NewsHawks 12 March 2021-min

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Friday 12 March 2021

WHAT’S INSIDE NCEonWgSolese BUSINESS SWPiOnRleTss
fraudster Logarusic faces
befriends Mines minister make-or-break
Mnangagwa sued for gold moment in Zim
mine grab
Story on Page 7 Story on Page 43
Story on Page 8

Diamonds behind the
Chilonga evictions

ALSO INSIDE State agents intimidate Chilonga villagers Joseph Kabila sneaks into Zimbabwe

Page 2 News NewsHawks

Diamonds Issue 21, 12 March 2021
behind
Chilonga
evictions

MORRIS BISHI case, can extract minerals in kwe-based dairy concern, last year we produced 2.8 mil- 30% owned by ZCDC.  has divided government and
this area. While Dendairy will formed in 2004, owned by lion carats and the whole idea Chilonga community lead- ruling party officials in the
VILLAGERS in the Lowveld be producing grass, they will the Coetzee family, with is for this to go up to at least province.
area of Chilonga – 35 kilome- be mining. We have to ask Scandinavian private equity 10 million carats by the year ers and locals told  The New-
tres south of Chiredzi town ourselves why they have come firm Spear Capital holding a 2023. I said at least (10 mil- sHawks  on Wednesday that The official said the First
– facing eviction to pave way all the way from the Midlands, minority stake. Spear bought lion) because that projection is their area is only being targeted Lady began showing inter-
for a dairy project by Presi- leaving other provinces where 27% of Dendairy in 2015. based on geologically proven due to vast mineral deposits. est in Chiredzi East after the
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa’s there is a lot empty land, to sites and, with the exploration They also said there are other 2019 survey which discovered
Dendairy associates say the establish the grass project Darren Coetzee, the head of which is now taking place, minerals in the area like cop- minerals in the area. He said if
hidden reason for the plot to here; an area they hardly care Dendairy, is a close Mnangag- who knows what can happen?” per, scheelite and coal, which the government was sincere, it
remove them from their ances- about,” said a village head wa business ally from Kwekwe he said. extend to Mwenezi where an- would have given to Dendairy
tral lands is precious minerals from Makhosiya area speaking where the dairy company is other associate of the ruling Central Estate in the Mid-
in the place – mainly gold and on condition of anonymity. headquartered. “This event is important in elites, Billy Rautenbach, was lands, which is underutilised.
diamonds.  the sense that exploration ac- allocated land to establish his
“More curiously, what is During a memorial service tivities of this nature would ethanol business through his “Why Chilonga? I am sure
The NewsHawks  visited the the connection between the for  Stelle Theresa Coetzee in enable us to improve our dia- Green Fuel company which is you are aware of a survey which
area which has now became a grass project by the President’s 2016, Mnangagwa publicly mond production beyond the based in Chisumbanje. was launched by Chitando in
source of tension, bitterness associates and the orphanage said that he had saved the fam- 10 million carats.” 2019. The survey established
and outrage since the gov- by his wife here? We are not ily’s farm and businesses from Announcing the results of minerals in Chiredzi East and
ernment recently moved to against investment and devel- invasions and seizure during The diamond kimberlite the diamond survey in June South. We are aware that their
position itself to displace  12 opment, but we are worried the chaotic and violent land pipe in the Lowveld extends last year, Minister of State for intention is minerals, not this
500  people purportedly for a about their real intentions reform. The Coetzee farm was from Chiredzi down to Be- Masvingo Ezra Chadzamira grass project. The issue has
lucerne grass project. and our fate. We were never invaded many times, but each itbridge – the Malipati zone. said huge diamond deposits divided government and rul-
consulted or given any details time the invaders, comprising The belt further  extends to were discovered around the ing party officials within this
Villagers said they do not about these things. We know mainly war veterans and Zanu Maitengwe area in Bulilima Chingwizi area in Mwenezi, province. The minerals extend
believe the story and narrative there are minerals in this area PF activists, moved in they district, also in Matabeleland while gold was found in north- from Save Valley via Malil-
of lucerne grass; they think first detected during the co- would be removed by the po- South. ern Chikombedzi following angwe and Chiredzi East to
that is a cover for still secret lonial era, in 1956, and there lice. In 2019, the ministry of the aeromagnetic survey com- Mwenezi. Remember, Coal
mining activities by Mnangag- are various pegs which point Mines and Mining Develop- The world’s largest diamond missioned by the government. Zimbabwe is mining coal at
wa’s cronies. to that.”  ment, through the local firm producer, Alrosa, has begun 40km along the Chiredzi-Chi-
Aero Surv in partnership with preliminary exploration at “Huge diamond deposits sumbanje road,” said the offi-
A survey by leading South A Mines ministry official Xcalibur Airborne Geophys- Bubi in Beitbridge East where were discovered around the cial.
African diamond mining giant with knowledge of the area ics, conducted an aeromag- it has discovered diamonds. Chingwizi area in Mwenezi,
De Beers in the 1950s as well said De Beers had explored the netic survey which discovered Down in Beitbridge West while gold was found in north- In June 2016, this reporter
as an aeromagnetic explora- area. vast deposits of diamonds and there was River Ranch Dia- ern Chikombedzi following an was part of a team which ac-
tion conducted by local firm gold in Chiredzi and Mwenezi mond Mine, not far across aeromagnetic survey commis- companied five businessmen
Aero Surv Zimbabwe, in part- “The maps depict areas areas.  the Limpopo River border sioned by the government,” from South Africa claiming to
nership with South African with deposits of coal, dia- from South Africa’s Venetia Chadzamira said. be directors of Cotton South
firm Xcalibur Airborne Geo- monds, scheelite and quartz The survey was launched Diamond Mine, the country’s Africa Company who secretly
physics, between 2019 and in Chiredzi. The stretch runs by Mines and Minerals De- largest diamond operation.  “The ministry of Mines will toured the same area being tar-
2020 revealed vast deposits of from Save in Chiredzi North velopment minister Winston outline the next course of ac- geted by Dendairy, saying they
kimberlite diamonds and gold where copper mines like Cobra Chitando at Buffalo Range Alrosa Zimbabwe Limited, tion after this discovery, but wanted to establish a cotton
in the Chilonga area. Mine, which are now closed, Airport on 25 March 2019. jointly owned by Alrosa and we are excited as a province and maize irrigation project. 
once operated from. The oth- Zimbabwe’s state-owned dia- because this will help grow
This comes as  The News- er area covers coal mining in Speaking during the launch, mond mining company, Zim- our provincial Gross Domestic However, the late former
Hawks  has established that Chisambiji which again is in an upbeat Chitando said the babwe Consolidated Diamond Product and also help the na- president Robert Mugabe re-
First Lady Auxillia Mnangag- Chiredzi North constituency. survey was part of plans to de- Company (ZCDC), are work- tion achieve its target to make jected the project, saying the
wa has also moved into the The belt stretches from Save to velop a US$12 billion mining ing on the project.  mining a US$12 billion indus- Shangaan people could not be
area, through her Angel of Chipinda, which is in Gonare- industry by 2023 in order to try by 2023.”  removed from their ancestral
Hope Foundation, presum- zhou, down to Masivamele boost economic recovery. Alrosa, which accounts for land for an investment which
ably to turn Chambuta Refu- and Makhosiya on the banks almost a third of the world’s A government official based would only benefit a few peo-
gee Camp into an orphanage. of the Runde River. This is the “In terms of the develop- rough diamond production, in Masvingo told  The News- ple.
Renovations are ongoing and area which Dendairy has been ment of the diamond industry, has 70% in Alrosa Zim, with Hawks that the grass project
the orphanage will be named allocated,” the official said. 
after her. This has echoes of
former first lady Grace Mug- The government recently
abe taking over Iron Mask published Statutory Instru-
Farm in Mazowe under the ment (SI) 50 of 2021 which
guise of an orphanage. will see more than 12 000 peo-
ple being moved from their
Auxillia’s orphanage is in homes ostensibly to pave way
the area which is going to be for Dendairy’s lucerne grass
affected by the grass project, production project. The SI
raising eyebrows among lo- has since been amended to al-
cals who are now questioning ter the official objective from
the real motive behind their “lucerne grass production” to
threatened removal. “establishment of an irrigation
scheme”, although the author-
“We are watching the issue ities are still determined to en-
closely, but we can tell you that force eviction.
this grass project is just a cov-
er so that these guys, through Dendairy is a Kwe-
their proxy Dendairy in this

NewsHawks News Page 3

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

State agents intimidate Chilonga villagers

MORRIS BISHI visit by Tendai Biti and his bush during a Covid-19 lock- Tiyani Chilonga, a community leader in Chilonga village. of MDC Alliance officials but
team. That is intimidation at down. If we raise objections, of Masvingo; why are they not he told them that he was un-
STATE security agents are in- its highest level in a free coun- they say we are raising tribal going there?” asked Baloyi. aware despite knowing their
timidating villagers in Chilon- try from our fellow brothers. issues, but the truth is a lot of whereabouts. 
ga in a bid to force them to We were never consulted on land is lying idle in Mashona- A Chikombedzi-based tra-
accept their forced relocation this project, that was an am- land, Midlands and other areas ditional leader said he was He said the time to suppress
to pave way for a lucerne grass questioned by state security people should have ended
project by a dairy company agents about the whereabouts during the colonial era and it
Dendairy whose owners are is not good for black people to
close associates of President oppress fellow citizens. 
Emmerson Mnangagwa.
MDC Alliance spokesper-
Villagers told The News- son Fadzai Mahere said instead
Hawks this week they were of threatening the Chilonga
getting daily visits and threats community, the government
from state security because should listen to the concerns
of their stance against forced raised by the people in order
movement. to address them.

The community said they “We are aware that the re-
no longer feel safe among for- gime constantly persecutes
eigners coming into their areas, those who exercise their con-
including journalists, fearing stitutional right to engage with
that they may be state agents the main opposition. We are
who are terrorising them daily. deeply concerned that, instead
They said the surveillance in- of the state taking this oppor-
tensified after a visit by MDC tunity to sincerely give the
Alliance leaders last week, a people in Chilonga an oppor-
trip which was not detected by tunity to be heard and ensur-
state security who only got to ing their dignity, they are now
know about it after seeing pic- terrorising them for speaking
tures on social media. their truth. We condemn the
proposed callous, unconstitu-
A community leader, Tiyani tional evictions,” Mahere said.
Chilonga, who accompanied
The NewsHawks to Chilonga “The decision must be re-
on Wednesday, said outsiders versed forthwith. It’s no an-
were trying to create divisions swer that they now pretend
in the community so that they the eviction will be carried
do not challenge the evictions out ostensibly for an irriga-
as a united front. tion project. The bottom line
is that there should be nothing
He said it is not a secret that done on the land in Chilon-
people in the south of Runde ga without the express buy-in
River are against the reloca- and involvement of the people
tions which will be the second in Chilonga. Any proposed
in their lifetime.  project in their homeland
must benefit them directly.” 
Chilonga said the minority
Shangaan people have been March 8
voting for Zanu PF since 1980 Celebrating
after having contributed im- International Women’s Day
mensely during the liberation
struggle as part of the famed
Gaza province and were thus
surprised that their leaders had
abandoned them.

“I can tell you that our peo-
ple are now in fear on daily ba-
sis due to this project and they
are not free to speak to any
outsider. I am a community
leader, being a member of the
Chilonga headmanship and
our people are not accepting
that project. We were moved
from Triangle and Hippo Val-
ley to pave way for sugarcane
farming and it is unfair for us
to be moved again. Some of us
were also moved from Gonare-
zhou National Park and Malil-
angwe Conservancy to pave
way for animal sanctuaries
so we cannot move again,”
Chilonga said.

“We know what happened
to victims of Tugwi-Mukosi
who were relocated to Ching-
wizi without any compensa-
tion so accepting this initiative
is suicide on our side. We are
supporters of the ruling party
and that is not a secret and this
treatment is uncalled for.” 

Mkachana Baloyi from
Chibwedziva told The New-
sHawks that surveillance by
state security intensified after a
visit by MDC Alliance officials
last week. He said agents are
visiting homes of people who
met the opposition figures to
issue threats.

“We are in a tight situation
my brother,” Baloyi said.

“The number of security
agents has increased after the

Page 4 News NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Why Mohadi was removed as vice-president

Mnangagwa, CIO spied on
their colleague 

Clashes over business
opportunities central

STEVEN MADZIMURE  gagwa family. Former vice-president Kembo Mohadi
Beitbridge, the busiest inland
PRESIDENT Emmerson interest in the same venture. He pointed by the High Court as gold mining, has an interest in profit without due care for the
Mnangagwa was behind the port of entry in sub-Saharan confronted the boys and that corporate rescue practitioner of the mine through his partners environment.
removal from office of former Africa, is ideal for a dry port. created serious problems,” said Redwing Mine, but later sold Patricia Mutombgwera and
Vice-President Kembo Mohadi It is located 585 kilometres a source. the mining rights three times, Grant Chitate. They formed “The conversion of Redwing
– broken by sex scandals – amid away from Zimbabwe’s capital creating confusion. a company called Probadeck Mine to a huge artisanal mining
disputes which centred on com- city Harare and 323 kilome- The sources said the Mnan- which had entered into a joint field has caused political and
peting business interests in Beit- tres from Zimbabwe’s former gagwas also clashed with Mo- On October 15 last year, venture deal with the judicial socio-environmental disputes
bridge and Penhalonga between industrial hub Bulawayo. It is hadi over Redwing Mine in Madondo told Mutombgwera manager Madondo, before they within the Penhalonga and Ts-
the President’s family members approximately 1 117 kilometres Penhalonga, Manicaland prov- and Chitate that he had given fell out and the issue is currently vingwe communities. The po-
and the ex-co-deputy. from Africa’s largest seaport, ince. their company Probadeck ex- in the courts.  litically connected have been
Durban.  clusive mining rights on the displacing other artisanal min-
The Mnangagwa family, in- Zimbabwe’s then largest gold claims held by Redwing cov- “However, Sakupwanya, ers from the mining field. There
volved in business in various Hence, Beitbridge is the gate- mining group Metallon Gold, ering 132 gold mining blocks, who is linked to the Mnan- are reports that some artisanal
sectors of the economy, par- way for trade and cargo from owned by South African tycoon eight copper mining blocks and gagwa family, wanted the gold miners have lost their gold-rich
ticularly since his ascendancy South African ports with desti- Mzi Khumalo, suspended oper- any other mining claims.  mine. Mohadi tried to no avail pits and ore to syndicate leaders
through a military coup in nations in Zimbabwe, Zambia, ations at its Redwing Mine in to have the matter resolved am- fronting political and security
2017, later legitimised via a Malawi and DRC. The border, 2014 due to flooding. Metal- So 15 days later, Mutom- icably, but it all failed. His part- figures.
disputed 2018 election, clashed currently partially closed due to lon owned five gold mines in bgwera and Chitate signed a ners caused the arrest of Ma-
with Mohadi over a dry port the Covid-19 pandemic, oper- Zimbabwe, namely How Mine, joint venture relationship agree- dondo on allegations of fraud, “The involvement of politi-
project in Beitbridge and a gold ates for human and vehicular the most productive, Shamva ment with the mining company but failed to deal with Sakup- cians has undermined the rule
mine in Penhalonga where pol- traffic around the clock. Mine, Arcturas Mine, Mazowe represented by Madondo. wanya. A Chinese dealer in of law, stability and livelihoods
iticians and their cronies have Mine and Redwing Mine. partnership with Sakupwanya of affected communities.
invaded the area, turning it into In 2016, Mohadi publicly Probadeck paid US$60 000 was arrested, but rescued by the
a vast artisanal mining field.  called for the setting up of a The problem in Penhalonga corporate rescue fees to Madon- powers-that-be,” a source said. Corruption, sometimes cou-
dry port in Beitbridge which started with the placement of do’s personal company, Tudor pled with intimidation and vio-
Mohadi was also unhappy has services such as customs Redwing Mine under judicial House Consultants, and made “These are the real issues be- lence, has become common.
that he had been left out of the clearance, export declaration, management in 2018, due to capital expenditure amounting hind Mohadi’s downfall. The
US$300 million border renova- bonded warehousing and other viability challenges owing to to US$200 000. sex scandal only triggered his CNRG investigations have
tion and modernisation project facilities. foreign currency shortages. removal, but the underlying is- revealed that the haphazard
by Zimborders Consortium, In November last year, Ma- sues are to be found in the poli- mining in Penhalonga has now
fronted by its chairman Glynn Since rail is critical to a dry Different consortiums po- dondo prepared another mem- tics of business.”  taken the form of organised
Cohen, linked to the Mnangag- port initiative, Beitbridge is sitioned themselves for the orandum of tribute agreement crime as the syndicates are in-
wa family, the sources added. linked to multiple seaports in mine and its claims. One was with Prime Royal, giving it the A local environmental rights terlinked and use corruption
South Africa and Mozambique supported by Mohadi and the same mining blocks which he group, the Centre for Nat- and violence to secure mining
Sources said the Mnangagwa by railway. That is why Mohadi other had links to Mnangagwa. had ceded to Probadeck. ural Resources Governance rights and resource rents.
family first clashed with Mo- proposed a dry port, with the (CNRG), says Redwing
hadi over his dry port project objective of minimising truck Mohadi supported  Patri- On December 1, Madondo “There is a clandestine secre-
in Beitbridge in 2019. A dry distances, reducing transport cia Mutombgwera and Grant entered into yet another mem- Mine has now became a bat- tive consortium which holds
port is an inland terminal di- costs and circumventing other Chitate through their company orandum of tribute agreement tlefront for politicians. the strings of artisanal mining
rectly connected to the seaport challenges prevalent under the Probadeck Investments which with Betterbrands Mining, giv- in Penhalonga.
by high capacity transport such current system.  has legal ownership of the mine. ing it the same mining blocks. “The closure of Redwing
as rail.  Mine offered an opportunity These networks tend to be
This sparked clashes with his Well-known gold dealer There is also a Chinese to political elites, the politically transactional, determined and
“Mohadi two years ago set boss’s family. Scott Sakupwanya and his own gold  mining company, Zhong connected and securocrats who, are controlled by a few individ-
up a dry port project called Ma- consortium also wanted the Jian, interested in the gold-rich with the aid of the organised uals at key points in the artis-
lindi Dry Port with some local Mohadi tendered his resig- mining asset, and they were Premier Estate area in Pen- syndicates, are exploiting the anal gold supply chains.”
business. He has vast tracts of nation on 1 March after being supported by Mnangagwa’s halonga involved in the gold mine’s claims dotted around
land in Beitbridge,” a source exposed for having sexual rela- family.  rush mix. Penhalonga and Tsvingwe for Efforts to get comment
said.  tionships with various women from presidential spokesperson
— some married.  Cecil Madondo was ap- “Mohadi, who is into a lot of George Charamba failed.
“A fight subsequently erupt-
ed among the Malindi partners Well-placed sources told The
and as a result some of them NewsHawks Mohadi was hit by
pulled out to set up their own a CIO operation which record-
project. They then invited some ed his calls and messages talking
members of the Mnangagwa to a harem of women — some
family, but Mohadi was unim- of them married — using spy-
pressed and upset by the move. ware developed by Israeli tech-
nology company Circles.
“He then protested to the
Mnangagwas, who were them- The sources said the real rea-
selves not happy with his bid to son for spying on Mohadi and
push them out of Beitbridge. then later using the recordings
The dispute deteriorated as Mo- to oust him was the politics of
hadi insisted that the Mnan- business in the top echelons of
gagwa family members should power.
not come to Beitbridge to seize
opportunities from him – take Sources told  The New-
bread from his mouth. That sHawks  that Mohadi had
became a sore point between stepped on Mnangagwa’s toes
them.” over various business interests,
resulting in the President okay-
The sources said Mohadi is ing his downfall through a CIO
not under any illusions why operation.
he was forced out after his sex
scandal. “He is aware of the real “Mohadi’s phone was being
reasons why he was removed. monitored since 2019 and all
Ask him, he will tell if you can his business dealings and polit-
convince him to talk,” another ical interactions, as well as per-
source said. sonal indiscretions were known.

Efforts to interview Mohadi “This was because he had
over the past two weeks have clashed with the First Family
been unsuccessful. over the establishment of a dry
port in Beitbridge. Mohadi has
However, sources said Mo- an interest in a cargo bonded
hadi knows that the dry port warehouse facility at the bor-
project had upset the Mnan- der so he intended to expand
his interests to dry port, but
Mnangagwa’s sons also had the

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Long Read

Land reform’s
chaotic legacy
triggers Tabas
Farm storm in
Ntabazinduna

LIZWE SEBATA 345678D-00. The Chief ’s Lodge. /Pic: Ezra Tshisa Sibanda. Floyd Ambrose
So in Ambrose’s case 19
TWENTY years on, the built the lodge as Ambrose new territory and the issue of Mzilikazi finally came, he which has now sparked a
legacy of the late former means he took his ID from claims both of them found it his son Nkulumane who had crushed the new ruling fierce battle for the control
president Robert Mugabe’s Umzingwane, but the 00 there. Ambrose says he once been installed king while he clique which included Nku- of the property in Umguza
chaotic and oft-violent land digits mean that he is “alien” worked for a month or so migrated from South Africa lumane and some chiefs, to district, Matabeleland North
reform programme is still or a foreigner. around 1996 for Davies. to Zimbabwe via Botswana regain the reins of power. province. Ambrose moved
with Zimbabwe and its com- and Zambia. The other mi- to Davies’ farmhouse and
munities – people continue However, even those peo- Ntabazinduna commu- grating party had arrived in When the land redistribu- Davies into the lodge where
fighting over who occupies ple whose families have lived nities and activists say Am- Zimbabwe from South Afri- tion exercise started in 2000, he is now refusing to vacate
which piece of property and in Zimbabwe for genera- brose is occupying an area ca across the Limpopo River Ambrose in 2004 moved even if the swap deal fell
on what basis. tions after migrating from where first with Nkulumane and into Lot 15 which he was apart.
other countries still some- Gundwane Ndiweni. then allocated in 2008. He
Lot 15 Tabas Induna Farm times hold cards indicating Ndebele cultural activities says he later got the papers, The matter is now pend-
in Ntabazinduna – where they were non-citizens - 00. were performed around the When Mzilikazi did not including an offer letter in ing at the Supreme Court
historical and contempo- So Ambrose might be in sacred mountain. Ntaba- arrive for two inxwala cul- 2010, to legally occupy the after Ambrose filed an ap-
rary interests and grievances that category, especially as zinduna holds historical and tural events (tasting of first land. peal against a 4 March 2021
explosively intersect – 40 someone of mixed race or a cultural significance in Nde- fruits of a bountiful season High Court judgement is-
kilometres northeast of Bu- coloured. Some whites and bele society; it is the moun- ceremony, usually in De- So since 2004, Ambrose sued by Justice Nokuthula
lawayo along the Harare coloureds, as well as African/ tain where King Mzilikazi cember/January character- lived at the lodge, while Da- Moyo directing that he va-
highway is the current cen- black immigrants or their – founder of the Ndebele ised by song, dance, feasting vies lived at the main farm cates the land under dispute.
tre of pitched battles pitting descendants have 00 as the State, Mthwakazi – and his and rituals), Nkulumane house.
former farm owner Brian last digits on their IDs. izindunas (chiefs) settled the was installed king. But when “The 1st respondents and
Davies and one of the new issue of his new reign of the Then the two entered into all persons claiming through
occupants Floyd Ambrose Davies’ ID was not avail- a land swap deal in 2015 and under him shall re-
who says he was given part able for similar examination, move or cause the removal
of the farm in 2004. although he has not been of themselves and all such
making similar nativist en- persons occupying a certain
Davies, a white farm- titlement claims as Ambrose piece of land being Lot 15
er, previously occupied the who speaks fluent Ndebele. Tabas Induna farm, Umgu-
whole farm, but Ambrose, za, within 24 hours of the
who claims he hails from While people have been service of this order,” Moyo
Stanmore in Gwanda, be- making claims Ambrose is ruled in favour of Davies.
came part of the new settlers. married to former vice-pres-
Ambrose’s claim of being ident Kembo Mohadi’s However, Ambrose quick-
from Stanmore is question- daughter, he has denied this ly appealed against the
able going by his national and actually said it is his “whole judgement” at the
ID number 19-020355Y-00. brother. Checks on this es- Supreme Court the follow-
tablished that Ambrose is ac- ing day 5 March.
The issuance of national tually telling the truth. His
identity documents in Zim- brother Malcolm is the one As tensions rose and tem-
babwe is a statutory require- married to Mohadi’s daugh- peratures reached boiling
ment in terms of the Nation- ter Abigail. They married in point, opposition Mthwaka-
al Registration Act Chapter August 2014 in a flamboy- zi Republic Party (MRP) ac-
10:17 which specifies that ant wedding attended by top tivists stormed the farm on
every citizen, alien and refu- government and Zanu PF trucks on 8 March, trying to
gee should register for a na- officials. forcibly evict Ambrose from
tional identity document. the said property. Ambrose
That is why Ntabazinduna claims the activists, armed
This is in line with statu- communities have previous- with axes and spears tracked
tory instrument No. 140 of ly complained that Mohadi him down for five kilometres
2009. had helped Floyd Ambrose out of the disputed land un-
to take over Chief ’s Lodge til he fired warnings shots in
The applicant should be where he had been staying
16 years of age or above in before he went back to rent
terms of the National Regis- a house in Bulawayo. Davies
tration Act Chapter 10:17. is also now staying in town,
although his property is still
The ID is an 11-character at the lodge. Ambrose is also
alphanumeric code in which back at the lodge.
the two-digit prefix denotes
the district in which the ap- Davies’ farm was gazetted
plicant resides or registered and divided into 15 plots,
for the national document while he kept the remain-
and the last two digits show der of the property – effec-
where one originates from – tively Lot 16 – which is 75
the district code. hectares. Ambrose got 21
hectares at the farm where
Foreigners in Zimbabwe Chief ’s Lodge is situated.
have their ID number with
the district of origin as 00; The lodge is now at the
meaning they are aliens, heart of the controversy
hence their ID number and fight between the two.
would look like this  08- It is not clear who actually

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

the air to scare them away. Mthwakazi Republic Party leader Mqondisi Moyo. referring the reporter to his
Davies’ properties had been lawyer Josphat Tshuma who
removed from the lodge “Ambrose has agreed that “Ambrose and Davies to lodge and the matter spilled Tabas Induna... Since July also declined to comment,
as Ambrose moved in and Davies and family have his formalise their occupan- to the court. In an urgent 2015, following a cession saying the matter was before
threw out his former boss’s full permission to reside and cy through the Ministry of High chamber application agreement with the 1st re- the courts.
belongings. MRP activists work at the area demarcat- Lands and Rural resettle- filed on 23 February, Davies spondent, I have enjoyed
removed Ambrose’s proper- ed as shown in the map as ment to ensure their occu- argued he should remain on peaceful and undisturbed Ambrose denied claims
ty and put back Davies’ be- Lot 15 of Tabas Induna in pation of the said areas is the contested land by virtue possession of portion of the that he acquired the said
fore Ambrose came back to Umguza district of Mata- in compliance with the Pro- of the MoU. farm known as Lot 15 Tabs property through political
throw out Davies’ items and beleland North province. visions of the Agricultural Induna,” the court papers links.
occupied the lodge again the Ambrose will have no in- Land Resettlement Act.” “In the founding affidavit, say.
following day. terest or objection in any it is contended that this is an “It is not a criminal of-
project on this piece of land. However, the Lands Min- urgent application for the “Accordingly, the 1st re- fence to be related to a poli-
Before the signing of the This hereby gives Davies the istry did not approve the land eviction of the 1st respon- spondent (Ambrose) has no tician neither is it criminal to
swap deal, Davies was in authority to operate on the swap, resulting in a termina- dent and all those claiming lawful right to evict me from belong to any political party
charge of his 75ha known piece of land as per his dis- tion of the agreement and a occupation under him or Lot 15 Tabas Induna farm...” of one’s choice as the con-
as the remainder of Tabas cretion. fallout between the two as through him from a portion stitution clearly states that.
Induna, a stone’s throw away Davies refused to vacate the of a farm known as Lot 15 Davies refused to com- So being related to the for-
from the Chief ’s Lodge sit- ment on the matter before mer VP or being a Zanu PF
uated in Lot 15 where Am- member must not be crimi-
brose resided. nalised,” Ambrose said.

“This letter serves to con- “Rather, it is Davies who
firm that Ambrose Floyd ID is using politics to fight a
Number:  19-020355  Y-00 legal battle by roping in the
was recommended Plot MRP to fight in his corner.
Number 15, Tabas Indu- Last time, he politicised the
na which also includes the matter after inviting former
Chiefs Lodge in Umguza Chief (Felix Nhlanhlaya-
district, Matabeleland North mangwe Ndiweni). Howev-
province. The farm has an er, on this issue they keep
extent of 21 hectares,” reads referring to the courts that
in part a memo by one R I am not following court or-
Graham, the Provincial ders.
Land Officer – Estate Man-
agement on behalf of the “Of late, Davies has lodged
Matabeleland North Chief two chamber applications;
Lands Officer dated 29 April the first one the judgement
2008. came on 23 February and
that case was struck off the
“The Ministry of Lands, roll. That judgement was in
Land Reform and Resettle- my favour. He then lodged
ment is currently processing another chamber application
an offer letter for his plot. and the judgement came out
May you kindly render him on 4 March in his favour
any assistance he requires in and I automatically appealed
terms of financial and other that judgement through the
agricultural inputs and im- Supreme Court.”
plements to enable him to
carry out his farming oper- The battle over Tabas Ind-
ations.” una Farm is a microcosm of
a wider national problem;
On 16 July 2010, then a legacy of the controver-
Lands Minister Herbert sial and contentious land
Murerwa put a seal to the of- reform programme whose
fer letter that had been given disputes and ramifications
to Ambrose. will last longer and deeper
into the future – showing
“The Minister of Lands whenever property relations
and Rural Resettlement has fundamentally change there
the pleasure in informing is serious conflict and loud
you that your application reverberations.
for land under Model A2
scheme has been successful. Mthwakazi Republic Party activists. /Pic: Ezra Tshisa Sibanda.
This offer is made in terms
of the Agricultural Land
resettlement Act (Chapter
20:01)…” Murerwa wrote.

On 9 July 2015, Ambrose
and Davies entered into a
Memorandum of Under-
standing (Mou) to swap
their pieces of land, but
subject to approval from the
Ministry of Lands and Agri-
culture. The Mou is now the
source of a bitter fallout and
fight between the two.

“Davies has agreed that
Ambrose and family have
his full permission to reside
and work at the 21 hectare
area demarcated as shown
on the map within the area
known as remainder of Ta-
bas Induna in Umguza dis-
trict of Matabeleland North
province. Davies will have
no interest or objection in
any project on this piece of
land. This hereby gives Am-
brose authority to operate on
the piece of land as per his
discretion,” the Mou reads
in part.

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Congolese heard that Motondo used anoth-
fraudster er person’s information to buy a
befriends fake policy with an insurance
Mnangagwa company. He later contacted in-
surers First Central claiming to
NYASHA CHINGONO church, applied for a residence be the policyholder, stating he
permit in Zimbabwe which was had crashed his Vauxhall Cor-
PRESIDENT Emmerson granted by the Immigration de- sa into a parked Range Rover
Mnangagwa used his influ- partment on 3 February 2021, and took full responsibility. The
ence as head of state to grant a despite his criminal background.  parked car belonged to Moton-
residence permit to controver- do, who contacted insurers this
sial Congolese clergyman and The NewsHawks understands time as himself and made a dam-
UK-convicted fraudster Peter that Motondo’s application to age claim and one for the cost of
Motondo in February despite stay in Zimbabwe was immedi- President Emmerson Mnangagwa meets Peter Motondo in 2019 a hired vehicle.
ately granted after the Immigra-
his criminal record, The News- tion department was “pressured” Motondo’s application despite and also a police clearance, so it the Immigration were fruitless Inconsistencies were un-
Hawks can report.  into processing his documents. his criminal record, according to looks like all was above board,” a after questions sent via email on earthed in his claim and it was
Sources said Motondo, who The Immigration department sources.  source said.  3 March were unanswered at the nullified. This triggered an in-
leads Grace Faith Ministries did not have reservations about time of going to press.  vestigation by the City of Lon-
“A criminal check was done Efforts to get a comment from don Police’s Insurance Fraud
Sources close to the 41-year- Enforcement Department after
old preacher told The New- First Central raised suspicions.
sHawks that the Congolese
wormed his way into Mnangag- The authorities also discov-
wa’s inner circle after misrepre- ered he had earlier made a fraud-
senting himself to the President ulent claim involving his part-
that he had served in the Dem- ner’s Jaguar, as well as his Range
ocratic Republic of Congo mil- Rover. 
itary during the civil war that
rocked the country decades ago. The Range Rover had been
involved in an accident and he
Zimbabwe fought in the tried to claim personal injury
DRC war in whose aftermath costs for a phantom passenger.
Mnangagwa, alongside other
key military figures were identi- Investigative officer Jamie
fied in a United Nations report Kirk at the time said: ”Motondo
for being at the forefront of was completely immoral in his
plundering that country’s vast actions, and had no issues using
diamond resources. other people’s personal details to
make fraudulent claims so that
The two were pictured at he could make a financial gain.”
State House in Harare in 2019
where the two held a secret Motondo, of Nowell Walk in
meeting. Motondo’s wife was Leeds, pleaded guilty at a hear-
also pictured with Mnangagwa ing in April to three counts of
on a separate day. In a photo- fraud by misrepresentation and
graph provided by sources, the one count of possessing criminal
two are seen shaking hands.  proceeds. While Mnangagwa’s
relationship with the clergyman
The clergyman was convict- remains unclear,
ed in the United Kingdom for
fraud and money laundering The NewsHawks understands
and, according to a BBC article, that Motondo also offered
Motondo had acted immorally.  Mnangagwa spiritual coun-
sel. Efforts to get a comment
In 2019, Motondo was con- from Presidential spokesperson
victed in the UK and sentenced George Charamba on the rela-
to 10 months in jail for fabri- tionship between Mnangagwa
cating car crashes in order to and Motondo were unfruit-
claim thousands of pounds from ful as his phone went unan-
insurance companies.  Accord- swered.  Mutondo is also on a
ing to reports, Motondo forged crusade to set up base in Zim-
people’s personal details to make babwe where he plans to build a
fraudulent claims for financial large church. He was also pam-
gain. pered with a government vehi-
cle, an Isuzu twin cab.
Police investigations in the
UK revealed that Motondo Motondo’s church website
bought policies using the per- says: “He is currently in Zim-
sonal details of two people in his babwe where God has commis-
congregation and then contact- sioned him to establish a big
ed insurers posing as them. ministry.” The website states the
church’s address in Zimbabwe
The Leeds Crown Court as: “2 Liffey Vainona Zimba-
bwe.” 

