Price
US$1
Friday 16 April 2021
WHAT’S INSIDE NZiEmWrSa engulfed BBUatStlIeNfEoSrS SHPeOatRhTStreak
in corruption Redwing Mine suspicion runs
storm over intensifies amid much deeper
whistle-blowers scramble in ZC
Story on Page 4 Story on Page 6 Story on Page 46
Zim secretly deploys
special forces to Moza
ALSO INSIDE More trouble for Malaba as lawyers gird up for fight
Page 2 News NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
OWEN GAGARE Zimbabwe secretly deploys key
special forces to Mozambique
FOLLOWING a recent mil-
itary siege on the northern and stability,” Mnangsgwa sha Mugwagwa, was killed Mozambican insurgents. Mozambican soldiers on patrol. Further, the training cur-
Mozambican town of Pal- was quoted as saying by the in Palma. The government, to Mozambique are more support of joint manoeuvres riculum includes river cross-
ma by Islamist insurgents, state-controlled daily The working with his family and or less the size of a platoon, for the conduct of advanced ing, mountain climbing, re-
killing dozens, including a Herald. the Mozambican authorities, which usually has about four force operations or precision connaissance, anti-hijacking,
Zimbabwean, while leaving are frantically trying engage squads (of between seven and strike missions. In this case, sniping, unarmed combat,
a trail of bloodshed and de- “Government is currently a forensic pathologist to ex- 14 troops each) up to 50 sol- Zimbabwean special forces tracking and bush craft. Also
struction in its wake, Presi- working with the Mozambi- hume his body and repatriate diers and is commanded by a will operate under the aegis included is jungle survival on
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa can authorities to establish it home for reburial. lieutenant, the sources said. of the Mozambican army,” a wild fruits and natural rem-
deployed special forces to the the number of our nationals security source said. edies for medical treatment.
gas-rich Cabo Delgado Prov- who were entrapped during The sources said Zimba- The commando regiment
ince to battle the rampaging the attack of Palma town, bwe sent special forces main- is one of the special forces “They can operate on their The special forces have
militants. on March 24, 2021. Against ly drawn from One Com- units in the Zimbabwe De- own as they are trained to ex- been deployed in several
this disturbing background, mando Regiment (formerly fence Forces entrusted with ceptionally high levels, both African conflicts, includ-
Security sources told The the party structures across One Commando Battalion, difficult critical operations. physically and psychological- ing the Mozambique Civil
NewsHawks this week that all provinces must ensure previously the Rhodesian ly and are expected to per- War in the 1980s and 1990s
Zimbabwe deployed combat that our communities are on Light Infantry), based at The role of the comman- form accordingly, but there and the Second Congo War
special forces to help Mo- high-security alert. Let us Cranborne Barracks in Hara- dos and other special units is are political and operational from 1998-2002 for Zimba-
zambicans with the Palma continue to jealously guard re and the Special Air Service to conduct special operations factors that come into play bwe.
“sweeping campaign” at the the peace and stability that is based at Kabrit Barracks, ad- – like the sweeping of Palma like in this case.”
end of March, a week after existing in our country.” jacent to the Robert Gabriel – across an operating contin- The latest Zimbabwean
the deadly attack. Mugabe International Air- uum, typically expeditionary Commandos are renowned deployment came a week pri-
It was confirmed this week port. in nature. for being mentally tough, or to the Southern African
“Zimbabwe sent some spe- that a Zimbabwean hospital- quick-thinking and keeping Development Community
cial forces team into Cabo ity and catering worker, Nya- The special forces deployed “The commandos usually a cool head in difficult and (Sadc) double troika summit
Delgado in the aftermath of operate either as an inde- complex situations. They are in Maputo on 8 April, which
the siege on Palma by Islam- pendent force element or in highly trained and skilled in authorised an “immediate
ic insurgents to help clear a range of advanced specialist technical deployment” into
out the militants,” a security weapons and equipment. the conflict-ravaged Cabo
source said. Delgado region.
“Commandos operate in
“Soon after the Palma at- small units. For instance, The double troika sum-
tack, the special forces were each commando team can be mit combined the Sadc main
deployed working under the a small group of four or five summit and the troika of the
Mozambican army to help fighting troops, with a heavy organ on politics, defence
drive out the militants. They weapons troop, and a signals and security cooperation
had to go in because of the platoon,” the source said. summit. It was attended by
surprise attack which marked six regional leaders, includ-
a serious escalation, the sub- “These soldiers are tak- ing Sadc chair, Mozambican
sequent bloodbath and also en from trained troops for President Filipe Nyusi and
that there are Zimbabweans further training. The units Sadc organ troika head, Bo-
who are in there, one of them are trained to conduct spe- tswana President Mokgweetsi
was actually killed.” cial activities, which include Masisi.
military manoeuvres con-
Zimbabwe’s deployment ducted by specially designat- Security ministers are
will be followed by a quick ed, organised, trained, and meeting on 28 April to refine
regional military manoeu- equipped forces.” the roadmap for intervention
vre under the Mozambican in Mozambique, while secu-
army. Sadc countries want a In Zimbabwe, the selec- rity service chiefs are already
collective response to avoid tion process for special forces working on a plan to send in
being targeted by insurgents training includes four-day the Sadc standby force.
individually. day and night navigation in
the Zambezi Valley, while Although Nyusi wants
Mozambique prefers a carrying a 30kg weight on an help, his government is op-
strategic Sadc technical de- empty stomach. posed to foreign armies
ployment to avoid inflaming converging in Mozambique
the situation into a regional in large numbers as he fears
conflict and making the sit- that would trigger a regional
uation worse by drawing in conflict – drawing in more
more terrorists from outside. terrorists – and make the sit-
uation worse.
This comes as Sadc defence
ministers from South Africa, The insurgents have killed
Botswana and Zimbabwe – over 2 000 people and dis-
which form the troika of the placed more than 750 000.
organ on politics, defence
and security cooperation – Even with clashes from the
are due to meet on Wednes- actual battle for Palma over,
day next week to finalise insecurity in the town con-
the regional intervention in tinued this week, according
Mozambique ahead of troika to the Cabo Delgado weekly
leaders’ summit the follow- bulletin.
ing day.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces
Addressing a Zanu PF po- spokesperson Colonel Ted-
litburo meeting on Wednes- dy Ndlovu denied the army
day in Harare, Mnangagwa has deployed special forces to
sounded belligerent and Mozambique.
ready for action, a further
sign Zimbabwe was already “Thats not true and in any
on the ground. case if something like that
happens I will advise the na-
“As Zanu PF, we stand tion. You can’t hide that kind
in solidarity with our sister of information. I advise that
party, Frelimo as well as the you also look at the Sadc de-
Government and people of ployment schedules so that
the Republic of Mozambique you know the meetings that
in the wake of the ongoing need to take place and what
disturbances in Cabo Del- needs to happen before de-
gado Province, in northern ployment.”
Mozambique. An attack on
one of us is an attack on Mnangagwa’s spokesman
all of us. United we stand. George Charamba said:
Hence, we cannot sit back “Zimbabwe will take part as
and allow acts of insurgency part of the Sadc brigade. The
to continue without a robust best person to ask would be
regional response. Last week, (Sadc executive secretary) Dr
I therefore attended the Sadc (Stergomena) Tax.”
double troika summit in Mo-
zambique, where the regional
bloc resolved to immediately
make technical deployments
towards restoring peace
NewsHawks News Page 3
needs dialogue focused on
Issue 26, 16 April 2021 conversation, intentionally en-
gaged, with the aim of increas-
Mozambican ing understanding, addressing
conflict reflects problems, and questioning
governance thoughts and actions.
failures:
Nuvungu Since the end of the Cold
War, Africa has been the the-
BERNARD MPOFU the conflict in Mozambique’s Adriano Nuvungu, director at governance, marginalisation Professor Adriano Nuvungu. atre of numerous low-intensity
northern province of Cabo the Centre for Democracy and and poverty in the conflict-rid- conflict over and above violent conflicts fuelled by violent ex-
THE Southern African Devel- Delgado due to the complex- Development, said years of bad den region is at the centre of the Islamic extremism. tremism. Though the causes for
opment Community (Sadc) ities around the strife and risk these conflicts vary greatly, they
should take a supportive role in- of a regional conflagration, a “The resolutions of the Sadc are all broadly rooted in issues
stead of a militaristic interven- Maputo-based political scientist Troika are good on two grounds of exclusion, poverty and suf-
tionist approach in dealing with told The NewsHawks this week. — firstly Sadc can play a pivotal fering.
role as the platform for dialogue
TOBACCO INDUSTRY & MARKETING BOARD particularly in relation to Tan- “This committee that is be-
zania where Mozambique and ing put forward by Sadc has to
The Board, Management and staff of TIMB would like to Tanzania – the relationship in look at the issues in the frame-
join His Excellency, The President and Commander-in-Chief term of border migration, there work of governance rather than
of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Cde E. D Mnangagwa and are issues there. We think that militaristic and more important
Sadc can be that platform for here is to play a liaison role in
41the rest of the nation in celebrating dialogue. Sadc is the most im- relation to the African Union
years mediate multilateral organisa- which has been silently and
tion of which Mozambique is a rightly so because looking at
of Zimbabwe’s Independence. member state and Mozambique the subsidiarity issue Sadc was
can tap into the capacity within to come in. But we think the
Congratulations, Makorokoto, Amhlophe. Sadc,” Nuvungu said. AU has a lot more to offer given
its involvement in West Africa
Icon of excellence in the production and marketing of Zimbabwe flavor tobacco “By capacity, we don’t mean where these dynamics have oc-
military capacity. The situation curred much longer,” he said.
in northern Mozambique is not
about militarisation. It’s a failure “Well I would move away
of governance, it’s a failure of from labelling it Islamic insur-
democracy. But there are ques- gency. As I have indicated prior
tions being asked on whether to gas discovery there have been
or not Sadc has that capacity ethnic conflicts in that area, but
to support Mozambique. Some no indication that it is religious
of these Sadc members are fac- related, although there are some
ing similar challenges in terms religious uneasiness. But there
of governance deficit. So how is indication that it is about re-
can they support Mozambique ligion and the right to exercise
which is need of strengthening religion. So we look at it from
its governance mechanism. We the perspective of violent ex-
hope to engage the technical tremism.
deployment, we lobby them
to make them understand that “Before gas reserves, there
Mozambique is facing a gover- have been issues in that area
nance challenge.” around ethnicity — ethnic con-
flicts have been occurring be-
Mozambique is facing a huge fore gas discovery around 2005.
humanitarian crisis due to vio- But then they were elite-centric
lent extremism in the northern mining activities which is in-
Cabo Delgado region, which tersected by organised crime
is home to world-class gas re- including drug trafficking and
serves. Experts say the political some of these have created a
economy of the region, mar- huge army of unemployed
ginalisation and poverty fuelled young people who in the past
violent extremism. have had access to some cash
but they have been losing it due
Last Thursday Sadc con- to the use of the state machin-
vened a double troika summit ery by elites who chase some of
in Maputo, Mozambique’s cap- these young people from artis-
ital, in a desperate bid to quell anal mining. These people have
the insurgency that has left over been instrumentalised by greed
2 500 dead and over 750 000 to sabotage some of the devel-
displaced. opments through organised
crime. Some of the elites have
The Sadc double troika sum- been benefitting from mining
mit directed an “immediate without development and also
technical deployment” to Mo- intersecting with organised
zambique, and convening of crime including drug traffick-
an extraordinary meeting of the ing.
ministerial committee of the or-
gan by 28 April 2021 that will So in our view what is hap-
report to the extraordinary or- pening in Cabo Delgado is that
gan troika summit on 29 April there are local grievances, but
2021. there is greed which is instru-
mentalising the young people
The most recent attack was and this intersects with organ-
at Amarula Lodge in Palma ised crime including interna-
were 12 nationals were behead- tional terrorist organisations.”
ed, while several others were
shot after militants who have Commenting on what role
pledged their allegiance to the Zimbabwe may play in bring-
Islamic State ambushed people ing peace to her north-eastern
who were scurrying for cover. neighbour, Nuvungu said:
“Zimbabwe is Mozambique’s
Nuvungu said Mozambique key partner.
“The comradeship between
Mozambique and Zimbabwe
is such that no solution for
Mozambique problems can be
designed without direct partic-
ipation of Zimbabwe under-
standing the current challenges
that Zimbabwe is facing.
“We would like to see Zim-
babwe participating more, not
only in the conflict in northern
Mozambique, but also in cen-
tral parts of the country where
we still have junta military.”
Page 4 News NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Zimra engulfed in corruption corruptly hijacked and shifted
to someone else, they were told
THE Zimbabwe Revenue that one of them, Kujinga, had
Authority (Zimra), which op- storm over whistle-blowers withdrawn the case. They de-
erates a whistleblower facility manded evidence to that effect,
in a bid to eradicate tax fraud but Zimra officials failed to
and duty evasion, is caught in a produce it. In any case, Kujin-
damaging storm of corruption ga denied the claim which they
in which its senior officers are said was concocted by Zimra
accused of collaborating with officials to hijack the case.
corrupt tax evaders for pay- Documents say Zimra did
ment or to partake in attendant not reject the Delatfin case be-
financial rewards, while en- cause the evidence was solid. As
dangering the security of whis- a result, it did not write to whis-
tle-blowers. tle-blowers citing the standard
rejection grounds such as the
This could have far-reaching case was already under investi-
consequences for Zimra’s bid to gation, already reported or the
fight tax evasion and corrup- information was inadequate.
tion if not swiftly dealt with. From there, Zimra got locked
in a heightened fight with the
The situation could lead to whistle-blowers and for the
tragic reprisals against whis- past six years the case has been
tle-blowers who risk their lives raging, with calls, emails and
in helping the tax collector to messages flying back and forth.
combat corruption and re- The whistle-blowers, for in-
cover huge financial sums lost stance, wrote letters to Zimra
through criminality. on 5 July 2019, 26 July 2019,
29 July 2019 and 6 Decem-
Under the facility, Zimra re- ber 2019 in a heated spate of
wards legitimate whistle-blow- exchanges amid accusations
ers (informants) on cases re- of collaboration, corruption,
lating to tax evasion under fraud, dishonesty, violation of
Section 34B of the Revenue the Revenue Act and breach-
Authority Act (Chapter 23:11) ing whistle-blowing principles.
as read with Statutory Instru- In the 5 July letter written to
ment 150 of 2020. acting commissioner-general
Rameck Masaire, the whis-
Statutory Instrument 150 tle-blowers said “Zimra insid-
of 2020, gazetted on 26 June ers are giving outsiders cases
2020, regulates the payment reported to them for corrupt
of rewards to informants upon financial benefit”.
whistle-blowing and recovery On 26 July, Masaire wrote to
of revenue. the whistle-blowers saying Ku-
jinga had withdrawn the case
The reward is 10% of the and “having considered the
amount recovered on the basis facts above, please be advised
of information supplied. that the case was duly closed”.
On 29 July, the whis-
Zimra also undertakes to tle-blowers rejected Masaire’s
protect the identity of the in- claim, saying their case had
formants at all times as provid- been stolen and reward money
ed for in the secrecy provisions paid to those who helped to hi-
of the Revenue Authority Act. jack the report.
“This is certainly a case of
Documents obtained by robbery involving a cartel in
The NewsHawks from Zimra, Zimra which clandestinely
which claims its values include robbed us of our confidential
integrity, transparency and fair- information and parcelled it
ness, show that top officials at out to their preferred candidate
the tax collector are at the fore- Zimra Acting Commissioner-General Rameck Masaire. in return for kickbacks,” the
front of illegally and criminally whistle-blowers said.
collaborating with corrupt tax Mutombodzi, the Zimra com- of the Revenue Authority Act after a period of silence from “In 2015, things got worse. “It is also a case in which
evaders for financial benefit missioner for investigations (chapter 23:11). They regis- Zimra, they got the shock of The whistle-blowers then dis- officials who are vested with
without regard for the safety of and international affairs. tered the case with Mujuru their lives. covered that their case had been the processing of issues of con-
whistle-blowers. Other Zimra officials men- who was acting commissioner “When the whistle-blowers taken by senior Zimra officials fidentiality and integrity de-
tioned in the case include Lor- investigations as Mutombodzi arrived at the investigations and handed over to a purport- liberately abused their duty of
In one dramatic case which raine Mhlanga, who worked in was not around. office where they had initial- ed whistle-blower who shares trust.”
enveloped Zimra during the Mutombodzi’s office, and Lon- “In their report, the whis- ly made the report, they were the same surname as the owner The letter added: “It is very
tenure of Faith Mazani as com- to Ndlovu, who was replaced tle-blowers highlighted tax told by Mutombodzi that there of Delatfin. So they found out disturbing for the tax authori-
missioner-general, three whis- by Regina Chinamasa as com- heads covering Income Tax, was no record of their case. The that someone called Eriazere ty which is charged with such
tle-blowers reported a case in missioner of revenue assurance Value Added Tax and Pay-As- file on Delatfin was nowhere Munyaradzi was now the com- a confidentiality function to
2013 which has dragged on up and special projects. You-Earn. They provided Zim- to be seen. Mutombodzi then plainant against Felix Mun- abuse its fiduciary duty and
to now. Documents show that the ra with detailed information, directed them to Mujuru who yaradzi, which was strange. to deprive legitimate whis-
case started in September 2013 including bank records from a actually was in charge of inves- More so, his report was based tle-blowers of their just and
The whistle-blowers had re- when three whistle-blowers – Stanbic Bank account and oth- tigations in an acting capacity on their report lodged two lawful entitlement to a mone-
ported notorious Harare land Norman Nyabadza, Martin er banks. Delatfin was develop- when the report was first made. years earlier. Zimra officials had tary reward”.
baron Felix Munyaradzi to Macharaga and Evans Kujin- ing houses in Mount Hamp- “When the whistle-blowers accepted Eriazere On 6 December, the whis-
Zimra for tax evasion which ga – approached Zimra armed den and Zvimba Rural District got to Mujuru’s office, he was Munyaradzi’s report against tle-blowers escalated the issue
has now ballooned to US$12 with detailed information Council on a massive scale, but hostile and told them that he Felix Munyaradzi, and were to Zimra acting board chair
million. Zimra last month about Munyaradzi’s tax evasion not paying tax. didn’t know them and never now pushing for Eriazere to be Josephine Matambo. “Clearly,
wrote to Munyaradzi demand- issues. “When the whistle-blow- received such a report against paid his 10% of recovery which this is fraud and dishonourable
ing payment or else they would “The whistle-blowers ap- ers arrived, they met Mujuru Delatfin from them or anyone. was significant given the mil- conduct which not only taints
garnish his business accounts. proached Zimra way back and Mhlanga who worked in He chased them out of his of- lions owed.” the image of senior officials,
in September 2013 to report Mutombodzi’s office dealing fice. The whistle-blowers then Manyika confirmed to the but also puts the whole organ-
Mazani, now the new resi- Munyaradzi and his compa- with investigations. After nar- went to Mhlanga’s office and whistle-blowers that Eriazere isation into disrepute. Mujuru
dent tax administration adviser ny Delatfin Investments (Pvt) rating their story, the case was she confirmed that the case had Munyaradzi had taken over the committed fraud on this mat-
for Afritac South, a collabora- Ltd for tax evasion. They had accepted as solid and they were been opened as she had person- case. ter,” the whistle-blowers said.
tive arrangement between the detailed information about the asked to fill in a whistle-blow- ally done so. It became clear But Eriazere Munyaradzi de- A further series of exchang-
International Monetary Fund, issue, including business deal- er’s form. Following the open- that Mujuru had become hos- nied this. es between the whistle-blowers
beneficiary countries and ex- ings, financial records and bank ing of the case, Zimra made a tile and was acting in a strange “I have never dealt with followed with Mazani and oth-
ternal development partners accounts. Their issue was that couple of verbal updates on the way.” Zimra or Felix Munyaradzi and er officials as the whistle-blow-
aimed at technical assistance Delatfin was evading tax and investigation, but things started As if that was not bad I don’t even know who he is,” ers demanded their pound of
and cooperation on macro-eco- they had evidence to support changing in 2014.” enough, the whistle-blowers Eriazere Munyaradzi said. flesh, which they are still deter-
nomic and financial manage- that,” one document says. Documents say when the were to further get shocked Later, when the whis- mined to get.
ment areas for southern Africa “So Nyabadza, Macharaga whistle-blowers, who had ad- by how Zimra senior officials tle-blowers enquired about Contacted for comment
and the West Indian Ocean and Kujinga reported the case ditional information, went to behaved unprofessionally and their case with the new infor- Zimra said it will look into the
region, dealt with the case, but in terms of Section 34B (2) find out about the case in 2014 illegally towards them. mation showing it had been issue.
left it unresolved.
At the centre of the case
is Zimra executive managers
Jephat Mujuru, acting com-
missioner of customs and ex-
cise and Tapiwa Manyika, the
director of loss control. Muju-
ru was acting head of investi-
gations when the case was re-
ported in the absence of Anna
NewsHawks News Page 5
Issue 26, 16 April 2021 and services but illegally
receipting these transac-
Zimra tions in local currency,
slammed over saying the culprits would
non-disclosure be named, shamed and
of US dollar prosecuted.
revenue
Under the law, all busi-
ECONOMIC experts “I think it will be in nesses and individuals
have slammed the Zim- the best interests of Zim- have to pay tax in the cur-
babwe Revenue Authority babweans to know the rency of their sales in pro-
(Zimra) over the non-dis- quantum of US dollar portion to each currency
closure of foreign currency earnings being raked in used.
revenues in its earnings. by tax authorities. The law
currently recognises use of The taxman said a num-
This is despite the fact multi-currencies and con- ber of such businesses
that government pub- tinued silence contradicts selling some goods and
lished Statutory Instru- government policy. services in foreign curren-
ment 85 of 2020, legal- cy, mostly the US dollar,
ising the use of foreign “Silence over the mat- are receipting those sales
currency locally and in ter may be an attempt to in Zimbabwean dollars,
the process automatical- avoid effecting partial US which allows them to pay
ly requiring companies to dollar salaries to the tax- the resulting tax share in
pay tax in the currency of man’s employees and the local currency, and thus
trade. generality of civil servants potentially face charges of
who are expecting such in- tax fraud.
However, to date, no crements. It may also be
public disclosure has been inspired by government’s —STAFF WRITER.
made about the quantum desire to avoid direct ad-
of US dollar tax collected mission that the local EXECUTIVE
by the taxman. currency is not effectively CONFERENCE ROOM
performing,” she said.
Speaking to The New- AVAILABLE
sHawks, economist Pros- Chakanya added that For
per Chitambara called for matters of taxation are in
transparency on the col- the public interest, hence -Private Meetings
lections. the urgent need for full -Investment Meetings
disclosures. -Workshops
“It is time the taxman -Product Launches
became more transparent Zimra spokesperson -Media or Financial Briengs
on the matter of revenue Francis Chimanda had not -Trainings
collections which is a criti- responded to questions by -Strategic Planning
cal bedrock of good finan- the time of publishing.
cial practices. Continued Visit us at:
silence creates room for However, impeccable The NewsHawks
negative and baseless per- sources in Zimra attribut- #100 Nelson
ceptions to form conspira- ed the non-disclosure to Mandela Avenue
cy theories,” he said. the fact that the country Berverly Court
has not changed its re- 6th Floor
He added that disclo- porting currency from the
sure will meet the inter- Zimbabwean dollar as was
national best practice on the case in 2009 when the
matters around publicly economy fully dollarised.
generated funds.
Last year, that tax au-
Another economist, thority raised similar con-
Naome Chakanya, urged cerns and declared war on
the authorities to act in business entities accepting
the best interests of the foreign currency for goods
country.
For More Information. Please Contact :
Charmaine Phiri on 0735 666 122
Ruth Nyamukova on 0784 674 193
OR
E-Mail: [email protected]
The NewsHawks TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]
Zimra spokesman Francis Chimanda.
Page 6 News NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
NYASHA CHINGONO Battle for Redwing Mine pointed to take over the mine.
intensifies amid scramble On October 15 last year,
THE battle for Redwing
Mine, which used to be …judicial manager booted out Madondo told Mutombgwera
owned by Metallon Corpora- and Chitate that he had giv-
tion through King’s Daughter Redwing Mine in Penhalonga. en Probadek exclusive min-
Mining Company Limited, is ing rights in respect of Red-
intensifying as a group of po- Prominent gold dealer Pedzai ‘Scott’ Sakupwanya. Madondo, Tudor House wing Mine covering 132 gold
litically well-connected gold Consultants (Pvt) Ltd man- mining blocks, eight copper
dealers are trying to seize it do has been suspended amid the criminal proceedings in- and Arcturus Mine. aging director, was appointed mining blocks and any other
from an equally networked allegations of corruption. stituted against him,” a letter At the height of Zimba- the judicial manager by the mining claim belonging to
young female miner and her written by Additional Master High Court. the operation.
consortium. Documents seen by The of the High Court (Insolven- bwe’s economic problems it
NewsHawks show that Ma- cy) Vusomuzi Gapara says. closed amid flooding. It re- After presiding over a pro- So on the same day, Mu-
Details obtained by The dondo, who is facing corrup- “The suspension order is with sumed production in 2015 cess which led to Mutombgw- tombgwera and Chitate on
NewsHawks show that since tion charges, has been booted immediate effect.” following dewatering. era successfully bidding for that basis signed a joint ven-
last year, the mine has been out. the mine following a public ture and relationship agree-
owned by former vice-presi- Redwing Mine used to be Redwing Mine, located in call for investors to rescue the ment with Madondo repre-
dent Kembo Mohadi’s niece “Dr C H Madondo, the run by Metallon, owned by Manicaland province about operation, senting Redwing.
Patricia Mutombgwera and corporate rescue practitioner South African tycoon Mzi 20 kilometres northeast of
her partner Grant Chitate for Red Wing Mining Com- Khumalo, and belonged to the city of Mutare and 265 Madondo then found him- Two weeks later, on 30
through Probadek Invest- pany (Private) Limited be the same stable as How Mine, kilometres southeast of Hara- self in the middle of a cor- October, Mutombgwera and
ments which has exclusive and is hereby suspended from Shamva Mine, Mazowe Mine re, was placed under judicial ruption storm as he sold the Chitate entered into and
mining rights covering 132 duty pending finalisation of management in July last year. exclusive mining rights of the signed an agreement with
gold mining blocks, eight mine to three companies for Redwing under the impres-
copper mining blocks and any US$260 000 between Octo- sion that they had secured ex-
other mining claim belonging ber and December last year. clusive rights to invest in the
to the mine. mine.
He is currently out on bail,
However, well-known but has since been suspended As a result, Probadek paid
Harare gold-dealer Pedzai as judicial manager. In July US$60 000 cash to Madon-
“Scott” Sakupwanya and his last year, Redwing was placed do’s personal company Tudor
Chinese networks — who say under Madondo’s care. A pub- House Consultants as cor-
they are linked to President lic notice was issued looking porate rescue fees and subse-
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sons for an investor to inject US$2 quently made capital expen-
— are manoeuvring to grab million to rescue the mine. diture of US$200 000.
the mine illegally. Mutombgwera and Probadek
expressed an interest in the as- In the meantime, Madon-
Sakupwanya and his Chi- set and then approached Ma- do then entered into another
nese partner known as Mark dondo over it. He asked them agreement with Prime Royal
Young (real name Khong to come up with a letter of Mining (Private) Limited,
Yoong Yong), who says he is intent and busines proposal. giving them the same mining
close to Vice-President Con- block in November.
stantino Chiwenga, is clan- A meeting of stakeholders,
destinely pushing to muscle including workers, creditors On 1 December 2020,
into the mine. and investors was organised Sakupwanya’s BetterBrands
by a committee appointed to Mining entered into an agree-
The Redwing Mine saga oversee the process to secure ment with Madondo, giving
was at the centre of Mohadi’s a new investor. Probadek was them the same mining con-
recent resignation amid sleazy the only bidder at the time cessions.
sex scandals with commer- and was automatically ap-
cial rivalry between him and Before all that, Sakupwan-
the Mnangagwa family in the ya and Yong had approached
background. Mutombgwera after she had
won the bid for the mine to
“Redwing is now a battle- partner her in a joint ven-
ground for political elites and ture. They first proposed to
their networks,” an informed pay US$50 000 cash ahead
source said. “On the one and a 60%-40% shareholding
hand you have Mutombgw- structure in their favour. Mu-
era, who is Mohadi’s niece, tombgwera agreed, believing
and on the other there is Scott that this would help increase
who is connected to Mnan- capital and capacity to revive
gagwa’s sons and Yong who the mine. Sakupwanya and
says he is linked to Chiwenga. his Chinese partner came
These groups are fighting over back and proposed to pay
gold there and there is fierce more cash upfront and rejig
rivalry over that. If you go to the equity structure to 70%-
the mine itself there are sever- 30%. She was not opposed to
al other politically connected it, although she was becom-
groups at local and national ing suspicious.
levels also fighting for control
of the mine or its claims. It’s And then on the third time
a big gold war unfolding over they proposed to pay more
Redwing.” cash and secure 80%, with
20% remaining for her. At
Sakupwanya, linked to that time, Mutombgwera be-
high political networks, owns came suspicious that Sakup-
BetterBrands Mining Com- wanya wanted to buy the
pany and BetterBrands Jewel- mine through the back door
lery. He is known as a cash- and she pulled the plug on
rich gold dealer who used to the deal. Mutombgwera and
be an underworld currency Probadek then went ahead
and gold agent for the Reserve on their own to register a
Bank of Zimbabwe. tribute agreement with the
Manicaland provincial mines
In 2020, pictures of Sakup- department on 11 November
wanya posing with dozens of 2020 to control the mine.
gold bars and piles of United
States dollars went viral on While they awaited ap-
social media with reports at provals, Sakupwanya and his
the time saying he was a well- partners moved to register on
heeled runner for a syndicate 8 February 2021 their own
of loaded gold dealers – not a tribute agreement and quickly
principal. got an approval wrongly dat-
ed 29 January 2021, meaning
This comes as Redwing ju- they got the approval before
dicial manager Cecil Madon- they registered – which is
fraudulent.
NewsHawks News Page 7
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Background: Goodread
Penhalonga
is now site of
a cut-throat
scramble
for gold
PENHALONGA, a mining the company had lost US$132 Artisanal miners at Redwing in Penhalonga, Manicaland province.
settlement in Mutasa District million worth of profits due to
of Manicaland province about the central bank’s alleged “cor- gotiate a three-year contract ince in the Penhalonga gold cians has undermined the rule obtain poles for makeshift
20 kilometres north of Mutare ruption and a sense of impu- which will grant them author- rush. CNRG established that of law, stability and livelihoods camping shacks. Mutasa Ru-
in a valley where the Tsambe nity”. ity to deploy artisanal miners in December 2019, some of the of the affected communities. ral District Council has not
and Imbeza rivers meet the until 2023. Joint Operations Command Corruption, sometimes cou- been able to stop the activities,
Mutare River, has become a Redwing Mine had gone for Illicit financial flows (Joc) officials from Manicaland pled with intimidation and but Mutasa South Member of
battleground for artisanal min- more than three years without Hundreds of tonnes of gold ore province held meetings at Red- violence, has become common. Parliament Regai Tsunga told
ers and politicians seeking to paying salaries to its 750 em- are processed by Prime Roy- wing Mine to deliberate on the CNRG he is in the process of
grab Redwing Mine which was ployees, resulting in the workers al Mining at Redwing Mine future of the company. CNRG investigations have engaging the ministry of Mines
owned by Metallon Corpora- suing the company. Following premises. According to sources revealed that the haphazard and Mining Development to
tion. the placement of the company within Redwing Mine, month- Some of the senior police of- mining in Penhalonga has now halt illegal mining activities
under judicial management in ly gold production levels are ficers in the province have since taken the form of organised in the area. Tsunga said water
A report done last year by 2018, most workers turned to estimated to be between 4kg been allocated gold-rich spots crime as the syndicates are in- reservoirs in Penhalonga face
the Centre for Natural Re- artisanal mining for survival. At and 5kg. to extract the mineral without terlinked and use corruption contamination from chem-
source Governance (CNRG), first some of the workers were following proper regulatory and violence to secure min- icals used at Redwing Mine
which monitors mining and working underground, but this However, it emerged that procedures as required by law. ing rights and resource rents. and also by artisanal miners
related issues, says politically stopped due to flooding which security is lax along the pro- Politicians and other political- There is a clandestine secretive along the Mutare River. Ema
connected individuals and po- was triggered by the switching duction line at the mine and, ly linked elites use power and consortium which holds the Manicaland regional manager
litical actors were scrambling off of electricity supply by the as a result, some people smug- political connections to access strings of artisanal mining in Kingstone Chitotombe said
for gold in the area now teem- Zimbabwe Electricity Supply gle their ore outside the plant. gold claims and parcel them Penhalonga. the extent of environmental
ing with artisanal miners dig- Authority, citing non-payment Those who smuggle the gold out to syndicates which they Environmental disaster destruction in Penhalonga is
ging around haphazardly, with of bills by the company. ore will first bribe the security manage. The closure of Red- Penhalonga and Tsvingwe, a cause for concern. He said
devastating environmental guards. Smuggling has given wing offered an opportunity home to over 20 000 people, Ema has been reporting these
consequences. Redwing Mine workers then rise to disparities in terms of to political elites, the political- is now a huge artisanal mining cases to the police, but there is
joined artisanal miners at pop- earnings for artisanal miners ly connected and securocrats field with open pits and dumps a cat-and-mouse relationship
The artisanal miners are said ular mining sites along Mutare because while some get 40% who, with the aid of the or- all over. This is in violation of between police and artisanal
to have been brought in by syn- River and around Penhalonga. share, those who are smuggling ganised syndicates, are exploit- section 73 of the constitution miners. Chitotombe said Ema
dicates linked to ruling elites However, things turned worse are retaining 100% value. ing the mine’s claims dotted of Zimbabwe which states that has engaged artisanal miners on
who are accelerating environ- when a company known to ar- around Penhalonga and Tsvin- every Zimbabwean has a right numerous occasions, but this
mental degradation in the area. tisanal miners as Prime Royal Some artisanal miners al- gwe for profit without due care to an environment that is not has not yielded positive results.
