Issue 7 final

Price

US$1

Friday 27 November 2020

WHAT’S INSIDE 2021 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

Total budget size: ZW$421.6 billion Excise duty on alcohol & cigarettes up

Presumptive tax for self-employed 7.4% GDP projection growth projection

Revenue projection ZW$390.8bn New restriction on motor vehicle imports

External debt: US$8.2bln Tax-free income threshold from ZW$5k to ZW$10k

Exclusive

CIO owns
abductions
car rental
company

ALSO INSIDE Ferrets operation: Muchehiwa attempts suicide Ncube’s budget appeases military

Page 2 News NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

CIO owns abductions
car rental company

OWEN GAGARE/ Muchehiwa is ZimLive editor The probe shows Dondo – whose company, shows the 16 000 shares to name or share with the media and
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Mduduzi Mathuthu’s nephew. Jour- National Identification card Num- gave the CIO outfit a controlling the public the identity of people who
nalists were attacked while attending ber is 58-132451P-50 - represents 50.2% shareholding. hired the vehicle used to kidnap and
ZIMBABWE’s hospitality giant, a press conference by student leaders CIO interests in Impala. His address disappear Tawanda for three days.
Impala Car Rental, which has a big to protest against Muchehiwa’s kid- was given on the documents as No. The nominal share capital of the
footprint in the tourism sector, and is napping and brutalisation by state 92 McChery Avenue, Eastlea, Hara- company was 32 000 shares going Tawanda’s three relatives were also
implicated in the abduction and tor- security agents using the Impala car. re. A search for the address led to No. for ZW$1 each. The number of picked up by security forces and de-
ture of severely traumatised journal- Ngadziore was badly beaten up by 92 McChlery, not McChery. shares previously allotted, including tained at Bulawayo Central police
ism student Tawanda Muchehiwa, is unknown assailants and left for dead. subscriber shares, was 100. This left before they were released under me-
owned by the state security service, Journalists were attacked and had Dondo’s ID No. – the last two 31 900 shares available for cash to dia and public pressure.
Central Intelligence Organisation their equipment vandalised or seized. digits 50 – shows he is from Mutasa the tune of ZW$31 900.
(CIO), The NewsHawks can reveal. district in Manicaland province. The Tawanda was detained at an un-
Although police have opened a digits 58 suggest he obtained his ID After Chilten Trust found its way known location for three days during
An investigation over two months new investigation into the Muchehi- from Kwekwe. into Impala through Dondo, on the which he was subjected to horren-
into Impala’s affairs and Muchehi- wa case through a team of detectives same day – 6 September 2017 – the dous torture. He was only released
wa’s abduction in Bulawayo on 30 from Harare and Gweru who are The NewsHawks journalists, then balance of the shares went to a com- after his lawyer Nqobani Sithole
July shows the car hire belongs to currently in Bulawayo, they have not working for the Zimbabwe Indepen- pany called Gutlomm Trust located filed a habeas corpus court applica-
the CIO. The kidnapping occurred shown any serious interest in arrest- dent, first came across Chilten Trust on the 7th Floor of Robinson House, tion. Sithole said this week Tawanda,
a day before the 31 July protests, pre- ing and prosecuting the assailants. in the late 1990s and again in 2003 Harare. The company was represent- now in South Africa, was badly trau-
ceded by a sweeping crackdown on Journalists are always asking police investigating its ties with Israeli in- ed by Tendai Gunda whose ID num- matised and is suffering from from
civic and political activists, including about progress on the case. telligence-linked entity Nikuv which ber is 50-173439E-42. post-traumatic stress disorder.
journalists, by state security agents. was hired by government to produce
Impala resisted providing infor- new IDs and passports, and later Dondo and Gunda are both from CIO and police have failed to
Documents obtained during the mation on the car hirers, who are biometric identity and travel doc- Manicaland. Gutlomm Trust is no bring charges of any wrong-doing
investigation show that Impala – reg- possibly part of the abductors despite uments. Nikuv, which deals with longer present at the given address. against Muchehiwa.
istered as Impala Carriers (Pvt) Ltd a court order by Justice Evangelista electrical issues, is infamous in Zim- Checks show that it has now moved
– is now owned by Chilten Trust, a Kabasa on 3 September directing the babwe for election rigging controver- to Eastlea along Samora Machel Ave- Former MDC Alliance Bulawayo
CIO entity, represented by company sheriff to recover from the car hire all sies. nue. The CR6 document says Impa- women’s league leader Tendai Masot-
chief executive Thompson Dondo in documentation and information re- la is located on Number 40 Chirem- sha has been accused of collaborating
the car hire firm’s registration docu- lating to the Ford Ranger hiring be- Our journalists also later encoun- ba Road, Hillside, which is public with the CIO to trap Muchehiwa
ments. Impala’s registration number tween 26 July and 6 August. Impala tered Chilten Trust in 2003 when it knowledge. The company has a huge and his relatives. She had denied the
is 2519/1989. has ducked and dived, and kicked was embroiled in a failed CIO plot fleet of cars which includes sedans, charges. The MDC Alliance cleared
dust without complying and becom- to frame the late MDC founding mini-vans, trucks and SUVs, offer- her after an investigation, but due to
Although Impala registration doc- ing accountable by releasing infor- leader Morgan Tsvangirai, the par- ing self-drive and chauffeur-driven public pressure they forced her out.
uments have been removed from mation to uncover the crime and the ty’s then secretary-general Welshman rentals, airport transfers and shuttle She now claims Muchehiwa want-
the company registry in Harare, The perpetrators. Ncube and the late Renson Gasela, services. Gutlomm Trust, linked to ed to bomb buildings, an allegation
NewsHawks managed to meticulous- an MDC leader, and implicate them high-profile public office holders, ac- dismissed by him and his relatives as
ly piece together the record. The CIO, which operates in Pres- in false allegations that they had con- quired 15 900 shares, which gave it a false.
ident Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office spired to assassinate the late former 49.8% equity stake in Impala.
Investigations reveal Chilten Trust and is part of the state’s vast secu- president Robert Mugabe. While Dondo and Impala lawyers
is a CIO entity used for administra- rity complex straddling the army, Impala was first registered in 1989 said they were willing to cooperate
tive, operational and investments police and intelligence services, has In the plot to frame MDC leaders, as Impala Carriers (Pvt) Ltd. Its di- with law enforcement agents on the
purposes. The probe unearthed a for years been accused of abducting Chilten Trust was used by CIO as a rectors were John Ross Hilderbrand case, they have refused to release
secret arrangement between Dondo and torturing political and civic ac- conduit to make payments through and Edward Alexander Karnicki. any information to the public about
and the CIO on the ownership of tivists for partisan reasons without CBZ Bank and ZB Bank (formerly They both resigned in 2010. those who hired the car used to fa-
the business. accountability. ZimBank) to dodgy international cilitate Muchehiwa’s abduction and
Israeli public relations consultant This was after Dondo and Gunda torture.
Since the scandal linking Impa- Names of intelligence operatives Ari Ben-Menashe via his Canadi- had bought into the company and
la’s car, a Ford Ranger registration working under a crack security team an-based political consultancy, Dick- came in as directors on 17 August Zimbabweans generally attribute
number AES 2483, to the abduction known as the Ferrets, which in- ens & Madison, between 30 Novem- 2010, the very day Hilderbrand and cases of abductions, enforced disap-
broke out, Dondo has been elusive. cludes CIO, police and military in- ber 2001 and 5 August 2002. Karnicki resigned as directors. pearances and brutality to the CIO;
He did a few interviews and disap- telligence, who were involved in the from the Gukurahundi cases of ab-
peared. Repeated attempts to contact Muchehiwa abduction, have been Documents show that Chilten From 21 September 1989 to 6 ductions, for instance the Silobela
him failed. Impala battled to con- released on social media. Trust took control of Impala on September 2017, the company was 11 in 1985 to Itai Dzamara in 2015
tain the fallout after the storm, but 6 September 2017 after it had ac- known as Impala Carriers (Pvt) Ltd. and now Muchehiwa in July. Asked
failed as the scandal gained traction Former Zanu PF MP and min- quired 16 000 shares at a nominal Now they call it Impala Car Rental. about Impala’s shareholding and
locally, regionally and international- ister Jonathan Moyo has released value of ZW$1 each. At the time the CIO connection, Impala company
ly. Hence, Impala is now infamous some of the names which include exchange between the United States Its relationship with Synergy Ha- lawyer Jivas Mudimu said: “I don’t
for the Muchehiwa case, attacks on CIO operatives identified as Ronald dollar and the Zimbabwean dollar rare Car Rental is obscure, but there want to lie; I’m a lawyer for Impala,
student leader Takudzwa Ngadziore Chigona, Joshua Zingwe and Frank was 1:1. were two other directors with Dondo but I don’t know what is in its CR14
and assaults of journalists in front of Muzembi. The abduction drama was surname in there, Kanganwirai and (information on directors). I don’t
its offices in Hillside, Harare, on 18 captured on CCTV and shows how An Impala CR2 document, used Alfred, who are related to Thompson think it is any of my business any-
September. the elaborate plan was executed. for creating and issuing new shares Dondo. Revelations of the connec- way. I don’t know who owns what at
or for share allotment in a private tion between Impala and the CIO Impala.”
explain the car hire’s steadfast refusal

NewsHawks News Page 3

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Ferrets operation
abduction, torture:
Muchehiwa tries
to commit suicide

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE then contacted the Law and Order Tawanda Muchehiwa being taken to hospital after torture
to share notes on the crime and to
A CRIMINAL Investigation De- ask if they were aware of the case. ed Msebele on the same day who to Nyathi, saying only the nation- Meanwhile, the police have
partment (CID) Homicide reac- The Law and Order said ‘iyo siya- told the publication to call the al office could comment on “polit- launched investigations into the
tion team which responded to the nai nayo’ (leave the case alone).” Bulawayo Central Police Station ical matters”. incident with teams being sent
scene of Tawanda Muchehiwa’s landline telephone and lodge a from Harare and Gweru to Bula-
abduction was told to “leave the The Homicide department con- query with the public relations of- Bizarrely, Nyathi then asked wayo to investigate the matter, not
case alone” by their Law and Or- cluded that it might have been a fice there. this reporter to ask Msebele to call necessarily for prosecution, but to
der counterparts, The NewsHawks Ferret operation as the force in- him, before saying he would call establish facts relating to the mat-
has learnt. cludes members of the Law and After several back-and-forth back after talking to Msebele. ter following pressure from the
Order department as well as mem- phone calls with her office, she press and human rights activists.
Muchehiwa was forcibly taken bers of the Police Internal Security then referred The NewsHawks back Further inquiries to Nyathi
by a suspected Ferret team from a Intelligence, personnel from the were not responded to.
vehicle outside a hardware store in army and the Central Intelligence
Bulawayo and taken to a secluded Organisation.
place where he was tortured for
three days and later dumped near The Ferret team has been impli-
his home in Mahatshula suburb. cated in several cases of abduction
and torture of opposition and civil
Sources told The NewsHawks society activists.
that a report reached the Homi-
cide department, which inves- Police spokesperson Paul
tigates cases of armed robbery, Nyathi and Bulawayo acting pro-
murder and hijackings, just after vincial spokesperson Nomalanga
Muchehiwa had been grabbed in a Msebele refused to comment on
crime where guns had been used. the issue, giving different excuses.

“When they rushed to the scene The NewsHawks first tried to
they did an assessment and the call Nyathi on 29 October to get
preliminary investigations indi- an update on investigations.
cated that it was not a robbery, if
anything it pointed to a kidnap- Nyathi however said the Bula-
ping,” the source said. wayo police press and public re-
lations office was responsible for
“The Homicide department commenting on the matter.

The NewsHawks then contact-

Journalist traumatised by State agents attack

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE jaw bones—which is loose—fixed used in the abduction of Muche- Rumbidzai Chizarura the gate. The agents followed, but
as there were only two people who hiwa. The security agents broke or failed to gain access into the yard.
JOURNALIST Rumbidzai Chi- can do it in Zimbabwe, but one confiscated equipment belonging ra was assaulted and had her video
zarura, who was severely attacked them is outside the country,” Chi- to journalists, including cameras, recorder, cellphone, camera and They however ransacked her car
by suspected State agents while zarura said. laptops and recorders. laptop taken from the car. before taking off in a Nissan Na-
covering a Zimbabwe National vara and Toyota Land Cruiser.
Students’ Union (Zinasu) press With tears running down her Techmag TV reporter Chizaru- She ran into the yard of one
conference on Impala Car Rent- cheeks, an emotional Chazarura of the nearby business premises, Chazarura had earlier tried to
al’s involvement in the abduction said she was fighting depression just as the caretaker was closing escape in her car but failed.
of university student Tawanda and had become suicidal as a result
Muchehiwa, has been suffering of the attack, which left her severe- “At first it was one woman who
from severe trauma, depression ly traumatised. took my car keys and then a man
and physical pain. who ordered me out of the car and
“I do not sleep, I get panic at- started beating me. I then ran into
Furthermore, Chizarura, who tacks and I am depressed most of one of the yards close by. They fol-
opened up about the attack for the time. I got to a point where I lowed me there and they were now
the first time in an interview with just gave up on life and cut myself. a group, telling me to get out and
The NewsHawks this week, said I am glad for the people around me telling a man who was working
she was in danger given that some and my boss who spoke to me. To at the place to let me out. One of
people were trailing and watching make matters worse, I have peo- the ladies who works at that place
her since the incident occurred on ple trailing me everywhere I go, it came out after the group seemed
18 September. can’t be a coincidence that I see the to have left and started chasing me
same person at events I attend and away, she was mean. I then got a
Chizarura has been having neck at shops I get into and even when I phone to contact my boss and fam-
problems, migraine headaches, visit my family.” ily from a man next door to that
poor eyesight and a loose jawbone. yard,” she said.
Journalists and students were
“I was slapped, beaten to the attacked by suspected security “We went to Braeside Police
ground and kicked. I have a bone agents about 100 metres from the Station but we were turned us
around my neck here that some- Impala offices in Hillside, Harare, away. We also tried to report at
times gets out of groove, I have where Zinasu president Takudzwa Harare Central Police Station but
headaches which cannot be treat- Ngadziore was addressing a Press didn’t get any joy. We then went to
ed by pain medication. The doc- conference demanding that Impala Rhodesville Police where an officer
tors said I would need to go out- release information regarding the took down the items that had been
side the country to get one of my person or entity that hired the car stolen. Until now, we have not
been updated on anything.”

Page 4 News NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

BERNARD MPOFU Minister presents budget
WHILE Finance minister Mthu- under dark poverty cloud
li Ncube yesterday during his
ZW$421.6 billion 2021 budget Mthuli Ncube
presentation painted a somewhat
rosy economic outlook, trumpet- April–May 2019, but the number In absolute terms, rural extreme Development Strategy I. of fuel subsidy as some of the key
ing a string of budget surpluses of poor people measured by the poverty remained much high- The TSP was aimed at stabi- milestones.
and other benefits of fiscal con- lower-bound poverty line rose er than urban extreme poverty.
solidation, including exchange from 8.0 million to 8.9 million The general poverty rate based lising the economy, attracting However, after concluding Ar-
rate and price stability, Zimba- during the same period. on the lower bound poverty line investment, re-integrating the ticle IV consultations with Zim-
bweans are inexorably sinking remained high. It changed mar- country into the global economy babwe in February, the Inter-
deeper into poverty. “Extreme poverty rose from ginally for the rural population, and laying a foundation for sus- national Monetary Fund (IMF)
30% in 2017 to 38% in April– but in urban areas it rose sharp- tained growth. expressed concern over Zimba-
Ncube said while the econ- May 2019, and general poverty ly, from 16% to 24% during the bwe’s reform agenda.
omy will contract by -4.1% by (measured by the lower bound same period.” Ncube also claimed there was a
year-end, it will rebound with a poverty line) rose from 43% to serious reform agenda underway. “The government that came
growth of 7.4% before stabilising 51% during the same period,” the Just recently Ncube gloat- to office following the 2018 elec-
at an annual growth rate of 5% report says. ed over the country’s economic Right at the top of his budget tions adopted an agenda focused
thereafter, trying to give hope blueprint, the Transitional Sta- statement, he had a summary of on macro-stabilisation and re-
and confidence to the economy “Although extreme poverty in- bilisation Programme (2018-20) progress on reforms which cov- forms. This was supported by a
and people. creased in both urban and rural despite missing key benchmarks ered enhanced revenue collec- Staff Monitored Program from
areas, in relative terms, extreme as he introduced the National tion, fiscal and monetary policy, the IMF, adopted in May 2019,
However, a new study by the poverty rose more in urban areas. fiscal balance and expenditure but is now off-track as policy im-
country’s statistical agency Zim- containment. plementation has been mixed,”
stats and the World Bank shows the IMF said.
most Zimbabweans have sunk Ncube also cited the repeal-
deeper into poverty in recent ing of the Access to Information “Reengagement with the inter-
years as the economy plateaued Protection of Privacy Act and the national community continues
in protracted crisis. Public Order Security Act; the to face delays. The Zimbabwe-
compensation of evicted white an government has yet to define
Zimbabwe is battling dropping former commercial farmers and the modalities and financing to
production and low aggregate the proposed changes to the cit- clear arrears to the World Bank
demand, high unemployment, izenship laws to pave way for and other multilateral institu-
poor social service delivery, in- the granting of dual citizenship tions, and to undertake reforms
cluding power outages and water to people born in Zimbabwe as that would facilitate resolution of
shortages and health problems, some of the institutional and po- arrears with bilateral creditors.
among other things. litical reforms government has This continues to constrain Zim-
adopted in its bid to reform and babwe’s access to external official
But yesterday, Ncube said reengage the international com- support.”
claimed Zimbabweans had ex- munity.
pressed renewed hope on gov- Ncube said Zimbabwe remains
ernment’s plans to turn around On the economic front, the committed to rebuilding political
the floundering economy. minister pointed out fiscal con- and economic reforms through
solidation which has helped re- engagement and re-engagement
“Going around the country, duce the monetary financing of with the international commu-
meeting with all groups of peo- the deficit, improving the ease of nity.
ple, I came up with the following doing business and the removal
observations. Out there, con-
fidence is improving and the
Budget is committed to cement
that hope by addressing various
expectations,” Ncube told parlia-
ment.

“These expectations evolve
around provision of basic ser-
vices such as water, housing,
food, health, education of chil-
dren, among other issues. The
young at colleges and those leav-
ing colleges look forward to find
and keep the jobs. In fact, people
of all backgrounds want to be as-
sured that, through the Budget,
we are doing all we can to make
sure that promises become a re-
ality.”

The minister’s positive nar-
rative continued when he said
due to fiscal consolidation and
a tighter monetary policy, ex-
change rate and price stability
was now achievable.

He said a three-pronged
strategy focusing on exchange
rate stability, financial services
soundness and money supply
management would deliver some
economic gains. Inflation has de-
clined from 659% in September
to 471% in October annually.

“In the outlook, annual infla-
tion is expected to drastically
slow down to an average of be-
low 135% in 2021, while average
month-on-month inflation is ex-
pected to be below 1%,” Ncube
said.

However, the Zimbabwe Pov-
erty Update (2017-19), a joint
report compiled by Zimstats and
the World Bank, shows more
people have been thrown into the
deep throes of poverty.