Motondo reportedly has
church branches in South Afri-
ca, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana,
Democratic Republic of Congo,
Angola, Europe and in South
America.”

Motondo was not available
for comment. 

An unidentified personal as-
sistant offered this reporter a
one-on-one session with Moton-
do, who she said was only avail-
able through a formal booking.

President Mnangagwa with Motondo’s wife

Page 8 News NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Mines minister sued for gold mine grab
deposed on 2 March 2021 feiture notices were issued to
PROUD MOYO for the loan.  Mines and Mining Development minister Winston Chitando by Thomas Gono, a director Start Mining and not the ap-
“Then it came to pass that in Golden Reef, said invoic- plicant. He said if there was
MINES and Mining Devel- es for payment for inspection any case for action, it should
opment minister Winston at some stage the applicant fees were issued to Start Min- be done by Start Mining.
Chitando allegedly used his (Anesu Gold) received a ing Services and not the ap-
muscle to award himself a bombshell that some of the plicant. Golden Reef also argued
special grant on a vast lucra- mining claims had been for- that the applicant deliber-
tive gold mine in Mbereng- feited, and that actually, a “Forfeiture notices made ately failed to disclose that it
wa, creating a bruising legal special grant number 7321 references to Start Mining once filed an urgent chamber
battle with businessman Mo- had been issued over the for- Services as the holder of application in Masvingo on
hamed Yakub.  feited mining claims,” wrote mining claims being forfeit- 20 September 2020 seeking
Mahomed in his founding ed. Accordingly, hence it is to interdict the “lawful oper-
Chitando has of late been affidavit.  submitted that if any of the ations” of the mine when the
embroiled in a spate of fights mining claims belong to the applicant became aware of
over mine grab claims – in “In any event, I am legally applicant, no lawful and the respondent’s title, rights
what officials say borders informed, and verily believe accurate procedure, as pre- and respect of the claims in
around serious conflict of in- that a special grant could not scribed by law, was followed question. 
terest.  be issued on an area which to change names on certif-
has been reserved against icates of registration after Gono said the applicant
The Zimbabwe Anti-Cor- prospecting or pegging. transfer,” Gono said. withdrew the application
ruption Commission (Zacc) Therefore, the issuing of a after hearing that Golden
recently produced an inves- special grant in the circum- Gono argued that by the Reef ’s rights and interests in
tigative report which expos- stances was wrongful, unlaw- time the applicant paid fees the mining claims in question
es corrupt activities in the ful, illegal and corrupt. the claims had already been could not be faulted since
Mines and Mining Develop- forfeited, adding that the for- they were lawfully acquired.
ment ministry.  “On further investigation,
I found out that two notices
Mohamed recently ap- of forfeiture had been issued.
proached the High Court I am informed that that the
seeking an urgent interdict two notices were published
against Chitando’s Golden on a notice board in Gweru.
Reef Mining from extracting
precious stones from Man- I never saw the notices and
goro Claims in Mberengwa. therefore wasn’t aware of the
The High Court ruled that notices, otherwise I could
the application was not ur- have taken steps to protect in-
gent and now Mohamed is terests in the mining claims.”
trying to seek relief at the Su-
preme Court.  Mahomed said Chitando’s
interests in the mine started
The matter also spilled into in 2012 when he was offered
Parliament last week as mem- to buy 30% by former cabi-
bers of the Mines and Energy net minister and ex-Zanu PF
portfolio committee quizzed spokesperson Rugare Gum-
Chitando over his interests in bo who was a shareholder in
Golden Reef Mining compa- Anesu Gold, then registered
ny.  as Start Mining Services. 

In court documents, Ma- Two years later, Chitando
homed says Chitando used accompanied top business-
his company Windev Invest- man Shingi Mutasa in a char-
ments Private Limited, which tered small plane to Man-
holds a stake in Golden Reef, goro, Mberengwa, to inspect
to wrest mine claims belong- the mining claims. Mutasa
ing to Anesu Gold Private had developed interests in
Limited – an outfit owned by investing in the mine but the
the Indian businessman.  deal never came to fruition. 

Chitando is accused of In part, the court doc-
grabbing eight out of 128 uments read, “Shingi Mu-
mining claims at Mangoro tasa engaged (the not yet
Mine in Mberengwa, Mid- then honourable) Winston
lands province. Chitando’s team to carry out
due diligence.
 The furore over the Mber-
engwa gold mine started in Shingi Mutasa and Chitan-
late 2018 when Chitando do chartered a small plane
sent invoices to Mahomed’s and flew to the mining
Anesu Gold company to pay claims for an inspection in
inspection fees for the mining loco of the mining claims.
claims.  Shingi Mutasa did not come
on board following due dili-
In the same year, Ma- gence, for reasons best known
homed accessed a US$6.4 to himself.
million facility from Fidelity
Printers and Refiners using “It is necessary to note that
the mining claims as security although Shingi Mutasa did
for the loan to finance min- not come on board, Chitan-
ing operations including pay- do’s team and himself, had all
ment of inspection fees.  the data and information of
the juicy areas of the mining
Court papers say Fidelity claims.”
Printers conducted due dil-
igence on the mining claims Due to the involvement
and later paid the inspection of Chitando at the mine, a
fees for all claims at Mangoro multi-millionaire Australian
in March 2019.  investor has since put his
interests in pouring in for-
Subsequently, the Mid- eign direct investment, citing
lands provincial mining di- transparency issues. 
rector, Nelson Munyanduri,
on 16 July 2020, telephoned Golden Reef Mine is con-
Mahomed to collect registra- testing Mahomed’s claims
tion certificates for the claims in court and is arguing that
which were then handed over the claims were lawfully ac-
to Fidelity Printers as security quired.

In an opposing affidavit

NewsHawks News Page 9

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Joseph Kabila to print. the DRC, died alongside an
sneaks into George Charamba, presi- Italian soldier after their car
Zimbabwe was attacked as they travelled
dential spokesperson, said he in a United Nations convoy in
BERNARD MPOFU for three days and he was stay- after his three-day stay. Joseph Kabila was unaware of Kabila’s visit, the eastern part of the coun-
ing at the Meikles Hotel in DRC ambassador to Zim- for comment as his mobile although he said he was aware try. Some militias fight on in
FORMER Democratic Re- Harare. As a former leader, he phone was unreachable. A text of a visit by a DRC envoy. the east, where a large UN
public of Congo (DRC) pres- got security details from the babwe Mwawapanga Mwa- message sent to him was not force is struggling to keep the
ident Joseph Kabila last week Police Protection Unit and nananga could not be reached delivered at the time of going The DRC is one of the peace.
flew into Harare and held the Central Intelligence Or- richest countries by mineral
private meetings with Zim- ganisation, a source familiar wealth in the world, but the Opposition leader candi-
babwe’s leader amid rising with the developments told majority of its citizens live date Félix Tshisekedi became
tensions in the Great Lakes The NewsHawks. in poverty. It is a vast coun- President in January 2019 af-
region, it has been learnt. try with immense economic ter protracted political wran-
“During his meetings with resources and, until recently, gling in the wake of a contro-
Political temperatures in President Emmerson Mnan- has been at the centre of what versial election.
the resource-rich country have gagwa, they discussed issues some observers call “Africa’s
risen following the murder around business interest and world war”, with largescale ci- His rival Martin Fayulu
of Italian ambassador to the the escalating security situa- vilian suffering. accused him of cutting a deal
DRC. Zimbabwe has in the tion in the country.” with the government, whose
past been involved in a costly The conflict claimed up own candidate Emmanuel
military intervention which Mnangagwa is part of the to six million lives, either as Ramazani Shadary finished
resulted in catastrophic eco- Sadc troika. The troika of the a direct result of fighting or third.  Tshisekedi succeed-
nomic decline for the south- organ of politics, defence and because of disease and malnu- ed Kabila, who had become
ern African country.  security includes Botswana, trition. president when his own father
South Africa and Zimbabwe Laurent was assassinated in
Security sources told The as the current, incoming and The war had an econom- 2001 by his bodyguards.
NewsHawks that Kabila held out going chair respectively. ic as well as a political side.
secret meetings with Mnan- Mozambique is current Sadc Fighting was fuelled by the Tshisekedi also came from a
gagwa this past week in the chair. country’s vast mineral wealth, political dynasty, as his father
capital. with all sides taking advantage Étienne was opposition leader
It is understood that Kabila of the anarchy to plunder nat- and later prime minister un-
“He stayed in Zimbabwe left the country late last week ural resources. der the dictator Mobutu Sese
Seko in the 1980s and 1990s.
Last month, Luca Attana-
sio, the Italian ambassador to

Covid takes mental PERIWINKLE

CLOTHING CO.

toll on migrants

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE MADE IN ZIMBABWE

MORE than 400 returning migrants who either lost jobs or were Contact us at: 077 248 5829
deported have received counselling services between December e-mail: siphiwo@periwinkle.co.zw
2020 and January 2021 after showing signs of mental stress and
anxiety over fears of reintegrating into the communities they had www.periwinkle.co.zw
left.

Results from ‘rapid psychosocial distress screening’ processes
conducted at some of Zimbabwe’s busiest border posts including
Beitbridge, Chirundu, Forbes, Kazungula and Plumtree show
that some 461 returning migrants went through counselling in
the two months.

Migration organisations say thousands of migrants returned to
Zimbabwe during the Covid-19 pandemic owing to deportation,
self-repatriation and arrests, among other reasons.

The International Organisation for Migration and its partners
are supporting the Zimbabwean government to offer the mental
health and psychosocial support services at the country’s borders.

“Returning migrants present a range of concerns during coun-
selling sessions, chief among them is uncertainty about the future
as they return home after having been away for extended periods.
Of those 461, (a total of ) 59 referrals were made to other service
providers such as Department of Social Welfare to ensure contin-
uation of support for the most vulnerable,” IOM Zimbabwe said
in an update. 

“As migrants made their way through border screening pro-
cesses, 461 (61% male, 39% female) were offered counselling
services after a Rapid Psychosocial Distress Screening tool was
administrated. The average age of the returnees was 33.”

The organisation noted that due to a lack of proper social and
economic structures and shortage of resources, the mass return of
migrants was likely to be burdensome on local communities who
are themselves drastically affected in social, economic and public
health terms as a result of the pandemic. 

“This backdrop can exacerbate returnees’ mental stress and fur-
ther highlights the importance of strengthening social safety nets
in receiving communities, providing post-arrival re-integration
packages for returnees and assisting with long-term skills devel-
opment and

livelihood opportunities for the returnees and their commu-
nities,” it reads.

The migration organisation said mental health support is a
necessary part of the migration response as the returnees suffer a
lot of negative impacts of the pandemic including job loss, finan-
cial hardship, disturbance in education, loss of loved ones, stigma
and isolation.

Some of the Zimbabweans who had been working in the re-
gion, particularly in South Africa, have been failing to return
following changes in lockdown measures and migration policies
during the pandemic.

Page 10 News NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Marry Chiwenga cries out for justice

WHILE divorce proceed- Vice-President Chiwenga’s estranged wife Marry. cember without money, you life goes on. But I also
ings between Vice-President move with a begging bowl. would like an apology from
Constantino Chiwenga and vulnerable. did they finally unfreeze BM: Would you say you the Vice-President. He owes
his estranged wife Marry are BM: Have you tried engag- them and can you now ac- have financial freedom? I have a son who is in me an apology for every-
yet to be completed, fissures ing the Zimbabwe Defence cess your money? MC: No, definitely not. I Lower Six now and a daugh- thing that he’s done to me
continue widening in the Forces (ZDF) or their com- MC: I do not know what have to ask for my money ter doing Form One so for and my family, because he
decade-old marriage, with mander to find out why to call it. They said that if from the bank. It is different those two I had to ask for knows what he says hap-
Marry crying foul over what soldiers are being used in a I want money I must apply from anyone else who just money and I asked for mon- pened didn’t happen. He
she describes as worsening domestic matter? for it. So, in December I walks into a bank and has ey from HE (President Em- doesn’t even believe his own
abuse and intimidation. MC: Yes, we have before. applied for money and they access to money. I don’t have merson Mnangagwa). He lies.
And even now I have writ- did not give it to me. They that freedom. I have got did not give me and he did
In an interview, Marry ten him ( ZDF commander also did not give a reason to ask for my own money, not respond.  He knows that nothing
(MC) told The NewsHawks Phillip Valerio Sibanda) a why. I have got to apply for my BM: How is your health like that happened. So, one
reporter Bridget Mananavire letter. My lawyer, Beatrice own money, which most of now, how are you feeling? day I’d like an apology from
(BM) how the Vice-Pres- Mtetwa, also wrote to them Then in January, I said the time they have refused to MC: My health is in trouble him for everything that he
ident is allegedly abusing before. I have also written to them, I needed money give me or they just do not for two reasons. My health is has put me through.
state institutions, political to (ZDF commander Philip for school fees for my chil- respond.  in trouble because, first rea-
power and authority to hurt Valerio) PV Sibanda which dren. They said to me write son, local doctors have been It will just be an apology
her by, among other actions, we were typing, to say your a letter. I wrote a letter, but There is no financial free- threatened by my husband really, but nothing can take
blocking her from seeing soldiers continue to terro- no money. Last month, I dom, I must beg for my not to look after me med- away what he has done. It
their children for almost a rise my office, because the asked them if they were just money. For example, I asked ically and they’re afraid to doesn’t matter that he was
year-and-a-half. Vice-Pesident doesn’t have tagging me along after The for money to fix the wall speak out. lied to and that is why he
BM: You said you are expe- soldiers, the soldiers serve NewsHawks reported the is- at the office yesterday, they did what he did or whatever.
riencing abuse at the hands under PV so they belong to sue. So, I asked them ‘do you demanded to know what This is including physio-
of your husband and mil- him. want to give me my money we want to buy who are the therapists, because I need Nothing can take away
itary personnel. In what of you are just pulling me suppliers and if the bank can physio, but they’ve also been your own husband sending
way are they doing this? I said to him your mili- along?’  I told them I have make direct transfers. threatened and they said you to prison. Even if I had
MC: Because I have lived tary personnel continue to international payments, I’ve they are scared to meet me done it, he could have just
most of my life with him, terrorise my office, to terror- got equipment that I bought For what? They should because the VP threatens said ‘you know what Mai
being around soldiers, I ise me and they continue to in China, that needs to be just give me the money to them and this is what they Tendai, you went too far’
don’t fear soldiers, also be- loot my things, what is go- paid for. buy the things. say. and he would have just tak-
cause there was like a fam- ing on? Why all this intim- BM: Did they explain to en me back to my family,
ily unit with the soldiers idation? I have medical bills in you why they had frozen I don’t have a physiother- not to throw me in prison.
around us. South Africa that need to be your accounts? apist, I don’t have a physi-
Why are you doing this to settled. They said they could MC: No, they just lie that cian. The physicians that That was extreme and he
But when it comes to me or to my office? Why are make a plan on the medical they had never frozen the were looking after me before knows that he overreacted,
intimidation, now intimi- you doing it? bills but said it would be dif- accounts. And I told them were army physicians. and it will eat him for what-
dation is a lot of things, it’s ficult to pay for my equip- I am going to sue them be- ever amount of time was left
broad. If the people in my For what reason?  So, ment. I don’t know how I cause they were refusing They are afraid of the VP, in his life. But yeah, it’s re-
office are intimidated by we’ve engaged him, but he will pay for them. with my money. they were told at work not ally sad. I looked after him
soldiers, that’s intimidation has not responded. to look after me. So they so well. And I looked after
on my part because they will BM: Let us move to the is- Last month, I told them I needed to pay fees for don’t help me and for me him so much that what he
go to scare the people in my sue of money. Last year, we I need money for salaries, my two other children and to go and get international did was most painful.  That
office. reported that CBZ Bank and they said I should write they refused with that mon- medical attention they have your husband you looked
had frozen your accounts, a letter and they gave me the ey. From January to De- refused with my passport. after with your heart would
The people in my of- money. But I wrote another do that. I looked after him
fice will run away because and they did not give me. We appealed against that beyond expectation, I even
they’re afraid of the soldiers. court ruling at the Supreme surprised myself because of
They are threatened. Court and we lost. And I the way I looked after him. 
asked the President to give
When they went and ran- me another passport, so that You even look at yourself
sacked my office in Dom- I can get medical attention. and say at 40 I am looking
boshava, everybody ran after somebody who is this
away.  I had more than 20 He said he was going to sick. You know, it was like I
people working there, they secure a passport for me, did not have a life.
all ran away. and money to go and get
medical attention, but it’s He was my life. And
And before running away out of the window. As you then, when he was ill, I even
they were ordered by armed can see, I am still here. I am stopped having a life and it
soldiers to load all my be- still very much in pain. I am just became a life for him.
longings into a lorry, and still suffering. Medically, not So, all of that, imagine you
this was during the time I much has happened. have a life with your hus-
was in prison.  band and your children,
I need medical attention then all of a sudden it is life
They cleared my office, and if I can get it sooner for him, you know you’re
took all my files, took all my rather than later because like a 24-hour doctor. My
client files, we had six filing I have come a long way husband is a baby at heart.
cabinets and they were all talking about my treatment.
taken. When he is sick he cries,
The VP went out to get when he’s worried and he’s
Client information is con- medical attention several unhappy he cries and I got
fidential, between the client times but why is he refusing to comfort him. 
and the consultant. for me to be treated?
BM: What is the update I would try everything to
They took bank state- with regards your divorce get him medical care, call-
ments, contracts, invoices of case, where is it now? ing doctors and at one time
things, they took personal MC: I have no idea. It was when he got sick I made
documents, my registrations supposed to be heard on all efforts to get hold of
of different things; com- the eighth of February, but the President who was not
pany registrations, vehicle it was cancelled. But really around. And eventually he
registration, title deeds, ev- what I would like is for all of came back. 
erything. The office was for this to be behind me because
events, and I had even had a I want my children, my I would do everything to
party for my children there.  properties, my matrimonial cater for him. I did every-
benefits, my spousal bene- thing, everything you can
And they recently broke fits, which I’m supposed to think of when taking care
down my Highlands of- have been getting since last of a sick person and my
fice wall, and it was done year. payment for that was pris-
at night. Our wall was very on. When you are expecting
strong, it could not have I want my vehicles and your husband to come buy
just have fallen on its own. a cow to take to your family
Now our office is open and as gratitude, he comes back
and has you sent to prison,
you can imagine.

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Musina: An
island of peace
and tranquillity
in South Africa’s
smouldering
xenophobic fires

BERNARD CHIGUVARE People in their different People braaing meat in Musina foreigners. The town is cultur- the town. languages through their music.
multicultural shades and diver- ally and linguistically the same Zimbabweans also shuttle So we see them as brothers and
A GROUP of local people sity generally live together in A flea market in Musina as Beitbridge across the Lim- sisters,” Mudau told The New-
sit in a bar in the South Afri- harmony even if the presence when both countries (Zimba- popo River on the Zimbabwe- almost daily from Beitbridge sHawks.
can border town of Musina’s of foreigners is highly visible bwe and South Africa) were an side of the border. and other places in Musina for
Nancefield township having and sometimes spoken about still under apartheid and colo- shopping and social activities, A past report done by the
an animated conversation in in hostile undertones. nial governments, myself and Ethnic Venda people on including drinking. International Organisation for
high-pitched voices about so- some South African women either side of the river are the Migration said Musina contin-
cial issues as they guzzle beer. While some locals complain crossed into Zimbabwe selling indigenous inhabitants and Theodore Maoko, a Zimba- ues to be a recipient of mainly
about the influx of Zimbabwe- umbrellas, woollen material have always interacted for gen- bwean sportsman now living Zimbabwean and largely un-
Their guard is lowered in the ans into the town, the majority and other stuff,” Ndou said. erations. Being on the border, in Musina, says social activities documented migrants as it is
Covid-19 environment and of South Africans in Musina Musina is also an intersection like sports have alson helped the intended destination for
masks are off. are used to multiculturalism “We had no friends or rela- of different nationalities, cul- the integration process.8 many (23%), second only to
and co-existence. tives in Zimbabwe, but we just tures and languages. Johannesburg (28%).
The crowd is speaking in went with our stuff for sale. “For the past 10 years, Mu-
the main local language, Ven- This is very different from Most of the homes we visited It is also a transit zone, sina football teams have been “Even those in possession
da, but switches to Sotho and other parts of South Africa, welcomed us. We used to sell meaning many different peo- playing soccer with Beitbridge of asylum and work permits
Shangaan as the conversation including cosmopolitan cities, our stuff in far places such as ple pass through daily. Dulibadzimu soccer teams. choose to remain nearby, in
swings back and forth, charac- where hostility, violence and Mberengwa mining areas and From sports we develop a dpir- order to be close to home and
terised by bar talk. intimidation often erupt be- Bulawayo” Besides, it is also a mining it of oneness. We have four simply unable to move along
tween locals and foreigners. town, which was inhabited by Zimbabwean football teams to other destinations due to
Next to them is also another Now that the Zimbabwe- immigrants over a long time. now based in Musina,” said poverty,” the report said.
exuberant group speaking in Only this week, clashes an nationals are flocking into Maoko.
several languages — Venda, broke out in Durban — about South Africa, Ndou feels it is A lot of immigrants came “With the overall economic
Ndebele and Shona — dis- 1 200 kilometres away from time to embrace Zimbabwe- from Zambia, Malawi, Mo- A South African taxi driver situation deteriorating in Zim-
cussing various issues. This is Musina — between locals ans. zambique and Zimbabwe to Rabelani Mudau who plies the babwe, it comes as no surprise
a group of Zimbabweans from and immigrants. This has been work and settle there. Musina to Beitbridge border that many migrants have lit-
across the border, Beitbridge happening frequently. “I see Zimbabweans as route says he often plays Zim- tle work experience and have
town, which now has those brothers and sisters who are There was a copper mine in babwean music as he liked it, worked largely in temporary
three ethnic groups living to- The South African Human trying to make a living like we Musina — the name itself in and also as a sign togetherness. or casual positions. However,
gether. Rights Commission says it is used to go in Zimbabwe. This Venda means copper — and many are educated and moti-
“deeply concerned” over vio- is why we accept them in our now the largest diamond mine “Music unifies people. We vated to change their circum-
Occasionally the groups en- lent attacks on foreign vendors communities here in Musina,” in South Africa, Venetia Dia- play this music at our social stances through migration.
gage each other across tables in Durban that left several peo- she said. mond Mine, De Beers’ flagship gatherings. Zimbabweans also
and languages — eventually ple injured and traumatised operation, is only 80km from love South African music. We “Poverty, hunger and lack
having a big conversation in- this week. Many factors help Musina learn Zimbabwean culture and of employment opportunities
volving five languages at once. people to tolerate and even like have forced them to leave their
Xenophobic harassment and home country. With such a
Increasingly it becomes violence are routine and some- dire situation developing at
difficult to know among the times lethal in South Africa. home, the necessity to earn
crowd who is South African money and support depen-
and who is not. Despite the March 2019 dents left behind has become
adoption of a South African all the more important. Almost
Not that it matters a lot to government action plan to everyone was working to save
these people enjoying their combat xenophobia, the au- money in order to help depen-
drink, but being in South Afri- thorities have done very little dants, and approximately 24%
ca one expects distinct cultural to stop the attacks and hold the to 30% were successful in do-
and linguistic differences to responsible to account. ing so.”
easily show and filter through
the loud conversations. Immigrants have suffered While there is harmony
wave after wave of xenophobic among different people in
It is only the occasional violence, and live in fear amid Musina, hostilities sometimes
Shona and Ndebele voices impunity. explode when foreigners take
which indicate that there are RDP (government) houses,
Zimbabweans in these groups. Xenowatch, an open-source competition for residential
Even then, Ndebele, a Nguni platform created by the Afri- stands or other resources and
language, blends well with sev- can Centre for Migration and crime. Social ills such as unem-
eral local languages, Nguni di- Society at the University of ployment, crime and prostitu-
alects, and sometimes confuses the Witwatersrand, says from tion cause disharmony.
the undiscerning listener as to 1994 to 2018 there were a to-
where its speakers are actually tal of 529 xenophobic violence To page 12
from. Ndebele is a Zulu dialect incidents.
or offshoot, hence they are the
same except for style and ac- Limpopo province, where
cent. Musina is located, recorded
40, but only one incident from
Shona is now a familiar lan- January 2019 to September
guage in Musina, too, despite it 2019.
being foreign to South Africa,
whose 11 official languages — In a bid to understand why
including Zulu, Xhosa, Venda, Musina is somewhat different
Sotho, Tswana and Tsonga/ from other areas in South Af-
Shangani — are also spoken rica, The NewsHawks visited
in Zimbabwe, and are among the town last month to engage
the 16 official languages. with residents on how they
have managed to integrate
While some parts of South with Zimbabweans and other
Africa are convulsed by xeno- foreigners.
phobic hostilities and violent
attacks, Musina has remained Mulalo Ndou, a South Af-
an island of peace and tran- rican, shared her 1970s expe-
quillity in the troubled land. rience when she used to sell
assorted goods in Zimbabwe.

“I remember during 1970s

Page 12 News NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

NYASHA CHINGONO Pacific supports BAT South Africa

ZIMBABWE’S Pacific Cig- tobacco bootlegging clean up calls
arette Company – the fastest
growing cigarette manufac- highlighted in the Ipsos report Pacific chief executive Yves Le Boulenge’ organisations agree with the
turer in the country – says it commissioned by BAT. What report and BATSA’s call for a
supports British American To- is most satisfying is that the rand in lost revenue,” he said. udicing the South African and therefore most important con- commission of inquiry into
bacco South Africa (BATSA)’s Ipsos report identifies our Pa- “Criminal cartels who ruth- Zimbabwean governments of sumer market and cigarette the problem.
calls for an inquiry and clean cific brand as one of the most customs duty and tax revenues production hub; Zimbabwe is
up of the market which has upstanding in the report.” lessly exploited the tobacco worth billions of United States the biggest tobacco producer South Africa Tobacco Or-
now become “a multi-billion- ban have since maintained dollars. A report done by At- in the region and indeed the ganisation said it was sceptical
rand free-for-all for lawbreak- During the research, “mys- their grip on the sector. We lantic Council titled The Illicit continent,” the report said. about the BATSA report as it
ers” environment. tery shoppers” bought 20 need a commission of inquiry Tobacco Trade in Zimbabswe comes hard on the heels of an
packs of cigarettes below the as well as rapid enforcement and South Africa: Impacts and “Zimbabwe-produced ciga- investigative report by Organ-
Pacific chief executive Yves minimum collectable tax rate by SAPS and SARS.” Solutions said illegal trade be- rettes are smuggled into all its ised Crime and Corruption
Le Boulengé said this week (MCT) of R20.01 throughout tween the two countries was neighbouring countries, with Reporting Project, saying the
his company welcomed and the retail sector – from spaza Illegal tobacco sales and rampant. the clear majority being smug- company was benefitting from
backed BATSA’s latest report shops to supermarket chains. trading below the minimum gled into South Africa.” illicit tobacco trade in Mali,
which shows that the market collectible tax rate are under- “The illicit tobacco mar- West Africa.
has been invaded by bootleg- The sample involved buying cutting established companies ket in southern Africa is dis- Watchdog organisation Tax
gers who are pushing multi- 20 packs or 10-pack carton like BATSA and Pacific which tinguished by two key facts: Justice SA described the BAT- So it says it thinks that
billion-rand business deals in from 4 586 shops nationwide. trade within the legal frame- first, South Africa provides the SA research findings as “noth- BATSA is trying to wriggle out
the underworld at below-tax- work and established trade largest, most profitable, and ing short of organised crime”. and change the narrative.
able prices and without paying Of the 1 849 packs bought and tariff rules, while also prej-
tax. at R20 and below, 904 were However, not all tobacco But Le Boulengé, whose
distributed by Gold Leaf To- company has been accused of
BATSA commissioned in- bacco Corporation, 352 by being part of tobacco cartels -
dependent market research Carnilinx and 160 by Man- a claim which it has dismissed
company Ispos to investigate go Investments. Remington as unfounded, said the BATSA
how rampant illegal tobacco Gold, manufactured in Zim- report was a true reflection of
trade is and its impact on the babwe, was sold at the cheap- the tobacco industry in South
market. The study was done est prices below the MCT rate Africa.
from 11 February 2021 to 16 at 533 outlets visited.
February 2021. It investigated Pacific, formerly Savanna
the sale of cigarettes below the Zimbabwean tobacco is Tobacco, and whose chairman
minimum collectible tax rate, smuggled and sold in South is Zimbabwean businessman
among other issues. Africa’s black market. Adam Molai, manufactures
various pacific brands, in-
“We welcome the Ispos re- The study found that 41% cluding Pacific Storm, Pacific
port that captures the state of the shops visited sold a Breeze, Pacific Mist and Pacif-
of the industry. We are most pack of 20 cigarettes below ic Blue, Branson which comes
heartened that this is a more the minimum taxable price of as Branson Mint and Branson
credible and researched report R20.01. This was true at 76% Flame, Pegasus Spring and
rather than the bar talk and of the shops in the Free State, Pegasus Sky and Acacia.
anecdotes that characterised 73% Western Cape and 62%
recent report by some media Gauteng. The lowest purchase Domiciled in Mauritius, the
organisations,” Le Boulengé price for a 20-pack was R9 and company is headquartered in
said. R6.30 for the unit price for a Zimbabwe. It also operates di-
10-pack carton. rectly and indirectly in South
“It is often stated that lies Africa, Mozambique, Zambia,
and conjecture have short legs BATSA Johnny Moloto Mozambique, Lesotho, Swazi-
and we feel exonerated by this was quoted in media reports land, Malawi and DRC.
report. Pacific cigarettes, de- describing this as “industrial
spite their popularity, have not scale tax evasion”. “We comply with the laws,
been shown in the report to be rules and regulations, and
a source of the concern high- “This is tax evasion on an in- market requirements wherev-
lighted. Pacific cigarettes, as dustrial scale. The government er we operate. That is why we
always stated, continue to be has a responsibility to act with welcome BATSA’s report and
legally available in all the mar- urgency to stop such looting. calls for an inquiry into the in-
kets in which our company This research is damning proof dustry’s current developments
operates. We always welcome that the booming illegal trade and dynamics,” Le Boulengé
constructive criticism as a way in cigarettes is costing South said.
of strengthening our process- African taxpayers billions of
es and procedures against the
scourge of illicit cigarette trade

An island of peace in SA’s smouldering xenophobic fires

From page 11 Local Venda women in Musina wearing ethnic traditional dress vulnerability of migrants in the risk of people being tak-
The process of migration is Limpopo Province need to take en advantage of financially
fraught with dangers and dif- seeking and receiving assis- lems and barriers such as lack getting the help they need,” the into account the entire migra- through bribes and theft and/
ficulties, exposing immigrants tance. However, the living of knowledge about health- report said. tion process, including push or through threats and vio-
to incredible risk, health prob- conditions remain largely un- care, rights of migrants, and factors such as poverty, hunger lence. It would also reduce the
lems and hardship. Migrants changed adding to the possibil- fear of deportation have the “Based on these findings, it and family obligations, various need for repeated detention
travel to South Africa togeth- ity of long-term health prob- potential to keep many from is recommended that future perils and threats met en route, and incarceration and the ‘re-
er with friends and family or initiatives aimed at reducing the reception of migrants with- volving door’ where deportees
alone, often paying magum- in Limpopo province, partic- try almost immediately to re-
aguma (thieves), malayitshas ularly for special vulnerable turn to South Africa.”
(couriers), or government au- groups such as unaccompanied
thorities for their entry into minors and survivors of gen- Yet in the midst of all these
South Africa. der-based violence. trials and tribulations, Musina
Many travel through the has relatively remained an oasis
bush to avoid detection by au- “Economic hardship in Zim- of harmony in a vast desert of
thorities and encounter thieves babwe means that migrants are xenophobia. Musina munic-
in isolated areas near the Lim- desperate for employment and ipality spokesperson Wilson
popo River. As a result many legalised presence in South Af- Dzebu said the history and
have experienced some form of rica. Such desperation has led geographical location of the
violence during their journeys. migrants to take great risks town largely shaped it into a
Given the perils of crossing such as travelling alone, taking multicultural melting pot.
and the high frequency of re- informal routes, making repeat
peated migration, return visits visits to South Africa, or in case “Musina as a mining and
to South Africa for irregular of minors, travelling without a border town was established
migrants become all the more parent or guardian. more than 100 years ago. Peo-
alarming. ple from different countries
“Respondents were living, “Efforts to avoid detection like Zambia, Malawi and Zim-
bathing, cooking, and sleeping on the part of migrants are be- babwe came to work and settle
in the outdoors. Thankfully, ing met opportunistically by here with locals. So we don’t
many of those who needed thieves and smugglers seeking see them as foreigners, but
medical attention reported economic gain. Encouraging part of us as Africans,” he said.
some form of regularised mi- “That is why we generally don’t
gration would greatly reduce have xenophobia here.”

