NewsHawks 23 December 2022

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WHAT’S INSIDE Friday 23 December 2022 NBeElWarSus MERRY CHRISTMAS
expands
HNEoWtelSs fully footprint The Managing Editor and staff of
booked in in Zimbabwe The NewsHawks wish you a merry Christmas
key tourist and a properous New Year. Please note that this is
destinations Story on Page 10 our last issue of the year 2022. We will be back on
Friday 13 January 2023, although our social media
Story on Page 4 platforms will constantly be updated with fresh
news on a daily basis. — MANAGING EDITOR

Govt rips-off
mining firm
of millions of
US dollars in
diamond deal

ALSO INSIDE Tuckshops rescue poor citizens

Page 2 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Govt robs state firm of millions
of US dollars in diamonds deal

BRENNA MATENDERE development. ZCDC chief executive Mark Mabhudhu election campaign. It could be a way of fundrais-
Some now talk of a resource curse in Zimba- ZCDC officials however said the deal was not ing for Zanu PF using public resources,” a source
GOVERNMENT, through the Reserve Bank of helping the company, as the prejudice ran into said.
Zimbabwe (RBZ), has robbed the state-owned bwe, also called the paradox of plenty or poverty millions.
Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company paradox. “Point number one; the diamonds were Zanu PF previously used Marange diamond
(ZCDC) millions of United States dollars by bought through a reserve price which brings in revenues from Treasury and mining companies
buying five million carats of gems using the de- Sources told The NewsHawks that RBZ bought low revenues to company, as compared to what to fund its political and electoral activities, taking
preciating local Zimdollar currency (or RTGS) diamond parcels using RTGS — paying 40% in could be realised in a competitive auction where advantage of lack of transparency and account-
without fair value in a murky deal, The News- Zimdollar, while 60% would be paid in goods foreign traders bid. ability in the sector.
Hawks has been told. and services. Paying 40% of the cost through “Number two, the RBZ imposed a clause in
RTGS effectively robs the company of fair value. the trade agreement, whereupon it pays 40% ZCDC chief executive Mark Mabhudhu de-
Information gathered shows that while di- It rips-off ZCDC as the official exchange rate is in RTGS, while 60% is paid in goods and ser- clined to comment on the controversial deal.
amond buyers have been anxiously awaiting a much lower than the parallel market rate. vices like fuel or mining machinery spares under
public auction for Zimbabwe’s diamonds since a draw-down arrangement involved. This is not “I cannot discuss the matter over the phone
April, when ZCDC announced it would start RBZ governor John Mangudya confirmed the helping ZCDC at all.” because issues to do with diamonds are very sensi-
monthly sales of gems through competitive bid- central bank had bought diamonds from ZCDC, However, Mangudya insisted that there was tive; I would prefer a physical meeting to explain
ding, the RBZ last month quickly moved to mop but denied the parcels amounted to five million nothing wrong with the arrangement. the context of the sale of the diamonds, but right
up some precious stones behind the scenes. carats as indicated by mining sources. “Payment of 40% in local currency is in line now I’m busy; as we speak, I’m driving,” he said.
with the current export retention policy,” he said.
RBZ bought diamonds from ZCDC using “For starters, RBZ didn't buy five million car- Sources said the diamonds parcel bought by Parliamentary portfolio committee chairper-
RTGS, goods and services through a process ats of diamonds from ZCDC. We bought the ex- the RBZ consisted of fine gems and industrial son Edmund Mkaratigwa said he is not aware of
which prejudices the company of millions, par- cess diamonds that ZCDC had in line with Stat- quality diamonds which could earn the country the transaction. His committee plays an oversight
ticularly due to the controversial foreign currency utory Instrument 187 of 2022 wherein the bank more revenues if sold transparently at interna- role on mining activities.
retention policy. can purchase excess diamonds for the purposes of tional market prices.
building reserves in kind,” Mangudya said. “The suspicion in the mining sector is that “It is our expectations that all is on record and
Under the RBZ's forex retention policy, ex- those diamonds bought for peanuts would be re- upon our request we will get full details of what-
porters get 60% of their earnings in US dollars. “The diamonds purchased were in excess after sold for a fortune in the international market and ever transaction that might have happened. These
The remaining 40% is paid in Zimbabwean dol- ZCDC had met its export demand or diamonds the money channelled towards Zanu PF’s 2023 are national public resources, and we continue to
lars at the prevailing official exchange rate. auctions. The arrangement is at best very benefi- represent the people, ensure oversight and legis-
cial to ZCDC as it is able to meet its export de- late for the good of our country. Transparency is a
The official exchange rate is US$1:ZW671.4, mand, with the excess bought by RBZ assuring key requirement in our constitutional democratic
while the parallel rate is US$1:ZW$850 on aver- the company income.” tenets,” he said.
age. This means the RBZ bought the diamonds
at a giveaway price using a combination of the Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvan-
official exchange rate and payment in goods and gwa did not respond to WhatsApp messages sent
services. Authorities say the diamonds are part of to him.
reserves, but there are fears they could be resold
clandestinely in the local or international markets Asked to respond to claims that the diamonds
to benefit corrupt officials rather than the nation. were part of a process to raise money for the
Zanu PF for election campaigns, Mangudya said:
There are also fears the diamonds are being “How does buying a product by RBZ help any-
used to fundraise for Zanu PF campaigns ahead one in this regard when it is RBZ parting away
of the 2023 general elections. with money? I don't get it?”

In the local market, a carat of diamond goes Leaders of civic society organisations working
for ZW$339 973.52, which is a mere US$399.9 in Marange said the transaction raised eyebrows
compared to top market prices which range from and must be publicly explained.
around US$1 000 to US$17 000 a carat depend-
ing on cut quality, clarity, colour and shape. James Mupfumi, Centre for Research and De-
velopment director, said this issue highlights how
The price of a carat was US$939.41 in Ant- Zimbabweans are not benefitting from their nat-
werp in Belgium and the top price in Dubai was ural resources being looted by elites.
US$17 699.12 yesterday. Taking the minimum
price of US$939.41, it means five million carats “Minerals in Zimbabwe are better reserved
cost US$4.7 billion if they are of high quality. below the surface than in the hands of our gov-
However, if the parcels are of low quality, which ernment. There is a community of 26 000 people
is largely the case in Zimbabwe, as most of the in Marange, where these diamonds are being ex-
production is industrial diamonds, the figure be- tracted, which is living in abject poverty,” Mup-
comes much less than that. fumi said.

“There are three important issues that arise out “Against a background of Zanu PF being
of this deal. Firstly, there is a problem of trans- broke and an election ahead, it becomes clearer
parency and accountability with the transaction. where those captured diamonds are going. Need-
Secondly, there is a fair value gap involved in the less to say, diamonds are known to disappear
process due to inefficiencies and imbalances cre- in custody of state institutions as confirmed by
ated by government policy,” a mining executive auditor-general's report on parastatals of 2019,
in the diamond sector told The NewsHawks. where 41.699.85 carats of diamonds disappeared
at MMCZ (Minerals Marketing Corporation of
“The third issue is where are those diamonds Zimbabwe).”
going? Are they going to be part of state reserves,
or they will be resold at international market pric- Mupfumi also said it “is evidently clear that
es? If so, who benefits out of that arbitrage? These government has failed to combat rampant cor-
things need to be explained openly and properly ruption in the mining sector, where political elites
for the public to know what’s happening. Dia- are actively involved”.
monds have previously disappeared in the cus-
tody of state institutions. The whole situation is “Besides corruption, there have been terrible
disturbing.” state-orchestrated human rights violations in
Chiadzwa. Government repression is suppressing
ZCDC, struggling to establish itself as a min- the community from expressing itself and pro-
ing giant, was formed following the 2015 gov- testing against those pillaging the resources,” he
ernment decision to consolidate all diamond said.
companies in Chiadzwa to form a wholly-owned
state entity. It currently has operations in the Amalgamated Chiadzwa Development Com-
Chiadzwa area, while it is conducting extensive munities Trust leader Jay Kasakara said villagers
exploration and evaluation across Zimbabwe in were promised proceeds from diamonds will be
search of economically viable diamondiferous partly used to develop their area, but nothing has
Kimberlite pipes. happened.

Sources said the dodgy deal has alarmed the “We are surprised RBZ is buying diamonds
company’s executives who are desperate to boost instead of leaving that to the market. Diamonds
revenues and expand operations. should be sold openly in the market to ensure
that we make the most of it and use the money
It has also brought into sharp focus how nat- for development,” Kasakara said.
ural resources are being managed in the country
— raising transparency and accountability issues “There is nothing communities are getting
— and their limited impact on the economy and from these diamonds, except food hampers.”

Zimbabwe last month assumed the chair-
manship of the Kimberly Process Certification
Scheme for 2023. It says it wants to build a
US$12 billion mining sector by next year.

NewsHawks News Page 3

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Singing the blues
as hunger blights
the festive season

NATHAN GUMA claim or demand for US$540. ed States dollars. Not 100%, but a component ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo
"But all the same, we hope that the mini- of the salary is paid in United States dollars.” babwe are multifaceted and compounded by
MOST Zimbabwean workers, including civil climate change and impact of the Covid-19
servants, are facing a bleak Christmas due to mum wage of US$150 will be judiciously giv- With the country experiencing one of its pandemic.
low disposable incomes that have impover- en to those who are working on farms, because worst food insecurity seasons, an estimated
ished the professional class and their depen- we are aware that they are earning far less than six million people out of 16.6 million people With an increasing number of households
dents amid worsening economic hardships. that,” says Takavafira Zhou, president of the (33%) have insufficient food, according to the already experiencing hardships, Zimbabwe
Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Commit- is projected to be continually affected by the
A survey by The NewsHawks revealed that tee (ZimVac). food security crisis in 2023.
workers are failing to purchase basic commod- He said while raising the minimum wage
ities ahead of the holidays. is a good idea, it does not resonate with their Workers have been struggling to access basic According to the 2022 ZimVac report, the
demand for pre-2018 United States dollar-in- commodities. worst affected provinces are Matabeleland
Citizens are already facing a dark holiday dexed salaries. North (58%), Masvingo (41%) and Matabele-
owing to rolling 18-hour power outages and The factors driving food insecurity in Zim- land South (36%).
their failure to meet basic living expenses, let “As a group of professional teachers, we are
alone merry-making, is piling on the misery. calling for the restoration of United States dol-
lar salaries that we were earning before Octo-
This month, the government approved a ber 2018.
US$150 minimum wage for workers, from the
old wage pegged at ZW$2 574, but most em- “We also believe that government should
ployers are yet to implement the newly agreed judiciously implement non-monetary agree-
salary scale. ments that have been reached. Such include
assisting teachers to pay fees for their children,
This means non-skilled workers, in terms if as well as class teacher, head of department, in-
the law, are expected to survive on salaries as fancy incentives.
pathetic as US$5 per month.
“We also want them to implement many
According to the Zimbabwe National Statis- others which have been agreed, and have never
tics Agency (ZimStat), the total consumption seen the day under the Public Service Com-
poverty line (TCPL) for Zimbabwe rose by mission (PSC),” Zhou said.
2.5% to ZW$27 297 per person in September
from ZW$26 622.83 recorded in August. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
(ZCTU), one of the negotiators in the Tripar-
This means an individual requires ZW$27 tite Negotiating Forum (TNF) alongside the
297 to purchase both food and non-food government and the Employers’ Confedera-
items as at September 2022 in order not to be tion of Zimbabwe, says it is pushing for the
deemed poor. United States dollar salary issue on other plat-
forms.
The food poverty line represents the amount
of money that an individual needs, to afford “There is a campaign that wages should be
the required energy intake of 2 100 calories, paid in United States dollars,” said ZCTU sec-
according to Zimstat. retary-general Japhet Moyo.

Worker organisations who spoke to The “We took that campaign to the TNF, and
NewsHawks said the government should fulfil that has been our position that we have brought
its promise to pay a reviewed minimum wage. forward together with other social partners.

“Our point is very clear, the minimum wage “So the employers are aware of these de-
is non-professionals. So, it does not apply to mands. This position is not at the TNF only,
us. We are a professional group, and therefore, but to bargaining councils. In some sectors,
minimum wage has no resonance with our they (employers) have started paying us Unit-

Citizens are already facing a dark holiday owing to rolling 18-hour power outages.

Page 4 News NewsHawks

NATHAN GUMA Issue 113, 23 December 2022

THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Hotels fully booked in main
says most hotels are fully booked in key tour- tourist destinations — ZTA
ist destinations, which has seen a significant
increase in business during this festive season. ZTA corporate affairs manager Godfrey Koti
Victoria Falls Hotel
The tourism industry is on a rebound af-
ter being negatively affected by the Covid-19
pandemic which results in many countries ef-
fecting travel restrictions to contain the spread
of the virus, which claimed many lives glob-
ally.

“We released our figures for January to Sep-
tember recently, and they are indicating that
there is a positive activity across the tourism
sector. If you look at our average occupan-
cy rate, they rose pretty much in the fourth
quarter, and we also got huge increases in do-
mestic entries into the national parks on the
local market. There was an increase of 96%
compared to the previous year,” said corporate
affairs manager Godfrey Koti.

“From our overseas arrivals, there was a sig-
nificant increase of about 256%, compared to
the same period in 2021.

“Then from Africa, which is the region, we
also witnessed 130% of people that came. So,
all in all, at an average, we saw a 160% in-
crease.

“So, from the perspective of money that
has been received, we received around almost
US$600 million, compared to about US$244
million received last year in the same period.
So again, the magnificent change is because
there was no business last year because of the
restrictions.”

Koti has also attributed the rise in tourism
to the resumption of air travel, which he says
will contribute to a better outlook in 2023.

In November, Ethiopian Airlines launched
a new flight to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, via Vic-
toria Falls last week, scheduling four flights
weekly.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe
(CAAZ) has also been seeking for new air
deals.

“But now, all the airlines are back – pret-
ty much all of them, with an increase of new
ones that have come through in 2022. On
the investment portfolio, we have new invest-
ment projects that we are pushing for in 2022,
which are sitting at US$306 million compared
to US$94 million in 2020.

“We are expecting growth as we get into
the New Year. Our focus and emphasis will
also be on tourism that includes conferencing,
meetings, events and incentive travels among
others, because we have recorded growth in
that area,” Koti said.

In the country’s prime tourist destination,
Victoria Falls, business is also good, although
tourism players are worried about a park fees
hike, which comes into effect on 1 January.

Last week, the Zimbabwe National Parks
and Wildlife (ZimParks) hiked entry fees into
Zambezi and Victoria Falls national parks,
with international guests expected to pay
US$50 for access via the ordinary rainforest
gate and US$150 at the VIP gate in January.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo
defended the hike citing sustainability issues,
which he says have been dogging wildlife
management.

The President of the Employers Associa-
tion for Tours and Safari operators Clement
Mukwasi said the numbers were good despite
concerns.

“We are having a good number of people
coming to the destination. But, we have had
a knock on the international tourist arrivals,
because of changes in prices for entry into the
Victoria Falls rainforest,” said Mukwasi.

“Domestic tourists are coming, and we ex-
pect to have a 100% turnout for the Christ-
mas and New Year period. The majority of
accommodation facilities are now full — ei-
ther physically full because confirmations
have been done. Other have got unconfirmed
bookings that are at around 80%..

Mukwasi said boat cruising and high wire
activities, are likely to be the most popular ac-
tivities, owing to good weather.

“Good news also came from the weather-
men who said that we are going to have a dry
Christmas. So, what it means is that helicop-
ters are going to be buzzling above the falls.
Helicopter and boat cruise are going to be the
signature for the destination,” he said.

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Tuckshops rescue poor citizens

NATHAN GUMA

LARGE retail outlets are losing business to according to ZimStat. duty on basic commodities, a blow to low-in- they buy food, pay bills and access other ser-
informal tuckshops and vendors that are sell- In November, Finance minister Mthuli come families that have been failing to access vices, which has seen people turning to tuck-
ing basic commodities at significantly lower basic commodities. shops and vendors for cheaper basic commod-
prices, helping hard-pressed citizens to salvage Ncube raised Value-Added Tax on basic com- ities.
an otherwise bleak Christmas holiday, a snap modities from 14.5% to 15%, whilst restoring This means people have to pay more when
survey by The NewsHawks has shown.

Bargain hunters have been thronging down-
town Harare in search of basic commodities,
while avoiding major shops within the central
business district.

Traditionally, people buy from large retail
outlets at this time of the year, snapping up
discounts and benefitting from promotions
during the festive season.

With vendors paying no tax and rentals,
their pricing models on basic commodities
have been lower, thereby putting major retail
outlets under pressure.

More informal shops have been sprouting
downtown and in open spaces within the cen-
tral business district.

At dusk, many street vendors throng the
area along Speke Avenue in the central busi-
ness district, displaying large stacks of basic
commodities, while several others occupy
shop pavements.

A 20kg case of Hullets brown sugar is pegged
at US$19.50, US$9 lower than the US$28.50
charged by Pick ‘n’ Pay supermarkets, one of
the major retail outlets in Zimbabwe.

Most mainstream retail outlets have been
marking their prices in Zimbabwe dollars,
which has seen basic commodities becoming
more expensive if converted to United States
dollars.

For instance, a two-litre bottle of cooking
oil in Pick ‘n’ Pay is costing ZW$3 169 us-
ing an exchange rate of 1:700 – which trans-
lates to US$4.53, against US$4.20 charged by
downtown tuckshops.

Other Christmas staples like rice have also
been expensive in retail shops, while being af-
fordable in the downtown tuckshops.

A comparison showed that while a 20kg
pack of Mahatma Rice is costing ZW$19 690,
which is lower than the US$21 charged down-
town.

Using the 1:700 rate, the price translates to
US$28, showing a US$7 difference.

Mealie-meal, another basic commodity, has
become more expensive in major retail out-
lets, with a 10-kilogramme bag costing ZW$5
699, which translates to US$8.14.

Mealie-meal prices have risen since April
when the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) in-
creased the prices of maize and wheat to mill-
ers by 41% and 15% respectively.

