NewsHawks 28 May 2021-min

Price

US$1

WHAT’S INSIDE Friday 28 May 2021 BHUefStIyNESS ZSPimORbaTbwe
financing World Cup
tNLraEannWdsfSseorrffeidcer for organised bid receives
after exposing gold smuggling major boost
corruption
Story on Page 20 Story on Page 39
Story on Page 3

Long shadow of corruption

Minister entangled in
Z$400m murky tender

ALSO INSIDE MDC-T polling agents still unpaid for 2018 elections

Page 2 News NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

BERNARD MPOFU Minister entangled in process was still on and, in any
Z$400m murky tender case, how they had known the
PUBLIC Service, Labour and winner before the conclusion.
Social Welfare minister Paul at any time. You are there- Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul Mavima. All the same, he said he was go-
Mavima and National So- fore advised to be available ing by Praz recommendations.
cial Security Authority (Nssa) at short notice.” (housing projects), Hazvinei overall. This was then forward- After that, events moved He also reminded them that
top executives are entangled Bhaureni (legal), Sifiso Mah- ed to Mapiye as NBS acting rapidly and the fight escalated, what they were doing, even as
in a murky ZW$400 million Mapiye was told to co- langu (retail banking), Jon- managing director, thus to the with meetings coming thick the sole shareholder, was illegal
(US$4.8 million) National operate with the illegal in- athan Muwanga (ICT) and accounting officer in terms and fast in quick succession. in terms of the Public Procure-
Building Society (NBS) ten- vestigation and not interfere Alfred Chaavure (finance). The of the law. Mapiye agreed the ment and Disposal of Public
der for the construction of 500 with parties involved. This meeting was chaired by Jona- report should be forwarded to On 21  April, Praz wrote, Assets Act, specifically Sec 53
housing units in Harare’s Dzi- is being done in the middle than Muwanga (ICT).  Praz for further evaluation in objecting to site visits, say- (a-b) which refers to confiden-
varesekwa suburb, The News- of the tender process, hence terms of the Public Procure- ing those were not part of the tiality around public tenders. 
Hawks have established. unlawful. It also raises ques- Tec recommended site visits ment and Disposal of Public Request For Proposals. It de-
tions as to why the minister on previous projects done by Assets Act Ch 22:23.  manded a re-evaluation with- It later turned out by “higher
The involvement of Mavima and Nssa bosses were snoop- bidders as part of due diligence. out a site visits scoresheet. The offices”, Nssa bosses meant the
– who oversees the statutory ing on the process and anx- This was done between 16-17 This was done on 24 March. letter was sent to NBS procure- minister.
pension fund which manages ious to know who would March.  Undue interference  ment manager Namatirai Mu-
over US$1 billion – and Nssa win the tender. After NBS submitted recom- tambasere and Mapiye.   On 26  April, Mapiye for-
senior officials, including gen- It then compiled technical mendations to Praz and, while mally responded to Praz saying
eral manager Arthur Manase, The dirty fight has left in (including site visits) and finan- awaiting its response, Mapi- Surprisingly, barely two to NBS was re-evaluating the ten-
casts a long shadow of cor- its trail a litany of illegalities, cial evaluation reports. Eventu- ye received a phone call from three hours after the letter was der.  Meanwhile, on 22 April,
ruption over the Dzivaresekwa mutual suspicions, under- ally it recommended that the David Makwara, Nssa director dispatched, Mapiye received the RBZ wrote a letter to NBS
Housing Project. lying currents of corruption contract be awarded to Reegul commercial services and for- a  WhatsApp  message from board chairman Kudenga, be-
and bitterness. Laws, regu- which had scored the highest mer NBS board member, ask- Nssa chief investments officer fore he was booted out, approv-
The tender has become a lations and ethics, as well as mark with 83.44%. It also had ing questions over the tender.  Isaac Isaki with an attachment ing additional board members,
tug-of-war between the minis- corporate governance tenets, the highest level of quality of of the same letter. This showed namely Munhamu Ivan Mur-
ter and Nssa on one side and have been broken with reck- units and capacity.  “Makwara claimed he was Praz was working in cahoots ambiwa, Isaki and  Itayi Walter
NBS management on the oth- less abandon and impunity. receiving complaints that the with Nssa and the minister Chirume.
er. So far the minister’s team is The other shortlisted bidders tender was not being handled whose name was later cited in
winning. The minister’s side has All the parties involved included Exodus and Compa- properly. He did not reveal the meetings and other exchanges. “In that same letter, RBZ
managed to weaken the oppos- suspect each other of being ny, Blainesworld and Nengo nature of the complaints, nei- noted the resignation of Mr
ing team by forcing out NBS motivated by corruption and Builders. After the due dili- ther did he disclose who the Isaki told Mapiye that David Makwara from the board
board chair Stanley Kudenga self-interest. gence, technical and financial complainants were,” the docu- Manase wanted an explanation with effect from 2 April 2021.
and suspending the building evaluations, Reegul won with ment says. as to why Praz had rejected the It also noted Mr Kudenga, the
society’s acting managing direc- However, Mavima and the “lowest technically com- NBS recommendation on the then chairman of the board,
tor John Mapiye.  Nssa executives’ aggressive petitive bid” scoring 83.44%. “Mapiye responded, saying winning bidder. was not independent since
interference and retribution Its financial offer was ZW$405 the tender was still under ad- Nssa holds 13% shareholding
However, this could explode against those resisting their 353 131.56. judication and no communica- Two days later, on 23 April, in Zimre Holdings where he
on their faces with disastrous actions show the stakes are tion had been made to any bid- Mapiye was summoned by is the CEO.    This therefore
consequences. high. They want their pound Blainesworld came second der or anyone for that matter, Manase for a meeting at Nssa, meant that Mr Kudenga could
of flesh. with 82.85% at ZW$285 therefore he wondered who was with Isaki and Makwara. Nssa no longer continue as NBS
Confidential documents ob- 581 271.30, Nengo third complaining and why, suggest- bosses claimed they were wor- board chairman. “Mr Kuden-
tained by The NewsHawks show Alternatively, the min- with 80.02% at ZW$390 934 ing it was insiders with vested ried about the tender as there ga subsequently resigned.  This
that those caught up in the ister and Nssa bosses want 160.30 and Exodus fourth with personal interests, not bidders were “corruption allegations letter was also copied to Mr
messy fight include the minis- the company that won the 60.30% at 758 324 121.73. or professionals.” coming from higher offices”.  Arthur Manase, something un-
ter, Nssa, NBS, Procurement tender to remain in the deal usual when RBZ writes letters
Regulatory Authority of Zim- and then bring in another The evaluation report said Mapiye asked who was to shareholders of banks,” doc-
babwe (Praz) and the Reserve participant as a smokescreen Reegul offered the best deal complaining since the tender uments say.
Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).  to justify involving their own A litany of illegalities 
preferred bidder. After Kudenga was forced out,
Nssa owns NBS 100%, The story so far things more dramatic and got
hence its involvement in the Documents obtained by The worse.  
building society’s affairs. NBS NewsHawks  from Praz and
is managing the tender process. other deep sources are re- On 27 April, Nssa descend-
vealing.  ed on NBS, demanding an
The RBZ is only involved as immediate audit - another il-
a banking sector regulator. Praz NBS’s procurement de- legality. Legally, NBS only has
monitors the application of rel- partment flighted a tender internal and external auditors,
evant laws, regulations, policies in the government gazette not arbitrary and ambush audi-
and procedures to ensure trans- and  The Herald  on 22 Jan- tors. Nssa auditors had a letter
parency and accountability in uary. The tender was due to from Manase. Mapiye respond-
public procurement, although close on 23 February.  ed to it, saying he was not will-
in this case its role is dubious. ing to cooperate with an illegal
All prospective bidders process, even if it was demand-
Already, the brutal tender were invited for a site visit ed by the shareholder.
battle has claimed the scalp of on 5 February to assess the
Mapiye and Kudenga. Mapiye scope of work to be done. Manase reacted via email
was on 21 May suspended for After the tender closed, to Kudenga, before he was
a month without any wrong- bids were opened on 1 removed, saying: “The Hon-
doing. Sources say the action is March    and opening results ourable Minister (Mavima) re-
illegal. were shared with bidders.  ceived a number of complaints
with respect to how this tender
In a letter dated 21 May, A preliminary evaluation was handled and has mandated
NBS new board chair Shin- was undertaken by NBS’s Nssa to carry out an in-depth
gai Mutumbwa, who replaced Procurement Management enquiry into the same.” 
Kudenga, vaguely says Mapiye Unit (PMU) and compli-
– who was resisting interfer- ance checks were conducted. Now the cat was out of the
ence by Nssa – should go home NBS’s Tender Evaluation bag.  Mavima was the com-
for a month to facilitate inves- Committee (Tec) was in- plainant and Nssa was carry-
tigations into the procurement vited to carry out a detailed ing out his orders. They had
process, but claims he is not on evaluation on 12 March.  their preferred bidder – Nengo
suspension.  Builders.
NBS’s Tec comprises:
This is meant to cover their Namatirai Mutambasere Kudenga responded, saying
tracks on the illegal move, (PMU), Tinashe Dani that the request for an audit
which they call “paid leave”. (PMU), Natasha Chikoti should be directed to the NBS
(PMU), Raymond Mude- board audit committee and
“As you are aware the board hwe (Housing Projects), must comply with the board
is seized with investigations Desire Mupande (housing audit charter. 
into the procurement processes projects), Belinda Mavela
connected with the Dzivarese- On the 29  April, Mapiye
kwa Housing Project,” Mu- noted that two days earlier, on
tumbwa writes. “In order to fa- 27  April, the Nssa audit team
cilitate this process, it has been had summoned NBS Tec staff,
resolved that you go on 30 days seized their computers, as well
paid leave with effect from 22
May 2021 to 22 June 2021. To next page...
You are not on suspension and
you may be called back to work

NewsHawks News Page 3

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

MORRIS BISHI Lands officer transferred Chadzamira and Mumera de-
after exposing corruption spite Shiri writing an approval
THE ministry of Lands, Ag- letter authorising the province
riculture, Fisheries and Rural ment issues in Chiredzi as the Masvingo minister of State Ezra Chadzamira. rest Chadzamira. to give the land to those who
Resettlement has transferred major reason why he took the The official said Chadzami- identified it in June 2019.
Chiredzi lands officer Honest decision to re-assign him to allegations which have not formance of duty in Chiredzi,”
Mapfumo to Harare in a move Harare. been verified at all. It is un- said Mapfumo. ra was set to have discussions They said the respective ap-
viewed as victimisation for his procedural to act on unfound- with Mnangagwa over the plication was considered and
role in exposing corrupt land “The ministry has received ed allegations and falsehoods. A top government offi- allegations, although he may granted by the minister, with
deals in the Lowveld sugar- reports concerning adminis- It is not a correct government cial in Masvingo told The not be arrested, given that he specific instructions given to
cane town. trative challenges on your per- procedure to act on rumour NewsHawks that following is one of his top allies. co-coordinating offices to co-
formance in Chiredzi district. and unproven allegations investigations by Zacc the operate in the completion of
Mapfumo is a key witness in In light of this development, since l was never informed of corruption watchdog sought “I am aware of Mapfumo’s the process of land allocation.
a case in which the Zimbabwe l have decided that you be re- any challenge during my per- permission from President transfer but this is victimis-
Anti-Corruption Commission called from Chiredzi District Emmerson Mnangagwa to ar- ation. Remember, this guy is “The under-listed individ-
(Zacc) is investigating corrupt office re-assigned to new du- a state witness in the case in uals made an application for
allocation of land including ties at head office in Harare. which Zacc is investigating specific land to the acquir-
sugarcane plots in Chiredzi. You are therefore requested to how corrupt land allocation ing authority, the Minister of
The allocations were spear- assume duty in Harare with was taking place in Chiredzi. Lands, Agriculture, Climate,
headed by Masvingo minister effect from 31 May 2021,” Mapfumo as a civil servant Water and Rural Resettle-
of State Ezra Chadzamira and reads part of the letter. answered questions by Zacc ment, sometime in June 2019,
acting provincial lands officer without any favour,” said the by way of a formal written
Tendai Mumera. Mapfumo told The New- senior government official. letter. The specific area they
sHawks that re-assignments applied for was in relation
Last month, Vice-President within the ministry are nor- The NewsHawks is in posses- to a portion of Hippo Valley
Constantino Chiwenga or- mal, but it is unprocedural to sion of a complaint letter writ- North dry land which was be-
dered the scrapping of a land be transferred on unproven ten to Zacc on 21 January this ing used as paddocks 34, 40,
allocation schedule which allegations. He said he was year by a group of Chiredzi 41, 42, 43 and 44,” reads part
would have benefitted over never formally informed of locals accusing Chadzamira of the letter.
40 people who were set to any administrative challenge and Mumera of abuse of of-
get sugarcane plots under the regarding his performance in fice after the two delayed al- “However, deliberate delays
Kilimanjaro sugarcane proj- Chiredzi district. locating them a piece of land in processing the allocation
ect. He cited corruption and in Hippo Valley North which were experienced at the Pro-
the sidelining of locals in the “Transfer is not a problem. they had identified and was vincial Lands office and the
selection process. But when they say the transfer approved by the late Lands Provincial Affairs minister’s
was necessitated by adminis- minister Perrance Shiri. The office, which stretched for
Mapfumo’s re-assignment trative and performance chal- piece of land measuring 2385 nearly one-and-a-half years,
letter dated 19 May 2021 and lenges that’s where the prob- hectares was later corruptly with clear intent to disfavour
signed by the ministry’s per- lem is because these are mere allocated to other people by the under-listed applicants, in
manent secretary John Basera, contradiction to the acquir-
stated he should report for ing authority’s directive, to
work at the ministry’s head of- the effect of finally allocating
fice on 31 May.  such land to non-applicants
of their choice, in December
Basera cited administrative 2020.”
challenges on land manage-

Minister in ZW$400m NBS murky tender

...From previous page dering process was still running ditor) had written an email to came top), Nengo Builders (the tect the shareholder’s interests. bidders was unlawful. But Mu-
as their back-up data. They – which is unlawful.  This was NBS demanding minutes of minister and Nssa’s preferred He was also told to work with tumbwa insisted that Mapi-
were also grilled over the ten- calculated to stop the process the tender re-evaluation pro- bidder) and Blainesworld Nssa and NBS to urgently draft ye should cancel it and seek a
der.  and impose the minister and cess. This was another clear (the cheapest bidder after the and send a letter to Praz telling closed bid within a short period
However, Mapiye insisted Nssa’s preferred bidder. breach of Section 53 of the Act.  re-evaluation).  them about the need to award of time. 
he was bound by provisions of the tender to three companies,
the Public Procurement and “The resolution of the board Ten days later, on 13 May At that stage, it became ap- which was also unlawful. The audit was completed
Disposal of Public Assets Act audit committee was shocking. 2021, Mapiye was called to a parent that Nengo was sup- and submitted to Nssa bosses
Chapter 22.23 and would not The board resolved to allow the meeting by Mutumbwa, NBS posed to be accommodated at After consultations with and the NBS board, but the
engage in illegal deals.  Nssa team to audit a running chair. Besides Mutumbwa and all costs.  This was even more colleagues, Mapiye was told building society’s management
“As things deteriorated, tender in contravention of the Mapiye, the meeting was also irregular as Mapiye was still that Mutumbwa and Tome’s was not asked for comments
Mapiye argued that Section 53 Public Procurement and Dis- attended by Tome and Chipen- waiting for a response from instruction was illegal. He and did not see the report.
(a-b) of the Act stipulates that a posal of Public Assets Act as well do. In the meeting, Mapiye was Praz on the re-evaluated tender went back to Mutumbwa and
running tender should remain as the board audit charter. They instructed to cancel the tender process. Mapiye asked about advised him in the presence of On 19 May, the NBS board
confidential until completion. authorised a bush and ambush and recommend to Praz that it the legality of such a move. both Nssa and NBS officials audit committee met to consid-
An audit of a running tender audit (arbitrary Nssa audit) to should be awarded to the top He was, however, told that this that cancelling the tender and er the audit report, but man-
was in breach of Section 53 have access to all information three bidders - Reegul (which was a board instruction to pro- awarding it to the top three agement was not invited. 
and will taint the integrity of they required for their person-
the process,” documents say.  al interests and to interrogate The following day, on
“He also noted that he was NBS staff, further violating 20  May, the NBS board and
not against scrutiny, indicat- provisions of law (even though its human resources committee
ing    an audit could be done they did acknowledge in the sat over the same matter. Again
when the tender had been final- same letter that they were in- management was excluded. 
ised in line with the NBS audit deed violating the Act and thus
charter. He also stated that he the law.) They also resolved On 21 May, Mapiye was
was empowered by Section 16 that an audit by Nssa was just suspended for 30 days – until
of the Act not to comply with as good as an internal audit for 22 June – to allow the minis-
orders to breach the law.” NBS – another shocking reso- ter and his Nssa proxies to seize
As the stand-off and fallout lution and irregularity. NBS is control of the process and give
exacerbated, NBS held a special owned by Nssa, but they  have the tender to their preferred
audit committee meeting on 29 separate corporate structures bidder.
April attended by new board and management.” Denouement 
chair Tome, David Mutem- The battles intensifies  The witch-hunt, removal of
achani (member),   Chipendo, While Nssa proceeded with the Kudenga and Mapiye, riding
Alfred Chaavure (finance di- illegal audit, NBS continued roughshod over the process and
rector), Victor Manyowa (Nssa with the tender re-evaluation as trampling on the law – brazen
representative ) and Andrew per the Praz recommendation. and aggressive interference –
Nyakonda (Nssa internal au- NBS re-submitted the evalua- was meant to trigger a crisis and
dit).  The meeting resolved to tion report to Praz on 4 May.  cancel the tender. And then,
give in to Manase’s demand of under new circumstances, the
an audit of NBS while the ten- Prior to that on 3 May 2021, tender would then be awarded
Clara Sibindi (senior Nssa au- to the minister and Nssa execu-
tives’ preferred bidder – Nengo
Builders.  

Page 4 News NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Zanu PF mobilises for elections while
blocking MDC Alliance through Covid

WHILE the government banned Care citing the Covid-19 pan- elections in Mashonaland East, but lost the case. Simon Khaya Moyo. the opposition.
electoral activity due to Covid-19, demic yet ZEC had developed which is Vice-President Con- Mangondo confirmed that he In 2018, former MDC nation- “This is a done deal, Gweru
Zanu PF is on the ground prepar- a Covid-19 policy on electoral stantino Chiwenga’s stronghold, al youth spokesperson and top
ing for by-elections and the 2023 activities with clear guidelines Zanu PF accepted 14 returnees had rejoined Zanu PF and he was Gweru lawyer Brian Dube won Urban is now Zanu PF,” Natare,
general elections, a development on how by-elections and other including former central com- going to contest in the forthcom- the seat by a wide margin after who is already on the ground pre-
which may take the opposition by electoral processes would be con- mittee member Noah Mangondo ing primary elections. beating Zanu PF youth activist paring to contest for the seat, told
surprise. ducted without exposing those who contested as an independent Esau Natare. The NewsHawks this week.
involved to health risks. candidate in the 2018 elections. “I have rejoined Zanu PF and After winning the seat three
The party is preparing for pri- I am contesting in the Zanu PF years ago, the 2015 Zimbabwe “If you look at the opposition
mary elections and has begun re- Covid-19 has however not Mangondo in 2018 contested primary elections. I will definitely Human Rights Lawyer of the divisions in the constituency and
ceiving curriculum vitaes of can- stopped Zanu PF. In Mashona- as an independent candidate after submit my CV this week, they are Year spearheaded numerous de- a growing defection to Zanu PF
didates interested in participating land East, Zanu PF has called on his name was omitted from the open till Friday,” said Mangondo. velopmental projects in the con- by a number of opposition fig-
in by-elections, although electoral candidates interested in repre- ballot paper of the primary elec- stituency, winning the hearts of ures, it’s just telling that come
activity remains officially banned. senting the party to forward their tion. He narrowly lost to Matiza. Zanu PF has also begun cam- supporters. But the perennial 2023 this is a walkover.”
CVs as it prepares to hold primary paigning to snatch the Gweru divisions rocking the opposition
Under the guise of fighting the elections for the Murehwa South In the 2018 election, both Ma- Urban seat from the opposition over the years saw Dube defecting Zanu PF Gweru district chair-
Covid-19 pandemic, the govern- parliamentary seat. The seat fell tiza and Mangondo polled more in 2023. The seat, which has to the MDC-T led by Douglas man Brown Ndlovu said victory
ment has stopped opposition par- vacant following the death of for- than 10 000 votes, with the for- been won by the opposition since Mwonzora. Zanu PF is looking in Gweru Urban and other con-
ties from campaigning, although mer Transport Minister Joel Big- mer winning by a small margin. 2000, has been prioritised by the at taking advantage of divisions in stituencies is certain. 
Zanu PF has been freely holding gie Matiza early this year.  Zanu Mangondo challenged the result, Zanu PF Midlands leadership
rallies and restructuring country- PF spokesperson Simon Khaya which sees it as a trophy seat.   He said the Zanu PF cell re-
wide. Moyo confirmed that the party structuring exercise has seen more
was holding primary elections people joining the party, an indi-
As a result, the party now has despite the Covid-19 regulations. cation of a growing base.
solid structures at grassroots level
countrywide. “These are primary elections “I have never seen such interest
just to get ready. By-elections in the cell restructuring exercise
The party concluded setting will come, but that depends on and moreover we have more peo-
up its district coordinating com- the minister of Health and the ple coming from the opposition
mittees (DCCs) in December last Zimbabwe Electoral Commission registering,” he said.
year, to buttress activity at grass- (Zec),” Moyo said. 
roots level. The party is now set- MDC Alliance Midlands
ting up cells countrywide. Moyo also admitted that the South spokesperson Takavafira
party was already in election Zhou said his party was unfazed
While the ruling party is re- mode, with internal restructur- by the purported divisions.
structuring, it has also used ing underway ahead of the 2023
Covid-19 restrictions to deci- polls.  “Contrary to misconceptions,
mate the main opposition party the MDC Alliance has never been
MDC-Alliance by collaborating “There has been restructur- short of good candidates,” Zhou
with the MDC-T led by Doug- ing of the party cells, but due to said.
las Mwonzora to recall the party’s Covid-19 it has been measured,”
legislators from parliament in the Moyo said.  “The MDC Alliance mem-
knowledge that by-elections are bers are loud and clear in terms
banned. The Women’s Academy Under the guise of implement- of their support for Nelson Cha-
for Leadership and Political Excel- ing Covid-19 restrictions, oppo- misa. Dube’s defection will not
lence (WALPE) and Election Re- sition parties have been stopped necessarily affect MDC Alliance
source Centre (ERC) through the from holding rallies. The same votes, but may actually increase
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human rules have however not stopped the votes as people are angry that
Rights have dragged President Zanu PF from campaigning, with a considerable number of people
Emmerson Mnangagwa and the President Emmerson Mnangag- they trusted indeed lacked service
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission wa holding several large gather- and self-sacrifice.”
(ZEC) to court seeking an order ings, including this week’s unveil-
for them to set dates for by-elec- ing of Mbuya Nehanda’s statue in Zhou said his party has since
tions to comply with the consti- central Harare.  adopted a multi-pronged mobil-
tution and electoral act. isation approach in both urban
In Murehwa South, five aspir- and rural areas and that it was a
High Court judge Justice Siy- ing candidates have submitted matter of time before the party
abona Msithu this week reserved their CVs, while more candidates proves it commands popular sup-
judgement on the matter. are expected to join the race to port.
represent Zanu PF.  The dead-
The court case follows the sus- line for the submission of CVs is “Divisions in the opposition
pension of by-elections by the today.  In the run up to primary are now history, what matters to
Ministry of Health and Child us is mobilising the grassroots
to support us and we are indeed
making a great leap forward,” he
said. — STAFF WRITER

LENIN NDEBELE ...Mnangagwa uses prosperity young people have agency,
pastors in bid to dupe youth they reason, they are logical
ZIMBABWEAN President and can make wise decisions,”
Emmerson Mnangagwa has The women in these circles media sensation, flaunting tion Trump Card particularly the way the organisation con- said Pedzisai Ruhanya, a hu-
surrounded himself with are known as the “rich cous- his apparent wealth in the for youths, to venture into ducts itself. Information sec- man rights law fellow.
prosperity prophets, promi- ins”. form of supercars and lux- value chains in sectors such retary Nick Mangwana pub-
nent hustlers and dealers in a urious mansions in the UK as agriculture, mining, in- licly castigated Chimombe The MDC Alliance and
bid to win the youth vote in “Most teenagers in the and US. In April, he went dustry and commerce, and for the way he dressed when pro-democracy civil soci-
Zimbabwe. ghetto run wild when they to Zimbabwe’s second-larg- others,” he told a youth semi- meeting Mnangagwa. He said ety organisations argue that
see cars like Lamborghinis est city, Bulawayo, with the nar at Chinhoyi University of Chimombe didn’t respect the youths will only experience
This is happening through cruising in their streets. More AAG, where he threw wads Technology last week. office of the president. a prosperous Zimbabwe
the rejuvenation of the Affir- so, these cars belong to local of US dollars into a crowd through a say on the ballot.
mative Action Group (AAG), entrepreneurs. In their minds of mostly young people who Last month, prosperity Critics argue that the at- As such, the opposition has
an organisation formed in they want to be like them. were following his motorcade preacher Uebert Angel, who tempt by Zanu-PF to secure launched a voter-registration
1994 to bring change to the Then you will have the local of Range Rovers and Mer- also claims to perform mir- support from the pastors’ fol- campaign.
economic environment in heroes telling them it’s possi- cedes-Benzes. The Zimba- acles, was roped into Mnan- lowers will not work because
favour of indigenous black ble, with Zanu-PF in power,” bwe Republic Police (ZRP) gagwa’s charm offensive. He the party is using individuals EU-Zimbabwe honorary
business people aligned to said Mathew Ncube, a uni- warned him for violating was made presidential envoy who rely on patronage to ambassador for youth, sports
the ruling Zanu-PF party. versity student. Covid-19 restrictions by and ambassador-at-large to earn a living. Hence, they and gender Tanyaradzwa
blocking traffic. the Americas and Europe to don’t represent the masses Muzinda, who is also Zimba-
Last week, AAG’s found- Chimombe’s deputy is seek trade and investment and their aspirations. bwe’s motocross star, said in
ing father, Philip Chiyangwa, prosperity gospel preach- Lately, Passion Java has opportunities and convince a tweet that youths are mar-
told a gathering of young er Panganai Java, popularly featured Mnangagwa in self- members of the Zimbabwe- “Passion Java and Uebert ginalised and should vote for
entrepreneurs in Bulawayo known as Passion Java and ie videos on his social media an diaspora that they should Angel were recruited to bring change, not be duped.
that “if you don’t support the head of Passion Java Min- pages, telling people to vote vote for Zanu-PF. young followers to Zanu-PF
Zanu-PF, you will not make istries, a church in which he for him in 2023. in 2023 from their areas of “A few successful people
money in Zimbabwe”. says he performs miracles. The AAG operates outside influence — church and in the middle of millions of
Before his involvement with “Passion Java endorses Zanu-PF structures and some showbiz. But both are ques- poor youths is not a true suc-
Chiyangwa, 62, hand- AAG he had become a social Mnangagwa’s 2023 Re-Elec- within the party do not like tionable pastors. Zimbabwe’s cess story, it’s a fraud. Youths
ed over the reins to social- don’t need miracle money
ite Mike Chimombe, 38, a and handouts, they need
prominent player in Zim- a working economy where
babwe’s social circles led by systems work for everyone.
“mbingas” — young, rich, Youths fight for your own
supercar-driving and expen- success not for Clowns.”
sive liquor-drinking men.
— SUNDAY TIMES DAILY

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

NYASHA CHINGONO Mugabe family meets over to possess spiritual powers
to command authority and
THE family of the late for- bolster statecraft. Believers in
mer President Robert Mug- bizarre exhumation order the occult are convinced that
abe will meet over the raging Mugabe was buried with the
exhumation saga amid grow- mystic sceptre.
ing accusations that busi-
nessman Philip Chiyangwa is Since Mugabe died, Grace
working in cahoots with the has guarded his remains,
state to overturn the late vet- is crucial that he acquires it amid fears that Mnangagwa
eran leader’s last wish to be where Chiyangwa is a mem- as he seeks another mandate and Zanu PF were after them
buried at his rural home, the ber of parliament.  in 2023.   for ritual purposes.  
NewsHawks can report.  “The whole thing was pre-
planned well in advance. Strange ritualistic concerns Grace has also built a
Although the Mugabe fam- Manongovere is from Chi- surfaced again when Chief mausoleum around Mugabe’s
ily has maintained that the Zvimba summoned Grace to grave, located in a courtyard
long-time ruler died a bitter yangwa’s constituency and appear before a village court at his Zvimba rural home.  
man and refused to be bur- a member of DCC. I hope
ied at the National Heroes’ that the government will not to answer charges of “in- His casket was also con-
Acre by his “tormentors”, the appropriately” burying the cealed with a metal cover be-
weekend meeting is to unite be dragged into this madness country’s former president at fore burial, with a lock to se-
the Karigamombe family, and accept the chief ’s judge- the family homestead, saying cure his body while concrete
ahead of another showdown ment,” Leo said.  the move is “unheard of ” in slabs were also used to cover
with the government over the Leo has accused the gov-
late president’s remains. ernment of co-opting the his area. Some members of the grave.  
chiefs in its desperate bid to the Mugabe family accuse “It will be difficult for
In line with Mugabe’s dy- the authorities of making whoever wants to do the ex-
ing wish, the family is ex- rebury Mugabe. spirited efforts to recover the humation to have access to
pected to collectively defy “They [the chief and the so-called sceptre, thought the grave,” Leo said.
Chief Zvimba’s order for government] are the ones Philip Chiyangwa.
the exhumation and reburi- who were pushing for the
al of Mugabe’s remains. This Heroes’ Acre and the imme-
comes after the tradition- diate family was saying ‘No’, SUPERLIFE
al leader accused Grace of we must follow the late pres-
flouting custom by interring ident’s wish. They won’t bury
her husband in the courtyard him at the Heroes’ Acre.” 
of his rural Zvimba home in After presiding over a
2019.  village court last Thursday, STC30
Chief Zvimba on Monday
Mugabe, a freedom fight- issued a ruling that found
er-turned-despot, died in Grace Mugabe guilty of
Singapore and was buried at breaking traditional norms As we age our stemcells (basic building blocks in our body for repair
his rural Zvimba home after by burying her husband in processes), like other cells, they age, get weakened, die and get depleted in
weeks of bickering over his the courtyard of his home. process (owing to the heavy toll our lifestyle has on them)
body, with President Em-
merson Mnangagwa making The former first lady, who
frantic efforts to inter him at is currently in Singapore
the North Korean-built Na- undergoing treatment for
tional Heroes’ Acre.  an undisclosed ailment, was
fined five cows and a goat.
Although Mugabe was “I give powers to those
accorded a state funeral, his who are permitted by law to
widow Grace had the last exhume the late Robert Mug-
laugh, burying him in Zvim- abe’s remains from Kutama
ba in line with his last wish. and rebury them at the Na-
The decision irked Mnan- tional Heroes’ Acre in Hara-
gagwa and Zanu PF, who re,” said a copy of the ruling
snubbed the late statesman’s written in Shona.
burial, attended by a handful The fresh saga over Mug-
of close relatives.  abe’s remains has been de-
scribed as part of ploy to
Speaking to The News- appease the late leader who,
Hawks, Mugabe’s nephew according to his family, died
and family spokesperson, a bitter man. 
Leo, confirmed the meeting Mnangagwa has also been
scheduled for Zvimba.  accused of running an intelli-
gence operation to force a re-
“The family will meet burial for occultic purposes. 
over the weekend on a way The operation also in-
forward. This is the Kariga- cludes mobilising Zvimba
mombe family, the immedi- chiefs, led by Chief Zvim-
ate family,” said Leo. ba, to force Mugabe’s fam-
ily to agree the late leader’s
Leo, who would not be exhumation and subsequent
drawn into disclosing the reburial at the National He-
names of the  attendants, roes’ Acre.
said the family is united over Despite spirited attempts
Mugabe’s dying wish and sin- to bury Mugabe at the He- STC30 stemcell supplement, made to allow your body to regenerate, heal
gled out Chiyangwa as party roes’ Acre against his wishes,
to a ploy to force a Heroes’
Acre burial, nearly two years itself and deal effectively with:Grace had the last laugh, in-
after the former president terring him in the courtyard
was laid to rest in Zvimba.  at his rural home.
Before the burial, Grace
The meeting will also dis- stuck to Mugabe’s casket Ÿ Arthritis Ÿ Cysts
cuss Chiyangwa’s alleged amid fears the state wanted Ÿ Diabetes
involvement in the reburial to hijack his body for rituals.  Ÿ Skin Disease
saga. Mnangagwa has been ac- Ÿ Acids
cused of being an occultist,
Chiyangwa was pictured having been on a spirited Ÿ Allergies
with Tinos Manongovere, a hunt for a mystic sceptre
villager who is said to have which Mugabe is believed to Ÿ Eyesight Problems, Prostrate Disorder Ÿ ETC
approached Chief Zvimba have possessed during his 37-
seeking to have Mugabe re- year stranglehold on power.  
buried at the Heroes’ Acre.  Mnangagwa is said to be-
lieve that the sceptre bolsters WhatsAPP +263 71 379 6159
Manongovere is also a the authority to rule, and it
Zanu PF Mashonaland
West district coordinating
committee (DCC) member,

