in the containment of commu- ute to nation-building if it ethnic sub-texts hit its lowest consequences for governance
the liberation struggles ad- nism and comfortable with was handled with care. But ebb then. and the nation. We cannot be When such an idea crosses
hered to the idea of the death the birth of neo-colonies out what started as integration Pursuit of power and “spectators” if not “complicit” the minds of the ruling elite
of tribe for the nation to live. of liberation struggles. of forces was allowed to neglect of nation-building once more on an issue which and when such a moment vis-
One can posit the question degenerate into Zanlafication since 1987 has now engulfed the entire its a people, the nation-state
of how can a tribe be killed Lancaster House Confer- of the Zimbabwe National Since 1987, one can notice nation. building project would have
without killing a people? ence and negotiated idea of Army (ZNA) as its birth the intensification of pursuit long failed. This notion of
Zimbabwe and marginalisation as well of power and less and less The nation first died in trying to enforce patriotism
Those who mistakenly Zimbabwe was born on 18 as persecution of ex-Zipra concern about nation-build- Matabeleland and the Mid- through law only arises
believe that minority groups April 1980 as a negotiat- elements. ing. lands regions. What Professor within a context of dismal
can sacrifice their identities ed idea with a restrictive Operation Gukurahundi Martin Rupiyah termed failure to deliver service to
while the majority groups constitution, protection of (1983-1987) Unity Accord of 22 Decem- “governance by military oper- the people.
retain theirs must have their material privileges of the This was a time when the ber 1987 ations” started with Opera-
heads checked. white minority settlers, and masks of nationalism fell off Elites accommodated each tion Gukurahundi. Massive Service delivery and pro-
an unresolved land question. and the unresolved ethnic other and the ordinary people rape of women as a political tection offered by the state
This is where the very One can also add an unre- ghost marched naked across who bore the brunt of Opera- tool and punishment started to its citizens automatically
concept of a nation-state solved ethnic question and the Matabeleland and the tion Gukurahundi were never during Operation Gukura- generates love for the state
becomes problematic in the no clear nation-state building Midlands regions of Zimba- a priority. Zanu PF used hundi. from the people. Belonging
sense that there is always an blueprint. Therefore, despite bwe, resulting in the open the conquest of PF-Zapu to to a particular state which
assumption of a pre-existing all the excitement, Zimbabwe and brazen attack by the push its cherished agenda Denying people food generates embarrassment
nation to form a fulcrum of was born with a very bad Fifth Brigade on civilians and of a one-party-state. The because of political affilia- through its failures undercuts
the state. In a context where birthmark. Our sad reality death of thousands. current initiatives focused on tion started during Opera- patriotism.
there is historical and social is that when the nationalists reburials sounds like concern tion Gukurahundi. Arrests
diversity, it is better to think and their armed liberation This was the first moment with destroying the evidence and detentions of political Ordinary Zimbabweans are
of a “rainbow nation” where forces came back home, they signifying a lack of commit- than the commitment of opponents in manufactured the most patriotic citizens for
diversity is celebrated and had failed to sustain the ment to nation-building and nation-building. The refusal charges became during enduring decades of suffering
no ethnic group has more Zimbabwe People’s Army over-investment in consol- to make an apology indicates Operation Gukurahundi. and not rising against the
claim to belonging and the (Zipa) and Patriotic Front idation of partisan political that there is no change of Deployment of the army state. The unpatriotic Zimba-
state than others because of efforts—they arrived divided power at the expense of the political heart. against citizens began during bweans are those in leadership
numerical superiority. Per- and the consequences were nation. It was during this pe- Global Political Agreement Operation Gukurahundi. who loot the resources and
haps a citizen-state is the best yet to be seen. riod that the idea of “ruzhin- 2008 Open writing of a section of have personalised the state.
framework to work with in Postcolonial problematic ji” (majority) was emphasised, It was more comprehensive the Zimbabwean population *About the writer: Professor
contexts of diversity. nation-building project resulting not only in the than the Unity Accord but, out of the nation and beyond Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni
South Africa had the Free- typical tyranny of the major- again, there was more empha- protection of the law began is chair of Epistemologies
As Mahmood Mamdani ity but also the mistaken idea sis on the revival of the econ- with Gukurahundi. of the South in the Faculty
has proposed it, this entails that nation-states are made of omy than nation-building of Humanities and Social
the de-coupling of the nation majority ethnic groups. itself after another spate of Sciences at the University of
and the state. The result is a violence and death of people. Bayreuth in Germany.