The report says the environ- Mining arrived in Penhalonga leged that the smuggling of for the environment. harmful to their health or well- Potential conflict
mental regulatory authority, in December in 2019. gold ore is happening with the being. The open pits left by The conversion of Redwing
Environmental Management Prime Royal Mining full knowledge of PRM person- Mutasa Rural District artisanal miners pose a health Mine to a huge artisanal min-
Agency (Ema), has not taken Prime Royal Mining (PRM) is nel. Most of the artisanal miners Council cannot effect council hazard to locals as an unrecord- ing field has caused political
action, raising suspicion of the now the major player at Red- who are part of the smuggling by-laws to stop the illicit min- ed number of people have been and socio-environmental dis-
involvement of very powerful wing Mine in Penhalonga. syndicate are closely linked to ing allegedly due to fear of ret- injured after falling into the putes within the Penhalonga
or politically well-connected CNRG says it has established the management of the compa- ribution from those behind the holes. and Tsvingwe communities.
individuals in the unfolding that PRM entered into a one- ny. CNRG also established that mining activities. In the same The politically connected have
environmental crisis in the year contract with Redwing PRM buys gold from artisanal vein, Ema has failed to put an Subsistence farmers with been displacing other artisanal
once pristine town. Mine in December 2019. miners at straight weight prices end to the activities or to pun- fields between Redwing Mine miners from the mining field.
of US$40 per gramme instead ish those undertaking illegal offices and Liverpool com-
CNRG says Penhalonga’s Under the agreement, Red- of fine weight price of US$57 mining as the law requires. Po- pound told CNRG they will The influx of people from
crisis is intertwined with the wing Mine and PRM get 30% per gramme. lice will not intervene because not be planting in the 2020- other provinces has brought
placement of Redwing Mine each, while artisanal miners get the people involved are “un- 2021 season as their fields have with it new dynamics which the
under judicial management by 40%. It was also established It also emerged during the touchable”. been overrun by artisanal min- people of Penhalonga now have
Metallon in 2018, citing viabil- that PRM was to set up a mill- research that Prime Royal Min- ers. Mutare River is now mud- to grapple with. According to
ity challenges owing to foreign ing plant and artisanal miners ing does not have a clear man- Observations in Penhalon- choked and the water is con- Councillor Njazi Sabuneti,
currency shortages. are obligated to send their ore agerial structure on the ground ga have shown that police taminated with mercury from Penhalonga and Tsvingwe have
to that mill. and, as a result, it has been are providing security for the artisanal mining activities. been a relatively safe place, but
The forex shortages were difficult for artisanal miners to gold-mining actors by mak- There is massive siltation that since the coming of PRM and
blamed on government regu- The milling company be- know who exactly is in charge. ing sure that ore that is com- has greatly affected the riverine the up-scaling of artisanal min-
lations which stipulated that came the sole gold buyer from Politicisation of Redwing ing from the pits goes straight and aquatic ecosystems. ing at Redwing Mine, there are
gold-mining companies sell the the artisanal miners. The artis- There are indications of in- to the mill. State security is increased incidences of mug-
mineral to the state-owned Fi- anal miners include some for- volvement of senior politicians providing services to a shad- Artisanal miners have also ging in the area.
delity Printers and Refiners at mer Redwing Mine workers and members of the security owy private company that is been wantonly cutting down
an officially determined price. and some syndicates that came sector from Manicaland prov- rumoured to belong to some trees in one plantation at Ze- –CNRG/The NewsHawks.
The Reserve Bank of Zimba- from Shurugwi, Gweru, Kwe- members of Joc. ngeni area in Penhalonga to
bwe (RBZ) allowed companies kwe, and Kadoma. Redwing
to retain a portion of their ex- Mine also negotiated to have The involvement of politi-
port earnings, while the rest its unpaid workers work as ar-
was paid in local currency us- tisanal miners as a way of miti-
ing the Real-Time Gross Settle- gating their financial situation.
ment (RTGS) system. When Prime Royal Mining en-
tered into Redwing Mine, the
Metallon claimed it was ground manager reportedly left
sending gold to the RBZ, but at the beginning of 2020 under
it was unable to repatriate the a cloud of accusations. The re-
proceeds. The company was hit placement is a man who report-
hard and began to sell its assets; edly claims to be linked to the
firstly it was Arcturus Mine, security team of a member of
then Shamva Mine and lastly the presidium.
Redwing Mine.
As the PRM agreement
Only How Mine remained with Redwing Mine nears ex-
operational. In 2019, Metal- piry date, CNRG understands
lon chairman Mzi Khuma- the milling company has been
lo announced that they had making frantic efforts to ne-
commenced legal proceedings
against the RBZ, claiming that
Page 8 News NewsHawks
More trouble Issue 26, 16 April 2021
for Malaba as
lawyers gird stitution, dictates that any law,
up for fight practice, custom or conduct that
is inconsistent with the supreme
OWEN GAGARE Chief Justice and his colleagues, “The order of invalidity as re- The granting of the application Chief Justice Luke Malaba. law is invalid to the extent of the
however, did not just make a gards the Bill cannot be ignored. in these circumstances would judges although he crucially sid- inconsistency. The ineluctable
TWO lawyer groupings, one simple declaration that the Bill This is the first premise in the be inconsistent with the consti- ed with Makarau. He however consequence of this principle
in Harare and another in Bula- had not been validly passed by consideration of the application. tution. suggested that the violation of is that anything done by Par-
wayo, are preparing to challenge Parliament – which would have It was adjudged as being invalid. section 147 of the constitution liament that is contrary to the
the passing of the Constitution meant that the resulting Act and That said, the Bill cannot be re- “…For the above reasons, it could be challenged separately. provisions of the constitution,
of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. anything done under it were also suscitated through this applica- is my view that the application including section 147, would be
1) Bill in parliament last Tuesday, invalid. Instead, it saw fit to tion,” Gowora said. should be dismissed with no or- “I cannot but agree with invalid and unconstitutional to
a move which potentially derails suspend its declaration of inva- der as to costs.” Gowora AJCC that the suprem- the extent of such inconsistency,”
Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s con- lidity for 180 days to allow the “It lapsed by operation of law. acy of the constitution, as en- Patel said.
troversial plan to extend his ten- Senate to conduct another Third Patel said he agreed with both shrined in section 2 of the con-
ure. Reading which, again, is set to be “Nonetheless, in the partic-
challenged by lawyers. ular circumstances of this mat-
The extension plan is linked ter, despite the clear substantive
to President Emmerson Mnan- The lawyers will argue that implications of section 2 of the
gagwa’s 2023 re-election bid. the Bill should have been de- constitution, I am inclined to
clared null and void after failing concur with the predominantly
Malaba seemed on course for to meet requirements of sec- procedural stance adopted by
a politically and constitutional- tion 328 (5) of the constitution Makarau AJCC in the determi-
ly problematic extension of his which requires a two-thirds ma- nation of this application. I do
tenure after high-level official jority for it to pass. so for the following reasons and
interventions and the passing of in accordance with the principles
the Bill, which is now awaiting “They will also argue that that she has fully and ably ex-
Mnangagwa’s assent. section 147 of the constitution pounded.”
was violated when the Constitu-
Constitutional Amendment tion of Zimbabwe Amendment Patel said the order granted by
(No.1) Bill, among other things, (No.1) Bill was passed because the court on 31 March 2020 is
seeks to allow the President to it straddled two different lives of a final order but suggested it can
appoint the Chief Justice, Depu- parliament, which is unconstitu- be reviewed in a separate matter.
ty Chief Justice and Judge Presi- tional,” a lawyer said.
dent without subjecting them to “As such, it may only be re-
the open selection process and The Bill straddled the eighth viewed or overruled by this court
public interviews. parliament which ran from 2013 in a separate and distinct matter
to midnight on Sunday 29 July that might arise for determina-
This will allow Mnangagwa 2018, and the currently running tion in the future, where such
to retain Malaba at the helm of ninth parliament, whose tenure departure is appropriate and
the judiciary after the approval ends in 2023. justified. It cannot be departed
of Constitutional Amendment from in the same matter, as is the
(No.2) Bill, which is set to be Section 147 of the constitu- case with the application before
railroaded through parliament, tion reads: us, wherein the original cause of
to enable Malaba to serve when action has remained unaltered,”
he is over 70. “On the dissolution of parlia- Patel said.
ment, all proceedings pending
The NewsHawks is however at the time are terminated, and Lawyers will also strongly ar-
reliably informed that lawyers every Bill, motion, petition and gue that the supremacy of the
linked to Veritas in Harare and other business lapses.” constitution was undermined by
Abameli in Bulawayo will chal- allowing section 147 of the con-
lenge the passing of the Bill on a When parliament, is dissolved stitution to be violated.
number of fronts, including the all unconcluded bills are liqui-
supremacy of the constitution as dated. If the executive wants to
enshrined in section 2. They will push through a Bill, it has to be
also argue that sections 147 and first reintroduced in the new par-
328 of the constitution were vio- liament.
lated in passing the Bill.
However, with Constitution
Malaba, by operation of law, of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.
ceases to be chief justice at mid- 1) Bill, the executive picked up
night on 15 May when he turns from where it had left in the life
70. of the eighth parliament.
The Bill was initially passed in The violation of section 147
August 2017 and published as of the constitution was the main
law on 7 September 2017. reason why Justice Anne-Marie
Gowora gave a dissenting judge-
However, legislators Jessie ment when a three-judge Con-
Majome, who is now a Zim- Court, also consisting of Justices
babwe Anti-Corruption Com- Rita Makarau and Bharat Patel,
mission commissioner, and In- heard a substantive application
nocent Gonese challenged the on 10 November 2020 by par-
process in the Constitutional liament before granting another
Court, arguing the Bill should extension in a judgement deliv-
have been passed after two-thirds ered on 26 February 2021.
affirmative votes by membership
of each house, in line with sec- While Makarau was in favour
tion 328 (5) of the constitution. of granting a 90-day extension,
Patel sat on the fence and said
However, at its last reading in he agreed with both judges al-
the Senate on 1 August 2017, though crucially he leaned to-
it received 53 affirmative votes wards Makarau who argued that
whereas the full membership of accepting that section 147 of the
the Senate is 80. A two-thirds constitution was violated would
majority meant that at least 54 question the constitutionality of
senators should have voted for the 31 March court order.
the Bill.
She said this would be incon-
The Constitutional Court sat sistent with the principle of fi-
on 31 January 2018 to hear the nality of a Constitutional Court
case, only to pass judgement 31 decision in a particular case.
March 2020. In a judgement
written by Malaba, the court con- Gowora ruled that parlia-
curred that a two-thirds majority ment’s application was uncon-
was not met in the Senate. The stitutional as it breached section
147 of the constitution.
NewsHawks News Page 9
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
OWEN GAGARE Simba, Bona’s mansion: Chombo acquired the stand
Monument to corruption irregularly since he did not
THE huge mansion that for- follow council laid down pro-
mer president Robert Mug- gineers and land surveyors fa- Herald revealed that after be- which then resolved on 22 clerk Tendai Mahachi propos- cedures and that Chiwanga
abe’s daughter Bona and son- miliar with the land say it is in ing acquired by Chombo, the September 1992 that the stand ing his acquisition of 61 Hel- influenced the commission to
in-law Simba Mutsahuni have fact 22ha. land was eventually sold to the “be subdivided and be sold to ensvale. sell the stand to the minister
been struggling to complete Mutsahunis for a paltry US$2 people on the housing waiting without going to tender as per
since the longtime ruler was The land in question was 300. list as sub-serviced stands.” On 21 March 2008 the council policy.
unceremoniously removed however zoned for recreational city’s director of Urban Plan-
from power through a coup purposes. Several individuals, Real estate agents are selling At the time, there was no ning, Psychology Chiwanga, The committee found that
in 2017 is sitting on land that companies and faith-based a 20ha piece of land in Helens- need to seek the minister’s tabled a report advising coun- Chombo got interest in the
was corruptly acquired. organisations have over the vale for up to US$7.2 million. consent for the change of use cil about Chombo’s intentions. property after considering sev-
years tried to buy the land but on 61 Helensvale since it had He recommended to council eral applications forwarded to
Construction of the man- were turned down by council The land was acquired an approved town planning that the minister be sold the his office for approval. Chom-
sion, initially pegged at US$39 because of previous munici- through Chordac Invest- scheme according to the Re- stand without going to tender bo turned down the applica-
million, was moving fast prior pal resolutions. Chombo also ments, whose two directors are gional Town and Country as per council policy. tions.
to Mugabe’s removal from turned down several applica- listed in the Companies’ Reg- Planning Act Of 1976. Conflict of interest
power and continued albeit at tions for change of land use, istry office as being Bona and “The Commission consid- “The Director of Urban Plan-
a reduced pace until Mugabe’s but that did not stop him from Simbarashe Mutsahuni (also On 2 December 1992, the ered the report on 21 March ning Services (Chiwanga) who
death in September 2019. Fol- acquiring the land for himself known as Chikore). City of Harare agreed to the 2008 and on 25 March 2008 is involved in these shoddy
lowing Mugabe’s death, work in 2008, with the assistance sale of subdivision of stand 61 urgently sat again, pegged the land deals was formerly em-
has been moving at a snail’s of his cronies stationed at the Chombo’s name does not Helensvale. price and sold the stand on the ployed in the Ministry of Lo-
pace, with insiders revealing City of Harare, causing an appear on Chordac Invest- same day,” the report reads. cal Government before being
that the budget has been cut uproar at the local authority, ments’ CR14 Form, although However, the City of Ha- seconded to Council. He was
from US$39 million to US$20 council documents show. his close ally Nelson Mhandu, rare withdrew the change of “Two days later (27/03/08) later elevated to head the De-
million after the couple decid- who was a deputy director in use after residents of Budleigh Chiwanga wrote to Minister partment of Urban Planning
ed to forego some stylish deco- At the time, the City of the ministry of Local Gov- Park objected in June 1994. Chombo advising him that Services after the unceremo-
rations, security measures and Harare was being run by a ernment, Rural and Urban Council had agreed to his ap- nious dismissal of Engineer
other specifications. commission handpicked by Development, was one of the “They wanted it to remain plication.” Christopher Zvobgo,” the
Chombo. founding directors along with a natural reserve area and committee noted.
Government officials say Natsai Jaiwa, who was a prin- formed the Budleigh Park The report noted that Chi-
Mugabe, using his influence, A special investigations cipal administration officer in Natural Reserve Association wanga was acting more like “M. Gandiwa who worked
was playing a prominent role committee’s report on the city’s the ministry during Chombo’s comprised of households in Chombo’s agent since he in- as a planner in the same Min-
in the construction of the land sales, leases and exchang- tenure, The Herald investiga- the neighbourhood,” the re- fluenced the Commission to istry and was responsible for
mansion, hence it is not sur- es from 2004 to 2009, dated tion found. port reads. sell the stand without going to approving change of land use
prising that Simba and Bona 23 March 2010, recommend- tender as per Council policy for the Minister was also sec-
are struggling to complete it ed that “Stand 61 Helensvale Mhandu and Jaiwa howev- Among people and compa- and he continuously updated onded to Council City Plan-
since his death. should revert to its Town Plan- er resigned as directors of the nies who applied for the stand him on progress on the matter. ner on the eve of the 2008
ning Scheme purposes and re- company on 11 November but were turned down citing harmonised elections.
“One can say that the house main an open space for recre- 2015, leaving Bona and Simba the previous council resolu- “Change of Land use was
was being funded through ational purposes”. as the directors. tion are Edson Jon Zimbanda only approved on 28 March “The Investigating Com-
corruption and influence ped- Sequence of events and Aggrey Francis Samasuwo 2008 by Minister Chom- mittee noted with concern that
dling. The land it is built on But it was then again cor- According to the City of Hara- (1996), Eddy Chirwa of Jew bo way after he had already the Minister would ‘identify’
was acquired through corrup- ruptly acquired by the Mut- re’s special investigations com- Construction (1996), Dot- bought it,” the report reads. land, and then council would
tion and therefore it stands as a sahunis with Chombo’s assis- mittee chaired by Councillor works (Pvt) Ltd (2000), Pe- apply to him for change of
monument of corruption,” an tance. Worship Dumba, change of tunia Chiriseri (2004), World “According to the advice of land use on the stand applied
official said. use for 61 Helensvale was Ablaze Ministries (2006), T sale, the stand was sold on the for, he in turn would approve
After The NewsHawks last first discussed at a full council Mangabe (2006). eve of the March 2008 har- the same and advise Council
The 20-hectare prime land, month revealed that the Mut- meeting on 4 October 1990, monised elections.” before buying the property.”
situated at stand number 61 sahunis were struggling to However, Chombo wrote Investigations findings
Helensvale, has a long history complete the mansion, The a letter dated 13 December The committee found that Accordingly, the committee
of contestation and was once 2006 addressed to then town resolved that “council should
corruptly grabbed by former repossess Stand 61 Helensvale
Finance minister Ignatious because: It was acquired irreg-
Chombo, during his tenure as ularly and that there was con-
Local Government minister. flict of interest on the part of
the beneficiary.”
Although council records
say the land is 20ha, civil en-
Page 10 News NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
NYASHA CHINGONO Land baron in trouble my money,” Run’anga told
NOTORIOUS land baron over bogus car deals The NewsHawks.
Felix Munyaradzi has been
embroiled in yet another Felix Munyaradzi (left) with his wife. Munyaradzi’s swindling
messy scandal after swindling net also extends to teachers in
dozens of cattle from farmers ment with Munyaradzi, while in Harare, I got nothing. They sHawks how Munyaradzi’s used money that my children Gutu, who also have harrow-
in Gutu, who gave away their he is busy stocking his farm only called this week be- mother lured him into using had sent me from abroad and ing tale to tell.
livestock in 2018 in exchange with our cattle.” all his savings and financial even sold five cattle to raise
for vehicles in a botched deal. cause we reported the issue at help from his children abroad. the balance, but all to no Edward Mtungwazi, a
Eric Chimutwe (57), an- the police. avail.” Run’anga said the last schoolteacher in Gutu, wants
Nearly three years after the other Gutu farmer, also lost “I had another car that I time he visited Munyaradzi to face the full
farmers entered into the cat- 14 cattle after he was prom- “I had grown vegetables was using to run a transport wrath of the law.
tle-for-cars deal with Mun- ised a Toyota 2.5 tonne truck. and watermelons, but most of business which Munyaradzi Munyaradzi’s offices in Ha-
yaradzi, the dodgy business- He is still to get his vehicle, my produce went bad before had sold me. His mother, rare, late last year, he ended After his colleagues shared
man is yet to deliver. nearly three years later. reaching the market. We are whom I regard as a sister, up sleeping at Mbudzi round- with him how they had ac-
about 70km from the high- said Munyaradzi was selling about for a week. The 68-year- quired cars from Munyaradzi
Munyaradzi, who is also “When I visited his offices way so reaching the market a baby (Toyota) Quantum old said he had no relatives in in 2018, Mtungwazi got a
facing charges of tax evasion demanding my car in 2018, is very difficult. Getting the for US$5 000. I paid US$3 Harare and was desperate to US$5 000 loan from the bank
totalling US$14 million, has I was offered a Honda Fit. truck would have helped me 400 and, before I could pay get his car. to pay for his own vehicle.
been slippery since agreeing Imagine losing 14 cattle val- immensely in my farming the balance, they said the car
the botched deal with the ued at US$500 each for such business,” Chimutwe added. had been bought by someone “We never got the car as He was promised a Honda
farmers. a small vehicle. I declined the else,” Run’anga recounts his promised and they said I can Fit vehicle but, nearly three
offer because I saw that I was Another farmer, Petros ordeal. sleep anywhere. I once slept years later, Mtungwazi is yet
The farmers say they have being duped in broad day- Run’anga, a small-scale trans- at a garage and then spent a to take delivery of his car.
lost all their wealth and have light,” Chimutwe said. port business operator in “They said I would get an- week at Mbudzi roundabout.
reported the case to the au- Gutu, was also left counting other one in Harare, but after I am very bitter about this, “There is one teacher at our
thorities to force Munyaradzi “In 2020, I was even asked his losses after being swindled several trips since 2018, I am all I want is my car or Mun- school who had successfully
to honour his end of the bar- to bring a driver to collect the by Munyaradzi. yet to receive my vehicle. I yaradzi should just give me bought a car from Munyaradzi
gain. vehicle, but when we arrived and it inspired me to also
Run’anga told The New-
According to the farmers, get mine. I rushed to the
many cattle owners in Gutu bank to get a loan. At that
were left licking their wounds time, we were still getting sal-
between 2018 and 2020 after aries in US dollars. But after
Munyaradzi tricked them into all that trouble, I am still to
giving away their livestock, get my car,” Mtungwazi ex-
promising them vehicles. plains.
Desperate to own vehicles, “Each time I would con-
the farmers gave up their tact his office, they would say
beasts, which Munyaradzi val- call again in two weeks. Two
ued at US$500 per head. weeks became months and
even years, I am still wait-
Despite several attempts to ing for my car. One of the
take delivery of the vehicles, teachers threatened to report
Munyaradzi remains slippery, him and later got his car, so I
three years on. think that is the only way he
responds. That is the reason
“I gave away 14 of my cattle we have decided to report him
and I was promised a Toyota because all the grace period
Dagar 2.5 tonne truck. The we gave him, he has disregard-
first time I visited their (Mun- ed.” Munyaradzi is not new
yaradzi’s)offices, they said I to controversy after he was
should call in a week, but I arrested over a US$14 million
never got the vehicle. I even tax evasion scandal.
travelled from Gutu to Hara-
re following up on the vehicle The land baron was last
issue, to no avail. It has been week granted bail on charges
three years now and I have not of defeating the course of hus-
gotten my car,” tice in relation to police com-
missioner Erasmus Makodza
Andrew Manyuchi (31), a whom he reportedly got ar-
farmer in Gutu, told The New- rested through the Zimbabwe
sHawks. Anti-Corruption Commis-
sion (Zacc) allegedly using his
After several follow-ups, friend, Eric Chacha, an inves-
Manyuchi was told to add tigator there.
three more cattle to speed
up the delivery of the truck. Chacha has been accused of
Manyuchi said he had been abusing public office by Ma-
left poorer. kodza, who was arraigned for
allegedly helping a girlfriend
“I thought I was doing to lease a police farm. Zacc is
something to better my life, conspicuous by its silence over
but Munyaradzi chose to internal allegations of corrup-
make me suffer. I do not have tion, compromising its integ-
cattle anymore. It is pain- rity and credibility.
ful to lose everything you
have worked for all your life A document sent to Zimra
to a crook who is heartless,” and obtained by The New-
Manyuchi lamented. sHawks, says Munyaradzi
made US$79.8 million in
“There are more than five deals involving land and car
farmers from my village who sales, but did not pay tax to
are facing the same predica- Zimra.
ADVERT SPACE
The NewsHawks TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]
NewsHawks News Page 11
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Chiwenga tory, most of our people were
reverses corrupt relocated from Triangle and
sugarcane plot Hippo Valley to pave way for
allocation Sugarcane farming. It is there-
fore unfair to note that only
MORRIS BISHI ule 17 of 2020 which The Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga (left) with minister of State for Masvingo Ezra Chadzamira. a few of us managed to get
NewsHawks is in possession sugarcane plots since the in-
SENIOR Zanu PF officials, of are Samora Mnangagwa, ers, legislators and government identified for production and Mundau, told The NewsHawks troduction of the land reform
their relatives and security Tatenda Matemadanda, Dan- officials at Gibbo Stadium on the shangaan people should that the move by Chiwenga is in the sugar industry in 2002.
agents who were corruptly iel Chadzamira, Masvingo Sunday, Chiwenga declared be considered as beneficiaries welcome within the Shangaan Traditional leaders and legis-
allocated sugarcane plots in provincial development co- that a list of beneficiaries and this should start during people since from the begin- lators should be given major
Chiredzi by minister of State ordinator Jefter Sakupwanya, which was compiled for sub- the distribution of plots un- ning of sugarcane farming in roles in identifying beneficia-
for Masvingo Ezra Chad- provincial medical director mission to the office of min- der Kilimanjaro outgrower the lowveld only less than 5% ries from their areas other than
zamira were last weekend or- Amadeous Shamhu, Mtanda- ister of Lands and Agriculture project. I would like to inform of locals benefitted. He said watching people coming from
dered to surrender the land by zo Ncube who is Chadzamira’s was invalid and instructed minister Chadzamira that the traditional leaders and legisla- Harare and other areas” said
Vice-President Constantino security aid, Zaka West legis- Chadzamira and provincial list of beneficiaries which you tors should be given the man- Chief Tshovani.
Chiwenga. lator Ophious Murambiwa, government leaders in Mas- were supposed to submit to the date to make sure that people
Muchareveyi Chamisa who is vingo to compile another list minister of Agriculture’s office from their constituencies are A senior government official
The allocation of the sug- Zanu PF provincial admin- which will see the Shangaan is now invalid. Sit down with benefitting from such pro- in Masvingo told The News-
arcane plots, which came af- istrator as well as ruling par- people being the main bene- all stakeholders and compile a grammes. Hawks that the move by Chi-
ter Chadzamira unilaterally ty youths, war veterans and ficiaries. new list which will benefit the wenga has created panic for
dissolved the Chiredzi district companies linked to Zanu PF locals. Legislators for this area “The move by VP Chiwen- Chadzamira and his accom-
lands committee early last members. “This place is known for should also be involved in that ga is welcome since the native plices since they know that
year, raised eyebrows in the growing sugarcane. The cli- process,” said Chiwenga. Shangaan people were bitter they did not follow procedure
lowveld, with locals complain- The plots were developed mate here is suitable for because they were being mar- in what they were doing.
ing that the move was aimed for the government by Ton- growing sugarcane. There are Local traditional leader ginalised from the land reform
at sidelining them from the gaat Hullet under the Kili- other places which are being Chief Tshovani, born Felix programme. If you look at his- The official also added that
process. manjaro Project in Hippo Val- Chiredzi lands committee held
ley Estates at a cost of US$40 its first meeting two weeks ago
Last month, the Zimbabwe million. after the visit by Zacc and, go-
Anti-Corruption Commission ing forward, the committee
(Zacc) dispatched a team to Dubbed “Kilimanjaro”, the will start doing its work and
the area to investigate the al- project will develop virgin land make it difficult for the pro-
location of land and find out into sugar cane plantations vincial leaders to manipulate
if stipulated process was fol- at Triangle and Hippo Val- its resolutions.
lowed, with locals, including ley estates in Chiredzi as part
government officials, telling of the firm’s drive to increase “Let me tell you that we are
the commission that land was aggregate sugar output while going to see a witchhunting
being distributed by Chad- also empowering indigenous exercise as the provincial boss
zamira and provincials leaders outgrower farmers who will be is suspecting his juniors in the
to people who were paying allocated plots on the nearly 3 province of reporting him to
large sums of money. 300 hectares being developed Chiwenga. But what we know
on a cost recovery basis. is that these guys are now in
Among the beneficiaries of a tight corner since they col-
the sugarcane plots on sched- Addressing traditional lead- lected funds from beneficiaries
whose names were cancelled.
STEPHEN CHADENGA Zanu PF Midlands dangles It is now going to be difficult
gold, land to MDC activists for them to manipulate pro-
ZANU PF senior officials in the cesses. Chiredzi lands commit-
Midlands have promised riches ty youths and toe the party line, Zanu PF Midlands provincial chairperson Daniel Mackenzie Ncube. wholly integrated into the party, tee is now holding meetings,”
-- including mining claims and there are many opportunities they can also benefit from pro- said the government official.
agricultural land -- to opposi- in mining and agriculture. You being given a warm welcome The Zanu PF provincial boss grammes and projects given to
tion activists who defect to the can form mining syndicates and in the ruling party they should said that defectors should be in- other party members. The cancelled list has 49
ruling party ahead of the 2023 benefit from our empowerment always feel free to approach his troduced at all levels of the party beneficiaries. The lowest ben-
elections, The NewsHawks can initiatives.” office for the problems to be rec- from the cell to the provincial Ncube’s sentiments were eficiary would have gotten 14
report. tified. structures so that, besides being echoed by his counterpart, Zanu hectares with the highest get-
The Midlands has a lot of gold PF senator for Shurugwi-Zvisha- ting 250 hectares.
In recent months, the ruling deposits which are being mined vane Larry Mavima, who said for my allegiance to the party
party has been parading MDC by informal mining syndicates opposition activists who join (MDC-Alliance). It is only in
Alliance defectors from various linked to very senior Zanu PF Zanu PF were guaranteed of Zanu PF where you get econom-
districts in the Midlands prov- and government officials includ- opportunities particularly in- ic opportunities to prosper in
ince. Last week, provincial party ing ministers. come-generating projects. life,” he said.
bigwigs dangled the proverbial
carrot at a meeting held at the In a move seen as a bid to pac- “Zanu PF is like a big pot. Ev- Investigations by The News-
Zanu PF Gweru district offices. ify ruling party activists, Ncube eryone can get something from Hawks revealed a grand plan by
At the meeting, 150 MDC Al- said those already in the party the party. All that is needed is the ruling party in the Midlands
liance activists were alleged to should not get “agitated” when discipline and to ensure that you province to take advantage of
have defected to the ruling party. they see the newcomers (defec- do not put the name of the party the Covid-19-induced economic
Speaking at the event, Zanu PF tors) getting more favours ahead into disrepute,” he said. woes many people face to entice
provincial chairperson Daniel of them. opposition activists, especial-
Mackenzie Ncube said opposi- One of the defectors, only ly those from the mainstream
tion activists and officials who “When you see us (senior identified as Mahachi, a well- MDC Alliance, to join Zanu PF
defect to the ruling party were officials) appearing to be giving known Kudzanai bus terminus with promises of mining syndi-
assured of money-spinning proj- more favours to the newcom- tout, said he joined Zanu PF af- cates and pieces of agricultural
ects that would economically ers, don’t get angry. You should ter realising that he was getting land.
empower them. always remember biblical stories old without anything to show
like the one where a father held a for it. According to party insiders,
“When you join Zanu PF you feast for a prodigal son. We want the envisaged change of lifestyles
should know that the cake is big the new party cadres to feel wel- “I have been mobilising of those who have already de-
for everyone to share,” Ncube come,” he said. MDC activists for a long time fected would be used as bait to
said. now but I have come to the re- entice others to abandon the op-
Ncube said that if the new alisation that my hair is getting position party.
“To those who have come members felt that they were not grey and I have nothing to show
back home (to Zanu PF), we “Once one defector starts liv-
welcome you and you should go ing big, it would induce others
out there and bring others. to join the ruling party,” said a
party official who preferred an-
“…The country is endowed onymity.
with resources and we have our
land. If you are organised as par- Recently, Zanu PF spokes-
person Simon Khaya Moyo dis-
missed as “nonsensical” claims
that the ruling party was using
money to lure opposition fig-
ures. But his counterpart in the
MDC Alliance, Fadzayi Mahere,
has alleged that Zanu PF is clon-
ing the opposition party’s meme-
brship cards and T-shirts to paint
a false picture that several people
are defecting to the ruling party.
Page 12 News NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
CHIPA GONDITII Pomona dumpsite extremely toxic
PEOPLE living in areas sur- charts figures. was 500% higher than the Air pollution from the recur- ins such as dioxins, furans, of developing asthma, a major
rounding Pomona dumpsite “Site 2 was located at main WHO’s 24-hour guideline of rent fire incidents at Pomona suspended particulate mat- cause of morbidity in chil-
in Harare are facing a serious 0.05mg/m3,” the report read. dumpsite poses a health risk ter (SPM10), nitrogen diox- dren.”
health risk with air pollution gate of Pomona dumpsite. to the people who either re- ide (NO2), carbon dioxide
recordings around the rub- The assessment revealed that Exposure to high concen- side or work within its envi- (CO2), carbon monoxide Through Statutory Instru-
bish dump reaching astro- 24-hr mean for ground lev- trations of PM10 can result rons. Due to the cumulative (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ment 6 of 2007, the City of
nomical figures far exceed- el concentrations (GLC) of in a number of health impacts and non-reversible nature of methane (CH4), ammonia Harare ought to have con-
ing Standards Association of PM10 at the sampling point ranging from coughing and PM10 exposure, its effects (NH3) and hydrogen sul- structed standard sanitary
Zimbabwe (SAZ) and World was 4.786 mg/m3 which wheezing to asthma attacks may be felt long into the fu- phide (H2S). landfills for waste disposal by
Health Organisation (WHO) was 3 191% higher than the and bronchitis to high blood ture. 31 December 2012. However,
recommended guidelines. SAZ’s 24-hour guideline of pressure, heart attack, strokes A WHO report titled Air it has failed to do so.
0.15 mg/m3, while it was 9 and premature death. “This presents an urgent Pollution and Child Health
At some sites, pollution fig- 572% higher than the WHO need for intervention in order states that children risk suf- Ema has since issued an
ures were more than 20 000% 24-hour guideline of 0.05mg/ The effects of PM10 have to protect people’s constitu- fering from life-threatening Environmental Protection
higher than the recommend- m3,” also been demonstrated to be tional right to an environment respiratory problems when Order to the City of Harare
ed figures, according to an cumulative and non-revers- that is safe, clean and healthy. exposed to air pollution. to urgently allocate enough fi-
Environmental Management “Site 3 was located at Bor- ible, hence the recurrence of While the study focused on nancial, technical and human
Agency (Ema) report titled: rowdale Police Station which air pollution episodes asso- particulates, dumpsite fires “Air pollution causes over resources to address the prob-
“Report on ambient particu- is up wind of Pomona dump- ciated with the dump could are often associated with half of all deaths from acute lems at Pomona dumpsite.
late pollution monitoring in site. The assessment revealed result in the development of other toxics that may further lower respiratory infections
the Pomona air shed”. that the 24-hr mean for chronic conditions. compound the situation and in children under five in low- In a recent press statement,
ground level concentrations thus warrant further investi- and middle-income countries, Ema said the city council was
Air pollution has a serious (GLC) of PM10 at the sam- The report also highlight- gation,” read the report. childhood exposure to air pol- not doing enough to alleviate
impact on human health par- pling point was 0.25 mg/m3, ed that people living close to lution by inhalation is associ- the problems caused by the
ticularly children. It can result which was 167% higher than the dumpsite were at serious Air pollution emanating ated with disease later in life,” dumpsite.
in severe respiratory diseases the SAZ’s 24-hour guide- health risk. from dumpsite fires has been the report reads.
and the reduction of life ex- line of 0.15 mg/m3, while it demonstrated to contain tox- “This (issuance of the Envi-
pectancy. “Air quality is an important “Exposure to various pol- ronmental Protection Order)
determinant of public health. lutants, including black car- follows observation of lack of
Pomona is a dump site that bon, PM2.5 and PM10, is due commitment by the local
is operated and owned by the linked to the development authority to give the matter
City of Harare for the pur- of asthma in children (7–9), the urgency it deserves despite
poses of co-disposing solid presumably due in large part the environmental effects of
municipal waste. to the generation of oxida- the ongoing fire, chief among
tive stress and airway inflam- them being pollution from
The area spans 100 hectares mation (10). Research also the smoke emanating from
and is situated just north of indicates that PM may cause the fire,” said Ema.