Choppies, a major supermarket chain, has
been marking the majority of its goods in lo-
cal currency, while marking other basic com-
modities like soap, rice and sugar in United
States dollars.

Shoppers who spoke to The NewsHawks said
tuckshops have been buying downtown, due
to the low prices, prior to the festive season.

“The only challenge you have here are
thieves, but you get the goods cheaper as you
move to tuckshops in the downtown area.
They charge varying prices which may differ
from the main shops like OK and others.

“They also use better exchange rates which
are important when saving,” says a consumer
who spoke to The NewsHawks.

With the cost of living continuing to sky-
rocket, ordinary Zimbabweans have been
struggling to access basic commodities, hence
the popularity of informal tuckshops.

According to the Zimbabwe National Sta-
tistics Agency (ZimStat), the total consump-
tion poverty line (TCPL) for Zimbabwe rose
by 2.5% to 27 297 per person in September
from ZW$26 622.83 recorded in August.

This means an individual required ZW$27
297.53 to purchase both food and non-food
items as at September 2022 in order not to be
deemed poor.

The food poverty line represents the amount
of money that an individual needs to afford
the required energy intake of 2 100 calories,

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Customers wait outside a shop in Harare's downtown owned by a 'Runner', a term which is commonly used to describe someone who buys and brings in cheap commodities, mostly clothes from mainly South Africa,
Zambia and China for resale in Zimbabwe. Most of the goods are smuggled into the country. — Picture: Aaron Ufumeli

Used clothes salvage Xmas for many

NATHAM GUMA

IT is afternoon, and hordes of people are shoving Mall downtown. considered new by her family, bringing a sense of Downtown, more vendors sell from car boots.
their way into Copacabana flea market in central Other customers have been opting for second- joy. to buy secondhand clothes.
Harare.
hand clothes from bales. For Susan Mhlanga (39), “The little I get, I have to make the holiday bet- A snap survey by The NewsHawks shows that
People are crowded around vending stalls, flea markets have been the first port of call when ter for my family,” she says. “At the same time, I while holiday regulars like denims have been cost-
sifting through mountains of jeans, T-shirts and buying clothes. To her family, Christmas is de- have to save money to help send my other two ing US$16 and US$20 in established retail out-
shoes, as others squeeze their way through the nar- fined by new clothes. children to school. Christmas is a normal day, but lets, the same have been costing between US$3
row passages between aisles. the children will never understand. If it was only and US$5 in Mbare, sold by street vendors and
“I have come down here at the flea market be- me, I would have slept throughout the day, be- outlets that sell used clothes in Harare’s downtown
Outside, multitudes are thronging malls hous- cause the clothes are a bit cheaper. I am also help- cause it has little significance.” area.
ing runners — retailers who import new and pre- ing my sister buy some clothes. Big shops? There
worn but cheap clothes. is no way I can afford anything from there. I have Even the residents of previously well-to-do Sneakers that cost between US$20 and US$45
been buying clothes from Mupedzanhamo [an in- low-density suburbs like Mabelreign are flocking in clothing shops are selling for US$5 to US$15
Some of the clothes are imported directly from formal market in Mbare] over the years. to Mbare, Harare's oldest high-density suburb, for at flea markets.
South Africa, Turkey and China. second-hand clothes.
“From where I come from, clothes will be ex- Downtown, more vendors sell from car boots,
Secondhand clothes are enabling pover- pensive during this time of the year. At least, I can Mbare is also one of the dry ports for bales from as vendors camouflage themselves from council
ty-stricken Zimbabweans to salvage an otherwise buy a few clothes from here that are of good quali- Mozambique, hence the low cost of clothes. police.
miserable Christmas. Buying brand new clothes ty and cheap. The only challenge I will face is very
from established shops is a luxury most cannot expensive transport to get here,” she laughs. In Mbare’s Matapi area, vendors risk life fleeing Vendors have resumed selling from shop pave-
afford. police who constantly chase them from the area ments. Nearby, a watchman is on the lookout,
Secondhand clothes have been a life saver, as close to Mupedzanhamo complex, one of Zimba- quick to alert the others should there be a raid.
“There is everything. The clothes are not new, she cannot afford high quality clothing from es- bwe’s largest fleamarkets.
but also not old,” says Tavonga Murenga (24), one tablished outlets. Raids are common, and may at times turn vi-
of the many people cashing in on the sale of sec- While the complex has been closed and manned olent. Harare City Council has constantly been
ondhand clothes. Even though the clothes are pre-worn, they are by police, people still navigate their way to the area at loggerheads with unlicensed vendors, accusing
them of selling from undesignated areas.
“The only thing people care about is what you
are wearing. No one will even know where you got
the clothes from. Shoes here cost US$20. If you
go to Jet and other fancy shops, the same will be
costing US$50 or US$80.”

Whilst new clothes have been a part of the
Christmas holiday, not everyone has been able to
buy from established clothing shops and expensive
boutiques, which has seen many turning to run-
ners and secondhand clothes vendors.

Runners have been filling the void left by ex-
pensive clothing retail shops.

Thanks to social media platforms, particularly
WhatsApp, runners command sizeable followings,
and it is these people who flock to their informal
malls during the festive season.

While downtown Harare has been teeming
with bargain hunters, only a few people have been
trickling into expensive boutiques.

“At least runners have low and affordable pric-
es. This makes it easier for us to select and order
for the clothes we want at cheaper prices,” says a
customer who spoke to The NewsHawks at Orion

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

NHAU MANGIRAZI Lake Kariba dwindles, but
holiday bookings brisky
THERE may be concern about the dwindling
volume of water in Lake Kariba, but tourism op- Lake Kariba
erators in the resort town are smiling this festive
season. drive for tourism sector,’’ said Shonhiwa. people to Mlibizi island and its one of the facilities activities it's going to be busy,’’ said Mutumwa.
The houseboats range from the budget category helping our clients,’’ said Shonhiwa. He said there is a possibility that game drives
Business is brisk, as is expected at this time of
the year when people take the opportunity to relax to middle and high end. Kariba Publicity Association vice-chairperson will be done thrice a day: at 6am, 10am and 4pm.
and catch up with friends and family. ‘‘In Kariba we have Zambezi Trader that can ac- Mabhena Mutumwa said he is happy that a large ‘‘We will be trading on lunch cruises and sun-
number of tourists are driving into the resort town
Kariba town has registered full bookings in all commodate at least 54 people at one go. We have to enjoy the beauty of nature. set cruises, in addition to fishing. This is a positive
lodges, hotels, houseboats and game drives, offi- had Zimbabwe Dream and Africa Dream, among sign for everyone here as the sector is interlinked
cials say. others,’’ he said. ‘‘Some of the travellers will see lions along the where everyone will benefit during the festive sea-
way and it’s a good gesture from the resort town son,’’ Mutumwa added.
Kariba Tourism and Business Indaba adminis- The resort town has introduced a ferry that as the majority of them are driving, and the fes-
trator Cephas Shonhiwa said many tourists had transports clients to different areas. tive seems to be fully packed. I can see the town The tourism sector operators are hoping to see
made pre-bookings ahead of the festive season. showing life again, with all lodges full, regarding a return to the good old days when the sector pro-
‘‘The ferry boat is currently transporting people vided significant income and jobs.
‘‘I can confirm that all lodges are fully booked together with vehicles. As we speak, it is carrying
during the festive season. The geographical posi-
tion of Kariba makes it the best destination from
anyone travelling from Harare as it is accessible
even by road,” said Shonhiwa.

He said besides cashing in on well-known activ-
ities like boat cruises, fishing and game drives, tour
operators have been innovative of late.

‘‘Our operators have introduced para-sailing,
quad bikes and show line bird watch that is a new
package for our tourists. We applaud tour opera-
tors who continue giving clients value for mon-
ey whenever they visit the resort town so that it
remains the better place for a family outing,’’ he
said.

Shonhiwa said most bookings are between 23
December and 2 January.

‘‘The pre-booking is a good sign and positive
for the tourism sector that has suffered from the
2020 national Covid-19 lockdowns among other
economical challenges of late,’’ he said.

Shonhiwa, however, appealed to the govern-
ment to make urgent action in rehabilitating the
Harare-Chirundu highway that remains a "death
trap" for travellers.

‘‘Our Harare-Chirundu highway is the biggest
letdown as it has been neglected of late with many
potholes that have not been attended to. With the
continued rains, our clients will be affected. Poor
road network is one of our challenges, and as a
sector we are appealing to the government to act
on repairing the potholes along the highway as we
don’t have any scheduled flight from Harare to
Kariba,’’ said Shonhiwa.

Houseboat operators have also experienced
brisk business. ‘‘The houseboats' bookings are
pegged between 80 and 90% and this is a positive

Houseboat operators are experiencing brisk business in Kariba.

Page 8 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

New flights expected boost
Kariba tourism prospects

NHAU MANGIRAZI Vivian Ruwuya said the company is working Harare base will be supported with onward existing introduction of flights to Kariba and
closely with industry stakeholders and partners, connections on Mack Air/South West Aviation Hwange now allows visitors in Victoria Falls to
THE Kariba Tourism and Business Indaba including the Airports Company of Zimbabwe into the Hwange National Park, the lodges of explore the wonders of Zimbabwe further by
(KTBI) is excited by budget Airlines airline and the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe. the Kariba eastern basin and the camps and op- visiting both Hwange National Park and enjoy
Fastjet’s decision to commence domestic flights erations in Mana Pools and the lower Zambezi. some time on the lake in Kariba with its varied
linking the resort town to Victoria Falls and ‘‘We are delighted to announce that our new Mack Air with South West Aviation will be de- activities of game viewing, boating and fishing,”
Hwange National Park early next year. flights to Hwange and Kariba from our tourism veloping a new hub at Kariba, along with their said Ruwaya.
hub of Victoria Falls and our
KTBI administrator Cephas Shonhiwa said
the flights would make it easier for both local
and international tourists to visit Kariba, the
world's largest man-made lake. The resort town
also has the much-sought-after big five: ele-
phant, lion, buffalo, leopards and rhino, among
other animals.

“We have had cases of international tourists
cancelling bookings because of the absence of
local connecting domestic flights. This has af-
fected our operations as a sector due to poor,
inaccessible roads,’’ Shonhiwa said in an inter-
view this week.

‘‘KTBI has been in constant contact with air-
line operators following the pulling out of Kuva
Air that had a scheduled flight coming to Kari-
ba. The operator had its own challenges and it
left us with no option but to look for alterna-
tives. We are happy that Fastjet will cover the
gap next year.’’

Flights into Kariba are scheduled to com-
mence on 27 March 2023.

The flights will depart from Harare and Vic-
toria Falls.

Nunurai Ndawana, Fastjet Zimbabwe spokes-
person, said these planned additional routes to
the airline’s domestic network will offer seam-
less connections for travellers from Harare and
Victoria Falls to Zimbabwe’s top domestic tour-
ism destinations of Kariba and Hwange, with
scheduled flight connections using Embraer
E120, 30-seater turboprop aircraft.

“We continue to demonstrate our commit-
ment to the growth of tourism and the sustain-
ability of air services in the markets we serve.
The addition of these leisure destinations will
greatly support our vision. The Embraer E120 is
a robust turboprop aircraft designed for domes-
tic operations, offering customers a pressurised
cabin with spacious legroom and overhead bag-
gage space,’’ said Ndawana.

He added that they intend to align timings
to schedule flights in such a way as to offer cus-
tomers the flexibility and convenience of multi-
ple frequencies per day.

Fastjet Zimbabwe chief commercial officer

NewsHawks News Page 9

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Festive partying
culture, media
cocktails now a
distant memory

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA Needless to say, you could not obviously hon- porters. The invitations were often hand-delivered much to cheer!
our all of them — some you attended, some you and the invited guests would sign a book to show It was not just cocktails that drew the attention
OVER a decade ago, when Zimbabwe’s econ- politely declined due to the busy hectic schedule. receipt of the gifts.
omy seemed to be experiencing a revival during of the media but also the freebies, especially braai
the Government of National Unity, we media End-of-year parties and media cocktails were And a colourful Christmas card with a best and booze — endless rounds of drinks!
hacks would have received countless invitations to such a big deal! wishes message was also a must. Not the electronic
countless social gatherings to mark the end of the ones doing the rounds on social media now! And at every other media cocktail, some invit-
year. Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, the invi- ed and others uninvited would throng and make
tations would be accompanied by bottles of fine Once a reporter got their share of the invita- themselves comfortable.
wine or high-end whiskey for the editors and re- tions, they would know the festive season was re-
ally upon us. Most companies would throw end- But even though food and drinks were plenti-
of-year parties and the media were most welcome. ful, journalists being journalists, they appeared to
be born of the same mother.
This was the time when companies would
spend their profits, making sure the cocktails and They simply cannot be content and they always
end-of-year parties were worth attending. want to take a doggy pack.

More often than not, companies would spend Some had the propensity of hiding beer bottles
big on the parties and media cocktails. underneath the tables or shoving drink into their
backpacks. While this was inevitable, the festive
But before we knew it, the companies, due to culture of partying and media cocktails could ac-
the economic meltdown, started cutting down on commodate everyone.
expenditure.
I remember the streets would be chaotic due to
So gradually, the end-of-year parties were left to noise from the blurring speakers.
workers' committees to organise, but they faced
cashflow challenges. The parties would compete and in the end it
would be chaotic in the streets. This was because
And in no time, the workers' committees began the bonuses were taken for granted and compa-
looking for sponsorship from well-wishers. nies would ensure that employees got their 13th
cheque.
That is how end-of-year parties fizzled out.
With no money to spend, it means there is Like they say, the good old days are no more.
no festivity as was the case before when Christ- Today's up-and-coming journalists can only imag-
mas time brought the carnival experience, and so ine how good the old days were.

Page 10 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Belarus expands footprint in Zim

BRENNA MATENDERE

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa and Belar- President Emmerson Mnangagwa (right) with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
usian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s relationship
continues to strengthen, at a time the Eastern Eu- Mnangagwa’s close ally and alleged arms dealer Alexander Zingman Zingman is also an ally of Belarusian strongman
ropean country is widening its foot print in the Lukashenko.
country amid worries that deals between the two The fire engines are being marketed by Zing- ling US$60 million. In 2019, President Mnangag-
countries were benefitting the leaders and close man’s AFRATRADE DMCC and are manufac- wa visited Belarus for three days. The dodgy businessman, who was detained for
associates but not the generality of Zimbabweans. tured by a Belarusian company, LLC Pozhsnab. 12 days in March last year in the Democratic Re-
In September 2019, Sheiman once again visited public of Congo, was named in the Pandora Papers
Mnangagwa visited Belarus in January 2019 Following a public outcry over the deal, the Zimbabwe, resulting in the two countries estab- as one of two Belarusians who used shell compa-
where the two leaders discussed various deals, cul- government has not stated further details on it, lishing a joint Belarusian-Zimbabwean construc- nies in the Seychelles and the United Kingdom to
minating in companies owned by Lukashenko’s but Harare City Council, through mayor Jacob tion company, a solar power plant, a joint logistics mask their involvement and conflict of interest at
close associates getting lucrative deals in agricul- Mafume, made it clear that it was not happy with company, a transport hub like a “dry port”, and an the heart of the deal.
ture in various areas including gold mining and the deal and wished it was cancelled. Other local agricultural complex with 10 000 hectares of land.
agriculture. authorities, among them Bulawayo and Masvingo, The sum of all signed agreements was estimated at Zingman, who was arrested together with fellow
have also indicated that they do not need the fire US$350 million. Belarusian Oleg Vodchits and Italian businessman
Barely a month after Harare announced that it engines. In 2018, Viktar Sheiman, the president’s Paolo Persico, told a news conference in Harare at
was concluding a framework to award the East- chief-of-staff and part-time overseer of “far arc” Under the agriculture deal, Zingman’s company the time that they were questioned on suspicion of
ern European country a tender to construct a projects, visited Zimbabwe twice. Shortly thereaf- has been supplying tractors and other equipment. arms trafficking during detention.
100-megawatt photovoltaic solar plant in Norton, ter, he reported that he had signed contracts total- He has also supplied buses and is also into gold
Cabinet was this week discussing strengthening mining. According to a previous report by the Organised
trade and cooperation with Belarus. Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OC-
CRP), Lukashenko’s front man, Sheiman, was dis-
Last month, the government announced that patched to Zimbabwe in March 2018 to negotiate
it had considered and approved a framework trade and business deals for his government.
agreement with Belarus on the construction of a
100MW solar power plant. Indications were that Sheiman paved the way
for a gold-mining deal between his son Sergei Shei-
The Belarus Solar Power Plant was granted na- man and other Belarusians with offshore accounts,
tional project status and was given cabinet green- including Zingman.
light to be undertaken through Zesa Holdings.
Investigations by OCCRP further revealed that
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa at the mining deal was presented as a collaboration
Tuesday’s post-cabinet briefing said Zimbabwe between the two countries, and Sheiman said it
had entered into what she called a Joint Perma- was intended to make “profit for Belarus”. But in
nent Commission with Belarus that would see the fact, the new joint venture, Zim Goldfields, reports
two countries trading in various sectors, including OCCRS, was secretly co-owned by Sheiman’s son,
wildlife, for the next five years with a possibility of Sergei, with no stake for the Belarusian state.
renewing the partnership.
Sheiman’s partner in the gold venture was Zing-
The deal like the solar power plant construction man. OCCRP further reported that Zingman was
was, once again, negotiated by Justice minister Zi- detained for 12 days this March in the DRC.
yambi Ziyambi.
“A Press released by his Dubai-based compa-
“Cabinet considered and approved ratification ny, Aftrade DMCC, specified that the reason for
of the Agreement between the Republic of Zim- the incident was arms dealing allegations, which
babwe and the Republic of Belarus on the estab- Zingman flatly denied. He was released without
lishment of a Joint Permanent Commission as charge.”
presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Zi- According to OCCRP, documents from the
yambi, Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Pandora Papers show how the two Belarusians
Legislation.” used shell companies in the Seychelles and the UK
to mask their involvement and the conflict of in-
“The Agreement will provide for closer coop- terest at the heart of the deal.
eration between the Republic of Zimbabwe and
the Republic of Belarus in diverse fields of mutual OCCRP reported that 30% of Zim Goldfields
interest, including but not limited to the follow- was held by Zimbabwe’s state-owned mining
ing: economy, commerce, and finance; trade and company, the Zimbabwe Mining Development
investment; tourism, culture, and information; ed- Corporation (ZMDC), but the other 70% was
ucation, science and technology; and agriculture, controlled by a UK shell company, Midlands
parks and wildlife,” she said. Goldfields Limited.