nation which is diverse under
one state, with all the people
enjoying common citizenship
Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model
&Life Style
STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING
Page 39 Issue 27, 23 April 2021
Visual artist
depicts black
females in
empowering
lightTamary Kudita
- Page 38
Page 40 Life & Style NewsHawks
ZIMBABWEAN visual Issue 26, 16 April 2021
artist Tamary Kudita has
scooped the top prize in YRT USA News. This piece
the creative category of the has also received notable
Sony World Photography features in Forbes Maga-
Awards. The prize includes zine, The Guardian, The In-
US$5 000 cash, Sony dig- dependent UK, Huffington
ital equipment and global Post and The Telegraph UK.
art exposure. JM: Besides photography,
what else do you do?
Kudita was born in Ha- TK: Apart from being a
rare in 1994 and studied visual artist, I’m a proud
fine art at the University business owner of Tam-
of Cape Town. Kudita won my’s Antiques, which is
for her outstanding por- a framing company that
trait titled African Victori- specialises in locally made
an II. hand-crafted frames whilst
providing the widest range
The photograph de- of frame styles and colours.
picts a young black woman JM: What are some of
dressed in a Victorian dress the amazing photographs
and holding traditional you have taken so far?
Shona cooking utensils. TK: My African Victori-
Sony says the image probes an series which started in
at stereotypical contextu- 2019.
alising of the black female JM: What inspires your
body. work?
TK: Being a black female
The 26-year-old Hara- photographer, I believe
re-based Kudita says when that the history of pho-
she created the image she tography for black women
was inspired by a quest is still being written and
to portray intangible her- I needed to ask myself
itage through photogra- ‘What am I adding to the
phy. She says the African history? What Am I doing
woman is the embodiment to tell the stories of black
of strength, wonder and women and photography
complexity. In this connec- within the larger context of
tion, she created a visual fine art and photojournal-
language which brings to- ism?’ Photography is lik-
gether aspects of tradition ened to perception, there-
and modernity in a man- fore the image is to be seen
ner in which they coex- as a composite of signs.
ist. Kudita (TK) speaks to Its meanings are multiple
The Newshawks’ Jonathan and, most importantly,
Mbiriyamveka (JM) about constructed. With this in
this milestone. Read the mind, I conceived the idea
excerpt. to depict black females in
an empowering light.
JM: Tell us your back- JM: As a woman photog-
ground as a photogra- rapher, what are the chal-
pher. How did it all start? lenges you face?
TK: Although I have not
TK: My photography jour- Tamary Kudita’s African Victorian portraits. faced any gender bias is-
ney started about three sues, it does remain a chal-
years ago when I was at Visual artist Tamary Kudita depicts lenge. Aside from that, I’m
university. I studied Bache- black females in empowering light sure my fellow photogra-
lor of Fine Arts at Michae- phers reading this can re-
lis School of Fine Art. My years underground to de- your growth going unno- late to having high-profile
degree included fine art velop its strength and in ticed because you have to clients who feel entitled to
disciplines such as print- the last year it shoots right believe in what you do even have your services done for
making, sculpture, anima- up. For five years, it’s un- when no one is giving you free under the guise of get-
tion, painting and photog- derground, nobody can see the affirmation. I didn’t ting you publicity for your
raphy. it but it’s building strength expect people to believe in business.
and resilience unnoticed so what I was doing because I
Our very first project that, by the time it gets to was doing something that’s I have always had good
was a type of photography the surface, it’s ready. never been done before faith in people but the sit-
called pinhole photogra- locally (fine art photogra- uation put things into per-
phy which involved using a Bamboo growth is nec- phy). Belief is an amazing spective and I learnt that
pinhole handmade camera. essary in our life and a tool and faith is an amaz- you have to detach your
(a camera with a pinhole lot of us might be going ing energy we can apply to emotions from your busi-
as an aperture instead of a through that. My artistic everything we are doing. ness, purpose, or whatever
lens). career went through bam- JM: What are some of it is you are pursuing.
boo growth. The first few your renowned works to
Unlike digital photog- years I was overlooked, but date? To be successful in your
raphy, this technique in- whilst this was happening, TK: African Victorian II, business or profession,
volved a great deal of man- I was fine-tuning my brand which has been featured on your decisions must be
ual skill. and building resilience. A major international media based on facts and your in-
lot of us are working to- outlets around the world, tuition.