The number of extremely
poor people rose from 4.5 mil-
lion in 2017 to six million during

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Ncube’s
Budget
appeases
military

FINANCE Minister Mthuli Ncu- ical facilities and other welfare es have been set for the War Vet- the Ministry of Public Service, with obsolete machinery and
be appeased the security forces essentials,” Ncube said. erans, including the additional Labour and Social Welfare. without critical drugs. He allocat-
and war veterans in his 2021 bud- equivalent to US$37.5 million for ed ZW$54.7 billion to the minis-
get by making large allocations to “Therefore, I propose alloca- the War Veterans Fund through The Industry and Commerce try. The Ministry of Primary and
them, to cover direct and person- tions to the security sector as fol- the National Venture Fund,” Ncu- ministry was given a paltry Secondary Education was allocat-
al needs. lows: Defence, Security and War be said. ZW$2.3 billion. ed ZW$55.2 billion and Higher
Veterans, ZW$23.8 billion; and and Tertiary Education ministry
The rank and file of the secu- Home Affairs and Cultural Her- Comparatively, Ncube allo- Ncube however catered for the ZW$14.36 billion.
rity sector has been disgruntled itage ZW$23.6 billion.” cated little to social welfare, ear- Health ministry at a time most
since the 2017 military coup marking only ZW$6.9 billion to medical institutions, including – STAFF WRITER
which toppled former president The Defence, Security and War referral hospitals, are operating
Robert Mugabe while catapulting Veterans ministry houses the
Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Zimbabwe National Army and
presidency, because of unfulfilled the Air Force of Zimbabwe while
promises and the government’s the Zimbabwe Republic Police is
failure to turn around the econ- under Home Affairs ministry.
omy.
Ncube also splurged on war
Ncube allocated a dispro- veterans. He said the budget “ap-
portionately huge chunk of the preciates and recognises the sig-
ZW$421.6 billion national bud- nificant effort” of war veterans
get to the security forces. and war collaborators in bringing
about Independence and peace.
“In recognition of the impor-
tance of peace, the security sector “In line with the Constitution,
has to be adequately supported the budget therefore, owns up by
hence, the 2021 budget has made supporting the welfare of our war
provision for essential require- veterans in terms of medical care,
ments of security services such as general welfare, schooling of their
training, accommodation, mobil- children and promotion of their
ity, equipment, uniforms, med- economic empowerment. For
that purpose, budgetary resourc-

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Police fail to charge Chin’ono will be unable to prepare our client’s
ZIMBABWEAN journalist and case without all of these necessary
film-maker Hopewell Chin’ono’s Hopewell Chin’ono disembarking from a Prisons and Correctional Service truck ing to the crime does not specify an documents and we therefore request
lawyers have accused the State of fail- offence and failure by the state to dis- that these be provided without delay.”
ing to provide them with documents does not even tell our client the law defence team false promises on hand- close the offence would disallow the
to prepare for his 7 December trial, it is alleged he breached,” the 24 No- ing over the documents. accused to defend himself. Magaisa pointed out a number of
after prosecutors gave them material vember letter reads. weaknesses in Muchada’s statement.
which they described as mere politi- Commenting on the matter, Kent Chin’ono appeared in court on 10
cal commentary. The letter saya prosecutors Mi- University law lecturer Alex Magai- November where he was furnished “In paragraph 6, he came to the
cheal Reza, Whisper Mabhaudi and sa said Muchada’s statement which with a trial date. The prosecution conclusion that the accused had
This comes after the state the Tendai Shonhayi had been giving the quotes some tweets the State is link- promised to provide the defence with ‘committed an offence’ but does not
week provided a police statement on documents on 16 November. state the nature of the offence. There
Chin’ono on which did not state any is no reference to the statute. He
charge against him. His lawyers requested that they be talks policy issues like re-engagement
provided with: the charge sheet ful- which are superfluous and irrele-
Chin’ono was arrested in July and ly setting out the allegations against vant,” Magaisa said.
charged with incitement to partici- Chin’ono, all the tweets alleged to
pate in public violence. He spent 45 disclose an offence and on which the “In paragraph 7, he says the ac-
days in prison. He was also arrested state will be relying at the trial and cused said ‘Zimbabwe will never be
and detained for two weeks on con- the State outline fully setting out the free…through elections’ and inter-
tempt of court charges. allegations against the journalist. prets that to mean he ‘opted to incite
the populace to use any means’. An
His lawyers, Mtetwa and Nyambi- They also want all witnesses’ state- opinion is not an offence. He doesn’t
rai Law Firm, wrote to the Regional ments, Chin’ono’s warned and cau- say what and how expressing an
Public Prosecutor in the Anti- Cor- tioned statements as well as all other opinion is incitement.
ruption Court complaining about material that the State will seek to
how the State prosecutors have been rely on. “The Superintendent also draws a
frustrating efforts by the defence false cause between Hopewell’s tweets
team, Gift Mtisi and Doug Coltart, “We have set out the attempts at and the actions of Jacob Ngarivhume
to get documents to help them pre- collecting the documents in detail so and Jacob Sikhala. It’s as if they were
pare their defence. that there can be no doubt that we driven by Hopewell’s tweets to start
have done all that is humanely pos- mobilising for July 31 when in fact
“The provision of Elliot Muchada’s sible to get these documents which they made their calls much earlier.
(Officer Commanding CID Law and ought to have been provided to us on
Order Harare Province) statement the day the trial date was given,” the “If the prosecution’s papers do
does not in any way make it possible lawyers said. not disclose any offence, the accused
for us to prepare our client’s defence cannot be expected to defend him-
as the statement is a political com- “As you are of course aware, we self. Wat will he be defending if the
mentary on the same tweets. And it prosecution papers do not disclose an
offence. It’s just political persecution
presented as prosecution.”

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

‘G40 scapegoat for Mnangagwa failure’

IN NOVERMBER 2017, Saviour Touring Company). I own commer- but they’re denied to stand because Saviour Kasukuwere country, which batch was it? Where
Kasukuwere, then local government cial transport and various other enti- someone says, ‘I think you’re G40’, was it kept, who could have used it?
minister, escaped death by a whisker ties. Surely, all those years of service, all so because of that, his or her rights are They fail to communicate, it’s G40.
when bullets rained on his Harare those years of hard work, where was I immediately affected because some- And you know the extent to which I thought (Vice-President) Kembo
home as the army effected the military putting my profit? body just decided to paint them in a colleagues see shadows is amazing. I’ve Mohadi the other day said that they
coup which toppled former president particular way. never seen such an insecure adminis- found the person and that person will
Robert Mugabe. Remember, I have been on the tration. never be able to talk again, something
American sanctions list since 2001, Because I do not subscribe to your of that nature.
He was seen as part of the G40 meaning that there’s very little ex- views as an individual, does that mean Perhaps in their homes they blame
faction, which had coalesced around ternalisation a person of my calibre you negate or nullify my rights in G40 if they don’t perform well in bed, I don’t know what he meant, may-
former first lady Grace Mugabe while would be able to do. terms of being a member of the party? they will say ‘no, it’s G40, ‘Don’t blame be they eliminated the person, I guess
pushing for Sydney Sekeramayi to suc- NH: But tell us about G40. Some me mama, it’s G40’. No. Please give us they know much better. I have no
ceed the aged Mugabe. Most of the funds that I made were things that have gone wrong in a break. What have we done? What is need to spill blood.
out of hard work within the country, I Zanu PF and government have been in existence are legitimate questions
Kasukuwere, like other prominent would invest back in my country. So, I blamed on G40. Are you destabilis- that are being raised by all and sundry, I have no desire whatsoever to get
G40 members, is living in exile, in trust that those proceeds of hard work ing Zanu PF and government oper- including members of Zanu PF. involved in bombing Emmerson
South Africa, but the group continues remain mine, in my own country. ations? Mnangagwa or anybody. It’s tragic.
to be accused of fuelling dissent and SK: No, You see, when they make The party has not held elections
sabotaging both Zanu PF and the gov- Barring the challenges that we were their own mistakes, when they foul to choose provincial chairpersons in In fact, this is the first time in our
ernment. going through, the acrimony that we themselves in the 18 area, they will terms of the law. country I’ve seen arms of war being
are facing, when we have worked over blame somebody else. used at a political gathering, where
The NewsHawks news editor Owen the years and you have built your own You can’t start by building DCCs people come to support their political
Gagare and investigative journalist portfolio, you wish to maintain and You can’t run a country on the basis (district co-ordinating committees) party, and they leave that place in body
Bridget Mananavire (NH) recently protect it for your children. of blame game. Each time you make before you’ve renewed the cells, which bags.
caught up with Kasukuwere (SK) in NH: Are you planning on going a mistake, take responsibility and deal are done annually, branches are done
South Africa and they spoke about back to Zimbabwe? with the challenge than blame some- every two years, districts every three No, it’s not supposed to be that way.
the former Zanu PF commisar’s life SK: Zim (Zimbabwe) is my home; body. Now it has become ridiculous. years, provinces every four years. And NH: Were you ever questioned?
on foreign soil and the future. Zim is my country. I will certainly be you go to congress. SK: No, no, no, they know the truth.
NH: How has life been for you in home when the situation permits, as Somebody fails, even to succeed in They know it themselves. They can’t
South Africa? There was a drastic you are aware that a lot stands in the their constituency, they blame G40. There is a political timetable that come and ask me that. They know
change from the kind of life that way. They fail in exams, it is G40, they fail must guide the political party. But all each other, they must deal with each
you were used to in Zimbabwe. How to run an economy, it’s G40. that has been thrown to the dustbin. other. Ha, they must leave me alone.
have you adapted? On the 15th of November 2017 NH: You have been meeting with the
SK: Well, I continue to live life as the midnight, or early morning, my Now, if everybody questions, the ANC leadership. What has been the
average person does. How I lived in house was attacked and that attack has answer is ‘he has been sent’. nature of those meetings and what
Zimbabwe is how I continue to live not been investigated, and so you don’t are you engaging them on?
here; it is a normal life. Like every citi- know whether those who attacked There is a huge generation, which SK: They have sought to understand
zen in Zimbabwe or South Africa, that you might come back and attack you is now no longer just taking things at our position, they sort of understand
is how we live. again. face value. the politics and we did discuss with
NH: Are you not worried about your them.
properties back home? Do you still Until and unless there has been a There is a young generation, which
have them because there are reports closure of that matter (I will not re- will question decisions by leadership, I will not say much at this point,
that they were being repossessed by turn). So basically, it’s a question of my which will ask for clarity, which will because I think it was a privileged dis-
the government? security, I will certainly be concerned seek to understand, which will ques- cussion. I still want to respect that po-
SK: They can’t repossess my proper- being there, especially when that hor- tion, any answer you give, because sition and, at the right time, when they
ties. What for? If they do that I will rendous act has been dealt with. they have questions for certain things. speak, then fine.
report to the courts because those as- NH: Would you be open to re-join- NH: You were also blamed for the
sets belong to me. I’m not a criminal, ing Zanu PF? Bulawayo bombing in 2018 at But I, as a person or as a group
and those are my assets. They remain SK: I was not fired. The condition White City Stadium and they said with other colleagues, when we ap-
my assets and there is no provision in I’m making is that, what you did was you were in Bulawayo at the time. proach the African National Congress
the law that will compel them to take wrong. ‘You say you fired so many What happened? (ANC), we do so respectfully, and we
my assets. On what basis? people, no, you exerted pressure to re- SK: Where can I get those arms of expect that whatever we discuss with
NH: There are allegations that some move people, and that is what we must war? Bombs are not kept by Kasuku- them can only be talked about by the
of the properties were acquired us- turn back’. were. party itself.
ing proceeds from criminal activi- NH: You worked with Mnangagwa
ties, including corruption. They continue to say that, ‘no, we There is a national armoury, an in- in government, do you think he is
SK: I’m a businessman. By the time I think you belong to G40, so, because vestigation would have revealed that. capable of reforming? He promised
went into government I had already of that, you can’t stand in this position, a lot of reforms after the coup and
built my own base, property wise. you must be eliminated’. Why didn’t they call FBI (US Fed- ahead of the 2018 elections.
eral Bureau of Investigation), other SK: You already have answered your-
I had a substantial portfolio in Now you see, it’s not stopping, it’s international organisations to identify self. He promised, did he deliver? Have
business, remember I owned a bank, not ending. the nature of the bomb that was used, you seen it in any form? Reform is not
Genesis Bank, I owned UTC (United where it was manufactured? what you talk about, reform is what
So, we must slam brakes on this you do. Rhetoric yes, people can talk,
process by questioning: on what basis When the kind of bomb they’re but reality check is something else. It’s
you are doing this. What is the reason? talking about was imported into the easy to promise heaven on earth to a
nation, but do you get to deliver ex-
How do you fire a card-carrying actly what you would have promised?
member of a party? He joins volun-
tarily, pays their subscription fees, With all due respect, I think there
has been a sort of failure to reform
IN HAPPIER TIMES: Saviour Kasukuwere (left) and President Emmerson Mnangagwa society, in other words what are we
talking about?

We’re talking about key issues,
production, development, the fight
against sanctions.

We were told that the Second Re-
public was going to be different from
the First Republic, that it was prepared
to engage the world.

They said sanctions are not an issue,
but we find out now that’s a big story.
I for one would have looked at Zidera
(Zimbabwe Democracy and Econom-
ic Recovery Act) and say okay, let’s
deal with issues, let’s have a timetable,
one item, for example, is the question
about what happened to Itai Dzamara.

Set up a commission and get the
commissioner of police to deal with it,
and let’s have a report, whether we find
it or we don’t find the result, let it be.

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

TV licensing
controversy:
Zanu PF emerges
biggest winner
in major scandal

OWEN GAGARE the new six TV licence holders are envelope. - embraced different and competing State broadcaster ZBC studios in Harare
mostly linked to the ruling party and Since the new licence holders are political parties and diverse voices
THE ruling Zanu PF, which thrives its government by political, business in its programmes, taking a political regime for political and commercial
on a chokehold grip on airwaves to and personal associations and cir- privately-owned entities, they may risk in the process. reasons.
win elections by hook or by crook, cumstances. also have their own operational
has emerged as the biggest winner agency and competing interests to Skyz Metro also gave a voice to Besides, AMH, like AB Commu-
in the controversial awarding of six However, sources told The New- chart independent editorial courses different and marginalised groups, nications, has a solid media back-
new free-to-air licences to private- sHawks that there is no guarantee as shown by private radio stations li- capturing diversity and pluralism ground and experience which posi-
ly-owned television stations expected that after getting the licences the me- cenced under similar circumstances. in its coverage. Some of its present- tioned it well to secure licence unlike
go live in Zimbabwe within the next dia groups will raise enough capital ers also took a huge risk trying to the other winners.
18 months, The NewsHawks has es- and roll out their operations in such A nuanced analysis of the radio stretch their editorial independence.
tablished. a struggling economy and market stations’ editorial policies shows that Shareholding and ultimately li-
within 18 months. although they have serious restric- Although ZTN has been operat- cences issues loomed large during
This comes ahead of the 2023 tions on how they cover issues they ing during its preparations with a rel- the process. Only one winner - Zim-
general elections in which the media, “Getting licences through such a also try to create room for manoeu- atively neutral and balanced editorial papers - did not have shareholding
especially the electronic broadcasting rigged process is one thing, establish- vre for professional, commercial and policy, it remains highly exposed and controversy over it.
stations, will play a key role in the ing a viable operation in this difficult other reasons. vulnerable to political pressures and
polls that may be a watershed in Zim- environment is quite another,” an ex- interference as its parent company, But there were shareholding ques-
babwe’s turbulent transition from perienced Zimbabwean broadcaster ZiFM, owned by AB Communi- Zimpapers, is a playground for Zanu tions around Acacia, D Channel,
dictatorship to a much-yearned-for in South Africa said. cations whose main shareholder is PF and government politicians. Rusununguko, Fairtalk and Jester
democratic dispensation. former minsiter and Zanu PF MP Media. Starting with Fairtalk, until
“Some of these projects are un- Supa Mandiwanzira and Skyz Met- Despite their best intentions and recently, Moyo ran Skyz Metro FM
Checks by The NewsHawks show likely to take off. The economic en- ro FM, run by Zimbabwe Elector- efforts, their editorial independence under Fairtalk through a 2014 agree-
that the majority, if not all, of the vironment is hostile, unstable and al Commission member Qhubani remain compromised and endan- ment between StyleStorm Commu-
new licence holders are likely to op- unpredictable. Moyo and Fairtalk Communications gered by political pressure. nications, a Ministry of Defence en-
erate in the shadows of the ruling in collaboration with the army, are tity represented by former Defence
party and government, which gave “In this digital era, there are so cases in point. Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) permanent secretary Martin Rush-
them the licences through a dodgy, many other content creation and de- publisher Trevor Ncube and his on- waya, President Emmerson Mnan-
yet seemingly professional and trans- livery options. Starting a TV channel Although they are constrained by line Heart & Soul broadcasting plat- gagwa’s relative and now deputy
parent process. from scratch in Zimbabwe might their birth circumstances, sometimes form were also denied a TV licence chief secretary (administration and
prove to be very difficult. The capital they try to break free to operate in an despite him currently being Mnan- finance) in the Office of President
“The process in terms of its legal- outlays may be prohibitive. impartial and balanced way in their gagwa’s adviser in the Presidential and Cabinet, and his own entity
ity, framework and flow of inquiry coverage of issues acting in their own Advisory Council after his open and Mighty Sounds.
was fairly professional, transparent “I have been involved in setting interests, except on hot political and loud support for the 2017 military
and credible, but clearly there was up radio and TV stations in South corruption issues involving political coup that brought his principal to Skyz Metro and its sister radio sta-
political interference and manipu- Africa and elsewhere for a long time. bigwigs, especially President Emmer- office. tion Breeze FM in Victoria Falls both
lation,” a Broadcasting Authority of Radio is cheap to establish and run, son Mnangagwa and his cronies. ran under that partnership.
Zimbabwe (Baz) senior official said. but TV is another issue; TV stations Even if Ncube is now operating
have four main cost centres - content Mandiwanzira, dropped out of within Mnangagwa’s circles and However, Rusununguko and
“The awarding of the licences or creation, distribution, marketing and cabinet by Mnangagwa after the under his shadows, AMH editori- Fairtalk applied for TV licences dif-
the winners do not reflect our pro- staff. These are highly dependent on elections in 2018, was denied a TV al has remained fairly independent ferently and have now gone separate
fessional inquiry and recommenda- the model. TV channels make mon- licence despite his company having - courtesy of editors who resisted ways.
tions. There was some interference ey mainly through advertising and a strong media background and ex- supporting the coup and compro-
for personal, political and commer- subscriptions. If you create your own perience compared to several other mising editorial independence and This issue first came out during
cial reasons. content there are also rights to sell, winners like Rusununguko, Acacia professional ethics in the process the Baz inquiry.
but then even established channels and Dzimbahwe. despite unrelenting, systematic and
“Surely, how can companies with- like BBC and others make less than sustained pressure from the publish- Leader of Rusununguko team
out any background and experience 10% of their revenue through rights During the 2018 elections, ZiFM er desperate to curry favour with the during the presentations Sugar Cha-
in media be given licences ahead sales. - which has a liberal editorial policy gonda said the two companies were
of those with solid credentials? It no longer working together.
doesn’t make sense at all.” “In a market like Zimbabwe, it is
hard to make much out of ad sales. Moyo also said the same.
The six applicants awarded li- To get good subscriptions, you need Documents obtained by The New-
cences include Zimpapers Television compelling content which is expen-
Network (ZTN), a subsidiary of the sive to produce.
state-controlled media group Zim-
babwe Newspapers (1980) Ltd, the “However, digital technology has
military-run Nkululeko Rusunun- reduced the cost of content produc-
guko Media (Pvt) Ltd — trading tion and distribution significantly.
as NRTV, Dzimbahwe — behind But then again to make money one
Channel D, Jester Media trading as has to have a huge audience and pro-
3K TV, Acacia Media Group — op- duce good content. So TV is not a
erating as Kumba TV and Fairtalk joke.”
Communications — which owns Ke
Yona TV. The other issue raised by sources
is that while linked to officialdom,
Joining the state-run ZBC TV — the new TV stations might not slav-
a Zanu PF propaganda machine — ishly toe the Zanu PF line as widely
expected feared and seek to push the

