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WHAT’S INSIDE Friday 25 June 2021 IBlUl-eSqINuEipSpSed ‘SYPoOuRcTan
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New wave of
land seizures
from vulnerable
black farmers

ALSO INSIDE Chebundo defeated Mnangagwa only to join him

Page 2 Special Report NewsHawks

New wave of Issue 36, 25 June 2021
land seizures
from vulnerable
black farmers

NYASHA CHINGONO/ many convinced he is still from the land.   due process, Chief Jahana of land as chiefs for economic Rural Zimbabwean black farmers.
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE walking on his mentor, the “Somebody instrumenta- Insiza in Matabeleland South devolution which you pro-
late former president Robert reminded the President of claimed since all mining amond giant De Beers in the
THE arbitrary removal of in- Mugabe’s ruinous path.  lises that and says, hey you how he had condemned the EPOs where given to Harare 1950s which connects to the
digenous black farmers from know what, the government mortgaging of land for miner- guys and considering prece- Beitbridge and Musina gem
communal and commercial Oxford-trained Zimbabwe- is unhappy with you, you’re al wealth.  dence Mining EPQ have over precincts. 
land around the country - an academic Dr Phillan Zam- talking too much, you are any activity in that area or
in a wave of new disruptive chiya, senior researcher at the over-criticising them. This or- “In your November 24, land,” Mafu, a fearless chief Former cabinet minister
state-sponsored farm seizures Institute for Poverty, Land and ganisation that you lead, you 2017 acceptance speech as who fought colonial authori- Jonathan Moyo said: “If you
- has brought into question Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at are a serious regime change President of the Second Re- ties, said. look at the case of Chilonga, it
President Emmerson Mnan- the University of the Western agent. Then you are told the public, you condemned the is powerful individuals work-
gagwa’s seriousness in pro- Cape, and others, have done government is going to take mortgaging of Zimbabweans “Grabbing of prime ag- ing with cartels elevating it to
tecting property rights, rule a critical research, titled The over your farm because of this. future through the dubious riculture land using fronts policy through instruments.”
of law and foreign investors’ silent dispossession of cus- As a matter of fact, Professor issuance of mining EPOs, like (I) Trek at Maphisa. (2)
interests. tomary land rights holders for (Jonathan) Moyo’s farm was national strategic business Schweppes at Zhovhe Dam In the past decade, commu-
urban development in Zim- referenced, that as soon as we permits and licences to for- in Beitbridge; I have informa- nal farmers have been forced
This focusing a government babwe, on how government are done with Professor Moyo eigners, 99-year farm leases to tion whose interest these com- off their ancestral lands with-
which came to power through is seizing land from poor and and Saviour (Kasukuwere) we foreigners without following panies are serving as business out consultations and being
a 2017 coup chanting noisy vulnerable rural communities, are coming to your farm. Of due diligence and processes, fronts at the expense of the given alternative places.
mantras like “new dispensa- as well as critics of authorities. course, my response was: Do which includes the grassroots local people.`’ 
tion”, “Zimbabwe is open for your worst, we will be wait- consultation background These include the Marange
business” and “ED Pfee” – a Zamchiya studies contem- ing.  Then you realise it is an check of beneficiaries and na- Mnangagwa’s regime has people who were in 2010
crude Zanu PF slogan – to porary trajectories of land individual who has taken in- tional security vetting,” Chief successfully used lawfare to is- evicted when the government
euphoric and anticipative and agrarian change in South- terest, and then you begin to Jahana Khumalo said in the sue repressive statutory instru- discovered diamonds. No
Zimbabweans who wanted ern Africa and the politics of see everything taking place letter dated 14 May, copied to ments, where the President compensation has been given
change. post-colonial states in demo- and a minister has signed. I the Zimbabwe Defence Forces can convert communal land to the Marange people, nearly
cratic transitions. He is cur- was shocked because I had commander, General Philip into state land, dispossessing a decade after the bloody dia-
More than 20 years after the rently the regional coordina- always praised the minister, Valerio Sibanda and the Ma- thousands of vulnerable fam- mond rush. 
chaotic fast-track land redis- tor of PLAAS’s new project on thinking they are profession- tabeleland South Provincial ilies, bringing into question
tribution programme began, the privatisation of customary als,” Malunga said.  Chiefs Council. the government’s sincerity in While other evictions have
Zimbabwe is still grappling land and women’s land rights Communal land under siege  empowering indigenous black gone unnoticed, people in
with agrarian disruptions as in Mozambique, South Africa, Communal farmers, whose “It’s exactly 42 months lat- farmers.  Mwenezi were evicted in
farm invasions and evictions, Zambia and Zimbabwe. ancestors were removed from er after you promised not to 2014 to make way for a mas-
bordering on lawlessness, con- their prime land to desolate mortgage the future of Zim- In the Dinde area, in the sive dam. The evictions cost
tinue unabated. International human rights areas known as reserves during babweans but the situation coal-rich Hwange district in the farmers livestock and live-
lawyer Siphosami Malunga, pre-independent Zimbabwe, in my area proves you other- the western part of the coun- lihoods. They remain stuck
Just last week, for example, speaking during a webinar on have been on the receiving wise. Mining EPOs are issued try, villagers are also on the in Chingwizi camp without
Mwenezi district lands officer the new land dispossessions end of state-sponsored land by your offices after you have edge following manoeuvres to proper housing, nearly a de-
Boas Vurayayi in the company this week, said farm seizures grabs.  consented hence this letter to evict them to pave way for a cade later. 
of Nyika businessman Leon- prove deep-seated abuse of you. Chinese coal project. 
ard Mutema visited Battle- power by the current govern- These include the Chilonga In Chisumbanje, commu-
fields Farm in the Mateke area ment following in Mugabe’s people in Chiredzi, Masvingo “Take note that the due The villagers are angry the nal farmers were also evicted
to notify workers for Shelton disastrous footstep. province, whom the govern- process of issuing a Lithium Chinese commenced explora- to make way for an ethanol
Lucas – a black Zimbabwean ment wants to move under the exploration EPO at Fort Rix- tion without consulting the project in 2010.
farmer – that his farm had Malunga’s farm, which he guise of establishing a lucerne on, in our area of jurisdiction local community.
been allocated to Mutema. owns with busines partners, grass project, although villag- with Chief Sibasa, was not fol- In a shocking turn of
in Nyamandlovu in Matabele- ers say minerals are the real lowed. As chiefs, custodians of The situation bears resem- events, at least 200 villagers
As a result, a US$69.4 land North province is being reason behind the eviction.   this area, we only read about blance to the Chilonga saga in from Maganga village near
million farming and training seized by government despite this mining venture from state which the government early Marondera who invaded land
project meant to benefit 30 that he bought it, violating Despite several pleas from media.” this year ordered the removal belonging to Hunyani Estate
000 people within five years private property. traditional leaders who fear of 12 000 villagers from their at the onset of Zimbabwe’s
is under threat as govern- that thousands of locals will Chief Jahana’s letter was ancestral land in Chiredzi.  chaotic fast-track land redis-
ment wants to repossess the This breaches the law and lose their ancestral land and in a bid to stop lithium and tribution programme in 2000
714-hectare farm, which had government policy. livelihoods, the government tantalum explorations in Fort The Chilonga people had have also evicted.
attracted investors from Ger- has continued to ride rough- Rixon.  been ordered to vacate their
many. In terms of the law, govern- shod over rural communities.  ancestral land to pave way for ln September 1998, with
ment cannot seize land owned In 2018, Chief Vezi Madu- a lucerne grass project run by UK encouragement, the Zim-
The new wave of land grabs by black people. From a policy In a letter objecting to na Mafu wrote to Mnangag- Dendairy, a company linked babwe government hosted a
is gathering momentum, in perspective, government did the “dubious” issuance of an wa about the secret issuance to Mnangagwa’s business as- Land Conference in Harare,
some cases resulting in the not grab dairy farms, which exclusive prospecting order of 17 EPO in Matabeleland sociates.  involving all major interna-
eviction of people allocated that farm was. (EPO) by President Emmer- South, particularly the EPO tional donors and the multi-
land during the fast-track re- son Mnangagwa to mining gi- for lithium which covers Sha- Following a public out- lateral institutions. Before that
distribution programme. In- Advocate Thabani Mpofu ant Premier African Minerals pi-Mahongola- Gwabatema cry, the government abated government encouraged land
digenous commercial farmers, has obtained a judgement to in his area without following in Guyu-Ntepe-crossing Tuli its decision, but the situation invasions to create a volatile
including those who bought that effect. River. remains precarious as inves- situation to push for change.
land, have not been spared. tigations show Chilonga area
“We give the government “This means we have no lies on a rich diamond belt, The Maganga area is lo-
Communal and commer- an opportunity to relook at explored by South African di- cated in Marondera East, 20
cial farmers are bearing the their decision before we take kilometres from the town. It
brunt of new dispossessions. the fight to the next level. is under Chief Svosve, who
There is even a judgement by mobilised his people to invade
Since after the coup, gov- Justice (Nicholas) Mathon-
ernment has upped the ante si on this issue, particularly
on black land seizures, a new in relation to manipulation
dynamic in agricultural and of power, the abuse of power
electoral politics. and authority, especially in re-
lation to the security services
Vast tracts of land have sector. And we know there are
been grabbed and parcelled times when the government
out to Mnangagwa loyalists, has decided to intervene on
while farmers are forced to this serious abuse of power by
downsize and make way for its officials,” Malunga said. 
his cronies or political allies. 
Before the farm invasion,
While Mnangagwa claims Malunga received several
“Zimbabwe is open for busi- threats from a top state secu-
ness”, the brazen land grabs rity official, adding that it was
tell a different story, with a calculated ploy to eject him

NewsHawks Special Report Page 3

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

white-owned farms in 1998, Fresh land seizures  Grobler and his wife Debbie gone on for months, while withdrawal of an offer letter entertained in Zanu PF. Oth-
igniting the land reform pro- Commercial land has also are surviving at the benevo- attempts to evict the panners for his farm. He argues the er targets are those presumed
gramme. Prior to the Svosve been under siege, with several lence of a relative, with their from the estate are proving move was politically motivat- sponsors of regime change
land invasions, black com- farmers, including indigenous cattle currently on a rented futile. ed.  activities, to show them that
munities had actually invaded ones, and those who benefit- plot. working with the enemy does
land in Nyamandlovu, Mata- ted from the land reform pro- Some of Mugabe’s clos- Last year, a group of war not pay.”
beleland North province. gramme, under siege. Ironically, the Groblers est relatives have also been veterans also invaded exiled
were evicted from their farm hounded off their farms, former cabinet minister Sav- Moyo added: “My case was
The Svosve people, with A top Central Intelligence by Ivy Rupindi, a civil servant with the latest being Walter iour Kasukuwere’s farm. Ka- very painful for me because
the encouragement of the late Organisation (CIO) director in the Ministry of Lands. Chidhakwa’s wife, who lost sukuwere has been fighting we bought the farm, we got
Chief Svosve Enock Gahadza and senior ruling Zanu PF of- her farm to Zanu PF officials. in the courts to stop the land a loan from CBZ and bought
Zenda, armed with hoes and ficials in Matabeleland North Mnangagwa’s regime has seizure.  the farm in 2002. In 2005...
axes, moved into the Ruzawi province have moved to ille- also used land grabs to punish Chidhakwa’s wife has lost (the late Mashonaland Cen-
commercial farming belt east gally grab land belonging to the family of the late former 250 hectares and is left with Moyo said in a webinar on tral governor Ephraim) Ma-
of Marondera in 1998. Malunga. president Robert Mugabe. 181 hectares of less fertile Thursday: “From personal ex- sawi started sending people
Gold panners, with the ac- land. The late Robert Zhu- perience, this phase of what is and attacking us, saying that
Hunyani Estate, with an Investigations by The New- quiescence of the authorities, wawo, Mugabe’s nephew, last happening in the agricultural we are occupying prime land
eviction order and backed sHawks reveal CIO co-dep- have invaded the Mugabe year lost his farm to Sports land sector is being done by while criticising the state.
by heavily armed riot police, uty director-general Gatsha family’s sprawling farmland in minister Kirsty Coventry. possessive individuals not by
forcibly evicted the Maganga Mazithulela, Zanu PF secre- Mazowe and installed a gold Coventry snatched Zhuwao’s the state because I don’t think “In 2019 when the late
villagers. The villagers were tary for administration Ob- milling plant. Cockington Farm in Zvimba. there is a state policy to dis- Perrance Shiri was Lands min-
dumped near the Harare-Mu- ert Mpofu and Matabeleland possess or repossess. These are ister he targeted me specifi-
tare road. North provincial minister of Aerial pictures of the estate Grace’s sister Shuvai Gum- individuals who are taking ad- cally for criticising command
state Richard Moyo are be- show massive destruction and bochuma also lost her Kachere vantage of their positions. agriculture. He deployed five
A study titled Silent Dis- hind the orchestrated political unregulated mining on the Farm in Concession to a top military people and allocated
possession of Customary Land plot to grab Kershelmar Farms farm, situated in the heart of Zanu PF official in 2018. “They target people who them land on the farm. Then
Rights Holders for Urban De- (Private) Limited from its le- Mazowe, with sources saying have fallen out of favour or they were saying the farm was
velopment in Zimbabwe by gal owners, indigenous Zim- powerful Zanu PF officials Moyo’s farm was grabbed are now at odds with the rul- being used to hide weapons.
Zamchiya, Owen Dhliwayo, babweans. oversee the disruptive activi- during the late Lands minis- ing system. This is done to Those five are not farming and
Cynthia Gwenzi and Claris ties. ter Perrance Shiri’s tenure. He show how cold it can get out- the matter is in court.”
Madhuku found that seizures “There is a specific ap- is still locked in a legal battle side, and this is an ideology
of communal land are con- proach to the way things are Gold mining activities have with the state, following the
nected to Zanu PF or its big- happening. It is clear the mo-
wigs.  tivation for dispossession of
the community is usually pri-
“Most beneficiaries were marily to serve elite commer-
the locally employed, urban cial interests and elite personal
elites based as far as Harare interests. I am considered as
and a critic and hold views that
are unpalatable. Unasham-
locals who worked in Jo- edly, I am seen as the face of
hannesburg, South Africa, an organisation that supports
and the local ‘big shots’. The communities or individuals to
local ‘big shots’ were largely hold government accountable,
connected to the ruling Zanu promote and protect human
PF and this gave them power rights and they do not like
and authority over the alloca- that,” Malunga said. 
tion of land, sometimes chal-
lenging council authorities,” The NewsHawks recently
the study says. reported on a land grab in-
volving Rafingora-based farm-
The study further shows er and war veteran Benedict
that land seizures are en- Owen Ben Magadza , who
trenching colonial and au- had been staying for more
thoritarian ideologies of dis- than a decade at Mupangure
possessing indigenous black plot number one. Magadza is
communities.  yet another black Zimbabwe-
an who has lost land to a com-
“We observed that the Zim- patriot. He was evicted after
babwean state, which prides his plot was allocated to CIO
itself in the politics of deco- officer Joyce Kamhedzera.
loniality, is dusting and mak-
ing live colonial masterplan Magadza, who had stayed at
maps rooted in authoritarian the farm since 2008, fought a
high modernism ideologies, legal battle with Kamhedzera
which were meant to dispos- for nearly three months but
sess the black communities of lost, culminating in his evic-
their prime land, to dusty and tion.
mountainous areas,” it says.
While Magadza is licking
The study adds that land his wounds, another war vet-
grabs had been triggered by eran and businessman, Fred-
new investments, rent-seeking erick Mutanda, frantically
behaviour, and state officials’ tried to engage the Minister
high modernist visions.    It of Lands Anxious Masuka,
shines the spotlight on vio- but to no avail, after dozens
lence associated with evictions of Zanu PF youths riding mo-
in which court orders are not torcycles invaded his farm last
abided by. month. 

“It is evident that we need Mutanda says it is a
more research to proffer wider well-calculated ploy to victi-
and concrete solutions. How- mise him for supporting a bid
ever, given the rising demand to challenge the extension of
for customary land, not only Luke Malaba’s term as Zimba-
in Chipinge but across rural bwe’s chief justice. He said the
Zimbabwe, it is imperative for invasion was a political mes-
policy to clearly define land sage for his purported “misde-
use rights. Our view is that the meanours”.
Communal Land Act of 1982
vests too much power and au- The marauding Zanu PF
thority over land in the min- youths invaded and camped
ister, Rural District Councils at Mutanda’s farm in Muto-
and the President,” the study rashanga, Mashonaland West
says.  province. The party youths
accused Mutanda, who was
“In addition, the new Cus- the late vice-president Joshua
tomary Land Act must legally Nkomo’s bodyguard, of be-
recognise socially legitimate ing anti-government when he
existing traditional occupa- supported Malaba’s ouster.
tion and good faith occupa-
tion by individuals, families Under the full glare of in-
and local communities who ternational media, commer-
have been using the land for cial farmer Martin Grobler
at least five years without the was evicted from his Ruwa
need to formalise, register and farm last September.
provide titles.” 
Months after the eviction,

Page 4 News NewsHawks

Arbitrary land grabs Issue 36, 25 June 2021
driven by corruption
Former minister Jonathan Moyo.
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE “My case was very painful of the Masvingo Centre for and Community Development
for me because we bought the Research Advocacy and Devel- (PYCD), said judging from the
VICTIMS of the government’s farm, we got a loan from CBZ opment (MACRA), Khanya outreach and advocacy work
continued arbitrary seizure of and bought the farm in 2002. Noko, who was representing they had conducted around the
agricultural and communal land In 2005 (then Zanu PF spokes- the Chilonga community, said Chisumbanje community in
say the exercise is driven by cor- person Ephraim) Masawi start- there is a need to repeal the Chipinge, it was clear the villag-
rupt and greedy officials taking ed sending people and attacking Communal Lands Act which ers feel neglected by the govern-
advantage of the land reform us, saying that we are occupying leaves communities vulnerable ment.
programme and other policies.  prime land while criticising the and has been used by the state
state. In 2019 when the late Per- to unjustly evict villagers. “From the work that we do,
There has been a wave of rance Shiri was Lands minister the people’s sentiments are that
dispossession and repossession he targeted me specifically for “Communal Lands Act needs the government is pro-elite and
of land in Zimbabwe, targeting criticising command agricul- to be repealed and replaced with excludes those who don’t have
people perceived as government ture. He deployed five military one that promotes secure land money. Villagers in Checheche
critics as well as vulnerable com- people and allocated them land tenure,” Noko said. and in Munyokowere are dis-
munal communities. on the farm. Then they were possessed to pave way for res-
saying the farm was being used Cynthia Gwaze, a gender idential stands by a property
The latest high-profile dis- to hide weapons. Those five are wellness and advocacy officer developer.” 
possession is that of a farm be- not farming and the matter in with the Platform for Youth
longing to the executive director court.” 
of the Open Society Initiative
for Southern Africa (Osisa), Malunga said there is a spe-
Siphosami Malunga and his cific approach to the way things
partners, which they say they are happening to serve elite in-
bought and have title deeds to, terests.
adding them to the list of other
people who have been targeted, “The motivation for dispos-
including former Zanu PF offi- session of the community is
cials Saviour Kasukuwere, Jon- usually primarily to serve elite
athan Moyo, Patrick Zhuwawo commercial interests and elite
and Grace Mugabe.  personal interests. I am consid-
ered as a critic and hold views
Communities in rural Zim- that are unpalatable. Unasham-
babwe, including Chilonga in edly I am seen as the face of
Chiredzi, Dinde in Hwange the organisation that supports
and villages in Chipinge district, communities or individuals to
are fighting to retain their an- hold government accountable,
cestral land, as the government promote and protect human
prioritises commercial interests.  rights and they do not like that,”
he said.
In a webinar chaired by Phill-
an Zamchiya from the Uni- “Somebody instrumental is
versity of the Western Cape’s know what, the government
Institute for Poverty, Land and is unhappy with you, you’re
Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), for- talking too much, you are
mer cabinet minister Jonathan over-criticising.
Moyo said the dispossession of
his Mazowe farm was a painful This organisation that you
moment for him as it was part lead, you are a serious regime
of his family’s investment. change agent. Then you are told
the government is going to take
The webinar focused on the over your farm because of this.
“Dispossession and Repos- As a matter of fact, Professor
session of Farmland Post-Fast Moyo’s farm was referenced,
Track Land Reform in Zimba- that as soon as we are done with
bwe”. Professor Moyo and Saviour
(Kasukuwere) we are coming
“From personal experience, to your farm. Of course my
this phase of what is happening response was: Do your worst,
in the agricultural land sector is we will be waiting.  Then you
being done by possessive indi- realise it is an individual who
viduals not by the state because I has taken interest, and then you
don’t think there is a state policy begin to see everything taking
to dispossess or repossess. These place and a minister has signed.”
are individuals who are taking
advantage of their positions,” Malunga said he and his part-
Moyo said.  ners were giving the government
an opportunity to rethink their
“If you look at the case of decision of dispossessing them
Chilonga, it is powerful individ- of the farm before they take the
uals working with cartels, elevat- fight to the next level. 
ing it to policy through instru-
ments. If you look at examples “There is even a judgement
like myself and you ask who is by Justice (Nicholas) Mathonsi
targeted. They target people on this issue, particularly in rela-
who have fallen out of favour or tion to manipulation of power,
are now at odds with the ruling the abuse of power and author-
system. This is done to show ity especially in relation to the
how cold it can get outside and security services sector. And we
this is an ideology entertained know there are times when the
in Zanu PF. Other targets are government decided to inter-
those presumed sponsors of re- vene on this serious abuse of
gime change activities in order power by its officials.” 
to show them that working with
the enemy does not pay.” The dispossession and repos-
session of land has also been
He said they deploy intimi- criticised as a shot in the foot as
datory tactics, sending security it makes the country an unat-
sector officers and youth militia tractive investment destination.
to frighten targeted families. At
times they get the Lands minis- Speaking during the webinar,
ter to write eviction letters. the deputy board chairperson

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

MORRIS BISHI Mwenezi farm grab jeopardises that the farm is now under
US$70m development project Nyika-based businessman
A US$70 million farming and Leornard Mutema who is also
training project meant to ben- Now government is seizing land from rural poor and vulnerable black communities. It was envisaged that the my neighbour since he owned
efit 30 000 people within five project would generate a min- River Valley Farm. This came
years in Mwenezi faces a bleak investment and partnerships, In partnership with Ger- was earmarked for 1 000 hect- imum of 30 megawatts of as a surprise to me. In addi-
future after the government innovative solutions and spe- man company  SUNfarming ares with the initial segment electricity for Mwenezi with tion, Vurayayi mobilised the
signaled an intention to repos- cialised services. GmbH, the Mwenezi project kicking off on 500ha. the excess being channeled to surrounding communities to
sess a 714-hectare farm from the national grid.  sign a petition calling for my
a Zimbabwean who acquired ouster from the farm which l
it during the land reform pro- Mwenezi district develop- owned through a lease from
gramme. ment coordinator Rosemary government. My farm is one
Chingwe told The NewsHawks of the productive ones in the
Mwenezi district lands of- that she was not aware of the area and l am into paprika pro-
ficer Boas Vurayayi, in the issue and referred questions to duction, which l am exporting
company of Nyika business- district lands officer Vurayayi.  to the American market. I am
man Leornard Mutema, vis- also in the process of setting
ited Battlefields Farm in the Vurayayi said he is not up a food and energy training
Mateke area of Mwenezi on aware of any farm in Mwenezi project for local people at a
18 June to notify the employ- called Battlefields. He further huge cost in partnership with
ees of Shelton Lucas – a black referred questions to Masv- a Germany company but with
Zimbabwean – that Mutema ingo provincial lands officer this development the project
will be the new owner of the Tendai Mumera. Mumera cannot take off,” said Lucas.
farm. They notified the work- said he was not in a position
ers to leave the property with- to comment on the matter. Officials close to Mute-
in 14 days. ma say he intends to build a
Lucas confirmed the devel- private school at Battlefields
Lucas, a business strategist opment, adding Vurayayi is despite the fact that he owns
who holds a Bachelor’s de- not allowing him to visit his the 2 000-hectare River Val-
gree in financial intelligence, farm. ley Farm which is largely
is the Zimbabwean partner under-utilised. It was one of
of Deutsch Connect. He is He said the ongoing land the most productive farms in
undertaking agricultural ac- grab was disrupting opera- Mwenezi before it was allocat-
tivities at Battlefields Farm tions, including the setting up ed to him.
through his local company of the US$70 million project
Eastview Resources, an entity meant to benefit more than 30 Eastview Resources is con-
with a bias towards mining, 000 people. tracting outgrower paprika
agriculture and consultancy farmers throughout the coun-
services.  “On 18 June the lands try, with the company realis-
officer for Mwenezi visited ing over US$100 000 every
Deutsch Connect links my farm during my absence year. Lucas is the local consul-
sub-Saharan businesses, or- and informed my workers tant for Epikaizo Capital (Pvt)
ganisations and individuals Ltd, a global venture capital
to the German economic eco- firm.
system. It offers sustainable

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

LIZWE SEBATA Lands minister distances self have given beneficiaries, 14
from Malunga farm seizure of them, offer letters to occu-
LANDS and Agriculture py that farm. They also claim
minister Anxious Masuka has that their documents were
distanced himself from the stolen. Documents of the
seizure of a farm belonging to property stay with the owner
prominent human rights law- of that property, they cannot
yer Siphosami Malunga and be kept at the offices. It is clear
his business partners, with his that they want to raise dust to
juniors saying the Matabele- ... provincial officials behind the plot tarnish the image of the gov-
land North provincial lead- ernment.”
ership is behind the move to Investigations by The New-
grab the property. sHawks show that Richard
white farmer, who then sold Moyo’s story is misleading
This comes at a time when Kershelmar – with the farm and untrue. The facts are
Matabeleland North Provin- – to Malunga, Dhlamini and clear: the farm was not des-
cial Affairs minister of state Charles Moyo. ignated by the government
Richard Moyo has practically in the first place, let alone ac-
confirmed he spearheading However, in a notice in the quired. By its own admission,
the seizure, telling The News- Government Gazette, Masuka the government believed it
Hawks that there is no going said the farm, known as Esi- was owned by the late Eddie
back on the farm confiscation. dakeni, measuring 553 hect- Warambwa, a black farmer,
ares and situated in Nyaman- hence it was not taken.
The NewsHawks has already dlovu, Matabeleland North Information gathered
established that Central Intel- province, is being compulsory shows the farm was owned by
ligence Organisation co-dep- acquired under section 72(2) Swindells through Kershel-
uty director-general Gatsha of the country’s constitution. mar (Pvt) Ltd. Swindells then
Mazithulela, Zanu PF secre- leased it out to Warambwa as
tary for administration Obert The move has sparked a going dairy concern, but re-
Mpofu and Moyo are behind widespread condemnation as tained land ownership.
the move to seize the property. it comes against a backdrop Warambwa ran the dairy
of growing land seizures from project, which he had ac-
Mazithulela, a distin- black people, especially its quired from Swindells, with-
guished scientist, is a former critics. The farm is also highly out buying the farm itself.
Nust pro-vice-chancellor (in- productive. Besides, the move Besides thinking that it was
novation and business devel- violates property rights, the owned by Warambwa, the
opment), and has reportedly rule of law and spooks inves- other reason the government
been vigorously pushing for tors. It also further damages did not take over the farm is
the farm seizure for political government’s reputation. that it was a dairy project.
reasons. Dairy farms were spared
But yesterday Masuka said from compulsory acquisition.
Moyo is the one spearhead- he was not the initiator and In its 18 December 2020
ing the seizure and claims the mover of the land grab. The notice to acquire the farm,
farm owners have no proof of lands ministry says Richard A section of Malunga’s Esidakeni Farm. the government unwittingly
ownership. Moyo is.
just there to sign offer letters; the property should have been Moyo said. admits it is owned by Ker-
Siphosami, the executive “I am not aware of any because of devolution, pro- grabbed by the government a “There is no going back on shelmar which, in turn, is
director of the Open Society farm seizure of Malunga’s vincial ministers are the ones time long ago. now controlled by Malunga,
Initiative for Southern Af- farm,” Masuka said, referring responsible for the issuance of that farm seizure. We should Dhlamini and Moyo.
rica and son of the late na- the reporter to his juniors be- offer letters, and they are the “That land does not belong have taken the farm a long This is contrary to the au-
tionalist Sydney Malunga, fore cutting his mobile phone. best to comment on any land to the Malunga family. It was time ago. Besides, they do thorities’ claim that the three
co-owns Kershelmar Farms offer issues in their respective acquired by the government not have any documentation investors bought Keshelmar
(Pvt) Ltd with businessman Lands and Agriculture provinces,” Machekano said. and belongs to the govern- showing that they own the without the farm, yet in fact
Charles Moyo and Zephaniah ministry spokesperson Barba- ment. They are claiming to property. the property is even officially
Dhlamini, a scientist working ra Machekano said the Mata- Practically confirming this, have bought shares to the referred to in the government
at the National University beleland North leadership led Richard Moyo said Malun- property, but you cannot buy “Dhlamini and (Charles) gazette as Kershelmar Farms
of Science and Technology by Richard Moyo is responsi- ga and his business associates shares to a land that has been Moyo came to my offices to (Private) Limited.
(Nust). The company, which ble for the farm grab. did not own the farm. He said acquired by government,” explain themselves, but failed
they bought, owns the farm. to provide any papers. “We
“Moyo is the one respon-
The farm was initially sible for that province. At
owned by Jeffrey Swindells, a head office level, Masuka is

There is a future.

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

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NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Derbyshire Industrial Park in Waterfalls, Harare. Photo Aaron Ufumeli.