The aesthetic of the im- wards our dreams and do- for example CNN Inter- JM: What can we expect
ages made with this type ing the best while we can. national News, BBC News, from you in the near fu-
of equipment harmonized ture?
perfectly with the old pho- We might think we are TK: One of my long-term
tographic processes, I de- not seeing results, but there goals is to exhibit at the
cided to use this as a step- is something special about Venice Biennale and this is
ping stone to branch out something I’m working to-
into film photography wards day in day out.
JM: Most people only got
to know you after you
won the award. Why is
this so?
TK: I believe it’s called
bamboo growth. I believe
bamboo takes about five
NewsHawks Life & Style Page 41
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Vumba Jazz Festival
on the cards
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA ulations will still be in On the bill are perfor- joy and like in the town. well. Vumba and Nyanga long been associated with
place by then, hence at- mances by Mbare Trio, “Vumba is a holiday are very beautiful places some leading regional jazz
THE serene environs and tendance is strictly by in- Band Mutare, Abbie that our visiting artists connoisseurs like the late
mountainous landscape vitation. Mayor Trio, Tawanda resort destination so next will be able to enjoy not Hugh Masekela, Jonas
of Vumba as well as the Mapanda, Eden Lan- year our date will be over just Harare. Gwangwa, Louis Mhlan-
cool weather will perhaps “This is not a gig but geveldt, Vuyo Brown, a public holiday. We do ga, Steve Dyer, Miriam
add to what might already a launch of the festival. Sims Chimombe, Mis- not want guests to visit “Look at Victoria Falls Mama Africa Makeba
have been a must-attend The real event is slated sion Impossible Trio as for just the music, but Carnival, not even the and Dorothy Masuka, to
music extravaganza. for next year, this is just a well as Carlo Jazz Trio. also enjoy the hospitality Harare International Fes- mention but a few.
small launch so that next there. tival of the Arts can come
Like most parts of the year people will not be “Most artists are based close to that,” he said. He has been part of
Eastern Highlands, Vum- surprised to see or hear in Mutare except for “Over the years, our the successful careers of
ba is a beautiful place es- about the festival. Band Mutare. The aim focus had been on doing Asked why jazz mu- musicians that include
pecially around the pris- is to bring in foreign sic in Zimbabwe has not Oliver Mtukudzi, Victor
tine botanical gardens “It’s by invite and the artistes next year events in Hara- been able to grow audi- Kunonga, Jazz Invitation
where the flora and fauna target market for the in- of which I am tar- re but I feel ences, Mataure said it was and Shingisai Suluma
are at their alluring best. vites is the Mutare busi- geting friends of it’s time because some find the through playing drums.
ness community. We mine,” he said. to go genre complicated for the
And it is for this reason have started sending back ear. He says Jethro Sha-
that a new music extrava- out proposals to com- On the line-up home sha and music producer
ganza will be birthed. panies for sponsorship,” will be solo acts and “Jazz is music just like Bothwell Nyamhondera
Mataure, who doubles as and trios. do any other type of mu- are his role models.
Aptly titled Vumba Chimurenga music mae- our sic, but unfortunately it
Jazz Festival, the festival stro Thomas Mapfumo’s Asked why he took evens doesn’t have the numbers The 52-year-old
is the brainchild of vet- manager, said. the event to Vumba, there and sometimes it can be Mataure suffered a mild
eran drummer — Sam Mataure said there as complicated for the ear. stroke last year while vis-
Mataure — who for years “We are going to be is plenty to So you find that most jazz iting the United States
has been organising sim- strict on the numbers that en- festivals have non-jazz where he was manag-
ilar fests in Victoria Falls attend the launch in ac- ing Mapfumo’s music
and Harare. cordance with Covid-19 performing artistes business. The stroke was
regulations. The venue on the line-up caused by a heart prob-
While the Vumba Jazz is Vumba Botanical Gar- to help get the lem and he is recovering
Festival launches on 2 dens as we promote local numbers,” he although it robbed him of
October, the calculation tourism.” said. a few years on stage.
is that the Covid-19 reg- Mataure has
Page 42 Life & Style NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Title: Emotional Tears TITLE: Sparrow Poet: Andy Kahari
Poet: Kwanele Mntungwa AUTHOR: Aries Rage Poem: Prison Rights!