Mt Pleasant and Vainona sub- systemic inflammatory and
urbs in Harare an area that is immunological responses and “Following failure to com-
surrounded by residential ar- remodelling in the lungs. ply with this, the local author-
eas, a recreational golf course ity was brought for a hearing
and agricultural land. “Air pollution cuts so many before the Environmental
lives short, but it can also lead Management Board on vari-
The dumpsite lacks ade- to health burdens that last a ous environmental issues in-
quate pollution abatement lifetime. Exposure increases cluding poor waste manage-
mechanisms that are associ- the risks of adverse birth out- ment in general and Pomona
ated with engineered sanitary comes, neurodevelopmental Dumpsite in particular.
landfill such as leachate and disorders and reduced lung
methane attenuation con- function. In addition to re- “A court case is pending
trols. As a result, the dump spiratory infections, it is also against the local authority on
has been cited as the cause of clearly linked to a higher risk various environmental issues
soil contamination, air and again including poor waste
water pollution in surround- management…”
ing areas.
The Ema report was com-
piled after the Pomona dump-
site fire outbreak in August
2020. The investigation was
meant to determine the air
quality at three selected loca-
tions focusing on PM10.
PM10 are very small parti-
cles found in dust and smoke
that have a diameter of 10
micrometres (0.01 mm) or
smaller.
The three sites included Sa-
bau farm and Pomona Gate
which were used to quantify
the levels of contamination as
well as the Borrowdale Police
Station point which was used
as a control.
“Site 1, Sabau, was located
downwind at a farm house
opposite Pomona dumpsite.
The assessment revealed that
24-hr mean for Ground Lev-
el Concentrations (GLC) of
PM10 at the sampling point
was 11.659 mg/m3 which
was 7 773% higher than the
Standards Association of
Zimbabwe’s 24-hour guide-
line of 0.15 mg/m3, while it
was 23 318% higher than the
WHO 24-hour guideline
of 0.05mg/m3,” the report
read.
The report also revealed
that tests conducted at two
other sites close to Pomona
produced similar off-the-
NewsHawks News Page 13
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
NRZ, workers lock horns over pay arrears
NYASHA CHINGONO “The issue of the 17 on the NRZ board and sec- about the wellbeing of NRZ, the organisation, and morale which took root when the
months’ arrears is because onded to act when John Ma- she knows that she is just act- is very low and things are de- late Air Commodore Mike
THE National Railways of workers were not being given shika died in January. They ing, and she loses nothing, teriorating very fast,” an offi- Karakadzai took over the
Zimbabwe (NRZ) is em- full salaries up to 2019. NRZ are taking advantage that last after all she will go back to cial said. reins in 2005. Karakadzai
broiled in a fierce battle with has never gone for 17 months time we had job action sever- Zesa fulltime. She is however died in 2013.
its employees over 17-month without paying salaries.” al workers were fired. Chin- making decisions that have Unions are also up in arms
salary arrears amid allegations Maravanyika told The New- yanduko has no interest at all far-reaching consequences to with what they describe as “Ever since, there has been
of the militarisation of man- sHawks that the NRZ has a military-style management an involvement of the mili-
agement and intimidation of payment plan. tary in management, we have
workers’ unions. seen everything go down and
“The organisation has a people are constantly being
The NewsHawks under- plan to pay. The government, threatened. Even union of-
stands that NRZ workers are through Statutory Instru- ficials are scared,” an official
demanding the 2017 salary ment 33, declared that peo- said.
scale, which was denominat- ple will be paid on 1:1 basis.
ed in US dollars. According These unbanked arrears were Once a thriving business,
to sources inside the NRZ in US dollars. NRZ sat down the NRZ has been reeling
workers’ union, each em- with the unions and planned, under mismanagement, cor-
ployee is owed an average of but nothing concrete is there. ruption, and political inter-
US$30 000 in backdated sala- The organisation made a ference, with the latest efforts
ries, but the railway company proposition and that is some- to revive the company suffer-
insists on paying the workers thing that is not in dispute,” ing a stillbirth.
only ZW$90 000 each. Maravanyika said.
A US$400 million recap-
“It is non-negotiable, and “NRZ has got an obliga- italisation deal by the Dias-
the management has already tion to pay workers what is pora Infrastructure Develop-
issued a circular to that ef- due to them.” ment Group was frustrated
fect,” a source said. by late former Transport min-
The decision to unilateral- ister Joel Biggie Matiza, who
“We are owed 17-month ly decide on the salary issues cancelled the contract under
salary arrears backdated to has irked workers’ unions unclear circumstances last
2017 when we were getting as worker morale continues year. DIDG is suing gov-
paid in US dollars. There was plummeting. ernment for breaching the
this statutory instrument that contract and hopes the new
brought into effect the 1:1 “Unions raised that previ- Transport minister, Felix
rate and the railways later ously the parties had mutu- Mhone, can address the issue.
paid its debts using that 1:1 ally agreed on converting to
but they did not pay serving leave and amortise using idle With no turnaround strat-
employees, promising that land. The meeting said that egy, the NRZ has failed to
they will pay serving em- position is null and void,” a pay employees, ensure the
ployees either in US dollars union leader who requested recapitalisation of the para-
or at the prevailing bank rate anonymity said. statal and replace obsolete
because they had kept the locomotives. The country’s
company afloat. On average, “Management is using bul- sole rail company requires at
employees are owed around ly tactics and we have an act- least 40 more locomotives,
US$30 000, meaning if they ing general manager, Respina 300 modern coaches and 300
are to be paid by the bank Chinyanduko, who is fully wagons.
rate today, a worker owed employed by Zesa and was
US$30 000 would get over
ZW$2.4 million, but the
railways now wants to pay the
same employee ZW$90 000,”
a source said.
At a consultative meeting
held on 30 March, manage-
ment told workers’ represen-
tatives that there were negoti-
ations on the salary issue.
“The general manager reit-
erated that the forum was not
for negotiations, but a plat-
form for communicating the
board decision on outstand-
ing salaries,” a source close to
the developments said.
Management has threat-
ened to institute legal action
on workers who declined the
raw deal.
“Schedules (depicting
amount owed, ex-gratia and
signature) to be circulated
to all members and they are
expected to be completed
within one month. For those
who would not have signed,
the employer will resort to
the legal route (1:1),” reads
part of the resolutions of the
meeting.
As part of the resolutions
of the meeting, management
agreed that grades A and B
arrears would be multiplied
by four, with three parts be-
ing ex-gratia.
Arrears for grade C will
also be multiplied by three
while grade D would be mul-
tiplied by two. E and F grade
arrears will be multiplied by
1.5.
Contacted for comment,
NRZ spokesperson Nyasha
Maravanyika explained how
the massive salary arrears
came about.
Page 14 News NewsHawks
THIS report is based on field
visits to Zimbabwe by Amnes- We live like stray animals: Issue 26, 16 April 2021
ty International researchers Thousands in statelessness
between October 2018 and and education.
remote research in November for Refugees (UNHCR), the ed by statelessness. During the constitution of Zimba- At Independence in 1980, Stateless people in Zimba-
2020, due to the lockdowns exact number of stateless peo- Gukurahundi and its after- bwe. Section 43 of the Con- full citizenship was accorded
imposed by governments ple globally is not known. math, many thousands died, stitution provides that “every to everyone born in Zimba- bwe without birth certificates
across the Southern African lost family members and were person who was born in Zim- bwe (formerly Southern Rho- and IDs have struggled to ac-
Development Community re- However, the UN refugee forced to flee their homes in babwe before the publication desia). Dual or multiple cit- cess education, including be-
gion to mitigate the spread of agency estimates that there the affected areas in Mata- day [of the Constitution] is a izenship was permissible and ing excluded from sitting for
Covid-19, in the provinces of are many millions globally – beleland and the Midlands. Zimbabwean citizen by birth many people qualified who secondary school and other
Mashonaland, Matabeleland a third of which are children. if one or both of his or her par- were from other public examinations, thereby
North, Matabeleland South The agency further states that Many inevitably lost their ents was a citizen of a country limiting their prospects of fu-
and Manicaland. These are “statelessness may occur for a identity documents. As a re- which became a member of Southern African countries ture employment.
some of the areas where most variety of reasons, including sult, those born in the ensuing SADC in 1992 and is resident and lived in Zimbabwe.
migrant workers settled be- discrimination against partic- months and years were unable in Zimbabwe.” This means The African Charter on
fore Independence in 1980 ular ethnic or religious groups to be registered because they that any person who was born In 1983, the right to dual the Rights and Welfare of the
and they remain home to or on the basis of gender; the could not provide the death in Zimbabwe to parents with citizenship was removed from Child (African Children’s
many of the Ndebele ethnic emergence of new states and certificates of their parents re- a claim to citizenship of any the Lancaster House Con-
minority members who were transfers between existing quired to prove Zimbabwean Sadc state, including Mala- stitution and Zimbabwe- Charter), to which Zim-
subjected to state persecution states; and conflict of nation- nationality, thereby rendering wi, Mozambique, Zambia or ans with dual citizenship were babwe is state party, provides
and subsequently became ality laws.” them stateless. South Africa, and is residing required to renounce their for children’s right to a name,
stateless. in Zimbabwe is a Zimbabwe- foreign citizenship if they birth registration and nation-
In Zimbabwe, approxi- This report reveals how an citizen by birth. wanted to remain citizens ality, and imposes an obliga-
Researchers conducted mately 300 000 people are these population groups have of Zimbabwe. Many descen- tion on state parties to take
around 100 interviews with currently at risk of stateless- been deprived for decades of Although different groups dants of Malawian, Zambian legislative measures to prevent
people affected by stateless- ness, according to the UN- their rights as citizens. have been affected by state- and Mozambican migrants statelessness among children.
ness and carried out 10 focus HCR. lessness, including thousands were affected as they could no
group interviews, including Denied the documenta- of white commercial farm- longer claim citizenship both The Zimbabwean author-
with individuals directly af- Lack of official data means tion enabling them access to ers, this report focuses on its of Zimbabwe and of their ities have passed discrimina-
fected by statelessness. The that the exact number of peo- education, work, healthcare impact on migrants and de- country of descent. Thus, if tory legislation over the years
team further conducted ple affected by statelessness and other basic rights, hun- scendants of victims of Guku- they chose to retain their for- that has effectively exclud-
interviews with academics, is unknown. Hundreds of dreds of thousands of people rahundi, both of them histor- eign citizenship, they ceased ed, marginalised and disen-
government officials, law- thousands of migrant workers have been rendered stateless, ically marginalised categories to be Zimbabwean nationals franchised specific groups
yers, the Zimbabwe Human from neighbouring countries stripped of any legal status in of people. and vice versa. of people. For example, the
Rights Commission, the UN who were brought in by co- the country where they have Citizenship of Zimbabwe
High Commissioner for Ref- lonial authorities to work on raised families and which they Stateless people are re- From around 2000 the Act 23/1984 was used to ar-
ugees (UNHCR) in both farms and mines around the regard as home. stricted from participating in Registrar-General’s Office, bitrarily deprive persons of
Zimbabwe and South Afri- country from Malawi, Mo- the economy, accessing jobs, which is responsible for civil foreign origin of their right
ca, the Office of the Regis- zambique and Zambia, and The government’s failure opening a bank account, buy- registration, identity docu- to a Zimbabwean nationality
trar-General of Zimbabwe their descendants who settled over many years to remove the ing a house, opening their ments (IDs), citizenship and even though most of them
and other relevant organisa- or were born in Zimbabwe administrative obstacles to own businesses or entering the voters’ roll, began to de- were entitled to citizenship.
tions and individuals. In total, before Independence in 1980 the enjoyment of these rights, into legally recognizable mar- clining Zimbabwean citizen- While states have a right
around 150 people from these face barriers to acquiring cit- particularly to descendants of riages or family unions. They ship to people who had the to determine their citizenship
sectors were interviewed. izenship in the country and migrants who moved to Zim- are also poor, marginalised, potential right to another cit- laws, these laws must be in
have effectively been rendered babwe before Independence discriminated against, disen- izenship, even if they had nev- conformity with internation-
The report also analyses a stateless. and to victims of Gukurahun- franchised and politically ex- er sought to claim that right. al human rights law. As such,
number of documents, in- di and their descendants, has cluded. A number of court cases suc- domestic law and practices
cluding successive citizen- In addition, generations of forced people into daily strug- cessfully challenged these pro- must not be discriminatory
ship laws, the constitution ethnic Ndebele people, and gles to live freely. As a conse- This population group has visions, albeit with no effect and must conform to obli-
of Zimbabwe and UNHCR largely settled in the Mata- quence, these two groups of over the years been negatively on the general practice of ar- gations to not render anyone
reports, as well as the March beleland and the Midlands the population have been affected by multiple chang- bitrarily refusing citizenship. stateless.
2016 submission to the Uni- pushed to the margins of so- es to the nationality laws in As a result, people were faced
versal Periodic Review during provinces, whose families ciety. Zimbabwe, especially in the with insurmountable barriers Migrant workers located
its 26th session. Furthermore, were killed or disappeared period between 1963 and when they tried to access so- on mines and farms lost Zim-
Amnesty International re- during the Gukurahun- The situation that many 2003. cial services such as healthcare babwean nationality by oper-
searchers worked with local di genocide, in the early to stateless Zimbabweans find ation of the law in 2001.
non-governmental organi- mid-1980s, are also affect- themselves in is contrary to
sations (NGOs) to identify While many were still con-
communities deprived of na- sidered Zimbabwean at the
tionality and therefore affect- time of the 2001 amendment,
ed by statelessness. the law required them to re-
nounce their ancestral nation-
The organisation is grate- ality within six months of the
ful for the support and law entering into force. Many
trust offered by these part- were unable to do so because
ners. Amnesty International they did not hold identi-
also thanks the Office of the ty documents showing they
Registrar-General and the were nationals of those other
ministry of Justice, Legal and countries.
Parliamentary Affairs for pro-
viding answers to our ques- Amnesty International is,
tions. among others, recommend-
ing that Zimbabwe adopts
All interviews were con- reasonable and inclusive ad-
ducted after informed con- ministrative policies to en-
sent. To protect individuals sure universal registration,
who participated in the re- including late registration,
search, the report will, where of descendants of victims of
necessary, use anonymity or Gukurahundi in Matabele-
pseudonyms in line with the land North and South prov-
organisation’s research ethics. inces, Bulawayo and the Mid-
Amnesty International thanks lands, which were sites of the
everyone who took time out Gukurahundi violence and
to talk to us during our re- the killings which present-
search, including people di- ly host some of the stateless
rectly affected by stateless- people, without the require-
ness, NGOs who volunteered ment to produce their par-
their time and information, ents’ death certificates. The
and government officials who organisation is also calling on
assisted in our journey of the government to take ade-
compiling this report. quate measures to ensure the
registration and restoration
According to the United of Zimbabwean nationality
Nations High Commissioner to all who are entitled to it,
including all those born in
Zimbabwe to foreign parents.
Hundreds of thousands of
migrant workers from neigh-
bouring countries and their
NewsHawks News Page 15
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
descendants who settled or proximately 300 000 people desia), whether before or after lieved that they were only the state deployed vio- other citizenship rights: lack
were born in Zimbabwe be- are currently at risk of state- 1980, other than children recognised as citizens for the lence against those such as of birth certificates can pre-
fore independence in 1980 lessness in Zimbabwe. Lack of foreign diplomats, enemy purpose of voting, as long as PF-Zapu and former cadres of vent citizens from registering
face barriers to acquiring cit- of official data means that the aliens, illegal immigrants, or they were perceived to be vot- the Zimbabwe People’s Revo- to vote, putting their children
izenship and have effectively exact number is unknown. foreign residents; ing “correctly” by authorities. lutionary Army (Zpra) in school or entering them
been rendered stateless. They include migrants from for public exams, accessing
Mozambique, Malawi and • everyone born outside From around 2000 the who happened to be con- health care, or obtaining
In addition, generations Zambia who were brought Zimbabwe, if his or her Registrar-General’s Office, strued as enemies of the state. identity cards, passports, and
of ethnic Ndebele people, in by the colonial authorities guardian parent was a citizen which is responsible for civil Some have argued that Guku- other important documents.
regarded as minority and to work on farms and mines (but not if the guardian par- registration, identity docu- rahundi was a political strate- Yet according to Unicef, the
largely settled in the Mata- around the country. ent was a citizen by descent) ments, citizenship and the gy rooted in “confrontation” UN Children’s Fund, 55%
beleland and Midlands prov- or a non-citizen resident of voters’ roll, began to refuse and “embracing violence as of African children under
inces, whose families were While the Zimbabwean Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean citizenship to a legitimate political tool in five years old have not been
killed or disappeared during authorities have never ac- people who had the potential fighting for independence registered, with the situation
the Gukurahundi massacres, knowledged that stateless- • everyone who acquired right to another citizenship, and the political destruction much worse in rural areas.”
are also affected by stateless- ness is a consequence both citizenship by registration even if they had never sought of opponents and enemies.
ness. Gukurahundi, a Shona of the Gukurahundi massa- (i.e. became a naturalised to claim that right. A num- The Zimbabwean author-
language term which loosely cres and the arbitrary chang- Zimbabwean). ber of court cases successfully In order to prove that they ities have passed discrimina-
translates to “the early rain es to laws that have affect- challenged these provisions, are a citizen of a particular tory legislation over the years
which washes away the chaff ed migrants, some positive Dual or multiple citizen- albeit with no effect on the country and obtain their birth that has effectively exclud-
before the spring rains”, was a steps have been taken which ship was permissible and general practice of arbitrari- certificate, individuals in most ed, marginalised and disen-
series of violent episodes per- suggest an official awareness many people qualified who ly refusing citizenship. As a countries across southern franchised specific groups of
petrated in the early 1980s by of the problem. They include were from other southern Af- result, people were faced with Africa need to provide evi- people.13 The Citizenship of
the Zimbabwe National Army the establishment of a govern- rican countries and lived in insurmountable barriers when dence that they were born in Zimbabwe Act 23/1984 was
against Ndebele civilians and ment taskforce to document Zimbabwe. they tried to access social ser- a certain area in the country, used to arbitrarily deprive
opposing Zimbabwe African stateless people in the country vices such as health care and together with their parents’ persons of foreign origin of
People’s Union (Zapu) dissi- and an acceleration of birth In 1983, the right to dual education. identity documents. The birth their right to a Zimbabwean
dents who were perceived as registration. citizenship was removed from certificate serves as an identity nationality even though most
not supporting the Zimba- the Lancaster House Consti- Simmering political ten- document for minors, allow- of them were entitled to citi-
bwe African National Union Although cheap and some- tution and Zimbabweans sions between the Robert ing them to obtain national zenship by birth.
(ZANU) government. In the times slave labour was a fea- Mugabe-led Zanu PF and the identity documents (IDs) and
ensuing violence after Kore- ture of the colonial state, with dual citizenship were Joshua Nkomo-led Zimba- travel documents when they While states have a right
an-trained Fifth Brigade World War II was a watershed required to renounce their bwe African People’s Union are older. to determine their citizenship
moment when “under the foreign citizenship if they (Zapu) came to a head in laws, these laws must be in
forces were sent into Mata- guise of support for the British wanted to remain citizens 1983 when the friction erupt- The UNHCR sets out the conformity with Internation-
beleland and the Midlands in war effort, under-capitalised of Zimbabwe. Many descen- ed into violence. crucial importance of ob- al Human Rights Law. As
the early 1980s to eliminate settler producers, who were dants of Malawian, Zambian taining proof of nationality such, domestic law and prac-
the perceived dissidents, more unable to attract an adequate and Mozambican migrants Government-led Fifth Bri- and birth registration, and tices must not be discrimi-
than 20 000 people were supply of labour through a were affected as they could no gade security forces cracked the problems which arise later natory and must conform to
killed. dependence on market forc- longer claim citizenship both down on Zapu supporters in when this is not possible: obligations to not render any-
es, used their political power of Zimbabwe and of their Matebeleland and the Mid- one stateless.
As a consequence, these to influence the [British] state country of descent. lands, where Zapu support, “The systems for proof of
two groups of the popula- to coerce Africans into wage much of which came from the nationality are in practice of- Migrant workers and mem-
tion have been pushed to the employment in order to take Thus, if they chose to re- minority Ndebele people, was ten as important as the provi- bers of their families, includ-
margins of society. Their lack advantage of unprecedented tain their foreign citizenship, strong. sions of the law on the quali- ing from neighbouring Sadc
of identification documenta- opportunities presented by they ceased to be Zimba- fications in principle. If there countries who had settled in
tion along with a succession the expansion of internal and bwean nationals and vice The operation was code- are onerous requirements or Zimbabwe prior to indepen-
of discriminatory nationality external markets.” versa. However, from 1985 named Gukurahundi. Be- costs attached to proof of na- dence, found themselves at
laws has rendered them state- many people of foreign de- tween 1983 and 1987, when tionality, or discrimination in the receiving end of arbitrary
less and forced them into dai- This labour force worked scent (mainly children of security forces targeted thou- practice means that proof is and discriminatory provisions
ly struggles just to live their under chronically poor con- migrant workers from the sands of Ndebele people with not obtainable, then the fact of the nationality legislation.
lives. Countless citizens are ditions, often for little or Southern African Develop- torture, detention and sum- that a person actually ful- Migrant workers located on
restricted from participating no payment. The environ- ment Community (Sadc) re- mary execution, an estimated fils the conditions laid down mines and farms lost Zimba-
in the economy, accessing ment was characterised by gion who had been in Zimba- 20 000 people were killed. in law may be irrelevant. In bwean nationality by opera-
jobs, opening a bank account, high accident and morbidity bwe before or after 1980 were principle, recognition of citi- tion of the law in 2001.
buying a house, opening rates, brutalisation and abuse given certificates of citizen- Amnesty International zenship should start immedi-
their own businesses or enter- of workers, poor diet and in- ship which recognised their documented the torture and ately after birth, with registra- While many were still con-
ing into legally recognizable adequate accommodation. Zimbabwean citizenship and killings in various reports and tion of the birth itself. Birth sidered Zimbabwean at the
marriages or family unions. Workers had predominantly enabled them to vote. letters to the government. registration establishes in time of the 2001 amendment,
migrated from neighbouring legal terms the place of birth the law required them to re-
Stateless people are poor, territories and were therefore This “Certificate of Regis- During Gukurahundi and and parental affiliation, which nounce their ancestral nation-
marginalised, discriminat- much more vulnerable to ex- tration as a Citizen of Zim- its aftermath, many thousands in turn serves as documentary ality within six months of the
ed against, disenfranchised ploitation. babwe” conferred the rights, died, lost family members proof underpinning acquisi- law entering into force. Many
and politically excluded. privileges and duties attach- and were forced to flee their tion of the parents’ nation- were unable to do so because
This population group has The effects of this exploita- ing to citizenship of Zim- homes in the affected areas in ality (jus sanguinis), or the they did not hold identi-
over the years been negatively tion are still felt acutely by babwe. Despite being issued Matabeleland. Many inevita- nationality of the state based ty documents showing they
affected by multiple chang- current generation. with a certificate of citizen- bly lost their identity docu- on where the child is born were nationals of those other
es to the nationality laws ship, affected persons were ments. As a result, those born (jus soli). countries.
in Zimbabwe, especially in At Independence in 1980, also given a Zimbabwean in the ensuing months and
the period between 1963 and full citizenship was accorded identity document inscribed years were unable to be regis- “Birth registration (while In 2003, the Citizenship
2003. to: “Alien”, implying that they tered, thereby rendering them not itself conferring citizen- of Zimbabwe Act was once
were not first-class citizens of stateless. ship) is usually fundamental again amended to allow peo-
According to UNHCR, • everyone born in Zimba- Zimbabwe. It was widely be- to the recognition of nation- ple born in Zimbabwe.
the UN refugee agency, ap- bwe (formerly Southern Rho- Prominent scholars have ality itself, and thus of all
argued that when Zanu PF — Amnesty International
came to power in 1980,
Page 16 News NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
NewsHawks News Page 17
Forensic pathologist David Fowler.
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Zim-born pathologist sparks
outrage in George Floyd case
ZIMBABWEAN-BORN phone video showed him ple in the US. The killing hugely impact our abili-
forensic pathologist David being dragged screaming of black people in the US ty to end police violence.
Fowler, who was hired to into a police transport van at the hands of police has When medical examiners
defend fired United States in 2015. sparked global #Black- and others downplay the
police officer Derek Chau- LivesMatter protests, as role of police actions in
vin, accused of murdering In that case, six officers protesters demand an end causing a death, they are
George Floyd by painfully were initially charged with to police brutality and im- both protecting police and
choking him to death in crimes including man- punity. hiding information that
a high-profile global case slaughter and murder; the could prevent avoidable
dramatised by the #Black- first trial ended in a hung “Video shows that po- deaths,” further reads the
LivesMatter campaign, has jury, and three more offi- lice killed George Floyd. statement.
been accused of white- cers were acquitted after Dr Fowler is again ignor-
washing the death of black trials before a judge. ing plain evidence in the “That is exactly what
people in the US. killing of a Black man who happened in the police
Fowler is currently be- would be alive but for the killing of Anton Black,
Fowler was born and ed- ing sued by the family of actions of other people and other Black people in
ucated in Bulawayo, Zim- Anton Black, a 19-year- because those people were Maryland. We hope that
babwe. old black teenager killed police. Medical examiners ends now.” — STAFF WRITER.
by police in Maryland in
He completed studies in 2018.
medicine and surgery in
1983, and then followed He is accused of white-
that with paediatric pa- washing police brutality.
thology at the Red Cross
Children’s Hospital and As Maryland medical
the University of Cape examiner, Fowler claimed
Town before moving to that Anton died of nat-
Baltimore in 1991 and ural causes, saying that
then the University of his bipolar disorder was a
Maryland. contributing factor, rather
than the weight pressed on
He is also an associate Anton while he was held
professor at the Univer- facedown by three white
sity of Maryland in the officers and a white civil-
departments of Paediat- ian.
rics and Pathology, facul-
ty at the National Study The pathologist is ac-
Centre for Trauma and cused of downplaying po-
EMS, the Centre for In- lice involvement in the
jury Research and Policy killing of black people in
at the Bloomberg School cases that he has been in-
of Public Health at Johns volved in as medical exam-
Hopkins and has multiple iner.
visiting professorships in-
ternationally. He has nu- The American Civil Lib-
merous book chapters, sci- erties Union of Maryland,
entific journal articles and in a statement, accused
formal presentations to his Fowler of being complic-
credit. it in whitewashing police
brutality.
During his testimony
this week, Fowler, who “Under Dr. Fowler’s
has vast experience work- leadership, the Maryland
ing on police-perpetrated Office of the Medical Ex-
murders in the US, argues aminer has been complicit
that Chauvin’s kneeling in creating false narratives
on Floyd was not a major about what kills Black peo-
contributor to his death as ple in police encounters,
the knee was nowhere near including Tyrone West,
Floyd’s airway. Tawon Boyd, Anton Black,
and too many others,” the
Fowler told jurors that union said in a statement.
Floyd had lived with his
arteries narrowing by up “The medical examin-
to 90%. er’s office ruled that Anton
Black’s death was not a ho-
His argument in court micide even though video
during the Chauvin case showed police chase him,
has generated public de- tase him, and pin him face
bate among those calling down to the ground after
for justice in Floyd’s case, he was handcuffed and at
bringing into question po- which point he stopped
lice involvement in Floyd’s breathing. The medical
killing. examiner blamed Anton
for his own death — pep-
The Zimbabwean-born pering its report with false
pathologist said he re- claims about laced drugs, a
viewed medical, police and heart condition, and even
ambulance records, as well Anton’s bipolar disorder
as toxicology reports and — instead of the police
video footage. who killed him. The family
was forced to pay for out-
Fowler has previously side experts’ help to un-
defended police officers derstand what really killed
who allegedly killed black Anton”.
people including Freddie
Gray, a 25-year-old man The statement says that
from Baltimore who died medical examiners like
of a spinal injury after Fowler had made it dif-
a widely circulated cell- ficult to bring closure to
the killing of black peo-
Page 18 Feature NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Waiting for Independence fruits, 41 years later
NYASHA CHINGONO
PARADZAI Mhare (51) sits Paradzayi Mhare displaying his wares in Epworth on Tuesday.
miserably on a sofa by the
roadside, waiting for elusive blazoned with Mugabe’s por- debt. abe in 1980 that Zimbabwe
customers to visit his makeshift traits, Chipfunde eulogises the With no end in sight to was “a jewel in Africa, do not
stall of second-hand clothes in late leader. tarnish it”.
Epworth, east of Harare. “Mugabe did quite well in Zimbabwe’s woes, Mnangag-
the early ‘80s, life was very wa’s failure to transform the But 41 years down the line
Clad in torn khaki shorts, good back then. He however economy has affected women, the jewel has become a blight
Mhare wears a crestfallen face changed his stance on the econ- who have borne the brunt of on Africa, troubled by unend-
as he switches on his little radio omy and things went south, economic problems. ing economic woes and ruined
receiver, his only source of en- but I still miss him, we had a by corruption which, accord-
tertainment. good leader,” Chipfunde says Thelma Banda (20) struggles ing to Transparency Interna-
with a chuckle. to calm her one-year-old baby tional, cost the country US$1
Coincidentally, Leonard “During the early days of In- girl who is crying uncontrolla- billion annually through illicit
Zhakata’s 90s hit song, Hu- dependence things were prom- bly. financial flows.
penyu Mutoro, loosely trans- ising but as you know that
lated to “life is tough”, is first Charles Chipfunye, a resident of Epworth. things change, life has become Banda’s baby is visibly ema- Mnangagwa appears to be
on the playlist. ciated and her patched skin walking in Mugabe’s footsteps
“We are working for noth- became increasingly isolated more difficult,” he adds. that hangs on her tiny body on a familiar path to economic
Zhakata’s song aptly details ing; we are being enslaved for from the international commu- Chipfunde blames Covid-19 shows she is malnourished. ruin.
the ordeals of Mhare’s in today’s nothing. Now they took away nity, a situation that has had for the tough economic con-
Zimbabwe, which many Zim- the transport subsidy, so we serious ramifications for the ditions, saying life has become The 20-year-old mother says Investment into Zimbabwe
babweans can identify with, 41 have to dip into our meagre economy. unbearable. she barely has food to eat. has dwindled over the years
years after Independence. salaries” “Covid-19 has made things because of toxic policies, while
Mugabe’s ruinous economic worse. Before, these things “Life is tough here. I can the country’s state enterprises
Mhare was only 10 in 1980 “It is only faith in God that policies plunged the country were going really well for some only afford to eat once or twice continue to buckle under cor-
when the streets of Harare were keeps us alive because we have into hyperinflation in 2008. of us,” Chipfunde said. a day. This has affected the pro- ruption, misgovernance and
set abuzz with Independence seen the worst in this country. Under the guise of a new duction of milk, that is why my lack of profitability.
euphoria and the late former Only God knows where he is So bad was the inflation situ- beginning, Zimbabweans baby is always hungry,” Banda
president Robert Mugabe taking this country,” Mhare ation that Zimbabwe broke hy- stormed the streets in Novem- said. Just a year more than 40 —
memorably promised heaven said. perinflation records in the 20th ber 2017, demanding Mug- the number of years taken by
on earth in Zimbabwe. century — surpassing Germa- abe’s resignation. Banda, has been struggling the Biblical children of Israel
Zimbabwe has been experi- ny in the 1920s, Brazil in the The joy of a “New Dispen- to eke a living, selling African to reach the Promised Land
As a schoolboy, he was hope- encing unrelenting economic 1980s, Argentina and Angola sation” was short-lived as Pres- print cloth. following perilous times in
ful that the new republic had problems since the turn of the in the 1990s. By November ident Emmerson Mnangagwa’s the wilderness — Zimbabwe’s
arrived at the “Promised Land” century, with millions of fami- 2008, Zimbabwe’s highest regime quickly proved that it “I sell a single cloth for Promised Land remains a dis-
but, 41 years later, the country lies living on donor aid. monthly inflation peaked at was no different from Mugabe. US$10 but people do not have tant mirage.
is still wandering in the wilder- 89.7 sextillion percent, accord- Despite the internation- much to spare, customers are
ness. Once a promising country, ing to leading economist Steve al goodwill, Mnangagwa has elusive these days. I sometimes The thriving economy inher-
Zimbabwe has become synon- Hanke. failed to implement economic sell fish and vegetables, but the ited from the colonial Rhode-
“Things are tough now. Just ymous with poverty, as millions and political reforms to trans- money is just not enough,” sian government has crumbled
after Independence, things of citizens, including profes- Zimbabwe would go on to form Zimbabwe’s economy. Banda said. over the years with the future
were better, we even went to sionals, leave the country for adopt a multi-currency regime Now back in isolation, Zim- looking gloomy.
primary school for free. Things greener pastures. in 2009, after the Zimdollar babwe is struggling to secure a With millions suffering un-
started changing in the 90s and became worthless, helping to rescue package as multilateral der the weight of economic With the troubles Zimba-
now it is worse,” Mhare told While it may not always be steady the economy and put- financial institutions like the pressures where formal unem- bwe has faced since attaining
The NewsHawks. greener on the other side, most ting a lid on inflation. International Monetary Fund ployment is over 90%, many Independence from British
Zimbabweans choose to toil (IMF) and World Bank, ow- Zimbabweans, while acknowl- settler minority rule, it is hard
Mhare, a shift worker at Na- in foreign lands to take care of But Charles Chipfunde (76) ing to unpaid arrears in foreign edging that the attainment of to believe that the Zimba-
tional Foods, supplements his their families back home. has fond memories of Mugabe, Independence was important, bwean dollar was once worth
meagre income, with selling despite his ruinous economic are yet to enjoy the fruits. US$1.50.
second-hand clothes to eke a As the Zanu PF government policies since 1980.
living. entrenched its authoritarian Zimbabwe is now a pale Zimbabweans will however
rule in the country, Zimbabwe Clad in a white t-shirt em- shadow of the country that for- continue to scrounge for a liv-
Mhare also sells refrigerators mer president Mugabe inherit- ing until they see better days.
and second-hand sofas, to earn ed in 1980. Former Tanzanian
the extra dollar as he struggles leader Julius Nyerere told Mug-
to fend for his four teenage
children on his measly income.
“I am gainfully employed
but the income is nothing to
talk about. I am selling here so
that I can get enough money to
transport myself to work. I am
subsidising the company and
it does not make sense at all,”
Mhare said.
Despite his 29 years of toil,
Mhare has no home of his own.
He also longs to buy a fami-
ly car, but for now, the 51-year-
old will have to shrug off other
Epworth residents on a bus
queue, each morning on his
way to work.