Page 8 News NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

State broadcaster ZBC studios in Highlands, Harare

sHawks from Baz this week show “In response, I consulted the chief is a founder member of DBF (the and other structures are. structure given during the Baz pre-
Rusununguko and Fairtalk agreed to executive officer of RNH Maj. Gen. “D”stands for Douglas, “B” for Jester, registered in 1993, is owned sentation process is as follows:
go separate ways in their bid for TV (John) Mupande and narrated the Bekithemba Moyo and “F” for Fran-
licences. position of Mighty Sounds as chron- cis Dzanya), last night he said he had by Goko and his wife Ester. Jester is . MIM Family Trust 40%;
icled by Dr. Q Moyo. quit the partnership in March. derived from Jethro and Ester. . An unnamed SPV 20%;
A letter, dated 4 September 2020, . Kumuora Resources 10%;
written by Fairtalk board secretary “Following discussions, Maj. Gen. “No I am not involved in that Jethro owns 76%, while Ester . Timothy Musara 10%;
Mandlenkosi Khumalo to compa- Mupande directed that RNH inter- (Acacia). I am fully employed by owns 24%. . Directors’ Share Scheme 10%;
ny chairman Jahalamajaha Noble ests in the Fairtalk Communications Zida. I took my leave in March and and
Malunguza, titled Withdrawal of TV application be withdrawn in if you want information on that you Jester, which used to publish . Employees Shares Trust 10%.
Rusununguko Nkululeko Holdings order to insulate Rusunguko Media should contact DBF which has a lo- magazines in the 1990s, owns Med- Investigations by The NewsHawks
(RNH) interest in the Fairtalk Com- from Fairtalk Communications.” cal director,” Munatsi said. itation 100%; a vehicle through came up with a different structure
munications (Pvt) Ltd application, which Goko holds 50% of the ANZ, which shows D Channel TV is sig-
shows that. Khumalo goes on to explain the Rusununguko’s shareholding in publishers of Daily News and Daily nificantly owned by its chief execu-
meaning and implication of the de- this case is also opaque as it now re- News on Sunday. tive Morelife Mapeture with 25%;
“Chairperson sir, I write to you cision by the two companies to go portedly involves a Zanu PF linked 26% a spooky special purpose ve-
with respect to the subject above,” separate ways. prominent local businessman who The other ANZ shareholders hicle (SPV) and associates; and a
Khumalo says. has headed 11 different companies. include Africa Media Investments number of entities and individuals
“Chairperson, the implications which has 32%, institutional inves- who include an employees’ trust,
“On 3 September 2020 I re- of this development means that the Questions were also raised over tors (Diamond Insurance, Southern directors’ scheme, Dr MG Chirisa,
ceived some communication from partnership between StyleStorm and Jester Media Services which is owned Life Association, Intermarket, Bata- Hazel Masvanhise, Tariro Makanga,
Dr. Qhubani Moyo in his capacity Mighty Sounds does not extend to by Associated Newspapers of Zim- rai Capital Finance and NDM In- Timothy Musara, Shadreck Mupe-
as shareholder of Mighty Sounds. the TV application, but is limited to babwe (ANZ) main shareholder Je- vestments with a total of 17%) and ni, Faith Mafukidze and Happiness
He sought clarification as regards the radio project. “Meanwhile, the thro Goko. First, there were public Doctor Alli Mohamed, as well as the Muchechetere. Mapeture last night
the interest of RNH in the Fairtalk shareholders of Mighty Sounds will questions on how Jester got the li- late Judith Todd with 1%. said: “MIM Family Trust holds 27%,
Communications TV application. be writing to the relevant statuto- cence as a company associated with Chirisa Family Trust 7%, directors’
Specifically, he stated that it had ry and regulatory bodies notifying a private newspaper that was in the Meditation, which also applied for share scheme 1%, employees’ share
come to his attention that RNH them of this development. Be guided past highly critical of Zanu PF and a TV licence as Goko tried to hedge trust 5%, then there are a number
had made a separate TV application, accordingly.” government. People also wanted to his bets, then in turn owns Modus of people and companies numbering
trading as Rusununguko Media, and know who Jester shareholders were Media (formerly Modus Publica- 26, with 11%. These include Hap-
were shortlisted for the public inter- Acacia is fronted by Sharon Mug- or indeed who ANZ owners now tions), publishers of the Financial pison Muchechetere with 1% and a
views. To this end, he explained that abe, whose ex-partner is former are, with Harare resident minister Gazette. company called Cosa Nostra which
there were now queries being raised Zanu PF MP and deputy minister Oliver Chidawu’s name linked to the has nine women.
and complications since the regula- Bright Matonga. Mugabe, a Zanu private media group. Investigations show Chidawu was “And 49% is held in an SPV,
tory authorities expressed concern PF member, was previously associat- initially associated with ANZ as his which will be sold to the public.”
over RNH having propriety interests ed with KISS FM which failed secure ANZ flagship newspaper, Daily company Heritage Insurance provid- With the new licences shroud-
in two TV applications. This status a licence. News, furiously rejected the link in ed the media group with insurance ed in controversy and their holders
quo placed both RNH and Fairtalk an angry editorial on Wednesday. cover upon its return in 2010 after under the spotlight, their editorial
Communications in serious jeopar- Although its shareholding struc- being bombed and closed in 2003 by policies and coverage would always
dy of losing out on the TV applica- ture is unclear, Acacia’s licence ap- It also today denied association government through Capital Insur- be monitored and scrutinised, which
tions.” plication was underwritten by DBF with Zanu PF linked tycoon, Kuda ance Brokers. Claims that Chidawu may end up pressuring them to per-
Capital Partners, linked to Mnan- Tagwirei after Zim-Morning Post is a new shareholder in ANZ have form better or realising they have got
Khumalo says consultations sub- gagwa’s close associate banker Doug- claimed it was in the pocket of the been dismissed, but remain still un- poisoned chalices.
sequently ensued and an amicable las Munatsi. businessman close to Mnangagwa. tested and thus lingering on even if
agreement was reached to go sepa- official documents clearly show who
rate ways. While Munatsi, now chief ex- Documents, however, show who owns the media company.
ecutive of Zimbabwe Investment the legal owners of Jester, ANZ and
and Development Agency (Zida), their associated company Meditation Dzimbahwe’s shareholding is even
murkier. Officially, the shareholding

NewsHawks News Page 9

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Artisanal miners robbed in broad daylight

DUMISANI NYONI

POLITICALLY-connected in- even verify with the people Although FPR’s legal mo- forex, we find the emergence SARW said subsistence
dividuals and companies are and you can even go into our nopoly is purported to be an of a state scheme to milk the miners had few, if any, rights
smuggling gold outside the centre and request how we are “internal pipeline” solution country’s 500 000 small-scale and operate within a system
country using Fidelity Print- buying. We are very free, we to systemic problems that the and artisanal miners. These which is layered with legal
ers and Refiners (FPR) as will give them everything. state did not seek to address, independent, ‘unofficial’ and contradictions and corrup-
their conduit, Southern Afri- “we see how a very import- unprotected miners constitute tion. Unlike registered mining
can Resource Watch (SARW) “So I wonder why one would ant sector of the Zimbabwean a very significant source of companies, they can demand
says in a report. say we are doing that and we economy, now dominated by production even as the share nothing of the state and have
are smuggling. How can we local peasant/worker miners of gold mining by South Afri- few options within the ma-
In the report, titled Artis- smuggle when we are doing so (who display great ingenuity can and big Western multi-na- ny-headed hydra of depriva-
anal Miners Robbed in Broad openly? We don’t buy in the and knowledge of mining at tionals diminished because of tion that encompasses their
Daylight: Zimbabwe Gold dark. We buy openly where low cost and have proven their the general difficulties of op- daily lives, SARW further
Monopoly as a Conduit to Ca- everyone has access, all regu- productive ability), is exploit- erating amid disintegrating said.
nalise Forex and Cannibalise latory authorities have access ed by a ruling class that inter- infrastructure and serious en-
Bodies, SARW alleged that to how we do our business. I nalised and reproduced the ergy and forex constraints,” it “Exposed to violence, men-
Fidelity — the country’s sole wonder how then one can al- exploitation of those chains said. In 2013, before the gold ace and coercion from other
gold buyer — is being used lege that we are being used to they claim to have broken.” monopoly, the country for- illegal actors, they are power-
as a conduit by politicians to smuggle.” mally recorded 14 001 kilo- less to activate even the most
smuggle gold. Gold, together with tobac- grammes of gold production, basic fiscal-social contract
SARW further alleged that co, has long been Zimbabwe’s the organisation said. between citizens and what is
“And so, via FPR, this elite Zimbabwe’s partners with most lucrative source of in- a politically repressive and au-
(ruling politicians) enters the whom commodity futures come and foreign currency. Two years later (post-mo- thoritarian state.”
world of gold trafficking in and collateralised agreements nopoly), this rose to 20 022
a technically licit way using were negotiated are unknown, As such, SARW said it came kilogrammes. By 2018, it SARW said this growing re-
three key methods: by estab- and the terms on which gold as no surprise when in Janu- reached pre-crisis levels liance on informal mining to
lishing the price at which gold was determined are not di- ary 2014, in flagrant pursuit of more than 35 042 kilo- regenerate state and elite cof-
is domestically bought — in vulged. of rentier profit, the Reserve grammes, it said. fers is supremely ironic, con-
this case, substantively under- Bank of Zimbabwe, via its sidering that the government
valuing the price on purchase “However, it is evident that subsidiary entity FPR, arro- “But this rapid turnaround had previously declared war
from small-scale and artisanal larger global players includ- gated to itself a legal monopo- in accumulated volume was on the miners. Crackdowns
miners..,” the report reads in ing foreign governments (like ly over the buying and selling not due to an increase in cor- and harassment of “illegal”
part. Russia) rely on local political of gold from producers, large porate production, efficiency mining took place in the form
networks, notably those close and small. by the state or fair dealing. If of the Enforcement of the En-
“…Having bought the gold to incumbent President Em- anything, the state deepened vironmental Management Act
at this below-market price, merson Mnangagwa through SARW said the lack of financial opacity and control (2002) which required all ar-
being able to manipulate the persons such as Kudak- transparency and the manip- by strategically canalising the tisanal miners to submit an
export price for the benefit washe Tagwirei who controls ulation of the gold price by hungry and desperate will of environmental impact assess-
of well-connected individu- cross-border asset manage- the state monopoly have cost Zimbabwe’s artisanal miners ment (EIA) which necessitat-
als and companies, thereby ment companies, a quarter more than 500 000 small-scale who were the producers of ed licensing and so on.
depriving the Zimbabwean of CBZ Bank and other inter- and artisanal miners dearly. such output,” the report reads.
fiscus of much-needed forex; ests,” it said. Nationwide militarised in-
paying local miners using, in “Under pressure to source
part, a local currency that is
devoid of value and requires
exchange on the black mar-
ket.”

Police last month arrested
Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation
president Henrietta Rushwaya
(pictured) on allegations of
attempting to smuggle 6kg of
gold to Dubai worth about
US$300 000.

Rushwaya is a member of
the ruling Zanu PF. Gold
worth at least US$100 million
is smuggled out of the country
every month, according to Fi-
nance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

FPR general manager Fr-
adreck Kunaka denied the
smuggling allegations.

“How we are buying is open
to the public. Anyone can have
access to how we are buying.
So, I wonder why someone
can go to the extent of saying
we are robbing people yet it’s
so open, it’s never a secret,” he
said.

“Anyone can have access to
how we are buying, you can

Page 10 News NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

terventions such as Opera- gold already being extracted market shielded from exam- US$600 million per annum “In this way, gold value of
tion Mariyawanda (too much by miners operating outside ination and legal oversight,” of Zimbabwean gold exports over US$700 million is lost
money) in 2003 and Oper- the formal system; by paying the organisation said. — over 50% of the country’s from disappeared tonnage
ation Chikorokoza Chapera a far lesser amount (as much total export. This represented (depending on prices at which
(no more illegal mining) in as 30%) for the same volume Another key aspect of this a geographic shift from previ- it is potentially sold and how
2006, during which thousands of gold than offered by infor- hiding of “destination” is the ous arrangements with Johan- this can be established). The
were arrested and many killed, mal buyers; by compounding traffic in currencies. nesburg as an import and re- actual value is likely to be
effectively criminalised arti- such loss through the Reserve fining partner, although South higher as the average or medi-
sanal and small-scale mining Bank’s retention strategy to From 2014 onwards, SARW Africa still receives about 40% an value was used for a more
and adversely affected many partially pay sellers using lo- said the RBZ claimed essen- of all formally recorded gold conservative estimate,” it said.
legitimate small-scale miners cal currency (until mid-2020) tial roles which would ordi- by volume, it said.
and custom millers. and delaying payment in for- narily fall under the control of “As importantly, gold ex-
eign currency.” the ministries of Finance and “In that year, large produc- ports show a pattern of being
By 2013, some 9 000 were Mines. ers delivered about half the sold at lower median pricing
still imprisoned, according Though Securities and Ex- value that small miners deliv- rather than at higher pricing,
to SARW. The 2006 repeal change Commission docu- “This provided leeway for ered. Yet a loss of US$277 mil- indicating a potential loss of
of Statutory Instrument 275 ments show FPR as a supplier gold to be secretively utilised lion is evident when factoring US$1 000 to US$3 000 per
(1991) disempowered ar- for US companies, SARW said as collateral for debt extended export volume and value to tonne across multiple years.”
tisanal small-scale miners this is increasingly rare as the by Afreximbank — with such revenue value earned from
(ASM) and made riverbed recourse to Dubai shifts ori- debt being used for largely total tonnage, i.e: where the SARW said the reason for
panning illegal. In addition, gin to provenance, allowing unknown purposes. The pre- median value of US$40 000 the geographic shift to the
confiscation of stockpiled ore for companies to displace sup- cise value of collateralised per kg is used vis-a-vis 35 042 UAE is the financial and le-
in that year was corruptly sold plier origin with refiners. debt remains unknown as tonnes produced, about 6 931 gal “flexibility” that the UAE
by and via politically-con- information that should or- tonnes formally received has gold market affords the Zim-
nected persons, including of- “In addition, FPR declined dinarily be available remains disappeared,” it said. babwean regime.
ficials from within the RBZ, it to provide lists or details of confidential,” it said.
said. enterprise names, jurisdic- SARW said substantive dis- “Combined with complete
tion, private external turnover “Press releases such as crepancies can be perceived control over access to infor-
“It took the mounting eco- and debt. This extreme legal Afreximbank’s US$600 mil- across all years — for example, mation about national gold
nomic crisis to force the gov- and financial secrecy works in lion loan extended in 2017 figures for the years 2015 (1 5 production and sales, such
ernment’s hand into recognis- tandem with Dubai’s hosting to the Reserve Bank speak 63 tonnes valued at US$65.6 a shift also provides easy in
ing ASM, but this recognition of the world’s only cash-for- opaquely of the ‘financing of million); 2016 (1 973 tonnes manipulation of price points,
was a double-edged sword be- gold market, where refiners trade-related transactions’ at US$80 million; 2017 (4 refiners, traders, banking and
cause FPR was heavily weight- can buy gold using only a re- supported by ‘export proceeds 595 tonnes at US$183.8 mil- beneficial ownership details,”
ed against them in three ma- ceipt, thus eliminating origin including gold’.” lion) and 2019 (40 80 tonnes SARW said.
jor respects,” the organisation on export. at $200 million) when added
said. Afreximbank declined to to 2018 data reveal a mini- “The UAE’s current status as
“Bearing in mind that answer specific questions in- mum discrepancy of US$800 a very close ally of the United
“…by placing buying cen- Dubai’s gold trade (estimated volving clients, collateralisa- million. The year 2017 alone States and its abandoning all
tres in every Zimbabwean to be worth US$75 billion a tion of resources, and other shows 4 595 tonnes formal- pretence of support for Pales-
province and offering cash- year) refines more than 40% details involving US$8 billion ly produced above exports, tinian rights in favour of arms
for-gold, FPR replicated of the world’s gold which is in loans to Zimbabwe, SARW valued at a median value of deals and recognising Israel,
techniques of the ‘informal’ often exported to Switzerland, said. US$183.8 million. make it an interesting bed-fel-
(illicit) market to integrate we have a major commodity low for the Zanu PF and army
SARW said by 2018, the elite.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
accounted for more than

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

FIDELICY NYAMUKONDIWA 6kg of gold, 32 elephants:
Zim’s smuggling syndicates
WHO does not know of Henrietta
Rushwaya’s gold saga? For starters, 32 baby elephants were bundled into a Saudi Arabian Airlines cargo plane, at Victoria Falls International Airport enroute to China
Rushwaya was recently arrested on
allegations of attempting to smug- What mostly triggered the in- then environment minister autho- to have arrived. Two of the 35 el- baby elephants and exposing them
gle 6kgs of gold via Robert Mugabe ternational ban is cruelty to an- rised the sale of the 35 elephants. ephants sold in 2016 died during to miserable conditions in Asia.
International Airport. Let us take imals. The bulk of the elephants the live transportation.
a short break in discussing the al- that are uprooted from the natural Callousness does not commence Zimbabwe has been contem-
leged smuggling attempt and brief- environment are imprisoned in in China. It starts from the day the With all due respect, the ban in plating pulling out of CITES so
ly focus on last year’s successful isolated concrete floor cells in Chi- animals are rounded up here in international trade in Zimbabwean that she can freely trade in wild-
smuggling of 32 elephants through nese zoos. Some leaked videos of Zimbabwe. elephants has absolutely nothing to life. Who should and who actually
Victoria Falls International Air- malnourished and cruelly treated do with Zimbabwean politics. Af- benefit from wildlife trade? Every
port. elephants circulating on the inter- In movie style, rangers in a heli- ter all, CITES also banned Botswa- year, hundreds of Zimbabweans
net can leave one in tears. copter shoot down the calves using na. The CITES agenda is nothing are trampled and their crops have
On 27 August 2019 at the Con- tranquiliser darts. The helicopter other than preservation and con- been damaged by elephants but no
vention on International Trade in In 2016, before the internation- is then used to drive away the rest servation of wildlife. CITES CoP one has received compensation
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna al trade in Zimbabwean elephants of the herd while other men on the 17 saw our pangolins being given from the State.
and Flora (CITES)18th Confer- was banned, inspectors from the ground load the shot animals into the most protection that an animal
ence of Parties, (CoP 18 )87 coun- Zimbabwe National Society for crates. can get under international law. Last year’s illegal smuggling of
tries voted against the removal of the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- CITES Cop 18 similarly sought to 32 elephants does not seem to be
elephants from their natural hab- mals and other officials travelled to They are subjected to whipping protect our elephants. enough for the defiant syndicate.
itats in Zimbabwe and Botswana China to assess the eight facilities and many forms of cruel treatment More recently. officials at Peshawar
to zoos and safari parks. CITES is at which 35 baby elephants were in the process. The elephants are It has been reported that Zim- Zoo in Pakistan filed a case in the
an international legal instrument destined. thereafter trucked to unnatural babwe’s elephants have exceeded country’s Supreme Court seeking
aimed at controlling the global quarantine centres where they are carrying capacity. It is an undeni- permission to import Zimbabwe-
trade of wildlife species that are at The inspectors reported that kept for months before shipment. able fact that the rate of human-el- an elephants. It goes without say-
the risk of extinction. none of the eight facilities met ephant conflicts is disturbingly ing that the ‘unstoppable’ syndi-
CITES-recommended standards. Not all animals make it to the high. But that should never be a cate has already given a greenlight
At CITES CoP 18 in Geneva, Despite the adverse reports, the intended destinations. Lives are justification for condemning our to smuggle elephants to Peshawar
Switzerland member states agreed lost along the way. Of the 27 that Zoo. The zoo has been in the news
that any exception to the trade in were sold in 2015, 24 are known for animal cruelty and deaths.
Zimbabwean elephants has to be
approved by the CITES Animal Whenever you hear of an at-
Committee and ICUN African El- tempt to smuggle 6kgs of gold
ephants Special Group. In simpler worth about US$350 000, you
terms, international law banned should bear in mind that the syn-
the shipment and sale of Zimba- dicate authorised the sale of 32
bwean elephants. elephants worth more than US$1
million in breach of international
Just two months after the inter- law.
national ban, defiant Zimbabwe
bundled 32 baby elephants into a Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa is a
Saudi Arabian Airlines cargo plane human and animal rights defend-
that was waiting at Victoria Falls er. He is a former Public Prosecu-
International Airport and flew tor and a founding member and
them to China. director for Fauna and Flora Zim-
babwe (FaFloZim). Contactable
It happened in the early hours of on 0718975244 fidelnyams@fa-
Tuesday 24 October 2019. Neither flozim.org.zw/ @fidelnyams on
CITES Animal Committee nor Twitter.
ICUN African Special Group gave
a green light for the sale.