They have created trenches, The Sparrow in my bathroom In prison:
In my face. Steep depression in, stares at me as i wallow in my stresses Time is my worst enemy, it moves ever so
The deepest parts, Of my heart. Where trying to drown my sorrows slowly. Do I fancy being free?
tears may rush, Another plate of, in a water-filled basin. The only rush is in my mind,
Troubles and tribulations. He chirps and I sniffle yet there is nowhere to run too.
Raising mountains, That I cannot climb, tears race down my cheeks, Which home for I do not see any?
Causing serious earthquakes, In my heart. I’m sure he knows I’m not okay. What home for I see figments of illusions?
He flaps around, does some tricks. Whose home for I am no longer welcome?
I’m a loner, an isolated man. Because my vol- I look at him and smile, A misfit; Prison disintegrating pillars of
canic gestures. And reactions, _maybe it’s not that bad_. trust. Banished to never be integrated.
Had made people, To abandon me. My crime, vanish my home.
The Sparrow in my bathroom
Mandlenkosi, We’ve met felicitously, stares at me as i wipe my tears So in prison I detect home.
Not to clap hands, For this unserviceable, he chirps and i giggle, Yet the rules are dictators detracting from
Nupty and smark headed, War hawk. he sounds like a Shrink pleased rights. I must be Tough!
with the session. Walls surrounding me are rough,
He can’t turn our plans to vain, A minger to us He flaps his wings, I feel relieved_ Like men hardened by jail to never
won’t matter. For the days of suffocation, so little said, so much weight again jell in reason. One reason I wish I
Have came, Days of smothering will pass. lifted. were home. My true home not this home
You are my oba, I’m the oloye. away from what once was my home!
The Sparrow in my bathroom Not this place pried on with predators,
Title: Parliament of doom is like the sun, whose rays are ever crime indulged in synagogues
warm kisses canvassing the meant to cleanse the sins of crime.
Poet: Sydney Nyagato walls that embody the fragile heart What do you do, when your vaccine is
and the bruised soul, clotting your blood to freedom?
Like a parliament of owls, we sit; As if we had creating a shadow_ a complete one. Walls of exorcism riddled in demon spells!
gone owling, Like cockerels, we roost;
On the moonlit night, we ogle. TITLE: Renkini Forget me! I will never be free.
Prison imprisons and imprisons
Gone hiking, had we? On the dewy grass, we AUTHOR: Sithembinkosi Ncube the mind to never be free.
sit; Cherishing the hooting, we listen, Walls build to flee rehabilitation.
Quizzically, we smile; Showing inverted cones Where do you belong, mungani wami? Shutting out everything to sanity men
of teeth, we grin. What binds you to these city lights Shutting in everything satanic to men.
Lopsidedly, we regard one another, Which you pay for with your sweat and Cages condemning to eternal loss.
At the hooting of one more parliamentarian; blood? But my time I must serve. Yet time will
Superintending over the legislation, This is not yours. serve me. Still Prison I must be in.
One more pair of robin-shaped orbs ogle. The reason why you are crowded at Ren- Yet prison will invade me. Even still crime I
kini with the rest today must pay for, yet crime will pay me. I have
An African house of assembly? Dashing for home well after three years been rewarded with eternal curse.
Some regional fauna, In admiration of the Oc- Lost in pursuit for an illusive future I have been endowed with halo effect-
cidental perspective of the avenues of life. Retire, mungani wami. All prisoners are Rapists, Murderers
A league of witches communing with Lucifer? The field is now bushy and Sodomists! Should you continue
Some incarnations living in the dark communi- The pens fell and cattle strayed sleeping through dawn to never see the
ties. Paving ways of initiation? There’s nothing to call home anymore sad mist you cast upon on me?
The underworld no African ever envies; Where do you belong, mungani wami?
The hooting communities in concert. The whole homestead is blind In a cage, I must survive. I summon
Despite rains falling in abundance animal instinct to possess every inch of by
For no African ever appreciates, Rats feasted on the seed pockets bone. It’s a jungle so I must be re-born!
The trumpeting and the hooting that spews, When will you decide, mungani wami? To conquer Prison demons craving for
Like the horn sound that destroyed the walls of blood and mortal souls. Once in, I may die
Jericho; The ugly symphony that destroys your in. Home I left, now a mirage
inner walls, The inner-city of yourself. never to materialize. The law of the jungle
For you must never ever entertain the destruc- prevailing. But the law of rehabilitation
tion of self, At the hooting of one more owl, must prevail. When I leave I must still be a
A parliamentarian that lost war to infamy. dad and not dead!