“What do I do with ZW$10
000 when my children want to
eat and go to school? This small
business is my only hope for
survival,” he said.
On a good day, Mhare
makes US$15 from selling
second-hand clothes and more
when customers with deeper
pockets either buy the sec-
ond-hand sofas or the recondi-
tioned refrigerators.
Mhare said life had become
unbearable for industry work-
ers as they are getting poorer by
the day.
NewsHawks News Page 19
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Newsrooms must empower women
IN A bid to address the gen- dation found that there are Think Anew facilitator Marike Groenewald taking the participants through a session on creating a sions on the methodology
der inequalities in Zimba- five times as many men as thinking environment. and implementation of the
bwe’s newsrooms, the Fried- women in the editorial de- skills learnt.
rich Naumann Foundation partment, meaning less than nalists in the country to mentorship of young and proffer a marketplace of ideas
for Freedom is supporting 20% of the editorial team develop them as trainers in upcoming female journal- and facilitation tools at the “Journalism is a profession
a facilitators’ training pro- are females in Zimbabwe- taking a leading role in train- ists,” Sithole said. disposals of trainers. There of power and influence and
gramme for senior female an news organisations. The ing, capacity building and will be a lot of practice ses- we feel that this programme
journalists, to capacitate proportion of women in the “The programme will will help in producing agile
them with skills to mentor newsrooms is much lower female journalists who are
and train younger female than the regional average fully equipped in leadership
journalists. of 42%. The foundation’s skills and being strategic
programme officer Fungisai around challenges and bot-
Among those trained is Sithole said the facilitators’ tlenecks in the profession.
The NewsHawks’ investigative training programme is part We feel that it will help in
journalist Bridget Manana- of a bigger initiative where creating breakthroughs and
vire. The training held in Vic- the younger journalists will opportunities for young fe-
toria Falls this week is part of be guided on navigating the male journalists.”
the foundation’s Female For- newsroom and equipped
ward global campaign. with leadership skills. Sithole said newsrooms
were not reflective of the di-
It focuses on facilitation of She said the training was versity in society where wom-
skills, cognisant and empa- part of steps in addressing the en make the larger part of the
thetic to young female jour- gaps in leadership and repre- population.
nalist as well as the digital sentation of female journal-
aspects of facilitating. ists in senior positions. “Diversity is missing. Let
me add that this programme
The training also zeros in The training seeks to pre- is to also celebrate prominent
on how facilitators can cre- pare the young journalists for and successful female jour-
ate a thinking environment the newsrooms and the pro- nalists who have been at
that allows people to learn, fession so that they are aware
think and develop as well as of the challenges and be stra- the centre of driving the
promote equality, which is an tegic on how to tackle them. industry and to recognise
issue that most female jour- them of their work they have
nalists struggle with in the “This programme is fo- done keeping citizens in-
newsroom. cused on equipping the se- formed despite the obstacles
lected prominent five jour- in their way,” she said.
A brief survey by the foun-
— STAFF WRITER.
There is a future.
ZIMBABWE
CHILDREN’S CANCER RELIEF
EARLY
DETECTION
IS THE BEST PROTECTION!
STAY IF YOU SUSPECT EYE CANCER
ALERT! VISIT YOUR CLINIC TODAY
Page 20 News NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Special Covid-19
PANDEMIC coverage
Zim poverty reaches alarming levels
BERNARD MPOFU The World Bank. treme poor. Estimates suggest job in 2020, causing many to faced a drop in revenue or did at all. Rural households rely
nomic activity in Zimbabwe, the number of extreme poor fall into poverty and worsen- not receive any revenue at all less on wage employment and
ABOUT 1.5 million people limiting employment growth reached 7.9 million in 2020— ing the plight of already im- non-farm businesses.”
living in Zimbabwe’s urban and improvements in living almost 49% of the popula- poverished families. (ZimStat Rapid PICES
centres plunged into alarm- standards,” the World Bank tion.” Phone Survey of July 2020). In 2020, Zimbabwe’s gross
ing penury after their liveli- said. “Urban households suffered Wage earners in urban areas domestic product (GDP) is
hoods were disrupted by the The World Bank said sur- most economically. Ninety and the extreme poor were estimated to have contracted
outbreak of Covid-19 and re- “The pandemic and its im- veys indicate that nearly 500 percent of non-farm business- disproportionally affected by by 8% for a second year in a
strictions which were enforced pacts disrupted livelihoods, 000 households have at least es, which skew toward urban the pandemic, as their pay row as Covid-19 halted eco-
to contain the spread of the especially in urban areas, and one member who lost their areas, indicated that they was either cut or not received nomic recovery. Operating
pandemic, the World Bank added 1.3 million to the ex- restrictions led to depressed
has said. manufacturing, non-mineral
exports, hospitality, trade, and
Zimbabwe reported its first transport sectors.
case of Covid-19 in March
2020 before enforcing a strict Sales of manufacturing
lockdown to limit the spread. companies and service firms
Economic sectors such as tour- in July 2020 were about half
ism were some of the hardest the sales of 2019. Supply-side
hit while those eking out a liv- shocks subsided after easing
ing from the thriving informal of mobility restrictions, but
sector faced dire straits. domestic demand was weak in
an environment of triple-digit
This year, another lock- inflation, high unemployment
down was enforced at the start and income losses.
of the year and business or-
ganisations and labour unions “Demand for imports in-
say many jobs were made re- creased as several years of
dundant. Over 1 500 people drought necessitated increased
have died due to Covid-19-re- imports of maize and elec-
lated ailments since Zimba- tricity while the pandemic
bwe reported its first case last presented new demands for
year in March. Experts say lab equipment and medical
after facing an economic crisis supplies. The current account
exacerbated by the Covid-19 was in surplus, due to high
pandemic, Zimbabwe’s econo- remittances inflows and trade
my is set to rebound by 2.9% surplus,” the World Bank said.
in 2021, supported by the re-
covery of agriculture and due The government’s aspi-
to base effects. An anticipated ration to attain upper mid-
bumper harvest and continu- dle-income status by 2030
ation of rule-based monetary will require the authorities to
policy will stabilise food prices strengthen governance; en-
and improve food security. sure greater transparency and
accountability; and increase
“However, disruptions public financing and invest-
caused by the pandemic will ments focused on critical sec-
continue to weigh on eco- tors, the multilateral lender
said.
NHAU MANGIRAZI stopped operations as they
did not acquire exemption
Govt must extend vaccinationARTISANAL miners are letters to operate.
challenging the government
to extend the Covid-19 vac- “Cash shortages in the eco-
cination programme to outly- nomic sector impacted nega-
tively on miners operations,”
programme to artisanal minersing areas where thousands of Takavarasha said.
people make a living through
gold panning. a reprieve to continue work- “We know mining will al- er than before. The approval “We urge the government He said Operation Chi-
Several players in the gold ing as essential services. The ways be an essential part of of mining licences was made to roll out the vaccines in korokoza Chapera, launched
mining sector have revealed only significant challenge was economic growth and a tool worse by Covid-19. Minis- mining hotspots where the by the government on 24 Jan-
that it is unrealistic to ex- flow of transport from mines that will move the National try officials couldn’t come to miners are based. They work uary 2020, had a knock-on
pect informal miners to visit to mills. Currently, the miners Development Strategy 1,” he conduct ground verification, underground and have no effect on artisanal miners, as
healthcare facilities for vacci- who rely on exports are failing said. which is a vital process in time to travel to health facil- many of them were arrested
to transport their products.” Chiedza Chipangura, mining application,” Chipan- ities and be vaccinated,” she for operating illegally.
nation. said.
A miner in Pfungwe in Mamhungo said delays chairperson of the Zimba- gura said. He said the majority of
Mashonaland East province, in extending vaccination to bwe Women’s Federation in “It made our situation Zimbabwe Miners’ Feder- artisanal miners are not reg-
Takunda Takaendesa Mam- mining areas will affect the Mashonaland West, said the worse as women miners as the ation president Wellington istered, forcing them to play
hungo, said mining was de- industry. closure of ministry of Mines backlog of mines licensing Takavarasha concurred that catch and mouse with law en-
clared an essential service ‘‘Although local clinics are offices during the Covid-19 increased…We had problems miners have not been spared forcement agents.
during the national lockdown offering the vaccine, it is vol- lockdown hampered the op- before Covid-19 and it got by the Covid-19 pandem-
restrictions last year hence untary. Not many can afford erations of women miners. worse during lockdown re- ic that disrupted operations ‘‘About 84% (at least 1.5
miners, including artisanal to go to town to be vaccinated “The majority of women strictions. It became a night- globally. million) of those in the min-
miners, should be vaccinated. so we move on with life under want to get their documents mare for women miners.” “We have tried to educate ing sector operate illegally.
Mamhungo said: “Artisanal the Covid-19 pandemic. We according to the law but, Chipangura called for a our membership in the artis- These are informal and this
miners had a few challenges urge the government to move with Covid-19 restrictions, speedy rollout of the vacci- anal sector as it was an essen- has a huge blow if they are
during national lockdown re- fast with their vaccine rollout the processing of legal min- nation programe in mining tial services during national forced to be on the run by
strictions last year as there was to remote areas. ing documents became slow- areas. lockdown. Some of them state security agencies yet we
want to help out on Covid-19
awareness.”
NewsHawks News Page 21
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Teacher unions demand school testing
LIZWE SEBATHA People queue to get vaccinated at Wilkins Hospital recently. /Pic: Aaron Ufumeli ture checks will be conducted
and schools will be mandated
TEACHER unions have em- for the prevention, early detec- to fund safety in the face of capacitate our schools to fully ers are permitted in class to to have isolation rooms for
phasised the need for regular tion and control of Covid-19, Covid-19. Unfortunately, the adhere to SOPs,” Masaraure maintain physical distancing. those found with high tem-
testing of learners, educators were announced in September cost of our reckless conduct in added. perature.
and non-teaching staff to con- 2020. schools will outweigh all the The SOPs also indicate that
tain Covid-19 amid reports of savings. Regular testing cannot Under the SOPs, sports ac- teachers must be trained to The director responsible for
an increase in confirmed cases “However, national com- be avoided if we want to con- tivities are banned, hot seating become health co-ordinators information and advocacy in
at schools countrywide. pliance with SOPs in schools tain Covid-19 in our crowded is discouraged, frequent disin- by the government to monitor rhe Primary and Secondary
stands at a pathetic 25%. They schools. Secondly, we should fection of schools is mandatory healthcare-related matters in Education ministry, Toungana
According to the Prima- (government) are not ready while a maximum of 35 learn- learning institutions; tempera- Ndoro, however argued that
ry and Secondary Education the ministry in partnership
ministry, more than a doz- with the Health and Child
en schools have registered Care ministry is “managing” to
Covid-19 cases with Mata- contain Covid-19 despite the
beleland learning institutions shortcomings of the ministry
named as the worst affected. in ensuring every school has an
isolation centre among, other
Sacred Heart Primary and SOP needs.
Sacred Heart Secondary in Es-
igodini, Matabeleland South, “Through SOPs, we are
have recorded over 130 con- managing the Covid-19 sit-
firmed cases. uation which had risen in a
few schools. We are looking at
While the Primary and Sec- the cases in schools on a case-
ondary Education ministry by-case basis and what we are
claims it has contained the doing is that if a school has
spread of the pandemic, teach- many cases, we quarantine the
er unions placed the blame school,” Ndoro said.
squarely on government of-
ficials for “blindly accepting “Across the country, we have
people into schools without recorded roughly 10 schools
mandatory testing.” that have recorded Covid-19
cases this term. Matabeleland
“We warned government South has been the worst hit
against blindly but in other schools they are
recording a case each.”
accepting people into
schools without mandatory Sacred Heart mission was
testing. The reckless opening closed to outsiders after a surge
of schools was just a recipe in confirmed cases.
for turning schools into super
spreaders. We insisted on ca- The country’s Covid-19 vac-
pacitating schools to fully ad- cination drive has entered the
here to standard operating pro- second phase targeting teach-
cedures (SOPs), government ers, security and judicial sec-
never took heed,” argued Ob- tors, among other groupings.
ert Masaraure, the president Thw government has autho-
of the Amalgamated Rural rised the use of China’s Sino-
Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe pharm and Sinovac vaccines,
(Artuz). Russia’s Sputnik V and Covax-
in from India.
The SOPs, which provide
Epworth slowly embraces
Covid-19 vaccination
CHIPA GONDITII ed, we are mainly encouraging planned as a group that we Public vaccination exercise at Wilkins Hospital this week.
people with diabetes, blood will not get vaccinated be-
RESIDENTS of Epworth pressure, asthma and those on cause to be honest with you
near Harare are warming up ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) we were afraid that this vac-
to Covid-19 vaccination de- to come forward and be vac- cine will kill us. After seeing
spite earlier phobia towards cinated against this virus,” she other people getting vaccinat-
the government-implemented said. ed, I then realised that it was
inoculation programme. important to be vaccinated
“We are also encouraging so that I could be safe from
The majority of residents the elderly to be vaccinated Covid-19.”
were initially reluctant to get so let us say a young person
vaccinated, fearing health comes to get vaccinated here, Bernard Churumanzi, an
complications. However, their the onus is also on them to elderly resident who was wait-
attitude has since changed af- bring their elderly relatives so ing in the vaccination queue,
ter seeing prominent figures that they also get vaccinated. said he was getting vaccinated
such President Emmerson so as to protect his life and
Mnangagwa and Vice-Presi- “When this (vaccination) those around him.
dent Constantino Chiwenga programme started, people
getting their jabs. were afraid of getting vacci- “As you can see, I am an old
nated, they had fears of dying man now and I heard on the
A visit to Epworth Polyclin- and getting health complica- radio that Covid-19 was very
ic by The NewsHawks crew tions, but as health workers dangerous to old people like
on Tuesday revealed that peo- we went through the com- me so I am getting vaccinat-
ple were queuing for their jabs munities and educated them ed in order to protect myself
as early as 7am. on the importance of getting and those around me because
vaccinated. Now it seems that if I get infected my family and
By 8am, the vaccination people have heeded the mes- my neighbours might also get
waiting benches were full and sage and they are coming in infected,” he said.
some people had to be ac- droves.”
commodated in an adjacent Zimbabwe launched its na-
sitting area. Epworth Poly- Epworth resident Sim- tional Covid-19 vaccination
clinic health worker Fortunate barashe Chibvure, who was programme using the Sino-
Gombwe said they were en- vaccinated at the clinic, said pharm Covid-19 vaccine on
couraging people to get vac- his motivation for getting the 22 February 2021.
cinated and that the number jab had come from seeing all
of people being objected had his friends get vaccinated the As of Wednesday, 231 632
increased due to community week before. people have received their
education initiatives. first dose while 30 496 had
“Most of my friends in received their second dose as
“We are encouraging peo- Domboramwari got vaccinat- part of a government plan to
ple to come and get vaccinat- ed last week. Initially we had achieve 60% herd immunity.
Page 22 Editorial & Opinion NewsHawks
CARTOON Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Giving land
reform a very
terrible name
IN the past few days, there has been heated debate on
social media pertaining to the opaque, partisan and gener- Zim independence an empty shell
ally corrupt allocation of farmland in Zimbabwe.
ON Sunday, Zimbabweans will commem- Video footage of Zanu PF supporters cel- now sees: that a nation can gain indepen-
The discussion gained momentum when an enterpris- orate — and certainly not celebrate for the ebrating the late former president (initially dence without being free. That is what hap-
ing young farmer got allocated a piece of land through the majority of impoverished citizens — the prime minister) Robert Mugabe’s victory pened. The country became independent,
direct intervention of John Basera, the permanent secre- 41st anniversary of Independence from Brit- in 1980 captures ordinary people running but not free.
tary for Lands and Agriculture. ain in 1980. across the streets of Salisbury (later Harare)
singing and dancing. Yet the liberation movement’s mission
Many commentators were agreed that the youthful Without a shadow of doubt, 18 April was to secure independence, free people
farmer has indeed shown potential for productive agri- 1980 is an important date in the history of Interviews revealed what they expected from oppression and ensure freedom, as well
culture and certainly deserves adequate land for his en- the nation. Its significance in a different con- from Mugabe and his Zanu PF government: as prosperity.
deavours. text is similar to 12 September 1890 when jobs, houses, transport, social services and
the British colonial pioneer column – under prosperity. Judging them by their own objectives and
However, the controversy arose from the fact that this the aegis of Cecil Rhodes’ British South Af- goals, Zimbabwe’s nationalist leaders have
was yet another example of a dysfunctional and cronyist rica Company – reached Harare from South After initial promises of progress shown been a huge failure and disappointment.
agrarian policy which makes it easier to get land via “con- Africa via Botswana and Matabeleland by some advances in education, health and They put their lives and those of the people
nections” than through a transparent, fair and predictable South province through Tuli. human capital development, the dream soon in the line of danger only to end up with
allocation system anchored on merit. turned into a nightmare as bad governance, a country which in many respects is worse
Indeed, it is also as significant as 3 De- mismanagement and corruption took root. than Rhodesia – a great betrayal.
There are thousands of youths out there who desperate- cember 1893, the date of the famous Shan-
ly need land for farming and other projects but, because gani Patrol – Alan Wilson’s Last Stand – the Soon after Independence, Mugabe em- Those who sacrificed, fought selflessly and
they are not privileged enough to sit down for a cup of nerve-jangling historic battle in the jungles barked on a fierce campaign of repression died in the struggle did so to free the coun-
coffee with Basera, their lives appear doomed. when a battalion of colonial troops faced and bloodshed that signalled disaster ahead. try from colonial rule, free it from oppres-
the might of King Lobengula’s army. That So from day one, nation-building was on sion and free it from poverty. But Zimbabwe
Lest we be misunderstood, Basera is not the villain in marked the end of an era. quicksand as Mugabe failed to lay a dem- remains imprisoned by relentless repression
this whole imbroglio. Far from it. Basera is no saint, of and poverty; with Independence just being a
course, but being one of the youngest technocrats in cen- There are also many other defining an- Hawk Eye mere empty shell.
tral government, he has shown commendable zeal, focus ti-colonial battles that were fought during
and energy in that important portfolio. The problem is the protracted struggles, mainly in the Dumisani On Sunday, President Emmerson Mnan-
bigger and older than him. If two million land-hungry 1890s and 1970s. Muleya gagwa will have nothing to offer to the na-
youths pitch up at Basera’s office, will he have tea with all tion as usual.
of them? So 18 April 1980 remains etched in the ocratic and sustainable foundation for the
minds of Zimbabweans. At the beginning future. In fact, it is a scandal that Mnangagwa
For decades, Zimbabwe’s land reform policy has been it marked the end of a long anti-colonial and Zanu PF leaders call themselves libera-
sullied by political manipulation, bureaucratic ineptitude struggle for self-rule. It also brought an end What followed the Gukurahundi blood- tors. They are not liberators or heroes. Defi-
and lack of strategic foresight. to concomitant bloodshed. bath was authoritarian consolidation, nitely not. They simply replaced oppressors,
one-party state campaign, purges of op- hence they are also oppressors.
Elsewhere in these pages today, we carry a fascinating Above all, it signalled a new beginning. It position and civil society voices, relentless
article by political scientist Michael Albertus. He argues, was a big promise; embodied people’s hopes, human rights abuses and establishment of a Fantz Fanon saw this tragedy from afar
in a simple but profound manner, that the fundamental aspirations and legitimate expectations of a corrupt repressive state, ironically anchored decades ago, well before Zimbabwe became
problem at the heart of land reform in authoritarian states new society and images of a new dream. on colonial autocratic structures and practic- independent.
is essentially political. es. Those still exist to this day.
People hoped for better lives, that is to live “During the struggle for liberation the
Authoritarian regimes can parcel out pieces of land, but in a country where the economy performed This was worsened by leadership, gover- leader awakened the people and promised
they deliberately withhold secure property rights. This and offered jobs, good salaries, houses, trans- nance and policy failures, as well as corrup- them a forward march, heroic and unmit-
forces land beneficiaries into a relationship of perpetual port and other critical social services. tion and incompetence. Put together, this igated. Today, he uses every means to put
dependence. reduced Zimbabwe to a dystopia. them to sleep, and three or four times a year
Having sacrificed with blood, people asks them to remember the colonial period
That way, the regime cements control even as it impov- expected to live in a reasonably democrat- Founding nationalist leader Joshua Nko- and to look back on the long way they have
erishes the people. ic, free and progressive society whose na- mo’s statement encapsulates what everyone come since then,” Fanon observed.
tion-building project was underpinned by
Land is the very basis of human existence. Food comes the constitution, rule of law, respect for hu- That is what Mugabe used to do and
from the land. He who feeds you controls you. man rights, equal opportunity, justice, free- Mnangagwa is now doing – he wants people
dom and empowerment. to become “drunk on the remembrance of
Zimbabwe is not the only country in the world which the epoch which led up to independence”
has placed all farmland under state ownership. These were some of the many expecta- and not ask for delivery on the botched
tions which people had and held. promise of Independence.
There is nothing unique about this particular policy
thrust. What is uniquely Zimbabwean is the propensity
by political leaders to shoot themselves in the foot. In oth-
er countries where land ownership is vested in the state,
foreign investors are still flocking in.
They are not reluctant to commit their capital. Why?
The answer has nothing to do with the curse of our ances-
tors or the colour of our skin.
It has everything to do with the dismal failure of these
corrupt and clueless leaders to formulate and implement
policies and institutions that underpin economic success.
That is how you build dynamic societies that allow ev-
eryone to actively participate in economic opportunities.
It takes solid policy, strong institutions and selfless lead-
ership.
Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
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NewsHawks New Perspective Page 23
Issue 26, 16 April 2021 Lockdown ends. Recovery in sight!
IN our October Notes we Imara chief executive John Legat. there is a growing school of part of these funds have been
discussed the difficulties of thought that a rapid increase used to fund the foreign
analysing the Zimbabwean because of co-mingled assets bumper maize harvest both economy will have a positive in the money supply in the exchange auction market but
economy given the “smoke at the wrong exchange rate, in Zimbabwe and the region impact upon corporate rev- US will lead to much higher may also have been used to
and mirrors” in the economic will become even more mean- as a whole. If we then add enues and earnings for those rates of inflation than analysts import maize following the
data. The official statistics ingless for fiscal management increased gold production sectors and businesses that currently predict. Broad drought years. The Ministry
highlight the ZWL econ- and planning. But what it -whether formal or informal- are no longer effected by the money in the US rose by 26% also published details of the
omy but with a mixture of really means is that the paral- to that pot, we should expect pandemic. We should start to in 2020 and expectations are guarantees that the Govern-
the USD informal market lel exchange rate is the most to see a very rapid rebound see evidence of that in the July that it will rise by at least 12% ment has provided CBZ Bank
creeping into the data. Most important economic variable taking pace in the economy to September reporting period in 2021 but likely by more. in particular for lending large-
analysts would believe that in out there, so we would expect from the second quarter of although some companies As the pandemic hopefully ly to the agricultural sector. A
actual fact, the USD economy more administrative attempts 2021. If Zimbabwe and South may comment on a recovery draws to a close, rapid money Government guarantee does
would form a significant part to try to control it. Africa can bypass in some way when announcing their first growth together with the not appear to be a great way
of the overall Zimbabwe econ- the third wave of the global quarter trading updates. massive fiscal expansion just to encourage prudent lending
omy especially now that the Under ‘normal’ circum- pandemic and thereby avoid announced in the USA should by the banks or indeed an in-
use of the USD has been of- stances, reports from com- a third lockdown, then the Official ZWL inflation has lead to a rapid recovery in the centive to chase after non-per-
ficially sanctioned since June panies who publish sales and economy should continue to dropped since the hyperinfla- US economy. As the rest of forming loans. Guarantees
2020 as a tool to kick start volume data can give some recover throughout 2021 al- tionary levels of 2019/20. The the World re-emerges from can however contribute to the
the economy post the first clues of the level of activity beit from a low base. Needless introduction of the foreign the pandemic, it could well accumulation of public debt
COVID lockdown. The mon- in the informal economy to say, if there is a third wave exchange auction system has trigger a boom in commodity in the event of default by pri-
etary numbers published by but unfortunately the global that causes another lockdown, certainly assisted but so too prices. Indeed some inter- mary borrowers. The chances
the RBZ highlight both ZWL COVID pandemic has then this rebound could be has the relative stability of the national analysts are already are Government is likely to
and USD deposits although skewed these numbers as new halted. parallel exchange rate which writing about the possibility be called upon to underwrite
the latter are accounted for at lockdowns are introduced. we believe has found support of a ‘commodity super cycle’ these loans further increasing
the official auction rate. The This has been affecting the Certain sectors will take following the introduction of in 2021/22. This would have unbudgeted expenditure.
difficulty with these numbers export markets (e.g. Padenga) longer to recover. Internation- the dual currency system in a negative impact upon global
is that with such little trust in as well as the local economy as al tourism is unlikely to re- mid-2020. inflation, as commodity prices Government has an-
Zimbabwe’s banking system, we saw from January this year bound until 2022 as Europe- rise. It would be good news nounced that the Grain
most corporates and indi- as a new lockdown was intro- ans and Americans are urged The difference between the for commodity producers Marketing Board (GMB) will
viduals are reluctant to hold duced in Zimbabwe. There or forced to stay at home. By two rates though has been such as Zimbabwe and South be the sole buyer of all maize
large amounts of USD in the was a strong recovery recorded that stage we should expect widening and now stands at Africa however whose export harvested in 2021. Given the
banks for fear that they could over the second half of 2020 to see international travel re- over 40%. We would not be prices and hence earnings forecasted bumper maize crop,
not access them or worse, be as the economy rebounded bound quite quickly especially surprised to see the auction would rise from current levels. this might require upwards of
converted in an instant to from the harsh April/May if this particular pandemic rate moving higher thereby A commodity boom almost ZWL60 billion in payments
ZWL. Recent media reports lockdown as the USD econ- has died out. Locked down narrowing the gap between always coincides with US to the maize producers over
on house break-ins highlight omy started to reemerge and Europeans will be eager to the two rates. As the tobacco dollar weakness but it would the coming six months. We
just how much USD cash cer- ZWL liquidity grew rapidly. get out and about again. We season progresses the auction put upward pressure on the fear that the price that the
tain households are prepared Recent quarterly numbers should also not underestimate rate may start to move. Too rand, South Africa being GMB will then sell that maize
to hold ‘under the mattresses’. for the last quarter of 2020 the reduced number of flights big a gap is putting export- Zimbabwe’s largest trading on to the millers will once
This cash would not feature in highlight this growth. to the Southern African ers, who now have a 40% partner. Such a cocktail would again be below the price that
the numbers. region, not helped by fears of retention rate on their USD be beneficial for Zimbabwe; it they pay the farmers implying
With a new lockdown an- the South African variant of earnings, under growing last occurred from mid-2009 a huge monetary loss. This has
A further ‘known un- nounced in early January this COVID in Europe and the pressure. That said, for those to mid-2011. to be funded somehow and
known’ is how much USD year, we would expect that USA. Recently for exam- lucky enough to be able to ac- it will fall on Government to
cash is sloshing around the the first quarter numbers for ple, Ethiopian Airlines was cess funds at the auction rate, Our expectations are that produce the ZWL required.
system through unrecorded 2021 will highlight renewed forced to suspend its flights the arbitrage opportunities USD inflation will continue
trade. Gold smuggling might weakness in the economy. to the UK in line with that of between the two rates offer to rise which itself will put We fail to see how this will
be one source of such cash This however will be short Emirates. This can only have tempting profits. additional pressure on ZWL not result in a substantial
and we have little idea of lived in our view. Lockdown negative consequences upon inflation rates. ZWL inflation boost to ZWL liquidity and
just how much value of such measures were eased con- supply chains that will impact In our last Notes, we wrote has closely tracked ZWL hence to inflation.
unrecorded exports might siderably in March allowing the availability (and price) of about our concern over po- money growth. The RBZ
be coming back into the most businesses to reopen certain spare parts for plant tential USD inflation. We are has recently published its The ZSE has performed
economy in the form of cash again. Further the recent rainy and equipment for example. already witnessing this with December monthly economic well over the past three
or staying outside of it. We season has been excellent fuel prices increasing in USD review. We note that broad months as we had expected.
also have little idea of how enhancing the prospect of a A strong rebound in the terms together with soft com- money grew by nearly six This has been driven almost
much gold is being produced modity prices. Internationally times during 2020; stripping entirely by domestic investors
by informal gold panners out foreign currency depos- since foreign investors remain
but we have to believe that it its from that number local net sellers of the stock market.
could be quite a high number currency deposits rose by The stock market remains
given the amount of land 351% in line with inflation one of the few places where
that is being mined, legally or which rose by 349% year on hard assets can be purchased
illegally. The current price of year in 2020. Our fear is that in meaningful amounts using
gold is too attractive to ignore monetary growth in 2021 will ZWL rather than USD. For-
such opportunities. What is maintain an upward trajectory eign exchange by contrast is
for certain is that these indi- which itself will keep ZWL hard to access whether on the
viduals will be receiving cash inflation rates high over and official auction market or even
in some form or another from above the pressure from exter- via the black market.
the gold buyers; that cash can nal inflation rates.
then be spent on goods and It is our view that rising
services in the formal econo- During the quarter, the ZWL liquidity will continue
my, at which point they enter Ministry of Finance pub- to find its way onto the ZSE
the official statistics. lished details of new foreign putting upward pressure on
denominated loans extended share prices. The ZSE per-
This ‘known unknown’ to Zimbabwe by Afrexim- formed well in USD terms in
is important to keep an eye bank over recent years. These 2020 and this has continued
on for more esoteric reasons total USD1.4 billion, a large in 2021.
too: the more the economy amount for an economy the
dollarises the more the Zim- size of Zimbabwe that only As we have written in pre-
babwean economy becomes serves to contradict the view vious Notes, USD valuations
linked to the global economy. that sanctions are hurting on the ZSE in 2019 slumped
The trade weighted US dollar, the economy. Unlike loans to levels that were below those
for example, has recently from the IMF or World Bank, of 2008 when hyperinflation
appreciated after a sharp fall, these are commercial loans was reaching record highs. In
although this series is current- at non-concessionary interest short recent USD gains have
ly unusually volatile because rates and are therefore expen- come from a very low base.
of Fed actions. The relative sive. Including fees the rate of Looking at USD valuations
changes of the dollar not only interest is high at an average today, they remain low by
affects trade with South Africa of 11% in USD terms. Given historical standards despite
and the region - which are that Zimbabwe is already in the fact that businesses are in
both also highly indebted - default to the multilateral far better shape generally than
but also has implications for institutions, one wonders how they were back in 2008/2009.
the liquidity of the foreign the country might repay such We therefore see no reason
currency auction market, the loans as they are relatively why equities will not con-
liquidity of the parallel rate short term. We assume that tinue to be one of the better
market and the stress associ- performing ZWL asset classes
ated with Zimbabwe’s own over the year ahead.
foreign denominated debt.
As the rate of dollarisation — Imara Investing
grows, government statistics,
which are already meaningless
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
CMED-First
Oil US$2.7
million dispute
far from ending
THE battle between CMED. uments, the parties had re but CMED did not pay had paid the amount be- riched.
CMED (Pvt) Limited The company said the entered into an agreement the sum of US$72 000 fore signing the agree- The judge said it would
and First Oil Company for the provision of diesel that would have been paid ment.
which has been going on High Court granted the in terms of which First Oil to Zimra in terms of duty be in the interest of justice
for eight years seems to alternative relief, being a Company was to supply and levies. First Oil submitted that that First Oil be compelled
be far from ending as the refund of US$2.7 million three million litres of die- if CMED were to be giv- to refund the amount al-
latter has resisted settling a to it and dismissed the sel to CMED upon pay- Parties went on to sign en three million litres it ready received.
US$2,7 million debt. principal relief of princi- ment. an agreement after pay- would be unjust enrich-
pal performance. ment of US$2.7 million. ment. CMED wanted to be
This is despite a recent The court heard that refunded in the alterna-
judgement by High Court “The respondent filed an pursuant to the agree- First Oil Company In his judgement, Jus- tive the value of diesel to
judge Justice Owen Tagu appeal in terms of which ment, albeit before papers then failed to deliver the tice Tagu said it is com- have been delivered at the
directing First Oil to pay they are seeking that were signed, CMED paid fuel as promised, prompt- mon cause that the parties current rate of US$1.04
the amount, including in- judgement to be set aside a total of US$2.7 million ing CMED to file a case had an agreement and that or ZW$86.36/litre as per
terest. while they seek to return towards the purchase of against the company, ar- CMED paid US$2.7m. As letter from the Zimbabwe
the US$2.7 million which the three million litres of guing that First Oil had an such, it cannot run away Energy Regulatory Au-
The oil company has they received. The appeal diesel. obligation to deliver the from the obligation be- thority dated October 1
however filed a Supreme is frivolous and not meant fuel to CMED or refund cause an agreement was 2020.
Court appeal challenging to achieve the substan- In terms of the agree- the value of three million signed after the money
the High Court order. tial justice but aimed at ment, the plaintiff was to litres of fuel. was paid. But the judge said there
frustrating the applicant,” pay a further US$720 000 is no justification for us-
Unhappy with the deci- complained CMED. direct to the Zimbabwe In its plea, First Oil The judge ruled that if ing this rate because no
sion, CMED has again ap- Revenue Authority (Zim- Company admitted receiv- First Oil’s position that diesel was delivered to the
proached the High Court “The respondent clearly ra) in lieu of import duties ing the money but defend- the signed agreement is plaintiff, the available die-
seeking an order authoris- wants to unfairly derive and levies. ed itself, saying CMED unenforceable because sel was at Msasa depot al-
ing the execution of Tagu’s pecuniary benefit from a breached the agreement by the plaintiff paid before ready procured at the rate
judgement, complaining failed transaction in cir- It is alleged that First failing to pay US$720 000 the agreement was signed, applicable at that time.
that First Oil’s appeal is cumstances which result Oil Company received for duty. then it has no right to
unmerited and aimed at to their unjust enrichment the payment of US$2.7m hold onto the US$2.7m The current application
stalling progress towards at applicant’s expense. The through its ZB account They also argued that a because, by so doing, it by CMED is yet to be
the recovery of the debt. applicant has effective- held at Avondale in Hara- court could not enforce would be unjustly en- entertained by the High
ly lost anticipated profit a refund because CMED Court. — STAFF WRITER
Court papers show that which they could have
First Oil received money earned had the respondent
from CMED, but failed to delivered the diesel upon
deliver fuel. payment,” reads the appli-
cation.