NewsHawks News Page 13

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Opposition must introspect or perish

PALESA MUWANI MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora   The MDC-Alliance still has
a lot of work to do if it is going
THE recent defection of se- principal Welshman Ncube and accelerated the process,” Masun- liament and senators as well as 80 oppressors that stole the election. to defeat Zanu PF if the chaos in
nior Movement of Democratic Gibson Sibanda ditching the par- ungure said.  councillors being recalled by the The people’s agenda is to main- the opposition during elections is
Change (MDC) officials Lilian ty to form a breakaway party.  MDC-T, drastically whittling its tain the fight for democracy and anything to go by.
Timveous and Blessing Chebun- “These are the seeds of faction- presence in the august House and to overcome the obstacles that
do to the ruling Zanu PF may be The trend continued in 2013 alism and discontent that are ex- weakening its control of councils have been placed in our way. We The fielding of two candidates
dismissed as a non-event in some when a senior party member, ploding into defections by senior in various cities. It has resulted in will use 2021 to reconnect with in several constituencies also cost
quarters, but it reflects the severe Elton Mangoma, was beaten up people in the MDC Alliance. It is the party losing critical funding the grassroots which remains the the party several parliamentary
weakening of opposition parties by party hooligans after he wrote an incremental implosion.” after money allocated to political anchor of the party, to embark on seats in the 2018 harmonised
on the Zimbabwean political a letter asking the late founding parties was handed over to the a major recruitment drive, both at elections. These include Bulawayo
landscape with the general elec- MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai He said although there are se- MDC-T instead. It also lost its home and the Diaspora,” Chami- South where Zanu PF candidate
tions just over two years away. to step down following the par- rious divisions within the party headquarters in the capital to the sa said. and Industry deputy minister Raj
ty’s dismal loss in the harmonised leadership, the grassroots support MDC-T. Modi clinched the constituency as
Timevous, who served as a elections that year. base for the MDC Alliance re- The youthful opposition leader a result. Modi polled 2 788 votes,
senator for the Midlands prov- mains largely intact. This has left the Chamisa out- has however been accused of be- beating the two MDC Alliance
ince before she was recalled from This led to a further split as the fit hamstrung and has severely ing long on rhetoric but falling candidates who polled 2 214 and
parliament last year and Che- then MDC secretary-general Ten- Masunungure however warned blunted its impact on the political woefully short on action. Critics 1 280 votes. Had the votes gone
bundo who had initially left the dai Biti and Mangoma ditched that if the leadership failed to re- stage as Zanu PF has maximised say he has failed to come up with to one MDC Alliance candidate,
MDC Alliance for the MDC-T the party to form their own party. solve their toxic relationship, it on the vulnerability of the party’s an effective response to the attacks the opposition party could have
breakaway party led by Douglas That union was however short- could disillusion its support base. failure to adhere to its own con- being suffered by his party which easily won the seat as the tally of
Mwonzora, joined Zanu PF last lived as Biti and Mangoma also stitution. also include the arrests of vibrant votes for the two candidates was
month and were paraded at State split over disagreements between However, probably the big- party officials, among them 3 494.
House by President Emmerson the two. gest threat for opposition parties Chamisa however struck a de- spokesperson Fadzai  Mahere and
Mnangagwa and Vice-President is the failure to adhere even to fiant tone in his address to the na- party deputy chairman Job Sikha- Zanu PF MP and former In-
Constantino Chiwenga. Biti formed the People’s Dem- their own constitutions, a weak- tion on Tuesday this week, saying la on spurious charges that has re- formation deputy Information
ocratic Party while Mangoma ness that has come to haunt the the party remains solid despite the sulted in them being locked up at minister Energy Mutodi also
The volte face by the two pol- formed a party called Renewal MDC Alliance.  In 2016, Tsvan- setbacks.  Chikurubi Prison with murderers benefitted from the confusion of
iticians is a damning indictment Democrats of Zimbabwe, further girai unconstitutionally appoint- and rapists.  fielding two candidates which en-
on the state of opposition parties. fragmenting the opposition party. ed two vice-presidents, Chamisa “The second was the crisis of abled him to win the Goromonzi
As the harmonised 2023 elec- In 2014, prominent opposition and Elias Mudzuri. This was in authoritarianism, whereby the Some critics now derisively West seat. He beat MDC Alliance
tions loom, opposition parties figure Job Sikhala formed the violation of Article 6.4.4.1 of the regime embarked on a relent- call him “Twitter president” due candidates Luke Tamborinyo-
are in crisis, bedevilled by turf MDC 99. MDC constitution which states less assault and onslaught upon to his numerous tweets which ka and Cliford Nyambiro who
wars, splits and a resource deficit, that all members of the national democracy and our party. This promise imminent change but polled more than 16 000 votes
among other issues.  However, the offshoots dismal- standing committee, including assault involved the use of state with very little to show for it on combined. Mutodi romped to
ly failed to make an impact. The the deputy president(s), are elect- machinery to subvert democracy the ground. It remains to be seen victory with 12 942 votes.
Although these challenges main reason for this is the lack of ed at congress. and the will of the people. Our whether his address this week
have been the bane of opposition party structures countrywide, a party headquarters was forcibly will be matched by action on the The opposition has been fur-
parties in general, it is particular- problem that has extended even The failure by Chamisa to hold occupied, depriving us of our ground to galvanise its support ther enfeebled by imposition of
ly problematic for the country’s to the main opposition MDC an extraordinary congress a year home. The regime also diverted base that has become increasing- candidates.
main opposition MDC Alliance Alliance. after the death of Tsvangirai in our funding under the Political ly disillusioned by the opposition
led by Nelson Chamisa. February 2018 was another ca- Parties (Finance) Act, giving it to party’s tepid response to Zanu Chamisa fired Victoria Falls
While opposition parties usu- lamitous error which  has had dire its surrogates,” he said. PF’s renewed attacks. mayor Somvelo Dhlamini from
The crisis-plagued MDC Alli- ally have structures in the urban consequences. the party for defying a directive
ance is a far cry from the original areas, they are almost non-exis- “Despite all these attacks on Opposition parties will contin- to resign as mayor after contest-
MDC formed in 1999 on the tent in the rural areas, particularly Article 9.21.1 of the MDC our party, we refuse to be cast as ue to struggle to make an impact ing the position without approval.
back of the labour body, the Zim- Zanu PF strongholds, giving the constitution states that in the victims. Rather, we are survivors as long as there is no financing This was despite being voted in
babwe Congress of Trade Unions ruling party a major advantage event of the death or resignation and winners. When someone and organised leadership, accord- by eight councillors in defiance of
and led by the late Morgan Tsvan- during elections. of the president, the deputy pres- works so hard to try and destroy ing to political analyst Ibbo Man- the party’s order to allow Margaret
girai. The party offered a major ident assumes the role of acting you and they fail, it is because you daza. Varley to stand in for the MDC
challenge to Zanu PF as it won The ruling party has struc- president pending the holding are strong and you are a winner. Alliance during mayoral elections.
57 out of 120 parliamentary seats tures countrywide. The district of an extraordinary congress that We are invincible. We are indom- “l think it is a perennial prob-
in the 2000 elections, shaking the co--ordinating committee elec- shall be held to elect a new pres- itable. We are unconquerable,” lem. What we have in this coun- This has continued a practice
ruling party to the core. tions held by Zanu PF last year ident. The extraordinary congress Chamisa said. try are not parties. They are move- from the Tsvangirai era which has
countrywide, though marred by must be held no later than a year ments which are vulnerable to all threatened the party’s cohesive-
Tsvangirai then lost the 2002 in-fighting, have put the party from the death or resignation of He vowed to continue fighting kinds of stresses,” Mandaza said. ness. In 2013, the MDC threat-
presidential elections to the late in a strong position for the 2023 the former president. Zanu PF whom he accused of ened to fire Arnold Tsunga after
president Robert Mugabe amid elections over other parties which trying to turn the country into a He said Chamisa should have he defiantly stood for the Dan-
violence and vote rigging allega- have virtually no structures to talk This formed the basis of a one-party state with a pliant op- set up a fund to support his MPs gamvura seat ahead of Tsvangirai’s
tions. Tsvangirai challenged the about outside the cities. Supreme Court judgement last position in tow. after the ruling. preferred candidate, Giles Mutse-
election results in a court applica- year which has wreaked havoc kwa. Tsunga eventually won the
tion that same year but, 19 years The defection of Chebundo on the MDC Alliance.  It ruled “We will peacefully resist and Mandaza said Zanu PF does seat which not only threatened
on, the case is still pending.  and Timveous is the result of the that Chamisa’s rise to power was oppose institutions that oppress not have a social base and relies the unity in the party but also em-
continued toxicity iņ the coun- irregular. The court’s ruling rec- us the people. We will peacefully solely on the military to stay in barrassed the party leadership.
He would make further im- try’s biggest opposition party, ognised Thokozani Khupe as the resist and oppose illegal enforce- power and is there for the tak-
pact in the 2008 harmonised according to  political analyst El- legitimate successor to Tsvangirai ments. We will peacefully resist ing by an organised opposition In his column titled The Big
elections, defeating Mugabe in dred Masunungure. and interim leader of the party. and oppose unconstitutional party.  He said without funding Saturday Read, prominent lawyer
the first round of elections but the She however lost the leadership to laws. We will peacefully resist and and organised leadership within and former adviser to Tsvangirai,
results, which many insisted were “The problems in the party Mwonzora during its extraordi- oppose weaponisation of laws and the opposition, the objective of Alex Magaisa, has called on op-
doctored, showed he had failed to have not started with the defec- nary congress held in Harare.  judicial system. We will peacefully defeating Zanu PF will remain a position parties to introspect and
garner the 50% plus 1 vote need- tions. They started earlier with the resist and oppose the illegitimate mirage. work on their shortcomings.
ed to win the presidency. breakaway of the MDC factions This has led to more than 30
and the defections have probably MDC Alliance members of Par- “After every election, the out-
The authenticity of the results cries over rigging are so loud that
was questionable, given that the all too often, the weaknesses that
ballot boxes were taken to an un- may have impacted the campaign
known location for more than a are ignored. The result is that the
month where they could have opposition parties go for another
been tampered with in the ab- five years, demanding reforms
sence of observers. from Zanu PF, but never attend-
ing to the weaknesses that may
This led to a violent 2008 pres- have affected their performance.
idential election re-run which re- The dominant narrative is that
sulted in the death and torture of there was rigging. The dominant
MDC supporters. narrative obscures other narratives
of the election. The problem is
Tsvangirai boycotted the elec- that any strategic errors that af-
tion, leaving Mugabe to win the fected the electoral performance
farcical election which was glob- will be repeated in the next elec-
ally rejected, forcing the long- tion,” Magaisa wrote. 
time ruler into a government of
national unity with Tsvangirai in “If, however, the opposition
2009. goes through a process of dis-
covering ignorance, it would
However, memories of the invest resources in researching
opposition having such powerful and reviewing the previous elec-
impact on Zimbabwe politics are tion and identifying the things
fading due to infighting, splits that went wrong and things that
and a leadership deficit. went right. In that way, the wrong
things might be avoided while the
Cracks began to widen in the right things might be amplified.
party in 2005 when the MDC ex- To start, you must take off the
perienced its first split. The 2005 blinkers and say ‘we do not know’.
split was over whether to partic- That way you start the process of
ipate in the country’s senatorial discovery.”
elections.

This resulted in several senior
party leaders, including MDC-A

Page 14 News NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

SIX years after embracing Zim has met only two SDG all the United Nations mem-
plans to implement the Sus- targets for children since 2015 ber states with a commitment
tainable Development Goals to achieve them between
(SDGs) for children, Zimba- proportion of schools, with chological well-being by sex, is yet to be availed. protection as a human right. 2015 and 2030.
bwe has to date met only two access to water and sanitation among other shortfalls. There is still insufficient The principle of the uni-
out of 44 set targets, indicat- remaining outstanding. “Fast tracking achievement
ing the urgent need to fast In the protection area data on the incidences of versality of social protection of the SDGs will require huge
track progress. The country continues to which pertains to SDG Five child labour among children demonstrates the importance investments in the remaining
lag behind on the propor- on gender equality, Zimba- aged between five to 17. of social safety nets in guar- nine years. While the country
Recently released data by tion of children aged 24 to bwe has not met even one out anteeing decent living con- appeared to be gathering mo-
Unicef ’s associate director 59 months of age who are of the 10 targets set. Informa- The country is also yet to ditions to the whole popula- mentum in meeting the goals,
for data and analytics, Mark developmentally on track tion on sexual, emotional and meet the “fair chance” tar- tion, throughout their lives.  the coming in of Covid-19 has
Hereward, shows that Zimba- in health, learning and psy- physical violence reductions get on improving access to dealt countries the world over
bwe has so far met only two at least a basic level of social The SDGs were adopted by a hard blow as development
targets on minimising the partners are now redirecting
prevalence of wasting among support within their host na-
children and reducing the risk tions as opposed to support-
of being overweight for chil- ing foreign countries,” econo-
dren under the age of five. mist Prosper Chitambara said
in his analysis.
The United Nations chil-
dren’s institution rated the “So failure to meet the
country as being on target on targets has long-term impli-
addressing three other targets, cations of current children
namely reducing open defeca- entering adulthood without
tion, availing essential health enough capacity to compete
services and skilled personnel with those who are emerging
in attending birth deliveries. from other sound economies
and the country may also
The 44 targets are placed struggle to move out of pov-
into five areas of children’s erty.”
wellbeing to provide an over-
all assessment of child wel- Efforts to get a comment
fare. Under the “survive and from the Public Service, La-
thrive” and “zero hunger” bour and Social Welfare min-
categories, the country is yet istry were fruitless.
to meet eight targets which
include elimination of child Another economist with
stunting where a child is too a sound understanding of
short for his or her age and is social welfare issues, Naome
the result of chronic or recur- Chakanya, blamed the eco-
rent malnutrition. nomic policies of austerity
being pursued by the gov-
Stunting is a contributing ernment as a setback on the
risk factor to child mortality achievement of SDGs.
and is also a marker of in-
equalities in human develop- “Such policies directly
ment. Stunted children fail to work against support for the
reach their physical and cog- vulnerable. Over the past
nitive potential. years government has reduced
funding towards the Health
The nation also needs to and Labour ministries and in
increase under-five mortality the process leaving them in-
rate and reduce new HIV in- capacitated to drive expected
fections per 1 000 uninfected targets,” she said.
population for children in the
age group. Chakanya pointed out the
current situation where a dis-
Under the learning cate- connect in securing adequate
gory, which is anchored on support towards women’s
SDG Four which pertains to rights also indirectly affects
quality education, Zimbabwe children since the two groups
has not met any target. There largely depend on each other.
is insufficient data on the
—STAFF WRITER

NewsHawks News Page 15

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Stop spying on citizens, Misa demands

NYASHA CHINGONO of unspecified surveillance equip- Misa chairperson Golden Maunganidze as “monitoring”, thereby expos- ernment’s ruthless surveillance
ment.  ing citizens to undue surveillance system. This was revealed in her
THE Media Institute of South- nisms that prevent over-surveil- tion called upon the legislature by the state.  President Emmer- explosive outburst, accusing Col-
ern African (Misa) has expressed “Misa Zimbabwe notes the lance and extra-judicial surveil- to amend the Communications son Mnangagwa’s government onel Samson Murombo, who
concern over the continued ac- importance of promoting na- lance.” Act, which contains vague provi- has relentlessly continued with was Commander of 1 Presiden-
quisition and deployment of tional security, and with the sion and fails to define terms such the late former president Robert tial Guard Battalion, of ill intent. 
surveillance equipment in the increase in the uptake of ICTs, The media support organisa- Mugabe’s tactics of intimidation
absence of supporting legislation, the need to promote cybersecu- and fighting political battles us- According to security sources,
warning the practice infringes on rity. However, such interventions ing spyware.  several opposition politicians and
citizens’ right to privacy.  should be informed by a human activists are under surveillance.
rights approach, respect of the The NewsHawks reported that The CIO has many files of oppo-
Misa’s complaint to Speaker constitution and the declara- spyware developed by Israeli sition activists under surveillance. 
of Parliament Jacob Mudenda tion of rights, espoused therein, Technology company Circles was
comes following revelations by and as provided for in terms of used to record Mohadi’s sleazy Circles spyware is sold to na-
The NewsHawks that the Central Section 44 of the constitution,” calls and messages to a harem of tion-states only. Zimbabwe is
Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Maunganidze said.  women, some of them married, one of 25 countries in the world
is using Israeli spyware to snoop in a sensational sex scandal which using the technology.
into the communications of offi- Section 57 of the Zimbabwe- shook the corridors of power. 
cials and citizens. The revelations an constitution guarantees the To facilitate spying, Zimba-
came after former vice-president right to privacy which encom- Intelligence sources told The bwe has an Interception of Com-
Kembo Mohadi’s phone calls passes the privacy of communi- NewsHawks this week that the munications Act that enables
exposing his illicit sexual affairs cations and this right protects real significance of the Mohadi monitoring of people’s calls and
were leaked into the public do- citizens from excessive and un- sexcapade is not just that it messages. It is also working on
main.  In a letter to Mudenda, justified state surveillance. demonstrates the Zimbabwean a new Cyber Security and Data
Misa national chairperson Gold- leadership’s broken moral com- Protection Bill to reinforce its ca-
en Maunganidze said surveil- Misa urged parliament to in- pass and rotten integrity, but pacity to snoop on citizens.
lance had continued in recent quire into the acquisition or use also that citizens are vulnerable
years, amid revelations of the use of surveillance technologies in to state espionage intrusions, In a recent report titled Run-
of high-tech equipment to snoop Zimbabwe. The government has invasion of privacy and even the ning in Circles: Uncovering the
into citizens’ private lives as the often secretly acquired foreign danger of being located by trail- Clients of Cyberespionage firm
government tightens the noose spyware to intercept communi- ing spooks using Israeli cyberes- Circles, the University of Toron-
on civil liberties.  cations of perceived enemies of pionage technologies for political to’s Citizen Lab — which inves-
the state. reasons. tigates digital espionage against
“Misa Zimbabwe writes to civil society — details how the 25
you to express its concern over The Communications Act: First Lady Auxillia Mnangag- governments around the world
the acquisition, deployment and “legitimises surveillance but does wa last year fell victim to the gov- are using tools developed by Cir-
use of surveillance tools in Zim- not have any oversight mecha- cles to snoop.
babwe, which use has continued
over time, in the absence of ade- C VID-19
quate and clear data privacy legis- STAY SAFE
lation and mechanisms,” Maun-
ganidze said.  REDUCE YOUR RISK OF

In 2018, Misa raised similar COVID-19
concerns following reports of
that facial recognition equipment INFECTION
had been acquired from China
while cybersecurity equipment Wash your hands with soap or use a hand Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeves or tissues.
had been pledged by Japan.  sanitizer. Dispose the tissues and wash hands afterwards.

The media watchdog said the Keep a distance of around 1 meter away from Always stay at home unless you have an
government is exploiting weak- others in public. important reason to leave the house.
nesses of local mobile systems to
spy on citizens. The NewsHawks @NewsHawksLive www.newshawks.com join@thenewshawks.com

“More recently, two reports
have emerged indicating that
Zimbabwe is a customer of Cir-
cles, a surveillance firm that re-
portedly exploits weaknesses in
the global mobile phone system,
to snoop on calls, texts, and the
location of phones around the
globe. Circles is also reported to
be affiliated with NSO Group,
which develops the often-abused
Pegasus spyware. Circles, whose
products work without hacking
the phone itself, says they sell
only to nation-states,” Maun-
ganidze told Mudenda. 

Misa said it was worrisome
that government has often pur-
chased spyware without abiding
by the basic tenets of democratic
governance. 

“Misa Zimbabwe is therefore
concerned not only with the
use of such tools in the absence
of substantive cybersecurity and
data protection legislation in
Zimbabwe, but also with the
lack of transparency around the
acquisition of this cybersecurity
equipment and the conditions
under which it is sold to Zimba-
bwe,” Misa said. 

“The lack of transparency and
information around these deals is
against the spirit of good gover-
nance and basic principles gov-
erning public administration as
enshrined in Sections 9(1) and
194(1)(f) and (h) of the Consti-
tution.”

President Emmerson Mnan-
gagwa’s government has used
foreign spyware to widen the net
on critics and perceived enemies.

This is also done to instill fear
in perceived opponents, experts
warn. Misa urged parliament to
exercise its oversight role by ex-
amining the acquisition and use

Page 16 Editorial & Opinion NewsHawks

CARTOON Issue 21, 12 March 2021

It takes visionary
leadership, hefty
financial outlay

CABINET this week announced an ambitious President Mnangagwa must
national e-learning strategy under which 1 500 address the Chilonga saga
schools will get internet connectivity before year-
end and 3 000 teachers are to undergo information THE Chilonga saga is going to be with ment recently moved to position itself to project, raising eyebrows among locals
communication technology training by June. us for a long time to come in months displace 12 500 people purportedly for a who are now questioning the real motive
ahead. This is a critical issue which lucerne grass project. behind their threatened removal.
The strategy outlines other targets, including the speaks to people, their history, culture
electrification of 434 schools and manufacture of and social order. It also intersects with Villagers said they do not believe the Exploration maps of the area depict
up to 150 000 digital gadgets. investment, development and progress. story and narrative of lucerne grass; they places with deposits of coal, diamonds,
At the same time, it interfaces with poli- think that is a cover for still secret min- scheelite and quartz in Chiredzi. The
While the e-learning strategy sounds useful on tics, cronyism and corruption. There are ing activities by Mnangagwa’s cronies. stretch runs from Save in Chiredzi
paper, in reality it is a half-baked policy inter- several intertwined issues. That is why it North where copper mines like Cobra
vention which is coming an entire year after the is critical. A survey by leading South African Mine, which are now closed, once op-
Covid-19 lockdowns began. diamond mining giant De Beers in the erated from. The other area covers coal
The extraction of minerals presents 1950s as well as aeromagnetic explora- mining in Chisambiji, which again is in
The government has fared dismally in provid- opportunities, challenges and risks to tion conducted by local firm Aero Surv Chiredzi North constituency. The belt
ing remote learning, with the real danger that an sustainable development. Minerals are Zimbabwe, in partnership with South stretches from Save to Chipinda which is
alarming number of children will now be forced to essential for investment, development African firm Xcalibur Airborne Geo- in Gonarezhou down to Masivamele and
drop out of school. Already, there are frightening and progress.  physics, between 2019 and 2020 revealed Makhosiya on the banks of the Runde
reports that 5 000 schoolgirls have fallen pregnant vast deposits of kimberlite diamonds and River. This is the area which Dendairy
in January and February alone. However, mining also presents crit- gold in the Chilonga area. has been allocated. 
ical challenges and risks for indigenous
Before anyone delves into the idea of e-learning communities, social cohesion and sus- This comes as The NewsHawks has es- The government recently published
in the Zimbabwean setting, we must first look into tainability. Environmental and social Statutory Instrument (SI) 50 of 2021
the fundamentals. problems and attendant risks posed by Hawk Eye which will see more than 12 500 people
mining are increasingly generating con- being moved from their homes ostensi-
We should never assume that every pupil has ac- flicts between mining companies and Dumisani bly to pave way for Dendairy’s lucerne
cess to internet connectivity. That is a dangerous local communities.  Muleya grass production project. The SI has
assumption. since been amended to alter the official
That is where leaders and policy- tablished that First Lady Auxillia Mnan- objective from “lucerne grass produc-
Many students do not have electricity and gad- makers come in. President Emmerson gagwa has also moved into the area, tion” to “establishment of an irrigation
gets, let alone expensive broadband access. Mnangagwa must address the Chilonga through her Angel of Hope Foundation, scheme”, although the authorities are
issue, particularly because his name is presumably to turn Chambuta Refugee still determined to enforce eviction.
Owing to decades of chronic under-funding, the also entangled in the whole saga. Camp into an orphanage. Renovations
education system has declined markedly. As a result, are ongoing and the orphanage will be During a memorial service for  Stelle
some schools do not even have proper classrooms. As we report in this edition, commu- named after her. Theresa Coetzee in 2016, Mnangagwa
If you doubt this, visit the outlying districts, such nities in the Lowveld area of Chilonga publicly said that he had saved the fam-
as Binga and Hwange, and witness for yourself the – 35 kilometres south of Chiredzi town That has echoes of former first lady ily’s farm and businesses from invasions
squalid shacks designated as schools by heartless – facing eviction to pave way for a dairy Grace Mugabe taking over Iron Mask and seizure during the chaotic and vio-
public officials who should know better. project by Mnangagwa’s Dendairy as- Farm in Mazowe under the guise of an lent land reform. 
sociates, say the hidden reason for the orphanage.
The collapse of Zimbabwe’s education system is plot to remove them from their ancestral Hence, Mnangagwa must come out
directly linked to bad governance and incompetent lands is precious minerals in the place – Auxillia’s orphanage is in the area and decisively deal with this issue and
leadership. mainly gold and diamonds.  which is going to be affected by the grass map the way forward which balances
community and development interests,
The Rwandan government built 22 000 new The NewsHawks visited the area which while ensuring corruption and cronyism
classrooms in 2020 to achieve Covid-19 social dis- has now became a source of tension, are stopped.
tancing. bitterness and outrage since the govern-

But Zimbabwe, with its vast natural and human
resources, is failing to build a few dozen classrooms
in rural districts. It beggars belief.

The future belongs to those nations which se-
riously invest in education, research and develop-
ment.

The government must not only ramp up the ed-
ucation sector’s technological capabilities but also
ensure the basics are in place: classrooms, electrici-
ty, learning materials and motivated teachers.

However, all this will come to naught if the de-
struction of the economy continues.

Teachers deserve to be rewarded for their toil.
Pupils have no gadgets and there is no electric-
ity to power the devices. All this requires a hefty
financial outlay and, more importantly, visionary
leadership.

Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
tance of freedom of expression and me- content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Charmaine Phiri Council of Zimbabwe
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in its various forms and manifestations Harare, Zimbabwe Subscriptions & Distribution: fair and balanced news reporting. If we do not
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Business

MATTERSNewsHawks

MARKETS CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE
USD/JPY
GBP/USD 105.53 -0.13 -0.123 *OIL 59.62 -0.9 -1.49
EUR/USD
USD/CAD 1.402 +0.005 +0.34 *GOLD 1,785.3 +10.3 +0.58
AUD/USD
1.214 +0.005 +0.41 *SILVER 27.535 +0.457 +1.69

1.26 -0.008 -0.631 *WHEAT 660.25 -5 -0.75

0.788 +0.011 +1.39 *COPPER 4.057 +0.156 +4

Is Kudenga
the right
person for
CSC job?

DUMISANI NYONI Setaboli, Unesu Ushewokunze duties. was reported to the Institute petent” and “riddled with inac- from the outset, that BDO
Obatolu and engineer Reston “Mr Kudenga is also dis- of Chartered Accountants of curacies.” Zimbabwe was a hired gun on a
IN a bid to avert the liquida- Muzamhindo. Zimbabwe (ICAZ) by Vela witchhunt meant to saddle our
tion of the Cold Storage Com- qualified by Section 131 (1) after the court order and his The audit report was also lat- client with liability at all costs,”
pany (CSC), the government This leaves the two — and 132 (d) of the Insolven- appointment to the office of er discredited by a South Afri- Vela stated.
last year placed the parastatal Kudenga and Masuka — con- cy Act…he confirms he has corporate rescue practitioner of can forensic audit firm, Nexus
under a corporate rescue plan flicted. a relationship with the Hon- the CSC. Forensic Service headed by Ad- Kudenga declined to com-
in terms of the Insolvency Act ourable minister Dr Anxious vocate Werner Bouwer. ment, saying the issue about
while facilitating its revival. “It is a fact that the two are Masuka who appointed him “It must be noted that Mr his appointment was before the
long-time business associates. into office. It (shows) that Mr Kudenga was appointed to his In a letter to ICAZ through courts, hence it was sub judice.
It then appointed Ngoni In fact, when the Honorable Kudenga’s appointment could current position without hav- his lawyers, Vela said: “We
Kudenga of BDO Zimbabwe Minister of Agriculture was not have been on merit there- ing been cleared of all the al- are instructed to lodge, as we He also refused to spell out
Chartered Accountants as the the chief executive officer for fore he is conflicted and cannot legations levelled against him. hereby do, a complaint against his plans for reviving the CSC.
corporate rescue practitioner Zimbabwe Agricultural Soci- be expected to independently His reputation has been tainted Messrs Kudenga and Gwatirin-
for the ailing giant beef proces- ety, Mr Ngoni Kudenga was exercise his duties,” reads a let- and our client argues that it is ga, both of whom are members With all the allegations lev-
sor. his principal as the president ter also copied to the Attorney unacceptable for Mr Kudenga of ICAZ, for acting unprofes- elled against him, can Kudenga
of the Zimbabwe Agricultural General’s office Civil Division to continue with his duties as sionally and in brazen violation deliver?
Kudenga was empowered Society,” reads the application and Masuka. corporate rescue practitioner of of all known standards binding
to terminate or vary any ques- from AFWUZ. CSC,” they said. upon members of the account- Only time will tell.
tionable leases of the CSC’s Lawyers said it must be not- ing and audit profession.” The CSC has been struggling
properties in both agricultural “This cronyism will clearly ed that part of Kudenga’s duties “In conclusion, we request to sustain profitable operations
and commercial areas and also compromise our clients’ in- include the investigation of the the master to exercise her dis- The lawyers said the degree over the past years and faces the
collect all rentals. terests and therefore submit actions, activities and decisions cretion in terms of the act and of unprofessionalism, mala fi- risk of liquidation as creditors
that Mr Ngoni Kudenga is of the previous board to which appoint an independent person des and negligence exhibited demand their dues.
But is he the right person to not independent, competent Masuka who appointed him without legacy issues of CSC.” in the report is egregious and Mounting debts and accu-
rescue the CSC? and clearly conflicted. The al- was a member of. leaves one wondering if stan- sations of poor management
legations raised by Dr Masuka Former Nssa chairperson dards within the local account- and alleged corruptions, among
For instance, following his in HC177/20 are of serious “It is undoubtedly clear Mr Robin Vela recently request- ing scene have been allowed other factors, dragged the com-
appointment, the Allied Food nature and hampered the re- Kudenga is already conflict- ed that ICAZ probe Kudenga to deteriorate to such pathetic pany into insolvency, with the
Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe vival of Cold Storage Company ed and cannot be expected to and his counterpart Gilbert levels. increased risk profile making it
(AFWUZ) — which represents (Pvt) Ltd. independently carry out his Gwatiringa for unprofessional difficult to attract fresh invest-
CSC workers — questioned his duties and as such, should be conduct. Vela was relieved of The dubious and callous ment or working capital.
competence and suitability. “We cannot afford to have removed from his office….,” his duties as Nssa board chair- manner in which conclusions The CSC has a total debt ex-
the “jobs for boys” appoint- they wrote. person in 2018 on the basis were made was so outrageous ceeding US$42.5 million.
AFWUZ, through its law- ments and ignore that fact that that he was no longer resident in their defiance of logic that At Independence in 1980,
yers Mathonsi Ncube Law Mr Ngoni Kudenga has also “Our client reiterates that in the country as prescribed by no sensible person would have the CSC was one of Zimba-
been involved in the disputed Mr Kudenga is clearly not a the Nssa Act. A BDO forensic arrived at them, they wrote. bwe’s major foreign currency
Chambers, applied to state enterprise audit at NSSA competent, fit and proper can- investigation report released in earners, as it exported thou-
the High Court challenging (National Social Security Au- didate for the position of cor- 2019 later implicated him in Vela said the irregulari- sands of tonnes of beef to the
Kudenga`s appointment. thority) and clearly has no ca- porate rescue practitioner for corruption at the state pensions ties occurred because neither European Union (EU).
pabilities to turn around this CSC in that he has a pending fund. Kudenga nor any other person At its peak, the beef proces-
The union alleged that Ngo- company,” reads the papers in case against him, Vela vs The involved in the execution of sor and marketer used to han-
ni and Lands, Agriculture, part. The workers further al- Auditor General of Zimbabwe He denied wrongdoing and, that forensic audit was quali- dle up to 150 000 tonnes of
Fisheries, Water and Rural Re- leged that Kudenga has no track which clearly shows why Mr in July 2020, High Court judge fied to conduct an audit of that beef and associated by-products
settlement minister Anxious record of handling high-profile Kudenga should not be en- Justice Webster Chinamora nature. annually and enjoyed an annual
Masuka, who appointed him, jobs, especially in view of his trusted with the fate of CSC.” quashed the BDO report, de- export quota of 9 100 tonnes of
were friends, associates and cro- close personal relationship with scribing it as “biased”, “incom- “The investigation was not beef to the EU.
nies. It is also worth noting that the appointing authority, Ma- The workers said Kudenga carried out with an open and
Masuka was a member of the suka. AFWUZ proposed that enquiring mind but showed,
last CSC board which failed for a fair and credible process,
to implement the recommen- an independent audit firm be
dations of the audit report to appointed.
turn around the fortunes of the
struggling meat processor. Again, on 4 March 2021
through their lawyers Mathonsi
He was appointed to the Ncube Law Chambers, work-
CSC board in April 2017 by ers wrote a letter to the Master
former Agriculture minister of the High Court demanding
Joseph Made alongside Sylvia Kudenga’s removal from the of-
Khumalo Jiyane (board chair- fice of corporate interim rescue
person), Nemrod Chiminya practitioner due to his conflict
(deputy chairperson), com- of interest and lack of inde-
mittee members Emily Mum- pendence in the exercise of his
bengegwi, Peter Nyoni, Cecilia
Paradza, Bekhithemba Nkomo,
Rufaro Mazunze, Khodholo

