WHAT’S INSIDE Friday 4 June 2021 BNUssSaINdeEnSiSes Price
wrongdoing
NiDnERRWCBSaZmfobraesxsador in NBS tender US$1
allocation scandal
scandal LSPoOgaRaTims
Story on Page 21 to create
Story on Page 4 bond with
players
Story on Page 37
Crystal meth
drug destroys
an entire
generation
ALSO INSIDE Covid-19 vaccination turns elitist amid shortage
Page 2 News NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Crystal meth drug destroys urban youths
NYASHA CHINGONO/
BERNARD MPOFU/
SAVANNA MADAMOMBE
WHILE Zimbabwe, like many Rutendo and Pelagia take turns to puff away at the crystal meth from a florescent pipe.
other countries the world over,
is concentrating on fighting just decided to walk away so Tamar (20) is undergoing rehab after four years of drug abuse. girls. ly.
the Covid-19 pandemic, an that mother could have a life Rutendo recounts her or- A crystal meth addict him-
equally deadly but silent epi- of her own,” Tamar said. 10 young people die daily of girls are profusely begging for
demic is on the prowl, causing drug-related illnesses, with a fix. deal with drugs. self, Shezby runs a drug base
untold suffering to families as “My brother is also mental- crystal meth claiming many “I started drugs in 2015. where dozens of youths from
it threatens communities and ly ill. This was so much pres- young lives. Shezby (30) is holding a cig- Chitungwiza and other town-
an entire generation. sure for me to handle and I arette lighter and a fluorescent It was an experimental urge ships buy illicit substances.
thought life had ended when Already condemned to a life pipe as Pelagia (19) puffs the with mbanje and Bronclear, I
The abuse of crystal meth my brother was admitted to of poverty due to Zimbabwe’s intoxicating smoke. then moved to smoking crystal He has introduced several
and other deadly substances hospital. economic problems, youths meth, the ghetto youths call it youths to the drug and preys
has become so rampant among are trapped in a growing Taking turns to puff from mutoriro. To get the drug, I on their addiction for profit.
youths across the country’s “I started smoking weed drug problem that has caused the fluorescent tube with her barter trade food, clothes, or
townships, driving mental ill- and drinking Bronclear. I deep-seated social problems. friend Rutendo (18), the two shoes because I do not have A gramme of crystal meth
ness, violence and premature ended up experimenting with narrate their drug problems. money often,” Rutendo who is costs US$12, an amount be-
deaths, among other prob- crystal meth, I took it as an Across the road is Shezby’s also a school dropout, tells The yond the reach of most un-
lems. adventure, but I did not know drug base and two teenage Offering sexual favours for NewsHawks. employed youths, who often
that I would end up getting a fix is common among young engage in petty crime to fund
The NewsHawks followed addicted to this drug,” Tamar “Sometimes I even have their insatiable appetite for the
the illegal substances trail in explained her ordeal with crys- sexual intercourse with any of drug.
Harare’s townships, where tal meth. the boys in the base. I just do
grimy drug houses known as whatever is possible to get the Some even steal home ap-
bases (mabhesi) have become Tamar blames her parents’ drug. At home I always lie so pliances for sale, creating irrec-
havens of dangerous narcotics divorce for her drug problem that I can spend time at the oncilable rifts between parents
like crystal meth. as she felt unwanted. base.” and their children.
Known scientifically as Struggling with anxiety and Abuse of female users is Visibly intoxicated, puffy
methamphetamine, crystal depression, the only escape rampant at these bases, Pelagia eyed and drooling on the
meth is a highly addictive was drugs. The illicit substanc- says. cracked floor, Shezby recounts
stimulant and users love the es help her forget her prob- his encounter with a crystal
drug for its powerful euphor- lems, she says. “These bases are not safe be- meth user that got him addict-
ic qualities. Addictive on first cause there are what they can ed.
smoke, the drug has become a “I blame my parents for let- gunvosters (thugs), those guys
crippling vice for the country’s ting me move out when I was are cruel. They can take your “I started doing drugs soon
youths who take the illegal only 16. I felt rejected and un- possessions and threat to kill after high school, when I
substance to escape from daily wanted,” she said. you. Some even demand sex,” joined the kombi business as a
troubles. Pelagia said. tout. I started abusing mban-
As consumption of illicit je (marijuana), cigarettes and
Also known as mutoriro, drugs has risen, the mental “Girls are being abused in cough syrup. I was introduced
dombo, buwe, guka makafela health of addicts has taken a these bases. by a friend who was coming
in street lingo, the infamous severe battering. Six out of 10 from South Africa. He gave
drug has destroyed lives across patients admitted to mental They are sexually assaulted everyone. He told us that the
the country’s townships. institutions suffer drug-related but most of them do not even drug would give us energy and
issues. About 30% are hooked report for fear of victimisa- then he became my supplier,”
Inside a dark room in on drugs in Zimbabwe, ac- tion.” Shezby said.
Chitungwiza’s St Mary’s sub- cording to narcotic experts. Drug peddlers
urb, Tamar (20) is holding a Girls like Rutendo and Pelagia Now one of the most re-
florescent pipe as her friend But the destruction of keep Shezby’s business afloat. vered drug peddlers in his
applies heat from a cigarette young people and families has community, Shezby says
lighter. not prompted any decisive ac- Shezby, a former commuter youths can do anything for a
tion from the government. minibus tout, says the drug fix.
She puffs the cloud-like business is very lucrative, rak-
smoke out of the pipe and gaz- In Mbare, one of the coun- ing in hundreds of dollars dai- “Sometimes they bring
es into the roof, while exhaling try’s oldest townships, at least clothes, phones or anything
the toxic smoke.
In ecstasy, Tamar smiles
as her friend also takes a puff
from the burning liquid.
Tamar, who got hooked
onto drugs at the tender age
of 16, has experimented with
many dangerous substances,
but seems stuck on crystal
meth.
She can do anything for a
fix and is often used by drug
dealers to attract male custom-
ers.
“Drug dealers use me to
attract customers. They like
my beauty and attractive ap-
pearance. As you see, I am a
beautiful girl,” Tamar tells The
NewsHawks with a chuckle.
But beneath the beauty, fair
looks, and pretty smile, is a
troubled soul.
Tamar was forced to stay
alone after her mother remar-
ried following their divorce
with his father nearly five years
ago.
Haunted by a troubled past,
Tamar found solace in drugs.
“I started indulging in
drugs in 2016. My mum had
left my dad and remarried. I
NewsHawks News Page 3
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
to trade so that they get a fix. Facts about crystal meth: executive director Wilson Box
Others risk trading their par- said: “We need our young ones
ents’ property just to get a fix. • Crystal meth is a highly addictive, illegal stimulant last for up to 12 hours. This is a much longer dura- to come out in the open to say,
Others who do shoplifting drug that has a long-lasting euphoric effect; tion than cocaine, a drug with similar effects; I need assistance.”
bring groceries. Most of these • Crystal meth can also severely affect the structure Mental health and rehab
drug addicts hustle for a liv- • The drug is known informally as meth, ice, or and function of brain areas linked to emotion and According to the ministry of
ing,” he said. glass among the affluent users in Zimbabwe as it memory; Health, six out of 10 patients
resembles shiny “rocks” or fragments of glass of • Some brain changes that occur remain long after admitted to Zimbabwe’s men-
Girls have become his most varying sizes. It is known more formally as crystal the user has stopped taking the drug. Some may tal health institutions have
regular customers, while boys methamphetamine; reverse after long periods of abstinence, but this drug-related problems.
as young as 14 have also joined could take a year or more;
the ruinous train of illicit drug • In townships it is known as mutoriro/guka makafe- According to the latest Zim-
abuse. la/dombo (loose translation for stone); Repeated use can have some psychological effects. babwe National Drug Master
These include: Plan, the government has ad-
“During the first days, we • The drug is an odourless, colourless form of • anxiety, irritability and aggressive or violent be- opted both an integrated and
used to have men only at these d-methamphetamine, a synthetic psychostimulant; comprehensive approach that
bases, but girls are now a per- haviour; will address a range of drug-re-
manent feature. You find all • Light bulbs are one of the most common acces- • alertness and increased concentration; lated issues.
age groups at bases,” he said. sories used in the consumption of the drug. It can • hyperactivity and insomnia;
Source of the drugs and po- also be smoked in pipes, snorted, injected, swal- • increased energy, libido, self-esteem, confidence, These include illicit and
lice involvement lowed, or ingested rectally; licit drugs. Critics however
According Shezby, the illicit and sociability; doubt that most targets will be
drug is trafficked by enterpris- • It increases dopamine production in the brain and • delusions of grandeur with a sensation of power achieved.
ing truck drivers, hidden in has similar effects to cocaine;
new television sets, refriger- and invincibility; “Currently, approximately
ators, and other home appli- • Long-term use can lead to verbal problems and • hallucinations and paranoia; 60% of patients admitted in
ances, through the country’s impaired motor skills; • psychomotor agitation and compulsive skin pick- mental health institutions suf-
porous borders. fer due to drug-related prob-
• Crystal meth is popular among young adults at ing, leading to skin sores and lems,” reads the report in part.
“These drugs are coming dance clubs and parties. It is taken for its euphoric • repetitive and obsessive behaviours
from South Africa, but I have effects; “Due to the socio-economic
never been to the border. They situation, Zimbabwe is facing
come stashed in TVs, refriger- • Some people prefer crystal meth to other illicit increasing cases of depression,
ators, even in flasks,” Shezby drugs because the sense of euphoria it gives can trauma and stress which has
said. led to the increase in drug use.
and pushers, but what will Hence as a nation there is need
Immigrations officials have happen to the young people to have a concerted effort to
been accused of being com- abusing these substances? That address this menace. Excessive
plicit in drug trafficking by al- is one fundamental issue that use of alcohol and drugs dam-
lowing illegal contraband into needs thorough interrogation. age the health of users and is
the country. These children need help,” linked to rises in addiction and
Masarisa said. non-communicable diseases
Shezby also has become including HIV and Aids, can-
friends with several “corrupt” The country’s porous bor- cer, heart diseases, psychologi-
police officers, offering mon- ders remain a weak link in the cal disorders and an increase in
etary favours in exchange for fight on drug abuse in Zimba- road traffic accidents.”
protection and tip offs when- bwe.
ever there is a blitz to catch Box urged the government
drug peddlers. Effects of mutoriro Shebzy smoking crystal meth inside his room in Chitungwiza. to build more public rehabil-
Excessive use of crystal meth itation centres as the private
“I have been arrested several leads to several side effects ter smoking crystal meth. nomic opportunities. successive droughts and, facilities are expensive.
times, but they release me. I that include increased atten- Experts have warned that “I need to stop this habit of more recently, the outbreak of
eventually became friends with tion, higher levels of activity, Covid-19 have worsened eco- “Unfortunately, Zimbabwe
them, they always pass by get- decreased appetite, reduced crime may increase due to drugs and work for my own nomic situation, resulting in does not have public rehabili-
ting money for drinks. They fatigue, a feeling of power and drug abuse. money. That is the help I re- massive job cuts. tation centres. It has private re-
tip me off whenever there is a euphoria. We need help quire for now,” Tamar said. habilitation centres which are
police officer,” Shezby said. For 18-year-old Rutendo, life Drug abuse has been expensive, beyond the reach of
Other side effects include took a nasty turn after she got 16-year-old Tamuka ad- blamed largely on idleness and most of the affected people,”
Although the Zimbabwean irregular heartbeat, high blood hooked to crystal meth. She mitted he needed help as his lack of economic opportuni- Box said. Organisations like
police reported that 93 drug pressure and dry mouth. pleads for help. addiction had affected his rela- ties for youths in the town- Mubatirapamwe Trust identify
peddlers were arrested and tionship with his mother. ships. Experts have warned victims, provide counselling
drugs worth ZW$8.2 million Rutendo is visibly emaciat- Her hollow cry for help has that Zimbabwe risks losing a services and rehabilitation.
recovered, the drug problem is ed, does not eat often and has often met no corresponding His ill mother is due for an generation to substance abuse.
far from over. not slept for two days. action, as her inner circle of operation and he promised to “We have 20 calls daily from
friends is also hooked onto the change if the procedure is suc- Mega Jani, a Zimdancehall affected people and parents
The drug peddlers are often Due to excessive use of the drug. She often relapses into cessful. artiste from Chitungwiza, who needing help. We have been
released on bail and left to op- drug, Rutendo hardly has ap- the ruinous habit due to peer is also battling with crystal concentrating on counselling
erate. petite and spends most of her pressure. Rutendo says idle- “I really want to do better in meth addiction, said due to a and awareness campaigns on
time at the drug base. ness is a major driver of drug life. I desperately need help. I lack of economic opportuni- the dangers of using the drug.
The police have been ac- use among the youths. do not know if my mother will ties, ghetto youths have found We are trying to help the af-
cused of working in cahoots Youths who abuse crystal make it after this operation, solace in illicit drugs and mu- fected get into the hospital so
with drug peddlers, while the meth also suffer from halluci- “I need something to do so but I promise to change. I sic. that they can get a detox and
arrests are largely seen as a nations and paranoia, known that I keep busy. I really want need to go back to school and places where they can be reha-
smokescreen to hoodwink the as “kutsomwa” or “kuteerwa” to stop this. At least if I go to finish school,” Tamuka said. “Nothing else is earning us bilitated,” Kiri Madamombe
public. in street lingo. work, I will come back tired, money in the ghetto. We hus- told The NewsHawks.
and I will not have time to go With no prospects of em- tle, and some peddle drugs,”
The Criminal Investiga- “If you take an overdose to the drug base. I also want to ployment due to unrelenting Jani said. As the battle against crystal
tion Department’s drugs and of the drug, you will end up get an opportunity to rewrite economic problems, youths meth rages on, citizens are or-
narcotics section in April with irregular sleeping habits. my O Levels,” Rutendo said. in the townships have turned Jani, who was introduced to ganising action groups to raise
launched the “No to Crystal You will end up behaving like to drug abuse to evade daily crystal meth by fellow artistes, awareness and engage the rele-
Meth” operation following a a crazy person. You will start Tamar admitted that she hardships. says peer pressure is one of the vant authorities.
public outcry over rampant getting hallucinations and needed help to stop the sub- major factors fuelling the drug
drug use. Over 200 drug ped- paranoia, it is not a good feel- stance abuse, adding there is Zimbabwe has nearly 90% problem. But until the battle is won,
dlers were arrested but none ing,” Rutendo said. need to assist addicts with eco- formal unemployment and it is apparent that drug abuse
prosecuted. youths constitute the bulk of Zimbabwe Civil Liberties is a societal cancer threatening
Crystal meth users feel in- the jobless in the country. and Drugs Network Projects an entire generation and re-
Despite, the commendable vincible and end up commit- quiring urgent attention.
stance to deal with the drug ting dangerous crimes, like Years of bad governance,
problem, a more wholistic murder. My friend influenced me to
approach to dealing with sub- get into drugs. I am a dancehall
stance abuse is urgently need- “This drug just gives me artist and I was introduced to
ed, according to Linda Ma- confidence and drive to do the drug by my friends while
sarira, a politician and affected anything, but most of the we were working overnight in
parent. things are bad. I do not want the studio.
to lie; addicts do crazy things.
“What we really need is a A man was stabbed 15 times This drugs helps us to keep
serious effort from our min- over a straw used to smoke awake at night while recording
istry of Health to ensure that mutoriro,” Tamar said. music. Nothing else is making
they set up proper rehabilita- money in the ghetto, we hustle
tion centres. It is one thing to A Kuwadzana man was and peddle drugs.
deal with the drug peddlers jailed in March after he elec-
trocuted his friend to death.
The two friends were high af-
Page 4 News NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
BERNARD MPOFU DRC ambassador in RBZ bilise prices, the central bank
forex allocation scandal introduced the Dutch auc-
IN a development that could tion system a few years ago
set tongues wagging, the Re- business interests in Zim- Democratic Republic of Congo ambassador to Zimbabwe Mawampanga Mwana Nanga. which critics said was heavily
serve of Zimbabwe (RBZ) babwe, accessed the same managed by the apex bank
has named Democratic Re- amount of forex as the City industrial concern Blue Rib- dividuals and entities abus- rials, machinery and equip- and benefited only a few in-
public of Congo (DRC) of Gweru, one of Zimbabwe’s bon Foods received the lion’s ing forex accessed from the ment, retail and distribution, dividuals and companies.
ambassador to Zimbabwe largest urban centres which is share of the allocations. The formal system, said funds among other critical needs.
Mawampanga Mwana Nan- currently being dogged by central bank, which may accessed from the system Desperate to tame the run- At inception, the system
ga as one of the top beneficia- run down infrastructure and soon crack the whip on in- would be used for raw mate- away parallel market and sta- benefited large corporates be-
ries of the country’s foreign water shortages, among other fore a second-tier system was
exchange auction system. challenges. introduced for the small to
medium enterprises (SMEs).
The foreign diplomat re- The Congolese diplomat
ceived higher forex alloca- also accessed more cash than The central bank state-
tions than a large-scale min- local diamond miner Mur- ment further shows that 2
ing company over a period of owa Diamonds which re- 027 beneficiaries comprising
one year, The NewsHawks has quires forex for its through- known, little known as well
established. put. Mining is one of the as prominent personalities
most capital intensive sectors were allotted US$102 mil-
According to the latest in the country. lion under the SME foreign
list of 1 423 beneficiaries exchange auction during the
of the US$1.2 billion allot- Murowa received US$100 same period under review.
ted under the main foreign 000 which represented
exchange auction between 0.01% of the total alloca- A few months ago, a local
June 2020 and 31 May 2021 tions for large entities. Other research unit expressed con-
which was published by the notable beneficiaries which cern over the allocation list
RBZ, the DRC ambassador received less funds from the which was published by the
— who doubles as the dean apex bank compared to the RBZ at the start of the year.
of African diplomats and is DRC ambassador include
known for rallying counter- Hwange Colliery, Art Cor- On the qualitative side,
parts in the diplomatic ser- poration, the City of Mas- it would have been more
vice to project Zimbabwe in vingo, Zimbabwe School helpful if the central bank
good light especially during Examinations Council and had also provided critical
chaotic events like elections Bindura University of Sci- information on whether or
— accessed US$120 000 ence Technology. not the top beneficiaries are
from the main auction sys- exporting, how their capacity
tem. At US$19 million, agro has improved, among other
key variables that may aid
To put it into context, at in understanding whether or
position 992 on the main not the forex is being put to
auction allocation list, Mwa- good use, Econometer Glob-
nananga, who has no known al Capital said in a research
note.
OWEN GAGARE Zacc intensifies probe into the minister whose name was
NBS housing tender scam later cited in meetings and other
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Cor- tive bid” scoring 83.44%. Its fi- exchanges.
ruption Commission (Zacc) In a letter dated 21 May, close on 23 February. bidders as part of due diligence. nancial offer was ZW$405 353
is deepening its investigation NBS new board chair Shin- All prospective bidders were This was done between 16-17 131.56. Nssa marketing and commu-
into the murky ZW$400 mil- gai Mutumbwa, who replaced March. It then compiled tech- nication executive Tendai Mut-
lion (US$4.8 million) National Kudenga, vaguely says Mapi- invited for a site visit on 5 Feb- nical (including site visits) and The evaluation report said seyekwa however denied that
Building Society (NBS) tender ye — who was resisting inter- ruary to assess the scope of work financial evaluation reports. Reegul offered the best deal the Nssa executive was interfer-
for the construction of 500 ference by Nssa — should go to be done. After the tender Eventually it recommended overall. This was then forwarded ing in the tender process with
housing units in Harare’s Dz- home for a month to facilitate closed, bids were opened on 1 that the contract be awarded to Mapiye as NBS acting man- the aim of imposing a preferred
ivaresekwa suburb, which has investigations into the procure- March and opening results were to Reegul which had scored the aging director, thus to the ac- company.
sucked in Public Service, La- ment process, but claims he is shared with bidders. highest mark at 83.44%. It also counting officer in terms of the
bour and Social Welfare minis- not on suspension. had the highest level of quality law. Mapiye agreed the report “Nothing of the sort hap-
ter Paul Mavima and National A preliminary evaluation of units and capacity. should be forwarded to Praz pened. The fact of the matter
Social Security Authority (Nssa) This is meant to cover their was undertaken by the NBS for further evaluation in terms is that NBS did whatever it did
top executives. tracks on the illegal move, procurement management unit The other shortlisted bidders of the Public Procurement and with the tender process and pre-
which they call “paid leave”. (PMU) and compliance checks included Exodus and Compa- Disposal of Public Assets Act sented to the Procurement Reg-
Nssa this week however dis- were conducted. The NBS ten- ny, Blainesworld and Nengo Ch 22:23. This was done on 24 ulatory Authority of Zimbabwe
tanced itself and Mavima from The NBS procurement de- der evaluation committee (Tec) Builders. After the due dili- March. at the end of the process,” Mut-
any wrongdoing, insisting in- partment flighted a tender for was invited to carry out a de- gence, technical and financial seyekwa said.
quiries were only made after the project in the Government tailed evaluation on 12 March. evaluations, Reegul won with After NBS submitted recom-
the Procurement Regulatory Gazette and The Herald on 22 the “lowest technically competi- mendations to Praz and, while “Praz objected to the process
Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) January. The tender was due to Tec recommended site visits awaiting its response, Mapiye taken by NBS and it is the ob-
raised a red flag on the tendering on previous projects done by received a phone call from Da- jections by Praz that came to
process. Zacc this week seized vid Makwara, Nssa director of the attention of Nssa, forcing
documents from NBS as part of commercial services and former it to make the inquiries which
its investigations and is search- NBS board member, asking it made. The money deployed
ing for more documents relating questions over the tender. to the Dzivaresekwa project is
to the tender. Nssa money, which belongs
On 21 April, Praz wrote, ob- to pensioners. Nssa would be
A team of people who identi- jecting to site visits, saying those highly irresponsible if it folded
fied themselves as NBS lawyers were not part of the request for its hands and did nothing.”
this week sought to interview proposals.
suspended acting managing di- Mutseyekwa also defended
rector John Mapiye, but he de- It demanded a re-evaluation the minister’s intervention, ar-
clined to respond, insisting on without a site visits scoresheet. guing he was exercising his over-
written questions. The letter was sent to NBS pro- sight role.
curement manager Namatirai
The tender has become a Mutambasere and Mapiye. “The minister’s involvement
tug-of-war between the minister was merely to inquire what was
and Nssa on one side and NBS Surprisingly, barely two to going on after he was alerted
management on the other. The three hours after the letter was by Praz. Nssa is a state entity
minister’s side has managed to dispatched, Mapiye received a that falls under the purview of
weaken the opposing team by WhatsApp message from Nssa the minister of Public Service,
forcing out NBS board chair chief investments officer Isaac Labour and Social Welfare, as
Stanley Kudenga and suspend- Isaki with an attachment of the prescribed by the Nssa Act,
ing Mapiye. same letter. Chapter 17:04. The minister is
answerable to issues regarding
Nssa owns NBS 100%, This showed Praz was work- entities that fall under his juris-
hence its involvement in the ing in cahoots with Nssa and diction. For someone to allege
building society’s affairs. NBS that his oversight is tantamount
is managing the tender process. to interference demonstrates to-
tal ignorance on the hierarchical
Mapiye was on 21 May sus- structure of parastatals.”
pended for a month without
any wrongdoing. Zacc is continuing its inves-
tigation.
NewsHawks News Page 5
. Lawyer Obey Shava.