Reads the application by
CMED: “Upon the judge- CMED said there is
ment the now respondent already irreparable harm
filed a notice of appeal which cannot be cured.
with the Supreme Court
under case S13/21. The company further
submitted that it is conve-
“It should be noted that nient to allow the judge-
pursuant to an agreement ment to be carried into
of sale of diesel, the re- execution pending appeal.
spondent received US$2
700 000 deposited into its The two companies have
ZB (bank) account. been at loggerheads over
the past eight years with
“Respondent acknowl- the case having landed
edged receipt of that pay- some top officials at First
ment. The respondent did Oil company in the dock
not deliver the 3 million back in 2014.
litres of diesel in terms
of the agreement,” said According to court doc-
NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 25
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Poor tobacco sales anger Hurungwe farmers
NHAU MANGIRAZI
THE commencement of Farmers were frustrated as they are not allowed inside the auction floors. The selling season started on Wednesday last week.
tobacco marketing season
last week brought sorrow not offered accommoda- a knock among some of is the role of TIMB to be a shortchanging them with urgency.
to many farmers in the tion, forcing them to sleep us who have underlining mediator between farmers poor prices and not paying “We call for transpar-
prime tobacco-farming in the open. health ailments includ- and contract farmers yet on time. This has been our
district because of poor ing those on medication we are being left at their beef with TIMB on how ency, efficiency and pro-
prices which in some cases She said she slept in the for BP and HIV as we are mercy. They are dictating they issue licences to such fessionalism in handling
are as low as US$1 per ki- open for two nights while sleeping on empty stom- poor sales on our crop,” companies that do not agribusiness as a nation.
logramme. waiting to sell her tobacco. achs here. There are no she added. have the financial muscle The discord on how to-
food outlets and we don’t to pay farmers their money bacco is being bought at
Farmers who spoke to Another farmer, Sylvia have money yet we take Believe Tevera, presi- once sales have been done. auction floors leaves a lot
The NewsHawks also felt Chibaya (50), of Mudzi- medication daily. TIMB dent of the Tobacco Farm- If the company can’t pay to be desired. This is not
that companies were tak- mu area, said the poor should not have allowed ers’ Union of Zimbabwe then, they must move out good for our economy
ing advantage of Covid-19 prices and delays in pay- such a company to oper- (TFUZ), said the poor of the competitive tobacco where abuse takes centre
restrictions to rip them ment will affect those with ate without proper finan- sales are a cause for con- buying business. Farmers stage annually.
off. They also complained underlying health condi- cial capacity working for cern among their mem- deserve something better.
over delays in payments, tions like high blood pres- the benefit of farmers. We bers countrywide. We call upon TIMB to in- Farmers have endured
while uncontracted tobac- sure and diabetes, among feel cheated and TIMB vestigate such companies high risk experience
co farmers also faced prob- other ailments, as they are is nowhere to be seen to He said some farmers so that their licences are during the Covid-19 re-
lems in selling their crop. not getting food on time. help us. We have not been in Mvurwi had also raised cancelled,’’ he said. strictions to produce the
paid a single cent yet they complaints. tobacco that is being
Among the worst affect- “We have been told that are hoarding our tobacco There was no immediate bought for a song. The
ed were mostly women we will get our money for a song. We are losing “It is very sad that pric- response from the compa- farmers were at farms max-
under a privately run con- after a week yet we were out. We appeal to TIMB es are very low and farm- ny and TIMB at the time imising production under
tract farming scheme in made to believe that cash to intervene so that we are ers are at the losing end. of writing. this lockdown, only to be
Hurungwe. was available after sales. saved from the theft as the We have said of late that ill-treated through slavery
Banks should have been at sales are too low for us to contract companies have Founder and chairper- sales. They need some sort
Mary Mapfungaut- the company premises and make anything out of it. turned farmers into their son of Women in Agri- of protection from TIMB
si (54) of Zvimonja in we wonder how the To- disguised workers in mod- culture Union (WAU) that is taking long as this
Chief Dandawa’s area in bacco Industry Marketing “TIMB has failed in its ern-day slavery offering Olga Nhari said the pub- has been an annual out-
Hurungwe who was con- Board (TIMB) allowed role to regulate fair pricing low prices for high quality lic outcry among women cry.”
tracted by the private firm this to happen,” Chibaya and serve us as farmers. It tobacco. Farmers in Mvur- tobacco farmers must be
brought eight bales, but said. wi are not happy with the looked into as a matter of WAU has more than 5
was put off by the pricing same company that is 000 members.
was that was “too low” to ‘‘The poor sales will take
her.
“The price of my tobac-
co is frustrating as it was
bought for between 70
cents and US$$1.30. To
make it worse, we are not
allowed inside the auction
floors because of Covid-19
regulations. This has made
it difficult for me to cancel
sales that I am not hap-
py with, which is allowed
during sales,” Mapfun-
gautsi said.
“We are surprised that
they are not allowing us
inside the building during
the sales. It has dampened
our hope of getting fair
prices. I will not be able to
pay the credit I got as part
of the contract farming
arrangement and remain
with something tangible.”
Under the contract
scheme, she got eight bags
of fertilizer and US$50 for
labour for the one-hectare
she planted the tobacco as
part of the contract.
Mupfungautsi said the
government should en-
sured famers get vaccinat-
ed against Covid-19 so
that they are not cheated
by tobacco farmers under
the guise of ensuring so-
cial distancing.
“We understand vac-
cines are available. Gov-
ernment should have
made the rollout at these
floors so that we are vacci-
nated before we get to the
floors to witness how our
tobacco is being bought.
Without us being there,
there is no transparency,”
she said.
Mapfungautsi also com-
plained that farmers were
Page 26 Companies & Markets NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
First Capital income projected to grow
DUMISANI NYONI and improving the loan-to-de- commodation facility (MBA), an interest rate cap of 40%, it continue to pay off on chang- will continue to rise in the
posit ratio.” yields on interest-earning as- said. ing consumer behaviour lead- short term as costs continually
ADVISORY firm IH Securi- sets could however be affect- ing to expectation of extended catch up with inflation, which
ties (IH) has projected a 98% With cost of funding un- ed by the central bank’s an- “It is our view that fair value growth in the fees and com- may provide some downside
increase in net income for the likely to shift significantly, nouncement that banks which gains on investment property mission income line,” the firm risk to the cost to income ratio.
banking concern First Capital IH expects nominal yields to access the MBA facility can and net foreign exchange gains said.
Bank during the 2021 finan- remain robust in supporting only on-lend the proceeds at a will start to soften on account “We forecast the bank will
cial year, buoyed by higher de- interest income going forward. maximum 10% above the bor- of stabilising inflation. We Despite management’s com- register higher deposits on tar-
posits and improvement in the rowing rate, effectively putting believe that the bank’s drive mitment to cost containment, geted increases in reserve mon-
operating environment. Depending on exposure to to migrate services online will IH said it is its view that costs ey supply leading to a solid
the medium-term bank ac- base for lending activities.
In its analysis of the bank’s
financial results for the year “The bank has indicated it
ended December 31, 2020, IH has secured 87% of the US$30
expected the group to main- million regulatory capital re-
tain solid profit growth and quired by the Reserve Bank of
forecast that net income will Zimbabwe at FY21 (full-year
increase to ZW$3.45 billion in 2021) and on this basis, we be-
the current financial year, up lieve the bank has enough flex-
from ZW$1.74bn reported in ibility to undertake activities to
the same period last year. remain in a profitable position
to FY21. We forecast a small
“We believe that improve- dividend this year,” IH said.
ments in the operating envi-
ronment on uptick of econom- First Capital’s inflation-ad-
ic activity will bring in added justed total income increased
viability to the banking sector,” to ZW$3.4 billion during the
IH said. review period, from ZW$2.4
billion during the comparable
“As the spread between in- period in 2019, with pre-tax
terest rates and inflation nar- profit rising to ZW$901 mil-
rows, we anticipate that banks lion, from a loss of ZW$494
will gradually revert to their million previously.
core business of lending as pre-
viously revenue was being driv- The bank’s total deposits
en by the non-interest income grew by 331% year-on-year
thereby changing the composi- driven by a 298% growth
tion of revenue going forward in local currency deposits to
ZW$4bn.
PPC sees growth in cement sales Cairns debenture
row erupts
DUMISANI NYONI
REGIONAL cement maker 45% to 50% period-on-peri- “Given the improved fi- remains cautious on the out- A DISAGREEMENT over workers then translated
PPC says its unit in Zimbabwe od for the five months ended nancial performance and re- look for cement demand giv- the decision to settle de- their outstanding salaries to
recorded 10% sales volume February 2021, benefitting duction in gearing levels, in en the prevailing uncertainties bentures in local currency between 3 000 and 8 000
growth period-on-period for from increased cement sales particular in South Africa, key around the Covid-19 pan- despite being calculated in units.
the 11 months ended Febru- and stringent cost control. debt metrics are returning to demic and its resultant impact US dollars has deepened,
ary 2021, with retail demand traditional banking covenant on economic activity. prompting Cairns Holdings “These debentures ma-
and government-funded proj- “The group has experi- levels. The group is in good ex-workers to petition the tured in 2020 but we are
ects being the main drivers. enced the positive impact of standing with its lenders, with “PPC will remain focused Master of High Court for surprised to learn that the
improved cement sales, cost sufficient headroom in exist- on continuing to improve clarity. employees were advised to
In Zimbabwe, the cement reduction measures, enhanced ing facilities to meet its opera- cost competitiveness through redeem their debentures by
maker operates a clinker plant working capital management tional requirements.” cost management initiatives The company operated 31 March 2021 at a back-
in Colleen Bawn near Gwan- and cash preservation mea- and cash management. It will under judicial management dated rate of 1:1 against the
da in Matabeleland South sures implemented over the The group’s free cashflow take the necessary measures between 2012 and 2015 af- US. This implies that if the
province, as well as a cement 11 months to February 2021,” in the period under review is to ensure that it can continue ter failing to settle its debts. workers secured debentures
milling plant outside Bula- it said. between 90% and 95% higher to serve its customers, protect equivalent to US$1 000
wayo and another one in Ha- than the previous comparable its employees, and imple- In 2015, the High Court back then, they will redeem
rare. PPC said the South African period. ment strategic initiatives to sanctioned the removal of just ZW$1 000 which is
debt has declined from R1.92 ensure financial sustainability the agro processor from ju- grossly unfair,” he said.
Apart from South Africa billion as at 31 March 2020 to Although the group is expe- through all demand cycles,” dicial management, paving
and Zimbabwe, PPC also has R1.64 billion as at the end of riencing positive momentum PPC said. the way for a new investor, The workers’ represen-
units in Ethiopia, the Demo- February 2021. across most of its markets, it Takura Capital, which now tative argued that the reg-
cratic Republic of Congo and has over 90% shareholding ulations stipulating a 1:1
Rwanda. in Cairns after acquiring the exchange rate for debts and
stake owned by the Reserve obligations cannot automat-
“PPC Zimbabwe continues Bank and other shareholders ically alter the agreement
to trade well. For the elev- except that held by Cairns which had been arrived at
en months ended February Holdings Workers’ Trust. already via the scheme of ar-
2021, PPC Zimbabwe ce- rangement.
ment sales increased by 10% The judicial manager, Re-
period-on-period and 11% gis Saruchera, successfully As a result, FFAWUZ
period-on-period for the rescued the company after has written to the Master of
five months ended February coming up with a scheme High Court seeking clarity
2021,” PPC said in its latest of arrangement to salvage on the matter through a let-
operational update. the firm. But this week, a ter dated 30 March 2021.
legal officer within the Food
“Retail demand, concrete Federation and Allied Work- “A dispute has since ris-
product manufacturers and ers’ Union of Zimbabwe en on the conditions of
government-funded projects (FFAWUZ) told The New- redeeming the debentures
are the main drivers of cement sHawks that parties to the with Cairns Foods Limited
sales. PPC adjusted cement scheme of arrangement have and its creditors having con-
prices upwards in the second breached the pact. trasting interpretation on
half of the 2021 financial year the payable value of deben-
to recover input cost infla- He said the agreement ap- tures. It is from the forego-
tion.” proved by the High Court in ing that we seek your guid-
2015 converted the employ- ance to resolve the dispute,”
Group earnings before ees’ owed salaries into five- said Maoneka in the latter.
interest, taxes, depreciation year tradable debentures at
and amortisation (Ebitda) in- a fixed rate and price, with However, the Master of
creased by between 25% and each valued at US$1. Some High Court is yet to respond
30% period-on-period and to the query. — STAFF WRITER
NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 27
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Banning imports won’t rescue dying economy
DUMISANI NYONI to be innovative, are failing face. es and even monopolise the cement is going for US$4,” he been parading thousands and
to digitalise, to embrace new “With such companies market and continue to sell said. thousands of vehicles in their
THE government’s move to technology and to invest in products at the current pricing sales yards for us to believe
ban the importation of sec- research and development. We coming to compete with a regime. “So what it does is that it that, surely, they need to be
ond-hand motor vehicles, ce- are actually moving towards huge muscle and investment piles more misery and cost protected.”
ment and sugar will only pile the 4th Industrial Revolution outlay in their own backyard, “There isn’t anything that pressures onto the construc-
on misery for Zimbabweans as but, in our case, we move two it means that the product that you can say that’s affordable tion industry, those that are “Let’s take the Chinese
opposed to reviving industry, steps forward and maybe 10 they will be manufacturing in Zimbabwe. The majority of building houses—the cost of model and even the South Af-
the Confederation of Zimba- steps back,” the CRZ boss said. would be far much cheaper the products, if you compare building a house in Zimba- rican model, they didn’t start
bwe Retailers (CRZ) has said. than the local products that we with the region, are far way bwe it’s like you are building a by banning, they started by
Mutashu added: “I shudder are actually taking out in the above the normal. If you look house on Mars.” building massive capacity in
Recently gazetted Statutory to think about the day we have market.” at cement, for example, here the motor industry. They had
Instrument (SI) 89 of 2021 re- got to open up for competition in Zimbabwe a bag of 50kg Mutashu said the govern- so many companies that could
moved sugar, cement and sec- when we continue to become Mutashu said once AfCTA cement is going for US$9 but ment needed to take decisive assemble and manufacture,” he
ond-hand motor vehicles aged cry babies like this. It will ac- takes off, there would be no if you go across the Zambezi in action to save Zimbabwean said.
10 years and above from the tually leave us with egg on the opportunity for any entity in Zambia, the same 50kg bag of consumers.
Open General Import Licence. the country to increase pric- He said when they had
“It is also happening at a those companies manufactur-
But CRZ president Denford time real disposable incomes ing vehicles in large numbers;
Mutashu told The NewsHawks have lost value. Right now, we they then took a decision to
in an interview that the gov- have also banned importation ban Japanese vehicles.
ernment’s move was ill-timed of second-hand vehicles from
as it came at a time when other Japan instead of addressing “But in our case, we just
countries were preparing for that which is forcing Zimba- ban, we are just trigger happy,
the implementation of the Af- bweans to buy vehicles all the we just ban and when we ban
rican Continental Free Trade way from Japan. We are actu- we start looking for coming up
Area (AfCFTA). ally piling more misery onto with how we can then address
the Zimbabwean motorists or the scenario,” Mutashu said.
The AfCFTA, which Zimba- would-be motorists by ban-
bwe is part of, will create a sin- ning them from buying that “Zimbabwean companies
gle market for goods and ser- which they can afford,” Mu- must smell the coffee, invest
vices, facilitate the movement tashu said. what they are getting because
of persons, promote industrial surely from 2009, companies
development and sustainable For instance, vehicles were have been making profits, they
and inclusive socio-economic being shipped from Japan to should have invested those
growth, and resolve the issue of Zimbabwe (about 12 917 ki- profits back in businesses so
multiple membership. lometres) but still competed that now they would have
competitively with the local built the massive capacity for
“That is something that is brands. them to be able to compete
inconsistent with the trajecto- with South Africa, Zambia,
ry that Africa is taking. Yes, it’s “But can you tell me that China but you can’t tell me
understood...we are a young the local vehicle manufacturers that on most of the products
economy but some of these are going to be manufacturing that are coming from China,
companies that we are talking vehicles that will be sold at it’s not like Zimbabweans like
about no longer require any US$2 000? That is not possi- cheap-quality products.”
protection or whatever,” he ble. So, why are we making life
said. more miserable and difficult Mutashu said there was a
for Zimbabweans? Why are we need for the local companies
“They have been there since punishing them? Because we to produce that which Zimba-
time immemorial. Why should want to protect very few enti- bweans can afford.
we then be pushing for protec- ties?”
tionist policies around those “But you cannot produce
companies that have been In any case, Mutashu said, that which Zimbabweans can
in existence for a long time? for the government to arrive afford and then you force them
What it simply means is that at the decision that “we need to buy those commodities (at
those companies are failing to ban second-hand vehicles, higher prices). You cannot build
those companies should have an economy like that,” he said.
Uptick in life KAS Africa sets
assurance sector assets sights on West Africa
DUMISANI NYONI babwe Stock Exchange in June “The spike in incurred claims JOHANNESBURG – A LOCAL contract companies.
2020. Equity investments con- for the period under review was manufacturer of personal, home, baby and “As a majority black woman-owned busi-
ZIMBABWE’S life assurance stituted almost half of the sec- mainly due to increased policy oral care products has secured over US$10
sector has reported total assets tor’s assets at 44.25% of the total values and an increase in mor- million (about R140m) in investment from ness, we believe continental domestic invest-
amounting to ZW$32.6 billion, assets,” it said. tality attributable to Covid-19,” TRT Investments. ment and confidence can transform Africa
up 50.78%, as at 31 December Ipec said. into an economic superpower. There is a close
last year, driven by increases in Ipec said sector players should The Midrand-based KAS Africa will get a fit between our contract manufacturing busi-
fixed property and equity invest- ensure that they hold assets that In the period under review, significant cash injection with the investment, ness in the personal care, home care, baby care
ments on account of revaluation match their liability maturity gross premium written (GPW) which also sees TRT Investments acquire a and oral care sectors, and TRT Investments’
and unrealised gains. profile to eliminate funding gaps, by direct life assurers from tra- 49% stake in the company. vision for unleashing Africa’s potential as an
which may be costly in terms of ditional life assurance business, industrial powerhouse of the future.
In its report for the finan- both asset liquidation costs and excluding pension business grew The investment will also assist the compa-
cial year ended 31 December reputation. In the period under by 512% in nominal terms to ny to purchase a new plant and equipment, “Over the years, we have built one of the
2020, the Insurance and Pen- review, after-tax profit for life ZW$3.65 billion. which is required to build capacity for the continent’s foremost manufacturing plants in
sions Commission (Ipec) said assurers increased by 71.32% to manufacturing company. terms of size, volume, product variety, and ca-
the sector reported total assets ZW$11.35 billion for the cur- The main drivers of nominal pability standards.
amounting to ZW$32.6 billion rent reporting period. growth in GPW were funeral The investment into KAS Africa by TRT
as compared to ZW$21.6 bil- assurance business and group Investments, which has over 20 years experi- “We have earned a reputation for delivering
lion reported as at 30 September The main driver of profit life assurance, posting nomi- ence in manufacturing and distribution in the quality, flexible, local manufacturing capabili-
2020. for the sector was the signifi- nal growth rates of 436% and Sadc region, is expected to provide KAS Afri- ties that meet the most rigorous international
cant increase in unrealised gains 1.174% respectively indicating ca with access to capital facilities which have standards. In partnership with TRT Invest-
“The growth in the asset base from equity investments by growth in absolute figures of been put in place by TRT Investments with ments, we will be able to move this innovative
of the life assurance sector was ZW$11.57 billion. The com- ZW$1.97 billion and ZW$0.99 support from the African Export-Import Bank business to the next level,” she said.
mainly driven by increases in mission said the combined ra- billion, respectively. (Afrexim).
fixed property and equity in- tio for the life assurance sector Adam Molai, the chairperson of TRT In-
vestments on account of revalu- increased from 85% to 135%, “Growth in these two classes TRT is a Mauritian investment holding vestments, said KAS Africa was aligned with
ation and unrealised gains. The indicating an underwriting loss can be attributed to a significant business with more than US$200 million in the strategy of having an industrialised Africa.
values of equity investments for the period under review. In increase in premiums for funeral assets under its management and a diverse
increased by a nominal amount nominal terms, underwriting assurance and related products portfolio across Botswana, Mozambique, Ni- “Our objective is to increase KAS Africa’s
of ZW$4.33 billion from profit for the sector decreased by as the industry tries to cope with geria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the breadth and depth and to grow the company
ZW$9.81 billion as at 30 Sep- 717% from ZW$204.54 million Covid 19 induced increase in United States and Europe. aggressively. We are particularly excited about
tember 2020,” the report reads to a negative ZW$1.28 billion. mortality rates,” Ipec said. the potential of expansion into East and West
in part. Vinny Perumal, the chief executive of KAS Africa for KAS Africa,” he said..
The decrease in underwriting On an inflation-adjusted ba- Africa, said the deal was a win-win for both
“The increase was mainly due profit was mainly attributable sis, the growth in GPW for the — IOL
to the recovery of the stock mar- to significant increase in claims life assurance sector was 36.36%
ket after having been depressed incurred from ZW$253.46 mil- above the year-on-year infla-
by the suspension of the Zim- lion to ZW$3.99 billion. tion of 348.6%, indicating real
growth of premiums.
Page 28 Executive Chat NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
AYO seeks Companies and Intellectu-
interdict to al Properties Commission,
stop FNB Public Investment Corpo-
from closing ration and Financial Sector
bank accounts Conduct Authority, have all
had legal clashes with AYO.
JSE-listed AYO Technolo- governed by administrative ter mirrors that of the Gup- technology, mining and for scuppering some of its
gy Solutions has launched law, but private law of con- ta family saga in 2016, in media sectors. deals. Last month, AYO In his affidavit in court,
an urgent court bid to stop tract, which means there is which they were booted out called for a parliamentary Plaatjes says AYO generates
First National Bank (FNB) no legal obligation on the by all banks after allegations In the AYO matter, chief inquiry into four entities revenue in excess of R2 bil-
from closing its bank ac- bank to provide AYO with of massive irregular dealings executive Howard Plaatjes that it has clashed with in lion annually by servicing
counts. reasons for closing bank surfaced. and other executives claim recent months, accusing over 500 companies, in-
accounts. This prompted there is an engineered attack them of victimising and cluding those in financial
FNB has given AYO until AYO to approach the South South African banks re- on company operations and unfairly censuring the tech services, healthcare, edu-
3 May to find a new bank, Gauteng High Court on an fused to do business with the banks are using that to investment firm. cation and media, which
after which it will close the urgent basis to halt FNB’s all Gupta entities, including close transactional facilities. is why it needs its banking
company’s transactional plans. The company, which those that were in the in- The four, the Johan- facilities to remain in place.
banking facility. recently cited political in- formation communication AYO has also blamed nesburg Stock Exchange,
terference as responsible for negative media reports “Banking facilities are
The bank says it elected its woes, wants the court to important to AYO’s busi-
to exercise its contractual interdict and restrain FNB ness and without which
right to terminate its bank- from deactivating or clos- AYO cannot conduct busi-
ing relationship with AYO ing its accounts and stop it ness,” he tells the court.
due to the associated repu- from ending the “bank-cli-
tational and business risks. ent” relationship. Plaatjes says the company
employs 1 200 people and
Besides the risks, FNB The AYO and FNB mat- has an annual salary bill of
says the bank’s relation- R430 million and pays tax-
ship with a customer is not es in excess of R495 million,
which include R289 mil-
SUBSCRIBING lion in VAT, R98 million in
MEANS MORE income tax, and R108 mil-
lion in Pay-As-You-Earn.
Your subscription to The Newshawks brings you
MORE news and information, MORE value and The firm argues it can-
not be in business without
MORE access than ever before! access to a bank account
because its ability to obtain
SUBSCRIBE Register now for a FREE financial services − includ-
SUBSCRIBE Trial Subscription. ing credit, deposit, pay-
SUBSCRIBE ments, insurance and other
To receive a free copy of risk management services
TheNewshawks E-paper − is central to AYO being
(PDF), send your Full Name, able to carry its purpose
Phone Number and E-mail and function as a business.
“Without banking services,
Adress to none of this may be ob-
[email protected] tained.”
The NewsHawks @NewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected] AYO wants the court to
determine whether the ter-
mination clause used by
FNB is unreasonable, and
if reasonable, whether it
should be enforced in its
case.
“It is unconstitutional
and against public policy
for FNB to terminate the
(bank) agreement and the
resultant banking relation-
ship with AYO in the ab-
sence of good cause. FNB
has failed to show there was
good cause for the termina-
tion,” argues Plaatjes in his
affidavit.
In addition, he says, al-
though FNB accepts it can
only terminate the agree-
ment upon reasonable no-
tice, it has failed to give
AYO reasonable notice.
“I respectfully say the
reasonableness of the no-
tice period must be consid-
ered in light of, inter alia,
the extent of banking rela-
tionship, the factors giving
rise to FNB’s decision to
terminate and when those
merged, and the impact of
premature termination on
the business of AYO.”
— ITWeb Business.
NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 29
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Sandra Usiku (SU), a young Women transforming the
information technology busi- world through technology
ness analyst with Afrosoft,
who is also a blogger and an For example, if you want to BIOGRAPHY: Sandra Usiku. you can start by focussing on
aspiring technopreneur, is one have something in Zimbabwe way of doing things, a driv- a niche, for example with an
of the women making waves right now you have to know Name: Sandra Usiku er doing deliveries is used to e-store that sells hair products.
in the male-dominated tech- someone in order for you to signing off papers. However, You then control the logistics
nology field. She studied and get somewhere. You might D.O.B: 18 February 1990 this is just a situation that can because a customer complains
worked in Malaysia and briefly have a good idea, but it all goes be easily rectified through an whenever their product is late
settled in Kenya before decid- down to ‘who do you know?’. Qualifications: BSc in Business Information System, application which sends push and this might cause them to
ing to come back home. Our So, in that sense that is how I MSc in IT Management. notifications and then do dig- go to another provider, so if the
reporter Chipa Gonditii (CG) see it as different. ital signatures and that is how customer is paying just make
caught up with her this week erty. What would be your ad- ficult to see beyond what you Amazon has become such a sure that you are able to pro-
to discuss her prospects and Also, in Africa people are vice to them? grew up with, but if you keep very big company because they vide the product on time. You
the technological landscape in comfortable with the 9am- SU: My father used to say on dreaming you can move be- have managed to automate ev- must also be able to give out re-
Zimbabwe. Below is an excerpt 5pm routine but that is not there is an animal called envi- yond. erything. ceipts and send out emails con-
of the interview. the case with Asia, people are ronment that moulds every- CG: Due to economic hard- CG: In Zimbabwe, we see a firming whether the product is
working all the time. We used thing about you. However, ships we find that Zimba- lot of e-commerce projects ready or has been dispatched
CG: What exactly does an IT to go to the mall at 10pm for one thing that poverty or your bwe is still lagging behind failing. From a business an- already. So, with e-commerce,
business analyst do? shopping and most shops environment does not change in terms of technological alyst’s point of view, what it is actually a tried and tested
SU: An IT business analyst would be open at that time but is that things are still evolving advancement. How best can could be the cause of this? business model so it is actually
understands the problems that here in Zimbabwe you find so you have to break through this situation be rectified? SU: Let us take a look at E-bay the easiest business model that
any business has and tries to that a dry cleaning attendant that barrier. SU: The situation has to be for a moment, it is like an anyone can adopt but it is very
have digital transformation to might go for lunch at 1pm a whole ecosystem that is e-mall, they are offering differ- important to take care of your
their normal processing. So, which is the time that people If you keep on saying things changed, people try start-up ent stores on one platform. The customers.
we are the people responsible will be free to take their clothes like “hey I am poor, I am sur- applications and they fail, why? specification that makes E-bay CG: You have told us about
for such updates on your social to the shop, only to find no rounded by poverty” it will This is probably because there successful is that they are offer- Sandra the IT business ana-
media before you even know one there. never take you out from that is no proper infrastructure in ing a service and then you have lyst. Now please tell us about
that they are going to be there. predicament. For example, place and if you look at the to do something called quality Sandra outside the work-
An IT business analyst also In Malaysia, I used to start I am a small-town girl from telecoms companies, they only service under different circum- place.
analyses the trends, for exam- work at 9am which gave me Mutare and I only moved to have social media bundles and stances. So, a person needs to SU: I run a blog that has
ple, a client might have need two hours to do my errands, Harare when I moved back the regular bundles are very ex- get their item on time and the around 130 000 followers on
whereby they want people to but here work starts exactly the to Zimbabwe. I had a dream pensive so you cannot expect person who is building a store Instagram and I am leverag-
buy more stuff on their online same time that the banks open of starting my own technolo- people to be buying that data on your platform needs to get ing on digital marketing how
platform. I then look for the and the banks close exactly the gy company and I knew that regularly and you also need their money and customers on to market other people. I have
best tech instrument to put on same time that work ends. coming to Harare would be ad- the necessary infrastructure to time. So, if you want to start managed to find a niche in
your platform and then work CG: The science and technol- vantageous to me because that ensure that people are able to an e-commerce platform you talking about love hence we
with the developers to make ogy sector is a male-dominat- is where all the tech companies access that data. are servicing two clients: the also market other businesses
improvements and updates on ed field. How have you man- are. So the poor girl child from people signing up to create that want to have events, pro-
the systems. So basically, it is aged to overcome this social Epworth needs to break out, it There is also the need to stores and the customers who mote love-related books or
like a bridge between business stigma? is just a place where they are. I move away from the manual are buying things on the store. people who want to give out
and technology. SU: Science and technology know sometimes it is very dif- But for you to be successful counselling advice.
CG: How best would you de- industries are male dominated.
scribe your experience in Ma- However, it is now evolving I also have a tech-channel
laysia having gone there at a and there are now more op- on YouTube called Beyond
very young age? portunities coming up. I also Techsolutely.
SU: Malaysia was home for me feel women have a knack for
for eight years. At first it was solving problems naturally, so I I am also a farmer, I do
very difficult to adapt but, as think you can make it as long poultry farming, I am also a
with everything, it took time to as you have the right ideas and member of the Zimbabwe Free
adapt. But getting into the sys- solutions and soldier on. I get Range Poultry Association. I
tem, I realised that South East along very well with the men I started with very little chickens
Asia where Malaysia is, they work with, so it all boils down but now I have more than 2
are very aggressive in business. to whether you know what you 000 roadrunner chickens. We
They work very hard, so that is doing because it is really a tech- fertilise the eggs and sell day-
where I get my triumph spirit nical skill and also, as long as old chicks to people. I am also
from. There are a lot of things you know what you are doing, an advocate for healthy eating
that you can learn from in people don’t care whether you so me and my friend who is
Asia, so it is a very good coun- are female or not. a chef we make healthy food
try and I liked it there beside CG: Is the science and tech- packages for healthy, active
it being far away from home. nology sector a field that you people so I just manage the
I also think that it moulded would recommend for the business side of things and my
me because an environment girl child to pursue? friend sorts out the food.
changes how you think and I SU: Definitely, it is a field that
think that is where most of my I recommend women to pur- I do a lot of things, I am
ideas emanate from. sue. Most people don’t realise also an Amazon re-seller be-
how women come into IT cause I play along with a lot
I came and settled in Zim- because people probably think of business models and, being
babwe in 2018 after I had quit that you just need to be a pro- a business analyst, you need to
my job. I took a break whilst grammer and fix things but understand why you are using
travelling around to see if I there are many diverse oppor- a certain model and why it is
would prefer settling in Zim- tunities coming out like being being used. I also do a lot of
babwe or not. I really liked a product manager or being a affiliate marketing, sometimes
Kenya in between but I really business analyst. I get paid on PayPal and I don’t
thought maybe home was best even know where the money
for me and that is when I came You need to be a female in comes from sometimes.
back to Zimbabwe. order for you to understand CG: Who would you say is
CG: So basically having trav- certain things. I feel like males your biggest inspiration?
elled from Malaysia to Kenya are more into fixing the stuff SU: I have received a lot of in-
then Zimbabwe, what would and females are more into spiration from the technology
you say are some of the chal- making the stuff work. sector, but my greatest inspi-
lenges that you faced? CG: In Zimbabwe, it is no- ration has indeed come from
SU: Business models are differ- ticeable that many young my mother who is hardwork-
ent. In Africa, basically people girls do not proceed very far ing, focused and has been em-
do things differently in terms educationally because of pov- powering me ever since I was
of professionalism and some young.
people are comfortable with
how things are done so for me
it was a complete turnaround.