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

SA launches new Zim diplomatic offensive

BERNARD MPOFU sume dialogue between the South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation minister (left) and President Mnangagwa. gagwa carte blanche powers
two countries comes nearly a have sailed through and the
SOUTH Africa this week do- year after Zimbabwe frowned During the same meeting, Hawks that Zanu PF hardlin- which features peripheral op- party sees little threat from the
nated 5 625 tonnes of maize at efforts by South Africa’s the two ministers discussed ers are resisting any dialogue position parties. opposition. The ‘five million
to Zimbabwe as Pretoria governing African National the African Renaissance Fund that would include opposition votes’ campaign for the next
launched a charm offensive Congress to initiate negotia- project, a R50 million pledge leader Nelson Chamisa. Presi- “Zanu PF is already in election is the party’s main
to restart re-engagement with tions among Zimbabwe’s po- made after Cyclone Idai, that dent Emmerson Mnangagwa, election mode and senior of- focus,” a source familiar with
Harare, currently battling  per- litical actors. It is estimated will be used to bolster Zimba- sources said, opted for any ficials are not tolerating any developments told The News-
sistent socio-economic prob- that South Africa is now home bwe’s food security. talks under the umbrella of idea of having talks with the Hawks.
lems  triggered by bad policies, to nearly three million Zim- the Political Actors Dialogue opposition. Constitutional
droughts and, most recently, babweans who fled the coun- Sources told The News- ammendments giving Mnan- Lindiwe Zulu, chairperson
Covid-19. try seeking better economic of the ANC’s sub-committee
prospects as well as political on International Affairs, last
Zimbabwe is battling ris- asylum. year told this author in an ex-
ing inflation, high unemploy- clusive interview that South
ment and political intolerance, Pandor, who has in the Africa’s governing party be-
among a litany of problems, past admitted that Zimbabwe lieves there is a crisis in Zimba-
amid calls for South Africa to needs dialogue to address its bwe and liberation movements
intervene. multifaceted problems, was have to be frank to each other.
last week quoted by South Af-
Naladi Pandor, South Af- rican media as saying Pretoria Zulu was among ANC of-
rica’s International Relations would want to resume talks ficials who were deployed to
and Cooperation minister, with Harare. Harare to engage in bilateral
met her Zimbabwean  coun- engagements with Zanu PF as
terpart Frederick Shava on “I really would like to put political temperatures in the
Monday after Zimbabwe took the question that I always put southern African nation shot
delivery of the staple. She lat- to my colleagues, this will be up on the backdrop of a weak-
er attended the unveiling of the first time we are having a ening economy.
the statue of liberation icon formal meeting. He’s the new
Mbuya Nehanda. minister of Foreign Affairs and However, days after the
I just want to ask him: How ANC team left for Johannes-
Before this week’s dona- can we help Zimbabwe?” she burg, acting Zanu PF spokes-
tion, Pandor last Friday host- said. person Patrick Chinamasa ac-
ed Zimbabwe’s top diplomat cused Pretoria of meddling in
during his three-day working “In our discussions, we’ll Zimbabwe’s internal affairs.
visit in the Sadc region. The raise the important need for
meeting also sought to con- the opposition to be able to South Africa was mandat-
solidate strategic relations function, but this is some- ed by the regional bloc, Sadc,
through a Bi-National Com- thing we think Zimbabweans to broker talks between Zanu
mission (BNC). must discuss together…We’d PF and the MDC formations
also like to send back our three following a widely discredit-
Shava, Zimbabwe’s former envoys because their visit was ed 2008 presidential election
ambassador to the United Na- incomplete, in that they met run-off. The negotiations cul-
tions, took over from Sibusi- Zanu PF, but it didn’t meet ex- minated in the formation of
so Moyo who succumbed to ternal stakeholders. We think an inclusive government and
Covid-19 early this year.  it is necessary.” the crafting of the country’s
new constitution.
The renewed efforts to re-

FORMER Finance minister New stringent currency measures  through a bidding process
Tendai Biti says President desperate and authoritarian — Biti and buys hard currency in
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s the intervening periods at the
new stringent currency mea- hard currency obtained from ceipt for goods and services Diverting foreign currency or document, with the result previous auction-determined
sures through a decree are “a the foreign currency auction paid in forex. obtained from the auction to that the application, return rate.  It is used for setting
desperate and fascist bid to for a discount or premium, other uses is outlawed.  or document contains infor- alternative exchange rate re-
control the market”.  as well as arbitrage would be “A natural or legal person mation that the authorised gimes that can be adopted to
severely punished. shall be guilty of a civil in- Charging exclusively in dealer knows or ought to manage a liquidity crisis and
“It’s an authoritarian at- fringement if he or she sells, forex or rejecting the Zimba- have known to be false in any restore a cushion of interna-
tempt to control the mar- The measures were made displays or offers goods or bwean dollar is banned.  material respect.” tional reserves.
ket through law and order in terms of section 2 of the services for sale at an ex-
instruments,” Biti said. Presidential Powers (Tempo- change rate above the ruling “A natural or legal person The statutory instrument The Reserve Bank of Zim-
“Mnangagwa is abusing of- rary Measures) Act [Chapter exchange rate, or imposes shall be guilty of a civil in- adds: “A natural or legal babwe replaced the interbank
fice and power by amending 10:20]. (for the predominant pur- fringement if he or she, being person shall be guilty of a market with weekly foreign
an Act of Parliament through pose of encouraging pay- a seller of goods or services civil infringement if he or exchange auctions from 23
a statutory instrument, while This means buying and ment in a foreign currency) not authorised by law to she, being a seller of goods June 2020 to determine the
giving too much power to selling goods and services a premium on Zimbabwe charge for them exclusively or services, issues to a buy- dollar exchange rate with
the minister (Finance minis- above the official exchange is dollar payments or allows a in foreign currency, refuses er thereof a receipt in Zim- those in industry and com-
ter Mthuli Ncube) who can now illegal. discount on foreign currency to allow any buyer thereof to babwe dollars for payment merce cautiously optimistic
vary the statutory instrument payments,” the statutory in- tender payment for them in received in foreign currency, that the platform will en-
arbitrarily or through parlia- So exchange rates transac- strument says. Zimbabwe dollars at the rul- or records sales other than hance transparency and effi-
ment for their own political tions above US$1: ZW$84 ing exchange rate,” it says.  in the currency in which the cient distribution of foreign
ends.  You cannot command are now unlawful. The av- There are several other new sale was conducted.” exchange.
an economy and the mar- erage alternative market specific civil infringements. Misrepresenting informa-
kets.” exchange rate is currently tion on applications to access Offenders will pay heavy The Tuesday auctions sell
US$1: ZW$100, although “A natural or legal per- forex is also a crime.  fines, including a fixed pen- foreign currency retained
Mnangagwa yesterday is- depending on the method son shall be guilty of a civ- alty of ZW$1 million or an by exporters which must ei-
sued new stringent currency of payment and transaction il infringement if he or she, “An authorised dealer shall amount equivalent to the ther be used or sold within
measures through a decree the rate sometimes surges without exchange control be guilty of a civil infringe- value of the foreign currency 30 days at the discretion of
in a move which will be a above that. Giving custom- authority, uses the foreign ment if he or she submits to obtained -- whichever would the exporter or be subject
nightmare for businesses and ers discounts for paying in currency obtained directly the Reserve Bank an appli- be the greater amount -- for to compulsory sale after 30
customers – breaches car- forex is also now illegal. In or indirectly from a foreign cation for foreign currency violating these foreign ex- days. 
ry harsh fines - buying and other words, charging more exchange auction or an au- or exchange control author- change regulations and auc-
selling goods and services in Zimbabwean dollars to thorised dealer for a purpose ity, or a return or any oth- tion rules. The auction system op-
without rigid exchange rate force customers to pay in other than that specified in er  document in connection erates on the Reuters Forex
compliance. forex is unlawful.  Refusing the application to partake in therewith, without exercising A  foreign exchange auc- Trading platform, a real-time
to accept Zimbabwean dollar the auction or in the appli- reasonable due diligence to tion  is a system in which electronic trading system.
Through Presidential Pow- payments is also illegal, just cation for foreign currency,” verify the correctness of the the central bank regularly The weekly auctions are de-
ers (Temporary Measures) as issuing a local currency re- it says. information in or accompa- sells a given amount of forex signed to improve equitable
(Financial Laws Amend- nying the application, return access and transparency in
ment) Regulations, 2021, forex allocation. Penalties for
Statutory Instrument 127 of offences can go up to ZW$5
2021, Mnangagwa decreed million.
that anyone found using
—STAFF WRITER

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

BERNARD MPOFU Sadc technical report on from homegrown extremism
Mozambique war rejected rather than originating from
A MOZAMBIQUE-BASED Cabo Delgado,” the report
think-tank has invalidated an local and foreign businesses. Sadc leaders meeting in Maputo. reads.
intelligence report presented by “Though local businesses
the Sadc technical assessment In April, Sadc made an elev-
mission which is pushing for have been a frequent target over enth-hour postponement of a
the deployment of troops in the course of the conflict, dam- crucial meeting between Bo-
the country’s conflict-ridden age to foreign-owned businesses tswana, South Africa, Zimba-
northern province, a report has has been mostly of a collateral bwe and Mozambique set for
shown. nature, with very limited spe- Maputo to finalise the urgent
cific targeting. Despite damage intervention roadmap and ac-
This comes as Sadc’s com- to some foreign businesses, the tion.  The delay of the Sadc
prehensive emergency military initial attack in Palma on 24 troika summit of the organ on
intervention plan to deploy a March 2021 followed the es- politics, defence and security
standby force to combat ma- tablished violent extremist (VE) cooperation – which includes
rauding insurgents still occu- modus operandi of priority tar- President Mokgweetsi Masisi of
pying strategic ground in the geting of FDS (Mozambique Botswana, the chair, incoming
natural gas-rich Cabo Delgado Defence and Security Forces) chair President Cyril Ramapho-
province has been put on ice. and government facilities, with sa of South Africa and outgoing
damage to foreign business only chair Zimbabwean President
A leaked detailed document occurring in subsequent loot- Emmerson Mnangagwa – fol-
of the Sadc military plan drawn ing of the town. Additionally, lowed the extraordinary foreign
by the technical team shows much of the reported looting affairs ministerial committee
that regional leaders, following of foreign businesses is likely to meeting of the same body in the
the technical assessment mis- have been conducted after the Mozambican capital. 
sion, wanted immediate de- withdrawal of large VE concen-
ployment of security forces cov- trations from the town in the
ering maritime, air and ground first week of April,” the report
strategic areas.  The technical reads.
assessment team came up with
a detailed deployment plan and Turning to claims that the
recommended that Sadc dis- insurgents were receiving ex-
patch a force of 2 916 soldiers ternal support from individ-
to Cabo Delgado to “combat uals from various countries,
and neutralise” the insurgents the CDD said although there
and recapture territory they have been reports of individuals
have taken, including their cap- among violent extremism from
ital, Mocímboa da Praia. outside the region, these are
likely irregular cases and there is
The Centre for Democracy no evidence that this represents
and Development (CDD) has a significant flow of fighters or
discredited key findings of the equipment.
report as prospects of any col-
lective military action appear “The VE arsenal is entirely
remote. According to an anal- composed of locally available
ysis by the think-tank, titled equipment, with most of it be-
Observations Relating to the ing looted from captured FDS
Southern African Development bases. VE have demonstrated
Community (Sadc) Technical no advanced capabilities, which
Assessment Mission’s report would normally accompany
(Intelligence Analysis), sections outside support from IS (Is-
of the intelligence analysis gath- lamic State), such as the use of
ered by the Sadc technical team improvised explosive devices
are “are highly questionable and (IEDs). Again, this claim likely
merit further scrutiny.” stems from a view to exaggerate
external influence rather than
Commenting on claims that acknowledging the overwhelm-
violent extremists were likely ing conflict driver, which is in-
going to scale up insurgent at- trinsically linked to local griev-
tacks after Ramadan, the CDD ances,” the report reads.
said: “Over the previous three
years of the conflict, there has The research unit also trashed
been little clear correlation of claims of aggressive and con-
attacks to the Ramadan / Eid tinuous radicalisation, recruit-
al Fitr period (and this year was ment, causing fear and panic
no different). Though attacks within the local population in
have frequently increased in order to expand the caliphate in
the period of March-June, this Cabo Delgado and to the Sadc
is likely due to environmental region.
conditions related to the transi-
tion from rainy to dry season. “Though VE have voiced
The historic record of attacks their ambition to establish some
shows little difference – either form of local autonomy or con-
of a decrease or increase – in trol, underpinned by stricter Is-
operational cadence during lam, there has been no realistic
Ramadan compared to the pe- rhetoric from VE of establish-
riods immediately before or ing or expanding a ‘caliphate’
after. Conversely, Salafi-Jihadi in line with Salafi-Jihadi prin-
groups elsewhere in the world ciples. An expansion beyond
frequently escalate attacks sig- Cabo Delgado (never mind the
nificantly during the Ramadan/ wider Sadc region) is unrealistic
Eid periods. The report’s cor- and demonstrates a fundamen-
relation of Ramadan with VE tal lack of understanding of
(violent extremist) activity like- the current situation. VE have
ly stems from an incorrect view limited local objectives, as pre-
that seeks to exaggerate external viously discussed, and therefore
Salafi-Jihadi/Islamic State (IS) any terror threat to other Sadc
influence in order to obfuscate countries – aside from south-
local socio-economic grievances ern Tanzania – is likely to come
in motivating conflict.”

The research unit also dis-
puted claims that the violent
extremists were attacking both

Page 8 News NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

OWEN GAGARE Harare man sues JSC over ation. There has been no such
appointment of judges process in my understanding.”
A HARARE man, Chamu-
norwa Chingwe, on Thursday after the JSC had advertised “In respect of Constitu- and the President had begun JSC secretary Walter Chikwana. Chingwe argued that the
filed an urgent High Court the post, conducted public tional Court positions, sitting consulting over the appoint- view is that the process must qualifications for appointment
chamber application for a interviews and sent a list to judges of the Supreme Court ment of Supreme Court judg- be fair, credible, verifiable and as a judge of the Supreme
constitutional declaratur stat- the President to appoint from, do not to have to undergo es only from the pool of sitting must answer to the obligations or ConCourt has not been
ing that persons who are not whether a candidate was a sit- public interview but all other High Court judges without of the Judicial Service Com- amended and spelt out in Sec-
sitting judges but who meet ting judge or not. qualified candidates (former consideration of persons who mission as set out under Sec- tion 178.
qualifications to be appointed judges of any court and law- are not sitting judges but are tion 191 of the Constitution
to the Supreme Court or Con- He said section 12 of the yers of seven years’ experience entitled to be considered. of Zimbabwe. For qualification one has
stitutional Court are eligible constitution was amended who are at least 40 years of to be a Zimbabwean over the
for appointment. such that sitting judges no age) must undergo a public “It seems to me there is no “It also does seem to me age of 40 and to have practised
longer need to undergo an in- interview.” process which has been put in that the process must be able law for at least 10 years. One
The Judicial Service Com- terview to be appointed judge place by the Judicial Service to take into account the stat- also qualifies if they have been
mission (JSC) was cited as the of the higher court. Chingwe said he became Commission bearing on the ed positions of judges whose a judge in a Roman-Dutch
first respondent while Presi- aware on 26 May that the JSC selection of sitting judges. My names are forwarded to the law or English law jurisdiction
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa He argued, however, that President for his consider- with English as an official lan-
was cited as the second re- it was necessary to advertise guage and is a fit and proper
spondent and Justice minister judicial posts, conduct inter- person for appointment as a
Ziyambi Ziyambi as the third views and make appropriate judge.
respondent. recommendations in certain
cases. “A proper reading of the
Pending determination of Constitution as amended by
the matter, Chingwe sought “For Constitutional Court the Act shows that there has
relief interdicting and order- there must be interviews so been no exclusion of persons
ing the respondents not to that persons who are not sit- who are not sitting judges
proceed with the appointment ting judges, High Court, La- from appointment to the Su-
of any substantive judges of bour Court preme Court and/or the Con-
either the Supreme Court or stitutional Court by section
Constitutional Curt without and Administrative Court 180 (4) and (4a) of the Con-
following the process in Sec- judges can be considered for stitution,” argued Chingwe.
tion 180 (4) of the constitu- the position, and for Supreme
tion “to allow for all persons Court positions, there must be “Attempting to appoint
who are not sitting judges to an interview for persons who Supreme Court or Constitu-
be considered for appointment are not sitting judges,” Chin- tional Court judges without
for such positions”. gwe argued. conducting public interviews
for those who are not sitting
In making the application, “In respect for Supreme judges would deny all those
Chingwe said he had become Court positions sitting judg- who qualify for such an ap-
aware “of an attempt to ap- es of the High Court, Labour pointment the equal protec-
point judges of the Supreme Court and Administrative tion of the law under section
Court by the respondents Court do not have to undergo 56 of the Constitution and it
without conducting public an interview process and can would be unfairly discrima-
interviews for persons who are be appointed in terms of sec- tory. In addition, it would be
not sitting judges as required tion 180 (4a) of the Constitu- blatantly unconstitutional.”
by the Constitution of Zim- tion as amended but all other
babwe”. qualified candidates must un- Chingwe noted that Mnan-
dergo a pubic interview. gagwa recently promoted five
Chingwe noted that the Supreme Court judges to the
Constitution of Zimbabwe Constitutional Court, mean-
Amendment (No.2) Act re- ing there are vacancies which
pealed and replaced Section need filling. He however said
180 which allowed for judi- there should not be exclusion
cial appointments to be made of interested persons who are
not sitting judges.

There is a future.

ZIMBABWE
CHILDREN’S CANCER RELIEF

EARLY
DETECTION

IISS TTHHEE BBEESSTT PPRROOTTEECCTTIIOONN!!

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

NewsHawks Feature Page 9

Issue 32, 28 May 2021 Who is Justice Happias Zhou?

OWEN GAGARE School in Harare.   Justice Happias Zhou. had said Muzenda won the
While at Mabvuku, he election through corrupt
MANY Zimbabweans took High Court releases full practices.
note of Justice Happias enrolled for a Bachelor of judgement on Malaba case
Zhou after the Judicial Ser- Laws (Honours) degree He also alleged that war
vice Commission went to with the University of Zim- BRIDGET MANANAVIRE ment,” the judgement read. “An absurd situation, which veterans and Zanu PF sup-
court in a futile attempt to babwe after which he read “Any extension of the length neither the Executive nor the porters had intimidated
stop him and other judges for a Master of Philosophy THE High Court has released Legislature would have intend- and attacked his supporters
from hearing an application in Law and then a Master the full judgement blocking the of time that persons who were ed, would have resulted whereby in the run-up to the elec-
by the Zimbabwe Human of Science in International extension of Chief Justice Luke judges of the Constitution- the country would be without a tion. Muzenda had polled
Rights NGO Forum exec- Relations. Malaba’s term, ruling that as the al Court and Supreme Court Chief Justice for the period of 14 867 votes against Mu-
utive director Musa Kika incumbent he could not benefit to the amendment of s186 24 hours between 0000 hours soni’s 8 179 votes.
– consolidated with that of From 1996 until the from an amendment of the con- through the Constitution of on 15 May 2021 and 0000
the Zimbabwe Young Law- time he was appointed a stitution extending term limits. Zimbabwe Amendment (No.2) hours on 16 May 2021. In 2002, Zhou represent-
yers Association – against High Court judge in 2012, 2021 would be a violation of the ed the late MDC president
the extension of superior he was in private practice According to the judgement applicants’ right as protected by “There would have been Morgan Tsvangirai after the
courts judges’ tenures. as an advocate based at the by High Court judges Hap- s56 (1) and s69 (3) of the Con- nothing to extend since he disputed presidential elec-
Advocates Chambers. He pias Zhou, Jester Charewa and stitution of Zimbabwe,”. would have ceased to be a judge tion against Mugabe. In
The JSC and Justice min- was also a lecturer in the Edith Mushore, tenure is de- and chief justice of Zimbabwe. that case, he worked with
ister Ziyambi Ziyambi were University of Zimbabwe’s fined by both the fixed term and The judges said at the time Thus, any purported extension veteran lawyers including
unsettled by Zhou’s pres- Faculty of Law. the stipulated retirement ages. the applications were filed, he of the second respondent’s oc- Advocate Jere-my Gauntlet
ence and mentioned him The judgement is in respect of had not turned 70. They said the cupation of the office of judge of South Africa, Advocate
by name. As an advocate, he was two matters that were heard to- applications were filed following of chief justice remains a nul- Adrian de Bourbon (now
admitted as counsel at the gether on 15 May challenging indications that he might or lity because there was nothing based in South Africa) and
After Zhou, who heard International Criminal Tri- President Emmerson Mnangag- would benefit from the new sec- to extend once he ceased to be Bryant Elliot as attorney.
the case with Justices Jest- bunal for Rwanda in Aru- wa’s extension of Malaba’s term tion 186 of the constitution by a judge at the inception of 15
er Helena Charewa and sha, Tanzania. in office by five years, after he having his tenure extended by May 2021. This is so wheth- Zhou in 2018 scrapped
Edith Mushore, ruled that reached the age of 70. another five years. er the extension is said to have Statutory Instrument (SI)
Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s As revealed by The New- been constituted by his election 205 of 2018, which enabled
term of office ended when sHawks last week, Zhou The applications were, one by   “In view of the conclusion to remain in office or by the let- the government to levy 2%
he turned 70, Ziyambi has over the years delivered lawyer Musa Kika versus Justice we have reached, Honourable ter of 11 May 2021, the judge- on electronic money trans-
launched an astonishing judgements which have up- minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, the Justice Luke Malaba ceased to ment reads. actions above ZW$10.
attack on the judges, claim- set government officials.  Judicial Service Commission be a judge of the Constitution-
ing they are captured. (JSC), Luke Malaba and other al Court and Supreme Court The other judges of the Su- The tax was intro-
After the June 2000 par- judges of the Supreme Court at 0000hours on 15 may 2021 preme Court and the Consti- duced by Finance minister
Ziyambi said the judge- liamentary elections, which and Constitutional Court and when he turned 70 years. Equal- tutional Court who occupied Mthuli Ncube. Last year,
ment against Malaba was the MDC narrowly lost to another application between ly he ceased to be the Chief Jus- office before the constitutional Zhou set aside Harare
a “typical case of a night Zanu PF, Zhou represent- Young Lawyers Association tice of the Republic of Zimba- amendments have also been magistrate Ngoni Ndu-
court, consisting of night ed in court Crispa Musoni, with Frederick Mutanda versus bwe at that time. Nothing turns affected by the same judgment na’s ruling which barred
judges and night lawyers”. opposition candidate for the JSC, Malaba and Attor- on the letter of 11 May 2021. as it reads that they cannot have prominent lawyer Beatrice
Gutu North, but withdrew ney-General Prince Machaya. When it was written that was their term in office extended be- Mtetwa from representing
“With the greatest of re- his petition in the High the same day that the applica- yond 70 years based on section award-winning journalist
spect, we do not agree with Court challenging the “In terms of s328 (7) of the tion was filed. The letter of 11 186 of the constitution. Howev- Hopewell Chin’ono. Zhou
the decision of the court for late vice-president Simon constitution, such an extension May was intended to take effect er, acting judges have not been further disqualified Nduna
so many reasons, we have Muzenda, the Zanu PF is an amendment to the Consti- only on 16 May 2021, on which affected as they are just acting from presiding over Chi-
already instructed our law- candidate. tution. It cannot benefit the per- date the then incumbent would and there was no extension to no’no’s criminal trial and
yers to file an appeal first sons who held or occupied the have ceased to be a judge some the length of term in office. ordered that a new magis-
thing on Monday [17 May In his petition, Musoni office at any time of the amend- twenty-four hours earlier.”  trate preside over the case.
2021],” he charged.
In another case, Zhou
“We do not understand interdicted any persons,
how the Honourable Jus- including the police and
tice Zhou insisted on pro- home affairs, from prevent-
ceeding with the matter ing Zimbabwe Hospital
after we sought his recusal Doctors’ Association leader
because he is clearly con- Dr Peter Magombeyi, from
flicted. leaving the country for the
purpose of seeking medical
“How does one Judge treatment.
continue to make deci-
sions that are against the At one time Zhou re-
Government? In the eyes leased 57 political activ-
of the Judge, does it mean ists who participated in
that the Government is al- demonstrations in 2016.
ways wrong? And how are
cases allocated at the High In retaliation against all
Court? Why does a certain the judgements they did
group of Judges including not like, government offi-
that Judge continue to be cials last year blocked Zhou
allocated cases in which from becoming one of sev-
the second Republic is in- en members of the Inter-
volved in?”  national Tribunal for the
Law of the Sea when his
Most of the vitriol was nomination was withdrawn
targeted at Zhou. without his knowledge.
But who is Zhou?
Zhou was born on 2 March Also last year, Zhou ruled
1968 in Mberengwa. He that Harare architectural
went to Mponjani Primary entity Stone/Beattie Studio
School and Mbuyanehanda was entitled to the US$142
High School in Mbereng- 000 it had de-posited with
wa. CABS. Conversion of that
balance into local currency,
He passed five Advanced a result of Exchange Con-
Level subjects in 1991 af- trol R120/2018 directive
ter which he enrolled at issued by the Reserve Bank
Hillside Teachers’ College of Zimbabwe on 4 October
in Bulawayo to train as a 2018, was a violation of
teacher. He also attained property rights, the judge
a certificate in education ruled.
from the University of
Zimbabwe. However, his most im-
pactful judgement is the
He was a trainee teach- Malaba one.
er at Masotsha Secondary
School and Hamilton High
School in Bulawayo before
moving to Mabvuku High

Page 10 News NewsHawks

Judges who Issue 32, 28 May 2021
ended Malaba’s
tenure are
no pushovers

OWEN GAGARE 2023 elections are decided in The constitutional amend- Justice Edith Mushore. People’s Rights in Arusha, Justice Jesta Helena Charewa.
court as was the case in the ments, The Constitution Forces where she was head of Tanzania, as a senior legal of- Human and People’s Rights,
JUSTICE Jester Helena Cha- 2018 polls. of Zimbabwe Amendment the Department of Research, ficer before becoming a spe- PricewaterhouseCoopers and
rewa, one of the three High (No.2) Act, affect Chiwenga Legal Drafting and Training. cial assistant to the president the International Organisa-
Court judges on a brave ju- Before the judges heard an as they remove the running and later deputy registrar. tion for Migration, among
dicial panel that dramatically application by the Zimbabwe mate clause, which leaves him She joined the military others.
blocked Chief Justice Luke Human Rights NGO Forum a weak and vulnerable Mnan- as a captain in 1985, having She was appointed a High
Malaba’s controversial tenure executive director Musa Kika gagwa appointee, although served as a professional assis- Court judge in September Justice Mushore, a sharp le-
extension a fortnight ago, has – consolidated with that of he installed him in power tant at Higham, Lewis and 2015. gal mind, was a long-time ad-
a military background, add- the Zimbabwe Young Law- through the 2017 military Lock (now Henning Lock vocate based at the Advocates
ing to the reasons President yers Association – against the coup. Donagher and Winter Legal Justice Charewa holds a Chambers in Harare.
Emmerson Mnangagwa and extension of superior courts Practitioners) in Mutare. Bachelor of Law (Honours)
his allies were uncomfortable judges’ tenures, Justice min- Curriculum vitaes seen by degree from the University of From 1993 to 1999, she
with the bench. ister Ziyambi Ziyambi and The NewsHawks show that After leaving the military, Zimbabwe (UZ), Bachelor of was the legal adviser (Africa)
the pro-Mnangagwa Judicial Justice Charewa, like her boss Justice Charewa went into Laws degree from the UZ and of the International Organi-
The panel, which also in- Services Justice Chiweshe, was also a private practice as a partner a Master of Science in Inter- sation of Consumer Unions
cluded the fiercely indepen- senior army official where she at Mucharehwa and Partners. national Relations, also from at The Hague in the Nether-
dent Justice Happias Zhou Commission tried in vain served for 10 years between During her time in private the UZ. lands. 
and Justice Edith Kuda to block the justices from 1985 and 1995. practice, she was also a lec-
Mushore, an experienced hearing the case, fearing they turer in Civil Practice and She has also undertaken Between 1987 and 1989,
practitioner who has worked would scuttle the power con- Between 1990 and 1995, Procedure at the University of several courses with institu- she was a parliamentary re-
at The Hague in the Neth- solidation plan. she was the chief legal offi- Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Law. tions such as the Common- search assistant at the House
erlands and at the House of cer at the Zimbabwe Defence wealth Judicial Education of Commons. Before that, she
Commons at Westminister in The JSC questioned why In 2008, she joined the Af- Institute, African Court on had served as the corporate le-
London, ruled that Malaba’s Judge President George Chi- rican Court on Human and gal adviser for Old Mutual.
tenure as Chief Justice end- weshe, a war veteran and re-
ed when he turned 70 on 15 tired major-general, was not ed to Kwekwe Hospital as
May. cited in the court application. ambulances.
Chiweshe, seen as Vice-Presi-
The ruling dealt a body dent Constantino Chiwenga’s To try and complement
blow to Mnangagwa’s power ally, was the vice-president’s the non-custodial options,
consolidation project ahead deputy in Zanla’s political the ZPCS introduced the
of the 2023 elections. The commissariat during the lib- open prison system, which
President, as exposed by The eration struggle. Mnangag- is anchored on the prin-
NewsHawks in a series of ar- wa’s allies believe Chiweshe ciples of rehabilitation,
ticles, wants Malaba to be the was keen on derailing the counselling and re-integra-
head of the judiciary so that power consolidation project, tion of inmates.
he has an allay in case the hence his appointment of the
no-nonsense and brave panel.  Connemara was estab-
BERNARD MPOFU lished in 2003 and some
Mnangagwa’s jailed aide of the high-profile inmates
AN incarcerated former shifts to open prison who have served time at
senior staffer in President at Harare Central Prison, time of going to print. the facility include former
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s was moved to the Mid- Douglas Tapfuma, former principal director of state residences. Harare regional magis- Zimbabwe Football As-
office has been moved to lands-based holding facili- sociation boss Rafik Khan
Connemara Open Prison ty, near Gweru.  trate Esthere Chivasa had who in 2006 was convicted
nearly a year into his four- initially jailed Tapfuma for for breaking into and steal-
year sentence, The News- “He was moved in early two years on each count be- ing a car.
Hawks has established. May. It is the prerogative fore suspending two years.
of the member-in-charge She declared the forfeiture Prisoners who benefit
Since taking over from of the prison where the in- of six cars: a Toyota Hi- from the open prison sys-
long-time leader Robert mate is currently detained ace, Toyota Altezza, BMW tem are chosen by a selec-
Mugabe, Mnangagwa has to decide whether an in- 318i, Nissan Tiida and two tion board and enjoy ad-
promised to tackle corrup- mate is eligible for Open Honda Fit vehicles — out ditional privileges which
tion among other reforms. Prison. Tapfuma qualified,” of the eight cars he import- are not enjoyed by those at
But critics have cast doubt a source said. ed. closed prisons such as free
on his anti-graft drive, say- movement; less supervision
ing it is mainly targeting According to sources, During his tenure as during work; permission to
political foes and less prom- when prisoners arrive at principal director of State visit families upon appli-
inent government officials. Connemara, they are placed Residences in the Office cation; late lock up; tele-
in the “command cell” in of the President and Cabi- vision viewing; access to
Douglas Tapfuma, for- groups of 20 per dormitory net, Tapfuma imported the telephone and opportunity
mer principal director of for easy supervision. Lat- eight vehicles using bills of to attend lessons at colleges
State Residences was last er they are transferred to entry exclusively reserved within the vicinity of the
June jailed for an effective “single cells” where inmates for bringing into the coun- open prison.
four years and had six ve- stay in their own cubicles. try the President’s personal
hicles forfeited to the state goods and for the govern-
after he was convicted on Meya Khanyezi, the Zim- ment. By doing this, he
three charges of criminal babwe Prisons and Cor- avoided paying duty.
abuse of office. rectional Service (ZPCS)
spokesperson, could not be Two out of the cars Tap-
Last week, it was report- reached for comment at the fuma imported were donat-
ed that Tapfuma had his
appeal against conviction
and sentence dismissed.