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Lawyer Shava challenges
chaotic forex regulations
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE and executioner in one.” tained directly or indirect- have also been used to amend
He said the presumption ly from the Reserve Bank of the Bank Use Promotion Act
LAWYER Obey Shava has Zimbabwe auction market for [Chapter 24:24] which now
filed a Constitutional Court of innocence is a cornerstone purposes other than that spec- penalises business entities that
application to have Statutory of the country’s criminal jus- ified in their application for fail to open a bank account.
Instrument 127 of 2021 set tice system and thus a person forex will be guilty and liable
aside and declared unconstitu- accused of breaching the law to a fixed penalty of ZW$1 Also, failure to bank surplus
tional. is entitled to be given enough million. cash in a bank account within
time to defend themselves. the time specified will now also
The regulation, gazetted Zimbabwe adopted dual attract a penalty of the amount
under temporary presidential “Paragraph 5(3)(a) and 5(6) pricing in 2020 through SI equivalent to a single day’s
powers, imposes penalties on discriminates against officers of 185 banning exclusive use of banking of cash, being the esti-
the issuing of a local currency corporates envisaged in section forex. The statutory instru- mated average daily banking of
receipt for a foreign currency 3 by making them separately ment is temporary, as it will cash in a continuous period of
purchase, pricing goods and liable contrary to the principle lapse after six months (181 seven business days within 21
services above the ruling ex- of incorporation of company. days). days preceding the issuance of
change rate, pricing of goods This discrimination is prohib- the order.
and services only in foreign ited by section 56(3) as read The Presidential Powers
currency and using the money with 56(4) (a) of the consti-
obtained from the official forex tution. It means one’s social
auction for unauthorised pur- status of being an officer of a
poses. company participating at the
auction floor is criminalised
In his affidavit Shava, who is and you are also liable to civil
represented by Tonderai Bha- penalties. This personal liabil-
tasara of the Zimbabwe Law- ity (which is not fault-based)
yers for Human Rights, said is not applicable to officers of
SI 127 of 2021 gives too much other corporate organisations.”
power to the Reserve Bank to
be the complainant, prosecu- “It is clear from the above
tor, jury and executioner in that is the enumerated para-
one, against the constitutional graphs are severed from the
principle of the separation of Regulations, nothing remains.
powers. To that extent the whole Stat-
utory Instrument 127 of 2021
President Emmerson Mnan- is liable to be struck down and
gagwa is the first respondent in is decidedly unconstitutional,”
the matter while, Finance and Shava’s affidavit reads.
Economic Development min-
ister Mthuli Ncube and Attor- The prominent human
ney-General Prince Machaya rights lawyer said he was an in-
are cited as the second and terested party in the matter as
third respondents, respectively. it is a matter of public interest.
“I am seeking an order de- “I have further duty to do
claring the Presidential Powers all things necessary to promote
(temporary measures) (Finan- and to protect human rights,
cial Laws Amendment) Reg- the rule of law and separation
ulations 2021 (SI 127/2021/ of powers in Zimbabwe.
Regulations) unconstitution-
al,” Shava says. The SI was made by Mnan-
gagwa on 26 May 2021 and
“Section 69 of the Consti- published in the extraordinary
tution decrees that ‘every per- Government Gazette.
son accused of an offence has
a right to a fair, public trial... According to SI 127, busi-
before an independent and nesses that do not accept Zim-
impartial court’. Paragraph 2 babwean dollars at the official
to the Schedule makes the Re- exchange rate for goods and/or
serve Bank of Zimbabwe, the services priced in United States
complainant, prosecutor, jury dollars may face a maximum
fine of ZW$50 000.
Agents who use forex ob-
Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube.
Page 6 News NewsHawks
MP drags Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Mnangagwa
to court over
constitutional
amendments
CHITUNGWIZA North The Bill straddled the Chitungwiza North legislator Godfrey Karakadzai Sithole.
legislator Godfrey Karakadzai eighth parliament which ran
Sithole has taken President from 2013 to midnight on at least 54 senators should was set aside.” the main reason why Justice stances would be inconsis-
Emmerson Mnangagwa to Sunday 29 July 2018, and have voted for the Bill. Con- “However this court mero Anne-Marie Gowora gave a tent with the constitution.
court for assenting to the the currently running ninth stitutional Amendment Bill dissenting judgment when a
Constitution of Zimbabwe parliament, whose tenure (No.1) of 2017 was declared motu proceeded to make an three-judge ConCourt, also “…For the above reasons,
Amendment (No.1) Bill, ends in 2023. invalid. order that was sought before consisting of Justices Rita it is my view that the appli-
which he argues was illegally it and directed the Senate to Makarau and Bharat Patel, cation should be dismissed
passed by Senate with the as- Section 147 of the con- “The declaration of inva- conduct a vote in respect of heard a substantive applica- with no order as to costs.”
sistance of the Constitutional stitution reads: “On the dis- lidity shall have effect from Constitution of Zimbabwe tion on 10 November 2020
Court. solution of parliament, all the date of this order but is Amendment (No.1) 2017 by parliament before grant- Sithole insists that the pro-
proceedings pending at the suspended for a period of in accordance with the pro- ing another extension in a ceedings in the Senate on 6
Besides violating Section time are terminated, and ev- 180 days subject to that the cedure for amending the judgment delivered on 26 April 2021 by the fourth re-
147 of the constitution by ery Bill, motion, petition and Senate is directed to conduct Constitution within 180 of February 2021. spondent (Ziyambi) wherein
straddling two different lives other business lapses.” a vote in accordance with the the grant of its order. It is there was a purported debate
of parliament, Sithole also ar- procedure of amending the this part of the order which I While Makarau was in and vote on a lapsed Bill
gues that the ConCourt erred “Accordingly I seek an or- constitution prescribed by contend, with respect, is un- favour of granting a 90-day should be declared invalid
when it passed judgement in der, inter alia, for the nulli- section 328 (5) of Constitu- constitutional,” he said. extension, Patel sat on the and unlawful and according-
case number CCZ4/20 when fication by this Honourable tion Amendment Bill (No.1) fence and said he agreed ly set aside.
it ruled that the declaration court, of the vote of April 6, of 2017,” ruled the court. Sithole said the Bill was with both judges although
of invalidity was suspended 2021, on the Bill by the Sen- also a nullity because it was crucially he leaned towards He said the Senate vote for
for 180 days, after legislators ate, as it had no foundation Sithole said it is common passed after violating sec- Makarau who argued that a lapsed constitution of Zim-
Jessie Majome and Innocent at law. In other words, Senate cause that the 180 days not- tion 147 of the constitution accepting that section 147 of babwe Amendment (No.1)
Gonese had challenged the could not vote on a nullity. ed by the court expired in which provides that on the the constitution was violated which was not lawfully on
Bill’s passage in Senate after The postulate that you can’t September 2020 and the or- dissolution of Parliament, all would question the consti- the order paper of the Sen-
it failed to get the required put something on nothing der was not complied with. proceedings pending at the tutionality of the 31 March ate was a breach of the oath
two-thirds majority. and expect it to stay there is time are terminated, and ev- court order. or affirmation of Member of
not only an enduring princi- An application was filed ery Bill, motion, petition and Parliament by the respon-
Sithole cited the Parlia- ple but is also unassailable,” by the first to third respon- other business lapses. She said this would be in- dents.
ment of Zimbabwe, Speaker he wrote in his founding af- dents, that is the Parliament consistent with the principle
of the National Assembly fidavit. of Zimbabwe, Mudenda and “...the Bill automatically of finality of a Constitution- “Consequently that any
Jacob Mudenda, the Senate Chinomona, seeking the ex- lapsed with the dissolution al Court decision in a par- assent by the fifth respondent
President Mabel Chinomo- The Bill was first debated tension of the directive in of the eight Parliament,” he ticular case. Gowora ruled (Mnangagwa) arising from
na, Justice minister Ziyambi and passed on 25 July 2017 that order. This resulted in said. that Parliament’s application the passage of Constitution
Ziyambi, Attorney-General in the National Assembly, in judgment CCZ/21 in which was unconstitutional as it of Zimbabwe Amendment
Prince Machaya, Clerk of terms of section 328 of the the lifespan was extended by “In the circumstances, I breached section 147 of the (No.1) Bill by the Senate on
Parliament Kennedy Choku- constitution which requires a further 90 days. submit that the directive in constitution. 6th of April 2021 is of no
da as well as senate members the affirmative threshold CCZ4/20 whose lifespan force,” Sithole said.
who voted for the passage of of two-thirds vote in each The legislator said this was was extended in CCZ 1/21 “The order of invalidity
the Bill. House. unlawful and unconstitu- unlawfully resuscitated a Bill as regards the Bill cannot He further argued that
tional. that had automatically lapsed be ignored. This is the first Parliament, the Speaker, Sen-
Constitutional Amend- In terms of the law, the in terms of section 147 of the premise in the consideration ate President, and Mnangag-
ment (No.1) Bill, among oth- same vote was required in “It is common cause Constitution.” of the application. It was ad- wa have failed to fulfil a con-
er intentions, sought to allow the Senate to pass the same that the judgment in case judged as being invalid. That stitutional oath and are also
the President to appoint the Bill and on 1 August 2017, CCZ24/20 this court de- He said nothing could said, the Bill cannot be resus- in breach of their obligations
Chief Justice, Deputy Chief the senate purported to have clared that the passing of arise from the vote in the citated through this applica- in terms of Section 196 of
Justice and Judge President achieved this threshold. Constitution of Zimbabwe senate as it was a nullity and tion,” Gowora said. the constitution. He said as
without subjecting them to Gonese and Majome howev- Amendment (No.1) was in- that even an assent arising an MP he is sworn to uphold
the open selection process er challenged the passage of consistent with the provi- from it would be of no legal “It lapsed by operation the constitution, an obliga-
and public interviews. the Bill on the basis that the sions of the constitution. As moment. of law. The granting of the tion which he takes very seri-
two-thirds minimum thresh- a result, the vote by the Sen- application in these circum- ously, hence the application.
This allowed Mnangag- old had not been attained. ate on the day in question The violation of section
wa to retain Malaba at the 147 of the constitution was —STAFF WRITERS.
helm of the judiciary after Although the matter was
the approval of the Consti- filed in 2017 judgement was
tutional Amendment (No.2) only passed on 31 March
Bill, which enabled judges 2020.
to serve beyond the age of
70. The extension was how- The ConCourt declared
ever successfully challenged that the passing of the Con-
in the High Court, with an stitutional Amendment
appeal by the aggrieved par- (No.1) Bill of 2017 by the
ties still pending at the Su- Senate on 1 August 2017 was
preme Court. The lawmaker inconsistent with provisions
argues that the Senate vote of section 328 (5) of the con-
of 6 April 2021 on the Bill stitution, to the extent that
had no foundation at law the affirmative votes did not
because they could not vote reach the minimum thresh-
on a nullity. He argued it vio- old of two-thirds of the
lated section 147 of the con- membership of the House.
stitution as it straddled two
different lives of parliament, At its last reading in the
which is unconstitutional, Senate on 1 August 2017, it
among other illegalities. received 53 affirmative votes
whereas the full membership
of the Senate is 80. A two-
thirds majority meant that
NewsHawks News Page 7
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
WHILE insisting on re- Lame duck Malaba steers application. Chiweshe, seen
turning to work and report- as Vice-President Constan-
ing to the office daily, Chief tino Chiwenga’s ally, was
Justice Luke Malaba, whom clear of judicial ceremony the vice-president’s deputy
the High Court says must in Zanla’s political commis-
retire, is now a lame duck. sariat during the liberation
struggle.
Realising that he is on decided in court as was the Mnangagwa’s allies be-
shaky ground, Malaba did an application by Young case with the 2018 polls. lieve Chiweshe was keen
not attend the swearing-in Lawyers Association of on derailing the pow-
ceremony of six Supreme Zimbabwe and war veteran Before the judges heard er consolidation project,
Court judges yesterday. Fred Mutanda challenging an application, Justice min- hence his appointment of
the extension of Malaba’s ister Ziyambi Ziyambi and the no-nonsense and brave
Deputy Chief Justice term beyond 70. the pro-Mnangagwa Judi- panel.
Elizabeth Gwaunza presid- cial Service Commission
ed over the swearing-in cer- Three of the judges are tried in vain to block the Malaba’s refusal to leave
emony of the new Supreme likely to hear Malaba’s ap- justices from hearing the office has plunged Zimba-
Court judges, namely Jus- peal against the High Court case, fearing they would bwe’s judiciary into crisis.
tices George Chiweshe, ruling. scuttle the power consoli-
Samuel Kudya, Alpheous dation plan. Justice Chiweshe’s pro-
Chitakunye, Felistas Chatu- All Supreme Court judg- motion is seen as an a ploy
kuta, Hlekani Mwayera and es were cited as respondents The JSC questioned why to remove the influential
Joseph Musakwa. in that case, disqualifying Chiweshe, a war veteran judge from the High Court
them from hearing Malaba’s and retired major-general, so that Mnangagwa seizes
This comes at a time appeal and creating what was not cited in the court control of the court.
Malaba is facing contempt lawyers described as a con-
of court charges after he — STAFF WRITER.
last week reported for work
despite a High Court rul- stitutional crisis. Chief Justice Luke Malaba.
ing declaring that he ceased
to be chief justice when he Despite the ruling, Mal-
turned 70 on 15 May. aba reported for work last
week, even after the High SUPERLIFE
Chiweshe, who was Court issued a declaratur.
until his promotion the
Judge President of the The ruling threatened to
High Court, appointed a deal a body blow to Mnan-
three-member bench con- gagwa’s power consolida- STC30
sisting of Justices Happias tion project ahead of the
Zhou, Jester Charewa and 2023 elections. The Pres-
Edith Mushore to hear an ident, as exposed by The
application by lawyer Musa NewsHawks in a series of As we age our stemcells (basic building blocks in our body for repair
Kika joined together with articles, wants Malaba to
be the head of the judicia- processes), like other cells, they age, get weakened, die and get depleted in
ry so that he has an ally in process (owing to the heavy toll our lifestyle has on them)
case the 2023 elections are
Unintended
consequences of
new forex rules
spook the market
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE have also expressed worry at the STC30 stemcell supplement, made to allow your body to regenerate, heal
possible reversal of the recent itself and deal effectively with:
WHILE the Reserve Bank of long period of exchange rate
Zimbabwe says Statutory In- and price stability. Ÿ Arthritis Ÿ Cysts
strument 127 of 2021 was in- Ÿ Diabetes
troduced to curb the abuse of The RBZ has however jus- Ÿ Acids Ÿ Skin Disease
foreign currency sourced from tified the move, saying: “The Ÿ Allergies
the official auction system, it use of parallel exchange rates Ÿ Eyesight Problems, Prostrate Disorder Ÿ ETC
has had devastating unintended of above 100, for example, on
consequences. funds obtained from the auc- WhatsAPP +263 71 379 6159
tion at ZW$85 to US$1 is not
Some of the repercussions of good for the economy and con-
the intervention include a wave sumers. It is these anomalies or
of price increases, meaning a arbitrage opportunities that the
spike in United States dollar in- SI is designed to deal with”.
flation, as well as an increase in
demand for foreign currency on “The SI is an essential means
the official auction, which will of enforcing compliance which
worsen delays in disbursements is necessary for continued sta-
or lead to a sharp increase in the bility.”
rate.
Businesses were given two
Industry said the statutory weeks to regularise their systems
instrument will also deprive in compliance with the SI on
companies of what had become the receipting of goods and ser-
their main source of foreign cur- vices in either foreign currency
rency. SI 127 of 2021 has also or local currency.
sparked some legal challenges.
The central bank added that
The statutory instrument has SI 127 of 2021 was not de-
led to renewed foreign curren- signed to harm business but to
cy market volatility as traders, provide a level playing field for
both formal and informal, and companies and to protect con-
shops are looking for arbitrage sumers, while clarifying that the
opportunities to avoid exchange use of foreign currency for the
rate-related loses. payment of goods and services
would still be allowed as per SI
Wealth and asset managers 85 of 2020.
Page 8 News NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
OWEN GAGARE Manoeuvring for new High ed from those either with
Court Judge President starts experience in the adminis-
THREE senior Harare tration of justice or special
High Court judges – Jus- Justice Martin Makonese. Justice Mary Zimba-Dube. skill in any matter, which
tices Garainesu Mawadze, Justice Garainesu Mawadze. may have to be considered
Martin Makonese and Mary The High Court has the Assessors assist in decid- by the court.
Zimba-Dube – are fancying highest number of judges in ing issues of fact only and
their chances of replacing the judiciary. It consists of have an equal say as the An assessor may also be
Justice George Chiweshe as the chief justice, the judge judge in that regard. appointed on the basis that
Judge President following president and such other he or she has any other ex-
the recent promotion to judges as may be appointed When the High Court is perience which in the opin-
the Supreme Court of the from time to time. hearing appeals, at least two ion of the chief justice or
administrative head of the judges are required. When the judge president renders
court. The judge president is the an even number of judg- him or her suitable to act as
overall administrative head es sits on appeal and the an assessor.
This comes against of the High Court. The opinion is equally divided,
a backdrop of the recent court has permanent seats the decision is suspended Either party to the trial
appointment of five judges at Harare, Bulawayo, Mas- until the opinion of a third is entitled to challenge ap-
to the Constitutional Court vingo and Mutare. is obtained. The decision of pointment of a particular
and six to the Supreme the majority becomes the assessor.
Court. It is a court of first in- court’s judgement. Asses-
stance, possessed of inher- sors are not required during The High Court’s original
Chiweshe was kicked up- ent and unlimited criminal appeal hearings. jurisdiction is unlimited, it
stairs to the Supreme Court and civil jurisdiction, over may deal with any nature
after he appointed a panel all persons and matters in In civil cases, the judge of claim and there are no
of three judges, Happias Zimbabwe. sits alone. A judge, howev- monetary limits to claims
Zhou, Edith Mushore and er, has discretion to appoint that may be instituted.
Jester Helena Charewa, However, it also sits an assessor or assessors to
to hear the case of Chief three times in a year as a assist him in a civil case. In It is the only court which
Justice Luke Malaba’s ten- circuit court at Gweru and this regard, the assessors act enjoys inherent jurisdic-
ure renewal bid. The panel Hwange. only in an advisory capacity tion, meaning that unless
ruled that Malaba was no and are not entitled to vote prohibited by some law
longer chief justice as his In criminal trials, the in the decision of the court. from exercising jurisdic-
tenure expired at midnight High Court is duly consti- tion, it is deemed to have
on 15 May. tuted if it consists of one These may be appoint- jurisdiction.
judge and two assessors.
Chiweshe’s elimination The High Court also ex-
by promotion opened a va- ercises appellate jurisdic-
cancy which is likely to be tion in civil cases that are
filled by either Mawadze, determined by tribunals
Makonese or Zimba-Dube which are subordinate to it.
based on seniority, govern-
ment sources say. Makonese Save for civil appeals
is, however, seen as the fa- emanating from the magis-
vourite internally. trates’ court, appeals ema-
nating from other tribunals
“Chiweshe was kicked only lie with High Court
upstairs due to the recent where a statute specifically
debacle over Malaba’s ten- provides for a right of ap-
ure renewal saga. It was peal to it.
clearly a political deci-
sion to remove him from All civil appeals emanat-
the High Court where he ing from the magistrates’
demonstrated indepen- court lie with the High
dent-mindedness and bold Court. It also has inherent
decision-making,” a senior review powers over pro-
government official said. ceedings of all tribunals
subordinate to it.
“In Chiweshe’s place,
there are three senior judg- In criminal matters, the
es who are likely to become High Court has jurisdiction
Judge President. It’s either over all persons and over
Mawadze, Makonese or all criminal offences rec-
Zimba-Dube. That is if se- ognised by law. Its unlim-
niority is going to be the ited jurisdiction empowers
main criterion. Following it to pass any punishment
the Chiweshe experience, permitted by law, including
political correctness will the death penalty.
be paramount. Even then,
seniority, experience and It also exercises both re-
competence matter a lot.” view and appellate jurisdic-
tion.
The High Court may cre-
ate specialised divisions to
deal with specialised cases.
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NewsHawks News Page 9
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
OWEN GAGARE Mnangagwa forges ahead with
power consolidation agenda
PRESIDENT Emmerson
Mnangagwa and Zanu PF lated issues. suitability and cronyism. dent to appoint his deputies. President Emmerson Mnangagwa. MDC-T replaced MDC Al-
– which has been setting up Military and Zanu PF of- They allow judges of the Seen in Zanu PF as the “Chi- politically motivated prose- liance senators and collabo-
grassroots structures at a time wenga clause”, the amend- cutions. rated with Zanu PF to ensure
the political activity of oppo- ficials say Mnangagwa had ConCourt and the Supreme ment allows Mnangagwa to that the two-thirds majority
sition parties is restricted by agreed to serve one term, un- Court to continue to serve contain Chiwenga as he will The Act also increases the needed to amend the consti-
Covid-19 regulations – are til 2023, and thereafter allow beyond 70 years, if the Presi- serve at his pleasure. The run- President’s personal power by tution was attained.
increasingly consolidating Chiwenga to take over. He dent after consulting the JSC ning mate clause allowed the allowing him to appoint and
power with eyes firmly fixed has however reneged on the consents to their doing so. vice-president to enjoy the dismiss the Public Protector Security
on the 2023 general election. verbal agreement. same security of tenure as the after consulting the JSC and After assuming power, Mnan-
Mnangagwa has been gradu- Malaba has already ben- president ‒ meaning that the Parliament’s committee on gagwa unleashed a wave of
Zanu PF officials told ally consolidating power and efitted from this provision, President was not able to dis- standing rules and orders. purges in the military, police
The NewsHawks that the now has an upper hand over which will however strip miss the deputy. and Central Intelligence Or-
party was in election mode Chiwenga who lost ground judges of their security of “In other words, the office ganisation targeting Mugabe
hence the removal of Victor because of a life-threatening tenure, hence their indepen- The Act therefore allows of Public Protector will be and former first lady Grace
Matemadanda as political illness and the death of his dence. Mnangagwa to have pliant yet another office within the Mugabe’s allies, before going
commissar and his replace- most powerful backers in deputies who will serve at his President’s gift,” noted Ver- for Chiwenga’s loyalists.
ment with Patrick Chinama- After his appointment as pleasure. itas, a lawyer grouping with
sa this week. Cabinet, former Agricul- chief justice in 2017, Mala- an interest in legal, parlia- Key commanders – who
ture minister Perrance Shiri ba has sought to control the The Act also allows the mentary and constitutional pivoted the coup including
“Matemadanda was found and Foreign minister Sibusi- judiciary to help Mnangag- President to appoint up to issues. the commander of the Pres-
wanting when it comes to so Moyo. wa’s administration consoli- seven ministers from outside idential Guard battalion,
mobilising hence his replace- date power. The Act enables Parliament. At present he can Legislature retired Lieutenant-General
ment with Chinamasa ahead Judicial consolidation Mnangagwa to reward judg- appoint only five. Having realised that Zanu Anselem Sanyatwe – were
of 2023. Questions about Mnangagwa’s latest power es who would have aided PF no longer has a two- removed in February 2019
Matemadanda’s capacity grew consolidation move saw him his power consolidation bid, This will enable the Presi- thirds majority in parliament while Chiwenga was battling
after his failure to mobilise orchestrating the amendment while eliminating indepen- dent to extend his power to through deaths, Mnangagwa ill-health in India. Like his
people for the anti-sanctions of the constitution to facili- dent judges. control cabinet as well as ex- reached out to the MDC-T earlier South African health
rally in 2019, when between tate Malaba’s continued stay tending his powers of patron- first under Thokozani Khupe mission, the Indian health
5 000 and 7 000 people as head of the judiciary be- The executive age. using overt and covert means trip was unsuccessful, result-
pitched for the rally at the yond 70 years while also con- Mnangagwa also influenced including through the Polit- ing in him seeking treatment
National Sports Stadium centrating power in his hands the passing of the Constitu- The Act further gives the ical Actors Dialogue (Polad) in China for treatment, al-
which has a capacity of 60 at the expense of the judiciary tion of Zimbabwe Amend- President ultimate discre- platform. He managed to lowing Mnangagwa to con-
000. The President was em- and legislature. ment (No.2) Act, whose le- tion on the appointment secure Khupe’s support and solidate.