In a flagrant violation of inter-
national law , some government
officials whom I refer to as ‘the
syndicate’ okayed the transaction
on behalf of Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe National Soci-
ety for Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (ZNSPCA) together with
local animal activists groups, Ad-
vocates for Earth, Zimbabwe El-
ephant Foundation and Sebanye
Animal and Welfare Conservation
Trust got wind of the intended
sale and tried to save the baby el-
ephants through the High Court.
The syndicate was not moved by
the gesture.

The 32 poor baby elephants are
not the first to be sold by the gov-
ernment. Between 2012 to 2018,
a staggering 108 baby elephants
are known to have been ripped off
from their nurturing mothers and
flown to Chineese zoos. A total of
140 elephants have been sold in
the last nine years.

The monetary value of an ele-
phant in terms of Statutory Instru-
ments 56 and 57 of 2012 is US$50
000. It is believed that the baby ele-
phants have each been sold for be-
tween US$30 000 and US$40 000.
How the money realised from the
sale of 108 plus 32 elephants has
been used is a tale for another day.

Page 12 News NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Opposition
must galvanise
social base:
Kagoro

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE opposition and civil society circles, Brian Kagoro top left, Thokozani Khupe top right and Nelson Chamisa
increased with the militarisation.
CIVIL rights campaigner and con- is militarised; Black Lives Matter are not able to paint the picture demilitarising the state.
stitutional lawyer Brian Kagoro says A crack team made up of per- still happened; French state is mil- of transformation in very practical “Thomas Sankara says no change
Zimbabwe’s opposition parties need sonnel from the army, police and itarised, Yellow Vest still happened; terms that an informal trader can
to be organised, coherent and ideo- Central Intelligence Organisation, Sudanese state was militarised, the see it, a peasant can see it beyond is possible without a degree of mad-
logically clear if they are to succeed known as the Ferrets, has largely revolution still happened; Burki- simply telling people what is wrong ness. There should be a certain de-
against a militarised state, which been responsible for abductions and na Faso was militarised, 2014 still with the regime, they know it. gree of madness in civil society, in
used violence and intimidation to torture. happened; Mali was militarised, the church and amongst the intel-
maintain its rule. Mali still happened. The problem “You don’t need to describe dark- lectuals. It’s required; not just anger
The security forces have also is if as a political formation you are ness, it’s dark. And I think that is and outrage, madness. The second
Speaking to The NewsHawks on played a huge role in destabilis- not ideologically clear, you are not where the problem is. Reorganisa- thing is organisation. I think for all
the sidelines of a migration work- ing the country’s main opposi- sufficiently organised and you don’t tion of the political forces that want the noise we make, we are not or-
shop on the West Rand just outside tion MDC-Alliance led by Nelson have sustained linkages with the so- to do democratisation , as long as ganised; people are not organised.
Johannesburg, South Africa, Ka- Chamisa. Among other things, the cial base,” Kagoro told The News- they are not organised, as long as When we were at our best, we were
goro said the opposition’s failure to security forces have been accused Hawks. they are not ideologically clear, as at our best because we are organ-
build a strong social base, capacity of assisting a rival camp led by long as they don’t build their own ised, and we were united. As long as
and competence to deliver qould Thokozani Khupe to take over the “I am no talking about rallies; competency and capacity, they will you are brilliant but not organised
make them “hollow mass organisa- party headquarters from Chamisa I am talking about political pro- simply be hollow mass organisa- or united, you are easy to deal with.
tions” use the final analysis. and his party. grammes that link you to the daily tions,” he said. It is not force that defeats people,
lived realities of people to formu- it’s their own disunity and lack of
The military, which already had a Kagoro, however, says the oppo- late ideas of transformation. If you Kagoro said civil society and self-belief.”
firm grip on the state, has strength- sition should adapt and find ways of churches should also play a role in
ened its hand in local politics after operating in a militarised state by,
ousting former president Robert among other strategies, being or-
Mugabe in a coup in November ganised, coherent and ideologically
2017 to facilitate President Emmer- clear in its approach.
son Mnangagwa’s rise to power.
He said despite militarisation,
Human rights violations, includ- brutality and intimidation change
ing state-sponsored abductions and was possible, a shown by other Afri-
torture as well as a sustained crack- can countries’ experiences.
down on dissenting voices from
“The militarisation of the state is
not the problem, American state

Govt restricts second-hand car imports

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube yesterday an-
nounced a new restriction on the importation
of cars above 10 years from the date of manu-
facture, with effect from January 2021, and also
introduced a raft of presumptive tax measures
for the informal sector.

Presenting the National Budget, he said the
import ban on old second-hand cars is part of
measures to promote the local vehicle assembly
industry.

“About US$1.3 billion was spent on imported
buses, light commercial and passenger motor
vehicles from 2015 to September 2020. This is
despite the existence of capacity by the local
motor industry to assemble the above-men-
tioned range of motor vehicles.

“Furthermore, due to lack of effective stan-
dards and regulation, road unworthy vehicles,
which, in some instances fail to meet environ-
mental and safety standards, find their way onto
the market.”

The removal of second-hand cars above 10
years old from the Open General Import Licence
category means that those intending to bring in
such vehicles must now require a special permit
from the Ministry of Trade. The process of ac-
quiring a special permit is often fraught with dif-
ficulties.

NewsHawks Editorial & Opinion Page 13

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020 CARTOON

A budget must instill
hope, this one doesn’t

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube yesterday presented a Time to end cycle impunity
ZW$421.6 billion 2021 National Budget which had its pos-
itives and negatives—as such policy documents go—but his IN this edition today, we report that structure and buildings as alleged by under President Emmerson Mnangag-
prescriptions failed to convince long-suffering Zimbabwe- Impala Car Rental, a local company MDC Bulawayo women’s league lead- wa’s regime of violence, brutality and
ans that the macro-economic “stability” he repeatedly boasts in Harare with a big footprint across er Tendai Masotsha who has now been impunity. Zimbabweans needs to stand
about is of any real benefit to the toiling masses. the tourism and hospitality industry, forced out despite being cleared of sus- against the government to pressure it to
is linked to the State security agen- picions she framed Tawanda and put stop brutal repression and impunity. 
The Treasury chief has continued waxing lyrical about what cy, Central Intelligence Organisation him in a trap.
he sees as the magnificent attainment of “fiscal surplus”— (CIO).  Authorities must know there is a
even as teachers are on strike, the health delivery system has Although she has denied these political cost to allowing state security
collapsed, more than half the population is facing starvation, Ordinarily, Impala should be able charges, she has not been able to con- agents to abduct, torture and brutalise
and poverty is on the rise. A national budget is the single most to freely do business with whomever it vincingly explain why she did what she people. 
important policy instrument of any government. For that rea- wants to and should not be bothered did—calling and meeting Muchehiwa
son and more, a budget has to be inclusive, well-thought-out by needless public comments, especial- and his relatives, Advent and Mandlen- In recent months, Nigerian leaders
and grounded in reality. In a country where people’s patience ly on social media, that much since it’s kosi, at that area where the abduction learnt it the hard way when their peo-
has been stretched to the limit, a budget must, of necessity, not a State enterprise or public entity took place and later  telling them they ple showed that they were outraged by
play another crucial role: galvanise national action. beyond its business networks and in- the systemic human rights violations
teractions. Hawk Eye perpetrated by special police with im-
Although some of the policy interventions in the 2021 bud- punity. Nigerians rose against their
get appear designed to provide flickers of hope and seem to Of course, it does business with Dumisani government over horrific crimes which
be have been crafted in the spirit of broad consultation, there the public and must listen to its cus- Muleya were being committed by the country’s
are other aspects of the document which must be questioned tomers to offer a good service and get Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars).
without fear or favour and in the national interest. a healthy return on investment. should not reveal what had happened
when Muchehiwa was abducted. Their protests shook government
We must, of course, be alive to the realisation that there is However, this is a very unusual and drew the international communi-
realistically no way in which an entire nation of 16 million case we are dealing with.  That is very dodgy and criminal. In ty’s attention.
people can always agree, in unison, on what the priorities are. fact, it is scandalous. The MDC Al-
People approach life from differing perspectives. However, It’s a case of company which has liance should not have let her off the Like the global BlackLivesMatter
what is important is to ensure that we are on the same page links with the State security service, hook. But then, she is now at it again, and later the ZimbabweansLivesMat-
insofar as the priorities are concerned. the CIO, hence now finds itself en- claiming Tawanda wanted to bomb ter movements, the Nigerian protests
tangled in political and human rights buildings. Why didn’t she report him were about human rights abuses and
The priorities are fairly easy to define. Whether the poli- issues engulfing those who own and to police when she realised he had an impunity. Yet Nigerian authorities have
cymakers and bureaucrats share this view is another story. control it. anarchist and arsonist agenda? failed to prosecute a single officer from
Healthcare, education, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and the notorious Sars despite anti-torture
tourism, for instance, should surely be considered among the This has made Impala a subject of The problem here is Masotsha has legislation passed in 2017 and evidence
most important areas. keen interest among the public. More been caught with her paints down and that its members continue to use tor-
so after a car that was hired from it was she is trying to kick dust, brew a storm ture and other ill-treatment to execute,
A government exists primarily to safeguard the wellbeing used by State security agents to abduct and then disappear in the midst of the punish and extract information from
of citizens. This wellbeing is multi-faceted: physical security, and brutally torture a student journal- confusion. suspects.
food security, social service delivery, economic stability, provi- ist, Tawanda Muchehiwa, who is clearly
sion of equal opportunity, and so forth. Without these crucial harmless just like the other journalists The issue is not really about Masot- Zimbabwe still allows and uses tor-
ingredients, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to propel being hounded. Journalism is not a sha, but the growing political culture ture as part of investigations and the
forward the socio-economic development agenda. crime. judiciary has not taken a bold stance to
consistently condemn that. 
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently launched a new Well, Tawanda is also an activist,
economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy which is not a crime, but certainly not People must say no to this and bring
(One). Yesterday’s announcement of the 2021 National Bud- the kind of young man who would brutality, torture and impunity to an
get has given Zimbabweans useful insights into official think- plant bombs and explode public infra- end.
ing—not only on the economic trajectory going forward, but
also on essentially every facet of life in the republic.

Economists often have the luxury of deploying high-sound-
ing words, models and concepts to dazzle the masses. Theirs,
after all, is not an exact science; it is a field of knowledge fo-
cused on human behaviour, which is notoriously unpredict-
able. What the toiling Zimbabweans need are not fancy phil-
osophical postulations couched in economic sophistry, but
practical solutions to livelihoods that have been decimated by
a ruinous combination of economic mismanagement, corrup-
tion and Covid-19.

The budget lacks a human face; it projects a lack of empathy.
When it suits them, the authorities do not hesitate to levy tax-
es in US dollars but when it comes to expenditure, the Zim-
babwean dollar conveniently kicks in. Currency deception is
unsustainable, as history has repeatedly shown.

It has also not gone unnoticed that the government is in-
creasing the tax burden on poverty-stricken citizens — even to
the extent of mugging street vendors and hairdressers — yet
taxpayers are not getting anything useful in return by way of
improved service delivery, better infrastructure or governance
reform. A budget must have a human face.

Reaffirming the fundamental importance The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
of freedom of expression and media free- content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Spencer Mandaza Council of Zimbabwe
dom as the cornerstone of democracy and Media which is owned by Centre for Public Assistant Editor: Brezh Malaba Cell: +263 775387638
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and manifestations to account by expos- Harare, Zimbabwe Bridget Mananavire, Nyasha Chingono, Enoch Muchinjo balanced news reporting. If we do not meet these
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Page 14 Perspectives & Reviews NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

ZW$421.6 billion 2021 budget critique

Brett
Chulu

THE first of five national budgets Mthuli Ncube
underpinning the National Devel-
opment Strategy One (2021-2015)
(NDS1) was unveiled in Harare
yesterday.

Globally, it is a ZW$421.6
billion financial commitment,
translating to US$5.27 billion (at
the 2021 official average exchange
rate forecast by Treasury) or US$3.5
billion (grey market rates). The
budget is to be funded through
expected fiscal revenues amounting
to ZW$390.8 billion and Treasury
Bills financed deficit to the tune of
ZW$30.8 billion. Treasury projects
a nominal Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) for 2021 of ZW$2.4 trillion
or US$29.9 billion. This means a
budget deficit of 1.3% is expected,
well below the NDS1 target of 2%
of GDP.

The article looks at the merits
and demerits of the 2021 National
Budget.

Merits performance contracts. with landlords obligated to collect ment Bank of Zimbabwe (LADBZ). establish research and development
First, the budget cannot be flawed It is a good aspiration. We await the tax. We were told the bank will be to develop local solutions to up-
for reinforcing commitment to grade the one-sixteenth per hectare
stay the course of fiscal discipline, the translation of intention into It is not yet clear if this will in- capitalised in 2021 but the budget production.
making sure the government lives action. clude flea markets. To focus on this did not specify how much has been
within its means, obviating recourse revenue widening plan, a special tax set aside. The potential output from this
to monetising the deficit that would Third, there is a fairly good unit focusing on small and medium upgrade will exceed our national
feed the inflation dragon. attempt to support value-addition enterprises will be established. The same goes for the warehouse maize requirement by over 8 times.
development strategies through receipting system—the budget in- The same is possible for oil seeds.
The planned budget deficit, at taxation. Fifth, the operationalisation of dicates government will be involved The potential for an agro-export-ori-
1.3% of GDP, is significantly below the Sovereign Wealth Fund, another but does not specify the monetary ented agricultural production via
the Sadc Macro-economic Conver- To support the transformation proposal made in this column, has implications. simple upgrades is possible; the bud-
gence target of 3%. The National of the agriculture value chain, a been backed by seed capital of about get exhibits hesitation in exploring
Budget pledges zero recourse to fertiliser manufacturers’ rebate has US$10 million. We already have an The introduction of the agri- this huge potential.
borrowing from the central bank been introduced. Exemption of Act of Parliament authorising the cultural commodity exchange is
to plug the projected budget hole. sugar from the General Import Sovereign Wealth Fund. The Na- expected to take shape in 2021 as Last, the gross capital forma-
A budget is a commitment—it Licence has been effected in order tional Budget must be commended per the budget. However, the fate tion for 2021, at 9.45% of GDP,
remains to be seen if the commit- to enhance the competitiveness of for kick-starting the operation of the of the Grain Marketing Board is indicates that we have a very low
ment to maintain fiscal discipline value-added products that heavily Sovereign Wealth fund. not spelt out. It would seem there ambition. It is a big indictment on
will materialise by resisting political depend on sugar as a key ingredi- Demerits are some key activities that are still us a nation that more than 70% of
pressure to breach fiscal limits. ent. The suspension of waiver on First, there is ambiguity in terms of in the works for which financial this gross capital formation is com-
duty for importation of cars by the programme-based budgeting commitments are not yet clear. ing from the government. Clearly,
Second, the promise made in the government departments is meant and the departmental or functional the private sector is not coming to
NDS1 to adopt programme-based to encourage government to source monetary allocations. Both pro- Third, the budget breeds con- the party in terms of investment in
budgeting (PBB) has been made vehicles locally and support the grammatic budgets and functional fusion with regards to production capital goods. Questions need to be
good. domestic car assembly industry. budgets were presented with the two forecasts for cereals. It mentions that asked as to why the private sector is
being practically similar in terms of 1.8 million households are expected unable to play a significant role in
The structure of the Budget is Duty-free import of completely totals. We know from a functional to produce 3.6 million tonnes of shoring up capital formation.
organised around NDS1 priority ar- knocked down kits has been intro- perspective there are administrative cereals yet the table for forecast for
eas, a commendable departure from duced in order to resuscitate the costs involved. 2021 sets maize production at 1.6 We expect capital formation rates
earlier budgets that were focused on local car assembly industrial sector. million tonnes. to be above 20% of GDP, with the
allocating funds collected by the tax- In the same vein, suspension of This means a significant amount private sector accounting for the
payer to government departments duty-free certificates for the impor- of money will not be for the strate- Erroneously, the budget states bulk of the investment. It is clear
and agencies. To a large extent, the tation of single-cab and double-cab gy-critical activities. that production from 1.8 million the budget is reflecting a very low
2021 budget clearly indicates the vehicles will come into effect. households under the Pfumvudza/ national ambition. Private sector-led
activities being funded and how The budget did not attempt to Intwasa programme is two tonnes growth is proving to be a hollow
much is being allocated towards Fourth, the attempt to widen specify how much of the allocation per hectare. The correct position is mantra.
those resources. the tax base targeting the informal to a government department is for two tonnes on two-sixteenths of a
sector and self-employed profession- NDS1 activities and what is for ad- hectare, translating to a pro-rated Brett Chulu is a management
To ensure that allocated funds als is a positive that will enhance ministrative support. This ambiguity yield of 16 tonnes a hectare. This is consultant and a classic grounded
are used for the purpose indi- revenue collection to contribute must be promptly addressed. a top productivity rate. theory researcher who has pub-
cated, responsible government towards funding the activities meant lished research in an academic
departments and agencies will be to drive the NDS1. Second, for some key activities, This is a national opportunity the peer reviewed international jour-
required to draft strategic plans to no monetary value was attached. We budget should have invested more nal. He can be contacted through
be implemented via the Integrat- Informal entrepreneurs housed learned from the budget that the attention in by asking how such a email: brettchuluconsultant@
ed Results-Based Management in sub-divided units are a common name of the promised land bank is top productivity rate could be main- gmail.com
framework, supported by secretary sight in Zimbabwe’s urban centres; the Land and Agricultural Develop- tained by extending production
they will be required to pay pre- to one hectare, at the minimum.
sumptive tax of US$30 per month, Funds should have been allocated to