BERNARD MPOFU wZhimistrlae-ibnlopwroinpgerstcyadnedaall Chitungwiza highway. Access
to the facility is by means of
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Au- the deal was completed. sion (5% the cost of the proper- babwe and specially designat- assurance and special projects, a short private tarred road off
thority (Zimra) is caught in yet The owners — Glen Hawkes ty). In 2017, Zimra took Glen ed nationals.  A whistle-blower reads. Chitungwiza Road. This pri-
another scandal involving the Hoaks, Richard Brian Pearl and then approached Zimra and vate road leads to the controlled
sale of a multi-million-dollar and Richard Pearl and contro- another person to the Fiscal made a report on how the tax “Zimra should serious- entry and exit to the complex
warehouse by two Harare busi- versial Chinese businessman Court over the matter. authority had been prejudiced ly make an effort to recover where the guard house is situ-
nessmen who allegedly preju- Sam Pa — reportedly agreed of tax when the property was monies owed to it as the sale ated.
diced the tax authority revenue, to bypass the property com- In 2014, the United States disposed of. proceeds were paid outside the
we can report. pany once terms had been Treasury’s Office of Foreign As- country to evade paying tax The complex, which is reg-
agreed. Documents show that sets Control sanctioned Sam, as “The proceeds of the sale and should consider the follow- istered as Combined Storage
Information gathered by they then invited another agent well as an Angolan businessman went to the private use and ben- ing options, placing caveats on Services, is prime industrial
The NewsHawks shows that a who facilitated the sale and did and a former ally of Zimbabwe’s efit of Richard Brian Pearl who properties owned by R.B Pearl property situated in Harare’s
local property firm brokered a not pay value added tax which long-time leader, the late Rob- instructed that the purchase and disposal of the said proper- Waterfalls suburb. The main
deal which involved the sale of would have been mandatory for ert Mugabe. Sam, who had a price be paid into his company ties by way of auction.” features of the property include
a warehouse in Harare’s south- the sale of the property. Vat is fallout with Mugabe at the time in Mauritius. Thus as such the 32-acre well-maintained land,
ern townships, but violated the applied on the disposal of fixed of his death over a property in beneficiary of the sale proceeds Questions sent to Zimra with expansion prospects; 10
country’s tax laws by wiring the property in terms of section Hong Kong, was designated for (that is), R.B Pearl owes the sold were not responded to at the acres of modern engineer-de-
proceeds of the sale to a tax ha- 6(1)(a) of Value Added Tax Act. undermining democratic pro- company money and it is pru- time of publication. signed maintenance-free facto-
ven. cesses and institutions in Zim- dent that Zimra should recover ry buildings; one free-standing
The property, which was babwe, facilitating public cor- their money from properties Derbyshire Industrial Park unit of 1 000 square metres. 
It is understood that the initially being sold for US$9.4 ruption by Zimbabwean senior that he owns,” one of the doc- is located 15 kilometres from The property also boasts of
owners of Waterfalls Industrial million, was eventually sold for officials through illicit diamond uments addressed to Charles the city centre down Simon nine free-standing units of
Park, which is also known as the just over US$7 million, docu- deals, and providing financial Jaure, Zimra’s former com- Mozorodze Road and along 200 square metres; covered
Remainder of Subdivision Der- ments show. Bard was expected and logistical support to Zim- missioner in charge of revenue Chitungwiza Road. The prop- loading bays; guardhouse for
byshire, gave Bard Real Estate to get US$475 000 in commis- erty is visible from the road but controlled entry and offices,
the mandate to sell the proper- is not directly against the main canteen and ablution facilities
ty and the property firm began and free-standing units of 10
negotiations with a potential 730 square metres. Within the
buyer in 2009. property are 12 free-standing
maintenance, free warehousing
The seller’s mandate, accord- units, totalling a covered floor
ing to documents seen by The area of 40 460 square metres.
NewsHawks, was that Bard was
to be paid the commission once

Page 8 News NewsHawks

From needy Issue 36, 25 June 2021
student to a
cash-loaded
whistle-blower:
Kujinga minted

EVANS Kujinga, the Zim- ra’s acting chairperson, Whistle-blower Evans Kujinga and his wife.
babwe Revenue Authority through her tax consul-
(Zimra) top whistle-blow- tancy firm PKF which is nal auditor, who exposed the amount recovered on acting on insider informa- The network works like
er, has over the years ris- located at Takura House, how the whistle-blower the basis of information tion. this: senior Zimra offi-
en from being a former a few blocks from the au- was working with insiders supplied. But corrupt cials get information from
University of Zimbabwe thority’s head office. in milking the authority The most recent case in- whistle-blowers and then
School of Health Scienc- under the whistle-blower Zimra officials always volved three whistle-blow- help them to consolidate
es student to being an “Charles Jaure, former facility. manipulate that. ers — Norman Nyabadza, and process their cases fast
influential person walk- Zimra commissioner in Martin Macharaga and using inside information
ing up and down the tax charge of revenue assur- Under the whistle-blow- Zimra also undertakes to Evans Kujinga — who had for a huge cut.
collector’s corridors with ance and special projects er facility, Zimra is sup- protect the identity of the reported notorious Hara-
a swagger courtesy of his resigned over  unclear rea- posed to reward legitimate informants at all times as re  land baron Felix Mun- Alternatively, and  more
wide-reaching networks, sons, several months after informants on cases relat- provided for in the secrecy yaradzi to  Zimra for tax corruptly, senior Zimra of-
The NewsHawks has estab- he was suspended on cor- ing to tax evasion under provisions of the Revenue evasion involving  US$12 ficials use inside informa-
lished. ruption  charges, but Ku- Section 34B of the Reve- Authority Act, but it has million. tion  on individuals and
jinga played a role in this,” nue Authority Act (Chap- failed to do so and is en- companies’ tax returns and
Kujinga, a shrewd and a source said. ter 23:11) as read with dangering whistle-blowers. Zimra in March wrote tax evasion to  empower
unorthodox whistle-blow- Statutory Instrument 150 to Munyaradzi demand- their cronies to come and
er, developed close links Jaure was in 2018 of 2020. Last month, The News- ing payment or else they report cases in return
with the authority’s chair- probed after a  dossier Hawks exclusively report- would garnish his business for huge payments, which
person and senior officers, was submitted to Zimra, Statutory Instrument ed on massive corruption accounts. Munyaradzi was they then share.
eventually becoming Zim- the Zimbabwe Anti-Cor- 150 of 2020, gazetted on — which has dragged on in March given seven days
ra’s leading informant on ruption Commission and 26 June 2020, regulates for years and is rocking to pay or face the conse- Kujinga did not answer
tax violations. the  Special Anti-Corrup- the payment of rewards Zimra’s multi-million-dol- quences. calls when reached for
tion Unit outlining a series to informants upon whis- lar whistle-blower fund comment and a text mes-
Kujinga has over 300 of alleged corrupt activities tle-blowing and the recov- which the tax collector’s The plunder has contin- sage sent to him was not
whistle-blowing cases to carried out by the official ery of revenue. senior officials are looting ued unabated. Millions in responded to at the time of
his name and is owed in his course of work. He in cahoots with a corrupt taxpayers’ funds have been publication. —STAFF WRITER.
millions of dollars in out- was later cleared by Zimra The reward is 10% of network of informants stolen through the racket.
standing rewards. But in- and returned to work.
siders and experts say tech-
nically it is not possible for “I write to advise that Mr
a whistle-blower to expose Charles Jaure Commis-
more than three compa- sioner Revenue  Assurance
nies. and Special Projects has
resigned from the Author-
Zimra, which under- ity with  immediate effect.
went a major shake-up of He resigned for personal
senior managers, has over reasons and the Authori-
the years announced its ty wishes to thank him for
plans to introduce a cock- the services rendered,” for-
tail of measures such as mer Zimra Commission-
electronic cargo tracking er-General Faith Mazani
to minimise revenue leak- wrote in an internal memo
ages at the country’s ports dated 8 February 2018.
of entry. However, sources
say more sleaze is happen- It was also established
ing inside. that at one stage Kujin-
ga became the subject of
In the first half of discussion when former
2017, Zimra suspended Zimra chairperson Callis-
21 officials and recov- to Jokonya raised concerns
ered  US$120 million over possible conflict of
through its anti-corrup- interest with Rhea Kujin-
tion drive following tip- ga a senior official at the
offs from members of the Auditor-General’s office.
public. The AG’s office has over
the years played a critical
Insiders and sources role in exposing muck in
told The NewsHawks that most parastatals and state-
Kujinga’s influence on top owned enterprises.
Zimra officials has claimed
the scalps of some officers The NewsHawks also
who were trying to stop established that Kujinga,
him dead in his tracks. who was the subject of a
Over the years, Kujinga Zimra internal audit, insti-
worked closely with Jo- gated the sacking of Moja
sephine Matambo, Zim- Mutizirwa, the chief inter-

NewsHawks News Page 9

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Govt must protect whistle-blowers: TIZ

ANTI-CORRUPTION expediting the process faced with competing Transparency International Zimbabwe says government must quickly come up with a law to pro-
organisation Transpar- of enacting the Whis- and conflicting impera- tect whistle-blowers.
ency International Zim- tle-blower Protection tives which make their
babwe (TIZ) says the legislation and funding decision of reporting
government should pro- the establishment of corruption to relevant
tect whistle-blowers as the institutional frame- institutions an excruci-
part of broad efforts to works thereof. Whilst ating endeavour. There-
combat graft. there have been commit- fore, Whistle-blower
ments of drafting a whis- Protection legislation
On this day, as we cel- tle-blower protection and accompanying in-
ebrate the courageous policy in Zimbabwe, stitutional frameworks
individuals who come as stated in inter-alia will support the current
forward to report cor- paragraph 874 of the anti-corruption efforts
ruption, TIZ urges the National Development as laid out in the Na-
government of Zimba- Strategy 1 (2021-2025), tional Anti-Corruption
bwe to show political such a process has taken Strategy (2020-2025).
will and commitment long. In most instanc-
towards the protection es, whistle-blowers are On 23 June 2021,
of whistleblowers, by TIZ joined the rest

of the world in com- laid out in Article
memorating World 2, it is important
Whistle-blowers Day. for each state par-
Whistle-blowers play ty to adopt mea-
a critical role in expos- sures which will
ing wrongdoing and create, maintain,
corruption, therefore and strengthen
potentially saving the inter-alia, systems
country millions of dol- for protecting in-
lars in public funds and dividuals who in
ultimately guaranteeing good faith, report
the effective and effi- acts of corruption.
cient delivery of public • Article 5 of the
services. • African Union
Convention on
Zimbabwe is a signa- Preventing and
tory to various regional Combating Cor-
and international an- ruption provides
ti-corruption frame- for the protection
works and protocols of whistleblowers.
such as the Southern It states that state
African Development parties undertake
Community’s Protocol to adopt mea-
Against Corruption, the sures that ensure
African Union Conven- citizens report in-
tion on Preventing and stances of corrup-
Combating Corruption tion without fear
and the United Nations of consequent re-
Convention Against prisals.
Corruption (UNCAC), • Article 33 of the
all of which recognise • United Nations
the important role of Convention
whistle-blowers and the Against Corrup-
need for their protec- tion encourages
tion thereof. state parties to
incorporate into
For instance; their domestic
• Article 4 of the legal systems ap-
• Southern Afri- propriate mea-
sures that provide
can Development protection against
C o m m u n i t y ’s unjustified treat-
Protocol against ment of persons
Corruption, on who report any
preventative mea- acts of corruption.
sures recognises
that for state par- — STAFF WRITER.
ties to contribute
to the objectives
of the protocol as

Page 10 News NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

MARY MUNDEYA Implicated smuggler gets ing general manager Peter
new gold buying licence Magaramombe said they
FIDELITY Printers and could not comment on is-
Refiners — an arm of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya. sues before the courts.
central bank with a mo-
nopoly on buying, refining rity aide, Stephen Chenjerai renewed Ali Japan’s gold Group estimates that the cused of being involved in Samambwa and other
and exporting Zimbabwe’s Tserayi and Central Intelli- buying licence, resulting smuggling of gold, Zimba- gold leaking they mustn’t legislators suggested that Fi-
gold — has renewed Ali gence Organisation opera- in criticism from players bwe’s top foreign currency refuse because they are here delity Printers had a hand in
Japan786’s gold buying li- tive Raphios Mufandauya. in the industry, including earner, costs the country lying under oath and failing gold leakages.
cence despite its local rep- the Parliamentary Portfolio US$1.5 billion in lost reve- to answer simple questions
resentative being implicated Rushwaya’s ZMF associ- Committee on Mines and nue per year. that we are asking them. Bikita East legislator
in Zimbabwe Miners Fed- ate, Gift Karanda – who also Mining Development. Honestly do they have to Johnson Madhuku and Bu-
eration (ZMF) president assisted in the gold smug- The Edmond Mukaratir- deliberate first in order to lawayo proportional repre-
Henrietta Rushwaya’s gold gling operation – claimed A Fidelity Printers and wa-led committee also give us an answer on why sentative member Jasmine
smuggling saga which is be- the mineral belonged to Refiners delegation led by wanted information on they renewed gold buying Toffa rejected a list of gold
fore the courts. First Lady Auxillia Mnan- the head of gold operations, the number of gold buyers licences of people like Ali buyers presented in parlia-
gagwa and her son Collins. Mehlule Dube, appeared whose licences were revoked Japan who was implicated ment by Fidelity Printers,
Ali Japan786 is represent- before the committee on for being involved in smug- in Henrietta Rushwaya’s arguing some prominent
ed locally by Rushwaya’s Rushwaya however de- Monday but failed to pro- gling. They also wanted to gold smuggling case? Why buyers had been left out.
business associate Ali Mo- nied the gold belonged to vide satisfactory informa- know why Fidelity Printers is he even number one on
hammed, a Pakistani na- the first family and impli- tion on measures being put was giving licences to com- their May-June gold buyers’ “The five gentlemen from
tional. cated Ali Mohamad, lead- in place to deal with gold panies with gold smuggling list?” asked Zhombe legisla- Fidelity should be charged
ing to his arrest. Mohamad leakages that have been cases pending in the courts, tor Edmore Samambwa. with contempt of parlia-
ZMF in October last denies links to Rushwaya. hounding the country for including Ali Japan. ment since they lied under
year signed three strategic years. In response, Fidelity oath, there are names of
partnerships with Ali Ja- While the matter is still “Honourable chair, if Printers and Refiners’ act- people that we are expecting
pan786, Commercial Bank pending in court, Fidel- The International Crisis these people are to be ac- to see on the gold buyers’ list
of Zimbabwe (CBZ), and ity Printers has however that we know have got gold
the Central Mechanical and licences,” Toffa charged.
Equipment Department
(CMED) ostensibly to ca- Committee chairperson
pacitate small-scale miners Mukaratirwa expressed dis-
in their quest to ramp up appointment in the way Fi-
production in line with delity Printers and Refiners
the government’s vision of is operating.
growing mining to a US$12
billion industry by 2023. “We are representing na-
tional interests here and, to
Ali Japan786 pledged to say the least, we are actually
provide small-scale miners disappointed by the gold
with motor vehicles and smuggling that we continue
mobile mining machinery to witness everyday. In our
on flexible payment terms, oversight role, that actually
while CBZ came on board amounts to derelection of
as a banking partner.  duty if we don’t interrogate
it and if we don’t act in a
CMED committed to manner that puts to an end
ensuring the provision of to such happenings,” he
fuel on flexible terms to see said. 
to it that miners produce
with minimum disruptions. “We want to see per-
formance. We want to see
Two weeks after the deal responsible performance
was signed, Rushwaya was from your institution. As a
however arrested while at- portfolio committee repre-
tempting to smuggle 6.09kg senting Parliament, we are
of gold to Dubai through saying it’s not acceptable for
the Robert Gabriel Mugabe someone who is involved
International Airport. She in smuggling to have his li-
was assisted in the smug- cence willy-nilly extended.
gling bid by President Em- It is an insult to the US$12
merson Mnangagwa’s secu- billion target initiative by
2023.”

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Chebundo defeated President
Mnangagwa only to join him

BLESSING Chebundo was Chebundo repeated the feat opposition politics and joined “Since the MDC president
known in MDC circles and in the 2005 general elections, Zanu PF in February this year. (Tsvangirai) left to be with
indeed throughout the coun- prompting Mnangagwa to Chebundo, who has since his maker in February 2018,
try as Emmerson Mnangag- abandon any hope of ever graduated from Zanu PF’s things went bad for the MDC
wa’s political nemesis. winning the constituency. Herbert Chitepo School of family, in all its forms, and
At a time when Mnangagwa Wounded and with his pride Ideology, told The News- formations. The party gradu-
was seen as the political god- having taken a battering, Hawks that crossing the floor ally became like a ‘shadow of
father of the Midlands region Mnangagwa disappeared from was difficult and required its former self ’. The new cen-
as well as an untouchable and Kwekwe Central and resur- deep soul searching. tre failed, dismally, to hold.
ruthless heavyweight, the faced in Chirumanzu-Zibag- He said he made the decision Things went bad immediately
then little-known Chebun- we constituency where he to abandon ship after getting after Tsvangirai’s death,” Che-
do humiliated Zanu PF’s became MP after the 2008 frustrated with the leadership bundo said.
much-vaunted “crocodile” in harmonised elections. deficit in the MDC forma- “If honesty is to be respect-
the race for the Kwekwe Cen- It therefore became a surprise tions after the death of for- ed, it’s justified to say that
tral National Assembly seat in and a major talking point mer prime minister Morgan the party gradually became
2000. when Chebundo abandoned Tsvangirai. directionless and shapeless. It

President Emmerson Mnangagwa (left) and Blessing Chebundo.

lacked cohesion. It has lead- ushered in a black majority
ership that is aloft in oratory government. As a very young
rhetoric, but with serious defi- man, I took interest in being
cits in wisdom and strategy.” actively involved in the revo-
Chebundo, without men- lutionary Zanu PF  political
tioning names, said he was organisation. People (those
frustrated because the current who were there in 1980)
leadership was “non-receptive should not fool others to say,
to advice”.  they have never been Zanu PF
“Unfortunately for many or- or PF Zapu etc. The truth is,
dinary democratic citizens the majority of people who
and others who are limited to were 18 and above in 1980,
seeing things from outside the with the enthusiasm for lib-
party, it is like admiring the eration, one was either Zanu
looks of an attractive/shining PF and/or PF Zapu. Very few
pumpkin from outside: obliv- were otherwise.  I had always
ious of the carcinogenicity in- supported  the cause of the
ner situation,” he said. Chimurenga war,” Chebundo
“One-and-a-half years post said.
Tsvangirai’s departure, you “Besides, my fiancée ‘Alice
could not tell whether the Katsande’ had joined the lib-
party was going, or static, or eration war from her border
coming back. The party lost home of Mutoko. I had also
compass and has no end game contemplated that I would
plan whatsoever.”   one day join the war front.
Chebundo also said he con- It so happened that when
sidered that Tsvangirai also the efforts to bring together
supported “Operation Restore the warring organisations to
Legacy”, the military coup Lancaster House, and talks
which toppled Robert Mug- began in ernest,  I became
abe in 2017, paving way for more practically alive to ac-
the Mnangagwa presidency. tive involvement under the
“I interrogated the reasons internal supporting groups,
that we formed MDC in the and in Kwekwe, Midlands, as
first instance with Tsvangirai led by senior members such as
and others. I interrogated the those I worked with at Sable
last vision of MRT (Tsvan- Chemical Industries, the likes
girai) in 2017 as people sup- of Cde Chaunouta and others,
ported the ‘restore legacy’ who later attended the Lan-
move. I contrasted the pol- caster talks, and were to subse-
icies and conduct of the first quently became our first black
republic’s 37 years versus the elected public  office bearers,
second republic. I asked my- Kwekwe Mayors etc.
self that isn’t what is being “Just to make it clear from the
pursued by the latter in line onset, I was an active cadre
with our 1999 MDC agen- of the revolutionary Zanu PF
da, notwithstanding that not party in Kwekwe immediate-
everything has changed, but ly prior to the 1980 elections
it is the course of plans and that ushered in majority rule.
action being put in place, and Soon after the elections, and
the achievements so far, that inspired by my youthful age,
are worth giving a chance and I became the vice-secretary for
supporting,” Chebundo said. Zanu PF Gutsaruzhinji dis-
Chebundo also said he was trict’s main wing in Amaveni,
not new to Zanu PF politics. Kwekwe, following the first
“My first test of politics was party structuring exercise,” he
the period immediately before said.
and post-election 1980 that
— STAFF WRITER.

Page 12 News NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Relief for Prosecutor-General Hodzi
A HARARE lawyer, Joshua tion or other legislation ref-
Chirambwe, has lost a case in erence on how the function
which he was seeking the nul- must be exercised the loci
lification of Prosecutor-Gen- standi of the applicant be-
eral (PG) Kumbirai Hodzi’s come inconsequential.
appointment by President
Emmerson Mnangagwa af- “If a party petitions the
ter the Constitutional Court court praying for a legally
ruled that his arguments incompetent order, the court
were based on hearsay. will not bother about the
A Constitutional Court legal standing of any of the
bench chaired by Justice Pad- parties to the invalid lis. In
dington Garwe dismissed his casu, I consider that the ap-
application, finding that his plicant acted precipitately in
arguments were built on un- filing the application because
substantiated allegations of it was legally incompetent to
impropriety. order how the respondents
Chirambwe had argued were supposed to carry out
that Hodzi failed public in- their function,” said Justice
terviews but Mnangagwa Chitapi.
went on to create another list
so that he could accommo- Added the judge: “The
date him in the top prosecu- applicant stated that he was
torial office. acting in his own interest. He
Another local man, Sim- stated that his interest arose
barashe Zuze, had also chal- from his desire to correct
lenged Hodzi’s appointment procedure to be followed to
but his case was struck off ensure that only the best and
the roll. meritorious judges are ap-
Hodzi was part of several pointed to the Supreme court
candidates who took part in and Constitutional Court
public interviews in 2018 because the applicant was a
when the country sought a litigant who would have his
substantive PG following the cases decided in those courts.
departure of Advocate Ray
Goba. “I don’t unfortunately
He participated togeth- consider it necessary under
er with Calvin Mantsebo, the circumstances and the
Tinomudaishe Chinyo- approach I have adopted to
ka, Misheck Hogwe, Jessie answer the issue of degree
Majome, Justice Maphios of proof needed. I have an-
Cheda, Wendy Chingeya, swered the issue by stating
Florence Ziyambi, Edi- that whether the person who
os Marondedza and Noria filed the incompetent ap-
Mashumba. plication has legal status or
Mantsebo, Chinyoka and power to petition the court.
Hogwe emerged in the top
three. “The other matter requir-
However, Chirambwe ac- ing comment is the fact that
cused the President of having the judges were appointed
drawn up a further list in cir- anyway. Therefore, what was
cumstances contrary to the intended to be achieved by
law. He also said Mnangagwa Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi. this application was over-
taken by events,” ruled the
sought to influence the deci- application falls to be dis- clearly and effectively out of when the Constitution does without conducting public judge.
sion of the Judicial Service missed with an order of costs the reckoning,” Chirambwe not call for him to do so.” interviews for persons who
Commission (JSC). on the ordinary scale,” said said in his founding affidavit. are not sitting judges as re- Chingwe had insisted on
But the bench said he did the judge. In a separate case, High quired by the Constitution his application, despite being
not show any evidence to In response, Fortune Court judge Tawanda Chi- of Zimbabwe”. overtaken by events because
support his claims. Chirambwe cited Mnan- Chimbaru from the Attor- tapi has dismissed an urgent the respondents could still
“Having considered the gagwa, the JSC, Chief Justice ney-General’s office, who was chamber application by a law Chingwe noted that the make further appointments.
facts of this matter and the Luke Malaba, Justice min- representing Mnangagwa student, Chamunorwa Chin- Constitution of Zimbabwe
law, I reach the conclusion ister Ziyambi Ziyambi and and Ziyambi, challenged the gwe, who was seeking an or- Amendment (No.2) Act re- Justice Chitapi said in view
that the applicant has not es- Hodzi as respondents in his allegations and told the full der directing the JSC to also pealed and replaced section of the finding he made, that
tablished that there was such court application. bench that Chirambwe did consider practising lawyers 180 which allowed for judi- the applicant sought incom-
a failure by the President to not support his arguments for appointment as Supreme cial appointments to be made petent relief, the appoint-
fulfil the constitutional ob- The lawyer insisted that with evidence. Court and Constitutional after the JSC had advertised ments made would have to
ligation imposed upon him Hodzi is not fit for the top Court judges. the post, conducted public be considered so far as they
by the Constitution in ap- prosecutorial job. It was his Chimbaru also submitted interviews, and sent a list impact on this application on
pointing the fifth respondent submission that Hodzi’s that Mnangagwa had discre- Chingwe was also seek- to the President to appoint the findings, he made on the
as the Prosecutor-General of appointment, which was tion to appoint a PG of his ing a relief interdicting and from, whether a candidate incompetence of the relief
Zimbabwe,” said Justice Gar- marred by controversy, must choice. ordering the JSC, President was a sitting judge or not. sought.
we. therefore be declared null Mnangagwa and Justice min-
“I am of the further view and void. “The applicant must es- ister Ziyambi not to proceed The High Court however The law student argued
that this application, largely tablish facts which establish with the appointment of any dismissed his requests, not- that the selection process
predicated as it is on hear- “The interviews were con- failure to adhere to Consti- substantive judges of either ing that his application has must abide by the statutes,
say evidence, could not have ducted in full public glare and tutional provisions by the the Supreme Court or Con- been overtaken by events and which allow for the appoint-
been expected by the appli- the fact that fifth respondent first and fourth respondent stitutional Court without the provisional order sought ment of any man or woman
cant to succeed. (Hodzi) had a torrid time is (Mnangagwa and Ziyambi). following the process in Sec- by Chingwe is legally incom- who meets the requirements
“Unsubstantiated allega- known to all who cared to This has not been done,” she tion 180 (4) of the constitu- petent. set out under section 178 of
tions of impropriety, based follow that process. To me, it said. tion “to allow for all persons the Constitution.
on the same hearsay, have was clear that he had shown who are not sitting judges to “Therefore, having found
been made against the Presi- that he was clearly disquali- “The basis of the alleged be considered for appoint- that the provisional order He further said that the
dent of the Republic of Zim- fied from being appointed to failure is based in specula- ment for such positions”. sought is legally incompe- JSC must also abide by its
babwe, the Judicial Service the position of PG. tions. Criteria for rejecting a tent in that the court cannot duties which are set out in
Commission and the Chief list is not set out in the Con- In making the application, prescribe how constitutional the constitution.
Justice. Consequently, the “It was there for all to see. stitution.” Chingwe said he had become function reposed in a con-
The commissioners scored aware “of an attempt to ap- stitutional body should be Chingwe insisted that ap-
him so badly (that) at the Chimbaru added: “Sure- point judges of the Supreme exercised by that body unless pointing judges only to the
end of the day, he sat at the ly, the President cannot be Court by the respondents there exists in the constitu- Supreme Court or Constitu-
bottom of the pile. He was called upon to give reasons tional Court, would be un-
why there was a second list fair and disadvantage some
legal practitioners who quali-
fy for the jobs.

—-STAFF WRITER.

NewsHawks News Page 13

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Ill-equipped Parirenyatwa Group
cancels 1 688 surgical operations
THE biggest referral hospital
in Zimbabwe, Parirenyatwa For example, Treasury in to re-tool the theatres over the Auditor-General found.  number of theatre cancella- Orders for replacement and/
Group of Hospitals, cancelled 2017 allocated US$7 million years, most of the equipment “However, during the third tions. The year 2018 witnessed or procurement of new equip-
1 688 surgical operations in for central healthcare rehabil- broke down and the hospital two industrial actions by med- ment was hampered by lack of
one year, owing to a lack of itation but only US$195 000 was unable to provide adequate quarter of the year, procure- ical personnel in February and foreign currency,” the response
medical equipment. was released.  theatre coverage hence cancel- ment of spare parts which was December 2018 which con- read.
lations of theatre cases,” the used to repair the equipment tributed to theatre cancella-
In her 2019 audit report on “Due to financial constraints was done which reduced the tions.  “The minimum allocation
state enterprises and parastatals, of ICU and HDU beds should
Auditor-General Mildred Chi- “Furthermore, availabili- have been 10% of the hospital
ri said this may compromise ty of Anesthetists was also a capacity which translates to
health service delivery. challenge and this resulted 120 beds. This was far-fetched
in theatre cancellations. The as the hospital itself was not de-
She also found that during other reasons for theatre can- signed to comply with that pro-
the year under review (2018) cellations were: overbooking vision. Furthermore, assuming
the hospital did not have ade- of elective cases by surgeons, space would be provided, that
quate monitors in anaesthetic shortage of material resources, space would not have been uti-
rooms and recovery areas, with poor preparation of patients, lised because of shortage of spe-
only eight out of 18 stations shortage of ICU beds, shortage cialist nurses who are even not
in use. The hospital’s manage- of equipment such as multi-pa- adequate to cover the ICU and
ment, in response to the audit rameter monitors.” HDU beds that are available at
findings, said the cancellation the moment.”
of surgical operations had also Chiri found that the hospital
been influenced by job ac- was operating with inadequate Another referral medical
tion by the health sector, poor key equipment and resources institution, Mpilo Hospital in
preparation of patients and during the year under review.  Bulawayo, was also reportedly
shortage of intensive care unit experiencing major shortages
(ICU) beds, among other chal- “The Hospital did not have of medicines and equipment,
lenges.  adequate monitors in anesthet- compromising operations.
ic rooms and recovery areas and
Political elites, including the only eight out of eighteen sta- Chiri said management
vice-president, ministers and tions were in use. In addition, should engage the key stake-
senior bureaucrats, have been Intensive Care Unit and High- holders and formulate plans
turning to foreign healthcare er Dependence Unit (HDU) to resolve all the issues noted
facilities for medical attention did not have adequate beds to in relation to limited capaci-
because of the poor healthcare accommodate patients,” Chiri ty and shortage of drugs and
service in the country.  said. equipment without any further
delay. 
The Health and Child Care Hospital management said
ministry has been failing to im- they had not been able to ac- In response, hospital man-
plement planned projects, ow- quire more equipment and ser- agement said: “The referral
ing to poor resource allocation vice existing machines because system as it relates to mater-
by Treasury, while at the same of foreign currency shortages.  nity is being enforced, which
time donor fatigure  has been has resulted in maternity being
on the rise. “Critical equipment such as decongested. Medicines and
monitors and anesthetic ma- equipment availability is work
Zimbabwe’s health funding chines were inadequate due to in progress”.
is mainly dependent on do- shortage of foreign currency.
nors, with the government’s
budgetary allocation falling
way short of the Abuja Declara-
tion’s stipulation that the health
vote constitute at least 15% of
the total national budget. 

Kidney patients need rescue in Bulawayo

LIZWE SEBATHA forcing the local authority to The report shows that the at least one haemodialysis ma- United Bulawayo Hospitals. tution’s closure in 2004.
borrow from other provinces, BCC resolved to lobby for the chine for renal patients affected chronic and acute kidney fail- The opening of Ekusi-
BULAWAYO requires at least revealed that a shortage of ma- supply of adequate materials, by Covid-19. ure patients and also provides
one haemodialysis facility to terials, specialised facilities and expeditious infrastructure ren- kidney transplant services. leni would have seen  Bul-
treat kidney patients affected other resources is hampering its ovation, capacitation of inten- A haemodialysis facility, like awayo  having four  Covid-
by Covid-19, the local author- fight against the pandemic. sive care unit facilities and local the one in Harare run by the The re-opening of Ekusileni 19  treatment  facilities  after
ity said as it bemoaned inad- laboratories while also advo- Cimas in partnership with Bax- Medical Centre, a brainchild of the Catholic-run Mater Dei
equate resources in the fight “Challenges/Resource gaps: cating for the designation of ter-Baxter-Gambro of Sweden, the late Vice-President Joshua Hospital, UBH’s Old Bartley
against the pandemic. Inadequate material and hu- provides haemodialysis to both Nkomo, has been postponed Memorial Block (BMB) and
man resources, for example, countless times since the insti- the city council’s Thorngrove
This is at a time when the oxygen canisters, flow metres, Infectious Diseases Hospital.
country is witnessing a spike delivery tubes and masks/nasal
in coronavirus infections, with prongs, antigen test kits, Viral UBH’s BMB opened in De-
a total of 1 639 cases and 45 Transport Mediums (VTMs), cember last year but is still un-
deaths recorded as of Tuesday, swabs, cartridges (for GeneX- dergoing renovations.
up from 209 cases and 12 fatal- pert), reagents for the laborato-
ities registered in the first week ry and vehicles,” a latest council Elangeni training centre is
of June. report of the health, housing designated for asymptomatic
and education committee re- patients.
This resulted in the govern- port reads.
ment on Tuesday placing Bula- Meanwhile, Bulawayo is
wayo’s Nkulumane, Emakhan- The VTMs allow for the safe effectively under a lockdown
deni and northern suburbs transfer of viruses, chlamydia after the classification of its 3
under a two-week localised and mycoplasma for further re- clinical districts as hotspots.
lockdown after classifying them search, including conventional
as Covid-19 hotspots alongside cell culture methods. Nkulumane clinical district
Mhondoro, Masvingo district, brings together Nkulumane,
Chiredzi, Masvingo province “Lack of capacity to handle Tshabalala, Nketa, Pheland-
and Bindura. severe Covid-19 cases; Lack aba, Maqhawe and Barham
of local capacity to character- Green, while Emakhandeni
Kwekwe, Chinhoyi, Karoi ise pathogens; Unavailability district covers Pumula, Pumula
and Kariba were already under of haemodialysis facility for South, Luveve, Cowdray Park,
a two-week localised lockdown.  Covid-19 patients; Isolation Magwegwe, Emakhandeni and
facilities (Ekusileni, United Bu- Njube.
As Covid-19 cases increase, lawayo Hospitals and Thorn-
the Bulawayo City Council, grove) still under renovation,” The northern suburbs dis-
which has been running out the report adds. trict comprises Nguboyenja,
of vaccines as demand rises Entumbane, Mpopoma, Ma-
kokoba, Mzilikazi, northern
suburbs and the city centre.