Mutsvangwa also pointed out that the latest
agreement will further provide for the composition
of the commission, its functions, funding, finan-
cial arrangements and dispute settlement, but did
not enter into further details.

“The Agreement will result in the establishment
of a Joint Permanent Commission which will sub-
sist for 5 years and will be subject to automatic
renewal by the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Re-
public of Belarus,” she said.

Lukashenko calls himself “the last dictator of
Europe” and leads an authoritarian regime char-
acterised by repression of citizens who have been
under his heavy hand for 27 years.

Belarus is home to Mnangagwa’s close ally and
alleged arms dealer Alexander Zingman, whom
he appointed Zimbabwe’s honorary consul to the
country in 2019. Zingman has facilitated many
deals between Zimbabwe and Belarus since his
appointment, raking in millions of dollars in the
process.

The 54-year-old tycoon, through the Dubai
and Minskbased AFRTRADE DMCC, has a wide
footprint across 16 countries in Africa — Angola,
Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya,
Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad, Sudan, Nigeria,
Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone and
Zimbabwe.

Local Government minister July Moyo was this
year accused of circumventing the public tender-
ing system by ordering rural and urban councils
to divert devolution funds to pay for fire engines
from a Belarusian company owned by Zingman.

The murky arrangement, which Moyo said was
a “government-to-government” agreement, could
cost the councils over US$32 million. The deal did
not go to tender.

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Moreblessing Ali’s son goes into hiding

RUVIMBO MUCHENJE Murdered CCC activist Moreblessing Ali’s body is suspected to be at Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.

ALMOST seven months after her gruesome used to tie her, nothing makes sense. He (Pius ing to solve all these questions on behalf of the but Sikhala is in jail, while they walk scot free,”
murder by a Zanu PF-linked activist, Moreb- Jamba) says he hit her with a fist but her tongue family and not inciting violence. he added.
lessing Ali's body still lies in a mortuary unbur- was out. It’s not possible for the tongue to come
ied — all because of politics. out after death. I have all the pictures. So we are “You know the Zanu PF MP (Munyaradzi Sikhala applied for bail for the 11th time
waiting for Job Sikhala to come out and get to Kashambe) and Councillor (Masimbi Masim- since June and High Court judge Samuel Deme
Her family is not even sure where her body the bottom of this,” he said. bi) came with rowdy youths and told me that said he is reserving judgement until he has gone
is. if my mother was mourned by CCC supporters through all previous bail rulings that denied the
He is convinced Sikhala’s only crime is try- there would be no peace. They incited violence, accused bail.
Meanwhile, her family lawyer Job Sikhala
has spent the last six months in pre-trial de-
tention and will spent the Christmas holiday at
Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

His crime, in the court of public opinion, is
that he demanded justice for Ali, a CCC activ-
ist who was murdered by Zanu PF activist, Pias
Jamba. Ali’s family has not known peace since
her murder.

Her son Silence, is now living in hiding af-
ter being harassed by suspected state security
agents.

He first went to stay at a farm in Dema
owned by his uncle, but was followed there.

Silence left the farm in September, and is
holed up at a secret location, after days of being
trailed by unmarked vehicles which parked out-
side the family residence in Chitungwiza.

“I left the farm in the middle of the night in
September 2022. My uncle and family mem-
bers just decided to get me out after numerous
visits from suspected Zanu PF youths and state
security agents. At one point while I was at the
farm, a drone flew past and stayed above me,
very close by, filming for 20 minutes or so and,
as it flew away, it went in the direction of the
police station,” said Silence.

His wife left the farm days after him.
“I used my relative’s car to disguise as a taxi
to carry my wife out of there. She left with
nothing,” he said.
Ali went into hiding three months after
the dismembered body parts of his mother
were discovered in a well in Beatrice, at a farm
owned by Jamba’s mother.
The family last saw the body at Chitungwiza
General Hospital but was informed it was tak-
en to the Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.
“We will bury our mother in due course, but
we are not sure if her body is still at Parirenyat-
wa because we didn’t see the body beyond that
stage of identification at Chitungwiza General
Hospital and there has been no communication
from the hospital,” said Ali.
Plans to bury the deceased Ali hinge on the
release of their lawyer from prison.
“My mother had a policy with Nyaradzo,
and we were in talks with them while I was able
to travel. They were asking me about the buri-
al plans, but I have since lost communication
since I went into hiding,” he said.
There are still no plans to bury the deceased
Ali, as the family are awaiting the release of
their lawyer, Job Sikhala, who has been lan-
guishing in prison for six months on charges of
allegedly inciting violence.
Sikhala addressed party supporters who had
converged to mourn the deceased Ali. Violence
ensued and he was charged with incitement.
Silence says the family cannot proceed in
Sikhala’s absence.
“Job Sikhala is in jail, we cannot change our
lawyer whilst Job Sikhala was our lawyer even
when my mother was still alive. She got injured
while at work (Chitungwiza Municipality) and
Sikhala represented her. So we can’t just get up
and bury her, he was standing with us, we can-
not bury my mother, it doesn’t make sense. We
need Job Sikhala to come out so that he can get
to the bottom of the case.”
Sikhala was the family's lawyer, speaking on
behalf of the family during the hunt for Ali's
body. Silence adds that there are irregularities
surrounding the death of his mother and only
Sikhala can help them get to the bottom of the
matter.
“After identifying the body of my mother
with Sikhala, I was informed that tests would
be done. So Sikhala was in the process of get-
ting to the bottom of this when the arrests and
the intimidation started happening,” he said.
“We cannot bury her because not all her body
parts are present. Then there is a string that was

Page 12 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

MARY MUNDEYA Child labourers swarm the
trenches of predatory Odzi
SCANTLY clad and mucky, Kudzai Mwenje*
(4) goes through his daily gold-panning routine, The Odzi River children work surrounded by hazards.
separating the mineral from river sand on Odzi
River, in Zimbabwe’s eastern province of Man- sizable number of primary and secondary school but former students, parents and traditional lead- little sister, who is in primary school, can contin-
icaland. children are dropping out of school to pursue ers revealed that artisanal gold panning was dis- ue with her education and my family can have
mining, especially along the Odzi and Nyamuk- tracting children. something to eat,” said 18-year-old Mazvita Mut-
He seems like an expert of sorts at what he warara Rivers. ero.
does, adroitly using a thick piece of cloth and a “By now I was supposed to be an A-Level stu-
disfigured metal bowl to make sure that none of In Zveushe village under Chief Zimunya, vil- dent first but I dropped out of school in 2020 Some parents of child miners are uncomfort-
his catch escapes. lagers say Chinyauhwera Secondary School had when my parents could no longer afford to pay able with having their children working as pan-
seen a decline in the number of students reaching my tuition fees. My dream was to become a law- ners but have no choice despite knowing the dan-
It is child labour in its worst form. Mwenje is Ordinary Level, particularly over the last three yer but that ship has since sailed since my focus gers associated with the trade.
strikingly young, too young to be involved in this years. School authorities declined to comment has been shifted to artisanal mining so that my
illegal yet widespread activity in Zimbabwe. Tichaona Sengu is a living example of the haz-

No far from him, dozens of other adocelents
are also immersed in the search for the precious
mineral. They come from such nearby villages
like Zveushe, Kambarami and Munyoro — in
Marange — also known for its vast diamond
fields.

The children of Zimunya and parts of Mutasa
District also mine along the Odzi, one of the big-
gest rivers in Manicaland and a tributary of the
Save River. Its gold-laden banks have for many
years seen a gold rush and the locals — young
and old — mine freely with no sense of danger
at all.

However, the child labour in the area is not en-
tirely forced as most of the young minors choose
to work themselves. Having learnt the trade from
their peers and parents.

But with alarming levels of poverty, the parents
encourage the illegal mining of their children, as
means of supporting the mostly extended fam-
ilies.

Many of the children have abandoned school
for gold panning.

“Our parents are subsistence peasant farmers
whose maize produce is being bought by the
Grain Marketing Board at fairly low prizes and
as a result, they have been failing to take care of
the 10 of us,” said 11-year-old Tonderai Mwenje,
Kudzai’s older brother.

“That’s why I am here. I have to work for the
family.”

Driven by poverty, many of them have resort-
ed to hazardous, labor intensive and dangerous
ventures such as artisanal mining to fend for
themselves and their families.

Some of the children are handling hazardous
chemicals such as mercury, which is considered
by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as
one of the top 10 chemicals or groups of chemi-
cals of major public health concern.

WHO says exposure to mercury — even small
amounts — may cause serious health problems.
It is a threat to the development of children in
utero and in early life.

“Mercury may have toxic effects on the ner-
vous, digestive and immune systems, and on
lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes,” the WHO report
says.

The International Labor Organization says
gold mining is extremely dangerous work for
children. Yet today, tens of thousands are found
in the small-scale gold mines of Africa, Asia and
South America. ILO defines child labour as a
subset of children’s work that is injurious, neg-
ative and undesirable to children and should be
targeted for elimination. The organisation fur-
ther notes that over 218 million children between
five and 17 are employed worldwide with Africa
accounting for over 72.1 million children work-
ing as labourers.

The Odzi River children work surrounded by
hazards, deep and gapping pits, as well as trees
with exposed roots.

Close to where the Mwenjes are working is
15-year-old Rudo Murire who is carrying a basin
full of gold ore. She offloads the sand onto anoth-
er make shift mill before stopping to drink water
from the Odzi River, not minding that there are
groups of miners working upstream.

Rudo says she turned to gold panning because
her family, her eighty-year-old grandmother and
three-year-old brother, were on the verge of starv-
ing during the Covid-19 induced lockdown in
2020.

“During the third week of the first Covid-19
lockdown, we ran out of the little food we had.
We spent two days on empty stomachs and this
forced me to join a group of children from my
village who were going to pan for gold along
Odzi River. I have not stopped since then,” she
said.

An investigation by The NewsHawks with
support from the Voluntary Media Council of
Zimbabwe in rural Manicaland revealed that a

NewsHawks News Page 13

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

ards that can befall miners, but he cannot stop The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency re- policy framework is aimed at reducing extreme mining activities.
his son, who despite being 10, has three years’ ported that: “In 2019, of 50 000 under-16s sur- poverty through empowering and building re- “In a bid to raise awareness, we are now also
experience in gold mining. veyed, 71% were working in agriculture, forestry silience in poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged
and fishing and 5.4% were in the mining and households, where incidences of child labour are engaging various mining organizations includ-
“My wife left me and my 10-year-old son quarrying sectors”. common,” Ngorima said. ing those that deal with artisanal miners like the
when I became crippled in 2019 after the min- Zimbabwe Federation of Small Miners Associa-
ing shaft that I was working in collapsed and Director for Labor in Zimbabwe’s Ministry “What has been happening is that we have tion so that whenever they are doing any of their
incapacitated me. My son, who was seven, then of Labor and Social Welfare, Langton Ngorima, various inspectoral disciplines from the labor sensitisation programs, they also teacher their
assumed the bread winner’s role and has through acknowledged the presence of child labor in the department, those who do occupational health members on issues of child labor so that mines
artisanal mining been providing for me,” said country’s mining sector and said government and safety under the National Social Security are kept free from children,” he said.
Sengu. had taken a multi-sectoral approach to curb it. Authority (NSSA)and the Ministry of Mines
who have mine inspectors all of which collab- A visit to Marange, Zimunya and Mutasa
Sengu says he is pained that his offspring is “The country has a robust social protection orate together to make sure that children below however reveals that there is a long way to go, in
not going to school. He is also concerned that policy framework that was developed through the age of 16 are kept away from legal or illegal the fight against child labour.
the predicament that befell him would one day a multi-stakeholder consultative process. The * Not real names.
visit his son, who works without any protective
gear or professional tools.

“My heart bleeds for my son,” he said. “This is
definitely not the life I had imagined for him. All
I ever wanted was for him to get a decent educa-
tion and move to the city to have a better life and
now we are here. Who knows, maybe one day he
will end up crippled like me due to the dangers
associated with the artisanal mining trade.”

Chief Zimunya said he was worried by the rate
of school drop-outs in his area of jurisdiction.

“As a leader who presides an area where due to
poverty, children are not having an opportunity
to go to school and learn like others, I’m torn
apart. The situation is so bad that many do not
see attaining an education as a way of life,” says
Chief Zimunya.

“Although many parents are having difficulties
in taking care of their children, the kids them-
selves are no longer motivated to go to school es-
pecially after seeing their counterparts earn from
artisanal mining. Getting quick cash compared
to the longer route of going to school and work-
ing afterwards, is no longer an ideal for many
children here.’’

The few children that have continued with
their education in most satellite schools have also
been performing dismally over the years, partly
because of distractions caused by artisanal min-
ing.

Some children go for gold panning through-
out school holidays. During the school term
many skip classes because of panning.

In 2022, Manicaland province had 33 schools
that recorded a zero percent pass rate during the
2021 Ordinary Level ZIMSEC examinations, a
development that the Manicaland Deputy Pro-
vincial Education Director (Secondary Schools),
Charles Muganhu said has been an ongoing
trend for years.

“We had 6 735 candidates with five subjects
and above which represents about 27.28% of the
total number of candidates (24 490) who sat for
the ZIMSEC November 2021 examinations,” he
said.

“The majority of our learners, 17 757, did not
make it, and this has been the trend over the past
few years.”

Apart from the dangers of mining without
protective clothing and exposure to harmful sub-
stances, there are other dangers lurking especially
for the girl child — sex predators.

“When gold buyers come to buy gold from us,
they usually offer us less than what the boys get
only to tell us that for the price to be increased
we need to sleep with them. I know a number of
girls who become mothers because of that,’’ said
13-year-old Rutendo Mhosva.

The child miners sell as little as a point of gold
at a time for between US$2 and US$2.50.

On average they make between US$3-$4.
“This makes a difference on our day-to-day
survival,” says 16-year-old Tendai Jo’osi.
Some young girls however find it difficult to
resist the extra-cash offered by some buyers in re-
turn for what they believe is a relationship.
Former Mutasa South legislator Regai Tsunga
said gold panning activities had not only become
a thorn in the flesh because of the involvement of
children, but was also fueling sexual exploitation
of girls.
“In my area, child labour mostly in form of
illegal gold panning along the Nyamukwarara
river, is highly prevalent. The numbers are in-
creasing each passing day,” Tsunga said.
“Girls are however at a high risk of becoming
child mothers because of the different treatment
they are given mostly by gold buyers who usually
ask for more than their gold through sexual fa-
vours. These are young people who have relative-
ly have no comprehension of what it means and
the consequences there off.”
According to the Zimbabwe Environmental
Law Association (ZELA), thousands of children
involved in artisanal and gold mining are en-
gaged in the practice because of poverty.

Page 14 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

BRENNA MATENDERE Empty promises rile teachers

THE government's unfulfilled promises to civil Zimbabwe Progressive Teachers' Union president Takavafira Zhou
servants this year have riled teachers, who expect-
ed to get short-term cash loans and have school “The GEMS fund is a fraud designed to steal job opportunities for Africans. the issue on case-by-case basis. Now government
fees for their children paid by the state, as pledged money from the already underpaid teachers. We “The school fees promise was another dummy is raising a lame excuse that they are having chal-
by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube in February. urge government to scrap the facility and compen- lenges compiling names of beneficiaries. The Feb-
sate all civil servants who have lost their money to sold to teachers. From day 1 we insisted that gov- ruary promise is not yet met now in December.
In April, Public Service Commission secretary this scam,” he said. ernment should just deposit a school fees allow-
Jonathan Wutawunashe announced that the gov- ance to all the teachers on the payroll,” Masaraure “In 2023 government should just allocate a ter-
ernment had released ZW$2.68 billion towards Masaraure and Zhou said going into 2023, said. mly school fees allowance to all teachers and de-
payment of school fees for teachers’ children, after there is a need for the government to improve posit it into their accounts. The allowance should
Ncube’s pledge. conditions of service for teachers to avoid a major “The teachers will then go on to pay school fees be pegged in USD since school fees is now pegged
drain since countries like Britain are opening up at schools of choice. in the same,” said Masaraure.
The money was supposed to cover fees for the
first term, while funds for the second and third Government insisted that they would deal with
terms were to be released, according to Wut-
awunashe.

"In line with its commitment to improving
conditions of service for its employees, the Gov-
ernment has approved a budget release of $2.68
billion towards the payment of tuition fees for
teachers' children.

"Details of 103 556 children of some 52 171
teachers from all the 10 provinces have so far been
identified by schools as eligible for this benefit,"
said Wutawunashe at that time.

Ncube had earlier said, as a way of improving
the welfare of teachers and as a part of a host of
other unexplained incentives extended to civil
servants, the government made an undertaking
to pay school fees for up to three biological chil-
dren per single family of a teacher- paying up to
ZW$20 000 per child per term.

However, teacher unions told The NewsHawks
this week that the facility was pie in the sky.

Since January this year, teachers also expected
to get loans from a scheme called Government
Employees Mutual Savings Fund (GEMS). Teach-
ers began making contributions in February 2021.

Under the arrangement, through the National
Building Society Bank (NBS) civil servants were
supposed to get loans of up to five times their net
salaries and pay back at 10% interest rate after
having had their earnings deducted at 0.25% of
their salaries.

Scores of teachers submitted the requirements
for the scheme which included copies of identifi-
cation cards, valid passports or drivers’ licence; a
payslip not older than three months and complet-
ed GEMS loan application forms and TY30 de-
duction forms coupled with ZW$200 application
fees, which was valuable at the time.