Business

MATTERSNewsHawks

MARKETS CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE
EUR/USD 1.181 +0.003 +0.24 -0.46
USD/JPY 105.12 -0.3 -0.285 *OIL 41.26 -0.19 -1.01
GBP/USD 1.311 -0.011 -0.809 -2.31
USD/CHF 0.915 -0.002 -0.262 *RBOB GAS 1.164 -0.012 +0.709
USD/CAD 1.314 +0.008 +0.6 +0.16
*NAT GAS 2.961 -0.07

*GOLD 1,874.8 +13.2

*SILVER 24.305 +0.038

Govt in new

breach of legal

debt threshold

BERNARD MPOFU alised through implementation According to the World Bank, policy frameworks to support Mthuli Ncube
of the following measures: Zero the key drivers of debt build-up growth; changing composition
FINANCE minister Mthuli recourse to Central Bank financ- vary across countries and include of debt towards more expensive However, Ncube recently told
Ncube yesterday revealed that ing window including overdraft; exogenous shocks (such as com- sources of financing; high levels The NewsHawks that Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has breached its own Non issuance of Treasury bills to modity price volatility which hit of public spending and, in a few was on course to settling its ar-
Public Debt Management Act ZAMCO; continuation of issu- budget revenues of commodi- cases, natural disasters and dis- rears. He said the country will
after borrowings surpassed the ance of Treasury bills through ty exporters); weak fiscal man- covery of previously undisclosed resolve its debt and arrears set-
legal threshold of 70% of the the auction system for price dis- agement and macro-economic debt. tlement plan over the next five
Gross Domestic Product as the covery, improve accountability years after blaming the Covid-19
country struggles to extricate it- and transparency; and no qua- pandemic for retarding the pro-
self from the debt burden. si- fiscal operations at the RBZ, cess despite earlier plans that
hence no monetisation of the collapsed along the way due to a
Official figures show that to- budget deficit.” myriad of problems.
tal external debt is estimated at
US$8.2 billion as at end Septem- Zimbabwe has been struggling Zimbabwe went into arrears
ber 2020. This is an increase of to access concessionary funding with international financial insti-
US$106 million from the 2019 from international financial in- tutions such as the World Bank,
amount of US$8.09 billion and stitutions due to debt albatross. the International Monetary
was mainly on account of penal- Fund and African Development
ties and interest arrears. Of the This has left the domestic debt Bank at the turn of the millenni-
total external debt, 17% is owed market as is the major source of um. This has disqualified it from
by public entities through guar- financing the budget deficit, accessing concessionary funding
antees. as access to external sources re- from the multilateral lenders.
mains constrained due to the
Arrears remain a major com- accumulation of external debt Government sees the success-
ponent of the external debt, at arrears to creditors. ful negotiation of a debt and ar-
US$6.34 billion, constituting rears clearance programme with
77% of external debt The pace of sovereign debt external creditors opening new
accumulation, according to the lines of credit for the economy.
“Total Public and Publicly country’s debt report for 2019,
Guaranteed (PPG) debt is es- has increased substantially in In 2015, Zimbabwe adopted
timated at 78.7% of GDP by sub-Saharan African countries the Lima arrears clearance plan
end of 2020. The debt stock is in recent years, raising concerns which collapsed due to a lack of
marginally above the SADC rec- among observers that this could political will in adopting a raft of
ommended threshold of 60% bring back the spectre of debt political and economic reforms.
of GDP and the Public Debt crisis.
Act threshold of 70% of GDP,”
Ncube told Parliament during
his 2021 National Budget pre-
sentation.

“Relative to other countries
such as Italy, Greece, Japan,
whose debt to GDP ratios is
above prudential thresholds of
60% of GDP. This calls for Zim-
babwe to pay more attention to
managing its debt to avoid fiscal
sustainability risks.”

Domestic debt as at 30 Sep-
tember 2020 was ZWL$12.5
billion, which is 1.2% of GDP
and 1.8% of the total public
debt, Ncube said.

“In 2020, domestic debt has
been stable, reflecting improved
management of the fiscus to-
gether with some increased debt
service repayments. This was re-

Page 16 Companies & Markets NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Asset forfeiture to be Govt must
ramped up — Treasury trust own
currency
DUMISANI NYONI
THE Confederation of Zimbabwe
GOVERNMENT will intensify the Former commissioner-general Augustin Chihuri’s house Industries (CZI) past president,
forfeiture of assets and recovery of Busisa Moyo, says the government
the proceeds of corruption in 2021 cesses and the rule of law, in the end “The Zimbabwe Anti-Corrup- One of the controversial cases must show confidence in its own
as it moves to combat graft, which is seriously impacting the achievement tion Commission (Zacc) has also handled by Zacc involved former currency by fully embracing the
bleeding the country US$1 billion of SDGs (Sustainable Development launched an anti-corruption whis- Transport minister Jorum Gumbo, local unit instead of selectively de-
annually, a Cabinet minister has said. Goals).” tle-blowing platform to improve cor- who was arrested late last year for manding the payment of taxes in
ruption detection. To make the tool alleged criminal abuse of office after foreign currency.
An asset forfeiture strategy an- The fight against corruption for more effective, in 2021, government he allegedly authorised renovations
chored on the “Unexplained Wealth the next five years will be guided by will expedite the enacting of the ap- of a relative’s house to the tune of Zimbabwe, which for more than
Orders” is on the cards as govern- the National Anti-Corruption Strat- propriate legislation to protect whis- US$1 million before the property a year had a mono-currency regime,
ment intensifies its fight on graft, egy (Nacs) from 2020-24, whose ob- tle-blowers in line with international was turned into the headquarters of in June 2020 allowed businesses to
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said. jectives are to enhance the structures best practices,” Ncube said. Zimbabwe Airways. dually price their goods and services
for deterrence, detection, adherence, in local currency and in foreign cur-
Presenting his 2021 National and enforcement through improved Zacc has often been accused of Another case involves former rency, primarily the United States
Budget, Ncube said the government compliance with anti-corruption and failing to prosecute high-profile cas- Health Minister Obadiah Moyo, dollar. As such, businesses are re-
will capacitate the Zimbabwe An- integrity management obligations es, with critics saying the anti-cor- who was arrested and later released quired to split their tax payments
ti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), and mechanisms across sectors. ruption body is being used to settle on bail for his alleged involvement in both local currency and foreign
the National Prosecuting Authori- personal scores. in the US$60 million Covid-19 pro- currency, depending on which cur-
ty (NPA), the Zimbabwe Republic The strategy is also meant to im- curement scandal. rency was used for transacting.
Police (Minerals, Flora and Fauna prove transparency and accountabil- Mnangagwa made fighting cor-
Unit), the Auditor-General’s office ity in government and the private ruption one of his major assignments Moyo’s case has repeatedly been But the CZI said the government
and the Procurement Regulatory sector. It also ensures the protection when he took over from Mugabe, postponed. There are also several should back its own currency by ac-
Authority of Zimbabwe to effectively of whistle-blowers and victims of but critics say the anti-graft crusade top Zanu PF officials and ruling par- cepting taxes in local currency.
deal with endemic graft in both the corruption. This will encourage par- is targeted at his political foes while ty financiers who have been implicat-
private and public sectors. ticipation in anti-corruption efforts the President’s inner circle enjoyed a ed in corruption scandals, but have “Auction system must be
by members of the public. free rein to loot. never been charged by Zacc. strengthened and broadened over
Zimbabwe loses US$1 billion to time to create a convincing refer-
graft annually through illicit financial ence rate (bureau de change and
flows and corruption in high places. travel allowances). Government
Despite pledging zero tolerance to must (also) back its own currency
corruption, President Emmerson by accepting and not readily accept-
Mnangagwa’s government has failed ing taxation in foreign currency or
to effectively prosecute high-profile bringing a portion of the taxes col-
corruption cases, with implicated of- lected to the auction,” Moyo said in
ficials still walking free. his economic review and analysis
presented during a Matabeleland
Ncube allocated a paltry ZW$3.6 Chamber of Industries meeting.
billion to capacitate Zacc, the police
and other institutions to fight cor- Busisa Moyo
ruption.
Currently, all transactions above
“The New Dispensation is com- US$5 attract a 2% intermediated
mitted to deal with corruption chal- money transfer tax and a maxi-
lenges and enforcement of the rule of mum tax of US$2 000 applies for
law to improve the business climate transactions with a value exceeding
and support private sector-led inclu- US$100 000. Zimbabwe’s economy
sive growth,” Ncube said during his is rapidly re-dollarising with trans-
budget statement. actions done in cash for US dollars
now outweighing those done in cash
“Corruption is a structural ob- for the Zimbabwean dollar while in-
stacle to development progress as it formal traders are now declining the
adversely impacts the availability, local currency. In a bid to arrest the
quality and accessibility of goods runaway parallel market and restore
and services for the most vulnerable. confidence in the market, the cen-
It also undermines the functioning tral bank recently introduced the
and legitimacy of institutions, pro- foreign currency auction trading
system. The exchange rate stability
GOVERNMENT has turned Zinivsceostonrese—ds lgoocvatl sidiaries which include Zim- is viewed as a silver bullet in Zimba-
to local investors in its bid to In his 2021 National Budget, through its potential benefits Chem, Lancashire Steel and bwe. Moyo said the auction market
resuscitate the moribund Zis- Ncube said the government was in job creation and value chain Buchwa Iron Mining Company rate (AMR) has brought some sta-
costeel, following the collapse looking forward to resuscitating impact in such companies as the (Bimco) among others. bility to the reference rates although
of two deals with foreign inves- Ziscosteel next year through National Railways of Zimbabwe in practice the black market rate
tors, Finance Minister Mthuli “innovation and harnessing and Hwange Colliery Limited “Meanwhile, current oper- (BMR) is still used in business.
Ncube has said. inward opportunities, while and the resultant savings in for- ations are targeted at raising
working closely with local in- eign currency in excess of US$1 capital through the sale of waste “A stable exchange rate is a key
Over the years, the govern- vestors.” billion through importation of and boulders, among other driver of inflation containment. The
ment has tried, with no success, steel products. activities, while plans are un- business community and public are
to resuscitate Ziscosteel using “This will be done through derway to resuscitate the mills on “tenterhooks” and any problems
foreign investors. courting new investors who will While the search for new in- to restart the manufacturing could see the BMR swing towards
bring new technology and new vestors is in progress, Ncube processes which are expected the 150-200 range (on the other
For instance, in 2011, In- skills,” he said. said the government was imple- to benefit Lancashire Steel,” he hand RTGS and access to ZWL is
dian firm Essar entered into menting a short-term roadmap said. constrained),” he said.
a deal worth US$750 million Ncube said the revival of Zis- of resuscitating the firm’s sub-
with Ziscosteel but the deal col- costeel is key to the economy Accordingly, Ncube allocat- Moyo also said the fuel sector,
lapsed. Again, mid-2017 Zisco- ed the Ministry of Industry which gets letters of credit and ac-
steel entered into another deal and Commerce ZW$2.3 bil- cess to the Reserve Bank’s forex auc-
with Chinese investor R and F lion (about US$28 million) to tion, must sell fuel in local currency
Company worth US$1 billion. spearhead the industrialisation to prevent dollarisation and “sec-
The deal also collapsed last year. thrust. – STAFF WRITER toral mono-currency regimes”.

– STAFF WRITER

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 17

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Economy will get high on cannabis — Ncube

NYASHA CHINGONO Tax to widen his tax net. of measures to discourage the con- Presumptive tax is a fixed lump- Ncube also extended his tax
He proposed a tax-free thresh- sumption of hazardous substances sum tax levied on individuals or net to self-employed professionals
GOVERNMENT will introduce a like alcohol and tobacco. businesses based on the occupa- who will be expected to pay pre-
cannabis (mbanje, imbanje) tax to old of ZW$500 from the current tion or business activity. It was sumptive tax per month.
tap into a potential US$1.25 billion ZW$300, while the maximum “Honourable Members will re- introduced with effect from 2005
export industry of the herb for me- payable per transaction by corpo- call that Government, in 2019, and the tax corresponds to the av- Medical professionals will pay
dicinal purposes, Finance Minister rates has been set at ZW$800 000 adopted an optimal policy mix erage income level presumed to be ZW$500 000, engineers ZW$500
Mthuli Ncube said yesterday. from the current ZW$25 000 on of specific and ad-valorem excise earned by members of a particular 000, legal ZW$500 000, architects
transactions with values exceeding taxes for tobacco and alcoholic occupation or business grouping. ZW$250 000 and ZW$1 000 000
Presenting the 2021 national ZW$40 million, with effect from 1 beverages. This is intended to pre- for realtors.
budget, Ncube proposed a 10% January 2021. serve the share of excise revenue Ncube proposed a presumptive
cannabis levy on export sales of contribution, promote sustainable tax of an equivalent of US$30 per Ncube said the presumptive tax
finished packaged medicinal can- Ncube also reduced the corpo- growth of the industry, as well as unit per month. will, however, not apply to profes-
nabis oils, 15% on the export of rate income tax for income accru- discourage consumption of haz- sionals who produce a valid tax
sales values of bulk extracted me- ing from mining operations from ardous substances,” Ncube said. Hairdressers, restaurants, bottle clearance certificate for the year of
dicinal cannabis oils that require the current 25% to 24% with effect store operators and the cottage in- assessment.
processing and 20% levy on the from 1 January 2021. This is meant In a bid to restore value of rev- dustry, will pay ZW$2 500, ZW$10
export sales value of dried medici- to improve investments in the sec- enue collections in a hyperinfla- 000 and ZW$10 000 respectively. Following years of failed tax re-
nal cannabis flower. tor. Businesses that pay corporate tionary environment, Ncube pro- gimes on the informal sector, Ncu-
tax in foreign currency will contin- posed a review of the presumptive Landlords will be responsible be also proposed a presumptive
“I, therefore, propose to intro- ue paying the prescribed rates. tax structure, with effect from 1 for collecting the taxes with effect tax for micro operators.
duce a Cannabis Levy, chargeable January 2021. from 1 January 2020, and failure to
on the value of exports, at the fol- Ncube also proposed a cocktail comply will attract a penalty. “I, therefore, propose to in-
lowing varied rates of tax that cor- troduce a presumptive tax of an
respond to the level of processing,” equivalent of US$30 per unit per
Ncube said. month,” Ncube said.

He said the cannabis industry Landlords will be responsible
has potential to general US$1.25 for the collection of the above tax-
billion in export receipts for the es which take effect from 1 January
year 2021. 2021.

In September, the government To tap into the small to medium
passed Statutory Instrument 218 enterprises, the Zimbabwe Rev-
Agricultural Marketing Authority enue Authority will establish the
(Industrial Hemp) to govern the Micro, Small to Medium Enter-
production, procurement, distri- prises Specialised Unit to ensure
bution, possession, sale, provision contributions from this sector.
and transportation of the crop.
“This will ensure that the sec-
The proposed levy is part of tor’s contributions to fiscal rev-
Ncube’s moves to widen the tax enues is commensurate with the
base as government reserves re- level of economic activity,” Ncube
main subdued. With a debt over- said.
hang and no budgetary support,
government, has been accused of Ncube also proposed that toll
over-milking the cow through the fees be payable in both foreign and
over-taxation of vulnerable people. local currency. This, Ncube said
would capacitate the Zimbabwe
To improve workers’ disposable National Road Administration
incomes, Ncube set the tax-free (Zinara) to pay its debts. To dis-
threshold at ZW$10 000 from courage, the importation of fuel by
ZW$5 000 per month with effect road, Ncube proposed a Petroleum
from 1 November 2020. Importers’ Levy of USD$0.05 a li-
tre on both diesel and petrol. This
Ncube will in 2021 continue to is done to encourage the use of the
take advantage of the Intermediary fuel pipeline that stretches from
Beira to Msasa in Harare.