Page 30 Stock Taking NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Price Sheet A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE
Thursday, 15 April 2021
Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP (cents) Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Ticker Price Traded Traded Change Change (%) Cap
AFDIS Consumer Goods (cents) Traded Volume Value ($) (cents) ($m)
African Sun Consumer Services AFDIS: ZH (%)
ART ASUN: ZH 4165.00 Price 200
Ariston Industrials ARTD: ZH 230.80 139,400
Axia Consumer Services ARISTON: ZH 538.70 4050.00 4050.00 8,100.00 -115.00 -2.76 68.75 4,750.89
BNC 160.23 210.00 210.32 3,000 293,180.00 -20.48 -8.87 23.72 1,812.48
BAT Consumer Goods AXIA: ZH 1643.69 550.00 550.00 1,300 11.30 2.10 15.23 2,403.38
CAFCA Basic Materials BIND: ZH 500.00 160.00 150.77 81,100 16,500.00 -9.46 -5.90 12.51 2,453.62
Cassava BAT: ZH 79900.00 1500.00 1500.00 500,500 1,960.00 -143.69 -8.74 63.76 8,173.42
CBZ Consumer Goods CAFCA: ZH 12000.00 495.00 495.00 2,000 -5.00 -1.00 30.26 6,186.79
Dairibord Industrials CSZL: ZH 1248.33 80000.00 71500.00 1,216,500.00 -8400.00 -10.51 30.00 14,752.96
Delta CBZ: ZH 7441.99 12000.00 12000.00 100 2,477,490.00 33.48 1,048.21
Econet Technology DZL: ZH 1085.00 1260.00 1278.10 124,100 1,430,000.00 - - 96.63 33,110.17
Edgars Banking DLTA: ZH 4088.55 8000.00 7997.69 29.77 2.38 -6.42 54,962.66
FBC ECO: ZH 1900.20 1300.00 1300.00 65,000 12,000.00 555.70 7.47 -0.76 4,654.01
Fidelity Consumer Goods EDGR: ZH 251.16 4050.00 4003.48 5,800 1,586,120.00 215.00 19.82 75.97 51,423.15
First Capital Consumer Goods FBC: ZH 2496.67 1895.00 1917.04 5,198,500.00 -85.07 -2.08 102.86 49,662.39
FML Telecommunications FIDL: ZH 510.00 300.00 300.00 1,741,600 16.84 0.89 150.00
FMP Consumer Services FCA: ZH 205.00 2500.00 2500.00 368,000 75,400.00 48.84 19.45 66.52 980.97
GBH FMHL: ZH 1951.17 510.00 510.00 300 69,724,650.00 3.33 0.13 167.44 16,798.75
Getbucks Banking FMP: ZH 500.00 225.00 205.57 32,900 86.88
Hippo Financial Services GBH: ZH 69.00 1935.00 2035.00 300 7,054,725.00 - - 93.81 555.51
Innscor GBFS: ZH 40.00 496.00 498.67 63,700 900.00 0.57 0.28 53.91 4,433.57
Lafarge Banking HIPO: ZH 12547.43 69.00 68.66 5,800 83.83 4.30 186.08 14,044.41
Mash Financial Services 5878.49 40.00 300 822,500.00 -1.33 -0.27 220.00 6,174.32
Masimba INN: ZH 5000.00 - 12848.92 20,800 1,530.00 -0.34 -0.49 42.77
Medtech Real Estate LACZ: ZH 189.93 12500.00 5912.81 - 59.68 368.42
Meikles Industrials MASH: ZH 1600.00 5900.00 5000.00 120,800 130,950.00 - - 420.83 465.25
Nampak MSHL: ZH 10.89 181.53 457,500 118,030.00 301.49 2.40 95.19 24,801.06
NatFoods Financial Services MMDZ: ZH 4184.47 - 1600.00 - 34.32 0.58 42.86 33,394.16
NTS Consumer Goods MEIK: ZH 899.92 172.00 10.91 1,700 1,496.00 38.10 4,000.00
NMBZ NPKZ: ZH 31600.00 1600.00 4884.62 131,700 14,282.00 - - 121.98 3,374.78
OK Zim Industrials NTFD: ZH 1000.00 11.00 998.18 120,500 -8.40 -4.42 337.32 3,866.46
Padenga Industrials 1229.27 5000.00 31600.00 1,300 - 425.79 331.64
Proplastics Real Estate NTS: ZH 1450.00 1000.00 1000.00 4,500 15,521,500.00 - - 3542.99 12,340.80
RTG Industrials NMB: ZH 2499.84 1050.67 - 27,051,090.00 0.02 0.18 162.63 7,542.73
RioZim Healthcare OKZ: ZH 2095.00 - 1454.37 300 700.15 16.73 61.60 21,614.43
Simbisa Industrials PHL: ZH 210.00 1000.00 2499.88 101,700 - 98.26 10.92 18.96 2,538.72
Star Africa Industrials PROL: ZH 2040.00 1050.00 2095.00 199,800 3,086.00 143.33 4,246.51
Truworths Consumer Goods RTG: ZH 3000.00 1450.00 210.00 170,300 2,107,200.00 - - 9.52 18,133.27
TSL Industrials RIOZ: ZH 52.62 2500.00 2040.00 - 13,141.00 - - 36.44 13,539.19
Turnall SIM: ZH 95.00 2997.65 300 63,500.00 -178.60 -14.53 149.43 5,278.05
Unifreight Banking SACL: ZH 4300.00 - 55.91 - 44,918.00 4.37 0.30 107.07 5,240.54
Willdale Consumer Services TRUW: ZH 300.00 210.00 100.00 72,000 0.04 0.00 238.98 2,489.40
ZB TSL: ZH 1400.00 4300.00 - - - 149.28 16,852.33
Zeco Consumer Goods TURN: ZH 98.80 - 301.00 3,363,500 3,000.00 - - 223.66 2,636.20
Zimpapers Industrials UNIF: ZH 3792.50 3000.00 1400.00 1,400 1,068,535.00 - - 7426.88 384.07
Zimplow WILD: ZH 98.97 - 2,905,825.00 -2.35 -0.08 209.28 15,355.41
ZHL Consumer Services ZBFH: ZH 0.03 60.00 3300.00 4,257,300.00 3.29 6.25 37.50 1,484.05
TOTAL Basic Materials ZECO: ZH 179.00 100.00 950,500 5.00 5.26 50.00 1,490.64
ZIMP: ZH 700.00 0.03 - - - - 82.65 1,759.69
Consumer Goods ZIMPLOW: ZH 210.00 - 179.00 630.00 1.00 0.33 40.00 5,781.29
Consumer Goods ZHL: ZH 301.00 700.00 3,000 - - -31.42
Consumer Services 215.00 1,700 - 0.17 0.17 0.14
Consumer Goods - 2,158,305.00 -492.50 -12.99 1,031.04
98.75 - 1,880,673.00 - - 1,668.67
Industrials 3300.00 - - - 3,296.68
Industrials - 1,400.00 - -
Industrials - 2,100 - 5.00 2.38 493,687.28
- 8,860,800
Banking - 2,861,000.00
Industrials 215.00 -
Consumer Services
Industrials 2,969.00
Financial Services 56,100.00
-
-
-
4,515.00
150,189,500.00
ETFs OMTT.zw 175.87 170.00 170.35 61,700 105,105.00 -5.52 -3.14 69.98 136.28
Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF
FINSEC Financial Services OMZIL 2800.00 - 2800.00 - -- - 5.66 2,324.33
Old Mutual Zimbabwe
VFEX (US cents) Consumer Goods SCIL:VX 18.00 US$m
SeedCo International - 18.00 - -- -- 43.40
Index Close Change (%) Open YTD % Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
ZSE All Share Dairibord
Top 10 4,189.94 +0.69 4,161.07 +59.35 Edgars 1300.00c +215.00c +19.82 -0.76
Top 15 2,379.11 +0.71 2,362.34 +43.80 Meikles 300.00c +48.84c +19.45 +150.00
Small Cap 2,738.16 +1.21 2,705.36 +40.56 Nampak +16.73 +121.98
Medium Cap 46,969.48 +0.25 46,853.50 +295.49 CBZ 4884.62c +700.15c +10.92 +337.32
10,274.23 +0.71 10,201.65 +84.64 998.18c +98.26c +7.47
-6.42
7997.69c +555.70c
Top 5 Fallers Price Change % YTD %
NMBZ
ZB 1050.67c -178.60c -14.53 +162.63
BAT 3300.00c -492.50c -12.99 +37.50
African Sun 71500.00c -8400.00c -10.51 +30.00
Axia -8.87 +23.72
210.32c -20.48c -8.74 +63.76
1500.00c -143.69c
SALES & TRADING: Davide Muchengi: [email protected] | Lungani Nyamazana: [email protected] | Tatenda Jasi: [email protected]
RESEARCH: Batanai Matsika: [email protected] | Precious Chagwedera: [email protected] | Tafara Mtutu: [email protected]
Tel: (+263) 08677008101-2 | Email: [email protected] | Address: 1st Floor, Block D, Smatsatsa Office Park, Borrowdale, Harare
MORGAN & COMPANY has issued this document for distribution to its clients. It may not be reproduced or further distributed in whole or in part for any purpose. This document is not and should not be
construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe to any investment. MORGAN & COMPANY has based this document on information obtained from sources it believes to be
reliable but which it has not independently verified; MORGAN & COMPANY makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to the accuracy or completeness of its
content.
NewsHawks News Analysis Page 31
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Nothing to celebrate on Independence Day
PALESA MUWANI and it was supposedly by his
mere whistle that he incited
“WE do not want to create a President Emmerson Mnangagwa. vendors to engage in public
socio-legal order in the coun- violence. The conviction itself
try in which people are petri- ment the recommendations, striking doctors and even co- spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere are still stuck in Egypt. They is extremely shaky and will be
fied, in which people go to bed much to the consternation of medians have been abducted and award-winning author will see it as uhuru which has challenged through the appeal
having barricaded their doors Zimbabweans and western na- and tortured by suspected Tsitsi Dangarembga were also not yet been achieved and process.,” human rights lawyer
and their windows because tions. state agents. The government arrested for holding protests. feel that the fruits of Inde- Doug Coltart said in an in-
someone belonging to the spe- has said the abductions are pendence are yet to be expe- terview with a South African
cial branch of the police will Before the ink had dried stage managed, an accusation This year’s Independence rienced.” publication after Haruzivishe’s
break into their houses….This on the Motlanthe Commis- which has found few takers. commemorations will not conviction.
is what we have been fighting sion report, the government be celebrated by many Zim- Masunungure said there
against…This is why we are in launched another crackdown However, the clearest in- babweans as they feel that has been a significant decline “It is shocking from a legal
this revolution for as long as in response to protests against dication that Mnangagwa freedom remains a mirage, on the democracy front since point of view, but from a polit-
it is necessary, to abolish this the 150% increase in the price will not tolerate any pro- according to political analyst Mnangagwa assumed power ical point of view it’s not shock-
system”. of fuel by security forces in tests despite the right to do Eldred Masunungure. more than three years ago and ing. This is really the direction
January 2019. Scores of people so being enshrined in the this has contributed to the that the regime appears to be
These words of the late from various suburbs, mainly country’s constitution was “Independence should be disillusionment towards Inde- taking — the weaponisation of
Zanu PF founding member in Harare and Bulawayo, were in July last year. Opposition celebrated whether you are pendence Day celebrations. the criminal law and weaponi-
Edison Zvobgo have probably subjected to savage beatings, Transform Zimbabwe leader from the North or the South, sation of the detention of po-
more prominence now than some in the dead of night, a Jacob Ngarivhume, who was whether you are Zanu PF or As the country marks 41 litical activists, human rights
when he made the remarks in move which has drawn wide- organising a nationwide pro- MDC,” Masunungure said. years of Independence, pro- activists and anyone who criti-
an interview as the country spread global criticism. test against corruption sched- democracy opposition activist cises the regime. Clearly, this is
marks 41 years of Indepen- uled for July 31 last year and “There will be some who Makomborero Haruzivishe the weapon of choice that the
dence on Sunday. This was worsened by the journalist Hopewell Chin’ono will be celebrating Indepen- is languishing in prison af- regime is using to clamp down
government’s decision to dis- were arrested by police over dence and celebrating the ter being convicted recently on freedom of expression and
The Independence Day connect internet connectivity, allegations of inciting violence neutralising of the opposition, of inciting violence, through any form of resistance to their
commemorations come at a move which was condemned and criminal abuse of social particularly those who have whistling, and jailed for 14 misgovernance.’’
a time President Emmerson by rights groups as a ploy to media and held in remand for benefitted from the status quo. months.
Mnangagwa’s government has enable the authorities to carry several weeks. On the day of There will also be a significant Haruzivishe is not the only
intensified the crackdown on out atrocities under the conve- the planned protests, security proportion of Zimbabweans “I strongly disagree with one that has fallen foul of
the opposition and civil soci- nient cover of a blackout. The forces blocked all roads lead- that will see Independence both the conviction and sen- Mnangagwa’s regime. MDC
ety since coming into power High Court struck down the ing to the city centre. On as not having achieved free- tence of Makomborero. Alliance vice-president Tendai
on the back of a military coup directive, declaring it illegal. the same day, MDC Alliance dom. They will feel that they Biti, deputy chairperson Job
that ousted the late former have not reached Canaan, the This is a case on which the Sikhala, MDC Alliance parlia-
president Robert Mugabe in Several opposition activists, Promised Land and that they charge rested on an allegation mentarian Joana Mamombe,
2017. that Makomborero whistled, former Zimbabwe National
Students’ Union president Gil-
During his inauguration in bert Mutubuki and even those
2017 the septuagenarian lead- such as Vonai Tome who went
er promised a new dawn for to offer solidarity to Haruz-
the country in which democ- ivishe have been arrested and
racy will be enhanced amid detained in police cells.
pomp and fanfare from a cit-
izenry that had been at the re- There is absolutely nothing
ceiving end of a brutal oppres- to celebrate on Independence
sive Mugabe regime which Day, according to political
crushed dissenting voices. analyst and Habakkuk Trust
founding chief executive Du-
During Mugabe’s dicta- misani Nkomo.
torship, scores of opposition
activists were either killed, “There is nothing to cele-
beaten or arbitrarily arrested, brate because 41 years after
particularly before and during Independence the rights that
elections. However, the joy were fought for by the likes of
and hopes emanating from Joshua Nkomo and Lookout
the change of leadership was Masuku have been trampled
short-lived. upon,” Nkomo said.
The killing of six people by “People are now poorer than
soldiers during a protest over they were 41 years ago as the
the delayed announcement economic conditions have de-
of the 2018 harmonised elec- teriorated. I think that the sit-
tions on August 1 dissipated uation is actually worse than
the expectation that Mnan- it was during the Mugabe era
gagwa would keep his prom- when it comes to the level of
ise of enhancing democracy intolerance of opposition and
under his leadership. the shrinking of the democrat-
ic space.”
Mnangagwa appointed a
commission of inquiry led by As Joshua Nkomo observed
former South African presi- in his book The Story of My
dent Kgalema Motlanthe into Life: “The hardest lesson of my
the August 1 post-election life has come to me late. It is
violence. The commission that a nation can win freedom
concluded that the security without its people becoming
forces were responsible for free.”
the deaths and recommended
they be brought to book and As the country commemo-
the victims be compensated. rates Independence Day, many
More than two years later, Zimbabweans, including the
Mnangagwa is yet to imple- likes of Haruzivishe, will reso-
nate with Nkomo.
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Page 32 Opinion NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Exceptional turnout for third reading
of Zim’s constitutional amendment
IN the Senate on 6 April, 77 will be an Act of 2021. tutionality/correctness of the of 31 March 2020, whilst not (i.e., Parliament’s) success this Court. Consequently, in
senators were present, four of But was the minister court’s 31 March 2020 order debatable in this application, in this application does not the event that they decide to
them virtually, according to in the application before may be debated in an appro- constitute any licence for proceed with the Constitu-
the official attendance regis- correct when he said this it, Justice Makarau added: priate matter in the future, the applicants to violate the tion Amendment Bill (No. 1),
ter. This exceptional turn-out vote will avoid a legal and “Only this court can depart where the interpretation of requirements of the Consti- they would be obligated to
was requested because of the constitutional quagmire? from its previous decisions, section 147 of the Consti- tution or to disregard any of do so, not only in accordance
scheduled Third Reading of Uncertainty persists, and a rulings or opinions. I venture tution is the cause of action. its provisions … anything with the voting requirements
the Constitution of Zimba- new constitutional point has to add for emphasis that only The order of 31 March 2020, done in contravention of prescribed in section 328 of
bwe Amendment (No. 1) Bill, been raised. this Court, in a future and whilst final, is not binding on the Constitution is a nullity. the Constitution but also in
2017. appropriate constitutional this Court.” Therefore, any act or conduct conformity with any relevant
Virtual Standing Orders Uncertainty over Validity matter, may depart from Justice Patel by the applicants in direct and applicable constitutional
The new Virtual Standing Or- of Constitution Amendment its previous order” [bold Justice Patel was more direct: violation of the Constitution injunction, including the
ders were adopted. They will (No. text in the judgment] I take “I am nevertheless con- will remain a nullity, even if legal ramifications of sec-
regulate virtual participation 1) Bill solace from the fact that the strained to caution that their carried out purportedly in tion147 of the Constitution.”
in proceedings of the Senate. The Bill has now had a constitutionality of the order compliance with the order of
Senator Komichi spoke of successful Third Reading — Veritas.
the need to upgrade Internet and looks set to be regazett-
connectivity in remote rural ed as an Act of 2021 [see BE A GLOBAL Otawak
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NewsHawks Opinion Page 33
Issue 26, 16 April 2021 How authoritarians turn rural Maduro.
areas into their strongholds Former President Hugo
MICHAEL ALBERTUS
Within a generation, the of feudalism, tribalism, holdings of large landown- and basic security. Chávez set Venezuela on
ACROSS the world, leaders country became urban and and colonisation, land ers and redistributed them The research in my new the path to politicising
withhold property rights to well educated, home to a ownership in most of the to the landless or land poor. rural-property rights with
cement their control even as booming economy. Similar world was highly unequal. One and a half billion peo- book, Property Without a new land reform law
they impoverish their own transformations followed In many countries, the ple directly benefited from Rights, shows that in in 2005. The law rede-
people. land reform in Japan and wealthiest 5% of landown- such programmes, which comparison with coun- fined the requirements for
Taiwan. Joe Studwell’s 2014 ers owned 80 to 90% of the continue to impact billions tries that conducted land property ownership and
Development economists book, How Asia Works, land. The bulk of rural in- more. reform while delivering land set restrictions on property
typically tell a compelling nails the formula: Culti- habitants eked out a living beneficiaries robust prop- registration and use that
story about land reform: vate a small farming sector, working for large land- Not every nation end- erty rights, countries that few people could comply
Countries can supercharge use the surplus to build owners, typically through ed up like South Korea. withheld property rights with in practice—leaving
their development by level- export-oriented manufac- servitude, or rented their Authoritarian leaders in faced a host of pathologies. their property vulnerable
ing inequality and radically turing, and nurture these land from large landowners nations such as Russia, Urbanisation took place to government caprice. The
reallocating assets. In East sectors through financial at extortionate rates. The China, Mexico, Cuba, and more slowly, rural inhabi- law also enabled any citizen
Asia, nations that followed institutions held on a tight only substantial groups that Zimbabwe used land reform tants became trapped in the to denounce landowners
this simple formula trans- leash by the government. had avoided this fate were programmes to destroy their countryside with no oppor- for being out of compliance
formed themselves into some indigenous popula- domestic enemies — large tunity for upward mobility, with its provisions. That
economic powerhouses. Until recently, land was tions and a small number of landowners — and shore up and the rural-urban divide rendered most rural inhab-
the single most valuable town dwellers dedicated to rural political support. The grew. But at the same time, itants subject to coercion
So why haven’t more asset in societies around trade or a craft. same story played out in the leaders of these coun- and manipulation—the
countries adopted this the globe. People who Eastern Europe, behind the tries gained real benefits. tools of authoritarian power.
well-established blueprint? owned land could harvest Over the following two Iron Curtain, and in South They were better equipped
The governments that have its natural resources, such as centuries, land ownership America in the latter half of to forestall social protests What followed in the
the will and capacity to precious metals, timber, and drastically changed. First, the 20th century. and better able to use the countryside was a free-for-
adopt major land reforms wild animals. They could population growth put countryside as a political all. The government used
are typically authoritarian. also use it to grow crops and unprecedented demand The roots of contempo- counterweight to cities. the law’s uncertainty to seize
Most authoritarian gov- raise domesticated animals. on access to land. Human rary underdevelopment and Many incumbent politicians land from its political
ernments seek first and And it had enormous sym- beings spread out across authoritarianism in many proved only too willing to enemies, such as Chávez’s
foremost to entrench their bolic power. Kings, chiefs, continents, tilled over prai- of these countries can be accept disastrous economic foe Manuel
power. These governments and elected political leaders ries, and felled forests. traced back to the political outcomes for their people
would rather control their from Versailles to Monticel- allocation of property and and growing inequality in Rosales. And when
rural populations than see lo used their estates to signal Growing settler popula- property rights that fol- the service of fulfilling their it granted land to new
them thrive and become status and project authority. tions displaced indigenous lowed land reform. The au- political goals. beneficiaries, it put them
autonomous. For author- Property ownership was populations at a massive thoritarians who destroyed on state-run farms or gave
itarians, land reform is a used in many societies to scale and appropriated their large landowner classes also This brutal calculus them provisional land
convenient tool to destroy determine who could have lands. In many places, land sought to embed their own is playing out today in titles that require constant
rival elites in the country- a say in politics, either became scarce. authority in the coun- Venezuela, now a country government monitoring.
side while entangling rural through voting or holding tryside. By withholding of property without rights, The precariousness of
workers in the tentacles of office. Societies began land property rights, they forced explaining both its dramatic property rights has given
authoritarian influence. redistribution in response. land beneficiaries to turn economic implosion and the government a tight grip
At the dawn of the 19th In the 20th century, more repeatedly to the state for the resiliency of its author- on the countryside, which
What distinguishes these century, as a consequence than one-third of the agricultural loans, credits, itarian president, Nicolás it uses to churn out votes
two approaches is not the world’s countries seized the that counterbalance urban
reallocation of the land. In discontent.
both cases, governments
redistribute property to Why didn’t the Asian Ti-
broad swaths of their peo- gers — South Korea, Japan,
ple. Authoritarian regimes, and Taiwan — mismanage
though, unless they face and manipulate land reform
pressure from foreign pow- the way most governments
ers or seek to stave off some do? Those countries faced
existential threat, hand existential threats from
out property without also China and North Korea, so
distributing secure property their land reforms sought to
rights, forcing land benefi- rapidly stabilise the coun-
ciaries into a relationship of tryside and forestall com-
perpetual dependence. Land munist appeals to peasants
reform, it turns out, isn’t by elevating their economic
just a path to prosperity—it and social conditions. Land
can also be the means by reform was underpinned by
which authoritarian regimes growing and focused state
cement their control even as power, and nudged along by
they impoverish their own US advisers.
people.
In those countries,
Land reform has been land reform produced an
one of the most transforma- economic miracle, trans-
tional public policies of the forming their societies
past two centuries. South and loosening the grip of
Korea provides a classic once-authoritarian regimes.
example of its benefits. Whether that miracle can
Until World War II, the be replicated elsewhere de-
country was impoverished pends on whether gov-
and feudal. The Korean ernments in agricultural
War wreaked havoc on its countries can harness state
economy. South Korea then power to level inequalities
sought to eliminate Japa- in land ownership without
nese colonial influence and succumbing to the tantalis-
shore up its self-sufficiency ing temptation to withhold
through radical land reform. property rights and en-
The government expropri- trench their own power. —
ated all landholdings larger The Atlantic.
than three hectares, then
granted land to poor tenant *About the writer:
farmers—many of whom MICHAEL ALBERTUS is
tended small rice pad- an associate professor of
dies—and supported them political science at the
with favourable agricultural University of Chicago. He
policies. is the author of Property
Without Rights: Origins
For the first time in Ko- and Consequences of the
rean history, these farmers Property Rights Gap.
sent their children to school
instead of to the fields.
Page 34 Opinion NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
How Mozambique’s corrupt elite caused
tragedy in the north – The Africa Report
NICHOLAS NORBROOK
IT suits Mozambique’s Pres- Southern African leaders greet each other during a meeting in Mozambique’s capital Maputo.
ident Filipe Nyusi’s govern-
ment that the Islamic State gest narcotrafficker, MBS was for Ematum, a tuna fishing proud to open their car door The Islamist radicals were south down the coast. Guedes
rebel group claims it organ- the number-one financier of company owned — curious- and see a hungry person look- joined by artisanal miners says: “Mozambique, even
ised the attack in late March the ruling party, according to ly — by Mozambique’s intel- ing for something to eat in kicked out of the Monte Puez through it was further south,
of this year on Palma –– it US diplomats. ligence services. Other secret the rubbish.” ruby mine in northern Mo- still made sense to the syndi-
helps distract from the crime loans came to light, including Welcome to Cabo Delgado zambique. “Locals say the cates.”
and corruption at the heart of The amounts trafficked a US$525m loan to the state- While foreign investors were region has been turned into
the problem. are eyewatering. In 2018, owned Mozambique Asset piling into Mozambique’s a ‘militarised zone’ where As with all successful trad-
London-based academic and Management company. The energy sector and local elites state forces and a South Afri- ing, it is useful to have goods
Things have turned out former international corre- loans were a front for bribery were grabbing what they can-owned security company travelling in both directions;
quite differently for Mozam- spondent in Mozambique and kickbacks, and have been could from narcotics, a small have allegedly beaten villagers the grim trade of heroin met
bique; after a gruelling civil Joseph Hanlon published a the subject of many legal in- insurgency was gathering and killed illegal miners,” re- with Asian demand for illicit
war that dragged into the paper titled ‘The Uberiza- vestigations. The $2bn in pace in the historically ne- port Estacio Valoi and Ges- Mozambican produce.
1990s, the award-winning tion of Mozambique’s hero- total loans contributed to an glected north. been Mohammad.
president Joaquim Chissano in trade’. In it, he estimated economic downturn and the The drug syndicates were
and his team of young tech- some US$600m-US$800m government to default on its In 2012, the radical Ken- Gemfields, which owns the joined by gem and timber
nocrats like prime minister of heroin transited through debt repayments. yan Islamic cleric Aboud mine and also makes Fabergé smugglers, wildlife traffickers
Luisa Diogo worked to turn Mozambique annually, with Rogo Mohammed was assas- eggs, said in a statement: and human traffickers – in-
the country around. IMF US$100m used to bribe Stephen Bailey-Smith, a sinated. “Local and religious leaders cluding those selling human
resident representative Fe- members of Frelimo. senior economist at Global inform us with great con- body parts. “Some of the de-
lix Fischer told this author Evolution, which eventually Rogo funnelled cash and cern for how artisanal miners capitated bodies in the streets
in 2009 that Mozambique’s “Mozambique is part of a bought the loans when they recruits to Al-Shabaab in and traders have changed the seen after the Palma attack
post-conflict bounceback was complex chain which forms were repackaged, says the Somalia and was linked to social fabric of their com- had also had their fronts
“Vietnam-like” in its trajec- the East African heroin net- debt repackaging finally de- Al Qaeda in East Africa. He munities, through marrying opened up,” says Mozambi-
tory. work. Heroin goes from mystified the tuna bonds: had cult leader status for his under-age girls, and bringing can researcher Tomás Queface
Afghanistan to the Makran youthful supporters from the alcohol and drugs into the from the University of Sussex.
There were new mining and coast of Pakistan, and is taken “Investors assumed this Ansar Muslim Youth Coun- community.”
energy projects, a smelter that by dhow to northern Mozam- was effectively sovereign debt. cil, who were slowly pushed Insurgency eruption To what extent do the in-
had brought back interna- bique. There, the Mozambi- I don’t think anyone in their south. In early 2017, an insurgency surgents and syndicates over-
tional capital, a useful balance can traffickers take it off the right mind thought they were known locally as Al-Shabaab, lap? The UNODC’s Guedes
of Chinese infrastructure and dhows and move it more than taking a risk solely linked to Radical imams in Tanzania inspired by but unrelated to points to a boat seized off the
European budget support. 3 000km by road to Johan- a tuna fishing company. Re- welcomed them. the Somali insurgents, briefly Mozambican coast coming
Tourists flooded over the bor- nesburg, and from there oth- member, at the time, people seized the port town of Mo- from Asia with both drugs to
der from South Africa. The ers ship it to Europe,” wrote were jumping up and down But the mysterious series cambique de Praia, in Mo- be smuggled and arms for the
economy was creating jobs. Hanlon. about how Mozambique of murders of police officers zambique’s poorest province, militants.
Boatloads of cash would be the next big thing, in Kibiti in southern Tan- Cabo Delgado. It was the first
With the arrival of Presi- It is not just drugs. In the dog one of the largest gas produc- zania triggered a crackdown time they would do so, but “Now that Al-Shabaab
dent Armando Guebuza — days of the Guebuza admin- ers in the world, and people from President John Magu- not the last. controls large segments of
an authoritarian Frente de istration, when he was trying wanted to get in early. With fuli’s government in 2017, the Cabo Delgado coast line,
Libertação de Moçambique to change the constitution to limited other opportunities, with bodies reported washing This slow Islamist-inflected there are fears that they are al-
(Frelimo) party general — in allow a third term, the polit- the bonds provided a way in.” up on the beach in Dar es insurgent migration south co- ready beginning to take a slice
2004, the technocratic faction ically connected elite pulled Salaam. “Some of the survi- incided with a tightening of of illicit coastal smuggling, in-
of the party shrank, and those off an even greater heist. Not everyone was doing vors, already radicalised, are maritime security efforts in cluding taxing drugs cargoes
linked to the military grew. well in Mozambique. While believed to have moved into Kenya and Tanzania, says the that transit through waters
This time it was robbing on a tour of the country, Bra- Mozambique,” says Dino UNODC’s Guedes. Those ef- and the land they control,”
“Mr Gue-Business”, as he the treasury in Maputo. In zil’s then president Luiz In- Mahtani, International Cri- forts squeezed drug traffickers says Crisis Group’s Mahtani,
was nicknamed, heralded an 2014, a secret US$850m loan ácio ‘Lula’ da Silva remarked: sis Group deputy director for who argues the links are more
uptick in elite self-enrich- “No Mozambican can feel Africa. opportunistic.
ment and also the beginning
of a more confrontational at- “They won’t be involved
titude towards northern Mo-
zambique.
The H train
Drug trafficking was already
a huge problem in Mozam-
bique — a country which,
according to César Guedes of
the UN Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC), can barely
manage its own maritime se-
curity, “let alone prevent in-
ternational crime syndicates
operating across its 3 600km
of coastline”.
A leaked US diplomatic
cable in 2010 explained: “De-
spite anti-corruption rhetoric,
the ruling Frelimo party has
not shown much serious po-
litical high-level and low-level
officials.
Chief of customs Domin-
gos Tivane is a significant
recipient of these narcotraf-
ficking-related bribes. Police
officials told embassy officers
that they are unwilling to go
after “big fish” narcotraffick-
ers because of their ties to se-
nior officials.”
Guebuza’s protegé Celso
Correira (now minister of
land and rural development,
and campaign manager for
President Nyusi) took over
management of the Nacala
Port, identified as a key chan-
nel for much of the illicit car-
go that comes in and out of
Mozambique. Then the big-
NewsHawks Opinion Page 35
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
in making the international Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi poses at a polling station where he cast his vote in Maputo, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 in the country’s Intervention should focus
trade of narcotics happen, but presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections. on drugs
if drugs are still flowing into Some analysts argue that the
Cabo Delgado, then it stands those who don’t have the pro- for South Africa,” reports from outside the region, such Standard Bank signed a deal international community
to reason they might take a tection.” Omardine Omar. as trainers from Portugal and to sink US$485m into the needs to get involved. For
cut of the trade, either by Things can get worse the United States. project. Crisis
transit fees or taxes, or from As all eyes are on the heroin “It is not what Mozam- What comes next?
facilitating transport and traffic to the north, in the bique needs right now”, says Mozambique’s many gas proj- A planned industrial hub Group’s Mahtani, this
landing of cargoes.” south concerns are growing the UNODC’s Guedes, who ects, which together could will likely not happen. “I saw should start with “the stamp-
that Brazil’s fearsome cocaine suspects the Mozambique ac- have a price tag of US$120bn, Powerpoint presentations ing out of the drug trade in
For certain, criminals have cartels are getting a foot in the tivity was an attempt to look are Africa’s biggest industrial from Standard Bank saying the Indian Ocean”, which
the run of the province, and door. for new cocaine routes into projects today. French com- 5 000 expats would be per- would weaken the corrupting
they pay off the authorities Asia. “When you look at oth- pany Total’s US$20bn gas manently based in Palma. flow of narcotic cash into the
or attack them if they get in The Primeiro Comando da er countries who have both project alone would be the They would need all the ser- political economies of East
the way. Collusion goes to Capital (PCC) is Brazil’s most heroin and cocaine smuggled continent’s largest-ever for- vices, creating opportunities and southern Africa.
the highest levels of military powerful and international- through them [such as Guin- eign investment. for small and medium-sized
intelligence, argue some ana- ly connected syndicate. The ea Bissau] … it is total desta- enterprises to go. And they Guedes says that Europe
lysts. One diplomatic source arrest of PCC operative Gil- bilisation of the state.” There are also huge invest- did go, and these were the needs to wake up to its role
tells The Africa Report: “The berto Aparecido Dos Santos, ments for the energy compa- guys that were targeted,” says here: “Not many people real-
military are all neck-deep in alias “Fuminho,” in Maputo That matters for the region, nies and banks involved. They Louw-Vaudran. ise that Shengen [European
drugs, and they don’t want in April 2020 raises flags for which is perhaps why South are unlikely to back away, even travel zone] starts just a few
people to see that.” the UNODC’s Guedes. Bra- Africa’s President Cyril Rama- if the window for fossil fuels The Palma attack is a turn- hundred kilometres from
zilian media report Fuminho phosa finally managed to get is closing as rich countries in- ing point for the insurgency: Palma; Mayotte is France.”
Mozambican researcher as having already made several a Southern African Develop- vest in the green-energy tran- not just in its methods of at- Given the French islands that
Queface says there are fears smuggling deals across multi- ment Community meeting in sition. There is also a rush to tack, but in its victory, says dominate the Mozambique
that the insurgents have pene- ple African countries. Maputo on 8 April and com- sew up the remaining large security analyst Jasmine Op- channel, and Operation At-
trated the military: “The mil- mitment to send a “technical liquefied natural gas contracts perman. The rebels stole be- alanta, the European Union’s
itants always seem to know Despite the arrest, cocaine mission” to Cabo Delgado. – the huge China-Iran deal, tween 40-80 vehicles during naval force off the shore of
where they army is going to busts continue. In January for example, should shrink the raid, busted into bank
attack.” President Nyusi ap- 2021, five men were arrested A former top official in global gas appetite. vaults and picked up telecoms Somalia, Europe is well-
pointed a more capable mili- by police on cocaine smug- Zimbabwe told us the Mapu- equipment. They have money, placed to extend naval forces
tary general to the region in gling charges. “The group was to meeting was torn between And as Louw-Vaudran wheels and communications, into the area.
January but he contracted caught while ‘threatening’ the Zimbabwean President Em- of the Institute for Security and perhaps now greater am-
Covid-19 soon after and died. alleged receiver of the drugs, merson Mnangagwa’s push- Studies points out: “South bition. Queface expects larger Similarly, the US Joint Task
a Nigerian who allegedly re- ing for his country to lead Africa is on the hook”. The towns like Nangade to be hit. Force in Bahrain could play
As the Mozambican gov- ceived eight kilogrammes of an intervention force to Mo- state investment company, an interdicting role.
ernment has not been able cocaine from Brazil, worth an zambique and Ramaphosa’s IDC, is invested in Total’s “There are 19 cells, and at
to end the insurgency, some estimated 18 million meticais plan, which has won the day, Mozambique project. Also, minimum 2 500 fighters,” Beyond that, there are
international partners are (US$286 600), and destined for now. Nyusi was waver- South Africa’s largest bank says Opperman, who says fears that other kinds of in-
calling for an international ing between the two options their ranks have swollen mas- ternational interventions
intervention force. Some ana- but still prefers to use forces sively in the past year. could lead to calamity. There
lysts say the government does is a French military base in
not want the intervention of Mayotte. “The worst case
foreign forces in Cabo Del- would be if the French sent
gado because “then all eyes in the Légion Étrangère,” says
will fall on the scale of illicit Louw-Vaudran.
trafficking that goes on in the
province and a lot of other For Mahtani, there is a se-
things could come to light”, curity stalemate in the north
says Liesl Louw-Vaudran of that requires intervention,
the Pretoria-based Institute but not at the risk of hurting
of Security Studies. Mozambique’s sovereignty.