Some teachers who did not want the scheme
ended up being drafted into the programme
without applying and had their salaries deducted
against their will.

In an interview with The NewsHawks, Zimba-
bwe Progressive Teachers' Union president Taka-
vafira Zhou said the empty promises have deflated
the spirits of educators.

“The year 2022 must go down in the history
of education in Zimbabwe as a period of a wasted
year. The unilateral 2021 Government Employ-
ees Savings Fund failed to bring any dividends to
teachers despite continued docking of their sala-
ries,” Zhou said.

“The much-hoped-for assistance in paying fees
for teachers' children failed to reach any fruition
and there has been continuous change of goal
posts over its implementation in a manner that
reflects deliberate fire-fighting and specialisation
in empty promises.

“It is clear that teachers have become the poor-
est of the poor in Zimbabwe as their salaries have
continued to fall with monotonous regularity
from US$540 in October 2018 to the current less
than US$240 inclusive of allowances,” he said.

Obert Masaraure, the Amalgamated Rural
Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) presi-
dent, also decried the government’s empty prom-
ises. “The government of Zimbabwe is becoming
notorious for making empty promises and uni-
laterally fixing conditions of service for civil ser-
vants,” Masaraure said.

“The introduction of the Government Em-
ployees Mutual Savings (GEMS) facility was done
without going through collective bargaining as en-
visaged in section 203 (1) (b) of the constitution.
Government just came up with this initiative and
forced it down the throats of teachers.

“When we protested, we were assured that
those who sign out of the scheme would not be
part of the scheme. Unfortunately, teachers who
have opted out were forced back.

“Teachers then attempted to access the prom-
ised loans to no avail. Some were told that they
don't earn enough to be eligible for the loans. So
teachers are eligible to contribute to the fund but
are not eligible to access the loans from the fund?

NewsHawks News Page 15

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

In pursuit of happiness, professional
growth: Reliving a United States trip

BERNARD MPOFU
RECENTLY IN THE US

IT is Sunday morning and a group of multi-re- A 77-year-old activist Connie Picciotto leads a 24-hour vigil against nuclear proliferation from a makeshift camp in Lafayette Square until her demise in 2013.
gional journalists are paying attention to Bart
Smith, an experienced tour guide sharing the rich Being part of the International Visitor Leader- Misinformation and disinformation are sub- laid bare the deep-seated racial issues in the US.
history of the United States capital. ship Programme (IVLP) on journalism gave me jects which were also discussed at length at a time The use of data journalism is a new emerg-
different perspectives of journalism work across the credibility of bona fide news organisations is
The tour begins in Lafayette Square, Washing- the globe. During the programme, which was under threat. Apart from getting back to the ba- ing trend among most newsrooms. For Injustice
ton DC, where Smith extolls the virtues of Amer- named after a veteran American journalist, we sics, we learnt about how reputable organisations Watch and other like-minded organisations such
ica’s heroes whose statues stand tall in the square. traversed from the east coast to the west coast, such as the Florida-based Poynter Institute has as ProRepublica, data journalism has been key
He proudly narrates the history behind the men interacting with journalists, fact-checking organ- made fact checking in the era of fake news and in their investigative reporting. But unlike Zim-
who ushered in the country’s independence, de- isations, not-for-profit investigative journalism infordemics a priority. babwe where information is open sourced, US
tailing how multiple nationalities have shaped platforms, the academia and lawyers. All this was journalists can access public documents at ease.
America's democracy. done in three weeks and the memories are forever My visit to the Poynter Institute and the How- In Zimbabwe, leaked documents have been vital
cherished. ard Centre for Investigative Journalism, Phillip in most investigative reports due to the cloud of
As the tour continues, journalists get elated Merrill College of Journalism of the University of secrecy around most public institutions.
when they see smaller groups of tourists taking The IVLP Edward Murrow programme on Maryland which is offering a master’s degree in
pictures of an iconic building located at 1600 investigative journalism and research not only data journalism and investigative journalism was An eight-hour flight from St Petersburg Flori-
Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington DC. established new professional networks but also quite an experience. da to San Diego Washington led to an important
broadened my knowledge of the occupational meeting with retired prosecutor George Hardy,
Immediately, new friendships form among the hazards faced by the 22 journalists who under- A common thread which I picked out during who credits investigative journalists for helping
jetlagged journalists as many take turns to have went this programme. my interactions with some of the American media him through their coverage in nailing down for-
“Kodak moments” at the White House. Thanks professionals was the emphasis on the Freedom of mer congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham.
to smartphones, Kodak moments have been re- On the flip side, I got an appreciation of how Information Act and the First Amendment of the
placed by devices which have better picture reso- established newspapers like the multiple Pulitzer Constitution which has made journalism easier to In 2006, the San Diego Union Tribune and
lutions and can instantly share images, audio and award-winning Washington Post runs its inves- practice compared to most countries of the global Copley News Service (with notable work by Mar-
other visuals at one click. tigative journalism unit. Craig Whitlock, an in- south. While Zimbabwe guarantees freedom of cus Stern and Jerry Kammer) were awarded a Pu-
vestigative reporter on the Post, shared how the expression and media as well as protection, prac- litzer Prize for their articles on the bribe-taking
For me, it was easy to relate to colleagues from newspaper broke a story of how retired senior US tising the craft has never been a walk in the park. Cunningham who was convicted and sentenced
Sadc on day 2: Kondwane Magombo of Malawi military officials are flocking overseas to work as Journalists have been assaulted, arrested, harassed to prison. Cunningham was issued a partial hasty
and Bongani Fuzile, the deputy editor of South contractors or consultants. in their line of duty and media watchdogs have pardon last year by former US President Donald
Africa's Daily Dispatch. Days later, this was to warned that the situation may deteriorate in the Trump before he left office.
change as many embraced cultural diversity and The piece, which was published this year, ex- coming year. Cautiously, I do not hold a Utopian
shared professional work experiences. posed how hundreds of US military veterans, view of the US, but I will give credit where it is One thing which is clear is that journalism in
including retired generals and admirals, have re- due. its various shapes and forms is a public good and
As the scribes rush to get closer to the residence ceived permission from the US to work for for- I hope that one day my countrymen will see it
of the one of the world's most powerful leaders, eign governments, including countries with ques- The emergence of Chicago-based non-parti- as such. The programme wound down in Chica-
something else draws their attention. tionable human rights records. The story was a san, non-profit journalism organisation Injustice go where we had interactions with not-for-profit
slap in the face for US authorities who have often Watch cast light on some of the challenges of news organisations and television reporters. On
An elderly man — camped a few yards from been criticised by some authoritarian regimes for America’s modern-day democracy. The organisa- cultural activities, walking down the Magnificent
the erected perimeter of tall metal fencing of the preaching what they do not practice. In politics, tion conducts in-depth research exposing institu- Mile, home to international clothing brands and
White House — waxes lyrical as he laments how this would be in the realm of realism. For most tional failures that obstruct justice and inequality top restaurants, was awesome.
nuclear power has made the world an unsafe of peers at home, this is rushing in where angels in a city. George Floyd's death, which triggered
place for humanity. For 32 years, Connie Pic- fear to tread. the #BlacksLiveMatter hashtag across the globe, But the major highlight was watching a bas-
ciotto, a tiny 77-year-old activist, led a 24-hour ketball match between the Chicago Bulls and the
vigil against nuclear proliferation from a make- New York Knicks. The home side lost. Being part
shift camp in Lafayette Square until her demise of the tens of thousands who were seated in the
in 2013. giant United Centre was just breath-taking. Yes, I
saw where the legendary Michael Jordan played. I
Her successor is now carrying the torch, hop- also tasted different cuisine from San Diego’s Lit-
ing that one day when the Bidens open their cur- tle Italy, among others.
tains, the message will be sent home.
My newfound Spanish-speaking colleagues
He is part of the movement whose relentless would end by saying Feliz navidad (Merry Christ-
quest for the non-proliferation of nuclear power mas) folks. The festive season mood and ambience
began in 1981. Wait a second: yes, right in front there are palpable and Christmas is big business.
of the White House façade, a man speaks truth Switching on my phone upon touching down at
to power. Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport,
I was welcomed by messages of rolling power
A Secret Service police car is parked in the outages, water shortages and the toxic politics. I
square and its occupants seem unfazed about came, I saw, I conquered.
what is going on around them, even though they
are obviously working. Almost unimaginable Back to the 41 year old vigil . . .
back home!

This immediately got me thinking about two
things: the involvement of non- state actors in in-
ternational affairs, particularly on issues relating
to high politics and secondly domestic tourism.
"Regime change agents" or "unpatriotic sellouts"
would be the tags one gets from the authorities
defending their hegemony in the face of criticism
on issues of national interest.

Back home, many dread driving or taking a
stroll along one of the shortest roads in the coun-
try: Chancellor Road, where the official residence
of Zimbabwe's leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is
located.

Some have lived to narrate sorry tales of how
security agencts have taken them to task after
their vehicles broke down while others are now
living in perpetual fear after witnessing soldiers
frogmarching citizens as they jealously guarded
Mnangagwa’s compound like a swarm of bees.

After a turbulent end to 2021 following a series
of stories I wrote, my family and I were terrified
following several overt and covert threats and I
began the new year on a soul searching journey.
I reflected on my life, work and everything in
between after writing articles on the country’s
military establishment which in my view were of
national interest and ticked all the boxes of jour-
nalistic standards.

Close friends and family reminded me of the
important lesson we learnt during journalism
101: no story is worth dying for.

Page 16 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

BERNARD MPOFU Govt restored factory settings
to save dollar from collapse
WHEN Finance minister Mthuli Ncube told
delegates attending the 2019 post-budget break- Interest rates hiked, while command
fast meeting that the authorities were considering economy reigned supreme in 2022
de-dollarising the United States dollar which had
been widely credited for stabilising the economy, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube
the world listened and watched.
most financial transactions in the economy, has ed. The experiment to de-dollarise had failed and requires not more ZW$750. While authorities
History had proven that this experiment had a been driving up inflation. Zimbabwe plans to go back to the drawing board would want a pat on the back, sceptics are al-
low success rate and ordinarily all eyes were fixed in 2025 when this law will be reviewed. ready seeing danger. Hiking the cost of borrow-
on the Cambridge-trained economist to see if he What followed has been increased use of the ing, they say, will choke small businesses and re-
could wave the magic wand and shout voilà, the US dollar, which flies in the face of Ncube’s ini- As for now, the local currency, which has over sult in an even more serious economic situation:
domestic currency is back with a bang and much tial remarks. To re-assure the market that govern- the past three months narrowed its premium The law of unintended consequences.
stronger. ment would not introduce any knee-jerk reac- with the US dollar, is in short supply and appears
tions, a statutory instrument giving legal effect strong, for now. Information gathered by The As the year ends, Mangudya remains optimis-
“We are in a transition but the trick to de-link to the extended use of the multiple currencies NewsHawks shows that on the streets of Harare tic that the Zimdollar will hold its ground. But
the United States dollar is exchange rate stability. mainly dominated by the dollar was promulgat- it is trading at US$1: ZW$800 and officially one for how long? Time will tell!
If we can keep the exchange stable for six months
to a year, it can help us de-link,” then said Mthu-
li. A lot has happened and that plan is now on
the backburner for now.

For a country which has for years gloated over
the concept of sovereignty to side step interna-
tional criticism on issues such as human rights
and governance, transacting in Zimbabwe dollars
would have given the central bank more control
over the monetary policy and possibly generate
more seigniorage, if the currency remained sta-
ble.

But Zimbabwe — which is in debt with inter-
national financial institutions such as the World
Bank, African Development Bank, Paris and
non-Paris Club members — effectively mend-
ing the economy over a long period of time has
proved to be a tall order.

The IMF, which periodically reviews Zimba-
bwe’s economy policy, continues to flag the ab-
sence of some economic and political governance
reforms as major setbacks to having a stronger
currency.

The Zimbabwe dollar, which the authorities
unashamedly said was the strongest currency in
southen Africa, began the year on the back foot.
After partially liberalising the use of free funds
following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandem-
ic, the dollar went on a slippery slope. It wors-
ened in 2022, with most retailers charging astro-
nomical premiums on the greenback to hedge
against inflation.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John
Mangudya, who is currently serving his last four-
year term, was desperate to stop what his pre-
decessor Gideon Gono went through. Low gold
outputs, depressed manufacturing and agricul-
ture and high levels of inflation forced the apex
to print trillion-dollar notes.

Mangudya, who became the public face of the
ambitious plan to restore the local unit via a fiat
currency he called bond notes in 2016, did not
want history to repeat itself.

His tone changed from that of moral suasion
to that of a command-type economy. He worked
hand-in-glove with the Financial Intelligence
Unit (FIU) in coming after those accused of
driving illegal foreign currency trades. Another
dramatic collapse of the Zimdollar would not
have given President Mnangagwa political capital
ahead of the 2023 general elections.

One Sunday afternoon in May, Mnangagwa,
who was battling growing national resentment
over a floundering economy, was flanked by
Ncube and

Mangudya during a news conference at State
House where he announced unprecedented mea-
sures in a bid to arrest the currency decline.

At the time, the Zimbabwe dollar was official-
ly quoted at 165.94 against the US dollar. It con-
tinued to slide on the parallel market, where it is
trading between 330 and 400 to the greenback.

The country’s highest denomination had be-
come so worthless that it could buy a loaf of
bread.

"Lending by banks to both the government
and the private sector is hereby suspended with
immediate effect, until further notice," Mnan-
gagwa said in a statement.

In typical fashion, Mnangagwa, who has the
FIU at his disposal, accused unnamed specula-
tors of borrowing Zimbabwe dollars at below-in-
flation interest rates and using the money to
trade in forex.

Other measures include an increased tax on
forex bank transfers, higher levies on forex cash
withdrawals above $1 000, and the payment of
taxes which used to be charged in forex in local
currency.

The devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar's
black market exchange rate, which is used in

NewsHawks News Page 17

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

OWEN GAGARE 2022: The year Mnangagwa
reined in his rival Chiwenga
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa this year
emerged triumphant at the Zanu PF elective President Emmerson Mnangagwa
congress after a fierce five-year power struggle
— characterised by scheming, backstabbing, a ers and shakers on the power struggle chessboard He was being fed through intravenous means tling a life-threatening illness. Among those
grenade attack, poisoning and purges — over the were purged, while others lost their lives; dying and had to undergo an intensive feeding pro- removed were retired Lieutenant-General An-
unresolved party leadership rivalry between him in unclear circumstances under the Covid-19 gramme before the operation, as he was too weak selem Sanyatwe, who commanded troops on the
and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga follow- pandemic cloud; for instance, former military to be operated on. Prior to being airlifted to Chi- ground during the coup as Presidential Guard
ing the 2017 military coup which ousted former commanders and ministers Perrance Shiri and na, Chiwenga had been hospitalised in South Af- commander.
president Robert Mugabe. Sibusiso Moyo, who were critical Chiwenga allies. rica and India, giving Mnangagwa an opportuni-
ty to consolidate power by, among other tactics, Sanyatwe is Chiwenga’s personal friend and
Chiwenga, who commanded the Zimbabwe Mnangagwa, who was weaker compared to removing his key allies from powerful positions. confidante. Sanyatwe was retired alongside sev-
Defence Forces during the coup, was calling the Chiwenga when he took over power in 2017, has eral commanders ahead of diplomatic assign-
shots after the putsch but Mnangagwa scored now ridden out the political storm buffeting his The Covid-19 pandemic then dealt him a ments in February 2019. These include the late
incremental gains over the last five years, before embattled presidency. heavy blow, after taking the lives of his two most Zimbabwe National Army chief-of-staff retired
crushing his now weak and vulnerable rival at powerful allies in government — Agriculture Lieutenant-General Douglas Nyikayaramba, who
congress in October. Among other things, he has the combined ef- minister Shiri in July 2020 and Foreign Affairs was chief-of-staff responsible for service personnel
fects of Chiwenga’s ill-health and the Covid-19 minister Moyo in January 2021 — who, like him, and logistics, retired Lieutenant-General Martin
Mnangagwa brought Chiwenga to his knees pandemic to thank for out-muscling his deputy. had traded their military fatigues for suits after Chedondo and retired Air Marshal Sheba Shum-
— literally and metaphorically — at the crucial Mnangagwa made crucial consolidation moves the coup. bayawonda.
Zanu PF congress. between 2019 and 2020, while Chiwenga was
battling for his life amid poisoning fears. Shiri and Moyo’s death left Chiwenga vul- In June 2019, Mnangagwa then made anoth-
His surrender was symbolised by his kneeling nerable and exposed in government at a time er significant move by removing retired Lieu-
before Mnangagwa. He was airlifted from South Africa to China in his strongest military backers had been removed tenant-General Engelbert Rugeje from the Zanu
July 2019 before undergoing life-saving yet risky from the army, and deployed on diplomatic mis- PF commissariat and replacing him with ally
Those who spoke to The NewsHawks found the surgery at a military hospital in Beijing to fix his sions outside the country. Victor Matemadanda, as he seized control of the
kneeling symbolic of defeat. oesophagus. Although Chiwenga has not fully party, while Chiwenga was incapacitated.
recovered, he is in a better position than he was Chiwenga’s key military backers, who played
“That summarised the key outcome of the when he was flown to China as he could neither a pivotal role in the coup, were kicked out The cumulative gains were there for all to see
congress; Mnangagwa emerged triumphant and eat unassisted nor talk. of the army and Zanu PF, while he was bat- at party congress.
Chiwenga defeated, given their power relations in
2017 and the power shift now,” one delegate said.

“This is not to say Chiwenga is down and out.
This means he is down, but not out. The fact of
the matter is simply that he was routed at con-
gress.”

Chiwenga accepted the trouncing and an-
nounced his rival as the party’s candidate in next
year’s elections.

“The party membership through its structures
and leagues has already clearly and thunderously
endorsed Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangag-
wa as the president and first secretary, and as the
sole presidential candidate for the ruling party,
Zanu PF, in the 2023 harmonised elections. Peo-
ple have thus spoken,” said Chiwenga.