barrassed both at home and gality is being challenged in and dismissal of the Prosecu- also the support of Doug-
abroad since there was a lot The constitutional amend- court. The Act concentrates tor-General. It departs from las Mwonzora after power Commanders retired ahead
of scrutiny on the event,” said ments were however chal- power in the President’s the requirement that public changed hands following the of diplomatic assignments,
an official. lenged in the High Court, hands. interviews be held, as is the party’s congress before using included the late Zimbabwe
formerly headed by Chi- case with High Court judges. the MDC-T to recall MDC National Army chief-of-staff
“The writing was on the weshe, who previously head- The Act removes the run- Alliance legislators while en- retired Lieutenant-Gener-
wall from that time and his ed the Directorate of Legal ning mate clause which was The amendment will de- suring that by-elections are al Nyikayaramba, who was
fate has now been sealed.” Services and was Judge Ad- supposed to come into effect crease the Prosecutor-Gen- not held to fill vacancies. The chief-of-staff responsible for
vocate-General in the Zimba- in 2023 and allows the Presi- eral’s independence meaning service personnel and logis-
Matemadanda found no bwe National Army. He was he or she may be deployed for tics, retired Lieutenant-Gen-
sympathisers as he was also seen as a Chiwenga ally. eral Martin Chedondo and
not liked by the faction linked retired Air Marshal Sheba
to Vice-President Constan- The power consolidation Shumbayawonda.
tino Chiwenga, which was drive suffered a body blow
behind the appointment of when a three-member panel In May 2019, Mnangag-
retired Lieutenant-General consisting of Justice Happias wa then appointed Sanyatwe
Engelbert Rugeje in 2017. Zhou, Edith Mushore and Zimbabwe’s ambassador to
Rugeje was however elbowed Jester Helena Charewa, ap- Tanzania, while Nyikayaram-
out by Mnangagwa, as he pointed by Chiweshe, ruled ba was posted to Maputo,
sought to seize control of the that Malaba and other supe- Mozambique. Chedondo was
party from the military fac- rior court judges, as incum- posted to China.
tion. bents, could not benefit from
the constitutional amend- Sanyatwe had a personal
Officials revealed Mnan- ment. relationship with Chiwen-
gagwa was also forging ahead ga to the extent that he flew
with his own consolidation They ruled that Malaba from Tanzania to assist him
as seen by his latest push to ceased to be Chief Justice on finalise his divorce proceed-
control the judiciary, so that 15 May when he turned 70. ings with his wife Marry Chi-
he capitalises on the gains he wenga nee Mubaiwa.
has made since 2017. But to seize control of the
High Court, Mnangagwa this Another big blow for the
Mnangagwa is working week promoted Chiweshe Chiwenga camp was the re-
with Chief Justice Luke and five other judges to the moval of Rugeje from head-
Malaba on a massive power Supreme Court bench to ing the Zanu PF’s critical
consolidation project with a enable him to put an ally as mass mobilisation political
view to securing re-election judge president while dilut- commissariat. Rugeje oper-
in 2023. ing Chiweshe’s influence. ated in the war room during
the coup.
The political project in- Three of the judges will
cludes consolidating power hear Malaba’s appeal against Media
and influence in the exec- the High Court judgement. Mnangagwa has also gone on
utive, judiciary, legislature, a serious drive to co-opt pri-
security sector and the media Broadly, the amendments vately owned media houses,
ahead of the elections. permit the President to pro- resulting in self-evident cap-
mote judges of the High ture of some big players. The
Mnangagwa and Chiwen- Court and the Supreme government has issued broad-
ga are locked in a war of attri- Court to a higher court on casting licences to companies
tion which started soon after the recommendation of the associated with Zanu PF of-
the 2017 military coup which JSC without the need for ficials.
toppled former president public interviews, thereby
Robert Mugabe. Chiwenga opening the door to promo-
was the commander of the tions on the basis of political
Zimbabwe Defence Forces
during the coup which cata-
pulted Mnangagwa to power.
The two however fell out
soon afterwards over a num-
ber of unresolved power-re-
Page 10 News NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
President, manner:
Ziyambi defend “On the 24th of March 2021
constitutional
amendment the 1st respondent, through the
Senate, passed a motion restor-
PRESIDENT Emmerson who seeks to litigate on matters ninth Parliament, whose tenure ment (No.20) Act of 2013 as Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi. ing the Constitution of Zimba-
Mnangagwa and Justice minis- that do not affect him. The is- ends in 2023. read with rule 27(1) of the Con- builds up his case by arguing: bwe Amendment (No.1) Bill,
ter Ziyambi Ziyambi have op- sue of standing before the court Court rules, 2016, which cites [H.B. 1A, 2017] to the order
posed a Constitutional Court is undoubtedly one which re- In terms of the law, the exec- the Parliament of Zimbabwe, “It is my sincere contention paper when the said constitu-
application by lawyer Nqobani quires the courts to give a wide utive should have re-introduced Speaker of the National Assem- that the 1st respondent (Zi- tional Bill had lapsed on the
Sithole challenging the passing and permissive reading of the the Bill in the current parlia- bly, President of Senate, Ziyam- yambi) has failed to fulfil its 29th of July 2018 by operation
of the Constitution of Zimba- law. It, however, must not ex- ment, rather than carrying on bi and Mnangagwa, Sithole is constitutional obligation under of section 147 of the constitu-
bwe Amendment (No.1) Bill, tend to permitting persons like from the previous parliamentary seeking an order which declares section 131(2) as read with sec- tion upon the dissolution of the
arguing that legislative processes the applicant seeking academic life since it had already lapsed. that by passing Amendment tion 117(1) of the constitution righth Parliament.
that led to the passage of the Bill and abstract opinions from the (No.1) Bill on 6 April after it to have the Constitution of
were lawful. courts,” Ziyambi said. Section 147 of the constitu- was carried over into the cur- Zimbabwe Amendment (No.1) “On the 6th of April 2021
tion reads: “On the dissolution rent life of Parliament from the Bill, [H.B. 1A, 2017] presented the 1st respondent, through
Constitutional Amendment “There is no factual basis of Parliament, all proceedings previous one, Senate violated in, and passed by the Senate in the Senate, debated and passed
(No.1) Bill, among other out- upon which the applicant has pending at the time are termi- section 147 of the constitution. accordance with the provisions the Constitution of Zimbabwe
comes, sought to allow the pleaded the existence of locus nated, and every Bill, motion, of the constitution. Amendment (No. 1) Bill, [H.B.
President to appoint the Chief standi. He does not claim to be petition and other business laps- Sithole, represented by Bula- 1A, 2017] when the said Con-
Justice, Deputy Chief Justice even a registered voter whose es.” wayo-based law firm Ncube & “The 1st respondent failed stitutional Bill had lapsed on the
and Judge President without right to vote and to be represent- Partners, is seeking a declaratory to fulfil its constitutional obli- 29th of July 2018 by operation
subjecting them to an open se- ed in Parliament may be affect- In his application, in terms of order on several issues, but first gation under section 131(2) as of section 147 of the constitu-
lection process and public inter- ed in any way by the conduct of section 167(2)(d) of the Con- read with section 117(1) of the tion upon the dissolution of the
views. the business of Parliament. stitution of Zimbabwe Amend- constitution in the following eighth Parliament.”
Mnangagwa and Ziyam- “The applicant works on the In his application, Sithole
bi asked the court to dismiss assumption that simply being further argued the amendment
Sithole’s challenge with costs. a Zimbabwean citizen grants process violated the constitution
him the locus standi to ques- and that was dangerous in a de-
“I accordingly pray that the tion the conduct of parliament. mocracy.
present application be dismissed I certainly consider that not to
with costs. It is an abuse of the be sufficient and call upon the “Our country is a constitu-
process of this Honourable court to confirm that position,” tional democracy, meaning that
Court, and I urge the court to they said. the constitution is the supreme
depart from the rule that in law and any law, conduct, prac-
constitutional matter costs are On 23 April, Sithole filed tice or custom inconsistent with
not normally awarded,” Ziyam- a ConCourt application chal- it is null and void to the extent
bi said in a notice of opposition lenging the passing of the first of the inconsistency,” his appli-
dated 24 May. amendment, arguing that it cation adds.
violated section 147 of the con-
In a thinly veiled attack on stitution as it straddled two dif- Ziyambi responded: “There
Sithole, Mnangagwa and Zi- ferent lives of Parliament. is an oblique suggestion that the
yambi said the applicant has no court did not uphold the con-
locus standi to question the con- The Bill straddled the eighth stitution. This is unfortunate. It
duct of Parliament. Parliament which ran from is not correct, and it is denied.
2013 to midnight on 29 July The legislature and the executive
“It is apparent that the appli- 2018, and the currently running equally acted in accordance with
cant is a meddlesome individual the constitution.”
In his application, Sithole
urged the court to declare the
amendment null and void.
Mnangagwa desperately
wants Chief Justice Luke Mal-
aba to stay on for another five
years to help him in his 2023
re-election bid should almost
inevitable election disputes spill
into the courts, as happened in
2018 and other previous elec-
tions.
— STAFF WRITER.
Chiredzi villagers denounce coal-mining firm
MORRIS BISHI test leaders with unspec- Council chairperson Ed- from their mine, but if you neglecting the community in the old ages who want to
ified action. Villagers are ward Matsilele, who is also look at our roads, nothing since they drilled a borehole benefit without doing any-
TENSION is rising be- however threatening to halt ward 25 councillor, told The is being done despite seeing and renovated a classroom thing.
tween villagers in ward the company’s operations NewsHawks that the Indian heavy trucks going in and block at Chisambiji Prima-
25, Chiredzi East and the again. firm is ignoring calls for out of the mine on a daily ry School and are currently He said the company is
management of Indian developmental projects in basis” said Matsilele. working to connect electric- employing over 40 peo-
firm Coal Zimbabwe, with Chief Tshovani, born Fe- the area despite witnessing Councillor Aspect ity at the same institution. ple with 90% being locals
the community accusing lix Mundau, told The News- disturbing mining explo- Mashingaidze of ward 32, whom they trained with
the company of exploiting Hawks that the community sions on a daily basis. He an area which shares the “Our major challenge various skills. He said the
local resources without un- is aggrieved by the way Coal said some officials linked boundary with ward 25, is the quality of our coal, company has done nothing
dertaking corporate social Zimbabwe is operating in to the company are treating said several attempts to en- which is low as compared wrong.
responsibilities in an area the area. He said after locals the concerns by the people gage Coal Zimbabwe have to the one being mined in
which is one of the least de- raised concerns, the compa- as extortion instead of ad- failed. He said the company Hwange. Many companies A senior politician in
veloped in the country. ny promised to address the dressing them. should look at what oth- are not taking from us and Chiredzi told The News-
issues, but has not fulfilled er companies like Tongaat the few who are coming Hawks that the concerns by
The firm, whose own- its promises. “People were quiet for Hulett, Malilangwe Trust are paying us in local cur- the community in Chiredzi
ers are close to President many years, but it is now and Gonarezhou Conser- rency, making it difficult East are genuine, but the
Emmerson Mnangagwa, “There are concerns surprising that we are now vation Trust are doing to for us to undertake major Indian firm, a sister compa-
began exploring for coal at which were raised by the being labelled as extortion- communities in Chiredzi. projects for the communi- ny to Steelmakers, is getting
Chisambiji, 40 kilometres community in respect of ists for demanding what Coal Zimbabwe general ties around us. We are do- protection from the state
east of Chiredzi, in 2005 corporate social respon- this company is owing us. manager Atul Parande told ing something for the local due to its links to President
and early this year the com- sibility. They feel that the Several houses and build- The NewsHawks that the In- school and currently we
munity led by traditional company should undertake ings are developing cracks dian firm is incapacitated to are working on connecting Mnangagwa. He said
leaders and local politicians projects which develop the due to mining explosions so undertake major communi- electricity but the project is during the protest earlier
threatened to stop opera- area since they are taking re- demanding attention is not ty projects since the grade not going according to our this year the community
tions at the mine in protest sources from it. After some a crime. of coal they are mining in expectations due to resource through traditional lead-
at the failure to plough back discussions, the company Chiredzi is of a lower grade constraints,” said Parande. ers clearly demanded the
to the community. promised to do something “They only drilled a as compared to that being departure of Parande from
and we are waiting for the borehole at Chisambiji pri- mined in Hwange. He said Parande accused some the mine, but state agents
The protest stopped af- fulfilment of the promise,” mary school and repaired it is untrue that they are community leaders of be- later threatened protest
ter the intervention of state said Mundau. a classroom block which ing misguided and thinking leaders who are now fearing
agents who threatened pro- was affected by explosions like people who are living to voice the community’s
Chiredzi Rural District grievances.
NewsHawks News Page 11
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
STEPHEN CHADENGA Zanu PF, Gweru residents on the waiting list? Who will
clash over vending space speak for the non-affiliated
THE ruling Zanu PF is who are on the waiting list?”
headed for a showdown with tencies by “ dancing to the as vendors at the time and “We as GUPRARDA fairs in Zanu PF, and we hear
Gweru residents who are ac- whims of politicians” in the were in council records were Trust are therefore baffled some even from the MDC. He said council adminis-
cusing the party of bypass- allocation of vending mar- advised to register as well as and disappointed by allega- tration was continuing to be
ing city council procedure kets. any other person interested tions that council now in- “What assurance do we rendered powerless through
in the allocation of vending in venturing into vending,” tends to create a quota for have that the qouta system political meddling.
space to accommodate its “When council demol- Chikore told The News- people seconded by war vet- will not be used for cronyism
members ahead of informal ished the vending sites, all Hawks. erans, women and youth af- and nepotism at the expense But council spokesperson
traders already on the wait- those who were operating of deserving people who are Vimbai Chingwaramusee
ing list, The NewsHawks can said the local authority was
report. not aware that Zanu PF was
interfering with the distribu-
In January, mayor Josiah tion of vending markets.
Makombe revealed that the
waiting list had ballooned to “I would not know about
over 5 000 informal traders. political parties, women and
youth affairs, you can get
Zanu PF is however hi- comment from their respec-
jacking the parcelling out of tive spokespersons,” she said.
vending bays to allocate land
to its members. “As a local authority, we
will allocate space as per
Council had said that reg- waiting list with priority be-
istered vendors and those ing given to the traders who
on the waiting list would be have always been trading in
given the markets since they those areas before the lock-
were affected by demolitions down markets’ reconstruc-
made last year during the tion and renovation move.
beginning of the Covid-19 More so, when allocating
pandemic. stalls we don’t look at any-
one’s political affiliation. For
But Zanu PF is using its us, all traders fall under one
political muscle and has umbrella of being City of
roped in war veterans, wom- Gweru traders.”
en and youth wings so that
they get preference in grab- Zanu PF Midlands pro-
bing the stalls. vincial spokesperson Corne-
lius Mpereri said his office
The move comes hard on has not received information
the heels of a report by this that party members were in-
publication two months ago terfering with the allocation
that Zanu PF youths had of vending markets.
grabbed vending markets
at Mtapa where council al- But in successive meet-
located temporary space to ings held by the ruling party
traders awaiting comple- since March at the Gweru
tion of the refurbishment of district offices and attended
vending sites. by The NewsHawks, senior
party officials have been
Gweru United Progressive urging members to register
Residents and Ratepayers (with Zanu PF) to get vend-
Development Trust (GUP- ing space in the city.
RARDA) director David
Chikore said it was shock- The move is part of Zanu
ing that council was failing PF’s plan to mobilise five
to maintain policy consis- million votes in the 2023
elections.
Granite miners anger Mutoko villagers
MUTOKO villagers are un- them to develop the com- courages mining companies enough. As we talk now, tion. It’s taking almost a de- provincial publicity officer,
happy with granite-mining munity. We have clinics to support social investment benefits are heavily outwit- cade to complete a project. Astas Mabwe, said the min-
companies which are ex- and schools which are un- which should result in tangi- ted by disadvantages. Social ers are putting people and
tracting the valuable stone der-developed and they have ble development. corporate responsibility is in “A good example is Guru- livestock at risk by leaving
without contributing to lo- to look after those develop- existence at a very minimal re Clinic which two compa- behind deep pits without re-
cal development projects. ments,” said Chief Mutoko. However, he said the level which is not favourable nies had taken up (to sup- habilitating the terrain.
companies were not invest- to our communities,” he port financially) for 11 years
Mutoko, known for its “They are not even tak- ing in the community. said. and still failed to complete,” “These companies own
vast black granite deposits, is ing care of roads they used said Karimazondo. more than two sites since the
located 143 kilometres east to transport black granite. “To tell you the truth “The major challenge in quality of black granite dif-
of Harare in Mashonaland They are only putting hu- about black granite mining, social corporate responsibil- The director of Shine fers and market determines.
East province. mans and livestock at risk as Mutoko RDC can hardly ity is time of implementa- Faith-Based Organisation, So, you find out that a com-
they leave pits without fill- admit that it’s benefiting a non-governmental entity, pany might move to another
Several companies have ing them after mining.” Reverend Mhosira, who is site without filling opened
over the years exploited the also the chairperson of the up pits, creating a danger
granite deposits, but the Mutoko North, for exam- Zimbabwe National Re- to livestock and human,” he
people of Mutoko, compris- ple, has 43 schools. Of these, source Council, said natural said.
ing mostly the Buja commu- 25 are primary schools and resources are the real wealth
nity, say they have not bene- 18 are secondary institu- of nations and are the nat- Mabwe said mining com-
fitted from the resource. tions. Out of the 25 primary ural capital out of which panies argue that if they fill
schools, 19 do not have ac- other forms of wealth are up the pits with soil, it will
Local traditional lead- cess to water and eight do derived and, as such, should become expensive to re-ex-
er Chief Mutoko told The not have electricity. contribute to development ploit the granite once the
NewsHawsks that the re- and poverty reduction in demand for rocks improves.
source had become a curse Three clinics in the con- Mutoko. Meanwhile, com-
to his people. stituency do not have run- menting on land degra- He said Ema urges min-
ning water. Mutoko Rural dation, the Environmen- ing companies to either
“We are not benefitting District Council chairperson tal Management Agency fence off non-active sites or
anything from these miners, Christopher Karimazondo (Ema’s) Mashonaland East backfill them.
they are just taking away our said the local authority en-
precious stones. We want —STAFF WRITERS.
Page 12 News NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
OWEN GAGARE Moyo, Zec exchange fire over victory.
presidential election rigging “We have seen some dam-
FORMER minister and MP
Jonathan Moyo has sarcasti- Constitutional Court (Con- cess. Luke Malaba (the Chief neutral arbitrator or judge. All contained “unfounded alle- aging allegations against the
cally yet robustly dismissed a Court) case as a finger to hide Justice whose tenure has been this and more is documented gations” in its first public re- commission in a book called
belated reaction by the Zim- behind. That ConCourt case ruled to have ended on 15 in Excelgate.” action to the disclosures that
babwe Electoral Commission was a charade because it was an May by the High Court) was a have further tainted Mnan- Excelgate by Prof. J Moyo.
(Zec) to his book on election extension of the rigging pro- key player in the rigging, not a Prior to Moyo’s response, gagwa’s disputed wafer-thin Take note that the election
fraud and rigging in the coun- Zec had said that the book was conducted in 2018 and
try, which the electoral body aggrieved parties followed the
says contains “unfounded alle- constitutionally laid down
gations”. procedures to challenge the
election,” Zec said.
Responding to Zec’s re-
buttal of his ground-breaking “The Constitutional Court
monograph, Excelgate: How made a definitive ruling which
Zimbabwe’s 2018 Presidential concluded the matter. The
Election Was Stolen, Moyo said commission will not be drawn
the electoral body has been into any brawls on issues that
slow and incompetent in deal- have been concluded by the
ing with revelations of ballot country’s highest court.
fraud in his book, although it
is always quick and efficient in “The commission is busy
rigging elections. with important work of stake-
holder consultations on how
“While Zec is quick to rig to map 2023 election delim-
elections, they apparently take itation and will not be dis-
years to respond to damaging tracted from its constitutional
exposure of their rigging. Pris- mandate by unfounded allega-
cilla Chigumba, the Zec chair- tions.”
person, was one of the first
people, outside the publisher’s Moyo, a professor of poli-
team, to get a copy of Excelgate tics, says in his book that Cha-
and I know for a fact that she misa was robbed of clear vic-
and her officials read it,” Moyo tory by Mnangagwa who was
said. helped to rig the poll by the se-
curity establishment and Zec.
“Yet they are only respond-
ing 18 months later after be- After taking over the control
ing caught with their pants of the state and its institutions,
down following unassailable ZDF, in a bid to protect and
disclosures of the names of consolidate the gains of the
key securocrats, including the 2017 military coup, brazenly
(Central Intelligence Organi- commandeered the machinery
sation) CIO’s Mavis Matsan- of Zec, particularly its com-
ga and Zimbabwe Defence puter network server, corrupt-
Force (ZDF)’s retired Major ed its internal system as well as
Chivasa, who oversaw and logistics and illegally changed
supervised the Zec operations the route and destination for
and logistics that enabled Em- the collation, compilation and
merson Mnangagwa to steal transmission of the result of
the 2018 presidential election the 2018 presidential election,
from (main opposition MDC for purposes of rigging the
Alliance leader) Nelson Cha- poll in favour of Mnangagwa,
misa. whom it had earlier imposed as
President of Zimbabwe on 24
“It is idle for Zec to use the November 2017 following the
removal of the then president
Robert Mugabe, Moyo says.
There is a future.
ZIMBABWE
CHILDREN’S CANCER RELIEF
STAY EARLY
ALERT! DETECTION
IISS TTHHEE BBEESSTT PPRROOTTEECCTTIIOONN!!
IF YOU SUSPECT EYE CANCER
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NewsHawks News Page 13
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
NYASHA CHINGONO Zim farm invasions continue
amid government posturing
MORE than 20 years after the
chaotic fast-track land redistribu- Court threw our belongings out Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation minister Kirsty Coventry snatched Zhuwawo’s Cockington Farm in Zvimba. slogans.
tion programme began, Zimba- and forced us into the open on 7 Stocktheft has dealt a major
bwe is still grappling with agrar- May. We have nowhere to go to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s promis- relative, with their cattle currently ed in the heart of Mazowe, with
ian disruption as farm invasions and have been living in the open es of a new start. on a rented plot. sources saying powerful Zanu PF blow to the dairy business which,
and evictions continue unabated space since then,’’ he told The officials oversee the disruptive ac- as earlier reported by this publica-
under the “new dispensation”, NewsHawks. By failing to respect property Ironically, the Groblers were tivities. tion, has crumbled since Mugabe
raising questions about the gov- rights, a critical element of Mnan- evicted from their Ruwa farm by was removed in a military coup in
ernment’s sincerity in empower- While Magadza is licking his gagwa’s international re-engage- Ivy Rupindi, a civil servant in the Gold mining activities have November 2017.
ing indigenous farmers. wounds, another war veteran and ment plan, the Zanu PF govern- ministry of Agriculture. gone on for months, while at-
businessman, Frederick Mutan- ment is effectively showing the tempts to evict the panners from Some of Mugabe’s closest rela-
Several farmers, including in- da, frantically tried to engage the world what it really thinks about Mnangagwa’s regime has also the estate are proving futile. tives have also been hounded off
digenous farmers and those who minister of Lands, Anxious Masu- the rule of law. used land grabs to persecute Mug- their farms, with the latest being
benefitted from the land reform ka, but to no avail, after dozens of abe’s family. Gold panners, with This also follows revelations Walter Chidhakwa’s wife, who
programme, have been left out Zanu PF youths invaded his farm Under the glare of interna- the acquiesce of the authorities, that villagers in Mazowe went lost her farm to Zanu PF officials.
in the cold after their farms were with motorbikes on Tuesday last tional media, commercial farmer have invaded Mugabe’s sprawling on a rampage, slaughtering more
invaded by politically connected week. Martin Grobler was evicted from farmland in Mazowe and installed than 1 400 cattle belonging to Chidhakwa is Mugabe’s rela-
persons. his Ruwa farm last September. a gold milling plant. Mugabe’s family. Sources told tive and was vocal against Mnan-
In a well-calculated ploy to The NewsHawks that the villagers gagwa’s bid to bury the late former
In the past two weeks, The whip him for supporting a bid to Months after the eviction, Pictures of the estate show slaughtering the cattle could be leader at the Heroes’ Acre.