Page 18 Companies & Markets NewsHawks

Slight decline Issue 21, 12 March 2021
in platinum
‘Stop taking
out usurious
Afreximbank

loans’

projected BERNARD MPOFU

MERLIN GARWE one mine impacted,” the WIPC 17% (-474 koz) year-on-year, quarter four demand returning al risk drove investor demand ZIMBABWE’S central bank
said. largely due to lower vehicle sales to pre-pandemic levels. for hard assets such as platinum should stop securing loans at usuri-
ZIMBABWE’S platinum out- in the first half of the year, as during the first half of the year, ous interest rates from the African
put is expected to register a “Country output increased measures to control the spread Industrial demand was 5% further encouraged by the weak Export and Import Bank (Afrex-
modest decline of 3% (-14 koz) 5% year-on-year (+21 koz) to of Covid-19 resulted in vehicle (-111 koz) lower, with strong platinum price. imbank) to contain the country’s
(a koz is thousand ounces) this 476 koz, reflecting disruptions factory and showroom closures.  glass sector demand largely ballooning external debt, a leading
year, as new mine development in 2019 from a furnace rebuild. compensating for weakness in “Investment demand in- business organisation has said as
mostly offsets declines at two Russian output is expected to However, platinum automo- all other industrial demand seg- creased in line with the improv- the country’s re-engagement with
mines nearing their end-of-life. remain little changed, declin- tive demand losses were cush- ments. ing economic outlook in the international financial institutions
ing 2% (-14 koz) year-on-year ioned by the impact of higher second half of 2020 and was (IFIs) goes off track.
Production from Zimbabwe to 690 koz. North American metal loadings on catalysts to “In 2020, weakness in au- bolstered by NYMEX futures
kept to levels similar to the pre- output is forecast to reach 374 meet tighter emissions regula- tomotive, jewellery and indus- exchange physical metal stocks, With no budgetary support
vious few quarters in the last koz, up 11% (+38 koz), as tions while jewellery demand trial demand was partly offset that increased significantly to from multilateral creditors due to
quarter of 2020. by-product output from nickel was similarly impacted in 2020, by strong investment demand, address the disconnect between a debt overhang, Zimbabwe has
mining stabilises and growth with volumes 13% (-279 koz) from bars and coins and ETFs, the price of platinum futures shifted its focus to short-term debt
A World Platinum Invest- from a primary producer comes lower on a full-year basis despite collectively up 24% (+295 koz) and platinum,” the WPIC said. instruments and facilities from
ment Council (WPIC) report online.” year-on-year. Heightened glob- regional lenders such as Afrexim-
shows that the 13% (+14 koz) bank. The Zimbabwe National
year-on-year increase that Zim- The platinum market is fore- Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC)
babwe registered during 2020 cast to remain in deficit for the has however warned that contin-
was on the back of disruptions third consecutive year with the ued dependence on costly loans
caused by furnace rebuild in modest deficit of -60 koz result- instead of pushing for re-engage-
2019. ing from a 17% increase in total ment with IFIs which offer con-
supply and a 3% increase in to- cessionary funding would hurt the
The Covid-19 pandemic af- tal demand.  economy.
fected platinum production in
several countries, including in Interestingly, total supply in “There is need to exit from the
North America, but this was 2021 is seen 3% lower than in costly Afreximbank loans,” the
not the case in countries such as 2019, with industrial, jewellery ZNCC said in a research note.
Russia and Zimbabwe. and automotive demand levels
all above their respective levels “…Zimbabwe will not return
“Elsewhere, operations con- in 2019. to sustained economic growth
tinued largely undisrupted without international re-engage-
achieving planned volumes. Total platinum demand in ment and a resolution of the coun-
In Zimbabwe, miners were al- 2020 was 7,738 koz, 7% (-569 try’s foreign debt crisis. It is idle to
lowed to continue through the koz) lower than in 2019. Au- pretend otherwise, as in both the
country’s lockdown, with only tomotive demand declined by budget and the MPS (Monetary
Policy Statement).”
Tourism operators long for new day
The ZNCC added that the
NOKUTHABA DLAMINI Matobo Hills Lodge ents (domestic) than the big metres deep. The city is also from the US, UK, China, central bank should provide more
“Vaccines have started operators because of their a habitat for several unique and from nearby South Afri- disclosures on offshore loans as tax-
HOTELS and lodges in the rentals and capacity so those species of plants and animals. ca, watching the sunset from payers continue to bear the brunt
resort city of Victoria Falls rolling out throughout the ones have not been far better the bridge opposite the falls of government borrowings. Ac-
are pinning hopes on the eas- world so we hope that once off than the hotels,” he said. Before the lockdown was a favourite activity. cording to the International Mon-
ing of lockdown restrictions everything has been sorted which began in March last etary Fund, Zimbabwe is one of
and Easter holiday season, and clearer, we are going to Victoria Falls, located in year, the city was among the Some activities which in- six countries in sub-Saharan Africa
amid low tourist numbers in start seeing our hotel and western Zimbabwe, is fa- fastest-growing tourist spots clude bunge jumping and zip classified as being in debt distress.
the first quarter of the year.  lodge occupancies grow bit mous for the world’s largest in Africa, earning a decent line crossing along the bridge The other countries are Chad, Re-
by bit. But for now It’s been waterfalls, where the mighty living for its business opera- have not resumed since their public of Congo, Eritrea, Mozam-
The lifting of inter-city a situation where small bed- Zambezi River plunges into a tors and residents. closure early last year.  bique and South Sudan.
travel restrictions on 1 March and-breakfast small lodges narrow gorge more than 100
has revived the optimism of have been getting more cli- For the tourists as far off According to findings of  “It is time for the central bank
tourism operators. a recent study by We Are to tell things as they are – not how
Victoria Falls, a local hos- government likes to think they are.
Chairperson of the Ma- pitality industry initiative, It should seek to inform, not mis-
tabeleland North chapter of the Covid-19 lockdown has lead. It is a shame that the courts
the Hospitality Association affected 94% of the people have to force the RBZ (Reserve
of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Anald employed in the sector. Bank of Zimbabwe) and govern-
Musonza told The Newshawks ment to release details of offshore
that the announcement of It says 49% of workers loans, which the taxpayer will
the re-opening of compa- in the tourism sector were have to repay. These are sovereign
nies, resumption of inter-city forced to work reduced hours liabilities and should reflect the
travel and extension of busi- and to take pay cuts. sovereignty of parliament, where
ness hours could spur great- they should have been tabled as re-
er demand for the tourism At least 18% of the work- quired under the constitution,” the
industry products, including force was on unpaid leave. ZNCC said.
accommodation.
Despite the effects of the “There is no budget surplus in
“The first quarter has been pandemic, Victoria Falls any meaningful sense.
very low and hard, but we are was last week named the
hoping that with the lifting second-best place to vis- What does a budget surplus
of the lockdown and Easter it for holiday and leisure in mean when a country cannot pay
around the corner, we are the world by Geo Fernweh, its UN membership dues? Or
going to see a number of a German travel magazine, when the state of the roads is de-
bookings beginning to pick,” bringing hope to the oper- clared to be a national emergency?
Musonza said without giving ators.  Musonza, however, Or when the health system is un-
figures.  made it clear that they will der massive stress with hundreds of
continue to ensure strict ad- trained doctors and nurses having
Musonza said the opera- herence to the World Health sought employment elsewhere be-
tors are also pinning hopes Organisation guidelines that cause of working conditions and
on the new vaccination roll- involved maintaining social remuneration in the public health
out.  distance even during the Eas- sector? Or when the authorities
ter holiday peak. cannot finance imports of vaccines,
let alone the rollout of a vaccina-
tion programme?”

Despite the optimism within
government that the economy
will rebound this year on the back
of improved agricultural output,
experts say a real turnaround in
Zimbabwe could take years, if not
decades, given the depths to which
it has sunk. The road and rail net-
works have largely collapsed, taps
have run dry in major cities and
the health system is barely func-
tional. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has
compounded the nation’s woes,
with hospitals overwhelmed by an
influx of patients during a second
wave of infections last month.

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 19

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Failure to secure capital hampers mining

DUMISANI NYONI payments such as electricity. because of Covid-19 and also currently facing and we will be “We want growth and more Bank of Zimbabwe, gold de-
The Zimbabwe Electricity other challenges,” Kwesu said. able to cover the lost ground, earnings, but we have to man- liveries to Fidelity Printers and
THE Chamber of Mines of Supply Authority (Zesa) needs if the environment improves age under the prevailing con- Refiners for last year amount-
Zimbabwe (CoMZ) says the to be paid 100%. So, we have On production outlook, we always aim to produce dition,” he said. ed to 19.05 tonnes, down
mining sector is operating challenges where miners are Kwesu said: “Assuming there more than the previous year.” 31% compared to the same
below capacity, with miners struggling to raise 100% mon- are no disturbances that we are According to the Reserve period in 2019.
struggling to secure capital for ies to pay for Zesa as well as
development projects as well other key raw materials.” In value terms, gold exports
as to raise money for electricity declined by 6% from US$1.1
payments. According to the chamber’s billion in 2019 to US$994.7
State of the Mining Industry million in 2020.
The mining sector is one of report, the mining sector is
the country’s biggest foreign operating at below capacity CoMZ’s survey findings
currency earners alongside to- because of Covid-19-related show that average capacity
bacco. challenges, power outages, utilisation for the mining in-
inadequate foreign exchange dustry was at around 61% in
In an interview with The allocations, capital shortages, 2020, compared to 70% in
NewsHawks, CoMZ chief ex- high cost structure and obso- 2019. Most key minerals re-
ecutive officer Isaac Kwesu lete equipment. corded declines in average ca-
said the largest threats fac- pacity utilisation in 2020 com-
ing the industry included the The report also indicated pared to 2019. Only the coal
Covid-19 pandemic which that the majority of respon- sector recorded an increase in
disrupted supply chains and dents (90%) indicated that capacity utilisation while the
markets, inadequate foreign they were facing difficulties in platinum sector continued to
currency and logistics, among raising capital for both suste- operate at around 100%.
others. nance and ramp up. About
80% reported that they put In 2021, all key sector re-
“The industry is operating on hold some of their planned spondents indicated plans to
but under challenges, just like projects in 2020 due to capital increase capacity utilisation,
other sectors in the economy. shortages. with the average capacity utili-
The Covid-19 pandemic has sation for the industry expect-
been a big challenge and we Also, about 50% of the re- ed at 80% in 2021, it said.
also had other issues surround- spondents proposed an elec-
ing capital which some mines tricity tariff of US 4cents per About 50% of respondents
are struggling to secure specif- kilowatt hour to US6c/KWh, indicated that it would take
ically for the developmental with the highest tariff not ex- them less than three months
projects,” Kwesu said. ceeding US8c/KWh. to recover to 2019 operating
levels while 10% would take
“There are certain issues also “The situation is not op- them three to six months while
regarding logistics and ade- timal. We are operating and another 10% would require
quate foreign currency to meet happy but not at full capacity six to 12 months to recover.

anxCioamusbtroiareApfaritcraiate Vic Falls Exchange struggles
shares in Old Mutual to attract new investors
THE recently established Vic- ya blamed weak economic ment should have directed fo-
LONDON-LISTED concern Cambria Africa babwe to repatriate its remaining shares of Old toria Falls Exchange (VFEX) is fundamentals for VFEX’s fail- cus on investment policies and
Plc says it has approached the Zimbabwean au- Mutual Limited to the JSE.  If the Company struggling to attract investors, ure to take off. other fundamentals first before
thorities to help facilitate the repatriation of its succeeds, the market value of its shares would be with experts emphasising the launching VFEX,” he said.
remaining shares of Old Mutual (OM) Limited approximately US$200 000 based on the Lon- need for the authorities to put “A lot still needs to be done
to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). don Stock Exchange’s  (“LSE”) close price of the right economic fundamen- to restore confidence into Chitambara added that ju-
67.52p, on 23 February 2021.” Cambria said tals in place. VFEX and the listing of stocks dicial independence needs to
Cambia accuses OM of abdicating its fiducia- in Zimbabwe. Confidence is- be realised alongside the re-
ry obligation to its shareholders by acquiescing  The company strongly believes that Old Mu- Based in the resort city of sues are at a record low as in- spect for property rights.
to the suspension of its shares on the Zimbabwe tual Limited abdicated its fiduciary obligation Victoria Falls, the bourse was vestors are not very certain on
Stock Exchange (ZSE). to its shareholders by acquiescing to the suspen- launched last year following how they will repatriate their But VFEX chief execu-
sion of its shares on the ZSE, adding that on 28 a massive exodus of foreign funds. tive officer Justin Bgoni said
Cambria, which has operations in Zimba- August 2020, Cambria received an unsatisfacto- investors who sold off listed stakeholders should bear in
bwe including Paynet, Payserve and Millchem ry response from the chief legal officer and head stocks on the Zimbabwe Stock “Apart from this, the events mind that an exchange takes a
among others, holds 204 000 OM shares on of legal for Old Mutual Limited. Exchange (ZSE) due to limit- which led to VFEX formation while to get established and at
the  ZSE. OM has been suspended since  July ed access to foreign currency were more of punitive mea- four months the VFEX is too
2020.  The response stated that this is a complex sit- for repatriation of capital and sures than pure economic en- young to be deemed a failure.
uation and that OM was vigorously continuing dividends. deavours. So, two companies
Old Mutual Limited was suspended from the to engage the relevant authorities to find a fea- PPC and Old Mutual, which He said efforts are being di-
local bourse together with Seed Co Internation- sible solution. Market watchers estimat- were expected to immediately rected towards attracting new
al and PPC after being accused of manipulating ed that between August and come on board, have not done listings on VFEX and increas-
the exchange rate, among other allegations. “The company has not heard from Old Mu- September last year, foreign so and this signifies deep prob- ing trade volumes.
tual Limited’s Head of Legal since 28 August investors had sold 80% of lems,” she said.
The ZSE alongside financial authorities then nor has Old Mutual Limited ever disclosed its the shares which traded on “We are comfortable with
moved to establish an all-forex bourse, the Vic- strategy to re-establish liquidity for its effective- the ZSE with a total value of Chakanya added that the the rationale for establishing
toria Falls Stock Exchange. However, only Seed ly second-class shareholders on the ZSE,” said ZW$5.6 billion. government did not carry out VFEX. There is a need for a
Co has listed on the platform to date. Cambria. an impartial fact-finding ex- platform for companies and
Taking advantage of the ercise to get investors’ buy in, institutions to raise hard cur-
In a trading update, Cambria said unlike Meanwhile, Cambria’s operating subsidiaries newly established foreign cur- striking yet another blow on rency to invest in Zimbabwe,
other dual-listed shares which have regained and divisions Tradanet (51% owned), Millchem rency auction as a window to the stock exchange. create jobs, and grow the econ-
fungibility by moving their listing to the newly and Autopay continued to operate at near or repatriate investments trapped omy.
established Victoria Falls Securities Exchange, above cashflow break-even levels, albeit based in the country since 2016, the Economic analyst Prosper
Old Mutual has been unable or unwilling to do on substantially lower revenues. foreign investors deserted the Chitambara echoed the said “We also believe that this
likewise.  ZSE. the already existing adverse in- will reduce currency risk for
Subsequent to the end of full-year 2020, vestor sentiment, worsened by investors and make it easier for
“This has left Old Mutual shareholders on Paynet Zimbabwe successfully re-established its In a bid to attract foreign the Covid19 pandemic, make foreign ones to repatriate their
the ZSE with no route to crystallise their Old relationship with Paywell South Africa for the investment, the government the country an unattractive proceeds.
Mutual investment. The Company purchased provision of payroll software licences, allowing moved to establish VFEX in destination for capital.
its shares on 12 August 2019 on the Johannes- its Autopay division to continue providing pay- October last year. “In addition, the exchange
burg Stock Exchange  (JSE:OMU) and trans- roll outsourcing services and payroll software “As a matter of urgency, the has tax incentives for investors
ferred them to the Zimbabwe register to guaran- licences to its substantial client base in Zimba- However, almost four government needs to work on that are regionally competi-
tee Paynet’s bid to increase ownership in Radar bwe. months after opening doors, the reform agenda covering all tive. We will persevere in our
Holdings Limited. The company has recently only one company, Seed Co institutions because, currently, work to make this work, and
approached the regulatory authorities in  Zim- — STAFF WRITER International, remains the many investors have adopted we will continue tweaking the
only counter listed on VFEX. a wait-and-see attitude in the model until it is a success,”
country. Instead, the govern- Bgoni added.
Economist Naome Chakan-
— STAFF WRITER

Page 20 Stock Taking NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Price Sheet A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE

Friday, 12 March 2021

Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP (cents) Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Ticker Price Traded
AFDIS Consumer Goods (cents) Traded Volume Traded Change Change (%) Cap
African Sun Consumer Services AFDIS: ZH Price
ART ASUN: ZH 5000.00 60,700 Value ($) (cents) (%) ($m)
Ariston Industrials ARTD: ZH 250.50 53,500
Axia Consumer Services ARISTON: ZH 698.00 4050.00 4006.19 10,300 2,431,755.00 -993.81 -19.88 66.92 4,699.50
BNC 224.94 225.00 248.53 34,000 132,962.00 -1.97 -0.79 46.19 2,141.76
BAT Consumer Goods AXIA: ZH 1598.38 650.00 650.00 66,950.00 -48.00 -6.88 36.18 2,840.35
CAFCA Basic Materials BIND: ZH 599.55 225.00 221.38 3,700 75,270.00 -3.56 -1.58 65.21 3,602.73
Cassava BAT: ZH 87000.00 213,400 58,360.00 -21.08 -1.32 72.19 8,594.62
CBZ Consumer Goods CAFCA: ZH 11375.00 1585.00 1577.30 -72.24 -12.05 38.77 6,590.62
Dairibord Industrials CSZL: ZH 1482.50 500.00 527.31 - 1,125,273.00 - 58.18 17,951.16
Delta CBZ: ZH 8054.55 87000.00 700 - - 22.36
Econet Technology DZL: ZH 1921.25 - 11000.00 28,400 -375.00 -3.30 119.45 960.86
Edgars Banking DLTA: ZH 4971.85 11000.00 24,600 77,000.00 -56.06 -3.78 -6.45 36,953.03
FBC ECO: ZH 2001.00 1,800 405,110.00 -59.55 -0.74 45.04 54,944.17
Fidelity Consumer Goods EDGR: ZH 400.86 1450.00 1426.44 33,800 1,966,770.00 -21.25 -1.11 103.17 6,802.02
First Capital Consumer Goods FBC: ZH 2500.88 7995.00 7995.00 57,100 -349.66 -7.03 108.57 59,370.24
FML Telecommunications FIDL: ZH 546.00 1900.00 1900.00 1,000 34,200.00 -30.03 -1.50 233.33 51,059.49
FMP Consumer Services FCA: ZH 186.79 4600.00 4622.19 7,300 1,562,300.00 -0.86 -0.21 66.52 1,307.96
GBH FMHL: ZH 2000.00 1800.00 1970.97 1,800 1,125,425.00 -0.88 -0.04 181.82 16,798.75
Getbucks Banking FMP: ZH 535.00 400.00 400.00 133,200 -8.56 -1.57 64.14
Hippo Financial Services GBH: ZH 73.16 2500.00 2500.00 1,200 4,000.00 -6.24 -3.34 90.48 585.40
Innscor GBFS: ZH 35.00 545.00 537.44 182,500.00 65.12 3,893.96
Lafarge Banking HIPO: ZH 12929.14 175.00 180.55 - - - 190.58 13,802.86
Mash Financial Services 6799.74 20,900 9,674.00 - - 180.00 6,624.14
Masimba INN: ZH 4000.00 2000.00 2000.00 240,491.50 -3.42 -4.67 27.78
Medtech Real Estate LACZ: ZH 227.96 - 535.00 - - - 81.12 374.22
Meikles Industrials MASH: ZH 1795.03 69.74 1,900 24,000.00 -1429.14 -11.05 316.67 407.09
Nampak MSHL: ZH 11.76 70.00 35.00 13,500 - -93.07 -1.37 148.95 22,197.36
NatFoods Financial Services MMDZ: ZH 5000.00 - 11500.00 - - 60.27 37,877.69
NTS Consumer Goods MEIK: ZH 943.28 6706.67 - 14,575.00 3.56 1.56 78.48 3,200.00
NMBZ NPKZ: ZH 31500.00 11500.00 4000.00 68,300 - -0.03 -0.00 123.92 4,304.13
OK Zim Industrials NTFD: ZH 418.00 6800.00 231.52 2.34 19.90 315.96 4,337.68
Padenga Industrials 756.32 1795.00 100 218,500.00 -72.60 -1.45 424.13 428.61
Proplastics Real Estate NTS: ZH 1594.27 - 3,521,100 905,400.00 6.16 0.65 1726.96 12,448.88
RTG Industrials NMB: ZH 3915.38 230.00 - - 98.77 7,174.43
RioZim Healthcare OKZ: ZH 2280.00 1795.00 7,300 - 83.50 19.98 73.32 21,546.03
SeedCo Industrials PHL: ZH 219.97 900 158,130.00 38.84 5.14 81.78 1,273.17
Simbisa Industrials PROL: ZH 2100.00 14.00 14.10 -34.42 -2.16 164.81 3,213.81
Star Africa Consumer Goods RTG: ZH 2160.89 4900.00 4927.40 1,500 1,795.00 -95.38 -2.44 14.73 19,448.53
Truworths Industrials RIOZ: ZH 2999.94 945.00 949.44 26,000 496,358.00 - - 40.45 20,688.87
TSL SEED: ZH 48.29 31500.00 31500.00 359,700.00 0.03 0.01 -6.05 5,744.13
Turnall Banking SIM: ZH 100.00 1,900 - - 149.73 5,490.09
Unifreight Consumer Services SACL: ZH 4300.00 501.50 501.50 127,600 8,545.00 - - 74.85 2,562.62
Willdale TRUW: ZH 402.69 795.00 795.16 32,500 472,500.00 1.24 0.04 244.07 5,305.59
ZB Consumer Goods TSL: ZH 1200.00 1550.00 1559.86 130,390.00 -1.08 -2.24 149.28 16,872.18
Zeco Industrials TURN: ZH 109.92 3900.00 3820.00 - 1.50 1.50 312.45 2,225.99
Zimpapers UNIF: ZH 3180.00 2280.00 600 15,108.00 - - 7641.94 389.83
Zimplow Consumer Services WILD: ZH - 600 1,990,375.00 -19.11 -4.75 242.13 15,355.41
ZHL Basic Materials ZBFH: ZH 0.02 1,241,500.00 240.00 20.00 37.98 1,891.20
TOTAL ZECO: ZH 132.30 220.00 220.00 - -0.44 -0.40 1,533.23
Consumer Goods ZIMP: ZH 800.00 2100.00 2100.00 59,100 - 131.43 4.13 - 1,946.56
Consumer Goods ZIMPLOW: ZH 220.00 2160.89 1,532,100 1,320.00 - - 8.69 5,801.32
Consumer Goods ZHL: ZH - 3001.18 10,000 12,600.00 -25.78 -19.49 60.00
Consumer Services 3000.00 - - -30.06 0.09
Consumer Goods - - -0.73 -0.33 613.56
50.00 47.21 15,800 1,773,700.00 1,907.05
Industrials 100.00 101.50 3,362.15
Industrials 4300.00 200 723,305.00 529,445.12
Industrials - 383.58 121,900 10,150.00
395.00 1440.00 -
Banking 1440.00 109.48 700 60,605.00
Industrials 108.00 3311.43 - 2,880.00
Consumer Services 3500.00
Industrials 0.02 5,000 133,460.00
Financial Services - 106.52 1,100 23,180.00
106.00 8,800 -
6,245,900 5,326.00
800.00 800.00 8,800.00
219.00 219.27 91,901 19,296.00

18,309,538.50

ETFs OMTT.zw 200.00 200.00 200.00 183,802.00 - - 99.56 160.00

Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF

VFEX Open (US cents) Close (US cents) Change (%) YTD (%) Mkt Cap (US$m) Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
SCIL 18.00 Unifreight 1440.00c +240.00c +20.00 +7641.94
18.00 - 0.00 43.40 NTS +19.98 +1726.96
FINSEC Open (cents) Medtech 501.50c +83.50c +19.90
OMZIL 2910.00 Close (cents) Change (%) YTD (%) Mkt Cap ($m) NMBZ 14.10c +2.34c +5.14 +78.48
2910.00 - 9.81 2,415.64 ZB +4.13 +98.77
Index 795.16c +38.84c +37.98
ZSE All Share Top 5 Fallers 3311.43c +131.43c
Top 10 AFDIS YTD %
Top 15 Close Change (%) Open YTD % Zimpapers Price Change % +66.92
Small Cap 4,461.41 -2.52 4,576.78 +69.68 BNC 4006.19c -993.81c -19.88 +8.69
Medium Cap 2,600.17 -3.37 2,690.86 +57.16 Hippo -19.49 +38.77
2,995.51 -3.35 3,099.29 +53.77 Delta 106.52c -25.78c -12.05 +27.78
+2.76 41,809.68 +261.76 527.31c -72.24c -11.05 +103.17
42,963.35 -1.31 10,717.32 +90.08 11500.00c -1429.14c -7.03
10,576.56 4622.19c -349.66c

SALES & TRADING: Davide Muchengi: davide@morganzim.com | Lungani Nyamazana: lungani@morganzim.com | Tatenda Jasi: tatenda@morganzim.com
RESEARCH: Batanai Matsika: batanai@morganzim.com | Precious Chagwedera: precious@morganzim.com | Tafara Mtutu: tafara@morganzim.com

Tel: (+263) 08677008101-2 | Email: research@morganzim.com | Address: 1st Floor, Block D, Smatsatsa Office Park, Borrowdale, Harare

MORGAN & COMPANY has issued this document for distribution to its clients. It may not be reproduced or further distributed in whole or in part for any purpose. This document is not and should not be
construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe to any investment. MORGAN & COMPANY has based this document on information obtained from sources it believes to
be reliable but which it has not independently verified; MORGAN & COMPANY makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to the accuracy or completeness

of its content.

NewsHawks Executive Chat Page 21

Issue 21, 12 March 2021 Zim Covid-19 death toll was
unprecedented: Nyaradzo chief
THIS month, Nyaradzo Group,
which has become one of the
most influential funeral service
providers, celebrates 20 years
of existence. Our reporter Ron-
ald Muchenje (RM) spoke to
Nyaradzo Group CE and found-
er Phillip Mataranyika (PM) to
trace the journey the company
has travelled. Below are excerpts
of the interview:

RM: You are celebrating your Nyaradzo Group CE and founder Phillip Mataranyika and below he is seen having a cup of tea.
20th anniversary. Walk us
through the Nyaradzo journey. us through thick and thin. is what kept us going when the and we were on the frontlines, of the environment and cement- ers. You have already alluded to
We are of the strong convic- chips were down when every- seeing the ravaging impact of the ing the fabric of society over the fact that most of our other
PM: In March 2001, together thing looked bleak and doors pandemic. profit. businesses are related to our core
with some colleagues we formed tion that any lows in the journey were shut right in our faces. If RM: Despite these challenges, RM: You have also diversified business and that is indeed so.
Nyaradzo with the sole objective provide lessons for the future. there was any Holy Grail in busi- what can you say about your into several other businesses The convergence of different but
of providing funeral services that ness, this has been and remains vision? over the years, most of which related business units helps us to
are in sync with the perceived Af- Our drive to meet our cus- customer focus. PM: In spite of the challenges are related to your core busi- meet the need for providing ad-
rican culture. tomers’ needs with relevant and RM: The Covid-19 pandemic the economy is going through, ness. How has this added value ditional services and products to
cost-effective solutions and our has not spared anyone in ev- Nyaradzo remains rooted on sol- to the group? our clients, thus advancing our
At that time, we were a no- united, vibrant and dynamic ery sector but its toll has been id foundations and has the agil- PM: The diversification of our one-stop shop concept.
name brand, a company with team saw us overcoming the particularly felt in the funeral ity to respond to the exigencies business has been about bring- RM: What is the long-term
an indigenous-sounding name challenges we faced. We are bless- sector. What is your comment of the obtaining environment. ing convenience to our custom- plan for the group towards di-
when all others had or chose ed to have a bunch of young, tal- and how are you managing the Having set our sights on being a ers through the one-stop shop versification?
Caucasian-sounding names to ented, hardworking and caring situation? high-tech business, our philoso- concept and unlocking value as PM: I would not want to pre-
satisfy the insatiable appetite of people with a heart for service PM: Indeed, we have not been phy will not veer from satisfying well as sweating our assets for empt the strategies our teams
compliance with a colonial past that has grown over the years to spared. The pandemic tested the customers’ needs, taking care the benefit of all the stakehold- are working tirelessly and quiet-
that regarded everything indige- become a family in many ways, our systems, tested our capacity ly on. But I can hint that focus
nous as inferior.   standing together through the and our resolve was put to an is on opportunities locally and
good and bad seasons. even greater test. Despite the globally. The thirst to become a
Since then, we have evolved, RM: What can you say have Covid-19-induced challenges, global player with Zimbabwean
resulting in the creation of a com- been the key strengths that our resolve remains to keep our roots has taken us into South
bined Nyaradzo Group which saw the brand grow despite promise and deliver to the clients Africa and the United Kingdom
encompasses Nyaradzo Life As- economic challenges that con- that look up to us in their time of and will not end there. More is
surance Company, Nyaradzo tinue to bedevil the operating need. We managed and continue in the offing…watch this space!
Funeral Services, Calundike Ex- environment? to maintain decency and dignity RM: Can you share your efforts
ports, Nyaradzo Asset Manage- despite the cause of death. The around value preservation for
ment, Sahwira Events and Life- PM: Our key strengths are de- Covid-19 peak period gave us beneficiaries’ funds?
style, Sahwira Bureau de Change rived in the principles, values the chance and opportunity to PM: As a business, we have
and Eureka Insurance Brokers.  and traditions we have upheld explore new ways of managing invested in infrastructure and
as an organisation. What was bereavements and we are happy equipment for the benefit of our
Undaunted by the weight of fundamental and will remain so to say we managed to adopt to policyholders. You will appre-
colonial baggage, we chose to as we look ahead to another 20 the new normal. ciate that the Nyaradzo funeral
take the bull by the horns and years plus of service is our focus RM: There has been a lot of policy is largely premised on
called ourselves by the name on customer needs.  As an or- misinformation around the guaranteed funeral services that
Nyaradzo. ganisation, we have made it our pandemic-related deaths. Can are defined. Our investment in
business to listen to our custom- you give us an insight of the infrastructure and equipment
We knew then as we do now ers, sought to understand them death toll on your part? makes is possible to dispense the
that the name would someday and, in turn, adapt our service PM: Whilst I am not at liberty guaranteed benefits to beneficia-
become our biggest asset as more delivery to best suit their needs to give specific figures, I can tell ries when required. There is no
and more people discover who in their varied tastes. you that we saw an exponential better way of value preservation
they really are and identify with increase in the death toll that is than investing in enabling infra-
their roots. Being able to provide a service unprecedented in our 20-year structure and tools of the trade
that serves a need and is relevant history. A lot of families bore the that directly benefit the policy-
Today Nyaradzo is the name truly makes all the difference. It brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic holder.
that invokes so much pride in is in this regard that we will con-
our fellow Zimbabweans any- tinue to dedicate our best efforts
where in the world not least to deliver exceptional service to
because of our name but also all customers. 
because of the way we have con-
ducted ourselves over the past 20 Our focus on the customer
years, bringing convenience and
excellence to an industry that
not only deals with the dead but
was dead itself.
RM: As you reflect, what does
this anniversary mean to you?
PM: We owe this special mile-
stone to our customers who have
stood and continue to stand by
Sahwira Mukuru. We are grate-
ful for the support they have giv-
en us over the past two decades.

This anniversary is a reminder
of an exciting journey that our
clients, Sahwira Mukuru and all
its stakeholders have travelled.  

It was on March 1, 2001, that
we opened our doors to the pub-
lic as Nyaradzo Funeral Assur-
ance Company (NFACO).

Looking back at the two de-
cades gone by, it has been a thrill-
ing journey so far, filled with as
many highs as there have been
lows, all of which have helped
shape us to be the organisation
that we are today.