“He is the one and only candidate that we
know.”

This was a far cry from his plan in 2017 during
the coup when he called the shots. Chiwenga’s
strategy was to install Mnangagwa as President
for five years, and then take over in 2023.

This was part of the military plan to then keep
power within their structures and among them-
selves. In 2017, Chiwenga practically installed
himself vice-president when he exchanged mili-
tary fatigues for a civilian suit, blocking Mnan-
gagwa’s bid to appoint Defence minister Oppah
Muchinguri-Kashiri co-deputy leader with Kem-
bo Mohadi.

He also took over the defence and war veterans
portfolios that Mnangagwa had initially given to
Mohadi. Muchinguri-Kashiri was later appeased
through an appointment as party chair, a position
which she retained at congress.

In yet another indication of his power in 2017,
Chiwenga stopped Mnangagwa from appointing
Victor Matematanda, now ambassador to Mo-
zambique, as political commissar.

He put his ally, retired Lieutenant-General En-
gelbert Rugeje who was later removed after the
2018 elections. Rugeje is a key Chiwenga ally
who challenged Mnangagwa’s purges and new
modus operandi at a charged politburo meeting
in July 2019.

Mnangagwa arrived at congress, having put his
ducks in a row through the district coordinating
committee, provincial and central committee
elections, as well as cells. The provincial elections
were brazenly rigged in favour of Mnangagwa.

Zanu PF insiders say the central committee
members were meticulously vetted and packed
with his supporters.

They say Mnangagwa went through the cen-
tral committee list of elected members — one by
one — to ensure it is dominated by his loyalists.
Chiwenga struggled to even get nominated in his
Mashonaland East province.

Zanu PF insiders say Chiwenga lost political
ground when he fell ill and almost died between
2018 and 2019. From there, they say, he never
quite recovered even though his faction has re-
mained intact, with potential to regroup and fight
back.

The fight has been deadly — Mnangagwa has
lived to tell the tale after a grenade attack on 23
June 2018 at White City Stadium in Bulawayo,
while Chiwenga survived poisoning, according to
insiders.

The poisoning has left Chiwenga vulnerable to
health complications, with some saying it has be-
come his greatest undoing. Some influential mov-

Page 18 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Mnangagwa fuelling Zanu PF tension

Various campaign formations, such as Teachers4ED, pledging to support President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-election bid next year have emerged.

BRENNA MATENDERE tors4ED, Mahwindi4ED, Youths4ED and the path of parallel structures, there will be a re- only on rhetoric and cosmetics.”
recently launched Vision 2030 Movement. peat of the 2008 "Bhora Musango" scenario in “The lack of an actual operational environ-
POLITICAL analysts have warned that Pres- Zanu PF.
ident Emmerson Mnangagwa’s increasing use While these groups have pledged to spe- ment and honest infrastructure for business
of parallel campaign groups for himself which cifically campaign for Mnangagwa, they are “This (Mnangagwa’s parallel structures) is meant few major Western investors came,” he
are outside Zanu PF structures is stoking ten- doing so outside the Zanu PF commissariat something that can easily breed 'bhora mu- said, adding:
sion in the ruling party. organ led by Mike Bimha which is responsible sango' impulses, with all the perverse and
for mobilising support for the former libera- disastrous consequences, especially for ED “Meanwhile, the oligarchic class prospered
This could result in protest votes commonly tion party. himself.” but many of them depended on party connec-
known as "bhora musango" at next year’s wa- tions or the environment of corruption. The
tershed general elections. In separate interviews, political analysts “In the end, there will be re-enactment of minister of Finance laboured on macroeco-
said while the development exposes Mnan- the March 2008 scenario. Whatever the ratio- nomic incremental improvements, often with
Bhora musango, a Shona language phrase gagwa’s mistrust of the party organs ahead of nale, it is evident that ED does not want to a difference of outlook to that of the central
which literally means "to deliberately kick the next year’s elections, it is stoking intra-party put all his eggs in one party basket,” said Prof bank governor.”
ball off the pitch, instead of scoring it", was a tension. Masunungure.
clandestine campaign by disgruntled Zanu-PF “It is not certain how much of the technical
leaders in the run-up to the 2008 harmonised University of Zimbabwe political scientist Another political analyst, Professor Stephen detail Mnangagwa understood, but it certainly
elections against voting for the party's presi- Professor Eldred Masunungure told The New- Chan, said while the parallel structures are fo- seems he was blind to the increasing hardship
dential candidate, the late Robert Mugabe. sHawks that what is more baffling to Zanu PF menting discord in Zanu PF, there is no ev- faced by Zimbabweans who are not members
cadres is the fact that the people in the paral- idence that they command huge support for of the oligarchic class and party elite.”
As part of the campaign, party members lel structures seem to be getting more benefits Mnangagwa.
would pretend to be in support of the party's and easier access to Mnangagwa than party “2022 concludes with Zimbabwe in the
presidential candidate during the official cam- officials. “The President's effort to forge special- bottom percentile of a huge number of inter-
paign trail, but would not vote for him at the ist support groups has created a lot of noise, national league tables, from economic stabili-
ballot box. “This is a very high-risk strategy which aris- but there is absolutely no evidence that, e.g. ty to political transparency.”
es from deep distrust by ED and his allies re- Teachers4ED commands anything like a ma-
During that year, Zanu PF had launched a garding the conventional party organs e.g the jority of teachers — a huge number of whom, Rashweat Mukundu, a political analyst,
campaign themed Bhora Mugedhi ("kick the three leagues (youth league, women’s league like medical workers, are voting with their said Zanu PF was being turned into a fiefdom
ball into the nets") and so Bhora Musango was and war veterans).” feet against a government and President that by Mnangagwa’s parallel structures.
used as a counter to that and it saw Mugabe has not raised their living standards or prior-
losing the first round of the March 2008 pres- “It is dangerous to play parallel extra-party itised their mission of education and health,” “ED has no confidence in the party which
idential poll to the opposition MDC's found- formations against those bona fide structures he said. is bedeviled with all sorts of differences, hence
ing leader Morgan Tsvangirai. of the party.” formation of parallel structures that are spread
Prof Chan added that the year was generally across all sectors we hear of, including comic
In 2022, various groups ranging from civ- “This feeds into tensions, suspicions that difficult for Mnangagwa, politically. ones like single mothers and driving schools
il servants, informal traders, religious sectors, may even explode into conflict, especially if for ED.”
media, among others, have been launching the parallel structures are feted with patronage “2022 saw the continuing collapse of the
campaign formations for ED and pledging to goodies like branded vehicles, allowances and original Mnangagwa initiative of Zimbabwe's “What this shows is that ED is entirely fo-
support his re-election bid next year. even easier access to ED and members of the being open for business. The initiative seems cused on his own power and not that of the
First Family,” he said. more and more in retrospect like a public re- party and he wants to remake Zanu PF to suit
The groups include Teachers4ED; Jour- lations stunt, hoping to convince the interna- his own ambitions. Zanu PF is no longer a
nalists4ED, Pastors4ED, Nurses4ED, Doc- Prof Masunungure also pointed out that if tional community of a serious overture based democratic party but a fiefdom, all to worship
Mnangagwa continues on the same political and serve ED,” he said.

NewsHawks News Page 19

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

RUVIMBO MUCHENJE Defiant Sikhala shares X-mas
message, forgives prosecutors
ARESTED on 14 June 2022, Zengeza West
MP Job Sikhala clocks 200 days behind bars
for allegedly inciting violence in Nyatsime. He
addressed mourners who had gathered for a
prayer meeting held in honour of Morebless-
ing Ali, an opposition CCC member who was
gruesomely killed by Zanu PF member Pias
Jamba. Having spent such a long time away
from family and friends, Sikhala has penned a
letter of resilience and defiance from the high
walls of Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
Below is the letter that he has written to family
and friends. He asked The NewsHawks to share
the letter.

BELOVED ZIMBABWEANS AND
WORLD FRIENDS AT LARGE.

By Honourable Job Wiwa Sikhala From Chi-
kurubi Maximum Security Prison.

Dear Zimbabweans, worldwide friends at large, when I was not withdrawn from you. Do not from you and our children, please praise the Lord Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala
ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, Comrades and bother yourself about what you will eat tomor- for He is in charge. dicament your father is going through to help
friends. This message is brought to you from the row, God will provide for you. He shall raise and you proceed with your education, like what they
depth of the oasis of my heart. I dearly love you inspire several people who are sharing the pain To my lovely children, don’t be distracted from did this semester.
all and wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a with me, who will assist you during the time of your books. You are the pride of my heart, for God
Happy New Year. need. has given you extraordinary brilliance at school. Like I always tell you, I want you to be aero-
Like I always advise you, the intelligence you all space scientists, doctors, lawyers and engineers.
It has been over six months now since I was If the situation becomes tough, dearest mother have is not yours, but God’s. God will not allow Some of you, have already your father’s wishes.
thrown in the dungeon and bungalow of Chiku- of our children, don’t be troubled to miss a meal you to be withdrawn from schools and universi-
rubi Maximum Security Prison where I am made or two per day. Adapt to survive on one meal a ties because you have been made fatherless during Remain focused and leave my predicament in
to live like a rat, but your unflinching and un- day. God will keep your body and your soul to- my lifetime. God shall raise men and women of the hands of God. He shall solve it in his own
wavering support and love have been keeping me gether. No matter how long I will be withdrawn good standing, who are sharing the pain and pre- way.
going.
Be blessed, dearest Zimbabweans and my
I am prepared to walk all the distance long un- worldwide friends.
til God’s time has come to pass. This persecution
script has God’s footprints written all over it.

I repeat for the umpteenth time, I have not
committed any crime. Since birth, I have never
killed or hurt a fly and until death I shall never
kill or hurt one. I am being persecuted because I
was defending a weak and powerless Morebless-
ing Ali.

To Moreblessing Ali, I am being crucified and
made to live like a rat, because of you. I am being
crucified because of the generality of the suffering
Zimbabweans.

Moreblessing Ali, I am not even bitter about
what is happening to me. I love all who are tak-
ing turns and rotations to insult, humiliate and
malign me.

I have got no bitterness in my heart whatso-
ever. I rather feel my heart filled with love and I
smile at them. Great nations have not been built
on bitterness but love. The world was amazed
when they saw Nelson Mandela smiling, the first
day he appeared on the public from Robben Is-
land after 27 years of treacherous persecution by
the oppressors.

So, to all those who have been plotting evil
against me, I love you all. To those who have been
taking turns to insult, humiliate and malign me, I
love you all. Those who have been sent to execute
treachery against me, I love you all. I know ev-
ery detail of all plans and plots against me. To the
planners and plotters, I love you all. You are just
playing a role to fulfill what was revealed to me
long before this happened, by someone blessed by
God with time revelations.

Love and not bitterness has built great nations.
Those who chose love over bitterness have left
legacies that will endure for centuries. Nelson
Mandela, like the biblical David and Jesus Christ,
has left a legacy that will endure centuries to
come, because of love over bitterness. As persons,
we must ponder whether legacy will remember
us. Legacy can only remember us, if we build a
nation of love, happiness, peace and equality.
No one deserves to be killed because of his
political beliefs. Politics should be competition
of brightest ideals and values. I pray that history
will remember me as a man who suffered for de-
fending the fatherless, the weak and the powerless
in our society. Let no one be mistaken. This just
happens naturally to me. I do not want any re-
ward for it or any suggestion for power.
Let those who need power have it and use it re-
sponsibly. Please I am not interested in any pow-
er. Get this clearly. I did not even want to contest
in 2018, but I was dragged against my wish by
the people. You might persecute me on the wrong
assumption that I want power, please be advised
that I want none. I am just a social activist and
not a power monger.
To my dearest wife, you have been made a wid-
ow during the lifetime of your husband. I am no
longer able to toil for our children the way I used
to do. You never missed a meal of your choice

Page 20 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Zesa improves power supplies

BRENNA MATENDERE “We have successfully managed to secure Hwange Power Station ings in Zambia and Mozambique. We are now
the injection of additional imports from oth- sumers importing the electricity. pushing that we move faster on this initiative
ZESA says it has improved power supplies after er SAPP members to support supply until the as it is in line with global developments where
carrying out major repairs at Hwange Thermal Kariba reservoir recovers in the first quarter of “The Utility intensely facilitated the estab- the private sector is involved more and more in
Power Station following rolling 18-hour coun- next year. We would like to express our pro- lishment of an Intensive Energy User Group developing and securing power supplies,” Zesa
trywide load-shedding sparked by record low found gratitude for the support and commit- (IEUG) with the objective to guarantee sup- said.
water levels at Kariba Dam. ment we got from the government to mobilize plies to maximum demand customers and ease
the much-needed foreign currency.” pressure on the grid. The power utility also revealed that work on
Last month the Zambezi River Authority Hwange 7 and 8 units, which will bring an ad-
(ZRA) ordered ZESA to shut down the Kariba In another move meant to increase power “These customers will import power directly, ditional 600MW is progressing well.
Power Station until January, after the Zimba- supplies, ZESA announced it has put together as well as support the development of IPPs in
bwe Power Company (ZPC) used its allocated an arrangement which will big electricity con- the country by signing PPAs directly with them Unit 7 is undergoing testing and is likely to
supply for the year. ZPC however continued be commissioned soon according to Zesa.
generating power at reduced capacity after ne- “The first meeting was held on 29 March
gotiatings. 2022 and there have been engagement meet-

ZRA, manages the Zambezi River waters
and maintains the Kariba Dam complex on
behalf of the governments of Zimbabwe and
Zambia.

The reduced power generation at Kariba
Hydro Power Station triggered rolling power
outages which have been affecting businesses as
well as domestic customers.

The situation was compounded by incessant
breakdown of the aged Hwange Power Station
equipment which saw the station operating
with only two units during the recent past, in-
stead of at least six.

In a statement released on Friday, ZESA ad-
vised stakeholders of increased electricity sup-
ply in the country which will result in reduced
load-shedding.

“Our engineers and technicians have been
working frantically to ensure increased power
generation. Consequently, we have increased
generation at the Hwange Power Station by
getting the broken down units back up, re-
sulting in five (5) of the six (6) being currently
operational which has increased supply to the
national grid,” read a statement from the com-
pany stakeholders relations department.

“This will help ease the demand supply gap
during the festive break as we also anticipate
reduced demand from the business sector
during the period. In the past weeks, we have
been extensively engaging with various stake-
holders so as to implement critical measures to
alleviate the power deficit challenges.”

The power utility also said it engaged the
Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) to aug-
ment its supplies.

NewsHawks News Page 21

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Christmas in pictutres

— Pictures: Aaron Ufumeli

Page 22 News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Year 2022 in pictures

The country introduced the ZW100 note in April. The US rapper Rick Ross performed at the HICC in November.

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa casts his vote during the 26 March by-elections at Kuwadzana Primary School. Zengeza West MP Job Sikhala arrives at Harare Magistrates Court for bail hearing.

Part of the crowd that attended Zanu PF by-elections campaign rally in Epworth. Former CCC activist Mboneni Ncube was stabbed and died in Kwekwe .

NewsHawks International Investigative Stories Page 23

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

InInvteesrtniagtaiotinvaelStories

Shadow Diplomats have posed a
threat for decades. Governments

looked the other way

THE deal to pay off the treasurer of tems.” took to review Shumake’s background. national law that protects thousands they become consuls.
Detroit was forged in a booth at a strip A series of city officials and business- Had officials done even a cursory in- of honorary consuls worldwide, a new ICIJ and ProPublica identified more
club named Bouzouki. ternet search, they would have discov- review found.
men were convicted in the sweeping ered that Shumake’s real estate broker’s than 150 current and former consuls
“You’re basically paying all these oth- scandal, but Shumake struck a deal in license was suspended in 2002 and that All told, the Shadow Diplomats in- accused or convicted of tax evasion,
er guys. … You should be paying me,” exchange for his testimony in 2011 and he settled a bank fraud case in 2008, vestigation identified criminal or con- fraud, bribery, corruption or money
the city’s treasurer told local business avoided prosecution. agreeing to pay hundreds of thousands troversial consuls connected to at least laundering. Nearly 60 were tied to drug
owner Robert Shumake that day in of dollars. 168 governments, including Russia, or weapons offenses, at least 20 others
2007 during a conversation that Shu- Soon after, he landed another fortu- which has leveraged the system to in- to violent crimes and 10 to environ-
make would later recount to federal nate break. The southern African coun- Shumake was among at least 500 stall dozens of pro-Kremlin advocates mental abuses. Thirty honorary consuls
prosecutors. try of Botswana nominated him as an current and former honorary consuls in on foreign soil as a soft-power strategy. have been sanctioned by the United
honorary consul in the United States, a the United States and around the world States and other governments; nine
Shumake, a self-described com- diplomatic position that came with le- who have been implicated in criminal In the wake of the reporting, Para- have been linked to terrorist groups
munity organizer and philanthropist, gal protections, travel benefits and po- investigations or other controversies — guay, Finland, Brazil and other coun- by law enforcement and governments.
agreed to make payments to several of- litical connections unavailable to most including scores named to their posts tries announced investigations of Once accused, dozens of consuls have
ficials who ran the city’s pension funds. Americans. despite past convictions or other red consuls and the system that empow- invoked their status to avoid prosecu-
The money was used, among other flags, the International Consortium of ers them. In some cases, government tion, police inquiries or fines.
things, to cover gambling expenses, The State Department approved the Investigative Journalists and ProPublica officials acknowledged not knowing
airline tickets and a day cruise to the appointment, granting Shumake entry disclosed in a series of stories this year. how many consuls they had appointed “No one is checking them out,” said
Bahamas. into the privileged world of interna- or whether any had been convicted of Bob Jarvis, an international law and
tional diplomacy. Honorary consuls, Reports of exploitation, scandal and crimes. constitutional law professor at Florida’s
In return, Shumake received a lucra- though not as prominent as ambassa- criminal behavior by the little-known Nova Southeastern University who first
tive reward: Detroit steered millions of dors and other career diplomats, have volunteer diplomats have surfaced for Experts in international diploma- examined the honorary consul system
pension dollars to his investment com- for centuries worked from their home years. But the vast majority of gov- cy and national security say that more in the 1980s. “What are we doing?
pany and paid him $1.2 million in fees. countries to represent foreign nations. ernments have failed to strengthen governments must demand change, Who are these people?”
Prosecutors would later say it was “the oversight or press to reform the inter- examine nominees before they are ap-
worst possible deal for the pension sys- The department did not respond to proved and track their activities once The United States does not appoint
questions about what steps, if any, it