Page 14 News NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Drug abuse spreads to rural areas

HARDLY five minutes pass Savannah (left) and Christina Madamombe from Mubatirapamwe Trust. cooking pots and storing the
without either Christina pots under his bed. The other
or  Savannah Madamombe of life. the first lockdown. So, it gives she was advised to check into so there will be 13 people who worry that parents highlight-
Mubatirapamwe Trust (MT) CP: From your experience us a reference point as to when detoxification rehabilitation. contribute a dollar each and ed is that their children who
receiving a phone call from a in dealing with drug addicts, the spread started. When you CP: A common belief about smoke together, but they do are drug users end up stealing
desparate parent or guardian how widespread would you talk to the kids, they tell you drug abuse is that it only not leave that place until that things in the house so as to sup-
seeking help on behalf of a say the problem is? they had so much time and had affects boys and men who gramme is finished. port their habit. So, this puts a
drug-addicted child. MT: It’s a pandemic because nothing to do. So, they ended would have interacted with mental strain on the parent.
we  have people calling from up hanging out with people the wrong crowd. Is that so? When someone takes meth, CP: Can you explain the pro-
Crystal meth, in particular, every part of this country, even who introduced them to things MT: There is a common mis- they become high and they say cess which goes behind reha-
is destroying the lives of many as far as Gwanda, Mhangura that they did not understand. conception that people who the high is a 1 000% amplifi- bilitating someone who has
Zimbabwean youths country- and very remote farming areas. Now that they are in, the drug are doing drugs are hanging cation of normal feelings. This been using drugs?
wide.  If we are talking about Harare, peddlers will continue to push out with the wrong crowd and is due to a pleasure hormone MT: The first thing we do as
there is not even a single place and parents are taking their that is why there is this stigma- called dopamine which is re- Mubatirapamwe is help in fam-
Christina and Savannah where you will not find it, from kids to the rural areas thinking tisation. People tend to think leased by the brain. ily intervention. This is a pro-
have seen how drugs have de- the ghettos to the suburbs. that they won’t have access to those who are into drugs are cess where we help the family
stroyed  many youths and ex- Depending on the area, in the the drug, but they will find it useless people. Some of the The first time they do crystal to come together with the child
posed young girls to gang rape ghetto the drug there is crys- and even become the suppliers young people we are dealing meth, it can be so intense that because when someone is using
and other forms of violence. tal meth and in the northern there. with were doing law and com- the feeling lasts for hours, but drugs there is a chance that they
They shared their experiences suburbs like Borrowdale and CP: What age group would puter engineering at universities the next time they hit they are are no longer on talking terms
with The NewsHawks’ Chip- Mabelreign it’s interchangeably you say is mainly affected by and so on. not going to get that same in- with their family. We then pro-
pa Gonditii (CP), raising the cocaine and crystal meth. these drugs?  tensity so every time they take ceed to offer counselling for the
alarm over a drug menace that MT: From 13 years to up to 30, Universities are some of the drug the effect will get less child and counselling for the
is spreading even to rural areas. In the nightclubs, they are that’s the majority. However, we the places that are coming out and less. whole family so that they un-
Below are excerpts of the inter- using it and it is also being used have other people we are deal- constantly where kids, includ- derstand the dangers posed by
view: in the popular smoking device ing with who are between 30 ing the girl child, are getting So, they continue taking hit these drugs. When counselling
CP: Tell us what you do and called shisha and people are ac- and 45. hooked. Kids can become ex- after hit and they can take days them, we also advise them to
the motivation behind your tually being spiked in shishas. CP: How prevalent is this perimental and, if you look at in those dens. seek psychiatric help for 
work. And they are also being spiked drug among women and the most places,  they do not have CP: How have parents been
in drinks via the tablet form girl child in Zimbabwe? any recreational facilities, lead- affected? their children at the hospital.
MT: We are community organ- of the drug. The problem with MT: It is very prevalent because ing to them engaging in drugs. MT: Drug users become an- From then on, it depends on
isers, and I think it’s every hu- crystal meth is that you only the majority of people we are Some of the kids are being in- gry, violent and they get what what the psychiatrist says, be it
man being’s responsibility to try have to hit it once for you to dealing with are young girls. troduced to these drugs as study is  called drug-induced psycho- hospitalisation or isolation.
and find solutions for what is get hooked and some are even And we recently bumped into enhancers; however, they are sis. They become paranoid,
wrong in the community. But going to the extent of inserting one of the girls I was looking for only ending up as addicts. since drugs make a person un- As Mubatirapamwe we are
we started this initiative because the tablet form of crystal meth in Chitungwiza, she is 18 and CP: What happens at drug reasonable. They end up caus- also advocating home-based
we have a brother who is a great into their rectum. already taking care of her two- bases? ing fights with parents, they care where we have introduced
musician. He called us and said CP: What would you say year-old child. She took me to MT: Most of the kids we are also drop out of school both a sober buddy who will induce
we have a problem in the com- is influencing people using her house and we found out dealing with say when they from high school and all the sober living.
munity; our lives as youths are these drugs in the remote ar- that no one is taking care of her go to these drug dens they get universities in Zimbabwe.
being destroyed and someone eas? child and we could see that her stuck in the sense that most of Once hooked, it is difficult
has to do something. So he then MT: To answer this, we have to child  was malnourished. She them do not have the capacity We were actually talking to to kick the addiction to crystal
proceeded to show us what was start with the information we pleaded with us to help her. So, to buy  these drugs because it’s a parent who told us she had meth, but it is possible with
going on in St Mary’s Chitung- are getting from the cities. Most we took this young mother for an expensive drug. In Chitung- been recently hospitilised be- assistance. So those who want
wiza because he is also affect- parents started noticing a prob- assessment at the hospital were wiza, they are charging US$13 cause of high blood pressure to leave the drug need isolation
ed by this (drug abuse). We lem with their children during per gramme for crystal meth after realising that her son had because the access to drugs and
decided to do a documentary, dropped out of school due to friends is limited.
so when we got there he intro- crystal meth. CP: What is the success rate in
duced us to girls as young as 13 rehabilitating people addicted
and young men from 16 who There was also another case to crystal meth?
are affected by drugs. He said where a parent complained that MT: This drug became com-
if you cannot do something we her son was relieving himself in mon around 2018, so ever since
cannot get out of this. When we we started doing this, we have
got into St Mary’s, he showed rehabilitated some children
me something very interesting. whom we are still assessing. At
There are places which they the moment they are still in iso-
call bases and he started show- lation, some have been in isola-
ing me around these tiny little tion for three months and some
rooms where people are spend- six months, it all really depends
ing up to 10 days stuck there on the stage at which they were
smoking crystal meth. with the addiction. The success
stories will be there because
I asked people if they knew some are even talking of going
what this drug was and peo- back to school and being re-in-
ple did not  know. My brother tegrated into society so for us
had done research about it but this is actually counted as suc-
initially when he got into it he cess.
did not know. My brother is a CP: How can the government
musician and sometimes they intervene to help end the drug
record all night long so some- menace?
one introduced him to the drug MT: This is a very big crisis and
that time so that he could stay just like other crises like HIV
awake all night whilst record- and Covid-19, government
ing, so that’s how he got hooked should  chip in and help. We
to crystal meth. as Mubatirapamwe Trust have
raised the alarm, but without
So, we saw the despair of the government in it we are just
these people in the dens. They fire fighting. Government could
wanted to come out, but did chip in by turning some of the
not have the ability to do so. old buildings into rehabilitation
What surprised me is that these centres because existing rehabil-
were not people who would be itation centres are not enough
considered your typical drug to cater for the ever-growing
users, because usually people number of people addicted to
who do drugs are supposedly crystal meth.
considered as useless people in
the community, or vagabonds.
But when we met these six peo-
ple, they were actually people
who were worth something in

NewsHawks News Page 15

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

ILO censures Zim for labour rights violations

THE International Labour similarities to Posa, reveal- to adhere to internation- washing their “dirty linen” washing our dirty linen in solutions. There was a risk
Organisation (ILO) has list- ing a common scope in al labour standards.  The on the international scene. the public domain as this that the parties could de-
ed Zimbabwe among coun- which the exercise of the mere fact that the country paints a picture of a disunit- velop hardened attitudes
tries that violate labour right to peaceful assembly is mentioned in that special “Our position is that gov- ed and disorganised nation and consequently adopt an
rights. is not fully guaranteed as paragraph automatically ernment and labour must in the eyes of foreigners,” he adversarial or combative ap-
it continues to give law en- puts the country in a league bring the disputes they have said. proach.
The United Nations body forcement agencies broad of serious offenders,” Moyo or their divergent positions
also criticised the country regulatory discretion and said. to the Tripartite Negotiat- The Emcoz leader urged Added Murefu: “The dif-
for failing to take action powers. ing Forum for a no-holds- both parties not to play ferences must be dealt with
on people who trafficked However, Employers’ barred discussion with a to the gallery on the in- here at home and organised
women to Kuwait in 2016, However, after consider- Confederation of Zimba- view to finding common ternational stage, saying business stands ready to as-
where they were forced into ing submissions made by bwe (Emcoz) president Isra- ground. problems must be resolved sist with any conciliation or
sex slavery.  the government on the alle- el Murefu urged the ZCTU as closer to their source as mediation which helps the
gations, the ILO called on and government to use in- “Dealing with the matter possible because resolving parties to find each other or
The southern African Zimbabwe to expedite the ternal means to resolve their on the international plat- faraway from home will to reach common ground.”
nation was among 40 implementation of directed grievances as opposed to form tarnishes the country’s not achieve sustainable
countries listed for discus- issues. image. We should not be —STAFF WRITER
sion by the labour organ’s
committee on the applica- Taking into account the CORONA VIRUS
tion of standards (CAS) at discussion, the committee COVID-19
the just-ended 109th ses- urged the government of
sion and after considering Zimbabwe to ensure that no SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP
the level of violations, the penalties involving forced STOP THE SPREAD
country was categorised un- labour may be imposed so
der a “special paragraph”. as to be in compliance with Cough and sneeze Use a tissue
Articles 1(a) and 1(d) of into your arm
The country answered Convention No.105; repeal
to charges of violating the or amend sections 31, 33, Bin the tissue Wash your hands
ILO’s conventions on a 37 and 41 of the Criminal
number of cases involving Law Code. TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THE
trafficking for both sexual SPREAD AND STAY HEALTHY
and labour exploitation that “Sections 7(5) and 8(11)
have been detected and in- of the Mopo Act, and sec- The NewsHawks TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]
vestigated by the competent tions 102(b), 104(2)–(3),
authorities. 109(1)–(2), and 112(1)
of the Labour Act must
The charges emanated be amended  in order to
from the failure by the au- bring them into conformi-
thorities to bring to book ty with the Convention in
locals who facilitated the consultation with the social
travel of hundreds of Zim- partners without delay; and 
babwean women to Kuwait provide information to the
on promises of jobs. Committee of Experts be-
fore its next session on the
Some of the women, in- application of the above
cluding university gradu- provisions in practice, in-
ates who had struggled to cluding copies of court de-
get jobs in Zimbabwe, fell cisions and details of penal-
for the lure of a better life, ties imposed,” CAS said.
only to find themselves be-
ing sold as sex slaves. Some The committee also
were employed as domestic urged the government to
workers, but were being comply fully with the rec-
paid very little while work- ommendations of the 2009
ing long hours. commission of inquiry be-
fore the next International
“The committee requests Labour Conference and to
the government to take avail itself of technical as-
the necessary measures to sistance and to report to the
ensure the effective imple- committee of experts prior
mentation of the Traffick- to its 2021 session.
ing in Persons Act and to
provide information on the “The Committee decides
convictions and penalties to include its conclusions in
applied. It also requests the a special paragraph of the
government to continue to report,” the ILO ordered.
provide information on the
number of cases of traffick- Commenting on the
ing for both sexual and la- development, Zimbabwe
bour exploitation that have Congress of Trade Unions
been detected and investi- secretary-general Japhet
gated by the competent au- Moyo described the puni-
thorities,” the ILO said. tive measure as a matter of
serious concern.
The labour organisation
also noted that Zimbabwe’s “In its report the com-
repealed Public Order and mittee categorises findings
Security Act (Posa) regula- and in our case we are men-
tions on public gatherings tioned in the ‘special para-
were still being used to ban graph’. Over the years this
trade union meetings and appears a serious indict-
peaceful protests. ment if a country is catego-
rised as such.
CAS said the Main-
tenance of Public Order “It symbolises the seri-
(Mopo) Bill has worrying ous nature of your failure

Page 16 News NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Pensioners come a challenge and called
plunge into upon the government to review
untold poverty the pension in line with the
cost of living.
NYARADZO MUSHANYUKI which is not enough to cover clothes as her late husband’s “I am looking after six chil- war veteran, said pensioners
my basic expenses. There is no pension is not enough to cater dren. My husband served in spend more money on trans- “Life is tougher for us pen-
MIRIAM Moyo (75) (pic- food at home and life has been for her big family. the government as a soldier port to Harare than they get sioners. The government is
tured) leans on a window sill, worse after losing my two chil- and the pension we are receiv- from the pension. treating us unfairly, particular-
trying to rest her frail body as dren who succumbed to HIV “I am doing a small business ing is ZW$800, just a drop in ly those who were once civil
she impatiently awaits her turn and Aids and there is no one on the side selling second-hand the ocean. Our needs are too “Sometimes the money does servants who served the na-
to withdraw a pension payout to support me. l survive on clothes and plastic plates, this much. My children are no lon- not come in full, which wors- tion wholeheartedly,” former
at the National Social Author- my husband’s pension,” Moyo is the only thing that has been ger going to school because l ens the already bad situation. policeman Paradzai Masakara
ity (Nssa) headquarters in Ha- added. keeping me afloat,” Manyise cannot afford their fees. Due to With the little money that lamented.
rare. said. economic hardships, we were we are receiving per month,
Moyo, who ishypertensive, forced to relocate to rural areas it’s now difficult to buy basic Pensioners are not spared
Moyo has spent five hours said the monthly payout is not Spiwe Zimunya who was because we were no longer af- commodities as the prices are the unrelenting economic chal-
queuing for her meagre pay- enough to buy medication. forced to relocate to Mazowe fording rent,” Zimunya said. increasing,” Ngorima said. lenges, plunging them into un-
out and, due to the Covid-19 Prices of drugs have soared due due to unrelenting economic told poverty.
pandemic, the process takes to inflation, and chronic pa- hardships, says ZW$800 is an Bernard Ngorima (80), a Pensioners say accessing
long as officials insist on social tients have borne the brunt of insult to retired civil servants. their monthly payouts has be- Workers are required by
distancing. The elderly widow the price hikes. law to contribute 7% of their
gets ZW$800 per month, her monthly earnings to Nssa. The
husband’s pension. Pensioners have bemoaned pension industry compliance
the failure by companies to ratio was 7.6% as at 30 March
It is barely enough to cater remit contributions to Nssa, 2020, according to official data
for the basics, making it diffi- thereby disadvantaging benefi- obtained from the Insurance
cult to fend for her orphaned ciaries. Also in the long, wind- and Pensions Commission
grandchildren, but Moyo must ing queue is Vimbai Manyise (Ipec).
make do with the little she has. (38), who travelled from Renco
Mine in Masvingo to renew her Public Service, Labour and
With eight mouths to feed, account. Social Welfare minister Paul
Moyo has been leading a des- Mavima this month revealed
perate life since her two chil- “It’s really so hard that I that pensioners’ payouts would
dren died in 2009 and 2010 have to travel from Masvin- be reviewed upwards to US$60
respectively. go just to renew an account. per month by December this
I used US$15 just to renew year from the current US$25.
“The life that l am leading my account and yet I receive
is very hard. I live with eight ZW$800, which is about However, the money will be
orphaned grandchildren, and US$5. I have five children, converted to Zimbabwean dol-
they have stopped going to three of them need school fees,” lars at the prevailing official Re-
school since there is no money Manyise said. serve Bank of Zimbabwe rate,
for school fees,” Moyo told The implying they will get ZW$5
NewsHawks. Manyise, also a widow, now 440 if the rate remains stable at
survives on selling second-hand ZW$85 to the US unit.
“l get ZW$800 per month,
The payout is enough to
cover only a fraction of the
monthly food basket, which
this month stands at more than
ZW$28 000, according to the
national statistical body, Zim-
Stat. The development comes
at a time the government has
passed Statutory Instrument
127 of 2021, which triggered a
dramatic increase in prices.

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NewsHawks News Page 17

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Special Covid-19
PANDEMIC coverage

Tourism Mash East
players feel healthcare
Covid-19 staff hit by
pinch
disease
NOKUTHABA DLAMINI front, Mukwasi said the low Houseboats moored on Lake Kariba.
turnout of local visitors was A TOTAL of 453 healthcare
THE government’s Covid-19 also hampered by the closure of means that a place like Victoria Covid-19 and revive the tour- revival of tourism.” workers in Mashonaland
vaccination blitz in Victoria companies, selective vaccination Falls will be very disadvantaged ism industry, Mukwasi said Conversations around the East have tested positive for
Falls which was partly designed rollouts and shortcomings in in a very big way”. preliminary engagements have Covid-19 to date, translat-
to entice international holiday- marketing. begun to discuss the idea of issue began February last year ing to 16.3% of the total
makers is yet to bear fruit, with Peggie White, an environ- medical tourism. and in March the engage- number of cases in the prov-
tourism players in the country’s “Companies were closed, mental tour operator in Victoria ments gained momentum. A ince.
major resort bemoaning low ar- even those outside tourism were Falls, said that in the past the “We hope that at some point private medical centre in Ha-
rivals. closed, so income levels were tourism industry itself had gen- we will be allowed to import rare, HealthPoint Hospital, As of Wednesday this
eroded. As a result, very few erated donor funding for local vaccines and engage in medi- announced this week that it is week, Mashonaland East
Victoria Falls was prioritised people could manage to come non-profit organisations like cal tourism where we want our opening its vaccination doors had recorded 2 795 cases.
in the government’s mass vacci- down to Victoria Falls or any hers and that has dried up too. tourists to come for their first to South African visitors who
nation campaign in a bid to aid part of the country for tourism vaccinations and another after might be interested in taking lo- However, acting provin-
the post-Covid-19 tourism re- purposes. “Furthermore, the private 14 days,” he said. cally administered vaccinations cial medical director Paul
vival. The president of the Em- sector – including commercial at a cost of US$100. The fee Matsvimbo said the in-
ployers’ Association for Tours “The second issue was long banks – has been slow to offer “We have started lobbying covers two doses, administered fections have not affected
and Safari Operators, Clement closure that made tourists not to short-term liquidity solutions. the relevant ministries includ- two weeks apart. The compa- health centres in the prov-
Mukwasi, said the current lock- be sure whether to travel or not. International aid and non-gov- ing the Health and Child Care ny was authorised by the gov- ince as they remain opera-
downs would hamper tourism As employers, we are now trying ernmental packages remain though we are still at prelimi- ernment to offer the service to tional.
businesses. This would have to work on the discovery and short, and further pressure has nary levels. We have sent the pa- foreigners at a premium while
consequences for job creation re-marketing of the industry in been placed on charities sup- pers, so because of the demand locals will be paying US$40 in- He said 59 Covid-19 in-
and economic activities. terms of the preparation for its porting the tourism environ- and protocols to be observed in stead. The hospital says it soon fections were reported in
growth afterwards. ment, wildlife conservation and the kind of position we are hop- hopes to offer the same service the province on Wednesday,
“When we look at the inter- communities, especially those in ing the Ministry of Health will in Victoria Falls, via a tour- the highest daily count since
national arrivals, we have per- “We are happy that the cur- need,”she said. take the thought and evaluate ist-friendly package. the pandemic began. Seven
formed very badly,”Mukwasi rent lockdowns have been put for the purpose of pursuing the of the infected persons are
said. into effect. However, the green To mitigate the impact of healthcare workers. Among
routes that have remained in the infected persons are six
“However, I do not have the country are very small such fully-vaccinated persons.
ready statistics, but we have per- that our businesses are confined
formed very badly with limited as most of our clients are from “Most of the health work-
airlines and our land borders Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare ers isolated themselves at
closed, which has severely min- in their totality, so the moment home. But as a measure to
imised tourists who might want such areas are placed inside red provide the staff with critical
to visit our destinations.” tape, it means they (holiday- healthcare, the newly estab-
makers) cannot travel and this lished isolation centre has a
On the domestic tourism ward for staff which is also
equipped with advanced
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Parirenyatwa braces for Magure said while they machinery and this will
serious patient influx keep monitoring the situ- boost the workers’ morale,”
PARIRENYATWA Group of ation, other sensitive area Matsvimbo said.
Hospitals in Harare is ready- increasing numbers of pa- only daily emergency lists and The ones that cannot be such as kidney dialysis and
ing for a potential influx of tients. In order to clear the trauma lists will be scheduled postponed include cases in- radio-oncology would remain He emphasised the need
Covid-19 patients, with the wards in preparation for to operate all patients in the volving cancer, immediately open. for vigilance.
medical institution cancel- merging of wards, the follow- wards in preparation for dis- recent injuries like road traffic
ling all elective surgical oper- ing measures will be taken,” charge. The department of accidents or appendicitis. The “All firms on call to provide “As of Wednesday, we
ations and discharging most the hospital clinical director, anaesthetics and critical care emergencies are those that are adequate and timeous cover- have seen our biggest jump,
patients, amid fears of a third Tsitsi Magure, said in a inter- will share with you the theatre life threatening.  age of casualty to minimise cases are increasing at an
wave. The move is supposed nal circular to health profes- schedules.”Only emergency patient waiting times and alarming rate,” Matsvimbo
to create more Covid-19 beds sionals.  cases will be admitted to Pari- Some of the cases that will decongest casualty as fast as said.
by repurposing the wards to renyatwa, according to the be considered for discharge possible.  Other time sensitive
the Covid-19 zone. “All firms are encouraged memo. are patients on day two after areas like radio-oncology, dial- “We have record 59 posi-
to discharge as many patients giving birth through caesarean ysis unit will continue to offer tive cases which were identi-
The hospital had reduced as possible. OPD (Outpa- Elective surgeries are those section who under normal cir- services under very strict con- fied from 402 samples tested
beds after coronavirus cases tients department) clinics that can be planned for weeks cumstances would stay in hos- trol measures. Private wards today.”
declined.    Parirenyatwa hos- will remain open for review or months in advance like fi- pital for about four days and will continue to function as
pital administration said there of chronic patients. With ef- broid removal, prostate opera- diabetics whose blood sugar usual,” she said. Marondera has been
was a need to create more fect from Monday 28 June, tions and the removal of metal level has gone down, among identified as the Covid-19
room as there has been seen a there will be no elective lists, plates in fractures. others. Zimbabwe had, as of 23 hotspot in the province as it
sharp increase in the number June, recorded 43 480 cumu- accounted for 32 of the 59
of positive patients being ad- lative cases and 1 692 deaths. cases recorded on Wednes-
mitted to the Covid-19 unit.   day. Cumulatively, Maron-
The government has an- dera has accounted for 1
“We need to reclaim back nounced localised lockdowns 169 cases of the provincial
the Covid zone to admit the in several districts and towns total of 2 795, followed by
across the country. Murehwa district with 360
cases and Mutoko with 299
cases.

Goromonzi has 257 cu-
mulative cases, Chikomba
254, Seke 179, Hwedza 114,
Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe
100 and Mudzi 63.

— STAFF WRITER.

Page 18 News NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Covid 19 lockdown cripples Kariba

NHAU MANGIRAZI ground overlooking the “Many have also put on said tourism players and and church leaders. We ones. I have been to meet-
southern shore of Lake hold their travel plans as community leaders need are the trend-setters in ings that could have been
JUST as Zimbabwe’s tour- Kariba. they are not sure for how to lead by example to in- this town. Are we leading virtual. I have been to a
ism sector, fabulous des- long this state of affairs spire people towards pos- by example? Are we doing bar here and there, while
tinations and the diverse Kariba is also not too will last.” itive behavioural change if what we are advocating on talking about how people
hospitality industry were far from Mana Pools - Kariba is to get out of the here? The very same peo- are being irresponsible
beginning to slightly re- a collection of islands, He said although the lockdown. ple that we are saying do in Nyamhunga and Ma-
cover after the devastat- channels, sandbanks and tourism sector has been not understand apparently hombekombe high den-
ing impact of the first oxbow lakes resulting in a allowed to continue tak- “What we need is for look up to us and when sity, but not low-density
and second waves of the wildlife-rich safari - in the ing bookings, the hotspot society and communities they see us not practic- pubs like Baobab, Mica
Covid-19 global pandem- far north of Zimbabwe. It tag has seriously impacted to have a paradigm shift ing what we preach, they and Heights yet I will be
ic – the third wave struck. includes the south bank Kariba as a tourism desti- and appreciate the danger relax,” Mapara said. “I having a beer with some
and islands of the Zambezi nation. Obert Mapara who we are in. Most of us are am also among the guilty people who must act as
Another lockdown has River, which forms the runs a marine harbour community, companies, well to educate the com-
been imposed and tour- border with Zambia. The munities.
ism once again is on the park is known for wildlife
receiving end. One of the species found by the river “Let us demonstrate
most affected tourist des- and in the flood plains. that we are practicising
tinations in Zimbabwe Large populations of ele- what we preach and this
is Kariba resort which in phants, hippos and Nile will bring change in the
the northern reach of the crocodiles gather at sun- communities.”
country by the majestic rise in the Long Pool. In
Kariba Dam. the park’s south, lions and Chatwell Tanga, chair-
other predators always lie man of Kariba Kapenta
Kariba town lies in the in wait for rich and diverse Association, which rep-
northern border of the prey around waterholes. resents nine corporates,
country with Zambia. It nine small-to-medium en-
is a gateway to huge Lake Kariba Publicity Asso- terprises in the informal
Kariba, known for its ciation information and sectors and 14 individuals
houseboats, hippos and ti- publicity officer Alois in tourism and kapenta
ger fish. In Kariba Heights, Chimbangu said the lock- industries, said the sector
a lookout offers panoramic down was “hurting the has been hit hard by the
views of the lake. Nearby, sector”, including infor- pandemic.
the circular Chapel of San- mal traders.
ta Barbara has a memori- Covid-19 has had a dev-
al to workers who died “We are still finalising astating impact on global
during the construction of collection and collation tourism which made 10%
the massive Kariba Dam of information and data of the global GDP in 2019
in the 1950s. Surrounding on feedback from our and was worth US$9 tril-
Kariba, the Charara Safari stakeholders to be able lion. Tourism plunged by
Area is home to elephants to quantify the nature of up to 80% last year and
and buffalo. losses suffered. However, sectorial spending is not
initial indications are that likely to return to pre- cri-
It also close to Bumi there were many sudden sis levels until 2024. This
Hills, a group of hills and cancelations as clients fear puts as many as 120 mil-
a luxury safari lodge in driving into a declared lion jobs at risk, a McK-
Mashonaland West prov- Covid-19 hotspot,” Chim- insey & Company  report
ince, situated on the hilly bangu said. says.

There is a future.

ZIMBABWE
CHILDREN’S CANCER RELIEF

EARLY
DETECTION

IISS TTHHEE BBEESSTT PPRROOTTEECCTTIIOONN!!

STAY IF YOU SUSPECT EYE CANCER
ALERT! VISIT YOUR CLINIC TODAY

NewsHawks Editorial & Opinion Page 19

Issue 36, 25 June 2021 CARTOON

Impunity fuels
govt corruption

IT has become something of a tedious ritual: Auditor-General Land reform now badly tainted
Mildred Chiri compiles a thorough report, the Finance minister
takes his time before tabling it in the National Assembly and then IN the aftermath of Zimbabwe’s oft-vi- some activities in the value chain. in their recent paper, the dominance of
the Press drops the bombshell. olent and chaotic land reform pro- Given Zimbabwe was an agrarian and preoccupation with the radical re-
gramme at the turn of the new mil- possession of largely white-owned com-
What follows, predictably, are gasps of shock and disbelief lennium, the late Zanu PF political economy, the subsequent national col- mercial farms – since 2000 – for real-
from a few citizens and members of civil society. After a few days, maverick Eddison Zvobgo - who al- lapse was inevitable. The country is still location to millions of black families,
the screaming newspaper headlines are toned down and life, as ways added colour to politics with wit- stuck in the rut. although very important, has “occluded
we know it, goes on. ty remarks and cerebral drama - made attention to contradictory but silent
an enduring observation about the late More than 20 years down the line, processes of state-led dispossession of
Do public officials face any personal consequences for corrup- former president Robert Mugabe’s re- government has failed to rationalise and black communities living under com-
tion and mismanagement in this country? Once in a blue moon, distribution policy. clean up the land reform programme to munal tenure systems in Zimbabwe’s
one “unlucky” chap is exposed and hauled over the coals. For make it bankable and sustainable, with rural areas”. “We intended to unravel
the most part, however, the purveyors of bad governance face no “We have tainted what was a glorious security of tenure and productivity. this process through an empirical study
repercussions. This creates a suffocating sense of impunity. Pub- revolution, reducing it to some agrarian of Munyokowere, Mahachi and Kondo
lic confidence in constitutionalism and the rule of law is grossly racist enterprise. We have behaved as if Instead what we have seen is relent- villages as well as Checheche growth
undermined. the world owes us a living. It does not. less chaos spiraling, further fueling eco- point, located in the lowveld of Chi-
We have blamed other people for each nomic damage. pinge district,” their research says.
Corruption and mismanagement in the public service is thriv- and every ill that befell us. As every
ing because the rot starts at the very top. peasant, worker, businessman or wom- Now government is confiscating land “We reached out to 117 women
an now stares at the precipice of doom, from indigenous black communities for and 39 men through interviews, focus
The Auditor-General’s 2019 report, finally released last week let us wake up and draw back. We must personal aggrandisement and to pave group discussions (FGDs) and commu-
after an unjustifiably long delay, shows a continuation of bad gov- clear the slate, bury everything that has way for cronies of those in powerful nity meetings from December 2020 to
ernance, gross mismanagement of public funds and dereliction of divided us, and begin again,” Zvobgo positions. This is ugly. January 2021. In these study sites, the
duty by top officials. said. state appropriated communal land to
It’s is no longer about land reform re- realise its vision of building modern ur-
In Zimbabwe’s bloated bureaucratic edifice, it is difficult to It was a sobering remark amid vio- ally; it’s about dispossession, lawlessness ban areas but with consequences for the
find upright officials who remain untainted by malfeasance. The lence, brutality and chaos as Mugabe and lack of rule of law - an attack on vulnerable and poorest social groups,
Auditor-General’s integrity, probity and professional approach to moved to use land reform, a long-stand- the economy and investment. such as women.
duty are rare in many ways. ing legitimate and critical grievance
dating back to the 1890s, to save his Communities - from Chirundu to “We observed that the Zimbabwean
The office of Auditor-General is an independent institution faltering rule and cling to power. Beitbridge, Victoria Falls to Chipinge, state, which prides itself in the politics
which provides Parliament with audited information on the fi- Chiredzi to Kariba, and Nyamapanda of decoloniality, is dusting and making
nancial management of public funds by the executive arm of gov- While land redistribution was neces- to Mwenezi for instance - are under live colonial master-plan maps rooted
ernment. It derives authority from the constitution. sary to redress historical and racial land pressure from government officials and in authoritarian high modernism ideol-
ownership patterns and imbalances, its their business cronies who are grabbing ogies, which were meant to dispossess
Every year, Chiri exposes the looting and mismanagement opportunistic use as a tool for political the black communities of their prime
which cost the taxpayer astonishing amounts of money. But rare- mobilisation and electoral campaigns Hawk Eye land, to dusty and mountainous areas.
ly do we see action being taken against those implicated. was cynical.
Dumisani “In Munyokowere, the state was
Thieves are pocketing vast amounts of public funds. The unstructured, haphazard land Muleya using the colonial master plans of the
In 2019, Treasury incurred unauthorised excess expenditure seizures and the violence and killings 1950s to displace indigenous families.”
totalling ZW$6.8 billion. targeted at white commercial farmers lqnd for self-interest.
This is a serious assault on governance. The law stipulates that tainted a noble idea and process which The seizures, especially to give the po- This is further tarnishing the already
the accounting officers in line ministries must report all forms if it had been done properly could have tainted land reform programme.
of irregular and unauthorised expenditure. Accountability and propelled Zimbabwe into a new era of litically well-connected and companies,
transparency must be cardinal values for everyone who handles economic progress. mainly in mining, are intensifying. This Government should stop seizing land
public funds. has created a great deal of discomfort from poor communities and productive
We are, of course, alive to the reality that accounting is largely However, the attendant brutality and and anger among the subaltern major- farmers, whether black or white, but
“ex post facto” by nature. For that reason and more, unauthorised chaos, characterised by a break down in ity in communities and villages where particularly the previously marginalised
expenditure does not always point to sinister motive. In some the rule of law, lawlessness, trampling most Zimbabweans live. indigenous black majority.
situations, unauthorised expenditure can arise under genuine or of property rights and civil and political
unavoidable circumstances. That is where Parliament comes in; liberties, left Zimbabwe in ruins. As Oxford-trained Dr Phillan Zam- There is enough land in Zimbabwe
legislators must meticulously scrutinise the audit report and ask chiya and fellow researchers discovered for those who need it. So there is no
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube the tough and necessary ques- The economy imploded following need for this chaos.
tions. the land seizures.
One of the key constitutional functions of the legislature is Abuse of office, greed and corrup-
that of oversight. Parliament’s watchdog role, on paper at least, is Commercial agricultural collapsed tion, which are drivers of this new wave
one of the cornerstones of constitutional democracy. MPs must and with it downstream companies and of land grabs, must stop.
ask: Is the executive arm of government performing its duties
and responsibilities in prudent and efficient ways that further the
national interest?
Corruption takes root in a system that turns a blind eye to
dodgy payments. Large amounts of taxpayers’ money are being
paid to suppliers of goods and services without the requisite
supporting documentation. If there were severe personal reper-
cussions for this behaviour, the senior officials who preside over
this naked corruption would certainly think twice before master-
minding such criminality.
It is a tragic day for governance when the Auditor-General re-
ports that she could not find evidence of how Transport ministry
funds totalling ZW$657.5 million were spent. We are talking of
a country in which the level of extreme poverty is shooting up in
an alarming manner. Malnutrition is running rampant. Children
are dropping out of school in record numbers. Millions have lost
jobs. The social suffering is immense.
Thieves in suits who call themselves government officials must
be flushed out and brought to justice.

Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
tance of freedom of expression and me- content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Charmaine Phiri Council of Zimbabwe
dia freedom as the cornerstone of de- Media which is owned by Centre for Public Cell: +263 735666122
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stitution; our mission is to hold power Beverly Court, 6th floor News Editor: Owen Gagare
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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

DUMISANI NYONI Pension sector assets has not been affecting the val-
increase in value ues recorded as such counters
ZIMBABWE’S pension in- are now being valued using the
dustry assets grew by 76% to Investment property in- Unquoted equities increased cation by one standalone fund asset class. Johannesburg Stock Exchange
US$2.1 billion during the first creased to ZW$72.55 billion by 3 851% to ZW$29.24 bil- which was previously misclas- Quoted equities increased (JSE) as a reference as per
quarter of this year compared from ZW$14.13 billion. lion. sifying it,” Ipec said. the Securities and Exchange
to the corresponding period by 459.03% to ZW$54.69 Commission of Zimbabwe’s
last year, largely on account of However, its contribution “This increase is also mo- However, given the chal- billion. Capital gains main- directive number SS 28/04/21,
price discovery on major as- to the industry’s total assets de- tivated by the industry’s drive lenges associated with un- ly account for the increase in which was effective 31 Decem-
set classes such as investment clined from 47.38% to 40.94% to look for value-preserving quoted equities, which include quoted equities. ber 2020.
property and quoted equities. as the industry invested in oth- instruments. Furthermore, the liquidity, valuation and corpo-
er financial instruments, which significant increase in the val- rate governance, Ipec said it While the suspension of The income for the period
According to a new report include unquoted equities, to ue of investments in this asset will soon issue guidelines relat- some major counters on the under review was mainly driv-
from the Insurance and Pen- diversify their portfolios. class was due to proper classifi- ing to investments in such an ZSE has continued, Ipec said en by fair value gains, interest
sions Commission (Ipec), the the valuation of such counters from investments and total
pension industry’s asset base contributions amounting to
grew in nominal terms by ZW$31.2 billion. These three
494.16% to ZW$177.12 bil- income items constituted
lion from ZW$29.81 billion 91.23% of the industry’s total
recorded in March 2020.  income.

There was also a growth Total expenditure increased
in the industry’s assets in US by 470% to ZW$2.28 billion,
dollar terms to US$2.1 bil- mainly driven by total benefits
lion from US$1.19 billion, paid, investment management
the report shows. In addition, expenses and administration
pension contributions made expenses which accounted for
for the period under review 61.55%, 8.38% and 8.36%,
were also a factor in the asset respectively.
growth. The industry’s asset
base of ZW$177.12 billion The expenses-to-contribu-
translates to a pension penetra- tions ratio was 24.1%, whilst
tion rate of 16.54%, expressed the expenses-to-total income
as a percentage of the gross do- ratio was 2.02% compared to
mestic product (GDP).  26.56% and 2.02% in 2020,
respectively.
“This significant proportion
of assets-to-GDP confirms the While the expense-to-total
important role played by the income was 2.02%, the ex-
pensions industry in the so- penses to total realised income
cio-economic development of was, however, at 5.92%. This
the country,” the report reads implies that part of the indus-
in part. try’s income is not realisable
and cannot be used to meet the
In addition, the pension expenses and other immediate
industry’s share of Zimbabwe obligations.
Stock Exchange (ZSE)’s market
capitalisation as at 31 March The total asset base for in-
2021 was 10.29%, implying sured funds was US$43.85 bil-
that the industry remains crit- lion, constituting 24.76% of
ical to the development of the the industry’s total assets. This
country’s stock market. was an increase of 237.05%
from US$13.01 billion, main-
The increase in the asset ly due to revaluation gains on
base was mainly driven by an properties and equities.
increase in the values of invest-
ment properties, quoted eq- Investment property in-
uities and unquoted equities, creased by 152.47% to
which had a combined share of ZW$15.35 billion whilst
88.34% of the industry’s assets. quoted equities increased by
339.4% to ZW$20.52 billion.