Security sources told The
NewsHawks that Tapfu-
ma, who was serving time

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

How Zanu PF stole Nehanda’s legacy

AT the beginning, many to fund the statue and the President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressing people at the unveiling of Mbuya Nehanda’s statue. to have Mugabe reburied as he
thought it was about honour- event.    wanted his predecessor’s mys-
ing the legacy and heroics of abe’s rulership in 1957, and 2015 quoted Wimbo, speak- should do to help him).” tic sceptre (tsvimbo yamam-
Mbuya Nehanda, who resist- Even the chiefs were com- the then frail church leader ing through an interpreter, as Now, questions are being bo). 
ed colonialism leading to her mandeered to pronounce that was forced to perform a ritual saying: “Anoda kubatsirwa,
execution, but sitting there ED was anointed by spirit me- for Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa angazvigona seiko ari oga? raised over his hand in the or- He said Mnangagwa be-
and observing the proceedings diums.  had to follow Wimbo, who Handizive kuti ndoita zvip- dering of the exhumation and lieves the sceptre was buried
during the ceremony for the was in a trance and wobbling iko. Vari kunditeera nditeverei reburial of Mugabe at the Na- alongside Mugabe in Zvim-
unveiling of her statue, several “Here is Mnangagwa, the around the shrine, asking for nekuno (Mnangagwa needs tional Heroes’ Acre.  ba and had influenced Chief
things became clear. one you said you had chosen spiritual guidance. help as he can’t do anything on Zvimba’s order to have Mug-
to lead, the one you said we his own. I don’t know what I Mugabe’s exiled nephew, abe exhumed.
First, it was telling from should respect because you A private media report in Patrick Zhuwao, said Mnan-
the crowd, the regalia and the chose him. We are grateful to gagwa was behind the order Mnangagwa was also re-
songs by Zanu PF supporters, you. May you give them wis- ported to have held a meeting
that the unveiling of Nehan- dom and may they unite,” one with representatives of the
da’s statue was a partisan party of the chiefs said while evok- Zvimba clan in the presence of
event. ing the spirit of Nehanda. Zanu PF and government of-
ficials on 11 September 2020
The party’s youth were It continued with another at State House to discuss how
marching up and down Julius chief saying: Mugabe had been buried.
Nyerere Way denouncing the
MDC Alliance and chanting “Your grandchild, Shumba According to the report,
Zanu PF and President Em- (Mnangagwa’s totem) is the the meeting was attended by
merson Mnangagwa’s slogans. one leading the country, he Vice-President Constanti-
The Mbare Chimurenga Choir is fighting for the restoration no Chiwenga, Defence and
was singing partisan songs, of traditionalism.  Give your War Veterans minister Op-
while vigorously shaking their child (Mnangagwa) and his pah Muchinguri-Kashiri,
bottoms as per custom.  officials wisdom and protect Information and Publicity
him.”  minister Monica Mutsvang-
The event turned out to be wa, Local Government and
a manipulation of Nehanda’s “We thank your grandchild, Public Works ministers July
name, heroics and legacy for people are eating and getting Moyo, Zanu PF secretary for
partisan and political gains. It satisfied. All the chiefs are hap- administration Obert Mpofu,
turned out to be more of an at- py, we thank you, also give us Chief Zvimba, Chief Bepere-
tempt at securing anointment wisdom.”  re, Chief Chidziva, Headman
and legitimacy of Mnangag- Chisora, Phillip Chiyangwa,
wa’s presidency than honour- Ironically, Nehanda did not Madzima Bhajabha, Nyikadz-
ing Nehanda.  know about Zanu PF or any ino Kamuruko, Edward Tome
political party but was fighting with a Nelson Mawomo tak-
Where he has been lacking for her people. Tuesday’s event ing the minutes.
in performance, Mnangagwa was however not an isolated
seeks to make amends via spir- case of Mnangagwa’s belief Mnangagwa is however not
itual legitimacy. in spiritualism and politics as the only one in Zanu PF who
there is a history behind it. believes in spiritualism and
The whole Zanu PF leader- politics as many leaders fre-
ship, politburo members, and In 2015, the Zanu PF fac- quently visit traditional heal-
central committee officials, tional fights spiralled to the ers and prophets. 
including Zanu PF vice-pres- late Johane Masowe Vadzidzi
ident and second secretary Vajesu Church founder Aar- Party leaders once invited
Kembo Mohadi who had fall- on Mhukuta Gomo (Madzi- scorn and ridicule after falling
en from grace after a sex scan- baba Wimbo), who was “kid- for the trickery of a self-styled
dal, were in attendance.  napped” and separated from seer who convinced them that
his family. refined diesel could ooze from
All this was done at the ex- a rock.
pense of the taxpayer as public In October of the same year,
resources were commandeered Mnangagwa visited Wimbo, — STAFF WRITER
who was said to have predicted
the late President Robert Mug-

BRIDGET MANANAVIRE London Museum has no led a spirited resistance against
record of Nehanda skull colonial rule. Hunted down,
WHILE in Harare there were arrested and hung by the set-
chants about Mbuya Nehan- tlers, her legacy will indeed
da’s bones rising, signified by endure for posterity. 
the unveiling of the statue
resembling one of her spirit “In her defiance to the bru-
mediums Charwe, in London tal hanging, she declared that
the museum said to be having ‘mapfupa angu achamuka’ (my
Nehanda’s skull said they had bones shall rise),” Mnangagwa
no record of ever receiving it. said on Wednesday.
“Mapfupa angu achamuka of the statue was strategic in the settlers, she would come to ficials on this subject but after spirit of Nehanda.
(my bones shall rise),” as histo- that it was meant to restore the the well here and sit under a extensive research have found This all was before the stat- “About 123 years ago on
ry has it, is the promise made values of traditionalism that tree. When they killed her the no evidence to suggest that re- 27th April 1898, Mbuya Ne-
by Nehanda as she encouraged had been demeaned after the settlers came and covered that mains of Mbuya Nehanda are ue, which was covered with a handa Nyakasikana was hung
the people of Zimbabwe to setting up of a church on top well and they built the church held or have ever been held by black and white cloth, com- by the settler regime. The
take up arms against white set- of the well Mbuya Nehanda on top, saying they have su- the Museum. We have shared monly used by spirit mediums, British settler colonialists with
tler rule.  used to drink water from. pressed the Zimbabwe tradi- all the information we have was unveiled by Mnangagwa.  their unbridled appetite to
Ministers, former ministers, tions. Today her bones have with the authorities in Zimba- dominate, adopted unortho-
politburo members, chiefs, He was referring to the risen because we have built her bwe,” the museum said. The crowds were also en- dox and inhumane measures
spirit mediums and Zanu PF Presbyterian Church at the in- image here where she used to tertained by traditional music to subjugate the people of this
members on Tuesday gathered tersection of the two roads. drink water.” Meanwhile, the Harare from different acts including country.
at the intersection of Harare’s event became a concoction of the mbira queen Stella Chi-
popular roads Samora Machel “My administration delib- Still on bones, Mnangagwa Christianity and traditional- weshe. Mnangagwa said the “Through their spiritual in-
Avenue and Julius Nyerere erately chose this site to place said they were continuing with ism as prayers were made to unveiling of the statue and sights, the white settler regime
Street in celebration of Nehan- the statue and museum of our negotiations on bringing her both Mbuya Nehanda and to monument of Mbuya Nehan- suffered some of the heaviest
da’s “bones rising”. national heroine Mbuya Ne- skull back to Zimbabwe, but God.  da Nyakasikana was a con- defeats recorded on Europe-
The celebrations were also handa Nyakasikana. It is in the Natural History Museum scious and deliberate decision an colonisation missions. The
to appease the spirit of Ne- this vicinity that there were in London, in a statement to Five chiefs knelt in suits, to recognise, honour, memo- good fight for freedom and
handa, which they evoked for springs from which she would The Guardian on Wednesday, some without shoes and some rialise and immortalise heroes liberation by our forefathers
guidance to prosperity.  drink water and rest,” Mnan- said they had informed the with them on, praying to Ne- and heroines. was met by escalated settler
President Emmerson gagwa said. Zimbabwean authorities that handa to guide the country’s impunity and brutality, as ev-
Mnangagwa said the location they did not have the skull. leadership to prosperity.  “This monument that has idenced by the mass hangings.
“If you look at these trees been mounted here further Our own iconic national hero-
there is a church there and a “We have had previous dis- As they knelt, they also tells a story from the viewpoint ine Mbuya Nehanda was a vic-
long time ago, when Mbuya cussion with Zimbabwean of- clapped their hands in unison, of the legendary heroine of tim of such settler savagery.”
Nehanda was fighting with saying they were appeasing the Zimbabwe who courageously

Page 12 News NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Long Read A brave woman among daring warriors

OWEN GAGARE Justice John Philip Watermeyer
and the trial of Mbuya Nehanda
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnan- grandfather, Maduna Mafu, head court because it had serious legal
gagwa this week officially unveiled of the Godlwayo regiment, which and political repercussions for the
the statue of Mbuya Nehanda was stationed in today’s Insiza colonial administration and con-
at the intersection of Samora district after founding Ndebele quest. 
Machel Avenue and Julius Nyere- King Mzilikazi migrated from Several witnesses testified
re Way in Harare amid pomp and Zululand north into present-day against them and others testified
fanfare — speeches, music, dance, south-western Zimbabwe, who for them. However, both were
rhetoric and parading. initiated the attacks on settlers. convicted and sentenced to death.
Historian David N Beach rais-
The statue symbolically marks Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu, es serious doubts about the fair-
a convergence of revolution- who died in February, was critical ness of Nehanda’s trial.
aries — Nehanda, Machel and of the late president Robert Mug- He believes that she may have
Nyerere. It stands elevated on a abe and Mnangagwa.  been wrongly convicted. It is evi-
steel bridge above an intersection dent that the colonial administra-
where two main roads named af- In 2018, he wrote Mnangagwa tion was desperate to suppress this
ter some of Africa’s greatest libera- a letter raising a series of critical uprising and would pervert justice
tion struggle luminaries meet. issues affecting his communities. if necessary to achieve their ends.
Fr Richartz of Chishawasha
Nehanda’s statue captures his- Following brutal violence and Mission tried to convert both Ne-
tory, culture and memory rolled dispossession of land and cattle in handa and Kaguvi to the Cath-
around a struggle for freedom, de- the aftermath of the British South olic faith on death row. Kaguvi’s
mocracy and progress that culmi- Africa Company (BSAC) or the daughter who lived at the mission
nated in Independence in 1980 Charter Company’s Matabeleland and was attending the mission
- after 90 years of colonial rule.  invasion in September 1893, it school pressured her father to
was Maduna Mafu and his broth- convert.
Among other prominent roy- er who launched the first attacks Just before his execution,
al, military and spiritual leaders on invaders in 1896. After initial Kaguvi converted to the Catholic
of the time, Nehanda was one of military successes, the tide turned, faith.
the heroines of the 1896 uprising with far-reaching consequences. Fr Richartz then baptised him
against colonial settlers.  and gave him the name of the
When the revolt spread to good thief named Dismas and
The causes of the revolt includ- Mashonaland starting 14 June says: “with whom he was to share
ed a complex web of grievances, 1896, Nehanda and other spiri- the great blessing of forgiveness in
including dispossession, repres- tual leaders like Sekuru Kaguvi, the hour of death…”
sion, land, cattle and taxes. Mkwati and Chaminuka rose to Dismas is the name of the thief
the occasion. who is said to have said to Jesus
After the 1893 Anglo-Ndebele on the cross after rebuking the
War, three years after colonial These figures were not roy- other thief who mocked Jesus:
invasion, which marked the first al or military leaders, but spirit “Remember me in paradise.”
militant fightback to occupation mediums who used traditional Nehanda was defiant to the
as General Mtshana Khumalo cultural symbols and African reli- Mbuya Nehanda (left) and Sekuru Kaguvi. end. It is recorded that Fr Rich-
and his Imbizo crack regiment gious cult to mobilise people and
annihilated the Wilson Patrol at confront colonial authorities who hanged in April 1898.  judicial system was reorganised Pollard. artz was given the task of inform-
the Battle of Pupu in Lupane, had brought rapid socio-cultural, Nehanda’s legacy continued and the High Court of Mata- Nehanda, Kaguvi, Mashong- ing the prisoners that they would
Matabeleland North, in Decem- economic and political changes, beleland was reconstituted as the be hanged on the next day, that
ber that year, Nehanda rises to as well as attendant disruptions to to be linked to the theme of re- High Court of Southern Rhode- anyika and others were sentenced is 27 April 1898. Kaguvi showed
prominence in 1896.  native people’s lives. sistance, particularly during the sia with full jurisdiction, civil and to death for their role in the 1896- fear and began to cry.
liberation struggle mainly on the criminal, over all persons and over 7 rebellion. They were executed Kaguvi’s father-in-law
This followed King Lobengu- Prior to that, British colo- part of Zanu and Zanla. Her all matters within Southern Rho- on 27 April 1898. Mashonganyika and Mzampi
la’s pitched battles and flight after nial empire-builder Cecil John name became increasingly im- desia, subject to special provisions took the news quietly. Nehan-
the attack on Bulawayo. Rhodes had in July 1890 invad- portant to the nationalist move- regarding native law and custom. While in the early years, the da began to dance, to laugh and
ed Zimbabwe from South Africa ment in Zimbabwe. Cape administration wanted to talk so much that warders were
Faced with a deadly onslaught using Botswana as a base through By High Commissioner’s No- slow down rushed justice, their obliged to tie her hands and watch
as well as a simultaneous invasion the Pioneer Column which en- On Tuesday this week, the tice No.20 of 29 December 1898, minds changed when a rebellion her continually as she threatened
by British imperial forces from croached via Fort Tuli near Tuli unveiling of Nehanda’s statue co- the High Court of Southern Rho- became an existential threat to to kill herself.
the south, Lobengula, who had village on the eastern bank of incided with the Africa Day com- desia was declared “open from themselves, their political interest On the day of execution, Fr
been duped and trapped by colo- Shashe River in Beitbridge Dis- memorations under the theme and after the first day of January and the colony itself. Richartz tried again to talk to
nial plotters before 1890 through trict — going all the way to Fort “The Arts, Culture and Heritage: 1899.” Nehanda about religion, but she
dubious negotiations, agreements Victoria (Masvingo), Fort Char- Levers For Building The Africa From the Cape, Milner want- refused, called for her people and
and deceit, burnt his capital, Bu- ter (Chivhu) and eventually Salis- We Want”. Through the High Com- ed the local administrator Grey wanted to go back to her Ma-
lawayo, annihilated a column of bury (Harare) — initially avoid- missioner’s Notice No.24 of 29 to expedite the trials so that Ne- zowe and die there.
invaders sent to capture him, and ing Matabeleland as it feared the Speaking at the ceremony, December 1898, Vintcent was handa and Kaguvi could serve as The screaming and resistance
disappeared. Ndebele State — before plotting Mnangagwa said the statue is a appointed senior judge and Wa- examples.  of Nehanda as she was being tak-
its final assault on Bulawayo from symbol of history, fortitude and termeyer was appointed a puisne en up the scaffold to be hanged
The 1896 uprising started on Harare three years later. patriotism. judge of the High Court of He wrote to Grey: “Get the deeply disturbed Kaguvi who was
20 March in Matabeleland in- Watermeyer and Nehanda’s trial Southern Rhodesia. murderers tried as soon as you going to be next. He was being
stigated by Mlimo, a spiritual Even though Nehanda had Like the other Rhodesian judges, can. It would be better to deal held nearby and heard even the
leader from Matopo, and led by neither huge standing nor struc- Justice John Philip Watermeyer So Vintcent was based in with fifty percent promptly than noisy opening of the trap-door
Ndebele Queen Regent Lozikeyi tured army, and no intelligence was born in Cape Town, South Bulawayo, while Watermeyer to wait a year longer to bag the and the heavy thud with which
Dlodlo who had taken charge network, she bravely mobilised Africa. His father was a judge on was based in Harare at Jameson whole lot. It is the deterrent ef- she fell to die. It was traumatic.
after Lobengula’s disappearance. people in Mashonaland to revolt the Cape bench for many years.  House at the turn of the 19th cen- fect of strong punishment which After the execution of Nehan-
She was Lobengula’s senior wife.  using her power and influence tury where he sentenced Nehanda I look to. And try first the ones in da and Kaguvi, their bodies were
as a spirit medium. She also co- Watermeyer, like Justice Joseph to death. whose cases you have the surest buried in a secret place lest the
Lozikeyi, the inspiration be- ordinated with spirit mediums Vintcent, studied law at Cam- evidence.” natives could take away the bod-
hind Impi Yehloka Elibomvu elsewhere to spread the revolt and bridge and was called to the En- Nehanda, Kaguvi, Mashong- ies and claim that their spirits had
(Ndebele for War of the Red Axe), instigate attacks on settlers. glish Bar in 1885. He then went anyika and others were brought It was very important for the descended on any other prophet-
came from a family of traditional to Cape Town, got admitted and to trial on 2 March 1898. Kaguvi British Crown to show that it ess.
healers and, together with many While Nehanda distinguished commenced practice as an advo- and Nehanda were tried by Wa- would not tolerate rebellion that To this day, prisons maintain
chiefs from the Khumalo, Ndiwe- herself during the  uprising work- cate. termeyer and three assessors. His- threatened its hold on its colonies. this practice of hiding bodies of
ni, Masuku, Mkhwanazi, Mafu, ing with Kaguvi and Mkwati, tory books indicate that they were executed prisoners. Relatives of
Gwebu, Mabhena, Mathema, among others, there were also On 30 July 1896, Watermeyer in fact represented by counsel. But Grey refused to be hurried condemned prisoners are denied
Sithole and Dlodlo clans, among other key actors: Chiefs Mashay- was appointed by the BSAC to be and allowed the police and the the bodies, which are buried in
others, military commanders and amombe, Mashonganyika, Chik- the second High Court judge. He Kaguvi was charged with the courts to proceed at their own unmarked graves.
spiritual leaders, rebuilt the Nde- wakwa, Seke, Kunzvi and Man- was a close friend of the adminis- murder of an African policeman rate.
bele forces to fight again in the gwende who played a critical role.  trator William Milton. on 20 June 1896, six days after
1896 uprising.  the uprising started in Mashona- At trial, their counsel, correct-
At the end of the revolt, Ne- Under the Southern Rhodesia land. Nehanda and three others ly, argued in their defence that the
She worked with Lobengula’s handa was arrested with Kaguvi Order-in-Council of 1898, the were charged with the murder of country was in a state of war. 
successor, Nyamande Khumalo, in 1897 for allegedly murdering
who came in on 25 June 1896. Native Commissioner Hen- Of course, this defence was
ry Hawkins Pollard. They were conveniently dismissed by the
As a result, Mnangagwa last
year during a Heroes’ Day virtu-
al address honoured Nehanda,
together with Lozikeyi, Mtshana
Khumalo and another decorated
Lobengula commander, Mgan-
dane Dlodlo. 

Just like Mlimo, Lozikeyi is
one of the unsung heroines of the
1896 uprising. There are many
other figures and fighters who are
less spoken about.

Interestingly, it was the late
vocal Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu’s

NewsHawks News Page 13

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

LIZWE SEBATHA Gukurahundi takes the shine
off Mnangagwa statue project
WHILE President Emmerson
Mnangagwa was receiving rahundi memorial service tions were abruptly stopped
praise from some quarters on from proceeding.  The police after the government said en-
Tuesday after unveiling the later relented, but on condi- abling legislation had to be put
Mbuya Nehanda statue in tion that no more than 50 in place to guard the process.
Harare, his role in the Guku- people could allowed to attend The National Peace and
rahundi genocide was being in compliance with Covid-19 Reconciliation Commis-
brought into sharp focus. restrictions on public gather- sion has said it is laying the
ings. groundwork for exhumations
There was a sombre atmo- to begin, but there has been
sphere at Bhalagwe, in Ma- Incidentally, Mnangagwa no movement.
tabeleland South province, was presiding over a pub- “We doubt his (Mnangag-
where survivors of the atroci- lic event where the same wa) sincerity,” Fuzwayo said.
ties and their families demand- Covid-19 restrictions were “Like Mugabe (late Presi-
ed redress from Mnangagwa as not enforced as scores of Zanu dent Robert), he seems to be
he celebrated the unveiling of PF supporters marched and employing the same strategy of
the Mbuya Nehanda stature as danced in numbers in celebra- not wanting to ensure there is
victory against colonialism. tion of the Mbuya Nehanda closure, four years after he as-
stature. sumed the presidency. 
Victims of genocide were “The coincidence of our
tortured, killed and thrown “We will make sure that the memorial and Mbuya Ne-
down mine shafts by the plaques are there and those handa statue unveiling was by
North Korean-trained Fifth who don’t want will have to accident. We did not have her
Brigade. Some of them lie in get used to them. Our sim- in our mind when we planned
unmarked graves. Nehanda ple message to Mnangagwa the event. It is the right of oth-
Charwe Nyakasikana, also is that our calls and cries for ers to respect her, and which
known as Mbuya Nehanda, Gukurahundi redress will not we have no problem with, but
was a spirit medium instru- be silenced no matter how we are also saying to Mnan-
mental in the First Chimuren- many times they destroy the gagwa – Gukurahundi will not
ga uprising. She was hanged plaques,” Fuzwayo added. be wished away.”
by the colonial settlers on 27 The government once in-
April 1898. Fuzwayo says they hold the stituted an official probe into
state accountable for the de- the  Gukurahundi  massacres
The pressure group Ibhet- struction of the plaques. but the findings of the inves-
shu LikaZulu led a delegation tigation by the Chihambakwe
to Bhalagwe for a memorial In attendance during the Commission of Inquiry were
service and installed a plaque unveiling of the plaque were never made public.
in memory of the countless Chiefs Mathema and Fuyane, Mnangagwa was quoted by been little movement towards mation and reburial of Justin There have been calls for
Gukurahundi victims who are MDC Alliance deputy pres- the state-controlled Chronicle finding a lasting peace-build- Tshuma and Thembi Ngwen- Mnangagwa to ensure the re-
buried in mass graves and in ident Welshman Ncube and threatening to unleash untold ing solution to the emotive is- ya in Tsholotsho’s Enkwalini lease of the report in the spirit
mine shafts. Gukurahundi survivors and violence on citizens he likened sue, with victims accusing him community in 2019 who were of promoting national heal-
their families. to “cockroaches and bugs” of insincerity. killed by the Fifth Brigade in ing, and to commit himself
The plaque was destroyed that needed DDT pesticide. March 1983. Bulawayo-based to compensating the survivors
and stolen on the same night, Mnangagwa, who played a Dichloro-diphenyl-trichlo- At one time, exhumations Ukuthula Trust, an indepen- and victims’ families. In 2011,
for the second time in a row, central role in the Gukurahun- roethane is banned. and reburial of Gukurahundi dent body of  forensic archae- Genocide Watch, alongside
following the 2019 incident. di genocide, was State Security victims were allowed to pro- ologists and anthropologists the International Association
minister at the time the brutal Mnangagwa once told ceed as part of a process to find conducted the exhumations.  of Genocide Scholars, classi-
“We erected the first plaque soldiers terrorised communi- the public to openly discuss closure on the emotive issue.  fied Gukurahundi as genocide.
in 2019, and it was destroyed. ties in the Midlands and Mata- Gukurahundi, but there has However, further exhuma-
We erected a similar plaque beleland, killing an estimated This resulted in the exhu-
this week, and it was destroyed. 20 000 civilians.
We will erect another one,
and many others because this At a rally held in Victo-
is something that we are not ria Falls on 5 March 1983,
going to relent on,” Ibhetshu
LikaZulu coordinator Mbuso
Fuzwayo said yesterday.

Earlier that day, police from
nearby Maphisa growth point
had tried to prevent the Guku-

LIZWE SEBATHA Govt rides roughshod over local dispensation mantra of servant
communities in mineral rush leadership.”
GOVERNMENT and busi-
nesses are increasingly evicting which purportedly intends to land South, Chief Jahana, ac- in 2030, driven by a surge from active political office as The outspoken Chief Vezi
vulnerable rural communities farm lucerne grass for stock- cuses President Mnangagwa of in electric vehicle sales and a head of State,” Jahana’s letter Maduna Mafu passed away in
across the country, highlight- feed. mortgaging the region’s miner- corresponding surge in lithi- reads in part.  February after succumbing to
ing poor land tenure systems als for personal gain.  um-ion battery production.  diabetes.
which have left rural folk ex- Dendairy is owned by Pres- “When the late Honourable
posed. ident Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Chief Jahana raises fears over While the government is Chef Maduna raised his con- In 2019, the late Chief Ma-
business associates. his personal safety in a letter to excited over the potential rev- cerns and reservations about duna and the dethroned Chief
From Hwange in Mata- Mnangagwa after he expressed enue, the same excitement is the issuance of mining EPOs Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Nd-
beleland North, Chilonga in Local Government minister displeasure over the issuance of not shared by Chief Jahana across Matabeleland to your iweni were forced to engage
Chiredzi and now Matobo and July Moyo issued a notice or- an exclusive prospecting order who, in a letter of complaint office without following due human rights’ lawyers and
Fort Rixon in Matabeleland dering all Chilonga villagers to (EPO) to mining company to Mnangagwa dated May 14, processes and procedures, he the Zimbabwe Human Rights
South, respectively, desperate “depart permanently” from the Premier African Minerals to accuses the President of “disre- was trailed by a number of un- Commission (ZHRC) about
rural communities have been gazetted 6 000 hectares. commence the lithium explo- spect”. registered vehicles and intimi- alleged threats to their lives by
left fighting eviction to pave ration process in his Fort Rix- dated by unknown individuals, suspected state security agents. 
way for agricultural and min- In Hwange, Beifa Invest- on area of jurisdiction without “Processes and procedures that’s the response he got from
ing operations. ment Company, which plans his knowledge. are only by-passed when we are his letter to you until he died. I Chief Jahana’s concerns over
to mine coal, has invited the ire in a state of emergency, but as pray that with the concerns of mining EPOs in the region
In Matobo’s Domboshaba of the Dinde community amid The government announced Zimbabwe, we are not hence a this letter, I won’t face the same come at a time when tradition-
village, Matabeleland South, fears of eviction. recently that lithium mining request to your office to revert fate as Chief Maduna.  al leaders and pressure groups
villagers are up in arms with in Insiza, a gold-rich area, by to the normal processes and in Matabeleland are up in arms
the government after the au- The company intends to Premier African Minerals is ex- procedures of issuing all min- “We want to make it very with the government over the
thorities issued out a gold construct a 270-megawatt pected to rake in over US$1.4 ing EPOs in Matabeleland. clear that we, as Chiefs includ- issuance of gold prospecting
prospecting licence to Mazin- coal-fired power plant with billion in eight years as global Failure to do so makes the ing our subjects, were not con- licences in the region without
ahue mining syndicate in the Matabeleland North Provin- demand for the mineral soars.  whole native Matabeleland in- sulted direct or indirectly be- consultation and knowledge of
area, situated within the Mato- cial Affairs minister Richard habitants feel or think that you cause your ministry of Mines locals.
bo Hills World Heritage Site. Moyo warning the Dinde vil- Global demand for lithium have mortgaged their future did not bother to consult us
lagers against disrupting the is expected to rise from an esti- for the economic gains of your which is a strong sign of failure “We have raised these con-
In March, a Masvingo mag- company’s mining operations. mated 47 300 tonnes in 2020 family after your retirement to the foundation of the new cerns as chiefs but no-one
istrate granted an interim or- to 1.79 million metric tonnes seems to be listening. We feel
der stopping the eviction of In the latest incident, a tra- disrespected. It (issuance of
nearly 12 000 villagers from ditional leader in Matabele- mining licences without their
their Chilonga ancestral lands involvement) is a recipe for
in Chiredzi to pave way for chaos, and failure,” Chief Khu-
private dairy firm Dendairy lumani Mathema said in an
interview.