Page 24 International Investigative Stories NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

its own honorary consuls overseas but Former honorary consul Jill Kelley leaves her home in Tampa, Florida in 2012. Image: Tim Boyles/Getty Images is 21 or older, a U.S. citizen or perma-
has for decades allowed foreign coun- nent resident and holds no government
tries to appoint U.S. citizens as consuls and reported that consuls appointed by to the state’s Court of Appeals in 1979 During the media coverage, Kel- position with duties that could conflict
in America. An estimated 1,100 were in 15 countries warranted closer scrutiny. before he lost, court records show. ley reportedly called 911 to complain with the post.
place this year. about trespassers. “I’m an honorary
Ramli could not be reached for com- In Los Angeles in the 1990s, honor- consul general … so they should not be A State Department memo to for-
The State Department, responsible ment. At the time of his nomination, ary consul Latchezar “Lucky” Christov able to cross my property,” she said. eign embassies in 2003 noted that the
for approving consul nominations, he said he would represent Syrians re- conspired with lawyers, a firefighter, a U.S. government “trusts” foreign coun-
noted years ago that the United States gardless of their political views. police officer and a rabbi, among oth- Kelley, appointed consul by South tries to completely review the creden-
was “not in a position” to conduct ers, to help move tens of millions of Korea, lost her consul post that year. tials of nominees. Once consuls are in
background checks or analyze the qual- “I need some [information] on what dollars for a Colombian drug cartel. At the time, a New York businessman place, the memo said, they would re-
ifications or suitability of nominees on happened to let this one pass,” a Cana- said she had sought millions of dollars main accountable to the governments
U.S. soil and instead entrusted foreign dian official wrote at the time, accord- To avoid unwanted attention, Chris- to help him win a gas contract in South they represent, according to the memo.
countries to review credentials. ing to emails released by the govern- tov planned to pick up drug money in Korea.
ment. “Where did we ‘fail?’” a car with a diplomatic license plate, “It’s on the honor system,” Dunham
Unlike some other countries, the “The honor system” records show. He also held cash in his “It’s not suitable to the status of hon- said.
United States has no code of conduct The honorary consul system was cre- office on Wilshire Boulevard, where the orary consul that (she) sought to be
for honorary consuls. The State De- ated with great promise centuries ago, sign over the door read: Consul Bulgar- involved in commercial projects and He added that the United States can
partment previously fought an effort when governments began to promote ia. peddle influence,” South Korea’s depu- always refuse to accept honorary consul
by Congress to review whether diplo- their cultural and economic interests ty foreign minister told the Seoul-based nominees or, later, remove them from
matic pouches, protected from searches in foreign countries by appointing Christov, whose exploits were lat- news agency Yonhap. their posts.
under international law, had been used prominent private citizens to serve as er described in a report to Congress,
to move contraband. The department liaisons from their home countries. Un- pleaded guilty to laundering drug mon- Kelley denied wrongdoing, telling Efforts to strengthen oversight of
at the time said the measure would im- der international law, when a foreign ey. He died in 2015. ICIJ and ProPublica that she did not diplomatic privilege over the years have
pact U.S. diplomats overseas. government nominates a consul, local monetize her role as honorary consul. been sporadic. In the 1980s, the State
governments must in turn approve the In 2005, an honorary consul repre- “I never made a dollar or capitalized Department enacted a one-year mor-
In 2020, the department reached appointment. senting the Czech Republic in Mich- from my work,” she said. atorium on the appointments of new
out to foreign embassies with a simple igan and Ohio tried to avoid paying honorary consuls in response to con-
request: an updated list of their consuls Many consuls are diligent advocates, property taxes on a 16,000-square-foot In response to questions, Kelley cerns from Congress about the number
in the United States. The last time the forging country-to-country alliances in home near Detroit with a six-car garage shared a copy of a 2013 civil lawsuit of people in the U.S. with diplomatic
department inquired was five years ear- the arts, industry, science and academia and elevator. He argued the property that she and her husband filed against protection.
lier, records show. while drawing far less attention than had been transferred to the Czech gov- the U.S. government, alleging their
ambassadors and other career diplo- ernment. privacy was violated by the disclosure Around the same time, a bipartisan
“You’re looking at a pretty large uni- mats. of “personal, private and confidential group of U.S. lawmakers sought to re-
verse, so to engage in a detailed review “Does the embassy pay property tax- information” during the Petraeus scan- view whether diplomats were exploit-
for every nominee would be rather But the perks of diplomacy have es? Of course not! Does the consulate in dal. The loss of her consulship deprived ing protections that allowed them to
difficult,” Lawrence Dunham, former long attracted some dubious appoin- New York pay property taxes? Of course Kelley of “years of significant public receive bags, boxes and containers in
assistant chief of protocol at the State tees. Honorary consuls receive legal im- not!” Thomas Prose was quoted as say- service, social and financial opportu- the United States without inspection.
Department, said in an interview. munity in matters involving their work. ing at the time. Local officials denied nities,” according to the lawsuit, which Under international law, diplomatic
Their correspondence cannot be seized, a tax exemption, and Prose resigned as she later dropped. Kelley declined to pouches are protected from scrutiny,
The State Department did not re- and their offices and consular bags are honorary consul. Prose could not be elaborate. even by X-ray.
spond to specific questions about its protected from searches. Their status reached for comment; he previously
oversight of consuls. In a statement, provides access to leaders of politics and said he paid the taxes “out of goodwill.” In recent years, more than 100 coun- The measure would have required
Cliff Seagroves, principal deputy direc- industry. tries, including Russia, Guatemala, Li- the government to adopt safeguards to
tor of the Office of Foreign Missions, One of the more high-profile honor- beria and Malta, have had consuls in ensure bags were not used to smuggle
said the department works to “protect In the U.S., an honorary consul for ary consuls in the United States was Jill the United States, State Department drugs, explosives, weapons or any other
the U.S. public from abuse of diplo- Malaysia tried to use his diplomatic Kelley, who gained notoriety in 2012 records show. France had the most: 53 materials used to advance terrorism.
matic privileges and immunities. This status to get out of a $10 traffic ticket for triggering an FBI investigation that as of March.
oversight includes the accreditation in Portland, Oregon, taking a lawsuit ultimately exposed an extramarital af- “We are concerned that terrorists
of honorary consuls and their perfor- fair between then-CIA Director David The State Department has several could, and we have every reason to be-
mance of official duties in the United H. Petraeus and his biographer. requirements, including that a consul lieve, have shipped under the protection
States. The Department has zero tol- of diplomatic immunity pouches carry-
erance for evidence of inappropriate ing such items as small armed weapons
activity by any member of a foreign and explosives to be used against law
mission, including honorary consuls.” enforcement officers,” Dennis Martin,
then-president of the American Feder-
The department did not respond to ation of Police, testified at a congressio-
questions about the appointment of nal hearing.
Shumake.
The State Department opposed the
Shumake did not respond to ques- measure, arguing that the United States
tions about his activities before becom- was the largest sender of diplomatic
ing consul. He has previously said he pouches. “The beneficiary of diplo-
cooperated with the government in the matic immunity fundamentally is the
pension case; Detroit’s former treasurer United States government because our
was sentenced in 2015 to 11 years in personnel abroad could not function
prison. without it,” the department’s head of
protocol said.
Shumake has also said he never
sought to misrepresent his professional The measure died in Congress.
background. He has denied wrongdo- Last year, the department requested
ing in the bank fraud probe. that states stop issuing special license
plates to honorary consuls, saying they
Outside the United States, a small “may imply privileges and immunities
number of governments faced with to which honorary consular officers are
scandals have adopted more stringent not entitled.”
protocols for appointing and accepting Some states, however, are still issuing
honorary consuls. the plates, including Oregon, Arizo-
na and Georgia, ICIJ and ProPublica
Three years ago, the Canadian gov- found. Texas has issued or renewed
ernment launched a review after Syrian more than 3,900 plates to honorary
refugees in Montreal discovered newly consuls since 1994, records show.
approved honorary consul Waseem One financial crime expert pointed
Ramli in a red Hummer fitted with an to another vulnerability.
image of the Syrian flag and a picture Some foreign governments have
of President Bashar al-Assad, whose chosen to classify honorary consuls as
regime has killed tens of thousands of “politically exposed persons” who pres-
civilians through airstrikes and chemi- ent a higher risk of financial crime and
cal weapons. are more closely scrutinized by financial
institutions.
“To us, that is not the Syrian flag. It The United States has not done so,
represents horrors for us. It represents leaving that determination to financial
evil,” said Farouq Habib, a Syrian father institutions.
of two who was granted asylum in Can- “An honorary consul can be used
ada. “It was shocking for me to see it on much like a gatekeeper,” said Sarah
the streets of Canada. How can Cana- Beth Felix, a former banking compli-
da adopt someone … without any due ance executive. “It’s a great way to run
diligence or vetting? It undermines the dirty money because honorary consuls
credibility of the system itself.” are typically not tagged as higher risk in

The Canadian government dis-
missed Ramli before his term began

NewsHawks International Investigative Stories Page 25

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

a monitoring system and they get the was convicted and jailed for five years; his client is innocent and “has never for Training and Research offered a than $250,000 in cash at the Char-
benefit of not being subjected to law the consuls were not charged. manipulated any consul,” adding that course for honorary consuls that ex- lotte Douglas International Airport in
enforcement searches.” Jodorovich’s relationship with them was plored diplomatic law and ethics. North Carolina from one of Shumake’s
In 2007, Liberia dismissed nearly transactional. associates. The money was stashed in a
The Treasury Department said that all of its consuls overseas after reports “Without a strong governance and carry-on bag, which later tested positive
U.S. regulations do not define political- from Europe, Asia and the Middle East In Central America, the government reporting process, honorary consuls can for traces of cocaine, according to docu-
ly exposed persons. “Whether honorary of drug smugglers and money launder- of Honduras has previously reviewed its become isolated and remote and their ments from a subsequent civil forfeiture
consuls are PEPs depends on the facts ers holding honorary consul passports, honorary consuls overseas, but consuls activities can be contrary to the interests case.
and circumstances surrounding the according to a U.S. State Department within the country have received less of the sending state,” the institute noted
consul’s appointment and role,” said cable at the time. In 2019, Canada be- attention. at the time. The courier referred authorities to
Jayna Desai, spokesperson for the de- came one of the largest governments to Shumake, who said he had raised the
partment’s Financial Crimes Enforce- review the system, initiating the probe The powerful Kafie family has The course was offered only once. money to support communities in Af-
ment Network. after reports about Ramli, nominated counted eight honorary consuls among An institute official told ICIJ and Pro- rica and the Caribbean and that as “an
Worldwide warning signs by Syria, surfaced in Montreal. its members, representing an eclectic Publica that there were not enough par- ambassador” of an international com-
For years, government investigations group of countries that include Fin- ticipants. mission, he had diplomatic immunity
around the world have chronicled law- “I cried at the time. How come this land, Latvia and Panama. in transporting it, according to court
lessness and abuse among consuls that person was appointed?” said Muzna Diplomatic law experts said govern- documents. Authorities seized the cash.
appear to eclipse incidents in the Unit- Dureid, a Syrian refugee. “Even in Can- In 2015, Schucry Kafie, a prominent ments should require training and also
ed States. ada, we don’t feel safe.” businessman who has served for years as make public the names and locations Shumake declined to respond to
honorary consul for Jordan, was arrest- of honorary consuls. Of more than detailed questions from ICIJ and Pro-
Twenty-five years ago, Bolivia an- The government investigation found ed in a Honduran corruption scandal, 180 countries that appoint and receive Publica, but he said the U.S. returned
nounced a review of the honorary that “time constraints and lack of infor- accused with others of overcharging the honorary consuls, only 42 publish up- the money. Court records show the
consul system there after high-profile mation management expertise” limited government for medical supplies. to-date information, including names government agreed to return half the
scandals, including one in which the an initial review of Ramli, who went on of consuls. Dozens of countries report money to the international commis-
country’s consul in Haiti was dismissed to say in an interview with Maclean’s Others implicated in the scandal no information at all, ICIJ and Pro- sion.
after police reportedly found an arsenal magazine that a prominent Syrian vol- were detained, but Kafie was released Publica found. Governments could also
of weapons inside the consul’s home, unteer rescue group was a “terrorist or- by a judge, who noted that his status as introduce an honorary consul code of In an unrelated case in 2017, Shu-
including rifles, pistols and a grenade ganization.” consul required him to sometimes leave conduct, evaluate the records of those make pleaded guilty to misdemeanor
launcher. Authorities suspected that the country, court records show. currently holding the posts and start in- violations in a Michigan court after
the consul was linked to paramilitary Canada introduced a new process to vestigating new nominees, experts said. his mortgage auditing company was
groups fighting against the Haitian examine and appoint honorary consuls, The charges against Kafie were ul- accused of improperly taking fees from
government, local media reported. adding a code of conduct. timately dismissed. In a written state- “The harm and abuse,” said Jarvis, distressed homeowners.
A family of consuls ment, Kafie said that the government’s the law professor from Florida, “far
“It is well worth reviewing complete- Despite the findings by governments, case was politically motivated and that outweighs whatever benefit the system “You preyed on people at their lowest
ly this outdated custom of honorary most countries have not called for the company did not overcharge for is providing.” possible moment,” a county judge told
consuls,” local newspaper La Razón widespread reforms. That includes equipment. He added that the court Shumake at his sentencing hearing.
wrote after the arrest in an editorial ti- Spain, where authorities are currently allowed him to leave the country for In Michigan, Shumake’s honor-
tled “The Chronic Problem of Honor- investigating three honorary consuls health reasons and not because of his ary consul post for Botswana ended Last year, the U.S. Securities and
ary Consuls.” accused of helping to launder money job as honorary consul. in 2015. He had also been appointed Exchange Commission alleged that
for Simón Montero Jodorovich, an ac- honorary consul by the government of Shumake and others had set up a fraud-
“It is a thousand times preferable cused drug dealer. In Panama, the Kafie family has a Tanzania; that post ended in 2015 as ulent crowdfunding scheme that prom-
not to have anyone to represent us in a power plant that has for years drawn well. ised investors profits from the canna-
nation than to go through undignified In a 2,000-page report, police wrote complaints from nearby residents, who bis industry. The SEC filed a lawsuit,
situations,” the newspaper wrote. in 2019 that the consuls representing say they fear it emits toxic gas. While consul, he won a contract to which is ongoing. Shumake has denied
Mali, Croatia and Albania allegedly build a rail line in Tanzania in a deal wrongdoing.
In 2003, Hungary overhauled its called Jodorovich “big boss.” Martin Ibáñez, 66, said his skin itch- that opponents criticized as improper
system after a stockbroker wanted for es and his eyes burn from the smoke. and opaque. Shumake defended the A screenshot from a video posted
fraud and embezzlement fled the coun- Honorary consuls, the police report- He has written to the Panamanian gov- project; the rail line was never built. this year about former honorary consul
try in an honorary consul’s Mercedes. ed, work without pay for the countries ernment and others, hoping someone Shumake
The stockbroker also held an ID card they represent. “What is obtained,” po- will determine whether the plant is op- The Botswana Ministry of Foreign
from another honorary consulate, ac- lice wrote, “is compensation in terms of erating safely. Affairs told ICIJ and ProPublica that In May, seven years after his honor-
cording to media reports. prestige, privileges and social relations, Shumake’s tenure was terminated after ary consul positions ended, he posted
not to mention the coveted diplomatic “It’s like they dropped an atomic the U.S. State Department disclosed a video online titled “Robert Shumake
After the incident, the Hungarian bag … that crosses borders without any bomb,” he said this year. “I will die one that he had been accused of miscon- Holds the Titles of Honorary Consul.”
government announced a review of the control.” of these days, but I want to go down duct. The video includes an image of two
honorary consul system and stopped fighting.” men shaking hands — while exchang-
issuing identity cards to employees of The consuls, who have not been The ministry did not elaborate. The ing wads of cash.
honorary consulates. The stockbroker criminally charged, have denied wrong- Kafie said the plant did not cause government of Tanzania did not re-
doing. An attorney for Jodorovich said health problems. spond to requests for comment. — International Consortium
“Harm and abuse” of Investigative Journalists.
In 2020, the United Nations Institute One year after the consul posts
ended, U.S. authorities seized more

Martin Ibáñez, who lives on a farm near the Kafie family’s power plant in Panama, said he believes that gasses from the plant have made members of his community sick.
Image: Linus Hoeller / Medill Investigative Lab and Matthew Orr / ProPublica

Page 26 International Investigative Stories NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Ex-FIFA executive financed “Election
Engineering” campaign in Trinidad