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NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 21

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

DUMISANI NYONI Funeral assurance business review, the life assurance
benefits from Covid-19 sector reported a total
THE Covid-19 pandem- of 104 678 not taken up
ic has given impetus to (NTU) policies with a
the dominance of funer- total gross premium of
al assurance products in ZW$90.33 million, up
the life assurance product from 5 826 policies in
line, as the increase in the comparative period in
mortality risk has result- 2020.
ed in most people seeking
funeral cover, The News- As such, premiums lost
Hawks has learnt. on NTU policies con-
Many economic sec- stituted 2.64% of total
tors in Zimbabwe have GPW for the quarter.
felt the full impact of the
Covid-19 pandemic, re- “The increase in not
sulting in some compa- taken up policies is at-
nies downsizing or clos- tributed to the negative
ing shop due to subdued effects of the Covid-19-
economic activities.  induced lockdown and
But according to an restrictions as some pol-
Insurance and Pensions icyholders most likely
Commission (Ipec) faced challenges to hon-
first-quarter report, the our their premium pay-
pandemic has been a ments,” it said.
blessing in disguise for the
funeral assurance sector. The NTU may also be
For the quarter ended 31 attributable to improp-
March 2021, Gross Pre- erly trained sales staff
mium Written (GPW) by mis-selling the products,
direct life assurers grew by Ipec said.
492% in nominal terms
from ZW$577.68 million For the quarter un-
reported for the quarter der review, Ipec said the
ended 31 March 2020 to life assurance sector had
ZW$3.42 billion.  a total of 1.98 million
“Growth in GPW was 241% as the industry re- tinued uncertainty on Commission, therefore, flationary environment. lapsable policies, out of
mainly attributable to corded inflation-adjusted the containment of the encourages players to Thus, funeral assurance which 177 228 policies
significant increase in growth of 74% for the Covid-19 pandemic.” continuously review their products continued to lapsed, translating to a
premiums from funeral quarter under review as reserving methods, to dominate life assurance lapse ratio of 10.1%.
assurance and group life compared to the same pe- In terms of the source ensure the adequacy of product lines, contribut-
assurance business. The riod last year. of business, the life assur- technical liabilities at all ing 85.02% of the total The lapse ratio of
increase in premiums in ance sector’s GPW was times,” Ipec said. GPW for the quarter un- 10.1%, Ipec said, com-
these classes may be at- “The commission skewed towards recurring der review. Ipec said there pares unfavourably to the
tributable to premiums continues to encourage business, which account- Ipec said players should is a need for life assurance lapse ratio of 3.57% re-
tracking inflation and players to leverage on ed for 97% of total busi- maintain prudent asset players to be innovative in corded for the compara-
an increase in the uptake modern technology to ness written, while new liability matches on their the development of term tive period last year.
of these products on the develop both new inno- business accounted for balance sheets. assurance, endowment
back of the Covid-19 vative products that are the remaining 3% during and whole life products to However, the abnor-
pandemic,” the report relevant to their clients’ the review quarter. It said funeral assur- match policyholder needs mally high lapse ratio of
reads in part. needs and new distribu- ance products have re- in the wake of the dy- 10.1% may be attribut-
Based on inflation-ad- tion channels that enable “The increase in busi- mained more popular namic macro-economic able to a general decline
justed figures, the growth access by the marginalised ness written by the sector than life assurance prod- environment and evolv- in the disposable incomes
in GPW was above the sectors of the economy,” also means that techni- ucts on the Zimbabwean ing policyholder needs to because of Covid-19-in-
year-on-year inflation of it said. cal liabilities of the sec- insurance market due to remain relevant. duced lockdowns and re-
tor should accordingly the products’ declined strictions, it said.
“This is particularly increase in tandem with benefit promise given In the period under
important with the con- increased business. The the persistent hyperin- The sector is dominat-
ed by Nyaradzo, which
controls 60.82% market
share in terms of GPW,
while other players share
the remaining 39.18%.

Pacific bemoans cigarette counterfeiters

PACIFIC Cigarette feits, while exposing rep- working with authori- company’s brand, as they of the trademark owner), found guilty of smug-
Company (PCC), for- lication and bootlegging ties to try and stamp this are not manufactured to can help curb smuggling gling any cigarettes or
merly Savanna Tobacco, of some big cigarette out,” he said. the requisite quality and and counterfeiting.”    charged with such an of-
has come under serious companies’ products standard.  fence.  These are merely
attack from counterfeit- amid rampant smug- “Apart from the ciga- “It’s not something smear tactics.”
ers, a situation that has gling and attendant illic- rettes impounded on the “Counterfeits also dis- that can be dealt with
damaged its reputation it activities. SA-Botswana border, SA tort our markets, reve- overnight, but through He said the accusa-
and distorted its market, authorities recently also nue, and do not contrib- joint cooperation be- tions have never been
chief executive Yves Le Boulengé told The seized Pacific counter- ute to the fiscus of any tween manufacturers substantiated.
Boulengé has said. NewsHawks the coun- feit cigarettes, smuggled economy,” he said.  and the relevant author-
terfeit attacks are so se- from an Asian country, ities across the region “So, the allegations
Recently, there was an rious that the company in Port Elizabeth.” Asked how these measures can be put in have been made for the
incident in which some has suffered reputational problems can be tack- place to address this is- past 17 years and in the
smuggled fake tobacco damage. The cigarette “Its impact on Pacif- led, Boulengé said: “No sue that affects the in- 17 years, our company
merchandise, bearing maker continues being ic Cigarettes is varied. wholesale solution has dustry as a whole,” he has never been charged
the company’s brand accused, without basis, There is of course the been found for this prob- said.   anywhere with any such
names, was seized by of smuggling. reputational damage we lem across the world, offence,” he said.
authorities at the border sustain when we contin- but cooperation between On whether the com-
between Botswana and “The problem is very, ue to be accused, with- companies and relevant pany is involved in cig- Boulengé said cigarette
South Africa.  very serious. Pacific out basis, of cigarette authorities in terms of arette smuggling, the smuggling is a global
Cigarette Company is smuggling or being an information gathering PCC chief said it has phenomenon which has
Subsequent investiga- clearly under counterfeit illicit cigarette manufac- and action based on cer- long been accused of be- been in existence since
tions and tests, however, attack and we are con- turer,” Boulengé said. tified information (basi- ing “an illicit cigarette the advent of the indus-
proved the contraband stantly increasing our cally the enforcement of manufacturer but at no try and long before PCC
was a stock of counter- security technology and Boulengé said the the intellectual property stage have we ever been came into being.
counterfeits damage the
— STAFF WRITER.

Page 22 CompanNieesw&s Markets NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Zim entrepreneurs R4.5bn project takes off in SA

THE multi-billion-rand Nyan- The TSC will primarily be used Nyanza chief executive Donovan Chimhandamba. also Diaspora Infrastructure
za Light Metals titanium proj- to develop Nyanza’s products Development Group chair-
ect in South Africa currently and brands jointly with the Over US$20 billion of tita- a steady demand and supply ment from Europe, China, Asia person - said Phase 2 will cost
being implemented by Zim- customers. This a strategic op- nium dioxide pigment, used in balance at about 6.5 million and America valued at approxi- US$350 million and Afrex-
babwean businesspersons is eration that will be used on an the manufacture of industrial tonnes.  mately US$500m annually.  imbank was retained as the
progressing well and is taking ongoing basis for the life of the coatings, paints, cosmetics, mandated lead arranger and
shape fast, company chief exec- company to develop new prod- paper, plastics and other food Africa’s paints and coat- The continent has no titani- coordinating bank and has
utive Donovan Chimhandam- ucts and customers and once ingredients, is traded across the ings manufacturing industries um dioxide pigment manufac- already committed US$2 mil-
ba says. customers sign-off each new globe annually on the back of consume and import 130 000 turing capacity. lion towards the completion
product specification through tonne of titanium dioxide pig- of the detailed engineering
In an interview with The Ne- offtake agreements, production Chimhandamba – who is work alongside the South Af-
wHawks from the project site will be moved to the main op- rican government and Nyanza
in Richards Bay, in northern erations for commercial scale founders. 
KwaZulu-Natal, Chimhan- production. This phase is being
damba said yesterday the phase built over 10 000 square me- “This phase will commence
one rollout of the project was tres (one hectare) as restricted in the second quarter of 2022.
unfolding according to plan. by the current environmental The mineral and chemical pro-
approvals was fully funded at cessing, which will cover the
The project is being imple- about US$20 million. The rest of the 670 000m2 (67ha) is
mented by Diaspora Infra- technical services centre con- expected to make Nyanza one
structure Development Group struction will be complete by of the largest minerals benefici-
Zimbabwean business exec- November 2021. ation and chemicals manufac-
utives who were involved in turing plant on the continent
the stalled National Railways “Phase 2 is already in its final and the only titanium dioxide
of Zimbabwe US$400 million stages and is about 60% com- pigment manufacturer in Afri-
recapitalisation deal. plete with about 10 months left ca,” he said. 
of detailed engineering design
“Nyanza Light Metals roll- work which will allow Nyanza The construction period is
out programme is divided into to go into the market with ten- expected to take two years to
two phases. First phase focuses ders early 2022 for equipment two-and-a-half years with var-
on the designing, building and supply, construction and instal- ious plant sections being com-
operating a Technical Services lation.” missioned during the process.
Centre, and the second phase The project will create 1 200
on the designing, building and Nyanza, a privately-owned jobs.
construction of the main min- South African company, with
eral processing and chemical South African government di- Africa, endowed with min-
facility,” he said.   rect investment and support erals, is predominantly an ex-
through various incentives, is porter of raw mineral ores, with
“Phase 1 which was about constructing the US$350 mil- very little value addition. 
designing and building a lion plant which will benefici-
semi-production plant and lab- ate titanium ore to produce 80 Like many other minerals,
oratories housed under a Tech- 000 tonnes of titanium dioxide titanium, which contains ores
nical Services Centre (TSC) pigment widely used in the such as ilmenite, rutile and tita-
and used as a product and cus- manufacture of industrial coat- nium slags, is another example
tomer development center.  ings, paints, cosmetics, paper, of a mineral exported from Af-
plastics and other food ingre- rica with no beneficiation, one
“Construction is well under- dients. reason, among many others,
way in Richards Bay Industrial the continent is poor. 
Development Zone, 170km
north of Durban, South Africa. —STAFF WRITER

Active pension fund Pseducebtploiercndhdoeeannlotthr
members decline

BERNARD MPOFU 339 members as at 31 March lost her or his job, plunging in benefits for the 3 months  NYARADZO MUSHANYUKI
2020 to 99 152 members. many households into pover- ended 31 March 2020,
AN increase in collapsing ty and worsening the plight constituting 81.40% of the THE Zimbabwean government is lagging far behind interna-
companies amid a flounder- “The decline in active of the existing poor. sector’s total expenditure,” tional donors in procuring medicines for the country’s pub-
ing economy has resulted in members can be explained by the report reads.  The sec- lic healthcare institutions, according to a report by the Sector
a decline in the number of the corresponding increase in Official figures show that tor’s administrative expenses Development Strategy for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in
active members of Zimba- deferred pensioners as mem- Zimbabwe’s economy is ex- totalled ZW$0.15 billion Zimbabwe.
bwe’s pension funds, a new bers who leave employment pected to recover from a pro- and were driven by invest-
report has shown. will have their benefits being jected contraction of 4.5% ment management expenses This is due in large part to inactivity by the government-con-
deferred pending retirement in 2020 to a growth of 7.4% and administration charges, trolled National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm).
The outbreak of the age. Due to the Covid-19 in 2021 and 5.5% in 2022. which constituted 59.74%
Covid-19 pandemic prompt- pandemic, several sponsor- and 31.18% respectively, NatPharm, which used to procure medicines on behalf of
ed the authorities to impose ing employers have faced The report further shows Ipec noted.  the government, has since ceased to play that role, much to the
strict disease containment viability challenges, which that, despite reporting a de- anguish of local pharmaceutical manufacturers.
measures such as national resulted in either closure or crease in active members, The administrative ex-
lockdowns which saw many downsizing, consequently total income amounted to penses translated to 21.06% The report notes that “inability of NatPharm to continue
businesses shut their doors to resulting in members being ZW$9.45 billion for the pe- and 1.49% of contributions playing its role as a major procurer of medicines for the public
the public. This, according to retrenched,” reads the report riod January to March 2021 and total income respective- sector” has seriously impacted the local industry.
labour unions and indepen- for the period ending 31 compared to ZW$3.24 bil- ly, as compared to 21.16%
dent experts, led to massive March. lion during the same period and 1.01% for the same pe- Adds the report: “Today, Zimbabwe is dependent on im-
company closures as many in 2020. The ZW$8.6 bil- riod in 2020. ported medicines, much of which is donated. The donated
businesses embraced digital “There was a 16.52% de- lion is mainly attributed to pharmaceuticals are both imported and locally-produced.”
transformation, which neces- cline in pensioners, which fair value gains on equities Investment property in-
sitated cuts in the headcount. was mainly attributed to and interest from invest- creased by 152.47% from According to the findings, US$124 million worth of medi-
According to the Insurance members exiting the funds ment.  ZW$6.08 billion as at 31 cines were sourced by donor organisations in 2014 alone.
and Pensions Commission and being paid full commu- March 2020 to ZW$15.35
(Ipec) first-quarter report for tations.” “Interest from investments billion while quoted equities Meanwhile, in the same year, US$24 million worth of Zim-
the pension industry, there totalling ZW$7.72 billion increased by 339.40%, from babwean-produced medicines were exported, a market share
was a decrease in the number According to the World contributed 81.68% of the ZW$4.67 billion report- of just under 10% for the local industry.
of active members from 101 Bank, nearly 500 000 Zim- total income for the period ed as at 31 March 2020 to
babwean households have under review. Insured funds ZW$20.52 billion. The report explained that the reason for the low market
at least one member who paid ZW$643.00 million share of local products is that Zimbabwean companies cannot
participate in donor procurement.

As a solution, the report suggested that “proper systems and
procedures would first have to be deployed to monitor this
public procurement, and then perhaps steer some or all of this
procurement towards local sourcing.”

NewsHawks Stock Taking Page 23

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Price Sheet A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE

Thursday, 24 June 2021

Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP (cents) Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Traded Traded
AFDIS Consumer Goods Ticker Price (cents) 7000.00 Volume Traded Change Change (%) Cap
African Sun Consumer Services Price 550.00
ART 779.00 - Value ($) (cents) (%) ($m)
Ariston Industrials - 345.84 42,200
Axia Consumer Services AFDIS: ZH 7000.00 550.00 2189.28 - - - 191.67 8,211.42
BNC ASUN: ZH 520.00 800.00 500.35 1,800 232,100.00 30.00 5.77 223.53 4,739.74
BAT Consumer Goods ARTD: ZH 725.00 345.00 89900.00 7,700 54.00 7.45 63.21 3,404.05
CAFCA Basic Materials ARISTON: ZH 309.00 2200.00 12500.00 108,700 14,022.00 36.84 11.92 158.09 5,628.18
Cassava AXIA: ZH 2130.43 505.00 1549.43 391,100 26,630.00 58.85 2.76 139.00 11,929.26
CBZ Consumer Goods BIND: ZH 501.99 8400.00 2,379,750.00 -1.64 -0.33 31.67 6,253.66
Dairibord Industrials 89900.00 - 2701.74 - 1,956,855.00 63.45 18,549.53
Delta BAT: ZH 12500.00 - 7432.34 - - - 39.04 1,091.89
Econet Technology CAFCA: ZH 1496.25 1580.00 2734.59 7,000 - - - 138.37 40,139.18
Edgars Banking 8400.75 8400.00 310.00 1,500 - 53.18 3.55 -1.71 57,727.46
FBC CSZL: ZH 2747.67 2700.00 2920.00 60,500 108,460.00 -0.75 -0.01 106.24 9,672.25
Fidelity Consumer Goods CBZ: ZH 7284.27 7400.00 750.00 87,200 126,000.00 -45.93 -1.67 226.68 95,465.52
First Capital Consumer Goods DZL: ZH 2722.89 2710.00 384.39 178,200 1,634,550.00 148.07 2.03 189.37 70,841.65
FML Telecommunications DLTA: ZH 349.76 310.00 2833.33 5,100 6,481,000.00 11.70 0.43 158.33 1,013.67
FMP Consumer Services ECO: ZH 2920.00 - 1720.00 - 4,873,045.00 -39.76 -11.37 94.49 19,620.94
GBH EDGR: ZH 750.00 - 302.82 - 15,810.00 - - 293.29
Getbucks Banking FBC: ZH 380.66 384.50 1142.50 7,500 - - - 249.45 816.92
Hippo Financial Services FIDL: ZH 2730.56 2750.00 14142.86 600 - 3.73 0.98 169.84 8,290.22
Innscor FCA: ZH 1720.00 - 8780.83 - 28,829.00 102.77 3.76 430.86 19,554.03
Lafarge Banking FMHL: ZH 319.50 310.00 6000.00 288,300 17,000.00 - - 1161.75 21,296.31
Mash Financial Services FMP: ZH 956.00 1145.00 340.00 200 - -16.68 -5.22 9040.00 1,624.90
Masimba GBH: ZH 13992.29 15000.00 3400.00 3,500 873,027.25 186.50 19.51 57.14 13,288.63
Medtech Real Estate GBFS: ZH 8781.18 8760.00 17.98 216,700 2,285.00 150.57 1.08 137.13 27,298.63
Meikles Industrials HIPO: ZH 6000.00 6000.00 8200.59 23,000 495,000.00 -0.35 -0.00 525.00 49,592.06
Nampak INN: ZH 355.00 340.00 1450.00 700 19,028,050.00 - - 265.59 4,800.00
NatFoods Financial Services LACZ: ZH 3399.84 3400.00 45000.00 7,400 1,380,000.00 -15.00 -4.23 203.57 6,320.85
NTS Consumer Goods MASH: ZH 17.87 18.00 1245.00 4,736,000 2,380.00 0.16 0.00 127.59 8,216.23
NMBZ MSHL: ZH 8300.00 8200.00 1199.81 55,400 251,600.00 0.11 0.62 272.67
OK Zim Industrials MMDZ: ZH 1480.00 1450.00 1630.55 100 851,762.30 -99.41 -1.20 535.27 546.55
Padenga Industrials MEIK: ZH 39844.81 45000.00 2961.85 100 4,543,125.00 -30.00 -2.03 648.75 20,718.47
Proplastics Real Estate NPKZ: ZH 1245.00 - 2700.00 - 1,450.00 5155.19 12.94 4435.52 10,956.90
RTG Industrials NTFD: ZH 1155.00 1200.00 346.01 2,700 45,000.00 - - 199.92 30,780.05
RioZim Healthcare NTS: ZH 1585.76 1615.00 2610.00 414,900 - 44.81 3.88 81.17
SeedCo Industrials NMB: ZH 2939.97 3000.00 6534.22 15,700 32,395.00 44.79 2.82 40.94 3,160.71
Simbisa Industrials OKZ: ZH 2700.00 - 4192.21 - 6,765,155.00 21.88 0.74 213.60 4,849.29
Star Africa Consumer Goods PHL: ZH 412.72 408.00 168.25 35,300 465,010.00 - - 80.45 20,329.91
Truworths Industrials PROL: ZH 2610.00 - 131.05 - - -66.71 -16.16 74.56 16,041.19
TSL RTG: ZH 4000.00 122,142.25 - - 6,802.26
Turnall Banking RIOZ: ZH 6580.87 6580.00 347.31 4,500 - 184.10 8,634.66
Unifreight Consumer Services 1800.00 -46.65 -0.71 3,184.97
Willdale SEED: ZH 4199.31 4200.00 275.06 155,500 294,040.00 248.83
ZB Consumer Goods 140.31 168.25 7700.00 2,209,800 -7.10 -0.17 523.15 16,043.35
Zeco Industrials SIM: ZH 134.57 131.00 0.03 6,518,880.00 27.94 19.91 344.24
Zimpapers SACL: ZH 4000.00 4000.00 195.00 9,400 3,717,897.00 -3.52 -2.62 131.88 23,567.97
Zimplow Consumer Services TRUW: ZH 332.00 345.00 899.81 4,500 273.45 7,933.13
ZHL Basic Materials 1538.63 1800.00 306.07 3,900 12,319.00 - - 9577.42 503.32
TOTAL TSL: ZH 250.32 300.00 180,000.00 15.31 4.61 759.56
Consumer Goods TURN: ZH 7700.00 400 261.37 16.99 220.83 14,284.10
Consumer Goods UNIF: ZH 0.03 - 8,500 13,545.00 24.74 9.88 50.00 1,712.38
Consumer Goods WILD: ZH 195.00 - 7,200.00 98.98 1,916.54
Consumer Services ZBFH: ZH 863.09 195.00 - - - 79.96 4,890.57
Consumer Goods ZECO: ZH 291.89 900.00 - 23,380.00 - - -2.37
ZIMP: ZH 300.00 161,300 - - - 13,489.68
Industrials ZIMPLOW: ZH 24,100 - 36.72 4.25 0.14
Industrials 698,600 14.18 4.86
Industrials ZHL: ZH 9,979,600 314,535.00 1,123.20
216,855.00 2,144.97
Banking 2,138,187.00 5,566.36
Industrials 66,189,270.80 734,567.85
Consumer Services
Industrials
Financial Services

ETFs OMTT.zw 179.01 187.00 186.13 15,500 28,850.00 7.12 3.98 85.72 148.90

Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF

FINSEC Financial Services OMZIL 3360.00 - 3360.00 - -- - 26.79 2,789.19

Old Mutual Zimbabwe

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

SeedCo International - 18.00 - -- -- 43.40

Index Close Change (%) Open YTD % Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
ZSE All Share Star Africa
Top 10 5,970.81 +1.58 5,877.94 +127.08 Getbucks 168.25c +27.94c +19.91 +523.15
Top 15 3,165.04 +1.06 3,131.76 +91.30 Unifreight 1142.50c +186.50c +19.51 +9040.00
Small Cap 3,629.39 +1.93 3,560.77 +86.31 NatFoods 1800.00c +261.37c +16.99 +9577.42
Medium Cap 134,120.36 +1.90 131,620.71 +1029.32 Ariston 45000.00c +5155.19c +12.94 +648.75
16,024.23 +2.45 15,640.80 +187.98 +11.92 +158.09
345.84c +36.84c

Top 5 Fallers Price Change % YTD %
RTG
Edgars 346.01c -66.71c -16.16 +80.45
GBH 310.00c -39.76c -11.37 +158.33
Mash 302.82c -16.68c -5.22 +1161.75
Truworths 340.00c -15.00c -4.23 +265.59
131.05c -3.52c -2.62 +344.24

SALES & TRADING: Davide Muchengi: [email protected] | Lungani Nyamazana: [email protected] | Tatenda Jasi: [email protected]
RESEARCH: Batanai Matsika: [email protected] | Precious Chagwedera: [email protected] | Tafara Mtutu: [email protected]

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

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

independently verified; MORGAN & COMPANY makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to the accuracy or completeness of its content.

Page 24 Executive Chat NewsHawks

YVES Le Boulengé (YB), Pacific cigarette CE speaks out Issue 36, 25 June 2021
the chief executive of Pacific on controversial business issues
Cigarette Company (PCC) manufacturing then com- cigarette manufacturer.
– Zimbabwe’s local cigarette menced and the Pacific As a manufacturer, the il-
market leader headquartered brand was launched.
in Harare, formerly Savanna licit counterfeits damage our
Tobacco – this week answered Now Pacific produces in- brand, as they are not man-
questions from The News- ternational-quality cigarettes ufactured to our quality and
Hawks news editor Owen with the finest Virginia to- standards. 
Gagare (OG) about the bacco in the world. 
company’s history, ownership, Counterfeits also distort
market position, competition OG: The tobacco industry our markets, revenue and do
and smuggling activities across is big and the value chain not contribute to the fiscus
the region. encompasses various com- of any economy. 
ponents. What specifically OG: How can these prob-
This followed a recent does the company do? ​ lems be tackled?
incident in which some YB: No wholesale solution
smuggled fake tobacco YB: Pacific Cigarette Com- has been found for this prob-
merchandise, bearing the pany is a leading manufac- lem across the world, but
company’s brand names, turer and distributor of cig- cooperation between com-
was seized by authorities arette brands in Zimbabwe, panies and relevant author-
at the border between Bo- with a strong regional foot- ities in terms of information
tswana and South Africa. ing and aspirations of going gathering and action based
Subsequent investigations continental. on certified information
and tests, however, proved (basically the enforcement
the contraband was a stock OG: What are its main of the intellectual property
of counterfeits, while ex- brands? ​ of the trademark owner),
posing replication and can help curb smuggling
bootlegging of some big YB: Pacific’s main brands Pacific Cigarette Company CEO Yves Le Boulengé. and counterfeiting.   
cigarette companies’ prod- include the Pacific range
ucts amid rampant smug- which comes in five variants: market between Pacific you involved in that? YB: The problem is very, It’s not something that
gling and attendant illicit Pacific Blue, Pacific Breeze, and some giants, includ- YB: No. We have long been very serious. Pacific Cig- can be dealt with overnight,
activities. Pacific Mist, Pacific Storm ing BAT, that at times de- accused of being an illicit arette Company is clearly but through joint coopera-
and Pacific Gold. We are generated into spying on cigarette manufacturer, but under counterfeit attack and tion between manufacturers
The company, which says also licenced manufacturers each other and engaging at no stage have we ever been we are constantly increasing and the relevant authorities
it manufactures Africa’s fin- of the Acacia brand family, in alleged acts of industrial found guilty of smuggling our security technology and across the region measures
est cigarettes, was named in but we are also looking at espionage. May you kindly any cigarettes or charged working with authorities to can be put in place to ad-
a recent report titled Cartel extending our portfolio of comment on this. with such an offence.  These try and stamp this out. dress this issue that affects
Power Dynamics in Zimba- brands. YB: Change is always a diffi- are merely smear tactics. the industry as a whole.  
bwe published by Maverick OG: What is your market cult process; and even more Apart from the cigarettes OG: Some people say Pa-
Citizen in South Africa in share?  so when you are challenging It has always been con- impounded on the SA-Bo- cific benefitted from its
relation to the nexus be- ​YB: Pacific Cigarette Com- an established global multi- stantly alleged, but what is tswana border, SA authori- founder and chairman
tween politics and business. pany is the clear market national with inordinate re- most interesting is that in ties recently also seized Pa- Adam Molai’s close asso-
But it denied involvement leader in Zimbabwe. sources. Pacific’s best teacher every story that has been cific counterfeit cigarettes, ciation or family relations
in any cronyism, cartel and OG: There were reports on business was BAT. The written, there has never smuggled from an Asian with the late former pres-
illegal activities. that Pacific is involved a many direct and under- been anywhere in any article country, in Port Elizabeth. ident Robert Mugabe.
partnership with Chinese handed methods they used where the claims went be- OG: How deep and wide What’s your comment?
One of its key sharehold- company China Tobacco to try and ensure our failure yond allegation. is the counterfeiting and YB: This is a question that
ers and beneficial owners is Shaanxi Industrial Coop- taught us lessons that have smuggling of tobacco and Mr Molai is better placed to
South African-based Zimba- eration (CTSIC) to launch facilitated growth into oth- So, the allegations have cigarettes across the re- answer.
bwean businessman Adam the Acacia cigarette range. er industries. A successful been made for the past 17 gion, especially between
Molai, who is married to the May you clarify the situa- prosecution was achieved years and, in the 17 years, South  Africa and Zimba- However, he has come out
niece of the late former pres- tion? ​ in Zimbabwe in an indus- our company has never been bwe? publicly on several occasions
ident Robert Mugabe. Mo- YB: Pacific Cigarette Com- trial espionage case against charged anywhere with any YB: The relevant authorities to point out that his rela-
lai says he never benefitted pany has a manufacturing Pacific with the individual such offence. in both countries are better tionship with Robert Mug-
anything in business terms agreement with Chinese cig- charged claiming he was placed to answer this ques- abe was purely personal (he
from his family relations.  arette manufacturer CTSIC, working for a multinational Cigarette smuggling is a tion.  has been married to Sandra
a subsidiary of China Na- service provider. global phenomenon which OG: What is the impact Mugabe, the late president’s
Boulengé touches on that. tional Tobacco Corporation, OG: There have also been has been in existence since of that on the market and niece, for over 20 years) and
He says, if anything, that the largest cigarette compa- reports of smuggling in the advent of the industry economies, as well as on that he did not benefit from
has been a liability from a ny in the world.  This part- the market, particularly and long before Pacific Cig- your company? their association profession-
busines perspective. nership is the first of its kind, between the South African arette Company came into YB: The relevant authori- ally or in a business capac-
to have Chinese brands and Zimbabwean markets. being.  ties are better placed to talk ity. He has never applied
Find below the excerpts of licensed to an African en- How bad, serious and ram- OG: There was a recent in- about the impact on the for, nor been granted, any
the interview: tity and we are developing pant is this problem?  cident in which cigarettes market and economies. government tender in Zim-
OG: To start with, kindly brands together for the Chi- YB: The relevant authorities were confiscated on the babwe or around the world.
give us a brief background nese diaspora in Africa using in both countries are better Botswana-South African Its impact on Pacific Cig-
to the company, its history the best Virginia tobacco in placed to talk about the scale border that had some of arettes is varied. There is, He was a very successful
and genesis. What inspired the world from Zimbabwe. of the problem. your brand names.  of course, the reputational businessman before meeting
the founders to start this OG: Who are the main OG: Some reports have damage we sustain when his wife, and he has built his
enterprise? ​ shareholders of the com- also implicated Pacific in Of course, you clarified we continue to be accused, businesses on the back of his
YB: The birth of Savanna pany?  smuggling activities. Are they were fake, but this without basis, of cigarette own ingenuity, resourceful-
Tobacco, as Pacific Cigarette Y​ B: The ultimate beneficial suggests that there is boot- smuggling or being an illicit ness and hard work.
Company was previously owners of Pacific are Adam legging of cigarettes, which
known, came from an idea Molai, Chris Sambaza and involves some replication The relationship with the
by Adam Molai and Nick Gerrit DeJong through their of your brands. How prev- late Mugabe, which he has
Havercroft to use the to- family trusts.   alent and serious is this never hidden, has in fact
bacco grown by Nick, who OG: There have previous- problem?  hindered his business pros-
was a big tobacco farmer in ly been media reports of pects rather than helped,
Marondera, to produce cig- vicious competition in the as it ensured that he has to
arettes.  constantly field questions
about his business success
However, following the and integrity, even now
land reform programme and when Mugabe is now late,
careful consideration, a deci- and Molai no longer resides
sion was taken to abandon in Zimbabwe.
the idea of converting their OG: What are Pacific’s
own tobacco to cigarettes main corporate social in-
and get a licence to do con- vestments at the moment?
tract production of tobacco.  YB: We are engaging in ac-
When they got the licence, tion on mainly two fronts:
they managed to get various giving back to the commu-
partners on board, including nity and the environment.
British American Tobacco
(BAT).  In 2004, cigarette

NewsHawks News Analysis Page 25

Issue 36, 25 June 2021 Auditor-General lays bare practice open to manip-
shocking govt corruption ulation.
DUMISANI NYONI
law. for ministers and gov- is that it reduces the Au- Auditor-General Mildred Chiri The Health ministry
AUDITOR-GENERAL Public finance expert ernment departments to ditor-General’s effective- was also red-flaged for
(AG) Mildred Chiri’s observe and comply with ness in the exercise of his the audit office in pro- unsupported expendi-
2019 reports tabled in Stevenson Dhlamini said the instructions of Trea- or her duties by induc- ducing the annual re- ture and paid money to
parliament last week ex- there is a lack of commit- sury,” Dhlamini said. ing fear to objectively ports as well as meeting suppliers of goods and
posed, yet again, a litany ment in implementing scrutinise these entities statutory deadlines for services without sup-
of corporate governance the recommendations of He said appointments precisely because those tabling of such reports porting documents.
failures in government the AG which are meant to important posts are at the helm are political- in Parliament.”
departments, parastatals to ensure transparency made on the basis of ly connected,” Dhlamini Economist Prosper
and local authorities, re- and good governance, politics instead of meri- said. Dhlamini said audit Chitambara said the
sulting in the loss of bil- among other constitu- tocracy in most of Zim- recommendations must AG’s findings show that
lions of taxpayer dollars. tional imperatives. babwe’s parastatals. This He said due to lack state a clear, convinc- there is a lot of work
is the remain why these of enforcement mecha- ing, and workable ba- that needs to be done in
For instance, Chiri’s For instance, the re- state entities are failing nisms, there has been a sis for implementation. terms of strengthening
report on Appropriation port reveals that out of to cooperate or fail to re-occurrence of similar Their utility and contin- institutional capacity
Accounts and Fund Ac- the 356 recommenda- submit returns to the or identical irregulari- ued relevance should be within government in
counts for the year end- tions made by the AG AG.  ties in most government re-evaluated as follow-up general.
ed 31 December 2019 in 2018, only 26% were ministries as well as actions progress, he said.
reveals that President fully implemented, 25% “The Zimbabwean state-owned enterprises “I think weak insti-
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s partially implemented public sector is very as matters or audit re- Auditor-General Chiri tutions have resulted in
government gobbled up and 49% were not im- much politicised as evi- ports are swept under said she noted varianc- some of these leakages
nearly ZW$7 billion in plemented at all. The denced by the presence the carpet.  es between the schedule that the report is allud-
unauthorised expendi- same trend can be wit- of ex-military officers of unallocated reserve ing to. So, we need to en-
ture owing to a lack of nessed from the 435 rec- serving as parastatal “Such a scenario is transfers from Treasury sure that we have strong
accountability in line ommendations made in bosses and as a result a clear indication that and the received trans- public institutions and
ministries. 2017 where 25% were these have been regarded observations of the Au- fer schedules of the same infrastructure that are
fully implemented, 19% as retirement zones,” he ditor-General and rec- from the individual line actually able to disincen-
The figure exceeded partially implemented said.  ommendations are not ministries. The varianc- tivise or to close those
the approved budget of and 56% not imple- being implemented at es needed to be recon- loopholes,” he said. 
ZW$580 655 000, there- mented at all.  “Public sector politi- all,” he said.  ciled. She said she raised
by contravening section cisation has two main this issue in her prior “Here we are talking of
305(5) of the constitu- “The enabling legisla- effects to sound public “The law does not pro- year reports, but the issues of institutions that
tion. In 2018, the fig- tion is that both the con- sector auditing and the vide enforcement mech- malpractice is recurring. ensure there is transpar-
ure stood at ZW$2 bil- stitution and the Audit first one is that it erodes anisms with regard to ency, especially in terms
lion, as the government, Office Act do not avail to the sense of obligation to audit recommendations The AG also said the of the financial manage-
which was supposed to the AG powers to compel comply with the regula- and this impacts nega- Finance ministry made ment and obviously also
spend ZW$4.6 billion and make it mandatory tions and the second one tively on the ability of direct payments to var- strengthening the role of
from the consolidated ious ministries without Parliament to hold the
account, ended up blow- proper documentation, a executive to account. For
ing ZW$7.1 billion. me, it’s a question of in-
stitutions. That’s where
The AG’s reports laid we get it wrong or right,”
bare the deep-seated cor- Chitambara said.
ruption and maladmin-
istration at the heart of Independent econ-
the government’s shoddy omist John Robertson
financial management. said if the report had
come out in 2020 and
In a law-abiding so- swift penalties had been
ciety, the dictates of ac- applied, the behaviour
countability would see last year and this year
to it that the officials might have improved
implicated in corrup- enormously. 
tion and maladminis-
tration are investigated “Such a long delay in
and brought to justice. issuing the 2019 report
In many instances, there means that behaviour
is sufficient evidence for will not have changed in
prosecution. 2020 or this year so far,”
Robertson said. 
But year in and year
out, the AG’s reports re- “If the new adminis-
veal serious irregularities tration is to make a dif-
which are swept under ference to the trustwor-
the carpet, showing the thiness of public sector
government’s lack of will employees as well as pol-
to fight corruption. iticians, it will have to
react much faster to any
The failure by the gov- signs of corruption or
ernment to adhere to inefficiency. Speedy and
legal provisions on the decisive action, accom-
sanctioning of excess panied by severe penal-
expenditure by Parlia- ties, will combat this be-
ment substantiates the haviour very effectively,”
lack of political will to he said.
deal with challenges of
poor corporate gover- Dhlamini said the
nance, according to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corrup-
Zimbabwe Coalition on tion Commission should
Debt and Development be armed with prosecut-
(Zimcodd)’s analysis of ing powers guaranteed
the last AG report. by the constitution while
the judiciary should be
Zimcodd said there is independent and must
the need for watertight be able to interpret the
public finance manage- law without fear or fa-
ment legislation which vour.
provides for the sanc-
tioning of those found This, he said, would
on the wrong side of the help combat corruption.