FINANCE Minister Mthuli Inflation projected to slow down in 2021 the combined price changes of
Ncube says Zimbabwe is expect- goods and services in both local
ed to emerge from the rut of nificant slowdown in inflation as the month of October declined on-month stood at 4.4 percent.” and US dollar declined to 249
hyperinflation which has deci- from August 2020. Year-on-year to 471 percent from 659 percent Similarly, blended year-on- percent from 376 percent during
mated incomes, to an average of inflation in local currency for in September 2020, while month year inflation, which measures the same period while blended
below 135% in 2021, while aver- month-on month inflation stood
age month-on-month inflation is at 1.4 percent by October 2020.
projected below 1%.
“Further consolidation of sta-
The slowdown in inflation bilisation measures in the last
from current levels of around quarter of 2020 will see month-
800% will be backed by vari- on-month inflation closing the
ous fiscal measures on contain- year at around 2 percent and
ing expenditure combined with the respective annual inflation
monetary management through at around 336 percent,” Ncube
reserve money targeting, as well said.
as disciplinary measures in the
financial sector. “In light of the efforts to keep
inflation low, Government will
“Relative stability in the for- also be embracing reforms on
eign exchange market, following enhancing efficiencies of public
adoption of the auction system utilities. This will ensure that the
and measures taken by Govern- shocks on inflation from the util-
ment to deal with indiscipline ities are minimised.”
among economic agents, partic-
ularly the mobile money firms, Ncube lauded government’s
have restored sanity and integrity foreign exchange auction system,
in the financial services sector,” introduced in June 2020, saying
Ncube said. it had stabilised the exchange
rate and stabilised prices.
“As a result, there has been sig-
– STAFF WRITER

Page 18 Executive Chat NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

SINCE the Zimbabwe Asset ‘No taxpayer money will approval?
Management Company (Zamco) bail out loan defaulters’ CK: There has not been a delay in
took over non-performing loans obtaining the approval from the
(NPLs) in 2016, there have been a Zamco CEO Cosmas Kanhai board per se.
lot of changes, including currency Right from the beginning when
reforms, with the economy going line, there will be no more negoti- is, therefore, assured that no State TBs issued to acquire NPLs will we converted our debt in Staraf-
through various phases. ation with these borrowers. funds will be used to redeem the be paid in 10 to 20 years’ time and rica into equity in 2017, we stat-
MG: What is your view on senti- TBs. these have been redenominated to ed that our intention will be to
Our reporter Merlin Garwe ments that State funds were used MG: Has the currency shift RTGS dollars. dispose of the shareholding in
(MG) spoke to Zamco CEO Cos- to bail out borrowers, some of been beneficial both to you and the company as we are not in the
mas Kanhai (CK), who said bor- whom are politicians? distressed companies? Contrary to what many people business of investing in compa-
rowers that were once in distress CK: No State funds will be used CK: Since re-denomination, the have been made to believe, gov- nies, but recovery and resolution
because of the debt burden have to bail out borrowers. As I indicat- local currency has lost value due ernment has not yet made any of non-performing loans.
found it easier to repay loans, le- ed earlier, over 60% of borrowers to high levels of inflation. cashflow payment on the TBs.
veraging on the disposal of assets have repaid their loans. Borrowers, who were once in dis- This will be done on maturity of The board has now deemed this
such as hard currency or property In addition, due to prudent in- tress because of the debt burden the TBs whose tenors range from to be an appropriate time to dis-
holdings. vestment decisions, Zamco has have found it easier to repay their 10 to 20 years from now. pose of the shareholding as the
sufficient resources to pay off the loans, leveraging on the disposal company—that is Starafrica—has
Below are excerpts of the inter- Treasury Bills (TBs) without re- of such assets as hard currency or In fact, the parties that lost out turned around and is now operat-
view: course to State funds. property holding. in this equation are the banks, ing profitably.
MG: You have in the past indi- who are holding Treasury Bills MG: Are you disposing of all
cated that Zamco had stopped We are in the process of looking Hence the main benefit for where payment will be received in of your stake or part of it? How
acquiring NPLs from banks. at the appropriate way to redeem distressed companies has been RTGS dollars after, for example, much are you looking at in terms
What has been the preoccupa- the TBs between two competing lightening of debt burdens. For 10 years. By this time, these would of the price?
tion of Zamco since then and options, namely either to pay the Zamco, the benefit is acceleration be valueless. CK: Zamco is disposing of its
what progress have you made so US$1,8 billion to government or of repayments ahead of initially MG: You have issued a notice entire 58.54% shareholding in
far in fulfilment of your man- to buy back the TBs from banks scheduled payment timeframes. of your intention to dispose the company to a strategic inves-
date? and cancel them. your shareholding in Starafrica tor,who will be expected to recap-
CK: Zamco is now in the final From Zamco’s balance sheet, Corporation. I understand you italise the business and improve
stages of its life cycle. At this stage Once a decision has been made, the issue of currency changes is a have been seeking approval from the company’s operational capa-
we are focusing on resolving all payment will be done. The public zero-sum game. the board since last year. What bilities. As indicated in our advert,
the acquired NPLs. caused the delay in getting the the shares are being disposed of on
Contrary to sentiments by many, a bidding basis, which means that
loans acquired by Zamco will need the bidders will eventually deter-
to be repaid. mine how much Zamco will be
able to get from the disposal.
So far, we have done extremely MG: What can you say about the
well in terms of collections. timing in terms of disposing of
the Starafrica stake, considering
As at 31 October 2020, we the currency volatility? How via-
had resolved NPLs amounting to ble is it to dispose of your stake
$700 million, which translates to now in local currency, or is it
a recovery rate of above 60%. This going to be a US dollar trans-
means out of the US$1.18 billion action?
of acquired NPLs, only loans to- CK: The Zimbabwe dollar has
talling about US$400 million in been very stable over the past few
terms of acquired remain out- months, which makes it viable to
standing. receive disposal proceeds in local
currency. For this transaction,
In terms of recovery rate, Zam- payment can also be made in hard
co has outperformed all other sim- currency, depending on the inves-
ilar asset management companies tor’s preferences.
at the same stage of operations. MG: Give us an update on the
Danarharta of Malaysia, which is maturity of your Treasury Bills.
considered a success story global- CK: The TBs mostly had tenures
ly, has a success rate of 58% com- ranging from 10 years to 18 years
pared to Zamco’s 60%. at issuance with a few exceptions
where TBs with shorter tenures
Zamco still has five more years were issued. The bulk of them,
to run before its sunset period. representing 89% of outstand-
MG: What happens to loans that ing, are maturing during the pe-
will remain unpaid at the end of riod 2027 through 2033. Though
the sunset period? the maturity of the TBs is still a
CK: Once all resolution methods number of years away, Zamco may
fail to yield fruits, Zamco will not consider early redemption of those
wait for the sunset period but will TBs at some point in the future.
use the last ace in our resolution MG: How much have you paid
framework, that is, litigation. to date?
In fact, a number of delinquent CK: The TBs will be paid on ma-
accounts have been given up to 31 turity. At the moment, Zamco is
December 2020 to pay up or face paying the periodic TB coupons as
litigation and subsequent black- and when they are due.
listing.
As at 30 September 2020, Zam-
This is an unfortunate route, co had made payments of TB
but there is nothing Zamco can coupons (interest) totalling $155
do since our mandate is to collect million.
the funds owed.

In our view, the good and hon-
est borrowers have paid off, and
we believe those remaining are
troublesome and serial defaulters
with some of them with no inten-
tion to pay.

That is the reason why we have
given them that deadline of 31
December 2020. After the dead-

NewsHawks Taking Stock Page 19

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Price Sheet

Thursday, 26 November 2020 A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE

Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Ticker Price Traded (cents) Traded Traded Change Change (%) Cap
(cents) Volume Value ($) (cents) (%) ($m)
Price 2209.81
AFDIS Consumer Goods AFDIS: ZH 2209.81 167.45 - - - - 592.73 2,592.24
African Sun Consumer Services ASUN: ZH 162.37 - 228.04 5,100 8,540.00 5.08 3.13 569.80 1,443.04
ART ARTD: ZH 227.03 160.00 130.43 3,700 8,437.50 1.01 0.44 1654.15
Ariston Industrials ARISTON: ZH 130.00 228.00 505.92 2,100 2,739.00 0.43 0.33 588.28 996.48
Axia Consumer Services AXIA: ZH 509.02 130.00 299.98 21,700 109,785.00 -3.10 -0.61 740.40 2,122.61
BNC BIND: ZH 300.00 509.00 21691.72 42,100 126,290.50 -0.02 -0.01 1754.02 2,756.73
BAT Consumer Goods 21691.72 300.00 6200.00 354.28 3,749.32
CAFCA Basic Materials BAT: ZH 6200.00 379.95 - - - - 3382.75 4,475.76
Cassava CAFCA: ZH 379.66 - 3700.00 - - - - 171.39
CBZ Consumer Goods 3700.00 - 850.00 44,400 168,698.00 0.29 0.08 5207.70 541.58
Dairibord Industrials CSZL: ZH 850.00 380.00 65.00 - - - - 1888.30 9,842.90
Dawn CBZ: ZH 65.00 - 1739.89 - - - - 790.41 25,427.57
Delta Technology DZL: ZH 1823.89 - 505.05 1,300 845.00 - - 410.61 3,043.01
Econet Banking DAWN: ZH 500.00 65.00 95.30 326,700 5,684,205.00 -84.00 -4.61 237.96 1,597.16
Edgars DLTA: ZH 100.00 1740.00 1322.65 1,235,500 6,239,910.00 5.05 1.01 353.81 22,348.21
FBC Consumer Goods ECO: ZH 1325.00 504.00 150.00 31,900 30,400.00 -4.70 -4.70 1927.05 13,083.71
Fidelity Real Estate EDGR: ZH 150.00 100.00 62.05 21,500 284,370.00 -2.35 -0.18 1541.14
First Capital FBC: ZH 59.03 1325.00 420.00 - - - - 594.85 311.62
FML Consumer Goods FIDL: ZH 474.75 - 220.00 31,900 19,794.00 3.02 5.12 1172.73 8,887.55
FMP Telecommunications FCA: ZH 210.00 62.00 17.00 52,200 219,240.00 -54.75 -11.53 1194.12
GBH Consumer Services FMHL: ZH 17.00 420.00 12.50 400 880.00 10.00 4.76 608.33 163.38
Getbucks FMP: ZH 12.50 220.00 1820.00 - - - - 4.17 1,338.24
Hippo Banking GBH: ZH 1820.00 - 2311.82 - - - - 833.33 2,898.60
Innscor Financial Services GBFS: ZH 2300.00 - 610.00 - - - - 552.61 2,723.95
Lafarge HIPO: ZH 610.00 - 53.70 143,800 3,324,400.00 11.82 0.51 238.89
Mash Banking INN: ZH 55.01 2300.00 421.16 - - - - 588.46 91.22
Masimba Financial Services LACZ: ZH 359.46 - 7.90 5,000 2,685.00 -1.31 -2.38 2233.30 145.39
Medtech MASH: ZH 7.90 53.00 1605.00 1,169,400 4,924,995.00 61.70 17.16 419.74 3,512.97
Meikles Real Estate MSHL: ZH 1605.00 431.25 105.08 341,700 26,994.30 - - 531.89 13,056.61
Nampak Industrials MMDZ: ZH 105.08 7.90 6010.00 300 4,815.00 - - 45.94 488.00
NatFoods MEIK: ZH 6010.00 1605.00 22.90 - - - - 567.04 998.32
NTS Financial Services NPKZ: ZH 22.90 - 210.04 - - - - 965.12 1,017.75
NMBZ Consumer Goods NTFD: ZH 240.13 - 559.95 - - - - 412.29 240.14
OK Zim NTS: ZH 552.61 - 1600.00 100,100 210,250.00 -30.09 -12.53 913.67 4,054.97
Padenga Industrials NMB: ZH 1590.00 210.00 190.19 10,300 57,675.00 7.34 1.33 531.79 794.04
Powerspeed Industrials OKZ: ZH 206.78 560.00 587.99 900 14,400.00 10.00 0.63 850.95 4,110.85
Proplastics Real Estate PHL: ZH 587.99 1600.00 189.00 43,100 81,970.00 -16.59 -8.02 617.06
RTG Industrials PWS: ZH 189.00 190.00 772.60 - - - - 1203.45 58.14
RioZim Healthcare PROL: ZH 772.60 - 1800.00 200 378.00 - - 229.33 848.92
SeedCo Industrials RTG: ZH 1799.92 189.00 679.64 - - - - 1025.00 6,981.53
Simbisa Industrials RIOZ: ZH 679.64 - 29.14 21,800 392,400.00 0.08 0.00 441.03 8,665.50
Star Africa Consumer Goods SEED: ZH 27.22 1800.00 15.37 - - - - 720.85 711.77
Truworths Industrials SIM: ZH 16.03 - 600.00 95,300 27,775.00 1.92 7.05 708.95 1,481.36
TSL SACL: ZH 600.00 29.00 68.00 26,800 4,120.00 -0.66 -4.12 692.08 4,716.49
Turnall Banking TRUW: ZH 68.00 15.00 15.50 - - - - 518.18 942.80
Unifreight Consumer Services TSL: ZH 12.95 - 25.00 - - - - 72.22 4,419.51
Willdale TURN: ZH 25.00 - 1500.00 9,100 1,410.50 2.55 19.69 614.29 3,820.83
ZB Consumer Goods UNIF: ZH 1500.00 15.50 0.02 3,700 925.00 - - 1983.33 1,373.98
Zeco Industrials WILD: ZH 0.02 25.00 68.00 - - - -
Zimpapers Industrials ZBFH: ZH 68.00 - 460.00 - - - - - 59.03
Zimplow ZECO: ZH 460.00 - 282.50 - - - - 407.46 2,142.61
ZHL Consumer Services ZIMP: ZH 282.50 - - - - - 660.33
Basic Materials ZIMPLOW: ZH - - - - - 1783.33 335.27
TOTAL ZHL: ZH - 3,792,000 16.50
Consumer Goods 21,979,326.80
Consumer Goods 444.50
Consumer Goods 2,627.86
Consumer Services
Consumer Goods 0.09
391.68
Industrials 1,096.55
Industrials 4,331.68
Industrials
184,320.52
Banking
Industrials
Consumer Services
Industrials
Financial Services

VFEX Open (US cents) Close (US cents) Change (%) TD (%) Mkt Cap (US$m) Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
SCIL
18.00 18.00 - -17.81 43.40 Unifreight 15.50c +2.55c +19.69 +72.22
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Page 20 News Analysis NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Loss-making
parastatals
can be turned
around

DUMISANI NYONI commanding loyalty and support, tive to investors, but “only if the direct control over these, unlike sector investor interest,” he said.
for constructing patron-client government accepts the need for being a shareholder hence this “So far, the government’s insis-
ZIMBABWE’s state-owned networks and as sources of public it to become, at most, a very small thing of deregulation will allow
enterprises can match the per- resources for political and private shareholder that does never be- these companies to operate with tence that it should retain a con-
formance of their private-sector gain. come involved in management.” a profit object, to compete with trolling interest in any privatised
counterparts and even become other companies in the market, be enterprise has prevented the idea
world-class players if they are Economic analysts say SOEs In a research study titled Deep- productive and allocate efficiently from gaining momentum. Only
managed professionally, put under can be turned around to match ening Structural Reform in Africa: hence enhancing their opera- the Dairy Marketing Board, which
a professional body, privatised or the performance of their pri- Lessons from East Asia, research- tions,” Machiva said. became Dairibord, and the Cotton
tasked with a clear-cut mandate, vate-sector counterparts if they er Laura Wallace said parastatal Marketing Board, which became
analysts say. are managed professionally. reform and privatisation, particu- He said if political power is Cottco, stand out as success sto-
larly of the large, problem-causing unchecked, those who are in the ries,” Robertson said.
The country has a total of 107 Privatisation infrastructure firms, require that government can still interfere and
state-owned enterprises (SOEs), Zimbabwe in 2018 set out an the government have the capacity abuse parastatals even if placed A study conducted by McK-
and 43 of them are wholly com- ambitious agenda to privatise to negotiate, monitor, and enforce under professional bodies like insey and Company in 2009 on
mercial entities currently contrib- more than 15 of its loss-making contracts, and where markets Zida. Economist Reginald Shoko improving the performance of
uting less than 8% of the Gross and ailing state entities within two cannot be restructured to make said it was important, as the state-owned enterprises shows
Domestic Product (GDP). years. competition a prospect, a modi- government works on reforming that parastatals can effectively
Victor Bhoroma, an econom- cum of regulatory capacity needs the parastatals, that their oversight contribute to the fiscus if they
In 1998, for example, para- ic analyst, has opined that the to be in place. management be in the hands of clarify their objectives and secure
statals contributed 40% of GDP, privatisation roadmap has been professionals and institutions with a clear-cut mandate.
but years of mismanagement, characterised by predictable Economic analysts suggested the requisite skills in order to im-
corruption, cronyism and political failures, policy somersaults and that state-owned enterprises that prove their corporate governance, “Too often, state-owned enter-
meddling have rendered most bureaucratic red tape, much to the will not be privatised should be eliminating nepotism that is asso- prises operate behind a curtain,
of the enterprises dysfunctional, dismay of the taxpayers. put under a professional institu- ciated with political favours. revealing little information be-
bankrupt and shambolic. Privatisation, as any action tion with the requisite skills like yond their general mandate. One
that serves to dilute or eliminate the Zimbabwe Investment and “We have witnessed poor reason may be that their objec-
Most of these loss-making government equity ownership or Development Agency (Zida). management and, in some cases, tives are unclear or conflicting,
parastatals, which, for instance, in managerial control of an enter- high-level corruption in state but the lack of transparency can
2015 received government sup- prise, includes the elimination “Parastatals are prone to abuse enterprises being linked to parent also be traced to political expe-
port totalling US$129 million— of government monopoly or by line ministers hence putting ministry officials or ministers. If diency, a desire to avoid compar-
while contributing just US$7,8 monopsony and the reduction of them under Zida will change the they are to be housed at Zida, it isons with the private sector, or
million in dividends—are being government controls. overall objective of these para- will mean board members are ap- inexperience with clear, concise
controlled by line ministers. Industrialists opine that the statals. They will become profit pointed on merit not association corporate communications,” the
privatisation of parastatals will oriented and will then operate or favours,” he said. study report reads in part.
Cabinet ministers are respon- release a substantial amount of with the sole objective of generat-
sible for appointing parastatal resources for use in needy areas ing profits, subject to commercial Robertson said as the main “Leading state-owned enter-
boards, a practice that is creating a such as education and health. regulations and checks, paying tax reason the state-owned companies prises can openly proclaim their
haven for corruption and nepo- They say the gains of efficiency to the government and all,” econo- failed to perform well in the past objectives and clarify the trade-
tism, with ministers moving their from privatisation would be quite mist Blessing Machiva said. is that they were under govern- offs between their financial and
friends from one entity to another substantial and boost economic ment control. social goals when they negotiate
as they are transferred from one growth. The Zida Act, however, in its a transparent mandate with the
Cabinet post to another. Research also suggests that current form does not allow the Placing them under Zida would government and other stakehold-
privatisation is good for produc- regulation of parastatals. not necessarily guarantee better ers,” the study says.
Some are even abusing their tive efficiency, even if it does not performance in future.
powers to an extent of manip- always lead to improvements. It only deals with the promo- In Zimbabwe, managerial
ulating the tendering system at However, privatisation without tion, entry, facilitation and protec- “As the whole object of the pri- posts at SOEs are being filled
parastatals as well as cancelling strong institutions will not bear tion of investment in Zimbabwe. vatisation of parastatals was to put on partisan lines, not on merit.
or frustrating deals they deem the desired results, they say. them under the management of For instance, most parastatals
“unworthy” simply because Steve Koch, professor of eco- Hence the Act will need to be private enterprise investors, Zida are being led by war veterans or
they would have not been given nomics at the University of Pre- changed to incorporate this man- should have no role to play as the ex-military personnel, who may
kickbacks. An example is the toria, as quoted in The Conversa- date or to enable the government certainty that it would interfere not be competent enough to run
cancellation of the US$400 million tion, says privatisation in Mexico to form a separate entity. is enough to discourage private the companies.
tender to recapitalise the Nation- fared poorly, partly because the
al Railway of Zimbabwe by the proper regulatory structure was “The government will not have
Diaspora Infrastructure Develop- not in place to deal with compa-
ment Group. Reports alleged that nies inappropriately using their
Transport minister Biggie Matiza market power.In Zimbabwe, cur-
cancelled the deal because he rently there are no strong institu-
wanted to award it to his preferred tions. Key institutions such as the
investors. courts are largely controlled by the
Zanu-PF government.
The ministers and other top John Robertson, an economist,
officials are violating the Public said more than 100 parastatals
Finance and Management Act could be made to look attrac-
with impunity as they are also
drawing fuel and hiring vehicles
in parastatals meant for executives
of state enterprises.