NewsHawks People & Places Page 43
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Parasailing is taking
off in Zimbabwe
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE the largest man-made reservoir floating. When it is time to have someone there to capture tures in Kariba and all you dem ride.
in the world. come back, they winch you every moment in either video have to do is to make sure Also, do not worry about
IF you are thinking of one back in, and it is a slow de- of picture format. you contact them and make a
more thing to add to your Parasailing is memorable, scent back to the deck of the booking before travel. falling, as everything will be
bucket list, you should consid- you get on a boat, get into a boat. It is also easy to put out The ride up is also so explained to you before you
er parasailing. harness then the boat crew lets your feet for a perfect landing. smooth that you can also take Do not worry about not be- take flight. Just make sure you
out the line and up you go. your phone for that selfie or to ing able to swim, as no swim- are relaxed and ready to enjoy
This water sport looks scary The exciting part about capture the views. When it is ming skills are required. the ride. The boat crew is well
when you just think about it, You glide up into the air at a parasailing is you also get to someone else’s turn, you just trained to take care of people
but once you are up there it is gradual pace and when you get enjoy the boat ride while your enjoy the boat ride, which is The only brush with water, on the boat as well as those
so refreshing and peaceful. up there it is so peaceful, with mates also take their turn on usually a gentle cruise. if at all, is a calculated dip and parasailing and will be there
amazing views and a breeze, all the spot. This is also good for then you fly up. There is how- to make sure you take off and
In Zimbabwe, you can do you have to so is sit and enjoy. those who love pictures as you So far, parasailing is being ever a 100kg weight limit for a land smoothly.
parasailing on Lake Kariba, offered by Heartveld Adven- solo ride and 90kgs for a tan-
For some people it feels like
Property
NewsHawks
Page 44 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 26, 16 April 2021
The home of prime property: [email protected]
Uptick in life assurance sector assets
DUMISANI NYONI driven by increases in fixed property eliminate funding gaps, which may 717% from ZW$204.54 million to growth in GPW were funeral assur-
and equity investments on account be costly in terms of both asset liqui- a negative ZW$1.28 billion. ance business and group life assur-
ZIMBABWE’S life assurance sector of revaluation and unrealised gains. dation costs and reputation. ance, posting nominal growth rates
has reported total assets amounting The values of equity investments The decrease in underwriting prof- of 436% and 1.174% respectively
to ZW$32.6 billion, up 50.78%, as increased by a nominal amount of In the period under review, af- it was mainly attributable to signifi- indicating growth in absolute figures
at 31 December last year, driven by ZW$4.33 billion from ZW$9.81 ter-tax profit for life assurers in- cant increase in claims incurred from of ZW$1.97 billion and ZW$0.99
increases in fixed property and equi- billion as at 30 September 2020,” the creased by 71.32% to ZW$11.35 ZW$253.46 million to ZW$3.99 billion, respectively.
ty investments on account of revalu- report reads in part. billion for the current reporting pe- billion.
ation and unrealised gains. riod. “Growth in these two classes can
“The increase was mainly due “The spike in incurred claims for be attributed to a significant increase
In its report for the financial year to the recovery of the stock market The main driver of profit for the the period under review was mainly in premiums for funeral assurance
ended 31 December 2020, the In- after having been depressed by the sector was the significant increase in due to increased policy values and an and related products as the industry
surance and Pensions Commission suspension of the Zimbabwe Stock unrealised gains from equity invest- increase in mortality attributable to tries to cope with Covid 19 induced
(Ipec) said the sector reported to- Exchange in June 2020. Equity in- ments by ZW$11.57 billion. Covid-19,” Ipec said. increase in mortality rates,” Ipec
tal assets amounting to ZW$32.6 vestments constituted almost half of said.
billion as compared to ZW$21.6 the sector’s assets at 44.25% of the The commission said the com- In the period under review, gross
billion reported as at 30 September total assets,” it said. bined ratio for the life assurance sec- premium written (GPW) by direct On an inflation-adjusted basis,
2020. tor increased from 85% to 135%, in- life assurers from traditional life as- the growth in GPW for the life as-
Ipec said sector players should en- dicating an underwriting loss for the surance business, excluding pension surance sector was 36.36% above the
“The growth in the asset base of sure that they hold assets that match period under review. business grew by 512% in nominal year-on-year inflation of 348.6%,
the life assurance sector was mainly their liability maturity profile to terms to ZW$3.65 billion. indicating real growth of premiums.