Page 26 The Big Debate NewsHawks

SUI-LEE WEE Issue 36, 25 June 2021

MONGOLIA promised its They relied on Chinese vaccines.
people a “Covid-free summer.” Now they’re battling outbreaks.
Bahrain said there would be a
“return to normal life.” The Zimbabwean Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga getting Chinese Covid-19 vaccine. keep low the mortality rate in
tiny island nation of the Sey- the country. Data from Mon-
chelles aimed to jump-start its three types of countries emerge plomacy as an opportunity to ministry said. China has also fections has not been made golia showed that the Sino-
economy. from the pandemic — the emerge from the pandemic emphasised its vaccines tar- available either, though a Sino- pharm vaccine was actually
wealthy nations that used their as a more influential global get severe disease rather than vac study out of Chile showed more protective than the doses
All three put their faith, at resources to secure Pfizer-Bi- power. China’s top leader, Xi transmission. that the vaccine was less ef- developed by AstraZeneca and
least in part, in easily accessi- oNTech and Moderna shots, Jinping, pledged to deliver a fective than Pfizer-BioNTech Sputnik, a Russian vaccine, ac-
ble Chinese-made vaccines, the poorer countries that are Chinese shot that could be No vaccine fully prevents and Moderna at preventing cording to the health ministry.
which would allow them to far away from immunizing a easily stored and transported transmission and people can infection among vaccinated
roll out ambitious inocula- majority of citizens, and then to millions of people around still fall ill after getting inoc- individuals. The reason for the surge
tion programs at a time when those that are fully inoculated the world. He called it a “glob- ulated, but the relatively low in Mongolia, Batbayar said,
much of the world was going but only partially protected. al public good.” efficacy rates of Chinese shots A representative from Sin- is that the country reopened
without. have been identified as a pos- opharm hung up the phone too quickly, and many people
China, as well as the more Mongolia was a beneficiary, sible cause of the recent out- when reached for comment. believed they were protected
But instead of freedom than 90 nations that have re- jumping at the chance to score breaks. Sinovac did not respond to a after only one dose. “I think
from the coronavirus, all three ceived the Chinese shots, may millions of Sinopharm shots. request for comment. you could say Mongolians
countries are now battling a end up in the third group, The small country quickly Pfizer-BioNTech and Mod- celebrated too early,” he said.
surge in infections. contending with rolling lock- rolled out an inoculation pro- erna have efficacy rates of more William Schaffner, medical “My advice is the celebrations
downs, testing and limits on gram and eased restrictions. It than 90%. A variety of other director of the National Foun- should start after the full vac-
China kicked off its vaccine day-to-day life for months has now vaccinated 52% of its vaccines — including Astra- dation for Infectious Diseases cinations, so this is the lesson
diplomacy campaign last year or years to come. Economies population. But on Sunday, Zeneca and Johnson & John- at Vanderbilt University, said learned. There was too much
by pledging to provide a shot could remain held back. And it recorded 2 400 new infec- son — have efficacy rates of the efficacy rates of Chinese confidence.”
that would be safe and effec- as more citizens question the tions, a quadrupling from a around 70%. The Sinopharm shots could be low enough “to
tive at preventing severe cases efficacy of Chinese doses, con- month before. vaccine developed with the sustain some transmission, as Some health officials and
of Covid-19. Less certain at vincing unvaccinated people Beijing Institute of Biological well as create illness of a sub- scientists are less confident.
the time was how successful it to line up for shots may also In a statement, China’s For- Products has an efficacy rate stantial amount in the highly
and other vaccines would be at become more difficult. eign Ministry said it did not of 78.1%; the Sinovac vaccine vaccinated population, even Nikolai Petrovsky, a profes-
curbing transmission. see a link between the recent has an efficacy rate of 51%. though it keeps people largely sor at the College of Medicine
One month after receiving outbreaks and its vaccines. It out of the hospital.” and Public Health at Flinders
Now, examples from sever- his second dose of Sinopharm, cited the World Health Orga- The Chinese companies University in Australia, said
al countries suggest that the Otgonjargal Baatar fell ill and nization as saying that vaccina- have not released much clin- Despite the spike in cases, that with all of the evidence,
Chinese vaccines may not be tested positive for Covid-19. tion rates in certain countries ical data to show how their officials in both the Seychelles it would be reasonable to as-
very effective at preventing The 31-year-old miner spent had not reached sufficient lev- vaccines work at preventing and Mongolia have defended sume the Sinopharm vaccine
the spread of the virus, par- nine days in a hospital in els to prevent future outbreaks, transmission. On Monday, Sinopharm, saying it is effec- has minimal effect on curb-
ticularly the new variants. The Ulaanbaatar, the capital of and that countries needed to Shao Yiming, a public health tive in preventing severe cases ing transmission. A major risk
experiences of those countries Mongolia. Otgonjargal said he continue to maintain controls. researcher with the Chinese of the disease. with the Chinese inoculation
lay bare a harsh reality facing a is now questioning the useful- Center for Disease Control is that vaccinated people may
post-pandemic world: The de- ness of the shot. “People were “Relevant reports and data and Prevention, said that Chi- Batbayar Ochirbat, head have few or no symptoms and
gree of recovery may depend convinced that if we were vac- also show that many countries na needed to fully vaccinate researcher of the Scientific still spread the virus to others,
on which vaccines govern- cinated, the summer will be that use Chinese-made vac- 80% to 85% of its population Advisory Group for Emergen- he said.
ments give to their people. free of Covid,” he said. “Now cines have expressed that they to achieve herd immunity, re- cies at Mongolia’s Ministry of
it turns out that it’s not true.” are safe and reliable, and have vising a previous official esti- Health, said that Mongolia “I think that this com-
In the Seychelles, Chile, played a good role in their ep- mate of 70%. made the right decision to go plexity has been lost on most
Bahrain and Mongolia, 50% Beijing saw its vaccine di- idemic prevention efforts,” the with the Chinese-made shot, decision-makers around the
to 68% of the populations Data on breakthrough in- in part because it has helped world.”
have been fully inoculated,
outpacing the United States, In Indonesia, where a new
according to Our World In variant is spreading, more than
Data, a data tracking project. 350 doctors and health care
All four ranked among the top workers recently came down
10 countries with the worst with Covid-19 despite being
Covid-19 outbreaks as recently fully vaccinated with Sinovac,
as last week, according to data according to the risk mitiga-
from The New York Times. tion team of the Indonesian
And all four are mostly using Medical Association. Across
shots made by two Chinese the country, 61 doctors died
vaccine makers, Sinopharm between February and June
and Sinovac Biotech. 7. Ten of them had taken the
Chinese-made vaccine, the as-
“If the vaccines are suffi- sociation said.
ciently good, we should not
see this pattern,” said Jin The numbers were enough
Dongyan, a virus expert at to make Kenneth Mak, Sin-
the University of Hong Kong. gapore’s director of medical
“The Chinese have a responsi- services, question the use of
bility to remedy this.” Sinovac. “It’s not a problem
associated with Pfizer,” said
Scientists don’t know for Mak at a news conference
certain why some countries on Friday. “This is actually a
with relatively high inocula- problem associated with the
tion rates are suffering new Sinovac vaccine.”
outbreaks. Variants, social
controls that are eased too Bahrain and the United
quickly and careless behavior Arab Emirates were the first
after only the first of a two- two countries to approve the
shot regimen are possibilities. Sinopharm shot, even before
But the breakthrough infec- late-stage clinical trial data
tions could have lasting conse- was released. Since then, there
quences. have been extensive reports of
vaccinated people falling ill in
In the United States, about both countries. In a statement,
45% of the population is fully the Bahraini government’s me-
vaccinated, mostly with doses dia office said the kingdom’s
made by Pfizer-BioNTech and vaccine rollout had been “ef-
Moderna. Cases have dropped ficient and successful to date.”
94% over six months.
Still, last month officials
Israel provided shots from Bahrain and the Unit-
from Pfizer and has the sec- ed Arab Emirates announced
ond-highest vaccination rate they would offer a third boost-
in the world, after the Sey- er shot. The choices: Pfizer or
chelles. The number of new more Sinopharm.
daily confirmed Covid-19 cas-
es in Israel is now around 4.95 This article originally
per million. appeared in  The New York
Times.
In the Seychelles, which
relied mostly on Sinopharm,
that number is more than 716
cases per million.

Disparities such as these
could create a world in which

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 27

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Election 2023: Inside competitive electoral
authoritarianism in Zimbabwe, 2008–2018

PHILLAN ZAMCHIYA President Emmerson Mnangagwa. the lead in to the Presiden- integrity was undermined in
tial run-off election of 27 June order to establish how hybrid
MOST African states today a case study of Zimbabwe, world, governments are hold- levels of the 1990s (Sachi- 2008 (held since no candidate regimes work.
are characterised as hybrid which has the characteristics ing konye 2011). This kept Zanu had received 50% plus 1 vote
regimes that occupy a “grey of a hybrid regime. Zimba- PF in power but it systemat- as required to win outright), Miles Tendi (2013) has
zone” between liberal democ- bwe has held regular elections more and more elections— ically weakened its legitima- Zanu PF unleashed extreme offered other explanations
racy and naked authoritarian- when constitutionally required but at the same time, the cy. A tipping point came on for Zanu PF’s “hegemony”,
ism. Whilst political scientists to since the end of British quality of elections is declin- 11 March 2007, when state terror against opposi- including Mugabe’s “witti-
often argue that these regimes colonial rule in 1980. The ing (Levitsky and Way 2002). security agents beat the late tion supporters. About 200 ness”, control of the military
produce a competitive elec- Zimbabwe African National Under competitive electoral MDC leader, Morgan Tsvan- MDC supporters were killed, and ruling party, the use of a
toral authoritarianism, their Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu authoritarianism, states prefer girai, Lovemore Madhuku of 200,000 displaced, and many compelling political narrative
arguments generalise across PF) has remained in power to “neither practice democ- the National Constitutional went missing (Masunungure known as “patriotic history”,
a diverse range of regimes since that date, despite the for- racy nor resort regularly to Assembly (NCA), and other 2008). Mugabe held that the party cohesion, an effective
and overlook local logics of mation of a popular opposi- naked repression. By organ- leaders held in state detention. and organised commissariat
electoral subversion. This ar- tion, the Movement for Dem- ising periodic elections, they The Southern African Devel- ‘pen’, i.e. voting, would not department, and abundant
ticle therefore provides a de- ocratic Change (MDC), in try to embrace at least a sem- opment Community (Sadc) defeat the gun (SPT 2008). finances. Tendi brings out
tailed empirical investigation 1999.1 A wide range of elec- blance of democratic legitima- called for an extraordinary Because of the extreme state the attractive aspects of Mug-
through a toral manipulation strategies cy, hoping to satisfy external meeting and ordered Thabo terror, abe’s electoral control game;
have kept Zanu PF in power as well as internal actors. At Mbeki, the former President we might also note, as I have
case study of the 2013 and since the MDC’s emergence, the same time by placing the of South Africa, to mediate Tsvangirai withdrew from done elsewhere, the MDC’s
2018 general elections in but a key pattern has been the election under tight authori- between the parties (Masun- the run-off on 22 June 2008. serious internal weaknesses in
Zimbabwe. Since the end of conflation of the state and the tarian controls they try to ce- ungure 2008). Conscious of Mugabe contested alone, and 2013 (Zamchiya 2013). Brian
British colonial rule in 1980, ruling party from the centre ment their continued hold on the erosion of its legitimacy at was declared President on 29 Raftopolous (2013b) has ex-
Zimbabwe has kept its con- down to the village level, with power” (Schedler 2002: 36). Sadc level, Zanu PF ensured June 2008 with 85 per cent of plained Mugabe’s post-2008
stitutional obligation to hold coercion as the perennial auto- This characterization covers that the subsequent 29 March the vote (Masunungure 2008). hegemony in terms of changes
regular elections. cratic feature. However, in the a very wide range of regimes to Zimbabwe’s political econo-
June 2008 elections, the use of and practices. If we are to un- 2008 elections were peace- Sadc, the African Union my. He argues that the massive
However, the Zimbabwe naked coercion dealt a severe derstand how and why such ful. The opposition cam- (AU) and key members of the and politicized redistribution
African National Union-Patri- blow to Zanu PF’s power and strategies do and do not work, paigned freely and results were international community did of land under Fast
otic Front (Zanu PF) has used legitimacy. we need to go beyond broad- posted not accept the results. They
multiple strategies to manip- brush description to grounded called for dialogue instead, Track land reform and the
ulate elections, remaining in In the subsequent general explanations of the patterns of outside polling stations for which resulted in the forma- rapid growth of the informal
power despite the creation of a elections of 2013 and 2018, violations and their changing the public to see (Alexander tion of a Government of Na- mining sector provided a new
popular opposition, the Move- Zanu PF sought to use covert use over time. This requires and Tendi 2008). The MDC tional Unity (GNU), which social base for the ruling party.
ment for Democratic Change manipulation as its first choice attention to not just national won the parliamentary elec- incorporated the MDC along- However, one needs to explain
(MDC), in 1999. Scholarly electoral strategy, though the level strategies tion. In the presidential poll, side Zanu PF and held power further how Zanu PF used a
competitiveness of the oppo- Tsvangirai officially received from 2009 to 2013 (Raftop- quotidian, authoritarian strat-
attempts to explain this sition meant coercion retained and institutions but to the 47.9 per cent of the vote while olous 2013a). Zanu PF thus egy to marshal this new social
hegemony through the com- an important role. logics at local levels, and espe- Zanu PF’s long-time leader learnt the cost of excesses of base in 2013.
petitive advantages of the in- cially among less easily accessi- Robert Mugabe received 43.2 naked authoritarianism.
cumbent and ‘smart rigging’ Zimbabwe’s holding of reg- ble rural voters. per cent. None of these analyses, I
fail to address adequately local ular elections does not suffice In order to regain both pow- argue, focuses sufficiently on
patterns of electoral manipula- as a measure of democracy. From Visible to Less Visible The election was thus sig- er and legitimacy, Zanu PF electoral manipulation and
tion and their delegitimizing Coercive Tactics nificant as the moment when embarked on a multi-pronged the local logics of authoritari-
effects. Central to Zanu PF’s Most authoritarian leaders Zanu PF was defeated as a electoral manipulation strat- an controls. Nor did they fully
strategy is the conflation of the have realized that it is better From 2000, when Zanu consequence of its own effort egy in the 2013 general elec- appreciate the tensions with-
state and the ruling party from to hold elections than not to PF first faced a formidable at democratic legitimation. tions, resulting in a dramatic in Zanu PF. Despite Mug-
the centre down to the village hold them (Cheeseman and challenge from the MDC, it The party rapidly changed win. abe’s overwhelming victory in
level, with coercion as the Klaas 2018). In fact, across the increased the use of naked tack. In 2013, the regime was not sta-
perennial autocratic feature. violence in elections over the It was so ‘sophisticated’ that ble internally.
However, in the June 2008 leading scholars disagreed on
elections, the use of naked the causes of Zanu PF’s suc- As the battle to succeed
coercion undermined Zanu cess. Mugabe intensified, the for-
PF’s power and legitimacy. mer Zimbabwe Defence
Subsequently, in the 2013 and In their seminal book, Ste- Forces Commander, General
2018 general elections, Zanu phen Chan and Julia Gallagh- Constantino Chiwenga, co-
PF relied upon covert manip- er (2017) mention the effect ordinated the military elite to
ulation, but never wholly gave of authoritarian controls in stage a coup that led to Mug-
up coercion because the oppo- 2013 but explained the results abe’s resignation on 17 No-
sition remained competitive, as a consequence of Mugabe’s vember 2017. According to
and political legitimacy con- western manners, good En- Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, a for-
tested. A view from marginal glish, intelligence, and oratori- mer Zanu PF politburo mem-
rural areas, which have been cal skills on the global stage, in ber, what united the command
neglected in academic studies, stark contrast to his opponent element of the army was ‘their
provides Tsvangirai. Chan and Gallagh- shared liberation war histo-
er (2017) are correct to note ry, a sense of entitlement and
invaluable insight into the that Mugabe gained political Grace Mugabe’s [wife to Rob-
interplay of electoral strategies credibility in the eyes of Sadc ert Mugabe] naivety. Grace
and helps to illuminate how and the AU owing to the lack publicly said that liberation
a delegitimised ruling party of naked violence, but I shall war credentials did not matter
clings to power. argue that voters enjoyed less in the succession matrix. She
Introduction choice than they suggest and was very naïve in threatening
In different ways, the political that Mugabe gained far less to remove the Generals from
condition in much of Africa legitimacy among voters and power’ (Bhasikiti 2019 int.). A
today is neither liberal democ- from his own party than he shared history and the threat
racy did on the international stage. of losing prebends as well as
Others have taken a different state protection from charges
nor closed dictatorship. approach. Michael Bratton et of human rights violations
Many political scientists have al. united the military elite. Hy-
argued that these states are brid regimes also offer space
“hybrid regimes” that breed a (2016: 19) compared the for coups that would not exist
competitive electoral authori- official results from the 2013 in more overtly authoritarian
tarianism characterised by sys- general elections with Af- regimes or mature democ-
temic electoral manipulation ro-Barometer pre-election sur- racies (see Hiroi and Omori
(Levitsky and Way 2002; Lev- veys and estimated that an ag- 2013;
itsky and Way 2010; Schedler gregate extent of manipulation
2002). However, these stud- was between 16 per cent and Moore 2018). Key actors
ies rarely capture and explain 20 per cent of the total vote. were aware that Robert Mug-
local logics of electoral sub- This meant Mugabe won the abe had lost popular support
version or substantiate their electionsbut by a smaller mar- while the democratic space
broad claims with fine-grained gin than officially reported. It provided room for coordina-
empirics. I seek to do so using is in fact difficult to quantify tion and alliance-building. For
the impact of illegalities and ir- example,
regularities on the actual result
and, even if we can, we need
also to explain how electoral

Page 28 The Big Debate NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

according to senior MDC stitutional A Partisan Hierarchy of Tra- many voters feel that they were tribute to people, and were promises that the maize would
leaders, in 2017 Zanu PF challenge further called into ditional Leadership under surveillance. Such fears terrorized by the war veterans be distributed soon after the
aligned war veterans and ZA- A key institutional factor in were not unfounded as tradi- and the soldiers, everything election, provided Zanu PF
NU-PF politburo member question the legitimacy of the electoral manipulation in tional leaders manned some changed. They started to mo- won. In Mberengwa West in
Paul Mangwana asked for the electoral process. 2013 and 2018 (as well as ear- entries to the polling stations, bilise people to vote for Zanu 2013, the Zanu PF candidate,
MDC’s cooperation to remove lier) was the role traditional for example at Kebvunde pri- PF.” In a parallel case in Gutu
Mugabe (Tsvangirai 2017 int.; Mnangagwa responded by leadership played in rural areas mary school in Mutoko North South in Masvingo province, I Joram Gumbo, gave people
Mwonzora 2017 int.), prom- rapidly appointing a com- in supporting Zanu PF, despite in Mashonaland East prov- met two traditional leaders on torches, plates, pots, and other
ising in exchange to institute mission of inquiry into the Zimbabwe’s constitution stip- ince (Polling agent 2013 int.; 18 July 2018 who supported kitchen items bearing Mug-
an internationally supervised 1 August killings, chaired by ulating that they be non-par- Observer 2014 int.). In other Chamisa’s candidature. How- abe’s picture (Observer 2013
free and fair election or a tran- former South African Pres- tisan. Outside political parties, cases such as rural parts of Ha- ever, int). People were instructed to
sitional government involving ident Kgalema Motlanthe, traditional leaders and partisan rare South, voters were direct- vote for the person on
both MDC and Zanu PF. and including international, state-owned radios were one ed to stand in a polling queue the Zanu PF candidate,
regional, and local experts. As of the main sources of elec- behind their assigned leader Popurai Togarepi, threatened the image. This continued
These promises went un- Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, tion-related information in ru- so that their vote could be as- them and so they did not in the 2018 elections in other
realized. The new President, George Charamba, bluntly ral areas (Afrobarometer 2018; certained, thus removing their overtly express their support. parts of the country. The Zanu
Emmerson Mnangagwa, a put it, the commission was EU EOM 2018: 35). In 2013, choice (Observer 2013 int.). PF candidate for Goromonzi
long-time ally of Mugabe, meant to be ‘a public relations attempts by civic organisations Legal resistance to the South in Mashonaland East
was installed on 24 November and foreign policy master- to distribute shortwave radios Such practices made citizens politicisation of traditional province, Ozius Bvute, gave
2017 following the military stroke’ (The Herald 1 Septem- as alternative sources of infor- afraid to vote freely as Zanu leaders proved difficult, de- people
coup. Mnangagwa ber 2018). MDC leaders held mation were thwarted by the PF had a record of punishing spite the clarity of the nation-
the same view. Jacob Mafume state, which characterised such — even killing — those who al constitution. For example, broiler chicks. Ordinary
participated in Zimbabwe’s (2019 int.), the MDC’s for- efforts as illegal and subver- voted against it (SPT 2008). the Election Resource Centre people were given twenty,
liberation struggle. He had mer spokesperson, said, ‘the sive. Former police spokesper- (ERC), a civil society organi- teachers fifty, headmen and
held ministerial posts from Motlanthe commission was son, Charity Charamba, held: Finally, suspected MDC sation that works to advance village heads 200. He also dis-
1980 until Mugabe appointed merely an international rela- voters were assigned village democratic elections, took the tributed food hampers, which
him Vice-President, a post he tions tool [used] by the regime We have information that heads to ‘assist’ them to vote. President of the Chiefs’ Coun- contained two litres of cook-
held from 2013 to 2017, be- to pacify its friends who were some people or political par- In some cases, village heads cil, Fortune Charumbira, to ing oil,
fore obviously embarrassed by the ties are engaging in illegal ac- forced suspected MDC sup- court for partisan behaviour.
whole incident’. In its find- tivities … distributing illegal porters to feign illiteracy so Charumbira had publicly or- two kilograms of rice, one
Mugabe fired him on 6 No- ings, the Commission sought communication devices to that dered traditional leaders to kilogram of salt, some meat
vember 2017 (Rogers 2019). a delicate balance. It blamed unsuspecting members of the support Mugabe and Zanu and mealie meal, and gave
Mnangagwa had close links the MDC for instigating the public … taking advantage of Zanu PF activists could vote PF on 28 October 2017 and each village head a bicycle and
with the military elite and violence and the army for the the needy communities and in for them (ERC 2013). As an to support Mnangagwa on each headman a motorbike
was one of the architects of killings and injuries. Overall, guise of helping them they are independent observer (testi- 13 January 2018 (Heal Zim- (Teacher 2018 int). At a rally
mass atrocities committed by it did not succeed in legitimat- also handing them over these monial 2013) chronicled in babwe Trust 2018). Despite a held at
the Zanu PF government af- ing the new government. communication devices … [to Mt Darwin North: court order from Justice Clem-
ter 1980 (Ndlovu-Gatsheni sow] ente Phiri in May 2018, which Bvute’s Gardener farm, each
2003, BBC News 2.8.2018). This was the broad outline On the 31st of July [2013], compelled Charumbira to re- person was given a cream bun
Mnangagwa chose to perfect of events in the 2013 and seeds of disharmony with- in the early morning before tract the remarks, he remained with a 500ml Cascade drink,
Mugabe’s competitive electoral 2018 elections, in which Zanu in the country especially now polling stations opened, peo- defiant. As is common in hy-
authoritarianism. In his calcu- PF appeared to use a similar that the country is about to ple had to assemble at the brid regimes, while the sourced from Baker’s Inn,
lation, the 2018 general elec- hybrid strategy, though with embark on the referendum homesteads of their head- for breakfast, and sadza (Zim-
tion would “cleanse” the coup different outcomes. Beyond and harmonised elections. The men. The headman had a list judge ruled in line with the babwe’s staple food) with
and lend him the legitimacy to these possession and distribution of of MDC relatives, support- constitution, giving an appear- chicken and free beer for lunch
govern effectively without the such devices is illegal. The dis- ers, perceived supporters and ance of the rule of law, Cha- (Teacher 2018 int.). Zanu PF
MDC. He publicly empha- broad outlines, what were tributors and recipients stand youths aged between 18 and rumbira simply sought the re- activists boasted that they were
sized the need for a free and the full range of strategies warned that ZRP (Zimbabwe 35 years who were not active scission of the judgment and, going
fair election. used and how did they work? Republic Police) will not toler- in Zanu PF. All these were in- given the covert authoritarian
I draw on research I have un- ate any such chicanery. (Bula- structed not to cast votes with- controls of the judiciary, the to buy people and not beat
He also embraced neo-lib- dertaken since 2010 that goes wayo24 News, 20.2.2013). out assistance. case was not heard before the them up (Victim of violence
eral economic policies encap- beyond national surveys and 2018 elections. At a Zanu PF 2018 int). For a country with
sulated in Zanu PF’s campaign statisticalforensics to explain As Schedler (2002: 40) ar- They were assigned Zanu conference in Esigodini on 14 a history of state-sponsored
slogan, “Zimbabwe is open for Zanu PF’s political hegemony. gues, ‘unless parties and candi- PF supporters to assist them to December 2018, Charumbira electoral violence, these acts of
business”. These steps were in- I held conversations and inter- dates enjoy free and fair access vote on the false basis that they asserted the partisan creden- bribery did not attract serious
tended to legitimise the party views with opposition leaders, to the public space, the will of were unable to write. How can tials of chiefs once more, say-
lawyers, and political strate- the people as expressed at the someone ing: “Zanu PF is the party of sanctions—but they did
in the eyes of the Western gists across the political divide. ballot box will be little more chiefs” (The Daily News 30 have an impact on how people
world. The relatively peaceful who completed Ordinary December 2018). voted.
pre-election environment did This process helped me to than the echo of structurally Level be said to be unable to
in fact win Mnangagwa credi- detect broad themes in rela- induced ignorance’. write an X? How can some- In addition to, and in part Traditional and Zanu PF
bility, especially from Sadc and tion to electoral manipulation. one who is a Roman Cath- hand in hand with, the institu- leaders, election candidates,
the AU. However, the army I also held in-depth interviews On voting day, traditional olic Church Bishop like Mr tional power of a partisan hi- and members of the security
shot and killed six demonstra- with election observers, op- leaders exerted partisan influ- Chakaipa in ward 4 be said to erarchy of traditional leaders, sector also distributed state-fi-
tors and injured thirty-five in position candidates, and their ence in multiple ways in both be unable to write an X but Zanu PF was able to use the nanced agricultural inputs dis-
Harare on 1 August 2018, in polling agents in constitu- 2013 and 2018. Some village able to read a bible every Sun- partisan allocation of state re- proportionately to Zanu PF
the midst of demonstrations encies across the country in heads assigned people to par- day? How come someone who sources to control rural voters, members and their relatives
demanding the speedy release 2013 and 2018. Respondents ticular polling stations, then works in the government bu- as elaborated next. in the countryside in 2013. In
of the election results (Motlan- recounted their first-hand ex- told voters to record the two reaucracy, teachers and nurses the run up to the 2013 general
the periences and provided me digits of the ballot serial num- were said to be unable to write State-financed Patronage election, a former MDC MP
with diaries, testimonials, pe- ber, and submit them to Zanu an X? All the polling stations Zanu PF’s use of prebends to in Chipinge explained:
Commission of Inquiry titions, affidavits, and letters. PF “depository centres”. For I visited there was no fairness. gain votes through patronage
2018). This dented the legiti- These could be biased sources: example, in Mutorashanga in has been widely noted, es- The chiefs were assisted by
macy of the electoral process: these individuals were often Mashonaland West province, However, not all traditional pecially in Zimbabwe’s rural the soldiers and local Zanu
international observers con- aggrieved by their electoral Kamushinda’s house was used leaders were equally support- areas, which are its electoral PF structures to distribute the
demned the army’s use of force losses. However, clear patterns as the depository centre where ive of partisan demands. In stronghold (Alexander 2006; seeds. In the process, some
against unarmed civilians emerged from these accounts people had to go with their the 2018 general elections as Zanu PF members who want
across distant parts of the ballot serial numbers. This also in other elections, some tra- Kriger 2012). The majority to stand on the Zanu PF ticket
(IOM 2018). country, a range of which I took place in many wards of ditional leaders supported the of Zimbabweans (69.2%) live in the next parliamentary elec-
The Zimbabwe Electoral draw on in the following anal- Nyanga South in Manicaland opposition, in rural areas; in 2017, 76.9% tion were at the centre of dis-
Commission (Zec), a statutory ysis. province in 2013 (Polling of rural households were con- tribution as a launch to their
body mandated to run elec- agent 2013 testimonial). This taking advantage of the rel- sidered poor, meaning the cost campaign. People had to buy a
tions, went on to announce In addition, some findings served to instill fear among the atively peaceful environment. of basic needs was beyond the new Zanu PF card which
on 3 August 2018 that Mnan- are confirmed by other sources citizens and to make them be- For example, in Mberengwa reach of many (ZimStat 2017:
gagwa had received 2 460 463 such as civil society and ob- lieve that their vote was not a East in Midlands province, 42). Zanu PF capitalized on cost US$1 to be eligible
votes server reports and the media. secret. Chief Negari and other tra- this dire rural poverty by po- for the inputs. Our [MDC]
(50.8%) and declared him I also attended some of Tsvan- ditional leaders pledged their sitioning itself as the benevo- supporters did not receive the
the winner. However, there girai’s ‘mega’ campaign rallies Traditional leaders also as- support to the MDC candi- lent provider of food, farming inputs. In some cases, they
were a number of discrepan- sembled groups of people be- date, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, inputs, and various assets in were using the Zanu PF list
cies in the Zec’s own count- in 2013 and Chamisa’s fore voting and assigned them who had defected from Zanu exchange for political loyalty. of supporters that is kept by
ing, as it admitted (Chigum- ‘electric’ rallies in 2018, ob- a leader. For example, in all PF. the village heads and verified
ba 2018), while international serving the atmosphere and 11 wards of Zhombe constit- I encountered many ex- by Zanu PF local leaders and
observers came up with dif- listening to what politicians uency in Midlands province, They expressed disdain for amples of the partisan uses of aspiring Zanu PF councillors
ferent numbers (EU EOM and the people said in public people were asked to gather how Mugabe had been de- state resources to buy votes in and MPs … (Former MDC
2018: 37). Nelson Chamisa, about electoral manipulation. at their village heads’ home- posed, arguing it was contrary 2013 and 2018 in violation of MP 2012 int.)
the MDC’s presidential candi- steads, to proceed to the poll- to their culture. However, over section 136 of the Electoral
date and successor to Morgan The following discussion is ing station as a group, and to time, the Mnangagwa gov- Act. In every ward of Buhera In the run up to the 2018
Tsvangirai, lodged an applica- organized around a series of vote in a particular order for ernment used state resources North in 2013, for example, elections, state agricultural
tion to challenge electoral strategies that I ar- Zanu PF (Observer 2013 and terror to whip them into the Zanu PF candidate dis- projects continued to be ma-
the validity of the presiden- gue were crucial to Zanu PF’s line. Bhasikiti (2018 int.) ex- tributed torches and flasks nipulated in favour of Zanu
tial election at the Constitu- performance and legitimation, testimonial). This was a plained: “Chief Negari and that bore the image of Mugabe PF. Mnangagwa launched a
tional Court (CC) on 10 Au- and which reveal how electoral clear case of ‘paddocking’, i.e. others were working silently (Villagers 2015 int). Bags of Presidential Input Scheme
gust 2018. The combination shepherding voters into the mobilising supporters for me maize were also delivered on on 13 June 2018 ahead of
of visible statistical errors, the manipulation works at a lo- polling booth, which made in the early stages of the elec- the election the 30 July 2018 elections.
1 August killings, and the con- cal level and, crucially, in often tion. It was meant to target 1.8
out of the way rural constitu- eve at all ward centres with million small-scale farmers
encies. However, when they were in the countryside. This was
given vehicles, seeds to dis- four months before the farm-
ing season, and much earli-
er than in previous seasons,