We are eternally grateful to
our customers as they have faith-
fully supported us through it all.
RM: What challenges can you
recall that you had to battle
with then and how you man-
aged to overcome them?
PM: We faced some challenges
just like other businesses, but
we managed to sail through be-
cause our customers supported

Page 22 News Analysis NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

NYASHA CHINGONO People of Chilonga have Stephen Chan said the evic-
full constitutional rights tion makes a mockery of
GOVERNMENT’S de- the government’s indigeni-
cision to unilaterally evict tions.  company is headquartered, Greenfuel ethanol scheme the offer was strongly re- sation programme. 
12 000 villagers from the Human rights activists was awarded controversial by Zanu PF-linked busi- jected by community lead-
Chilonga area of Chiredzi rights to the land where nessman Billy Rautenbach ers who also allege that the “It makes a mockery of
in favour of President Em- say the government should thousands face eviction. To also displaced villagers in villagers had not been given earlier Zanu PF emphasis
merson Mnangagwa’s cro- repeal the Statutory In- regularise the move, Local Chisumbanje. Despite run- a voice in the matter.  on indigenisation and the
nies at Dendairy is a wor- strument that renders the Government minister July ning several propaganda value of land culturally and
risome development and Chilonga people landless.    Moyo published a legal messages that the ethanol That farmers will be con- spiritually to those on it,”
betrays official insensitivity notice ordering thousands project would benefit Zim- tracted as outgrowers for Chan said. 
to marginalised communi- “The government should of people occupying nearly babweans by cutting the the lucerne project has been
ties. ensure that any eviction 13 000 hectares of land in fuel import bill and reduc- dismissed as mere propa- Chan said the govern-
process is carried out only Chilonga to leave imme- ing the overall price of fuel, ganda since many promises ment should ensure due
At a time the authorities when it is strictly necessary, diately unless they acquire local motorists are still pay- of that nature have left vic- process and compensation
are supposed to be protect- and follows due process, fresh rights of use or occu- ing more than their coun- tims licking their wounds.  for the victims, but the con-
ing minority groups like the adequate prior consulta- pation of the land.  terparts in the region. stitutionality of the eviction
Chilonga people, who have tion with those affected, Although Dendairy Despite resistance from remains questionable.
borne the brunt of a harsh adequate compensation, The legal notice said the pledged US$10 million as the villagers, Mnangagwa’s
historical past, the state, and provision of alternative land was being designated compensation for the dis- government looks set to “Although the govern-
in cahoots with Dendairy, land,” Dewa Mavinga, the for lucerne grass produc- placement of the villagers, force evictions. ment claims legal cover for
seeks to grab the little they southern African director at tion. Lucerne grass is meant its decision, the fact re-
have. Human Rights Watch, said.  for stockfeed.  Political analyst and Uni- mains that many thousands
versity of London professor of people will be deprived
The private-compa- Mnangagwa’s govern- This is not the first-time of their long-standing
ny-versus-community de- ment unilaterally decided the government has dis- lands and the relationship
bate has grown over the to transfer the commu- placed hapless villagers un- of their communities and
past two weeks, amid sting- nal land to Kwekwe-based der the guise of propagating community organisations
ing criticism of government dairy company, Dendairy, projects of national impor- to it. Rights against forcible
policies that reward crony- to set up a grass project for tance, with the villagers in displacement -- especially
ism at the expense of poor the Coetzee family’s sprawl- Marange still living in squa- without due process, rep-
Zimbabweans.    ing dairy empire.  lor after they were uncere- resentation, and offers of
moniously removed from compensation -- are part of
Citizens on social media Dendairy, a Kwe- their land to make way for any decent constitutional
have expressed outrage over kwe-based dairy concern, diamond production. dispensation,” Chan said. 
the government’s plan to founded in 2004, is owned
relocate the villagers from by the Coetzee family, with The Marange communi- The move has attracted
their ancestral land for a lu- Scandinavian private equity ty has not benefitted from widespread outrage from
cerne grass project, threat- firm Spear Capital  holding the diamonds mined in the the MDC Alliance as well
ening to boycott Dendairy a minority stake in the com- area while Zimbabwe has as political and human
products on the market.  pany. Spear bought 27% of little to show for the gems, rights activists.
Dendairy in 2015. largely because of looting
Although a Masvingo by powerful politicians and In a statement, MDC
court gave the villagers Darren Coetzee, head of senior security officials.  Alliance secretary for local
temporary reprieve follow- Dendairy and a close Mnan- government and rural de-
ing an interdict to stay the gagwa business ally from Other projects like the velopment Sessel Zvidzai
evictions, the fate of the Kwekwe where the dairy condemned the cronyism
Chilonga people is still in in the allocation of the land
jeopardy. Instead of repeal- to Dendairy.
ing the offending Statutory
Instrument, the govern- “We know that Dendairy
ment has simply refined it.  is well heeled and well con-
nected. As a result, it will
While Chilonga villag- get unfair favour from the
ers are living on the edge, powers that be,” Zvidzai
dreading losing their land, said. 
presidential spokesperson
George Charamba hinted The Chilonga case spilled
on his @jamwanda Twitter into parliament last week,
handle that the government with Norton legislator Tem-
would soon come up with ba Mliswa asking whether
a refashioned statutory in- the government was revers-
strument on the evictions.  ing the 2000 land reform
programme. 
“Lucerne growing is a
small part of the develop- MDC Alliance legislator
ment plan of the affected Tendai Biti, who went on
area. The plan is far-flung a fact-finding mission in
and involves irrigation of Chilonga, also alleged gross
over 200 000 hectares un- human rights violations
der thousands of centre and cronyism.
pivots, all for crop, fruit
and beef production. Those More importantly, the
wishing to diss (dismiss) the people of Chilonga are re-
project do so by presenting sisting the forced move-
it as a one-item affair, which ments given that there was
it isn’t,” said Charamba.  no consultation. Their voice
must be heard.
“They also predicate it
on the coming in of an
outsider as a fodder grower
forgetting the bulk of the
plan is State-involved and
funded or the development
of community and coun-
try! Anyway, there will be
complete communication
from government, both by
a comprehensive statement
and a refashioned statutory
instrument.”  

A “refashioned statutory
instrument”, according to
Charamba, would still force
out the villagers despite the
interdict by a Masvingo
magistrate to halt the evic-

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 23

Issue 21, 12 March 2021 CONFERENCE ROOM

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Page 24 The Big Debate NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Kompromat: Why the Mohadi scandal
must worry both allies and opponents

Alex T. Former vice-president Kembo Mohadi is quoted as having said, “To
Magaisa keep Kompromat on enemies
explains the different types of business and political deals. when published, but it is its behaviour of a politician that is a pleasure. To keep Kom-
BACK in 1999, Russia’s kompromat: It can be sold to those who power in unpublished form may he or she is a victim of promat on friends is a must”.
prosecutor-general was a man want to use it. It is used as that is used for bargaining kompromat, but you can It is more important to keep
called Yuri Skuratov. First, it may be informa- an instrument of “informal and is most difficult to never be certain until there is kompromat on friends. One
tion concerning an individ- persuasion”. In another sense, scrutinise”. It is powerful in disclosure. is never sure when it might
He was launching an ual’s political activities. This it is a weapon that is de- undisclosed form because it be handy. Unsurprisingly, a
investigation into govern- includes instances where a ployed to silence critics and is the threat of disclosure that The target of an unpub- leader will keep kompromat
ment corruption when things political office holder has opponents. More generally, it drives the target to comply. lished kompromat finds him- on his subordinates to ensure
literally fell apart. His world abused his or her office, bro- qualifies as an instrument of At that point, the target feels self in a dilemma. Although loyalty and obedience and to
came crashing down one ken legal rules, and has been informal governance, where they have something to lose blackmail is illegal and he discard them when they are
night when a video of a man disloyal to the leadership. it is used to control and in the event of a disclosure. might, in theory, report it to no longer useful.
having a sexual encounter direct the conduct of public This gives them the incentive law enforcement authorities, Kompromat on Mohadi
with two younger women The second type is officers, business leaders, and to comply to avoid disclo- two factors stand in the way. While its contribution
was broadcast on state tele- information regarding opposition activists. sure. First, reporting the matter to political vocabulary is
vision. an individual’s economic would simply lead to the undoubtedly significant,
activities of the illicit type, The case of Yuri Skuratov Once it has been disclosed, disclosure of something that kompromat is by no means
The head of the Russian such as business dealings, tax is a good example where however, its potency expires. he would prefer to remain a uniquely Russian phenom-
intelligence service (FSB) at evasion, corruption, money kompromat was used to shut While it might achieve its secret. He would rather com- enon. It is a useful concept
the time confirmed that the laundering, bribery, etc. down an anti-corruption immediate purpose, the ply with the demands of the to examine the application
man in the scandalous video investigation. The use of so- advantage of an undisclosed kompromat holder than risk of informal mechanisms of
was Skuratov. The head of The third type is informa- called “honey-traps” where a Kompromat is that it can disclosure through reporting. governance that exist parallel
the FSB was Vladimir Putin. tion on an individual’s crimi- target is lured into a sexual be used again and therefore Second, reporting the case to the formal systems. Where
He was soon elevated to nal activities. They may have relationship is an old strategy. remains potent. The logic can might be pointless where the a regime relies on Kompro-
the office of prime minister been accused of sexual abuse, In 2010, several Russian be summed up as follows: holder of the kompromat mat to dispose of unwanted
during the last days of Boris rape, or even murder but opposition activists were You can achieve big things controls the law enforcement. members, instead of formal
Yeltsin’s presidency. A short cases were not prosecuted. secretly recorded after being when kompromat is dis- This is usually the case where methods, it becomes a prac-
while later Putin became lured in honey-traps. closed, but you can achieve the most powerful are the tice of governance.
the President, office he still The fourth type is in- bigger things when it remains ones who collect kompromat
occupies. formation concerning an Power of the unpublished a threat. The problem of on others. The Mohadi case is a
individual’s private life and Although the effects of course is that as Ledeneva classic case of the use of
Skuratov was a victim of this includes their sexual kompromat are more visible points out, it is harder to One might imagine that kompromat in Zimbabwean
what Russians call kompro- behaviour. Collectors of when it is published, experts analyze the use and effects the kompromat is kept on politics. It is not the first
mat. In her book How Russia kompromat collect infor- argue that it is more effective of unpublished kompromat and for use against the usual time that kompromat has
Really Works, leading Russian mation that an individual in unpublished form, when because while it might be enemies. But kompromat is been publicly used, but so far
scholar Elena Ledeneva says would want to keep secret, it is a threat. As Ledeneva suspected, there is no firm also kept on friends. This is it has been deployed against
the nearest English equiva- such as an individual’s sexual points out in her book, evidence. Therefore, it is neatly summed up in a quote regime enemies and critics.
lent for the term is “compro- orientation. “Kompromat displays some possible to suspect from the attributed to Russian jour- Its deployment against a
mising material” which refers of its discrediting potential nalist Yulina Latynina who “friend” and a key member of
to “discrediting information Therefore, in one sense, the establishment represents
that can be collected, stored, kompromat is a commodity an ominous sign which does
traded, or used strategically that is used for bargaining in not bode well for the future.
across all domains: political,
electoral, legal, professional, In February 2021, audio
judicial, media, or business.” telephone recordings of Mo-
hadi speaking to his lovers
As a strategy, it involves and arranging to have sexual
hoovering dirt concerning a encounters were published
person of interest in the hope by online news site ZimLive.
that it might be useful at com. The women that he was
some point. If it is not useful allegedly having sexual affairs
to the collector, it might be with were married. They
handy to another person who were also his subordinates.
is willing to pay for it. In Mohadi’s language was raw,
short, it is the weaponisation aggressive, and embarrassing.
of toxic information concern- In one call, he tells his lover
ing an individual or entity to that he has taken two cups of
achieve a political or business aphrodisiac to enhance sexual
objective. performance. In another, he
An old strategy makes a direct demand for
According to Russian experts, sexual services and because
kompromat is an old strategy they have no suitable venue,
dating back to the years of he settles for his office.
the Soviet Union which con- Abuse of power
tinues to be used in various Apart from the moral
sectors including politics, questions over his conduct,
business, and even interna- the awkward conversations
tional diplomacy. In 2009, a suggested abuse of power by
British diplomat was recalled a superior over his younger
from Russia after a scandal- female subordinates. In one
ous video of him with two call, he refers to one of the
sex workers was published on married women as his “wife”.
the internet. In business, it is She responds to his fervent
used as leverage in deal nego- declarations of “love” with a
tiations. But it is in politics mere “thank you” or nervous
where its use has been most giggles, hardly expressions of
prominent, as in the case of harmony and reciprocity. It’s
Skuratov whose career and a language of domination,
reputation were left in tatters. consistent with sexual vio-
The corruption investigation lence although packaged as a
suffered premature death. consensual relationship.
Types of kompromat
In her book, Ledeneva If it were a country that
takes sexual harassment and
abuse more seriously, there
would have been a high-level
investigation into Mohadi’s
conduct. In a situation where

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 25

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

one party to a sexual relation- Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga (left) with President Emmerson Mnangagwa (centre) and former vice-president Kembo Mohadi. was holding video recordings
ship is a powerful principal of salacious encounters. In
and the other is a subor- ous journalist would have cloth amplified his voice They have come down hard while he waits for his next the end, nothing of that
dinate, consent is hardly a ignored them. This was a which soared above all others on the private media for far move. If Mnangagwa wanted nature was ever published.
straightforward matter. There senior public official involved and caused the Mugabe less. That they did not, in a him to stay, he would not Maybe they had nothing.
is a vast array of literature in a serious sex scandal and regime lots of trouble. One situation where they would have allowed him to resign. Or someone decided to
that explains why victims of quite literally, abuse of office way to get at him was to normally be expected to show He would have ignored hold back. When former
sexual abuse in the work- given that Zimbabwe’s sec- undermine his credibility and aggression suggests that the the scandal just like he has Vice-President Joice Mujuru
place are driven into silence. ond in command was using in matters of the heart, the kompromat was released pretended there is no scandal was unceremoniously pushed
However, a cursory review of his office for sexual trysts. regime identified the tower- because those at the very top over his other Vice President, out of government and Zanu
comments on social media Those who delivered the ing cleric’s kryptonite. of the establishment wanted Constantino Chiwenga, who PF in 2014, there also claims
about women suggests much kompromat knew it would it to be disclosed. It was their is going through an embar- by her opponents that there
needs to be done to improve be published. That the state One night, the state broad- kompromat. If Mohadi does rassing divorce and custody were scandalous videos of
public awareness in this area. which is usually aggressive caster, the ZBC, broadcast not see it, he is deluded. battle with his estranged her – in this case, it was the
over publications that embar- a grainy video of a man in a wife, Marry. The way he is former First Lady, Grace
One of the big challeng- rass the leadership was mute compromising situation with Secondly, if the authors treating his wife, including Mugabe, making a threat of
es is the prevalence of rape strengthened the case that a woman. It was the arch- of the kompromat were preventing her from seeing using kompromat against
myths in society. Rape myths this Kompromat had been bishop. The woman was a not known or approved by their children, is callous and Mujuru.
are defined by scholars collected and deployed with married member of the con- the regime’s establishment, unbecoming of a senior lead-
Lonsway and Fitzgerald as superior approval. gregation. It was an embar- Mnangagwa would have been er of the government. However, after the Mohadi
“attitudes and generally false rassing episode that wrecked very worried and he would Opponents beware case, regime opponents and
beliefs about rape that are The problem for Mohadi the career and reputation of have taken stronger action to While Zanu PF elites must critics should be worried that
widely and persistently held, was not only that this kom- the top cleric. The regime identify the source. fear the use of kompromat the regime is not only listen-
and that serve to deny and promat was published but had gone hard on the man of against them, it is opposition ing to their private telephone
justify male sexual aggression how much more was still un- the cloth, but it achieved its If Mohadi was at risk of leaders and critics who are at conversations but that it is
against women. Rape myths published. ZimLive.com did goal: he was silenced. For the kompromat, why would he greater risk. While Mohadi’s going a step further to use
are attitudes and generally not publish all the scandalous Mugabe regime, the silence not also be at risk from the was welcomed by citizens the information as kompro-
false beliefs about rape that affairs at once. It seems they of the archbishop meant it same sources? Mnangag- and, to be fair, the man was mat. If the regime is willing
are widely and persistent- were being drip-fed by those had one less powerful critic. wa and the entire security beyond the pale, the use of to use kompromat against
ly held, and that serve to who held the kompromat. The clergyman was the victim establishment would have kompromat presents a serious one of its own, what more
deny and justify male sexual They probably had more of a sting operation carried panicked and thrown the moral hazard. This type of for opposition leaders and
aggression against women.” coming. The uncertainty out by the intelligence agency kitchen sink at ZimLive. kompromat represents the other regime critics? The re-
Such attitudes make light of must have caused him great which had planted cameras com to identify the source use of the state’s capacity to gime always could snoop on
sexual abuse and even lead anxiety and anguish. Each in his bedroom under the of the leak. But if you are in harvest information through private communications, but
to blame being apportioned day, something new was ar- guise of carrying out some control of the kompromat its agencies and to weaponise using that information has
to victims of sexual abuse. riving. The message was clear repairs. The fiery priest was a and its leakage, you have no it to achieve a political objec- been frowned upon. The risk
Society needs to confront this and unmistakable: resign victim of kompromat. reason to panic. Instead, it is tive. The moral hazard is that is that the use of kompromat,
beast of rape myths because or we will continue leaking those around you who must the lack of resistance to its in this case, has opened the
they perpetuate a culture of more kompromat. Fearful So, the Mohadi case has live in fear. use might give the impression floodgates and there will be
abuse. that worse was to come, Mo- precedent. The only differ- that it is a legitimate strategy. more in future, but this time
hadi threw in the towel. It is ence is that in the cleric’s They must be fearful Where the current politi- targeting opponents and
That there is no interest in notable that when he did, the case, it was kompromat on because not only do they cal objective is to remove critics of the regime.
investigating this potential kompromat tap stopped run- an enemy of Zanu PF, while now know that there is Mohadi, in the future, the
abuse is therefore not surpris- ning. The problem for Mo- in Mohadi’s case, it was kom- kompromat on them but that objective will be to go after Repressive regimes know
ing. Since this was Kompro- hadi is that even though he promat on a friend. Mohadi’s it can be weaponised against regime opponents and critics that the most valuable asset
mat, the fate of the women is out of office, he probably friends understood Latynina’s friends. If anything, the use and they will be fair game. of their opponents and critics
is of secondary interest to fears that his tormentors still statement both in letter and of kompromat on Mohadi is their integrity. They, there-
those who were deploying it. have kompromat on him. spirit: “To keep Kompromat strengthens Mnangagwa’s If it happens, it will not be fore, aim to destroy their
In the circumstances, if they Kompromat and the arch- on enemies is a pleasure. To hand in the party. A dictator the first time that the Zanu integrity. Kompromat is a po-
were victims of abuse by a bishop keep Kompromat on friends from the past, Stalin, was PF regime has deployed kom- tent weapon on integrity. The
powerful man, the women Mohadi is not the first is a must”. known to use kompromat on promat against opposition dilemma for the opponents
suffered triple-jeopardy, as high-profile victim of Strengthening Mnangagwa’s his subordinates, especially leaders. It had a field day in and critics of the regime is
they were not only shamed kompromat in Zimbabwean hand his heads of secret services. It 2012 when opposition leader that they have no incentive to
but were also instrumental- politics. In 2007, a promi- That the kompromat on was a means of control. and former Prime Minister defend Mohadi but they have
ised as part of kompromat in nent critic of the then Pres- Mohadi had approval from Morgan Tsvangirai’s affairs cause to worry about the
an aggressive battle of mascu- ident Robert Mugabe met a the most powerful figures Some take the fact that were published. There is method that was used against
linities. If those who deliber- similar fate. Archbishop Pius within the regime is evident Mohadi remains Mnangag- no denying that this was a him. They want to welcome
ately exposed Mohadi’s foul Ncube of the Roman Cath- by the indifferent response to wa’s co-number two in the setback. Up until the 2013 Mohadi’s downfall but it
behaviour were interested in olic Church was a vocal and the publication of salacious party even though he has left elections, the opposition would be foolhardy to ignore
justice, they would have been fearless critic of the Mugabe details. If the regime did the government as a sign of party feared that there was the means that were used to
investigating him and asking regime. He had a large local not approve of the use of goodwill. If Mohadi believes more kompromat in Zanu fell him. If the regime had
broader questions whether and international audience. kompromat, it would have that, he is living in cloud- PF’s arsenal. There were con- Mohadi’s telephone record-
this is isolated or a reflec- His station as a man of the come down hard on the cuckoo-land. This is just a stant rumours that Zanu PF ings, how many does it have
tion of systematic abuse of publishers, ZimLive.com. façade. Mnangagwa knows of opposition leaders, politi-
subordinates by principals in that Mohadi is powerless. cal activists, and critics? This
the government. They have He is just giving him a is likely just the start of the
no interest in investigating lollipop to stop him crying public use of kompromat and
themselves. the opponents of the regime
Foul deed exposed by foul will have to contend with it
means in the run-up to 2023.
In any event, Mohadi found
himself in a scandalous Like his Russian counter-
situation. How did this part, Mnangagwa’s back-
happen? This is a troubling ground is steeped in the in-
but important question. telligence services. He has no
Evidently, someone tracked scruples about eavesdropping
his communications and and using the information
secretly recorded them. The to his advantage. It is more
fact that there are different likely that there are bigger
recordings suggests that this political targets of kompro-
was a systematic operation mat than Mohadi. And those
of a nature that can only be targets are in the opposition
handled by state organs. This circles. Critics will also have
was an inside job. That per- to exercise caution. One type
son or group had deliberately of kompromat is to fabricate
channeled the kompromat to offences against opponents,
the media via a leak to Zim- including planting evidence
live.com. Whoever recorded of embarrassing offences.
and leaked the telephone
conversations must have Undermining formal
been sure that there was no institutions
legal risk and that he had the
protection of the state. The problem with kom-
promat is that it under-
Naturally, when the mines formal institutions. It
recordings landed at Zim- creates a shadow government
Live.com, the editorial team consisting of a parallel set of
concluded that it was too informal practices, con-
good a story to be ignored. It trols, and constraints. Such
is unlikely that any seri- informal systems tend to
dominate and weaken formal
institutions. Take a situation
where there is kompromat on

Page 26 The Big Debate NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

judges, magistrates, prose- you should be granting bail. The case of Kasyanov opponent. It damaged his account, they start appeasing and the targets of it know
cutors, and the police. The You fear that if you do not The principal purpose of reputation and caused serious it. Some might even begin to for sure that it is at work. It
entire justice system and comply, kompromat will be kompromat, when used rifts in the opposition party. speak the opposite of what is only in rare cases such as
the rule of law will become used against you. With the against political opponents, According to The Observer they used to say when they the Mohadi matter where
meaningless because these way magistrates and prose- is to threaten or damage their newspaper, Kasyanov had were in the opposition. we can see kompromat at
actors cannot perform their cutors have been behaving in reputation and weaken them been nicknamed “Misha Two work, otherwise the rest of
roles effectively. Instead, they political cases, there is reason as a political force. The home Percent” on account of an In such circumstances, the time, it does its work
must dance to the tune of to believe that kompromat is of kompromat provides alleged customary demand people wonder whether quietly because it exists as a
those who might be holding in use. another classic example. for 2% for every deal that he someone is holding a gun to threat of disclosure, rather
kompromat on them. Mikhail Kasyanov was the supported. After the grainy their head. It is not a gun. than actual disclosure. Many
In How Democracies Die, prime minister under Putin video, the paper wrote, he They are probably victims times, we can only speculate
An atmosphere of un- Levitsky and Ziblatt de- between 2000 and 2004. was given a new nickname, of kompromat. Remem- that there is kompromat in
certainty only makes the scribe how Peruvian dictator He later became a critic and “Misha two-centimetres.” ber kompromat is not just play, influencing and shaping
situation worse because each Alberto Fujimori also used opponent of the Putin regime It was a serious blow to the grainy videos of illicit sexual behaviour.
judge, magistrate, or prose- a similar form of blackmail and was chairman of the opposition’s party’s political encounters. As Ledeneva
cutor must act as if someone to hijack formal institutions. opposition party, PARNAS fortunes in the elections that described, it is also evidence “Kompromat is most
has kompromat on them His intelligence supremo, (Party of People’s Freedom). followed. of economic crimes includ- powerful when it isn’t used,
and is watching them. The Vladimiro Montesinos, di- Why have they changed so ing fraud, embezzlement, and when its targets aren’t
way it works is deceptively rected the intelligence service Just a few months before much? bribery, and corruption. In quite clear about how much
simple: if you do not know to record political oppo- parliamentary elections Understanding the use of some countries, they bribe destructive information there
whether they have kompro- nents, judges, businessmen, in 2016, a grainy video kompromat is important be- you and secretly film you is out there. If everyone sees
mat on you, you must err on journalists, and legislators of Kasyanov appeared on cause it may help to explain taking it. But no one can ever potential landmines every-
the side of caution and do engaging in illicit activities Russian national television. why some opposition leaders know as long as the kom- where, it dramatically in-
what you reckon is expected such as receiving bribes or He was having a sexual change and begin to behave promat remains unpublished creases the price for anybody
of you. Therefore, if you are patronising brothels. The encounter with his personal in ways that do not make and as long as the target stepping out of line,” wrote
a magistrate and a political video recordings were then assistant, Natalia Pelevina. sense to their supporters. complies with instructions, it journalist Adam Davidson
activist appears before your used to blackmail them. They The two were also recorded Suddenly they have lost their will never be known. People in The New Yorker in July
court applying for bail, you would have to comply or the making remarks disparaging ability to criticise the govern- can only suspect that there is 2018. He was writing about
do not have to be told by recordings would be pub- fellow party leaders during ment, even when it continues kompromat. the allegations that Russia
anyone in the system to deny lished. It was a Peruvian form that encounter. Kasyanov, to violate human rights. It is held Kompromat on the then
the activist bail. You simply of kompromat. The Mohadi who was 58, was married and as if they have lost their voic- The problem, as we have President Donald Trump.
refuse bail because you be- case is a reminder that this had two children. es. Instead of criticising the already observed, is that Americans suspected that
lieve that is what is expected is probably happening in government and holding it to kompromat is at its most the Russians had some hold
of you, even if applying various sectors which leaves This was classic kom- effective when it is unpub- over Trump, who could not
your reasoning and the law, important referees captured. promat against a political lished. This means only those be drawn to utter any serious
who hold the kompromat criticism of Russia or its
leader, Putin.

Davidson’s theory was
that Trump had engaged in
some illegal activities in the
past and there were people in
Russia who had Kompromat
on him. Like everyone else in
the Russian system, Trump
feared that there was kom-
promat “may be a lot of it –
but he doesn’t know precisely
what it is, who has it, or what
might set them off”.
Conclusion
It is conceivable that Mohadi
found himself in a similar
situation, leading to his
resignation. Kompromat had
been deployed against him by
his friends within Zanu PF
whose aim was to dispose of
him. The problem is he was
no longer sure how much
more remained out there.
The only way to stem the
bleed was to do what they
wanted, which was to resign.
Other senior Zanu PF leaders
will be stupid to think that
they are safe. The use of
kompromat against Mohadi
is an ominous sign.

It’s hard to measure how
much kompromat is being
used because it cannot be
known unless it is published
and there is no need to pub-
lish it if the subject is com-
plying. The strange behaviour
of members of the opposition
suggests that kompromat
may be more common than
we imagine. But even those
who are still genuinely
opposing this regime must
watch these events carefully.
It is unlikely Mohadi will go
alone. The method that was
used against him might be
deployed against opposition
leaders and activists in the
run-up to the 2023 elections.

*Dr Alex Tawanda Magai-
sa is a United Kingdom
based Zimbabwean aca-
demic and lecturer of law
at the Kent Law School of
the University of Kent. He
served as the Advisor of
the then Prime Minister of
Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangi-
rai from 2012-2013.

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 27

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Does Section 96(2) of the constitution of
Zim apply to resignations of current VPs?

Lovemore
Madhuku

Background it does not apply to the cur- is extracted from a special- differently, we cannot resolve The jurisprudence devel- ISTERS, DEPUTY MINIS-
The above question has arisen rent vice-presidents, there- ised article and is written a constitutional issue merely oped by the courts. TERS AND CABINET”.
in the following situation: fore, promptly falls away”. for reading by both “legally by starting and ending with
trained” and “not legally what a constitution says: Different constitution- We see from the structure
After the resignation of The conclusion in Magai- trained” persons. this much is, or ought to be, al experts may come to of Chapter 5 that the Consti-
Vice-President Kembo Mo- sa’s article is the direct The argument basic. different conclusions about tution puts the President and
hadi, a government spokes- opposite of the opinion I Every constitution has two implied provisions. How- vice-presidents together and
person indicated, as a fact, expressed. Judging from the types of provisions, namely: Clearly, therefore, while ever, what is unacceptable separates them from minis-
that the vice-president had vigorous Twitter debate that every person who can read is to treat the constitution ters and deputy ministers.
given his written notice of followed Magaisa’s article, Express provisions and the language in which a as a simple legal document Why is this so? The answer
resignation to the President there are now two prominent implied provisions. constitution is expressed may that starts and ends with its is that the vice-president in
about a week earlier than and mutually exclusive opin- gain useful knowledge of the express provisions: proper Part 2 of Chapter 5 is a run-
the day that the vice-presi- ions on section 96(2): does Express provisions are constitution, not every such constitutional meaning ning mate vice-president who
dent publicly announced his it apply to current vice-pres- those that are actually writ- person may be an expert in comes from the interplay is treated as such throughout
resignation. idents? ten. We all can read them. constitutional law. Expertise between express and implied that part.
in constitutional law requires provisions.
The President, despite On 6 March 2021, I re- Implied provisions are not the use of an “inner legal Part 2 runs from sections
receiving the written notice, sponded to a tweet by Moyo written. They cannot be seen eye” that easily detects the The general principle of 89 to 103. The reference
did not give public notice of in which he was accepting by the ordinary eye yet they many situations in which im- law is that a provision is to vice-president in each of
the resignation. The first time the opinion by Magaisa and exist. To discover implied plied provisions take centre implied if and only if, by the sections in Part 2 is to
that the public got to know saying “ @ProfMadhuku provisions, one requires an stage. necessary implication, it is to the vice-president who is a
about the resignation of the should be professional and inner legal eye. be so implied. This is at the running mate. It is common
vice-president was when the admit he was wrong”. My How does an “inner legal core of law. We will return to cause that before we bring
vice-president himself made response, was as follows: What makes constitutional eye” detect implied provi- it at the point of concluding in the transitional provisions
the announcement. “The opinion I gave to the interpretation a specialist sions? The answer to this this argument. in paragraph 14 of the Sixth
media: that section 96(2) of area of the law is the complex question is simple. Implied Schedule, the vice-president
Some concerned citi- the Constitution only applies interaction between express provisions come from one or Given the complexity of in Part 2 is a running mate
zens, on learning that the to a VP who is a running and implied provisions. In more of the following: implied provisions and their vice-president.
vice-president had given mate (and thus not appli- every situation calling for centrality to constitutional
written notice to the Pres- cable to current VPs) is the constitutional interpretation, The intentions of the jurisprudence, there is no Thus, for the framers,
ident a week earlier than better view of the law. With two questions arise. These framers of the constitution. short cut to gaining expertise before we bring in the
his public announcement, respect, I find the article by are: What does the consti- in constitutional law. transitional provisions in
expressed the view that the @Wamagaisa shallow and tution say? What does the The legislative history of paragraph 14 of the Sixth
President had breached the simplistic, unless meant for constitution mean by what the constitutional provisions. Having outlined the fore- Schedule, section 96(2), like
constitution by not giving Twitter”. it says? going, we can easily under- every other provision in Part
public notice of the resig- The purpose of the consti- stand section 96(2) of the 2, refers to a running mate
nation within 24 hours as I promised to post a de- The above two questions tutional provisions. constitution. vice-president.
required by section 96(2) of tailed argument showing the arise because a constitution
the constitution. scholarly basis of the opinion does not always mean what it The context in which the Section 96 itself appears It is also common cause
I hold. What follows below says. Because of implied pro- constitutional provisions are in Part 2 of Chapter 5. The that when we bring in the
In response to questions is the detailed argument. For visions that require an “inner found in the constitution. heading of part two reads: transitional provisions in
from two journalists, on the sake of completeness, I legal eye”, the meaning of a “THE PRESIDENT AND paragraph 14 of the Sixth
separate and unrelated must say that the argument constitutional provision may The relationship between VICE PRESIDENTS”. Schedule, not every provision
occasions, I expressed the go beyond what it says. Put the provision and other Part 3 of Chapter 5 has the in Part 2 applies to current
following opinion: that provisions. following heading: “MIN-
section 96(2) of the consti-
tution does not apply to the The internal logic of the
current vice-presidents and constitution as a whole.
that the section will only
apply to vice-presidents after
the coming into force of the
running mate clause.

My aforesaid opinion was
widely reported and attract-
ed various responses. One
prominent response was that
the opinion was a wrong
reading of our law and that
I had deliberately promot-
ed that wrong view as an
“enabler” to support and/or
protect the President.

Professor Jonathan Moyo
appeared to have led this
response in his tweets.