In nominal terms, underwriting
profit for the sector decreased by The main drivers of nominal
NewsHawks Sport Page 45
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
European Super League: Project is ‘on standby’,
says Real Madrid president Florentino Perez
THE power of football Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. stops them doing a lot of
supporters was clear on their projects, like maybe
Tuesday as Chelsea fans tracts,” he added. didn’t give us an oppor- have a format where the anything of what was signing Kylian Mbappe
gathered outside Stam- When asked what the tunity to explain it,” said most important teams in happening. from Paris St-Germain.
ford Bridge to protest the 74-year-old. Europe play against each
against their club signing penalty was for leaving other from the very be- “We all signed a bind- In Spain, we are a com-
up to play in the ESL the project, Perez did not “I’ve been in football ginning of the season. ing agreement, but I pletely different type of
answer. for 20 years and I’ve nev- think one was never very fan. We don’t act against
The European Super er seen threats like this. It “We worked out the convinced.” things we think are un-
League is on “standby” Perez reiterated his view was like we killed some- numbers and felt we fair. In England, it is
despite nine of the 12 that the ESL was created one. It was like we killed could make much more Analysis more like a lifestyle. They
founding teams with- “to save football”, having football. But we were try- money, more money for Spanish football expert are taking something off
drawing, says Real Ma- also previously said the ing to work out how to all the other teams too.” Guillem Balague on BBC you and you go out to try
drid president Florentino move had been made be- save football.” Radio 5 Live to get it back.
Perez. cause young people were Perez also claimed one Perez has got a vision
“no longer interested in A revamped 36- of English football’s ‘big and apparently the rest Perez has been un-
After a furious back- football” because of “a lot team Champions six’ - Arsenal, Chelsea, of the world is not seeing touchable for many years.
lash against the proposed of poor quality games”. League, starting in 2024, Liverpool, Manchester it and that’s dangerous But this vision did not
tournament that was an- was agreed on Monday, City, Manchester United when someone feels like really have strong foun-
nounced on Sunday, all He added he was “sad although the ESL teams and Tottenham - were that. dations so the media are
six Premier League clubs and disappointed” by had said in its announce- reluctant about the ESL He kept saying, in his having a bit of a laugh
involved withdrew on the reaction to the proj- ment of Sunday it did from the start. second appearance in a here.
Tuesday. ect, which the clubs have not think Uefa’s reforms disastrous PR campaign,
been working on “for went far enough. “There was someone that he’s there to save We are all very sur-
Spanish club Atletico around three years”. in the English group that football. prised Joan Laporta and
Madrid and Italian sides “The Champions didn’t have much inter- He’s talking about big Barcelona have not come
AC Milan and Inter Mi- He accused Uefa pres- League format is old and est, I won’t say who,” he losses - in the case of Real out and pushed away
lan have also formally ident Aleksander Cefer- only interesting from the said. Madrid, they’ve gone from this idea. But, they
pulled out. in and various countries’ quarter-finals onwards,” from expecting to earn are so desperate for mon-
footballing authorities of said Perez. “That began to infect 900m euros (£779m) to ey that they think who-
“We’re going to contin- “aggression” and “threats” others, who are also peo- 600m euros (£519m) in ever comes up with the
ue working,” said Perez. towards the ESL. “This format clear- ple of an age, and who are only one season, and that right idea, they will just
“The project is on stand- ly doesn’t work, so we perhaps afraid because join in.
by.” “Maybe we didn’t ex- thought that we could they did not understand
plain it well, but they also We are a little bit dis-
Real Madrid, Barcelo- appointed by the leaders
na and Juventus have not of the two biggest clubs
withdrawn, although Ju- in Spain.
ventus chairman Andrea
Agnelli said the project Attempts to curtail ‘big
could not now proceed. six’ influence
Javier Tebas, president Senior executives from
of Spain’s La Liga, said: the Premier League clubs
“If it [the Super League] who were part of the ESL
was good for football, are being asked to stand
as Perez has said, they down from various league
wouldn’t have done it be- working groups - or face
hind our backs.” being voted out by the 14
other clubs, reports BBC
On whether their sports editor Dan Roan.