NewsHawks has reported on two challenge the extension of Luke Grobler and his wife Derby are massive destruction and unregu- heard chanting pro-Mnangagwa
farm invasions involving war vet- Malaba’s term as Zimbabwe’s surviving at the benevolence of a lated mining on the farm, situat- Chidhakwa’s wife has lost 250
erans. chief justice, Mutanda believes hectares and is left with 181 hect-
the invasion is a political message ares of less fertile land.
Rafingora-based farmer and for his purported “misdemean-
war veteran Benedict Owen Ben ours”. Patrick Zhuwawo, Mugabe’s
Magadza (66), who had been nephew, last year lost his farm to
staying for more than a decade The marauding Zanu PF Sports minister Kirsty Coventry.
at Mupangure plot number one, youths, riding motorcycles, in- Coventry snatched Zhuwawo’s
became one of the latest black vaded and camped at Mutanda’s Cockington Farm in Zvimba.
Zimbabweans to lose land to a farm in Mutorashanga, Masho-
compatriot. naland West province. The party Grace’s sister Shuvai Gumbo-
youths accused Mutanda, who chuma also lost her Kachere Farm
Magadza was evicted after his was the late Vice-President Joshua in Concession to a top Zanu PF
plot was allocated to Central In- Nkomo’s bodyguard, of being an- official in 2018, as Mugabe’s fam-
telligence Organisation (CIO) of- ti-government when he support- ily continues to be hounded by
ficer Joyce Kamhedzera. Magad- ed Malaba’s ouster. Mnangagwa’s regime.
za, who had stayed at the farm
since 2008, fought a legal battle Although Mutanda frantically This is above the land grabs for
with Kamhedzera for nearly three tried to engage Masuka, the min- several ministers who fled Zimba-
months, but lost, culminating in ister lent him a deaf ear. bwe following the 2017 coup.
his eviction.
Mutanda said he had been The hounding of Mugabe’s
The farm at the centre of con- hounded by Zanu PF elements family is at the heart of a fierce
troversy is situated about 153 over the years, a worrying situa- battle for the veteran leader’s body
kilometres north-west of Harare tion for “well meaning” farmers. that ensued following his death
and measures 118.75 hectares. on 6 September in 2019.
“It’s not surprising that these
In early May, Magadza, his youths were sent to intimidate Zimbabwe is already an inter-
wife and child were forced out me and my family. My biggest national pariah that needs more
of a four-roomed house he had concern is that the youths get friends than enemies.
built for his family, leaving several drunk and start sexually assault-
farming projects on the sprawling ing my family. It was done before. The farm grabs fly in the face
farm. Rape is their number one weapon of the government’s pledge to
against perceived enemies. I am ensure properties under Bilateral
Amid the agonising evictions, concerned about my family be- Investment Protection and Pro-
Magadza is also grappling with cause they have done it before,” motion Agreements (Bippas) are
grief as he is now forced to aban- Mutanda said. protected.
don the land on which he buried
his daughter in 2019. Farm invasions have been The government, in a land
more pronounced under the “new compensation deal signed last
“We are staying about 900 me- dispensation”, despite President year, agreed to bring back foreign
tres from the farm properties that landowners who were evicted
I built. This was my hope and from their property held under
future for emancipation through Bippas during the chaotic post-
farming, but all the hope has been 2000 land redistribution exercise.
lost. We have been staying in the
open together with my wife and
one of our children as the other
two are currently in Harare. It
is painful that the Messenger of
Celebrates
HAPPY FATHER’S
DAY
20 June 2021
We celebrate our fathers’ love and presence in our lives. Let
The NewsHawks spread out love to your beloved fathers.
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Page 14 News NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Special Covid-19
PANDEMIC coverage
Covid-19 Ncube.
vaccination Ncube said at beginning
turns elitist
amid shortage of the year that government
had set aside US$100 mil-
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE ond doses. payment model so that gov- Diseases Hospital, which in the administration of first lion to acquire vaccines as
The vaccines are now ernment can recoup the cost seemed to be the only in- doses from as high as 22 248 he was just waiting for the
THE vaccination pro- of procurement.” stitution able to administer for first doses administered go-ahead from scientists
gramme in Zimbabwe has readily available at private the second dose, was this on 7 May, when Zimbabwe as to which vaccines to ac-
turned elitist, with only clinics such as Health Point While the first doses are week only taking a maxi- reached the half million quire.
those with foreign currency in Harare where they are go- unavailable at most public mum 100 people per day. mark, to as low between 1
having access to doses at pri- ing for US$20 for locals and institutions, the facilities 000 to 4 000 this week. Zimbabwe has registered
vate health facilities, while US$50 for foreigners. still able to administer the An analysis of the dai- four vaccines for use, in-
the rest are being turned second dose are now limit- ly situation report (sitrep) Zimbabwe planned to cluding the Chinese Sin-
away from public institu- Initially, the government ing numbers. published by the Health buy one million Covid-19 opharm and Sinovac, the
tions due to shortages. had planned to sell the vac- and Child Care ministry vaccines a month in the sec- Russian Sputnik V and the
cines to the public, but later The main vaccination also shows a massive drop ond quarter, according to Indian Covaxin.
Zimbabwe has been expe- reversed the decision after a centre, Wilkins Infectious
riencing vaccine shortages public uproar. In Harare, the few places
for more than two weeks. that are administering the
In February, Finance first dose had long, wind-
The authorities are being minister Mthuli Ncube said ing queues throughout the
evasive about the shortages, private citizens would pay week. At most centres, vac-
claiming people can still eas- for the vaccine and later said cines were running out after
ily get the first and second the donated vaccines would a few hours.
doses at public facilities, but be free.
the situation on the ground On Saturday, many health
tells a different story. “Look, private citizens facilities in Harare, includ-
obviously would have to ing the private clinics, were
Ministry of Health offi- pay for the vaccine as we turning away people who
cials say the country received have maintained the vac- wanted to get their first dos-
1.7 million doses, and as of cine is actually cheaper than es, including Parirenyatwa
2 June a cumulative 1 040 some of the personal private Hospital, Avondale Clinic
214 doses had been admin- equipment (PPE) that they and the Cimas Clinic.
istered, with 682 242 being are procuring,” he said in an
first doses and 357 972 sec- interview with state media. On Wednesday, Wilkins
Hospital staff told those
“So, there will be some seeking the first dose that
the government had given
an instruction for the sus-
pension of the first dose.
Zimbabwe has been get-
ting a good rating for its
vaccination programme
since launch on 18 Febru-
ary. As of 2 June, Zimba-
bwe was ranked 80th out of
163 countries with the most
doses administered.
NOKUTHABA DLAMINI ... Mat North paralysed by The country’s second
Covid-19 vaccine shortage phase is targeting school-
MATABELELAND North Padingani said even raised by villagers especially they gave me another ex- 200 000 doses of the Sino- teachers, religious leaders,
province has temporarily though there was too much in Nkayi who complained cuse, so l doubt I’ll go back vac vaccine which arrived security forces, the elderly,
suspended the administra- skepticism on the uptake of about the long distances again anytime soon.” from China in March in and people with chronic
tion of the first Covid-19 the vaccine in past months, they travel to health cen- addition to a donation diseases. The vaccines that
Sinovac doses after running the turnout has largely im- tres. Simanga Dube (27), a Padingani, however, said of 400 000 Sinopharm the country’s health author-
out of vaccines, health offi- proved. villager from Mathetshane- they had not received any doses from China. ities have approved for use
cials say. ni area, said she was turned complaints about long dis- include the Sinopharm and
“The demand is now away twice last week at the tances travelled by citizens The first phase of Zim- Sinovac vaccines from Chi-
Provincial medical direc- high though, and the up- main hospital and has lost to health centres. babwe’s vaccination cam- na, Russia’s Sputnik-V and
tor Munekayi Padingani take has improved. Al- interest in the vaccination paign, which relied on India’s Covaxin, although
told The NewsHawks that though people are coming, programme. “We are not having that Sinopharm, targeted front- only the Chinese vaccines
the suspension includes the we can’t offer them dose kind of problem for now line workers such as health have arrived in this south-
resort city of Victoria Falls one when we know that we “Our village has no clinic because these people find care personnel, border post ern African country.
that was initially prioritised can’t give them dose two,” nearby and the closest hos- their own way to reach to officials, gravediggers and
during the second phase he said. pital is about 12 kilometres the clinics or hospitals, but journalists. Zimbabwe aims to vac-
of the vaccination drive to so when l heard about these we will see when we get cinate 10 million people,
promote tourism. “The country is waiting vaccine rollout, I walked to to phase three if they’ll be Since the beginning of representing 60% of the
for the third consignment the main hospital (Nkayi) need for outreach.” the first phase in Febru- country’s population, in
“People are still coming and that’s where we are go- and the receptionist told ary, the Health ministry an effort to achieve herd
for their first doses, unfor- ing to make sure that we me that the vaccination Matabeleland North has reported that 678 003 immunity, which is when
tunately we no longer have administer the vaccination programme was put on province has seven dis- and 353 278 people had enough people have im-
enough to cater for them, to all those in need of it hold and advised me to tricts, namely Tsholotsho, received their first and sec- munity, either from vac-
so we have had to stop giv- now.” check again this week and Lupane, Nkayi, Hwange, ond dose vaccinations as of cination or past infection,
ing them until further no- Binga, Umguza and Bubi. 2 June. to stop the uncontrolled
tice,” Padingani said. Concerns have been spread of a virus.
Zimbabwe purchased
“We are currently only As of 2 June, Zimbabwe
administering the second had recorded 38 998 coro-
doses and this includes navirus cases with 1 599
even the rural population deaths and 36 624 recov-
and everyone in the prov- eries.
ince.”
NewsHawks News Page 15
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Chinese vaccines safe: Ambassador
OWEN GAGARE “At home, China maintains
good control over the pandem-
THE Sinopharm and Sinovac Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun. ic. The new cases are mostly
vaccines being used in Zim- imported. For example, on 30
babwe’s Covid-19 vaccination Bahrain Crown Prince and The CoronaVac vaccine is isation (WHO) on 7 May in 100% of samples. April, China reported 16 new
programme are safe and have Prime Minister Salman (bin also an inactivated vaccine, de- listed the Sinopharm vaccine Ambassador Guo said Chi- cases, all from overseas. The
been used on millions of peo- Hamad Al Khalifa).” veloped by Sinovac Biotech. for emergency use, giving the Chinese economy has staged
ple in China and globally, the green light for the vaccine to be na was doing well to contain a strong comeback. It was the
Asian country’s ambassador to The Sinopharm jab is an in- “Recent data in Indone- rolled out globally. This week, Covid-19, adding that the only major economy to register
Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun, activated vaccine developed by sia, Brazil and other countries the WHO approved Sinovac Chinese economy was on the growth in 2020,” Guo said.
says. China National Biotec Group shows it is very effective in pre- for emergency use. The WHO rebound despite disruptions
(CNBG). Interim results of venting infections, hospitalisa- said it prevented symptomatic caused by the pandemic since “In the first quarter of 2021,
Vaccination began at the phase-three clinical trials tions, admissions to intensive disease in 51% of those vac- early last year. China’s GDP growth rate was
Wilkins Infectious Diseases released by its developer show care units and deaths,” Guo cinated and prevented severe 18.3%. Last week, millions of
Hospital in Harare on Febru- that it has 79.34% efficacy said. symptoms and hospitalisation China was the first country Chinese spent a joyful Interna-
ary 18 after Zimbabwe received against Covid-19. to be hit hard by the pandemic tional Workers’ Day holiday.
an initial donation of 200 000 The World Health Organ- after an outbreak in Wuhan. On 1 May, passenger trips on
doses of the Sinopharm vaccine Chinese railways hit a new sin-
from China. gle-day high, with nearly 18.83
million trips recorded.”
Vice-President Constantino
Chiwenga, who doubles as the Despite the progress, Guo
Health minister, received the said China continues to follow
first jab, helping allay safety health guidelines including the
fears at a time there was talk wearing of masks and sanitis-
that the vaccine was not rec- ing hands while vaccinating its
ommended for persons with population fast.
underlying conditions, among
other concerns. The Chinese diplomat said
Zimbabwe had done well in its
However, Guo said there vaccination programme hence
was a need for more informa- its ranking as the seventh-best
tion dissemination to burst
“toxic myths”. African country in manag-
ing Covid-19 vaccination, ac-
“As of 19 May, China had cording to the WHO vaccine
injected more than 435 million tracker.
jabs, including the Sinopharm
and Sinovac vaccines. As of 27 He commended the private
April, China has supplied over sector for contributing in the
100 million doses of vaccines Covid-19 fight.
globally as assistance to more
than 80 countries and three “Such solidarity will go a
international organisations and long way towards sustaining
exports to more than 40 coun- the momentum of the pro-
tries,” Guo said. gramme,” Guo said.
“In many places, Chinese “Going forward, it is import-
vaccines have shown good re- ant that awareness campaigns
sults. For example, in Belgrade, are continued across the coun-
where 34% of adults are inocu- try to educate the public about
lated, the daily increase in cases the science of vaccines and bust
is dropping fast. Given time, the various toxic myths holding
there will be more data and people back. The commitment
feedback about these vaccines. of the top leadership and gov-
ernment and the solidarity of
“Many state leaders have the people are also critical.
taken the vaccines, such as
Turkish President (Tayyip) “This is the most important
Erdogan and Vice-President factor in China’s success. As
(Fuat) Oktay, Seychelles Pres- long as the government and
ident (Wavel) Ramkalawan, people act in unison in im-
Jordanian Prime Minister Bish- plementing the WHO guide-
er Al Khasawneh, Indonesian lines and get vaccinated when
President Joko Widodo and opportunities arise, we will be
able to put the pandemic under
BERNARD MPOFU rGiseensddeurr-ibnagseldocvkidoloewnnces control.”
al report, the ZCC established ing to and from victims,” the Covid-19 prevention regu- The ZCC, in collaboration Covid-19 case on 21 March
THE outbreak of Covid-19 a multi-disciplinary expert ZCC said. lations of social distancing, with the ministry of Health 2020. Schools and interna-
and the attendant restric- facility (MDEF) to manage a hand sanitising and wearing of and Child Care, has trained a tional borders were closed and
tions which resulted in most helpline and handle psychoso- “The operating environment masks in the immediate term, total of 970 ecumenical health on 30 March 2020 the country
businesses stopping opera- cial support issues. The team was characterised by deepened which is a milestone in curb- champions in six provinces, entered a national lockdown.
tions triggered a spike in gen- comprises social scientists, economic and humanitarian ing the spread of the pandem- namely Mashonaland East, In January, the country also
der-based violence (GBV) as lawyers, medical experts and crises, social fragmentation, ic,” the ZCC said. Mashonaland Central, Masv- enforced another two-month
experts continue to count the counsellors. political polarisation, and lack ingo, Midlands, Matabeleland lockdown after the second
cost of the pandemic, the Zim- of constitutionalism. The ad- “Livestreaming of over and Manicaland. The trained wave of infections.
babwe Council of Churches “Through the Helpline vent of Covid-19 pandemic 25 church sermons was also participants have been active-
(ZCC) has said. platform, ZCC received and worsened the situation thereby conducted on these multime- ly involved in cascading of Experts say while restric-
handled over 100 psychoso- exposing citizens to more vul- dia platforms. Pastors shared behavioural change messages tions have slowed down the
The Covid-19 pandemic cial support (PSS) and gen- nerabilities.” messages of hope and gave within their communities. spread of the pandemic, these
and steps taken by govern- der-based violence (GBV) cas- strength to church members This has resulted in improved responses had immediate and
ments to tackle the spread of es. ZCC capacitated Helpline The campaigns through during Covid-19 period. adherence to the Covid-19 long-term consequences for
the virus, including lockdowns Counsellors through procure- multimedia platforms have Church members felt theo- regulations on social distanc- women and girls who faced
and movement restrictions, ment of smartphones for fa- helped increase awareness on logically strengthened despite ing, wearing of masks and disruptions to their educa-
have had a range of impacts on cilitators, provision of airtime Covid-19 in the targeted com- not being able to congregate hand sanitisation. tion, livelihoods, food security
GBV around the world. Re- and data bundles for commu- munities, the ZCC said. physically due to the Covid-19 and access to services includ-
ports of domestic violence, nicating, and fuel for commut- regulations.” Zimbabwe reported its first ing GBV support and sexual
child marriage, violence by “This has resulted in im- and reproductive healthcare
state officials and armed proved adherence to the (SRH).
guards, online abuse and other
forms of GBV have increased Lockdown restrictions
globally and regionally during mean that women and girls are
the pandemic, and Zimbabwe forced to spend time enclosed
is no exception to this trend. with families, trapping many
at home with their abusers.
According to its latest annu- Violence also manifested in
public places.
Page 16 News NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
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NewsHawks Editorial & Opinion Page 17
Issue 33, 4 June 2021 CARTOON
Stop weaponising
judicial system
THE Supreme Court has ordered the immediate release of po- Zim: A constitution without
litical prisoners Last Maengahama andTungamirai Madzokere, functional constitutionalism
eight years after they were unjustly locked up. ON Monday we were invited as journal- da, as they face the gargantuan task of Constitutionalism is at the core of good
ists to Swedish ambassador Asa Pehrson’s writing a new constitution for the con- governance and democracy as it provides
Although liberty must always be cherished, there is really Chisipite residence in Harare to be part flict-ravaged country in transition. the necessary checks and balances on the
nothing to celebrate here. of a public debate on the right to freedom exercise of power.
of expression, as well as free and indepen- This was in the middle of a botched
The MDC activists were not supposed to be persecuted in dent media. political transition which had failed to While making a new constitution was
the first place. In a sense, celebrating their release would be materialise as the country had plateaued difficult, the most difficult part has been
tantamount to validating the evil actions of an authoritarian There were a number of colleagues in- in crisis amid structure-induced stability. entrenching constitutionalism. Zimba-
kleptocracy. volved in media issues; from journalism bwe faces a paradox of having a good
practice, policy lobby to advocacy. It In a Gramscian sense, the Zimbabwe constitution without constitutionalism.
Maengahama and Madzokere were spitefully convicted of was a great discussion, looking at issues crisis has to be understood as multi-fac-
killing a police officer. affecting the media, including capture eted. The importance of the constitution
and sustainability in the context of dem- cannot be overemphasised. Constitution-
Their acquittal after eight years in prison raises all sorts of ocratic continuum and progression post- A first and most fundamental aspect of alism goes beyond a good constitution
questions. Whose blunder was this? Was it a blunder to begin Covid-19. Gramsci’s thinking is that crisis is not a and indeed beyond constitutionality of
with or naked persecution? From the so-called witnesses to the static event, but as process. governmental action or a country’s laws.
investigating officers to the judge and the court assessors, they For media is the lifeblood of any de-
have all collectively committed a gross injustice. mocracy. That’s why it’s a big deal to al- This means, first, that crisis is not Of late we have seen President Emmer-
ways measure its pulse. Its pulsation can framed as an external shock or exogenous son Mnangagwa mutilating the relative-
The case spent years awaiting a Supreme Court ruling. indicate whether democracy is dying or event that break into a social order. Crisis ly new constitution through self-serving
Human rights lawyer Musa Kika has spoken out about the not. As they say, democracy dies in dark- has in this sense a history, since it origi- amendments designed and calculated to
lethargic pace at which such matters are handled. The cliche ness. By the same rationale, it thrives nates in contradictions or tensions in the ensure power consolidation and enable
“justice delayed is justice denied” has never sounded more apt. where there is light. old, dying social order. his 2023 re-election.
“It is a matter of justice to demand of our courts speedy hand-
ing down of judgements.” Before the discussion, we watched For Zimbabwe, the crisis mainly em- This process included amending the
Kika says nothing can ever restore the years Maengahama Danish cinematographer Camilla Niels- anates from contradictions that the lib- constitution twice to give Mnangagwa
and Madzokere lost while languishing in jail. He is spot-on. son’s popular film on Zimbabwe, Dem- eration struggle itself created and mani- vast and discretionary power, including
No Zimbabwean is safe from the depredations of unaccount- ocrats. It was a good throwback to the fested. the power to appoint judges without
able leaders. Eight years ago, they unjustly incarcerated these heady days of the Government of Na- the transparent and accountable inter-
two, but tomorrow they could lock up anyone. Law-abiding tional Unity and the Constitutional Hawk Eye views-based process.
citizens are at the mercy of the political whims and caprices of parliamentary select committee, Copac,
power mongers. which produced the new constitution. Dumisani This has led to a judicial imbro-
Weaponisation of the judicial system has become a serious Muleya glio centred around the constitutional
national crisis. Pre-trial detention is being used to victimise That is one bright stretch in Zimba- amendments and extension of Chief Jus-
dissenters and silence citizens. bwe’s stormy and patchy democratic his- Second, if crisis does not boil down tice Luke Malaba’s tenure blocked by the
Just this week, trumped up charges against MDC activist tory. to single, exogenous events, it represents High Court.
Terrence Manjengwa were finally quashed, a whole month af- more than just a single moment sepa-
ter he was locked up. The film was a good introduction to rating the old from the new order. It is, Now, where there is a good constitu-
The Supreme Court was scathing in its judgement freeing the debate. rather, long, multidimensional and trans- tion without constitutionalism, like in
Maengahama and Madzokere. The High Court had used the formative processes of political and eco- Zimbabwe, the ruling elite, though on
wrong law in establishing whether the appellants had partic- Over the course of more than three nomic failure that can last for decades, paper committed to the principles of the
ipated or associated themselves with the commission of the years, Nielsson had gained exclusive ac- and can develop a life of its own. constitution, disregard the provisions of
crime. cess to the inner circles of politics and the the constitution at their convenience in
This is a huge scandal. In a country that postures like a con- constitution-making process in the late Having secured a new constitution, a the pursuit of power consolidation or
stitutional democracy, it is unacceptable for the justice delivery former president Robert Mugabe’s turbu- progressive one by world standards, Zim- other self-serving agendas.
system to send citizens to prison on the basis of non-existent lent and broken Zimbabwe. babwe is now confronting a different yet
laws. There is a growing pattern. People have been arrested related problem. It is only through entrenched consti-
and charged under non-existent laws -- only to be acquitted Democrats, full of interesting anec- tutionalism that a country’s constitution
months later. dotes about the country’s body poli- It is now struggling to ensure consti- may truly serve as the supreme law, re-
The tragedy in all this is that the long-suffering taxpayer will tic, follows two political opponents, the tutionalism, democracy and rule of law. flecting and regulating government’s
be forced to eventually pay damages for the illegal, evil and clownish Paul Mangwana of the long- power in the interest of the people.
reckless conduct of public officials who should know better. time ruling party Zanu PF, and the then
The time has come to hit these malcontents where it hurts main opposition MDC-T party senior Besides, the good constitution, Zimba-
the most: their pockets and their freedom. Public officers who official Douglas Mwonzora, at the time bwe also needs constitutionalism, consti-
go out of their way to persecute law-abiding citizens should when he was pushing a progressive agen- tutionality and the rule of law – the bed-
never rely on the convenient protection of state liability law. rock of good governance.
