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WHAT’S INSIDE Friday 16 October 2020 BUSINESS SPORT

NEWS NatPharm: Red-hot Algeria
Fat cats’ new fire warning
acPoosfrfenticsadiexduueeitsvneatd’ssion feeding trough shots at Warriors
ahead of clash
Story on Page 3 Story on Page 10
Story on Page 24

Mnangagwa,
minister
in messy
land deals

ALSO INSIDE President’s office used as tax evasion conduit Three judges under investigation

Page 2 News NewsHawks
Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Mnangagwa, minister in messy land deal

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE Stand number 654 Pomona was Moyo was given the status of a High Emmerson Mnangagwa parties ordinary day to day business
Augur’s security as well as for pay- Court order. Lawyers are question- merous litigation against each oth- activities and requirement thereof.”
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnan- ment for future work and equip- ing its legality. er including and not limited to the
gagwa is entangled in a messy secret ment hired for the contract between arbitration ruling from Justice N T The deed of settlement repeat-
agreement that gives millionaire T&C and Augur for the project. Aleshina — a Russian —is the Mtshiya on 26 2017, HC7445/17, edly mentions that Mnangagwa
Ken Sharpe’s Augur Investments twin sister of Ken Sharpe’s wife. SC878/18, HC 598/17 and other and Moyo have indemnified Augur
unusual immunity from litigation T&C, represented by Mutumb- matters currently before the Su- against prosecution.
on disputed vast tracks of land he wa, Mugabe & Partners legal practi- Suspended Harare town clerk preme Court, the High Court and
acquired through the Airport Road tioners, went to court for the release Hosiah Chisango and former may- the Magistrates Court,” the agree- “The minister warrants that there
construction project. The immuni- of the piece of land and payment af- or Herbert Gomba, who are on bail ment says. are no encumbrances on stand
ty scandal – which legal experts say ter Augur had reneged. facing charges of illegal land deals 654 Pomona Township and fur-
may very well be illegal - has also and abuse of office respectively, “Upon signature of the Deed of ther agree that within a reasonable
sucked in Mnangagwa’s longtime The court ruled in favour of T&C signed as witnesses. Settlement, the minister, City of time and in any case no later than
right-hand man, Local Govern- in several legal battles that ensued. Harare and Augur undertake to 30 days of date of signature of this
ment minister July Moyo. Sharpe got vast land in Hara- withdraw all and any legal actions deed of settlement the ministry and
T&C director Grant Russell, re, including the Pomona stand, and proceedings, both civil and CoH will hand over to Augur all
The minister, acting on behalf in an August 2019 application at a 400-hectare piece of land where criminal pending against each oth- existing statutory approvals relating
of the state, undertook to immedi- the High Court, described Augur he planned to construct the Mall er before the courts, and each party to zoning, town planning, develop-
ately withdraw all and any criminal as a “peregrine company” (out- of Zimbabwe in Borrowdale, and is to bear its own costs. The minis- ment, EIA (Environmental Impact
cases against Augur, its associated slandish), which has spent the last at least 197 hectares dotted around ter acting on behalf of the state, un- Assessment) certificate or approval,
companies, representatives and its several years avoiding execution of the city. Some of the land was al- dertakes to immediately withdraw sub-division permit and any other
directors. As a result of the secret orders of the court. Russell, seem- legedly transferred into shelf and all and any criminal matters against licences, permits or documents for
nature of the immunity deal, it was ingly not aware of Mnangagwa’s se- subsidiary companies, according to Augur, its associated companies, stand 654 Pomona Township,” it
emphasised that the arrangement cret immunity deal, said he did not the audit report. representatives and its directors.” says.
involving Mnangagwa and Moyo believe Augur’s claim the land was
must be treated with “utmost con- registered in the President’s name. In one of the legal correspon- The agreement also states that A City of Harare special investi-
fidentiality”. dences in June 2019, Augur and within 24 hours of signature, Moyo gations committee audit report of
“Further, it is disputed that the Sharpe’s lawyers Chinawa Law was to issue an instruction for the 2010 found that no tenders were
Moyo also gave Sharpe assur- title deed for the Pomona property Chambers distanced Augur from release of the title deed of 654 Po- floated for Airport Road. The proj-
ances that the local authority and is in the name of the President. I at- the other pieces of land the compa- mona from escrow. ect was initially valued at US$60
government departments would tach hereto as ‘Annexure M’, a copy ny gained through the airport deal. million, but was then increased to
expedite licences and permits in of the deed of grant, which is held “Immediately thereafter, the US$87 million.
relation to his other land develop- in the name of the Ministry of Local However, in the secret deed minister and/or the President shall
ment projects across the city. Most Government Public Works and Na- agreement with Moyo, government sign all and any documents nec- “Stand 812 was hurriedly trans-
of the land mentioned was howev- tional Housing,” Russell said. promised Augur that the company essary to facilitate and effect the ferred as payment to Augur before
er irregularly obtained through the and the Harare municipality would transfer of the stand to Augur or its being brought to council for con-
airport deal, according to a Hara- “In all this, the applicant does not “expedite the issuance of all and any nominee Doorex Properties Private sideration,” the report states.
re council 2010 audit report. The mention that apart from the writ of necessary licences and permits to Limited within 14 calendar days,”
agreement for the construction of execution in HC3931/19, the Po- Augur and its related companies for the agreement reads. “Ninety-three comma zero nine
the 20-kilometre Airport Road, mona stand was already property any of its developments which it is (93,0993) hectares of land were
also known as the Joshua Mqabu- held in escrow and the sheriff was carrying out in Harare”. “In the event of the minister fail- transferred to shelf companies
ko Nkomo Expressway, which was not at liberty to transfer it to ap- ing to provide the signed aforesaid which had no evidence of legal
not completed, was signed in 2008 plicant (Augur). Further, applicant Augur’s related companies in- documents necessary to transfer links with Augur as payment for
between Harare City Council and does not mention that since June clude Pokugara Properties Pri- stand 654 Pomona to Augur, the the preliminary work done on the
Augur, although the project was 2019, it, in cahoots with officials vate Limited (stand 19828 Harare deputy sheriff is hereby authorised road.” However, in June 2019 Chi-
later taken over by the government. from the Ministry of Local Govern- Township), Electro Properties Pri- by the minister to sign on its behalf nawa Law Chambers (Augur’s law-
The land in dispute - stand num- ment and Public Works working vate Limited (stand 19673 Harare all and any documents required for yers) wrote to Mutumbwa, Mugabe
ber 654 Pomona township (273,29 outside the scope of their duties, Township), Express Properties Pri- the transfer of stand 654 Pomona & Partners denying Augur had
hectares) - has opened a Pandora’s has attempted to coerce Coghlan vate Limited (stand 19674 Harare Township to Augur. links with the companies the land
Box, showing Mnangagwa and Welsh and Guest Legal Practi- Township), Volin Property Com- was transferred to.
Moyo are deeply involved. The title tioners to release the tittle deeds for pany Private Limited (stand 144 “The ministry has claimed US$3,
deed for the land was held in es- the Pomona property.” Northwood), Yellow Seat Proper- 974116.39 (US$3,9 million) as ex- “We wish to advise however that
crow by Coghlan, Welsh and Guest ties Private Limited (stand 19345 penditure for civil works done on you are embarking on a wild goose
Legal Practitioners at the time of Documents show that it was. Harare Township), and Seatrite stand 654 Pomona Township.” chase, in the spirit of good faith we
the secret agreement. A company In the secret deed of settlement, Properties Private Limited (stand wish to highlight to you and be up-
subcontracted by Augur for civil attached as an annexure to T&C’s 1989 Harare Township). The secrecy clause in the agree- front of the fact that you are mistak-
works on road project — Trucking court documents, Moyo, represent- ment reads: “The parties hereby en on the ownership of the various
and Construction (T&C) Private ing himself and Mnangagwa, gave Other related projects which will agree that the subject matter of this entities as they are not owned by
Limited — is claiming the land in a Sharpe assurances that he would receive favours under the agree- deed of settlement are of an utmost Augur as alleged in your aforemen-
bid to recover its US$4.8 million for not face litigation from govern- ment are the Mbudzi People’s Mar- confidential nature and constitute tioned summons. It would in the
services and equipment provided. ment, Harare municipality or third ket, Warren Hills Residential and confidential information. No par- best interest of your client to first
parties regarding the land. Commercial Development and ty to this deed of settlement shall and foremost ascertain the own-
Before the dodgy agreement, The deed of settlement signed Mukuvisi Development. disclose or divulge, directly or indi- ership of said companies before
signed on 28 May 2019, the City on 28 May 2019 between Tatiana rectly, the contents of this deed of continuing on this disastrous road
of Harare was also involved in le- Aleshina on behalf of Augur and “Augur, Moyo and the City of settlement to any third party, save which you seek to sojourn,” the let-
gal battles with Augur to get back Harare (hereinafter referred to as in accordance with either of the ter says.
land it had given the company as ‘the parties’) were involved in nu-
payment. The city wanted the land The Augur board through com-
back, saying Augur failed to com- pany’s lawyer, Douglas Chinawa,
plete the project as agreed. said the settlement agreement was
arrived at after a considered assess-
In July 2019 Augur filed an ur- ment of the rights and obligations
gent court application for stay of ex- between all parties and that T&C
ecution on a court ruling in favour had been paid according to law.
of T&C. It claimed the land could
not be seized by T&C as it was reg- “Your conclusion that Augur In-
istered in Mnangagwa’s name. ternational OU did not complete
the project is a clear misunder-
“The writ of execution itself was standing of all the facts of the mat-
not served on the correct domicili- ter and calculated to defame it,” the
um citandi executandi of Augur. In- board said.
stead the writ was simply dropped
at the gate to immovable property “Itself was approved by both
which T&C seeks to attach, which the High Court and the Supreme
property to date of this application Court. The settlement agreement
remains in the name of the Presi- did not take away any 3rd party
dent of Zimbabwe,” the application rights which you seem to allude to
reads. as ‘escrow’ rights. For your informa-
tion, the 3rd party in question has
“Further, the immovable prop- since been paid what is due to them
erty that T&C wishes to attach in in accordance with the law. Augur
execution is registered in the name investments OU can only enforce
of the President of Zimbabwe and rights creted as between the parties
no consent has been sought from to the settlement agreement.”
the President for the attachment of
such property.” Mnangagwa’s spokesperson
George Charamba said he would
need to verify the details of the
deed of settlement with Moyo be-
fore commenting.

NewsHawks News Page 3

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

President’s officials to import personal
Office used goods using the duty-free
as tax evasion certificates from the Office
conduit by of the President and Cabi-
bigwigs net.

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE The Mugabe family and under Mnangagwa, allow- has authorised Mr M Mu- Sta-Soft, rice, blankets, In several letters to Mug-
their businesses — among ing high profile individuals chimwe ID:63… to clear steamers, breeze, stool, so- abe, the then Gushungo
ZIMBABWE’S Office of the them Gushungo Diary, and those who are connect- the above consignment us- lar batteries, rice cookers, Holdings general manager,
President and Cabinet – the Grace Mugabe Children’s ed to import goods, includ- ing a duty-free certificate wheelchairs, rice cookers, Stanley Nhari, would write
highest office in the land - Home, Alpha and Omega ing luxury commodities no. GA/59/1658. May you washing powder, refrigera- to him requesting tax ex-
has been used to evade and Holdings and Mwenewazvo and cars, duty free. kindly facilitate the clear- tors, cooking oil and water emptions for private gain.
avoid paying taxes, espe- Pivot—enjoyed illegal tax ance and safe passage to the pump”.
cially customs duty, by po- exemptions, including im- State employees, some of final destination. Thank you One such letter, dated
litically connected compa- port duty and Value Added whom had travelled with in advance,” Sibanda wrote. It also had “toasters, bath letter December 12, 2014,
nies and individuals. Tax, during the late presi- the former first family to soap, vacuum cleaners, reads: “Your Excellency, we
dent’s lengthy tenure. Singapore before Mugabe’s In a confidential letter to hosepipes, toiletries, car hereby submit a request for
The tax evasion activities death on 6 September 2019, the director of Zimra and parts, generators, car ser- VAT exemptions for the fol-
– in which some compa- These disclosures, which took advantage of the Presi- collector of customs, Siban- vice kits, televisions, tents, lowing materials and ser-
nies or individuals evaded raise questions about abuse dent’s office and the family’s da said the goods were for detergents, Canon printers, vices required at the Grace
or avoid paying their tax of office and privileges, name as well as name-drop- use by the state and any washing machines, sewing Mugabe Children’s Founda-
liabilities; in this case cus- come at a time when incar- ping to import goods for leviable duty would be machines, microwaves, bed tion Home and Gushungo
toms duty – was rampant cerated former principal personal without paying borne directly by the gov- linen, bond paper, tyres, Dairy Farm as follows”.
under the late President director of state residenc- duty. ernment. stationery, pressure cookers
Robert Mugabe’s rule and es in Mnangagwa’s office, as well as chip fryers”. The letter goes on to
still continue under his suc- Douglas Tapfuma, revealed In a 2 August 2019 let- “I hereby certify that the list steel, timber and other
cessor President Emmerson during his trial in March ter to a Zimra manager at various goods, which were There are cases of Zimra building material as some
Mnangagwa, documents that government and Zanu Forbes Border Post, Siban- purchased from Singa- officers arrested for corrup- of the goods that should not
seen by The NewsHawks PF officials have been using da requested clearance of pore on Bill of Lading no. tion and bribery in relation pay duty.
show. letters of duty-free authori- goods in a freight container 583161974 are supplies for to duty non-payment of
sation from the President’s without paying duty. the exclusive use of govern- duty. In another letter, written
Outgoing Chief office to import their goods ment in terms of non-duty in February 2014, Nhari
secretary to the and vehicles. The goods, worth US$26 paid,” Sibanda wrote. Tapfuma was convicted also applied for VAT ex-
President and 060.45, were destined for in June for criminal abuse emption for building ma-
Cabinet, Misheck Evading or avoiding the Blue Roof mansion – Verification has shown of office and avoiding pay- terial for Mwenewazvo
Sibanda last year paying duty prejudices the the Mugabe family’s private that the goods were for in- ing duty on eight personal Estate, Gushungo Dairy as
granted a duty-free state of the much-needed residence just outside Bor- dividual and not govern- cars. well as the Mugabe family’s
certificate for a tax revenues to fund its op- rowdale Brooke. ment use. Blue Roof mansion in Ha-
container full of erations and development In his defence, Tapfu- rare’s Borrowdale suburb.
household goods activities. Duty for the goods was The container came ma said there was nothing
and groceries un- supposed to be ZW$112 through Beira, Mozam- amiss about his actions as Contacted for comment,
der the pretext that The twin evils of tax eva- 450.93 bique, and the invoice the non-payment of duty is Sibanda, whose signature is
the supplies were sion and avoidance have number was 5043156. The a practice that has existed on the duty-free certificates,
for exclusive use bedevilled Zimbabwe since “The above subject mat- container had “toilet rolls, for a long time. He said it referred The NewsHawks
by government in 1980. ter refers. The office (of kitchen towels, olive oil, is common for government to Zimra and the deputy
terms of non-duty President and Cabinet) chief secretary for Admin-
Mugabe’s family business istration and Finance in the
payment. Gushungo Holdings and office of the President and
its subsidiaries routinely Cabinet Martin Rushwaya.
The documents suggest evaded and avoided paying
criminal abuse of office. tax, while benefitting from “This is to do with the of-
tax-free facilities during his fice of the President. When
Abuse of office, in terms long time in power. I do that it will be for a
of section 174 (1)(a) of the particular purpose, so it is
Criminal Law (Codification Their workers also im- better you check with the
and Reform Act) (chapter ported goods and groceries accounting officer, Rush-
9:23), is a criminal offence duty free. This sort of abuse waya,” Sibanda said.
in Zimbabwe. of office is still going on un-
der Mnangagwa’s govern- While the then first Lady
Many top officials, in- ment. Grace Mugabe was benefit-
cluding former ministers, ting from tax and import
have been charged for it. Outgoing Chief secre- duty exemptions, she was
Former Vice-President tary to the President and also receiving goods from
Phelekezela Mphoko is Cabinet, Misheck Siban- Zimra to donate at her po-
facing charges of criminal da, now retiring after de- litical rallies.
abuse of office. cades in public service as
announced by government The goods would have
Ex-Energy minister Sam- last month, last year grant- been confiscated from im-
uel Undenge has been jailed ed a duty-free certificate for porters who would have
over similar charges inter- a container full of house- failed to pay duty or tried
twined with corruption. hold goods and groceries to smuggle them into the
under the pretext that the country.
supplies were for exclusive
use by government in terms A paper done by Uni-
of non-duty payment. versity of Venda researcher
Tatenda Dalu and others,
The tax evasion or avoid- titled The impact of tax eva-
ance corrupt practice has sion and avoidance on the
been there for a long time economy: A case of Harare,
under Mugabe and persists Zimbabwe, says

“The exploration of tax
evasion and avoidance is
of paramount importance
to economic development.
One of the greatest prob-
lems facing the Zimbabwe
tax system is the problem of
tax evasion and tax avoid-
ance. A country facing an
increasing amount of tax
evasion and tax avoidance
is likely to exhibit a low
productive investment mix,
this would mean low eco-
nomic growth and public
enterprises would also be
affected”.