would be sanctions from
La Liga for the Spanish In a move that suggests
clubs, he added: “We are the ‘big six’ influence is
not talking about sanc- set to be curtailed, the
tions. Premier League is in the
process of writing to; out-
“Everyone wants to going Manchester United
cut people’s heads off. executive vice-chairman
We have to have a proce- Ed Woodward and Liver-
dure and we have to see pool chair Tom Werner,
how it looks in the end. who sit on the league’s
These clubs have been broadcast advisory group;
sanctioned by their own Chelsea chairman Bruce
fans.” Buck, who is on the audit
and remuneration com-
Speaking on the El Lar- mittee; and Arsenal chief
guero show on Spanish executive Vinai Venkate-
radio station Cadena Ser, sham and Manchester
Super League chairman City’s chief executive Fer-
Perez claimed the project ran Soriano, who are on
was not yet dead as all 12 the league’s club strategic
clubs “have not left yet”. advisory group.
“You cannot get out —BBC Sport
of the contract like this
- they are binding con-
Sports ‘Too small, too
weak’: Words that
Thursday 1 October 2020 created a giant
Friday 23 April 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS CULTURE
Taylor, Ervine set to$60Covid
tariff for
visitors &
tourists
Community
radio
regulations
under review
Story on Page 3 Story on Page 8
return fCohrathmeisTa-2r0eac
EXPIRIENCED batters Brendan Tay- out to Khupe
lor and Craig Ervine are both set to
return to Zimbabwe’s Test side when Unofficial president calls for emerge
they take on Pakistan over two matches
at Harare Sports Club after injury and Brandon Tylor
illness had threatened their return to the
side. should have participated in due to the ALinSgOwiItNh SZIiDmEbabwe Fsienekainngcea Mseriinesisty wTihpeeWs oilluiamt $s-3ca.p2taBinielldioZnimdbeabpwoesitowrasnf(uvcn, dwsk), ShahZeeinmA'sfrildai,teSasrtfalraznd c
coronavirus pandemic but have drawn leveller, while the tourists target a series side made a good start in their run chase Ahmed (wk), Fawad Alam, Abid Ali,
The two were named in the T-20 up another packed calendar as they seek win after taking the lead with an 11-run but lost their way before squandering Azhar Ali, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Fa-
sides that are currently taking on the to make up for what they lost. win on Wednesday. the good opportunity. heem Ashraf, Imran Butt, Shahnawaz
hosts, but Taylor had to pull out of the Before the two teams can start think- Zimbabwe were left kicking them- The last match of the series will be Dhani, Sajid Khan, Tabish Khan, Zahid
first match on Wednesday owing to ill- ing about the Tests, they have the T-20 selves after self-destructing in the match played on Sunday before attention Mahmood, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris
ness. business to dispense with. they looked well set to win after a good turns to red ball cricket. Rauf, Agha Salman, Abdullah Shafique,
They clash in the second of three bowling display to restrict their guests Pakistan Test squad Saud Shakeel.
Ervine suffered a calf injury in the T-20s at Harare Sports Club this morn- to 149 runs. Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Riz- — BBC SPORT
first match and, as of Wednesday, he
looked set to miss the rest of the series.
He is, however, set to return for the
Tests, while Taylor has recovered from
illness and should take part in what re-
mains of the T-20 series.
The two also missed Zimbabwe’s trip
to Abhu Dhabi Afghanistan where they
drew the Test series against hosts Af-
ghanistan but lost the T-20 series.
For the Pakistan series, Zimbabwe
will be without Sikandar Raza, who is
injured.
Raza received good news this week
when a biopsy confirmed that he nei-
ther had cancer nor a tumor as had been
feared when the doctors first examined
his troublesome arm.
The first match of the Test series will
be played between 29 April and 3 May
while the second and final will take
place from 7 to 11 May.
A technical team member confirmed
that the two are set to be named in the
Test squad despite the issues that they
have had over the week.
“Taylor and Ervine should make it
into the Test side, Taylor has recovered
from illness while Ervine should be OK
by next week. He is currently struggling
with his injury but we are hopeful that
he will be fit. They will add the expe-
rience that we need playing such a top
side.”
Zimbabwe’s batting suffered against
Afghanistan without the duo with the
burden falling on Raza and captain
Sean Williams.
Zimbabwe will face a strong Pakistan
side fresh from defeating South Africa
2-0 in a series that they hosted.
Their hosts, on the other hand, have
played only three Test matches over the
last 14 months.
They lost some of the matches they
ALSO INSIDE European Super League ‘on standby’: Real Madrid boss
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