There were also question Does Nyusi have a plan
marks over the length of time to keep Palma safe? Can the
– several months – that the government retake Mocam-
insurgency was able to hold bique de Praia? That would
on to Mocambique de Praia. be a start, but does it have the
“We don’t know what they are resources to do it on its own?
hiding,” says Queface. That is where Mozambique
could perhaps give some
Even former president ground, suggests Mahtani.
Guebuza has told journalists
that the government was not “Don’t rush into a heavy
sending the best soldiers and scorched-earth counter-in-
commanders to the north. surgency across the province.
Journalists, academics and Start by recapturing the ports
aid workers are mostly barred and have a politically driven
from the area. British journal- plan to peel off some of the
ist Tom Bowker was deported local insurgents urging them
for reporting on the insurgen- to surrender, giving promis-
cy. es of development to appeal
to sons of the soil who have
Some local people are also joined the insurgency,” sug-
being driven off the land. gests Mahtani, who sees a
military solution like that
The diplomatic source pursued in Afghanistan as
adds: “And then when the something to avoid.
land has been evacuated,
people approach concession Although conditions have
holders saying ‘do you want been deteriorating fast over
to sell?’, with interested buy- the past six months, most re-
ers coming to the table to gional analysts say that a deci-
flip properties into their own sive response now could stop
hands and put the squeeze on that trend. “It’s not too late to
act,” says UNODC’s Guedes.
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Page 36 Reframing Issues NewsHawks
LUKE BATSIRAI TAMBORINYOKA Issue 26, 16 April 2021
SINCE its formation in 1963, Mnangagwa and primitive ethnic
Zanu PF has largely been villagisation of the party and state
defined by ethnic politics
and the nationalist struggle power and replace them with biography of Simon Muzen- there since the beginning and Zimbabwean politics, analogue authoritarian leader
in general. In fact, tribalism, a Zezuru-Karanga leadership. da, confirms this self-serving of time, but it is the man- even though the ethnicisation still pursuing the primitive
ethnic politics and regional- The Chitepo assassination narrative of the presumed Ka- agement of diversity and of politics today appears a politics of tribalism, regional-
ism became the key points report, commissioned by the ranga dominance on the liber- ethnicity that is at issue. Zim- primitive consideration that ism, cronyism and villagism.
of reference in the splits of Zambian government at the ation struggle when he asserts babwe has failed to manage its has since lost currency given Archaic politics synonymous
nationalist parties both before time, also laid bare the ethnic not only that the Karangas diversity and multi-cultural- the advances in technology with the age of the Munhu-
and after Independence. factor in Zimbabwe’s libera- were a dominant force in the ism even though its dynamics and that we are now in the mutapa Empire and others at
tion politics as it implicated struggle, but that they were are far less complex than one digital age. the time.
That is why ethnicity is a the Karangas, including Zanla the pivot of it as confirmed finds in other societies across
bane of Zimbabwean politics commander Josiah Tongog- by their number in the War Africa. It is important to state that This instalment seeks to
and nation-building pro- ara, in the assassination of Council (Dare reChimurenga) this piece, which is a revised show that Mnangagwa, acting
cess. It is not a Zimbabwean Chitepo. and other party structures. There are 15 ethnic lin- and recast version of an earlier like a typical village clansman,
phenomenon alone; it is rife guistic groups in Zimbabwe, article published on nehan- who somehow ended up
across Africa, yet in the Zim- In his introductory treatise Bhebhe says for Muzenda, in terms of the constitution, daradio.com four weeks ago, vested with state power, has
babwean context it has been to Edgar Tekere’s autobiog- his presence together with compared to other African is not in any way meant to systematically brought in a
one of the biggest problems raphy, A Lifetime of Struggle fellow Karanga homeboys countries with scores or even stigmatise any tribe. This mainly Karanga clique from
that has contributed to the (2007), prominent academic such as Henry Hamadziripi, hundreds of those. piece is just but an honest at- the Midlands and Masvingo
country’s national failure in Ibbo Mandaza reiterates that Crispen Mandizvidza, Rugare tempt to promote unfettered provinces — a tribal coterie
many ways. the theme of ethnicism has Gumbo and others, at the For instance, Zambia, discourse on what is certainly —- that has now been pur-
pervaded the country’s liber- forefront in the execution of which is demographically coming out as the Karangisa- posely deployed or retained in
Professor Sabelo J. Ndl- ation movement and politics the struggle, was testimony to the same size as Zimbabwe, tion of the state and the party, strategic party and state insti-
ovu-Gatsheni, a historian, since the early days. what he called the”dominant has 72 tribes spread across its especially under Emmerson tutions as part of the regional
(2008) argues that during the contribution of the Karanga 10 provinces, but its politics Mnangagwa’s so-called new and tribal politics of our so-
days of the National Dem- That ethnic politics in the to the liberation of Zimba- is much less ethnicised and dispensation. called new dispensation.
ocratic Party before Zanu ruling Zanu PF has outlived bwe”. tribalised compared to its
was formed in 1963, the the liberation struggle, Man- southern neighbour. Yet it is clear the majority It is a sad tale of Zuze
pulsations and reverberations daza argues, is a reflection of It is this characterisation of the Karangas are suffer- comes to town, the story of
of ethnicity were apparent as the fact that “the ethnic strug- and tribalisation of a collec- As Mandaza rightly says in ing like everyone else. Only the primitive commoner who
indicated by the debates that gle for the control of Zanu PF tive national effort by differ- his introductory treatise in Mnangagwa and his cronies, brings his all to the city. In
emerged over the name of and the state is far from over.” ent ethnic groups which has Tekere’s autobiography, it is mainly Karanga elites from our case, Mnangagwa has
the imagined post-colonial allowed tribalism to become ironic that African national- Midlands and Masvingo, are brought relatives and cronies
nation. Mandaza posits that ethnic a national cancer which has ism was an alliance, nay a co- enjoying the fruits of their to the cradle of national pow-
politics in the ruling party eaten into Zimbabwe’s body alition in which people from coup and the resultant regime. er so they can share with him
Ndlovu says that from the may persist “as long as the politic and soul with devastat- diverse ethnic groups came his privileged but stolen hour
very outset, some Nde- principle of ethnic represen- ing consequences. That is why together under a de-tribalised So it is not Karangarisa- in the sun.
bele-speaking nationalists tation is provided as a more it is difficult to objectively collective effort to fight co- tion of the state on behalf
viewed political independence viable mode through which discuss and analyse Zimba- lonialism. It is dishonest and of ordinary Karanga people, The mentality is crude, yet
on the basis of their own to access power and influence bwean politics now without disingenuous to ascribe and but it is a project of the elites clear: It is our time to eat.
memories of the pre-colo- than other factors which tribalism casting its long shad- attribute a collective effort to dominated by Karangas at the Mugabe did it. His cronies
nial Ndebele State and had should guide the emergence ow over the discourse. Our a single tribe. Any attempt moment, just like the Zezuru and sister Sabina’s sons,
opposed the name Zimbabwe of national leaders.” politics has become impris- to single out a particular elites dominated under the including Leo Mugabe, were
on the legitimate grounds that oned by ethnicity; tribalism tribe as having played a more late former president Robert variously deployed to strategic
it tended to promote only The Karangas appear to and regionalism have become prominent role than others in Mugabe’s rule. institutions, while Patrick
Shona history to the exclusion have presumed themselves to a critical political dynamic in what was essentially a national Villagisation of state politics Zhuwao was a cabinet minis-
of other tribes. have dominated the coun- Zimbabwe with all the bad effort is a vain attempt to We currently live under the ter in his uncle’s final hour.
try’s liberation struggle and and ugly ramifications of it. unscramble the egg. brave, digital 21st century but
Tribalism and the ethnic therefore have a sense of in Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe Mugabe’s son-in-law,
factor were also cited as hav- entitlement. Of course, identity politics Put simply, tribe and the finds itself saddled with an Simba Chikore, was deployed
ing been part of the contribu- is always and has always been ethnic factor have always to head Air Zimbabwe and
tory factors to the 1963 Zapu Ngwabi Bhebhe, a pro- been the bane of Zanu PF went on to form Zim Airways
split when the nationalists fessor and historian, in his using public funds, while his
became divided with those other brother-in-law, Sydney
largely from Mashonaland Gata, husband to his sister
forming Zanu, ironically at Regina, was in charge at the
the Highfield house in Harare Zimbabwe Electricity Supply
of a Ndebele politician Enos Authority, the country’s power
Nkala who was extremely an- utility.
ti-Zapu and eventually came
across as anti-Ndebele. Others from the Mug-
abe family were seconded
The new Zanu’s entire lead- as executives to quasi-state
ership was mainly from Mash- institutions such as the Tobac-
onaland, with the exception co Industry and Marketing
of Nkala, according to the Board and the Zimbabwe Na-
late John Makumbe (1991). tional Road Authority while
Ethnicism continued to Innocent Matibiri was the
play a prominent role in the second-in command at the
nationalist struggle and when Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Nathan Shamuyarira and a There were other relatives in
largely Zezuru clique formed state institutions, including in
the Front for the Liberation of ministries and institutions like
Zimbabwe (Frolizi) in 1971, the national prosecution or
the acronym was derisively Attorney-General’s office.
referred in some quarters as
referring to the Front for the At the time of his ouster,
Liberation of Zezuru Intellec- Mugabe’s wife, Grace, was the
tuals. Zanu PF women’s league boss
and was fancying her chanc-
The late Professor Masipula es of occupying the highest
Sithole, in his work Strug- office in the land.
gles Within The Struggle,
equally alludes to the tribal Other non-state actors like
factor, particularly the rivalry businessman Philip Chiyang-
between the Karangas and wa also name-dropped, calling
the Manyikas as having been themselves Gushungo, Mug-
a strong factor in the assas- abe’s clan name, to get favours
sination of Zanu and Dare from the state.
reChimurenga chairman
Herbert Wiltshire Chitepo in Of course, not all of Mug-
1975 as well as the ouster of abe’s relatives benefitted from
Ndabaningi Sithole from the his rule. Some like Adam
helm of Zanu as the Karangas Molai, who is married to the
reportedly sought to take over Mugabe family, made their
control of the struggle. money in the private sector.
Ndlovu posits that when However, this naked
Sithole, a Ndau/Shangaan nepotism and cronyism was
from Manicaland, was impris- rampant under Mugabe. But
oned following the Mgagao
Declaration, it was all a ploy
to remove the Manyikas from
NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 37
Issue 26, 16 April 2021 President Mnangagwa with Kuda Tagwirei. tension worker (mudhumeni/
umlimisi) and settled in the
Mnangagwa claimed his so- yet another Chivi homeboy, county’s armed services in Broadcasting Corporation en- this may yet explain a lot province.
called new dispensation was a was always a close ally of the aftermath of the coup, trusted with running govern- of imponderables, maybe
break with this past -- a dark Mnangagwa since the heady Sibanda’s appointment could ment and the party’s propa- including why he is not with As shall be explained later,
and insidious past character- days of Zanu PF maverick be regarded as having been an ganda, while Henrietta is that us today. it was Muchinguri-Kashiri
ised by unadulterated clan Eddison Zvobgo’s era. Today, overt case of coup-proofing lady who was arrested at the who was influential in the
and village politics. Vincent Hungwe, Mnangag- in case the army got excited airport with six kilogrammes Mnangagwa has always had appointment of her own niece
wa’s Chivi homeboy, from the again as they had been in of gold while in the company political interests in Kwekwe, the late Ellen Gwaradzimba
But Mnangagwa’s promise Vuranda area, is the chair- November 2017. of a team of Mnangagwa’s where he “discovered” Owen and the currently serving
was blatantly misleading. He person of the Public Service personal bodyguards that Muda Ncube, who began Nokuthula Matsekenyeri, yet
has, in fact, entrenched and Commission, responsible With a family member included Stephen Tserayi. as a mushurugwi, a ma- another Karanga homegirl,
deepened the culture of trib- for the entire civil service of now in charge of the country’s chete-wielding mining thug who just happened to be mar-
alism and cronyism, showing Zimbabwe. armoury, any fears of yet an- Henrietta is back at work representing Mnangagwa’s ried into a Manyika family in
he is Mugabe’s best student Talk of the petty family, other coup in the immediate at the Zimbabwe Miners’ mining interests in the town. Chimanimani.
indeed. village and tribal politics. to short term might have been Federation, despite facing
Others have derisively referred sufficiently allayed. Now that serious charges that expose the Today, Mnangagwa has And here, I have not yet
In Mnangagwa’s case, it to Mnangagwa’s regime as the restlessness in that regard massive leakages in the coun- brought his mukorokoza into mentioned Ziyambi Ziyam-
has been a systematic plot to Moyo, Sibanda & Associ- appears to have been quelled try’s extractive industry. government as the minister of bi and Kindness Paradza,
use acolytes, tribesmen and ates, given the intricate filial, with the attendant appoint- State Security. They say fate is fellow Karangas who are now
cronies to take over arms totemic and tribal links of the ment of pliant brigadiers-gen- I hope it is all making sense a capricious woman. By dint serving as Justice minister
and institutions of the state key characters in the state. eral and key army staff across now. of mother fate and his strong and Information deputy
for self-aggrandisement. We Before former Foreign Affairs the board, Mnangagwa’s The Moyos in key positions political connection to the minister respectively. That
are in an equally insidious, minister Sibusiso Moyo’s cousin may as well now go Mnangagwa’s mother is a man now in charge, Muda they transact their politics in
so-called Second Republic in recent death, there was him higher to checkmate the other MaMoyo and the Moyos are has calcified from a ma- other provinces may yet cloud
which Mnangagwa’s clansmen in the network, his cousin Vice-President with the same his maternal uncles. Obediah chete-wielding thug dealing the toxic tribal and factional
and tribesmen, nieces and brother Elson Moyo, who is military credentials. Moyo, a maternal uncle, was with the security of disparate nature of their appointments.
nephews, friends and associ- the Air Force of Zimbabwe appointed minister of Health and miniscule gold “points”
ates have all been strategically commander, Central Intel- In fact, impeccable sources and Child Care in the early into a besuited cabinet minis- In the party’s key com-
placed across a vast array of ligence Oragnisation (CIO) say Sibanda, whose renewable days of the current adminis- ter responsible for the security missariat department, after
state and quasi-state institu- boss Director-General Moyo, one-year term reportedly tration but was later suspend- of an entire country! Engelbert Rugeje, a soldier
tions to protect and entrench Military Intelligence chief ended on 31 March 31 2021, ed from government follow- Tribesmen in cabinet and a fellow Karanga from
narrow personal and clique Thomas Moyo and Zimbabwe is unlikely to be renewed ing his arrest on corruption Apart from the Moyos, his Masvingo who is a Chiwen-
interests. Defence Forces command- and may soon be appointed charges that are still pending. maternal uncles appointed ga loyalist, began to show
er General Philip Valerio Vice-President with a possibil- in the early days of Mnan- leanings towards the military
Tribesmen and cronies, Sibanda — indeed Moyos ity of even taking the mantle Isaac Moyo, yet another gagwa’s administration and faction of the party, and
mainly from his Midlands and Sibandas — all from the himself when Mnangagwa maternal uncle of Mnangag- allies such as Masuka and Mnangagwa was quick to slot
home province, have been Midlands. serves his time. wa, was recalled from South Muda Ncube, other Karanga in yet another Karanga and
deployed, jointly and several- Africa where he was serving as homeboys in cabinet include a Midlander from Gokwe,
ly, to strategic spaces in both The Sibandas are part of And since the Sibandas are the country’s ambassador. He Mines minister Winston Victor Matemadanda.
party and government. It is so Mnangagwa’s family. Mnan- Mnangagwa’s cousins, it must is now the head of the CIO, Chitando from Gutu Central
blatant and shameless that it gagwa’s family members also come as no surprise there- while Elson Moyo, yet anoth- and Professor Amon Murwira Indeed, for some time,
leaves Zimbabweans genuine- use Sibanda, derived from fore that Misheck Sibanda, er maternal uncle, took over from Nzuwa village in the Mnangagwa fancied himself
ly interested in appreciating Shumba. In Ndebele, Sibanda another homeboy and relative from the late Perrance Shiri same Gutu area. Another Ka- the victor in the battle for
diversity and nation-building denotes Shumba in Shona. of the President, was retained and is now the head of the Air ranga from Zvishavane and a the control of the soul of the
cringing. as the chief secretary to the Force of Zimbabwe. long-time ally of Mnangagwa party, which is the party’s
It is no wonder therefore President and Cabinet, even is the infamous Willowgate commissariat department that
For a President to sit down that upon Constantino Chi- after the coup. This strategic In the ministry of Agricul- convicted criminal, Frederick is in charge of all party struc-
and appoint his village boys wenga’s appointment as Vice- post has been retained in the ture, Shiri was replaced by yet Shava. Cabinet meetings may tures. Now that Matemadan-
and tribal cronies as ministers President, family. another Mnangagwa ally and yet begin to look like clan or da has been removed, the
and other key government The Rushwayas and Mnan- clansman, Anxious Masuka. tribal meetings. nation awaits to see the next
officials in this day and age is Mnangagwa appointed his gagwa Karanga tribesman who will
cringeworthy. cousin Phillip Valerio Sibanda The Rushwayas are Mnan- All of Mnangagwa’s anxiety If Mnangagwa’s relative take over this key party post.
as commander of the Zimba- gagwa’s blood relatives. They in the agricultural sector may dies, the whole government, Other key Mnangagwa
Village politics at play bwe Defence Forces. are his nephews and nieces. have now been quashed as the certainly cabinet, might have cronies
It all starts right from his Martin Rushwaya, a neph- highly political Pfumvudza to be closed. Everyone would Douglas Munatsi
village. While the Midlands is That is why there are ew, is currently the Deputy programme is firmly in the be attending the funeral as Douglas Munatsi is yet an-
Mnangagwa’s adopted home genuine concerns Mnangagwa Chief Secretary in the Office hands of his faction loyalist. they are relatives. other of Mnangagwa’s cronies,
province where he pursues his might appoint to take over of the President and Cabinet representing a vast array of
farming and mining inter- as the co-Vice-President after responsible for administration And still on the Moyos: Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri the dear leader’s financial and
ests, the man was born in the Kembo Mohadi was forced and finance. The same Martin July Moyo, for long the may be a Manicaland god- commercial interests. Mu-
Mangwana area of Chivi in to resign through well-cho- Rushwaya is a close relation Lacoste faction’s chief strate- mother and a key Mnangagwa natsi, appointed chairperson
Masvingo province. That is reographed state-sanctioned to Henrietta Rushwaya and gist, is the minister of Local ally who speaks with a fluent of the Zimbabwe Investment
what he considers his original CIO leaks on his adulterous Helliet Rushwaya. Government. SB Moyo, the Manyika accent, but she is Development Agency, was
home. shenanigans. deceased minister of Foreign a Karanga from Masvingo implicated as having been
Helliet is the chief execu- Affairs and International whose father went to Mani- part of the team that used its
That informs his politics With a member of the tive officer at the Zimbabwe Trade, was also an uncle, but caland as an agricultural ex- financial muscle to capture
and national or party deploy- family in charge of the being a soldier, his allegiance both The Financial Gazette
ment policy. was more to Chiwenga and and The Daily News that are
now parroting the views of
For instance, it is no the state, leaving Zimpapers’
wonder that Paul Mangwana, major titles like The Herald
a fellow villager and close and The Chronicle green with
associate, is the Zanu PF sec- envy.
retary for Legal Affairs, while
the brother Ndavaningi Nick It was during the capture
Mangwana was brought in of this stable that former Dai-
from the United Kingdom to ly News editor Stan Gama
become the chief government unceremoniously left the
spokesperson in his capacity newspaper as more pliable ed-
as the permanent secretary itors were put at the helm to
in the ministry of Media, protect Mnangagwa’s narrow
Information and Broadcasting political interests.
Services.
At a personal level, I am
Upon his appointment as greatly pained by the blatant
Vice-President under Mug- capture of the two newspa-
abe, Mnangagwa bequeathed pers, The Daily News and The
his Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe Financial Gazette, having
parliamentary seat to his wife served as news editor at both
Auxilia ,while his son Tongai newspapers during the era of
is currently the MP for Harare audacious journalism when
South. the independent press was
truly independent of the
Prominent lawyer Edwin political interests of the ruling
Manikai is part of Mnangag- elite. I miss our golden time
wa’s ethnic networks from in the media when we used
Chivi as well. His mother is a the vocation of journalism to
MaMoyo. In fact, insiders say hold government accountable
his mother and Mnangagwa’s and not to shamelessly parrot
mother are siblings. Manikai the selfish interests of the
is the chair of the Presidential ruling elite.
Advisory Council. True, cous-
ins and brothers have always
advised each other — only
this time Mnangagwa has
institutionalised the brotherly
advice at state level!
Josiah Dunhira Hungwe,
Page 38 Reframing Issues NewsHawks
Kuda Tagwirei Karanga homeboy originally chairpersons to the meeting be a front for white capital across party and government Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Kuda Tagwireyi, the de facto from Masvingo. Mnangagwa in Tsholotsho. Charamba interests. The late John Bre- shows that he may well have
prime minister of our land recently appointed him the paid ZW$9 780 750 for the denkamp, Omanian fugitive achieved his mission in this Ndairidza huwi ndodaidzira
and business magnate whose deputy minister of Transport. helicopter and even secured Ahmed Said Thamer al Shan- regard, not to mention the vamwe vangu,
finger is in every pie of the Madiro was the Manicaland clearance for it. Charamba fari, Billy Rautenbach and deliberate appointments he Kuno kwaita dopiro akomana,
state, has his roots in Mulauzi provincial chairperson also wrote Mnangagwa’s other shadowy capitalists have has made in the police force Huyai mose , huyai tinombore,
village under chief Nhema in 2004 and travelled to Tsholotsho speech, which was always been Mnangagwa’s key and the brigadiers-general he
in Shurugwi. Tagwirei is not Tsholotsho to do Mnangag- eventually delivered by Patrick business associates over the has appointed to fractionally Now that the clansman
only a tribesmen of the dear wa’s bidding at the ill-fated Chinamasa years. Mnangagwa is currently and tribally tame a stubborn has attained state power, the
leader, but his beloved acolyte Dinyane meeting where the Patrick Chinamasa mired in a scandal in which military. fellow tribesmen and tribes-
with the licence to dabble in ambitious gladiator failed to Chinamasa is one of Mnan- he has decided to displace a women are today gathered at
every lucrative deal or enter- gatecrash into the presidium gagwa’s allies who is drawing minority tribe in Chilonga Thabani Vusa Mpofu, a the dinner table, voraciously
prise within the state, from as Vice-President. Madiro’s re- a salary and perks equivalent so that his friend Coetzee Midlander and a presumed partaking of the national
fuel to bus procurement and cent appointment is a reward to that of a Cabinet minister. can grow lucerne grass for his Mnangagwa relative, is now honeycomb. The nation may
the sourcing and supply of for a long journey travelled Chinamasa is representing dairy cows. For Mnangagwa, in charge of the Special bark, as I am currently doing
fertilisers. He is the finan- together. Mnangagwa’s political inter- a white crony’s grass is more Anti-Corruption Unit in the through this epistle, but the
cial point man and he is the Gwaradzimba and Mat- ests at party headquarters, important than his fellow President’s Office. Ironically, tribesmen and the cronies are
human embodiment of the sikenyeri together with Obert Mpofu, citizens! it is his own appointment that quietly enjoying their pilfered
phenomenon of state capture Muchinguri-Kashiri was the party’s secretary for ad- Conclusion may yet be the special case meal, in strict conformity to
in Zimbabwe. an aunt or a tete to the late ministration. In short, Mnangagwa’s of corruption and cronyism the dictates of prudent table
Midlands political dynamics Gwaradzimba, whom she Obert Mpofu tribesmen, clansmen and elite deserving of a thorough and manners that exhort silence
Larry Mavima pushed to be the Manicaland Mpofu is a key Mnangagwa cronies are now firmly em- robust investigation. during the eating hour!
Mavima, a strong Mnangag- governor. Upon her death, ally in the industry of nefar- bedded in the upper echelons
wa ally and a Karanga from Muchinguri-Kashiri pushed ious deals. Mnangagwa was of the vast labyrinth of party All these years as Mnan- But for how long will this
Zvishavane, is the Midlands for Matsikenyeri, yet another the minister of Defence at the and state power, representing gagwa fought by fair and foul last? Only time will tell.
minister of Provincial Affairs. Karanga homegirl from Masv- time the army got involved mainly the parochial political means to achieve the Presi-
It is always tragic when ingo who just happened to be in diamond mining, while and avaricious interests of a dency, it now appears he was *Luke Tamborinyoka is a
presumed national leaders married into a Chimanimani Obert Mpofu was Mines small, factional and largely working only for an oppor- multiple-awarding journal-
descend from the lofty heights family. minister. The two may have tribal cabal. tunity to bring in his cronies ist and an ardent political
of true nationalists in the Joe Biggie Matiza some knowledge on the plun- and tribal associates. He was science scholar who won the
mould of the great Joshua It is strongly believed within der of diamonds and other The list and names alluded waiting for his time to bring Book prize for best student
Nkomo to the plumbing Zanu PF circles that the minerals. Mnangagwa’s name to in this treatise is not his own retinue of close asso- when he graduated with a
depths of tribalism, regional- late Joel Biggie Matiza, who is specifically mentioned exhaustive and Mnangagwa’s ciates, kinsmen, kinswomen, Bachelor of Science (Hon-
ism and villagism. Notwith- was Transport Minister and in a United Nations report villagisation of the party and cousins and nieces to the din- ours) degree in Political
standing his roots in the Chivi Zanu PF Mashonaland East S/2002/1146 as having been the state may turn out to be ing table so that they could all Science at the University of
area in Masvingo province, provincial chairperson, was part of the elite network that an interesting area of study jointly and severally plunder Zimbabwe. He is also the
Mnangagwa now fancies him- a Karanga with roots in plundered mineral resources fully deserving of a compre- the country’s resources. Deputy Secretary for Presi-
self a Midlander Godfather Masvingo. Those in the know in the DRC. hensive research effort. dential Affairs in the MDC
and even the recent defections say being Karanga is a key de- Neville Coetzee In the words of musician Alliance led by Advocate
overseen by Mavima had a cision factor in Mnangagwa’s Contrary to propaganda that During the Mugabe era, Leonard Karikoga Zhakata, Nelson Chamisa. An earlier
regional tilt to them. cheap tribal politics and he has repeatedly been parroted, Mnangagwa was certainly the acolytes have all been version of this article first
has deployed his tribesmen, it is none other than Mnan- biding his time, strenuously called in to enjoy the honey- appeared on nehandaradio.
Blessing Chebundo, who clansmen and clanswomen gagwa who has proved to working for the moment comb, a sumptuous dinner at com. Tamborinyoka can be
almost ended Mnangag- to go and lead the party and to foist his own tribesmen the poor taxpayer’s expense: contacted on his Facebook
wa’s political career before government in other prov- and clansmen on the entire Dai ndaive ini ndigere paye, page or on the twitter han-
Mugabe came to his rescue, inces. The list above is not body politic. The evidence of Deno ndaive ini ndiripo paye, dle @ luke_tambo
is from Kwekwe, while my exhaustive, but it just gives a the human resource spread
sister Lillian Timveos is from glimpse of the tribal nature
Zvishavane in the Midlands of Mnangagwa’s politics and
province. It depicts the political behaviour.
sheer poverty of Mnangag- Jacob Mudenda
wa’s politics that even the Another former Zanu PF
much-vaunted defections provincial chair who also went
have failed to rise above the to the same ill-fated meeting
very limited regional precincts Tsholotsho meeting 17 years
that have always defined the ago to root for Mnangagwa
pettiness of his politics. is one Jacob Mudenda. The
Oliver Chidawu former provincial chairper-
Mnangagwa has deliberately son for Matabeleland North
“exported” his Karanga allies province has been allowed to
to other provinces on party retain his position as Speaker
and/or government mission. of Parliament to represent the
He may claim he has always enduring Lacoste interests in
transacted his politics in Ha- the August House. More than
rare, but Harare’s provincial anything, the retention of the
affairs minister Chidawu is Speakership is the due reward
Mnangagwa’s Karanga tribal for an unstinting loyalty.
ally. Obligingly, he is now playing
Monica Mavhunga his own part in the recalling
Mavhunga, the minister of of elected MPs from parlia-
Provincial Affairs for Mash- ment. In fact, Mudenda is the
onaland Central province personification of the capture
may have been married in of parliament in the further-
her province of service, but ance of a dastardly agenda to
has her roots in Mnangagwa’s promote a one-party state in
home province. this our beloved country.
Mary Mliswa-Chikoka Other Mnangagwa acolytes
Temba Mliswa’s sister is the George Charamba
minister of Provincial Affairs Charamba is now the deputy
in Mashonaland West. Mary chief secretary in the Office of
is originally from Mliswa the President and Cabinet. He
village in the Gamwa section, was also retained as Presiden-
Shamba circuit in ward 5 tial spokesperson. I have writ-
of Shurugwi South. Mliswa ten in a previous instalment
and Mnangagwa are of the that Charanba has always
Shumba totem and Mary’s been a key Mnangagwa ally.
deployment begins to make At the ill-fated Tsholotsho
sense from the perspective of meeting in 2004, it was Cha-
her roots in Shurugwi and the ramba, as permanent secretary
totemic connection. in the ministry of Information
Mike Madiro and Publicity, who abused
Mike Madiro, a Mnangagwa government funds to pay for
ally since the Dinyane days the helicopter that carried
in 2004, is Mnangagwa’s the Zanu PF provincial
NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 39
Issue 26, 16 April 2021 Constitutional amendments and
authoritarian consolidation in Zim
Alex T.
Magaisa
THE Senate of Zimbabwe’s
Parliament recently voted in
favour of the Constitution-
al Amendment (No.1) Bill
(hereafter “the Constitutional
Bill”) in circumstances that
render it illegal. The purpose
of this article is to explain
the grounds of its illegality
and the consequences flowing
from its unlawfulness which
can be encapsulated as an
ongoing constitutional crisis.
To appreciate the grounds of
illegality, it is important to
outline the genealogy of the
Constitutional Bill.
Factual background the Constitutional Court by tional Bill was being returned tional Bill to vote on. the problem and gave some minimum voting threshold
Sometime in 2016, the two MPs of the MDC-T then to the same Parliament. But However, the majority of advice to Parliament and the under section 328 of the
government introduced the led by Morgan Tsvangirai. the Parliament under which it government. “… I am never- constitution but also with
Constitutional Bill into Par- These MPs were Jessie Ma- was introduced had long been the Constitutional Court theless constrained to caution the requirements of section
liament. Its principal purpose jome and Innocent Gonese. dissolved by operation of law, refused to deal with this issue, that their [Parliament] success 147 of the same. Section 147,
was to change the way heads and this is the source of the reasoning that any exam- in this application does not as already stated, provides
of the judiciary, namely the The Constitutional Court illegality of the Constitution- ination of it would lead to a constitute any licence for the that all Bills lapse when
Chief Justice, The Deputy issued its judgment on 31 al Court’s original decision. review of the original judg- applicants [Parliament] to vi- Parliament dissolves. This
Chief Justice, and the Judge March 2020, declaring that The second legal challenge ment which was passed on 31 olate the requirements of the means the Constitutional Bill
President of the High Court the constitutional amend- The Senate had until 28 March 2020. The majority re- constitution or to disregard had expired and proceeding
were appointed. The 2013 ment was unconstitutional. September 2020 to conduct alised that this review would any of its provisions.” He to vote on a non-existent
Constitution had made their It took three years for the the vote, but it did not do lead to the logical conclusion warned that “anything done Constitutional Bill would be
appointment subject to a Constitutional Court to reach so, pleading the pandemic as where the illegality of the in contravention of the con- meaningless.
public interviewing process, this verdict on such a funda- a barrier. A few days before original judgment would be stitution is a nullity”.
managed by the Judicial Ser- mental matter, an important the expiry of this deadline, exposed. The Constitutional Nevertheless, the Senate
vices Commission. The gov- point that highlights the gross the Senate applied to the Court had ordered constitu- This meant that any act or went on to conduct a vote
ernment wanted to change inefficiencies of the highest Constitutional Court for tional illegality and now the conduct which violates the on the Constitutional Bill,
this so that the President court in the country. an extension of the order to same court was being asked constitution would according ignoring Justice Patel’s advice
would have unilateral powers allow it to conduct the vote. to declare that its decision to the judge, “remain a nul- and all other critiques that
to make these appointments. For inexplicable reasons, This application was opposed was constitutionally illegal. lity, even if carried out pur- pointed to the illegality of the
the Constitutional Court because it was a violation of portedly in compliance with Constitutional Bill. 70 Sen-
When the vacancy for declared that the Constitu- the constitution. It violated The majority of the court the order of this Court. Con- ators voted for it with only 1
Chief Justice was imminent tional Bill was unlawful, not section 147 of the constitu- avoided this question based sequently, in the event that against. It is now ready to be
because the then Chief the Constitutional Act. Yet tion which provides that “On on protecting the finality of they decide to proceed with signed again into law by the
Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku the court knew that it was the dissolution of Parliament, Constitutional Court deci- the Constitution Amendment President, However, as argued
was nearing retirement, the validity of the Act that was all proceedings pending at sions. In her leading judg- Bill (No. 1), they would be in this article, the resulting
JSC started the process of being challenged. the time are terminated, ment, Justice Rita Makarau obligated to do so, not only Constitutional Amendment
selecting his successor in late and every Bill, motion, stated, “I refrain from making in accordance with the voting (No. 1) Act will still carry a
2016. It was at that time that A declaration of invalid- petition and other business such a finding in deference to requirements prescribed in s fatal defect of unconstitution-
the Constitutional Bill was ity of the Act would have lapses”. The Constitutional the principle protecting the 328 of the constitution but ality and remains prone to a
introduced. The idea was to rendered the amendment Bill was introduced by the finality of the decisions of the also in conformity with any challenge.
pre-empt the existing process null and void. By declaring 8th Parliament whose term Constitutional Court. The other relevant and applicable Legal and political implica-
and allow the President to that Constitutional Bill was expired by operation of law integrity of the decisions of constitutional injunction, in- tions
unilaterally appoint a new unconstitutional, the Con- when it dissolved on the eve this Court on constitutional cluding the legal ramifications 1. Although the Senate
Chief Justice. stitutional Court had created of the 2018 elections. This matters must be preserved at of s 147 of the Constitution.” met the minimum thresh-
its own remedy, creating false meant the Constitutional Bill all times and against all other (my emphasis) old required for passing a
This attempt failed and ground to direct the Senate had lapsed on that day of dis- considerations.” The majority Constitutional Bill, this did
the new Chief Justice was to correct the irregularity solution of Parliament. This was effectively protecting Justice Patel was warning not cure the fatal defect of
appointed after a rigorous by conducting a new vote meant that when the Consti- illegality under the guise of Parliament and by extension, the so-called Constitutional
public interviewing process. regarding the Constitutional tutional Court directed the protecting the finality of an the government that they Bill which is that there was
However, Parliament later Bill. Senate to conduct a new vote unconstitutional judgment. could not violate the con- no Constitutional Bill to vote
passed the Constitutional within 180 days on 31 March Judicial advice to the gov- stitution under the guise of on. As already argued, under
Bill but the problems for the The court thought it was 2020, it was a nullity because ernment complying with a court order. section 147 of the consti-
Constitutional Bill did not curing a defect in the process, there was no valid Constitu- Nevertheless, one of the He specifically referred to the tution, the Constitutional
end there. It was discovered but this quick-fix brought judges for the majority, Constitutional Amendment
that the procedure for passing more complications and Justice Patel acknowledged (No. 1) Bill and that it should
Constitutional Bills had been illegalities. Perhaps it might comply not just with the
violated. have been a possible cure of
The first legal challenge the illegality if the Constitu-
In terms of section 328 of
the Constitution, both the
National Assembly and the
Senate are required to meet
a minimum threshold of
two-thirds majority voting
in favour of a Constitutional
Bill.