Page 4 News NewsHawks
Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

How the Zimbabwe Defence Forces
prepared for the 2017 military coup

BERNARD MPOFU military contractor Boomslang involved the price would be US$17 Boomslang presented a prototype “The arrangement was that we
Logistics (Pty) Ltd to refurbish its 928 000 (about US$18 million). On of the Cascavel EE-9 to the MoD were supposed to fix all the Cas-
WHILE Zimbabweans out of eu- dilapidated armoured personnel top of that US$2 million was set and commanders for approval. cavels in Zimbabwe and all mili-
phoria generally supported the mil- carriers that were later to be rolled aside to buy spare parts. tary trucks. We had a deal that they
itary coup that ousted the late pres- out on to the streets to push out As part of the investigation, The would pay us later. We refurbished
ident Robert Mugabe and ushered Mugabe. As part of the agreement, the NewsHawks saw some demo video five trucks and put up to US$3
in President Emmerson Mnangag- two parties also agreed to train 50 footage of Cascavels. million in Zimbabwe,” Landis said
wa into power, details of the coup Boomslang is a multifaceted military personnel to maintain the then.
have remained elusive. vehicle supplier and logistics pro- refurbished armoured vehicles. To finance the project, it was
vider, specialising in peacekeeping agreed Boomslang would secure “We invested in Zimbabwe, but
In a bid to fill in the information support operations and expedition- The obligations of the MoD and funding and MoD would ensure we were never paid. We have been
gap, The NewsHawks went behind ary efforts in austere and conflict Boomslang were clearly spelt out. that the lender would be issued a trying to engage army officials, but
the lines to investigate what actual- areas. sovereign guarantee. it has been hard to find a way. We
ly happened on preparations in the The late president Robert Mugabe told army officials that we put our
run-up to the coup. The Pretoria-based company “The parties herein pledge their money where our mouths are and
also specialises in commercial ve- “Boomslang shall deliver the re- full co-operation and shall use their we are also prepared to invest more
Investigations showed the Zim- hicles for national police, defence furbished Cascavels to MoD during best endeavours to procure the ful- in Zimbabwe.”
babwe Defence Forces, then led by forces, and peacekeeping missions. the agreed delivery period, and fillment of these conditions by no
retired General Constantino Chi- shall take all reasonable steps to later than 29 February 2016. If all Eugene Chernetsky, Boomslang
wenga, who is now vice-president The ZNA was represented by the provide services and training which these conditions are not fulfilled Research and Development direc-
and Health minister, bought and MoD, while Boomslang was repre- shall be done sufficiently and time- by the date specified above or such tor, said at the time he was optimis-
refurbished military hardware be- sented by Aadil Ashref Wadvalla. ously in order to give effect to the other agreed fulfillment date, this tic that Mnangagwa’s government
hind Mugabe’s back to execute its general intent and purpose of this agreement shall be of no force or would pay.
mission. The deal, which started way back agreement,” documents say. effect and neither party shall have
in 2016, almost two years before the any claim against the other party,” “The new government is still try-
Mnangagwa and Chiwenga – coup, initially involved refurbishing “MoD shall ensure that duty-free the agreement says. ing to build the bridges, but there
who were the face of the military 72 Cascavel EE-9 vehicles owned by certificates are issued for the de- is nothing solid at the moment,”
brinkmanship with Mugabe - were ZNA, documents say. livery of the spare parts. All costs “Should the parties fail to agree Chernetsky said in a telephone in-
in the loop, working through the related thereto shall be for the ac- upon an arbiter within 14 days af- terview from Russia at the time.
Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) The deal was code-named Proj- count of Boomslang.” ter the dispute has been referred to
then commanded by General Phil- ect Cascavel EE-9. arbitration, then the arbitrator shall “We were looking for co-op-
ip Valerio Sibanda. The Cascavels were to be deliv- be appointed at the request of either eration with Zimbabwe, but un-
A Cascavel is six-wheeled Bra- ered 18 months from the day of party to the dispute by the president fortunately we failed to find a
Other generals also played crit- zilian-made armoured developed signing of the contract with a grace for the time of the Law Society of trustworthy counterpart. We have
ical roles in coordinating the plan, primarily for reconnaissance. It was period of six months. This meant Zimbabwe.” worked with India, Russia and east-
especially retired Lieutenant-Gen- engineered by a company called from February 2016, they would ern Europe.”
eral Sibusiso Moyo, now Foreign Engesa in 1970 as replacement of have been ready by August 2017, all When The NewsHawks reporters
Affairs minister, who announced M8 Greyhounds. things being equal, which was three – who then were working at The The army did not respond to
the coup on state television. months before coup. Zimbabwe Independent - enquired questions at the time.
The armoured car was first fitted about this deal after the coup, a
Retired Lieutenant-General En- with the Greyhound’s 37mm main Before the contract was signed, dispute had emerged between the However, a senior MoD offi-
gelbert Rugeje was also key, togeth- gun and subsequently a French parties. cial said the army and Boomslang
er with several commanders who turret adopted from the Panhard parted ways before all the work was
knew Mugabe’s day of reckoning AML-90. Later the models carry Boomerang sales executive Zi- done due to broken trust. The mil-
was looming. unique Engesa turrets with a Bel- yaad Landis then said the company itary then hired a local company to
gian 90mm cockerill Mk.3 cannon had agreed with the army to refur- finish the job. A Boomslang exec-
Documents show that as part of produced under licence as the EC- bish its entire fleet of armoured ve- utive said recently he would com-
the coup preparations, the Ministry 90. hicles, but only managed to service ment on the issue when he returns
of Defence (MoD) signed a US$20 five before it stopped due to pay- to South Africa from the United
million deal with a South Africa The Zimbabwean army was go- ment delays. States.
ing to pay US$249 000 for each
Cascavel, meaning with 72 of them

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Three judges under investigation

BERNARD MPOFU imprisonment included that the lapsed without the proceedings As at 18 May 2020, the judge had the honourable judge was given to
convicted person was a youthful being reviewed. The accused had eight reserved judgments and 28 submit her response is the stan-
THREE High Court judges are first offender, hence young people already served full term of im- records for criminal review, which dard time that the Judicial Ser-
under investigation by the Judi- are more likely to make ill-con- prisonment by the time the review the JSC considers as incompetence. vices Commission gives to persons
cial Services Commission (JSC) ceived and unwise decisions; they minute was released. As a result, the JSC decided to in- whose matters are before the com-
for different cases with one facing lack stability and self-restraint vestigate Ndewere in terms of sec- mission in terms of section 187(3)
dismissal after President Emmer- compared to a fully mature adult. “The judge was invited to com- tion 187 (3) of the constitution to of the constitution.”
son Mnangagwa was requested to ment on the matter. She admitted ascertain whether that constituted
appoint a tribunal to deal with her The judge further reasoned that and apologised for the lapse. The gross incompetence or gross mis- On Mabhikwa, the JSC received
case of alleged incompetence fol- the sentence was thus too harsh. Judge President’s memo to that conduct as defined in section 187 a request from one Tichaona Chi-
lowing a judgment deemed a mis- She also said the magistrate should effect is attached and marked An- (1) (b) of the constitution. koto to look into a complaint
carriage of justice, The NewsHawks have considered community ser- nexure C. After she was requested against the judge relating to his
has learnt. vice since the sentence was less by the Chief Justice to explain her Ndewere started responding to fitness for his appointment as High
than 24 months and that all the ‘oversight’, she now insists that the some of the allegations against her Court judge.
Documents seen show JSC has property stolen was recovered. review minute was withdrawn and on 6 May 2020. On 11 September
issued complaints against three the proceedings were instead con- the allegations against the judge “The basis of the allegations is
judges — Erica Ndewere, Owen However, the record shows con- firmed. This is however inconsis- were referred to JSC for consider- that Justice Mabhikwa was sued
Tagu and Thompson Mabhikwa – trary to Ndewere’s claims in her tent with facts on the ground and ation and investigation in terms of in the High Court and had an or-
and is investigating them. judgment Majecha was not a first an act of dishonesty on the part of section 187 (3) of the constitution. der against him for failure to pay
offender, having been convicted the judge,” the documents say. rental arrears…He applied to be
Justice Francis Bere was yester- three times before and sentenced On 15 September, the JSC re- considered for appointment as a
day removed for misconduct. for assault, illegal entry and rob- JSC also says Ndewere relied on solved the judge must comment judge of the High Court, but did
bery for periods varying between her assistant instead of her doing on the allegations. On 17 Septem- not disclose in the questionnaire
The most serious case though two months and two years and six her job. ber, Ndewere through her lawyers completed by candidates for judi-
is that of Ndewere who now faces months. Sawyer & Mkushi, requested for an cial appointment that he had been
being hauled before tribunal fol- The third complaint against extension of the time required to sued and an order made against
lowing a JSDC recommendation to “Annexures A and B, and the Ndewere is that of incompetency. respond. him,” JSC wrote.
Mnangagwa. facts outlined above eminently
show that when the judge issued a “The judge’s performance has The JSC granted her the request “Section 5 of the questionnaire
This comes amid reports review minute on the basis of rea- failed to meet the expected stan- and asked her to reply by Septem- specifically requires candidates to
Ndewere is being investigated for sons summarised above, she had dard of a judge,” documents say. ber 30, 2020, not first week of Oc- furnish particulars of any circum-
granting MDC-Alliance deputy not read the record of proceed- tober as she wanted. stances which may cause embar-
chairperson Job Sikhala bail on ings; the trial magistrate’s reasons As a result, Ndewere was warned rassment in undertaking the office
September 22. Sikhala was released for sentence and the attached cer- on 7 July 2017 and 6 February 2019 “The commission notes the ab- of a Judge or impact the candidate’s
from Chikurubi Maximum Prison tificates of previous convictions. for failing to do her work between sence of compelling reasons for the appointment.”
where he had been detained for Had she done so, this would have 14 January 2019 and 6 February request to extend time to respond
over a month for allegedly plotting dissuaded her from making the or- 2019. to 12 October because after the Mabhikwa challenged the com-
the July 31 protests. der she did,” one of the documents honourable judge is done with bail plaint on the grounds that it was
says. Failure to deliver a reserved court on 2 October, she will still his law practice and not him who
However, documents gleaned judgment within 90 days is a breach be seized with other equally im- had not paid rentals.
by The NewsHawks show that the The second complaint against of the Judicial Service (Code of portant work in her chambers and
charges she is facing preceded the Ndewere is that despite receiving Ethics) regulations 2012, particular court,” JSC wrote, in a letter dated Last month JSC wrote to Tagu
Sikhala case by almost a year. the record for a review on 9 May section (19) 1. 22 September 2020. bringing to his attention a com-
2019, she failed to act until 22 Oc- plaint that was raised on how he
It is also understood Chief Jus- tober 2019, meaning five months On 5 December 2019, the judge “We further bring to your at- handed down a ruling in the Doves
tice Luke Malaba spoke to Judge was again warned for failure to re- tention that the period of 10 days Funeral Assurance vs Bluestar Lo-
President George Chiweshe last view criminal matters placed be- gistics and another.
month just before the Sikhala High fore her by the magistrate’s courts.
Court bail hearing trying to remove Documents show that the JSC
Ndewere from the case to avoid received a complaint from the first
crystalising the rumours that she respondent in the above matter,
would be victimised if she granted Bluestar Logistics, on the matter
the militant opposition leader bail. involving the complainant and
However, Chiweshe told Malaba Doves Funeral Assurance which
she should be left to deal with the the judge was seized with.
matter to avoid creating suspicion
since she was the appeal judge ex- “The applicant made an applica-
pected to deal with the case. tion for execution pending appeal.
The complainant made a counter
The documents further reveal application for rescission of judge-
last Thursday JSC held an extraor- ment. The matter was set down for
dinary meeting at the Meikles Ho- argument on the 25February 2020.
tel in Harare where considerations The applicant then withdrew its
of complaints against Ndewere and application on the eve the hearing
Tagu topped the agenda. and did not attend court on the
date of the hearing,” the JSC wrote
In a report titled Complaint to Tagu.
against honourable Justice Ndew-
ere: Judge of the High Court of “The complainant sought and
Zimbabwe, seen by The News- was granted a default order by the
Hawks, the judge is accused of free- judge. The order however did not
ing a convict Kenneth Majecha due come out or was not availed to the
to gross incompetence. complainant.”

It has come to the attention of Responding to the complaints,
the Chief Justice that on 22 Octo- Tagu rejected the complaints lev-
ber 2019, Justice Ndewere issued elled against him, saying in any
a review minute quashing the sen- case this was not the first time he
tence of imprisonment imposed had received a similar complaint.
on a convicted person Kenneth
Majecha CRB MRDP791/19 and in “Before I state what happened I
its place substituted with an order need to bring to your attention that
that the trial magistrate recalls the I once received the complaint in re-
convicted person for resentencing spect of the above matter and I was
after community service,” the re- asked to explain what happened
port says. which I did without the aid of a
the file in question which appears
Reasons which Ndewere had in annexures ‘F’and ‘H’ attached to
given in her judgment to set aside your current letter,” he wrote.

Page 6 News NewsHawks
Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is said to have cut off ex-wife Marry Mubaiwa from seeing their children whom she was separated from in December following her incarceration.

Chiwenga bars ex-wife from seeing children

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE A family member said the chil- in court. The Supreme Court nul- their powerful husbands, the law tic workers. And you ask your-
dren have been deprived of moth- lified the High Court ruling which just completely gets breached,” self what sort of justice system is
VICE-PRESIDENT Constan- erly care since the couple’s fallout. said Marry had legal claim to the Mtetwa said. this that takes a five-, six-year-old
tino Chiwenga has blocked his custody of her children under the from the mother? Does not allow
estranged wife, Marry, from con- “Mary hasn’t seen her children Guardianship of Minors Act. “We have had women who have the mother to see the child and
tacting and accessing their three for 10 months. How does a fa- not seen their children for months then allows the child to live with
minor children since December ther just turn his kids motherless Chiwenga’s lawyer Wilson on end. The law is now so mutilat- the maid?” asked Mtetwa.
2019 as the custody battle be- when their mother is still there?” a Manase said he would need ap- ed that we actually can no longer
tween the two rages on. source asked The Newshawks. proval from his client to comment advise clients about basic things; “They look at the politics of the
on the case. like the law says you have custody case, who is powerful, who is call-
Sources close to the family “They have no way of commu- when you separate, the law says ing the shots. And as lawyers, re-
say Chiwenga – using his politi- nicating. She has not seen them or Commenting in general about the mother has these rights, the grettably, there is very little we can
cal clout - has totally cut off the spoken to them in 10 months. It is custody battles, lawyer Beatrice children have these rights.” do because once you have gone to
mother from the minors after one thing trying to hurt a mother Mtetwa, who is Marry’s attorney, the Supreme Court, you cannot
their high profile and acrimonious by taking away her children, but said the superior courts were ne- Mtetwa said the psychological do anything against what the Su-
divorce which gripped the nation. the children are being deprived of gating children’s needs and focus- and emotional needs of children preme Court says.
that motherly care and love.” ing on the financial and political was not being considered as the
It is rare in Zimbabwe for a influences of the people involved. courts are considering what ef- “You know they ruled and if
mother to lose control of her kids In January, Chiwenga’s house- fects their decisions might be hav- they ruled and a six-year-old has
after a divorce. maid Delight Munyoro claimed She said this was setting a bad ing on minors. not seen their mother for a year,
Marry assaulted her during an precedent for the lower courts the judge does not care. You
Marry was separated from her altercation at Hellenic School in which are now following suit, “In South Africa, they have know, so you go to the legislation
children, then aged nine, eight Borrowdale, Harare, while trying making it difficult for lawyers to family advocates, who will look and it says oh the court should al-
and six years in December after to access the children after win- advise their clients. at the interests of the children. In ways do things in the best interest
she was arrested on charges of ning custody of the children in the our justice delivery system, no- of the children. Best interests of
money laundering, fraud and vi- High Court. “We have seen how general body looks at the interest of the the children when they don’t see
olating exchange control regula- family law cases get twisted to suit children. So, you have children, their mother?
tions. Chiwenga was however angered the powerful. They may be polit- who have been taken away from
by the judgment and appealed to ically powerful people; they may the mother with whom they have “The courts have not pro-
She was also charged with at- the Supreme Court. Among oth- be financially powerful people. lived throughout, and they are not nounced that the mother should
tempted murder for allegedly try- er issues, he questioned why the So, you find that a lot of women, even living with the father, they have them or see them, it just bog-
ing to kill Chiwenga in South Af- judgment was leaked to Marry be- when they are faced with, you are being looked after by domes- gles my mind.”
rica, but was later released on bail. fore it was officially handed down know, domestic issues against