Make no mistake, the employer is indeed vicariously liable for
the actions of deranged workers; but state employees who flout
the constitution and their professional ethics must be brought
to justice.
There must be a hefty price to pay for impunity.
Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
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Business
MATTERSNewsHawks
MARKETS CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE
USD/JPY
GBP/USD 109.29 +0.38 +0.35 *OIL 63.47 -1.54 -2.37
USD/CAD
USD/CHF 1.38 -0.014 -0.997 *GOLD 1,769.5 +1.2 +0.068
AUD/USD
1.229 +0.001 +0.07 *SILVER 25.94 -0.145 -0.56
0.913 +0.005 +0.53 *PLATINUM 1,201.6 +4 +0.33
0.771 -0.006 -0.76 *COPPER 4.458 -0.029 -0.65
Insurance Covid-19 despite already
sector poised suppressed disposable in-
for growth comes.
DUMISANI NYONI uptake was restrained by Ipec commissioner Grace Muradzikwa. GCR is Africa’s lead-
low confidence in life as- ing rating agency, with
AFRICA’S largest rating surance by policyholders GCR said the long-term US$13m. dence-sensitive liabilities, coverage in excess of 500
agency, GCR Ratings, due to currency changes industry is dominated “In 2020, we saw a eroded disposable in- ratings in over 20 African
predicts that Zimbabwe’s and high inflation experi- by funeral and group life comes (impacting more countries. Through its
insurance industry gross enced in 2020. These fac- businesses. In 2020, the growth in the local cur- defensive products like network of local offices
premiums will grow tors increased fears of the two products accounted rency book due to the funeral policies), limited in South Africa, Nigeria,
steadily this year, support- recurrence of a episode for 66% and 29% of the increase of premiums for repricing ability, and poor Kenya and Mauritius,
ed by the pricing stability of loss of value, similar to long-term sector’s gross funeral assurance and new business uptake.” GCR has the largest rat-
introduced by the auction that experienced during premiums, respectively. group life assurance in ing team in Africa, giving
system for foreign cur- the 2008/9 hyperinflation order for the sector to GCR said the long- it unmatched on-the-
rency which is sustaining and currency transition In 2019, both business recoup costs associated term industry relies heav- ground presence, as well
the disinflation trend. period. lines registered significant with increased mortality ily on recurring business as easy access to market
declines of 83% and 88% rates due to the Covid-19 which accounts for 95% participants. GCR traces
Protracted economic “Overall, GCR expects of total premiums respec- pandemic,” it said. of total premiums. its origins back to 1996
challenges which culmi- industry gross premiums tively due to the change in and has since established
nated in the change of to grow steadily in 2021, functional currency, be- “However, the life Positively, lapse rates itself as the leading rat-
Zimbabwe’s functional supported by the pricing fore rebounding by 43% segment struggled to were lower than expect- ing agency in Africa, ac-
currency from the US stability introduced by and 161% respectively in recover premiums to ed at 8.5 last year, thus counting for the majority
dollar to the Zimbabwean the auction system for 2020, that is US$30m and historical levels given a displaying some resil- of all ratings accorded on
dollar and the subsequent foreign currency which is high proportion of confi- ience to the impact of the African continent.
onset of hyperinflation sustaining the disinflation
resulted in significant- trend,” the report reads in The company is li-
ly lower insurance sec- part. censed as a rating agency
tor gross premiums of in a number of markets,
US$156 million in 2020, “However, there is im- including Kenya with
says GCR in its latest re- plied future volatility if the Capital Markets Au-
search report focusing on there are changes to the thority, Nigeria with the
Zimbabwe. policy environment. To Securities and Exchange
the credit of the industry, Commission, Zimbabwe
In 2019, the figure price-based competition with the Reserve Bank of
stood at US$138 million, has remained restrained Zimbabwe and Mauritius
against the 2018 figure with players pinning with the Financial Ser-
of US$703m. Resultantly, competitive edge on su- vices Commission.
insurance penetration de- perior service and prod-
creased to 0.6% in 2020. ucts, thus avoiding rates In South Africa, it is
compression,” it said. registered as a credit rat-
GCR said new business ing services provider by
the Financial Services
Conduct Authority and
is recognised as an eligi-
ble external credit assess-
ment institution by the
South African Reserve
Bank.
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NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 19
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Low disposable
incomes choke
insurance
sector: Ipec
THE Insurance and Pen- Speaking to The New- IPEC board chairman Albert Nduna.
sions Commission (Ipec) sHawks recently, Ipec
says the prevailing low commissioner Grace Mu- which the industry is writ- line with the mandate of lodge complaints with us we are working with the
disposable incomes are radzikwa said low dis- ing and real growth being consumer protection, the if they feel that they have industry to ensure that
prompting a surge in the posable income has not registered. Ipec would en- regulator has also issued been unfairly treated. So they invest in value-pre-
lapse rate of policies across spared the sector as testi- courage the industry to various instruments that far, we have opened com- serving assets to minimise
the various product lines fied by a surge in lapsing develop appropriate prod- are meant to enhance the plaints handling offices in losses. We believe with all
on offer. policies. ucts, which meet the needs protection of consumers. Harare central business these initiatives, consum-
of the consumers and treat district (CBD) and Bula- ers will continue to have
Workers are enduring “Yes. There are policies their consumers fairly, she “We are also decentral- wayo CBD. confidence in insurance,”
serious economic hard- which are lapsing, which said. ising our services, particu- added Muradzikwa.
ships, with their salaries we believe are as a result larly complaints handling “While we are in an in-
falling far below the total of low disposable incomes Muradzikwa said in to allow consumers to flationary environment, — STAFF WRITER
consumption poverty line among other reasons.
(TCPL) which currently However, it is important
stands at ZW$28 300 per to note that while some
month for a family of five. policies are lapsing, insur-
ance companies are also
The generality of the writing new business.
country’s workforce are
earning salaries which are “We expect this to con-
below ZW$20 000 and, tinue improving as dispos-
apart from this, the chal- able incomes increase and
lenge of an effectively as the industry develops
dollarised economy with appropriate products,” she
a huge gap between the said.
official and parallel mar-
ket exchange rates further She expressed hope that
complicates citizens’ pur- locals still have confidence
chasing power. in insurance, as shown by
the number of policies
Shabanie Mine workers want administrator fired
SHABANIE Mashaba Mine Since the government from investing in the second Act) on 16 September 2004. The company is also said the workers have said accord-
workers are pushing for the seized the company, the as- respondent owing to the liti- In terms of the Act, the to have outstanding obliga- ing to the Labour act, “remu-
ouster of company admin- bestos giant has been dogged gation instituted by the for- tions amounting to about neration payable in money
strator Afaras Gwaradzimba by serious legal issues, with mer owners of SMMH.” minister of Justice, Legal and US$3.4 million to the Min- shall not be paid to an em-
for failing to turn around the Mawere challenging the sei- Parliamentary Affairs is em- ing Industry Pension Fund ployee by way of promissory
fortunes of the asbestos giant zure. SMMH, the parent com- powered to vary the recon- and US$2.7 million to the notes, vouchers, coupons or
for the near two decades he pany to Shabanie and Gaths struction order by removing National Social Security Au- in any former other than the
has been at the helm. Gwaradzimba is believed Mine, owes employees sub- Gwaradzimba. thority. legal tender. For the avoid-
to have indicated that the stantial amounts in salary ance of doubt, houses are not
In a court application on litigation process hampered arrears. According to the workers, In a bid to clear some of legal tender.”
behalf of Shabanie Mine the company’s development Gwaradzimba has “neglect- the arrears, Gwaradzimba is
workers on 17 May 2021, and made it unattractive to The asbestos giant was ed or refused” to pay current offsetting some of the work- Workers have described
the worker representative investors. placed under reconstruction workers about US$19.2 mil- ers’ dues with houses, a move the action as unlawful and
body the Zimbabwe Dia- in terms of Presidential Pow- lion between January 2012 which the workers are chal- concerning that Gwaradzim-
mond and Allied Minerals “Further the first respon- ers (Temporary Measures) and November 2017. lenging. ba, “is bent on persisting on
Workers Union (ZDAM- dent alleges that the liti- (Reconstruction of State-In- his unlawful exercise of dis-
WU) cited Gwaradzimba gation brought by the for- debted Insolvent Companies Nearly 1 000 ex-workers In their court application, posing real estate assets of
as the first respondent and mer owners of SMMH is a are owed US$17. 6 million. employees as part of his plan
Shabanie Mashaba Mine contributing factor to the to set of their salary arrears.”
Holdings (SHHM) as the lengthy period it is taking for
second respondent. the second respondent to be Gwaradzimba has also
viably reconstructed. been accused of evicting for-
“Evidently, by his own ad- mer employees from their
mission, the first respondent “However, he negates to houses.
(Gwaradzimba) does not see state the subject of the liti-
SMMH returning to its for- gation brought by the former “As of 2006, SMMH had
mer mandate. Worryingly, owners to allow assess the a total of 1 342 unoccupied
with the rest of his affidavit, nexus between the litigation houses. Considering this one
the first respondent does not and the duration of the re- cannot help but wonder why
state what the new primary construction,” the court doc- the first respondent did not
business will be, except laud uments read. commence his real estate
how he is turning a mining business by disposing the.x
giant into a real estate,” the Workers are not convinced unoccupied houses as op-
workers said in their submis- by the argument that inves- posed to the ones that would
sions. tors are finding it difficult to ultimately result in the evic-
invest in SMMH because of tions of past to present em-
Shabanie Mine is former- the litigation. ployees who are financially
ly owned by South Afri- struggling,” the court docu-
can-based businessman Mu- They have argued that ments read.
tumwa Mawere. Gwaradzimba must, “provide
positive proof of all the inves- — STAFF WRITER.
tors he alleges were dissuaded
Page 20 Stock Taking NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
NewsHawks Executive Chat Page 21
Issue 33, 4 June 2021 Nssa denies corruption in National
Building Society tender scandal
The Zimbabwe Anti-Cor-
ruption Commission (Zacc) NH: Nssa got former NBS
has launched an investiga- board chairman Stanley
tion into a possible case of Kudenga out and suspend-
criminal abuse of office by ed the NBS acting manag-
a public officer. This comes ing director during the ten-
after The NewsHawks broke dering process. Why were
a story on how Public Ser- these decisions taken? Was
vice minister Paul Mavima this not an attempt to in-
could have been conflicted in fluence the tender process?
a multi-million-dollar low-
cost National Building Soci- TM: Mr Kudenga was not
ety (NBS) project in Harare. pushed out of his chairman’s
position or suspended. After
The anti-graft body is now the RBZ had highlighted
demanding the adjudication corporate governance de-
documents for the Dzivarese- ficiencies for Mr Kudenga
kwa housing project as part to remain as chairman, the
of its probe. Authority offered him to
continue sitting on the board
The NewsHawks (NH), as a member because of his
this week spoke to Tendai immense experience and
Mutseyekwa (TM), a mar- knowledge.
keting and communication
executive at the National So- He, however, decided to
cial Security Authority (Nssa) step down in the interest of
on the housing project. NBS corporate governance since
is a wholly owned subsidiary he is CEO of an entity where
of Nssa, a statutory corporate Nssa has significant share-
body tasked by the govern- holding.
ment to provide social secu-
rity. Below are excerpts of the The decision to send the
interview: acting managing director,
NH: Give us some back- John Mapiye, on forced
ground on what the project leave was not made by Nssa.
is about and what it seeks It was legitimately made by
to achieve. the NBS board to ensure a
TM: The main mandate of transparent ventilation of the
NBS is to provide low-cost issues raised by Praz.
houses for the benefit of
Zimbabweans. The society NH: Nssa also launched an
has a strategic role to play audit into NBS when the
in terms of the National De- tender process was running.
velopment Strategy One’s Does Nssa have a right to
housing cluster strategy. The demand an audit into NBS
money ploughed into Dzi- when it has its own internal
varesekwa and other housing and external auditors?
projects, such as Newmara in
Mutare, are pensioners’ funds NSSA Deputy Director (Marketing and Communication) Tendai Mutseyekwa. TM: Nssa’s concerns were
and naturally, the minister, communicated through the
Nssa and the NBS board are matter is that NBS did what- ers are wallowing in poverty; TM: This is a mischievous fits to members. A portion of right channels. The NBS
anxious that they be judi- ever it did with the tender we will not rest until any question that does not war- the funds from contributions audit committee sanctioned
ciously used to expeditiously process and presented to abuse of pensioners’ funds is rant a response. It is pure bar are invested in various sectors Nssa’s involvement, which
complete these projects and the Procurement Regulato- brought to a halt. talk driven by people with in the economy to ensure was done in collaboration
ensure that the society fulfils ry Authority of Zimbabwe NH: It is alleged that Nssa sinister motives. the sustainability of Nssa’s with their internal audit
its mandate for the benefit of (Praz) at the end of the pro- has its preferred bidder and schemes. team.
pensioners. cess. Praz objected to the has been trying to impose The minister’s involve-
process taken by NBS and the bidder on NBS. What is ment was merely to inquire The National Building An audit is an exercise in-
Nssa and NBS are keen to it is the objections by Praz your comment on the mat- what was going on after he Society (NBS) is a wholly stituted by an organisation to
resuscitate both projects that that came to the attention ter? was alerted by Praz. Nssa is owned subsidiary of Nssa give assurance that risks and
have been lying idle for over of Nssa, forcing it to make TM: This is not correct as a state entity that falls under with a mandate to provide control measures in place
three years due to squabbles the inquiries which it made. Nssa only got to know of the the purview of the minister low-cost houses to Zimba- are adequate. Audits are not
between NBS and contrac- The money deployed to the tender after it was flagged of Public Service, Labour bweans in partial fulfilment there to incriminate, but
tors resulting in prejudice Dzivaresekwa project is Nssa by Praz. Nssa is not actively and Social Welfare, as pre- of Nssa’s mandate of pro- they are both informative
to pensioners. Both projects money, which belongs to involved in NBS operations scribed by the Nssa Act, viding social security for the and are risk mitigative mea-
need to be completed to pensioners. Nssa would be other than through regular Chapter 17:04. generality of Zimbabweans. sures in nature.
avoid further loss through highly irresponsible if it fold- update meetings between the NBS is a direct beneficiary
dilapidation and vandalism. ed its hands and did nothing. two leadership teams. The minister is answer- of funds collected, which are Kindly note that at law
NH: In relation to that NH: It is also said Nssa able to issues regarding en- placed with the society to shareholders have a right to
project, your wholly-owned executives have been inter- If Nssa had its preferred tities that fall under his ju- grow pensioners’ funds. audit any entity whenever
subsidiary, the National fering while acting illegally bidders, surely this could risdiction. For someone to necessary. Nothing should be
Building Society, floated a and breaking relevant laws have been done/influenced allege that his oversight is Nssa’s involvement in the hidden from shareholders.
tender in January to select on the issue. What is your before NBS had even adver- tantamount to interference process only came at the NH: Considering all these
a contractor to build 500 position on this? tised its request for proposals demonstrates total ignorance tail end after the issue was things, it is alleged Nssa
housing units. May you ex- TM: This is highly inaccu- or submitted the results of on the hierarchical structure flagged with Praz. executives were acting out
plain that tender process? rate. Nssa as the sole share- the same to Praz. of parastatals. of self-interest and motivat-
TM: This issue is best re- holder has every right to in- NH: It is also said Nssa ex- NH: Why did Nssa decide Nssa’s intervention was ed by corruption. What is
sponded to by NBS as Nssa sist that pensioners’ resources ecutives are acting under to get involved in the mid- based on allegations of a your take on this?
was not responsible for insti- are used properly. It has a pressure from the minister dle of the tendering process flawed adjudication process. TM: This is pure mischief.
tuting the tender process. right to ask for answers if it is of Public Service, Labour instead of waiting until the If Praz had not flagged the The question is premised on
NH: There have been alle- not happy with what is going and Social Welfare to im- end to raise its complaints? issue, NBS could have in- the assumption that the en-
gations by NBS manage- on. If answers are not volun- pose Nengo Builders as the TM: Nssa collects contribu- curred a potential financial tire Nssa system is corrupt.
ment of interference by teered, it has a right to seek contractor. What is your tions from employers and prejudice of ZWL$120 mil- It questions the integrity of
Nssa executives on the ten- those answers. Our pension- comment? employees in the formal sec- lion. Nssa’s interest is simply the Nssa audit team and the
der process. What is your tor to enable it to pay bene- to ensure that the process NBS board. This is very sad.
comment on this? which resulted in recom-
TM: Nothing of the sort mending the most expensive
happened. The fact of the bidder was above board.
Page 22 News Analysis NewsHawks
PALESA MUWANI New forex regulations Issue 33, 4 June 2021
plunge market into chaos
THE new foreign curren- sures will further imperil
cy measures which, among ground, we are deeply con- prices to align them with build the confidence in the on the exchange gains they the livelihoods of vulnera-
other stipulations, prohib- cerned about the possible the parallel rate-pegged lo- local currency, and unfor- have been enjoying. Some- ble members of society.
it business operators from negative implications of cal currency prices. tunately there are no short- one has to pay for that and
charging above the official the recently promulgated cuts, as confidence cannot that is the worker,” Moyo “The new regulations
exchange rate and punish SI 127 of 2021, which we It is also likely to result be legislated or gazetted,” said. will further disadvantage
those who refuse to take strongly believe may derail in increased demand for Zimnat said. the vulnerable and mar-
the Zimbabwean dollar the economic gains and cheaper foreign goods as He warned that the new ginalised informal players,
in local transactions, will momentum achieved over higher domestic US dollar “We also encourage the forex measures will result who do not have access to
cause chaos in the market the last nine months. inflation may force eco- policymakers in govern- in a shortage of basic com- cheap foreign currency, yet
including igniting price nomic agents to demand ment to consult widely modities, forcing workers they need to restock their
hikes, shortages and a surge “In our opinion, SI 127 cheaper foreign goods within government and to buy goods at inflated shops or purchase raw ma-
in inflation. of 2021 is too heavy-hand- which will increase smug- with the private sector be- prices outside the formal terials,” Zimcodd said in a
ed in its approach in sta- gling via the country’s fore implementing any sig- channels. statement.
Government last week bilising the local currency porous borders and ulti- nificant policy measures, as
gazetted the new rules un- and may do more damage mately widen the country’s the success of any econom- “As government looks to “To a greater extent, the
der Statutory Instrument than good to our already trade deficit. ic policy is always hinged solve a problem it creates move will negatively af-
(SI) 127 of 2021, seen as fragile economy, which is on the buy-in of key eco- another problem,” Moyo fect the informal economy
an attempt to tame the ex- still gasping from the af- It may also result in in- nomic stakeholders. We said. which employs the majori-
change rate on the parallel ter-effects of the Covid-19 creased demand for foreign therefore believe that SI ty of Zimbabweans.”
market while stabilising pandemic.” currency on the parallel 127 of 2021 needs further He said the curren-
the local currency. market as more formal refinement with the input cy measures are further The promulgation of SI
The company said al- companies abandon the of wider stakeholder con- evidence that President 127 comes two years after
Under the new regula- though the statutory in- auction due to foreign cur- sultations.” Emmerson Mnangagwa’s the government, through
tions, companies will be strument is temporary, as it rency shortages. government was now im- Statutory Instrument 142
fined ZW$50 000 or its will lapse after six months, The new forex measures plementing “command of 2019, abolished the use
equivalent in foreign cur- the damage inflicted on the Zimnat also warned that spell doom for workers economics”. of foreign currency in lo-
rency for refusing to take local currency and econo- the Zimdollar will likely who are already struggling cal transactions in a bid to
payment in local curren- my may take a long time to devalue aggressively on the to make ends meet, accord- “If you look at the last contain the thriving paral-
cy at the official exchange reverse. parallel market, while pres- ing to Zimbabwe Congress two years the country has lel market. The local dollar
rate. sure for an official devalua- of Trade Unions secre- been ruled by statutory in- became the only legal ten-
Zimnat said the impact tion will rise as the parallel tary-general Japhet Moyo. struments. It is command der, nearly a decade after it
A ZW$50 000 penalty of this decision could re- rate premiums increase. agriculture, command this was decimated by hyperin-
will be imposed on any- sult in increased US dol- “The promulgation of and command that,” Moyo flation.
one selling goods at an lar domestic inflation as “Therefore, whilst the SI 127 is going to increase said.
exchange rate above the of- formal businesses, such as government has done well the cost of products and This resulted in the col-
ficial exchange rate. A sim- pharmacies, may be forced in improving the policy en- services because businesses The Zimbabwe Coali- lapse of the local currency,
ilar fine will be slapped on to increase their US dollar vironment (prior to SI 127 are not prepared to lose out tion on Debt and Develop- with inflation skyrocketing
companies that issue Zim- of 2021), only time can ment (Zimcodd) warned to more than 800% in July
dollar receipts on goods that the new currency mea- last year. It also resulted in
sold in US dollars. the decimation of incomes
and pensions amid sky-
However, business and rocketing prices of goods
labour have raised alarm and services, triggering
pointing out that the new strikes by civil servants,
forex measures will have particularly health workers
an adverse impact on the and teachers.
country’s fragile economy,
already buffeted by a de- The government, as a
bilitating liquidity crunch, result, was forced to con-
low capacity utilisation, tinuously review civil ser-
three-digit inflation and an vants’ salaries, indexed in
increase in job losses. worthless local currency
in a futile attempt to curb
The impact of the new the catastrophic effects of
measures is already being currency volatility, sparked
felt as businesses have be- by the ill-fated ban of the
gun increasing the prices of multi-currency regime,
goods and services, further and the subsequent return
dwindling the disposable of the local unit.
incomes.
The government was
Zimnat Asset Manage- forced to make an embar-
ment has warned of the rassing climbdown, bring-
dire consequences of the ing back the multi-curren-
latest foreign currency cy regime initially under
measures which include a the guise of ameliorating
surge in inflation. the impact of the Covid-19
pandemic.
“The Government of
Zimbabwe has over the The new currency mea-
last eight to nine months sures are ample testimo-
implemented good pol- ny that the government
icies that have stabilised should not interfere with
the local currency and have market forces, particularly
yielded positive results in when it comes to pricing,
taming inflation, as reflect- according to economist
ed by the deceleration of Prosper Chitambara.
inflation during this peri-
od,” the asset management “I think that the govern-
company said. ment should have consult-
ed. There was no need for
“We have also seen, over that instrument,” Chitam-
the last six months, a sta- bara said.
bilisation of the parallel
exchange rate, which we “Government must
believe was also a function adopt a hands-off ap-
of the improved fiscal and proach, especially when
monetary discipline, com- it comes to pricing. It has
bined with a stable and im- the potential to undo all
proving economic policy the gains that had been
environment. achieved. The economy
is still in a sensitive state.
“Against this back- Government is reacting to
symptoms and not the root
cause.”