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 29
Gumbo was counted during
Issue 36, 25 June 2021 int.). The MDC only managed In addition, Zanu PF Martin Chiwacha told people Zec commissioner in 2018, the vote counting process;
to buy a car for its national or- threatened to evict people at a rally at Chiroorwe centre partly as an effort to legitimise Tawanda Gumbo—polling of-
making it obvious that the ganizing secretary, Amos Chi- from Fast Track resettlement on 4 October 2017 that the the board. However, Major ficer at Mavorovondo station,
timing was about electoral baya, and then Vice-President, farms in the event that they BVR machines would identify Utoile Silaigwana, a retired Joram Gumbo’s second born
strategy not farming (despite Elias Mudzuri. The MDC had voted for opposition political MDC supporters. member of the army with on- son and a known Zanu PF ac-
views expressed in The Herald about 30 000 t-shirts and 200 parties. For example, in Zvim- going and strong links to the tivist.
15.6.2018; see SPT 2018). 000 presidential posters. Its ba North in Mashonaland He threatened that all those military, was appointed the
Chamisa denounced this as an rural parliamentary candidates West province, a respondent so identified would be beaten acting chief elections officer. Mberengwa West might be
act of desperation in his cam- were given US$200 to buy elaborated: Intimidation on after the election results were an extreme case but it was not
paign rallies. I attended Cha- food for the polling agents, the electorate was rampant Chigumba acknowledged unique. Zanu PF office holders
misa’s rally at Basera in Gutu but no funds were given for during the election period. announced. In Buhera in that, by February 2018, close were also used as election offi-
district on 18 July 2018, and urban Manicaland province, Vengai to 15% of the Zec permanent cers, for example, in constitu-
witnessed the government dis- The A1 and A2 farmers [re- Muchinami at Matsetsa busi- secretariat of 383 members encies in Zhombe, as follows:
tributing farming inputs on agents at the time of the settled farmers] were threat- ness centre repeated the threat had a military background but Sheunesu Shoko—collation
the same day to divert people election (Hwende 2019 int.). ened by Zanu PF secretary for that people’s votes would be she said she saw nothing officer at Musume secondary
from attending the rally. As SPT (2018: 24) observed, lands (Dr Ignatious Chombo) “seen” by the BVR machine. school, Zanu PF district
the MDC had no resources … At Barron Gomo polling These tactics worked well in wrong with that (The Her-
Mnangagwa complemented and no power to distribute station, Mr Munetsi, an Agri- rural areas, where citizens had ald 7 July 2018). Zanu PF chairperson for ward 23;
the Presidential Input Scheme patronage. At every rally I at- tex [agricultural extension] of- little information about how argued that they were retired, Happious Shirichena—poll-
with the launch of ‘command tended, MDC supporters were ficer was campaigning for Dr the application but the MDC’s Douglas ing officer at Gwavamutang-
livestock’ on 22 June 2018 short of party regalia. Some Chombo, the Zanu PF can- Mwonzora (2017 int.) insist- wi polling station, Zanu PF
in Gwanda in Matabeleland wore faded regalia from pre- didate, telling the voters that of biometrics to the elector- ed that ‘once a soldier always district chairperson for ward
South province. He gave more vious elections while others they would be expelled from al process worked. Zanu PF a soldier’, meaning their polit- 26; Tavona Moyo—presiding
wore anything red (the party the new farms. (Local resident also used a Short Message Ser- ical loyalties were still with the officer at
than 600 heifers to selected colour) to indicate their al- 2015 int.) vice (SMS) campaign targeted army and by implication Zanu
land reform beneficiaries and legiance. Most of the senior at registered voters. For exam- PF. In 2017, Tendai Biti (2017 Rhonda station, Zanu PF
communal farmers. This was MDC leaders who accompa- These practices created an ple, a teacher in Goromonzi int.) held that, “the biggest district chairman for ward
important in a region where nied Chamisa paid their own environment of pervasive fear received an SMS from Zanu challenge of the 2018 general 27; Paul Maphosa—presiding
livestock is a critical livelihood way. inimical to democratic elec- PF on 27 July 2018. It was an elections is the impartiality of officer in ward 28, Zanu PF
asset. Two weeks before the tions. advance thank you message ZEC staff. The chairperson is Midlands provincial secretary;
Zanu PF used patronage to for voting for Mnangagwa. captured. She lost it complete- Charles Ncube—presiding of-
election, he dished out create and reward its clients As Morgan Tsvangirai She was left terrified and felt ly. ficer in ward 19, Zanu PF dis-
1440 cattle to livestock farm- and to exclude opponents as a (2017 int.) explained: unable to vote freely trict chairperson for Ward 19;
ers in Matabeleland North way to mobilize electoral sup- It is shocking that she is Elizabeth Shumba—presiding
(The Herald 13.7.2018). This port without inviting interna- I traversed the breadth and (Teacher 2018 int.). Even a lawyer. She is brazen and officer at Garenyama polling
was less ‘command agriculture’ tional scrutiny. The effective length of rural Zimbabwe in though psychological warfare shameless in allowing Zec to station, ward 19, spouse of the
than ‘command vote’, an effort role of traditional leaders and early 2017. The people was the preferred pathway be capt­ured.” In my inter- winning Zanu PF candidate
to activate patron–client rela- the hugely disproportionate some serious cases of targeted views, many opposition lead- for the ward. A formal concern
tions embedded in agriculture control of state resources was are aware of the challenges violence were also recorded ers expressed similar concerns was raised with Zec by the
for votes. further strengthened by Zanu that affect them. Most want a in various constituencies in about the “capture” of Zec, MDC candidate’s chief elec-
PF’s use of psychological war- change of government. 2013 and 2018, giving threats including the former President tion agent for Zhombe constit-
There were in addition mas- fare, as explained next. an added credibility (see ERC of the Zimbabwe African Peo- uency, but no action was taken
sive increases in Zanu PF’s However, the biggest prob- 2013; ZADHR 2018). ple’s Union (Zapu) Dumiso by Zec (Chief Election Agent
campaign finances in 2018, as The harvest of fear lem is fear. They are afraid to Dabengwa (2017 int.), the 2013 testimonial). There are
compared to earlier elections. In the rural areas in the vote for the opposition. In addition to these factors, former President of an MDC many other such examples and
In January, Zanu PF commis- 2013 and 2018 elections, the the partisan “capture” of Zec faction, Welshman Ncube unaddressed complaints (e.g.
sar Engelbert Rugeje boasted, military, war veterans, and The fear factor is the great- undermined the impartiality (2017 int.), and the former Zvimba North, Polling agent
Zanu PF activists threatened est stumble. Before the oppo- of the electoral process from Secretary General of the 2015 int.; Mberengwa East,
“as for regalia, we have 15 citizens with violence if they sition come out with a strategy top to bottom. Bhasikiti 2018 int.).
million t-shirts, 15 million did not vote for Zanu PF. In to deal with the fear factor, it is People’s Democratic Party
caps … we also have 2 million doing going to be difficult. The partisan penetration (PDP), Gorden Moyo As a result of these wide-
wrappers for women. This year so, they drew on the mem- of Zec (2017 int.). Chamisa con- spread biases not only at the
we want every party member ories of the liberation war and Zanu PF reinforced this fear demned the collusion of Zanu centre of Zec but also on the
to get at least three t-shirts and the electoral violence of 2008. in the run up to the 2018 gen- Zec had lost credibility in PF and Zec on the 2018 Presi- ground, Zec had a deep Zanu
This was a form of psycho- eral election. For example, the 2008 because active and “re- dential campaign trail. PF bias in its operations. Some
three caps” (The Chroni- logical warfare. It was useful tired” army officers and other Viewed from below, Zec of the effects of this bias in-
cle 19 January 2018). Even in terms of delivering electoral former Minister of State members of the security sector showed equally troubling par- cluded the distribution of vot-
schoolchildren wore the over- results without undermining Affairs for Masvingo province had taken it over. After Brig- tisan tendencies. Among Zec’s er registration centres in 2013
size Zanu PF tshirts as they Zanu PF’s legitimacy in the told villagers in Chiredzi, “our adier General George Chi- polling and presiding offi- and 2018 to favour Zanu PF.
were available in such abun- eyes of SADC, the AU, and weshe, in his capacity as Zec cers, members of the military,
dance. Zanu PF bought 365 the international community leader Mnangagwa is a sol- chairperson, ran the violent traditional leaders, Zanu PF From my calculations based
vehicles, mainly off-road Ford (see Simpser 2013: 29). Ac- dier and you know that a sol- June 2008 election, Zanu PF activists and their relatives on Zec’s final voter registration
Rangers, for its candidates counts of these intimidation dier is always equipped with a were rife and rarely subject figures in the urban MDC
(Bhasikiti 2018 int.) as well as tactics were pervasive (ZESN gun to do whatever he wants. tried to rebuild a semblance to public scrutiny. This was strongholds of Harare and Bu-
for chiefs and army officials. 2013; ZPP 2018a). In 2013, If you want to run away from of credibility for the institu- an affront to Zec’s purported lawayo, one registration cen-
In addition, about 420 gov- a selected clique of army gen- him he can shoot you so you tion. Zanu PF agreed to the values of professionalism and tre served on average 42,782
ernment vehicles were used in erals and war veterans led by enshrinement of section 238 impartiality. For example, people in Harare and 26,209
the Zanu PF Jabulani Sibanda, the former should always know that” of the Constitution, which es- from my study in Mberengwa in Bulawayo in 2013. In Zanu
Zimbabwe National Libera- (Bulawayo24 News, 24 May tablished a more independent West constituency in 2013, PF’s rural strongholds, a reg-
campaign (Zimbabwe In- tion War Veterans’ Association 2018). This statement was it is clear that presiding and istration centre served on av-
dependent 4 May 2018). I (ZNLWVA) chairperson, held made in the aftermath of a Zec, in line with regional polling officers were closely erage 7 266 people in Mash-
observed that every provincial pungwes (all night rallies) in coup, which had made peo- and international best prac- and overwhelmingly related to onaland Central, 7 931 in
capital had a giant welcome rural provinces, reminding ple think that their vote was tice. In order to salvage some the Zanu PF candidate, Joram Mashonaland West and 6 187
billboard with Mnangagwa on people of their use both in the worthless and the final arbiter legitimacy, Gumbo, as illustrated by the in Mashonaland East. The vot-
it. He was visible everywhere. liberation war and the terror was the military. following list: Agony Gum- ers’ roll as of 19 June 2013 had
Zanu PF of 2008 (Zamchiya 2013). Mugabe had agreed to the bo—presiding officer at Mpesi 4 278 103 registered voters in
They fired bullets and paraded Cheeseman and Klaas opposition’s proposal to ap- polling station, rural wards and 1 612 066 in
did not disclose its sources guns to intimidate villagers to (2018) have shown how auto- point Justice Simpson Mu- son to Joram Gumbo; Ele- urban wards. In the 2013 elec-
of revenue for these expen- vote for Zanu PF, especially at crats have specialised in using tambanengwe as Zec chair in miah Gumbo—presiding offi- tion, voters were turned away
ditures, but official bank ac- night, far from international technology for electioneering 2010 (Mutambara 2019 int.). cer at Chirambahuyo station, at 82% of polling stations in
counts showed that the party election observers. In 2013 purposes the world over. In That brought some credibility sibling to Joram Gumbo; Ag- urban areas compared to 38%
was bankrupt (with a debt of in Magunje in Mashonaland Zimbabwe, the “harvest of nes Midzi—presiding officer of polling stations in rural ar-
19 million dollars) at the end West province, for example, fear” took a technological turn to the electoral process. at Humbani station, a wife to eas (ZESN 2013: 8). Techni-
of 2017 armed soldiers patrolled from too. ZEC introduced Biomet- In addition, Rita Makarau, a Elemiah Gumbo; Munyaradzi cal manipulation of the voters’
28 July to 1 August, threat- ric Voter Registration (BVR) judge with no military back- Gumbo (Matanga)—presid- roll by the Israeli consulting
(The Standard 15 April ening war should Zanu PF in 2017, which entailed cap- ground, was installed as “a ing officer at Mavorovondo, firm Nikuv had also aided this
2018), and commentators lose, but not beating people turing a voter’s fingerprints collective appointment” to a young brother to Joram process in 2013, through dis-
held that Zanu PF drew on (Observer 2013 testimonial). and face for the voters’ roll. run the 2013 elections (Mu- Gumbo and a known Zanu placing suspected opposition
state money to fund its ex- The Zanu PF candidate, God- Zanu PF took tambara 2019int.), a choice PF activist; Lovemore Gum- voters into other constituen-
pensive campaign (Southall frey Gandawa, moved around Tsvangirai came to regret bo—presiding officer, Joram cies (also see Cheeseman and
2017; NewZimbabwe.com Magunje on the eve of the advantage of the BVR pro- (Tsvangirai 2017 int.). The Gumbo’s cousin, stayed at Klaas 2018). Zec aided voter
28.1.2019). From the election wielding a gun, and cess to reinforce intimidation chief election officer in 2013 Gumbo’s house; John Mabhe- suppression in this manner, a
threatening war if he were to (ZPP 2018a). According to remained Lovemore Sekera- na—presiding officer, married trend also observed by Brat-
2017 coup to the 2018 lose (Observer 2013 testimo- Afrobarometer (2018), about mayi, a former Central Intel- to Joram Gumbo’s daugh- ton et al. (2016). Owing to
general election the number nial). He claimed to be a state 30 per cent of registered voters ligence Organisation officer ter, Winnie Gumbo; Winnet these practices, many voters
of treasury bills issued by gov- security intelligence operative. were asked to show the serial in the President’s office. This Mabhena—presiding officer did not trust Zec. Accord-
ernment increased by 100 per Similarly, in Mutoko North, number of their voter registra- was important because the at Chovuragu station, Joram ing to Afrobarometer (2018),
cent to US$7.6 billion (Dore people were intimidated into tion slips, 31% felt powerful secretariat was responsible for Gumbo’s daughter; Patricia 44% of respondents nationally
2018). The sums were enor- voting for Zanu PF by soldiers people would find out how the day-to-day running of the Shirichena—presiding officer feared that an incorrect result
mous partly due to the desire from the 2.1 infantry battalion they voted, and 32% felt pow- institution and had greater at Masase station, married to could be announced after vot-
to avoid naked violence. (Observer 2014 int.). erful people would use the fin- leeway to manipulate elections Joram Gumbo’s son, Agony ing.
gerprints and the photos from than commissioners. Gumbo, seen ululating when-
The MDC’s finances were the BVR to identify them. ever a ballot paper for Joram ...To be continued next
parlous by comparison, as ar- According to Heal Zimba- Justice Priscilla Makanyara weeek
ticulated by Chalton Hwende, bwe Trust (2017), such views Chigumba, another judge
the MDC’s former Deputy were widespread, the result of with no military background,
Treasurer General. In 2018, a planned and orchestrated replaced Makarau as Zec chair
Zanu PF received about 6 mil- attempt to intimidate voters ahead of the 2018 elections. A
lion dollars under the Political psychologically. The Trust re- former MDC member, Qhu-
Parties Finance Act while the ported that in ward 20, Bikita bani Moyo, became an active
MDC received about 1.8 mil- East, Masvingo province, for
lion dollars (Hwende 2019 example, Zanu PF councilor

Page 30 The Big Debate NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

The ‘silent’ dispossession of customary land
rights holders for urban development in Zim
PHILLAN ZAMCHIYA/ They forgot that in this
OWEN DHLIWAYO/ Construction works currently on at Zimbabwe’s new parliament building in Mt. Hampden as city expands into peri-urban land. kind of agrarian landscape,
CYNTHIA GWENZI/ “for a small town to grow, the
CLARIS MADHUKU scale production of sugar-cane increasing rent-seeking be- for industry and urbanisation”. of Checheche on a map was agricultural economy around
by Macdom Investments haviour by local authorities in In fact, Sithole complained an attempt at simplification it had to be vibrant and this
THE dominance of and pre- (Private) Limited and the the context of drying financial that the central government of land rights, complex live- could not be conjured up
occupation with the radical manufacturing of anhydrous revenues due to the worsening was taking five to nine years to lihoods and social practices. by grand plans”. In China,
repossession of largely white- ethanol by its sister company national economic crisis. Ac- respond to applications to au- There was no consideration Shanghai is redesigning to
owned commercial farms – Green Fuel in Chisumbanje, cording to the CEO, the coun- thorise development of rural of the agrarian landscape that incorporate urban farming;
since 2000 – for reallocation which is about 10 kms from cil was “operating on a meagre service centres. had been existing for cen- Rotterdam in the Netherlands
to millions of black families, Checheche. As Blessing Mam- budget of US$2.5 million per turies. For the planners, the now has a farm for dairy cows;
although very important, has vosha, the chief executive offi- year”. Despite the failures of Such urbanisation dreams smallholder farmers’ scattered in Australia’s Melbourne, com-
occluded attention to contra- cer (CEO) of Chipinge Rural most growth points and small which were driven from above, field plots, grazing lands, me- munity gardens are thriving
dictory but silent processes of District Council (CRDC) towns, the officials continued blinded the realities of local andering roads and home- for lower-income households
state-led dispossession of black explained: “The coming of to place faith in the “merits of landbased livelihoods and ex- steads did not offer aesthetic living in the city and in Seoul,
communities living under Green Fuel’s ethanol plant at state planning” from above. isting informal land rights for views. They had to be demol- South Korea, they are setting
communal tenure systems in Chisumbanje made everyone the majority who lived in the ished and be replaced with up urban farms. We are not
Zimbabwe’s rural areas. We in- excited and we had to plan a The Movement for Demo- lowveld. rectangular and square-shaped calling for “cut and paste”
tended to unravel this process new Checheche”. The new cratic Change Alliance (MDC plots and straight roads all in solutions, as conditions in
through an empirical study plan was that, “by end of day, Alliance) councillor for Ward The dream Checheche had line with the geometry of an Checheche are different and
of Munyokowere, Mahachi the old and new Checheche 16, Rapheus Sithole, told us a detailed surveyed map of the urban modern city. Hama was will require a territorialised
and Kondo villages as well as ‘city’ shall be 2,203ha in to- that as councillors they had terrain and an imagined syn- clear that, “in town you can- approach.
Checheche growth point, lo- tal”. The CRDC needed to ac- made applications to the cen- optic view with standardised not farm”. Officials imagined
cated in the lowveld of Chi- quire adjacent communal land tral state to convert commu- measures. a binary of rural and urban The CRDC’s eviction pro-
pinge district. We reached in order to realise its grandiose nal land into state land. The livelihoods, despite a corpus cess was authoritarian, arbi-
out to 117 women and 39 vision of a new city. This land “silent” plans to establish new The map comprised of of evidence that shows inter- trary and unconstitutional.
men through interviews, focus has been occupied by villagers towns stretched across the low-medium-high density res- linkages. For example, they They hardly followed section
group discussions (FGDs) and in good faith for decades. In lowveld covering areas such as idential areas reminiscent of planned for movement of traf- 74 of the Zimbabwe consti-
community meetings from terms of the Communal Land Kondo, Maronga, Mwache- big cities. There were business fic that did not compete with tution which states that: “No
December 2020 to January Act (CLA) of 1982 governing ta, and Chipangara. Wishes and industrial stands. On the donkeys. Yet the reality is that person may be evicted from
2021. In these study sites, the communal lands, the President Hama, the MDC A council- other hand, the city was going every time we drove into the their home, or have their
state appropriated commu- can make declaration to con- lor for Ward 24, stated that to have a market, bus termi- growth point, we had to give home demolished, without
nal land to realise its vision of vert communal land to state the vision was shared beyond nus, town centre and a civic way to herds of cattle, “stub- an order of court made after
building modern urban land. The responsible Minister political parties and that there park for leisure. The govern- born” donkeys and ‘notorious’ considering all the relevant cir-
can also set aside communal was competition among the ment offices were factored in goats and sometimes stray cumstances”. For example, on
areas but with consequences land for public purposes. councillors to have the CRDC for effective state administra- pigs grazing in the city centre. 29 April 2019, the state served
for the vulnerable and poorest prioritise urban development tion with two police posts to The livestock also roamed and eviction notices to 750 families
social groups, such as women. Other respondents attribut- in their respective wards. She maintain law and order. grazed in the leafy suburbs. in Munyokowere. The state
ed the new interest to the said, “we agree on the vision cited section 3 of the 2006
We observed that the Zim- Not to be left out on the Gazetted Land (Consequen-
babwean state, which prides map were churches for wor- tial Provisions) which governs
itself in the politics of deco- shipping. The reorganisation matters relating to the occupa-
loniality, is dusting and mak- tion of Gazetted land without
ing live colonial master-plan lawful authority. However, on
maps rooted in authoritarian 24 July 2020, The High Court
high modernism ideologies, in Mutare granted an interdict
which were meant to dispos- to prevent the eviction, pend-
sess the black communities of ing finalisation of the matter.
their prime land, to dusty and
mountainous areas. In Mun- Nevertheless, the state was
yokowere, the state was using relentless in its bid to evict the
the colonial master plans of poor and vulnerable. The same
the 1950s to displace indige-
nous families. families in Munyokowere
received another letter from
On the other hand, in Ma- the CRDC dated 1 Septem-
hachi the state dusted failed ber 2020. It stated that: The
urban development plans, land you have been occupying
anchored on the 1982 Transi- for some time now is within
tional National Development the Chipangayi Rural Service
Plan (TNDP). The TNDP in- Centre under the administra-
tended to modernise the coun- tion of Chipinge Rural Dis-
tryside through a transition trict Council …Consequently,
from villages to rural service you are advised to remove the
centres, district service cen- illegal structure and vacate at
tres, growth points, towns and your own cost within 90 days
cities, which entailed chang- but in any event not later than
es in land tenure systems. It 13 December 2020.
was within that context that
Checheche was gazetted by The CRDC encouraged
government in 1982, with an Munyokowere villagers to
initial total of 1 055 hectares. apply for a stand but were re-
However, the plan has been minded that the decision was
lying idle because such grandi- at the Council’s “sole discre-
ose growth point plans in the tion”.
country had “remained more
in planners’ imaginations than In many cases, the failure to
in reality”. It was only at the adhere to the eviction notice
turn of the millennium that resulted in violent evictions,
there was renewed state inter- destruction of livelihoods and
est. loss of life. Utopian develop-
ment visions seem to be always
This was partly driven by accompanied by an authoritar-
new investments, rent-seeking ian force, but such practices
behaviour and state officials’ are bound to be overtly resist-
high modernist visions. Such ed.
investments included large-
Sometimes people mobil-

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 31

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

ised to protest and beat up works. Section three of the ap- lessness amongst the poorest fields through the market they claimed that land Zimbabwe to come up with a
the police and council officials plication form emphasised the and vulnerable. rather than through social also belonged to the dead. To new Customary Land Act that
who were destroying their applicant’s occupation, income tenure. As Lovemore Mahachi them, changes in tenure sys- shifts the balance of power
properties. As Kundai Maka- and available capital for devel- The vulnerable who used explained: “People survived tems would affect the dead. from minister and President
ta, a 28-year-old divorcee ex- oping the stand. Grace Jombo, their agency to buy land through farming, but the to citizens living on custom-
plained: a widow, said council officials through the informal channels growth point took their land. We asked many of them ary land. We use “customary”
were clear that, “this is for the – a common practice amongst Now people rent fields in the whether the customary system consciously, as “communal”
I teamed up with Shylock, rich and not for the poor”. The the poor across Africa – had adjacent communal area that they venerated was not oppres- was a colonial construct to
Duncan and Sekai to beat peo- prices for the stands were out their houses destroyed and belongs to Chief Garahwa”. sive to women. It dawned on trump individual and family
ple who were destroying our of reach for many of the vul- stands repossessed with no ef- Vester Taruwana from Maha- us that custom was not static. land rights holders. In addi-
houses. I took a bemba [ma- nerable women. A low-density fort at regularisation, therefore chi said: In the three localities of Kon- tion, the new Customary Act
chete]. I removed my blouse stand cost USD13,800, medi- increasing the rate of home- do, Mahachi and Munyokow- must legally recognise socially
and skirt in front of the police um-density USD 6,442 and lessness. The new property sys- I cannot always rent a field ere the traditional leaders now legitimate existing traditional
high-density USD 2,300. This tem became a machinery to re- because they want US dollars allowed widows to inherit land occupation and good faith oc-
… I took papers from the is in a context where estimates distribute land from the small and rand. My husband goes to and property. A respondent cupation by individuals, fam-
Messenger of Court. A soldier suggest the number of extreme to big owners who could lever- said: These days, if you are a ilies and local communities
from Chisumbanje slapped me poor reached 7.9 million in age in real estate markets. This drink illicit beer so I cannot widow and your son is claim- who have been using the land
but people started gathering 2020—almost 49% of the resulted in a new land ques- always afford. It costs R700 or ing to inherit the homestead for at least five years without
and they ran away. They went population, meaning this was tion of elite concentration. US$35 to rent a hectare per and saying you are an outsider, the need to formalise, register
to council and we followed out of reach for many. Most Here we are not talking of season. However, we cannot the chief calls the son and says, and provide titles. In such re-
and beat them up. beneficiaries were the locally surplus labour being released measure the hectare; some- “Respect your mother; she is gard, attention must be paid
employed, urban elites based to the imagined new indus- times they cheat us. We rent the one who looked for the to gender inequity, insecurity
However, Sekai, Duncan as far as Harare and locals tries. The dispossessed could in Ward 26 in Garahwa area. land.” The chief tells your son of widows, divorcees and sin-
and Shylock were later arrest- who worked in Johannesburg, not be absorbed in the new In Mahachi there is no more that, “you cannot be a father gle women. Customary land
ed, freed on bail and eventu- South Africa and the local ‘big urban areas and therefore were land to farm. In 2019, I did when you are a child.” must not be literally inter-
ally fined by the magistrate’s shots’. The local “big shots” seen as “surplus” population. domestic work for others and preted in colonial parlance as
court. Council officials who were largely connected to the This seemed like a classic case saved money to rent a field in Single women with children reserve land for the state. Once
wanted to peg council stands ruling Zimbabwe African Na- of urbanisation without indus- Ward 26. I planted maize and could also get land allocated to land use rights are transferred
in Munyokowere were chased tional Union Patriotic Front trialisation. This phenomenon the sun [drought] destroyed them. In addition, those who to the citizens – women and
by villagers in December (Zanu PF) and this gave them was widespread in Zimbabwe everything. I did not harvest are divorced could get land men alike – the next question
2020. Others resorted to mo- power and authority over the and led to some urban prole- anything. from the village head. Zviron- is: who can dispose the right
bilisation and sensitisation allocation of land, sometimes tariats to relocate to surround- zo acknowledged that, “these to land in the context of de-
meetings about people’s land challenging council author- ing rural areas, or what others This might not be new but days a lot of women [after velopment projects? Here we
rights, like the Platform for ities. The council CEO ac- might call “off-grid” cities, like it is intensifying with the ris- divorce] demand land to live argue that no person must be
Youth and Community De- knowledged that the CRDC Goromonzi and Dombosha- ing demand for customary independently”. Women also deprived of their right to cus-
velopment (PYCD). Some had agreements with private va, where there were informal, land. now formed part of the tra- tomary land in the absence
partnered with the Zimbabwe players to develop 3 500 flexible and less expensive ditional courts that dealt with of consent. Lessons can be
Lawyers for Human Rights tenure systems. This is a phe- To our surprise, most of the dispute resolution. Mahachi borrowed from South Africa’s
(ZLHR) for legal battles. residential stands in Che- nomenon that is becoming women interviewed preferred said, “I love gender balance. Interim Protection of Infor-
From our interviews, an out- cheche. Such private devel- widespread in contexts where to live under traditional com- mal Land Rights Act. Consent
standing figure in the legal opers included New Vision, African urban economies are munal tenure. They detested At my court there are four can be strengthened through
fight was Lovemore Madhuku, Zimbabwe Amalgamated failing to provide decent em- state title deeds because one women and three men so that ensuring that Zimbabwe’s on-
a distinguished academic who Housing Association (Zaha) ployment for the workers. had to pay for rates, water, we do not discriminate against going land policy-making pro-
lectured law at the University and Ramangwana Land De- electricity and they had seen women in our hearings”. There cess strengthens the principle
of Zimbabwe, and President velopment Company. Due to the flexibility of people defaulting and suf- is a danger of romanticising of Free, Prior and Informed
of the National Constitutional customary tenure, some of the fering. In addition, the com- the customary system. As we Consent (FPIC), as applied
Assembly (NCA), who came Zaha was owned by Killer evicted people looked for new munal tenure system allowed probed deeper, it became ap- in Zambia in 2021. FPIC is
from Chipinge. Others fought Zivhu, a staunch supporter of land through social relations them to own a house, a field parent from Mahachi, Zvi- an international principle that
spiritually and some even President Emmerson Mnan- in surrounding villages. This and common property re- ronzo and Munyokowere that gives people the right to say
vowed to fight from the dead. gagwa and former Zanu PF inflow in communal areas and sources to support their mul- widows without children still yes or no to developmental
As Feb Makhuyana attested, Member of Parliament for the annexure of fields for ur- tiple livelihoods. From the faced eviction from their fam- projects, therefore upholding
“when I die, I will come back Chivi South. Most respon- ban development was leading field they could produce food ilies. Other losers were single the universal right to self-de-
as a spirit to my land”. dents believed Zaha benefitted to changes from social to mar- for the family, grow crops like women without children who termination.
because of Zivhu’s patron-cli- ketised tenure relations and cotton to sell to raise money found it difficult to acquire
In this process, economic ent relations with the ruling the miniaturisation of small for school fees, among other land independently, as they If the customary land rights
activities critical to day-to- elites. Some traditional lead- farms in some localities. With family needs. They could also needed family approval. holders of Chipinge agree
day survival were destroyed. ers also benefitted from the scarcity of land, small farms collect wild fruits, firewood to urban development, then
For example, the Dhliwayo process. Lovemore Mahachi, were occupying less land but and grass for thatching their Women who were divorced there is need to shift from the
family moved into Mahachi the village head of Mahachi accommodating more people. huts, sand for brick-making in after accusations of “prostitu- “dictatorship of the planner”
village in 1971. They acquired concurred, “I got 20 stands Zvironzo Kondo, who was the shared forests. tion and witchcraft” were con- to participatory and inclusive
18 hectares of land through for free with my madhodha de facto village head in Kon- sidered outcasts and in most local planning that captures
the traditional customs. They and we were expected to pay do village, said that, “amidst The flexible tenure system cases could not easily get land. the lived tenure realities and
farmed 18-20 bales of cotton the lease and the rates. Most land pressure we tell people allowed them to keep live- In a few cases, they had to go agrarian-based livelihoods.
every season, had over 100 cat- of my council members sold to subdivide and share the stock and share grazing land. through spiritual cleansing.
tle and over 100 goats, hens, the stands. I sold mine”. Last- farms. Now they have small They felt that the individu- This meant that patriarchy was However, all these niceties
sheep and numerous donkeys. ly, there were local speculators farms’. Related to this, is a alised tenure systems would still alive and real. Subsequent- can only work if there is an
Like many, the enclosure of connected to the Council, change in land uses from food mean that they had to buy ly, we encountered three young effective political strategy to
common grazing land and who acquired multiple stands production to residential ar- everything in a context where women who preferred to opt counter power from below.
arable land for urban devel- for resale and sometimes sold eas. This has led to a shift in jobs were unavailable. Socially, out of the traditional system. Otherwise, the government
opment affected cropping and one stand to many applicants livelihoods with many women they had networks and relied Others like Hama, advocated will continue to manipulate
they had to relocate their live- in corrupt practices. now relying on the precarious on reciprocity. Chipo Sithole for a modern electoral system. customary tenure regimes, act-
stock to Mozambique. Even informal sector. Agnes Pah- elaborated: “We cannot stay in She said, “traditional leaders ing in alliance with private de-
lives were lost. Maxwell Mun- Long-term vulnerable resi- lo said, “we now cut trees to town because it is each one for are not voted for, so they do velopers to produce exclusion-
yokowere said, “My brother dents who managed to apply make bricks”. Others went to herself ”. To them, the dispute what they want. I want to stay ary outcomes for the poor and
Albert Munyokowere got high and acquire land under the the nearby game park to fetch resolution system under cus- in town where there are elect- vulnerable and to dispossess
blood pressure, stroke and new tenure through agree- firewood for sale. Eva Chipa- tomary tenure was also cheap ed structures to govern. I want socially legitimate land rights
died. Muchirori committed ments to pay in instalments muno noted that others were and easy to access. As Anna democracy where women can holders.
suicide after getting eviction were later displaced due to ac- now going to work on estates said, “In the village it is easy also participate”.
notice just after building his cumulation of debt. like Makata estate farm where to get problems resolved. If we About the writers: Dr
house in April 2020”. they cultivated bananas. Mir- get a problem, we go to the It is evident that we need Phillan Zamchiya is a senior
For example, Febby iam Chisinamwana elaborat- chief. more research to proffer wider researcher at the Institute of
Virginia Chimwamwa, a Makhuyana, a widow, failed to ed: “I am buying and selling. and concrete solutions. How- Poverty, Land and Agrari-
widow in Munyokowere had pay lease rentals and fees from I do not have enough land to If at night there is a prob- ever, given the rising demand an Studies (PLAAS) at the
a similar story: “My husband July 2013 to December 2019 farm. I sell cheap plastic shoes, lem, we go to the chief to get for customary land, not only University of the Western
died of stress. My son died for her stand number 503 in satchels and clothes for kids”. help”. In contrast, many said in Chipinge but across rural Cape in South Africa. Cyn-
of stress”. Eva Chipamuno Phase 1 at Checheche growth Anna Mahachi said, “they the councillors were not re- Zimbabwe, it is imperative for thia Gwenzi is a gender well-
said she suffered a miscarriage point, stand services fees and were going to the river to get sponsive to their needs and policy to clearly define land ness and Advocacy officer at
when authorities came with instalments. In total, she owed sand and sell”. some of them were adjudged use rights. the Platform for Youth and
bulldozers to evict them on 3 CRDC US$3 010. CRDC to be corrupt. Community Development
December 2020 was a loser. planned to engage external The urban development Our view is that the Com- (PYCD). Owen Dhliwayo
debt collectors and the debt plans have also led to the rise Some wanted customary munal Land Act of 1982 vests is board secretary at PYCD.
Those able to acquire the collection and legal fees were in land markets and land pric- tenure for cultural reasons. too much power and authority Claris Madhuku is director
stands, were the elite, middle going to accrue to her. This es in surrounding communal This is an area where there was over land in the Minister (Sec- of PYCD.
income groups, some tradi- showed that formalisation areas. Women now gained ancestral tion 10), Rural
tional leaders, private players, could increase the rate of land-
speculators and those with veneration. Therefore, they District Councils and the
strong political and social net- wanted to look after ancestral President (Section 4 and Sec-
shrines and to look after graves tion 6). It is imperative for
as