Page 14 News NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

NYASHA CHINGONO War veteran Mutanda besieged
by Zanu PF over Malaba lawsuit
BUSINESSMAN and war
veteran Frederick Mutanda
frantically tried to engage
Lands minister Anxious
Masuka, to no avail, after
dozens of Zanu PF youths
riding motorcycles invad-
ed his farm on Tuesday in
a well-calculated ploy to
whip him for supporting a
bid to challenge the exten-
sion of Luke Malaba’s term
as Zimbabwe’s chief justice. 
The Zanu PF youths
camped at Mutanda’s farm
in Mutorashanga, Masho-
naland West province, in a
well-coordinated move to
punish the businessman for
supporting Malaba’s ouster.
The party youths accused
Mutanda, who was the late
vice-president Joshua Nko-
mo’s bodyguard, of being
anti-government when he
supported Malaba’s ouster. 
In text messages seen by
The NewsHawks, Mutanda
alerted Masuka of the inva-
sion after receiving a tip off
from the police. 
“Good morning Hon
Minister. It’s Frederick
Charles Moses Mutanda. I
just want to let you know
that on Tuesday morning
I got a call from the police
informing me of an immi-
nent invasion of my farm
by Party Youths from Hara-
re. I went to the police sta-
tion where I was briefed of
the plan. I then visited the country in which every cit-
area where the local Youths izen would enjoy the fruits
had been gathered,” reads of the liberation war.
the text message. 
Mutanda also sent pic- “The Constitution before
tures of the marauding its amendment is such fruit,
youths to the Central Intel- yet the older generation are
ligence Organisation (CIO) not opening opportunities
director-general, Isaac for those who we fought
Moyo. the liberation war for. This
“They had 25 motorcy- is most regrettable; it must
cles and four cars. I have be corrected.”
sent the pictures and vid-
eos to Minister Ncube, Mr However, despite spirit-
Dzinoreva and the CIO ed moves by human rights
DG. Good morning Hon lawyers, Malaba was back
Minister,” further reads the in office this week, while
message.  the government continues
Masuka did not reply to to appeal the High Court
Mutanda’s plea.  ruling that Malaba cannot
In an exchange of mes- benefit from the constitu-
sages between Mutanda and tional amendment since he
a top official in the ministry is the incumbent. 
of Lands, it is apparent that
the invasion is politically Zanu PF youths camped at Mutanda’s farm in Mutorashanga, Mashonaland West province. As reported by The New-
sHawks in a series of arti-
motivated.  2015. I already proved that that the youths could harm Mutanda says the situ- and the Attorney-General cles on Mnangagwa’s power
“Why would they say I bought the farm,” Mutan- his family.  ation at his farm was still after President Emmerson consolidation drive, Malaba
you are anti-government? I da replied.  precarious.  Mnangagwa “unlawfully” has been critical to the Pres-
think you have to give de- “It’s not surprising that pushed for the extension of ident’s political survival. 
tail to the Minister. If your The official replied: “This these Youths were sent to Zanu PF has often used the chief justice’s term by
farm wasn’t gazetted, then shouldn’t be a problem.”   intimidate me and my fam- farm evictions as a tool to five years. Malaba has been Mnan-
they can’t move in. Even if ily. My biggest concern is whip perceived “rogue” el- gagwa’s long-time ally, in-
it was and government let In pictures sent to The that the Youths get drunk ements into line, with Mu- In an affidavit, Mutanda cluding when the strong-
you remain, they can’t move NewsHawks, the maraud- and start sexually assault- tanda’s ordeal being one said: “With great respect, man was deputising
in. Have you also informed ing youths on motorbikes ing my family. It was done among many cases where I am disappointed that Mugabe, and while serving
Minister of State?” reads are seen parked at the farm before. Rape is their num- the party has hounded cit- more than 41 years ago as as Justice minister well be-
the WhatsApp message.  gate while a video shows a ber one weapon against izens.   a teenager, I together with fore the November 2017
“Yes, it is political, I don’t group of youths walk from perceived enemies. I am other comrades suspended coup.
have the Minister of State’s a bush inside the farm and concerned about my family On 11 May, Mutanda the enjoyment of our youth
number. It was gazetted but jumping onto motorcycles because they have done it joined the Young Lawyers and went into the armed There is a sense that all
by consent was removed in parked next to the road be- before,” Mutanda told The Association of Zimbabwe struggle voluntarily to fight the madness surrounding
fore speeding off.  NewsHawks.  in suing the Judicial Ser- oppression. I envisaged a the failed quest to prolong
vice Commission, Malaba Malaba’s tenure was a ploy
Mutanda expressed fear to keep the incumbent in
power beyond 2023.

NewsHawks Feature Page 15

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Farmers narrate agonies of tobacco growing

NYASHA CHINGONO Pachao Maponga on the official opening of the 2021 tobacco marketing season held in April. They should give us our
money at once,” Machirid-
IT is 8am on a Tuesday and opened, farmers were get- local loan shark who gave is tough out here because it the open for six days, An- ze said. 
dozens of tobacco farmers ting good money, but now me money to buy inputs at is very cold. We have chil- derson is however happy
are clutching small rags that the produce has flood- the start of the season,” a dren and have been sleep- that she unshackled herself Chiguma said: “Farmers
and thin blankets to keep ed the market, the buyers teary Vianova said.  ing out in the open,” An- from the debt trap of con- cannot go back without
themselves warm in the are now buying for a dol- derson said.  tract farming.  money, so a lot of people
freezing winter cold at To- lar while sometimes it can Most tobacco farmers in are sleeping here. It is not
bacco Sales Floors (TSF) in even go as low as US$0.80 Zimbabwe are entangled in Anderson, an inde- “Before my husband healthy, there are no prop-
Harare’s Willowvale indus- per kilogramme,” she add- a vicious debt cycle, while pendent farmer, has had died, we used to be con- er facilities for us to live
trial zone. ed.  getting poorer by the day.  challenges with her bank tract farmers, but I imme- comfortably while we are
account, which has forced diately pulled out to start here. That needs to be ad-
They have slept out in “What is happening here Her friend, Jane Ander- her to stay in Harare since on my own. I am happy dressed.” 
the cold at TSF for days, is unfair to hardworking son (47), a widow, has also last week.  that no matter the sum, I
desperately waiting for farmers. We have families been waiting six days for will get here, it is for my While Zimbabwe’s to-
payment, before another to take care of and hardly payment. She complains She hopes the payment family. Many farmers are bacco industry remains one
long journey back home.  get anything meaningful. about the treatment of challenges will be ad- struggling to pay these of the most lucrative in the
All the money I got will go farmers at the floors.  dressed soon, to enable her debts,” Anderson said.  country, farmers who toil
Mothers with babies to servicing my debt with a to return home to her chil- the fields remain poor. 
strapped on their backs or “I have been waiting for dren.  Despite sleeping in Tavengwa Chiguma (51)
wrapped in blankets are my payment for six days. It and his friend Tichafara Many of the small-scale
anxious to keep the little Machiridze (58) of Gu- farmers complain they are
ones protected, but the ruve, who have slept at the being impoverished by
children often cry because tobacco auction floors for merchants who are luring
of hunger. two days, blame the gov- them into a debt trap.
ernment’s payment system
Surviving on bread and for the delays. At the start After paying loans with
tea, or sadza sold by enter- of the marketing season, interest, the farmers are left
prising vendors outside the the government said it with nothing or very little
auction floors, the farmers would pay for 60% of the to take home.
are toiling to receive pay- sales in US dollars while
ment after a long season the remaining 40% would Since the chaotic fast-
toiling in the fields.  be paid in local currency track land redistribution
at the prevailing rate.  But programme began in 2000,
Their crestfallen faces are farmers are not happy with production of the gold-
testimony to the growing the arrangement, which en leaf has been taken up
desperation and anger as they blame for the delays.  mostly by black farmers. 
days pass without payment
for their delivered tobacco “Normally we do not The number of small-
crop.  spend much time here but scale farmers, has risen to
because of the 60-40 pay- more than 145 000, spear-
Some farmers recounted ment schemes for farmers, heading the recovery of the
sad experiences with local we have to make several sector which produced an
banks where they are given trips to the bank until we estimated 200 million ki-
meagre daily amounts of withdraw all the money. logrammes of tobacco this
money, from the 40% paid year, up from 180 million
in local currency. Others kilogrammes last year.
narrated equally enraging
encounters at the hands of While the con-
unscrupulous merchants tract-growing scheme has
who took advantage of been hailed for reviving
their desperation. the sector, greedy elements
have impoverished many
Felistas Vianova (63), hardworking farmers. 
from Hurungwe, has been
waiting for payment for six According to the regu-
days. Clad in a dirty winter latory body, the Tobacco
coat, which has seen better Marketing Industry Board,
days, Vainova longs to go 96% of tobacco farmers
back home after six torrid have been financed un-
days at the auction floors.  der the contract-grow-
ing scheme. An academ-
Vianova was forced to ic study, titled “Tobacco
sell her tobacco for US$1 Farming and Current Debt
per kilogramme and she is Status Among Smallhold-
not happy.  er Farmers in Manicaland
Province” commissioned
She accuses the mer- by Tobacco Control in
chants of deliberately 2020 revealed that contract
downgrading her produce farmers are largely victims
to fetch lower prices. To rather than beneficiaries of
add to her misery, payment the system. 
has been delayed after her
tobacco was withheld for “There is no evidence to
days, for mixing different suggest that tobacco grow-
leaf sizes.  ing, in its current state,
has benefitted the (black)
“I came with six bales tobacco farmers. Tobacco
and I could not get any- farmers are largely victims,
thing meaningful. I do not rather than beneficiaries of
think I will be able to plant the sector,” the report said.
again next season. The
money that I am waiting But until the farmers
for will not be enough to get their full payment,
take care of my children,” they will continue to en-
Vianova told The News- dure cold nights at auction
Hawks.  floors while buyers enjoy
their cosy, warm beds in
“When the floors the comfort of their homes.

Page 16 News NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Special Covid-19
PANDEMIC coverage

MORRIS BISHI 94 test positive to Covid-19 the virus. We are hopeful
at Bondolfi Teachers’ College the virus will be controlled
MASVINGO is in panic and that we will not lose any
mode after 94 students at who are currently residing at that the situation is con- Health and Child Care are “Our duty as a taskforce is lives.” 
Bondolfi Teachers’ College the institution and testing is tained and, as l am speaking, tracing all contacts who were to ensure people abide by the
tested positive for Covid-19 still ongoing. Measures are all the cases were isolated and in touch with all the cases,” laid down procedures aimed A senior lecturer at the
this week. being taken to make sure officials from the ministry of Irimayi said. at controlling the spread of Catholic-run institution told
The NewsHawks that tracing
The development comes the source of the outbreak
after nearly 100 students is now difficult due to the
from the institution earlier number of positive cases. 
this week visited schools they
will be attached to through- He added that nearly 100
out the province. students who will be out
next term on teaching prac-
The ministry of Health tice visited schools early this
and Child Care has since week, sparking fears that they
taken measures to bring the may have infected people
outbreak under control with they met at various primary
all positive cases put into schools or along the way.
isolation. Contact tracing is
now underway. “Detecting the source of
the virus is now difficult
Masvingo Covid-19 task- since we now have nearly
force spokesperson Rodgers a hundred or more affect-
Irimayi confirmed the latest ed by it. This is the result
development to The News- of complacency on the part
Hawks and said the authori- of the institution’s manage-
ties are still investigating the ment. This is serious because
source of the outbreak. He some of our students visited
urged people not to panic as schools where they will be
the situation is under con- attached next term and it is
trol and measures aimed at possible that we have more
containing the outbreak are cases out there,” said the se-
being put in place. He urged nior lecturer.
people to abide by govern-
ment guidelines meant to On Monday this week,
control the spread of the Masvingo had two active
coronavirus. Covid-19 cases and the prov-
ince now has 96 active cases.
“We have 94 students who Since the first Covid-19 out-
tested positive to Covid-19 break last year, the cumula-
at Bondolfi Teachers’ College tive number of cases in the
on Tuesday and Wednesday. province is 2 512 with 2 347
There are over 300 students recoveries and 69 deaths.

KWEKWE does not have Kwekwe unprepared to handle the “We have been raising
adequate Covid-19 admis- muddle Indian Covid-19 variant awareness about Covid-19
sion facilities, a disturbing in Silobela but it seems
development for a district at all to handle a full blown we get many infections”. the funds to Bell,” he said.  die of Covid-19 disease here people do not really appre-
which has been hit by an Indian Covid-19 variant. Two major hospitals in Dr Madzorera said it is in Kwekwe and elsewhere in ciate what it means. Villag-
Indian variant of the coro- We have no admission fa- Zimbabwe they only need ers are not complying with
navirus.  cility,” Dr Madzorera said.  the district, Kwekwe Gen- not only the lack of admis- oxygen supplementaries to World Health Organisation
eral Hospital and Silobela sion facilities which is prov- keep them alive for three to regulations on Covid-19
The strain arrived in Kwekwe has for the past District Hospital, do not ing challenging but also the four days while the body is such as masking up, social
Kwekwe after local busi- two years been working on have adequate facilities in unavailability of personal building up immunity to distancing and sanitising,
nessman Robson Kaden- having an infectious disease the event of a major out- protective equipment (PPE) fight the disease. Very few amongst others,” Silobela
he died after contracting hospital after turning a local break.  Since the death of for health practitioners in people need intensive care MP Mthokozisi Manoki
it from his granddaughter beerhall into a hospital.  Kadenhe, Kwekwe has so far Kwekwe. admission. So, we can save Mpofu said. 
who had travelled from In- registered 10 Covid-19 pos- thousands of lives in the
dia in recent days. In a bid Mayor Angeline Kasipo itive cases.  Another facility “PPEs are not enough event of a major outbreak He added that in his
to curb the spread of the says the facility, in Mbi- earmarked for Covid-19, for our health practitioners just by having admission awareness campaigns he
deadly variant which has zo area, is not yet ready to Bell Medical Centre in Red- here, while the health work- facilities,” he said. has ropped in traditional
ravaged the Asian country, handle admissions as reno- cliff, is also not prepared for ers have not been properly leaders. The government in-
the government put the dis- vations are still in progress. admissions.  trained. The health workers Madzorera added that sists the localised Covid-19
trict under a localised lock- are still afraid of Covid-19 the few patients who need lockdown is the way to go. 
down last week.  However, “We converted Garandi- “Bell Medical Centre is and they have a good reason intensive care unit can be
the lockdown comes at a chauya into an Infectious not fully furnished,” Red- to be afraid. Without prop- transferred to Bulawayo or “The Indian variant was
time when admission facil- Disease Hospital. The hos- cliff mayor Clayton Masi- er protective equipment Harare.  While the govern- discovered in Kwekwe. It
ities are inadequate.  pital is almost complete, yatsva. your chances of survival as a ment has placed the district therefore becomes imper-
we are at 95% completion, health worker are very, very, under lockdown it is busi- ative that as we intensify
Health expert Dr Henry we only need some furnish- However, he said there is low,” he said. ness as usual.  our case investigation and
Madzorera, who was min- ings,” Kasipo said.  hope for the small mining contact tracing, we should
ister of Health during the town. Dr Madzorera said most In areas such as Silobela take measures to ensure that
Government of National However, she revealed Covid-19 fatalities result there is an information defi- the virus is not transported
Unity from 2009 to 2013, that even if the facility is “We received our devo- from a lack of oxygen.  cit.  to other areas hence the lo-
said the situation is scary in to be completed, “it’s very lution funds last week and calised lockdown,” Kwekwe
Kwekwe if the variant were small and will not cope if we hope to channel some of “Most of the people who district development coor-
to spiral out of control.  dinator Fortune Mupungu
said. — STAFF WRITER
“Kwekwe is not prepared

NewsHawks News Page 17

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

NOKUTHABA DLAMINI Vic Falls sings the blues as many of our members are still
tourism remains paralysed reporting for work,” Ndolo
EMMANUEL Ndlovu (47), said. 
a curio vendor in the resort Mzimkhulu Sibanda showcasing his wares.
city of Victoria Falls, has “What is positive, though,
only profited US$20 from Mzimkhulu Sibanda, another “Going home without sell- Launched on 18 February, workers.  is that we are now receiving
selling his artifacts since the curio vendor, says it will take ing anything for a week is now the first phase of the campaign In March, President Em- flights as a result of vaccina-
national lockdown was intro- more to turn around the for- a normal thing for us even af- targeted some 60 000 health- tions where Ethiopian Air-
duced to control the spread of tunes of tourism. ter the vaccinations,” he says. care and other front-line merson Mnangagwa took his ways and British Airways,
Covid-19 in March last year.  first shot of the vaccine to which come twice a week,
First dose shortage disrupts launch the second phase of have announced that they will
Ndlovu, a father of eight Covid-19 vaccination the vaccination programme be landing on daily basis from
children, with the youngest that is intended for the elder- June 1, so we are hopeful that
being five months old, has per month in the second quar- the private clinics, were turn- it is the same story again to- ly, teachers, religious leaders, those tourists are going to visit
struggled to pay his children’s ter, according to Finance min- ing away people who wanted day (Thursday), I don’t think people with critical illnesses – our markets stalls.”
school fees and other bills. ister Mthuli Ncube. to get their first dose. Pari- I will try again because I’m and all adult residents of Vic-
renyatwa Hospital, Avondale spending my time going back toria Falls.  However, Ndolo expressed
“I have four children that At the beginning of the Clinic and the Cimas Clinic and forth,” 37-year-old Ruth concern at the conduct of
are still going to school and, year, he said that the govern- also did not offer the first dose. Nyamukova told The News- The symbolic move was some desperate street ven-
ever since this pandemic be- ment had set aside US$100 Hawks. aimed at promoting tourism dors who have a tendency of
gan, l have not been able to million to acquire vaccines as At Wilkins Infectious Dis- recovery and, since then, res- haggling with tourists to the
pay school fees for them. I he was just waiting for the go- eases Hospital, vaccines ran While officials at Kaguvi idents like Sibanda have been point of forcing them into
also have council bills that I ahead from scientists on which out around mid-day while Building (Health and Child queuing outside public hos- buying their products. 
am supposed to clear,” says vaccines to acquire. people were still in the queue.  Care ministry offices) have pitals and clinics, waiting for
Ndlovu who operates from been mum about the situation, their turn to get their shot of “Tourism police should be
Sinathankawu Curio Market, Zimbabwe has registered The NewsHawks visited Bulawayo provincial medical the vaccine. activated to secure our tour-
a business trading hub that four vaccines for use, includ- Wilkins again on Monday director Welcome Mlilo told ists’ safety because some street
houses 165 members.  ing the Chinese Sinopharm where people were waiting to state media this week that “Survival has been tough for vendors are harassing them as
and Sinovac, the Russian be addressed by hospital ad- the province had suspended us because even the few clients they advertise their goods,”
“I have come here every- Sputnik V and the Indian Co- ministration on when they first-dose vaccination until it who have come through both Ndolo said. 
day since March last year and vaxin.  could return for the first shot. receives the next consignment. from domestic and interna-
l have only sold goods worth tional markets have not been “This has resulted in some
US$20 combined.  Covaxin is the vaccine cur- Again, on Wednesday Zimbabwe has been com- buying much,” Sibanda said. tourists preferring to buy from
rently being administered and morning the health facility, mended for its vaccination their nearest shops like in ho-
“You find that in our mar- Zimbabwe received just 75 which is the main vaccine programme which began on “We have done all that tels where they’ll be booked
ket, we can go for a week or so 000 doses. In Harare, there are centre, did not have the first 18 February. is required of us including, in, so we are appealing for
without tourists coming in to long queues at the few health dose, with people being told vaccination and following re-introduction of tourism
buy or get about three coming facilities still administering the to check in the afternoon.  As at 21 May, Zimbabwe Covid-19 rules and regula- police patrols for our clients to
through, yet we are so many first dose. was ranked 81 out of 163 tions, but it keeps getting have free movement and place
of us, so the situation is tough “I have been there three countries in the world with tougher for us.” of choice.” 
and this is a business we have On Saturday, many health times with no joy, to be hon- the most doses administered.
known best since our teenage- centres in Harare, including est I am almost giving up. If Trymore Ndolo, the associ- Other curio markets in
hood.”  ation’s chairperson, is hopeful Victoria Falls include Busy
that by June business will be- Island, Tshaka’s Den and next
Ndlovu ventured into the gin taking the right direction.  to the Rainforest while some
curio business in 1992. The are also found in hotels and
Covid-19 pandemic has been “We thought after vaccina- touring companies’ premises,
the worst episode for him in tions we will have business, apart from unlicensed street
business. but it is still dry even though vendors. 

He says tourists have also Victoria Falls – locally
made it harder for the vendors known as Mosi-oa-Tunya –
as they compel them to under- which means “the smoke that
price the goods, taking advan- thunders” – is currently at its
tage of their vulnerability.  peak, but only a few can wit-
ness the world’s greatest cur-
“What has killed us more is tain of falling water in all its
that even our tourists are no roaring glory.
longer buying with a reason-
able price,” Ndlovu says. Prior to the coronavirus
pandemic, more than 350
“They are taking advantage 000 people each year trekked
of our desperation where they to the Zimbabwean side of
undervalue our products to fit the waterfall to see one of the
their pockets knowing that we planet’s most remarkable nat-
are vulnerable and in desper- ural wonders. But since then,
ate need of money to fend for there have been very few vis-
our families.”  itors.

Although hope is high that During consultations with
a Covid-19 vaccine rollout the government last year,
could restore much-needed tourism operators called for a
business in the resort city, financial relief package to help
them ease the impact of the
BRIDGET MANANAVIRE pandemic, but little assistance
has been rendered to private
HOSPITALS and clinics enterprises.
across Zimbabwe are running
out of Covid-19 vaccines with In response, the govern-
many people wanting to get ment announced in March a
their first jab being turned US$5.8 million scheme that
away.  will see the authorities pro-
vide a 50% loan guarantee
An analysis of the daily situ- for businesses in the tourism
ation report (sitrep) published sector. 
by the Health and Child Care
ministry also shows a massive The programme, yet to be
drop in the administration of rolled out in full swing, met
first doses from as high as 22 criticism by analysts who de-
248, administered on 7 May scribed it as risky and cau-
when Zimbabwe reached the tioned that struggling taxpay-
half million mark, to as low as ers could be forced to foot the
1 139 on Monday this week.  bill if the companies default-
ed. Others, however, said the
As of 25 May, a total of 639 loan facility should be extend-
553 people had received the ed to cover all businesses in
first dose while 228 437 had hospitality.
received the second dose. 
According to the Zim-
Zimbabwe by 30 March babwe Tourism Authority
had received over 1.2 million (ZTA), tourism contributed
vaccines from China and In- 7.2% and 6.5% of the coun-
dia. The national Covid-19 try’s gross domestic product
response coordinator told The in 2018 and 2019, respective-
NewsHawks last week that the ly. But with business slowing
country is continuing to re- down last year, Zimbabwe’s
ceive vaccines, with 100 000 tourism sector is estimated to
more received last week.   have lost at least US$1 billion
in potential revenue.
Zimbabwe had planned on
buying one million vaccines

Page 18 News NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

CONFERENCE
ROOM
AVAILABLE

Executive Conference Room for Package Includes
-Private Meetings -Wi-Fi

-Investment Meetings -Projector
-Workshops -Flip Chart/Whiteboard
-Stationery (Pen & Notepad
-Product Launches
-Media or Financial Briengs

Training
Strategic Planning

BOOK NOW!!!
CONTACT DETAILS
Visit us at Charmaine 0735 666 122
The NewsHawks
#100 Nelson Mandela Avenue Ruth 0784 674 193
Beverly Court Landline: 0242 721 044/5

or E-mail
[email protected]

The NewsHawks TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]

NewsHawks Editorial & Opinion Page 19

Issue 32, 28 May 2021 CARTOON

President Mnangagwa Mozambique: Sadc failed big time
must stop posturing on
Gukurahundi genocide SOUTHERN African Development Com- As previously reported by The NewsHawks Look at Democratic Republic of Congo
munity (Sadc) leaders met in Maputo, Mo- in detail, actually repeatedly, Mozambican (DRC). It provides an example of ongoing
IT now seems inevitable that the Gukurahundi genocide could turn out zambique, on Wednesday to further discuss President Filipe Nyusi is reluctant to allow military intervention in a fellow Sadc mem-
to be Matabeleland’s key election issue in 2023. the political and security situation in Cabo intervention. He recently said in a speech ber state that is complicated.
Delgado. An insurgency has been raging in that the situation is under control.
Tensions are rising in that part of the country where human rights there since 2017. Sadc member states - South Africa, Tan-
defenders and political activists accuse the government of continuing to Further, he categorically opposed the plan zania and Malawi - are actively involved in
violate the rights of citizens with impunity. This came against the backdrop of Sadc of foreign troops getting involved in combat a UN peacekeeping mission in the country.
meetings last month; first the critical dou- in the conflict.Nyusi fears regionalising the
Although President Emmerson Mnangagwa told citizens to openly ble troika on 8 April and second the aborted conflict; inviting more terrorists into the But the DRC conflict is far more com-
discuss the killings after he rose to power on the back of a military coup one at summit level at the end of the month. country and erosion of Mozambique’s sov- plex. It is a vortex of local, regional and in-
in 2017, he has not gone beyond the hollow political rhetoric. People ereignty. ternational interests and grievances.
in the affected communities are convinced he is unwilling to embrace Only ministers met end of last month.
genuine truth-telling, justice, reparation and atonement. That, however, did not finalise the Sadc in- This came as Mozambican Prime Minis- Zimbabwe went in there with Angola and
tervention plan. ter Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, speaking Namibia in 1998, although it proved disas-
The long-standing grievances are simmering, laying bare the delicate to parliament on 21 April, tried to sidestep trous for Harare from an economic and po-
peace that has existed in local communities which accuse the Zanu PF After some reluctance, Sadc leaders met debate and downplay the issue of foreign litical point of view.
government of perpetuating a system of economic marginalisation and this week. It was a double troika meeting military deployment, while confirming bi-
political oppression. again, well a month after they were sup- lateral arrangements. Zimbabwe has been to Mozambique be-
posed to meet. fore during the civil war. But this operation
Matters have not been helped by the widening democracy deficit Rosario acknowledged Mozambique is will be different.
in general across the country as evidenced by the weaponisation of Wednesday’s summit received a report of already receiving some forms of military
Covid-19 restrictions, mutilation of the constitution, persecution of the chair of the troika of the organ on pol- support from its Sadc neighbours, although If Sadc goes in, it will be operating with-
pro-democracy campaigners, emasculation of the opposition and official itics, defence and security on the situation he declined to elaborate on the details and out the cover of the UN. This places it in a
reluctance to implement real devolution. in Cabo Delgado, northern part of Mozam- nature of the support. precarious position. It will have to take full
bique. responsibility of the funding, logistics and
The grievances in Matabeleland date back to the 1980s when the As reported by The NewsHawks recently the consequences.
then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe deployed the army’s North Kore- The key issue is: To intervene or not to amid of feeble official denials, Zimbabwe
an-trained Fifth Brigade to ruthlessly crush dissent. intervene? The international community is not fully
Hawk Eye committed, except bilaterally.
Mugabe said his soldiers were tackling dissidents and renegade free- As usual, Sadc skirted issues and reaf-
dom fighters loyal to his liberation war rival Joshua Nkomo. What they firmed its solidarity with Mozambique, and Dumisani Yet there are issues which are being
were actually doing was to murder unarmed civilians on a large scale. At its continued efforts in addressing terrorism Muleya glossed over locally in there.
Nkomo’s funeral in 1999, Mugabe would later lament the killings as “a to ensure lasting peace and security in the
moment of madness”. But Mugabe died in 2019 without apologising or country and region. has already deployed special forces into Mo- Mozambique faces a complex mix of both
compensating the victims and their families. zambique to help fight the jihadists calling internal and external problems that have
The summit agreed to convene an ex- themselves Al-Shabaab, an insurgent group created fertile ground for insurgents. These
The Zanu PF government’s official posture on Gukurahundi tells a traordinary meeting by 20 June in Maputo. that has an unclear affiliation with the Is- include corruption, abject poverty in the
sad story of denialism. Leaders have glibly termed the killings “distur- lamic State, although not related to Al- face of abundant natural resources, margin-
bances”, yet this is a genocide by any definition. Incredible. Shabab in Somalia. alisation, and state failure to deliver.
In other words, they only met this week
In recent days, it has become crystal clear that the country is far from to agree on when to meet again right in the During the Renamo conflict, deploy- Since independence, it has contended
making progress on the horrendous massacres. middle of an emergency. Just that. ments were in a Cold war context. Renamo with armed insurgents in one form or the
A report from a technical assessment was created in Rhodesia, inherited by apart- other, from the civil war involving Renamo
A particularly tragic incident occurred on 16 March 1983 at Mkho- team deployed in Mozambique following heid South Africa and deployed to Mozam- rebels to the recent terrorist attacks.
nyeni village in Tsholotsho, just three years into Independence. recommendations of the double troika sum- bique to fight Frelimo.
mit held on April 8 was presented. Sadc initially seemed to take a passive ap-
Mugabe’s murderous soldiers rounded up 21 women and one man, The summit reaffirmed solidarity with Now it is marginalisation and terrorism proach to Mozambique’s terror crisis. Fight-
locked them up in a room and set it alight. There were screams of an- Mozambique in light of the continued con- that are key. ing has been ongoing in Cabo Delgado since
guish as they perished. Those who tried to escape were shot dead. flict which has claimed more than 3 000 October 2017.
lives and left around 700 000 people dis- Nyusi’s reading might be critical.
On 16 May 2021, a memorial service was finally held for the victims. placed, while a further 1.3 million civilians Sadc intervention in Mozambique comes The group seems to be emboldened with
A memorial service has also been held at Bhalagwe, in Matabeleland have been left in urgent need of humanitar- with dangers and vulnerabilities for sure. each attack. About 1 000 people have died
South, where countless civilians were killed and thrown down disused ian aid. so far, and at least 100 000 are displaced.
mine shafts. It considered the proposed regional re- Military targets and government facilities
sponse in support of Mozambique, but have been bombed or burnt down, creating
The ceremony was attended by chiefs, clergy, survivors, families of that’s where the problem comes in. further instability in the province.
victims and villagers. A plaque in memory of the victims was installed. Sadc has a problem. In fact, it has failed
But on Wednesday this week, the locals woke up to discover that the on Mozambique. Failed big time. The response from Mozambique’s secu-
plaque had been stolen and the monument desecrated overnight. The rity forces has been inadequate, exposing
cement had barely set. It was the second time this was happening. It the country’s limited military capacity. That
will be remembered that another plaque installed in September 2019 is why Nyusi is reluctant to allow Sadc to
was vandalised. The pressure group Ibhetshu LikaZulu has pointed the move in.
finger at the state. The grotesque irony of recent events is unsettling.
While Mnangagwa was unveiling a US$2 million taxpayer-funded stat-
ue in honour of liberation icon Mbuya Nehanda in Harare amid pomp
and fanfare, families of the victims of Zanu PF genocide were erecting a
modest plaque in Matabeleland -- which has since been destroyed.

Gukurahundi is fast developing into another missed opportunity to
heal the land. Mnangagwa has perfected the art of squandering goodwill
and shooting himself in the foot. In the process, he harms the national
interest. Here is a man who was one of the leading perpetrators of the
genocide. He should be taking decisive action to help bring closure to
this tragic episode in the history of this republic. Instead, he blows hot
and cold. Mnangagwa was State Security minister at the material time.
On 5 March 1983, the state-controlled Chronicle reported on Mnan-
gagwa’s chilling threat to unleash the Fifth Brigade on communities.

“The Government has one option, which it has not yet chosen, the
burning down of all villages infested with dissidents and that the cam-
paign against dissidents can only succeed if the infrastructure that nur-
tures them is destroyed.”