DISGRACED former FIFA Vice Pres- Persad-Bissessar (right) and Jack Warner talk during a campaign rally in May 2010. Credit: Reuters/Alamy Stock Photo and Oštro, notes that the campaign
ident Jack Warner personally funded was designed to focus specifically on
an ethnically divisive disinformation passed around.” Hughes he could write to Warner’s defiance took off among Trinidadian Afro-Trinidadian voters.
campaign in Trinidad and Tobago de- SCL spotted an opportunity to secretary to get the money for the youth, but it also became infamous
signed by an election engineering firm campaign. “She has payment of the after a 2019 Netflix documentary Briant, the disinformation expert,
to discourage black Trinidadians from put an opposition party in power in sum of $62K usd for SCL,” Lalla about Cambridge Analytica high- said it was “a little bit naive to think
voting. Trinidad, which they saw as more ad- wrote in an another email, leaked to lighted it as a key example of the they weren’t leveraging the different
vantageous. A fresh breath in govern- The Guardian and shared with OC- firm’s covert influence operations. ethnic groups against each other.”
Warner is currently fighting extra- ment meant fresh deals, he noted. CRP. “She will also provide you with
dition to the U.S. on charges of cor- the details of payment made in the Roughly half the population of “They were leveraging some things
ruption, including that he accepted $5 Hughes said that one night in April sum of $15k usd for the license fee of Trinidad and Tobago is of African de- that essentially were designed to get
million in bribes to vote for Russia to 2010, he and Nix waited in a run- the Do So [campaign.].” scent, while the other half is Indian. at the youth, that would reinforce
be awarded the 2018 World Cup. down hotel room in Port of Spain The Netflix documentary included a these kinds of divisive ethnic pro-
until they received a 3 a.m. phone Citing attorney-client privilege, secret voice recording of Nix bragging cesses of decision-making in the elec-
However, his involvement with the call from Warner’s lawyer, Om Lalla, Lalla said he could not answer ques- that the goal of the campaign was to tions, and they were basically trying
“Do So!” campaign led by SCL, the telling them they could head over for tions about the campaign. Warner increase voter apathy and discourage to work with people who really didn’t
parent company of Cambridge Analyt- a secret meeting. The four convened did not respond to written requests young Afro-Trinidadians from vot- care about the youth of the country
ica, has never before been revealed. The in Warner’s FIFA-regalia-clad office, for comment. Reached by telephone, ing, since SCL’s client was more pop- … and doing it in such a way that
campaign, which may have swayed and made a plan. he said he was “not interested” in dis- ular among Indians. was clearly trying to stoke divisions,”
Trinidad’s 2010 election in favor of his cussing it. she added.
United National Congress party, used “Warner gave us a tour of his var- ‘Psychological Judo’ Nix explained the campaign’s mes-
graffiti, billboards, and music videos to ious FIFA medals, photos, posters, Hughes had already planned much of sage like this: Despite the seeming success of “Do
suggest to black Trinidadian youth that and then … we got down to busi- the campaign. Its name was inspired So!”, SCL never ended up landing the
they shouldn’t vote. ness,” Hughes recalled in an interview by an old Trinidadian man who made “Don’t vote. … It’s a sign of resis- big assignment it was angling for.
with OCCRP/Oštro. headlines when he crossed his arms in tance against — not the government,
At the time of “Do So!”, which ran front of him to refuse the incumbent against politics. And voting… “Warner got us a meeting with Ka-
during the 2010 Trinidad primaries, They agreed that SCL would run prime minister to enter his property mla … but Bertie blew it,” Hughes
Warner’s career in international foot- what it called a “groundswell” gueril- for an electioneering visit. “We knew that when it came to recalled, referring to Nix by his nick-
ball was sputtering to an end amid ac- la marketing campaign ahead of the voting, all the Afro-Caribbean kids name. “Kamla clearly didn’t like his
cusations that he had traded favors for 2010 Trinidad primaries, to show the “Bingo, I had my behaviour wouldn’t vote, because they ‘Do So’. long presentation style with all those
money. But he was laying the ground- United National Congress what SCL change campaign, or a ‘psychologi- But all the Indian kids would do what slides and told him to hurry up. He
work for a second act as a Trinidadian could do, and that Warner would pay cal judo’ campaign, to be specific,” their parents told them to do, which took great offence at this and carried
politician, having been elected to rep- for it. Later, Warner would use his Hughes wrote in the document he is go out and vote.” on with his slides.” Ultimately, he
resent the United National Congress influence to get party leader Kam- said he submitted to the FBI. said, Nix got into a shouting match
party in parliament in 2007. la Persad-Bissessar to meet with the Hughes denied this to OCCRP, with the party boss and had to be es-
electioneering firm, Hughes said. The He recalled drawing up the cam- insisting that the campaign wasn’t corted from the room.
The 2010 vote was a critical junc- hope was that SCL would be given a paign artwork in his hotel room: “A intended to target voters by race and
ture in Trinidadian politics, with the much larger contract, worth $4 or $5 pair of black arms, crossed, with the that he had devised it without any in- But the United National Party did
incumbent prime minister looking million, to devise a campaign for the line ‘DO SO!’ underneath, printed volvement from Nix. win the 2010 parliamentary elec-
vulnerable after three terms in power. upcoming general election. on the UNC Coalition yellow.” The tions, becoming a leading partner in
Given the stakes, one expert called the implication was that youth should “It was absolutely not some sort the People’s Partnership coalition.
role played by SCL “really disturbing.” An email obtained by OCCRP also cross their arms and abstain from of divisional campaign,” he said. “It
Emma Briant, a fellow at Bard College shows that in late April 2010, Lalla politics. was only about making the voters feel Warner was appointed Public
who studies information warfare and sent Nix and Hughes a list of mar- empowered to stand up to Manning’s Works and Transport Minister and,
propaganda, said the revelations un- ginal constituencies that SCL should “Do So!”’s message of apolitical increasingly autocratic government.” later, Minister of National Secu-
derscore the need for better oversight focus its campaign on. rity. CA Political, the Cambridge
of influence firms. However, a polling report creat- Analytica arm focused on political
The following month, Lalla told ed by SCL for the United National campaigning, boasted on its website
“It’s very contextual what can do Congress, and obtained by OCCRP of how it had influenced the 2010
damage in a particular society,” she elections in Trinidad and Tobago
said. “In Trinidad … there is this racial and gotten Persad-Bissessar elected as
divide in politics, and you can either prime minister.
play to that or try to find something
that doesn’t.” Nonetheless, accusations of cor-
Plans Hatched ruption eventually caught up with
SCL was formed in the 1990s by Brit- Warner, and FIFA suspended him
ish businessman Nigel Oakes, and in 2011 for allegedly organizing the
invested $20 million into developing payment of cash bribes to members
what Oakes called an “advanced per- of a Caribbean football association.
suasion methodology.” Soon after that he was forced to re-
sign from both FIFA and CONCA-
The company later rebranded and CAF, the influential Caribbean and
launched a political section focusing North American football association
on “election management” and oth- he led.
er campaigns, mostly in Africa, Asia,
and the Caribbean. On its website In addition to the bribery allega-
— taken offline after the company tions, Warner has been accused of
went into administration in 2019 failing to pay Trinidadian football
— it boasted of influencing political players their bonus money; stealing
outcomes from Indonesia to South funds for Haitian earthquake victims;
Africa. allowing his son to sell black-mar-
ket World Cup tickets through a
The firm also brought on Alexan- family travel agency; and building a
der Nix, who took over its election- $26-million CONCACAF facility on
eering work and eventually started a land he owned, essentially granting
new venture, Cambridge Analytica. him ownership over it.
This was the infamous election engi-
neering agency that assisted Donald In 2015, he was caught in one of
Trump’s rise to the U.S. presidency in the biggest bribery scandals in foot-
2016. ball history after the U.S. government
alleged he had taken in millions of
Long before Cambridge Analytica dollars’ worth of bribes from South
would enter Trump’s orbit, Nix was African officials to fix the voting for
busy working in the Caribbean under the location of the 2010 World Cup.
the SCL banner.
Later that year, he was banned
Sven Hughes, the former head of from football for life.
elections for SCL, said the firm had
worked in Trinidad before under the In 2018, Nix became the face
leadership of Nigel Oakes, who al- of Cambridge Analytica’s downfall
ready had established contacts with when the U.K.’s Channel 4 News re-
an opposition party. At the time, a lot vealed secret recordings of him selling
of contractors worked on campaigns the company’s techniques, including
in the region, he recalled: “It was just entrapment and bribery, to prospec-
‘which election is next?’ and you get tive clients who were actually under-
cover reporters.

— Organized Crime and Cor-
ruption Reporting Project.

NewsHawks Editorial & Opinion Page 27

Issue 113, 23 December 2022 CARTOON

Govt has fared
really dismally

IT is scarcely surprising that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given Leopard Rock still rocks
an upbeat verbal assessment of the performance of his cabinet ministers.
Hawk Eye
He has obviously realised that an abysmal scorecard would be a telling
reflection on his own frailties as a leader who has spectacularly squandered Dumisani
domestic, regional and international goodwill. Muleya

These pampered ministers are pocketing mouth-watering perks funded
by the taxpayer, so they must answer for their performance.

Presenting his closing remarks for the final cabinet meeting of 2022,
Mnangagwa said something that many Zimbabweans will find unbeliev-
able. He claimed his government continues to be results oriented and ac-
countable to the masses.

Mnangagwa argues that "performance contracts" will make it possible
to measure the contribution of ministers and permanent secretaries. This
remains to be seen.

When the bigwigs signed these so-called contracts, citizens were told
that the results would be made public annually, to enable the people to
judge for themselves.

The NewsHawks — Zimbabwe's leading digital investigative reporting
and breaking news platform — is challenging the government to reveal the
performance management results. We are ready to provide acres of space
for the publication of those results, in the national interest and without
fear or favour.

Citizens were told that under the Integrated Results-Based Management
System, all permanent secretaries, cabinet ministers, all chief executive
officers of local authorities, all CEOs of state-owned enterprises and all
vice-chancellors of universities would sign performance contracts.

There is widespread scepticism. The Zimbabwean government has per-
fected the art of drafting all manner of high-sounding blueprints and policy
papers, but fares dismally when it comes to implementation.

The signs are unsettling.
Mnangagwa has already pre-empted and in a sense contaminated the
performance management framework. He cannot, in all fairness, make a
sweeping statement hailing his minions, yet he has not released the results.
In the spirit of transparency and accountability, the President must first
disclose those performance results before making unscientific pronounce-
ments.
In the court of public opinion, government departments and parastatals
have performed badly in 2022.
Any objective assessment of key ministries such as Finance, Health, Ed-
ucation, Industry, Social Welfare, Home Affairs, Mining and Agriculture
shows that the Mnangagwa administration has not delivered.
Take Finance, for instance. Zimbabwe has the world's highest inflation
rate and the world's highest food price inflation. A government that delivers
hunger cannot claim to be a success. Not by a mile.
If the general state of livelihoods is a measure of government perfor-
mance, nobody can deny the fact that Mnangagwa’s team has been woeful.
Aid agencies say hunger is stalking six million citizens.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube misses no opportunity to remind
Zimbabweans that the government has recorded success in stabilising the
economy. He misses the point. The stability of any economy is measured
through the stomachs of citizens — not through the narrow self-serving
prism of neoliberal economics. There is nothing stable about hunger, mal-
nutrition and extreme poverty.
Let us take a look at another ministry, Health.
When Vice Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga was assigned the
Health portfolio, naive commentators said he would remarkably trans-
form that life-saving sector. He was touted as an all-conquering strategist,
a shrewd game-changer. Well, the dysfunctional public hospitals tell a dif-
ferent story.
Desperate Zimbabweans are flocking to South Africa for free treatment,
burdening the neighbouring country’s taxpayer-funded hospitals. Even offi-
cials from the governing ANC have had enough of this man-made problem
and are now willing to speak out.
Nurses, doctors and nurse aids are fleeing Zimbabwe in droves. Woe
betide any citizen diagnosed with cancer; public hospitals are ill-equipped,
poorly funded and run by grossly underpaid professionals who feel utterly
unappreciated.
Given the above, how will Mnangagwa rate Chiwenga’s performance?
Over to you, Mr President.
As for parastatals, most people do not know whether to laugh or cry.
Every year, the Auditor-General exposes the extent of the rot — but what
has Mnangagwa done about the endemic corruption?
If the President does not find it necessary to take decisive action on
account of annual audits, how on earth can anyone expect him to fire
non-performing ministers and bureaucrats?

Reaffirming the fundamental impor- The NewsHawks is published on different EDITORIAL STAFF: Marketing Officer: Voluntary Media
tance of freedom of expression and me- content platforms by the NewsHawks Digital Managing Editor: Dumisani Muleya Charmaine Phiri Council of Zimbabwe
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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
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corruption to ensure good governance Beatrice Mtetwa, Raphael Khumalo, Reporters: at No.: 34, Colenbrander Rd, Milton Park, Harare.
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est. Doug Coltart Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Telephone: 024-2778096 or 024-2778006,
Email: [email protected] 24Hr Complaints Line: 0772 125 659

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Website: www.vmcz.co.zw, Facebook: vmcz Zimbabwe

Page 28 New Perspectives NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

ECOBANK Zimbabwe, a mem- Will a currency clearing deal
ber of Africa’s largest bank by with China help Zimbabwe?
geographical reach, wrote: “Do Zimbabwe must strive for cor-
you want to make or receive pay- charges, as fees on late payments However, one lingering question African rand has dropped 53%. rective measures to balance its
ments to and from China using on its loans by programme coun- remains: can such an unprece- The yuan fell 16%. unbalanced structure, as well as
RMB or Chinese Yuan? Enquire tries. This policy needs to imme- dented step address Zimbabwe’s However, opting for the yuan fundamental policy adjustments.
in our branch or contact your diately stop, especially given a economic woes? clearing deal is not the pana- First, Zimbabwe must enhance
account manager for informa- situation of multiple economic Arguably, fluctuations in cea for all economic woes. The its productive capacity and value
tion.” crises facing the world, especial- currency distort local business prime issue is the alarming trade addition in goods. Beneficiation
ly us in the global South. confidence and of mineral resources is key as
Quite interesting and anoth- exacerbate the most of them are exported raw
er “currency debate” as we enter Zimbabwe, given these global balance of pay- to China.  Agricultural produc-
2023. “Will a currency clearing challenges, is also facing internal ments crisis, Econometrics tivity is relatively poor in com-
deal with China help Zimba- problems, both monetary and parison to regional competitors.
bwe?”. fiscal. Some are more structural particularly via HawksView Human capital investment is
in nature and require policy re- trade deficits. critical for increasing labour
The current year is on the cusp forms. Of interest is the ongo- The Zim- productivity. Zimbabwe must
of ending, but the Covid-19 ing currency debate.  Recently, babwe dollar aim to strengthen its knowledge
pandemic, alongside the war in the IMF advised that authorities has never been Tinashe Kaduwo capital, which will be a signifi-
Ukraine, are still ongoing, with should take a more hawkish pol- stable since re- cant driver of future productiv-
the world continuing to suffer icy stance and do away with gold birth, and it will continue to deficit with China. It is estimat- ity, diversity, greater innovation,
from global supply shocks. That coins. This implies further con- lose value as a result of the prob- ed that in 2022, the overall trade hence higher growth.
being said, an overboard mon- straining of domestic demand able negative spillover impact volume between the two nations
etary tightening policy stance in the face of a looming global of an increase in interest rates reached close US$2 billion, with Second, it is imperative to
adopted by many central banks economic recession as a result of and tighter monetary policy in Pakistan exporting less than have person-to-person or busi-
around the world as well as the overboard monetary tightening. the US. On the other hand, the US$600 million and importing ness-to-business contact, which
International Monetary Fund Yuan’s benefit as a pricing tool more than US$1.4 billion from connects our small and me-
(IMF), recommending a strong While in the midst of this, stems from its stability, expand- China. dium-sized businesses to the
pro-cyclical policy response, Ecobank wrote, “Do you want ing significance in international Overall, Zimbabwe has been global value chain. This will
including squeezing aggregate to make or receive payments settlements and payments, and registering a trade surplus, modernise and upgrade our in-
demand through monetary to and from China using RMB support from China’s economic though it has deficits with Chi- dustrial structure while also gen-
tightening, to both programme or Chinese Yuan?” It reminded strength. na. In the short term, the curren- erating much-needed revenue.
countries and generally, means me that Zimbabwe and China For instance, since the world- cy clearing agreement will assist Vietnam, for example, is linked
that strong recessionary head- have a currency swap deal, but wide Covid-19 outbreak, the Zimbabwe by reducing pres- with Samsung in the manufac-
winds are building up for the do they have a currency clearing Chinese yuan has depreciated sure on the Zimbabwean dollar ture of mobile components and
global economy. deal? less than other major currencies against the US dollar. However, earns a sizable US$72 billion an-
versus the US dollar. The Japa- unless Zimbabwe’s trade bal- nually. In Zimbabwe, the bulk
That being said, while the calls A clearing system, also de- nese yen has dropped 48% from ance with China improves, the of manufacturing industries is
for a new IMF special drawing scribed as a clearing house, serves its high since the outbreak, while country may face another bal- inward looking, that is, meeting
rights (SDRs) allocation– on the as the intermediary between two the euro has been down 22%, ance of payments crisis, even if the demand of domestic users.
same lines as in August 2021, parties and is also the agency following a 27% drop in the payments are made in Chinese
to the tune of US$650 billion through which financial instru- British pound, and the South currency. Finally, at the present, the ma-
– have been raised quite loudly ments such as stocks, bonds and jority of trade between Zimba-
around the middle of the current currencies are often exchanged. bwe and China is conducted in
year, there is still no indication US dollars. The Chinese yuan is
of this by the IMF. more stable than the US dollar
since it is not a worldwide cur-
With many developing coun- rency. Against this setting, yu-
tries facing serious balance of an-based payment systems have
payments headaches and debt the potential to significantly
distress, and given a stronger boost Zimbabwe’s export com-
dollar at the back of overboard petitiveness.
monetary tightening and, in
turn, significant capital flight A slight increase in interest
from developing countries, re- rates by the Federal Reserve rais-
sulting in greater imported in- es the value of the US dollar,
flation on the back of weakening rendering Zimbabwean items
domestic currencies of a number uncompetitive. Because the yuan
of these countries, a quick re- is less sensitive to worldwide vol-
lease of enhanced SDR alloca- atility, Zimbabwean goods may
tion makes immense sense. be more competitive for export
to China and find larger market
Where such allocation is made share in the Chinese as well as
with a more appropriate needs- other Asian markets. This is be-
based allocation criterion fol- cause the potential for trading in
lowed by IMF, unlike the August yuan is expanding as its reserves
2021 episode whereby most of in global central banks grow.
enhanced SDR allocation went
to rich countries. Please let me know your
thoughts. Happy holidays!
It is strange then that while
developing countries in partic- *About the writer: Ti-
ular are in the jaws of so many nashe Kaduwo is a research-
economic crises ranging from er and economist. Contact:
weak balance of payments, to kaduwot@gmail. WhatsApp
difficult debt repayments situ- +263773376128
ation, to currently low growth
situation in many developing
countries, and even as recession
looms large around the corner,
and little debt moratorium/re-
lief, climate finance, and SDR
allocation coming to the rescue–
the IMF still continues with its
rather notorious policy of sur-

NewsHawks

Issue 76, 15 April 2022
BusinessPage26
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

IMF revises Zim GDP outlook

BERNARD MPOFU financing and creating fiscal space for critical outlays, while strengthening public finance The IMF
spending. This can be achieved by mobilis- management. The financial oversight of the to minimise fiscal risks. In the context of a
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) ing additional revenues, based on tax poli- state-owned enterprise (SOEs) by the Trea- tight monetary policy, enhanced regulatory
has flagged ongoing power outages and global cy reforms, and by scaling back non-priority sury should be further strengthened in order oversight is required to ensure financial sector
inflationary pressures as new economic head- resilience.”
winds buffeting Zimbabwe, projecting the
country's economy to register modest 3.5%
growth compared to government estimates of
4%.