Page 32 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

WILLIAM J. MPOFU Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Summary  Gukurahundi in Zimbabwe:  party for purposes of erecting
THAT in political conflict and one-party state rule. 
war the truth becomes a casual- An image and knowledge
ty that is sacrificed on the altar Epistemicide and genocide of Zapu and Nkomo as un-
of expediency is an observation desirable and evil had to be
that is traceable to the ancient constructed to justify their
Greek tragedian, Aeschylus. It punishment. Before Nkomo
is no accident that it had to be and Zapu were physically con-
a student of tragedy and the quered and dominated, they
workings of evil who noted had to be given a bad name
how truth and knowledge are that justified the violence
the first to be murdered before against them.
individuals and populations of The truth and knowledge
human beings are slaughtered about Nkomo and Zapu as
in armed operations by those legitimate political realities in
that seek to conquer, dominate Zimbabwe had to be assassi-
and rule others by hook or by nated and another image and
crook.  political identity for them
manufactured to justify their
The Gukurahundi genocide violation. Grosfoguel (2013:
of 1983 to 1987 in Zimbabwe 73) explains how the genocides
began with the desire by Rob- of conquest that preceded co-
ert Mugabe and his Zanu PF lonialism of the Global South
for one-party state rule under in the Sixteenth Century em-
a life presidency. For that dark ployed epistemicides where the
goal to be achieved, the politi- knowledges of and about the
cal opposition in shape of the natives that were conquered
Zimbabwe African People’s had to be distorted if not de-
Union (Zapu) had to be elim- stroyed. 
inated.  Those that were eventually
conquered and colonised were
All manner of political con- not called people, human be-
structions, naming and label- ings and legitimate citizens
ling were conducted to create of the earth but barbarians,
the conditions for and justifi- primitives and uncivilised
cation of an armed operation personages whose domination
against Zapu and its leader, and exploitation was not such
Joshua Nkomo. The political a crime. Before the Gukura-
and human identities of those hundi killings began, one of
that had to be eliminated were Mugabe’s ministers, Enos Nka-
changed to enemies, dissidents, la (2002: 60) declared that “as
snakes and chaff itself. On the from today Zapu has become
Gukurahundi genocide, schol- the enemy of Zanu PF”. Zapu
ars have prevalently dwelt on and its leader, Nkomo, had to
controversies surrounding the be constructed as an enemy
numbers of the dead and the and Zimbabweans were mobil-
enduring effects of the kill- ised to join the hatred, opposi-
ings. This article is a consid- tion and attack on this oppo-
eration of the assassinations of nent. Genocide is not only the
the truth and knowledge, the killing of people in large num-
epistemicide, which preceded, bers but it also is the murder of
accompanied and followed the truth and knowledge. 
Gukurahundi genocide. Truth Both creativity and destruc-
and knowledge die before, state psychology” possessed political insult and an effec- objects and other undesirable Perpetrators of the Guku- tion accompany genocide in
during and after genocide.  Mugabe and Zanu PF, turn- tive metaphor that was meant organisms. The truth and the rahundi genocide had to work the way old political identities
Introduction  ing the leader and the party to reduce an opposition leader knowledge die when people, hard to give their acts some are destroyed and new ones
It is an ancient piece of wis- into vigorous proponents of a from the nation of Zimbabwe on the basis of their political revolutionary air. Well before, created to create rational and
dom traceable to the Greek one-man rule and one-party to his tribe; the Ndebele, it identity or historical origins, and immediately after the justifiable conditions for the
tragedian Aeschylus that in ev- political regime in Zimbabwe was to expel him from national are reduced to killable and dis- independence of Zimbabwe mass killing of those that have
ery conflict and war itself the where the political opposition politics to the village. Another posable objects.  from Rhodesian colonialism been constructed as enemies.
truth and knowledge become became unwanted. Nkomo Zanu PF stalwart, Edgar Te- Mugabe and Zanu PF vigor- Emmanuel Eze (2005: 115)
the first victims. Aeschylus, as and Zapu, under that tyran- kere, put it more tellingly and Of the Gukurahundi geno- ously advanced the idea of a is correct to observe that no
one who pondered tragedy and nical one-man and one-party more picturesquely, “Nkomo cide, much like other geno- one-party state under a life matter how evil and base per-
the nature of evil, could not political climate, came to be and his guerrillas are germs in cides, scholars, journalists and president.  petrators of genocide are, they
but make the observation that constructed as enemies and the country’s wounds and they activists prevalently discuss invent an “ideology behind
truth, knowledge and justice other undesirable objects that have to be cleaned up with io- the human dead and pay little Mugabe in particular sug- them” that seeks to give justi-
are frequently the casualties are legitimate candidates for dine. The patient will have to or no attention to truths and gested that Zimbabweans fication to their actions. What
that are crucified on the altar elimination.  scream a bit” (Tekere in Mere- knowledges that die before, needed to unite behind one Eze (2005) calls the “epistemic
of expediency when those that dith 2002:60).  during and after the genocide. nation, one party and one conditions for genocide” is the
seek to conquer, dominate and Mugabe and Zanu PF, This essay is a consideration leader that would not have to active production of ideolo-
rule others by hook or by crook Martin Meredith (2002: 60) The truth and indeed the of how, in the Gukurahundi suffer the inconveniences of gies that are erected to give re-
have arrived. The Gukurahun- observes, created what was a historical knowledge that Nko- genocide, truth and knowledge multi-party democracy (Mug- spectability to what actually is
di genocide of 1983 to 1987 in “one-party mantra” that was mo was another Zimbabwean were the first and continue to abe 1998).  mass-murder and evil. 
Zimbabwe began with a desire strong and brooked no debate freedom fighter and political be the victims as the perpetra-
and also a design by Mugabe or opposition. Any individ- leader was replaced with the tors and beneficiaries of the The one-party state under Genocidists invent and per-
and his Zanu PF for one-party ual or organisation in Zim- damning condemnation that large-scale killings continue in a life presidency in Zimbabwe form themselves as patriots and
state rule and a life presidency. babwe that gestured towards he was a national pathogen denialism and impunity.  was a partisan political desire gallant revolutionaries. There
For the life presidency of Mug- multi-party democracy became that like any contagion had Violence of epistemicide  that could not be marketed is the violent work of conceal-
abe and the one-party rule of an enemy that could not only to be eliminated from the na- Perpetrators of genocide as to the world as such. It was a ment and erasure of knowledge
Zanu PF to be achieved, po- be called names, but was sup- tional body-politic by use of non-revolutionary violence political desire that did not that accompanies and also be-
litical opposition in shape of posed to be eliminated from painful disinfectants and anti- struggle to justify their acts sound revolutionary nor did comes part of the very identity
Nkomo and Zapu had to be the political landscape.  septics. The genocidal wish is that are otherwise not under- it resonate with global aspi- of genocide. 
eliminated. Students of Zim- in actuality a desire that other standable. rations of democracy. Joshua
babwean history and politics, Instead of understanding people, as individuals and or- Nkomo and Zapu could not Mamdani (2002: 7-8) iden-
Masipula Sithole and John Nkomo as a legitimate political ganisations, did not exist.  Mahmood Mamdani (2003: have been persuaded or pres- tifies three silences that are part
Makumbe (1997: 122), de- opponent whose rights were to 132) observes that genocidal sured to exit the Zimbabwean of the genocidal moment; the
scribed how before and after be guaranteed, Mugabe took If they exist, as Nkomo and violence is “violence that does political landscape to allow the silence of history, of agency
Zimbabwe’s independence him as “a self-appointed Nde- Zapu did, the determined de- not make sense, it is violence unfolding of a one-party state and of geography. There is a
from Rhodesia a “one-party bele king” who needed to be sire becomes not only mur- that is neither revolutionary regime under the life presiden- way in which historical origins
“crushed” (Mugabe in Mer- derous but epistemicidal. The nor counter-revolutionary”, cy of Mugabe. It was not going and productions of genocide
edith 2002: 60). The reduc- human identity of the individ- but is just evil and self-inter- to make any revolutionary or are concealed. 
tion of Nkomo to a self-styled uals, their organisations and ested.  democratic sense to dissolve
Ndebele king was at once a populations is altered to that of a whole opposition political The tribal hatred of the Nde-

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 33

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

bele people in combination subjects but as other things march towards global domina- undesirable objects, gives the bespeaks the strong silence that hundi genocide. 
with the desire for a one-party that included those that were tion is a telling example. In or- genocidist some political and the Mugabe regime imposed Activists that pestered Mug-
state under Mugabe’s life pres- constructed as dissidents and der for Euro-centrism to be the moral comfort.  on the subject of the Gukura-
idency in Zimbabwe are part snakes.  rationality of the world, other hundi genocide where official- abe about the truth and jus-
of the history that is silenced rationalities of other parts of Deliberate ignorance of the ly there has been no commu- tice were severely blamed for
in the prevalent attempts to A new language and knowl- the world had to be discredited truth and justice in the scheme nication or accountability on attempting not only to open
understand the Gukurahundi edge of naming the victims had as falsehoods and superstitions.  of epistemicide becomes an perpetrators and justice for the old wounds but also for the
genocide. The agency of Zanu been constructed and was de- epistemology on its own where victims.  crime of attempting to dig up
PF led by Mugabe and that en- ployed. Roger Burbach (2003) The languages and knowl- ignorance is produced as a dirty history in order to di-
joyed popular support of a part narrates how in the massacres edges of the conquerors and knowledge of not seeing and The genocide was called a vide the nation. “If we dig up
of the Zimbabwean population that followed the coup in Chile new rulers of the globe became not knowing the crimes that “closed chapter” by Emmer- history, then we wreck the na-
is silenced when the genocide is in1973, General Augusto Pi- the languages of humanity. are being done and those that son Mnangagwa (2011: 1), tion ... and we tear our people
reduced to a crime by a rogue nochet avoided referring to Since languages, histories and have been done. In the import- the current president of Zim- apart into factions, into tribes”
political party and its leader his victims as people, but gave knowledges of peoples do not ant discussion of “the igno- babwe who was the Security (Mugabe in Meredith 2002:
not a popular movement. Tim- them names of objects, ani- exist and walk on their own rance contract” where perpe- minister when the mass kill- 74). 
othy Scannerchia (2011) notes mals and other undesirable or legs but are embodied by living trators of apartheid injustices ings happened. Spoken by a
the international geography negligible things.  people, their destruction also in South Africa contracted key architect of the genocide, The grand ideals of national
of the Gukurahundi genocide becomes a destruction of the themselves to ignorance about the metaphor of a “closed unity and peace are mobilised
where the United States of Naming the victims after people that carry them. Epis- their crimes and in that way chapter” dramatises the deter- by genocidists to condemn
America and the United King- undesirable objects and negli- temicide and genocide work participated in “epistemologies mined official silencing, and their victims to silence about
dom, in the main, permitted gible things is itself the alter- together and fulfil each other. of ignorance”, Melissa Steyn epistimidal killing of the truth justice. The local and interna-
the genocide by continuing to ation of the truth, distorting In the Gukurahundi Geno- (2012: 8) observes how crim- about the crimes against hu- tional media participated in
give financial and political sup- of the humanity of those to cide, besides severe beatings inals and beneficiaries of the manity. When the truth and silencing the truth about the
port to Mugabe and Zanu PF be killed, and production of and rape, “villagers were then crimes against humanity insu- knowledge about the genocide genocide. 
even as the human rights vio- knew knowledge and political forced to sing songs in the late themselves from guilt.  cannot forever be silenced or
lations and killings escalated in identities that enable victimi- Shona language praising Zanu denied, the genocidists can As people were being raped,
Zimbabwe.  sations and killings. The lives PF, while dancing on the mass Steyn illustrates the work- blame insanity itself. Mugabe killed and their homes burnt,
of the condemned of genocide graves of their families and fel- ings of ignorance contracting publicly called the genocide a “none of this was reported by
An international political become what Judith Butler low villagers killed and buried by use of a truth that circulates “moment of madness” (Hol- the government controlled
and social climate existed that (2009) calls “ungrievable” lives minutes earlier” (Meredith in the form of a joke about land 2008). He explained the press; radio, or television, for-
permitted the killings of po- whose termination, otherwise, 2002: 67).  how in the whole of South Af- killings as having been what eign press reports on the vio-
litical enemies with impunity is acceptable if not understand- rica one can never meet a sin- “was an act of madness. We lence were dismissed as fabri-
when superpowers that could able.  Forcing the Shona language gle person that agrees to have killed each other and destroyed cations. 
have stopped Mugabe and on villagers that spoke other practiced or benefitted from each other’s property. It was
Zanu PF did not only look Before they are physically languages, including Kalanga, apartheid discrimination and wrong and both sides were to Evidence of atrocities col-
aside but enabled them to kill dispossessed, displaced and Ndebele, Tonga, Nambya and other injustices.  blame. We had a difference, a lected by churchmen, doctors,
political opponents in large massacred, victims of genocide others, was the violent work quarrel. We engaged ourselves and aid agencies and submit-
numbers.  like the colonised and the en- of epistemicides that accom- Denialism is the true ref- in a reckless and unprincipled ted to the government was ig-
slaved are epistemically recon- panied the genocide. Some uge of the criminal against fight” (Mugabe in Meredith nored” (Meredith 2002: 67).
Scannerchia (2011) notes structed and reduced into dis- decades after the genocide, the humanity. In that comic but 2002: 74). 
how Nkomo, his party and posable objects that, otherwise, people of Matabaleland and also tragic way, apartheid in The reports by Amnesty
political supporters within the should not be grieved.  the Midlands are complaining South Africa becomes a crime To blame the genocide on International that highlighted
Zimbabwean population had of the distortion and margin- against humanity that has no madness and to include the the atrocities that were taking
become politically friendless What is notable here is that alisation of their languages and criminals.  victims as part of the wrongdo- place were dismissed by Mug-
to the extent that they had be- the genocidal impulse, which culture in Zimbabwe.  ing was Mugabe’s way of cush- abe as a “heap of lies” and the
come dispensable in a country, is the determined desire for the Epistemicide through the ioning himself from censure international human rights
region of Africa, and world elimination of others, does not The combination of geno- epistemology of ignorance and guilt by distributing the organisation was renamed as
that had other priorities than only produce many dead bod- cide and epistemicide kills peo- makes intentional and conve- blame and evening it out to the “Amnesty Lies International”
to stop a genocide.  ies but constructs a rationality ple and their culture, and seeks nient ignorance the refuge of victims as having participated (Meredith 2002: 73). From
of itself, and of its victims. It to replace them with another the guilty. There is no govern- in and therefore being partly to the Gukurahundi genocide
Much like the colonised is in equal measure a destruc- people and culture, to create ment official or soldier in pres- blame for their victimisation.  of Zimbabwe, we can observe
and the enslaved, victims of tive and constructive impulse a new world in the absence of ent Zimbabwe that admits to that genocide does not get
genocide are not killed as other that builds a political and so- political opponents.  have been a perpetrator of the Officially closing the chap- called genocide by the perpe-
legitimate human beings but cial universe where it is under- genocide.  ter on the genocide, blaming trators.
are killed as abandoned and standable and justified.  Further, epistemicide pro- it on madness and implicating
neglected objects. This essay duces intentional ignorance of “Breaking the silence” is part the victims, has been the offi- Other more palatable names
demonstrates below that Nko- The “epistemicide” of colo- the truth and insulation from of the title of a report on the cial way in which Mugabe and for it are invented and circu-
mo and his supporters were at- nial conquest that Boaventura ethics and justice for the perpe- Gukurahundi Genocide pub- his party have sought to mur- lated. The genocide itself is
tacked not as other legitimate de Sousa Santos (2014) de- trator of violence. To imagine lished by the Legal Resources der and victimise the truth and invented through excuses and
Zimbabweans and political scribes about the way in which those that are being violated Foundation and the Catholic knowledge about the Gukura- pretexts that are concocted to
the West destroyed knowledg- as, not people but things and Commission for Justice and justify it and also conceal the
es of the Global South in its Peace. The title of the report atrocities and other crimes that
accompany it. 

ARTHUR MUTAMBARA Vaccine R&D and manufacturing As a long-term solution, we
in Africa: Execution has started! are focused on attaining vaccine
I AM currently in Nigeria, as sovereignty and self-sufficiency
part of a team setting up a vac- A broader issue is breaking lenge the global public health African funding of public public health policy, for exam- on the continent. Our goal is
cine research and development Africa’s overdependence on do- political economy. health gives Africans control of ple, emphasis on preventative never to allow ourselves to be
(R&D) and manufacturing nors in public health. How can medicine (wellness) as opposed this vulnerable and exposed.
plant. This is proof of concept this be done? to curative medicine (disease Never ever.
(a national launch pad) for a management).
continental strategy to achieve African countries must spend As explained earlier, our tar-
equitable and universal access to 15% of gross domestic prod- Yes, breaking the African gets are future pandemics and
essential vaccines and vaccina- uct on public health (the Abuja public health overdependence other infectious diseases such as
tion across Africa. Declaration). There must be en- on donors is virtuous and can malaria, HIV and Aids and sick-
hanced private sector participa- be done. As we push for phar- le cell anaemia.
Health security determines tion in healthcare provision. maceutical R&D and manufac-
national security. A health inse- turing in Africa, we are looking As we implement a conti-
cure Africa has no continental Governments must create an beyond Covid-19. nental and pan-African vaccine
security. The public health of enabling environment for pri- strategy (starting with an R&D
Africans cannot be left to de- vate sector involvement. The Covid-19 pandemic and manufacturing plant in
pend on the benevolence and was a major wake-up call for Nigeria), we do not expect any
goodwill of nations external to Yes, we must carry out R&D the continent. We now know support from the Global North
the continent. and manufacturing of medi- the extent of the fragility of our and its big pharmaceutical com-
cines on the continent. healthcare systems and their panies. We will succeed in spite
The journey to vaccine sov- overdependence on external of their disposition.
ereignty and self-sufficiency has However, there must be clar- players.
just begun. The target is not just ity on and quantification of the There is potential to unlock
Covid-19, but future pandemics return on investment (ROI) for It might be too late for us to synergies with vaccine-pro-
and other diseases such as Ma- the R&D & manufacturing of develop our own Covid-19 vac- ducing countries in the Global
laria, HIV and Aids and sickle medicines in Africa. cines. Probably, the most we can South (such as China, India,
cell anaemia. Covid-19 was a do is manufacture these vaccines Russia, Cuba and Brazil) by way
wake-up call for the continent. We must leverage African using other folks’ active phar- of lessons learnt, partnerships
Never again should Africa be economies of scale. maceutical ingredients (API), and collaborations.
this exposed and vulnerable. if they let us, which is very un-
Africans must be able to sell likely.  The long-term continental
Indeed, a crisis is too import- medicines (developed and man- vaccine strategy is just but one
ant an opportunity to waste. ufactured on the continent)0 aspect of asserting African agen-
globally. There is need to chal- cy in public health.
As Africans, we must seize the
moment and collectively take *About the writer: Professor
charge of our public health. Mutambara is former Deputy
Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.

Page 34 The Big Debate NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

The first post-independence chief justice

TERERAI MAFUKIDZE Zimbabwe’s first indigenous black Chief Justice Enoch Dumbutshena. legal tenets in order to support
white supremacy. And the Law
AS at April 1980, the High the chief justice position on 1 He was promoted to judge nationalism. His father Job a Parliament under Sir Edgar and Order (Maintenance) Act,
Court of Zimbabwe had a July 1980 and had the approv- president of the High Court Dumbutshena had been one Whitehead…was designed to especially designed to main-
General Division and an Ap- al and support of the other on 21 March 1983. of the leading trade unionists meet the African demand for a tain white supremacy, lends the
pellate Division. The judges sitting judges. Baron was ap- in the early years. Dumbut- greater say in the affairs of their courts a legal cloak under which
were all 11 white males. With pointed to the Appellate Di- If the political lecture de- shena started off as a jour- country by introducing harsh to suppress fellow human beings
Hector Macdonald, the Chief vision. So was Goldin. Baron livered to Bishop Raymond nalist. He later on decided to penalties meant to discourage unashamedly.”
Justice, John Lewis Judge retired on 28 February 1983. Lamont by Macdonald in his further his journalism studies them from agitating for more
President and Harry Davies, Fieldsend had been born in 1977 judgment needed a re- in the United States. So he rights.” Dumbutshena describes
the trio made up the judges of England. He was brought up buttal, one just needs to read travelled to London, but was his experience as an advocate
appeal and sat in the Appellate in the then Southern Rhode- the words of Dumbutshena denied a visa by the United He was complimentary of practising at the Salisbury
Division. sia and commenced practise published in his 1974 autobi- States. He then decided to Robert Tredgold of whom he which was virtually all white.
in Bulawayo as an advocate. ography Zimbabwe Tragedy. pursue law. said: “Sir Robert Tredgold, then He states that he was told by
On Independence Day, 18 He had also been appointed He aptly lays bare the differ- Chief Justice of the Federation his white colleagues that he
April 1980, Macdonald ad- a judge of the High Court in ence between the white and With the help of John of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, re- lost cases in the magistrate’s
ministered President Canaan 1962. black condition. Murray, South African former signed his high post because he court which they could easily
Banana and Prime Minister Southern Rhodesian chief jus- did not agree with the principle win. He lost because he was
Robert Mugabe’s oaths of of- The position taken by Mac- He states: “I was born and tice from 1955 to 1961, he of introducing laws meant to black.
fice. He retired two weeks lat- donald and his appellate col- brought up in a country where was accepted and tutored at affect one section of the com-
er as he had threatened to do leagues remained a sore point for very many years an African Gray’s Inn before being called munity and not the other. The “So to win a difficult case in
if the Patriotic Front (in this in the relationship between was nothing, and racial dis- to the English Bar. Murray did application of the Act has amply the lower courts I had to work
case Zanu PF in coalition with the bench and the new gov- crimination was the accepted not know he was helping a fu- justified the stand he took.” twice as hard as my white col-
PF Zapu) came to power. ernment. norm in life. The African ex- ture chief justice. leagues. Not all magistrates are
Philip Telford Georges isted to serve a white man. The His views of the Rhodesian as bad as I have portrayed; there
But before he retired, Mac- The first black chief justice Africans on the farms, the mines During his time in London, bench were clear. Dumbut- are some who are as fair as any
donald was determined to get in Zimbabwe was a Carib- and in the towns accepted their Dumbutshena was the UK shena was scathing in his criti- in the world. But to the major-
his colleague Lewis appointed bean named Philip Telford lot and served their masters representative of Zapu. When cism of their political leanings ity of them one is an African
the next chief justice. So, on Georges. He had previously faithfully. Their accommoda- Zanu was formed by some stating: lawyer and therefore less im-
14 March 1980, Macdonald been chief justice of Tanzania. tion and their wages were poor. senior party members who portant than a white one.”
addressed a letter to the prime Georges was initially appoint- They accepted that money and had left Zapu, Dumbutshena “Unlike Sir Robert (Tred-
minister-in-waiting Mugabe ed a judge of the Supreme luxuries were for the white peo- elected to remain with Zapu. gold) his brother judges fight He goes on to criticise the
seeking a private meeting to Court on 1 August 1981. He ple…Europeans and Africans Upon his return to Rhodesia, the battle of the white men. decision of the Appellate Di-
discuss the next chief justice. was subsequently promoted have never belonged to the same he commenced practice as an Through the bench and con- vision in Madzimbamuto and
He referred to the “spirit of to Chief Justice in February world in Zimbabwe. The white advocate representing many strue legal interpretations that Baron cases regarding UDI
reconciliation which you 1983, and retired on 28 Feb- man’s world is one of luxury nationalists. give justification to the political and states that the judges were
have wisely fostered”. He was ruary 1984. while that of the African is poor motivations that led to the pass- simply reflecting their person-
anxious to “establish the best Enoch Dumbutshena and drab…I loathe settlers who In his autobiography, ing of the Act (Law and Order al attitudes and the overall
possible relations between the On the next day, on 1 March despise and discriminate against Dumbutshena does not hold (Maintenance) Act). And one question of white supremacy.
government and the judiciary 1984, Enoch Dumbutshena me because of my colour. I am back in describing the black wonders how men imbued with He went on to state that in
at the earliest time”. Mug- was appointed the first indig- angry because of what settlers conditions. Christian justice can pretend the eyes of the majority of the
abe granted him the meeting enous chief justice of Zimba- have done to us Africans and to sit impartially over judicial African people in Rhodesia
which, according to Benjamin bwe. Dumbutshena had been to our country….They want us He states about oppressive tribunals designed to further the courts of law of Rhodesia
Goldin, former lawyer and appointed the first black high to accept that we are inferior in laws and judges: “Today the the political ambitions of the were part and parcel of the il-
judge, had a reconciliatory court judge on 8 May 1980. mind and body.” white man slaps the African minority. It is painful to witness legal regime and are bent on
tone from Macdonald. in more ways than one. By his judges, whose intellectual abil- maintaining white supremacy.
Dumbutshena was a na- law, he had deliberately created ities and understanding of the
On 28 April 1980, two tionalist. He had entered punishments that only apply to law are as good as those of any Dumbutshena’s critique re-
days before Macdonald was to politics in the early years of Africans. The Law and Order other judges in the world, twist flected the way in which law
take leave pending retirement, (Maintenance) Act passed by operates to maintain class
another meeting was held domination. The point is that
with Mugabe, the Minister law should not simply be re-
of Justice and members of the garded as part of the state ma-
Judicial Services Commission chinery and coercive armoury
(JSC). Macdonald and Davies of the state apparatus, but it
as members of the JSC were must be understood as mak-
present. ing a major contribution to
protecting the interests of the
Goldin records the discus- ruling class and maintaining
sions at the meeting as fol- class and ideological domina-
lows: “The minister of justice tion, as the Rhodesian exam-
mentioned that Leo Baron was ple clearly shows.
the government’s choice for the
position, while Macdonald Ideological domination
urged and pleaded for Lewis consists of those processes
to be appointed. His objection which produce, reproduce
to Baron was that he had not and reaffirm the existing so-
been a judge of appeal in Rho- cial order, thus legitimising
desia, and while there was no class domination. The appa-
objection to his appointment ratus and processes involved
as a judge of appeal, Lewis was in creating and reproducing
qualified and deserved to be ideological domination play
chief justice. When Macdonald a major part in ensuring the
stressed his arguments by saying continuation of a particular
that failure to appoint Lewis social order, its attendant rela-
would constitute ‘victimisation’ tions and values.
the prime minister (Mugabe)
replied that he was ‘intimidat- Key Rhodesian politicians
ing’ him.” and most judges worked
hand-in-glove to ensure that.
In the end the new govern-
ment decided not to appoint *About the writer: Advo-
Lewis or Baron to the posi- cate Tererai Mafukidze is
tion. It decided to appoint now a member of the Johan-
John Fieldsend. Fieldsend nesburg Bar. He practises
had resigned in 1968 after the with Group One Sandown
Unilateral Declaration Inde- Chambers in Sandton, Jo-
pendence (UDI) and gone hannesburg. His practice
back to England where he areas at the Bar are: general
worked for the Law Commis- commercial law, competition
sion as its secretary. He took law, human rights, admin-
istrative and constitutional
law.