NewsHawks Critical Thinking Page 23
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Africa has the capabilities and the experience
to produce vaccines – President Ramaphosa
AFRICA is capable of man- Cyril Ramaphosa talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in South Africa.
ufacturing safe and effective
vaccines – it just needs the been administered in Africa,” Africa being allowed to de- that resistance to the waiver already secured more than we are waging a global war
support to do so. she said. “Worryingly, eight termine its own fate. proposal is coming from 75% of available vaccines. and there’s only one enemy.”
countries have yet to receive wealthier countries that have We are saying we are at war;
This was the abiding sen- their first Covid-19 vaccines “When I was in Paris [in — University of Pretoria.
timent at the “High-level and 22 countries have yet to May 2021] at the wonderful
dialogue on manufacturing reach 1% vaccine coverage. Summit on Financing Af-
vaccines in Africa” that was Despite six vaccines having rican Economies that Presi-
led by South African Presi- been tested in countries in dent Macron had organised,
dent Cyril Ramaphosa and Africa, they have had to join one of the things I heard was
French President Emmanuel the queue. But Africa is mak- ‘we just want to focus on
Macron, and hosted at the ing progress in overcoming three countries on the con-
University of Pretoria’s (UP) these impediments through tinent: South Africa, Senegal
flagship Future Africa insti- Covax [Covid-19 Vaccines and Rwanda’. It occurred to
tute and campus. Global Access], access initia- me then that this was flawed
tives with vaccine companies thinking because there are
The event, which was and the African vaccine ac- other countries that do have
broadcast online, was part of quisition task team.” the capacity [to manufacture
President Macron’s first state vaccines], which can gear up
visit to South Africa. High In his address, President to a greater capacity in a short
on the agenda was the issue Macron reiterated his sup- space of time. That prompted
of equitable access to vac- port for a more equitable me to say that the countries
cines for poorer and emerg- vaccine programme, high- of Europe or northern coun-
ing economies. lighting that vaccines are a tries must not tell us what is
public good. good for us – they must listen
Minister of Higher Edu- to us, because we know what
cation, Science and Innova- “Poor countries and is good for us.”
tion Blade Nzimande was emerging countries are pay-
programme director, and the ing much more than rich He added that access to
conversation was joined by countries [for vaccines]. We vaccines is Africa’s biggest
German minister of Health need to team up, as Europe challenge, with less than 1%
Jens Spahn, members of the and Africa, to say we need of half of the continent’s pop-
science and medical commu- common pricing. We need ulation being fully vaccinated
nities and of the diplomatic transparency on the pricing, to date.
corps, as well as South Af- as this is the best way not to
rican ministers and deputy waste public money.” “Vaccines are flooding into
ministers. In his opening upper-income countries but
remarks, UP vice-chancel- The French president trickling into Africa,” Presi-
lor and principal Professor added that vaccines need dent Ramaphosa said. “This
Tawana Kupe highlighted to be made possible with- is contrary to our aspirations
the need for Africa to have out restrictions. “Wherever to build a world founded on
access to Covid-19 vaccines. intellectual property rights human rights for all. It also
constitute a barrier to global undermines the global ef-
“To date, the World access [to resources] in the fort to defeat this virus. We
Health Organisation reports fight against Covid-19, they believe the TRIPS waiver is
3.4 million cases (and rising) should be lifted,” he said. the most practical route to
of Covid-19 across the Afri- address Africa’s vaccine short-
can continent, including 86 President Ramaphosa ages in the short to medi-
000 deaths,” he said. “The closed the seminar by high- um term. We are also aware
fact that the vaccine roll- lighting the importance of
out across the continent has
been delayed due to a lack of
resources is just another ex-
ample of African lives being
left at risk or on hold, while
wealthier nations hit the reset
button and move forward. It
is true, though, that during
this global health crisis, Afri-
can universities came to the
party, working with African
governments and the private
sector.”
Prof Quarraisha Abdool
Karim, Co-director of the
Centre for the Aids Pro-
gramme of Research in South
Africa, elaborated on Prof
Kupe’s point, sharing with
the audience that less than
2% of Africa’s population
has been vaccinated. This is
despite several vaccine trials
being held on the continent.
“The Covid-19 pandem-
ic has reminded us of our
shared interdependence and
our mutual vulnerability as
human beings. So far, 28
million vaccine doses have
Page 24 Opinion NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Namibian genocide: why Germany’s
bid to make amends isn’t enough
REINHART KÖSSLER/ The mortal remains of some of the victims of German atrocities in Namibia that Germany handed over in 2018. Adam Berry/Getty Images ny’s DNA.
HENNING MELBER The Holocaust memorial
A few years earlier, in 2011, €1.1bn for development proj- exchange with the descendants portant material aspect. This
THE recent “joint declara- some initial progress had been ects in Namibia is too cheap a of the most affected commu- requires more than the pay- in central Berlin does that for
tion” of the Namibian and made in addressing the colo- price to pay for remorse. Com- nities, who have threatened to ments offered. Jewish victims.
German governments on nial atrocities with the first pared with the lasting human welcome the German presi-
dealing with the 1904-08 return of human remains costs and material damage cre- dent with a protest. So is an adequate expres- And Germany has reached a
genocide marks the first time from Berlin to Namibia of ated in Namibia, this amounts Recognition without com- sion of remorse in recognition measure of reconciliation with
a former colonial power has the victims of the genocide. to tokenism. As Ovaherero pensation of the historical injustice. The neighbouring France, and to a
officially offered an apology The skulls and other human paramount chief Vekuii Ru- After the negotiations were “joint declaration” states that lesser extent with Poland for
to another country for state body parts had been taken to koro has said, it adds insult to concluded, the German For- the Namibian Government its crimes during the war.
sponsored mass crimes. colonial Germany for anthro- injury. eign Ministry issued an official and people accept Germa-
pological anatomical studies The annual payment over statement. It stressed that the ny’s apology and believe that Germany’s colonial atroc-
The agreement stipulates that later contributed towards the next 30 years amounts to recognition of genocide did it paves the way to a lasting ities should also enter public
that Germany will pay €1.1bn Nazi “race science”. about €37 million, just about not imply any “legal claims for mutual understanding and memory. Public commemora-
for development projects in N$618 million at current ex- compensation”. the consolidation of a special tion of the victims of numer-
Namibia over the next 30 Subsequently, many more change rates. Namibia’s na- relationship between the two ous crimes committed under
years. opportunities for meaningful tional budget for 2021/22 Instead, the “substantial nations. German colonialism, such as
reconciliation were missed. is N$67.9 billion. programme … for reconstruc- those in Namibia, is long over-
Some pundits consider the For the Namibian gov- tion and development” was Without consultation and due.
accord a potential template for The fear of potential legal ernment, such money is a declared as a “gesture of rec- legitimacy, the two govern-
efforts towards post-colonial implications of any agreement, tempting carrot. After all, the ognition” for the wrongdoings ments here declare what the If there is a lesson to be
reconciliation for other former and the precedent that might country’s economy is in a deep by Germany. Namibian people are supposed learnt from these actions, it
colonies and colonial powers. create for Germany and other recession. COVID-19 has to accept. is that bilateral agreements
former colonial powers, loom added to the fiscal crisis. One wonders if “gestures” between governments cannot
We recognise that this is large. They fear opening the Thus, such a financial in- are indeed an adequate form Notably, even the repre- replace reconciliation between
the first time that a former door for reparations. jection would come in handy, of recognition. Given the di- sentatives of three Ovaherero the people of the two countries
colonial power has admitted especially at a time of erod- mensions of the crimes com- Royal Houses participating in concerned. The descendents of
an historical injustice on a From a German perspec- ing trust in government. The mitted then, more empathy the final round of negotiations the victims on the Namibian
state-to-state level. But the ne- tive, this also includes pending money is earmarked for land would be an important signal. indicated on their return home genocide are traceable, but
gotiated compromise displays claims by Greece, Italy and reform and development, rural Such formal language can be that they would not endorse what about the perpetrators?
glaring shortcomings in being Poland for compensation for infrastructure, energy and wa- very humiliating and hurtful. the suggested agreement. As the Namibian activist and
overly cautious to avoid any le- mass atrocities committed by ter supply as well as education. author Jephta U Nguherimo
gal implications for Germany German soldiers from World Germany’s President Reconciliation needs more What true reconciliation requires has stated,
that may create a precedent. War II. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is than material compensation. Through a long and halt-
It also shows that the limited expected to visit Namibia to The devastating demographic ing process, Germany has President Steinmeier should
participation of representa- The recent compromise ne- ask for an apology in the Na- and socio-economic conse- ultimately made significant deliver his apology to the
tives from the Namibian com- gotiated by Germany and Na- tional Assembly. But such an quences of genocide can never progress in facing up to the Bundestag for the German
munities most affected by the mibia avoids such a “trap” for official policy level engage- be compensated. atrocities of the Holocaust of people to understand and
genocide is hampering true Germany and other former ment cannot replace a direct European Jews during World learn about their untold geno-
reconciliation. colonial powers. Significantly improving the War II. cide.
Too little, too late well-being of the descendants
In our view bilateral agree- Germany’s commitment of of the victims would be an im- Its remembrance is now So far, this vital perspective
ments between governments claimed as part of the Germa- is totally missing.
– like this one – fall short of
a true decolonisation of rela- A compromise, but not yet
tions between people. a solution
The history The German-Namibian
The agreement is the result agreement is the limited re-
of protracted negotiations sult of a compromise reached
between Germany and Na- through flawed government
mibia. It builds on former negotiations. Still, this is a
pronouncements, such as the widely acknowledged pioneer-
2004 speech by the German ing step.
Minister for Economic Co-
operation, Heidemarie Wiec- From a German perspective,
zorek-Zeul, at the centennial the admission of guilt with the
of the battle at the Waterberg, consequences attached is one
which marked the beginning step towards breaking contin-
of the genocide. ued colonial amnesia.
She acknowledged that This could ultimately fos-
what had happened was “a ter long overdue awareness of
war of extermination … today Germany’s colonial past. It can
called genocide” before asking: promote unreserved recogni-
“forgive our trespasses and our tion that Germans occupied
guilt”. foreign territories and subju-
gated people, creating lasting
More than a decade later, damage. But even this would
in mid-2015, the German contribute little towards heal-
Foreign Ministry conceded ing festering wounds in Na-
that the warfare in 1904-1908 mibia.
was tantamount to genocide.
At the end of that year, bilat- Decolonisation and recon-
eral negotiations between the ciliation must become a shared
two governments were initiat- process between people. Gov-
ed. But these kept on hitting ernments can help to facilitate
stumbling blocks. such a process. They can never
supplant it.
Wary of possible far-reach-
ing legal obligations, Germany —The Conversation.
wanted to negotiate the for- *About the writers: Rein-
mat of its apology to Namibia. hart Kössler is professor of
It was also reluctant to use the political science at the Uni-
term “genocide”. It has always versity of Freiburg in Ger-
refused to accept the term many and Henning Melber
“reparations”. is extraordinary professor of
political science the Univer-
sity of Pretoria.
NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 25
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Zim judiciary and chief justices –
from the pioneer Bisset to Malaba
The NewsHawks continues with a series of articles written by Johannesburg-based Zimbabwean lawyer Tererai Mafukidze about the history and politics, as well as the dynamics of appointing
a chief justice in Zimbabwe, tracing the genesis of the issue back to 1927, five years after Southern Rhodesia rejected in a referendum joining the South African Union, when the first head of
the judiciary was installed. Mafukidze also did the research on the trial and execution of Mbuya Nehanda which we carried recently and then used parts of it in our story last week.
John Murray Sir Thomas Hugh William Beadle CMG OBE PC was a Rhodesian lawyer, politician and judge who served as Chief Justice of Southern With Fieldsend’s resigna-
When Robert Tredgold was Rhodesia from March 1961 to November 1965, and as Chief Justice of Rhodesia from November 1965 until April 1977. tion an opportunity arose for
elevated to the Federal Chief the appointment of Julian
Justice, it necessitated the Huggins and this necessitated Crown. Against pressure from settlement proposed by the Beadle moved back to his Greenland as a High Court
appointment of a new chief that he be recalled from the the rebellious government, he British government. Beadle own house in Bulawayo. The judge on 1 May 1968. He was
justice for Southern Rhode- battle front. refused to resign. was smuggled into the cabinet governor subsequently re- the first post-UDI judicial
sia. Once again the country meeting several times so that signed when the 1969 consti- appointment. On 12 August
imported a chief justice. Following in the footsteps Beadle moved into Govern- he could explain the effect or tution created a republic. 1968, another judge, Justice
of some of his predecessors, ment House which was the meaning of some of the pro- Dendy Young, citing the UDI
This time it was during between 1946 and 1950 he official residence of the gover- posals. Arthur Bottomley, who was crisis of legality, resigned and
Garfield Todd’s administra- was a soldier and the min- nor and shared quarters with secretary of state for Com- left for Botswana where he
tion. The then Minister of ister of Justice, Internal Af- him. Beadle, despite holding His diaries, which Goldin monwealth Relations and was appointed chief justice.
Justice and Internal Affairs fairs, Education and Health. the position of chief justice, accessed, show that he was subsequently became minister
ARW Stumbles went to inter- He appointed himself a high was deeply involved in trying probably the most political- of Overseas Development in The Smith government did
view potential candidates in court judge in 1950. to resolve the political crisis. ly involved chief justice the Wilson’s British government, not amend the constitution
South Africa. As Stumbles re- country has ever had — and described Beadle as the “evil to make this Beadle exten-
cords in his memoirs: “It was After that, he was appoint- Justice Bennie Goldin he relished in the role. Not- genius of the Unilateral Dec- sion possible. Beadle simply
considered by cabinet that ed Chief Justice in 1961 and in his book, The Judge, the withstanding this role, Beadle laration of Independence”. got an acting chief justice ap-
it might be advantageous to continued in the role until Prince and the Usurper, de- as chief justice went on to sit In retaliation for the court pointment. For the following
have some other person from 1975 when he reached the scribes Beadle as having acted in court decisions that decid- decisions Beadle made recog- two years from 1975 to 1977,
outside Rhodesia.” now applicable retirement as an adviser, negotiator and ed the legality of UDI. nising Smith’s government, he carried the title of Acting
age of 70. Instead of retiring, “very often as no more than he was unwelcome in Lon- Chief Justice. The extension
Murray was a High Court Beadle convinced the govern- as the only suitable messenger By normal legal standards, don and the Labour govern- of his term was reportedly
judge in the Transvaal in ment of Ian Smith to extend between the parties.” Beadle should have been dis- ment even tried to have him done with the support of Jus-
South Africa when he was his term by two years. This qualified from sitting as a removed as Privy Counsellor. tice Hector Macdonald and
appointed to be Chief Justice precedent was dangerous. Beadle was the traditional judge in case that determined He was considered a traitor to Justice John Lewis, the son of
of Southern Rhodesia. Before legal adviser to the governor. the legality of UDI. the Crown. Vernon Lewis. Either could
being appointed to the bench When Unilateral Declara- He remained involved in all have been appointed chief
in South Africa, Murray had tion of Independence (UDI) the negotiations between the In February 1968, Beadle, Judge John Fieldsend had justice in 1975.
practised at the Bar in Preto- was declared in 1965, Beadle governor, Rhodesian prime within 48 hours of deciding resigned on 4 March 1968
ria for some 24 years. He was was the Chief Justice and also minister Ian Smith and the a case that involved the legal after disagreeing with his col- Beadle finally retired in
a High Court judge in the could act as the deputy gov- British government of Harold issues surrounding legality of leagues on the Appellate Divi- 1977, but continued to be
Transvaal from 1937 to 1955. ernor. He was also a Privy Wilson. He even attended the UDI and the power of the sion in their decision on the appointed an acting judge of
Counsellor, which required talks held aboard the HMS Queen over Rhodesia, was legality of UDI. In a twist of the High Court until 1980.
Murray was appointed by him to be loyal to the Queen. Tiger. asked to leave Government fate, he was to return in 1980 He died in Johannesburg in
Sir Peveril William-Powlett In the heat of the rebellion, House. He was also fired as as Zimbabwe’s first post-inde- early 1981.
on 1 August 1955 to replace Sir Humprey Gibbs remained On return to Salisbury the governor’s traditional pendence chief justice.
Tredgold. He also acted as the governor and loyal to the (now Harare), Smith’s cabinet In his autobiography, Tes-
governor when the incum- was considering the terms of legal adviser. timony of a Rhodesian Fed-
bent was away. eral, Greenfield, the former
minister of Justice during
Murray retired in 1961. the Federation, speaks about
The job of chief justice had his own appointment to the
been offered to him at the age bench. He was appointed to
67 when he was already two replace Fieldsend who had
years above the retirement resigned after the UDI deci-
age of Rhodesian judges. He sion. He says he accepted the
held the post until he retired judicial appointment with
at the age 73. He is possibly extreme reluctance. Green-
the oldest person to hold the field was the fifth minister of
position of chief justice. Justice to move from cabinet
to the bench. He records this
When Murray was ap- as follows: “I was sworn in
pointed some felt that Judge on 1st May 1968. When wel-
Ralph Morton should have coming me to the bench, the
been elevated instead of the Chief Justice (Hugh Beadle)
importing Murray. Accord- remarked on the fact that I
ing to Christie: “Ralph had was the fifth former minister
not improved his chances by of Justice to be elevated to the
giving one or two very lenient bench, but the only one of
sentences to farmers who had the five who had not appoint-
assaulted their labourers, but ed himself. I mention this
the situation was not easy.” because a scurrilous article
appeared in The Times, signi-
Quite an amazing story that fying that as I had not fared
a Rhodesian judge could have very well since the dissolution
been cost the Chief Justice po- of the Federation. I had leapt
sition on account of European at the opportunity provided
justice. This was probably an by Fieldsend’s departure to get
important consideration for myself a job.”
the liberal administration of
Garfield Todd. In fact, as recorded by
Thomas Hugh William Claire Palley in her book
Beadle The Constitutional Law and
The next Chief Justice was Sir History of Southern Rhode-
Thomas Hugh William Beadle sia 1888-1965, four of the
better known as Hugh Beadle. country’s chief justices were
Beadle had practised at the appointed to the bench as
Bulawayo Bar from 1930-39 puisne judges having before-
before entering politics. He hand resigned their offic-
was a member of the South- es as minister of Justice. In
ern Rhodesian Legislative As- fact, the ministers appointed
sembly from 1939 to 1950. themselves to the bench. The
He also saw action during the four ex-Justice ministers were
Second World War. During Robert Hudson, Vernon Lew-
that time he was appointed is, Robert Tredgold and Hugh
the parliamentary secretary to Beadle.
the Prime Minister Godfrey
Page 26 Reframing Issues NewsHawks
CIVILIANS displaced by the 24
March insurgent attack on Pal- Issue 33, 4 June 2021
ma continue to face insecurity Cabo Delgado strife by numbers:
whether they remain in Palma From October 2017 to May 2021
district or try to make their way
to more stable areas. The Mozambican crisis has been going on since 2017. Four years down the line, and in the aftermath of the siege of Palma, a humanitarian crisis in Cabo
Delgado has been building up. An estimated 700 000 people have been displaced and more than 2 600 killed in the conflict against insurgents, according
On 25 May, Cabo Ligado re- to the United Nations. Yet Sadc, including Zimbabwe, has been hand-wringing and bogged down in futile meetings and discussions which have not yielded
ceived a report of an incident that a practical response to ensure relief to the suffering ordinary people – the real, vulnerable and defenceless victims of the conflict.
had taken place less than a week
earlier, in which displaced civil- Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by conflict in northern province of Mozambique. On the international front,
ians fleeing Palma by boat were the long-awaited summit of
waylaid by eight insurgents near Chiure, someone stole the ma- increased demand for resources ernment forces, civilians have One of the challenges they Sadc’s Extraordinary Double
Mitacata, on the northern part of chine used in the district to issue and increased concern that insur- slowly begun returning to the must overcome to leave Quitun- Troika took place in Maputo on
the Macomia district coast. replacement identity documents gents are infiltrating among the town. A year after the insurgent da, however, is the rent-seeking 27 May, but resolved little.
for displaced civilians. Efforts to late-arriving escapees. occupation, however, civilians in behaviour of the military forces
The insurgents threatened recover the machine or identify the area still say that basic state protecting them. Two women There had been hopes that the
the displaced people and, in re- the thief have been unsuccessful. As a result, there is a signifi- services are largely non-existent. who were able to be evacuated double troika would act on the
sponse, the people charged onto The theft delays efforts to pro- cant outflow of people leaving on what was meant to be a free Sadc technical team’s recommen-
the insurgents’ boat and killed all vide replacement documents for Nangade for points south, in The medical facilities in Ma- military flight to Pemba told dations regarding regional mili-
eight of their attackers. displaced people in Chiure -- a some cases encouraged by gov- comia town have trouble stock- the BBC that they each had tary intervention in Cabo Del-
vital task, as government identifi- ernment security forces, even as ing medicine, including basics to pay US$82 bribes to secure gado. Instead, the only concrete
In Palma district, the situation cation is necessary to access many new displaced people enter the like antimalarials. Pregnant seats on the plane. In one case, step to be found in the summit
was no less harrowing. On 28 forms of government aid. It has town. According to IOM data, women also lack access to pre- the prohibitive cost of the bribe communique was a promise to
May, insurgents attacked Quiwi- also raised concerns about infil- over 6 000 people from Palma natal care. In addition, security forced a family to separate, with reconvene for further talks about
ya, a coastal town about 15 kilo- tration. If the machine ends up have passed through Nangade remains a major concern, with a husband remaining in Palma Cabo Delgado by 20 June. The
metres northeast of Palma town. in insurgent hands, it could be on their way to other locations, kidnappings reported on the so that his wife and children extension gives Sadc members
A video that circulated on social used to create more convincing while over 17 000 have stayed outskirts of town and bus drivers could make their way to safety in more time to negotiate how they
media shows buildings in the covers for insurgent infiltrators. in the district. Security remains expressing worries that they will Pemba. As of the end of May, ac- will respond to the technical
town burning. The extent of the tight, and government forces in be waylaid by government forces cording to the International Or- team’s recommendations.
damage has not yet been reliably Reports that came in last week the district keep a close watch on on the road. ganisation for Migration (IOM) ,
reported. No casualties have yet show the varied situations for the displaced communities they only 809 people have been evac- Some reports suggested that
been reported. civilians who are trying to build are charged with protecting. Yet those same drivers, work- uated from Palma by air. IOM the Tanzanian Foreign minister
lives in districts that remain tar- ing the route between Macomia has registered 64 099 people dis- Liberate Mulamula expressed op-
The same day, in Muidumbe gets of insurgent attack. In the Among those who have and Pemba, report that many placed from Palma overall, and position to a regional interven-
district, government troops and district capitals of Nangade and moved away from Nangade is the Macomia natives living in the the number continues to rise. tion in Cabo Delgado in the run
local militias began another of- Macomia, civilians are attempt- district administrator, a fact that provincial capital still wish to up to the summit, but there is no
fensive into Ntchinga, building ing to live day-to-day with the has caused consternation among return home. The resources Meanwhile, the Mozambican evidence that she ever made such
on the work pro-government insecurity and hardship brought those who have remained. Yet available in the fields and forests government continues to ar- a statement. Instead, it seems
forces have been doing in the on by the conflict. education and health workers surrounding Macomia town are gue that any grievances driving that Tanzania shares concerns
area throughout the month of remain, at least in the district still far greater than what is being the insurgency are the result of about the costs and benefits of
May. With a third of displaced capital, and are supported by a offered to those surviving on aid foreign instigation, rather than intervention with the rest of the
Palma residents surveyed by the small number of international in Pemba, a fact that is pushing legitimate domestic concerns. Sadc member states.