Barely a fortnight later, on 16 March 1983, the 21 women and a man
were burnt to death at Mkhonyeni Village in Tsholotsho. If the Zanu PF
government continues riding roughshod on human rights and does not
accord the Gukurahundi genocide the seriousness it deserves, nobody
should be surprised in 2023 when the people of Matabeleland take col-
lective action to make their concerns felt.

Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
tance of freedom of expression and me- content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Charmaine Phiri Council of Zimbabwe
dia freedom as the cornerstone of de- Media which is owned by Centre for Public Cell: +263 735666122
mocracy and as a means of upholding Interest Journalism Assistant Editor: Brezh Malaba [email protected] The NewsHawks newspaper subscribes to the
human rights and liberties in the con- No. 100 Nelson Mandela Avenue [email protected] Code of Conduct that promotes truthful, accurate,
stitution; our mission is to hold power Beverly Court, 6th floor News Editor: Owen Gagare
in its various forms and manifestations Harare, Zimbabwe Subscriptions & Distribution: fair and balanced news reporting. If we do not
to account by exposing abuse of power Digital Editor: Bernard Mpofu +263 735666122 meet these standards, register your complaint
and office, betrayals of public trust and Trustees/Directors: with the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
corruption to ensure good governance Beatrice Mtetwa, Raphael Khumalo, Reporters: at No.: 34, Colenbrander Rd, Milton Park, Harare.
and accountability in the public inter- Professor Wallace Chuma, Teldah Mawarire, Bridget Mananavire, Nyasha Chingono, Enoch Muchinjo
est. Doug Coltart Telephone: 024-2778096 or 024-2778006,
Email: [email protected] 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

Business

MATTERSNewsHawks

MARKETS CURRENCIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE COMMODITIES LAST CHANGE %CHANGE
USD/JPY
GBP/USD 109.29 +0.38 +0.35 *OIL 63.47 -1.54 -2.37
USD/CAD
USD/CHF 1.38 -0.014 -0.997 *GOLD 1,769.5 +1.2 +0.068
AUD/USD
1.229 +0.001 +0.07 *SILVER 25.94 -0.145 -0.56

0.913 +0.005 +0.53 *PLATINUM 1,201.6 +4 +0.33

0.771 -0.006 -0.76 *COPPER 4.458 -0.029 -0.65

Hefty financing was arrested at Robert Mug-
for organised abe International Airport with
gold smuggling six kilogrammes of gold in her
handbag.
DUMISANI NYONI also take gold directly to South Gold was recently seized from a Zimbabwean at OR Tambo in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Africa, especially from Mata- Just recently, Rushwaya’s
MAJOR foreign buyers, often beleland province in the south. of them have been involved in ble for most of the country’s A significant and growing ex-aide Tashinga Masinire was
from South Africa, India and Nearly 40% of gold mined in the gold trade, preaching the gold leakages. amount of gold is also believed arrested at Johannesburg’s OR
Dubai, are reportedly partner- Matabeleland is believed to be gospel of prosperity, the report to be flown out of Harare air- Tambo International Airport
ing with licensed Zimbabwean smuggled directly to South Af- says. “The ease in which it can be port to international transit while trying to smuggle gold
dealers, providing pre-financ- rica,” it said. moved over the border makes and destination hubs, partic- worth an estimated US$782
ing of up to US$1 million to “Most gold is thought to it difficult to catch smugglers. ularly the United Arab Emir- 000 to South Africa.
buy large quantities of gold on The report says involvement be smuggled to South Afri- It is reported that a smuggler ates, China and India and, to a
the illicit market, a new report of foreign buyers has increased ca by road with buyers active will only be caught if the po- lesser extent, Russia. He has since been released
has revealed. official gold deliveries but is on both sides of the border. lice have received a tip-off but on R100 000 bail.
also believed to be fuelling il- Johannesburg is the primary they can easily pay a bribe to This route is suspected to be
In its latest report titled “Il- licit trade. destination for gold, with the allow them to continue across used by more powerful gold The report says Indian
licit Gold Markets in East and border town of Musina some- the border,” it said. dealers and political elites. buyers are the most likely to
Southern Africa”, the Global It said if 17.5 tonnes, the of- times used as a trade point. smuggle gold in this manner.
Initiative Against Transnation- ficial small-scale gold produc- While there are informal bor- In other instances, gold is For example, in December
al Organised Crime (Global tion figure in 2019, only ac- der crossings, the official Beit- moved to South Africa through 2019, President Emmerson There are also small gold
Initiative) said large quantities counted for this small share of bridge border post remains a Botswana to avoid the heavily Mnangagwa reported that a flows between Zimbabwe and
of gold were slipping out of actual artisanal and small-scale preferred route for gold smug- congested Beitbridge crossing. syndicate of businessmen had Mozambique across the bor-
the country through the net- gold mining (ASGM) produc- glers, given its weak controls,” South Africa’s strict lockdowns smuggled gold worth US$60 der regions, but the direction
work. tion, it means that “billions of it said. in response to Covid-19 have million to Dubai. of the flows is unclear, it said.
dollars’ worth of gold” is being forced smugglers from Zimba-
“They sponsor gold buyers lost to the illicit market annu- In 2015, the Reserve Bank bwe to increase their use of the In October 2020, Henriet- As part of the recommenda-
in Harare, providing pre-fi- ally. of Zimbabwe (RBZ) reported Botswana route to come into ta Rushwaya, the head of the tions, the report says the trans-
nancing of up to US$1 mil- that the border was responsi- South Africa. Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation national nature of illicit gold
lion for gold purchases. Zim- When there is a strong and a relative of Mnangagwa markets requires cooperation
babwean nationals provide a foundation of trust, Global between law enforcement,
front for the operations, hid- Initiative said buyers will ad- customs services and other rel-
ing their involvement,” the vance funds for gold purchas- evant bodies to combat crim-
report reads in part. es. inality.

The report says gold mined For example, foreign buyers In both source and destina-
in Zimbabwe is moved to the will advance funds to major tion countries, competent au-
trading hubs of Harare and buyers in Harare or Bulawayo thorities need to be adequately
Bulawayo before it is smuggled to buy gold, and those buyers staffed, funded and trained.
or exported out of the country. will advance cash to local buy- Communication strategies
ers from small towns. between government bodies
While Bulawayo’s reach is at the national level are also
limited to gold mined in ar- Conversely, if a trusted needed to close any coordina-
eas close to the city, the report small buyer is unable to imme- tion gaps, it said.
says Harare attracts gold from diately pay, miners may give
across the country. that person gold to sell further “Enforcement should also
downstream. focus on transit and trade
“Bulawayo buyers are gen- hubs, particularly the strength-
erally less well-resourced and Leaders of large Pentecostal ening of enforcement controls
lack the US dollar buying churches, often referred to as at airports. Land borders are
power of their Harare com- prophets, can also be import- difficult to police, while the
petitors. Miners or buyers may ant sponsors for locals in the geographically remote and dis-
ASGM sector and a number persed nature of ASGM makes
it a challenge to regulate mine
sites,” the report says.

“This means enforcement
efforts must look further
downstream to transit and
trade hubs for solutions. This
could include assistance to air-
lines to better enable them to
detect smuggled gold, possibly
in partnership with interna-
tional trade organisations.”

ADVERT SPACE

The NewsHawks TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 21

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Competition lationships and markets.
Commission For the quarter, volumes
okays Zimplow across the range grew by
takeover of 24% compared to the
Scanlink same period last year.

DUMISANI NYONI party or its successors Chaibva said the pos-
in title, will not engage itive rainfall season pro-
COMPETITION and in tying and bundling vided a platform for
Tariff Commission of products,” the report Mealiebrand’s volume
(CTC) has approved, reads in part. growth. Local imple-
with conditions, the ac- ments were 39% ahead of
quisition of Scanlink, CTC said the type of prior year. Spares uptake
Tredcor, Birmingham and merger is conglomerate improved with 86% and
Dagenham Investments in nature with some hori- 68% growth against prior
property by farming im- zontal elements. year in the local and ex-
plements manufacturer port markets respectively.
Zimplow Holdings. In its trading update
Zimplow intends to for the first quarter of He said they are close-
acquire 100% sharehold- this year, Zimplow re- ly engaging the supply
ing in Scanlink, Tredcor vealed that it had a very chain following the gen-
Zimbabwe trading as positive start to the year eral increase in steel pric-
TrenTyre, Birmingham with the first-quarter per- es experienced in the last
Investments and Stand formance surpassing the diture. However, gener- he said. volumes losing hours to 6 months.
30001 Dagenham Road, corresponding period in al equipment utilisation On operations volumes Covid-19 lockdowns.
Willowvale township, the prior year. capacity in the first two Chaibva said Powermec
all these in exchange for months of the quarter was at Barzem were 13% Tractor volumes dou- was significantly affected
a total of 106 199 706 The group experienced affected by lockdowns ahead of prior year with bled and implements by reduced activity as a
Zimplow shares. whole goods volumes following a second wave the product mix largely were 76% ahead of prior result of Covid-19 lock-
According to the latest growth across all business of Covid-19 infections skewed towards earth- year. After-sales perfor- downs. Volumes slowed
CTC report, post-merg- units except at Powermec, after the festive period,” moving equipment for mance was 38% ahead of down by 33% on average
er Scanlink, Tredcor, and according to group com- Chaibva said. the infrastructure devel- prior year. in both the whole goods
Birmingham will become pany secretary Charles opment sector, unlike in and after-sales.
subsidiaries of Zimplow, Chaibva. “The group took ad- the prior year where 50% “The unit continues to
while Stand 30001 will vantage of the encour- of the units came from focus on capital alloca- On outlook, Chaib-
be wholly owned by Zim- “The environmental aging trading conditions CAT gensets and lift tion and working capital va said while the group
plow. stability, mostly driven to reduce the impact of trucks. management to ensure continues to put effort
“(The acquisition was) by currency reforms, in- Covid-19 on the supply that it meets the cus- in Covid-19 prevention
approved with condi- frastructure development chains by securing liquid- Overall, the after-sales tomers’ farm equipment protocols, the uncer-
tions, that, the merged projects and the pros- ity and therefore ramp performance, driven by needs upon order,” he tainty and risks brought
pects of a bumper har- up inventories in prepa- 34% growth in parts sales, said. about by the pandemic
vest following a 2020/21 ration of the year ahead,” has been ahead of prior requires constant review
good rainfall season has year despite workshop CT Bolts has contin- of business models in
supported capital expen- ued to develop new re- terms of levels of work-
ing capital elements, cost
containment and capaci-
ty improvement projects.

“At present, the group
is stable and of a sound
going concern. The in-
creased uptake of the
Covid-19 vaccination, as
we navigate the pandem-
ic, provides better pros-
pects for the Group in
2021,” he said.

Financial sector loans to SMEs still below 4%

SMALL to medium enterprise government to expedite the for- ciaries of loan extensions by fi- to SMEs is a perennial problem been done and we have been in lending to the SMEs due to
(SME) loans extended by the malisation of the informal econ- nancial institutions. that we have been noticing. The given up to December 2021, the greater complexities associ-
country’s financial institutions omy if the country’s fortunes are main issue has been the lack of but that has been the case in the ated with lending to informal
remain at a paltry 4%, making to be turned around. Analysing the trends, the collateral security. The Reserve past few years so the RBZ has traders compared to large cor-
it difficult for the vast sector to founding executive officer of the Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) been dragging its feet in terms porations where the risk is much
harness its potential. But despite the potential, fig- SME Association of Zimbabwe, should have come up with a col- of implementing that collateral lower.
ures shared recently by the Re- Farai Mutambanengwe, said the lateral registry to allow pledging registry.” 
This is despite findings by the serve Bank of Zimbabwe deputy lack of collateral security on the of movable assets such as cars, “So, at the end of the day all
International Monetary Fund director of economic research, part of SMEs remains a stum- but to no avail,” he said. Mutambanengwe said the of these factors impact negative-
(IMF) that more than 60% of Nebson Mupunga, revealed that bling block. country’s main financial institu- ly on the ability of the SMEs to
the Zimbabwean economy is in- loans to the sector remain very “Up to now, that has not tions were showing no interest mobilise funding. 
formal, second only to Bolivia’s low. “The issue of availing funding
62.3%. “You also find out that fund-
“SMEs account for less than ing at the micro-finance institu-
Another 2015 study by the 4% of total loans, thereby creat- tions is extremely expensive and
Zimbabwe National Statistics ing the need for additional bank primarily can only be used for
Agency (ZimStat) established financing required to support very short-term types of lending
that 94.5% of the 6.3 million the informal traders if they are such as order finance or invoice
people defined as employed to realise full potential,” he said. discounting  where the mark-up
work in the informal econo- is very high,” Mutambanengwe
my, out of which the largest The central bank’s records said.
number, 4.16 million people, show that the average loans to
comprise smallholder farmers in the sector as a percentage of to- He said this creates a gap in
communal agriculture, followed tal bank loans stood at 3.75% in funding.
by 615 000 people in trade and 2016, 3.75% in 2017, 3.94% in
commerce. 2018, 3.92% in 2019 before go- The SMEs leader also blamed
ing down to 3.66% in Decem- the instability in the economy
Some 210 000 are said to ber 2020. which has resulted in most fi-
have informal jobs in manufac- nancial institutions withdraw-
turing, 70 000 in mining, 118 The number of SMEs with ing from lending because of the
000 in education and 92 000 in bank accounts has also contin- high inflation.
transport. ued to lag behind, moving from
71 730 in 2016 to 139 902 as at “So, we are expecting that as
Given the figures, several 31 December 2020. the economy stabilises, inflation
market analysts have since rec- will go down and we will see an
ommended the need for the Women and youths have also increase in lending activities,” he
been among the lowest benefi- added.

Page 22 Stock Taking NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Price Sheet A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE

Friday, 28 May 2021

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)
AFDIS: ZH Price 6400.00 (%)
ASUN: ZH 6400.00 281.40 -
AFDIS Consumer Goods ARTD: ZH 280.00 - 813.48 131,900 - - - 166.67 7,507.59
African Sun Consumer Services ARISTON: ZH 850.00 300.00 309.96 371,160.00 1.40 0.50 65.53 2,425.03
ART AXIA: ZH 310.00 825.00 2304.99 2,300 -36.52 -4.30 70.43 3,554.72
Ariston Industrials BIND: ZH 2299.92 310.00 575.17 48,000 18,710.00 -0.04 -0.01 131.31 5,044.28
Axia Consumer Services 554.35 2300.00 79995.00 166,300 148,780.00 5.07 0.22 151.64 12,559.76
BNC BAT: ZH 80000.00 575.00 12600.00 13,200 3,833,200.00 20.82 3.76 51.36 7,188.80
BAT Consumer Goods CAFCA: ZH 12600.00 79995.00 1601.33 -5.00 -0.01 45.45 16,505.78
CAFCA Basic Materials 1601.86 8192.61 1,400 75,922.00 40.16 1,100.62
Cassava CSZL: ZH 8108.33 - 1821.69 - 1,119,930.00 - - 146.36 41,483.69
CBZ Consumer Goods CBZ: ZH 1782.56 1600.00 5862.74 -0.53 -0.03 -4.14 56,302.21
Dairibord Industrials DZL: ZH 6667.28 8200.00 2480.06 18,100 - 84.28 1.04 39.06 6,521.67
Delta DLTA: ZH 2475.23 1800.00 360.26 31,000 289,840.00 39.13 2.20 157.69 75,304.62
Econet Technology ECO: ZH 357.48 6500.00 2900.00 49,100 2,539,710.00 -804.54 -12.07 162.44 64,247.86
Edgars Banking EDGR: ZH 3000.00 2475.00 630.00 216,000 894,450.00 4.83 0.20 200.22 1,178.02
FBC FBC: ZH 620.00 360.00 366.45 71,800 12,663,530.00 2.78 0.78 93.16 19,486.55
Fidelity Consumer Goods FIDL: ZH 368.69 2900.00 2879.87 15,500 1,780,685.00 -100.00 -3.33 230.36
First Capital Consumer Goods FCA: ZH 2783.98 630.00 1139.58 10.00 1.61 233.14 686.22
FML Telecommunications FMHL: ZH 1123.02 362.00 73.43 2,900 55,840.00 -2.24 -0.61 174.27 7,903.30
FMP Consumer Services FMP: ZH 71.59 2800.00 296.10 100 84,100.00 95.89 3.44 251.72 19,875.22
GBH GBH: ZH 264.00 1340.00 13500.00 16.56 1.47 205.96 14,109.79
Getbucks Banking GBFS: ZH 13500.00 71.00 8185.51 2,900 630.00 1.84 2.57 2268.80
Hippo Financial Services HIPO: ZH 8225.67 316.00 5500.00 6,260,000 10,627.00 32.10 12.16 50.00 394.02
Innscor INN: ZH 5500.00 304.00 180,280,000.00 121.05 3,443.99
Lafarge Banking LACZ: ZH 304.81 - 2969.43 52,400 597,140.00 - - 472.92 26,057.78
Mash Financial Services MASH: ZH 3296.25 8200.00 16.98 291,200 213,828.00 -40.16 -0.49 226.88 46,229.83
Masimba MSHL: ZH 16.04 6832.63 10,100 29,906.00 165.13 4,400.00
Medtech Real Estate MMDZ: ZH 6832.63 - 1522.00 - - 114.94 5,651.58
Meikles Industrials MEIK: ZH 1540.00 304.00 31805.00 - - -0.81 -0.27 210.51 7,175.74
Nampak NPKZ: ZH 31805.00 2900.00 1021.67 256,800 21,020,380.00 -326.82 -9.91 566.81
NatFoods Financial Services NTFD: ZH 1021.67 17.00 1225.00 0.94 5.86 429.20 516.15
NTS Consumer Goods NTS: ZH 1200.29 1764.82 - - 3621.93 17,262.37
NMBZ NMB: ZH 1850.30 - 3200.53 22,500 68,400.00 - - 206.21 11,500.96
OK Zim Industrials OKZ: ZH 3203.97 1500.00 2844.00 94,200 2,797,200.00 -18.00 -1.17 96.09 21,754.65
Padenga Industrials PHL: ZH 2850.00 235.08 147,700 25,073.65 52.30 2,593.74
Proplastics Real Estate PROL: ZH 231.00 - 2940.00 - - 230.32 4,951.10
RTG Industrials RTG: ZH 2940.00 - 3983.57 - - - - 22.60 22,004.00
RioZim Healthcare RIOZ: ZH 3930.72 1200.00 80.00 2,000 30,440.00 24.71 2.06 96.63 17,333.86
Simbisa Industrials SIM: ZH 80.64 1800.00 105.00 -85.48 -4.62 231.47 7,165.05
Star Africa Industrials SACL: ZH 105.00 3200.00 4400.00 - - -3.44 -0.11 196.30 5,866.41
Truworths Consumer Goods TRUW: ZH 4400.00 2850.00 300.00 - - -6.00 -0.21 255.93 3,587.67
TSL Industrials TSL: ZH 306.26 240.00 1300.00 400 4,900.00 4.08 1.77 155.07 22,395.02
Turnall TURN: ZH 1300.00 - 150.23 241,800 4,267,325.00 - - 222.58 3,772.07
Unifreight Banking UNIF: ZH 154.99 3980.00 6000.00 163,600 5,236,070.00 52.85 1.34 6889.25
Willdale Consumer Services WILD: ZH 6000.00 80.00 0.03 10,000 284,400.00 -0.64 -0.79 369.47 403.27
ZB ZBFH: ZH 0.03 105.00 180.00 3,800 8,933.00 - - 150.00 15,712.51
Zeco Consumer Goods ZECO: ZH 180.00 - 614.50 - - - - 50.00 1,479.12
Zimpapers Industrials ZIMP: ZH 679.19 300.00 299.75 144,400 5,752,280.00 -6.26 -2.04 83.67 1,384.17
Zimplow ZIMPLOW: ZH 269.03 1300.00 267,000 213,596.00 - - 22.90 2,671.09
ZHL Consumer Services ZHL: ZH 155.00 700 735.00 -4.76 -3.07 -4.38 10,511.44
TOTAL Basic Materials - - - - -
- 200 600.00 - - 0.14
Consumer Goods 180.00 100 1,300.00 - - 1,036.80
Consumer Goods 605.00 267,200 401,418.00 -64.69 -9.52 1,464.85
Consumer Services 299.75 - - 30.72 11.42 5,451.42
Consumer Goods - - 637,156.53
500 900.00
Industrials 43,500 267,307.00
Industrials 30,800 92,323.00
Industrials 9,081,400 245,481,568.65

Banking
Industrials
Consumer Services
Industrials
Financial Services

ETFs OMTT.zw 199.92 199.00 199.46 9,300 18,550.00 -0.46 -0.23 99.02 159.57

Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF

FINSEC Financial Services OMZIL 2800.00 - 2800.00 - -- - 5.66 2,324.33

Old Mutual Zimbabwe

VFEX (US cents) Consumer Goods SCIL:VX 18.00 - 18.00 - -- -- US$m
43.40
SeedCo International

Index Close Change (%) Open YTD % Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
ZSE All Share 5,415.23 -1.70 5,508.92 +105.95 Getbucks 296.10c +32.10c +12.16 +2268.80
Top 10 2,964.82 -3.31 3,066.22 +79.20 ZHL 299.75c +30.72c +11.42
Top 15 3,389.72 -2.40 3,473.03 +74.00 Medtech +0.94c +5.86 -4.38
Small Cap +4.17 65,544.69 +474.93 BNC 16.98c +20.82c +3.76 +114.94
Medium Cap 68,279.48 +0.38 14,005.77 +152.66 FML 575.17c +95.89c +3.44 +51.36
14,058.91 2879.87c +174.27

Top 5 Fallers Price Change % YTD %
Delta 5862.74c -804.54c -12.07 +157.69
Masimba 2969.43c -326.82c -9.91 +165.13
Zimplow -64.69c -9.52 +22.90
OK Zim 614.50c -85.48c -4.62 +96.09
ART 1764.82c -36.52c -4.30 +70.43
813.48c

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

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

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

has not independently verified; MORGAN & COMPANY makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to the accuracy or completeness of its content.

NewsHawks Executive Chat Page 23

Issue 32, 28 May 2021 Tobacco sector’s future will Chapter 18:20 attracts a level
depend on strategic thinking five fine or six months impris-
THE Tobacco Industry and onment or both.
Marketing Board (TIMB) in Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board chief executive officer Meanwell Gudu.
April elevated its technical ser- A contractor who also vio-
vices executive Meanwell Gudu most strategically important re- growers because of high-cost As TIMB, we always ensure sion around ensuring that lates Section 5 (1) of the Stat-
(MG) – a veteran in the tobacco source. Therefore, institutional structure of producing tobacco. that all stakeholders involved insurance companies deliver utory Instrument 61 of 2004 if
industry having worked across and industry memory will go a OG: Tobacco farmers have in the marketing of tobacco do services to farmers in times of convicted will be liable to such
the value chain of the US$1 long way in helping me draw been experiencing a number so in an orderly manner hence need? fine or to imprisonment for
billion industry – to the posi- back on past experiences in of challenges. One of them continuous monitoring of the MG: Tobacco growers are not such period as the court deems
tion of chief executive officer. mapping the way forward. Over is access to cash after selling tobacco marketing process. mandated to insure their crop fit or to both such fine and such
The NewsHawks news editor the years, there have been suc- their produce. How do you OG: Most farmers have found with any insurance company. imprisonment.
Owen Gagare (OG) caught up cesses and lesson learnt along plan to address this going for- themselves in heavy debt after However, we have certain con-
with Gudu who shared his vi- the way which will shape de- ward? being contracted to grow the tracting companies that make it We have a list of names which
sion for the tobacco industry. cision making in building the MG: Soon after the opening crop but thereafter found that mandatory for tobacco growers we have published in the media
He said during his tenure he successful future for the board of the 2021 tobacco marketing the cost of inputs advanced to to insure their crop against nat- of those who have been convict-
will encourage diversification, in the tobacco industry.  season, some contracting com- them is beyond their reach. In ural disasters, for example hail ed and fined. With this exercise,
value addition and benefici- OG: What are the key issues in panies faced information tech- some cases this has left farm- or fire during the curing of to- we are encouraging members of
ation while working towards the tobacco industry that you nology (IT) system challenges ers with nothing in terms of bacco. An agreement between the public to shun side market-
the production of 300 million feel need to be handled as a because of many decentralised income. Are you aware of this the farmer and the insurance ing at all costs to avoid fuelling
kilogrammes of the golden leaf matter of urgency? selling points. The challenges and what are you doing to company is signed at the be- an illegal activity which has the
by 2025. Crucially also, Gudu MG: The sector operates in a affected processing of payments protect farmers? ginning. Premiums are then potential to kill the tobacco in-
said he will ensure that the so- dual system, that is auction and to farmers. That issue was dis- MG: As TIMB, we have come deducted through a stop order dustry.
cio-economic conditions of contract. The former is where cussed with the affected con- up with guidelines that every system when the marketing of OG: The tobacco selling sea-
farmers are improved. Below are tobacco growers are self-funded, tracting companies and it was registered contractor should tobacco commences. As TIMB, son is well underway.  Does
excerpts: they support their own tobacco agreed that they revert to their meet, that is for funding for we are calling upon any growers TIMB see industry targets be-
OG: Congratulations on your production until they can sell old IT systems to ensure tim- small-scale farmers the mini- who feel they are being short- ing met?
appointment as CEO. May on the market. However, the eous payments to the tobacco mum to be paid out for half changed by any insurance com- MG: By the year 2025, TIMB,
you share with us what your major challenge is the limitation growers. In the event of any IT a hectare is US$500, for one pany to come forward and we working with stakeholders in
vision for TIMB is and how on access to funding from the system challenges, companies hectare US$1 000 and for large- will investigate. If the deduction the industry including other
you intend to manoeuvre to banks because of lack of bank- have been asked to communi- scale farmers the minimum sup- is not on the contract signed government departments seeks
attain your goal? able collateral by most farmers. cate timeously with the growers port package for one hectare is initially, then the insurance to increase annual production
MG: For TIMB, I envision a This has pushed them to opt so that they make their own de- US$4 000. At the onset of re- company will have to reimburse to 300 million kilogrammes. To
collective sustainable produc- for contract farming, which in a cisions.  ceiving inputs, the farmer and the farmer.  achieve this, we envision a col-
tion of tobacco as the future way has seen a decline of tobac- the contractor enter into a mu- OG: Tobacco side marketing lective sustainable production of
for tobacco in Zimbabwe. This co sales on the auction floors. Delays in payments were also tual agreement based on inputs is quite common. How do you tobacco as the future for tobac-
will entail efficient production initially caused by delays in pro- availed; this is meant to protect plan to curb this? co in Zimbabwe. With the way
of quality tobacco in condi- Another challenge the sector cessing inter-bank money trans- the farmer in the long run.  MG: Side marketing is a crime the 2021 season has been pro-
tions that limit the impact on is having to deal with is defor- fers by the national payment OG: Farmers have also fallen which under Section 36 (1) and gressing, we are hopeful we will
the natural environment and estation caused by growers cut- clearance system. This has since victim to insurance scams. Section 44 (1) of the Tobacco attain that target. 
that improve the socio-eco- ting down indigenous trees for improved after the intervention Has there been any discus- Industry and Marketing Act OG: What is the long-term
nomic conditions of the people fuel wood for curing tobacco. of The Reserve Bank of Zimba- plan to ensure that the tobac-
and communities involved in bwe.  co industry remains one of the
its production in line with the Loss of viability of tobacco top forex earners for the coun-
sustainable tobacco production try?
(STP) standard produced by the MG: There is need to champion
global cigarette manufacturing sustainable tobacco production
companies. by ensuring that 100% of to-
bacco produced is being cured
The current marketing sys- using the renewable energy by
tem should also leverage on 2025. That way, we can ensure
information communication the tobacco industry remains
technology (ICT) to improve one of the top forex earners for
efficiencies. the country. 
OG: Going forward, what is
Growers should monitor sales your outlook for TIMB?
in the comfort of their homes
through ICTs. There is need MG: This is the second selling
for use of artificial intelligence season under the “new normal”
(AI) in the classification of to- imposed by the Covid-19 pan-
bacco and its pricing. Big data demic which has also brought
analytics can also be used for with it positive changes, espe-
important decisions by many cially the acceleration of de-
stakeholders. TIMB is sitting on centralised tobacco sales in
a rich source of data which can line with government policy of
even be used to create innova- devolution. In the 2021 selling
tive products and services such season the board has authorised
as a futures market for tobacco decentralised contract sales to be
leaf in Zimbabwe. conducted at the central loca-
tion of Karoi, Mvurwi, Bindura,
In terms of transforming Marondera and Rusape. 
the tobacco value chain, there
is need for diversification. To- Globally, the demand for
bacco farmers should diversify cigarettes is declining due to
with tobacco as an anchor crop. enforcement of anti-smoking
Diversification options include regulations from lobbyists and
food crops, horticulture crops, introduction of reduced risk
cannabis and industrial hemp. electronic nicotine delivery sys-
tems. Therefore, there is need
The industry should also take to facilitate agricultural diversi-
advantages of fiscal incentives fication into alternative crops.
announced by the minister re- There is also need to invest in
sponsible for Finance and in- collaborative research and devel-
vest in niche tobacco products, opment efforts to develop new
especially smokeless and heated and improved tobacco varieties
tobaccos. The tobacco farmers that can serve non-smoking us-
could also invest into end tobac- ers.
co use product processing, for OG: Your parting words to
example pipe tobacco or pack- tobacco industry stakeholders
aged fine tobacco for roll your will be most welcome.
own (RYO) cigarettes. MG: Our everyday motto in the
OG: You have been with industry should be sustainabili-
TIMB for some time and were ty, viability and 100% compli-
serving as technical services ance to regulations all the times.
executive before your recent
appointment. How will insti-
tutional and industry memory
assist you as you forge a new
path?
MG: It is widely acknowledged
today that knowledge is the