NewsHawks Africa News Page 35

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Violence erupts in northern Moza

CONFUSION reigned in surgents remaining in upper that fragile peace has begun insurgents re-kidnapped three surgency as a survival strategy. reported since April. The
Cabo Delgado last week after Palma and went to confront to break down. By the end of children in lower Palma who Government response announcement is welcome
a string of violent incidents them with machetes. Arriv- May, most of those who had had fled insurgent custody af- Those who flee Palma contin- news for displaced people at
in which the identity of the ing in upper Palma, the group remained at Quitunda had ter being taken during the 24 ue to be subject to deep suspi- heightened risk of cholera,
perpetrators was not immedi- found six well-armed insur- moved camp to Maganja, on March attack on Palma. cion from government forces. but relief may be temporary.
ately clear. gents, who shot at them, kill- the beach further out on the The 100 displaced people who Humanitarian workers warn
ing three. Later that day, the Afungi peninsula. Since then, The kidnappings serve in made it to Pemba on 11 June that heavy rains in areas with
Around 15 June, civilians insurgents retaliated, entering those remaining in Quitunda part to underscore the insur- were forced to wait out in the sanitation infrastructure inad-
near Novo Cabo Delgado, lower Palma and killing seven and lower Palma have faced a gents’ argument that civilians cold for hours until security equate to handle population
Macomia district, discovered civilians, including two chil- range of threats. in Palma should, if not join forces checked their baggage increases from incoming dis-
at least seven (one source dren and two adults who were the insurgency outright, at and were satisfied that there placed people will likely lead
reports eight) dead bodies, in the area foraging for food Two main threats are de- least comply with its orders, were no disguised insurgents to new outbreaks.
some of which had been shot to bring back to Quitunda.   tailed in this week’s Situa- as the government cannot among the group.
and others which appeared tion Summary -- civilians protect them. Local businesses in Cabo
to have wounds from blad- Also on 12 June, seven in southern Palma are at the Once displaced people Delgado received more bad
ed weapons. The dead were people from Litamanda, in mercy of both insurgents and As if in an effort to press arrive in Pemba, one of the news last week, as it was re-
identified as local civilians. northern Macomia district, government forces. Insurgents the same point home, gov- many threats they still face ported that French energy
It is unclear when they were were beheaded while work- appear capable of committing ernment forces looted civilian is harassment from security major Total declared force
killed, or by whom, although ing in the fields outside of the violence in lower Palma at property in Quitunda early services for lacking identifica- majeure on the remainder
the discovery of their bodies village. Litamanda residents will, with no repercussions the following morning. tion documents. According to of its major contracts in the
comes shortly after another initially suspected that insur- from state forces. Govern- a new report by the Catholic province, delaying payments
incident nearby in Litamanda gents were the perpetrators ment troops, meanwhile, ap- These and other threats will University of Mozambique that would have found their
(detailed below) in which lo- due to the grisly nature of the parently feel at liberty to loot become more acute as more (UCM), which has been as- way in part into the local
cals believe that Mozambican killings. Local militia mem- civilian property, especially if people escape the area. As of sisting the government in its economy. Total has said that
soldiers killed civilians and bers, however, soon came to they know they will soon be 16 June, the United Nations “Caravana Jurídica” initiative it expects the declaration to
then beheaded them in order suspect government forces. leaving the area.  International Organization aimed at issuing replacement remain in place for at least a
to pin blame on the insur- Soldiers in the area were eva- for Migration estimated that identification documents to year.
gents. sive when asked about the The longer displaced peo- over 80,000 people had been displaced civilians, UCM
killings, and some of them ple are stuck in the Palma displaced from Palma, and staff have had to repeatedly On the international front,
On 17 June, civilians re- had blood on their uniforms. area, however, the wider the the number continues to go intervene to prevent securi- the United States announced
maining in Quitunda, just The soldiers allegedly in- range of threats they will face. up. A shipload of roughly 100 ty forces from extorting or a pledge of US$30 million
south of Palma town, fled volved in the killings soon left One of those threats is insur- displaced civilians arrived arresting displaced people in to support World Food Pro-
as shots rang out in the ear- the area, returning to Maco- gent recruitment. A group of in Pemba from Palma on 11 both Pemba and Metuge for gramme (WFP) efforts in
ly morning. What many mia town. displaced people who arrived June, and more people are lacking documentation. Car- Mozambique. The money
believed to be an insurgent in Pemba on 20 June after moving on from Palma each avana Jurídica has issued re- makes a substantial dent in
attack turned out to be an Litamanda residents now escaping Palma described a day. placement documentation to WFP’s projected funding
unannounced raid by govern- believe that the soldiers killed meeting insurgents held with 7,000 displaced people, and shortfall for Cabo Delgado,
ment forces, ostensibly in an the civilians in order to loot civilians in lower Palma on As the number of civilians plans to reach 20 000 in total. but the overall humanitarian
effort to root out insurgents their property, and then be- 16 June. At the meeting, in- in the Palma area dwindles, effort remains severely under-
among the population at Qui- headed them to make it seem surgents addressed civilians, those who remain will only Conversely, some threats funded. In an interview be-
tunda. During the raid, gov- as though insurgents were re- asserting that they are more become more vulnerable to have receded for the time be- fore the US announcement,
ernment troops ransacked the sponsible.  important figures in the ci- both state and insurgent co- ing. Provincial health author- the United Nations resident
makeshift settlement at Qui- vilians’ lives than Mozambi- ercion. ities announced last week that coordinator in Mozambique,
tunda, looting the property of New details also emerged can president Filipe Nyusi, as the cholera outbreak in Cabo Myrta Kaulard, said that the
the displaced people who live last week about the insur- the insurgents can physically Without a concerted evac- Delgado has ended, with overall 2021 humanitarian re-
there. Civilians in the area say gency’s ransoming of hos- reach the civilians at any time. uation effort, there is a risk no cholera hospitalizations quest of US$254 million had
that the unit responsible is tages captured during the In the run up to the meeting, that at a certain point those only been met with US$24.3
on the verge of rotating out 24 March Palma attack. The remaining in Quitunda, low- million in donations. Even
of Palma, vastly reducing the family of an Indian man who er Palma, and Maganja will with the added US$30 mil-
chances that they will face had been working in Palma be compelled to join the in- lion from the US, the request
any consequences for their before being abducted during is still only 21% funded with
looting. the attack has gone public to half the year gone.
ask Indian Prime Minister
Back in Novo Cabo Del- Narendra Modi to assist them In Europe, a member of the
gado, a group of eight insur- in recovering the man. The European Parliament from
gents attacked the village on family says that insurgents Portugal’s Socialist Party, Is-
19 June. They killed six civil- called the man’s employer and abel Santos, urged dialogue
ians working the fields on the demanded a ransom of US$1 between insurgents and the
outskirts of the village, and million, which the employer Mozambican government.
another civilian in the village is willing to pay. The holdup Her approach echoes sugges-
who attempted to contact is that Mozambican security tions made by members of
the local militia. They also forces will not let the employ- Mozambican civil society and
damaged homes and looted er deliver the cash inside the President Nyusi himself. Yet
property. On their way out area along Mozambique’s bor- Santos’ stance does distance
of the village, however, the der with Tanzania as specified her from more right wing
insurgents were ambushed by the insurgents. Mozam- figures in Portuguese politics
by a local militia force. The bican forces have facilitated who have advocated a more
militia killed five insurgents other ransom payments, and militarised approach, indicat-
and injured the other three. the family hopes that pres- ing the divides in Portugal’s
The insurgents dropped the sure from Modi will force the domestic political scene over
goods they had looted from Mozambican government to how to respond to the Cabo
the village, as well as six fire- allow this one to go through Delgado conflict.
arms that the militia members as well.
recovered.  Incident Focus: Evolving The Southern African
Situation in Palma Development Community
Earlier incidents also came Reports from the area around (Sadc) will hold its Extraor-
to light last week, including Palma town were often mud- dinary Summit in Maputo
two on 12 June in Palma dled last week, reflecting a tomorrow -- 23 June -- where
town. The first happened in fast-evolving situation. Af- regional heads of state and
the northern part of the town, ter a long period in which government will, according
which many refer to as “upper many people displaced from to a statement from South Af-
Palma.” A group of self-ap- Palma felt that the resettle- rican president Cyril Rama-
pointed vigilantes in lower ment village of Quitunda phosa, “consider the proposed
Palma, where government was the safest place to wait Sadc Regional Response” to
control is higher and more until they could escape the the Cabo Delgado conflict.
civilians are concentrated, district altogether, it seems Meetings are already taking
received a report that there place at the ministerial level.
were a small number of in-
— Cabo Ligado Weekly.

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING Issue 36, 25 June 2021
Page 36

Top sculptor
Benhura holds solo
exhibition in US

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA dress guests on our beautiful Zimbabwe and our
rich art and culture heritage,” he said.
DOMINIC Benhura, one of Zimbabwe’s lead-
ing sculptors, recently made a welcome return to Benhura was honoured with a doctorate in
Texas in the United States for a month-long solo culture and heritage by the Women’s University
exhibition at Dallas Arboretum. in Africa. He became the first stone sculptor to
be conferred a PhD, joining the ranks of distin-
The 52-year-old world-renowned artist is not guished artists like Dr Thomas Mapfumo and Dr
new to the lush gardens of Dallas Arboretum as Oliver Mtukudzi.
he has previously held solo exhibitions there al-
though this year the show evokes a lot of fond “It is an encouragement to use our experience
memories and enthusiasm since the world went to nurture youngsters, especially girls who are
into Covid-19 lockdown. very few in the industry. There is definitely a niche
for girls and women. Since the world has become
The excitement is around his evolving tech- gender sensitive, people will support them glob-
niques and designs since he last exhibited at the ally. 
venue. 
“Artists do not retire so, God willing, I will be
“There is a great deal of new colour techniques able to interact more with schools and universities
on my pieces within my solo show and also those in sharing my plus 40 years’ experience. 
of my colleagues in group exhibitions spread
around the beautiful gardens,” Benhura said. “I hope the government will take art subjects
seriously, beginning at ECD (early childhood de-
At least 20 sculptures are part of the exhibition, velopment) level, so that they grow with it. When
including one of his popular masterpieces, titled we travel we are asked to work with kids, but here
“The Dancer”. The piece showcases Benhura’s it is mostly private schools who bring their kids to
trademark motion art at its best, in which the interact with us,” he once said.
stone appears to be in fluid motion, underpinned
by breathtaking symmetry. The self-taught sculptor has always had a soft
spot for women and the girl child.
The textures and choice of sculptures bring
out amazing dimensions to Benhura’s masterpiec- He is famous around the world for his signa-
es. He mastered the art in his formative years at ture motion masterpieces which grace some of the
the age of 12 when he began carving stone. Back world’s heritage sites and international airports.
then, he used clay as his choice of medium. Some of his artworks are on display at the Nelson
Mandela Foundation offices in South Africa.
Now an exponent in stone, Benhura makes it
look easy and his works occupy some of the most In 2016, he came in for criticism after he
prestigious public spaces around the world. The sculpted a statue of the then president Rob-
pieces are popular with gallerists, art collectors ert Mugabe, but he defended it, saying it was a
and museums across the world. unique piece of art.

“As you might be aware, I have put in a lot of “I think most people do not understand my
work, new techniques and colour and refinement art and they do not understand the difference
of designs over time,” he said. in art styles. That sculpture was never meant to
look exactly as the President’s image. I do not do
Like most sculptors, Benhura is planning on exact figures. Some artists do exact figures, but I
doing a post-Covid-19 show in which he reflects do something that makes my work different,” he
on the impact of the pandemic on people’s lived said.
realities around the world.
Since breaking out from his mentor Tapfuma
“I intend to do a post-mortem or perspective Gutsa, Benhura has held several solo exhibitions
pieces on how I felt and still feel about the impact showcasing a broad spectrum of his old and new
of the Covid-19 pandemic. I did some during the masterpieces. His last solo show in 12 years was
Aids period when people were still ignorant of the held in 2019 at Amanzi Restaurant in Harare
pandemic,” he said.  where he reflected on his 40 years of working on
stone.
The latest exhibition has been well received,
with media houses such as Fox News running a For Benhura, stone carving has always been his
special feature on Benhura’s artworks which are hobby although along the way it became a career
greatly inspired by women and children. path. Benhura is also inspired by nature, plants
and animals.
“Zimsculpt and the Dallas Aborterum did a
good job in putting the interview together. I was He is renowned for his creative imagination
interviewed and also I had an opportunity to ad- and his pieces do not always depict plain form.

NewsHawks Life & Style Page 37

Issue 36, 25 June 2021 Awa Khiwe
She says her fondest mem-
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA ory on stage was during a
performance at Shambala
MIRIAM Makeba, affec- There is lot of misogyny on local Festival.
tionately known in music as hip-hop scene, says Awa Khiwe “Performing at the Sham-
simply Mama Africa, proba- bala Festival in the UK with
bly delivered one of her best Making rap music is not Australia,” she said. GRRRL (an all-female band
songs to date titled the Click something that is socially ac- Her debut album is expect- that I am a part of ) was the
Song. ceptable in most places so I best moment on stage. The
have endured the name-call- ed anytime soon but the one festival was packed with
And the most poignant ing and being judged for good thing is she has been re- thousands of people who
part of the song are the clicks choosing a different path. leasing singles with Ghanaian were screaming for more. We
which she flawlessly adorns Stallion from their EP titled were voted ‘Best Live Act’ at
every line with. “My family did not sup- The Village Girl.  the festival,” she said.
port me at first because they Noisey Raps have pub-
Even those who did not were worried about the chal- A new second single titled lished a documentary about
understand the language lenges that come with being Babakazi is due out on 25 Awa Khiwe, titled Zimba-
would simply marvel at the in the public eye and the June 2021. bwe’s Rap Queen, which won
clicking sounds that tell a harsh music industry. When the Inspiration Award at the
great story. they realised that I was not “The best part about my Research In Film Awards in
going to stop following my music is my beautiful lan- the United Kingdom
Coming back home, there passion, they accepted it,” she guage Ndebele, which has Awa Khiwe is open to col-
is one artiste who has cap- explained. unique click sounds that laborating with other musi-
tured the imagination of mu- most people love,” she said. cians, as long as the sound
sic lovers through the beau- As a newbie on the scene, and energy are good.
ty of the Ndebele language Awa Khiwe said she never Commenting on the pro- “I don’t like collaborating
characterised by enchanting imagined her music would fanities of hip-hop, Awa Kh- with people just to take a
click sounds. have a crossover appeal. iwe insists on clean lyrics al- shot at making a hit song. I
though she is quick to assert make music from the heart
Awa Khiwe, who hails from “I didn’t think my music that she does not subscribe to and I prefer to work with
Nkayi, is not Mama Africa would go beyond borders self-censorship. like-minded creatives,” she
of course, but her delivery is when I started out because of said.
nothing short of explosive. lack of resources, but an in- “I have never written a Proudly Zimbabwean,
vite from festivals in Germa- song with any swear words Awa Khiwe always takes to
Born Awakhiwe Sibanda, ny and the United Kingdom but I can’t say that I will nev- the stage in her beautiful tra-
the 29-year-old female hip- proved me wrong.  er swear because swearing can ditional costumes, a far cry
hop artiste now based in Ger- also be a form of expression. from the trending monoki-
many, has perfected the art of “I toured beyond borders I don’t censor myself when I ni swimsuits associated with
fusing hip-hop and Ndebele in 2016 and I have performed create,” she said. American rappers like Cardi
songs.   in most big cities in Germany, B, Megan The Stallion and
in the UK, Belgium, Poland, Awa Khiwe is also nick- Nicki Minaj.
“I started hip-hop music Switzerland, Netherlands and named “The Village Girl”
in 2012. It was influenced by because she is unapologetic
my love for Ndebele poetry.  about her rural background.

“Firstly, I would write
Ndebele poetry when I was
in primary school. I loved
hip-hop music as well so I
decided to mix the two and I
started rapping in Ndebele to
hip-hop beats,” she said.

“My parents gave me the
name Awakhiwe. It means
‘let’s build a beautiful home’.”

And owing to her unique
skills, music pundits were
quick to notice her. She has
since been touring on the in-
ternational circuit where she
has performed at festivals.

“I have performed in many
countries around the world
and I have been featured on
many international platforms
like BBC, ITV, Vice, Huff-
ingpost and many more.

“I  also performed at the
Commonwealth Games. I
have been getting a lot of love
and support,” Awa Khiwe
said.

She is yet to release an al-
bum, but her music talks
about real life issues, culture
and her life.

“My music addresses social
issues like gender-based vio-
lence, child marriages, poli-
tics and many more. 

“I also make music about
our Ndebele culture, but I
don’t limit myself when I cre-
ate; inspiration is everywhere. 

“Making music gives me
the freedom to be myself, to
tell my own stories and to
speak out for the voiceless. I
have been making music in
Ndebele and English so far,
but I might mix with other
languages, I am open to it,”
she said.

Awa Khiwe is obviously
made of sterner stuff as she is
one of the few female rappers
on the male-dominated hip-
hop scene in the country.

That on its own has chal-
lenges because she has to
double the effort in every way
possible to stand out.

“There is a lot of misogy-
ny in the hip-hop industry,
women have to prove them-
selves and deal with being
excluded in most spaces.

Page 38 People & Places NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021

Covid-19 hits tourism sector again

NHAU MANGIRAZI boats, hippos and tiger fish. the lake. Nearby, the circular died during the construction Kariba, the Charara Safari Bumi Hills, a group of hills
In Kariba Heights, a lookout Chapel of Santa Barbara has of the massive Kariba Dam Area is home to elephants and a luxury safari lodge in
JUST as Zimbabwe’s tour- offers panoramic views of a memorial to workers who in the 1950s. Surrounding and buffalo. It also close to Mashonaland West province,
ism sector, fabulous des- situated on the hilly ground
tinations and the diverse overlooking the southern
hospitality industry were shore of Lake Kariba. Kari-
beginning to slightly recov- ba is also not too far from
er after the devastating im- Mana Pools - a collection of
pact of the first and second islands, channels, sandbanks
waves of the Covid-19 glob- and oxbow lakes resulting
al pandemic – the third wave in a wildlife-rich safari - in
struck. the far north of Zimbabwe.
It includes the south bank
Another lockdown has and islands of the Zambezi
been imposed and tourism River, which forms the bor-
once again is on the receiv- der with Zambia. The park
ing end. One of the most af- is known for wildlife species
fected tourist destinations in found by the river and in the
Zimbabwe is Kariba resort flood plains. Large popula-
which in the northern reach tions of elephants, hippos
of the country by the majes- and Nile crocodiles gather
tic Kariba Dam. at sunrise in the Long Pool.
In the park’s south, lions and
Kariba town lies in the other predators always lie in
northern border of the wait for rich and diverse prey
country with Zambia. It around waterholes.
is a gateway to huge Lake
Kariba, known for its house-

Property
NewsHawks

Issue 36, 25 June 2021 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Page 39

The home of prime property: [email protected]

One of West Property’s housing estates in Harare.

THE private sector is stepping up to Private sector steps up to Public funding for direct invest-
provide housing in Zimbabwe as the provide housing in Zim ment in public housing is very lim-
country continues to experience a se- ited, but public sector agencies can
rious accommodation shortage due to through various funding models. • High unemployment and low Addressing the housing challenge play a key role in providing affordable
get a combination of factors, which The housing landscape in Zimba- salary levels (limited offtake requires balancing the short-term prof- land for development by private sector
include economic, policy, income, mi- capacity); it motive with sustainability and the players.
gration and demographic issues. bwe is buffeted by a number of chal- social objective of reducing the mush-
lenges characterised by a severely con- • Undeveloped land too expen- rooming slums and homelessness. Available funding options include:
In Harare, West Property Compa- strained supply side of serviced stands sive (affects overall project • Public Funding – budgetary
ny, established in 2007, has been at and housing units . The challenges to cost); and Funding is one of the biggest prob-
the forefront of housing development. housing delivery are multi-dimension- lem preventing home ownership for allocations towards housing
Its business model is the role of mas- al, according to the Infrastructure De- • Cost of housing construction the majority. developments (very limited);
ter planner, financier and developer of velopment Bank of Zimbabwe. too high. • (ii) Joint Ventures on housing
sustainable residential and commercial Housing can be financed through a project developments (PPP or
properties in the greater Harare area. Major challenges in housing sector As a result of these issues, affordabil- number of formal, institutional or in- private sector players only);
delivery include: ity remains a major deterrent to home formal sources. • (iii) Capital market option - is-
West Property has already devel- ownership in Zimbabwe. Millions suance of long term securities
oped and is working on some housing • Slow land delivery by local au- of Zimbabweans do not own homes. Institutional sources include direct in order to raise capital for in-
estates such as Gunhill Rise, Home- thorities (for new projects); They are renting, while some live in government funding, commercial vestment in housing;
land 236 and Pokugara, among others. shacks. A lot of informal settlements banks, mortgage houses (building soci- • Property Unit Trusts – this
These are developments in the subur- • Limited institutional capacity have in recent years be mushrooming eties), pension funds, private sector real funding mechanism entails
ban areas. at all levels of housing develop- around big cities, especially Harare. estate developers such as West Property mobilising funds from differ-
ment; and state housing corporations. ent small scale investors to in-
There are many other private prop- Government has in recent years vest in housing properties and
erty developers who are also building • Lack of affordable housing and of late been demolishing irregular Informal sources mainly take the projects and;
residential units in high density and finance- interest rates, down houses. form of cooperative societies. • Co-operatives – these are a
medium density suburbs for the popu- payments, etc; result of limited provision of
lation which is largely struggling to get affordable institutional finance
houses and decent accommodation. in housing development for
low income groups.
Apart from the private, govern-
ment, private-public partnerships — STAFF WRITER
and cooperatives are deliver housing

Page 40 Sport NewsHawks

JOHN KELLEY How Flower found special Issue 36, 25 June 2021
place in cricket’s history
TWO well-known sayings come in Africa,” he told me with a shrug.
to mind when reflecting on the brain which, in turn, would, in – too often – the case. That was his Andy Flower. He accumulated 4 794 runs at an I was stunned. A blind eye if ever
cricketing life and times of Zimba- another half a second, message the greater responsibility and greater dictable and more comprehensive average of 51.50, meaning a half there was one. He resigned soon
bwe’s historically finest wicketkeep- hands and feet for their response. objective as he saw it.   by the month. It was so easy for our century on average every time he afterwards, possibly out of so much
er-batsman Andy Flower as he is be- Which would either be to leave administrators to demand success, batted. He easily holds the record embarrassment.
latedly inducted with international the 90-mph ball alone, fend it off, Flower’s record of runs scored sometimes even interfering with se- world-wide for a top Test score by a
as well as local acclaim to the Inter- or send it to a selected part of the is sitting there for all to see in cold lection. And clearly so difficult for wicketkeeper-batsman, 232. All this might have had a de-
national Cricket Council’s Hall of boundary. All that with a bat a few Wikipedia print. But the figures players of insufficient level to rec- bilitating effect on Flower. But he
Fame, a first for this country. inches across and with some sledg- did not tell the Flower story by any tify the often-embarrassing results. His highest ODI score was a rose above it all with his bat and
ing going on nearby. means. Instead, it was the motiva- A prime and excruciating example phenomenal 145, well up with the single-minded approach to what
“Float like a butterfly and sting tion behind them that counted, was a two-Test tour by India, who Chris Gayles and Gary Sobers. As he saw as his personal duty to the
like a bee,” an accolade invented for With the hope (or in Flower’s and the greater circumstances of recorded victories inside two days a ‘keeper he took 292 catches in team.
himself by Muhammad Ali but also case the intention) of getting a cen- their accumulation. Thus, in simply and by an innings plus 200 runs Tests and ODIs overall and made
adopted without shouting about it tury in these circumstances, a bats- using the word “outstanding” to de- each, stating afterwards they would 41 stumpings. Flower’s parting shot, as it inev-
by Roger Federer, Tiger Woods and man would need to go through this scribe his Test cricket career and the not bother to ever return. itably was going to be, and which
others. Except that Flower, moved process at least around 200 times. succession of big scores, the point is Having moved on from Zim- brought his playing career to a sud-
by a strong sense of motivation, And if Zimbabwe fielded first, he widely missed. The context is what Thus, Andy Flower felt he per- babwe rather earlier than expected, den end, came during a World Cup
stung the senses of a Zimbabwean would probably have spent a long mattered to him.  sistently had to continue to do he played for Essex together with qualifying match against Namibia.
cricket fraternity more like a silent time as wicketkeeper with its nec- something about it. An immense brother Grant, and also with South Jointly with Henry Olonga he sent
scorpion in terms of his wider activ- essarily extended periods of con- Zimbabwe were granted full task, but he tackled it with skill, Australia for a period. a carefully prepared statement con-
ities and methods.      centration. A cold beer at the close membership of the ICC, meaning determination and character. Well demning the Robert Mugabe gov-
of play and thoughts about how he Test cricket status, in 1992 when aware of his capabilities, he was Following injury that obliged a ernment, essentially for causing the
“Speak softly and carry a big had damaged some bowling averag- Alwyn Pichanick and Peter Chin- needed much like Winston Chur- retirement from playing, there was “death of democracy” and accusing
stick” also neatly summarised Flow- es with a big score would go with goka (both late) went to London chill was needed by Britain in the more outstanding success to come them of human rights abuses. A
er. This one originated with United the satisfaction of success after so after the country had comprehen- Second World War. His personal as England coach and subsequently dangerous foray into politics.
States president Theodore Roosevelt much intensity.  sively and frequently walloped all successes were phenomenal but, team director for five years and in
when describing his foreign policy.     rivals in their lower category, such overall, the hoped-for results tended taking the English to premier posi- In part the statement read: “We
Not for himself, but actually in as Kenya and Holland. Their claim to remain distant. It was all like try- tion among the Test nations. have decided that we will each wear
“Better late than never” is what I the national interest. That interest was irresistible and well-presented. ing to catch bullets in a circus act. a black armband for the duration of
attach to the International Cricket would also be centred upon his ob- But in reality, the disparity between That is why Flower stood out a mile While brother Grant tended to the World Cup. In doing so we are
Council (ICC), which mulled over jective of inspiring teammates who opposing Namibia and of facing up with the fans’ admiration for so be outgoing with people, and not marking the death of democracy in
his induction for 14 long and al- would follow him, especially if they to Australia, for instance, was much long, and eventually with the ICC. least we journalists, or many of them our beloved Zimbabwe...making a
most insulting years. What on earth had previously suffered a succession too wide. Defeats by the “big nine” at any rate, Andy tended to be rath- plea to...stop the abuse of human
could have taken them so long? of defeats and produced poor per- Test countries (as there were at the Born in Cape Town 53 years er aloof – though not self-centred – rights in Zimbabwe. We pray that
sonal performances that were often time) were even dismayingly pre- ago, Flower played in 63 Tests for and very careful with what he had our small action may help to restore
Flower’s induction, with just Zimbabwe and had 112 innings. to say or do. Sometimes I found this sanity and dignity to our nation.”     
two others of other countries for irritating because as a long-standing
the year 2021 from a full choice local journalist, including as a Rho- Flower explained later that he
of international players (and what Zim cricket writer, I liked to regard had included Olonga in the move
about Graeme Hick?) had been myself in a small way as being “one through lengthy persuasion because
an obvious selection much earlier. of the boys” nurturing some close acting alone as a white would be
There are now just over 100 Hall of relationships built over years since ineffective. It put his own safety at
Fame inductees, with W. G. Grace 1969. But my admiration for him risk, but Olonga’s situation follow-
an early and obvious selection, so knew no bounds because I felt I had ing the statement was much more
perhaps I cannot quarrel with the a good understanding of what pro- dangerous, with possible physical
overall quality and exclusivity of pelled him.    retribution likely from some quar-
those with famous names selected ters. Both left the country soon
through 150-plus years. Conversely, I have a low regard afterwards, Flower to play English
for the ICC, not least because of and Australian cricket. Olonga to
In now taking the name Andy their featherbedding of the rather pursue a successful career in televi-
Flower ahead of many hundreds, moribund and confused Zimba- sion and as a singer.
even thousands, of other famous bwean cricket administration per-
Test batsmen over the years, his cur- sonnel and having seen their ques- Flower received a Doctorate of
riculum vitae, detailed below, bears tionable policies close up for quite a Philosophy from the University of
a closeexamination as background few years. I will give just one exam- Gloucestershire “with a record of
for a most outstanding choice. ple. At long last, the ICC answered outstanding contribution to cricket
growing clamours for a forensic and to coaching, having a strong
It takes a minute or so to walk examination of the corrupt and in- desire to make a difference and to
from a dressing room to the hot competent financial affairs of Zim- inspire others.”
zone of a Test match wicket. Im- babwe Cricket (ZC), not least the
patient fast bowlers such as Glenn “gift” of £50 000 to Chingoka “for He was also awarded the Order
McGrath, Waqar Younis, Den- services to cricket.” This Zimbabwe of the British Empire (OBE) medal
nis Lillee or Allan Donald will be executive was eventually allowed for services to sport in 2011, on top
tossing in expectation the little red to brazenly engage a long-standing of being voted the BBC Sports Per-
missile in the air and pawing the attorney-cum-accountant friend in sonality of the Year.
ground like Spanish bulls. Southerton to do the job. I mean
“do a job.” His whitewash was then All of the above drama, and
They would be trying to trans- approved by the ICC at a Harare lofty recognition, added up with
mit their menacing thoughts to a meeting, with just rudimentary and extraordinary impact around the
batsman just arrived. They try to  uncritical examination. I spoke pri- world to the Flower legend. With
indicate to him that either they vately afterwards in an outer room widespread acclaim, he now enters
will quickly break his stumps with to the managing director of ICC of proudly, or in his case probably just
a yorker, or a couple of ribs with the time, Malcolm Speed, whom I modest satisfaction, into the ICC
one pitched a bit short. The spec- regarded as a bluff and honest offi- “Hall of Fame.” 
tators in the pavilion and at Harare cial. 
Sports Club’s Castle Corner would But fame is abstract. To me a
be glued to his back in the hope of “Oh, that’s just the way it is done “Hall of Achievement” would be
his survival. Then, after some overs more appropriate for his inclusion.
survived, be in anticipation of a
three-figure score. *Veteran journalist and author
John Kelley, a former news editor
The batsman would have to of the Herald and sports editor of
analyse in less than half a second the the Sunday Mail in Harare, was
pace of a ball, its direction, length an international sports writer in
and behaviour, instantly transmit- Zimbabwe for nearly 30 years.
ting the information from eyes to Retired in England, Kelley penned 
this tribute exclusively for The
NewsHawks.

Quite a relief, but we must not drop our guard
COVID-19 has been a reality authorities again.  scores.   Before the decision to restart view of the situation. phant – in this case Covid-19
check for sport in Zimbabwe, This is no time for conspiracy But following a blanket ban the Chibuku Super Cup was On one hand, he felt strong- – is in the room. 
not least the country’s foremost last week on all sporting activ- made, I had a chat this week
code, football. theories.  ities in the wake of the newest with a certain football adminis- ly, in his own words, that foot- It also did not help that in
The Covid-19 pandemic is a lockdown measures, cricket was trator of one club, an upstand- ball had “exceedingly surpassed” their findings, health experts –
Football had initially been left one of the first codes to expectations in Covid-19 pre- according to information which
out from amongst disciplines al- public health reality. The risk is get the seal of approv- vention measures since being reached us – had raised con-
lowed to resume, following lat- too high, and we still live under al to resume not only allowed to return last month for cern over a lax attitude towards
est lockdown measures brought a cloud of uncertainty.  because it is classified a the first time since 2019. adherence, particularly in the
by a new coronavirus surge.  low-risk discipline, but HawkZone more recent weeks of football’s
I do not believe that football also due to satisfactory A whole bunch of other comeback. 
After the uproar has died has been deliberately targeted. adherence to Covid-19 fair-minded people feel that
down following this week’s To what end?  guidelines.  way too.  But thankfully, the willing-
greenlight for football to contin- The initial omis- Enock ness to cooperate – from all
ue, cool heads must now prevail, Just under two years ago, sion of football from But on the other hand, the those involved – has offered a
to forge a collective way forward Zimbabwe’s cricket administra- the list was met with Muchinjo official admitted that there had glimmer of hope on the hori-
in these testing Covid times. tion was engaged in a very nasty widespread public dis- been clubs that were found in zon for hopefully a return to
row with the national govern- approval due to two breach of Covid-19 restrictions full normality in Zimbabwean
For the sake of a national ment department responsible reasons: games are being and “strongly reprimanded.” football.
pastime so passionately loved by for sport in the country.  played in empty stadiums, and ing and reputable official in the
millions in this country, the new players regularly tested. game, who offered me his blunt It sparked a sharp retort from It is most heartening, and
lifeline thrown to football must Months on after this bitter me: Just a “reprimand”? Is this long may it continue until safety
be safeguarded by all, so that the dispute, the most cynical ob- not a slap on the wrist?    is guaranteed.
game does not force the hand of server would think that there
could be some sort of weaponi- We tended to agree. You can-
sation of Covid-19 to settle old not take chances when the ele-

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

Friday 25 June 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS CULTURE
‘You can dream, dreams$60Covid
tariff for
visitors &
Community
radio
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tourists under review

Story on Page 3 Story on Page 8

“You know, Zimbabwe
is going through a lot, they
need a hero,” Barbados-born
don’t hurt anyone’ENOCKMUCHINJO

Chamisa reacTHE success of Zimbabwe
fast bowler Blessing Muzara- Weekes told The NewsHawks
bani – who on Thursday add- Khupeafter Sultan clinched the PSL
ed another feather in his cap out to title.
by helping Multan Sultans “And to see a boy who
win a maiden Pakistan Super comes from nothing is a
League title – continues to be good story. You need to hon-
a great source of delight for our this young man. What
mentor Winston Weekes. you will be doing is giving
Multan beat Peshawar calls for emergethe children hope, at least
Zalmi by 47 runs in the fi- Unofficial president something to smile about.
nal, providing a Zimbabwe- “His pictures should
an flavour to the feat on two all be on billboards in the
fronts.  high-density areas and say,
Andy Flower, the great- ‘look at this guy, if you work
est cricketer to emerge from hard, you can achieve what
Zimbabwe and a recent in- he has achieved’. You have
ternational Hall of Fame in- to give people hope, because
ductee, is Multan’s coach. they will think that, ‘you
It is Muzarabani’s achieve- know what, there is no hope’.
ment that has particularly So they need to see their own
pleased Weekes, a British na- black brother doing well.
tional of West Indian origin That’s what it’s about. You
who has taken the tall seamer can dream, dreams don’t hurt
under his wing since 2017.   anyone.”
Weekes has been a central Muzarabani took two
figure in Muzarabani’s rapid wickets at any economy rate
rise into a potent fast bowl- of under seven in Thursday’s
er. The London-based agent final, contributing to Mul-
– who played and coached Blessing Muzarabani celebrates with his Multan teammates after taking a wicket. tan’s remarkable turnaround

domestically in Zimbabwe in into the English county system when As predicted by Weekes three years er, earning worldwide recognition for following a slow start to the
the 1980s – facilitated Mu- the 24-year-old pacer from Harare ago, Muzarabani has returned from his eye-catching performances in the Twenty20 tournament. 
zarabani’s big breakthrough signed for Northamptonshire.  county cricket a more dangerous bowl- Zimbabwe team.

Another Rugby World Cup quest begins

ZIMBABWE will tour Tuni- and 17 July – after failing to due to lockdown restrictions, Zimbabwe last month as- McNab and the uncapped ning performances in his de-
sia early next month with a add more preparatory match- so the Sables are now sched- sembled a large provisional loose-forward Sebastian but Varsity Cup season for the
26-man squad to launch their es before the crucial North uled to fly out to Tunisia on squad for an intensive train- Roche did not play in the University of Western Cape.
bid for 2023 Rugby World African trip. After hosting and 4 July for a training camp ing camp in Harare, which Zambia friendlies as they were The explosive 22-year-old
Cup qualification, after being beating neighbours Zambia ahead of their opening Pool D has culminated in the selec- still travelling home to join back-rower will link up with
allowed to travel amidst new in two friendly ties early this stFiioain-nbaonoufncdethsMiedeitn.riAimslltmybeuwdt tiwTpuoensoi-foutcina$m3fup.2l.l WBswiiltilnhiogtnhinedCSeoupurorthiseiAtCofurrips- fuhwnihdsosneiwnclSuhdZaerikmsSo'tsueatlmhatmeAasftrteisclaa–’snd c
Covid-19 lockdown measures month, the original warm- BmuartkchinaagFaaiAsnosLtoSnrOa1n3kIJNouuSlyt.IsDideErs the travelling party got a taste ca, Zimbabwe will be pleased World Cup-winning captain
in the southern African coun- up itinerary would have seen of action against Zambians, they have been authorised to and fellow flank Siya Kolisi –
try. the Sables also play rivals Na- A clash between the Sables putting Brendan Dawson’s travel to North Africa with after the Tunisia trip.
mibia – home and away – be- and hosts Tunisia will then men in good stead ahead of fast-rising flank Blithe Ma- The Zimbabweans are aim-
The Sables will now set up fore winding up with a clash wrap up the three-team pool the two Tests in Tunisia. vesere, who a fortnight ago ing to reach the World Cup
a two-week training camp in against Blue Bulls Select in on 17 April, with the top two Only the England-based was signed by Durban-based for the first time since 1991. 
Tunisia ahead of this year’s Pretoria on 3 July.  sides proceeding to the busi- pair of winger Matthew giants Sharks following stun-
phase of Africa region qualifi- ness end of the World Cup —STAFF WRITER.
ers – to be played between 9 All this did not materialise qualifiers next year.

ALSO INSIDE How Flower found special place in cricket’s history