The offensive ended by 30 International Organisation for organisations. more and more civilians toward That argument was made recent-
May, when commanders on the Migration (IOM) saying that braving a return to the inland ar- ly during a private meeting of Mozambican President Filipe
ground asked for resupply but they are unsure if they want to After a period of government eas of Macomia district. the Frelimo Central Committee, Nyusi Nyusi hailed the summit
none was provided. This situa- return home, the experiences of restriction, movement between Government response and then repeated publicly last as a success and urged Sadc to
tion is indicative of both the Mo- civilians in Nangade and Maco- Nangade and Mueda is once For displaced Palma residents week by Cabo Delgado governor play a coordinating role in fun-
zambican government’s logistical mia are instructive, as they offer again unregulated, allowing still stuck in the district, the at- Valige Tauabo. Speaking in Anc- neling counterinsurgency assis-
limitations and its struggle to some insight into the challenges goods to enter the district capital tacks in lower Palma town have uabe on 26 May, Tauabo claimed tance from outside the region
planning operations and sustain displaced civilians will face if and more freely. The road is still heav- made clear that Quitunda is not that the trend in Cabo Delgado into Mozambique. Having made
territorial gains. when they try to return to their ily militarized, however, with at their safest option for a place to leading up to the insurgency was it through the Frelimo Central
home communities. least ten checkpoints between stay. Most of the thousands of one of “more employment [and] Committee meeting of 22-23
The government troops in- Mueda and Nangade. civilians remaining in the area more hope” and that therefore May without any major chal-
volved withdrew to Mueda. No In Nangade, the situation re- have moved further out onto the concerns about youth unem- lenges to his control of the par-
casualties were reported, but the mains bleak. People displaced In Macomia, the infrastruc- Afungi peninsula, making camp ployment could not have played ty, Nyusi now has more political
offensive is said to have netted during the 24 March Palma ture problems may be even worse on the coast at Maganja. There a role in the rise of the insurgen- latitude to negotiate the terms of
a number of insurgent weap- attack are still arriving on foot than in Nangade, but the trend they can gather fish for food and cy. Much has been written about foreign assistance.
ons. The government troops in the town, including over 60 is more positive. Macomia town attempt to arrange ocean trans- the reality of unmet economic
involved in the operation have new arrivals on 30 May. The was largely destroyed during port south to Pemba. expectations in Cabo Delgado. Yet his turn toward promoting
styled themselves as the Maria- continued movement of people the insurgent occupation of the Sadc as a coordinating body may
no Nhongo Force, presumably into Nangade is creating both district capital in May of 2020. be a response to pressure from
something between a tribute and Since being reoccupied by gov- regional governments, as they re-
a threat to the leader of the Ren- portedly rebuffed his attempt to
amo Military Junta. include Rwandan representatives
in decision-making meetings
On 29 May, insurgents re- about Sadc intervention.
turned to Quiwiya in the mid-
dle of the day and burned more Outside of Sadc, further coun-
homes. The total number of terinsurgency assistance will like-
homes destroyed is still unclear, ly come from Europe, through
but witnesses said the insurgents either European Union (EU)
seemed intent on burning every or bilateral programmes. Por-
building in the village. tuguese Defence minister João
Gomes Cravinho said last week
By the end of the week, re- that he expects the EU to reach
ports on the ground made clear an agreement on a military train-
that government forces had not ing mission with Mozambique
remained in Namacande, the by June, and that the mission it-
capital of Muidumbe district. self could take place within three
The government reoccupied the months of the agreement being
town on 22 May to much fan- signed. In addition to Portugal,
fare, using the operation to debut up to seven other EU countries
the Mozambican military’s new could be involved in the mission,
Gazelle helicopters. Yet, as not- which Gomes Cravinho said had
ed in the previous Cabo Ligado received broad support in the
weekly, there have always been EU.
questions about whether the
government had the resources French President Emmanuel
to hold Namacande in the long Macron, meanwhile, said during
term. The town is now largely a trip last week to South Afri-
abandoned. ca that his government would
be willing to provide military
New information about ear- support in Cabo Delgado on
lier incidents also came to light the conditions that Mozambique
last week. requests the assistance and that
Sadc coordinates the deploy-
On 22 May, there was fight- ment. Macron said France could
ing between government forces respond quickly to calls for assis-
and insurgents in lower Palma, tance, as French troops and assets
the area of the town closer to are based on the nearby French
the main site for displaced peo- departments of Mayotte and Re-
ple at Quitunda. Casualty esti- union. – Cabo Ligado Weekly.
mates differ, but the most con-
servative report suggests that four
civilians and five insurgents were
killed. Insurgents also burned
down 14 homes and a mosque in
lower Palma. When confronted
by government security forces,
the insurgents withdrew north
along the road that leads to Qui-
wiya and, eventually, Tanzania.
On the night of 23 May, in
NewsHawks Page 27
Issue 33, 4 June 2021 LADIES’ CHOICE
Women on the Move
STARTING this week The NewsHawks introduces a section on its digital publication covering issues about women’s endeavours – under Ladies’ Choices: Women on the Move - to
provide women with opportunities to succeed in their professional and personal lives. Empowering women is empowering families, communities and societies. The coverage’s key
objectives are to highlight women’s careers, endeavours, businesses, financial issues and advance their career growth, as well as contribute to fulfilling their hopes and aspirations.
Through this initiative, our goal is ultimately to contribute, while also helping to secure an equal future for our fellow female citizens, entrepreneurs, employees, clients, consum-
ers and the communities we serve. In recent years conversations around patriarchy and social tenets of equality have been at the forefront of feminism, but now campaigns and
demands for equality are nearing a fever pitch. However, economic equality – which matters the most – is still a pipe dream.
Tatiana Aleshina: Chief Operations Officer
She is the chief operating officer of West Property Zimbabwe, a local property development company based in Ha-
rare. The company was established in 2007 and has been at the forefront of property development in the country. Its
business model involves playing the role of master planner, financier and developer of residential and commercial
properties in the capital. Aleshina, a business woman in her own right, has been involved with the company since
2018. In the process, she has won several national awards in 2021 under WOBA, namely Zimbabwe’s Top 100 Women
Leader and Entrepreneurs of the year as well as Businesswoman of the Year Award. As a businesswoman, she is driven
by passion, dedication and determination in her work. She is also organised and flexible as her position allows her to
explore new business opportunities to help economic development and ensure a better future for Zimbabwe. In one of
her motivation speeches, Aleshina urged women to work hard to succeed. “To be successful, you need to be hardwork-
ing, confident and know who you are as we are special and unique. Women have special a purpose in life, therefore we
should never compromise their integrity,” she said. “Always do what’s right and most importantly help others.” Aleshi-
na says even if she is a foreigner in Zimbabwe, she understands that Zimbabwean people need freedom to enjoy their
rights, build businesses and provide for as well as protect their families. In one interview, she said she loves Zimbabwe
not just because it is a beautiful country, but also due to the fact that it has a lot of opportunities, resources, improving
investment climate and a bright future.
Page 28 Women on the Move NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Marilyn Mosha: Marketing and Sales Manager
The sky is the limit for Marilyn Mosha. AS a West Property Chief Sales and Mar-
keting Manager, Mosha undertook the mission to establish the company’s in-
house sales department. Given her experience at WPC and many other companies,
she has contributed a lot to reinforcing the company’s identity, ethos and logo as
well as website and social media presence. Mosha pushed interactive social media
activity for company on almost all platforms. She also carried out market research
for a new upcoming development. “The short time I have been here, the company
has been recognised and received a couple of awards, while achieving positive sales
results,” she says. Mosha was excited to have been involved in Property Market
Zimbabwe 2020 Webinar which took place on 30 April 2020. In her duties, she
has managed to increase sales and promote brand awareness by 40% during the
sale year. During her stay at the company, she has had an opportunity to act as
chief executive officer, the pinnacle of her career so far. She has always carried out
her duties with the discipline and seriousness that they required. Mosha has previ-
ously been an asset manager of a property investment and management company
listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange, Turnstar Holdings P/L. She also held the
same post at Mlimani Holdings Ltd in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The company
is a subsidiary of Turnstar. Mosha has a passion for real estate and as a result she
has worked in different positions in the different real estate companies. At Pam-
Golding Properties Botswana and Zimbabwe, she managed to set up new service
departments, valuations and commercial leasing respectively. While working at
Willy Kathurima Associates, she was a registered valuer, property manager and
estate agent for over years. After completion of her degree, Mosha worked as a
contract manager at Time Projects Botswana (which is listed on Botswana Stock
Exchange as Prime Time) overseeing valuation reports of properties, off-plan for
sales and putting together sale agreements, as well as associated documentation
for submission for sales sign offs or mortgage applications. She also gained ex-
perience as a valuer’s assistant while studying her degree with CB Richard Ellis in
Gaborone, Botswana, and Antony Coady and Associates in Melbourne, Australia.
Mosha served as a secretary-general for three years and a full member in three
categories, valuer, estate agent and property manager at the Real Estate Institute of
Botswana. She is a full member of Real Estate Advisory Council (Botswana); Af-
filiate member with South African Institute of Valuers. Membership. Mosha has a
masters degree in project management from the University of Botswana; bachelor
of business (property) and certificate in Real Estate Agency Representative from
Melbourne Royal Institute of Technology in Australia; certificate in financial man-
agement for non-financial managers at Botswana Accountancy College; start and
manage a managing agency certificate with the University of Cape Town, South
Africa. She is currently enrolled and is studying for a certified property manager
course with Institute of Real Estate Management administered via Witwatersrand
University, South Africa.
NewsHawks Women on the Move Page 29
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Kerry-Leigh Meikle: Chief Administration Officer
She worked for the British Embassy for four years before deciding to change careers. Meikle
also had a brief stint with Dulux in the sales department, but decided that sales was not for
her. After that she joined Datvest Asset Management and was the PA to the Managing Di-
rector for six years. Later she ollowed her former boss and joined West Property Company
in 2008 and since then she has been with the company. She moved from being personal
assistant to the MD to the Chief Administration Officer. Her strengths are tgat she ensures
everything is in order which is a perfect position for her. She has watched the company
grow from strength to strength over years and has been privileged to see projects become
a reality from the vision behind the developments to the inception and finally the product
coming out of the concepts and imagination.
Elspeth Chimedza: Social Media Manager
Her role is to develop content and manage social media platforms for West Property Zim-
babwe. She is a versatile writer and content creator with a background in media and digital
marketing. Besides, she is a former Content Creator for radio station ZiFM Stereo, and
former editor for online media, Youth Village Zimbabwe. She has won the Zim Achievers
Award and was Zim Blog Awards nominee. Her expertise is in content creation, social me-
dia management, feature writing, scriptwriting, blogging, content creation and editorials.
Mpokiseng Moyo: Quantity surveyor
She studied for national certificate and national diploma in quantity surveying at the Bula-
wayo Polytechnic (1997 to 1999). After that she worked for Nemaks Construction as a train-
ee quantity surveying technician from 1997 to 2000. The she was a quantity surveying tech-
nician for Nemaks Construction from 2001 to 2008, while studying for bachelor of quantity
surveying at the National University of Science and Technology (2005 to 2008). Moyo also
worked for Dambeko Construction in Botswana from 2009 to April 2009, VicJoe Construc-
tion in Botswana from May 2009 to January 2010, Kheiseb Construction in Namibia from
February 2010 to May 2013, Ministry of Works and Transport in Namibia from June 2013
to December 2017, and Kheiseb Construction from January 2018 to October 2018, and West
Properties from September 2020 to date.
Alice Chirenje: Senior Sales Executive Manager
She joined West Property Zimbabwe in August 2015 as a sales executive and
rose through the ranks to the current position of senior sales executive manager.
Chirenje has been in the property business for a while and is passionate about it
and marketing runs in her veins, hence thinks the opportunities are great. She
trained as a journalist and has more passion of marketing and Public Relations.
Due to job satisfaction, she is proud to be associated with the brand West Property
Zimbabwe. “Onwards upwards and outwards we go,” she says.
Rumbidzai Chatora
ACCA Affiliate, Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business and Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Taxation
Page 30 Women on the Move NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
One of West Properties’ residential estate development in Harare.
Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model
&Life Style
STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING
Page 31 Issue 33, 4 June 2021
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA does not have Tuku’s bari-
tone voice we have grown to
GROWING up in Norton, love.
many people would liken
Omel Melusi Tutura to Zim- Omel has set his sights on
babwe’s iconic musician Oli- the mainstream music scene
ver “Tuku” Mtukudzi. with his upcoming extend-
Even at school people of- ed play (EP) due out before
ten joked about it, but the year-end.
rising Afro-pop star, who is
known on stage as Omel, Simply titled Jungle, the
said he was never offended, EP will feature six tracks
in fact he has become used ranging from Afro-acoustic,
to it. Afro-pop, amapiano and
But when veteran singer house music.
Michael Lannas posted on
social media that Omel was He was part of the acts
indeed a love child of the that performed at Ngoma
world-famous Mtukudzi, Dzinotaura Music Festival
whose death in 2019 sent held as part of Michael Lan-
music fans across the world nas’ homecoming concert.
into mourning, users went
into overdrive, trying to be- There, the slim and tall
friend him. Omel sat quietly, enjoying
Much to his surprise, himself among his peers. He
Omel said the link between hardly speaks about his back-
him and his supposed father ground or his father.
stemmed from his strik-
ing facial resemblance to It is only when he takes
Mtukudzi, similarities that to the stage that people are
earned him the nickname amazed by his resemblance
“Tuku”, giving credence to to Tuku. Boy oh boy, can he
murmurs of having been fa- sing and dance!
thered by the legendary Af- Omel talks about
ro-pop artiste. Tuku association His Afro hairstyle will
“It goes back when I was take you back to the early
young. Many people would days of Mtukudzi, especially
say I am Tuku’s look alike the days of Ndipeiwo Zano
and I would ask why?” Omel when he used to wear bell
said. bottoms and sport an Afro
When asked if he was a hairstyle.
Mtukudzi, the 26-year-old
said he was shocked after get- When asked why it took
ting several friend requests him so long to record music,
on his official Facebook page. Omel said he was still learn-
“Michael Lannas ing.
blundered because he is
the one who posted on his fact, I always ask why people tragic accident on 15 March “Oh well, I was learning
Facebook page that I was a call me that. I am equally 2010. the business side of music
Mtukudzi. I approached him surprised.” as well as the creative aspect
and asked why he did that af- Following the death, fans of music. There is so much
ter my inbox was inundated Tuku’s known son was Sam have asked: Who will suc- I didn’t know that I know
with friend requests from a who led the group Ay Band. ceed Tuku? Of course, Sel- now,” he said.
lot of people who thought I During his short music ca- mor Mtukudzi, now married
was Mtukudzi’s song.” reer, Sam would perform with kids to Tendai Manatsa, He deliberately chose
A Facebook follower com- alongside his father where is doing her bit. Amapiano, house and acous-
mented on Lannas’ post: “I the superstar handheld him tic music because he wants to
see a face like Tuku, height in a music concept known as Until now, many thought be his own man.
and complexion. Something “Nzou neMhuru Yayo”. Omel was Tuku reincarnate
beautiful is brewing here.” because of the facial similar- “I have people around me
When The NewsHawks The concept, largely seen ities. Just like Tuku, Omel is who teach me vocals and the
reached out to Omel over as part of Tuku’s strategy to into music. When you see business side of music, espe-
the issue, he denied being a nurture Sam before he re- him, he looks, walks and talks cially Lloyd Soul. I also work
Mtukudzi. tired, would see father and just like the Todii hitmaker. with young producers. I am
“I am Omel Melusi Tutu- son staging joint concerts lo- And he has Mtukudzi’s un- also learning a lot from Mi-
ra,” he said, adding that, “In cally and abroad. mistakable signature smile. chael Lannas, he is a great
The late Oliver Mtukudzi. musician,” he said.
Unfortunately, Sam would It is only when he sings
not live long, dying in a that it becomes clear that he “I want to start by releas-
ing singles, then the EP will
drop at the end of the year.
Hopefully, if all goes accord-
ing to plan, I will be releas-
ing my first studio album
next year,” he said.
It remains to be seen
whether or not Omel will
make it in music for looks
can be deceiving. As they say,
talent alone is not enough,
an artiste should be well
rounded and able to manage
not only the business side of
music but also the fame.
Page 32 Life & Style NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Black umfolosi perform at the Bulawayo Arts Festival.
Bulawayo Arts Fest bursts ArtsFestivalandtheBulawayo
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA Arts Festival.
In May 2019, the Bulawayo
THE City of Kings this week Cultural Affairs Office and
exploded with Zimbabwean with Zimbabwean pride Nhimbe Trust lobbied the Bu-
pride as performing artists lawayo City Council to declare
from all corners of the coun- 1 June 1 Bulawayo Day and
try converged for the second council acceded to the request.
edition of the Bulawayo Arts
Festival. Illustrative of the magni-
tude and diversity, President
The arts and cultural fete, Mnangagwa was the guest of
themed “We Own Winter”, Harare, Kwekwe, Hwange and up-and-coming artistes who honour at the festival.
brought the much-needed Victoria Falls. otherwise would not have fea- National Arts Council of
wow factor this winter. Gwanda had a special fea- tured on the grand stage. Zimbabwe (NACZ) executive
ture at the festival with a There were a lot of new director Nicholas Moyo said it
The four-day arts extrava- showcase dubbed Bulawayo names, including the likes was an important visit by Pres-
ganza illuminated Bulawayo, Arts Festival Live From Gwan- of Pameh The Poet, Poetic ident Mnangagwa after the
the second largest city in Zim- da. Snyper Village Poet, Dumisani last meeting in 2019.
babwe and home to many cre- Artistes from Gwanda — Ndlovu, Dellah, S’phongo, Moyo said the President re-
atives. Khoi Khoi, Bhadillah, Uswid- Nobuhle the Poet and Gerald turned to the city to officiate
iwodwa, GDA Fire, Zhezh- The Poet. at something that was cement-
Organisers have described ingtonz, Bry, Sbhevara, Shallar Other not-so-familiar acts ed at a meeting in 2019 with
the festival as a hybrid since and Pamellah took part in the and musical groups includ- the artistes.
some shows were held virtual- virtual show broadcast live ed One Spirit Choir, Judith He said the government is
ly while in other performances from the town. Gurura, Vitalis Nkosi, Rain- committed to ensuring that
a limited number of live audi- And Harare was represented bwo Blaze Marimba and the arts, culture and creative
ences were allowed in due to by Afrikera Arts Trust headed Bhadillah performed on BAF industries were at the centre of
the Covid-19 pandemic. by Soukaina Edom. TV hosted by Cde Phil. economic development.
The outfit performed con- And what would BAF be The Bulawayo Arts Festival,
Last year, the BAF was held temporary dances that took without the talent of Babon- he said, was being held at the
virtually due to Covid-19. The audiences on a spiritual jour- gile Skhonjwa as the emcee? most opportune time.
event was viewed online in at ney of a great-great grandfa- BAF director Saimon Mam- The BAF has set an example
least 45 countries and the ul- ther from the Thembu tribe bazo said he created space for of great synergy between cre-
timate goal this year was to as portrayed through the great artists across the board. atives, private players and local
reach all corners of the globe grandson. Chabarwa and the song is ti- story of shards, breath and life BAF was created at the government.
and showcase local art and cul- The dance was choreo- tled Heart Warriors by Byron as well as muffled screams and launch of the National Arts, In the run up to the festival,
ture. graphed and performed by Metcalf. enduring hope. Culture and Heritage Policy the Bulawayo City Council
Peter Lenso and the music was On the cast were Tinashe Ehuhwe was a tribute to in 2019 by President Emmer- ran an online campaign to cel-
This year’s festivities opened by Murcof and Mock Star Re- Chiku, Mbonisi Masuku, renowned mbira act — Chi- son Mnangagwa during the ebrate Bulawayo Day through
on Tuesday in celebration of cords. Chido Chigariro, Delvin Pi- woniso Maraire — as her lul- Cultural and Creative Indus- the hashtag #ILoveBulawayo.
Bulawayo Day, marking the Another highlight from Af- kani, Rayne Charamba, Esther laby played in the background tries Indaba held in Bulawayo The festival not only show-
day when the city was declared rikera Arts Trust was their sec- Mwenye, Shalom Kupak- while dancers Vivian Tavaziva, under the theme “Leveraging cased pride in Zimbabwean
a town some 127 years ago. ond piece titled Varakashi, a watenzi, Jonathan Daniel, Chido Chigariro, Shalom Ku- Arts, Culture and Heritage culture and heritage but also
work in progress that “explores Takudzwa Felo and Tawanda fakwatenzi, Dazel Matake and for Enhanced Productivity, promoted domestic tourism
Bulawayo Day is a day to the idea of the abused by pow- Dandato. Esther Mwenye went through Job Creation and Economic which the Zimbabwe Tourism
promote all things Bulawayo er or the powerful abused by And another great piece by their paces. Growth”. Authority has been pushing
and celebrate the diversity of its own power.” The dance was the trust was titled Ndabaiwa By and large, BAF served Two festivals came out of through the #ZimBho cam-
local cultural expressions and choreographed by Tatenda (I am hurting) which tells a as a breakthrough for most that meeting — a National paign.
heritage.
For the first time since
inception, the BAF took a
national appeal with perfor-
mances drawn from Plumtree,
Gwanda, Mutare, Murewa,
NewsHawks Life & Style Page 33
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
Title: I Were, but a Child ! Title: The Brutality of the End TITLE: INNOCENCE THE DAUGHTER
Poet: Agrippa Tivarere Poet: Freeman Pasurai OF GOODNESS!
POET: ANDY KAHARI
I were, but a child! They have guns and bayonets
With a bounty of childhood dreams, They have tanks and the artillery Do I look sad in your eyes?
That I dearly endeavoured to fulfil, They have machetes and the mafia Do I look mad in your eyes?
When suddenly all blew up into smoke, They have the fierce riot police and sjam- Mad- Sad – All because I was never made
Fate raped my youth, boks; They own the iron chains and medi- for this! I am not a bad girl; I do not fly
And so cast me into state of ravage, eval gaols; We have nothing but dreams to strange gardens. I am too birdie to do
The pain of early and forced marriage, and aspirations; Eternal tears and daunt- that- Why are you blaming my beauty,
Abruptly killed my soul, ing fears; Though scattered in poverty my body and my hips and my bosom and
And so were that bounty of dreams, We have the blood they hunger for my precious diamond! You say I am an
Like immortalized symbols, And honest truth they don’t want to hear epitome of Queen Beersheba;
They silently roar for affirmation. That nothing lasts forever So this bird you can clip its wings on your
For power is like a bar of soap queen bed. It’s the bewitchment of she-
I were but a child! When harshly over-used been beer you confess! But all gather at
With no blue print to life! It relentlessly runs out fast those wells and all ends well.
I meander like a vagabond to survive, But let them be; When the inevitable end But you! You take more than my soul.
And so raven of siblings drives me nuts, comes calling; They will impoverishly dine Robbing off my humanity, my beauty, my
Poverty has no honour! with the commoner; And humbly drink with body and my hips and my bosom and my
Being a Child Bride propels me down, the erstwhile leper; When the grave grimly precious diamond! Now my childhood like
Down those insipid terraces, calls; Powerlessly they will surrender the dirty dozen I despise,
I am now a social scavenger, As the brutality of the end; Invokes Lady Cursed years I gathered wood for Mo-
Striving for survival is my anthem! Justice; And Death the Equalizer loch? Yet for Isaac the bush brought
respite-13 was my respite,
I were, but a child, Title:The Black Writer for it never was on a Friday.