Page 24 News Analysis NewsHawks

PALESA MUWANI Issue 32, 28 May 2021

THE tepid response by inves- Investment drive hampered by
tors to the government’s call shambolic governance record
for them to list on the foreign erty rights and making it a
currency-indexed Victoria key tenet of the new dispen-
Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) sation.
is yet another indication of Red tape and corruption
the herculean task that Pres- are the major obstacles to
ident   Emmerson Mnangag- significant investment in the
wa’s administration faces to country.
lure investment. Premier African Minerals
has also expressed frustration
Launched in October over delays by the govern-
last year, the forex-indexed ment to grant it an exclusive
bourse was billed as a game prospecting order (EPO) for
changer in helping to trans- its Zulu Lithium and Tanta-
form the country’s economic lum project.
fortunes. It was also expected In a statement accompa-
to breathe life into the gov- nying the company’s annual
ernment’s quest to bring back report for the year ended 31
investors who have given the December 2019, chief exec-
southern African country utive officer George Roach
a wide berth as a result of a said they were frustrated by
prolonged economic and po- the government’s delay in
litical crisis. granting it an EPO.
“There remains no doubt
However, eight months in my mind that Premier
since the colourful launch, African Minerals Limited
only Seed Co has listed on must diversify its exploration
the bourse. In a desperate portfolio and identify reve-
attempt to lure investors, Fi- nue-generating assets that are
nance minister Mthuli Ncu- actually in production and
be recently added further profitable now,” Roach said.
incentives which include al- “The initial part-acquisi-
lowing companies that list on tion of MN Holdings Otjo-
the VFEX to keep 100% of zondu Mine in Namibia was
their incremental exports. a significant first step in the
midst of the ongoing and
The move by Ncube could very disappointing delays in
be woefully inadequate as a Zimbabwe.”
result of decisions the gov- He added that the de-
ernment has taken that have pendence on exploration
been a major deterrent for activities based exclusively
investment. in Zimbabwe where coun-
try risk and delay deny the
Last year’s abrupt suspen- opportunity to add value, is
sion of the Zimbabwe Stock clearly “flawed yet explora-
Exchange (ZSE) for more tion remains the best oppor-
than a month on allegations tunity for substantial value
of illicit activities, as well generation and recovery in
as halting the fungibility of our company”.
three counters, namely Old year to US$259 million in However, failure to deal tution says this, investors will zambique had a better score Zimbabwe’s ministry of
Mutual, Seed Co and PPC, 2019. Figures from the Re- with the country’s legacy is- take a cue from it and adopt than Zimbabwe shows how Mines and Mining Devel-
has done little to lure inves- serve Bank of Zimbabwe sues, aggravated by the ad- a wait-and-see attitude,” far the government has to opment  recently suspended
tors to the country. This led show investment further de- vent of the Covid-19 pan- Kanyenze said. “Capital is a go to attract significant and two of its top directors on
to a substantial loss of more clined during the first half demic, presents a formidable coward and takes flight at the meaningful investment. allegations they tried to solic-
than ZW$40 billion as inves- of 2020 to US$71.2 million challenge for the government slightest hint of adversity.” Policy inconsistency, it bribes from South African
tors fled the ZSE shortly after compared to US$111.6 mil- to woo the much-needed in- which characterised the ten- potential investor, Lephalele
the lifting of the suspension. lion in the same period in vestors, according to econo- Independent economist ure of former president Rob- Mining, a further indication
2019. mist Godfrey Kanyenze. John Robertson said in ad- ert Mugabe, has continued of why the country struggles
Concerns about the VFEX dition to the unfavourable under Mnangagwa. to attract the much-needed
were raised by investors in a This is despite the setting “Before Covid-19 we investment in the country, Nothing depicts this more investment and is a far cry of
Zoom meeting with Ncube up of the Zimbabwe In- had our own legacy issues,” the idea of adding a second than the protracted dispute the government’s “Zimbabwe
just before its launch. vestment and Development Kanyenze pointed out.  bourse at a time of current between RioZim and the is open for business” mantra.
Agency (Zida) by the gov- technological developments military, as well as a company Despite Mnangagwa
During the meeting, ernment following the sign- “Issues such as the failed is “outdated”. owned by Pakistani nation- boasting of having made
the head of research for ing into law of the Zida Act re-engagement which would als, Falcon Resources, over progress in the fight against
sub-Saharan Africa at the (2020). The Act deals with have sent a huge signal to “The stock exchange chrome-mining claims in corruption, the Transpar-
Russian-headquartered Re- the promotion, entry, facili- the outside world and the worldwide has changed com- Darwendale, Mashonaland ency International Corrup-
naissance Capital, Yvonne tation and protection of in- failure to implement Ease of pletely due to the internet. It West province. tion Perception Index (CPI)
Mhango, voiced fears among vestment in Zimbabwe. Doing Business reforms. This is out of sync with the gen- RioZim won its protracted ranked Zimbabwe 150 out
investors of doing business in has now been exacerbated by eral trends. There is no need dispute with the military and of 187 highly corrupt coun-
Zimbabwe. Zida has since then stepped Covid-19 which has made it for a separate stock exchange. Falcon Resources in a ruling tries after it scored 24% on
up efforts to woo capital into very difficult for investors as The two can work as a single by the Supreme Court. corruption fighting. This il-
“We are an investment Zimbabwe, partnering the supply chains have been dis- unit,” Robertson said.  The dispute started some- lustrates how the scourge of
bank targeting frontier and International Finance Cor- rupted.” time in August 2018 when corruption is a major threat
emerging markets and our poration (IFC) to conduct a “Reforms would have cer- Defence and War Veter- to the government’s invest-
current clients include insti- major Investor Confidence He said the report by the tainly helped. Our reforms ans Affairs minister Oppah ment drive.
tutional investors who have Survey as part of efforts to International Monetary Fund are not satisfactory. We are Muchinguri-Kashiri declared In 2014, then Australian
invested in these frontier better appreciate and address (IMF) early last year, which not exciting investors.” RioZim’s mining claims a ambassador to Zimbabwe
markets, Zimbabwe being challenges prevailing in the conducted a Staff-Monitored cantonment area and offered Matthew Neuhaus likened
one of them. So, we have country. Programme with the Zimba- In its April 2021 South- them to Falcon Resources, investing in Zimbabwe to
clients that have invested in bwean government, indicat- ern Africa Outlook Report, which was a violation of the “swimming in the Zambezi
Zimbabwe and the main con- Ncube held a virtual Unit- ing that the country is off- American financial services law, particularly with regards between crocodiles and hip-
cern has been the lack of ease ed States investor roadshow track in terms of meeting set firm Fitch Solutions revealed property rights. pos.” 
in terms of repatriating capi- last weekend with potential targets, has sapped investor that Zimbabwe still had the This is despite an under- Seven years on, potential
tal and dividends as well as, investors with similar en- confidence. highest short-term and long- taking by Mnangagwa’s ad- investors are unlikely to dis-
of course, significant chang- gagements being conducted term risk in southern Africa ministration to respect prop- agree.
es in foreign currency policy with South African investors “The report by the IMF in due to a continued deteriora-
that has discouraged foreign as the drive to drum up in- February Iast year said that tion of the country’s political
investors,” Mhango said. vestment intensifies. the country is off track. If an and economic situation.
international financial insti-
These sentiments by That even strife-torn Mo-
Mhango probably show why
foreign direct investment
(FDI) statistics since Mnan-
gagwa won the disputed
2018 general elections make
grim reading.

FDI has plummeted from
US$717.1 million in that

NewsHawks World News Page 25

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Germany agrees to pay Namibia €1.1bn
over historical Herero-Nama genocide

GERMANY has to Seven Herero men in chains in what was then German South West Africa but is now Namibia. Germany has agreed to pay for atrocities committed between 1904 and 1908.
agreed to pay Namibia
€1.1bn (£940m) as it ture, water supply and man said. with a Namibian gov- as a whole, and that the Herero and Nama de-
officially recognised the professional training. Some of the numer- ernment representing deal does not stand or scendants groups.
Herero-Nama genocide Communities of Herero ous groups that make up the country’s population fall on the approval of
at the start of the 20th and Nama descendants, the descendants of the —The Guardian
century, in what Ange- which form ethnic mi-
la Merkel’s government norities in all of the sev- genocide’s survivors have
says amounts to a ges- en affected regions, are been critical of the fram-
ture of reconciliation meant to be involved in ing of the negotiations
but not legally binding the development of the from the outset and have
reparations. specific projects. declined to back the
Namibian government’s
Tens of thousands of Some €50m will go to- stance.
men, women and chil- wards setting up a foun- Paramount chief
dren were shot, tortured dation for reconciliation Vekuii Rukoro, leader
or driven into the Kala- between the two states, of the Ovaherero Tra-
hari desert to starve by including cultural proj- ditional Authority, has
German troops between ects and youth exchange criticised his govern-
1904 and 1908 after the programmes. ment for not insisting
Herero and Nama tribes on financial reparations:
rebelled against colonial The text of the joint “When German presi-
rule in what was then declaration calls the dent Frank-Walter Stein-
named German South atrocities committed meier comes to Namibia
West Africa and is now by German troops a to render the apology we
Namibia. “genocide” but omits will embarrass him,” he
the words “reparations” told local media.
Since 2015, Germa- or “compensation” – a Namibian newspaper
ny has negotiated with move borne out of fear New Era reported on
the Namibian govern- that such language could Thursday that at least
ment over what it calls set a legal precedent for three traditional leaders
an attempt to “heal the similar claims from oth- who had supported the
wounds” of historic vio- er nations. government’s negotia-
lence. tions up to this point
A spokesman for the had refused to endorse
“Our aim was and is Namibian president, the final wording of the
to find a joint path to Hage Geingob, de- declaration, which could
genuine reconciliation scribed German’s ac- make it difficult for
in remembrance of the knowledgment of geno- President Hage Geingob
victims,” the German cide “as the first step” in to sign the deal.
foreign minister, Heiko the right direction. “It is The German side’s po-
Maas, said in a state- the basis for the second sition is that it has ne-
ment. “That includes step, which is an apol- gotiated the agreement
our naming the events of ogy, to be followed by
the German colonial era reparations,” the spokes-
in today’s Namibia, and
particularly the atroci-
ties between 1904 and
1908, unsparingly and
without euphemisms.

“We will now official-
ly call these events what
they were from today’s
perspective: a genocide.”

On Thursday, official
circles in Berlin con-
firmed reports in Na-
mibian media that after
nine rounds of negotia-
tions the two sides had
settled on the text of a
joint declaration and a
sum of €1.1bn, which
will be paid separately to
existing aid programmes
over 30 years.

Of the overall sum,
more than a billion
euros will go towards
projects relating to land
reform, rural infrastruc-

Page 26 Opinion NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Regional military intervention in
Moza is a bad idea. Here’s why

GILBERT KHADIAGALA

MOZAMBICAN Presi-
dent Filipe Nyusi has called an
extraordinary summit  of the
leaders of the Southern Afri-
can Development Communi-
ty (Sadc) this week. He wants
them to deliberate on plans
announced in early May to
send 3 000 troops to help the
beleaguered Mozambican gov-
ernment address the  ongoing
insurgency in Cabo Delgado
province.
The insurgency, led by an
Islamist group known as the
Sunnar (popularly known
locally as Al-Shabaab), has
destabilised the region  since
October 2017. Its strength has
grown tremendously since last
year. In October it made a dar-
ing raid  on one of the major
towns in the north, Mocimbao
da Praia. And then in  March
this year  it targeted foreign
contract workers, including
South Africans.
This rang alarm bells in the
region.
But is an intervention by
the regional body a good idea?
And will it help?
Past experiences suggest it’s
not. And that it will not help.
I suggest that the Sadc does
not have a remarkable record
of military interventions in
civil conflicts in the region. It
would therefore be misguid-
ed to attempt an intervention
without adequate understand- Displaced people arrive in Pemba, Mozambique, after fleeing Palma following a brutal attack by Islamist insurgents in March.  John Wessels/AFF via Getty Images

ing of the political dynamics at
play in northern Mozambique.
Interventions that are hast- ence. It  routed the M23  and tion, where natural resource and withdrawal of the merce- ence to the plight of the local But  implementation has re-
ily prepared by military lead- contributed to a return to abundance in marginalised naries. The consequences were population. mained sluggish.
ers without deep contextual some form of stability. But the communities predictably fuels obvious: militarising the con-
knowledge of the drivers of militia menace in the region dissent and rebellion. flict inflamed local passions Since the early 2000s, Nige- The resource curse is not in-
conflict are not likely to end has continued unabated, rais- and expanded the recruitment rian governments have learnt evitable. Many countries have
well. ing questions about the long Second, it is dangerous for of people into the rebellion. to use political approaches in avoided it through prudent
term  efficacy of the brigade’s regional actors to pick a fight meeting the demands of the natural resource governance
Mixed legacy of intervention work.. with a group they believe they The deployment of the Niger Delta oil-producing and improving the access of
Sadc interventions in internal can easily subdue. The insur- mercenaries also showed the communities. In a conflict local communities to the re-
conflicts in its neighbourhood The brigade remains in gents started low level guerrilla government wasn’t confident that has festered for decades, sources generated in their
haven’t worked out well. place, though countries con- attacks targeted at government in the capabilities of its own the minorities in the region communities.
tributing troops have lost en- installations and gradually  es- security forces. have  contested the exploita-
In  1998  Botswana, South thusiasm for managing the calated to widespread massacre Intervention in a quagmire tion of oil resources  by mul- Botswana is an example. It
Africa and Zimbabwe took multiple problems in the re- of civilians and the acquisition The Sadc is now being asked tinational companies, in col- has used creative institutions
the lead on behalf of the re- gion. of territory. to intervene in a conflict that laboration with the federal and political will to  manage
gional body to restore order Lessons learnt from past forays it has neither resources nor the government, to the detriment its mineral wealth. Ghana has
and constitutional legality in What can we learn from these President Filipe Nyusi political will to manage. When of their livelihoods and wel- also put in place robust mech-
Lesotho. The haste in which military experiences to inform This escalation, in part, the body bags begin to come fare. anisms to ensure that its oil
the Sadc conceived the opera- the envisaged Mozambique in- home, there will be tremen- resources are used for the com-
tion guaranteed that it would tervention? follows the government’s re- dous pressure on Sadc forces Mozambique can learn mon good and not to enrich
not produce clear outcomes. sponse to the crisis. to withdraw. from these and many other ex- elites.
South African troops lost their First, military interventions periences.
lives  and Sadc troops had to in complex internal conflicts Rather than engaging with Rather than the folly of What’s needed It should not take decades
withdraw in ignominy. are fraught with profound the communities on stem- an intervention, the region It took years for the Mozambi- for the government to build
obstacles. The biggest are in- ming the crisis, the immediate should be encouraging the can government to address the credible and transparent nat-
The Sadc has since had adequate knowledge about response was to  hire Russian Mozambican state to address need to decentralise power and ural resource governance insti-
to  continually intervene  as a the parties to the conflict and mercenaries to fight the rebel- the grievances of the commu- resources to the provinces. tutions that meet the yearnings
peacemaker in the fractious what drives the conflict, and lion. nities in Cabo Delgado. of impoverished communities
terrain of Lesotho politics. uncertainties about the out- This had been a long-stand- in Cabo Delgado.
comes. But the rebels launched Throughout Africa, military ing demand by the former reb-
The other major experience a  scorched-earth  counterof- approaches to grievances over el movement, Renamo. The Sadc’s military inter-
in intervention was through In Mozambique, the insur- fensive that led to the  defeat resources have often ended in vention will only embolden
the  Force Intervention Bri- gents have grown because of disaster. For many years, the But Frelimo, the dominant die-hards in Frelimo who are
gade  composed of Malawi, preexisting grievances. This discovery of oil in South Sudan ruling party, continued to de- reluctant to find peaceful and
Tanzania and South Africa. includes the  political margin- encouraged the government in pend on a heavily centralised political solutions to the cri-
This was put together to de- alisation  of the largely poor Khartoum to militarise a con- form of governance where sis. And the intervention will
feat the  M23 Movement  in and rural Muslim-dominat- flict that was, at heart,  about provinces were mere outposts postpone a problem that is
the Democratic Republic of ed region. This has coincided self-determination and dignity of the central government. not going to go way any time
Congo (DRC) in 2013. It with the discovery of one of for Southerners. South Sudan Alternative actors and voices soon.
was deployed under a United the world’s largest natural gas did attain independence in were prevented from partici-
Nations Security Council  res- deposits, which 2011, but after tremendous pation in major decisions. *About the writer: Gilbert
olution  to assist the United loss of lives. M. Khadiagala is Jan Smuts
Nations Mission for the Stabi- has attracted French, Italian In the negotiations to re- Professor of International
lisation of the DRC. and American companies. Similarly, a low-level in- solve the resumption of the Relations and director of the
surgency in Angola’s Cabinda Renamo insurgency in 2013, African Centre for the Study
Initially, the Force Inter- The rich gas finds have oil-rich region has persisted Renamo prioritised decen- of the United States (AC-
vention Brigade made a differ- turned Mozambique into a because of Luanda’s  indiffer- tralisation. Frelimo reluctant- SUS), University of the Wit-
typical resource-cursed na- ly gave in to this demand. watersrand, South Africa.

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 27

Issue 32, 28 May 2021 The future of the world  reates, key opinion leaders,
hinges on Africa’s future policy makers, students,
Tawana researchers, and the gen-
Kupe writes that rollout across the continent toria (UP), we have adopt- is being achieved in this vi- by 2100 – or around one- eral public, was the first
Covid-19 has has been delayed due to a ed the posture of an African brant, collaborative space third of the world’s popula- Nobel Prize Dialogue to be
shown that the lack of resources is just an- university, primarily South that has a vision to trans- tion. It is also the youngest hosted in Africa; another
continent can other example of African African due to location, but form the world through population. milestone in the quest to
unify and should lives left at risk, or on hold as part of a continent which African research excellence. reimagine our continent in
continue to work while wealthier nations hit has an undeniable connec- World’s future hinges on We have a unique op- the global context. 
together to beat the reset button and move tion; socially, ecologically, Africa portunity to ensure that
its challenges. forward. and economically. We are It may sound like a bold this young, fast-grow- On Tuesday evening, I
passionate about its unbe- statement, but the future ing continent, brimming attended another signifi-
TAWANA KUPE Much change is need- lievable richness in terms of of the world hinges on the with promise, provides cant inaugural occasion as
ed for sustainability and the people, cultures, biodi- future of Africa. high-quality human re- UP and Future Africa part-
Tuesday marked Africa inclusive development to versity, and environments sources to the west, which nered with the African Ge-
Day, and 58 years since the be achieved, and for Afri- and actively strive to ad- Africa is the future, not has an ageing population. nius Awards, which honour
Organisation of African ca to thrive and become a dress issues at a broader Af- just for Africans, but for exceptional Africans that
Unity (OAU) was born. knowledge-driven society rican scale, promoting re- the whole world. Why is This reality was discussed espouse the values needed
As the precursor to the Af- that relies on itself for solu- search and networks across this? Africa’s population at the recent Nobel Prize to take Africa forward.
rican Union (AU), which tions to its own challenges. the continent. Our Future of more than 1.3 billion Dialogue hosted by UP,
formed in 1963, the day is Africa Institute and campus will double by the middle under the topic The Future Dr Sifiso Falala, who
an opportunity to remem- I have been speaking is an example of just this. of this century, potentially of Work.  founded the initiative,
ber and pay tribute to those about Africa a lot recently We are excited about what rising to four billion people made the statement: 
who were dedicated to and for a good reason. The esteemed event,
their cause – the liberation which included a unique “An anomaly that needs
from colonial oppression; At the University of Pre- constellation of Nobel lau- to be addressed is the rarity
the economic and political of using the words African
integration of Africa; and and genius together in the
the restoration of digni- same sentence”.
ty for every African man,
woman, and child. It is a The awards seek to pro-
day on which to celebrate mote a new narrative, el-
our diversity and heritage evating and celebrating
and share dances, songs, outstanding individuals
and traditional dress from who possess unique skills
across the continent. that positively impact their
communities. I am look-
This time last year, we ing forward to meeting
were all at home under the 24 nominees, who will
Covid-19 lockdown re- undoubtedly inspire and
strictions. Today we are motivate many Africans
well versed in our “new un- towards excellent perfor-
usual” yet also very aware mance and build up Af-
of the reality of the third rican pride, identity, and
wave of infections, which genius. 
Tshwane and other parts
of the country have already The AU is guided by its
entered into. Please be care- vision of “an integrated,
ful to observe safety proto- prosperous and peaceful
cols and avoiding meeting Africa, driven by its own
in groups – there will come citizens and represents a
a time when our celebra- dynamic force globally”.
tions return to something I am encouraged to see so
resembling pre-pandemic many advancements which
freedom, but for now we are in complete harmony
need to exercise persever- with this vision. 
ance and sacrifice, some-
thing which our conti- Our forefathers believed
nent’s forefathers modelled that the key to unlocking
to us in their dedication to Africa’s potential lay in
attaining freedom for our unity. I affirm that this is
continent. as true now as it was when
they took up the mantle of
We are all very aware pan-Africanism.
that Africa faces myriad
complex and complicat- Our struggles may look
ed challenges. To date, the different today, but let us
World Health Organisation take heart from the many
(WHO) reports 4.7 mil- heroic acts of solidarity seen
lion Covid-19 cases across in the Covid-19 crisis and
Africa, including  127 examples of cross-border
000 deaths. collaboration and sharing
Lack of resources of knowledge and resourc-
The fact that the vaccine es. Let us live by the war cry
that an Africa united can
overcome even the greatest
of challenges.

*About the writer:
Professor Tawana Kupe
is Vice-Chancellor and
Principal at the Universi-
ty of Pretoria.

ADVERT SPACE

The NewsHawks TheNewsHawksLive www.thenewshawks.com [email protected]

Page 28 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Zim judiciary and chief justices – 
from the pioneer Bisset to Malaba

The NewsHawks continues with a series of articles written by Johannesburg-based Zimbabwean lawyer Tererai Mafukidze about the history and politics, as well as the dynamics of
appointing a chief justice in Zimbabwe. We are tracing the genesis of the issue back to 1927, five years after Southern Rhodesia rejected in a referendum joining the South African
Union, when the first head of the judiciary was installed.

MURRAY BISSET parliament as premier.  the office of chief justice un- ed Major Robert Hudson, Chief Justice Luke Malaba. the Mau Mau uprising.
The governor also ap- der the Southern Rhodesian a veteran of the First World Baring was a well-trav-
SOUTHERN Rhodesian constitution, while holding War,  as Attorney-General. After the election, Hudson
had achieved Responsible pointed the chief justice on the office of chief justice, This appointment shocked was appointed minister of elled man. Baring followed
Government (self-govern- the advice of the prime min- Russell acted as governor many as Hudson had not Justice (as the position of in the footsteps of his fa-
ment) in 1923. This ended ister. In the absence of the from 1934-35, 1936-37 campaigned for Coghlan’s Attorney-General had been ther, the famed “Maker of
the rule of the British South governor, the chief justice and 1942.  party. The office of Attor- renamed) and minister of Modern Egypt” — Evelyn
Africa Company (BSAC). became the acting governor. ney-General changed to Defence. Four years later, Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer .
Lawyer Charles Coghlan Though the acting governor This overlap of judicial that of minister of Justice Hudson was re-elected.  Baring Junior had gradu-
became the prime minister.  did not exercise the same in- office and executive func- under Hudson. He com- ated from  the University
fluence as the governor, on tions had commenced with bined this role and that of In 1933, he resigned from of Oxford  with First Class
In 1927, the office of occasion they had a say in Leander Starr Jameson, minister of Defence in that the Legislative Assembly Honours in modern histo-
chief justice was created political matters.  Rhodesia’s first leader, and government.  Hudson had and was appointed a judge ry before serving in the In-
and Southern Rhodesia’s with the first judge, Justice been born in South Africa of the High Court. In 1943, dian Civil Service. He then
first Chief Justice Murray Alexander Fraser Russell in 1885 and practised law at Sir Evelyn Baring, who was joined Britain’s Foreign Of-
Bisset was appointed to the Hunter-Rodwell appointed Vintcent.  the Cape Bar before joining Southern Rhodesia gover- fice, where he was sent first
judicial crease by the Colo- Alexander Fraser Rusell to Russell remained in office the Bulawayo Bar in 1910.  nor from 1942 to 1944, to Southern Rhodesia be-
nial Administrator, Sir John replace the deceased Bis- from 1931 until 1943. appointed Hudson to the fore being posted in South
Chancellor. He  was a gift- set as chief justice in 1931. Robert Hudson Cogh- Hudson was yet anoth- position of chief justice re- Africa as High Commis-
ed test cricketer  who  cap- Russell was born in South lan, himself a lawyer, was er soldier. He had fought placing Russell. He retained sioner. 
tained  South Africa  before Africa and studied law in the first prime minister after during the First World War. the position until his retire-
moving to  Southern Rho- England before he was ap- Southern Rhodesia attained ment in 1950 after attaining In 1949, as British High
desia .  pointed a judge of the High responsible Government Hudson subsequently the age of 65.  Commissioner in South
Court of Southern Rhode- in 1923 — which ended joined the Rhodesia Par- Africa, Baring played a key
Bisset had fought in the sia.  BSAC rule. Coghlan found- ty and successfully stood From 1944, Baring be- role in preventing Botswa-
Anglo-Boer War. The first ed the Harare law firm for the electorate of Bula- came British High commis- na’s founding president Ser-
chief justice was therefore In 1939, he was appoint- Coghlan, Welsh and Guest.  wayo North in the South- sioner to Southern Africa etse Khama  from becoming
a soldier or war veteran. ed the president of the new- Soon after the elections ern Rhodesian Legislative until 1951 and then from its king. He recommended
He subsequently became a ly-created Rhodesian Court in 1923, Coghlan appoint- Assembly election in 1924. 1952 to 1959 he was Gov- this to the British govern-
South African politician. In of Appeal. As required of ernor of Kenya, and played ment on the grounds that
1914, Bisset had been elect- a critical role in suppressing Khama had wed a white
ed to the  House of Assem- English woman, Ruth Wil-
bly  as  South African Par- liams, and that the inter-ra-
ty  representative for South cial marriage had caused
Peninsula, holding his seat tensions and opposition by
until his retirement from apartheid South Africa, a
politics in 1924.  neighbouring state.

Following his retirement Working in close col-
from politics, Bisset moved laboration with Perciva-
to Southern Rhodesia, le Liesching, permanent
where he was appointed a under-secretary of State
senior judge in 1925 be- for Commonwealth Rela-
fore serving as chief justice tions  at the time, Baring
of Southern Rhodesia from persuaded government
1927 until his death in ministers not only that
1931, having been born in Khama should be prevent-
1876.  ed from becoming king,
but that he should be exiled
Bisset also served as act- from his country. Baring’s
ing Governor of Southern role in what became known
Rhodesia in 1928 and was as the Seretse Khama affair
also serving as governor is documented in  Colour
again in 1931 while the gov- Bar: The Triumph of Seretse
ernor  Cecil Hunter-Rod- Khama and His Nation by
well  was in England, when British historian Susan Wil-
he died in  Salisbury on 24 liams.  
October 1931.  
Of particular relevance to
So Rhodesia’s first chief the currently blocked Chief
justice died in office. He was Justice Luke Malaba issue
not to be the last. is the fact that Hudson be-
lieved no judge should serve
It is important to state beyond the age of 65. 
that the tradition of involv-
ing chief justices in matters As Prof RH Christie re-
that were political contin- called: “The first Chief Jus-
ued. Under the 1923 con- tice I knew was Bob Hud-
stitution, a governor was the son, who was in the process
representative of the Crown. of retiring. He had insisted,
He was responsible for ap- with all the very consid-
pointing the prime minister. erable authority he had at
He generally appointed the his command, that in a hot
leader of the political party country like Rhodesia no
that was in the majority in

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 29

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

judge should remain in of- likazi’s friend.  on Zimbabwe’s history. sian and Nyasaland. While Chief Justice Murray Bisset. Whitehead of the proposal,
fice beyond 65 because his John Moffat, like his pi- John Moffat’s grandchild Chief Justice, Tredgold also but could hold out no assur-
mental faculties would be Howard Unwin Moffat be- served as acting Governor of ment persisted with the ance that he would comply.
exhausted and he would be oneering father Robert and came Southern Rhodesia’s Southern Rhodesia  from 21 main features of the Bill, I It came to our knowledge
incapable of sustaining the mother Mary, was a British second prime minister as he November 1953 to 26 No- would resign my position that Tredgold had been
workload. Nobody agreed missionary and imperial succeeded Coghlan upon vember 1954, and as acting as Federal Chief Justice. persuaded by a group of
with him, but he had his agent. John Moffat’s sibling his death in 1927. How- Governor-General of the (The Federal Court was also men in Bulawayo to the
way, started drawing a pen- married the missionary ex- ard married Marion Meikle Federation of Rhodesia and the Court of Appeal from extraordinary course I have
sion at 65 and promptly plorer David Livingstone. who was a sister of Nyasaland from 24 January Southern Rhodesia and, as related. Whitehead declined
became chairman of Stan- John Moffat was involved 1957 to February 1957.  such, would be compelled to resign, and within a few
dard Bank and a number of in the British colonial ex- the three Meikle brothers to adjudicate upon cases days Tredgold himself did
other companies, starting a pansion into Matabeleband. who founded the Meikle’s He resigned in 1960. It under the new laws.) I had so, informing himself be-
large and lucrative business He started the first mission business empire in Rhode- is widely believed that he expected forehand. He issued a press
career.” in Matabeleland North at sia.  resigned due to his abhor- statement intimating his
Vernon Lewis Inyathi in 1859. Hence, it is rence of the Law and Order that I should be consult- intention of entering active
After Hudson came Vernon the oldest formal education- Tredgold had similarly (Maintanance) Act which ed and given an opportuni- politics. No general elec-
Lewis who was appointed al institution of any kind in had a political career before he considered a very repres- ty to explain my principal tion was pending, and there
chief justice in 1950. He Zimbabwe. getting himself onto the sive piece of legislation. He objections to the Bills, but was no split in Whitehead’s
ranks as the man who oc- bench. He was yet anoth- became a consistent critic the government ignored my cabinet, so the public was
cupied the seat of chief jus- In 1865, he took over the er soldier and saw action of the legislation and other warning and proceeded in- mystified as to Tredgold’s
tice for the shortest possible running of his father’s mis- during the Second World repressive laws passed to op- flexibly with the Bills. I re- plans. Apparently there was
time. He died within a week sion at Kuruman. In 1879, War. It was during Tred- press black people.  signed.” no plan, or no practicable
of his appointment. He was John Moffat resigned from gold’s time as Minister of one, because no action fol-
appointed chief justice on the London Missionary So- Defence that the Second When Tredgold resigned, Justice Julian Greenfield, lowed, and the movement
16 May 1950 and died on ciety and joined the British World War broke out.  some claimed he wanted to a Rhodesian politician, cab- fizzled out. Unfortunately,
22 May 1950 — becoming Bechuanaland colonial ser- re-enter politics.  inet minister and later on the resignation of the Fed-
the second chief justice to vice.  He had been Member High Court judge, in his eral Chief Justice was natu-
die in office.  of the Southern Rhodesian In his fascinating auto- autobiography Testimony rally construed outside the
Now in colonial service, Legislative Assembly from biography The Rhodesia of A Rhodesian Federal, re- Federation, and by enemies
Being European, one Rhodes in 1888 sent him to 1934 to 1943. That Was My Life, he re- cords the developments as within, as reflecting a quar-
would expect that no one Matabeleland to use his fa- cords his reasons thus: “I follows:  rel with the Federal Govern-
suspected that juju hastened ther’s reputation to persuade During that period, he had watched the build-up ment, whereas the quarrel
his death. Christie records Lobengula to sign a treaty of served as Minister of Jus- with something approach- “Not very long afterwards was with the Southern Rho-
that: “Many old Rhodesians friendship with Britain. tice and Defence from 1936 ing agony. As a judge and as Welensky sent for me to say desia Government.” 
maintained that this was be- to 1943. He also served as Acting Governor I had seen he had just had an interview
cause he lived in Rumbavu This led to the Rudd Minister of Mines and Min- in practice the harsh effects with Tredgold who had in- Tredgold called this view
Park, a house that was said Concession which was ister of Native Affairs. He of the earlier laws and, when formed him that he consid- the untruths spread by his
to be haunted and to bring purportedly about mining was appointed a judge of the Law and Order Mainte- ered that Whitehead (Prime enemies stating that he
bad luck to its owners. Sev- rights.  Moffat later regret- the high court in 1943. He nance Bill was published, it Minister) should resign and “never liked politics and had
eral other owners had, and ted his role and the decep- had resigned from cabinet was the last straw. make way for a new govern- no desire to become again
have since, died premature- tion of Rhodes on Loben- due to differences with his ment in Southern Rhodesia involved.” For his part,
ly.” gula which led him to sign colleagues over land policy I foresaw that it would which he, Tredgold, would Tredgold states in his au-
the concessions. He fell out for natives.  compel the courts to be- head. Welensky was to ap- tobiography that he joined
Like Hudson before him, with Rhodes.  come party to widespread proach Whitehead and ask the bench as a kind of relief
Lewis was minister of Jus- From 1955 to 1960, Tred- injustice and I let it be him to step down. from the political dilem-
tice and Defence of South- The footprint of the Mof- gold served as Chief Justice known that, if the govern- ma he faced with the 1941
ern Rhodesia from 1933 to fats remains deeply engraved of the Federation of Rhode- Welensky told Tred- amendments to the Land
1936 before he appointed gold that he would inform Apportionment Acts: 
himself a High Court judge
in 1936.  “A possible way out of the
dilemma appeared when,
Lewis was married to Eth- late in 1943, a vacancy oc-
el Amy Jameson, daughter curred on the bench. It was
of Leander Starr Jameson. difficult to fill it without
going outside the country
Jameson, Cecil John and I was one of the possi-
Rhodes’s right-hand man, ble choices…Physical rea-
was the first Chief Magis- sons had supervened ruling
trate of Southern Rhodesia.  out the possibility of active
service (during the Second
The son of Lewis, John World War). The prospect
Vernon Radcliffe Lewis, was of a useful political career
also a Rhodesian and Zim- had faded. So I became a
babwean judge. judge.”
Robert Tredgold 
In 1950, Robert Tredgold At the Federation level,
succeeded the unfortunate the South African import
Lewis as Chief Justice. John Clayden became Fed-
eral Chief Justice. The Fed-
Tredgold was born in Bu- eral Court wound up soon
lawayo  to Clarkson Henry afterwards with the end of
Tredgold and Emily Ruth Federation in December
Moffat. His father had 1963. 
served for many years as the
Attorney-General of South- To be continued…
ern Rhodesia. He had been *About the writer: Ad-
appointed a judge of the vocate Tererai Mafukidze
High Court in the 1920s is a member of the Johan-
and retired in 1925. His nesburg Bar. He practises
mother Emily Ruth Mof- with Group One Sandown
fat was missionary royalty. Chambers in Sandton, Jo-
She was the daughter of hannesburg. His practice
the missionary  John Smith areas at the Bar are: gener-
Moffat. This made her the al commercial law, compe-
grand-daughter of the fa- tition law, human rights,
mous missionary Robert administrative and consti-
Moffat of Kuruman Mis- tutional law.
sion – Ndebele King Mzi-