A response of a qualitative-
ly different type came from
Dr Alex T Magaisa. His re-
sponse was not a mere tweet.
In his “Big Saturday Read”,
he wrote an article under the
title “ Mohadi Resignation:
Did President Mnangagwa
breach the Constitution?” In
direct response to my opin-
ion, Magaisa concluded as
follows: “The argument that

Page 28 The Big Debate NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

vice-presidents. Thus, some Section 94: The reference who was part of an elabo- public in respect of elec- Member of Parliament 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 97
provisions in Part 2, although to vice-president here is to a rate succession plan they tions. Section 96 is therefore (section 129) and Chief Jus- that place the vice-president
framed for running mate running mate: although not had provided for in section premised on a direct election tice and other judges in the same category with
vice-presidents also apply expressly excluded, by neces- 101. By expressly excluding of the Presidency. It records a the President because the
to current vice-presidents sary implication, it does not section 101 from the current constitutional principle: the (Section 186). The only vice-president is a running
while others will not apply to apply to current vice-presi- vice-presidents, section 96 body that elected or appoint- reason why a vice-president mate. Where a vice-president
current vice-presidents. dents (ASSUMPTION OF automatically became exclud- ed an office holder must in section 96(2) is treated dif- is not elected but appointed
OFFICE OF VICE-PRESI- ed as well. be informed promptly of a ferently from all these other by the President and hold-
For the avoidance of DENTS). resignation. public officials is his or her ing office at the President`s
doubt, when we bring in the Take the factor of “the election as a running mate. “pleasure”, the internal logic
transitional provisions in Section 95: The reference purpose of the constitution- Where a vice-president is inherent in section 96 does
paragraph 14 of the Sixth to vice-president here is to a al provision”. The purpose not elected but appointed by With the factor of “the not arise.
running mate: although not of the public notice within the President and holding internal logic of the consti-
Schedule, the provisions expressly excluded, by neces- 24 hours of the resignation office at the President`s “plea- tution as a whole”, it is clear In my view, it is inescap-
on vice-presidents in Part 2 sary implication, it does not arises from the fact that these sure”, the purpose of section from section 96 that the able that on a proper reading
of Chapter 5, as they current- apply to current vice-presi- are elected officials: it is a 96 does not arise. This point only difference between the of the constitution, section
ly stand, are in two catego- dents (TERM OF OFFICE notice to the electorate. It is becomes clearer when regard President and a vice-president 96(2) does not apply to the
ries, namely: OF VICE-PRESIDENTS). significant that in the entire is had to other resignations of is on the public officer to current vice-presidents. The
constitution, it is only in public officials: there is no re- whom the written notice of section will only apply to
Those that only apply to Section 97: The reference respect of the Presidency that quirement for a public notice resignation is sent: Speaker vice-presidents after the com-
running mate vice-presidents. to vice-president here is to a a public notice of the resig- of a resignation in respect of (in the case of the President) ing into force of the running
running mate: although not nation must be given within ministers and deputy min- and President (in the case mate clause.
Those that also apply to expressly excluded, by neces- 24 hours. This is because the isters [section 108]; Speaker of the vice-president). From
current vice-presidents. sary implication, it does not Presidency is the only public (section 126) President of this structure, section 96 falls *Lovemore Madhuku is
apply to current vice-pres- office that involves the entire Senate (section 122), typically into the category of a professor of law at the
The sole question, there- idents (IMPEACHMENT provisions such as sections University of Zimbabwe.
fore, is: Do the transitional OF VICE-PRESIDENTS).
provisions in paragraph 14 of
the Sixth Schedule make sec- Section 100: The reference
tion 96(2) on running mate to vice-president here is to
vice-presidents also apply to a running mate: although
current vice-presidents? Put not expressly excluded, by
differently, in which category necessary implication, it
is section 96(2)? Is it in the does not apply to current
category of (i) those that vice-presidents (ACTING
only apply to running mate PRESIDENT).
vice-presidents or (ii) those
that also apply to current The point I am making in
vice-presidents? paragraph 24 is this: apart
from sections 92 and 101
I believe I have clearly that are expressly excluded by
set out the question to be the provisions of paragraph
answered. 14 of the Sixth Schedule,
there are other provisions
In answering that question, in Part 2 that, by necessary
we turn to our express and implication, do not apply to
implied provisions. current vice-presidents.

Let us start with express It is clear to me that
provisions. The express section 96(2), by necessary
provisions of paragraph 14 implication, does not apply
of the Sixth Schedule tell us to current vice-presidents. I
that sections 92 and 101 are respectfully so submit below.
in the category of those that
only apply to running mate At this point, I will deal
vice-presidents. with what it is that leads me
to the firm conclusion that,
As I have indicated above, by necessary implication,
express provisions cannot section 96(2) does not apply
be the end of the matter. to current vice-presidents.
While sections 92 and 101
are expressly excluded, there As a reminder, please refer
are several other provisions to paragraph 8 above for
in Part 2 that are implied- the factors that are normally
ly excluded. These other considered in saying whether
provisions are impliedly or not there is a necessary im-
excluded by applying the test plication. For me all the six
I outlined above: a provision factors from 8.1 to 8.6 lead
is implied if and only if, by to the irresistible conclusion
necessary implication, it is that section 96(2) does not
to be so implied. Section apply to current vice-presi-
96(2) is one such provision dents.
that by necessary implication
excluded. Let us reproduce the whole
of section 96:
We turn first to provisions
other than section 96(2) “(1). The President may
that are also, by necessary resign his or her office by
implication, excluded from written notice to the Speaker
applying to current vice-pres- who must give public notice
idents. Here I will pick those of the resignation as soon as
that clearly do not apply to it is possible to do so and in
current vice-presidents. These any event within twenty-four
are: hours.

Section 91: The reference (2). A Vice-President may
to vice-president here is to a resign his or her office by
running mate: although not written notice to the Presi-
expressly excluded, by neces- dent who must give public
sary implication, it does not notice of the resignation as
apply to current vice-presi- soon as it is possible to do
dents (QUALIFICATIONS so and in any event within
FOR ELECTION). twenty-four hours.”

Section 93: The reference I will rely on just a few fac-
to vice-president here is to tors from paragraph 8 above.
a running mate: although
not expressly excluded, by The factor of “intentions
necessary implication, it of the framers of the consti-
does not apply to current tution” quickly springs to the
vice-presidents (CHAL- surface. The framers must
LENGING ELECTION OF have had in mind only the
VICE-PRESIDENT). running mate vice-president

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 29

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Mohadi resignation: President violated the
constitution, must face the consequences

Munyaradzi vice-presidents because they are President Emmerson Mnangagwa As well as an appropriate
Gwisai not elected. interpretation model to deal
Moyo and Magaisa disagreed. their complete context.” This still possible to rank the differ- governance and rule of law, with future contingencies or
A MAJOR public controversy Firstly arguing that s 96 (2) is especially so where absurd ent conclusions on a platform separation of powers”, free and ambiguities. Without these the
has erupted over the recent must be given its ordinary results arise or multiple mean- of relative objectivity centered fair elections and respect for office of the presidency under
resignation of Vice-President meaning per the Literal Rule ings exist. on the letter and spirit of the the people of Zimbabwe “from the 2013 Constitution cannot
Kembo Mohadi over sexual of interpretation, which means constitution itself. whom the authority to govern pass the rule of law /separation
impropriety scandals and Pres- it applies to both types of Madhuku’s necessary is derived.” of powers test and would be
ident Emmerson Mnangagwa vice-presidents because the sec- implication factors are broadly On that basis I submit that indistinguishable from the
not giving a public notice of tion is clear and admits of no similar to those specified in the Madhuku’s conclusion is the The above values, princi- executive presidency under the
the resignation within 24 hours ambiguity. That Madhuku’s “by Interpretation Act [s 15B]. least convincing if regard is had ples and constitutional set up old constitution.
per s 96 (2) of the Constitu- necessary implication” doctrine to the logic, scheme, history manifest the Social Contrast
tion. Professor Jonathan Moyo is not founded on the consti- Similarly s 46 (1) (2) of and values of the constitution. Theory of the State most Or the absolute monarchies
and Dr Alex Magaisa argued tution. In any case there is no the constitution endorses the eminently propounded by 18th in pre-colonial indigenous
that failure to give the public need to invoke such a vague purposive approach to protect He goes for the lowest com- century British philosopher African constitutional law such
notice by the President is a and elitist tool to discern pro- the underlying values and mon denominator whose effect John Locke. as the Inkosi of the Ndebele
violation of s 96 (2). Professor visions that apply to an elected enshrined rights of the consti- is to shield authoritarianism. State, the Mambo of the Rozvi
Lovemore Madhuku disagreed Vice-President and an unelect- tution. Nothing really turns He restricted himself to his one The new constitution, Empire and the Changamire
strongly arguing that s 96 (2) ed one because the constitution on s 2 of the 6th Schedule identified purpose and failed despite spirited resistance, still of the Mutapa State. Or in Ro-
applies only to elected vice itself provides a clear mecha- that Magaisa invokes against to identify possible potential retained an extremely powerful man constitutional law, the Rex
-presidents and not unelected nism for this. This is under the Madhuku as the section is others and do a comparative President who straddles the of the Roman Monarchy.
ones like Mohadi. 6th Schedule providing that in permissible of both the Literal analysis distinguishing them three pillars of state power,
any cases of any inconsistence Rule approach as well as the from his. A related weakness is namely executive, legislative Indeed and ironically, a ma-
The debate was ignited by the Schedule prevails over all Purposive Rule approach. the elitist approach underlying and judicial authority. jor reason the old NCA led by
a tweet by Jamwanda, pre- other provisions of the Consti- it, restricting the “inner legal Madhuku and the Democratic
sumably presidential spokes- tution. [s 2, Sch]. Eventually in rebuttal, both eye” agent to expert lawyers. The gigantic executive pow- United Front [DUF], includ-
man George Charamba, that Magaisa and Moyo are forced ers include being Head of State ing the International Socialist
Mohadi had resigned a week On the purpose of the 24 to lock horns with Madhuku If the touchstone is assump- and Government, Command- Organisation, campaigned for a
earlier than 1 March 2021 Hours Rule, Moyo argued on the substantive issue that tion of office by election, as er -in-Chief of the Defence Vote No in the 2013 referen-
when he publicly disclosed that this was mainly to ensure really matters in this dispute, Madhuku argued, then the Forces, power to declare war dum was because we felt that
the resignation. Mnangagwa orderly succession. Magaisa, the true purpose of s 96 (2). 24 Hours rule should equally and make peace and to declare the checks and balances on
acknowledged the resigna- that it was because of the apply to other elected pub- a State of Emergency. The the Presidency did not go far
tion to a Zanu PF Politburo significance of the office of This, l submit, because Mad- lic officials, but it does not, President is also a legislative enough.
meeting of 3 March 2021. To presidency and to ensure good huku adequately demonstrated notably, elected members of the authority as the “Legislature of
date the President has not given governance and transparency sufficient ambiguities and National Assembly or coun- Zimbabwe consists of Par- The first critical check and
an official “public notice of the per the Founding Values and potential multi-meanings of s cilors. Nor does he justify why liament and the President.” balance is the applicable consti-
resignation.” The issue thus Principles of the constitution. 96 (2), especially with reference national elections should be The President can dissolve tutional interpretation model.
remains a live one. Which arguments are most to the 6th Schedule and Part 2 treated separately. parliament. The President is To ensure realization of core
convincing? of CAP 5 pertaining to elected also a judicial authority with underlying values, the draft-
This is not an idle academic Two main things need to vice-presidents and appointed At the heart of the weakness power to appoint and dismiss ers created an interpretation
debate. The consequences of vi- be assessed. The appropriate ones. Such as on succession, of Madhuku’s argument is his judges. In criminal matters the straightjacket. An interpre-
olation of the Constitution by interpretation model. And acting capacity, remuneration failure to contexualise s 96 (2) President is the de facto final tation model that compels
a President are serious and may substantively, the purpose or removal from office. to the underlying values and appellate authority above the giving full effect to enshrined
lead to removal from office. behind s 96 (2). On face value, principles of the constitution formal courts by virtue of the rights and freedoms, “promote
The arguments Madhuku’s “by necessary impli- What is the true purpose of and the interpretation model it President’ extensive power of the values and principles that
By virtue of s 14 of the 6th cation” argument potentially s 96 (2)? compels. The still all- powerful mercy. underlie a democratic society
Schedule to the Constitution, up-ends established cannons of Presidency under the 2013 … in particular, the values and
Vice – Presidents, in the first interpretation. The purposes given by the constitution, including the The drafters of the 2013 principles set out in section 3.”
ten years after commencement two sides are all legitimate but Vice-Presidents, is the public constitution would have been [s 46 (1)]. And oblige the supe-
of the 2013 Constitution, are And opening a door for unequal. office that most directly and aware of this delicate adherence rior courts to develop common
appointed by the elected Presi- judicially created implied immediately impacts on both of their constitution to the law or customary law taking
dent instead of being elected as provisions of a Constitution Madhuku conceded that national security and core proclaimed high principles of into account the provisions of
running mates of presidential that shield authoritarianism his “inner legal eye” can lead values of the constitution set democracy, rule of law and sep- the Constitution. [s 176].
candidates. Further, s 96 (2) and elites. to different conclusions from out in the Preamble and s 3. aration of powers. Hence they
provides that a “Vice-President different experts. The real These include “resistance to provided a battery of principles The above is critical in situ-
may resign … by written notice The 2013 constitution is question is which conclusion all forms of domination and and checks and balances to ations of ambiguity, vagueness
to the President, who must give deliberately crafted in a simple is most convincing and what oppression…democracy, good, mitigate the enormous powers or multiple meanings. The in-
public notice of the resignation style to make it accessible to criterion one uses to rank them. transparent and accountable of the presidency. terpreter does not have a blank
as soon as it is possible to do the people, from whom the cheque but must be guided by
so and in any event within authority to govern is derived. Making consideration for this interpretation model. In-
twenty-four hours.” [emphasis [s 3 (2) (f)]. This makes the inherent subjective bias, it is terpretations that give full effect
added]. Literal Rule the preferred and to these values and principles
initial tool of interpretation must be preferred over those
Madhuku argued that in discerning the drafters’ true that do not.
although s 96 (2) does not intentions. The “starting point
expressly distinguish between in the interpretation of statutes It is the above that must be
elected and unelected vice-pres- is that words are to be given used in interpreting s 96 (2).
idents, it still does not apply their ordinary meaning (unless)
to the later, by way of what he that meaning leads to some Firstly, the premises of Mad-
called the “by necessary impli- result which cannot reasonably huku’s argument that it is the
cation” doctrine. be supposed to have been the manner of assumption of office,
intention of the legislature.” namely elections, that creates
The later provides for the need for the 24 Hours rule
implied provisions in a Con- A contrary approach would is a fair but inadequate start. It
stitution besides the written be a license for judges to usurp needed further contexualisation
text. These may not be visible the authority of the legislature in relation to the constitution’s
to the naked eye of ordinary and make law under the guise underlying core values.
people but to “an inner legal of purposive interpretation.
eye” of trained constitutional One of these is that “the
law experts. He gives examples However, on closer scrutiny, authority to govern is derived”
of such provisions including on Madhuku does not go that far. from “the people of Zimba-
misconduct [s 97]. The purpose He is asserting, albeit in a rath- bwe”, expressed through “free,
of the 24 hours rule is to ensure er robust manner, an accepted fair and regular elections.”
that a president and vice who approach to interpretation, the
resign advise the electorate Will Theory or Purposive Rule The presidency are the
who elected them. This is of Interpretation. That is, the only public offices that are
not necessary for appointed “interpreter must endeavour directly elected by the people
to infer the design or purpose nationally. They represent the
which lies behind the legis- highest manifestation of the
lation … … words should people’s will. This includes the
only be given their ordinary Vice-Presidency, as the Consti-
grammatical meaning if such tution treats them together in
a meaning is compatible with one part. The Vice-Presidents
are the President’s direct assis-
tants and automatically assume
the latter’s office in case of
temporary incapacitation and
succession in case of permanent

Page 30 The Big Debate NewsHawks
incapacitation, death, removal
or resignation. elected or appointed, as argued Inherent biases in legal inter- parties that collaborate with it Former VP Kembo Mohadi Issue 21, 12 March 2021
by Moyo. pretation like MDC T and NCA. Thus ity that interpretation of laws
Thus prima facie, Madhuku The above is demonstrative of Madhuku was appointed to the must involve, there must still But so what? This is a serious
is correct in pointing out the The above applies because the process of law interpreta- 2018 Motlanthe Commission be some degree of adherence to matter.
significance of elections. the constitution does not tion. Interpretation involves on the August 2018 killings relative objectivity based on the
differentiate on the powers of both a technical aspect requir- after the 2018 elections, despite letter and spirit of the constitu- The Clconstitution provides
But the matter is deeper the two. ing a degree of expertise but that he was an opposing candi- tion and laws. only for a political remedy
than that, especially when it there is also a subjective aspect date. He has become the go-to through parliament.
comes to transitional provi- The imposition of the 24- in which the hidden prejudices legal analyst for state media like If scholars or judges give too
sions. The form here, that is Hour Rule on the appointed of the interpreter, predomi- ZBC, something which did not much reign to their subjective There is no recourse to the
the assumption of office by Vice-President thus promotes nantly personal, social, gender, happen prior to 2013. class and political prejudices, courts. The process is set out in
election, is acting primarily as a good, accountable governance racial and class, play a major straying too far from public s 97. This provides for removal
facilitation tool. as demanded by s 3 and the role. American Realist scholars In terms of class, the social notions of fairness, justice and of the President if found guilty
preamble per Magaisa. It call these hidden prejudices base of the Mnangagwa regime rule of law, they risk, as argued of willful violation of, or failure
In a democratic society, promotes orderly succession as “major inarticulate premises.” is the nationalist black junior by eminent American legal to obey, uphold or defend the
elections by a national elec- argued by Moyo. wing of the capitalist ruling scholar, Roscoe Pound, to be Constitution.
torate, are the only acceptable Marxist scholars assert that class that has most benefitted eviscerated by the court of pub-
keys to legitimately assessing Whereas Madhuku’s for- in critical or grave cases, judges from the land reform and is lic opinion. This is dangerous, The process is triggered by
offices with such overwhelming mulation potentially creates and scholars ultimately repre- using the State as a platform for as the constitution provides; a motion for a joint resolution
powers. chaos, confusion and threats to sent and defend the interests for primitive accumulation and “Judicial authority derives from of parliament to investigate the
national security from power of the dominant economic and neoliberal attacks against work- the people of Zimbabwe.” president. (impeachment).
The primary thing though struggles. Say an unelected political elites of a given society. ers, peasants and the poor. [s 162]. The judiciary today,
being the overbearing powers vice-President resigns but the They are not truly independent. arguably, stands dangerously If at least one-half of the
that inhere in those offices. President does not give the An elitist constitutional close to the precipice following total membership of Parliament
Powers with direct and imme- public notice and immediately Thus in assessing why interpretation model such as a recent series of such deci- pass the resolution, a 9-mem-
diate impact on the society’s thereafter the President dies or Madhuku made and rigorous- Madhuku’s “inner legal eye” sions. These include the Zuva ber joint committee of Senate
core democratic values and na- is incapacitated. ly defends the choice that he well serves this ruthless class. Petroleum case restoring the and the National must be set to
tional security. As pointed out made, one must consider the Thus in his interpretation of common law Notice Rule of do the investigation.
by Advocate Thabani Mpofu, If the Vice-President presi- interests of the political and s 96 (2) it is not surprising dismissal leading to the job
the position of the unelected dent turned around and sought economic class elites that he that Madhuku has chosen the genocide of thousands; the The committee “must reflect
Vice–President is a temporary succession it would be difficult identifies with. option that advances the most, Sibanda case that held the the political composition of
one, brought in by way of tran- to prove their resignation if the interests of the political and military inspired November parliament”, which means it
sitional provisions to facilitate only the President had knowl- Whereas prior to 2013 he economic class elites that he is 2017 ouster of Mugabe was must include the opposition.
the movement form the old to edge of the resignation. was a leading and militant collaboration with, even if this not a coup, and the Mashavira
the new. In assessing the nature opponent of the Mugabe dic- may be the least convincing. decision that resuscitated, like The president will be
of the legal character of this The 24 Hours rule forestalls tatorship in his roles as NCA Lazarus, Thokozani Khupe’s removed if found guilty by the
transitional office, one applies this by ensuring immediate no- chairperson and principal legal The same applies to Mad- comatose MDC T, creating the Committee and approved by a
an established legal principle, tice to the public. Madhuku’s advisor to Morgan Tsvangi- huku’s antagonists. legal basis for Mnangagwa’s on- joint resolution of a two-thirds
substance takes precedence over formulation leads to another rai and ZCTU, he has since going war to destroy MDC A. majority of Parliament.
form. absurd result, which violates changed. Today he is a leading Moyo was the leading The dangerous loss of respect is
principles of good governance, member of POLAD, which ideologue of the Zanu PF reflected in the colloquial dis- It is obvious that ruling
In relation to s 96 (2) the in that it denies Parliament brings together the small par- faction that was vanquished in missal of the judiciary as “cap- party legislators will not initiate
main substantive consideration, power to remove an appointed ties with the ruling party. the Mugabe succession power tured courts.” The same applies such process. And that their
by virtue of the core values of Vice-President for misconduct struggles leading to the Novem- to the organic intellectuals of two thirds majority in parlia-
democracy and rule of law, is or incapacity under s 97 but it The former recognize the ber 2017 coup and supported the ruling class, as shown in ment will likely kill the process
whether appointed Vice–Presi- can for a President and elected Mnangagwa presidency and Chamisa in the 2018 elections. the growing public disdain of at the first stage.
dents exercise the same powers Vice-President. seek to achieve political and Dr Magaisa was legal advisor Madhuku despite him being
as the elected ones. electoral reform including free to Tsvangirai and is a leading arguably the country’s most But it makes political and
From the above it is clear and fair elections through social public intellectual supporter of eminent legal scholar. strategic sense for the bourgeois
If they do, both common that the most convincing inter- dialogue and collaboration MDC Alliance. Mpofu, “the opposition to still initiate the
sense and the imperatives of pretation of s 96 (2) is the one with the authoritarian Zanu people’s advocate”, is Chamisa’ Conclusion: Opposition must process.
the above core values dictate which promotes the principles PF state. This, unlike the main chief legal advisor. Their choic- ensure Mnangagwa faces the
that they be placed under the that underlie a democratic opposition, MDC Alliance es are therefore similarly influ- consequences In the same way Democrats
same strictures and checks and society, that being Magaisa and which rejects the legitimacy of enced including the strident There is thus a very strong basis in the United States Congress
balances that govern elected Moyo’ interpretation that s the Mnangagwa presidency and defense of a literal approach for holding that Mnangagwa initiated the Trump impeach-
Vice–Presidents. 96 (2) applies to both elected POLAD. Whilst the state is to s 96 (2) despite Madhuku’s violated the law by his ongoing ment even if they did not have
and appointed vice-presidents. carrying out a ruthless repres- reasonable submissions to the failure to give a formal public the constitutional threshold in
The contrary would only Consequently, President sion offensive against MDC A contrary. notice of Mohadi’s resignation. Senate to convict. Or the EFF
apply if there are express pro- Mnangagwa has violated the it rewards the POLAD small motions of votes-of-no-confi-
visions prohibiting this, such Constitution by his ongoing However, even within the dence against former president,
as the power of President to failure to give public notice of realm of inevitable subjectiv- Jacob Zuma, even if the ANC
unilaterally dismiss an appoint- the resignation. had a blocking parliamentary
ed Vice-President, but which majority. They do so to expose
cannot be done to an elected the unsuitability of the Presi-
Vice President. dent. To show the real opposi-
tion and expose the captured
The onerous 24 Hours Rule opposition. To revitalize the
is an example of a constitu- opposition base, which is why
tional checks and balances the motion must be supported
mechanism. by a public march handing a
supporting petition. [s 149].
The stringency of the 24
Hours public notice speaks to The bourgeois opposition
the special nature and powers has for the last twelve months
of the office of the presidency. endured a relentless repression
A lacuna or gap cannot be regime offensive, including
allowed to occur in the vacancy the tactic of lawfare. That is
or public knowledge of such a weaponising law to persecute
critical, all-encompassing office. opposition, civic, labour and
It can lead to subversion of student activists but hiding the
state security. iron fist of dictatorship under
the silky glove of legality. Such
In the Rozvi and Mutapa motion in parliament would
states the death of the Mambo reverse the tables and allow the
or Changamire was announced opposition to go on the offen-
several days after the burial and sive for once.
the successor already confirmed
to avoid disruptive power Ultimately of course, an en-
struggles. Another good exam- trenched dictatorship will not
ple is from the Ndebele State. be stopped by legal maneuvers
Following the prolonged ab- but serious mass action of the
sence of Inkosi uMzilikazi the oppressed and excluded. Such
indunas (chiefs) installed his Parliamentary action must only
son, Nkulumane, as successor, act as a tactic towards mass
only for Mzilikazi to reappear disobedience and mass action
later. All the Indunas were for the people to reclaim their
executed, reportedly thrown off sovereignty usurped by the
steep hill slopes at Ntabazindu- current regime.
na. (Hill of Chiefs). The nature
of the offices of the presidency The question is whether
dictates that there be no lacuna Nelson Chamisa and MDC
in this public office even for the Alliance are now prepared to do
shortest period. The 24 hours this and abandon their hitherto
notice requirement ensures doomed appeasement strategy,
immediate public knowledge suing and begging for peace
of any such event and must with a recalcitrant dictatorship.
apply to whoever wields the
substantive powers of the office, *Gwisai is a leading mem-
ber of International Socialist
Organisation; senior lecturer,
Faculty of Law, University
of Zimbabwe and Partner at
Matika Gwisai and Partners.

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 31

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Why Madhuku is wrong on Mohadi resignation

Thabani
Mpofu

As part of the ongoing debate provisions combine to create, not need to have “an inner le- under the old order. more than two vice-presidents first 10 years.
on whether or not President the so-called “spirit of the gal eye”. The constitution must who must hold office at his Section 94 which deals
Emmerson Mnangagwa constitution”. The spirit of the speak to them in clear terms. • To retain the legality of pleasure.
breached the constitution by constitution is something that The framers of the constitution constitutional officials who with assumption of office
not giving 24-hour notice can be understood by someone knew that there would be poli- had lawful authority under Paragraph 14.3 which upon the taking of the oath of
prior to former Vice-Presi- reading the constitution in ticians like Hon… (supply the the old order and provides the manner of the office before the Chief Justice
dent Kembo Mohadi’s res- ChiTonga and is not a preserve name, I don’t want to risk an which must be exercise by the vice-president or the next available senior
ignation, Advocate Thabani for lawyers. If all the provisions arrest). The following are the carried into the new. of the role of acting President. judge. I believe Mohadi took
Mpofu has responded to an considered, say, one thing, reasons for that position: this oath of office and that it
assertion by Professor Love- that is the end of the matter. • To fill in gaps that would Paragraphs 14.4 and 14.6 was important that he does so
more Madhuku which had You do not ask, “What has the Grave consequences attend inevitably exist between what which provides for succession before executing any constitu-
suggested that Mnangagwa inner eye seen?” upon a failure by politicians used to be and that which in the event of death of the tional function. This provision
was not obliged under the to obey the constitution. Any now is. President. applies to both elected and
current constitution to do so. The third applies under cir- constitutional obligation that unelected VPs (If I am wrong
cumstances where there is no might lead to consequences • To transition to the new in What must be noted is that on this one, I enjoy the Chief
THIS is a quick response clear provision bearing on the being visited upon politicians as smooth a manner the sixth schedule restricts Justice’s company).
to the “detailed” and “scholar- matter. If there is a power to be must be clear. It must be clear as is itself to formal issues. There
ly” opinion given by Professor exercised or an obligation to be to the politician reading the possible. is nothing that speaks, for Section 96(2) deals with
Lovemore Madhuku on the discharged, the question must constitution in the “Buhera instance, to the values that resignation. This is the only
legal position pertaining to the be asked whether the exercise dialect of Shona”. • In that regard, the must govern a VP. There is provision that deals with
applicability of section 96(2) of that power or the discharge constitution recognises that nothing that speaks to a VP’s the resignation of a VP. The
of the Constitution of Zimba- of the obligation or otherwise A constitution is a political for the first 10 years reck- obligations, or even terms of sixth schedule is silent on the
bwe to former Vice-President the enjoyment of a right is to document. That being the oned from 2013, service. To say that a VP is matter. There is nothing that
Kembo Mohadi’s resignation. be implied (see section 342 of case, on questions of govern- an executive only governed by the sixth limits the applicability of this
the constitution). This only mental power, it must speak structure with unelected schedule to the exclusion provision to an elected VP. To
I will try to set out the law happens if the constitution in clear terms to the citizens vice-presidents will be in of the substantive body of hold otherwise would leave
in as clear a manner as I can. I is silent on the matter. On against whom or for whose place. This is dealt with in the constitution is to claim, the constitution, for no good
will in this regard proceed on the authority of section 342, benefit political power is the sixth schedule and is a without a basis, that both a VP reason, without a provision
the assumption that this “re- however, there must be some exercised. continuation of the old. and his or her president do not which regulates the resignation
sponse” will be consumed by constitutional conferment on in the first 10 years have any of a VP. That is both danger-
lay people. For that reason, I the basis upon which an im- Evidently, and as you have • The provisions governing form of constitutional restraint ous and unnecessary.
have decided to go soft on “the plied power is found to exist. already noted, this is not the unelected vice-presidents placed upon them.
technical”. It is not lost on me approach taken by Madhuku.  are, however, set out in I must point out that Rob-
that modern constitutions are The need for implication both the substantive part of The substantive portion of ert Gabriel Mugabe correctly
made for lay people, explain- lies in the fact that a constitu- Madhuku takes the consti- the constitution as well as in the constitution also has provi- resigned in terms of section
ing why it is a constitutional tion cannot cater for all con- tution to be an elite document the transitional provisions. sions that pertain to vice-pres- 96(1). It would be absurd to
imperative for the text of the ceivable legal eventualities. For which can only be understood It is important for idents. It is easy to see which say a President can resign in
constitution to be translated that reason, it must be “a living by 3 000 people in this coun- purposes provisions apply to an elected terms of section 96(1) but a
into vernacular languages. organism” and those dealing try. No way! of illuminating the subject VP, which provisions apply to VP cannot resign in terms
Approach to constitutional with it must treat it in a man- The constitutional position matter that the provi- an unelected VP and which of section 96(2). In fact, if
interpretation ner that “eschews the austerity on the subject sions set out in the provisions apply to both. This, Professor Madhuku is correct,
This matter is all about consti- of tabulated legalisms”. Our constitution has two types schedule be with respect and in my view, is then Mugabe did not resign
tutional interpretation. There of provisions governing the identified, isolated and their where Madhuku has not done and Emmerson Mnangag-
are so many principles that These three principles subject matter, and once again effect spoken to: justice to the subject matter. wa’s assumption of office and
bear on the matter, some of explain Madhuku’s reference to I speak in lay terms. The first The need for the provisions to everything that has followed
which have been relied upon express and implied provisions, are the provisions contained Paragraph 14(1) which pro- be considered in that manner such assumption is tainted
by Madhuku. I do not intend incorrectly called by him in the “substantive part” of the vides that in the first 10 years assumes ascending impor- with illegality. Regime enablers
to deal with all such principles. “terms”. (Express and implied constitution. The second are reckoned from 2013, there will tance when one has regard to must be careful what they wish
I will confine myself to those terms are found in contract the provisions contained in the not be any running mates. the limitation(s) of the sixth for!
that concern this response. I law, while interpretation deals schedule, which are transition- schedule as already set out
will render the principles in with provisions). al in nature. Paragraph 14(2) which above. Section 97 deals with the
my own words and give them provides that a person elected “impeachment” of a VP. There
my own form given my target Another principle of The purpose of transitional in the two elections (2013 I will quicky go through the is no similar or equivalent
audience. For that reason, I importance is that the duties provisions is broadly speaking and 2018) must nominate not relevant provisions: provision in the schedule.
will call them processes. They imposed by the constitution the following: This provision applies to
are as follows: on politicians must be clear. • To retain the legality of that .Sections 91, 92 and 93 deal both elected and unelected
Put differently, politicians do which was substantively legal with qualifications for election VPs given that both can be
The first step in constitu- to the office of VP. This will
tional interpretation requires obviously take effect after the
one to consider the text of the
constitution. It is the text that
constitutes the constitution
and not some indeterminate
spiritual principle. If the text
is clear on the subject matter,
subject to what I will say be-
low, effect must be given to it.

I must immediately indicate
that Madhuku’s approach
is steeped in the English
approach to constitutional
interpretation. The British
have no written constitution,
that is why they have “inner
eyes” and obscure principles
understood only by elites.