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

FEATURE

Renewed water crisis grips Bulawayo

A DAY has 24 hours. Most wom- Residents queueing for water while others fetch the precious commodity from burst pipes.
en in Bulawayo spend about 12 of
those looking for water for their sible, residents are advised, through youngest being 10 years old—to ease outbreaks that could result in hand, insists it is the government’s
families. social media, the suburbs which are fetch water where council would be deaths of residents, due to water mandate to supply bulk water un-
scheduled to receive water supplies. delivering supplies. shortages. der the Zimbabwe National water
They have to somehow juggle Authority (Zinwa).
the remaining 12 hours to accom- On average, some suburbs are “Sometimes people refuse to give Residents are fetching water in
modate sleep, conjugal duties and included in the cycle once in about us water because it increases their swamps and other unsafe sources, In a statement issued in June, Bu-
household chores like cleaning, seven days. However, areas located monthly bills. Sometimes we get hoping boiling would kill danger- lawayo Mayor Solomon Mguni said
bathing the children, laundry and on higher ground, such as parts of lucky and get water nearby. We last ous germs in the water. the local authority built five water
ensuring their families are not ne- Lobengula, Pumula South, Magwe- had tap water in our part of the sub- supply dams and the government
glected. The daily cycle is taxing gwe, and Emganwini, have gone for urb in May,” she said, ineffectually Bhekani Dube of Gwabalanda had built only one since it took over
physically, mentally and emotion- about six months without water. wiping sweat that was pouring from suburb said he always has water from local authorities the responsi-
ally. her brow. containers in his car so that if he bility of supplying bulk water.
The city is supplying about 94 comes across a source of clean wa-
Most females in Bulawayo have megalitres of water daily against Her daughters followed her, each ter, he takes some home. “It should be noted that the Wa-
to be “super-human” to cope with demand of 155 megalitres. of them carrying two 20-litre con- ter Act as amended in 1976 pro-
the biting water crisis that has re- tainers filled with water. A number of residents said they vided for central government to be
sulted in the city council providing Molekile Moyo, a resident of Old were angry that the local authority responsible for raw water sources
tap water “as and when it is avail- Luveve, where a typhoid and dysen- As the group rested momentarily and the government were blaming for local authorities. Before the
able.” tery outbreak killed at least 13 res- under a tree near White City Sta- each other over the water crisis, in- amendment, the city had built five
idents and infected about 2 000 in dium, Mafu said her family mostly stead of solving it. dams taking into consideration
It is difficult to believe such ex- June, said she has resorted to buy- needed water to flush the toilet and future growth and demand. The
periences occur in an urban setting ing water. cook. “It makes my blood boil to read dams built by the city of Bulawayo
or a city that was once Zimbabwe’s about numerous water supply aug- before the amendment of the Water
Industrial hub and centre of com- “I’m an usiphatheleni (illegal “My husband has to arrive home mentation measures by the city Act are Lower Ncema (1943) and
merce. forex dealer). I have to be in the from work to a clean home and council and government whenever upper Ncema (1974), Inyankuni
city centre changing money every cooked food. We can’t have a smelly the water shortage issue comes to (1965), Umzingwane (1956) and
Factories that produced interna- day. I cannot afford to be searching toilet because it’s inside the house. the fore. Insiza (1975),” Mguni said.
tionally acclaimed export-quality for water at community boreholes,
textiles, food, electronics, and engi- bowser delivery points or contam- “When the crisis started, we used “When there are good rains, “Zinwa constructed the Mt-
neering products were once domi- inated puddles where people spend to join scores of our neighbours to everyone goes quiet and we don’t shabezi Dam from 1994 to 1997
ciled in the city. up to six hours just to get a pail of relieve ourselves in the bush after hear about the projects. We only with pipeline from the Mtshabezi
water. There are some boys from dark to minimise using water in the hear about the NMZWP towards Dam to Umzingwane being com-
Even being the nerve centre of whom I buy eight buckets of water toilet. We stopped when we heard elections. It has been almost 10 missioned in 2013.”
a once-thriving railway system has daily for US$3. They get tap water we could be raped,” she said. years since we heard about the Ep-
not saved Zimbabwe’s second larg- from areas that would be having it, ping Forest project which has been The government as also drilled
est city from an exodus of major in a push cart, and deliver to me,” Open defecation has made some nearing completion since forever. 177 boreholes at Nyamandlovu
companies due to several factors, said Moyo. footpaths in the city unusable. All the government and council are aquifer to add to Bulawayo water
chief among them being the short- good at is blaming each other while supply.
age of water. The money is about ZW$246 at In areas around the Provincial we suffer,” fumed Stanley Sibanda.
the official rate and up to ZW$300 Heroes Acre in Nkulumane, the Council recently approved plans
Bulawayo is battling perennial on the parallel market. bushes between Pumula North and In a ministerial statement on wa- to have residents drinking water
water challenges that were foreseen Magwegwe West, the footpaths ter issues presented to the National from Khami Dam by the end of this
more than 100 years ago. Some residents with bulk storage leading to Masilela Beer Garden Assembly, Lands, Agriculture, Wa- year to augment supplies.
and transport buy about 1 000 litres from Gwabalanda and behind Fusi ter, Climate and Rural Resettlement
Founded around 1840 by King of borehole water for about US$2 Primary School in the same suburb, Dr Anxious Masuka said with an Over the years, residents have
Mzilikazi, Bulawayo attained mu- from a company in Kelvin West in- human waste attracts swarms of effective water delivery system, Bu- fiercely resisted use of water from
nicipal status under colonial rule dustrial area while others hire push green flies. lawayo should not be experiencing the dam because of pollution levels
in 1897 and was declared a city in carts that carry about eight 20-litre a water crisis. and reports that the colonial gov-
1943. buckets at US$1 for two hours. The World Health Organisation ernment drowned freedom fighters
(WHO) identifies open defecation “The City of Bulawayo has main- in it.
The colonial settlers noted that Those who cannot afford to buy, as a leading cause of diarrhoeal ly been drawing water from three
with growth, the city would face like vulnerable members of society deaths globally. sources: Upper Ncema, Lower Nce- Commissioned in 1927, Khami
water shortages and mooted what is who include the elderly and dis- ma and Umzingwane—until they was Bulawayo’s first supply dam.
now known as the National Mata- abled, have to wait for unreliable In 2013, worldwide, about 2 000 were very low and decommissioned
beleland Zambezi Water Project in council bowsers for days to get at children aged under 5 years died whilst the biggest dams—Insiza, It was decommissioned in 1989
1912. The ambitious project, which least one bucket of water. daily from diarrhoea. Inyankuni and Mtshabezi, remain after raw effluent seeped into the
is still in limbo, was designed to with substantial amounts of water dam. The city is praying for a good
draw water from the Africa’s 4th “We sometimes get tap water for Already, Bulawayo has con- which could last the city up to 11 rainy season as levels at the supply
largest river, the Zambezi and pro- a few hours when other parts of the firmed a second diarrhoea outbreak months at 155 Mega Litres (ML) dams are low.
vide a limitless supply to the city suburb get supplies but, generally, I within four months as almost 100 per day,” said Dr Masuka.
while creating a green belt of agri- can say we do not get water here,” cases, mainly affecting children, Insiza Dam is 25,69% full; In-
culture along a pipeline linking the Moyo added. have been reported in the densely “It is unfortunate that the City yankuni 41,50% and Mtshabezi
yet-to-be-completed Gwayi-Shan- populated high-density suburb of of Bulawayo has made limited in- Dam 32,58%. Among the decom-
gani Dam in Matabeleland North Sibongile Mafu, a resident of Mzilikazi and surrounding areas. vestments in improving abstraction missioned dams, Lower Ncema is
and the big river. Magwegwe suburb, said she wakes capacity which could have assisted 5,98% full, Umzingwane 3,05% and
up around 4am and walks up to Last month, in a report tabled in in addressing the water challenges.” Upper Ncema is at 2%. The overall
A growing population reliant six kilometres to surrounding sub- parliament, Auditor-General Mil- operational dam level is at 23,73%.
on ageing water infrastructure— urbs with her five daughters—the dred Chiri listed Bulawayo among The city council, on the other
mostly installed in the 1940s and six local authorities that were like- – STAFF WRITER
prone to frequent leakages—has ly to experience water-borne dis-
made water intervention measures
an urgent necessity in present-day
Bulawayo.

The water crisis in the city was
said to have reached a milestone in
1992 when tap water was available
only once a week in most suburbs.

However, consecutive droughts
have resulted in new records of wa-
ter shortage being set.

Last year, in February the city
council imposed a 48-hour weekly
water shedding exercise, gradually
increased it to 72 hours, scaled it up
to 96 hours, 108 hours, 120 hours
and 144 hours in May this year.

Only the city centre, mining
companies and industry have been
exempted from shedding.

Since last month, water has only
been supplied when it is available
to selected suburbs. A few hours
before the tap water is made acces-

Editorial & OpinionPage 8 NewsHawks
Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

CARTOON

Zimbabwean
lives matter
ABDUCTIONS and enforced disappearances, as well as at-
tendant abuses and torture of victims – sometimes leading The NewsHawks have landed
to death or vanishing for good - are not a new thing in this
country. TODAY we finally launched our sHawks Digital Media which is owned of power and office, and betrayal of
digital media platform in Harare by the Centre for Public Interest Jour- public trust. It also entails shining
Zimbabwe has a long history of enforced seizures and dis- operating as The NewsHawks, a new nalism Trust. Its trustees are Beatrice the light in dark corners to uncover
appearances, dating back to the colonial era and later after in- multichannel investigative journalism Mtetwa, Raphael Khumalo, Professor mismanagement and corruption, as
dependence, particularly during the dark Gukurahundi peri- project (thenewshawks.com), estab- Wallace Chuma, Teldah Mawarire and well as leadership, policy and gover-
od through which many people remain unaccounted for. Yet lished by a team of editors and report- Doug Coltart. nance failures to promote account-
what is more disturbing and worrying now is that abductions ers working with other professionals ability among public officials and state
continue unabated, even in the social media age. President across the broad publishing landscape The trustees provide a brilliant skills institutions.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime is continuing with brazen in Zimbabwe. set which is a mixture of media, legal
authoritarian practices of his predecessors dating back to the and financial experience. Four of the We aspire to be the leading inves-
colonial era. Mnangagwa is continuing from where his mentor The newsgathering, framing, pro- trustees, except Coltart who is a rising tigative journalism platform in the
and predecessor Robert Mugabe left. His regime is engaged cessing, packaging and distribution lawyer, have media experience. country, and gain traction, credibility
in authoritarian consolidation instead of reform. Mugabe had of content under this initiative will and integrity beyond our borders.
continued in that regard from where Ian Smith and others had be done through an integrated media Mtetwa, a prominent human rights
left in a different way. approach in which the production lawyer, was a board member at Alpha This vision will be underwritten by
chain interfaces with different appli- Media Holdings (where most of our quality, insightful and probing jour-
From the disappearances of Zanu nationalist and political cations within the vast technological team worked) when Khumalo was nalism. Fact-driven, truth-telling and
activist Eddison Sithole and his personal assistant Miriam spectrum. chief executive there. high-impact reporting.
Mhlanga in 1975 to the abduction of activist Jestina Mukoko,
a journalist, the disappearance of journalist-turned-civic ac- The project is designed to fill the Hawk Eye Our philosophy is that journalism
tivist Itai Dzamara – a former colleague of ours - in 2015 via yawning and growing investigative is a science of verification. So until
Gukurahundi to the seizing of journalism student Tawan- journalism gap in the media, not to Dumisani one verifies, it is not factual or true.
da Muchehiwa, journalist Mduduzi Mathuthu’s nephew, the replace what is already being done, by Muleya Nuance is important here. Facts and
country has an appalling record of human rights abuses in that working with local, regional and inter- truth are not necessarily one and the
regard. People have suffered for far too long; Zimbabweans national networks; leveraging tech- Chuma, now a media professor at same thing, although they are closely
lives matter. Abductions are part of the regime’s vicious crack- nology in the digital publishing space, the University of Cape Town, South related. Just like evidence and proof;
down on civil and political activists, lawyers and journalists, while also ensuring breaking news. Africa, was journalist at the now they are not necessarily the same, al-
among other dissenters. Hopewell Chin’ono, for instance, was defunct Mirror Group of Newspapers though related. Scientists, for instance,
arrested and detained for six weeks for merely exposing cor- The spotlight will be on public af- in Harare and the Associated Newspa- talk about evidence to validate their
ruption. Journalism is not a crime. fairs and public interest issues, with a pers of Zimbabwe. hypotheses, not proof.
specific focus on governance, account-
But the Muchehiwa abduction and torture stands out. ability, corruption and service deliv- Mawarire worked for the Zimbabwe Since journalists are not free from
First, it happened in broad daylight in Bulawayo, showing ery. There will also be other activities Independent and the Mail & Guardian inherent personal, social and cultural
the Mnangagwa regime and its security agents behind the of interest; training, capacity building in South Africa where she became biases – blind spots as some call them,
abduction and torture are now brazen and reckless about it, and gender mainstreaming. M&G Africa editor. She is currently verification becomes the mainstay
primarily because of impunity over time. Second, the state the project director for Internews in and guarantor of objectivity, which
security agents who abducted and tortured Muchehiwa were We need to prioritise training of a South Africa. relates to the method of newsgather-
caught on closed-circuit television – video surveillance – be- new generation of female investigative ing and processing, not the journalist’s
longing to a business around the hardware where the abduc- journalists to address structural and Our funding model is a hybrid one; mindset. The process of verification is
tion took place. operational imbalances in the media. it combines funded and commercial what separates journalism from other
This is the first time in Zimbabwe where state security ab- activities to support the operation and forms of communication; marketing,
ductors were recorded on video - caught red handed. They On our news menu: investigative ensure sustainability. advertising, campaigning, propaganda
have always done this, but denied responsibility. This time stories, breaking news and human and entertainment, for instance.
they were caught with their pants down, hence they are run- interest reports running on our web- Funded investigative journalism is
ning scared. Their names have been released on social media site - thenewshawks.com - e-paper, on the rise around the world, yet sus- Further, editorial independence and
which has helped shed light in the dark corners of the state pdf edition, social media (Facebook, tainability remains a big issue. Hence, credibility – the key elements of ethi-
where such heinous crimes thrive. Third, despite its ducking Twitter and Instagram) and webcast- the need for monetisation strategies cal and professional journalism - will
and diving over the issue, the Mnangagwa regime, just like ing/podcasting (online broadcasting) on digital products, a difficult but not be some of the foundational guid-
all accessories to this crime such as Impala car rental which using livestreaming technology. impossible proposition. ing principles. We have an editorial
provided the Muchehiwa abduction car, the regime has a big charter and code of ethics to ensure
problem in its hands. Ministers of home affairs, state security Our Twitter account handle New- Our mission is to hold power in professionalism. Going forward, we
and indeed police and CIO must account. It can’t be business sHawksLive and Facebook page The various forms and manifestations ac- will have an editorial advisory board.
as usual. Abductions and enforced disappearances are consid- NewsHawks are already running and countable. This means exposing abuse
ered a crime against humanity. The Ferret squad – CIO and gaining traction – 10 000 followers The essence of journalism lies in
police - that abducted Muchehiwa must remember this. on Twitter in a week - not bad for a editorial independence and trust.
Mnangagwa must know what he did with Mugabe in the start-up. Independence is a cornerstone of
1980s; perpetrating atrocities such as Gukurahundi, is no lon- reliability.
ger acceptable and sustainable now. The NewsHawks will be run by New-
Gone are the days when leaders think the only way to en-
gage their critics and dissenters is to intimidate, abduct, tor-
ture or kill to silence them – autocratically claiming: “We are
the police, we are the army, we are the intelligence…we are
everything”. One day perpetrators of these crimes will be held
accountable. There is growing anger and impatience out there
over this.
Only recently the African Commission on Human and
People’s Rights demanded an end to abductions and enforced
disappearances within a year. Abductions and enforced disap-
pearances in Zimbabwe, and elsewhere, must come to an end.

Reaffirming the fundamental importance The NewsHawks is published on different Editorial Staff: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
of freedom of expression and media free- content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital Spencer Mandaza Council of Zimbabwe
dom as the cornerstone of democracy and Media which is owned by Centre for Public Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Cell: +263 775387638
as a means of upholding human rights Interest Journalism Assistant Editor: Brezhnev Malaba The NewsHawks newspaper subscribes to the Code
and liberties in the constitution; our mis- No. 100 Nelson Mandela Avenue News Editor: Owen Gagare Subscriptions & Distribution: of Conduct that promotes truthful, accurate, fair and
sion is to hold power in its various forms Beverly Court, 6th floor Digital Editor: Bernard Mpofu +263 772293486
and manifestations to account by expos- Harare, Zimbabwe Reporters: balanced news reporting. If we do not meet these
ing abuse of power and office, betrayals Bridget Mananavire, Nyasha Chingono, Enoch Muchinjo standards, register your complaint with the Voluntary
of public trust and corruption to ensure Trustees/Directors: Email: [email protected] Media Council of Zimbabwe at No.: 34, Colenbrander
good governance and accountability in Beatrice Mtetwa, Raphael Khumalo, Rd, Milton Park, Harare. Telephone: 024-2778096 or
the public interest. Proffessor Wallace Chuma, Teldah Mawarire,
Doug Coltart 024-2778006,
24Hr Complaints Line: 0772 125 659
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
WhatsApp: 0772 125 658, Twitter: @vmcz
Website: www.vmcz.co.zw, Facebook: vmcz Zimbabwe

NewsHawks Perspectives & Reviews Page 9

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Zim economic chaos difficult to navigate