When my status abruptly changed, Poet: Freeman Pasurai A beautiful figure; I saw my future in
For I am a child- turned housewife, shape. Puberty ushering sweet butter
Household responsibilities drive me to seismic The black writer blessings of liberty. Never entrapment
lunacy, Wrote in the vicinity of his blackness and perversion venerating my humanity,
Though broken dreams prickle my conscience! He never tapped in the white world my beauty, my body and my hips and my
I endeavour to salvage the household Heri- For the new oppressor was black bosom and my precious diamond!
tage! He spoke in the confines of his language There can never be any greater impale-
Child early and forced marriage, For the suppressor understood it ment, than one’s own blood, drowning
It is a crime against humanity! He lived in the poverty of his dreams one’s own soul.
End Child Marriages Now! Not until poetic courage dawned on his How can I forgive uncle Vlad the Impaler?
feet; Armed with black ink and fresh paper For with a toss of fake, very fake love
Title: One Day He questioned strongholds in poetic form Wallachia is drowning to the gallows – in-
Poet: Tinashe Muchuri Coded words with different meaning nocence decapitated.
It will be one day But sadly he remained in his shell Everything green so ripe and ready to
That these wetlands will disappear For fear of the deadly grave held him back rape, but not all apples are ripe and ready
That these dams will dry up His enemies dreaded not human blood when green.
And the taps will run dry They excelled in culling each nemesis I was young, vulnerable and innocent.
This day is coming So the Black Writer kept writing For that you will rot in hell and burn and
That not the wells nor the tanks shall donate a From the caves and mountains to the burn. But I will NOT live in hell and FOR-
drop of water plains; But he never broke visible chains SAKE who I am. Innocence the daughter
This day is coming That grinned in the face of the multitudes of Goodness, Mother of Happiness.
And very fast He never touched the heart of the oppres- I have a beautiful, so full of beauty body
That day we all shall linger sor; For far from reality the oppressor lived and heart. I have beauty full in hips, heap-
Long to see nothing Left to despair; In salient prayer the Black ing me more with joy, And I am adorned
No mist, not even clouds above Writer wrote; And yearned for a time with bounty and full bosoms,
Bawethu, let us act now When poetry can turn golden and loosen A gigantic mountain I stand straight upon
Save a drop to delay this day chains; Free a people, dismantle strong- arraigned in precious diamonds and I am
Save a drop to save your neighbour holds; And bring back Uhuru proud, yes very very proud.
Water is life I can still laugh! Yes laugh and laugh and
laugh! Because I am stronger than evil-I
prevail! I am Innocence the daughter of
Goodness!
Page 34 People & Places NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021
DUBAI-based leading interna- Emirates resumes Phuket flights ellers to conveniently connect
tional ai rlineEmirates – which as Thailand re-opens its tourism to the Americas, Europe, Africa,
flies to Zimbabwe - says it will re- Middle East, and Asia Pacific via
sume four weekly services to the like many other airlines around tion, offering premium services in travellers from the Middle East, Dubai. It says it remains focused
resort island of Phuket, Thailand, the world. Aviation and tourism first and business class as well as Europe and beyond. Emirates on taking various steps to ease
from next month as with the are some of the sectors hardest economy class. also resumed flights to Bangkok travel and has been a leader in
re-opening of the popular desti- hit by the Coronavirus scourge. since September 2020, providing introducing initiatives in coop-
nation to tourists. Emirates said those who are vacci- Emirates flight EK378 will a daily service. eration with health authorities
nated against Covid-19 will enjoy depart Dubai on Tuesdays, Fri- and organisations to protect the
In an announcement on hassle-free travel, with no quar- days, Saturdays and Sundays at In January the airline suspend- health of customers and to ensure
Wednesday, Emirates said it will antine on arrival. With measures 03:00hrs, arriving at Phuket In- ed flights to Zimbabwe at the their safety.
restart flying to Phuket, a popu- in place to ensure a safe reboot ternational Airport at 12:30hrs height of a Covid-19 second wave
lar international tourist destina- of Phuket’s tourism industry, the same day. The return flight, in the country, but resumed them Emirates introduced mea-
tion, on 2 July. customers travelling to the des- EK379, will depart Phuket at later. It currently has four flights sures on the ground throughout
tination known for its sprawling 00:10 hrs, on Wednesdays, Sat- a week from Harare to Dubai via all touchpoints and onboard to
Phuket, a rain-forested, moun- beaches and white sands, will en- urdays, Sundays, and Mondays, Lusaka. It is set to increase its fre- provide its passengers with the
tainous island in the Andaman joy quarantine-free travel to one arriving in Dubai at 03:05hrs the quency from four to five flights highest safety and hygiene stan-
Sea, has some of Thailand’s most of the world’s most-loved holiday same day (all times are local). this month. dards at every step of the jour-
popular beaches, mainly situat- spots. ney. The airline has also recently
ed along the clear waters of the The four weekly services will Emirates has been gradually introduced contactless technolo-
western shore. The island is home The Dubai-Phuket route will provide customers convenience rebuilding its global network in gy to ease the customer journey
to many high-end seaside resorts, be operated with a Boeing 777- and choice to suit their holiday a sustainable manner and has re- through Dubai airport.
spas and restaurants. Phuket 300ER in a three-class configura- plans. The popular Thai destina- sumed passenger services to over
City, the capital, has old shop- tion remains a favourite amongst 120 destinations, allowing trav- “Emirates continues to lead the
houses and busy markets. Patong, industry with innovative prod-
the main resort town, has many ucts and services that address
nightclubs, bars and discos. traveller needs during a dynamic
time,” the airline said.
Emirates had suspended flights
due to the Covid-19 pandemic, — STAFF WRITER
Property
NewsHawks
Issue 33, 4 June 2021 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Page 35
The home of prime property: [email protected]
DUMISANI NYONI ZimRe seeks to modernise In the period under review, Zim-
country’s property sector Re recorded 27% rental income
ZIMRE Holdings Limited (ZHL) growth to ZW$24.21 million com-
says it will undertake various proj- while fostering property ownership Bulawayo City Council and resi- residential apartments and student pared to ZW$19.05 million at-
ects to revive Zimbabwe’s infra- as an investment tool,” it said. dents. accommodation. A collaborative tained in the corresponding period
structure through its property unit, and syndicated development ap- in 2019. Rental income, according
ZimRe Property Investments (ZPI), In 2019, ZPI commissioned its At the Selbourne Park project, proach of the First Street and George to the company, was boosted by reg-
while fostering real-estate ownership US$13 million Sawanga Mall in ZPI expected to offer 900 beds. The Silundika Avenue block is also being ular upward reviews and improved
as an investment tool. Victoria Falls. two projects were valued at close to pursued.” turnover rental on retail space.
US$10 million.
The company, whose investment The mall has since attracted big It also revealed that the process of Investment properties were val-
portfolio includes property, insur- brands such as Bata shoe company, ZimRe delisted from the Zimba- securing a development permit for ued at ZW$2.25 billion by inde-
ance and private equity fund, said fastfood giant Nandos, NMB Bank, bwe Stock Exchange in November the construction of a lodge in Vic- pendent valuers during the period
besides providing affordable hous- TM Pick n Pay supermarkets, Ethio- last year after minority shareholders toria Falls was at an advanced stage. under review, representing 75%
ing to many Zimbabweans, it has pian Airlines, Nedbank, FBC Bank, accepted new shares in its parent The project is a 40-room lodge cost- growth from December 2019.
modernised the country’s property First Mutual and Liquid Telecom. company, ZimRe Holdings Limited. ing an estimated US$1.6 million.
landscape. Works are expected to commence However, in US dollar terms, the
Aurex Jewellery, Trinity Pharma- According to its half-year finan- once regulatory approvals are grant- portfolio value declined, reflective
“ZHL is invested in proper- cy, Adidas Sportswear, RocoMamas cial results to 30 June 2020, the ed, it said. of the discount on portfolio rental
ty development and management and TV Sales & Home have also tak- company indicated that it was pur- income in US dollar terms and the
through ZimRe Property Invest- en up space at the top end real estate suing possibilities of converting Ha- ZPI said development of Adylin deteriorating exchange rate.
ments Limited. ZPI has been gem. rare central business district (CBD) Townhouse in Westgate, Harare, was
properties to alternative uses. expected to commence in the course ZimRe posted ZW$946.67 mil-
responsible not only for provid- The company also constructed of the fourth quarter of 2020. lion profit during the period, com-
ing affordable housing to many and developed Nicoz House at the “The First Street and Nelson pared to ZW$580.67 million pre-
Zimbabweans, but also modernising corner of Fort Street and 8th Avenue Mandela corner is the immediate The project is located in Westgate viously. Total revenue declined by
the Zimbabwe property landscape,” in Bulawayo, into a student accom- target area. Technical investigations off Old Mazowe Road and compris- 29% to ZW$27,06 million.
the company said in a recent update. modation facility, creating about are advanced and commencement of es 80,2 and 3-bed cluster units. The
190 beds. works could be soon depending on total expected cost of the project is ZHL is an active growth-oriented
“Accordingly in 2018, ZPI un- viability profiles,” it said. US$6 million. The project will sell investment company that provides
dertook to build the first mall in It also wanted to develop five off-plan once preliminary and regu- strategic leadership and guidance to
Victoria Falls, and most recently un- blocks of student hostels in Sel- “The company intends to convert latory issues are cleared, it said. subsidiaries and associates to ensure
dertook the construction of a state- bourne Park, but the proposal in some of its CBD properties to alter- present and long-term financial se-
of-the-art student accommodation 2017 was met with resistance from native uses such as boutique hotel, curity to its shareholders. Its invest-
centre in Bulawayo, Nicoz House. ment philosophy transcends bound-
Going forward, ZHL through ZPI aries and environmental limitations
will be undertaking projects to re- with a focus on the transformation
vive the country’s infrastructure of communities.
Page 36 Sport NewsHawks
ENOCK MUCHINJO Issue 33, 4 June 2021
FOR some very proud men Zim’s all-weather friends
in the world today, whose from across the Atlantic
ancestors were hauled from
Africa to the Caribbean as Monte Lynch in his playing days.
plantation slaves between
the 15th and 19th century, visited Zimbabwe in his formed club, the forerunner And then when Winsto- arship, it was Weekes who cluded Muzarabani in its
the game of cricket became post-playing days around of present-day Takashinga nians won its first major tro- had strongly recommended fantasy line-up of the best
a lifelong passion, a legacy the time the country entered CC. phy, Mashonaland’s Vigne the gifted young player from players in the world under
inherited from British colo- the Test arena. I have had the privilege, Cup, Lynch was the captain. Glen Norah to the country’s the age of 25 expected to
nialism. in much later years, of inter- During a brief period of cricket governing body. dominate the next decade of
Hunte is best remembered acting with all the surviving resurgence for Zimbabwean Test cricket.
Some 9 000 kilometres for his excellent supporting West Indian friends of Zim- cricket from 2009 to around Hailing from Barbados,
across the South Atlantic innings of 260 runs against babwean cricket who came 2013, Lynch accepted an of- Weekes’ family settled in For men like Weekes,
Ocean – where their fore- Pakistan in 1957-58 in the here and left a mark on the fer to coach Masvingo-based England when he was aged who have done something
fathers survived the rough Windies’ world-record sec- game and communities. franchise Southern Rocks in 13, then spending his entire to help, satisfaction comes
waters of the sea to reach the ond wicket partnership of One of them, Guya- a move that lifted the careers playing career on the club from the smiles and hope
West Indies centuries ago 446 alongside Sir Garfield nese-born Monte Lynch, of the bulk of players who circuit there. such stories as Muzaraba-
– nestles an African coun- Sobers (365 not out), a played three ODIs ni’s bring to those that care
try that holds a very special month before the Barbadian for England in the He professes an undying about the wellbeing of crick-
place in the hearts of these had cracked 142 on his Test late 80s, having love for a country he calls et in Zimbabwe.
equally special folk I have debut against the same op- migrated there HawkZone a home away from home,
decided to honour on this position. with his family as maintaining a strong bond And then, of course,
week’s blog. a child. with Zimbabwe by arrang- who can forget the big man
The 44-time Test-capped Lynch arrived Enock ing UK stints for local play- from Trinidad & Tobago,
When these gracious ex-star, a devout Christian in Zimbabwe in Muchinjo ers every year. whose coaching career took
cricket chaps from the Ca- in his lifetime, passed away the mid-90s at the off here, and has gone on
ribbean speak of Zimbabwe, in Australia in 1999 at the invitation of the In 2018, Weekes – sup- to become one of the most
there is no mistaking the age of 67. ZCU to provide ported by his loving fami- sought-after coaches in
attachment to the country. grassroots coaching. ly – was a central figure in world cricket today.
Unfailingly, such kinship Also bidding farewell in With Bionics having split fell under his tutelage. Zimbabwe fast bowler Bless-
terms like “we, us, our team, 1999 – from amongst the to form quite a few more Winston Weekes, another ing Muzarabani’s big break- Phil Simmons, the former
our country”, are used ef- brothers from the Caribbean black clubs, Lynch partic- great contact, played here as through into the English West Indies opening bats-
fortlessly in reference to this who had come to Zimbabwe ularly fell in love with the an overseas professional af- county system. He took man, headed Zimbabwe’s
beautiful but deeply trou- with a mission to inspire a crème de la crème of these ter he was first engaged by Muzarabani under his wing CFX Academy in the ear-
bled homeland of ours. people – was Sylvester Ol- new teams, Old Winsto- the ZCU in the ‘80s, tasked as a father figure, during ly 2000s before eventually
iver. Oliver preceded the nians, who played in the with the additional respon- the Harare-born pacer’s stay being handed the nation-
It cannot be difficult to great Sir Conrad by nine second league of the Masho- sibilities of coaching and with Northamptonshire. al team reins in an event-
see why such chemistry ex- months, dying in his native naland Cricket Association. promoting the game in less ful tenure in which he was
ists. The fact that Zimbabwe Trinidad aged 70. Playing for Winstonians, privileged areas of the coun- All the while during the hugely adored by his players
also plays cricket, and then Lynch was a great source try. international hiatus, Weekes but endured a frosty rela-
the country’s predominantly Sly, as he was known, nev- of inspiration for the club’s A man who wears his was consistent in his stance tionship with the board over
indigenous population give er got to play international young players, who included heart on his sleeve, Weekes that the idea behind the his in-your-face approach.
our brothers from the West cricket. His modest career a future household name in spent countless hours coach- county move was for Mu-
Indies perhaps their closest included just five first-class Tatenda Taibu, later to be- ing in Harare’s high-densi- zarabani to return to the An unceremonious end
connection with their Afri- matches for Trinidad & come Zimbabwe’s first black ty areas of Highfield, Glen Zimbabwe team “10-times a was therefore investable, but
can heritage. Tobago. But arriving here captain. Norah and Glen View – on better bowler” at the expiry when you talk to the amiable
in the 1980s to introduce Many a time Lynch de- nearly all occasions accom- of his three-year Northamp- Big Phil, there is no mistak-
In the 1980s to early cricket in townships when molished opposition bowl- panied by his good pal and tonshire deal. ing a strong bond with Zim-
‘90s, select teams from the the game was still only pop- ing attacks of the country’s Zimbabwean cricket devel- babwe, a country he became
best cricket-playing na- ular in minority communi- established clubs whilst opment stalwart Stephen Weekes’ wish is being ful- a popular figure in town and
tions in the world, prefixed ties, Oliver’s influence on batting with youngsters like Mangongo. filled. Following his early friend of many.
“Young…”, toured Zim- black cricket in Zimbabwe Taibu and Hamilton Ma- When Mangongo en- international comeback due
babwe to help the country was something those that he sakadza, who then developed rolled at the sporty Prince to changes caused by Brex- It is because of the good-
with much-needed prepara- encountered remember with self-belief that black cricket- Edward Boys High School it, Muzarabani has brought will of guys like these with a
tion for imminent granting fond memories and grati- ers could be match-winners in 1988 as the first black some missing bite to Zim- genuine affinity for a land so
of Test status. tude, to this day. with the bat. recipient of a ZCU schol- babwe’s pace attack, justify- far away – a place of senti-
ing his hype as the country’s mental connection for them
One of those popular A passionate man, Oliver brightest prospect over the – that you feel Zimbabwe’s
teams to visit – with black also played for Harare’s Bi- past four years. often troubled cricketing
interest starting to rise in the onics CC, Zimbabwe’s first landscape will survive the
new African nation – was post-Independence black- Last month, respected test of times.
the Young West Indies, a website ESPNcricinfo in-
side whose sense of swagger
created a lasting memory
in locals who witnessed the
matches.
What however particular-
ly sticks out for me are fel-
lows of West Indian origin
who came individually to
coach and play here, some
by their own effort, and oth-
ers at the invitation of the
Zimbabwe Cricket Union
(ZCU).
For many years West In-
dies had been a dominant
force in world cricket. So it
was only fitting, at a time
when the game in
Zimbabwe was gearing
towards racial integration,
that the players of colour in
those days drew inspiration
from those they could relate
to culturally.
Who else would have
inspired even the finest of
Zimbabwean players of that
era than Sir Conrad Hunte
of Barbados?
The former West Indies
opener, one of the greatest
batsmen of his generation,
Sports Zimbabwe’s
Innovate or all-weather
friends from
bust as Zim across the
Atlantic
football makes
Thursday 1cOoctmobeer b20a20ck
Friday 4 June 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com
CULTURE
Community
radio
regulations
under review
Story on Page 8
ENOCK MUCHINJO
ZIMBABWE rugby coach Brendan Dawson is not
downplaying the challenge of Zambia despite his team’s
comfortable 31-8 win over the neighbours on Wednes-
day in the first of two friendlies being staged in prepara-
tion for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The Sables cruised to a 31-0 first-half lead at Harare
NEWS WHAT’S INSIDE
Dawson expects$60 Covid
tariff for
Loga aims to create tougher contestvisitors &
tourists
bond withCplhaayemrsisian secorndematach cStoryonPage 3
Sports Club with loose-head prop Doug Juszczyk scoring
Khupea brace of tries topped up with one each by outside-cen-
out to tre Brandon Mudzekenyedzi and eighth-man Aiden Bur-
nett. An experimental Zimbabwe side then had a dreary
second half and failed to add any points on the board, as
the Zambians showed some real intent for the remainder
of the tie. Lack of team familiarity can be attributed
to this – Zimbabwe had not played together as a group
since August 2019 – but Dawson chose to applaud the
Unofficial president calls for emergeZambians’ effort on Wednesday while looking forward
to a tougher contest on Saturday at the same venue.
“It’s going to get even better, the Zambians have
something to prove,” Dawson told The NewsHawks on
Thursday. “Everyone thinks their (Zambia) rugby is not
of a good quality. But it is. They played with intensity in
some parts of the game, and I haven’t seen a team tackle
against us like that in a long time. When they had the
opportunity, they did come at us yesterday (Wednesday),
which was good to see. There were a lot of good things
to take.”
Dawson acknowledged some areas of Zimbabwean
concern from Wednesday’s match, which he said will be
rectified as the squad continue to gel in camp.
“Look, we haven’t played in two years and guys need
to get in shape and fit into patterns,” said the 53-year-old
ex-international flanker. “It’s about spending time on the
field. Look, we are happy with lots of areas, and there is
still a lot of work to be done in a lot of the other areas. We
need to work on our line-outs, scrummaging, you know,
all the areas we feel we are not accurate enough, the kind
of things we need to make sure we are polished. We just
need to be clinical.”
Wednesday’s team was a blend of seasoned players,
the lesser experienced ones as well as newcomers.
The Sables management will be hugely encouraged by
the showing of some of the new call-ups.
Zimbabwe football coach Zdravko Logarušić. Juszczyk and Mudzikenyedzi, two of the try scorers
ENOCK MUCHINJO “I have already met with some from this country. The positive thing is that players on Wednesday, were raised in New Zealand’s rugby sys-
players over lunch, and more will “We are one team and one coun- will be back playing again in their tem after migrating there as children with their families.
ZDRAVKO Logarušić, Zimba- be coming back home in due clubs, and they will have match The two are expected to be part of a core group of elite
bwe’s football coach, has said he course,” Logarušić told The New- try,” Logarušić made his emotional fitness. But, you know, in football, players in Zimbabwe’s World Cup bid.
will use the current off-season sHawks on Thursday. plea. “We must fight together, ev- what happens in three months no
break in some leagues to bond with erybody, the players, the coaches, one knows. I hope (Knowledge) “Brilliant, isn’t it? What it does is it creates competi-
his players away from the training “We will discuss a lot of things, the media, the fans, everybody. We Musona won’t be injured, I hope tion, no one feels that their position is guaranteed,” re-
ground as part of efforts to create understand each other, and share share the same goal. But we must (Teenage) Hadebe won’t be in- marked Dawson. “We need to have a selection headache
thoughts and ideas. Everyone has not only talk about the good job not because we don’t have good players, but because we
have quality. We want to be in a position where players
“team chemistry” before the begin- something to contribute. Team we are doing. We also need to dis- jured, I hope Khama (Billiat) will pick themselves naturally.”
ning of 2022 World Cup qualifiers chemistry is extremely important, cuss the other things that we’re not be back. We pick players that are After Zambia, the Sables will follow up with another
in September. we have to be a team.” doing properly.” fit, and players that are in form.” warm-up double-header, against rivals Namibia in Hara-
Logarušić arrived back in the Logarušić has, meanwhile, called The World Cup qualifiers were With the Zimbabwean domestic re on 12 June and in Windhoek on 19 June. c
country this week from his native for greater unity as the 55-year-old postponed from June to Septem- football having recently returned On 3 July at Loftus Versfeld in South Africa, they will
Croatia, where he was vacationing gaffer attempts to make history by meet a Blue Bulls select side made up of some of the
after guiding the Warriors to 2022 becoming the first coach to take btoerAf,aLcweSitSOhouZItNhimSAbfIarDbicwaEeinpethnFeciiolnlpeadenniecnre Mstoiinnctiehse2ty0c1aw9le,niLpdoeagrsarfouoršuićtthp$ero3fmi.r2sistBedtiilmlloieo- n
Africa Cup of Nations qualifica- Zimbabwe’s football team to the dSPareebtploesroiaws-biilaltsotehdresnunftiruoanvn’esldCtuosrTriuenCisuiapZiannimdJucl'lyusbfloaprltatyheeissrsty. eTlaahr’esnd
tion in March. World Cup. this Saturday. cally-based players will be given a
The implications of the resched- fair crack of the whip if they prove leg of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers, with the goal of
The Croat’s team is dominated The Warriors are pooled in uling of the fixtures, commented their mettle. returning to the game’s greatest stage for the first time
since 1991.
by a host of Europe-based stars, Group G alongside South Africa, Logarušić, will be only known with “I will watch, I hope to see some Dawson, a former Zimbabwe captain, played in that
and others from some African Ghana and Ethiopia in a daunting the passage of time. quality football,” he said. “Let’s see, `91 edition in Britain and France. If he can steer the
leagues, most of them expected to task to reach Qatar late next year “It’s something that’s out of our if there are good players, they will Sables to the 2023 tournament in France, Dawson will
spend the break at home in Zim- and, in doing so, become a special control,” he said. “It can be a nega- be seriously considered for selec- become one of a few individuals in the sport to have both
babwe. group of trailblazing footballers tive thing, it can be a positive team. tion.” played and coached at rugby’s World Cup.
ALSO INSIDE Zim’s all-weather friends from across the Atlantic
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NewsHawks 4 June 2021-min
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