The second step is to
consider all the provisions of
the constitution that bear on
a particular matter. The idea
is that a particular provision
speaking to an issue must be
understood in the context of
the entire constitution. These

Page 32 The Big Debate NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

impeached. To hold otherwise I believe, with respect, that 2013. What is only excepted paragraph 3(2) cited above. It obviously be advised of his 7.1.1 That constitutional
would leave us with a constitu- Madhuku has on this aspect are those provisions set out in is alive. resignation within a period interpretation is a matter of
tion which does not allow for chosen to rely on esoteric the schedule which will come “The inner legal eye” of 24 hours of its occurence. dealing with express and im-
the “impeachment” of a VP quackery and sophistry, ignor- into effect after the expiry of 5 Unable to deal with the Why should that be tied to an plied provisions subject to the
during the first 10 years. That ing in the process the relevant the 10 years constitutionally transitional provision which elected President? Does a VP, rider that express provisions
is simply absurd. constitutional provisions. In provided for. is clear to the naked eye, Prof in the first 10 years of the con- must at all times and without
particular, Madhuku argues on Madhuku has now created stitution, exercise lesser powers prejudice, take effect.
Section 99 deals with the implied powers and the whole 4.5 The schedule sets out what he calls an “inner legal than those of an elected VP?
functions of a VP. There is no lot whilst ignoring a specific those provisions, which will eye”. He is supposed to have 7.1.2 That even if a power,
doubt again that this relates to provision that governs the come into effect after 10 years, this eye and everyone else who 6.2 Constitutional con- duty or right is not expressed,
both an elected and unelected matter. He has committed a either directly or indirectly. disagrees with him does not struction in a constitutional it can by proper interpretation
VP given that both exercise cardinal sin of interpretation. have it. With respect to a man democracy is all about placing be implied, but only in terms
functions. Indeed, the sixth You cannot “play football The fact that there are three of great learning, a naked eye obligations and restrictions on of section 342 of the Consti-
schedule does not deal with without a football”.  dates on which provisions of can see the applicable provi- the executive. tution. Put differently, there
this issue. It would be infantile the constitution will come into sion that has been missed by must always be a substantive
to argue that this provision Madhuku has interpreted effect needs to be emphasised. his “inner legal eye”. This is how executive power provision on the basis upon
does not apply to an unelected the constitution whilst ignor- is kept in check. This approach which the implication takes
VP. Elected or unelected, a VP ing the most relevant constitu- 4.6 In those instances where 5.1 This resolves the express is taken at all times and for all place.
must discharge a constitutional tional provision governing the the schedule clearly states and implied provisions debate. purposes unless the placing of
function. subject matter. As indicated, that it has precedence, it takes You cannot imply the absence such obligations or restrictions 7.1.3 That there are provi-
ours is not like the British effect (see paragraph two of of a duty under circumstances is unduly burdensome or sions in the constitution which
Section 100 deals with the system where the constitution part one of the sixth schedule). where the duty is expressly onerous. indisputably speak only to
exercise of functions by an is unwritten. See, for instance, paragraph provided for. The effect is that elected vice-presidents.
acting President as well as the 14.1 which provides, “Not- Professor Madhuku’s efforts What is unduly burdensome
mechanics that attend upon Paragraph 3(1) of the sixth withstanding section 92….” In have nothing to do with about notifying the country Conclusion
the issue. To the extent that schedule sets out provisions clear terms, the schedule interpretation but are an act that a VP has resigned? Quite 8 My conclusion is that Prof
there is a competing provision which came into operation provides that whatever the first of de-creation, in that he frankly, it is such a shame Madhuku’s views are at best
in the sixth schedule, it is that on the publication day, being substantive text says, in that destroys an extant provision, that I have to make this point specious. My point of depar-
provision that takes effect by 22 May 2013. These are the instance, it takes effect. and second, of creation, in against Prof Madhuku. ture is that he seeks to imply
reason of paragraph 2 of the provisions that immediately that he creates using a dubious under circumstances there is
sixth schedule. Put different- became law when the con- This is an instance where inner legal eye. What I accept an express provision. In doing
ly, section 100 only governs stitution was assented to and the schedule directly deals with Only to an elected VP 7 In the interests of fairness, so, Prof Madhuku ignores a
elected VPs. published. Not all provisions the matter as envisaged by it is important that I set out relevant provision which, in
of the constitution became law paragraph 3(2) cited above. 6 Professor Madhuku’s in- what I consider to be the the very least, he was obliged
The same goes for section upon the publication of the ner legal eye sees him conclude correct legal position(s) as ex- to have explained away.
101 which deals with succes- constitution. 4.7 The schedule does that the obligation to notify pounded by the professor. I am I also come to the conclu-
sion in the event of death. also deal indirectly with the only pertains to an elected VP. content, as a general position, sion that the application of
4.3 Paragraph 3(2) provides matter where it establishes “a He reasons that the fact of the to say that I accept the correct- section 96(2) to an unelected
Section 102 deals with the as follows: system” based on an unelected election obliges the existence ness of most of the principles vice-president is not inconsis-
remuneration of vice-pres- vice-president. of such a duty. He relies on no that he places reliance upon. tent with the constitutional de-
idents. Although the sixth Except as otherwise provid- constitutional provision for It is their relevance to this sign and, just like other similar
schedule says nothing about ed in this Schedule, the rest of What this means is that the this breathtaking view. There matter that I query, partic- provisions bearing on the issue,
the matter, it is clear that a VP this Constitution comes into provisions in the substantive are so many problems with ularly given the disconnect has now taken full effect.
must be remunerated. This operation on the day on which text that deal with an elected this conclusion and I only between those principles and In the result, I come to
provision accordingly governs the President elected in the vice-president are automatical- highlight two: the clear and operative legal the conclusion that President
both elected and unelected first elections assumes office. ly excluded. provisions at play. Mnangagwa violated the con-
VPs. 6.1 First, it plainly does I do not accept, however, stitution in not informing the
4.4 You will need to recall I have already set out those not make sense. The VP is a that there is an inner legal eye country that former Vice-Pres-
Section 103 provides that a the distinction that I drew instances above. Everything high-ranking constitutional that must see things that are ident Mohadi had resigned.
serving or former VP must not earlier between the two types else applies. official who assumes the pow- not and ignore those that are. *Advocate Thabani Mpofu
hold any other paid employ of provisions constituting our erful position of the President 7.1 For the avoidance of is a lawyer practising in Zim-
either during the period of constitution, the substan- 4.8 Indisputably, the on occasions. The nation must doubt, I accept as sound in law babwe’s superior courts.
their service or after the expiry tive text and the transitional question of resignation is not the following propositions:
of such service, if they are still provisions. dealt with either directly or
receiving a state pension. It indirectly.
goes without saying that this This provision says and
pertains to both elected and means that the rest of the That being the case and
unelected VPs. constitution (substantive text) consistent with paragraph
came into effect in August 3(2), the substantive text
Section 106 is a code of has now taken effect. Sec-
conduct for both VPs and tion 96(2) is the “rest of the
ministers. There is no similar constitution” in the words of
code in the schedule. Any
executive official must submit
themselves to the wholesome
restraint of the constitution.
This pertains to both elected
and unelected officials.

Section 107 deals with the
accountability of VPs to the
President. It is puerile to argue
that it is only elected VPs
who are accountable to the
President and that those that
serve at his pleasure are not so
accountable. This provision
also deals with the obligation
cast upon VPs to attend Parlia-
ment. That obligation is upon
both elected and unelected
VPs.

It is therefore clear upon a
consideration of the substan-
tive text of the constitution
that there are provisions that
(i) pertain to both elected and
unelected VPs and (ii) those
that only pertain to elected
VPs. The dispute has to be
on how section 96(2) is to be
characterised. To that issue, I
turn.
The relevant transitional
structure
With these provisions having
been identified, it is important
that we consider first, wheth-
er the constitution helps us
answer the question regarding
the status of section 96(2). Put
differently, the question has
to be whether section 96 has
commenced its operation.

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 33

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

This House would embrace an ever-closer
African Union: The case for the opposition

Arthur An extended excerpt from Professor Arthur Mutambara’s upcoming
Mutambara book, In Search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream: Volume 3

AS in 2018, I am back at the to robustly apply my mind sion for Africa. With me in “This House would embrace with China and India. implementation plans. AU
University of Oxford on 24 and execute the task while up- opposition to the motion is an ever-closer African Union.” An ever-closer AU will programmes such as Agen-
January 2019 to participate in holding my Pan-African dis- Carine Kaneza Nantulya – I must emphasise that I do so da 2063 and the AfCFTA
a formal debate in the Oxford position. The result is a speech as an avowed, committed and deliver neither the federated (African Continental Free
Union Debating Chamber. which finds extensive coverage Africa advocacy director determined Pan-Africanist. arrangement nor the unitary Trade Agreement) are neither
on social media, in the print with the Africa division at entity. You cannot expect the referred to nor reflected in
The Oxford Union Society, press in the United Kingdom, Human Rights Watch, an For a start, we need the 55 African leaders to commit these national ambitions,
commonly referred to simply South Africa, Zimbabwe and international NGO that con- United States of Africa – a political suicide and legislate plans and programmes. In
as the Oxford Union, is a across the continent. ducts research and advocacy country – and not a union of themselves out of existence. fact, Nigeria has not signed
debating society in the city on human rights. sovereign states. We need to Each one of them wants to be the AfCFTA, and South Afri-
of Oxford, England, whose What an outcome from the abolish national sovereignty a president or prime minister ca only appended its signature
membership is drawn pri- verbal gymnastics of the Ox- I spoke without any notes. and embrace continental even if it means presiding begrudgingly in July 2018,
marily from the University of ford Union! At a cynical level, What follows is my tran- sovereignty. We must pool our over starving and disempow- much later than the official
Oxford. Founded in 1823 and not only did they give me a scribed and adapted speech on individual national sover- ered people. President Cyril date of 21 March 2018. The
fashioned around the British side they thought was difficult that auspicious occasion. eignties into one indivisible Ramaphosa is not prepared to central organising framework
Westminster parliamenta- but they also thought by and all-inclusive Pan-African be a state governor or minister is the individual African state
ry model, it is the United asking me to speak against the Mr President, Sir; here we sovereignty. In order to lever- of agriculture of the United and not the African conti-
Kingdom’s most famous AU, they could force me to go again. It feels good to be age Africa’s 1.2 billion people, States of Africa. President Paul nent. This is despicable. It is
university debating society. It speak against my convictions! back in the Oxford Union massive natural resource base Kagame is not prepared to be unacceptable.
has provided an opportunity However, I was able to make Debating Chamber, 28 years and potential US $2.3 trillion a state governor or a minister
for many budding politicians lemonade out of lemons, after my arrival at this great GDP we need to operate as of home affairs for the conti- In that great debate be-
from Britain and other coun- and speak in line with my university as a graduate stu- one country and not a union nent. Neither does President tween Kwame Nkrumah and
tries to develop their debating convictions. dent in 1991. I rise to speak of sovereign states. We need Yoweri Museveni want to be Julius Nyerere in 1963 at the
skills and acquire a reputa- in opposition to the topic that one government, one head reduced to a state governor formation of the OAU – on
tion. For its debate speakers, They thought by asking says: “This House would em- of state and government, one or minister of transport. They whether to move quickly and
the Oxford Union attracts me to speak against the AU, brace an ever-closer African legislature and one judiciary all want to be presidents unify into the United States of
political leaders, business they could force me to speak Union.” Naturally, when I was system. China, India and the of sovereign nations at the Africa or consolidate African
icons, public intellectuals, against my convictions!! asked to speak in opposition US are doing just fine with expense of the socio-political states first and gradually inte-
distinguished academics and to this motion, I felt con- one national leader (president and economic advancement grate the continent through
celebrities from all over the In the debate, speakers in flicted. The African Union is or prime minister). We surely of ordinary Africans. An regional blocs – Nkrumah, a
world. The Oxford Union is proposition of the motion our African institution – how do not need 55 heads of state ever-closer African Union will proponent of the former, was
a truly global platform, where include Omali Yeshite- can I go against it, more in Africa. As a minimum, continue to accommodate right, and Nyerere, an advo-
students can hear from world la – founder of the Uhuru so when it is an ever-closer we should have a federation these perverted and delusion- cate of the latter, was wrong.
leaders, award-winning musi- Movement, an African African Union? However, of all the African states with al ambitions of our African Gradualism, a brick-by-brick
cians, and Nobel laureates, all internationalist organisation Mr President, Sir; the more I devolved authority, but driven leaders. approach, and slowly devel-
under the same roof. which claims the only way for thought about, and reflected by one strong and overarching oping regional blocs towards
Africans to achieve liberation on, the issues involved, the central government where Under an ever-closer AU, continental integration have
I joined the Oxford Union is to struggle for an all-African ambivalence, equivocation all sovereignty is reposed, as African leaders and govern- not produced the United
in 1991 when I came to the socialist government; and and discomfort disappeared. is the case with the United ments pay lip service to con- States of Africa. The doctrine
University of Oxford as a Reuben Brigety – and US dip- This motion must be vigor- States. Even more appealing tinental economic integration of an ever-closer union of
Rhodes Scholar to pursue lomat who previously served ously opposed and rejected. I and effective, we must trans- and African unity. They have African states has failed for
graduate studies. I have been a as the US ambassador to the stand before you in unequiv- form the entire continent into national budgets, visions, the past 56 years. Why should
member since then. It is quite African Union and Permanent ocal and vicious opposition a unitary state as is the case strategies, policies, elections, this House embrace it?
an honour to be invited, twice Representative to the United to the proposition that says: mandates, manifestos and
in a row, as a speaker, in my Nations Economic Commis- We need a politically
capacity as the former Deputy united continent which is
Prime Minister of the Repub- economically integrated; char-
lic of Zimbabwe. The topic is: acterised by one government,
“This House would embrace a single market, one passport,
an ever-closer African Union.” a single currency, common
The African Union is the foreign policy and one army.
world’s largest and most We need an arrangement that
ambitious example of regional allows for free movement
integration. However, it now of people, goods, services
finds itself in the geopolitical and capital throughout the
maelstrom of globalisation, continent, and enables exten-
growing Chinese influence sive intra-Africa trade while
and a burgeoning US pres- positioning the continent to
ence. What should be Africa’s compete globally as a single
strategic response? What do economy of 1.2 billion people
Africans want? How are their with a GDP of US $2.3
socio-economic and political trillion and a massive natural
aspirations best served? Does resource base. Furthermore,
an ever-closer African Union this cohesive and focused
provide the remedies? This African economy – a colossus
is the context in which this of immense significance –
debate is held. can then effectively engage,
leverage and impact the
Supporting the motion is African Diaspora in pursuit of
the easier option, but the Ox- 21st-century Pan-Africanism
ford Union President insists driven by economics, busi-
that as a distinguished debater ness, entrepreneurship and
I must take the harder side! I technology.
gladly obliged.
An ever-closer AU will not
Given this invidious task of deliver any of these grand as-
opposing the motion, I decide pirations. It will not produce

Page 34 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

the United States of Africa. President, have a seat in the for the European Union (EU) sustained economic growth – enough. Sometimes the always seems impossible until
The Constitutive Act of the United Nations and be the within the framework of demand the demise of African enemy of the best is the good. it is done.” To paraphrase US
AU places primacy on nation- fourth largest economy in the strong and empowered insti- national sovereignty. This Pursuing an ever-closer AU president John F Kennedy:
al sovereignty and non-inter- world. The states of New York tutions. All AU decisions are sovereignty has been abused is an impediment to, and a “We must pursue this agenda
ference in the internal affairs and Georgia could have had made by the Heads of State by corrupt, unimaginative, distraction from, our glorious not because it is easy, but be-
of individual African states. similar aspirations. All those who meet a few times a year. unstrategic, undemocratic and ambition of the United States cause it is hard.” Once upon a
A key objective of the AU as ambitions were sacrificed in Currently, intra-Africa trade – kleptocratic African leaders; of Africa. We must jump from time, slavery looked intracta-
articulated in Article 3 (b) pursuit of one country – the trade among African countries sometimes reducing the AU the pan into the fire. We must ble, colonialism appeared un-
is to “defend the sovereign- United States – the biggest – is the lowest of all global (and its predecessor the OAU) take the plunge and pursue challengeable, while fighting
ty, territorial integrity and economy on Earth (with a regions at 12^, as compared to a dictators’ club. Just the United States of Africa. apartheid seemed an insur-
independence of its Member population of 325 million to 54% in the North America recently the impotence and Of course, in the arduous mountable task. A feasibility
States”. This is a clear and ex- people and a US$19 trillion Free Trade Area (NAFTA), ineffectiveness of the AU were journey towards this ambi- study or SWOT (strengths,
plicit constitutional and struc- GDP), the only superpower in 70% within the EU and 60% demonstrated by its inaction tious dream, there will be the weaknesses, opportunities
tural constraint for the AU. the world, and the richest na- in Asia. and lack of leadership in inevitable challenges. These and threats) analysis will not
In order to achieve the United tion in the history of human- Zimbabwe, the Democratic include the different languag- have sanctioned or endorsed
States of Africa the only sover- ity. The Chinese revolution The AU is characterised by Republic of Congo, Gabon es and cultures across the the struggles against slavery,
eignty and territorial integrity produced a huge unitary state chronic implementation fail- and Burundi. Historically continent, ethnic diversity, colonialism or apartheid. We
that should be respected and – modern China – which has ure, obscure relevance to the the ineptitude in Rwanda, the vast geography, four time must unshackle ourselves
upheld is that of the entire since reincorporated Hong ordinary African, pervasive Somalia and Libya does not zones, various systems and from paralysis by analysis. No
continent as a single entity, Kong and is pursuing Taiwan underperformance, limited help the AU case. standards, colonial legacy-in- guts, no glory.
and not that of the individual, under the ‘One China’ policy. administrative and organisa- flicted divisions (Anglophone,
fragmented and dysfunctional The Indians cherish India as tional capacity, poor gover- The boundaries between Francophone, Lusophone and As Africans, we reject an
nation states. a massive unitary state – the nance and accountability, and African states are artificial and Arabic), religious differences, ever-closer AU and embrace
world’s largest democracy. In a lack of alignment and syner- meaningless – thanks to the and uneven levels of econom- the United States of Africa.
The issues of democracy, fact, Gandhi’s vision was that gy-unlocking between the AU Berlin conference of 1884. ic development and industri- Such a framework will enable
human rights violations, pov- of India and Pakistan as one and regional economic blocs. They are a source of con- alisation. us to advance our socio-polit-
erty eradication and shared country. Despite the inconse- Put simply and bluntly, the flict and split people of the ical and economic aspirations
economic prosperity can be quential noises about Brexit, AU is not working. same culture and ethnicity. However, these obstacles across the continent dramat-
best addressed centrally by a by and large the Europeans Moreover, they inhibit and are not insurmountable. They ically.
strong continental Unitary are committed to the EU, It is dysfunctional. It must frustrate economic progress, can be efficaciously tackled
Government or Federal Gov- and the EU is a much more be dismantled and replaced for example, trade-facilitating and resolved. We just need vi- Furthermore, we will be
ernment. serious and better-managed by a new body designed to infrastructure development sion, leadership, strategy and able to engage with, and
institution than the AU. achieve the United States of across borders. effective execution; all rooted unlock value from, the wider
In this arrangement, Africa. The Kagame Report in continent-wide buy-in and world as one massive and
there is potential to unlock The African Union, formed on AU Reforms – while The AU is ostensibly a ownership of the agenda. This cohesive entity and not as
enormous economic value on 9 July 2002 to replace correctly identifying some of union of African governments must be fortified, enhanced a union of fragmented and
within the continent, while the OAU, is poorly funded these ills of the institution, its – a union of political leaders. and buttressed by a Pan-Af- non-viable sovereign nation
effectively leveraging global by its Member States – the recommendations on the way We need a union of ordinary rican attitude that embraces states.
relationships. Commercial ne- African countries. Over 70% forward are highly inadequate African people – the citizens. and leverages the entire
gotiations and business deals of its budget comes from and grossly incompetent. Civil society, academics, African Diaspora. With this Mr President, Sir; an
with countries such as China, donors, 75% of its opera- They must be dismissed with women, students, farmers, approach and framework, we ever-closer African Union is a
India and the United States tions are funded by the UN. the contempt they deserve. businesspeople, workers, cur- shall overcome. dummy. You are selling Afri-
are best dealt with collectively Its secretariat is manned by rently do not shape or drive cans a dummy. We viciously
as one African entity charac- fewer than 800 people – who The predecessor to the AU, the AU agenda. Structurally, Yes, the United States of reject this dummy. It is half
terised by a massive natural are not chosen on merit – to the OAU, achieved the liber- an ever-closer AU cannot Africa looks overly ambi- a loaf. Africans want the full
resource base, 1.2 billion integrate a continent of 1.2 ation of all African countries address this dysfunction. Why tious, if not impossible. It is loaf – the United States of
people and a US$2.3 trillion billion people. by 1994. This is acknowl- should we embrace such a precisely for this reason that Africa.
GDP; not through bilateral edged and greatly appreciated. union? we should aspire towards it.
deals between individual Afri- This is in contrast to 33 However, the next stage in As South African president This House must not em-
can countries and the external 000 technocrats who work our African struggle – shared While an ever-closer AU Nelson Mandela taught us: “It brace an ever-closer African
players. In the latter approach, economic prosperity and is a noble idea, it is not good Union.
we get short-changed. In fact,
the big economies – the Unit- I thank you.
ed States, China, India, Russia
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and economies of scale. It
is prudent to note that the
greatest war that the US citi-
zens ever fought was to keep
the United States together –
the American Civil War. More
US citizens died during that
war than were killed in both
the First and Second World
Wars. Citizens of the United
States bled and sacrificed to
achieve the United States
of America. Obviously, the
people California would have
loved to have had their own

NewsHawks Africa News Page 35

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

SA’s Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini dies

King Goodwill Zwelithini ascended to the Zulu throne more than half a century ago

SOUTH Africans are call- to bury our king the way compliance with South King Zwelithini acceded territory by British sol- Zulu-Natal, after studies
ing for a state funeral be he deserves! He deserves Africa’s Covid regulations. to the throne more than diers in the 1800s. indicated it significantly
held in honor of Zulu King much better than 50 peo- 50 years ago following the reduced transmission.
Goodwill Zwelithini, the ple...,” Mageba wrote on “The entire world should passing of his father. He King Zwelithini was an
revered monarch of the Twitter. stream the funeral,” Nzuza ranks as the longest-serv- influential leader through- “He was powerful,” Kwe-
country’s largest ethnic said, adding that “there ing Zulu monarch. out his reign. In 2010, he na Moabelo, a 46-year-old
group, whose death was “We can social distance shouldn’t be a set of rules promoted a return to the resident of Johannesburg,
announced Friday. and not shake hands... We for normal South Africans The Zulu Kingdom, un- tradition of male circum- told CNN. “He was more
wanna sing.... Deep inside and another for high pro- der Zwelithini’s forbears, cision in order to combat progressive than his pre-
King Zwelithini, 72, I really wanna be there file individuals.” resisted an invasion of the high rates of HIV in Kwa- decessors.” —CNN
passed away early Friday with thousands of Zulu
after being hospitalized people,” Mageba added. Wash your hands for at least
for an ailment for sever- 20 seconds or more.
al weeks, President Cyril Lwazi Monyetsane, 33, a
Ramaphosa said in a con- Zulu whose family resides Use soap and water or a
dolence message on social in the coastal province of hand sanitizer when you:
media. KwaZulu-Natal, told CNN Ÿ Get home or into work.
that the late monarch de- Ÿ Blow your nose, sneeze or
“His Majesty will be serves a state funeral.
remembered as a much- cough.
loved, visionary monarch Monyetsane, however, Ÿ Eat or handle food.
who made an important fears that Covid-19 safety
contribution to cultural protocols may be disre- Mask up and maintain
identity, national unity garded by admirers of the social distancing.
and economic develop- departed Zulu king.
ment in KwaZulu-Natal
and through this, to the “I know for a fact that
development of our coun- KwaZulu people will not
try as a whole,” Ramapho- bother with Covid proto-
sa wrote on Twitter Friday cols. The death of a king
morning. is a big deal and everyone
will want to be part of it or
One social media user, at least attend,” she said.
Nemzah Mageba, swiftly
beckoned the president to “Government will have
temporarily relax South to be very intentional
Africa’s coronavirus re- about how they go for-
strictions that prohibit ward with the planning of
mass gatherings at funer- the funeral. KwaZulu peo-
als, so the departed king ple love King Zwelithini.
can be accorded a public I will be watching with a
ceremony befitting of his keen eye on how we han-
status. dle it,” Monyetsane added.

“Dear honorable pres- Mvangeli Nzuza, 31, of
ident, I humbly request KwaZulu-Natal, also told
that you suspend level one CNN that King Zwelithini
alert for Covid, we need should be given a state fu-
neral -- but said it should
be done virtually to ensure

Page 36 World News NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Royal watchers say Harry and Meghan

crisis must jolt ‘the firm’ towards change

Spotlight is on the power behind the royals as much as on the Queen, Charles and William

FOUR days after the Duke Meghan, Harry and the Queen at an event at Buckingham Palace in June 2018.
and Duchess of Sussex evis-
cerated the “the firm” with tary, and Clive Alderton, a gesting they could only do There is said to be relief is ongoing. “I think their
the sharp blade of “their former diplomat and Prince public service within the – at having unburdened biggest unexploded bomb
truth”, Prince William Charles’s private secretary at royal family, said Lacey. themselves, at getting it is their bullying investiga-
had still not spoken to his Clarence House. Yet Harry and Meghan had “over and done with” be- tion,” said a royal watcher
brother. “But they just do spent the last year trying to fore they welcome their of long standing, referring
not communicate in the Following the Sussexes’ undertake public service. new daughter and become a to Buckingham Palace’s in-
way other families do,” said claims of being marginal- ‘That’s what the argument’s family of four. quiry into the handling of
one veteran royal watcher. ised within the institution, been all about,” said Lacey. claims of alleged bullying of
“You wonder if anyone has the spotlight is now on “Those words seemed to Their profile in the US staff by Meghan, the results
rung Harry.” these figures as much as misunderstand and misrep- could not be higher. Sup- of which it has said will be
on the Queen, Charles and resent everything they had port from celebrity friends made public.
According to one report, William – the latter making been trying to do in the best has boosted the Meghan
the Queen plans to person- his thoughts clearly known way.” and Harry brand right “What are they going to
ally offer an olive branch when he told journalists: across North America. Be- do if people come forward
to the couple. She said in a “We’re very much not a rac- The couple’s response was yoncé posted: “Thank you and say ‘I was bullied by X
statement this week that the ist family.” pointed and terse: “We can Meghan for your courage royal, or X senior member
extraordinarily damaging and leadership. We are all of staff’? They will be des-
allegations from the Sussex- How could they have We can allall live a life of service. Ser- strengthened and inspired perate to keep as narrow a
es – of racism and of emo- failed to harness the po- by you.” Serena Williams focus as possible. The risk
tional neglect that Meghan tential of the campaigning, vice is universal.” wrote: “Meghan Markle, is that it’s not a discrete
said had left her feeling sui- feminist Hollywood celeb- Friends of the Sussexes my selfless friend, lives her matter about Meghan and
cidal – would be dealt with rity that was Meghan Mar- life – and leads by example Harry, but also about how
privately. kle, Lacey questioned. live a lifeindicate they will have no – with empathy and com- staff reacted at Buckingham
passion. She teaches me ev- Palace and Clarence House.
“That should be a holding And now, it seems, ac- “more to say, that nothing ery day what it means to be And why are they doing it
statement,” said the royal cording to another royal truly noble.” in-house? Why is an inde-
historian and author Robert expert of longstanding, the of service.was left unsaid. “I doubt pendent person not doing
Lacey. “The next step is to narrative is set. “In a sense there will be more, once Service is “They [the Sussexes] it?”
say: yes, with regard to the they have set the trajectory you’ve had that level of should clearly shut up
personal family issues, we by not keeping the door interview,’ said one who now,” Lacey said. “They This crisis must jolt the
are working on that in pri- ajar, not offering a way back knows them. universal. have said that’s the end of it. institution towards change,
vate. But, we acknowledge in.” They are “feeling free”, Archewell is a positive inno- said Lacey. Referring to the
there are issues of public ac- the actor Janina Gavankar, vation. They should get on Queen’s words that “recol-
countability here.” The couple were stung a close friend of Meghan, with the doing, with less of lections may vary”, which
by the way Buckingham has said. She watched the the talking.” implied questions over
It’s not just the aftermath Palace framed their perma- Oprah interview. “Now the couple’s account, was
of the Oprah Winfrey in- nent departure last month, they can get back to what The tit-for-tat media pointless, he said. “Harry
terview, Lacey said. Allega- especially with its statement they really were focused briefings should cease, crit- and Meghan have created
tions that Meghan bullied that by stepping away from on,” she said of their hu- ics say. Media leaking be- a new and disturbing truth,
staff are also in play. “This the work of the royal family manitarian and environ- tween rival royals was on and one that the monarchy
is about how this major “it is not possible to contin- mental work through their a scale not witnessed since now has to live with,” he
institution of state, funded ue with the responsibilities Archewell charitable foun- which aims to “unleash a the “war of the Waleses” be- said.
by the taxpayer, is actually and duties that come with a dation. groundswell of real acts of tween Charles and Diana.
organised. They should ac- life of public service”. Both are expected, compassion for the wom- —Mail & Guardian
knowledge: we have ques- throughout this month, to en in your life and in your The fallout, however,
tions about HR policy. We It was badly worded, sug- promote their International community”, their website
have questions about our Women’s Day campaign, states.
diversity. And we are go-
ing to handle those now,
openly, in the way that any
government department
would.

“This is an agency of the
British government. It’s
more than people or a fam-
ily. It’s about an institution.
If you look at Buckingham
Palace’s website, at its HR
pages, they go into ecstasy
about their wonderful hu-
man resources policy, and
what you can expect if you
join, and how much they
care for their staff. It sounds
like any modern American
corporation on paper. But
in practice it’s just run in
the old-fashioned way.”

The phrase “the firm” has
come to apply to the royal
family and the institution
around it – the “men in
grey suits”, as Diana, Prin-
cess of Wales coined it. The
power behind the royals
include Sir Edward Young,
the Queen’s private secre-

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 37 Issue 21, 12 March 2021

ZIMBABWE’S veteran turntablist I used to play records just to be the alternative but it also just los-
Otis Fraser, who is back at Botswa- gain free entry, says Otis Fraser es that fire along the way. You know
na’s top radio station Gabz FM, re- there nothing like being amongst
flects on his formative years in Bula- joined the then Radio 3 and why? is looking forward to online tutorials, to concentrate more because every- people in the physical sense, you
wayo where he not only rocked clubs TF: I joined Radio 3 in 1995, in- one of them being the fundamentals thing was manual; how to hold the know that live energy, there is some-
and pubs but also made a name on of deejaying. record on the side of your finger so thing about it. Having an online gig,
the airwaves at the then Radio 3 at spired by the radio presenters men- you get the speed correct with the yes 1, 2, 3 gigs but thereafter (it feels)
Monrose Studios. tioned above. I just felt that was JM: How did you learn deejaying other one so, yes, it was quite a mis- there is just something missing. So
where heaven is. Tsitsi Jindu gave my skills? sion but the man who knew it all was Covid-19 has really impacted us DJs
Affectionately known on the decks first-ever break on radio by inviting Kimble Rogers, he’s just great. in a huge way.
as “The Flow”, during his era he ef- me to the Montrose Studios through TF: I was taught by the man Kim-
fortlessly delivered the best in music a request I made. She taught me from ble Rodgers. He’s the ultimate for JM: How did Covid-19 affect We have had to try and figure out
coupled by his seamless mixes on the day one. I treasure that experience. me, you know, teaching me all the your line of business? other ways to try and survive and,
turntables that delighted the crowds. fundamentals, the basics. Back then still, as you know, there are no gigs
The Flow (TF), now in his 40s, talks JM: Deejaying has evolved over it was just strictly turntables and TF: Covid-19 has affected not and we’ll probably be the very last
to The NewsHawks’ Jonathan Mbiri- the years with the advent of digi- there was no pitch control that you only me but I think almost every DJ to open because that’s where you get
yamveka (JM) on how the music tal media. Do you have your own get now. because we obviously base our in- close contact and that’s totally oppo-
scene has changed and he hints at channel where fans can listen to come from the revellers, if I can put site to the rules and regulations of
the future of his career. Read the ex- your playlists? On turntable back then, we had vi- it that way. You can think of a better Covid-19.
cerpts: nyls and records and now you know term but you know our clients are the
TF: I do have a web page I have with software everything is basically crowd. JM: Tell us about your family.
JM: Where are you based now and put together: www.flowtymeinc.com done for you. TF: Beautiful family, we won’t talk
what are you up? mixes, remixes and audio/ visual im- So no crowd, no money, and you much about that, I think that one we
aging. Soon to come, too, are some There is a sync button which just know we tried the online thing but leave it for another day, it needs a lot
TF: I am based in Botswana and podcasts in the pipeline. The website matches beats for you and everything, I think it was okay in the beginning, of detail but it’s all good, we are smil-
I have a soft spot for this place. I am so learning back then was much more people were thinking, yes this could ing, we are happy to be here today.
still in the fibres of the music tree, so difficult, but it kind of streamlined us JM: How easy was it to make a
getting in where I fit in radio! The breakthrough as a DJ back then
station is Gabz Fm. And I present compared to now?
Saturdays and Sundays from 3pm to
6pm both days. The reception is great TF: I think it works both ways.
simply because it’s from my friends! It is easy and difficult just like back
They just say things to make me in the day. Back then it was difficult
smile . . . hahahaha. in the sense that it was not easy to
get brand new material, it was not
JM: You are touted as one of the accessible in the country so you had
pioneering DJs from Zimbabwe. Tell to have your contacts -- air hostesses,
us your journey to becoming a DJ. pilots, stewards or whatever the case
may be or just relatives overseas who
TF: I believe music is timeless re- woukd send stuff to you.
gardless of genre, so I am attracted
to whatever grabs my attention both But most DJs had contacts on the
old and new. I am humbled and hon- airline because your stuff would be
oured that I am one of the founda- coming within a couple of days, two,
tion pillars of Zimbabwean DJs.  three days you got brand new stuff.
So that’s where the thing was so back
It was a challenging experience in the day it was about breaking the
and journey as DJs expressed their latest tunes, that is what really made
strengths through the latest music. a DJ.
Basically, if you didn’t have a contact
abroad, deejaying for you was tough! Radio presentation in terms of
voice and everything, yes it followed.
Also, being from Bulawayo and But I think the main thing was songs,
the youngest presenter on air at that nowadays it is easy in the sense that
time, had its own fair share of hurdles you can get everything it’s just a mat-
to overcome. I mean, Harare was like ter of getting the name of the song,
the city to get recognition from ul- and getting the artiste.
timately, for the country to give you
your well-earned stripes. If you don’t have the version, you
just look it up, you can get 20 ver-
But, I loved it, ooking up to my sions other DJs don’t have, but they
radio idols, the likes of Tsitsi Jin- will also have it when they hear it,
du (RIP), Peter Johns (RIP), Kelvin they will just go to Shazam.
The Soul Supreme, George Munetsi,
Joseph Hussein and the man who Shazam will look up the version,
taught me how to mix, Kimble Rog- so it’s easy in that sense but it is also
ers, just to mention a few. Club DJs now difficult because everybody has
also influenced me, too many to access to the music so what makes
mention right now. you different, what makes you stand
out?
JM: Do you remember how you
performed at your first gig and It’s like going to a flea market and
what happened? everybody is selling red T-shirts,
you know we all have access to red
TF: First gig was me performing as T-shirts, so why should I miss the
a rapper at a club in Bulawayo called first store right at the entrance and
Talk Of The Town. I rocked the walk down to the last door which is
house. The owner then invited me gonna take me five minutes to get
whenever I could make it. My pay there when I can buy the very same
was free entrance . . .wow! And of T-shirt at the entrance?
course a drink! I then asked if I could
learn the club DJ thing. He liked me, So now it’s a matter of being dif-
and said ‘why not?’ It all began there. ferent. So, yes, we have access to ev-
erything, which is easy, but now it’s a
JM: Which year was it when your case of being different.

Page 38 Life & Style NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Fare thee well Anne Nhira . . .