SOEs prove to be very useful in

NewsHawks Opinion Page 21

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Violence has spiked in Zimbabwe’s All that glitters is not gold:
gold mining sector, costing hun- turmoil in Zim’s mining sector
dreds of people their lives and trig-
gering a police operation that led to In 2019, killings by machete-wielding gangs at Zimbabwe’s gold mines jogged the government into preventive action. But police sweeps alone cannot make the
the arrest of thousands. Media and sector safe. Harare should adopt reforms that allow more citizens to mine legally and head off disputes over the country’s mineral wealth.
government blame artisanal miners,
who dig using little mechanisation intrusions upon mining sites or peaceful cooperation occurs. recognise that their mining opera- similarly press the Zimbabwe
and often without licences but are mining-related violence, partic- The Mnangagwa government tions will almost inevitably stir up government to take action.
the country’s main gold producers. ularly when gangs or artisanal tensions with artisanal miners.
miners are politically connected. can take a number of steps to Zimbabwe has recently acceded
Yet the bloodshed is better tamp down violence in gold Rather than playing into Zim- to the APRM and both parties will
seen as a symptom of Zimbabwe’s The security forces recently mining areas. It should revise the babwe’s patronage system, which negotiate about which sectors to
flawed centralised gold buying have mounted major operations to country’s Mines and Minerals Act ultimately benefits neither party, prioritise for a governance quality
scheme, patronage-based economy stop killings, but in making arrests to give artisanal mining coopera- mining companies ought to coop- review.
and obsolete legal and regulatory they often make no distinction tives legal standing, and adequate- erate with and support artisanal
system. To avert further turmoil, between gang members and ly fund the ministry of mines miners’ associations, including by The APRM should push for
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s non-violent artisanal miners. unit responsible for the artisanal granting them mining rights and mining to be one of these sectors,
government should give artisanal mining sector. It should work with providing training and resources. and designate improvements
mining cooperatives legal standing, Their sweeps have likely the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to in mining dispute resolution,
pay gold producers at world prices, deprived thousands of miners of pay gold miners in US dollars at a Furthermore, companies, particularly establishment of a
improve mining dispute resolution their livelihoods without making rate based on world gold prices. as assembled in the Zimbabwe digital cadastre system, reduction
and bolster law enforcement. Par- the sector appreciably safer. Chamber of Mines, should push of violence and regularisation of
liament should resume its investi- It should also try out alter- the government to give artis- gold exports, as benchmarks for
gation into gold-sector violence, A comparison of three mining native forms of mining dispute anal mining cooperatives legal Zimbabwe’s good governance.
which it halted due to Covid-19, sites reveals that political interests resolution, backed up by reliable standing. This measure would
and widen the focus to include pos- often drive violence. Although police enforcement, and complete help mining companies avoid The IMF’s voice is also import-
sibly complicit politicians. Mining industrial mining companies and the digital cadastre system that costly production interruptions, ant: its assessments of the coun-
companies should explore further artisanal miners typically attempt demarcates mining claims. allow them to exploit minerals try’s governance can help deter-
cooperation with artisanal miners. to exploit such interests to out- that are prohibitively expensive mine the country’s eligibility for
Multilateral bodies and South Afri- manoeuvre one another, they also Other actors in Zimbabwe can to extract by industrial means, financial assistance and debt relief.
ca should include assessment of the show a surprising willingness to help. Parliament should resume its and bring companies in line with South Africa, which remains
mining sector in their appraisals of work together. enquiry into gold-related violence, industry best practices as set out a primary potential source of
Zimbabwean reform. suspended due to Covid-19, when by the Organisation for Economic investment capital in the mining
At mines where dispute resolu- it is safe to do so, making sure to Co-operation and Development sector and stands to lose from
Development of the gold sector tion is more predictable, where ar- look into the role of politicians and exemplified by cooperation in continuing economic crises in
is crucial if Mnangagwa’s govern- tisanal miners are better organised connected to the ruling party. other countries. Zimbabwe, should similarly push
ment is to salvage prospects for and where financial trouble did for mining sector reforms.
Zimbabwe’s economic recovery not force industrial mines to close, Mining companies should Influential external actors,
from decades of stagnation under particularly the African Peer Absent such steps, further
the late President Robert Mugabe. Review Mechanism (APRM), a cycles of violence in Zimbabwe’s
Gold is Zimbabwe’s largest foreign continental body that assesses Af- gold mining areas are likely, as
exchange earner and the country is rican governments’ performance, is further damage to individual
desperately short on hard currency. the International Monetary Fund livelihoods and Zimbabwe’s strug-
It is also Zimbabwe’s only major (IMF) and South Africa, should gling economy.
export commodity that has not
dropped radically in price during - International Crisis Group
the worldwide pandemic.

The gold sector is compromised
on several fronts, however.

First, Zimbabwe’s centralised
gold buying scheme underpays pro-
ducers, a practice that encourages
smuggling and erodes industrial
mining profits, leading companies
to close mines.

Idle industrial mines become
targets for intrusion by artisanal
miners.

“Gang violence
flourishes around
gold mining sites
where the rule of
law is weak.”

Secondly, such encroachment
by artisanal miners, at times with
the connivance of actors linked
to the ruling Zimbabwe African
National Union-Patriotic Front,
feeds an elaborate patronage
economy, found in many African
resource-rich countries, which can
give politicians an incentive to
protect the status quo.

Thirdly, Zimbabwe’s legal system
is unpredictable: artisanal miners
have no collective rights under the
law and in case of disputes author-
ities often apply the law unevenly,
failing to hold politically connected
parties to account and playing
havoc with mining companies.

Gang violence flourishes
around gold mining sites where
the rule of law is weak.

Disputes about mining site
ownership are frequent, and
police often do not act against

Page 22 Africa News NewsHawks

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

ZAMBIA has become the first Zambia’s default fuels fears of African
African country to default on ‘debt tsunami’ as Covid impact bites
its debts since the pandemic,
leading to fears that a “debt World Bank, have said Zam- Oxfam in Zambia, who said “It is simply immoral for “Ghana looks very risky fragile healthcare systems, aid
tsunami” could engulf the bia has taken on more debt the arrival of the wet or rainy bondholders to demand full to me,” said Tim Jones, head agencies warned.
continent’s most heavily in- than it could handle. Even season would bring addition- repayment and to make huge of policy at the Jubilee Debt
debted nations as the financial before the pandemic, Zambia al challenges like cholera and profits on Zambia’s debt while Campaign. He said Angola, “At a time when hospitals
impact of coronavirus hits. was due to pay US$1.7 billion potentially a second wave of the country struggles with Chad and Congo-Brazzaville and healthcare systems are
to service its debts this year – Covid-19. So far Zambia has Covid-19, a major economic were also at risk. buckling under the strain of
A hastily-arranged G20 equating to more than 8% of recorded almost  18 000 cas- crisis and spiralling poverty Covid-19, it is perverse that
finance minister meeting in the country’s GDP for 2020. es of the virus. levels,” said Sarah-Jayne Clif- A  separate study  by the poor countries are having to
Saudi Arabia failed to sort ton, director of the Jubilee Institute of International Fi- pay US$3 billion a month
out Zambia’s debt, after the But coronavirus plays a “This era we’re in comes Debt Campaign, which es- nance warned of a “debt tsu- in debt repayments to rich
southern African country key role in the recent default. with serious health challenges. timated that some financial nami” as global indebtedness banks, investment funds or
missed a US$42.5 million As financiers negotiate with We need healthcare providers institutions will make a 250% topped US$277 trillion in the the World Bank, while their
(£32 million) coupon pay- finance ministers over repay- to have some level of pre- profit on their Zambian third quarter of this year. populations fall further into
ment on its bonds in October. ment terms, the virus is de- paredness,” Maseko said. bonds. poverty and destitution,” said
Missing another payment on pleting Zambia’s already frag- In emerging markets, Chema Vera, Oxfam Interna-
14 November meant a techni- ile healthcare resources. But the Zambian govern- Neighbouring govern- which are more likely to de- tional’s interim executive di-
cal default. ment is now debating a bud- ments are rattled: if Zambia fault, debt has risen by more rector. “Debt needs to be can-
“As I speak it’s raining out- get that would see less money has had to default, they could than a quarter. This potential celled, postponing it is futile.”
Zambia’s finance minister, side,” said Eneya Maseko, spent on healthcare and more too. wave of defaults could have
Bwalya Ng’andu, was quick to a programme manager for on servicing debt repayments. catastrophic effects on already “The UN security coun-
blame the banks and asset and cil could pass a resolution to
fund managers who wanted to compel private creditors to ac-
see more transparency over an cept a debt restructuring,” said
estimated US$3 billion debt Jones, who argued that private
to China, but who refused to lenders are proving the hard-
sign the necessary confidenti- est to negotiate with when it
ality agreements, he said. comes to debt restructuring
deals.
Ng’andu said on state
television, “The position of The terms of Zambia’s de-
the Chinese banks is: ‘You’re fault will be negotiated next
not going to give anybody month when the IMF visits
any information without the the country to discuss a poten-
confidentiality agreements in tial US$1.3 billion loan. These
place’.” terms could provide a tem-
plate for other countries that
The Zambia External are on the verge of default.
Bondholder Committee, a
consortium of lenders that “For the ordinary Zambi-
own 40% of Zambia’s out- an those things they require
standing Eurobonds, said in a to live a decent life and be
statement they had had no di- in good health will be very
rect discussions with author- difficult to expect from gov-
ities. As a result, the “lack of ernment,” said Maseko. “I am
engagement and transparency really struggling to think of a
does not provide for the con- worse case scenario.”
ditions that would otherwise
allow bondholders to consider — Guardian
providing near-term relief”,
they said.

Other organisations, in-
cluding the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and

Ethiopia’s PM declares assault on regional capital Mekelle

ETHIOPIAN Prime Minis- he gave for Tigray fight- not be allowed to travel to Abiy Ahmed not be easy to carry it out, keep away from military
ter Abiy Ahmed (pictured) ers to surrender passed Tigray. particularly if there’s active targets.
says he is launching the on Wednesday. Hundreds military strategy in which fighting in the city. Artillery
“final phase” of the army’s of people have reportedly In the “final phase” of the top personnel of the TPLF attacks, as were suggest- Religious and historical
operation in the northern been killed and thousands military offensive that PM would be brought to justice ed by an army official last sites, institutions and resi-
region of Tigray after weeks have been forced from their Abiy launched following without harming civilians week, and airstrikes are par- dential areas would not be
of fighting. homes as Ethiopian forces the expiry of the 72-hour or properties in and around ticularly difficult to conduct targeted, he said.
have seized various towns ultimatum, he spoke of a Mekelle. It is not clear what without killing civilians and
He said the military in Tigray from the TPLF. that strategy is but it will destroying civilian infra- He ordered the Ethiopian
would try not to harm civil- However, details of the structure. military to launch an offen-
ians in the regional capital fighting are hard to confirm sive on Mekelle in the “third
Mekelle - a city of 500,000 because all phone, mobile The federal government’s and final phase” of the fed-
people - and urged resi- and internet communica- troops could be met with eral government’s military
dents to stay at home. The tions with the Tigray region a sort of guerrilla warfare campaign against the TPLF.
TPLF party, which controls have been cut. Journalist from the area outside Me-
Mekelle, has vowed to keep and political activist Daniel kelle. Mr Abiy said “great care”
fighting. The UN warns of Berhane, who is in Mekelle, would be taken to protect
possible war crimes if the told the BBC there was no And it could also take civilians and “all efforts”
Ethiopian army attacks Me- sign yet of any attack, and longer than the government would be made to limit
kelle. that shops, cafes and restau- would like to conclude the damage to Mekelle.
rants in the city were “al- offensive. That could mean
UN human rights chief most full”. a worsening of the human- The leader of the power-
Michele Bachelet told the itarian crisis and conse- ful regional party, Debret-
BBC the city’s inhabitants Three African Union rep- quently more international sion Gebremichael, has said
were in “deep peril”. resentatives have arrived in pressure. Tigray forces are “ready to
the Ethiopian capital Ad- die in defence of our right
“We’re really alarmed by dis Ababa to try to broker In the past three weeks to administer our region”.
the dangerous situation par- talks but Ethiopia has so far the government has taken
ticularly because of the ci- rejected all mediation at- control of a number of areas The TPLF fighters, drawn
vilians trapped in Mekelle,” tempts, saying the conflict in Tigray but at a cost. An mostly from a paramili-
she said, adding that there is an internal matter and Mr offensive on the state capi- tary unit and a well-drilled
was “potential for serious Abiy’s government is en- tal - believed to be the main local militia, are thought
violations of international gaged in a law enforcement stronghold of the TPLF - to number about 250,000.
humanitarian human rights mission in Tigray. could be even more costly. Some analysts fear that the
law”. He urged people in Mekelle situation could turn into a
The three envoys will and the surrounding areas guerrilla conflict - with the
Mr Abiy’s announce- to disarm, stay at home and TPLF continuing to mount
ment comes after a deadline attacks on government forc-
es even if they take Mekelle.

NewsHawks World News Page 23

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Maradona laid to rest in private ceremony

Diego Maradona was buried Only family members and close friends were permitted at Jardin Bella Vista cemetery for the burial of Diego Maradona next window.
on Thursday in a private cer- to the graves of his parents, Dalma and Diego; fans waving Argentine flags had gathered along roads as Maradona’s funeral car Desperate to say goodbye,
emony attended by only two drove by under heavy security
dozen people. Maradona’s fans climbed on
responded with rubber bul- resulted in injuries and arrests, casket was placed in a car that the fences of the presidential
Only family members and lets. The crowd overwhelmed which led Maradona’s family to carried the former footballer’s mansion as if they were in a
close friends were permitted at organisers and the violence end the public visitation. The name on a paperboard by the football stadium, while fire-
Jardin Bella Vista cemetery for fighters worked to clear the
the final religious ceremony ground.
and burial of Maradona next to
the graves of his parents, Dal- “Diego is not dead, Diego
ma and Diego. lives in the people,” the crowd
chanted as the coffin was taken
Fans waving Argentine flags to a cemetery outside Buenos
had gathered along roads as Aires.
Maradona’s funeral car drove
by under heavy security. Many The motorcade, accompa-
tried to touch the vehicle nied by police, was followed on
whenever it was stopped by a local highway by dozens of
traffic. honking cars and motorcycles.

The earlier viewing at the Hundreds of fans blocked
Argentine presidential man- entry to the cemetery before
sion was halted shortly before the arrival of Maradona’s cas-
6pm, 12 hours after it started, ket, dancing and chanting as
as Maradona’s family wished police moved in to open a way.
and the body of the Argentine The crowd continued mak-
icon was taken away for buri- ing noise after the final cere-
al, frustrating many who were mony began. Maradona died
waiting to pay their respects Wednesday of a heart attack in
and causing new tensions at a house outside Buenos Aires
the gates of the cemetery. where he had been recovering
from a brain operation on No-
Fans, some draped in the vember 3.
national flag, sang football an-
thems as they formed a line Napoli paid tribute to Ma-
that stretched more than 20 radona, their former player,
blocks from the Plaza de Mayo, before their 2-0 win over HNK
where Argentines gathered to Rijeka in the Europa League.
celebrate the Maradona-led Fans gathered outside the sta-
triumph in the 1986 World dium to pay their respects to
Cup. the Argentinian, with a num-
ber of them also laying flowers
But with the time for view- and memorabilia.
ing the coffin at the presi-
dential palace drawing short, The Premier League has
police moved to cut off the asked all clubs to hold a min-
back end of the crowd, enrag- ute’s applause and wear black
ing fans who hurled rocks and armbands to honour Mara-
other objects at officers, who dona at each of this weekend’s
fixtures. - AP Sport

If Electoral College votes for Biden, I’ll leave office: Trump

WASHINGTON - President Don- snapped at the reporter. “Don’t talk Donald Trump To this point, the Trump cam-
ald Trump said for the first time to me that way. I’m the President of paign’s lawsuits have been repeat-
Thursday he will leave office if the the United States. Don’t ever talk edly dismissed or dropped, and
Electoral College votes for Pres- to the president that way,” he said. earlier this week, the General Ser-
ident-elect Joe Biden but made vices Administration informed
clear he’s not prepared to concede. Thursday was the first time Biden that the Trump administra-
Trump has taken questions from tion is ready to begin the formal
“Certainly I will, and you know reporters since the election. transition process.
that,” Trump said when asked by a
reporter about leaving the White Since CNN and other outlets The GSA letter marked the first
House if Biden is declared the win- projected Biden as the winner step the administration has taken
ner on December 14. “I will and, earlier this month, Trump has re- to acknowledge Trump’s defeat.
you know that.” fused to accept the results, instead The President, however, tweeted
pushing baseless conspiracies that moments after the letter was re-
“It’s going to be a very hard his second term is being stolen and ported: “Our case STRONGLY
thing to concede because we know launching a legal effort to over- continues, we will keep up the
there was massive fraud,” Trump turn results. This includes falsely good fight, and I believe we will
said without evidence. claiming during an election night prevail!”
address that he had already won
“As to whether or not we can reelection, that he had already won He echoed that message
get this apparatus moving quickly states that were actually still up in throughout his rambling news
-- because time isn’t on our side, the air at the time and that his op- conference Thursday following a
everything else is on our side, facts ponents were perpetuating a fraud. Thanksgiving teleconference call
are on our side, this was a massive with military members -- an event
fraud.” In response, Biden campaign US Presidents traditionally use to
spokesperson Andrew Bates said boost morale of service members
The President falsely added that in a statement earlier this month, stationed abroad during the hol-
if Biden is declared the winner, the “the United States government is idays and remind the country of
Electoral College, “made a mistake, perfectly capable of escorting tres- their service. – CNN
cause this election was a fraud.” passers out of the White House.”
Pressed on his comments, Trump