John dollars, you can buy most things. civil servants’ new Nostro FCA Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe /File Pic exchange rate used is set at the
Legat This ‘compromise’ won’t Domestic bank accounts but they ZWL82 rate has barely moved at auction rate. In reality we suspect
could not then convert those into all in recent weeks which imme- that this will not necessarily be the
It has become increasingly assist the long term future for the real USD or transfer the funds diately makes market participants case for USD cash transactions.
difficult to analyse the economy Zimbabwe economy however. The outside the country. suspicious that the rate is being This new policy has been a saviour
by researching the numbers. The entire banking and savings system manipulated. for businesses who can in many
same can be said for corporate is built upon the ZWL. We wrote Initially a swipe card was instances earn sufficient US dollars
accounts where hyperinflationary about the decimation of the do- meant to be connected to this new The RBZ controls the auction for their own needs without the
accounting further muddies the mestic savings base in our January account but we understand from and supplies the auction with the need to access the auction market.
picture. Part of our problem is 2020 Notes. Over recent years the the banks that this measure was US dollars that either it has or on We have spoken with a number of
knowing which numbers to trust fixed asset base of the Insurance delayed. Instead the banks convert behalf of exporters. businesses across different sectors;
and believe. and Pension industry has not been the funds into ZWL at the auction US dollar sales represent in the
able to keep pace with the devalua- rate on request for use in the shops. Exporters themselves are not majority of cases around 50% of
The numbers published may not tion of the ZWL. We estimate that In this regard, the allowance is allowed to participate in the auc- revenues, but in some cases as
be incorrect but they may not tell the total valuation of insurance hedged to some extent to a fall in tion by offering their own export high as 75% or more. Further, the
the whole story. At the same time, and pension fund assets at about the official exchange rate (but not proceeds at an offer price that they bulk of fuel is now charged in USD
the economic authorities appear USD1.2 billion at the end June the parallel) and so is better than a determine. which implies the RBZ does not
to have embarked on a media blitz 2020. Of that liquid assets amount direct payment in ZWL. The eco- have to find foreign exchange for
highlighting that the new auction to around USD20 million. nomic authorities meanwhile need Speaking with the corporates the purposes of importing fuel.
system has been a huge success and to create these nostro balances, who require US dollars, most seem Government wants a slice of the
has brought the required stability That’s simply not sufficient to which in our July Notes we defined to receive some monies through action too demanding that tax on
to prices and the exchange rate. provide any meaningful invest- as RTGS dollars, since they are not the auction system, but for those forex revenues be paid in forex and
ments for the domestic economy. necessarily backed by real USD. who don’t earn US dollar reve- not ZWL. Further 20% of forex
Government statistics have Speaking with a number of the nues but who require substantial domestic nostros must be handed
presumably been delayed in their banks whose capital base in US That begs the question as to US dollars for inputs, licences or over to the RBZ for their use in
publication by COVID-19; we have dollars has been close to destroyed, whether they appear in the mone- capex, the auction system is wholly return for ZWL at the auction rate.
only just received the July Monthly at best the largest loan that could tary numbers and if they do, where inadequate for larger amounts of If the Government was serious
Economic Review from the RBZ. be given amounts to around ZWL- are they? Ultimately they will be foreign exchange. A market-based about de-dollarisation, it would
This highlights the ZWL economy. 500million. converted to ZWL and join the for- foreign exchange market would insist on tax being paid in ZWL
Missing from economic data is the mal ZWL economy and the ZWL allow an exporter to sell the nec- forcing businesses to convert their
growing US dollar cash economy. That’s little more than US$5 mil- monetary statistics. essary US dollars to the domestic US dollars into ZWL in the foreign
Therein lies the crux of the issue, lion which barely covers the work- importer but the exchange rate exchange market. Clearly the eco-
there is an informal USD cash ing capital requirements of one of Much of Government’s recent would likely be very different from nomic authorities have little faith
economy, an official USD economy the larger corporates. Bottom line, policy actions have centred around the auction rate and more in line in the ZWL, preferring instead
and an official ZWL economy! To it implies that it is close to impos- the foreign exchange auction sys- with the parallel rate. The RBZ foreign exchange. For businesses
focus on one, will not provide us sible for the domestic ZWL asset tem. This was introduced in June appears unprepared to allow that earning the USD cash, there will
with the entire picture. base to fund any large investment with the first rate set at ZWL57 to for the time being. of course be an incentive to under
or working capital requirements USD1. At the time the parallel rate disclose any revenue earned in
Far from sitting on our laurels such as the forthcoming agricul- was trading at ZWL100 to USD1. The demand for US dollars this way. Zimra for one will be the
during the ‘lockdown pandemic’ tural season. The auction rate has since settled through official channels has fallen loser.
we have been busy interviewing around ZWL82, with the gap be- substantially now that the RBZ
corporate managements virtually Government can of course tween the official and parallel rates and the economic authorities have Another advantage for busi-
to get a better understanding of guarantee bank loans to the agri- narrowing to around 30%. The allowed businesses to charge for nesses being able to sell in USD
what is happening in the economy cultural sector, or indeed it could their services in both US dollars is that they can pay employees a
through sales volumes and trading transfer ZWL to the banks for and ZWL - so long as the foreign portion of their wages in USD. This
conditions. To a certain extent it on-lending to the agri-sector. Since will to some extent help to alleviate
opened our eyes to what might be Government is planning a fiscal the brain drain that Zimbabwe suf-
happening in both the ZWL and deficit for 2020 it does not have the fered back in 2007/2008. Of course
the USD official and cash econo- capacity to do that without creating businesses that only earn ZWL
mies. ZWL, or printing it. revenues will be unable to do that;
the entire financial sector is a case
On the face of it, the situation That of course undermines the in point. Retaining staff will prove
in Zimbabwe could be a lot worse. ZWL further, the resulting devalu- tough in such businesses; where
For now there is food on the su- ation thereby making the banking, employees won’t need to leave the
permarket shelves, specialist shops insurance and pension industries country to earn foreign exchange
sell luxury items, there is plenty of even less relevant. Government as they did in 2007/2008, they can
fuel in the service stations with few could borrow the money from simply change sectors!
to no queues but only if you pay in offshore in foreign currency (and
US dollars. This is a far cry from does so) from the likes of Afrex- Speaking with business people
2008 when Zimbabwe last experi- imbank but that simply adds to today as compared with our
enced hyper-inflation. foreign debt that Zimbabwe will discussions in May/June, is like
find hard to repay. comparing chalk and cheese. Back
At that time there were no US in May, businesses were struggling
dollars and trading in US dollars The latest inflation number for to emerge from a harsh lockdown.
was illegal. Although Government August was 761%. This of course Sales were in ZWL, business hours
legally ended the multi-currency is naturally a ZWL figure. The eco- were reduced, productivity was low
system in July 2019, in practice it nomic authorities are suggesting and accessing foreign exchange
never really went away and indeed that we should be looking instead was tough given an artificial
Government has very much sup- at a blended rate of inflation, exchange rate peg of ZWL25 to
ported it in recent months. presumably because some products USD1. Those same business people
are priced in USD which rarely are now far more optimistic, as
We have written in previous change and others in ZWL that do. capacity utilization is rising, rev-
Notes about our views that the That way inflation would appear enues are in both USD and ZWL,
ZWL would be doomed to failure lower than it actually is. But this accessing foreign exchange for in-
for anything but a transactional is economic nonsense and we are puts is easier, creditors can be paid
currency. (See also our paper: not aware of such an approach off and so forth. But that optimism
“Zimbabwe – dollarization and elsewhere in the World. is off a very low base with the July
rabbits” dated April 2020 on the to September quarter that much
subject). It was introduced at The vast majority of people better. To put it into perspective,
ZWL2.5 to USD1 in February in Zimbabwe earn ZWL and so as one business person put it, their
2019, and one year or so later was ZWL inflation is key. A blended volumes were down 50% on a year
worth ZWL100 to USD1. That can rate might of course look bet- ago during the first half of 2020,
hardly be described as a success. ter and perhaps is an attempt to but last year’s volumes were 50%
Allowing US dollar transactions appease those calling for large off the year before! So whilst the
has essentially saved the day from salary increases to compensate for latest quarter has seen a substantial
a supply perspective. If you are for- a real loss in spending power. It improvement, we are far from the
tunate enough to have or earn US was interesting that Government peaks of 2018/2019. Read more on
chose to pay the civil servants with website: www.newshawks.com
a ‘temporary’ USD allowance of
USD75 per month in addition to Legat is the chief executive of-
their ZWL earnings. Initially due ficer of Imara Asset Management
to last three months as a cushion- (Zimbabwe) Limited
ing allowance, it has recently been
extended to the end of the year.
As we wrote in our July Notes, the
USD allowance would be paid into

Business

MATTERSNewsHawks

MARKETS CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE
JPY/USD 0.946 +0.003 +0.33 -0.02
USD/JPY 105.67 -0.34 -0.321 *OIL 41.18 -0.01 +5.06
GBP/USD 1.301 +0.008 +0.6 +1.826
EUR/USD 1.182 +0.006 +0.54 *NAT GAS 2.76 +0.133 +4.94
AUD/USD 0.724 +0.007 +0.99 +0.97
*GOLD 1,929.7 +34.6

*SILVER 25.055 +1.179

*WHEAT 601 +5.75

NatPharm:
Fat cats’ new
feeding trough

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE at extortionist prices. The
fight is now heading to the
THE National Pharmaceu- courts. It is likely to open a
tical Company (NatPharm) Pandora’s box on Covid-19
has become a political bat- corruption.”
tleground as a new feeding The sources said Health
trough for the politically minister Constantino
connected – just like the Chiwenga, who is also
National Social Security Au- vice-president, does not
thority was - during the cur- want Nguwaya to be paid
rent Covid-19 period which anything, citing corruption,
has seen manipulation of although he has been de-
tenders and procurement manding payment.
regulations by high-profile Nguwaya is said to be
figures for self-enrichment. working with Mnangagwa’s
twin son Shaun who is a sol-
Informed sources told dier. Earlier reports said he
The NewsHawks this week was working with the other
NatPharm and controversial twin Collins, but both the
businessman Delish Ngu- company and Collins de-
waya – who is close to Pres- nied the reports.
ident Emmerson Mnangag- However, Nguwaya hob-
wa’s family – are preparing nobs with the Mnangagwa
for a fierce court battle over family, including First Lady
the US$60 million botched Auxilia and her twins.
Covid-19 deal that is riddled Preparations for the court his office to secure a tender for his facing charges of criminal abuse of of- Acting on the misrepresentation
with corruption. battle come as retired Air preferred company Young Healthcare fice. the fired Minister of Health Obadiah
commodore Evans Dumba Limited for personal interest. Moyo, through the then permanent
The deal involved dodgy has been appointed NatPha- Human resources manager Wal- secretary in the ministry, Dr Agnes
company Drax International rm managing director amid The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption ter Nhau, regional manager Raguel Mahomva initiated a procurement
supplying drugs to NatPha- a corruption storm that en- Commission is investigating the mat- Mthombeni, stores pharmacist Rum- process which involved communica-
rm through two facilities, gulfed the state-owned en- ter. Mangwiro told the NewsHawks bidzai Kanhema (Matambanadzo) and tion among all the relevant stakehold-
one US$20 million and the terprise. this week that he remains unperturbed Bridget Kumapenda were also fired at ers.
other US$40 million. Dumba took over last by corruption allegations against him. the same time.
Thursday from the compa- These included Ministry of Health,
Although Nguwaya and ny’s information technology “Ask Zacc about those allegations; Nguwaya was arrested on fraud Ministry of Finance, Procurement
his partners were paid US$2 manager Zealous Nyabadza, it’s news to me (corruption allega- charges in June and later released on Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe
million through a Hungari- who was acting MD since tions). That’s why I’m not worried bail. His contract was cancelled. The Praz and NatPharm, culminating into
an account, the money was mid-June. at all. We will see what happens, but case against him is that he misrepre- a contract of supply of medicines and
frozen and Interpol moved Dumba’s appointment I’m not going to say anything much,” sented Drax International as a pharma- medical products between NatPharm
in to investigate suspicions has raised suspicions of Mangwiro said. ceutical company based in Switzerland and Drax Consult SAGL.
of money laundering. militarisation of the Health when it was merely a consulting firm
ministry under Chiwenga, “If there is anything we will meet with no experience in manufacturing Covid-19 is fuelling corruption in
“NatPharm has become a retired Zimbabwe Defence in court, but ask them what this is all drugs and supply of medical products. Zimbabwe and elsewhere as govern-
the battleground for high Forces commander. about. Let them continue. I’m here; ment and private sector individuals
profile people who want The ministry’s permanent not going anywhere. To me the whole Court papers say Nguwaya and Drax scramble to benefit from funds. Mas-
to put their snouts in the secretary is Air commodore thing is a non-event. But jails are for International managing partner Illir sive resources mobilised to respond to
Covid-19 funds feeding Jasper Chimedza. people. Just ask them what is going on.” Dedja last year expressed interest in the health and economic crisis create
trough. So the Draxgate Dumba faces a tall order supplying medicines through a US$20 opportunities for corruption, while
scandal is far form over. as contracts on big supplies Seven NatPharm bosses were fired million loan facility under a compa- many corruption prevention and en-
Nguwaya’s lawyers and are being imposed on the in June amid allegations of multi-mil- ny called Papi Pharma. The move was forcement mechanisms are suspended
those of NatPharm are busy management, according to lion-dollar corruption scandals involv- turned down after a vetting process by due to the emergency.
right now preparing for a sources. ing the acquisition of medicines and the relevant government department
court battle over the US$60 Health deputy minister equipment for Covid-19. after the proposal failed a due dili- Government has set aside ZW$18
million,” a senior Ministry is caught in another US$5.6 gence. billion as stimulus package to help
of Health official said. million Covid-19 deal in Among those fired were managing economic recovery and companies to
which he allegedly abused director Flora Sifeku, operations man- Nguwaya then sent the same doc- come out of the coronavirus rubble,
“Nguwaya wants his ten- ager Charles Mwaramba and finance uments to the Ministry of Health and but there are questions of how the
der, which was cancelled, manager Rolland Mlalazi, who had Child Care expressing interest in sup- money is being used. ZW$1 billion was
restored, and most import- been arrested in early June for process- plying medical products but using a set aside for the health sector.
ant he wants to be paid for ing procurement without following different name, Drax consult SAGL.
the supplies he delivered proper tender procedures. They are

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 11

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

NYASHA CHINGONO

ZIMBABWE’s debt to the African Zimbabwe’s debt crisis
Development Bank (AfDB) could fast compounding
soon scale US$800 million, up
from around US$600 million last Engagements between Zimba- servatively go up to US$800 mil- al partners,” AfDB policy analyst
year, despite Treasury’s commit- bwe and multilateral funders have lion. Of course, there have been Eric Mariga said in an interview.
ment to make token payments to been inconclusive, with Harare engagements with government
multilateral financial institutions, failing to provide a clear plan of and there are aspects governing “In terms of commitment, for
The NewsHawks can report. repayment and securing a bailout. the clearance of arrears we have the whole of last year the govern-
to deal with, for example work- ment has been paying token pay-
The southern African nation, “The government is in arrears ing with other development part- ments as a sign of commitment.
reeling from a deepening eco- to the AfDB to the tune of US$700 ners, the World Bank and bilater- The token payments are not to-
nomic crisis gripping it for the million upwards, but it could con- wards the arrears, but just to show
past two decades, is making fran- commitment. Discussions are still
tic efforts to extricate itself from going on whether after Covid-19
a debt overhang web after it went these token payments should re-
into arrears with multilateral sume.”
creditors at the turn of the mil-
lennium. Zimbabwe’s public and After coming to power through
publicly guaranteed external debt a coup in 2017, President Emmer-
stood at US$8.1 billion as at end son Mnangagwa sought to en-
December 2019, according to Fi- gage multilateral funders, mainly
nance minister Mthuli Ncube’s the IMF, World Bank, AfDB and
mid-term fiscal policy review. the Paris Club, over outstanding
debts.
Of the total external debt, ar-
rears account for 73%. Although there was progress
at the beginning, the process has
Multilateral development banks since stalled as funders continue
are owed a total of US$2.6 billion to demand political and economic
(32% of the total public and pub- reforms as part of the deal.
licly guaranteed external debt),
of which the World Bank is owed The IMF Staff-Monitored Pro-
US$1.5 billion, the African De- gramme meant to push the re-
velopment Bank (AfDB) US$705 form agenda has also fallen off the
million, European Investment rails as the government’s lethargic
Bank US$330 million and other approach to change continues to
multilaterals US$66 million. unsettle the multilateral funds.

Total bilateral external debt
amounted to US$5.48 billion
(68% of the total public and pub-
licly guaranteed external debt),
of which Paris Club creditors ac-
counted for US$3.39 billion, and
Non-Paris Club, US$1.58 billion.

With regards to external ar-
rears, government has said it
continues to engage respective
creditors, inclusive of multilateral
financial institutions for an ami-
cable solution.

This is supposed to include im-
plementation of a broad range of
economic and political reforms
necessary for stabilising and
strengthening the economy.

However, not much has been
done to introduce reforms and
hence disengagement with inter-
national financial institutions and
the international community.

As at end May 2020, domestic
debt, including Zamco (ZW$1.1
billion) stood at ZW$12.89 bil-
lion.

The increase in domestic debt
from ZW$9 billion as at 31 De-
cember 2019 is primarily on ac-
count of restructuring of the leg-
acy obligations.

The external debt overhang
has been a major hurdle in the
country’s bid to access fresh funds
from multilateral funders.

In terms of the 2015 Lima plan,
government envisaged clearing
the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), World Bank and AfDB
arrears simultaneously in line
with the paripassu principles, but
failed to do so.

Only the IMF’s US$107.9 mil-
lion was paid.

Page 12 Companies & Markets NewsHawks
Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Hanke queries Zim inflation statistics

The rate is exceeding 50 percent per month
actually 431%, for at least 30 consecutive days.
not 659.4%
“After years of research with
BERNARD MPOFU the help of many assistants, I have
documented, with primary data,
UNITED States applied econom- not hyperinflating now. At present, Professor Steve Hanke 62 episodes of hyperinflation
ics professor at the Johns Hopkins Venezuela and Lebanon are the Populist President, is that ‘we end that are listed on the Hanke-Krus
University in Baltimore, Maryland, only countries on Hanke’s Infla- up with an echo chamber, or what I World Hyperinflation Table, with
Steve Hanke, says Zimbabwe’s an- “tion Dashboard (see below) that call a perpetual circle of fake news: Lebanon being the most recent en-
nualised inflation rate is actually The wrong infla- the news outlets recite the experts, try on the Hyperinflation Table.
431% and not 659.4% as officially are going through hyperinflation. tion figures show who repeat the news outlets, who
recorded, showing the country is It’s clear that journalists and those recite the experts’.” Hungary holds down the top
not on hyperinflation as claimed. they interview tend to play fast and spot. Its peak hyperinflation oc-
loose with the word ‘hyperinfla- “As someone who has dealt with curred in July 1946, when prices
Hanke, a senior fellow and di- tion’. How could this be?” all the primary sources and repli- were doubling every 15 hours.
rector of the Troubled Currencies Hanke said many people out the government cated the calculations for every hy- Zimbabwe’s November 2008 hy-
Project at the Cato Institute in there pretend to know about infla- and Zimbabwe perinflation that has ever existed, I perinflation peak is second high-
Washington, D.C., said the wrong tion without tools to measure it. am well-placed to observe the per- est, but way behind Hungary’s.
inflation figures show the govern- “Indeed, the media publishes in- petual cycle of fake news on hyper- Indeed, at their peaks, the daily
ment and Zimbabwe Nationals terviews and statements from so- Nationals Statis- inflation as it rotates through the inflation rates were 207 percent in
Statistics Agency figures and eco- media. Indeed, barely a day goes Hungary and 98 percent in Zimba-
nomic data cannot be trusted. called experts, often economists tics Agency figures by that I am not hit in the face with bwe.
and professors whose only knowl- some false statement concerning
He also said by claiming Zimba- edge of hyperinflation comes from and economic data hyperinflation.” Right behind Zimbabwe is Yu-
bwe was going through hyperin- goslavia, which reached a peak
flation at the moment, media was what they read in the popular press cannot be trusted. Hanke said hyperinflation only inflation rate in January 1994,
promoting flawed reporting and and other news outlets. The result, occurs when the monthly infla- when the daily inflation rate hit
misinformation. as Casey Mulligan pinpoints (in a tion rate exceeds 50%. Zimbabwe’s 64.6 percent. Yugoslavia’s month-
different context) in his recently monthly inflation is 8.44%. ly inflation rate at that peak was a
There is currently no hyperin- released book, You’re Hired!: Un- stunning 313 million percent per
flation in Zimbabwe, he said, in- told Successes and Failures of a “Yes. Nothing cleans up ambigu- month.
dicating the country has moved ity and disorder better than clear
out of that, although prices remain definitions. So, just what is the “While the most memorable hy-
very high. definition of the oft-misused word perinflation is Germany’s, it only
‘hyperinflation?’ The convention ranks as the fifth highest. It’s peak
Official figures show that year- adopted in the academic literature daily rate was 20.9 percent and
on-year inflation for the month of is to classify an inflation as hy- its peak monthly rate was ‘only’
September eased to 659.4% from perinflation if the monthly infla- 29,500 percent. This is way, way
837.5% in August. tion rate exceeds 50 percent. This below the monthly rate of even
definition was adopted in 1956, just the third worst hyperinflation:
“The word ‘hyperinflation’ is after Phillip Cagan published his Yugoslavia’s.
sprinkled throughout the press seminal analysis of hyperinflation,
each day. We read that Iran is hy- which appeared in a book edited Now, let’s turn to the world’s
perinflating. The same is said of by Milton Friedman, Studies in the highest, current hyperinflation:
Zimbabwe and Venezuela, as well Quantity Theory of Money.” Venezuela’s. Venezuela has hyper-
as a potpourri of other countries inflated twice since 2016. Its first
experiencing inflation flare ups,” He added: “Since I use high-fre- episode of hyperinflation, which
Hanke wrote on his Twitter ac- quency data and Purchasing Power ran from November 2016 to Feb-
count. Parity theory to measure inflation ruary 2019, ranks as the world’s
each day in countries with signif- 14th-most- severe episode, with a
“While Iran experienced a bout icant price increases, I have been peak monthly inflation rate of 315
of inflation in the fall of 2012, it able to refine Cagan’s 50 percent percent per month.
never reached the point of hyper- per month hyperinflation thresh-
inflation. And while Zimbabwe old. While the magnitude of Vene-
went through hyperinflation ep- zuela’s first hyperinflation was rela-
isodes in 2007–08 and 2017, it is With improved measurement tively modest, it lasted for 27 grim
techniques, I now define a hyper- months, which is the fifth-longest
Hanke Inflation Dashboard inflation as an inflation with a rate episode on record, with the longest
being Nicaragua’s 58-month epi-
sode.