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA Vimbai was a down-to-earth herself or not, I am not sure, but She single handedly led the cam- Zodwa had previously staged sold-
and well-behaved young lady with throughout the set she was sober paign on social media against Zo- out shows in Bulawayo and Hara-
THE Zimbabwean film industry dreams of making it big in beauty and even after hours when Shereni dwa Wabantu’s visit, much to the re at the invitation of Biggie Chi-
has been robbed of one of its talent- and pageantry, at least according to and Wakanaka serenaded us with bemusement of festivalgoers. noperekwi, who runs a strip club
ed actors — Anne Nhira. the storyline. As an arts journalist, I their stories over beers Anne re- called Private Lounge, in down-
had the occasion of brushing shoul- mained sober. That was one of my Her argument was why shoukd town Harare.  
Anne died from injuries to the ders with Anne on and off the stage. most memorable moments with the government pay Zodwa, who is
chest, rib cage and back sustained Anne. Her moving to South Afri- known for her dislike of underwear,  “I’m not coming going to Zim-
when she was mugged in South Af- I remember I was part of journal- ca was not without reason as Anne and not young people in business. babwe, I won though. I can’t be in a
rica this week. ists who were invited by Mawuru to wanted to widen her horizons. At country run by p***y@annenhira.”
cover a three-day shoot in Kariba some point speculation was rife that Social media users went into a
She was 38. on a houseboat. That episode fea- she was eyeing a big break in South frenzy, calling her names because “Underwear makes me uncom-
She rose to fame in her lead role as tured the likes of Charles Kapfupi African film industry. at the time Zodwa WaBantu was a fortable. I don’t feel sexy when I’m
Vimbai Jari in Zimbabwe’s first-ever (Wakanaka), Ben Sibenke (Shereni) favourite of many. Some even de- wearing panties. It’s a preference.
soap opera —­ Studio 263 — pro- and Ben Mahaka (Tom Bambo) and However, while breaking into the scribed Anne as “holier-than-thou” And people should deal with it,”
duced by Godwin Mawuru, who is what a cruise it turned out to be! South African industry proved dif- and an attention seeker. she once said.
also late. As Vimbai, Anne played ficult for her she branched out to
the role with much gusto, inspiring We wined and dined, enjoying consultancy work and grooming. However, her cause won the day Her presence at the Harare In-
a generation of young girls. fine eats including fresh Kariba as Zodwa WaBantu was a no-show ternational Carnival might have
She really fitted well into the bream as we cruised across Lake But even then, she had a cameo at the Harare International Carni- added colour to what was already a
role of a wanna-be model raised by Kariba at sunset. role in one of Zimbabwe’s success- val. Patrick Zhuwao, the then act- star-studded event with top-drawer
the Jaris, a middle-income family ful productions -- Cook Off -- now ing Tourism minister, who was in acts, including Congolese rhumba
that was affected by the day-to-day While some cast members would on Netflix. charge of the carnival, banned Zod- giant Werrason, Oliver Mtukudzi
struggles of life. She entertained us indulge in the wise waters, Anne wa at the instigation of Anne. and Jah Prayzah and the popular
and we could not miss a single epi- kept on chugging her soft drinks. But others would recall an in- Brazilian Samba girls.
sode of Studio 263 and this was way Keen to know why, I asked why she cident in which Anne lobbied the So furious was the debate on so-
before the was still not having alcoholic bever- government to bar South African cial media that Zodwa took to her Perhaps this was Anne’s entrance
Nollywood and Bollywood soaps ages and she told me straight in the stripper Zodwa WaBantu from par- Instagram account and announced into social activism. This was just
became popular on our screens. face that she did not take alcohol. ticipating at the Harare Interna- that she would not be performing but one incident she successfully
tional Carnival. at the carnival. executed.
Whether she was just being
What irked most fans was that Rest in peace, Anne!

NewsHawks Life & Style Page 39

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Title: Of the Expiring year
Poet: Gourd Poets

TgShlheaoslulogwfhaembnroaiwdimer?eodllatnhde curtains like a veil flung over the span-
woe betide?

WCTIHiasWnsatwotegdihhetarenmeaapvngetreuottpesdniysnsmth-os,ceapaselo,nwlaasejmwduudetnhg,shiathtthaeyneea,tlensyviwdbk?eewreeatfarehotsv’hdeargeamiortddthyn?as.iaeensslctvyoweee?seathrsdee-ansnsacemeledesstso,oonJmegrnuagissaacliienem,nwtaliyjtuhabnaitlaticinnipttlayot.f-

IbATnATGAWNNMTIAWbItsrrhhhortnllroetyaieiellhseeeeonvtftoaceIliorayadeogotrytiaketrskhrhrskescaoeeasetanweaeakbnnclanatiyrfroleeaedotomeadwdctfwnshiuduwlootoudsadsarlauraictwrtmasgrvsehtp?atsvteeoeeciiheinadydjmmlt,otrualbwiniehIltkimdlbaegesuoteiaecoi?i.otrtrweftmnlafitneaosblrlehtewhtliodeooedinweiohorshutragbae.eaonaeintaeecsvkcvardowachesldilsokdfceglabaswrioscoticsunyrolheoneweaidcasemnatnehsanrhshddntelsetelae..oaaethdohamucncwevnoaktrdo.naydlepodvnarctrfetaoroiitidutothnhhenieesai.xodet2wpfe0cooso.o2npsou0eidak,ldoswyg,ursaiwramcsviemcaiytleloeeltxsrudpa.atnaeihnncdtda..en.yd.d

Herrie J SNIpDITCnnlehheoerettvcagshheeniayaasirntettttefaetsudyyordleeligwraaktseoorrleotonutrmbghedruaenasnritynmsheiwan,atrgassostflotohblweelaa-ysgnepudahnrers2ma.0py2e,0da.,s slogans continued to lie,
Never to recur.
Harrie J a new entrant
on music scene Title: _Kwerek**w**e*r*e**_**********
Poet: Osman Shato Mbindi

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA nerves, but to the soul as a ear, because I believe the big- people to hear your music, oTalblIbrwogbuenanuyffaahearvtcdrtaetvettachgkhhedirgadrlneoreiehoegrebpgutsosoimdtyrppsshtnmtaaerphotatepyandhhinenepnifdoe.eldsrhetsgfstohabedebobtrtraorherofgeer-oaamiaosotarnrkwdlodnsdeagszeedniearntst_hgfkeacwtlbhoeuetrbrsebklwesere_
whole. ger picture is painted if team- but I do guarantee that the into the jaws of the second hell.
THIRTY-year-old musician work is practiced. Unity is the music I make will surely be
Harold Jonas Phiri debuts on “My music is inspired by key to life, so I aim to spread worth the listener’s while,” he Title: Sodden*R**o**s*e*s***********
the local music scene with his daily situations in search for knowledge through my craft,” said. Poet: Prof Ngugi waMkirii
latest EP titled Little Did I a brighter future. My ability he said.
Know. to adjust to different swings While videos of the songs Creepers of waste,
and tunes have earned me the So far, his music is receiv- High Grade, Lights On, Stal- Doth dorn the silent estate,
The South African-based name ‘Harrie J the Versatile ing rave reviews in South Af- lion, Little did I Know, off the Bequeathed with strands of genetic tantrums,
singer-songwriter, affection- vocalist’.” rica where he is already com- 11-track EP, are doing well on Bursting at every meander,
ately known on stage as Har- manding a loyal fan base. YouTube, Harrie J says it is Like a lofty angry sea.
rie J The Versatile Vocalist, Born on 13 July 1991, not as easy as it seems.
says his music is inspired by Harrie J learnt at an early “Being a versatile vocalist, Speak not of angels,
people. The album has some- stage that positive messages I have had the opportunity to “Music business in South For they tarry not on mother earth.
thing for everyone and ap- would make his music stand meet up with various legends Afrcia is great, if you manage Their smiles are surgical,
peals to both young and old. out from that of his contem- like Soul Jah Love, Emtee, to link with the right plug. So Once overstretched tears burst,
poraries. Ricky-Rick, only to shortlist I have been starting to plot With a tide of nuggets of insults,
“My music is inspired by the honourable legends. So in my strategy to reel listeners The beauty that used to be,
internal and external ele- “As a naturally aspirated so- the midst of that, the interac- to engage in the great music I Appears like feet charp.
ments. I make music for the cialite, I realised that I had to tions within these spaces have make. Social media has come
people.  I compose music that take my destiny of interaction moulded me to gain recogni- to our rescue,” he said. Tied to her promises,
is tailored for various people to a greater height so my fate tion from their crowds too,” She pews only red cogs of sweet love embers,
going through different situa- faced me in the eye levitating he said. He has collaborated with Hot and warm,
tions. My library consists of a my eagerness for transmitting Fire G Shotboss Records, Yet her heart is a knot of malice.
mixed bag of songs. educational or motivational His first song was recorded Scorpion and a few other up-
speeches into a more interest- back in 2009 by a producer and-coming artistes signed to Her presence is a trigger of antagonism,
“A vast selection of sound ing dynamic, driving me to named Xander. However, get- Speed and Sound Music and Much perverted in beauty,
ranging from house music, start music.  ting the music out there was a he hopes to work with Emtee, Tripping one into the waters of perdition.
hip-hop, dancehall, RnB, real mission, but patience and SlimJay, Holy Ten and  Smylie
which I infuse together to “I realised that if I wanted determination saw him mak- in the near future. A single crack on the phalanx of cosmetic beauty,
create my own sound called to see a change in the world, ing inroads in the cut-throat Stimulates hidden wars,
AfroBox. I compose music not only would it start with industry. “If you have a dream, go My charm was in the pocket and eloquence,
that not only speaks to dance myself, but by the influence get it. It’s yours!” he said as a And bankruptcy undid it all,
I value to project to the next “It is quite tricky getting parting shot. For her pursuit was material,
I charm her not anymore,
Because the seeds of affinity are withered.

Page 40 Book Review NewsHawks

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

New book advances innovative media approaches

THIS book – in which Zim- Media Studies at the Universi- South Africa, and member of ribbean Pages: 381 sity of Zimbabwe).
babwean media academic Pro- ty of Botswana, Botswana. IAMCR. Editors: Hopeton Dunn, Du- Publisher: Palgrave Macmil- Moyo has, in the process,
fessor Dumisani Moyo was in- The above text is from the misani Moyo, William Lesi- lan.
volved – advances alternative Shanade Bianca Barna- publisher’s description of the taokana and Shanade Bianca Who is Dumisani Moyo? served as an independent
approaches to understanding bas (PhD) is Senior Lecturer book: Barnabas. Moyo is a Zimbabwean As- consultant for several NGOs,
media, culture and technology and Head at the Department Title: Re-imagining Commu- Published: 2021 sociate Professor in the De- donor organisations and mul-
in two vibrant regions of the of Communication Studies, nication in Africa and the Ca- partment of Journalism, Film tilateral organisations on a
Global South. School of Communication, and Television and Vice-Dean wide range of assignments,
University of Johannesburg, of the Faculty of Humanities including project evaluations,
Bringing together scholars at the University of Johan- strategic planning/review and
from Africa and the Caribbe- nesburg. He has held various research projects focusing
an, it traverses the domains of teaching and research posi- mainly on media and democ-
communication theory, digi- tions at various institutions, racy and media and develop-
tal technology strategy, media including the Universities ment in Southern Africa.
practice reforms, and corpo- of Zimbabwe, University of
rate and cultural renewal. Oslo, and University of the His research interests in-
Witwatersrand. He holds a clude a diverse range of topics,
The first section tackles re- doctorate from the University which include media policy
search and technology with of Oslo (2006). and regulation in Africa; and
new conceptual thinking from (new and alternative) media
the South. The book then Prior to joining UJ in and political engagement in
looks at emerging approach- 2016, he worked as regional Africa; journalism in the digi-
es to community digital net- programme manager, media tal era; and media an elections.
works, online diaspora enter- and access to information at His major works include two
tainment, and video gaming the Open Society Initiative co-authored books: Radio
strategies. for Southern Africa (Osisa), in Africa: Publics, Cultures,
where he led the foundation’s Communities. Johannesburg:
The volume then explores efforts to promote media free- Wits University Press; and
reforms in policy and profes- dom, media diversity, access to Media Policy in a Changing
sional practice, including in information and ICTs for de- Southern Africa: Critical Re-
broadcast television, online velopment. flections on Media Reforms in
newspapers, media philan- the Global Age. Pretoria: Uni-
thropy, and business news re- His previous professional versity of South Africa Press.
porting. Its final section exam- experience includes research Specialisations
ines the role of village-based and publications manager New media and political en-
folk media, the power of (Osisa); senior lecturer and gagement; media policy and
popular music in political op- Head of Department (Uni- regulation in Africa; emerging
position, and new approaches versity of the Witwatersrand); journalistic practices in the
to overcoming neo-colonial visiting lecturer (University of digital age; access to informa-
propaganda and external cor- Addis Ababa); research associ- tion and freedom of expres-
porate hegemony. This book ate in the School of Literature, sion; media and elections; and
therefore engages critically Languages and Media (Uni- internet governance.
with the central issues of how versity of the Witwatersrand); Postgraduate Degrees
we communicate, produce, Research Fellow (University of PhD (Oslo); MPhil Media
entertain, and build commu- Oslo); Fulbright Scholar (Col- and Democracy (Oslo), Hon-
nities in 21st-century Africa lege of Lake County and Wil- ours, English (University of
and the Caribbean. liam Rainey Harper College, Zimbabwe).
Illinois); and lecturer (Univer-
Chapter contributors to the
book include Melville Cooke SUBSCRIBING
of Jamaica, Herman Wasser- MEANS MORE
man of South Africa, Anthony
Gunde and Victor Chikaipa Your subscription to The Newshawks brings you
of Malawi, Hagos Nigussie MORE news and information, MORE value and
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Merwe of South Africa, Lloyd
Waller and Nicola Satchell of Adress to
Jamaica, Musonda Kapatam- Join@thenewhawks.com
oyo of Zambia based in the
US, Nova Gordon Bell of Ja- The NewsHawks @NewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com join@thenewshawks.com
maica, Collen Chambwera
of Zimbabwe, Paul Chiudza
Banda of Malawi, Dumisani
Moyo of Zimbabwe, based in
South Africa, and Hopeton
Dunn of Jamaica, based in Bo-
tswana.

Hopeton S. Dunn is Profes-
sor of Communications Policy
and Digital Media at Universi-
ty of Botswana, Botswana, and
member of IAMCR.

Dumisani Moyo is Profes-
sor of Communication and
Vice Dean, Academic, at the
University of Johannesburg,
South Africa and member of
IAMCR.

William O. Lesitaokana
(PhD) is Senior Lecturer and
Head at the Department of

NewsHawks People & Places Page 41

Issue 21, 12 March 2021

Bumi Hills Safari Lodge surrounded by
Zambezi Escarpment and vast Lake Kariba

ZIMBABWE boasts varied and unique All rooms have balconies and uninhib- lessly into the lake horizon. The pool is big herds of elephant and buffalo, as Birding at Lake Kariba
tourist destinations and accommo- ited views over Lake Kariba. surrounded by intimate wine and din- well as a multitude of different plains The Bumi area offers truly incredible
dation — from Kariba to Beitbridge, ing terraces on different levels. game. birdlife, especially water birds, and hun-
through to Matopo, Mana Pools, There are garden rooms available too, dreds of species have been recorded. It
Hwange, Victoria Falls, Eastern High- reserved for guides and tour leaders, The lodge interiors have been beauti- Guests can indulge in superb fishing is a thrilling location for photography
lands, Chinhoyi, Great Zimbabwe and with slated terraces, set a little way back. fully finished in a fusion of contempo- in the lake waters surrounding the safari of the majestic scenery and wildlife, but
the Lowveld. rary western and African styles. lodge with bream and the fighting tiger also the prolific bird life for enthusiasts.
Taking centre stage is the beautiful fish in abundance. Birding and cultural Lake Kariba Fishing
One of the most beautiful tourist infinity pool that seems to blend end- Bumi Hills is home to lion, leopard, experiences (with the rich local Tonga Bumi is the prime fishing region of
places in the country is Bumi Hills, culture) also abound. Kariba and is a major attraction that
which many people usually hardly talk Activities and Services: sets Bumi apart from any traditional
about. Wildlife Drives luxury safari lodge. Here it is rated one
Bumi is unique among luxury safari of Africas Top 20 adventures. You will
Set on a range of remote hills in one lodges because of the exquisite add- thrill to catching the razortoothed tiger,
of Zimbabwe’s finest wilderness loca- ed dimension of the water - Kariba is pound-for-pound one of the worlds
tions, Bumi Hills Safari Lodge in the among the worlds largest man-made most powerful freshwater species.
area is wonderful and captivating. lakes and a genuine African wilderness Cultural Excursions
with far more animals than people. The Bumi Hills Wildlife Area is bor-
It is situated near the North Eastern This allows for glorious game viwing by dered in the north west by the Cha-
border of the Matusadona National boat as well as the traditional open 4 x lala and Mola communities, which
Park and is easily accessible by light air- 4 vehicles and walking in the wilds with are home to the Tonga, cultured and
craft and boat, allowing tourists to be an armed professional guide. friendly people who have resided in this
swiftly transported into paradise with- area and along the length of the Zam-
out the stress of a long journey. bezi river for centuries.

With the enthralling Zambezi Es- They have preserved ancient tradi-
carpment as its backdrop, this haven of tions and still live a largely subsistence
serenity overlooks the eternal shimmer- lifestyle that is reliant on fishing, live-
ing waters of Lake Kariba below. stock and small scale farming.

Not only does the Kariba’s shore- In the village of Chalala these cus-
line boosts a complex ecosystem and is toms have melted together with the
wildlife-rich, but the lodge’s proximity inevitable infiltration of modern ways
to Matusadona allows for the animals of life. However, the luxuries of a per-
to roam freely from the national park manent electricity and water supply
and Bumi Hills private concession, to homes are still absent, leaving the
creating massive game-viewing oppor- communities still largely reliant on the
tunities. surrounding environment for their live-
lihood. – STAFF WRITER
Lake view suites are sublime with
awe-inspiring sunrise-and-sunset vistas
over the lake, historic Starvation Island
and game-rich shoreline.

The safari lodge has a total of 10
rooms, all with views over Lake Kariba.

Property
NewsHawks

Page 42 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 21, 12 March 2021

The home of prime property: property@newshawks.com

DUMISANI NYONI Real estate sector subdued as In the period under review, devel-
economic impact hits home opment remained limited without
ZIMBABWE’S real estate market any major construction project.
was generally subdued during the rate. lords being saddled with higher op- retail sector remained relatively ac-
second half of last year, with house “Activity in the residential sec- erating costs resulting in lower rent- tive with a stable demand for rented “However, the sector continues to
prices declining by about 10% while al returns. Landlords have therefore space. However, consumption was be impacted by the long-time chal-
vacancy rates remained high at be- tor remained relatively resilient resorted to re-purposing of space negatively impacted by high infla- lenges of power outages, poor water
tween 30% and 40%, according compared to other sectors such as in old buildings for occupation by tion and low consumer disposable supply and deteriorating infrastruc-
to Knight Frank, an international commercial and industrial.  How- small enterprises and/or individu- incomes.   ture,” the property firm said.
property management firm. ever, poor liquidity in United States als,” the report says.
dollar terms, the preferred currency As a result, prime rental rates The period under review saw a rise
In its second-half Zimbabwe for transactions, negatively impact- Knight Frank said development is declined to between US$12 and in the level of rent defaults across
Market Update, Knight Frank said ed demand levels. We estimate that now notably dominated by small of- US$15 per square metre for subur- the market. Lockdown measures
the country’s real estate market house prices declined by about 10% fice space projects suitable for small ban locations and between US$8 further exacerbated the situation re-
was generally subdued as a result in the period under review,” the re- and medium size enterprises. Such and US$10 for the central business sulting in some tenants completely
of the lockdown measures imposed port reads in part. developments can be observed along district, depending on size. shutting down and therefore unable
with non-essential sectors being the main roads leading out of Hara- to meet their rent obligations, the
more severely impacted. Moreover, However, Knight Frank said re’s central business district, for ex- Notable retail developments that company noted.
Covid-19 safety protocols resulted self-funded home construction re- ample Second Street Extension, Bor- took place in the period under re-
in additional operating costs for mains strong in both high-density rowdale Road and Enterprise Road.  view include BJ Southgate Mall Moving forward, Knight Frank
landlords in the market, it said. locations and affluent suburbs of in Hillside, Pick n’ Pay Aspindale, anticipated that the subdued state of
all the cities.  In Harare, this trend It said tge uptake of rental space MetroPeach Wholesalers Sunning- the economy will result in the ma-
A combination of high inflation, has been evident in the areas near remained subdued in the period un- dale and OK Supermarket Sangan- jority of these defaults being written
low interest rates and lack of liquid- the new Parliament site in Mount der review with the US dollar-de- ayi. off.
ity in United States dollars impact- Hampden, in Ruwa and the fringes nominated rentals now significantly
ed on formal financing.  Property is of the southern suburbs. lower than the levels achieved be- The industrial sector also re- “We anticipate that the property
excluded from the foreign currency tween 2011 and 2015.  As a result, mained strong with regards to ware- market will remain subdued in the
auction and, as a result, all transac- “Office market demand remained rents are estimated to have softened housing and logistics. As a result, short to medium term, with limited
tions are self-funded, which nega- subdued in the period under review in 2020 by about 10%.  rental rates in Harare increased to movement in both supply and de-
tively impacts aggregate demand, with vacancy rates remaining high between US$1 and US$4 per square mand. However, the elimination of
Knight Frank Zimbabwe said. at between 30% and 40%. High In spite of the Covid-19-related metre, depending on location and hyperinflation and the achievement
vacancy rates have resulted in land- lockdowns, Knight Frank said the size of space. of exchange rate stabilisation are an-
Further, Statutory Instrument 85 ticipated to result in further stability
of 2020 legalised dual currency pric- of the sector,” it said.
ing. Landlords, especially retail and
residential, are now seeking to ob- “Further, we anticipate that the
tain US dollar rentals or, at least, the worldwide drive for Covid-19 vac-
indexing of rentals to the exchange cination will result in normalcy to
international trading and lead to the
stabilisation of supply chains.”

NewsHawks Sport Page 43
hinted that they will not
Issue 21, 12 March 2021 Winless Logarusic faces release their stars for inter-
make-or-break moment national duty.
ALWYN MABEHLA
fans, leaving the 55-year- Zdravko Logarusic As for Zimbabwe, a 38-
CROAT Zdravko Loga- old coach in an unenviable man provisional squad for
rusic faces a critical week situation as he prepares to Double centurion Hashmatullah Shahidi celebrates his hundred for Afghanistan. the back-to-back qualifiers
that will define his future as assemble the best possible was named last week, yet
Zimbabwe’s football coach. team under very difficult with less than two weeks to
circumstances. go, there is still no clarity
The test will start with about who will turn up.
the penultimate Africa Cup The Covid-19 pandem-
of Nations qualifier away to ic has made life harder for Seven locally-based play-
Botswana on 22 March be- Logarusic, who this week ers were included in that
fore finishing the campaign flew back to Zimbabwe af- large squad, despite not
at home to Zambia a week ter spending over a month having played domestic
later, as the Warriors seek a at home in Croatia follow- football since the conclu-
second consecutive appear- ing the Chan tournament. sion of the 2019 season.
ance at the continent’s pre-
mier football competition. Tightened travel restric- The biggest blow for
tions have left Logarusic Zimbabwe, as of now, is
The Warriors need at least sweating over the availabil- news that Aston Villa mid-
three points from these last ity of most of his Europe- fielder Marvelous Nakamba
Group H qualifiers to seal an-based players. has already been ruled out
passage to next January’s fi- after the English Premier-
nals in Cameroon. World football governing ship club declined to release
body Fifa recently extend- him.
Zimbabwe are favourites ed a Covid-19 exemption
in the group to follow the that allows clubs not to Other players based in
already qualified Algeria to release their players for in- Europe such as captain
Cameroon, but there are ternational duty if doing so Knowledge Musona, Tino
two reasons for concern for could result in the players Kadewere, Marshall Munet-
the southern African side: having to quarantine for a si, Tendayi Darikwa, Alec
the coach’s unflattering re- period of no less than 10 Mudimu, Teenage Hadebe,
cord so far, and availability days. Jordan Zemura, Admiral
of key players. Muskwe and David Moyo
Zimbabwe, just like oth- also remain doubtful.
The Croatian gaffer is er countries such as neigh-
without a win in six match- bours South Africa, are cur- The availability of the
es since his appointment rently on the red-list, which United States-based pair of
exactly a year ago – one requires persons travelling goalkeeper Tatenda Mku-
in a friendly with Malawi back from nations on that ruva and defender Tendai
and the rest in competitive list to undergo mandatory Jirira is also not clear.
matches. quarantine.
This leaves the South Af-
Logarusic will argue, It is not just Zimbabwe rican-based contingent of
though, that three of those facing a player crisis due to the Warriors as the most
matches – at the African the prohibitive travel mea- certain of active players, for
Nations Championship sures. the clashes with Botswana
(Chan) tournament two and Zambia.
months ago in Cameroon English Premiership gi-
– were played with a squad ants Manchester United But Kaizer Chief mid-
of locally-based players and Liverpool have also fielder and Warriors talis-
who had not kicked a ball man Khama Billiat has been
in competitive football for battling injury and will re-
over a year due to Covid-19 quire a clean bill of health
restrictions. to be released for the crucial
double-header..
That, however, does not
seem to give comfort to
hard-to-please Warriors

Living a shattered dream through others

HE had the express pace of a many of us, a lot has happened sporting talent like his being passed away in 2019 at the age Battling to overcome the wing right through to his inter-
Henry Olonga as well as the ever since those promising early destroyed by off-field distrac- of 65 – Tandi showed sufficient challenges in his life, hardships national debut in 2013.
control, guile and discipline of a days as a tear-away bowler who tions. He was born and spent promise and ability to earn of a material and spiritual na-
Heath Streak. defied fresh boyish looks to in- his early life in rural Rusape, in himself a cricket scholarship at ture, Tandi disappeared from the Today, 28-year-old Chatara
stil fear into some of the coun- Manicaland province, and as Prince Edward School in 1990. public view for a while, only to is one of the Zimbabwe team’s
Bursting onto the scene try’s best batsmen.  his second name suggests, he is Prince Edward, a world-re- remerge around 2006. premier bowlers, despite injuries
around the late 1980s and early a descendant of the well-known nowned school in Harare that continuing to haunt his career. 
‘90s when the winds of change As fate would have it, Tandi Tandi chieftainship of that area.  places heavy emphasis on sport, Being posted to Manicaland
were blowing through Zimba- was never able to become an in- As a young boy, George went provided the platform for Tan- as a development coach – a plau- The injured Chatara was left
bwean cricket, George Tandi ternational cricketer before his to live at the family’s city home di’s natural talents to come to sible gesture of rehabilitation by out of Zimbabwe’s ongoing tour
became the odds-on favourite, playing days came to an end. I in Harare’s high-density sub- the fore. In no time, he was be- Zimbabwe’s cricket governing of Abu Dhabi, where they are
in the eyes of a growing band of will not go into too much detail urb of Glen Norahv. It was at ing selected for national youth body – seemed like a less glam- taking on Afghanistan in two
admirers, to ultimately become about Tandi’s tale of woe in this Shiriyedenga Primary School in sides and harvesting wickets on orous role for somebody once Test and three T20 matches.
the first black person to repre- piece. There is an important dis- Glen Norah where Tandi was the club circuit.  held in such high esteem in the
sent this country at internation- tinction between issues that are introduced to cricket game.  But as he fought the in- But three other players that
al level. In the early ‘90s Tandi private, and those that are for alongside a host of ner demons he faced and still Tandi had a big role in their
had toured South Africa, En- public consumption.  youngsters later to faces to this day, Tandi arrived formative years in Mutare –
gland and Ireland with a strong play a wide variety in Mutare, the capital of his seamers Donald Tiripano and
Zimbabwe Under-19 side that But I also know well that of roles in the game HawkZone home province – eager to impart Victor Nyauchi alongside open-
defeated some very good oppo- good old George would be more in Zimbabwe. knowledge that he had learned ing batsman Kevin Kasuza – are
sition – teaming up with future than happy to share his story of A lot of the as a youngster plucked out of the in the United Arab Emirates
national team stars like Streak tribulation, because he likes to credit goes to one hills of Rusape and the crowd- and played in the African side’s
himself, Stuart Carlisle, Craig use it as a lesson to the young Paul Munjoma, Enock ed township settings of Glen 10-wicket demolition of Af-
Wishart, amongst others.  generation on living a life wor- Norah. ghanistan over two days in the
thy of emulation.  who in those days Muchinjo first Test last week. 
As it was, the other seriously was a teacher at In Mutare, he met Tendai
gifted black kids in in those trips Let us just say that life has not Shiriyedenga, a Chatara, a young pace bowler Bring on the stats, I dare say
– Clive Chadhani and Bernard been particularly kind to Tandi, lower-league club from Dangamvura township, there are not many smaller plac-
Pswarayi – also did not go on like it has been to a lot of us, but cricket player himself, who had been converted from a es in the world that have sup-
to play for their country at the that has not deterred him from and a qualified grassroots coach The unfortunate turns of budding footballer to a cricket- plied three players to a Test-win-
highest level.  the efforts of transforming oth- employed by the then Zimba- events in his life then took the er through a talent search in the ning team, in a single match.
ers into what he never became bwe Cricket Union to spread the limelight away from Tandi, coin- city. 
History records that fel- himself. game in those parts of the capital ciding, incidentally, with an up- Whilst this feat was not lost
low fast bowler Henry Olonga city. surge of other young and gifted Probably seeing traits of him- on many followers of Zimba-
would then go on, in 1995, to Tandi’s passion to change Under the guidance of the black players knocking hard on self in the young pacer – and bwean cricket, what is often
become the first black player to lives, in his own small way, dedicated Munjoma – who sadly the selectors’ door. working closely with the Mani- easy to forget, quite sadly, is
take to the field for Zimbabwe.  probably stems from his coun- caland franchise’s senior coaches honouring the critical early con-
tryside and township upbring- – Tandi took Chatara under his tributions of people like George
As for Tandi, a dear friend to ing, growing up seeing good Tandi, whose lives remain a dai-
ly battle to this day.

Sports From the
Living a shattered Khyber Pass
dream through to Test cricket
others
Thursday 1 October 2020

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Pass to TCoeuhstatmtcorisiKcahkrueetpaec

JOHN KELLEY ers had found a general good length and some

THE word “humiliated” was used with some glee Unofficial president calls for emergeflatter deliveries. Their final figures should only
a quarter century ago by over-heated writers when be read out accompanied by a soft organ music
the Zimbabwe’s team fell apart in a Test or ODI background.
match as they sometimes did. Blessing Muzarabini (0-62), Victor Nyauchi
(1-102), Donald Tripano (0-83), Sikandar Raza
Maybe they were justified when Sri Lanka (1-79), Sean Williams (0-97), Ryan Burl (1-69),
whistled Zimbabwe out for a record low 35 runs, three wickets between them and one run-out.
leading to pitch-doctoring accusations and some These were the figures for Zimbabwe when Af-
pushing against the Zimbabwe manager of the ghanistan batted.
day, or when India won two Tests in two days by And then it was time to shine for the Asians’
an innings and more than 200 runs – their cap- star spinner Rashid Khan, taking four wickets in
tain afterwards swearing never to return. his 36.3 overs as the Zimbabweans failed to make
Afghanistan bat again.
But in experiencing little Afghanistan piling on Half-centuries of 85 by Sikandar Raza and the
545 runs for only four wickets declared on Thurs- 65 of opener Prince Masvaure were in vain as Af-
day in the second “Sunshine” Test against the ghanistan cleaned up the tail to enforce the follow
Zimbabweans in the empty Sheikh Zayed Stadi- on.
um, the word didn’t seem justified as yet at that Zimbabwe were 24 without loss at the close of
time. “Let us wait until the match is over for any play.
judgement. Funny things always happen in crick- Cricket in Afghanistan was being played more
et,” I said to myself as I followed the game from than a century and a half ago, believe it or not,
home at a seaside resort of Southsea, adjacent to though maybe not by tribesmen coming down
Portsmouth, Hampshire. from the Khyber, rather the red-coated British sol-
diers of the empire. Maybe even before the birth
Zimbabwe in reply were forced to follow-on af- of famous author Rudyard Kipling in 1865.
ter being bowled out for 287 in the sandy Middle For those who might be interested to know, the
East twilight of Friday at this near-empty stadi- Khyber Pass is part of the Asian high-way, an im-
um, made thus by Covid-19, which is more than portant and mountainous trade route in a prov-
a year not out so far. The African side will need to ince of Pakistan, on the Afghanistan border.
two days towards a draw in order to re-establish Since those days in the Khyber, Afghan cricket
some dignity, not likely to be. has moved steadily – very – through the centuries
and through all the wars, to 2017 when the ICC
Afghanistan looks good to square the series one approved them for Test cricket status. Before then
all, denying Zimbabwe their first full Test series they played against Bangladesh, Ireland and Zim-
win since 2004. babwe with fair success as Affiliates, the latter tour
here in Africa during 2019.
The main perpetrators of the destruction of our Afghanistan is now one of 12 Test nations in a
toiling bowlers, for that word is justified in sport- gtarkoewoinngIlnisdt.iaI,tomr iAguhAsttrbLaelSiaaO.lBonuIgNt mtSimeIaDentbEiemfoer,eittFhaiepny-ance Ministy wipes out $3.2 Billion depositors funds
ing terms, were Hashmatullah Shahidi with 200 Zim's latest land c
not out in 443 balls, maybe tempting followers to
call him “The Grinder,” and captain Asghar Af- pears that Zimbabwe will do nicely.y
ghan with 164. They put on over 300 runs for the *John Kelley, a retired international sports
fourth wicket. writer, is following this historic Test series from
the United Kingdom on behalf of The News-
Poor Zimbabwean supporters scattered about Hawks.
could only get cold non-alcoholic tea to salve their
sorrows and frustrations with.

However, the wicket itself is rather benign,
though taking spin. If only the Zimbabwe bowl-

Double centurion Hashmatullah Shahidi

celebrates his hundred for Afghanistan.

ALSO INSIDE From the Khyber Pass to Test cricket