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 24 Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA “These Legends Awards Nama botched! artists have in fact engaged
provide for a strategic post- more with the international
CRITICS in the creative sec- ponement of the competi- Daves Guzha community. Thespians have
tor have roundly condemned tive 20th Nama whose host- been hard at work, the visual
the National Arts Council of ing hung on the balance due call physitual whereby you When things are tight, the these things that are negative artists, and so was everyone
Zimbabwe, the organisers to Covid-19 pandemic and combine the physical and arts must claim that space instead of perpetuating the hard at work, for instance
of the annual National Arts the subsequent lockdowns,” the virtual side of things. to take people away from all attrition. Under lockdown, the Jason Mphepo Little
Merit Awards (NACZ), for Nicholas Moyo, the NACZ Theatre have been produc-
postponing the show to Feb- director, said. ing more plays and Intwasa
ruary 2022 saying the deci- Festival as well as Shoko Fes-
sion was mistimed. “The prestigious com- tival,” Guzha said.
petitive annual awards are Musician Isheanesu
The awards ceremony therefore postponed for a Chiguga aka Ishan, said it
which is jointly hosted by year owing to the impact of was wrong for NACZ to
the NACZ and Jacaranda the Covid-19 disease on cre- postpone the hosting of
Culture and Media Corpora- ativity and the arts sector in Nama saying musicians have
tion (JCMC) was scheduled particular over the past eight been continuously creating
for 27 February, 2021 but months. music.
unfortunately the organisers “Everyday a new star is
decided to push the date In reaching the decision born and for Nama to post-
back to February 2022 with- to postpone the competi- pone the event it means they
out wide consultation with tive Nama, NACZ is cog- will be creating unnecessary
the artists. nisant of the fact that a lack backlog and the music that
of activity in the sector has is happening now won’t be
There has been lots in greatly affected the ability of making waves next year,” he
store this year from across artists to create in their usual said.
the arts spectrum including spaces.” Arts critic Marshall
literally works, exhibitions, Shonhai cmmented: “I un-
new music and theatre, so Sadder still, Moyo said the derstand the reasoning be-
much so that by the time integrity of Nama would be hind canceling of this year’s
the next Nama is held all the compromised due to strin- edition, because of the
new stuff this year will go to gent lockdown regulations. Covid-19 pandemic forced
waste. lockdown the arts sector was
  Government recently greatly affected, resulting in
While the organisers have announced that the public many artists not being able
indicated that Covid-19 was bars, beerhalls, “In this re- to put any work out, prob-
the reason behind the post- gard the postponed Nama ably only the music sector
ponement, it was rather less will be held in February has something that can be
convincing and, in fact, a 2022 and will reward art awarded.
smokescreen as global music works created in the peri- “What I do not get,
awards such as the Europe od 1st  December 2019 to though, is the wisdom for
Music Awards, the BET 30th November 2021. pushing it to 2022? Are we
Awards, even Bulawayo Arts saying people will not work
Awards and others have been This extended period is to again next year?”
held virtually and in some allow artists to resume their
cases with selected audienc- operations in light of the re- ABOVE LEFT: Midlands State University Master of Science in International Affairs
es. laxed Covid-19 regulations.   Class of 2020 poses for a photo following a virtual graduation ceremony held at
Rainbow Towers recently. The NewsHawks reporter, Nyasha Chingono (right) is one of them.
In fact, it is less costly to “By hosting the Legends
hold the Namas virtually be- Awards we desire to reflect
cause there is no need for the on the developments in the
big budget red carpet event Cultural and Creative Indus-
with its razzmatazz. tries over the past 40 years
and celebrate our achieve-
All the organisers need ments by providing honor-
the nominees list and then ary awards to the people who
the winners who would be were influential during the
awarded virtually and the period in shaping the various
event is live-streamed on the subsectors of the CCIs.
official Namas YouTube or
Facebook pages. “The awards are a special
honour and recognition to
However, the NACZ in- legendary creatives who have
sisted on postponing the raised high the flag of the
awards show, saying it would country over the stated peri-
be bigger and better in 2022 od,” he said   
when they celebrate 40 years
of Zimbabwe’s Indepen- “Platforms of consump-
dence through honouring 40 tion have changed because
legends across the arts sector. all the content is going on-
line and it should have been
“The next Nama will be easier for their monitors to
held under the theme ‘Our go online and adjudge. The
Legacy, Our Pride’.  Nama postponement for me cre-
shall celebrate Zimbabwe’s ates an impression that art-
40th  anniversary as well as ists have not been producing
the 35 years of National Arts during this Covid-19 pan-
Council existence.  demic and yet are we saying
people have nott been born
“This will be a unique this year?” said Daves Gu-
event in the sense that on the zha, a theatre practitioner
night we shall honour forty and Rooftop Promotions
(40) legends as we celebrate producer.
40 years of Independence,
dubbed Nama Legends “I don’t think there was any
Awards #NAMAlegends. reason to push the awards to
2022 because there is what I

NewsHawks People & Places Page 25

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

An unusually empty OR Tambo International Airport last weekend

Covid-19 has changed the airport experience

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE a test that is not older than 48 lers go through the walk-through routine or the “new normal” as For some, who have been ac-
hours. sanitising booth. Your luggage is people like to call it. Passengers customed to claiming back their
IF you are thinking of flying out also sprayed. are required to wear face masks value-added tax at the airport
for a vacation during the festive Swab tests make many peo- the entire journey, except when when returning to Zimbabwe,
season or you just need a break ple very uncomfortable, but you Only travellers are allowed be- eating or drinking. there is bad news for you as
and want to visit family and should be ready to have your yond the sanitising booth. You South Africa has made it cum-
friends, there are a few changes nose poked. It is a nasty, but es- have to present evidence that When you arrive at your des- bersome by moving the customs
you should prepare for. sential requirement in the fight you are travelling by produc- tination, the first document desk to the domestic terminal.
against the Covid-19 pandemic, ing your air ticket. From there, you will have to produce is the
After you have bought your which has wreaked havoc world- you will be expected to present Covid-19 certificate, before you The tax authorities have
plane ticket and secured your wide. a negative Covid-19 PCR certifi- even get to immigration. stopped processing the claims at
booking, you should bear in cate for you to have access to the the airport.
mind that you might end up not When you get to the airport, check-in hall. The Covid-19 results have as-
travelling. it is not going to be the simple sumed such importance. When You get a form, which you
walk-in that you were used to. After this, you then go travelling outside the country, need to complete upon arrival
This is because most coun- through the usual processes to the Covid-19 certificate has as- in Zimbabwe and send by post.
tries, if not all, now require The days of hugs and kisses in the departure lounge. sumed the same importance as You are, however, required to
travellers to produce a negative the check-in hall are long gone. the passport, but in some cases, produce the receipts, which are
Covid-19 polymerase chain re- Some airlines now offer hand one gets the idea that the certif- stamped by the tax authorities.
action (PCR) test certificate. Before walking in at most air- sanitisers to passengers on entry, icate is more important. Now if
ports, including Robert Mugabe a reminder that there is a new you love shopping at airports, be You only get a tax refund
For South Africa, used by International in Harare, travel- prepared for disappointment as when you produce evidence that
many local travellers to catch some of the shops are closed. you declared the goods to the tax
connecting flights, the test authorities in your destination
should not be older than 72 The traffic at the airport has country.
hours from the time of departure also dramatically decreased be-
from the country of origin. cause of the Covid-19 pandemic. There are certain things that
you should keep in mind while
Zimbabwean authorities re- Pick-up points have also travelling or waiting to catch a
quire that you produce your test changed, but there is someone flight at the airport: carry a sa-
results before being allowed to who will be ready to help and nitiser and avoid touching sur-
check-in. show you the right direction, faces.
so do ask for help if you are not
You are required to produce sure. Wear your mask at all times
your test results before com- except, of course, when eating.
pleting immigration formalities The Robert Mugabe Interna-
when you reach South Africa. tional Airport is now even more At some more advanced air-
deserted, and the shops are al- ports, travellers are required to
When coming back home, the most empty. scan their own boarding pass to
Zimbabwean authorities require avoid that exchange.

Property
NewsHawks

Page 26 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

The home of prime property: [email protected]

High inflation throttles debt financing

IF you are thinking of flying out for your test results before completing You have to present evidence that sumed the same importance as the domestic terminal.
a vacation during the festive sea- immigration formalities when you you are travelling by producing passport, but in some cases, one The tax authorities have stopped
son or you just need a break and reach South Africa. your air ticket. From there, you gets the idea that the certificate is
want to visit family and friends, will be expected to present a neg- more important. Now if you love processing the claims at the air-
there are a few changes you should When coming back home, the ative Covid-19 PCR certificate for shopping at airports, be prepared port.
prepare for. Zimbabwean authorities require a you to have access to the check-in for disappointment as some of the
test that is not older than 48 hours. hall. shops are closed. You get a form, which you need
After you have bought your to complete upon arrival in Zim-
plane ticket and secured your Swab tests make many peo- After this, you then go through The traffic at the airport has also babwe and send by post. You are,
booking, you should bear in mind ple very uncomfortable, but you the usual processes to the depar- dramatically decreased because of however, required to produce the
that you might end up not travel- should be ready to have your nose ture lounge. Some airlines now the Covid-19 pandemic. receipts, which are stamped by the
ling. poked. It is a nasty, but essential offer hand sanitisers to passengers tax authorities.
requirement in the fight against on entry, a reminder that there is a Pick-up points have also
This is because most countries, the Covid-19 pandemic, which has new routine or the “new normal” changed, but there is someone You only get a tax refund when
if not all, now require travellers to wreaked havoc worldwide. as people like to call it. Passengers who will be ready to help and show you produce evidence that you de-
produce a negative Covid-19 poly- are required to wear face masks the you the right direction, so do ask clared the goods to the tax author-
merase chain reaction (PCR) test When you get to the airport, it is entire journey, except when eating for help if you are not sure. ities in your destination country.
certificate. For South Africa, used not going to be the simple walk-in or drinking.
by many local travellers to catch that you were used to. The Robert Mugabe Interna- There are certain things that you
connecting flights, the test should When you arrive at your desti- tional Airport is now even more should keep in mind while travel-
not be older than 72 hours from The days of hugs and kisses in nation, the first document you will deserted, and the shops are al- ling or waiting to catch a flight at
the time of departure from the the check-in hall are long gone. have to produce is the Covid-19 most empty. For some, who have the airport: carry a sanitiser and
country of origin. certificate, before you even get to been accustomed to claiming back avoid touching surfaces.
Before walking in at most air- immigration. The Covid-19 results their value-added tax at the air-
Zimbabwean authorities require ports, including Robert Mugabe have assumed such importance. port when returning to Zimbabwe, Wear your mask at all times ex-
that you produce your test results International in Harare, travellers When travelling outside the coun- there is bad news for you as South cept, of course, when eating.
before being allowed to check-in. go through the walk-through san- try, the Covid-19 certificate has as- Africa has made it cumbersome by
itising booth. Your luggage is also moving the customs desk to the At some more advanced air-
You are required to produce sprayed. Only travellers are al- ports, travellers are required to
lowed beyond the sanitising booth. scan their own boarding pass to
avoid that exchange.

NewsHawks Sport Page 27

Issue 7, 27 Nov 2020

Chibhabha: To get through the bubble, to get
The bubble through the tough periods of being
‘a prison with in the bubble, all you have is each
better condition’ other. You end up bonding really
well, spending time together. You
BRIAN GOREDEMA “Life in the bubble can be real- lect your food, go back to the sec- the Centurion, but they were not get to know each other even better
ly draining,” Chibhabha tells The ond floor, and that was it.” allowed to get anywhere close to not just as cricketers, but as men.”
COVID-19 has changed how audi- NewsHawks this week. “I don’t us. So I could still see my kids
ences view sport and, more so, how think it’s something you can ever Leading up to the ODI and and mentally this made a huge Isolation aside, the Zimbabwe-
professional sportsmen prepare for really prepare for, or get used to. Twenty20 series in Pakistan, Zim- difference. In Pakistan it was a an squad enjoyed the hospitality
matches. The most difficult thing about the babwe’s squad went through week- whole different vibe. Going to the of Pakistan, often a volatile coun-
bubble is being separated from ev- long quarantine period before ground, due to the strict security try shunned by most internation-
For sport to resume across the eryone else. It’s kind of like being flying out, and another one-week measures, they would clear all the al teams in recent times over the
world in these trying times, a bio in a prison, (but) with good food, isolation phase upon arrival in the roads. You wouldn’t see any traffic, threat of terror attacks. On match-
secure environment was created to better conditions. At the end of the Asian country. you wouldn’t see people, except for days, the stadium DJ played Zim-
manage the process. day, it’s not life as usual.” soldiers on the side of the road. babwean music, with popular ar-
Chibhabha, a married father of There was a team room and a gym tistes like Winky D, Enzo Ishal and
A bio bubble is a safe team set- Chibhabha confirms that, in- two, says the Harare part of the available at the hotel. We could T-Gonz regularly featuring.
ting, isolated from the outside deed, as specified under the bubble isolation felt more homely. meet up in the team room, play
world, to minimise the risk of concept conditions, random out- some video games, play pool. We “It was really nice to hear some
Covid-19 infection. siders never came anywhere close “The difference between the bub- also celebrated birthdays over din- local music being played in the sta-
to Zimbabwe’s team members. ble in Harare and Pakistan is that ner. The beauty about the bubble dium during the ODI series,” says
It permits only authorised in Harare we were still around, we is that you get to bond as a team Chibhabha. “It makes you feel at
sportspersons, support staff and “I will give you an example,” were still in an environment that because you are always together. home. It gave us some breath of
match officials to enter the protect- Chibhabha explains. “Whilst we we are used to,” he says. fresh air, it made us feel a lot better
ed area after testing negative for were in Pakistan, we only left the and more comfortable.”
coronavirus. hotel to go to the ground, and we “My family would come and
used one elevator. Everyone else watch me play or train, sitting at If it was not the DJ livening up
Zimbabwe’s cricket team, which could not use it. We stayed on the the mood for the Zimbabweans, it
returned from a tour of Pakistan second floor of the hotel and as was some of the team’s most jovial
last week, experienced first-hand soon as we got back to the hotel, characters, such as the spin bowler
how life is in the bubble. we were not allowed to go any- Tendai Chisoro.
where else. The sixth floor was the
According to captain Chamu dining area and we were the only “A guy like Chisoro brings some
Chibhabha, the experience was ones using it. You go there and col- positive vibes in the team. He is al-
both “physically and mentally chal- ways cracking jokes, playing music
lenging” for himself and the entire on the team bus, playing music ev-
Zimbabwe delegation. erywhere.”

Meanwhile, Chibhabha has
made no excuses for his poor per-
sonal form with the bat on the
tour, although the 34-year-old
opening batsman felt some of his
tactical decisions in the field from
time to time – particularly in the
thrilling second ODI super-over
win – showed how he has matured
as a cricketer.

Zimbabwe lost the ODIs 2-1 be-
fore being whitewashed 3-0 in the
T20 matches.

FEW African teams in internation- A team battling to shake to lose his marker as well as deft
al sport split opinion more than off unwanted reputation touches throughout exhibited signs
Zimbabwe’s football side, whose of a player in good nick, and even
nickname — the Warriors — seems Cup of Nations finals in 2004, was gong. It was Kadewere’s third to-back Nations Cup qualifiers this better for me, a very happy young
like a burden instead of a spur be- a source of great anguish for the strike in the last two matchers for month, Kadewere did miss a few chap who is at the peak of his con-
cause they are not often what the team’s fans for a very long time. the club, a rich scoring fidence and clearly loving what he
moniker suggests. vein of form in chances, is doing out on the park.
But, just how frustrating, front of goal for especially
One well-respected British jour- though, is this kind of reputation the 24-year-old HawkZone in the away Not many peers of Zimbabwe-
nalist once remarked to me how for the present generation of Zim- Warriors for- leg in Al- an football these days have players
Zimbabwe’s cricket team — itself babwe players? It surely should be ward. giers. But that are playing at the same level as
now a perennial punching bag of something to take to heart for quite Bit by bit, Enock Kadewere the likes of Kadewere.
its international peers — is more a number of them. Kadewere is Muchinjo had scored
recognised globally than their foot- also begin- the con- In the same French top-flight,
ball counterparts. Last weekend, Tino Kadewere, ning to show solation midfielder Marshall Munetsi turns
the hottest property in Zimbabwe- his real ability, goal in the out for Reims, where he has put in
Or, if you want, spare a thought an football at the moment, scored and influence, in the colours of his 3-1 defeat in that tie, and in both solid shifts whenever he has been
for an ordeal of mine 11 years ago the wining goal for French Ligue 1 national team. In the recent back- matches, his movement off the ball fit.
when I soon became the butt of side Lyon in a 1-0 win over Angers
banter over our beloved football to pick up the man-of-the-match You cannot, of course, complete
team from affable Kenyan journal- such a blog as this one without
ist James Wokabi, in Ghana some- mentioning Aston Villa’s Marvel-
time in 2009. ous Nakamba, another ever-smil-
ing figure in the Warriors line-up,
While attending a training sem- who has the enviable distinction
inar in Accra in preparation for right now of being the only South-
the South Africa 2010 jamboree, ern African footballer plying his
the now SuperSport East African trade in arguably the best football
correspondent often wondered out league in the world.
loud, in playful dig, how a report-
er hailing from a country known I shudder at the thought of the
in sporting terms only for its current Zimbabwe team losing to
“one-woman swimming team” was Botswana in an important match,
doing at a conference discussing a no disrespect to our western neigh-
historic football World Cup tour- bours, but a lot of football fans will
nament for the continent. agree that Zambia’s defeat to them
last week was another extreme-
It obviously did not go unchal- ly low point for the 2013 African
lenged but the Warriors, sentiment champions. All things considered,
aside, have for quite a sustained Zimbabwe cannot be said to be in a
period of time earned themselves bad place at the moment, although
a reputation that is not totally un- it is high time that the Warriors si-
deserved. Failing to qualify for any lence some fairly justified cynicism
major tournament, only making and start to win back the long-lost
it for the first time to the Africa respect of many of their fans.

Sports Chibhabha: The A team battling
to shake off
bubble ‘a prison unwanted
reputation
with better
– Page 27
conditions

Thursday 1 October 202–0Page 27

Friday 27 November 2020 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com new

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

Story on Page 3 Story on Page 8 Story o

Chamisa reach
Maradonoau’stfintoal Khupe

words beforeUnofficial president calls for emergency
death emerge
Football legend Diego Maradona’s last after he had surgery to treat a brain bleed. “me siento mal” in his native Spanish - and
words before he died were: “I don’t feel The 60-year-old legend ate breakfast in was going to lie down again. Maradona was
well.” the morning at his home in Tigre, Buenos home from the hospital and had a nurse
Aires, then spoke to his nephew Johnny looking after him, who called emergency
Maradona suffered a fatal heart attack Esposito, telling him he didn’t feel well - services.
on Wednesday (local time), two weeks

Zim age fraud opens Pandora’s Box

ENOCK MUCHINJO Africa Cup of Nations tournament. week. ages of the involved players. action taken following the MRI
Zimbabwe’s supreme controlling “You are therefore directed to A probe team, it is understood, test results does not categorically
THE disqualification of Zimba- body — the Sports and Recreation provide a report on this develop- will be appointed to investigate the imply that the suspended teams
bwe’s Under-17 football team from Commission (SRC) — has since ment covering all the preparatory scam. have engaged in age-cheating.
a regional tournament last week demanded a full explanation from processes that were done before The players who failed the age “It’s a clumsy attempt to micro-
over age-cheating is now likely to the Zimbabwe Football Associa- the team’s departure and measures limit test were exposed after a mag- manage a bad situation,” said the
result in a far-reaching inquiry that tion (Zifa) over the humiliating being undertaken to mitigate the netic resonance imaging (MRI) insider. “When a team is disquali-
could lay bare the intricacies of expulsion, which has riled officials situation.” procedure, which was conducted in fied from an age-group tournament
birth-date fraud, a common mal- in both the government and SRC The report must be submitted the host country South Africa prior after an MRI, and the grounds of
practice of the game in the South- and could claim scalps at the high- by tomorrow. High-ranking Zim- to the start of the competition. disqualification is not age-cheat-
ern African country. est echelons of football admAiLnSisOtra-INSbaIDbwEean aFuitnhaornitciees,Mmineaisntwyhwilei,pes oHuotw$ev3e.r2, aBitlloiponsoduercpe owsiitthoinrs fuinngd, tshen whZatimre'aslllyatisesitt? lIatnwdillcontrov
tion. are believed to have been furnished Zimbabwe has dismissed conflict- mean a miscarriage of for the sus-
Alongside Botswana, Eswatini “Needless to point out that such with finer details of the age fraud ing statements emanating from pended teams and that can never
and the Comoros Islands, Zimba- a development harms the country’s that took place in the Under-17 the medical department of the be allowed to happen under any
bwe was last Friday thrown out of image,” wrote SRC director-gener- squad, its suspected ring leaders, as Confederation of African Football rules governing sport, football in
the Cosafa Under-17 Champion- al Prince Mupazviriho to Zifa this well as the actual players and real (Caf ), hinting that the disciplinary this instance.”
ships, a qualifier for the Under-17

ALSO INSIDE Warriors, opposite of what moniker suggests ‘The bubble, a prison with better conditions’