Page 30 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

WILLIAM JETHRO MPOFU Excelgate: The anatomy of  Issue 32, 28 May 2021
electoral fraud in Zimbabwe
THAT the Zimbabwean ily and cronies are greedily
presidential election of 2018 and this was all because of Development Community bwe, Moyo has been a deep some securocratic “angels”, grabbing opportunities and
was stolen to consolidate the the native colonialist regime (Sadc) diplomats that have insider into the political and should have enough experi- looting with reckless aban-
political gains of the military of Zanu PF that took over their own intelligence con- electoral workings of Zanu ence, knowledge, anger and don. It is their turn to eat, so
coup of 2017 that ended the country from Rhodesian tacts and sources also called PF. He has been immersed emotional stamina to spill they say. But they are leaving
the rule of the late Robert settler colonialism, I observe. to inform Moyo that indeed in Zanu PF as a government to the world the proverbial too much evidence behind.
Mugabe is known by many As I write, Zimbabwe is un- Mnangagwa had lost the minister, deputy informa- beans and help efforts to end Even for non-forensic peo-
Zimbabweans, including der the rule of an illegal and election hands down.  tion secretary of the ruling the native colonisation of ple like most of us, we can
children.  therefore illegitimate mil- party, “election strategist,” Zimbabwe by a murderous see their footprints. Even
itary outfit that wears the From right inside Zec, in parliamentary candidate for and corrupt system. Excel- Mnangagwa’s coup partners
What is neither known false garb of a democratically the “strictest of confidence”, Tsholotsho constituency and gate is written by an author are alarmed and complain-
nor understood even by elected government, led as a some “technical staff” and author of a number of Zanu that has deep experience and ing about the looting.
scholars and journalists is head of state by an authori- “two commissioners” sep- PF election manifestos. He knowledge of the dark en-
how the election was sto- tarian and corrupt election arately communicated to is the scholar and politician trails inside the belly of the My multiple readings of 
len and the nature of the loser.  Moyo that the indelible that can both be accused of Zanu PF beast.  Excelgate have convinced
system that conducted the The authority of Moyo statistics in the server that having tried and failed to me, and would convince any
spectacular theft. Even more Not all writers of books are the regime was forced to reform or destroy Zanu PF As represented by Excel- honest reader, that Moyo
unknown is that the popu- authors. Being an author is damage and hide indicated from inside or one who ac- gate, Moyo might as well be has deployed his authority
lar opposition presidential a positionality that demands that Mnangagwa had been tually almost recovered Zanu the Machiavelli of Zimba- to show what Dr Ibbo Man-
candidate Nelson Chamisa, some authority. Excelgate trounced by Chamisa, and PF from certain death by bwe that had no prince to lis- daza, another former Zanu
in veracity, actually scored a published by SAPES Books that “the system” was des- giving it some intellectual ten to him and utilise his re- PF insider, notes as the “bare
staggering 66% of the vote, confirms Moyo as an author perately deploying a “Plan oxygen, bandaging a dying formist, if not revolutionary, details” of how “Zanu PF
while the incumbent benefi- of formidable authority who B” to manufacture electoral snake, to be metaphoric.  insights. Many Zimbabwe- has been able to rig elections
ciary of the coup, Emmerson enjoys access to impeccable “victory” for the humiliated ans now silently wish that since 1985 with considerable
Mnangagwa, trailed far be- sources of intimate inside in- incumbent.  For that reason, Moyo’s Grace Mugabe and the G40 success.” Even the least dis-
hind with 33%.  formation about the system analytical and critical dis- political outfit which Moyo cerning reader would be left
in Zimbabwe. Not all jour- Over and above the au- closures on electoral fraud was part of had succeeded in in no doubt that “elections
In his new book, Excel- nalists and scholars would thoritative confidential and force, and the Zanu their own political designs, in Zimbabwe, away from
gate: How Zimbabwe’s 2018 have had a senior CIO detail sources of inside informa- PF “system” cannot only be stratagems that looked like being vehicles of democracy,
Presidential Election Was who operates from the “en- tion that Moyo has, he also trusted, but they can also be a coup that was not military, are now means of legitimis-
Stolen, Professor Jonathan gine rooms” of Joc calling utilises his methodological treasured by those who wish and maybe Zimbabwe as a ing an essentially illegitimate
Moyo fleshes out the anat- them in the depths of the craftsmanship as a trained to know, especially those country would have fallen and evil regime. 
omy of electoral fraud and night disclosing that there and experienced social scien- that also wish to do some- where her pieces could be
forces that were deployed by was turmoil and tenacity in tist to dissect court records, thing about the native colo- picked up.  As I have continued to
the Joint Operations Com- the security sector because statutory instruments, doc- nisation of Zimbabwe by a argue, Zimbabwe is now a
mand (Joc) using state insti- the untainted results in the uments, the Electoral Act politico-military system that The military coup that full-blown native colony that
tutions and individuals that Zec server indicate that Cha- itself, the 2018 Zec Elections has turned the country into elevated Mnangagwa to boasts of all the evils of colo-
worked in its political cap- misa had garnered 66% of Manual and other legal and a skunk of the world. power has sunk the polity of nialism except that it is black
tivity and command. At the the vote against Mnangag- academic literature to drive the country into a bottom- natives of Zimbabwe that are
pinnacle of the spectacular wa’s pathetic 33%.  home a telling scientific case.  His monograph is the less abyss and sentenced the the present colonisers. Under
election rigging process, the most systematic study and economy into a monopoly Mnangagwa and the securo-
Zimbabwe Election Com- And it is now everybody’s And that is a case that, in incisive commentary on a of Mnangagwa, his family, crats behind him, Zimba-
mission (Zec) turned the guess why Joc has vigorous- its robustness, can pass any presidential election that friends, cronies and some in- bweans now experience the
National Command Centre ly carried out operations legal, academic and ethical Zimbabwe has ever seen. ternational black marketeers. same political and economic
in Harare, a verification and to split, divide and kill the test anytime. conditions that forced some
announcement of results MDC Alliance and to erode Further, Moyo as one of Zimbabwe is under young people in Rhodesia
site, into a “giant polling sta- Chamisa’s political solidi- Besides being a student of the “criminals around the self-evident and brazen state to wage an armed struggle
tion” where a combination ty. Some Southern Africa politics, especially elector- President” that were sup- capture. The capture is there against settler colonialism.
of soldiers and Central Intel- al politics, who published posed to be killed during the for all to see – primitive ac-
ligence Organisation (CIO) in 1992 the book Voting military coup of November cumulation is difficult to In their own words and
details, “in excess of twenty” For Democracy: A Study of 2017, but were rescued by hide. Mnangagwa, his fam- deeds
went on “punching in what Electoral Politics in Zimba- One of the epistemic
was identified as V11 data strengths of Excelgate as a
into an excel spreadsheet for book is in how Moyo me-
close to two days” in a daring thodically resists the temp-
violation of electoral laws of tation to issue a litany of
the country.  bitter and windy allegations
against a people and a sys-
In that way, the Zimba- tem that wanted him dead.
bwean constitution was vio- Those who employed fraud
lated, the country robbed of and force to steal the 2018
its clear political choice and presidential election sever-
democracy negated, as mil- ally speak for themselves in
itary rule was consolidated the book as Moyo highlights
and fortified. their own authentic words
and deeds. 
The durable observation
that Moyo makes is that When information of
“although Zimbabweans Chamisa’s victory against
believe that election rigging Mnangagwa sent the secu-
is widespread, their belief is rocrats into panic and frenzy,
not matched by the neces- the Zec chairperson, Justice
sary vigilance to checkmate Priscilla Chigumba, sent a
the rigging.” It is a Zimba- WhatsApp message to some
bwean historical and politi- close friends of hers in the
cal tragedy that “there is little system promising a solution:
regard in the body politic for
the dictum that an election “They don’t have to agree.
is a rule-bound political pro- We will announce based
cess which is a legal event.”  on our own V11. We don’t
need any party’s V11. It’s
Zec would not have led just courtesy to ask them to
such a brazen theft of the verify. Agree or not we an-
election if Zimbabweans, nounce.” 
especially opposition politi-
cal leaders and their lawyers, Here was the leader of Zec
and civil society, understood disclosing the juice about an
the baptismal truth that elec- invented Zec V11 that had
tions are not “just politics”, nothing to do with the actu-
but also legal events that re- al votes cast by Zimbabwe-
quire not only constitutions ans. Chigumba’s revealing
but then again vigilant prac- message landed with some
tices of constitutionalism.  worried diplomats and oth-
er troubled observers that
In 2013, Zimbabwe got a shared the ominous details
new democratic constitution with their own networks. 
without constitutionalism as
a national political culture, Excelgate feeds fat from
the verbatim words of the
perpetrators of electoral

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 31

Issue 32, 28 May 2021 presidential results stored in seen by army and intelli- These people were a mix- age limit and expiry of ten- Zanu PF are in the dark on
the server could not be made gence details embedded in ture of CIO, military intelli- ure.  the workings of Joc that is a
fraud and force. public. Zec, the ominous “Plan B” gence and some Zec officials collective of few but power-
In the comfort of Sheraton had to be urgently set afoot.  seconded from the army. Malaba’s tenure ended on ful and secretive individuals
While the Mnagagwa re- They were in all actuality 15 May when he turned 70. that command assassins and
Hotel in Pretoria, before the gime publicly denied knowl- First, Zec technicians voting on behalf of Zim- Mnangagwa amended the are true merchants of death
wedding festivities of his edge and responsibility for that are seconded from the babweans against their will constitution and changed and destruction. 
son, Zimbabwean Chief the shooting to death of six army and the intelligence and choice, turning the Zec the law to extend it by five
Justice Luke Malaba, who unarmed civilians that were tried to “rape” the server to Command Centre from a years to 75. Civil  society ac- Moyo correctly notes that
was recently blocked by the protesting the delay in the alter the results in favour of verification and announce- tors challenged that in court “it is an indictment of the
High Court from extending announcement of election Mnangagwa, but the im- ment of election results site and the High Court ruled post-independence political
his tenure, received a copy results, Excelgate proves oth- pregnable American-made into what Moyo correctly against Malaba, but he is and military leadership that
of the Constitutional Court erwise. Against the public gadget’s software and hard- calls a “giant polling station” still fighting to continue in a colonial instrument creat-
petition challenging the elec- denials of army command- ware resisted until it was that manufactured new re- office. This confirms that ed by the racist Rhodesian
tion process and results.  er General Philip Valerio damaged. With military and sults in favour of Mnangag- Malaba is the fulcrum – that regime to brutalise freedom
Sibanda and Tactical Com- intelligence determination, wa.  word popularised by Advo- fighters was retained by the
After scanning the appli- mander Anselem Sanyatwe, the system decided that the cate Thabani Mpofu during same liberators in indepen-
cation, Malaba exclaimed and their allegations that it server be hidden and its exis- That was Excelgate in full Chamisa’s electoral petition dent Zimbabwe.” 
to the judicial officer who is opposition political mil- tence officially denied. flight. Excelgate unfolded as hearing in 2018 – in Mnan-
gave him the copy: “Is that itants that shot and killed the correct and true presi- gagwa’s electoral strategy for Joc is a politico-securi-
all ?” laughing and shaking six civilians and critically in- An excel spreadsheet was dential election results were 2023. ty outfit that is a relic from
his head as he rejoiced and jured 35 others, Moyo pro- brought in as an alternative frozen in the server that was settler colonialism and is
celebrated with excited body vides concrete evidence that that would allow the grand now damaged, hidden and That story has been com- now being used by the na-
language, “Ok, akula lutho the Harare massacre was a cooking of results. For this officially denied by Zec.  prehensively and systemati- tive colonialists in Harare.
la,” meaning in Ndebele that pre-meditated Maoist mili- to work, the “command el- cally covered for a period of It employs colonial and dark
there was no case and he was tary and police tactic to kill ement” of the system had Chamisa’s agents, Morgen about five months now by modes of political practice in
going to have Chamisa’s ap- a few Zimbabweans in order to deploy military and in- Komichi and Jameson Tim- The NewsHawks. Zimbabwe. 
plication dismissed well be- to scare many of them away telligence activity with the ba, who later rightly protest-
fore the case had been heard from protesting against the gravitas of “by all means nec- ed the fraud, had sat in the Such a chief justice as Through Defence House,
on its merits. electoral fraud in Harare.  essary” deportment.  room for the two days as Malaba is what Joc would that is the head office of the
spooks right before their eyes want in 2023 when another Ministry of Defence, CIO,
Just like Chigumba, Mal- Moyo documents black Spectacularly and illegally, pretended to be verifying re- presidential election is due.  Data Recovery Centre, Chil-
aba did not know that there and white evidence of com- a “different route and differ- sults when they were actually In his dirty work of enabling tern Trust, Africom Zimba-
were other interested eyes munication in letters and ent destination” for the pres- voting. “Our own V11” that electoral fraud and force, bwe, Zec and the Constitu-
and ears around. Malaba is phone calls involving police idential election results from Chigumba messaged about Malaba was much unexpect- tional Court, Joc rigged the
the same chief justice who superintendents, a Com- all the polling stations in the to her friends was an ob- edly assisted by Chamisa’s le- presidential election in 2018. 
“sitting alone in the cham- missioner-General of Po- country were quickly invent- ject of fraud as only V23D gal team that made V11s the
bers,” without hearing from lice, Minister of Home Af- ed. The V11s, polling station forms are generated at the pivot of their legal case and As a system, Joc gets to
Mugabe, passed the alarm- fairs Obert Mpofu, retired return forms, and the V23s, National Command Centre, not the important V23Bs know the results of all elec-
ing judgement on 21 No- army commander General ward centre return forms not V11s. Zec officials had that are generated from con- tions well before civilians
vember 2017 that Mugabe Constantine Chiwenga and for the presidential election, no legal business punching stituency centres and are and some civilian officials
had “resigned freely and Mnangagwa that proves that which must be collated and in V11 data into an excel confirmed and signed by in Zec and positions itself
voluntarily” from his post the Harare massacre was verified at constituency cen- spreadsheet at the National polling agents.  to change the results to suit
as the President of Zimba- pre-meditated and planned tres, were criminally and Command Centre that ac- Zanu PF. To fully under-
bwe, which was a monu- well before the elections as illegally taken to the Zec Na- tually became a  huge crime Political parties and civil stand Zanu PF’s native col-
mental falsehood.  Malaba a strategy to prevent Zimba- tional Command Centre in scene. society also offered no inter- onisation of Zimbabwe, one
is the chief justice that sev- bweans from defending their Harare.  vention or resistance to Zec’s needs to understand the na-
eral times in the presence vote in the streets.   A tributary to the Excel- brazen manipulation of the ture and workings of Joc that
of Moyo “between March Either by “accident or gate in the Zec National V forms for the purposes of Moyo unmasks in Excelgate. 
2013 and December 2014” The Central Intelligence welcome mischief by vigi- Command Centre was in electoral fraud. Once again it
Mnangagwa called “mun- Organisation (CIO) and lant staffers” Zec documents the shape of some spooky is, perhaps, a legitimate ob- Excelgate is a pulsating
hu wangu uyo,” meaning in military intelligence, from this electoral fraud in its own and fraudulent activities servation that Zanu PF and read couched in Moyo’s typ-
Shona “that is my guy”. True their researches and surveys, published report: “The re- that happened in the con- its Joc system would not be ical lucid prose and punchy
to being Mnangagwa’s per- had warned the regime of sults were taken to the Na- stituencies. The European the lions that they are if Zim- tone. The language is simple
sonal person, Malaba was to Chamisa’s impending elec- tional Command Centre Election Observer Mission, babweans were not political without being simplistic.
unjustly frustrate and block toral victory and advised physically by the District for instance, found in Ma- sheep. There is an urgent The book, from the first to
Chamisa’s subpoena to have of the need for “Plan B” to Elections Officers where koni North Constituency need for Zimbabweans to the last page, is a revelation
the Zec server that contained manufacture electoral victo- they were captured and col- some Zec officials that Moyo develop some political teeth that supplies observations,
the correct and true results ry for Mnangagwa and con- lated on a results collation unmasks as having been sol- in defending their rights and arguments and conclusions
of the presidential election solidate the political gains of template at the National diers, military intelligence not allow Zanu PF and its about Zimbabwe that Zim-
examined.  the military coup.  Collation Centre.”  and the CIO pretending to system to monopolise being babweans, Africans and
be civilians, filling in V11 feared.  other citizens of the world
Malaba much ridiculously Alongside the fraud at the By law the results should forms alone after polling urgently need to engage with
affirmed the brazenly false Zec National Command have been collated at the 210 agents had left two days ear- Zanu PF and its system on Zimbabwe and Africa. 
Zec claim, under oath, that Centre, military force in the constituency centres of the lier.  are not soon going to com-
it had no server at all yet the shape of live bullets was de- country and entered into mit suicide; they need assist- The book is also readable
existence of the server was ployed in the streets of Ha- V23B forms before they are These spooky Zec officials ed suicide or mercy killing as a political education trea-
knowledge in the public do- rare to fortify the theft of the forwarded to 10 provincial were also voting. Their expla- itself, metaphorically speak- tise that politicians, political
main. In his own response to 2018 presidential election command centres where nation to the EU team was a ing.  parties and their supporters,
Chamisa’s court challenge, in Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa they were to be further col- sheepish argument that the opponents and voters are
Mnangagwa, in clear and gave the nod to the deploy- lated into V23C forms.  forms were previously not What is the system in the poorer without reading.
advised words, under oath, ment of the detachment available. No doubt there Zimbabwe? Those that are eventually
confirmed the existence of the army, a Presidential The invention of a differ- were other constituencies be- going to successfully change
of the Zec server and only Guard unit, and its use of ent route and destination sides Makoni North where Excelgate exposes not only the political system in Zim-
made the allegation that the live ammunition on civil- for the presidential results Zec was used by Joc to al- the rigging system in Zim- babwe would have to consult
server had been hacked by ians some of whom were alone, leaving the parliamen- low ghost voters to vote for babwe, but also the entire Excelgate as one of the au-
some enemies of Zimbabwe- bystanders and street hawk- tary results to follow the legal Mnangagwa long after the dark monstrosity that secret- thoritative sources of what is
ans and therefore the results ers that were not part of the route, was a violation of Sec- voting process had ended. ly runs the country outside wrong with Zimbabwe and
therein could not be justicia- protest.  tion 38 of the Electoral Act the perimeters of the consti- needs to be fixed. 
ble.  that legislates harmonised Excelgate illustrates it tution. This is an unelected
Retired Lieutenant-Gen- presidential and parliamen- clearly that Mnangagwa is secret government that is a Any African or world me-
In the grand cover-up for eral Engelbert Rugeje, a tary elections.   largely an illegitimate benefi- law unto itself.  This entity, diation into the Zimbabwe-
Mnangagwa, Malaba had to, former soldier and a leader ciary of a military coup that Moyo observes, has all the an political and economic
“fully dressed” in robs, tell of the Zanu PF commissar- Section 37 Chapter 4 of was voted into power by the answers to the question sur- crisis will benefit richly from
the falsehood that election iat had, well before the elec- the Electoral Act and Section army, intelligence and some rounding the issues from the Moyo’s offerings in Excel-
results in Zimbabwe are by tions, warned that the sys- 110 Chapter 3 of the same other hired spooks, not the Gukurahundi genocide to gate. Excelgate is over and
law supposed to be trans- tem was prepared to commit Act were also violated with Zimbabwean populace. the disappearance of some above its multiple qualities
mitted “wholly manual”, atrocities to ensure electoral contempt and impunity. Zimbabweans  like Rashiwe an infuriating book that is
which was to assist Zec hide victory. Rugeje was a key By using his position as Guzha, Itai Dzamara and not for the faint-hearted in
the server. Like Mnangagwa player in the coup. The stubborn question is: chief justice to frustrate and the murder of Solomon Mu- its contents that graphical-
who accidentally or unwit- How the election was Why was the system driven block Chamisa’s legal appli- juru, among many evils and ly illustrate the anatomy of
tingly confirmed the exis- stolen to desperation and forced to cations, Malaba truly lived crimes that have gone for political fraud and force in
tence of the server, Zec com- Soon after it emerged that break the law?  The answer is up to his role as Mnangag- years unsolved.   Zimbabwe.
missioner Qhubani Moyo, Mnangagwa had lost, as found in the rigging process wa’s point man and a regime
in frantic communication shown in the correct and that took place in the Zec enabler that enabled and en- It is this system, in the *About the writer: Dr
with the agitated Zimbabwe- true results of the election in Command Centre in Ha- dorsed electoral fraud, theft shape of Joc, that is peo- William J. Mpofu is a re-
an independent media, con- the Zec server that was mir- rare, “the process involved a and force. Excelgate makes pled by securocrats and runs searcher at the Universi-
firmed that there were results rored in servers of the CIO, group of people in excess of it clear exactly why Mnan- Zanu PF itself and the coun- ty of the Witwatersrand
that were received through the military intelligence, and twenty, punching in what gagwa would so desperate- try. Many senior govern- in Johannesburg. He is
the server. What Qhubani was identified as V11 data ly wish to retain Malaba as ment and party officials in also a senior researcher at
Moyo, for obvious reasons, into an excel spreadsheet. chief justice beyond his legal Good Governance Africa in
could not say was why the For close to two days that South Africa.
process continued.” 

Page 32 NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

The NewsHawks

Women on the Move

Tatiana Aleshina Name: Marilyn Mosha
Tittle: Chief Operations Officer Tittle: Marketing and Sales Manager
Has been involved with the company since 2018. Has won two national awards in 2021 under WOBA Has led the company to being recognised and being awarded a couple of awards. Managed to increase sales and brand awareness by 40% during the sale year. Has
namely, Zimbabwe’s Top 100 Women Leader and Entrepreneurs of the year and the Businesswoman of had an opportunity to act as CEO for the company. Has been an Asset Manager of a property investment and management company listed in the Botswana Stock
the Year Award. Her position in business allows her to explore new business initiatives that will bring Market named Turnstar Holdings P/L and has held the same post at Mlimani Holdings LTD in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (being a subsidiary company to Turnstar
a better future for Zimbabwe. In her motivation speech she encouraged women in business that, “To be Holdings P/L). Worked at PamGolding Properties Botswana and Zimbabwe, where she set up new service departments namely Valuations and Commercial
successful you need to be hardworking, confident, know who you are as we are special and unique. Does Leasing, respectively. Worked at Willy Kathurima Associates as a registered valuer, property manager & estate agent for over eight years. She worked as a Contract
not compromise her integrity and always does what is right and most importantly help others. Believes Manager at Time Projects Botswana (listed in Botswana stock exchange as Prime Time) over seeing valuation reports of properties off-plan for sale and putting
that as a foreigner, Zimbabwean people should have freedom where the people should have rights to be together sale agreements and associated documentation for submission for a sale sign off or mortgage application. And also as a valuer’s assistant while studying
able to exercise their own choices, decide their future to be successful, to build business and to provide her degree with CB Richard Ellis in Gaborone, Botswana and Antony Coady and Associates in Melbourne, Australia. Served as a Secretary General for three years
for their families and their children. and a full member in three categories being Valuer, estate agent and property manager at the Real Estate Institute of Botswana (REIB). She is a full member of Real
Estate Advisory Council (Botswana); Affiliate member with South African Institute of Valuers (SAIV). Working towards Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
(RICS) Membership. Has attained a Masters in Project Management obtained from the University of Botswana; Bachelor of Business (Property) and Certificate in
Real Estate Agency Representative from Melbourne Royal Institute of Technology in Australia; Certificate in Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers
at Botswana Accountancy College. Started and managed a Managing Agency with the University of Capetown, South Africa. Currently enrolling for a Certified
Property Manager course at Witwatersrand University, South Africa.

Rumbidzai Chatora Name: Kerry-Leigh Meikle Name: Elspeth Chimedza
ACCA Affiliate, Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business and Post Graduate Diploma in Tittle: Chief Administration Officer Title: Social Media Manager
Applied Taxation Worked for the British Embassy for four years before deciding to change career was. Had a brief stint Develops content and manages social media platforms for West Property Zimbabwe. A
with Dulux in the sales department but decided that sales was not for her. Joined Datvest Asset Man- versatile writer and content creator with a background in media and digital marketing.
agement and was the PA to the MD for six years. Followed her former boss and joined West Property A former Content Creator for radio station ZiFM Stereo, and former editor for online
Company in 2008 and have been with the company since then. Moved from PA to the MD to the Chief media, Youth Village Zimbabwe. A Zim Achievers Award and Zim Blog Awards nominee.
Administration Officer. Strengths are ensuring everything is in order which is a perfect position for her. Expertise is in content creation, social media management, feature writing, scriptwriting,
Has watched the company grow from strength to strength over years and privileged to see the projects blogging, content creation, and editorials.
become a reality from the vision behind the developments to the inception and finally the product com-
ing out of the ground.

Name: Mpokiseng Moyo
Tittle: Quantity surveyor
Studied National Certificate and National Diploma in Quantity Surveying at the Bulawayo Polytechnic (1997 to 1999).
Worked for Nemaks Construction as a Trainee Quantity Surveying Technician from 1997 to 2000. Worked as a Quantity
Surveying Technician for Nemaks Construction from 2001 to 2008 while studying for Bachelor of Quantity Surveying at
the National University of Science and Technology (2005 to 2008). Worked for Dambeko Construction in Botswana from
2009 to April 2009, VicJoe Construction in Botswana from May 2009 to January 2010, Kheiseb Construction in Namibia
from February 2010 to May 2013, Ministry of Works and Transport in Namibia from June 2013 to December 2017,
Kheiseb Construction from January 2018 to October 2018 and West Properties Zimbabwe from September 2020 to date.