While the National Assem-
bly had met the threshold,
the Senate had fallen short of
it by one vote. The President
signed the Constitutional Bill
into law but the constitution-
ality of it was challenged at
Page 40 Reframing Issues NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Bill introduced under the the challenge will be on appointed the new Chief Jus- laterally appoint judges of the a constitutional architect to ment are resolved. Mean-
8th Parliament lapsed when the ground that the Senate tice while the Constitutional Supreme Court and the Con- support its erosion by illegal while, the country needs a
that Parliament dissolved by vote on a non-existent Bill was in abeyance. Now stitutional Court without the means. However, it is yet new Chief Justice and a fully
operation of law on the eve of Constitutional Bill, and it that the Senate has passed need for public interviews. another instance of how the constituted Constitutional
the 30 July 2018 general elec- is non-existent because of the Constitutional Bill and He might even try to extend Mnangagwa regime’s project Court and Supreme Court.
tions. This means there was section 147 of the Consti- although it is illegal, the Pres- the current Chief Justice’s of authoritarian consolidation These should be appointed
no valid Constitutional Bill tution. ident has a fig-leaf cover to term, even though this would is progressing on the front of under the rules mandated by
when the Senate conducted 3. Meanwhile, the govern- make this appointment. He also be illegal. The second creating a controlled oppo- the 2013 constitution, which
its vote. Section two of the ment will carry on under the does not care that the passing amendment is therefore an sition. The Mwonzora-led means an open and trans-
constitution provides for the new amendment based on a of the Constitutional Bill has extension of the first amend- MDC-T is trying too hard to parent public interviewing
supremacy of the constitution presumption of constitution- a fatal legal defect. ment, giving wider powers to appease and seek accommo- process.
and that all laws, rules, or ality. Under this presump- 5. The second reason is that the President over the compo- dation in the Mnangagwa re- 8. The problem is the current
conduct that are inconsistent tion, all existing laws are the passing of the Consti- sition of the judiciary, which gime to the point that it is all government has no regard for
with a provision of the consti- deemed constitutional until tutional Bill opens the way impacts its independence. too happy to openly vote for the constitution. Interviews
tution are null and void. This they have been declared in- for a second amendment These amendments are part of an unconstitutional change to for vacancies at the Consti-
means b violating section 147 valid by the court. However, (Constitutional Amendment authoritarian consolidation of the constitution. tutional Court were held 6
of the constitution, the whole this should not deter a legal (No. 2) Bill) which has been the Mnangagwa regime. 7. In conclusion, while the months ago on 28 September
exercise in the Senate was a challenge because there were pending since last year. The 6. A disconcerting feature government will take the 2020, and to date, there is
legal nullity. solid grounds of illegality. If government could not have of these amendments is how bulldozer approach and pro- no appointment. President
2. It requires a litigant to the government proceeds, it passed this second amend- they are being supported by ceed with the amendments Mnangagwa is waiting to
will be doing so at the risk ment without passing the first some elements in the oppo- and appointments under get powers so that he can
challenge the constitution- of illegality. This is worse be- because some of its elements sition which were formerly them, the fatal defects are appoint whomsoever he
ality of the latest attempt cause there is sufficient notice are dependent on the first against them. The MDC-T incurable unless they start wants, notwithstanding the
to amend the constitution, for the government that the amendment. But this is also led by Senator Douglas the entire process afresh. The constitutional rules. He can’t
citing the above ground of amendment is unconstitu- the source of problems for Mwonzora voted overwhelm- only way to cure the fatal de- be bothered. But this is not
illegality. It will be a new tional. the second amendment. If ingly in favour of the Con- fects of the first amendment surprising. This is a regime
case based on a different 4. What is the rush? The the first amendment is fatally stitutional Bill, even though is to raze it to the ground and that came to power through
ground from the basis of government is in rush for two defective, it will also affect the it is fraught with illegality. to re-start the process from an egregious violation of the
the challenge used in the possible reasons: first, it wants legal validity of the second Mwonzora was among the the National Assembly. The constitution. Therefore, its
previous cases. The Con- the President to have the amendment. The government architects of the constitution, quick-fix which was directed aversion to the constitution is
stitutional Court cannot power to appoint a new Chief is in a hurry to have the which was adopted in 2013, by the Constitutional Court by nature.
avoid the case as it did in Justice to replace the incum- second amendment because it but now he is voting for its is illegal and does not cure
the Gonese case when it bent, whose retirement by will allow the President even mutilation under the guise the fatal defect. Likewise, *Alex Magaisa, Kent Law
hid under the cover that operation of law is imminent. more power to appoint judges of a brand of politics that he there is a need to halt the School, University of Kent
it wanted to protect the The President could not have of the higher courts. The calls “rational disputation”. second amendment until the and author of the Big Satur-
finality of the previous President will be able to uni- It is grossly unreasonable for problems of the first amend- day . Read www.bigsr.co.uk
decision. In this new case,
Victims of state brutality feel like stray dogs
NYASHA CHINGONO months, in order to be granted also used rape and torture to
Zimbabwean citizenship. instil fear in victims and the
ZIMBABWE is celebrating Harare Magistrates Court. with Amnesty International be aligned to the new consti- Many people were unable to targeted communities.
41 years of Independence on authorities to take steps accusing the government of tution. do so because they did not
Sunday at a time thousands of to address what Amnesty perpetuating discriminatory hold the requisite identity Since the Gukurahundi
people are stateless, with vic- International calls a “crisis”, laws that disadvantage the “The Citizenship Act is not documents. To be granted genocide, the government has
tims wallowing on the margins by ensuring the mapping and children of migrants. yet aligned to the constitution Zimbabwean citizenship, they failed to issue death certificates
of poverty, struggling to access registration of all stateless peo- and continues to be used by first needed to prove that their for victims, most of whom
basic services like education, ple in line with international Draconian laws like the the ministry of Home Affairs parents had been nationals of were buried in shallow mass
as a result of the country’s dis- human rights law. 1984 Citizenship of Zimba- to deny citizenship arbitrarily other countries,” further reads graves.
criminatory laws and policies, bwe Act deprive persons of and unfairly to descendants of the report.
Amnesty International has According to the United foreign origin from acquiring migrant workers. In so doing, Children of the victims
said. Nations High Commissioner citizenship. the Citizenship Act gives The impact of stateless- have found it difficult to access
for Refugees, approximately almost unfettered discretion ness is often experienced in identification documents,
The human rights watchdog 300 000 people are classified Although section 43 of the and arbitrary powers to both the failure to access essential without death certificates of
said Zimbabwe’s discrimina- as stateless. The actual data constitution of Zimbabwe executive and junior officials identification documents like their parents.
tory laws had left generations has been blighted by lack of states that any resident who to deny people their constitu- birth certificates for children of
of migrant workers from official numbers, meaning was born in Zimbabwe to par- tional rights,” reads part of the immigrants, while those who “When the crackdown,
neighbouring countries such figures could be much higher, ents with a claim to citizenship report. attend school cannot sit exams. known as operation Gukura-
as Malawi, who settled in the Amnesty said. of any Sadc state — including hundi, was over, traumatised
country before Independence, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia “In 2001, a new law re- As a result, many can survivors had to grapple with
wallowing in statelessness. Despite attaining Inde- and South Africa — is a quired descendants of migrant neither find work nor access the challenges of stateless-
pendence in 1980, freedom Zimbabwean citizen by birth, workers to renouncetheir healthcare services, respon- ness as they were required to
In its report titled “We Are has not been a reality for the the piece of legislation is yet to ancestral nationality within six dents said. produce death certificates as
Like Stray Animals”, Amnesty stateless people in the country, proof of their parents to apply
International also details har- “Botshiwe Dube, from for Zimbabwean nationality.
rowing experiences of descen- Tsholotsho, told Amnesty However, death certificates for
dants of migrants and victims International how she went people killed in the Guku-
of the 1980s Gukurahundi to a health centre when she rahundi operation were not
genocide in Matabeleland. went into labour, but when she issued, meaning that those
could not provide ID she was who were orphaned as a result
Forty-one years after Zim- sent home to deliver her chil- of the violence had no way of
babwe attained Independence, dren. All of Botshiwe’s children proving their parents’ national-
minority groups, often labelled were born at home; she told ity,” reads the report.
“aliens”, are still locked out of Amnesty International that
citizenship due to bureaucracy she feels they are treated like “Stateless people in Zimba-
and discriminatory laws. ‘stray animals’ because they bwe struggle to access housing,
are undocumented,” reads the healthcare and education,
“For Zimbabwe’s stateless, report. The report also inves- violating their rights under
everyday life is filled with tigates how the Gukurahundi the constitution, as well as
obstacles. Accessing education, massacres, perpetrated by the international and regional
healthcare and employment youthful 5th Brigade in the human rights treaties includ-
can be a nightmare, and the early 1980s in Matabeleland ing the UN International
sense of exclusion and rejec- and the Midlands provinces, Covenant on Economic, Social
tion is soul destroying,” Mu- led to statelessness. and Cultural Rights and the
leya Mwananyanda, Amnesty African Charter on Human
International’s deputy director An estimated 20 000 and Peoples’ Rights, to which
for southern Africa, said. Ndebele-speaking citizens were Zimbabwe is a State Party.”
killed while the 5th Brigade
Mwanayanda urged the
Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model
&Life Style
STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING
Page 41 Issue 25, 9 April 2021
Reggae singer
Celscius talks
consciousness
on new album
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA pens to be his birthday. There is no better way of
celebrating than dropping an album.
“THE more I live, the more I experience life and
the more I write songs. So for me everything The seven-track album features several mash-
starts with life and then music because all I sing ups including a collaboration with songstress
is inspired by life,” talented reggae/dancehall Tamy Moyo.
singer Celscius throws his head back and laughs.
The new offering promises to be an enjoyable
There is something immensely likeable about one, considering that it is his first studio album.
this 29-year-old vocalist with the radiant smile
and soothing voice. Prior to this, Celscius has been dropping sin-
gles although he later compiled a Singles Col-
Perhaps it is the cultivated aura he exudes. Or lection.
perhaps it is the fact that he is so easy to talk to.
Celscius blew up in 2012 with the release of
Celscius has long endeared himself with fans Chiedza, a conscious track for those who love
through his conscious lyrics which he churns out mature music. He then followed it up with
effortlessly. Makatendeka, a gospel track that again solidified
him as a conscious artist.
“The one thing that puts me apart from my
contemporaries is I do not sing when I have He then roped in Seh Calaz, whose real name
nothing to say and also I stop and think before I is Tawanda Mumanyi, on a string of hits includ-
write songs,” he said. ing Sahwira Wangu and Mhanya Wega, which
dominated the charts for some time.
Also, people should realise that musicians take
pride in their work even before they hit the spot- Later, he collaborated with the likes of Free-
light. man the HKD Boss on Gyalis and Maya before
he joined Soul Jah Love for his chart topper
“I have worked with several musicians and Hatiite and Shinsoman on Vanotinakidza.
one of the biggest that young artistes face is
pride. We see ourselves as superstars even before Recently, Celscius engaged Sasha Luester to
our time. manage his affairs, including distribution of his
music.
“Once you release an album and you are at
the top we begin to feel some type of way, larger “Previously, I never thought distribution of
than real superstars. So I try and remain ground- music was important but then because nowadays
ed whether or not I have a hit song,” he said. artists are relying mostly on digital platforms I
thought its best that I have someone with the
Celscius, born Tafadzwa Mwandira, is on the knowhow so that I not only earn from my music
verge of releasing his first studio album, simply but also ensure it reaches out to every corner of
titled Unique Conscience. the country and beyond,” he said.
The release date is 11 May, which also hap-
Page 42 Life & Style NewsHawks
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
Sculptor David Ngwerume’s big break!
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA evolved over the years. captured attention because of Some collectors and galleries in Harare. During weekends, its of nickel.
“I am trying to define the the reality we now live with, have failed to come to buy art Ngwerume makes sure he has Ngwerume is pushing
SCULPTOR David which is calling each one of us and exhibit abroad.” enough time to work with
Ngwerume must have struck moment which we as Africa to stay safe and to keep others stone. for an African renaissance
the right chord by carving one are in. We are the next greatest safe,” he explained. Asked how he switches from through his sculptures.
of his most breathtaking mas- thing in this moment in time law to sculpture, Ngwerume He has exhibited both
terpieces to date, simply titled if we align our focus towards “This sculpture was in- said he treats the two as equal locally and abroad and his One has to see pieces such
“Arm”. creating an environment that spired by the effort we as professions. pieces have been displayed as “Sir”, named after the hon-
The three-dimensional shall promote wealth creation humanity are putting to try in galleries in Europe, North orific address used in a num-
sculpture, which depicts a to all citizens. and overcome the pandemic. “I have taken both law America, Asia, Australia and ber of situations in many cul-
woman getting vaccinated That’s what matters the most practice and art to be my two New Zealand. tures.
against Covid-19, has reso- “We have resources, yet and we also need our Lord to equal professions. Switching
nated well, not just among art poverty is riling many, so now guide us to a cure.” the two is so much fun be- Ngwerume’s famous works He also did other sculptures
lovers but also a much wider is the time to change that. cause I would seem to find include the “Scales of Justice”, that explore the realities of the
audience, in and outside Zim- According to Ngwerume, going to the other a relaxer a sculpture erected in front of middle-class in society.
babwe. “My work has grown all his sculptures are mas- of the other. It is living in co- the Harare and Bulawayo high
So imaginative is the through the intelligible fo- terpieces as he summons his lours, I tell you,” he said. courts. He also draws inspiration
piece that it has put the law- cus I committed to by giving creative genius in creating re- from current affairs, blending
yer-cum-sculpture into the all my time after work to be markable works of art. In the next five years, He has also carried out contemporary themes with
spotlight for his call for people utilised in mastering the skills Ngwerume says, he is deter- works for various organisa- cultural aspects.
to get vaccinated. in the sculpture discipline,” He revealed that following mined to hone his craft and tions including the Judicial
Prior to carving the latest Ngwerume said. the success of “Arm”, more emerge as the most phenome- Service Commission of Zim- Culture is his area of spe-
sculpture, the 40-year-old people are now interested in nal sculptor in the world. babwe, Office of the President cialty, as shown by the creative
Ngwerume has created an For the past week, his his work and getting curious and Cabinet of Zimbabwe, genius evident in his larger-
entire portfolio of art pieces eye-catching sculpture titled enough to look back at some “In art, value follows the the Angolan government and than-life sculptures.
placing emphasis on African “Arm” has been trending on of his old pieces. tick tock of your mastery, so I the Democratic Republic of
renaissance, but they largely social media with art lovers hope to conquer with dignity Congo government. His favourite media is
went unnoticed. commending Ngwerume for “I believe people are be- and honour,” he said. springstone and opal, which
In an interview with The creatively supporting the vac- ginning to see the realities I Earlier this year, Ngwerume he sources from Chiweshe and
NewsHawks, Ngwerume, cination rollout by capturing have always been putting in Ngwerume is part of Sui released a work of art titled Guruve.
who first ventured into sculpt- the imagination of a global my work with a better un- Generis Art Gallery in Harare “Daring a Mustang” under
ing at the tender age of 15, audience. derstanding that nothing has where he sculpts during week- a collection dubbed “Taking “Never be afraid of fail-
spoke of how his work has ever changed this world into a ends together with two other the Reins.” The collection was ing. Keep trying. Success ris-
“I am so grateful to note better place than art, hence its resident artists. inspired by horse culture and es from the ashes of failure.
that this piece has sent a esteem value,” he said. the pieces are made of brown Making something new has
global vibe in this time of the On weekdays, he runs chrysoprase stone, a type of always changed the world, so
pandemic because it captured “Well, Covid-19 has left a law firm, Mukwewa and stone found alongside depos- let’s invoke our inner strength
the issue of vaccination. It travel and business in limbo. Ngwerume Law Chambers and go forth towards that cre-
along Samora Machel Avenue ative leap and conquer the
world,” he says.
NewsHawks People & Places Page 43
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
IN a bid to address deep gender inequalities in Zimbabwe’s media and newsrooms, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom hosted a workshop in
Victoria Falls this week supporting a facilitators’ training programme for senior female journalists to capacitate them with skills to mentor and train younger
female professionals in a male dominated profession.
Property
NewsHawks
Page 44 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 26, 16 April 2021
The home of prime property: [email protected]
IF you raise your eyes from the har- When does development the edges of a gigantic building site.
bour itself you could be forgiven for turn into over-development? Alright, many of my friends who
thinking that you are on the edges of
a gigantic building site. or indeed attentive to notice that in holiday and second home venue for My son and nephew both proposed live thereabouts say this has been
some areas of this beautiful island all the (very) well heeled. to their wives at the famous Tim’s happening for years and then wax
Every week Frank Leavers, manner of major developments are Bar overlooking the harbour and, to lyrical about the “good old days”
our man with the dirty Mac and taking place in a seemingly ad-hoc Indeed, when family or friends vis- be quite honest, I do not think they when the port was unspoilt.
half-empty glass of inexpensive vino, manner. it us from the UK we will always take could have picked a more romantic
is looking at what lies just below the them there to enjoy a quayside meal spot in the whole of Europe. Although, it has to be said that
sophisticated gloss of island life. Take, for instance, Puerto An- at one of the many first-class restau- they rarely acknowledge their own
dratx, a seven-minute drive from rants situated there or just for a drink Nevertheless, if you raise your eyes part in turning a sleepy fishing village
Come on folks, tell Frank what is where I live. Over the years it has as the sun disappears over the horizon from the harbour itself you could be into a premier piece of real-estate!
really happening in Mallorca. gained a reputation as a sophisticated in the direction of Ibiza. forgiven for thinking that you are on
However, over the years develop-
When does development turn ment has reigned supreme, mostly
into over-development? I have to be done with at least a nod in the di-
a little cautious what I write in this rection of size and scale, but — you
regard, because there are all sorts of would be hard pressed to acknowl-
implications that can be read into edge this in terms of some of the cur-
that statement. Nevertheless, you do rent building projects taking place.
not have to be particularly perceptive
- Marjoca Daily Bulletin.
NewsHawks Sport Page 45
Issue 26, 16 April 2021
‘Too small, too weak’: words that created a giant
ENOCK MUCHINJO Doug Juszczyk during a gym workout. side in later years, winning becoming a Sable, despite the
awards in the process. circumstances of his family’s de-
A FITNESS freak who was ic performance. This has greatly to join the New Zealand Inter- managed to go from 88kgs to parture.
once told he was too small to be benefited me to be in the posi- national Programme which was 110kgs in a year. I returned to He has also turned out for
a rugby player in New Zealand tion I am currently, and I hope essentially a programme where New Zealand and completed a the development team of Super “Being called up to the Zim-
says he was so overjoyed to the to contribute to the (Zimba- we could train in a professional bachelor’s degree in Sports and Rugby franchise Hurricanes. babwe squad with the prospect
point of being in “denial” when bwe) team as much as I can both environment as a team as well as Exercise, graduating in 2013. of qualifying for the World Cup
his native Zimbabwe called him on the field and off it.” study. Then I joined the workforce A lock or flank until recent was an absolute God-send,”
up ahead of World Cup qualifi- as a personal trainer. I worked times, Juszczyk has moved to Juszczyk says.
ers beginning in July. Despite the lack of size in his “I was fortunate enough to fulltime, trained as a profession- the front row of late.
formative years, Juszczyk per- be given a scholarship to go and al and studied part-time for a “I was actually in denial for a
It is amazing how a large bear severed, ending up playing for play at the International Pacif- post-graduate diploma in Sports “I have recently switched to few days before it really sank in.
of a man who is 1.89cm tall and New Zealand Universities in ic University in Japan in 2011. Science, graduating in 2016.” loose-head prop as I’m a strong- Getting that message was abso-
now weighs 119kg – with a day 2019 and recently some match- While there, I endeavoured to man, a competitor. With that lutely one of the most gratify-
job as a fitness instructor – could es for the reserve side of his get bigger and I had missed out Juszczyk captained Massey training, I have shifted to the ing moments of my life. All the
have at some point been labelled province, Manawatu. on selection for my province be- University to Hankin Shield front row, where I can be of soul-destroying failures over the
“small” by any standards. cause I was too small. I trained glory in 2016, on top of lead- more use. I can still cover the years were worth it. I intend to
“Luckily, in my first year out and ate harder than ever and ing the Manawatu development other positions, but the front do everything I can to be the best
Doug Juszczyk arrived in of school, I got an opportunity row is now my main focus.” I can be for the squad. I know
New Zealand at the age of 14, the previous seasons, Zimbabwe
having played a decent level of Shifting positions is a natural has been there or thereabouts
junior schoolboy rugby back thing for Juszczyk, considering and I know they have tonnes of
in Zimbabwe. But he was to that his rugby career has always talented and world-class players.
find himself often out of place been about learning to adapt. The fact that the player data-
among huge fellows of his age. base has been expanded, and
Born in Harare and raised such an effort has been driven
“We lost our farm and relo- in the the small Zimbabwean to rebuild, I firmly believe we
cated to New Zealand in 2004, farming district of Centena- can qualify for 2023.”
where we began our lives again,” ry, Juszczyk attended Barwick
Juszczyk, who turns 31 in July, School before the family moved Juszczyk is a well-travelled
tells The NewsHawks from to New Zealand, where for the player. He has also played in
New Zealand. first time he had to deal with Belgium, Australia and Malay-
some of his inadequacies. sia. He was scheduled to get a
“I struggled an immense taste of Spanish rugby before the
amount with the culture shock “I’ve always matured a bit Covid-19 pandemic brought life
when we first moved here, both late. I didn’t grow until I was to a standstill across the globe.
with rugby and everyday life. 21, and only managed a beard
As hard as I tried, I battled to at 25,” chuckles Juszczyk. “So, Nonetheless, his experience
compete with the much bigger in that respect, I’m a young 30!” in different parts of the globe is
kids in New Zealand whilst in perhaps expected of a Zimba-
my teens. I was told I didn’t Still, Juszczyk is not yet done bwean-born rugby player with
make teams over the years be- with getting his body where he the distinction of a Central Eu-
cause I was too small, too weak, desires. ropean family name.
too slow, and I was bullied im-
mensely as a kid for being so “I’m 119kg and 1.89cm at “My surname is from my
skinny and small. the moment. As I get fitter, father’s side,” explains Juszczyk.
I’ll likely drop a few kilos and “My grandparents were Pol-
“This has lit a fire in me that hopefully stay above 115-fit,” ish-born. It’s going to be quite
has burned a blaze ever since, he says. “Prop weights vary. But, comical when the commen-
to be the strongest and biggest generally, between 115 to 125 tators attempt the pronuncia-
I can be. I train absolute house is the standard with exceptions tion!”
down, and with my years of per- of some really big boys that are
sonal training experience and 130kg-plus.” Quite a tongue-twister, in-
studies behind me, I know the deed. But the broadcasters can
intricacies of training for athlet- Turning to his Zimbabwe start learning it now: it is pro-
selection, which has come 17 nounced “You sh-check.”
years after he left the country
as a teenager, Juszczyk express-
es his delight at the prospect of
Getting into the mind of a match-fixing kingpin
THERE is a cunning streak (no ly been charged of match-fixing with my best journalism man- know Nayer. I then reached out to another been banned by ICC. Still he is
pun intended) about betting in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. ners, he kept insisting that he did Did you try to fix matches in Indian businessman, also impli- continuing with the Bangladesh
syndicates and bookmakers, not know me, asking why I was the Bangladesh Premier League cated in the Cremer case. This one premier league franchise. How is
something I have personally The tycoon’s name had messaging him. or Sri Lankan Premier League? had also been to Zimbabwe, with it possible that somebody accused
been exposed to in my experi- cropped up in a corrupt ap- “Not at all.” an offer for and still part of franchise (sic).”
ence of covering this very dark proach to the then Zimbabwe He then asked me to send my What is your role in cricket Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to
side of professional sports – captain Graeme Cremer, who business card to verify my “au- now? launch a lucrative Twenty20 Was there ever connection be-
match-fixing. duly reported the advances to thenticity”, to which I sent him “Not at all.” tournament in the country. The tween him and your company?
the authorities inone of the a copy of my valid Zimbabwean What do you do for a living? tournament, which would have
These sly, manipulative guys most honourable sporting ges- press card and business card. been a haven for “No there has been no connec-
– who control a lot of profes- tures by a star from this coun- match-fixing, was tion with him. I met him for the
sional sportsmen these days – try. He then asked me to e-mail declined by ZC. first time...and was really shocked
can change from one mood to him instead, but he repeatedly HawkZone The two Indian after knowing his involvements,
another, quick as a flash. The attempt to ensnare ignored my request for his email men I spoke to are as you mentioned in your earli-
Gremer led to the downfall of address. said to be very close er articles about his match-fixing
Sometimes it is some kind of local official Rajan Nayer, who and work together. involvements.”
arrogance, which can sudden- was found guilty by the Inter- He then told me his wife was Enock I asked: Has Mr
ly turn into charm, and some national Cricket Council (ICC) hospitalised so he needed time to GR ever worked for Where, how and when did
veiled threats in-between. and banned for 20 years for his respond to me, but then said I Muchinjo you/does he work for you meet him, as you said, for the
role in the failed fixing bid. could send in the questions and first time, and was the meeting
When I extensively covered he would respond. you? arranged?
Zimbabwe’s Asiagate match-fix- It was later established that “No, he has never
ing scam over a decade ago, I the Indian mogul had indeed He said he came to Zimbabwe worked for me.” “Not it wasn’t arranged. I met
was put in contact with Wilson been behind the Cremer ap- at the time in question (when “I’m into international trad- Are you aware of his previous him a day before I visited Zim-
Raj Perumal, the notorious Sin- proach. Following the sensa- Cremer was approached) for oth- ing of commodities, machineries, match-fixing charge? babwe. That was the first time, I
gaporean football match-fixer tional fall from grace of Heath er business interests, not for crick- minerals, medical equipment, “No. There was no news met him for few minutes.”
behind the scandal, who shed Streak, I decided to share with et purposes. construction materials etc. I am against him being published
some light on this hidden un- you notes of my correspon- also into corporate branding and anywhere that he is involved or What was the purpose of the
derworld of illegal betting and dence of two years ago with the “I was in Zimbabwe to ex- project consultancy.” accused of match-fixing (in fact, meeting?
match-fixing. tycoon and his partner. plore mineral exports, medical In conclusion, he said: “It there was).”
treatment management services, seems you have been misled and Actually he (Mr GR) was im- “He was there to introduce
Some of the brutal honesty, This is how it went: ecommerce – that’s if my corpo- misinformed to connect with me. plicated/mentioned in the Mo- himself and join as one of the
owning up to the most heinous So I sent Mr GR (his initials) rate clients would have liked the Kindly get in touch with the real hammed Ashraful case, in which investors for the ZPL (proposed
of all sporting offences, leaves a message introducing myself, political and economic scenario,” and right people bro, who know he was banned by the ICC? Zimbabwe Premier League).”
you stunned beyond words. kindly requesting an interview he said. the correct answers. I hope I could Are you aware of that?
and briefing him about the story help you in your project as much “How would I know? He is Are you still interested in
Two years ago, when the I was working on. I asked: Did you ask Ra- as you wanted.” the same guy at till date he hasn’t launching the ZPL?
first signs of match-fixing in His initial reaction was dis- jan Nayer to approach Graeme
Zimbabwean cricket surfaced, I missive, and he appeared unset- Cremer to fix a game (s) against “Yes I am. I’m still waiting
reached out to a wealthy Indian tled. Despite introducing myself the West Indies? for the ZC board for the ap-
businessman who has previous- proval.”
“Not at all.”
In fact, he said he did not There is a high likelihood
that this syndicate might also
have been involved with Streak.
Sports ‘Too small, too
weak’: Words that
Thursday 1 October 2020 created a giant
Friday 16 April 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS CULTURE
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Streak suspicion runs$60Covid
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much dCeehpaemriisnaZrCe ac
ENOCK MUCHINJO out to have a link to the UAE tie of 2018.
Khupe“All I can say is I’ve been vindicated,”
FORMER Zimbabwe captain Heath Mukuhlani added. “When I fired this
Streak’s troubles could be compound- guy after that UAE loss, we confidential-
ed after the national cricket association ly told the Sports and Recreation Com-
gave a strong hint it could pursue fur- mission (Zimbabwe’s sports regulatory
ther investigation into the disgraced body) and the Minister of Sport (former
ex-star in relation to a fateful match in Olympic champion swimmer Kirsty
2018 which denied the country a place Unofficial president calls for emergeCoventry) that we suspected foul play.
at the World Cup for the first time since No one listened to us. They said ‘why
1983. are you firing the coach?’, and I said we
were not able to answer at that time be-
Streak, who was Zimbabwe’s head cause the matter was under internal in-
coach when the team lost a crucial must- vestigation.”
win match against minnows United Bad blood between the two parties
Arab Emirates to miss out on the 2019 first developed when Mukuhlani’s ad-
World Cup, was this week banned for ministration sacked Streak amidst that
eight years by the International Cricket UAE debacle, with the frosty relation-
Council (ICC) for five breaches of the ship coming to a head when the sacked
anti-corruption code during his time as coach, later in 2018, approached the
a coach, including a spell in charge of his High Court in a failed bid to have ZC
country’s national team between Octo- liquidated, accusing the federation of
ber 2016 and March 2018. corruption. In 2019, the Mukuhlani-led
board was subsequently removed from
The shock result from the UAE office by the SRC, resulting in Zim-
match, which caused an uproar coun- babwe being banned by the ICC on
trywide, did not however form part of charges of political interference. The ban
the ICC case against Streak, who was was later lifted after the SRC agreed to
fired in the chaotic aftermath of that reinstate the board. Streak, said Mukuh-
World Cup blow. lani, had been desperate to see the back
of his board because he was aware of the
In fact, although some of the matches investigation against him and the grim
that led to the ICC ban involved Zim- consequences if found on the wrong
babwe during Streak’s tenure, the ICC side of the law.
makes it clear in its ruling that his trans- “All this was because Streak knew
gressions did not influence the outcome what he was doing, so he badly wanted
of any of the games – including roles in us removed,” Mukuhlani said.
T20 leagues in India, Pakistan, Bangla- Another mysterious plot twist in the
desh and Afghanistan. saga is a most pertinent question: if the
UAE match was thrown at the instiga-
However, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) tion of the coach, surely it must have in-
chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has re- volved a few players to execute the plan.
vealed that Streak’s guilty verdict at the ban), maybe somebody will come out to when we see something, we alert the as well as failing to report an approach, Who could be these players and are
ICC, as a result of the separate involve- talk about what happened nearly three ICC, and the ICC does its job and in- and obstructing investigations. they under any investigation?
ments with bookmakers, has revived a years ago in Harare.” vestigates.” A youthful Indian businessman, We posed that question to Mukuh-
suspicion that his board has long had This publication understands that Streak has previously laughed off alle- Deepak Agarwal, gave Streak two bit- lani, who only said: “At the moment I
since the events of March 2018 when ZC launched an internal investigation gations that he was capable of anything coins worth US$35 000 and an expen- cannot comment. ICC will give more
UAE – with no chance of going to the immediately after Zimbabwe’s failure to to the determinant of the game in Zim- sive phone in underhand deals common details.”
2019 World Cup in England – sensa- quality for that World Cup, an inquest ALpbSarobOvweed.INBauSrteaIblDeihnEagmnmaielerFdbinbloyawtnhfecoIerCaMCmhianansistyinwiAlilgepgareawlsgaalo,mwubhtloin$wg3ac.si2rlcalsBetsiy.lelaior bnandneedpboysitoesrtsBcofituryn,nBdiunslawZaimyob,aSZbtwriemea’sk'sisselcaoontneedsotflatlrhage-nd
tionally defeated highly-fancied Zimba- that took two years to complete and c
bwe in Harare in a crucial qualification then handed over the findings to the once revered in the country as a genuine the ICC for three years for breaching an- country’s greatest cricket players of all
tournament match that the African side ICC for further scrutiny. role model and sporting hero. ti-corruption codes, was also named in time. He is the only Zimbabwean to
needed to win to seal a place at the fi- Mukuhlani disclosed that ZC was According to the verdict handed the scandal that saw Bangladesh captain take 100-plus wickets in Test cricket.
nals. still keen on reaching finality in the mat- down by the ICC’s anti-corruption Shakib Al Hasan being slapped with a Streak played 65 Tests for Zimba-
ter, although it now lies in the hands of unit (ACU), the 47-year-old former fast two-year-ban in 2019. bwe, taking 216 wickets at an average of
“Our observation is consistent with the game’s world governing body. bowler was found guilty of disclosing in- Mukuhlani, meanwhile, has vehe- 28.14. In ODI cricket, he bagged 239
what the ICC has uncovered,” Mukuh- “It’s not a witch-hunt against Heath, side information, facilitating introduc- mently insisted that events in Streak’s in- wickets in 189 matches at an average of
lani told The NewsHawks on Thursday. on our part,” said Mukuhlani. “But tion of other participants to bookmakers volvement with illegal betting syndicates 29.82.
“Who knows if that (UAE) game won’t
be investigated next year, or at another
time? No one knows. What I’m saying
is our observation has been validated.
In light of what has happened (Streak’s
ALSO INSIDE Getting into the mind of a match-fixing kingpin
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