Venezuela’s current episode,
which started in April 2020, is still
ongoing. Today, the annual rate of
inflation is 2,074 percent per year.”

Last week Finance minister
Mthuli Ncube told a press briefing
that Zimbabwe’s economy would
this year bounce back buoyed by
mining and agriculture. He also
cited the current price stability as a
key indicator for this growth.

“Price stability is now visible in
line with convergence of parallel
and auction rates. (Government
also) introduced a second auction
system for small-scale operators,”
Ncube said.

However, former finance minis-
ter Tendai Biti said prices had only
stabilised due to the government’s
control of the foreign exchange
auction system.

“The auction system is a scam. A
huge fraud. A market where only
one player controls supply and
sets the price is anything, but an
auction. This is a managed fixed
exchange by any other name,” Biti
said.

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 13

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

New power particularly in its north-west and
blackouts loom southern parts.
as Treasury
blocks forex However, coal intake at the
coal orders power station will significantly
increase when Zimbabwe Pow-
BERNARD MPOFU self from viability problems as the marily an exporter and therefore George Guvamatanga er Company (ZPC), a Zesa sub-
utility is owed millions of United not generating foreign currency hydroelectric plant. sidiary which constructs, owns,
ZIMBABWE’S Treasury has States dollars. The state-owned from its operations,” Guvamatan- operates and maintains power
blocked the country’s electricity power company’s outstand- ga said. The power utility also owns stations, commissions addition-
utility Zesa Holdings from buying ing payments to coal producers three small power plants in Hara- al two units by end of 2021. The
coal supplies for its thermal pow- soared to nearly ZW$1 billion “In this regard the ministry is re, Munyati and Bulawayo. units are expected to produce 600
er stations in foreign exchange, (accumulated at a US$1:1ZW ex- not agreeable to the request by megawatts.
saying this arrangement is open change rate then), a situation that Zesa to pay coal miners in foreign Recently, the central bank di-
to abuse. may lead to disruption of power currency.” rected Zesa through a statutory The US$1 billion project, being
generation as a result of low coal instrument to bill exporters in implemented by Sino Hydro of
Zimbabwe’s energy probelms supplies. Coal producers — Makomo Re- foreign currency with the pro- China, is 25% complete.
eased during the Covid-19 lock- sources, Hwange Colliery Com- ceeds going towards importation
down after most businesses scaled There are also growing market pany and Zambezi Gas - supply of power, equipment and payment Recently, ZPC claimed inade-
down operations. Even before fears that South Africa’s power about 90% of their output to Ze- of foreign loans and insurance quate supplies of coal by miners
that demand had significantly utility Eskom may also stop sup- sa’s four thermal power stations premiums. were threatening the country’s
gone down due to quickening plies to Zimbabwe over a US$90 including Hwange, the country’s power generation capacity and
de-industrialisation and collapse million debt. largest power plant after Kariba Coal remains the dominant en- want to produce its own inputs for
of capacity utilisation. ergy source for Zimbabwe. The guaranteed supplies.
In a letter addressed to the country has vast reserves of coal,
Four out of five major power Ministry of Energy and Power With the coming in of units 7
stations in Zimbabwe are coal– Development, availed to The New- and 8, ZPC said it was concerned
fired. Climate change experts say sHawks, Treasury accounting boss that the existing miners might fail
government should migrate to George Guvamatanga said the re- to adequately provide supplies for
renewable energy to combat glob- quest to pay coal suppliers in for- the expanded power station.
al warming and mitigate power eign currency was not agreeable.
shortages through an electricity Progress on construction of 7
supply mix. “Regarding the second request and 8 units in July stood stands at
by Zesa to pay coal miners in 45.7% against the planned prog-
Zesa, which has several subsid- foreign currency, the ministry ress of 54.4%. Revised plans indi-
iaries, is struggling to extricate it- understands that Zesa is not pri- cate the project is now expected to
near completion by year end.

Hwange thermal power sta-
tion, with an installed capability
of 920 megawatts, is currently the
base load plant following subdued
electricity generation capacity at
Kariba which can now generate
1 050 megawatts after from 750
megawatts after expansion.

To ensure viability, Zesa has of
late adjusted tariffs in a bid to cre-
ate scope for improving working
capital and electricity generation.

Zesa last month increased elec-
tricity tariffs by another 50% with
effect from September 29. This
followed a 50% tariff hike on Sep-
tember 23. Yet another 50% in-
crease is coming on November 1.

Liberalise foreign exchange rate - ZNCC

BERNARD MPOFU the prioritised products that are Most local companies import and until over the counter trans- a new economic programme, Na-
supplied through the auction, but throughput from neighbouring acting of forex is made possible, we tional Development Strategy, to
The Zimbabwe Chamber of Com- goods that do not make the list are countries, mainly South Africa will continue to have unstable local succeed the Transitional Stabilisa-
merce (ZNCC) says government imported through foreign curren- and abroad. currency. Though there has been tion Programme which comes to
should liberalise the foreign ex- cy sourced elsewhere. a stabilisation of exchange rate, an end this year.
change system and maintain the “There is need to decentralise there is need for a reduced role
dual monetary arrangement – in- Finance minister Mthuli Ncu- the auction system so that it can of the RBZ in buying and selling “The ZW$18bn stimulus pack-
volving use of the Zimbabwean be has lately been heralding price be done by individual banks forex, and have everything done age cannot be an affair between
and United States dollar - post the stability and a stabilised local unit rather than the central bank be- by the market so that the rate is banks and private sector players
Covid-19 pandemic to stimulate as the spin-off benefits from the cause banks have better visibility seen to be market determined for alone; the credit guarantee ar-
economic growth. cocktail of measures he introduced and interaction with clients. This more confidence. The market has rangement with the government
last year. means that banks should be made to be truly liberalised, RBZ should is not offering enough comfort to
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe accountable and results should be not influence the exchange rate. As banks to lend to the private sector.
eased foreign exchange controls Analysts say Ncube’s optimism published across the market which long as the market is not truly lib- Government has to offer signifi-
when it allowed retailers to start is misplaced. will also allow customers to eval- eralised we will continue to have a cant tax relief to businesses or set a
charging for goods and services in uate their positions on an online/ false equilibrium.” fund for drawdown by businesses,”
hard currency following the out- ZNCC said continued policy live system,” ZNCC said. the ZNCC said.
break of coronavirus which has flip-flops; conflicting signals on ZNCC said most compa-
claimed hundreds of thousands of policy interventions/pronounce- “The delay in settlement to T+5 nies have not benefited from the “Non-availability of both the
lives across the globe. ments; for example – establish- or more is wiping the relevance of ZW$18 billion economic stimulus minister of finance and the per-
ment of the Victoria Falls Stock the auction market and giving it a package announced by Ncube to manent secretary for engagement
A managed forex auction sys- Exchange which only trades in US fixed exchange (rigid) look when the economy them from Covid-19 with the members of ZNCC; this
tem would create a false equilibri- dollars, is sending a wrong signal it is supposed to move to a mar- shocks. has somewhat complicated the ac-
um between the Zimbabwe dollar on the ZSE status. ket-determined system. The delays ceptance and adherence to some
and the greenback, the commerce in settlement also create room for President Emmerson Mnangag- of the measures by business given
grouping said in its 2021 national Many companies have an- fall back to the parallel market. wa’s administration should imme- their scant knowledge and appre-
budget submissions. nounced their plans to delist from Frequency combined with decen- diately craft a new post-Covid 19 ciation of some of the policy inter-
the local bourse as it emerged that tralisation is key to achieving a economic blueprint to save local ventions Submissions that we are
Market forces should be left to it was playing a limited role in rais- market determined rate. industry, it said. making will not be effective as long
determine the exchange rate. As ing foreign exchange for their op- as the policy environment remains
long as the priority list is in ex- erations. “All players, banks, bureau de Government has already an- unfriendly and inconsistent.”
istence, stability will only be for changes etc should become active nounced that it would introduce
The national budget is expected
to be presented next month.

Page 14 Executive Chat NewsHawks
Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

AfDB warns We could not use that mon-
of deep ey to clear Zimbabwe’s debt be-
economic cause of the pari passu principles
which means if the AfDB loan
downturn was cleared, the World Bank loan
should be cleared thereafter.
A further contraction
of between 7,5% and When the government launched
8,5% is expected. the TSP (Transitional Stabilisation
Programme), debt repayment was
THE African Development Bank will depend on reforms and a ment has resorted to a foreign Walter Odero a major component and we know
(AfDB) has projected 8,5% eco- positive social contract. How has currency auction system to al- that the government expected dia-
nomic decline this year as Zim- Zimbabwe fared in this regard? locate in a command economic tion and to make sure expenditure logue and the clearing of the debt
babwe battles the effects of the fashion limited hard currency is controlled. within the TSP programme.
Covid-19 pandemic, prolonged WO: I think at the moment, during resources. How has this impacted
drought and a protracted econom- the onset of Covid-19, so many the economy and is this likely to Because if you don’t have that The SMP (Staff-Monitored Pro-
ic crisis despite optimistic predic- things are on hold. Some parts of ensure some sort of stability? stability, you cannot expect to have gramme by the IMF) was also
tions by Finance minister Mthuli our thinking are on hold and you other fundamentals moving in that geared towards that aspect. If you
Ncube who says the country has also expect some parts of govern- WO: Already we have seen some direction. read from the Somalia experience,
restored macro-economic stability ment behaviour to be on hold. sort of stability (in the foreign ex- the SMP is a major factor in clear-
by tacking fundamentals. change market and prices), it is not If we could have the banking ance of the arrears.
Social contract is about the gov- the best, but it’s the best thing the system operating a little more free-
The unrelenting economic prob- ernment promising the people and government has done in terms of ly, meaning that they could engage In the Zimbabwean case you
lems are set to continue into 2021, how it is interpreted. handling the foreign currency issue in free foreign currency trade, that know the SMP collapsed last year,
with AfDB, like Ncube, pinning at the moment. could go a long in helping to stabi- so the government and IMF are
hopes of recovery on mining, an Since the onset of Covid-19, sev- lise the economy. now engaging to see if it can be re-
improved agricultural season and eral things have been put on hold You remember when we stuck vived. We do not know if it has any
tourism. With the country reeling or operating in emergency. on the dollar 1:1 with the RTGS; If you go to the agriculture sec- timelines.
under a huge debt overhang and no we always had inflation rising. Up tor, having free movement of goods
feasible debt repayment strategy in When you are in emergency to the end of last year, we closed at would help. What do I mean by We are hinging our hope on that
place, the economic haemorrhage mode, even the social contract is 521%, in December. free movement of goods; don’t re- once the SMP resumes, it will then
is expected to persist as Zimbabwe put on hold. strict sales to GMB only in maize. guide us on arrears clearance. Once
is unlikely to access fresh funding But since the introduction of we get the SMP back on track, we
from multilateral institutions. When you are in an emergency, the foreign currency auction and With time as the economy stabi- will have a clear timeline.
sometimes some activities are put for the last three to five auctions, lises, we should see the reduction
AfDB country officer-in-charge on hold so that you respond to the inflation has been stabilising and in subsidies so that we have a free NC: Zimbabwe sought to imple-
Walter Odero (WO) spoke to The emergency and I think we cannot falling, actually to around 700%. If market system which is then help- ment the SMP which entailed a
NewsHawks correspondent Nyasha expect the government to meet all the gap is maintained between the ful to the economy. raft of economic and political re-
Chingono (NC) on post-Covid-19 the obligations when it is respond- black market and the auction sys- forms. Is AfDB satisfied with the
economic prospects, Zimbabwe’s ing to an emergency which is af- tem, we should have some sort of NC: AfDB has been leading talks pace of reforms?
debt situation and the bank’s facili- fecting everyone. stability. between Zimbabwe and inter-
ties for the private sector. Below are national financial institutions WO: There were endogenous and
excerpts of the interview: NC: What are some of the re- (IFIs) for Harare to come up with exogenous factors. As part of the
forms that Zimbabwe should se- a sustainable external arrears set- endogenous factors, there was Cy-
NC: The AfDB economic outlook NC: Which sectors of the econo- riously implement to turnaround tlement plan. Have the parties clone Idai.
for 2020 projects that Zimbabwe’s my are likely to be drivers of post- the economy? agreed a clear path on how Zim-
economy will contract by 4,6%. Covid-19 growth? babwe can settle its debt? With the government trying to
In the wake of Covid-19, what are WO: All macro-economic funda- deal with impacts of Cyclone Idai,
your current projections? WO: If tourism recovers and if we mentals in Zimbabwe have to be WO: You know the Lima story of it meant that the government could
get things sorted out at Victoria addressed. 2015 where there was an agree- not meet the covenant with IMF so
WO: In 2020, given the impact of Falls, which is the major tourist ment to clear the multilateral debts. that was the major factor.
Covid-19, we could have a contrac- destination and in other places like First, the foreign currency re- Under that agreement, the IMF
tion of 7,5%, but in the worst-case Nyanga, we are likely to experience form, which is already in (opera- (International Monetary Fund) So, the coming of Cyclone Idai
scenario we could get 8,5%. At the growth. tion through the) foreign curren- debt was cleared, while the AfDB and the drought was a major ef-
moment, we are in between; we cy auction, the government has and World Bank was to follow. We fect on the macro-economy where
have not seen a lot of economic The second one would be agri- addressed this, which I think is a have had discussion on modalities the government had to respond to
recovery more or less like last year. culture and tobacco. Zimbabwe is a great thing although not the best. for clearing. AfDB had US$500 some of the emergencies, including
mining country, so if we get gold, million which was available to help feeding the people.
The harvest has not been so platinum resuming greatly, that The government should always the government clear the debt.
good, especially in food crops. Re- could be another major driver. aspire to have a balanced budget, So, given that, the government
covery also in electricity is not go- as low as possible a fiscal deficit. As That money was available for could not meet the covenant agreed
ing to be maximum, I know Kariba We also expect the soft drivers, low as possible fiscal deficit means three countries which were in ar- with the IMF. Exogenous factors
has not been as good. if they have stability in the foreign the government has to strive to rears back then on a first come, first include issues to do with coordina-
currency, we expect it to drive raise funds domestically, that is to serve basis. tion which I think the government
We expect a further contraction growth. If the government is able have domestic resource mobilisa- has tried since the collapse of the
of between 7,5% and 8,5%. to control inflation, that also would That was Somalia, Zimbabwe SMP.
be a major driver. and Sudan. Since then, Somalia
NC: In your report, you also cleared its debt last year, it’s only NC: Another solution that has
stated that sustainable growth NC: The Zimbabwean govern- Sudan and Zimbabwe remaining. come under discussion is for
Zimbabwe to mortgage part of its
vast mineral wealth to offset the
debt. Do you think this is a prac-
tical plan?

WO: When you talk about the
wealth underground, the first that
comes to mind is inter-generation-
al equity.
We found these minerals there be-
cause the people who came before
us left them there. So, our children
should also find some benefit from
there so that we should not just say
in our time, ‘let’s mortgage every-
thing for the benefit of ourselves
and we leave those coming after us’.

So, I think what the government
must consider is the aspect of gen-
erational equity. The generations
that must come should benefit
from the minerals in the same way
this generation is enjoying.

NewsHawks Taking Stock Page 15

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Price Sheet

Frid ay , 16 Oct o b er 20 20 A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBA BW E STOCK EXCHA NGE

Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Ticker Price Traded (cents) Traded Traded Change Change (%) Cap
(cents) Volume Value ($) (cents) (%) ($m)
Price 1637,58
AFDIS Consumer Goods AFDIS: ZH 1637,58 157,00 - - - - 413,35 1 920,98
African Sun Consumer Services ASUN: ZH 155,00 - 210,00 500 785,00 2,00 1,29 528,00 1 352,98
ART ARTD: ZH 209,91 157,00 135,61 800 1 680,00 0,09 0,04 1515,38
Ariston Industrials ARISTON: ZH 135,91 210,00 390,43 5 400 7 323,00 -0,30 -0,22 615,62 917,65
Axia Consumer Services 399,81 135,00 399,50 125 100 488 424,00 -9,38 -2,35 548,55 2 206,91
BNC AXIA: ZH 399,75 390,00 22000,00 200 799,00 -0,25 -0,06 2369,10 2 127,43
BAT Consumer Goods BIND: ZH 22191,37 399,50 6100,00 156 600 34 452 000,00 -191,37 -0,86 360,73 4 952,43
CAFCA Basic Materials BAT: ZH 6100,00 22000,00 433,89 3326,58 4 539,37
Cassava CAFCA: ZH 434,86 3800,21 - - - - 209,92
CBZ Consumer Goods CSZL: ZH 3825,76 - 844,03 3 500 15 186,00 -0,97 -0,22 5351,46 532,84
Dairibord Industrials CBZ: ZH 844,03 434,00 68,00 140 900 5 354 500,00 -25,55 -0,67 1874,34 11 240,26
Dawn DZL: ZH 68,00 3800,00 1545,28 831,51 26 116,25
Delta Technology DAWN: ZH 1575,79 450,58 - - - - 353,49
Econet Banking DLTA: ZH 452,61 - 100,00 - - - - 201,51 3 021,63
Edgars ECO: ZH 100,00 - 1400,00 190 900 2 949 935,00 -30,51 -1,94 376,19 1 670,88
FBC Consumer Goods EDGR: ZH 1400,00 1540,00 115,00 39 700 178 880,00 -2,03 -0,45 2045,59 19 842,12
Fidelity Real Estate FBC: ZH 115,00 450,00 53,00 100 100,00 - - 1158,21 11 672,62
First Capital FIDL: ZH 50,18 100,00 400,04 100 1 400,00 - - 493,51
FML Consumer Goods FCA: ZH 421,67 1400,00 220,00 - - - - 1112,24 326,99
FMP Telecommunications FMHL: ZH 220,00 - 14,96 1 400 742,00 2,82 5,62 1194,12 9 407,30
GBH Consumer Services FMP: ZH 14,96 53,00 12,50 1 048 200 4 193 250,00 -21,63 -5,13 523,33
Getbucks GBH: ZH 12,50 400,00 1380,26 100 220,00 - - 125,26
Hippo Banking GBFS: ZH 1380,26 220,00 1891,07 - - - - 4,17 1 143,06
Innscor Financial Services HIPO: ZH 1891,99 - 610,00 - - - - 607,83 2 760,85
Lafarge 610,00 - 66,67 - - - - 433,84 2 723,95
Mash Banking INN: ZH 63,20 - 251,13 463 700 8 768 895,00 -0,92 -0,05 238,89
Masimba Financial Services LACZ: ZH 250,25 1900,00 - - - - 754,74 80,27
Medtech MASH: ZH - 8,00 600 400,00 3,47 5,49 1291,30 145,39
Meikles Real Estate MSHL: ZH 8,00 64,00 1535,71 202 100 507 539,00 0,88 0,35 426,32 2 664,19
Nampak Industrials MMDZ: ZH 1535,71 255,00 105,00 259 600 20 766,32 - - 504,61 10 680,32
NatFoods MEIK: ZH 105,00 8,00 5000,00 - - - - 45,83 488,00
NTS Financial Services NPKZ: ZH 5000,00 - - - - - 454,94 1 239,44
NMBZ Consumer Goods NTFD: ZH - 19,10 - - - - 788,37 606,86
OK Zim 19,10 - 299,95 - - - - 631,59 243,18
Padenga Industrials NTS: ZH 300,00 - 468,71 87 800 263 355,00 -0,05 -0,02 748,50 3 879,91
Powerspeed Industrials NMB: ZH 455,80 295,00 1498,41 14 000 65 620,00 12,91 2,83 491,67 793,43
Proplastics Real Estate OKZ: ZH 1400,00 470,00 155,00 6 300 94 400,00 98,41 7,03 675,00 3 420,01
RTG Industrials PHL: ZH 155,00 1400,00 599,00 - - - - 630,49
RioZim Healthcare PWS: ZH 598,87 - 200,00 200 1 198,00 0,13 0,02 1279,31 48,49
SeedCo Industrials PROL: ZH 200,00 599,00 888,89 1 100 2 200,00 - - 278,90 1 212,31
Simbisa Industrials RTG: ZH 888,89 200,00 1702,17 - - - - 963,86 5 811,98
Star Africa Consumer Goods RIOZ: ZH 1705,47 - 616,01 265 800 4 524 365,00 -3,30 -0,19 390,38 8 115,29
Truworths Industrials SEED: ZH 618,11 1700,00 17,00 2 268 000 13 971 220,00 -2,10 -0,34 378,87
TSL SIM: ZH 17,00 616,00 13,10 24 700 4 199,00 - - 589,47 580,07
Turnall Banking SACL: ZH 13,10 17,00 535,00 - - - - 606,27 1 509,09
Unifreight Consumer Services TRUW: ZH 535,00 - 58,41 - - - - 431,00 4 990,99
Willdale TSL: ZH 62,25 - 12,95 10 400 6 075,00 -3,84 -6,17 43,89 1 084,71
ZB Consumer Goods TURN: ZH 12,95 57,00 20,00 - - - - 471,43 4 179,31
Zeco Industrials UNIF: ZH 20,00 - 1500,00 - - - - 1983,33 3 463,11
Zimpapers Industrials WILD: ZH 1500,00 - 100 1 500,00 - -
Zimplow ZBFH: ZH 1500,00 0,02 - - - - - 801,56
ZHL Consumer Services ZECO: ZH 0,02 - 72,00 - - - - 437,31 50,31
ZPI Basic Materials ZIMP: ZH 72,00 - 500,00 - - - - 726,45
ZIMPLOW: ZH 500,00 - 250,00 - - - - 1566,67 1 910,50
TOTAL Consumer Goods ZHL: ZH 250,00 - 70,00 - - - - 1128,07 287,98
Consumer Goods 70,00 - 13,79
Consumer Goods ZPI: ZH 5 317 900 75 876 956,32 355,60
Consumer Services
Consumer Goods 2 627,86
0,09
Industrials
Industrials 414,72
Industrials 1 191,90
3 833,35
Banking 1 201,67
Industrials
Consumer Services 176 527,47
Industrials
Financial Services
Real Estate

FINSEC Open (cents) Close (cents) Change (%) YTD (%) Mkt Cap ($m) Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
OMZIL
3300,00 3300,00 - 175,00 2 739,39 Padenga 1498,41c +98,41c +7,03 +491,67
Index First Capital 53,00c +2,82c +5,62 +493,51
Close Change (%) Open YTD % Mash 66,67c +3,47c +5,49 +754,74
ZSE All Share OK Zim +2,83 +748,50
Top 10 1 493,49 -0,05 1 494,16 +549,09 African Sun 468,71c +12,91c +1,29 +528,00
Top 15 964,93 +0,05 964,44 +373,79 157,00c +2,00c
Small Cap +0,00 +459,01
Medium Cap 1 147,26 -0,54 1 147,25 +833,82 Top 5 Fallers Price Change % YTD %
5 950,78 -0,19 5 983,32 +965,14
3 030,86 3 036,58 Turnall 58,41c -3,84c -6,17 +431,00
FML 400,04c -21,63c -5,13 +1112,24
Axia 390,43c -2,35 +548,55
Delta 1545,28c -9,38c -1,94 +353,49
BAT 22000,00c -30,51c -0,86 +360,73
-191,37c

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Page 16 News Analysis NewsHawks
Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Govt’s economic
stability claims:
Huge exercise in
smoke and mirrors

BERNARD MPOFU These surpluses, he said, serve fessor of economics and analyst wealth, said Zimbabwe requires rather than slapping a tax on
as a buffer for shocks such as the Tony Hawkins, in an article we structural reforms first to before a them.
FINANCE minister Mthuli impact of Cyclone Idai, drought carry on this platform, said Ncu- sustainable economic programme
Ncube last week made bullish and Covid-19. be’s claims were unfounded. could be implemented. “Zimbabwe wants to be mod-
economic predictions, saying ern, but it degenerated to the
Zimbabwe, in the doldrums for Ncube said his surpluses are “To describe an economy with He said policy should be point where if we are realistic we
decades now, has weathered the also supporting social services 659.4% annual inflation, 98% formulated to boost the informal cannot regard it as modern and
storm and will bottom out this delivery, social protection and currency devaluation, double-dig- sector, saying fast-growing econ- you can’t assume or start from a
year with solid growth at a time infrastructure development. it GDP decline, three-quarters of omies like Malaysia had success- modern base.”
most regional and global econo- the population living at or below fully developed by applying such
mies have taken a serious knock While the minister’s list of the poverty line, more than half a model. Batanai Matsika, Head of Re-
due to the Covid-19 pandemic. achievements may well be true, a the population food insecure and search at Morgan & Co Securities,
closer scrutiny of the Transitional falling employment, both formal “Ncube is trying to apply said it is premature for Ncube to
Ncube also said he has intro- Stabilisation Programme which and informal, as stable is palpable formal economic remedies to an raise the champagne glass for a
duced a series of economic re- runs till year end shows gov- nonsense,” Hawkins said. informal and irrational situation. toast.
forms under government’s Transi- ernment has failed to meet key Trying to apply classic economic
tional Stabilisation Programme benchmarks such as double digit “Minister Ncube, better known theory to something which is “Still early days to conclude
(TSP) – which is now giving way growth, parastatal reforms, job for his acumen as a (financial) irrational doesn’t work. Basically if the economy is ticking or not,
to its successor plan the National creation and defending the value mathematician and expert on you have to take for instance the Matsika said.
Development Strategy – and that of the Zimbabwe dollar. algorithms, than his economics or informal sector and build that up
economic fundamentals have banking skills, cannot expect any- rather than splash it down. That’s The World Bank, in its latest
also stabilised, although inflation Currency reform, which led to one to take his stabilisation claim where your economic generation outlook report, contradicted Ncu-
remains unsustainably high at the bringing back of the Zimba- seriously. Yes, we have seen the comes from,” Chan said in an be’s bullish sentiments.
659.4%. bwean dollar – now trading at exchange rate stabilising over the interview.
US$1: ZW$90 on the local infor- past couple of months and infla- “Volatility in the global en-
Trumpeted fiscal mal market - has been a big fail- tion cooling off, but the real mea- “It’s not coming from the vironment due to COVID-19
balance, saying ure. While government intended sure of economic performance countryside, it’s not coming from pandemic, which is taking a heavy
fiscal deficits have to de-dollarise in a bid to failure is GDP Growth. Productivity is the mines or other sectors which toll on human life and placing
now been turned to meet its obligations, especially subdued and foreign direct invest- are being the subject of corrup- excessive pressure on health
into surpluses civil servants salaries, the econo- ment is at an all-time low.In his tion. You have over 80% or more systems, continues to negatively
my is now re-dollarising instead. paean of self-praise about his TSP, unemployment in Zimbabwe and impact Sub-Saharan Africa,” the
The minister cited fiscal Government had admitted as Ncube carefully ignores the fact who do all these people get their World Bank said.
consolidation, which includes much by allowing individuals and that all of his programme’s targets money from apart from the dias-
strengthened administrative mea- businesses to transact through a have been missed.” pora sending remittances home? “Economic and social impacts
sures, sealing revenue leakages, de facto dual currency system. That part of the economy that is at are immense, costing the region
enhanced revenue collections Stephen Chan, United King- least generating something needs between $37 and $79 billion in
through taxes, customs duty and Under the TSP, government dom-based world politics aca- to have an uplift and that means a estimated output losses in 2020,
the controversial 2% charges projected that the economy demic and former international tax-free holiday on cellphones or reducing agricultural productivity,
on electronic transactions. In would grow 27% over the three civil servant with the Common- other transactions or something weakening supply chains, increas-
addition, he said there is no more years to December 2020, but its ing trade tensions, limiting job
resort to central bank overdraft, growth was negligible and now prospects, and exacerbating politi-
issuance of Treasury Bills for with the impact of coronavirus cal and regulatory uncertainty.”
quasi-fiscal activities except for the damage could far worse as
budget, public wage bill below industrialists say, although the
50% from 92% in 2017. minister has sought to downplay
that. Inflation was targeted to
Rationalisation of posts, freeze average 5%, but surged from
on hiring, save for critical posts 10.6% in 2018, to 255% last year
or sectors and new procurement and 659.4% for September.
procedures. He also trumpet-
ed fiscal balance, saying fiscal Key targets that were missed by
deficits have now been turned huge margins also include targets
into surpluses since January for exports, imports, govern-
2019. Cumulative surplus was ment revenue and spending and
ZW$$395.5 million by December investment.
2019 and ZW$800 million for
the period January to June 2020. Economic analysts said time is
not yet right for the Cambridge
University-trained economics
professor, who also taught finance
at Oxford University and London
School of Economics, to make
such big calls on a turnaround
based on technical details and
wishful thinking alone when the
reality on the ground still shows
the economy is in a parlous state.

University of Zimbabwe pro-

NewsHawks Opinion/Analysis Page 17

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Post-Covid-19 economic outlook:
Official narrative versus grim reality
living standards, public sector ser- ernment services, in a widening
Tony vice provision, or educational and Finance minister Mthuli Ncube claims that at the end of his three-year range of taxes and in the payment
Hawkins health indicators. Only the budget Transitional Stabilisation Programme, the economy has stabilised. of Covid-19 allowances?
and balance of payments qualify
AS 2020 draws to a close, two because both are in “surplus”. a secondary function too— name- reserve money—not in US dollars The forex auction is not a
conflicting narratives of the Zim- They are only in surplus because ly price control. Because retailers but in ZWL. So why is inflation long-run strategy. It is a hand-
babwean economy are current— so much is excluded or treated are forced to price their products measured in US dollars “blended” to-mouth tactic to ration foreign
not unusual in highly polarised off-balance sheet. in both local currency and dollars with the ZWL unit? currency. There is no doubt that
situations. at the auction rate, by re-pegging it is inhibiting investment and
The second element is the the rate at around Z$81 to the The blended rate has huge economic growth and needs to be
On the one hand, the official selectivity exercised by official- US dollar, the authorities hope to shortcomings. How are the abandoned when, eventually, the
interpretation, expressed by dom. Monetary conditions, the control prices. weights—USD versus ZWL— de- economy returns to some sem-
Zanu-PF politburo spokesperson RBZ claims, are best captured by termined? Does ZimStat have any blance of normality.
Patrick Chinamasa, is that of a reserve money, which is a mere Clearly, this is not working— idea of the share of transactions
country “nearly out of the woods”, ZW$14 billion or 10.5% of money witness the 50% hike in electricity in the two currencies, not to men- At the end of the TSP, there is
supported by Finance minister supply. It is not a measure of mon- tariffs or the massive increase in tion rand or pula in the southern no strategy in place other than
Mthuli Ncube’s claim that at the etary tightness as the RBZ claims, medical aid subscriptions or inter- half of the country? the meaningless Vision 2030
end of his three-year Transition- because since December 2018 it net and mobile telephony tariffs, whose targets will have to be
al Stabilisation Programme, the has grown 327% while money which along with the impending One useful indicator is bank abandoned as already they are
economy has stabilised. Central supply has risen 1 200%. wages explosion will have massive deposits—normally used to mea- years, if not decades, out of reach.
bank officials and ministers insist knock-on effects right across the sure dollarisation. In the last year, A new development plan, the
that the “fundamentals”—narrow- This focus on residuals—statis- economy. Price controls never the share of US dollars in bank National Development Strategy, is
ly defined as just the budget and tics which reflect what the author- work, even when they are imple- deposits has more than doubled being drawn up but there will be
the balance-of-payments—are ities want the public to believe—is mented through the backdoor or from a quarter to over 60%. Far another void between the end of
sound now that the foreign ex- central to the official interpreta- side window in the form of a forex from de-dollarising—as the the TSP in December and a new
change auction rate has stabilised tion of the exchange rate “auction”, “auction”. There is much more to government claims—the economy programme which, if the transi-
and inflation slowed. which is not an auction at all. The inflation than the exchange rate. has actually re-dollarised. tional plan is any guide, will be
US$265 million allotted at the Key elements such as inflationary little more than a wish list.
To describe an economy with auction since June 23 is less than expectations, service charges of The blended rate is also no
570% annual inflation, 98% cur- one month’s imports of goods. all kinds and wages, which are in more than a guess because the ba- The missing bailout
rency devaluation, double-digit In the three months to August, catch-up mode, are major infla- sis of year-on-year comparisons is At some point there will have
GDP decline, three-quarters of imports were US$1.14 billion, so tion drivers. There is a huge wage unknown. It was illegal for much to be an IMF programme as a
the population living at or below total auction allocations covered explosion waiting in the wings, of 2019 to trade in US dollars, so precursor to debt restructuring
the poverty line, more than half less than a quarter of merchandise because the poverty line of Z$17 how does ZimStat know what the and possibly debt relief, without
the population food insecure, and costs, while ignoring US$100 mil- 500 a month for a family of five is US dollar prices were? which there will be no sustained
falling employment, both formal lion a month of so-called invisible six times the national minimum recovery. That is not on the cards
and informal, as “stable” is pal- imports—services of all kinds wage. Trade unions, teachers, The authorities have latched at present, for political as well as
pable nonsense. Minister Ncube, such as payment for software li- nurses, university lecturers and on to the blended rate because economic reasons. So long as the
better known for his acumen as cences, dividend outflows, interest employees right across the spec- it allows them to show a much authorities insist that there is no
a mathematician and expert on payments, insurance costs and trum are seeking to maintain their greater fall in the inflation rate, crisis, then logically there is no
algorithms than his economics foreign travel. real wages by demanding payment 421% blended as against 761% in need for IMF support.
or banking skills, cannot expect in real money—the US dollar, not ZWL terms.
anyone to take his stabilisation The claim that an auction that the local unit. In reality, the authorities must
claim seriously. covers no more than 15% of inter- This is short-sighted. If prices know not just that there is a crisis
national expenditures is a realistic, Don’t like the inflation rate? Try are measured in US dollars, albeit but that without a financial bail-
It is not surprising then that indeed accurate, yardstick of total another one and see if it fits partially, then employees and out. So long as they believe their
Ncube’s boasts are challenged forex market demand is plainly In recent months, the authorities businesses surely have a cast-iron own propaganda narrative the
by many in business, diplomats, absurd. The truth—or what RBZ hit on the marvellous wheeze of argument for demanding wages or outlook is bleak. Government be-
non-governmental organisations, governor John Mangudya calls measuring Zimbabwe prices in a setting prices in USD or at least in lieves time is on its side and that
the media, foreign as well as hypocrisy—is that demand is foreign currency to ensure that a blend with the local unit. it can sit out the “non-existent”
domestic, academics, opposition “managed” primarily through a the inflation rate falls. The prima- Illogicality and the strategy void crisis, but the numbers suggest
politicians and the trade unions. system of import priorities that ry task of a central bank in today’s This plays into the third ele- otherwise. Poverty rates, unem-
In his paean of self-praise about shut out a large element of market world is to achieve low inflation— ment of the New Dispensation’s ployment, socio-economic and
his TSP, Ncube carefully ignores demand. The RBZ refuses to not in a foreign currency but in economic policy: the strategy infrastructural decay, under-in-
the fact that all of his programme’s publish the total amount of bids the local unit. The RBZ seeks void. If the grand strategy is to vestment both private and public,
targets have been missed. nor does it try to explain how to slow inflation by controlling de-dollarise, then why does the debt distress, the brain drain—all
over three weeks in September, government facilitate and indeed of these are a reminder that end-
GDP, which was supposed to demand fluctuated in perfect use re-dollarisation in measuring game is on the horizon.
grow 27% over the three years to sync with supply between US$21 inflation, in setting prices for gov-
December 2020, has fallen more million and US$31.6 million, but Today, per capita incomes—in
than 20%; inflation, targeted to the rate barely moved. constant US dollars—are at their
average 5%, rose from 10.6% in lowest, barring the hyperinflation-
2018, to 255% last year and 570% When on September 22 the ary collapse of 2006 to 2008, since
so far in 2020. Also missed by supply was raised 50% to US$31.6 the late 1960s and one-third below
huge margins were Ncube’s targets million, miraculously demand their 1998 peak. There is no eco-
for exports, imports, government increased by the same amount. nomic strategy to reverse this long
revenue and spending and invest- This meant that it is the amounts run trend. Government continues
ment. offered and bought that “balance” to believe that future growth will
What crisis? There is no crisis the market, not the price (auction be driven by mining—hugely de-
Three elements of the official nar- rate). Obviously, demand is being pendent not just on the pace but
rative stand out. The first is official managed to satisfy supply at the also the nature of global economic
determination to ignore “real” rate “chosen” by the RBZ, not by growth—and agriculture.
economic fundamentals in favour the market. Mangudya says that
of selected, distorted financial is hypocrisy. Others believe it is This ignores the potential
ones. demand controls. impact of climate change and
global policies to curb carbon fuel
In the official narrative, GDP Moreover, it is not an auction in usage. The dislocations imposed
performance is not a fundamen- the real meaning of the term. The by Covid-19 are a moment for
tal. Nor are employment, wages, main seller, by far the govern- economic policy reset, though few
ment, tries to keep the rate as low in Zimbabwe, either in govern-
as possible. Does a Dutch flower ment or business, acknowledge
grower or Zimbabwe tobacco that reality. Unless and until the
grower go the auction to sell for paradigm shifts, economic—and
the lowest price? social—performance and wellbe-
ing will fall well short of potential.
So the RBZ forex sales are not
auctions but an allocation system, Hawkins is a University of
designed to ration scarce forex Zimbabwe economics professor
while controlling the price. It has and analyst.