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 33 Issue 32, 28 May 2021

Talking Drum
legend Michael
Lannas ropes in
Tuku’s son Omel

TALKING Drum lead singer/ up, has a bright future just together). JM: Are you back together ML: A talking drum is the be the son of the late Oliver
songwriter Michael Lannas re- like the legendary Mtukudzi, JM: Many people still enjoy with family and for good?  most famous instrument. Mtukudzi and he’s going to be
cently returned from the Unit- known as Tuku to his legion of your classics Hapana Mazwi, ML: I’m back in Zimbabwe for JM: Most fans call you a leg- as great a superstar as his late
ed Kingdom where, besides fans. Lannas also revealed why The River and Moyo Wan- good. Zimbabwe is my family. end, do you see yourself in father.
recording music, he was also he left Zimbabwe for the UK gu Urikuchema. Would you JM: As people of colour, how that regard? JM: Who among the new
working as a pharmacist. Lan- and his thoughts about why tells us how many albums has identity contributed to ML: No, I do not. crop of artistes do you think
nas is set to end his long ab- Zimdancehall will not break you have to date and their your music career? JM: Why not? will go far in music?
sence on the mainstream mu- the international market espe- titles? Would you share in ML: My community has the ML: I do what I do for the love ML: Freeman, Nutty O, Tam-
sic scene with a gig scheduled cially in the UK and the Unit- particular why you referred most talented people around. of music. If nobody was listen- my Moyo, but Rudaviro Chi-
for 30 May 2021 at number ed States. Read the excerpt.  to Machingura’s daughter in JM: How did you learn to ing I would still do it. That’s mombe will go further than
102 Thetford Road in Avon- JM: Welcome home. It is one of your songs?  sing isiNdebele and Shona?  not legend, that’s just my life. any of them.
lea, Harare. Dubbed Ngoma good to have you back. What ML: I’ve recorded 10 albums, ML: I was born with an Af- JM: You have a show coming JM: What has been your
Dzinotaura Music Festival, the did you miss most?  mainly for the UK market. By rican soul, brown man, black this month-end on 30 May, worst experience in your mu-
concert will also feature the ML: I missed Zimbabwean the way, my favourite song is soul. tell us what fans should ex- sic career? 
talents of revered bassist Kel- people most; my people. Zim- Red Sun. Machingura’s daugh- JM: You once said there was pect? ML: Being bottled on stage.
ly Rusike and Jazz Invitation, babwe is the best place to live. ter, true story. no future for Zimdancehall ML: A lot of very new and very JM: Where was this and why
Dzimatic, Nick Kuraz, Ruda C JM: Going back to basics, JM: Your music is influenced in 2018 and today it is still incredible songs. I’m currently were you bottled?
and Trey Sean. Performances at how old are you now?  by various elements. What going strong. Is this still your working with the best musi- ML: I was bottled at Arcadia
the homecoming concert start ML: How old do you want me do you call your music? view?  cians I’ve ever had the honour Community Centre. Coloured
at mid-day until 6pm with to be? ML: Makaradhi music. ML: It’s still my view because of working with. people did not appreciate my
music lovers allowed to bring JM: Obviously, it’s been long JM: Share with us your music it’s not selling anywhere else in JM: You have been rehears- music.
their own drinks but will pay since you left. Music has background. the world. Unless you’re selling ing since you came. Tell us JM: Last but not least, would
US$20 at the gate. According changed so much. How do ML: I was strongly influenced music to the UK or USA mar- who’s who in the new Talking you clarify on the issue that
to Lannas, he missed home you hope to revive your ca- by maskandi music. It’s the ket, it still amounts to doing Drum?  you once faced a culpable
and the people. In an interview reer? music of the migrant workers nothing. ML:  Rudaviro Chimombe, homicide charge, prompting
with ML: Mukadzi wangu hand- of southern Africa. When I was JM: Talking Drum has seen the most incredible vocalist you to leave for the UK? 
inga musiye, handina kubvira a child, this music would mes- members come and go. What I’ve ever worked with; Trey ML: True. Being famous and
The NewsHawks’ Jonathan ndamusiya. Tichiri kudanana. merise me. I never stopped to inspired the name?  Sean, Omel, who happens to infamous is only two letters.
Mbiriyamveka (JM), Lannas Hatina kumborambana. (Mu- think that was the most beau-
(ML) also revealed for the sic is my first love, I’ve never tiful music I’ve heard. I first
first time how he has roped in divorced my wife we are still heard it when I was still a baby.
superstar Oliver Mtukudzi’s
other son, Omel, into his
Talking Drum outfit. Most
people would know Sam as
Mtukudzi’s only son but, ac-
cording to Lannas, Omel who
is in the Talking Drum line-

Page 34 Life & Style NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA

ZIMBABWE’S international Stella Chiweshe
mbira player Stella Chiweshe
– who is nearing her twilight Ambuya Stella Chiweshe hints at
says – she will soon be retir- retirement, new 8th studio album
ing from public performances
and perhaps return home. es if we don’t sing at all. That are held in theatres, not in say: tazoona nekufukunurwa to play mbira, Ambuya Chi- each song has its own story
is how it should be and that pubs,” she said.  kwemapfupa matiri kuva- weshe says she is no longer as and there was a reason why it
Affectionately known as is how it was originally done. ka dzimba/wondoona chu- agile as during her younger was recorded.
the Mbira Queen to some Before, music producers who “But here it appears peo- ru wopaza wovaka mba po/ years.
or AmbuyaChiweshe to oth- didn’t know anything about ple want to dance, this is why muridzi ave ndiwe pamusoro “Yes, most of these songs
ers, because she is now a mbira forced mbira play- they enjoy it when I perform pedunhu/chati chipetera wee “People ask if I’m still able resonate very much, with
great-grandmother, the in- ers to sing over mbira beat.  ChaaChimurenga or Huya bodo/chati chibvunza wee to dance or jump like I used what is going on around the
ternationally acclaimed mu- And now mbira is used as a Uzoona but I have a lot of kuti ko nhai vakagara kutanga to on stage but, that was then, world right now.  On this al-
sician has been living with backing instrument to their songs that people have not pandinoisa musoro rutsoka/ I’m now old. I still play mbi- bum this is where the song
her husband in Berlin for 34 voices. The producers also de- listened to”. nepandinotereka tsaiya ini ra, that doesn’t change,” she Chaachimurenga is. 
years. termined how long the song mudyi werino pisa/chenyu said.
should be, but mbira is not Another aspect of her show kureva beta/nhandaro dzava- “What I was singing about
Now turning 75 in July, played like that,” she said. is that Ambuya Chiweshe nemupatsu kani nhai? Ambuya Chiweshe also in that song ChaaChimuren-
the Mbira Queen performs meditates before she takes to appeared at Africa Day cele- ga, where I said; ‘ko iyi hondo
sold out concerts around the One of her songs on You- the stage. “It took them two to three brations held at the PanAfri- muri kuyi wona here vakoma-
world. Tube, titled Mbira Trip, plays weeks before the group mem- ka Africa Day Music Festival na iyo?’ (Comrades do you
for at least one hour 37 sec- “I take about 45 minutes bers could master this, yet I where she was a special guest. see the spiritual war coming?)
She is heeding a call by onds. meditating backstage and an- learnt and mastered this at Yaive hondo yekufa kwanhasi
her “vadzimu” (ancestors) other 30 minutes to just calm once. That is how spiritual it She performed Huya uku, kweku wurayiwa necha-
to return home where she is “A song is like a journey it my nerves. You cannot per- is,” she said. Uzoona backed by young mu- tisinga wone (we are dying of
building Chivanhu Trust in can be as long as it gets. Yes, form well when your mind is sicians, much to the delight of something we cannot see). In
Masembura near Bindura. I would want to perform with scattered. “Another importance of her fans. 1987, I dreamt of this kind
That is where she will be liv- a group but, all the founding meditation is that I want the of death that we are facing
ing as well as teaching Zimba- group members are now late. “This is why I don’t just go musicians or band members Apparently, her 1980s clas- nowadays, plus the album
bwe’s culture and music. It takes a long time to train on stage without meditation to fit the mood and character sic album, titled Ambuya, has Ambuya! has been re-issued
musicians to play and behave because I will be empty. The of the songs on the playlist.  been reissued in support of at the right time.” 
In an interview with The as I want on stage. Now in same goes when I go for re- Chivanhu Trust.
NewsHawks, Ambuya Chi- Europe I’ve gone back to per- cording, I don’t write songs “If we are playing a happy The playlist on the album
weshe confirmed her desire to form as a solo artiste as I used down but I meditate and ev- song, the musicians should Originally released in includes Nehondo, Njuzu,
settle back home in Zimba- to when I started out. erything comes naturally.” put on happy faces. If we are 1987, the album that features Mugomba, Chamakuwende,
bwe than in Europe. performing a sad song, they the hit song Chaachimurenga  Kasahwa, Chipindura, Ndi-
“In Europe, mbira fans like “For instance, musicians should be truly sad.” was re-mastered from ana- nogarochema and Sarura
“It is a pity that in as much to listen to music while quiet- have problems such as when logue tapes and is now avail- Wako.
as I want to return home, ly seated as they do when lis- I received a message that I She is determined to share able on vinyl, compact disc
there are more shows coming tening to classical music. The was supposed to teach them her experience over the years and online. The album was  Ambuya
my way. venues for such performances a song which was told once to keep the mbira legacy alive. Chiweshe’s international de-
and never repeated. The mes- Explaining the oft-mis- but.
“I think vadzimu (my an- sage was for the musician to Although she still is able quoted song ChaaChimuren-
cestors) want to see if I am ga, Ambuya Chiweshe said
going to make the right deci-
sion or not and return home
because that is what they ex-
pect of me,” she said.

Ambuya Chiweshe said she
was also readying her 8th stu-
dio album titled Rusere.

The upcoming album fea-
tures eight tracks which draw
much from the origins of
mbira where songs were only
performed as instrumentals.

“Rusere, which means
eighth in Shona, is the title
of my upcoming album,” she
says.

The song titled Pasi Pane
Mhanda, which she per-
formed at the unveiling of
Mbuya Nehanda’s statue in
Harare on Africa Day, evokes
the spirit medium Charwe
(pronounced as Charwi by
the colonisers). Charwe was
the spirit medium of Mbuya
Nehanda. 

“I got a call a night before
the launch that I was to per-
form at the unveiling cere-
mony. So I picked that song
because it is a song for VaGo-
va which means vayera Shava
(those of Shava totem). 

“We’re descendants of the
Nyashanu ancestral lineage.
I also heard the song in 1962
on the day that Dr Samuel
Parirenyatwa died. I would
not expect children of today
to know this ancient song,
even though it’s on Chisi al-
bum, to understand the song.
That song was spiritual and
meant for VaCharwe and I
sang it for her,” she said.

Rusere will be due out any-
time soon but fans will be in
for a huge surprise.

“Mbira music tells messag-

NewsHawks Life & Style Page 35

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

POEM: EYES INSURGENCY Title: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier POEM : ENCHANTED
POET: Collins Munyanda Poet: Temba Munsaka POET : Collins Munyanda

He held a black rebellious rusty tin, At the political crossroads, Behold!
full of suppressive impoverished paint, the guns blazed. The sprawling anointed pulpit stage!
to denigrate a tea pot shaped sovereign land Sons & daughters fell, Watch!
dark, on the sighing face of the colourless their blood mingled with the spirits of the The charismatic imputative preacher!
wind. When this brutal wind blew derisively, Earth, Chundered ascetic words into the blar-
across my expressionless face, It left cold the territorial & vengeful spirits, ing, emulative golf-ball shaped conspiring
specks there. I sneezed . Chaminuka, Nehanda and others, microphone.
My squinted laser eyes froze. at the forefront to liberate the lands. Man and bloated electronic decibels con-
The world inherited a demented motion. Bellies scorched, traption, swore divine allegiance.
This solitary man in a black winter coat slith- hands and feet blistered Unsaintly saints overflow enervating
ered by, his vain poison ivy eyes lethal. from; sorties that never ended, churches,
Predatorial darting eyes, like those of the blas- excursions into the enemy strongholds, while charismatic preachers glean de-
phemous Edenic serpent. Those treacherous skirmishes on plateaus, ambushes left you bauched tenth offerings.
eyes’ mysticist demeanor, aroused anarchy bruised & resolved, foraging & gleaning Until one diabolic lapis lazuli summer
desires from deep within my bewitched soul. for sustenance. afternoon.
He held a long sharp whip in the other hand. You perfected the science of reconnais- Gullible, enchanted parishioners shouted:
He paused long enough, and poured off a sance, adept at surveillance, ‘Halleluyah! I receive!’ avowed mantra.
blinding black paint drench across my sul- concealment became your second nature! Woe abound!
len face. He vehemently whipped my naked You marched on; pregnant with dogma; Woe to stalking wolves in averted, color-
sweaty back. He uttered Belial obscenities, unfazed. less sheep’s clothing,
and vanished clandestinely, having thus ac- Recall the blood that flowed like the lactat- drenched with ebullient panting, and ele-
complished his uncouth purgatory task. ing Mighty Zambezi oh soldier, remember gant rivuleting sweat.
My x-ray eyes penetrated the abborent man’s the recoil from the bazooka that you car- The Rock of Ages opened heaven’s liti-
surreptitious disguise. I heard millions of an- ried months on end, excite your memory gious curtains,
guished voices cry. Among them unweaned at the frenzied AK-47 felling enemy troops, and saw them slip away clandestinely,
babies, and barking toothless dogs. ignite that anger as your memories rever- inside the back of a divagated,
I saw dusk consuming smouldering fires, berate with the sound of an RPG; black tainted temple.
and the aftermath of choking, spiralling, as- relentless like termites you were! When the humble sun set,
phyxiating smoke. I perceived once ripened Sons of the soil; immaculate in their fa- the euphonious preacher, and an avari-
fields burnt to eternal dark cinder. tigues. Daughters of the Earth; unassail- cious scarlet, opulent caroused harlot,
And watched sacred gallant heroes gobbled ably hugging their rifles. The povo feeding surreptitiously supped Johnnie Walker
by wanton forces. Men of varlour’s future you like their own kin. The masses be- blended scotch whisky,
became haplessly downtrodden. heaved and came the water; the sea to shelter the fish! with hypocritical Belial down eerie secret
bolted, tearing blindly through the merciless The desire to fight-a war to bequeath a underworld carvens.
dark cold. The hissing winds and terrorizing legacy, that your grand children could one Lit explosive gallantry sacrificial altar fires.
blackness, merged into lifeless visions. day, play on the streets of blood, Hear!
I became part of the world’s crazy motion. whilst you died in fauna, far away from Denuded innocence cries.
luxury. The rains pounded on your dead Gothic witches’ ululations.
Title: Obtuse ‘n’ Acute bodies. Wild animals feasted on your
Poet: Temba Munsaka bones. Flies mongered on your still warm Title: Cancel Culture
blood. Mosquitoes played games with you Poet: Valentine Makoni
For fourty one years, at night. Scavengers respected not the
the peasants chased after tail of a disappear- bravery you invested in us. I often look with envy at the conviction
ing ingot, The birds poked at your eyes under the online activists posses
until they exerted self to death. Savannah sun. The Earth accepted your Obsessed with redress, relentless in pur-
For four decades sharecroppers fed off bread blood, as it sank into the ground, suit of suspects
crumbs, as a sacrifice to set free the sacred lands. Zealous in proving causation, convicts
& frog marched to toil in fiefdoms. Beyond the veil, perceive what we have bear the bane of blame
For almost half a century, become; if consummative with your sacri- I struggle to log the tally of fault
the masters; fice. Rise up, rally your esteemed bones, Login to the same platforms,
looted, ligament to bone, bone to sinew, Blinded by the log in my eye
thrived, to redeem anew! Those that hold us hos- How may I perceive the speck in yours?
& bloated, tage, have perverted the algorithm! In the final analysis,
and showed no sign of satiation! You are interned in foliage, fauna and On the scale of righteousness
Side by side. caves; mourned by the angels, Even with all the evil that I saw
your remains pristine forever! The burden of fault weighs heavy on my
soul

Page 36 People & Places NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021

President Emmerson Mnangagwa unveiled Mbuya Nehanda statue in Harare on Wednesday.

Property
NewsHawks

Issue 32, 28 May 2021 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Page 37

The home of prime property: [email protected]

DUMISANI NYONI New property development amenities stands.
Kings City takes shape in Byo The contractor of the project is
KINGS City, an urban land bank
owned by Radar Properties, is NewsHawks in an exclusive inter- commencing the medium-density travel to Zimbabwe and some have APG Contractors while convey-
conceptually a royal community view that the project has been well phase of the development in the been out of employment,” he said. ancers are Kantor & Immerman.
and living experience based on the accepted by Zimbabweans both at third quarter of 2021,” he said. Estate agents are Thompson Prop-
heritage of Bulawayo as the City home and in the diaspora, result- Despite working towards the erties.
of Kings. ing in an uptake of stands beyond Hwenga said they have so far reduction of the urban housing
expectations. invested US$3.5 million on ser- backlog, Hwenga said the project Radar properties is the property
Bulawayo has a strong, vicing, excluding the value of the has not received the necessary sup- development and management di-
well-documented cultural heri- “To date, we have sold more land. port from the local authorities. vision of Radar Holdings Limited
tage that is embodied in its brand than half of the stands in the area (RHL).
as the City of Kings. that have been serviced and servic- “Our focus for the remainder For instance, the first lot of
ing of additional stands is current- of the year is mainly on rolling stands was completed in Decem- Through Radar Properties,
Located about 8 kilometres ly underway,” he said. out the medium-density phase ber 2020 but is yet to receive a RHL aims to provide low-cost
from the central business dis- with stands ranging from 600 to certificate of compliance, he said. housing to Zimbabwe’s popula-
trict (CBD) along Gwanda Road, Hwenga said the first 161 1 000 square metres. We are very tion, helping address the prevail-
Kings City carries on the same low-density stands have been fully excited about this as it will open “This also delays the issuance of ing dire national housing backlog
heritage with the concept of serviced and are awaiting certifi- the development to a new market title deeds which are critical for of 1.4 million homes.
building a premium royal com- cation by the local authority and segment. We have had a lot of en- mortgage finance and corporate
munity of luxurious, open and thereafter construction can com- quiries for these stand sizes,” the buyers. The lack of cooperation by RHL was founded in 1949 as
spacious homes with a consistent mence. Radar boss said. Umguza Rural District Council a multi-faceted operation, with
lifestyle experience. has seriously slowed us down. The the bulk of its interests being al-
The second batch of 198 stands Despite Covid-19-induced execution of big projects under lied to the construction indus-
With over 2 000 hectares of is currently being serviced and lockdowns, Hwenga said they are local authorities that are not ca- try. The company currently owns
prime land, Kings City is an op- will be completed in July 2021, he still on track with the servicing, pacitated to handle them presents shareholding in Radar Properties
portunity to create a truly idyllic, said. thanks to permission to operate a challenge and we implore the as well as Radar Investments (Pri-
picturesque comfort living com- uninterrupted from the relevant Ministry of Local Government to vate) Limited trading as Macdon-
munity. “All our servicing is world class authorities. revisit this arrangement,” he said. ald Bricks, which is a brick man-
with piped water and tarred roads. ufacturing company that holds
The generous stand sizes offer Currently on offer are low-densi- “We have, however, experi- The Kings City development 60% market share.
an opportunity for every home- ty stands ranging from 2 000 -4 enced setbacks especially as dias- has over 9 000 residential, com-
owner to fully express themselves 000 square metres. We will be pora-based customers could not mercial, industrial and other social The subsidiaries’ operations are
with quality interior and exterior based in Bulawayo.
spaces.
The company delisted from
Radar Properties chief executive the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange
Elias Hwenga, whose company is as a strategic move to create and
developing the project, told  The maintain maximum value for
stakeholders.

Page 38 Sport NewsHawks
IF it were driving, the past three
years would have been one hell Issue 32, 28 May 2021
of a bumpy ride for Brandon
Mandivenga. Brandon Mandivenga: ‘You should
set the example’ as team captain
From making his maiden
Test appearance for Zimbabwe Brandon Mandivenga kicks against Namibia at Hartsfield in Bulawayo in 2018. Pic Lucy Broderick.
in 2018 under the ex-Spring-
bok coach Peter de Villiers, to captain was not yet born when sent not only yourself, but your Mandivenga speaks of his exciting, seeing what the new offer and give back when all is
being named one of the coun- his country last featured in family and your nation,” he delight at being part of the players bring to the table! We said and done.”
try’s youngest rugby captains the Rugby World Cup, back says. Zimbabwe squad again, hav- are getting much-needed game
in the over-a-century history of in 1991. Being the first player ing missed the opportunity time now ahead of the qualifi- An exemplary captain on the
the national team, to missing to lead the Sables back to the “You are a direct reflection, two years ago, following his ers and it will be good to see the field with an easy-going nature
his entire international debut sport’s biggest event in more and you should set the example appointment, to lead his troops squad, which is full of talent.” off it, the former Peterhouse
season as skipper in 2019 due than three decades is a feat as to how you want everyone to onto the park for the first time College maestro also has a
to a long-term injury, and then Mandivenga says he will savour view and perceive the team that in Test rugby. Professional sportsmen unique taste for the finer things
being holed up for months in for the rest of his life. will ultimately inspire many. spend long hours fine-tuning in life – including cars. 
a municipal apartment on It- You are also there to motivate “I’m very excited and grateful their athletic skills at the train-
aly’s West Coast in 2020 as To be appointed captain of and lead the team. Your team- for the opportunity to be back ing ground. But sport, educa- “My favourite car is a Range
Covid-19 wreaked havoc in one of your country’s foremost mates need to know that you in the Sables again and for the tion and a post-playing career Rover,” Mandivenga com-
one of the pandemic’s worst-hit national teams at a relatively have their back and that they international season,” remarks are aspects Mandivenga priori- ments. “I don’t like the small
parts of Europe.  young age is endorsement of can trust you with both issues, Mandivenga. “2019 was very tises simultaneously. flashy cars such as the Ferraris
one’s leadership qualities and on and off the field. You are also tough after being injured for ad Lamborghinis. I’d much
Having seen the rest of the role model traits, and Man- the link between team and the pretty much the whole inter- “I wish to become part of prefer to have the bigger, off-
2020 season scrapped in Italy’s divenga – to his credit – does coaching-management staff. It’s national season. But I’m back, a sports national governing road cars.”
top-flight rugby competition, not take that recognition for a massive responsibility to be a fit and raring to go! I’ve seen body, which is my main goal,”
where 26-year-old Mandivenga granted. captain of a national sport. It the training squad and there a he says. “I’d like to contribute You could say the choice of
had signed for CUS Genova in should never be taken lightly.” few new faces, which is always towards national sport in some vehicles is not that surprising
the Serie A following a stint of “Being captain, you repre- capacity as I feel I have a lot to for a rugged international rug-
university rugby in England, by player. – DRIVEtorque
the gifted Zimbabwe utili-
ty-back decided to go back to
school whilst waiting for the
travel restrictions to ease and
fly back home to be with his
family.

“It’s been a very frustrating
time here in Italy,” Mandivenga
tells DRIVEtorque from Italy.
“When things looked like they
were getting better, new Covid
waves would hit us, and new
restrictions would be imposed.
Obviously, it is for our safety.
But it’s been very difficult. But
having said that, it gave me
the opportunity to continue
and restart my (sports man-
agement) studies and getting
myself equipped for life outside
and after rugby.”

In recent months, move-
ment between most regions of
the world has resumed. So next
week after examinations and
some internship programmes,
Mandivenga will land home in
Harare to join 46 other talent-
ed Zimbabwean rugby players
who have assembled to prepare
for the first phase of the coun-
try’s quest to qualify for the
2023 World Cup in France.

The youthful Zimbabwe

Steps to grooming a great player and leader 

FOR old times’ sake, Graeme skippered SA “A’’ here, would hand, fielded nearly its entire mier bowlers.  But top-scoring Then, of course, we saw the ed by the application and pro-
Smith – South Africa’s director replace Shaun Pollock as South squad set to feature in the World for SA “A” on the day was Ash- winning innings, as belligerent fessionalism of this diminutive
of cricket – might want to ac- Africa’s captain after the World Cup, a full-strength side from well Prince, with 72, a 25-year- Grant Flower came in at three wicketkeeper-batsman. 
company the next generation Cup, despite being initially this country disguised as Zim- old number four batsman from to settle matters for the Zimba-
of Proteas on their tour here to omitted from the Proteas squad babwe “A”. Port Elizabeth who had few sea- bweans with a 99-ball century SA “A” have toured here a
Zimbabwe beginning this week.  for that 2003 jamboree. One game I remember vivid- sons earlier taken his domestic of 107 that had 10 fours and a couple more time since 2003,
ly was one 50-over tie the hosts career to Western Province to six flying all over the place. but this particular tour begin-
A young Smith, later to write The prolific opener, who had won by five wickets after suc- showcase his abilities in a more ning this Friday, sends memo-
his name in the history books played a couple of Tests and cessfully chasing down the total established set-up. It was one of those numer- ries flooding back on a wave of
as one of cricket’s greatest cap- ODIs before that lofty elevation, of 240 all-out by the ous innings of genius by Grant euphoria because Cricket South
tains of all time and his coun- was however added to the squad “Young Proteas.” outside international cricket Africa (CSA), as 18 years ago, is
try’s youngest skipper in history, as replacement due to an inju- It was more so be- but then there was another spe- not taking the matches lightly.
led South Africa’s second-string ry to Jonty Rhodes. The South cause of the attack- cial knock, of 56, by somebody
team on its visit here in January African second side on that tour ing stroke-play of the HawkZone I had grown up following since In a sporting world thrown
2003, with the burly opening represented the future of the young left-hander schoolboy days because we hap- into uncertainty by Covid-19,
batsman giving the Zimbabwe- Proteas, and one other notable Smith, who got the pen to belong to the same era. every tour count, and every
an public a glimpse of what member of that squad was the visitors off to a flier Enock match matter as the next gener-
the rest of the cricketing world batsman Ashwell Prince, later with 63 runs of 67 Tatenda Taibu has rubbed ation of cricketers put up hands
would witness in awe for the to become the first non-white balls, smashing nine Muchinjo some people in Zimbabwe- for selectors to take notice. 
next 11 years. That South Africa person to captain his country in boundaries on his way.  an cricket administration the
“A” tour 18 years ago came on any format of the game. Alongside college wrong way over the years, due The squad that has toured is
the wave of cricket euphoria in mates, still unable to to frankness in speaking up for not entirely made up of rook-
this part of the world. South Af- Some of the players on the access ground media facilities as On that day, 18 years ago, the truth. But for me, the little ies. When you see Proteas reg-
rica was just a month away from tour had already been capped in non-professional, we witnessed Prince batted particularly el- 19-year-old I watched in 2003 ulars like Andile Phehlukwayo,
hosting the 2003 World Cup, a small way by the Proteas be- from the Castle Corner on a egantly on the off-side, with counter-attacking with gusto Dwaine Pretorius, Janneman
with both Zimbabwe and Ken- fore coming here, but the trip to Saturday afternoon as Smith Zimbabwe pacers Guy Whit- against the likes of recognised Malan and Reeza Hendricks
ya also staging some matches Zimbabwe was a stepping stone took a particular liking to no tall and Douglas Hondo being South Africa pacemen Andre being selected on such trips, you
during the historic tournament to more regular international less acclaimed internationals made to toil as they struggled Nel and Alan Dawson, was know that one of the world’s
in cameo co-host roles. careers, as was the case in guys like Heath Streak and Henry to extract steam on the Harare enough proof of the talents of best cricketing-playing nations
like Jacques Rudolph and Neil Olonga, then Zimbabwe’s pre- Sports Club wicket.  one of my favourite cricketers means business about the fu-
Interestingly, Smith, days be- McKenzie. from this country and from ture. 
fore his 22nd birthday when he thereon I hardly was disappoint-
The hosts, one the other Zimbabwe ought to take a
cue. 

Sports Best squad
Innovate or Zim has
assembled
burst as Zim in years

football makes
Thursday 1cOoctmobeer b20a20ck

Friday 28 May 2021 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

Zimbabwe World Cup bidNEWS WHAT’S INSIDE CCUomLTmUGuRnEiiatny ts honour
$60 Covid rraegduiolatZioenxsie Manatsa
tariff for
visitors &
receives major boost tourists unde‘trhreervaiepweutic’ tracks
Story on Page 3
Story on Page 8

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA
...As Sables captainCcy ihs claarifmied isa reacWHAT Zimbabwean football songs give you goose
bumps?
If you grew up in the 1980s and ‘90s, Zexie Manat-
sa’s monster hits were guaranteed to make you fall in
love not only with the game but also with one of
Khupethe four local teams the legendary musician famous-
out to ly sang about. Testament to music’s power to bring
people together, even the greatest of sporting rivalries,
old foes of football in Zimbabwe – Dynamos and
Highlanders – on Thursday united in paying tribute
to Manatsa, who released timeless classics more than
three decades ago in praise of the two hugely popular
clubs. In a gesture of gratitude, the two clubs pledged
Unofficial president calls for emergeto help Manatsa complete construction of his subur-
ban home in the Sentosa area of Zimbabwe’s capital
city Harare.
In the Dynamos track, Manatsa applauds some
of the greatest players ever produced by the Harare
giants – the likes of Moses Chunga, Clayton Mune-
mo, Max Makanza, Biggie Zuze, Leon Ntawatawa,
among others. He sings about his anticipation of goals
from Zimbabwe’s most decorated club in terms of sil-
verware, asking the in-field players if they have scored,
and if goalkeeper Ntawatawa had made saves.  For
Highlanders, Manatsa hails the country’s oldest foot-
ball club for winning a game, thanking the players for
the good result and wishing them more success in the
future. He hopes the team will continue defeating its
opponents. 
Manatsa’s football hits were however not only ded-
icated to Dynamos and Highlanders. He also sang in
praise of CAPS United and the now-defunct Zimba-
bwe Saints, also among the country’s traditional big
clubs. CAPS and Saints were however not part of
Thursday’s function at the Manatsa family home. The
gesture this week by the clubs follows a prior meeting
between Manatsa and Tino Machakaire – Zimba-
bwe’s deputy minister of Youth, Sports and Arts – who
Members of Zimbabwe’s training squad share a light moment after a gym session yesterday. egged on the clubs to consider honouring the veteran

ENOCK MUCHINJO ested in our brand, we’d been talking by Maritz that 29-year-old scrum- in Italy’s Serie A competition. He hitmaker. Dynamos chairperson Isiah Mupfurutsa re-
to them for a few months now,” Ja- half Hilton Mudariki has in fact been will, however, hand the reins to the marked that the 22-time Zimbabwean champions ap-
IN ANOTHER giant leap towards son Maritz, the Sables team manager, confirmed as the substantive Sables seasoned halfback Mudariki.  preciated the “good work” done by Manatsa, adding
2023 rugby World Cup qualifica- told The NewsHawks on Thursday captain amidst confusion over the on that they were happy to come to his help. Modern
tion, Zimbabwe has clinched a new evening. “The decision was made by the Ngwenya, Highlanders’ vice-chairperson, also show-
role of the fit-again Brandon Man- coach because Hilton has been ered praise on Manatsa, commenting that both music
title sponsor in South African finan- “We are proud to be associated divenga (we publish a lifestyle story in around the team’s leadership for a and football were “therapeutic and soothing.”
cial services group Nedbank, in a with them. They have a presence in this edition which states Mandiven- while now,” commented Maritz. Both clubs gifted Manatsa with customised replica
10-month deal worth US$120 000. about 44 countries in Africa, so they ga as the skipper). An inexperienced “This doesn’t mean Mandi isn’t jerseys. The Highlanders shirt was inscribed number
Up to March 2022, Nedbank will are a very big, big brand.” Mandivenga had been appointed part of the leadership group. If some- “87” at the back, signifying the year their song was
fund the Sables’ preparations for im- Maritz said the squad was in tip- Zimbabwe’s new captain early 2019, thing happens to Hilton, Mandi will recorded by Manatsa. Now 78, Manatsa retired from
portant World Cup qualifiers, with top shape ahead of three preparatory with just four Tests under his belt, but be there to take over.” public performances in 2019 to concentrate on his
calling as a minster of the gospel.
the option to extend the partnership matches before the Tunisia trip. the gifted utility-back was not able to Playing as President’s XV, the Manatsa’s affinity for both Highlanders and Dyna- c
beyond the initial agreement.  “The intensity is there, the hunger play or lead the side the entire year Zimbabweans will take on Zambia
mos is not accidental. The Mhangura-born songwrit-
A large Zimbabwe training squad is there, guys can’t wait to get back duAeMtLuodSloaOrnigk-iI,tNermSwIihDnojuEry.w  as Finnaamnecde Matwnindicie5staJyut nwHe aiinrparewesarSmopou-urttps$mC3al.ut2cbhBeosinlblei2o- n
of nearly 50 players is currently camp- into action after a long period, for derelapuoncshietdohriss mfuunsicdcsareer in 1Z9i6m9 i'nsHlaigthelasntdlearsn’ d
ing in Harare ahead of the first stage some it’s been two years,” said Maritz. vice-captain in the new set-up, went fore hosting Namibia on 12 June at
of qualifiers in Tunisia in July. The on to skipper the Sables to silverware the same venue. They will then travel hometown, Bulawayo, where he lived as a young man
partnership with Nedbank, therefore, “The guys are all buying into the in a four-nation continental compe- to Windhoek to face the Namibians for seven years and performed at the iconic Stanley
is a thoroughly welcome financial re- vision of coach Dawsie (head coach tition that year in the absence of the again on 19 June. On 3 July, Daw- Hall, which was declared a national monument by
lief for the Zimbabwe Rugby Union, Brendan Dawson). The quality in the young Mandivenga. Mandivenga has, son’s men will face the challenge of the Zimbabwean government in 2017.  And then in
which has targeted to take the coun- side is awesome, we have about four meanwhile, joined the Sables camp Blue Bulls Select at Loftus Versfeld in 1979, Manatsa wedded his long-time partner Stella at
try to its first World Cup since 1991.  good players in one position. There is after landing in Harare on Thursday Pretoria, to further fine-tune for the Rufaro Stadium in a glitzy ceremony attended by the
healthy competition for places.” from Europe, where he plies his trade Tunisia tour.  who’s who of society. 
“They (Nedbank) have been inter-
Meanwhile, it has been clarified Rufaro Stadium is the traditional home-ground of
Dynamos.

ALSO INSIDE Mandivenga: ‘You should set the example’ as captain