Page 18 Africa News NewsHawks
Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Nigerians
demand end
to police
brutality

LAGOS, Nigeria — With To many, Mr. Buhari’s re- as a faceless, 15-member SARS officers from January psychological evaluations ican stars like Chance the
protests breaking out across sponse was too little, too late, team that traveled in two un- 2017 to this May. Many of the for reassigned SARS officers, Rapper and Cardi B.
Nigeria and in expatriate Ni- and they predicted it would marked buses, its officers of- victims were between 18 and and compensation for vic-
gerian communities around do little to placate the angry ten wearing neither uniforms 35, the human rights group tims of police violence. They Demonstrations in shows
the world, the country’s pres- young Nigerians who have nor name tags. said. Nearly half of Nigeria’s are also pushing for better of solidarity have been held
ident vowed to a skeptical been blocking major routes population of 182 million pay for police officers to re- across the Nigerian diaspora
public on Monday that he in cities across the country to The anonymity was con- population is below age 30, duce the financial exploita- in cities like Atlanta, Berlin
would crack down on rogue protest the police unit. One sidered vital for taking on the one of the world’s largest con- tion of citizens. and London.
police officers accused of protester in Lagos, Olasun- gangs that openly terrorized centrations of young people.
brutalizing citizens. kanmi Amoo, 26, said Pres- Lagos at the time. But as the The government has claimed Protesters are also de- In New York young pro-
ident Buhari’s statement was police unit grew, establishing before that it planned to shut manding the release of testers gathered in front of
President Muhamma- a hollow promise — and she itself throughout the coun- down the unit, but its officers those arrested at the recent the Nigerian Consulate Gen-
du Buhari’s promise came noted that the demonstra- try, its faceless nature opened are still on the streets. demonstrations, and a re- eral in Midtown to share
a day after his government tions had not come to a halt. the door to abuse, making it quirement that the police use their own stories of police
announced that it would dis- difficult to identify and re- “The government dis- only rubber bullets during brutality while in Nigeria
mantle a widely feared po- “We’re all still outside,” she port rogue officers and em- banded SARS in 2017, in civil unrest. and to demand action from
lice unit known as SARS, for said. “People are just very boldening them to act with 2018 and in 2019,” said the Nigerian government.
Special Anti-Robbery Squad. wary because you can talk all impunity, critics say. Omobolanle Adams, 25, a The protests broke out in
you want, but if you don’t do Nigerian graduate student major Nigerian cities, in- Meanwhile Nigeria’s po-
“The disbanding of SARS anything we’re still going to The SARS unit has been at Boston University. “We’re cluding Lagos and the cap- lice chief has ordered the
is only the first step in our be here. We’re coming back accused of targeting young not buying it this time.” ital, Abuja, and the outrage unconditional release of
commitment to extensive tomorrow. We don’t trust people who appear well- quickly spread online. all demonstrators arrested
police reforms,” Mr. Buhari him, and we don’t believe dressed, shaking them down Protesters say they won’t during protests against po-
said in a televised statement, him.” for money, and torturing be satisfied until the pres- The #EndSARS hashtag lice brutality.
speaking out for the first time and abusing and even killing ident issues an executive on Twitter soon garnered
since protests started last The Special Anti-Rob- those who resist. order and until clear action global attention, resonating This was a key demand of
week. “We will also ensure bery Squad was created in is taken not just to disband particularly in the United protesters who have rallied
that all those responsible for 1992 and charged with tack- Amnesty International SARS but to address broader States, birthplace of the Black against the hated Special An-
misconduct are brought to ling the problem of violent says it documented more problems with the police. Lives Matter movement. ti-Robbery Squad (Sars) in
justice.” crime in Lagos. It operated than 82 cases of abuse and major cities.
extrajudicial killings by Their demands include The Nigerian protests have – The New York Times/BBC
been embraced by top Amer-

Chinese trade grows as others struggle amid Covid-19

China has recorded strong downs and public fear cut in trade since then has been In August, the Japanese than in its new forecast is as the IMF expected.
growth in trade, while other spending. driven by a surge in inter- economy was revealed to “sizable”. The return to growth in
major economies still strug- national demand for home have shrunk at its fastest rate
gle with the impact of coro- But the data suggests a electronics, medical devices on record, partly because The predicted global eco- China, where the pandemic
navirus. rapid recovery in China and textiles, including per- of a fall in exports. The US nomic contraction is more arrived first and was held
from an initial reduction in sonal protective equipment. economy saw its fastest con- moderate than the IMF en- back first, was stronger than
Exports in September overseas orders sparked by traction in decades in July. visaged four months ago, expected.
rose 9.9%, while imports the pandemic. However, they warn some at 4.4%. That is followed by
grew 13.2%, official data of this demand could begin Meanwhile, the Inter- rebound of 5.2% next year, China’s biggest trading
show. China was the first coun- to fall. national Monetary Fund which is less than the previ- partner is the Association
try to be hit by the coronavi- (IMF) is forecasting a some- ous prediction. of Southeast Asian Nations,
The rush of imports cut rus outbreak, reporting the In the year up to the end what less severe recession which includes Malaysia
China’s usually meaty trade first cases late last year. of September, China’s com- than it predicted in June for Next year’s world down- and Singapore.
surplus - the amount by bined imports and exports the global economy. grade is less than this year’s
which exports exceed im- The world’s second big- with other nations reached upgrade. The slightly less- Its next biggest customers
ports - to $37bn from $59bn gest economy saw a sharp 23.12 trillion yuan ($3.4tn, But the IMF says in its bleak assessment reflects were the European Union
in August. decline in the first three £2.6tn), up 0.7% and revers- World Economic Outlook downturns in several large and US, China’s General
months of 2020 amid strict ing the hit the country took that the global economy is developed economies in the Administration of Customs
Most other large econo- lockdown measures, before in the early days of the coro- still in deep recession and April-to-June quarter of the said.
mies are expected to suffer bouncing back in July. navirus pandemic. the risk of a worse outcome year that were not as severe
large contractions as lock- – BBC News
Analysts say the recovery

NewsHawks World News Page 19

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Belarus USOPINION Election 2020:
opposition Why Arizona matters
threatens to Trump and Biden
mass strike
In the searing midday heat Outside Biden’s support-
BELARUS’S opposition has been in exile since Au- posing Mr Lukashenko in Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Peoria, Arizona, peo- ers are less quiet. They wave
leader has threatened a mass gust. August’s presidential elec- Declare publicly that you no ple wearing bright red banners and dance to music,
walkout by workers if Presi- tion and Mrs Tikhanovska- longer support the regime,” MAGA (Make America whooping and cheering.
dent Alexander Lukashenko Violence against protest- ya stood in her husband’s Mrs Tikhanovskaya contin- Great Again) hats hold their
does not resign in the next ers must stop and political place. ued in what many consider smartphones high, filming Kareem, a young decora-
13 days. prisoners must be released, her strongest statement to as the multiple vehicles of tor, says the coronavirus and
Mrs Tikhanovskaya said, a “We have said more than date. the vice-presidential mo- particularly Donald Trump’s
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya day after police were autho- a few times that we are torcade sweep down empty contraction of it will make
also threatened a huge na- rised to use lethal weapons ready for dialogue and ne- The ultimatum is an at- streets, carrying Mike Pence more people vote, and vote
tionwide protest in her ulti- against protesters. gotiations. But holding talks tempt to increase the po- to a rally. Democrat. “There is no way
matum to the long-serving [with opponents] behind litical pressure on Mr Lu- this can’t hurt him” he says.
leader. If the demands, including bars is not a dialogue,” she kashenko but it also seems To chants of “four more “This is a slap in his own
Mr Lukashenko’s departure said on Tuesday. intended to inject new en- years”, Donald Trump’s face.
On Monday EU officials from office, are not met by ergy into the street protests, right-hand man fist-pumps
agreed to impose sanctions 25 October, his opponents “Everyone who has not explains BBC Moscow cor- the air on stage. Outside the “He made it look like it
against Mr Lukashenko. will mobilise a national pro- yet made the decision to respondent Sarah Rainsford. venue, I ask those still queu- was nothing the whole time
test and strike, she said. switch to the side of the peo- ing to get in whether they and now he has it. It’s made
Protests have swept the ple is an accessory to terror. — BBC News think the coronavirus pan- him look like he was treat-
country since Mr Lukashen- “On 26 October all enter- demic will have an impact ing our country like it was a
ko claimed victory in an Au- prises will begin a strike, all on the way people vote. game, it was a joke, and now
gust poll widely viewed as roads will be blocked, state- he has it. It hurts his cam-
rigged. owned stores will no longer This isn’t the easiest task. paign.”
have any sales,” Mrs Tikha- Many here are not fond of
He has ruled Belarus for novskaya wrote on social the media, nor of wearing An older couple, Bet-
26 years and is often de- media app Telegram. face masks. sy and Rick, have just cast
scribed as “Europe’s last dic- their votes at a polling sta-
tator”. The opposition are calling “Absolutely it will,” says tion nearby. Rick says the
the demands “the people’s Gary, a 74-year-old Trump pandemic has shown that
On Tuesday, Mrs Tikha- ultimatum” and they come supporter. “One hundred the president can’t manage a
novskaya said Belarus had after Mr Lukashenko visited percent it will, because the public health crisis that has
“had enough” after two political prisoners in a jail media have spread fear affected the whole country
months of “political crisis, where Mrs Tikhanovskaya’s and told people it’s Trump’s and the whole world.
violence and lawlessness”. husband is behind bars. fault.”
Joe Biden
She issued three demands He was blocked from op- “I’m afraid so” says Sher- He says the fact that half
from Lithuania, where she ry, a young mother and Is- the White House has now
raeli immigrant. “They’ve been infected shows he’s
Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan told people to stay home for mismanaged the whole
donate $100 million to U.S. election months and that it’s Trump’s thing.
fault. Basically blaming him Betsy loudly whispers
Facebook Inc Chief Exec- Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, and wife Priscilla Chan /File Pic for a pandemic that started though her floral mask: “I
utive Officer Mark Zucker- in China.” think the fact he’s on steroids
berg and his wife, Priscilla foster a more informed and workers da. That’s false,” he said. has altered his mental facul-
Chan, said on Tuesday that engaged democracy, and In the post, Zuckerberg Zuckerberg and Chan’s Another woman, also ties.” The same happened to
they will donate an addi- helping to modernize U.S. called Sherry, says it will a friend of hers, she says.
tional $100 million to sup- elections.” also hit back at lawsuits election infrastructure do- have an impact, but in a She rolls her eyes and in
port election officials and trying to block the use of nations come as Facebook good way. She says Trump the same loud whisper tells
fund infrastructure for the The pair previously do- the funds: “Since our initial faces both regulatory scru- now has personal experi- me she’s embarrassed and
U.S. election in November. nated $300 million to help donation, there have been tiny from Washington and ence with the virus, that it hopes people don’t think all
the U.S. election process multiple lawsuits filed in pressure from lawmakers to has made him “more hu- Americans are like him.
“We’ve gotten a far great- deal with challenges related an attempt to block these protect against misinforma- man” and people will be Joe Biden is currently
er response than we expect- to the COVID-19 pandem- funds from being used, tion and other election-re- “more sympathetic towards leading in the national polls,
ed from election officials ic, for example, by funding based on claims that the or- lated abuses on its platform. him”. and here in Arizona. But
needing funding for voting voting equipment and pro- ganizations receiving dona- there is deep scepticism, not
infrastructure, so today tective equipment for poll tions have a partisan agen- — Reuters Joy tells me it will make just of the polls, but of how
we’re committing an addi- no difference. “I loved him coronavirus cases are count-
tional $100 million to the before he had the coronavi- ed, and even how the votes
Center for Tech and Civic rus and I love him now”. will be come November.
Life to make sure that ev- David says he feels they’ll
ery jurisdiction that needs Arizona used to be a ruby use fear to sway the elec-
funding to help people vote red state that any Republi- tion. “They’re going to make
safely can get it,” Zucker- can candidate could rely on. people so afraid of the virus
berg said in a Facebook But in recent years things they’re going to keep people
post. have changed here. Dramat- away from the polls. And I
ically. think the mail-in voting is
“So far, more than 2,100 going to be manipulated. It
local election jurisdictions Over the past 30 years or will have an impact on both
have submitted applications so the population has dou- sides.”
to CTCL for support.” bled. Now there are more — BBC News
younger people and more
CTCL is a Chicago-based Latinos. Due to an influx
nonprofit that, according to of people from more liber-
its website, is “working to al leaning states, the pop-
ulation has become more
diverse, and more Demo-
cratic.

But this is a very differ-
ent scene. The Democrats
hoping to push Trump and
Pence out of the White
House in November visit
small businesses in Phoenix,
listening quietly as they are
shown medical gowns.

Everyone is wearing
masks and standing at a safe
social distance.

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 20 Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

ADDY KUDITA Jah Prayzah’s moment sic superstar, had at the time party dos. In the fog of the
of reckoning just about used up his musi- succession intrigue within
THE current social media cal bag of tricks in an illustri- the ruling Zanu PF, the song
hullabaloo surrounding the For all the beauty of his music – to his legion of fans, especially female ous music career spanning seemed to trend as an an-
campaign by Jah Prayzah’s ones; and for all the melodic and lyrical genius of his compositions several decades. them for the Lacoste faction.
team to get him voted the
entertainer of the year and as the nomination of a ‘mere’ for the elite and monied folk The likes of Information Thomas Mapfumo, the Latterly there were mo-
best male artist (east/south/ artist for an international of Harare’s leafy suburbs. The permanent secretary Nick music guru, was in self-im- ments when the G40 ap-
north) in the on-going Af- award of excellence elicit so kind that haunt the Merekis Mangwana have indeed tak- posed exile in the United peared to be appropriating it
rica Entertainment Awards much controversy? or even the Pablos (hangout en to social media to rally States with his music barely to insist that its lyric referred
USA serves as an instructive places and night spots). Zimbabweans to support filtering through the local to the party leader Robert
moment for both musicians Jah Prayzah has Jah’s nominations. airwaves to rock the fans. Mugabe, then president.
and music lovers alike. essentially been Khanyile Mlotshwa, a His anti-regime stance wasn’t
the go-to artist for doctoral student and former Jah’s corpus of recorded getting much airplay. Jah found himself in
The animus toward Jah the good times in arts reporter, offer some in- works in itself generally re- the eye of a political storm
Prayzah in certain quarters a nation of ‘crying sights on the issue. flects and signals the coming Zimbabwean audiences and the release of Mudha-
is motivated his failure to children and laugh- of party man musician with were looking and were ready ra Achauyain 2017, months
support the #Zimbabwe- “I believe, considering an ear for catchy hooks un- for someone new to follow. before the coup, appeared to
LivesMatter social media ing hyenas’ the indifference and Jah derpinned by an incessant Jah came through with a some to have a connotative
campaign on protests against Prayzah’s silence in the face rhythm that commands feet strong raspy voice backed by meaning and reference to a
human rights abuses in the Perhaps ‘mere’ is not the of the regime’s brutality, one to the dance floor. a musical stew that included fearsome elder who would
country. It was joined by right term when it comes cannot blame those among Jit and inflections of reggae come to rule.
celebrities far and wide, in- to depicting Jah Prayzah’s us who refuse to support Initially decked in faux and mbira.
cluding South Africa’s AKA music career which really him…,” Mlotshwa said. military fatigues, Jah and Of course, the artist reject-
and Burna Boy from Nigeria sprung into life around 2013 his Third Generation band And he was unstoppable ed the political innuendo but
who incidentally happens to with the release of songs “Zimbabweans under- struck a dashing figure which as he churned out hits which that did not stop the political
be one of the artists vying such as ‘Tsviriyo’ and ‘Gochi stand that and one can see demanded and commanded demonstrated his canny factions from ascribing po-
for top honours alongside gochi’ all perfect party ditties how the state media is cam- attention from music fans fe- grasp of his native Zezuru litical meaning to his music
Jah Prayzah (born Mukud- paigning for him; regime just male and male alike. dialect. With colourful met- and given his close army
zei Mukombe) and a couple could not resist the tempta- aphor, symbol and rhyme, association as cultural am-
illustrious others. tion to try and use this mo- One must remember that the rugged cadence of Jah bassador, the link was not
ment for (cultural) propa- Oliver Mutukudzi, the late Prayzah’s music carried him tenuous. Though at the time
The competition is heated ganda capital.” long-time Zimbabwean mu- to greater heights. Witting many did not know it, the
and artists are trying to mar- or unwittingly, he became a army would prove pivotal in
shal all the support that their mascot for the military es- the succession politics with-
fellow country folk can lend tablishment in the sunset of in Zanu PF; they became the
him to trump competitors. the Mugabe years; he became Kingmakers.
their cultural ambassador
Not for Jah Prayzah and his dashing frame wore In fact, the mass pro-
though - not this time the uniform with upstanding test march against Mugabe
around - as it was in 2016 military pride. For a season, before his resignation was
when he won the MTV lis- no one could fault him circa ‘choreographed’ by the army
tener’s choice award. 2016/17. Then the military with marchers being guided
was not directly involved in on how to protest under the
For all the beauty of his politics. cover of military tanks and
music – to his legion of fans, other heavy equipment.
especially female ones; and Although the military
for all the melodic and lyrical has always been involved in The theme song then be-
genius of his compositions, politics since the liberation came Kutonga kwaro(it’s
Jah Prayzah has essentially struggle bdays, dating back rule), which was even sung at
been the go-to artist for the to the Mgagao Declaration the Zanu PF central commit-
good times in a nation of in 1975, and throughout tee meeting which removed
‘crying children and laugh- the war, it was always in the Mugabe as party leader.
ing hyenas’ (to borrow a line shadows. But towards the
from one of imbongi Albert coup which led to the top- The music of Jah blared
Nyathi’s seminal poems). pling of Mugabe in 2017, the from car radios in the ca-
army came to the forefront of cophony of celebration
Maybe that is the gist of Zanu PF succession and in- marking Mugabe’s fall
the controversy that Jah’s ternal power struggles. around the country.
musical content is not re-
flective enough of the daily Jah Prayzah was in the mix No doubt, the die had
struggles of the masses; that with his songs and perfor- been cast and Jah’s star rose
is it sometimes doesn’t reso- mances in military fatigues. higher than ever before.
nate with the struggles of the Insiders in his band said
majority. There has not been their logistics, the uniforms For a while, he enjoyed
an artist in recent memory and some costs were paid for the perch that the likes of
that has evoked as much de- by the military. Mapfumo had at the dawn of
rision as he has devotion. It independence. He appeared
is evident to say that he ap- For the record, Jah Prayzer to have prophesied the rise
pears to be morphing into a was also a brand ambassador of the country’s new leader
polarising figure, altogether a of other institutions such as nicknamed Garwe (which
victim and some say a more PSI and Chicken Inn – not coincides with Mnangag-
than willing pawn in Zimba- just the army - all latching wa’s nickname ‘crocodile’ by
bwe’s political chessboard. onto his bootstraps as his star his legion of party faithfuls,
was on the ascendant. hence Kutonga kwaro.
But why are the Zimba-
bwean social media streets Jah’s wearing of fatigues But the honeymoon for
astir with both Jah Prayzah did not appear to stand in the both Jah Prayzah and the
bashing and praising alike way of his fans adoring him army for which he was cul-
with the former being argu- nor did his close association tural ambassador was short-
ably more vehement than the with military establishment. lived in the aftermath of the
latter now? post-election protest march-
Indeed, the title track of es which ensued and culmi-
Why does an event such his 2016 album Mudhara nated in the killing of eight
Achauya(the old man will people by security forces.
come) was played at ruling
That marked a turning
point.

NewsHawks People & Places Page 21

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Zimbabweans just love Emirates

A TOTAL of 38 000 Zimba- With travel restrictions World airline rankings “Emirates Skywards has
bwean travellers are among still in place around the expanded its range of part-
27 million members of world due to Covid-19, This is the top 20 airlines in the world for 2020, according to ners over the past 20 years
Emirates Skywards, a loy- the loyalty programme has AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards, which judges car- to create new, exciting and
alty programme by one of helped retain its silver, gold riers based on major safety and government audits alongside 12 exceptional value offerings
the world’s biggest airlines, and platinum members tier key criteria, including fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, for its diverse membership
Emirates, and the budget review dates for the next 12 investment rating, product offerings, and staff relations. base,” the airline said.
carrier flydubai, showing months.
locals just love the Dubai- The 20 best airlines for 2020: 11. Lufthansa Emirates says the pro-
based airline. This gives assurance to 12. Finnair gramme has grown through
customers who may not be 1. Air New Zealand 13. Japan Airlines investment in establishing
Emirates, celebrating 20 able to travel immediately. 2. Singapore Airlines 14. KLM partnerships through digi-
years of excellence and in- 3. All Nippon Airways 15. Korean Airlines tal technology.
novation, is the largest air- “Emirates Skywards Sil- 4. Qantas 16. Hawaiian Airlines
line plying the Zimbabwe- ver, Gold and Platinum 5. Cathay Pacific 17. British Airways “Emirates Skywards has
an route and operates the members have had their 6. Emirates 18. Alaska Airlines expanded its range of part-
world’s biggest fleets of Air- tier review dates extended 7. Virgin Atlantic 19. Delta Air Lines ners over the past 20 years
bus A380s and Boeing 777s. to enable an additional 12 8. EVA Air 20. Etihad Airways to create new, exciting and
months at their current sta- 9. Qatar Airways exceptional value offerings
Over the past two de- tus. The loyalty programme 10. Virgin Australia for its diverse membership
cades, Skywards has wit- has also extended the valid- base,” it said.
nessed a surge in member- ity of any Skywards Miles members are drawn from Zimbabwe, United King- tralia, India and the United
ship, growing from 32 000 due to expire from April 180 countries, including dom, United States, Aus- Arab Emirates. The loyalty programme
in 2005 to today’s milestone 2020 until 31 March 2021. currently has 200 partners,
27 million, covering 130 Members can also redeem including 16 airline part-
destinations. The loyalty Miles up to 11 months in ners, more than 100 hotel
programme has weathered advance for an extensive partners, 33 financial part-
the Covid-19 storm, retain- range of rewards,” Emirates ners, 22 retail and lifestyle
ing customers through of- said in a statement. partners, seven car rental
fering member “tier miles”. partners as it seeks to grow
The Emirates Skywards its membership.

Property
NewsHawks

Page 22 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

The home of prime property: [email protected]

Property sector feels Covid-19 pinch

DUMISANI NYONI has been on the capacity of property sales is due to the the office sector’s chances of the sector remain relatively Government-imposed mea-
tenants to pay the rentals as reduction of disposable in- recovery are unclear, it said. low with an average of US$1- sures such as travel restric-
AS Covid-19 continues rav- the lockdown tremendously come of many Zimbabweans US$2/m². tions and social distancing
aging all sectors of the econ- affected business operations, as properties are becoming The outbreak has put in effect saw a disruption in
omy, the property sector has movement of people or cus- unaffordable to the majority pressure on the office space “Covid-19 has not made property development as it
not been spared as it battles tomers, limited operating of the population,” the con- market and rental growth, as the industrial sector’s oper- requires labour to be phys-
foreign currency shortag- hours, limited international sultancy firm said. a result of low economic ac- ating environment easier as ically at work, hence the
es, inflationary pressures, trade impacting on restock- tivity and reduced business production capacity in Zim- slowdown in construction
shrinking economy, waning ing or supply of raw materi- The report notes that the activity. The sector’s occu- babwe was reduced owing and delay in site inspections.
disposable incomes, low ca- als, among other things. pandemic mitigation, which pancy level is estimated at to the pandemic lockdown, Some planned projects were
pacity and demand. involves restricted move- 60% for the bulk of the office putting at risk the security put on hold while the sector
“All those factors reduced ment, could directly con- buildings in the CBD and of income streams and a re- assessed the viability of long-
The pandemic has had a revenues on operating en- tribute in a major way to the this is projected to decrease duction in the demand for term recovery.
negative impact on property tities, invariably reducing reduction in sales as proper- as companies adopt technol- industrial space. During this
owners as well as all areas of their capacity to pay rentals, ty visits have been restricted ogy for remote working and period, no recent sales have Retail sector
real estate business with val- which are a critical compo- and decisions to buy are only voluntarily surrender space. been recorded. Industrial in- The pandemic has already
uations, property manage- nent in the calculation of supported by an inspection vestments are considered the had considerable impact on
ment and development be- capital values. In a nutshell, of the subject property. Industrial sector least attractive of all sectors,” earnings of most business
ing the worst affected while property values have taken The report notes that the it said. entities, at least in the recent
estate agents have also been a knock due to Covid-19. In Office sector industrial sector has not past. The last quarter saw
seriously affected. real terms, the cumulative Integrated Properties said been spared by the economic Zimbabwe’s industrial business slowing, as most
impact will be as high as 30% in the previous year, office downturn, resulting in high sector continues to decline, retail shops were closed due
The poor performance of to 40% at the end of the year,” space uptake has been poor voids. The industrial proper- with some manufacturing to the Covid-19 lockdown or
the economy has had a neg- it said. as a result of the depressed ty sector is negatively affected companies either shunning had limited trading hours.
ative effect on the real estate economic climate in Zim- by the flooding of imported operations or consolidating. As such, voids are expected
sector. Property sales babwe. Occupiers have been goods and the inability of the Lack of credit, high inter- to increase, as already some
From research conducted struggling to meet rent and local manufacturing indus- est rates, competition from companies are closing or
In its latest second-quar- by the REIZ research team, service charges, and the lev- try to compete with external cheap imports and obsolete downsizing their operations,
ter property market report, property sales are reported els of arrears were generally suppliers, especially from production equipment have the report says.
Integrated Properties, a real to have gone down drastical- high. China and South Africa. negatively impacted the The way forward
estate consultancy firm, re- ly by as much as 40% as both Rental defaults in the of- Due to the depression manufacturing sector, result- As a way forward, In-
veals that the worst affected buyers and sellers adopt a fice sector have increased within the industrial sec- ing in high vacancy rates and tegrated Properties said
were the central business dis- wait-and-see attitude. significantly with demand tor, many companies have voluntary surrender of space. Covid-19 has redefined the
trict (CBD) retail, offices and “We note, the econom- declining due to the under- downsized operations and future of the real estate land-
industrial sectors. ic situation on the ground performing economy. With surrendered space. In turn, Residential property scape as there is no solution
reflects that the decrease in the pandemic taking a toll, vacancy increases. Rentals in Demand for residential in place for the pandemic in
Covid-19 accelerated dig- property remains high, with the foreseeable future.
itization, which increased the national housing backlog “The hard reality is there
mobile banking and online estimated to be around 1,3 are no chances that the virus
banking, resulting in the clo- million units, with Harare will just disappear and life
sure of banking halls which in need of more than half- returns to normalcy. Thus,
previously attracted the best a-million houses, according Covid-19 should not be seen
rentals. to the 2020 Zimbabwe In- as an isolated crisis but rath-
frastructure Investment Pro- er part of the new normal,” it
For instance, banks closed gramme. said.
most of their branches to uti- However, amid the neg- It said the low attainable
lise e-banking. ative effects of Covid-19, income and the huge vacan-
no meaningful transactions cy rate in CBD office space
Further, the e-commerce have been recorded in the which was further triggered
is increasingly replacing sale of houses and apart- by the covid-19 outbreak
physical shopping. ments as they were put on needs to be changed in or-
hold due to the difficulty in der to minimise losses and
This, according to Inte- arranging sales visits and reduce vacancy rate in prop-
grated Properties, will have inspection of property, Inte- erties.
an impact on retail space. grated Properties said. “Property managers and
Clients show a preference for “The mortgage interest investors need to look into
strategically located ware- rates hovering around 35% change of use of properties.
houses. In retail space, voids affordability becomes the The changes would encour-
will increase. challenge as the prices of age developers to bring un-
properties have skyrocketed, derused offices back into ef-
Working from home has tracking the exchange rate. fective use as houses for local
become the norm, aided by Rentals within the residen- residents. They will help fill
the creation of online meet- tial sector have also been ag- in the housing backlog in the
ing platforms. The game has gressively shaken up by the country; they will also help
changed as offices are no Covid-19 pandemic,” it said. create jobs in the construc-
longer considered a priority, Construction sector tion and service industries,
courtesy of the pandemic, Integrated Properties said and help regenerate our town
the report notes. construction is one of the centres.”
worst affected sectors due to
Property values the outbreak of Covid-19.
The report notes a direct
relationship between the
values of income-generating
properties and the rentals
payable. It says the unde-
niable impact of Covid-19

NewsHawks Sport Page 23

Issue 1, 16 Oct 2020

Saudi-born
cricketer
named in

Zim’s squad

STAFF WRITER

Faraz Akram could become
the second Asian-born
cricketer to represent Zim-
babwe in the country’s post-
Test era after the Mashona-
land Eagles all-rounder was
included in a training squad
for the upcoming tour of Pa-
kistan.
The 26-year-old Akram,
who was born in Saudi Ara-
Premiership bia, is one of two uncapped
star Chawatama players in the 25-member
hopes for squad, the other one being
England call-up exciting 19-year-old bats-
man Milton Shumba.
Zimbabwe’s Paki-
stani-born star all-rounder
Sikandar Raza is the other
player in the squad with nat-
uralised citizenship.
Like Raza, Akram — who
grew up in the Zimbabwean
capital Harare — also has
family roots in Pakistan.
Chamu Chibhabha, who
was named limited-overs
captain in January this year,
will lead Zimbabwe on the
Pakistan tour.

STAFF WRITER March 2017 and has not told rugbypass.com. spirited quest to qualify for the Sables. While Chawat- Faraz Akram
looked back since that “I did the rounds in the the 2023 World Cup and, ama has been getting regu-
WITH three years of En- breakthrough. A destructive should they succeed, it will lar Premiership game-time The tour will have three
glish Premiership rugby ball-carrier whose mobility national leagues, in amateur be the African nation’s first since competition resumed ODIs and three T20Is. The
under his belt, tight-head around the park defies his rugby. appearance at the game’s in August, another prop ODI series will be part of
prop Lovejoy Chawatama massive build, Chawatama biggest stage since the from the Southern African the International Cricket
is aiming for a possible in- says he is now hoping to “My dream was to play 1991 edition in Britain and country, Zimbabwe star Fa- Council ODI Super League
ternational career with En- grab the attention of En- Premiership rugby and I France. rai Mudariki, has not been to be played on October 30,
gland ahead of his native gland’s national selectors. have achieved the dream, making the side for Worces- November 1 and 3 while the
Zimbabwe. but it’s not enough for me. So, if an England call-up ter Warriors. The high- T20I series will take place
“I’ve come a long way I’m pushing to one day be- does not materialise, the ly-rated Sables front-rower’s on November 7, 8 and 10 re-
The 27-year-old Cha- since I joined (London) come the first-choice tight- former Watershed College Warriors career has been spectively.
watama, who relocated to Irish from London Welsh, head with Irish and my next student might consider the disrupted by a nagging in-
the United Kingdom from understanding what it dream is to try and play for Zimbabwe option, especial- jury that has restricted him Zimbabwe will be re-
Zimbabwe at the age of means to be a professional, England.” ly with chances of securing to inconsistent first-team turning to action for the
15, signed for top-flight what it is to be a Premier- a World Cup place appear- appearances. first time since Covid-19
club London Irish back in ship player,” Chawatama Zimbabwe have been try- ing brighter than before for brought the sporting world
ing to woo players of Cha- to a grinding halt early this
watama’s quality in their year.
Training squad:
Neymar moves behind Pele on scoring Faraz Akram, Ryan Burl,
Regis Chakabva, Brian
Neymar moved second behind Pele in Brazil’s all-time Chari, Tendai Chatara, Cha-
leading scorer list by scoring a hat-trick in their 2022 mu Chibhabha (captain),
World Cup qualifying win over Peru on Wednesday. Elton Chigumbura, Tend-
ai Chisoro, Craig Ervine,
The Paris St-Germain forward scored his 64th inter- Kyle Jarvis, Luke Jongwe,
national goal when he tapped in late on to complete a Tinashe Kamunhukamwe,
4-2 win. Wesley Madhevere, Timy-
cen Maruma, Wellington
Peru twice took the lead in Lima, but Neymar scored Masakadza, Brandon Mavu-
two penalties to take his tally above Ronaldo, with Pele ta, Peter Moor, Carl Mum-
on 77. ba, Richmond Mutumbami,
Richard Ngarava, Sikandar
Everton’s Richarlison also scored, nudging a header Raza, Milton Shumba, Bren-
from Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino over the line. dan Taylor, Donald Tiripa-
no, Sean Williams.
Neymar, 28, has scored his goals in 104 international
appearances, while Pele played 92 times for his coun-
try.

Brazil and Argentina lead the group after winning
both of their opening matches while Paraguay, who
beat Venezuela 1-0 on Tuesday, are third. The top four
from the 10-team group qualify directly for Qatar with
the fifth-placed side going into an inter-confederation
play-off.

Sports Chawatama Neymar moves
hopes for behind Pele
England
call-up – Page 23

– Page 23

Thursday 1 October 2020

Friday 16 October 2020 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com new

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

Story on Page 3 Story on Page 8 Story o

Chamisa reach
out to Khupe

Unofficial president calls for emergency

Red-hot Algeria fire
Warriors warning
shots ahead of clash
fensive firepower to hold country Zimbabwe’s new coach Zdravko Football Association (Zifa) hadn’t a ruthless 5-0 rout of Zambia last
ENOCK MUCHINJO that is only one of two, together Logarusic’s charges were strug- rendered him enough support by year and then a slender 1-0 win in
with Brazil, to make it out of the gling to a goalless two days earlier flying in all the players he need- Botswana.
NEWS that Algeria were the dom- group stage over the last seven away to minnows Malawi. ed to assess before the uphill task Covid-19 then brought world-
inant team in an international World Cups. It will most certainly worsen against the African champions. wide sport to a standstill, and with
friendly against Mexico on Tues- Despite losing midfielder Ad- the headache for the Croat, who Algerian football is current- that the Algerian juggernaut was
day night – holding the Latin lène Guedioura to a second book- reportedly threatened to resign ly on a high, with the national also halted. The Malawi tie will
American giants to a 2-2 draw in able offence on 55 minutes, Alge- from the Zimbabwe job in frustra- side made up of exciting players most probably turn out to be the
the Netherlands – may send shiv- ria forced an entertaining draw tion following hitches surround- turning out for top teams across Warriors’ sole warm-up before the
ers down the spine of Zimbabwe, courtesy of goals by Manchester ing preparations for that Malawi Europe, captain and Manchester big clash with the Algerians.
the African champions’ next op- City magician Riyad Mahrez and friendly. City star winger Mahrez being the Algeria will be the first true test
ponents. AC Milan midfielder Ismael Ben- Despite having Aston Villa lynchpin. of depth and character for this
nacer. ALSO INSmIDidEfielderFiMnarnvceleouMs inNiasktaymwbaipes TohuetD$e3s.e2rtBFiollxioesnddiseplpayoesditaonrs fZuinmdbasbwean Zsiimde'sinlattehsist laatnesdt controv
The Zimbabweans must move Raúl Jiménez and Diego Lainez and Kaizer Chiefs attacker Khama entertaining brand of attacking campaign.
mountains to keep red-hot Alge- were on target for the Mexicans. Billiat – lightweights compared football in 2018 to lift their sec- The finals of the next Nations
ria at bay when the two sides clash While an already well-oiled Al- to Mahrez and Bennacer - in the ond Nations Cup title in history, Cup edition have been moved to
in two back-to-back Africa Cup of geria was looking even sharper line-up in Blantyre, Logarusic before beginning quest for qual- January 2022, in Cameroon, fol-
Nations qualifiers in November. against world-class opposition, complained that the Zimbabwe ification of the next edition with lowing the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday night in The Hague,
10-man Algeria exhibited their of-

ALSO INSIDE Chawatama hopes for England call-up Neymar moves behind Pele on scoring