Limited investment in the capital-intensive
energy sector, unviable tariffs for independent
power producers and mismanagement in run-
ning energy projects have been cited by experts
as some of the major challenges causing Zim-
babwe’s perennial power crises. The situation
worsened over the past few weeks after water
levels at Kariba hydro-powered station dwin-
dled, resulting in low electricity generation.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF)
staff team led by Dhaneshwar Ghura conduct-
ed a mission to Harare from December 1 to
15, 2022, in the context of an Article IV Con-
sultation.

At the conclusion of the IMF mission, Ghu-
ra said while Zimbabwe had provided a “swift
response” to the Covid-19 resulting in real
output growth of 8.5% in 2021, more chal-
lenges continue to confront the economy.

“Renewed domestic and external shocks
(inflation surge, erratic rainfall, electricity
shortages, and Russia’s war in Ukraine) are,
however, adversely affecting economic and
social conditions,” Ghura said in a statement
after the Article IV Consultation.

“Real GDP growth is thus expected to de-
cline to about 3.5 percent in 2022. These mul-
tiple shocks will continue to weigh on Zimba-
bwe’s growth prospects.”

The IMF says currency and price pressures,
which emerged earlier this year largely owing
to a spike in broad money growth and an of-
ficial exchange rate misaligned with market
fundamentals, are subsiding.

The Bretton Woods institution further not-
ed that annual inflation, which had increased
to 285% in August 2022, has been decelerat-
ing since, a trend which, if sustained by appro-
priate policies, would go a long way in anchor-
ing inflation expectations.

“A near-term policy imperative is to sustain-
ably anchor macroeconomic stability. In this
context, Fund staff recommend accelerating
the liberalisation of the FX [foreign exchange]
market, including through the removal of re-
strictions on the exchange rate at which banks,
authorised dealers, and businesses transact;
addressing the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s
quasi-fiscal operations to mitigate liquidity
pressures; maintaining an appropriately tight
monetary policy stance to durably restore
macro-economic stability and ensure social
stability; restoring the effectiveness of mone-
tary policy, including through the use of ap-
propriate interest-bearing instruments to mop
up liquidity and winding down the use of
gold coins; and maintaining a prudent fiscal
stance,” the IMF says.

“Fiscal policy should aim at containing the
deficit in line with available non-inflationary

Page 30 Companies & Markets NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

PRISCA TSHUMA SMEs dollarise to navigate
harsh economic environment
CHRONIC high inflation in 2022 and unfa-
vourable economic policies are the main reasons “Creditors or non-finance creditors — in lamented. SMEs have been defined as a venture with
small and medium enterprises (SMEs) shifted other words if you were being supplied on cred- Mutambanengwe said the actions of the less than 75 employees. According to the Re-
to dollarisation and the economy increasingly it, even for example rentals and so on — inter- search Council of Zimbabwe, the SME sector
informalised, an expert has said. est was now being charged at those same bank government dramatically cut the volume of constitutes 70% of business in Zimbabwe, em-
rates and we have seen even Zimra [Zimbabwe economic activity in the formal sector and in- ploying over 60% of the productive workforce
SMEs had a challenging operating environ- Revenue Authority] has moved to the same,” he creased the amount of informal businesses, with and contributing over 50% of GDP.
ment owing to the rising inflation which peaked dollarisation taking root in the economy.
at 285% in August for this year.

The chief executive officer of the SME As-
sociation of Zimbabwe (SMEAZ), Farai Mu-
tambanengwe, said high inflation displaced the
Zimbabwe dollar from ordinary transactions
and the businesses responded by dollarising.

“Formal retail shops witnessed a decline in
volumes coming through, whilst most people
were now going and buying in the informal sec-
tor which was dollarised. Therefore, the impact
of the inflation was further dollarisation of the
economy,” he said.

To curb the inflation, the government
through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe but-
tressed the foreign exchange auction system by
timeous settlement of auction bid allotments
within a period of two weeks and allotment of
foreign currency based on available foreign ex-
change to avoid incidences of settlement back-
logs.

Mutambanengwe said this posed a tough en-
vironment for the SMEs in the formal sector as
aggregate demand dropped and the SMEs were
pushed into the informal sector.

“There was an upsurge in activity in that seg-
ment of the market while there was probably
subdued performance in the formal market,
particularly those who are dependent on gov-
ernment contracts or people supplying people
who are similarly affected,” he said.

In addition, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
raised its benchmark interest rate to 200% from
80% and maintained its policy rate and the
Medium Term Accommodation (MBA) Facility
interest rate 60% and 40% respectively.

Mutambanengwe said this indirectly affected
SMEs that were suppliers of large companies
which depended on government contracts.

“A lot of large businesses were borrowed and
because they were now trying to liquidate their
loans they started also not paying their suppli-
ers, who primarily were SMEs, so that negative-
ly impacted the SMEs,” said Mutambanengwe.

He added that these policies resulted in a
surge in costs for SMEs, especially interest
charged by creditors.

‘RBZ must monitor non-banking institutions’

BERNARD MPOFU tain entities which are also subject to non-bank
regulation (e.g., insurance and securities firms).
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) says These groups should be subject to consolidated
the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) should supervision, by RBZ and/or by foreign regula-
exercise oversight over non-banking institu- tory bodies as the home supervisor,” the IMF
tions linked to banks to mitigate contagion and says.
improve transparency.
“The RBZ should review and update its
Official figures show that the banking sector prudential requirements and supervisory pro-
of Zimbabwe consists of 13 commercial banks, cedures to clearly define the scope of RBZ au-
five building societies, and one savings bank thority and its supervisory approach for non-
that, in total, account for ZW$969.245 billion bank financial institutions and non-financial
in assets (31 March 2022). Of the 19 banks, commercial subsidiaries of bank holding com-
nine banks have foreign shareholding, with a panies.”
market share of over 60%.
RBZ’s prudential approach and internal
The top 10 institutions in Zimbabwe are supervisory procedures, the IMF further says,
banks operating within banking groups (for- need to more fully elaborate how supervisors
eign or domestic) and include both non-bank should exercise RBZ supervisory authorities
financial entities and non-financial commercial while accommodating the role of primary reg-
entities. ulators of non-bank financial institutions (e.g.,
insurance and securities regulators).
According to a new IMF technical assistance
and financial sector stability review consolidat- “It is also necessary to clarify the extent to
ed supervision report, the banking sector in which commercial enterprises operating as a
Zimbabwe is concentrated in the top five banks subsidiary of a bank holding company are ex-
(almost 60% of total assets) and two of the top cluded from RBZ investigatory and enforce-
10 banks are identified as members of “mixed ment powers, while remaining subject to RBZ’s
conglomerates”, which are banking groups that power to monitor and supervise such commer-
contain commercial enterprises as affiliated cial businesses. It should be clear to what extent
subsidiaries of a parent or bank holding compa- RBZ is empowered to gather information, con-
ny. Foreign-owned banking groups are required duct onsite inspections, take enforcement ac-
to establish local subsidiaries for local banking, tions, and ‘monitor or supervise’ the non-bank,
non-bank and other operations. non-financial and unregulated entities that op-
erate as subsidiaries of a bank holding company
“Overall, the vast majority of banking assets or controlling company,” the IMF says.
are housed within group structures that con-

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 31

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

BERNARD MPOFU Inflation battle far from over

AS the year comes to an end, Zimbabwe’s war porting role rather than unleashing liquidity ponent of the blended inflation, was mainly macro-economic instability in Zimbabwe. In
on inflation appears far from over as the south- into the economy.” being driven by the widening exchange rate October 2022 Zimbabwe’s annual inflation
ern African nation continues to reel under one premium, as policy forced business to use an was 268%, more than 10 times higher than
of the highest pricing regimes in the world. The CZI also says the careful calibration of overvalued formal exchange rate. With the the second highest inflation rate in Sadc.
election expenditure is critical in managing exchange rate premium shrinking, US dollar
While the authorities claim credit for money supply growth. prices have stabilised in formal shops, while “This exorbitant inflationary environment
the slowdown in inflation over the past few the relative stability on the parallel market has keeps weighing down on Zimbabwe’s compet-
months after an unsettling sense of déjà vu had “Elections are expensive and they draw a also stabilised ZW$ prices. itiveness, as domestic prices of goods end up
gripped the country, sceptics and business or- lot of resources. Sudden ejection of massive being higher compared to what low inflation
ganisations remain jittery. liquidity in the Zimbabwean economy has Zimbabwe’s annual inflation is still very countries are selling at.”
proven suicidal in the past,” the CZI says. high but the persistent decline in month-on-
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has howev- month inflation in the last three months has Having a high inflation has serious impli-
er downplayed any prospects of inflation ris- “Thus, election expenditure must be care- also seen annual inflation responding. The cation in terms of poverty alleviation, as this
ing as government spending surges ahead of fully calibrated so that it does not cause mas- Zimbabwe annual inflation rate for Novem- means that Zimbabwe must put more efforts
the 2023 general elections and the onset of the sive shocks in the economy. Due to lack of ber 2022 shed off 13.8 percentage points to compared to other countries in the world.
summer cropping season. confidence in the local currency, service pro- reach 255% from 268.8% recorded in Octo- Food inflation, for example, is one of the key
viders usually change their money into US ber 2022. indicators of the ability to control poverty.
Zimbabwe’s inflation has over the past few dollars soon after being paid and if the market
months been trending downwards on account get awash with ZWL$, the local currency will “Zimbabwe has made strides in curbing its In October 2022, Zimbabwe’s food infla-
of tight monetary policy and interventionist depreciate on the parallel market.” inflation which was getting out of control. De- tion was 321%, the highest in the entire world.
fiscal measures. spite the reduction in Zimbabwe’s inflation in Experts say the driving force behind the high
Figures obtained from the country’s statisti- the recent months, its annual inflation is still food prices in Zimbabwe was the depreciating
Official month-on-month inflation was cal agency show that the gap between blend- extremely high compared to its regional coun- local currency induced by too much injection
1.8%, shedding 1.4% from the 3.2% of Octo- ed inflation and Zimdollar inflation has been terparts,” the CZI says. of liquidity in the economy.
ber 2022. The blended month-on-month in- shrinking since July 2022 and, for the past
flation rate shed off 1.8 percentage points and three months, blended inflation and the Zim- “Thus, more work still needs to be done to High food prices push the vulnerable com-
reached 1.4% in November from the 3.2% in dollar inflation have been very close to each reduce annual inflation, especially addressing munities into extreme poverty. Resultantly,
October. other. the endogenous factors that have been causing bread and butter issues will thus be topical in
the forthcoming general elections.
The year-on-year inflation dropped by Experts say the United States dollar, a com-
13.8% to reach 255% from 268.8% in Octo-
ber 2022. The blended annual dropped 1.6%
to reach 107.1% in November.

In 2022, month-on-month inflation peaked
in June 2022 at 30.7% and since then it has
been gradually declining. In November 2022,
month-on-month inflation was recorded at
1.8%, shedding 1.4 percentage points on the
October rate of 3.2%.

This generally shows that month-on-month
inflation is now under control although infla-
tionary pressures remain, but the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) said despite the easing
of inflation in recent months, more reforms
are required to mend the economy.

“Uncertainty remains high, however, and
the economic outlook will depend on the im-
plementation of key policies and the evolution
of external shocks,” the IMF said recently after
the conclusion of an Article IV Consultation
on Zimbabwe.

“A near-term policy imperative is to sus-
tainably anchor macro-economic stability. In
this context, Fund staff recommend accel-
erating the liberalisation of the FX [foreign
exchange] market, including through the re-
moval of restrictions on the exchange rate at
which banks, authorised dealers, and business-
es transact; addressing the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe’s quasi-fiscal operations to mitigate
liquidity pressures; maintaining an appropri-
ately tight monetary policy stance to durably
restore macroeconomic stability and ensure
social stability; restoring the effectiveness of
monetary policy, including through the use
of appropriate interest-bearing instruments to
mop up liquidity and winding down the use
of gold coins; and maintaining a prudent fiscal
stance.”

Official figures indicate that at 1.8%, the
month-on-month inflation rate for Zimbabwe
is the second-lowest since the adoption of the
local currency in 2020, only coming out sec-
ond to a rate of 1.6% recorded in April 2021.

The continuous decline of month-on-
month inflation to single-digit month-on-
month inflation for the past three months
entails relative price stability in the economy.
The 2023 national budget set a month-on-
month inflation target range of between 1%
to 3% for 2023.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries
(CZI), the organised manufacturing sector
lobby group, says fiscal discipline is vital in
taming inflation.

“Maintaining single-digit month-on-month
inflation is possible and it is actually the norm
for many countries,” the CZI says.

“The authorities need to maintain the cur-
rent policy mix in 2023, in order to achieve
the month-on-month inflation set in the 2023
budget. In addition to the current policies
the authorities should: control money supply
growth.

“The agriculture season has commenced
and in the past agriculture financing has led to
unprecedented money supply growth, which
in turn result in increased inflation. Agricul-
ture needs to be financed in a non-inflationary
manner, which includes private sector partici-
pation with government playing a largely sup-

Property
NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Page 32

The home of prime property: [email protected]

Cheap products flood Gulf Complex

The popular Gulf complex along Chinhoyi street in Harare has become popular for cheap clothing and electricals. — Picture: Aaron Ufumeli

NewsHawks Stock Taking Page 33

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Price Sheet

Friday, 23 December 2022 A MEMBER OF FINSEC & THE ZIMBABWE STOCK EXCHANGE

Company Sector Bloomberg Previous Last VWAP (cents) Total Total Price Price YTD Market
Change Change (%) Cap
AFDIS Consumer Goods Ticker Price Traded Traded Traded (cents) ($m)
African Sun Consumer Services (%)
ART AFDIS: ZH (cents) Price Volume Value ($)
Ariston Industrials ASUN: ZH
Axia Consumer Services ARTD: ZH 26002.46 - 26002.46 - - - - 108.02 31,071.52
BAT 2239.25 2500.00 2500.00 4,300 107,500 260.75 11.64 289.25 36,947.54
Bridgefort Capital Consumer Goods ARISTON: ZH 1300.00 1300.00 24.40
Bridgefort Class B Consumer Goods AXIA: ZH 400.67 - - - - - 5,680.71
CAFCA BAT: ZH 10031.95 401.25 2,300 9,229 7.80
CBZ Industrials BFCA: ZH 279694.74 401.25 10418.37 145,300 15,137,900 0.58 0.14 246.70 6,529.92
CFI Financial Services BFCB: ZH 800.00 10500.00 280000.00 840,000 386.42 3.85 -12.53 57,813.65
Dairibord 2600.00 280000.00 300 305.26 0.11 -77.14 57,773.85
Delta Industrials CAFCA: ZH 20010.00 800.00 - -
Ecocash Banking CBZ: ZH 12400.00 - 2600.00 - - - - 4.00 96.00
Econet CFI:ZH 35800.00 - 20010.00 - - - - 17.71 34.89
Edgars Industrials 3150.00 - 12400.00 124,000 - - 64.96 1,747.90
FBC Consumer Goods DZL: ZH 31094.79 12400.00 35800.00 1,000 - - - 282.60 64,810.02
Fidelity Consumer Goods DLTA: ZH 3600.00 - 3150.00 - - - - -10.00 37,962.63
First Capital EHZL: ZH 7727.72 - 33888.63 - 8,878,820 - - 108.51 11,277.03
FML Technology ECO: ZH 805.00 35000.00 3687.50 14,750 2793.84 8.98 -9.29 442,534.54
FMP Telecommunications 6200.00 3650.00 8020.35 26,200 12,022,510 87.50 2.43 -5.64 95,527.54
GBH Consumer Services EDGR: ZH 2400.00 8100.00 805.00 400 - 292.63 3.79 85.06 207,773.33
Getbucks FBC: ZH 1022.90 - 6200.00 12,400 - - 83.14 4,864.19
Hippo Banking FIDL: ZH 2190.91 6200.00 2400.00 149,900 26,400 - - 52.04 41,660.90
Innscor Financial Services FCA: ZH 1125.00 2400.00 1170.00 - 4,680 - - 238.74 2,614.16
Lafarge 170.00 1170.00 2228.01 1,241,000 147.10 14.38 11.40 25,271.00
Mash Banking FMHL: ZH 2180.00 2400.00 1145.60 200 1,174,240 37.10 1.69 46.87 15,376.46
Masimba Financial Services FMP: ZH 18000.00 1290.00 170.00 1,100 1,360 20.60 1.83 -25.93 14,184.33
Meikles GBH: ZH 45198.08 170.00 2180.00 45,780 - - 263.33 912.20
Nampak Real Estate 14375.00 2180.00 18000.00 400 - - - -35.71 25,355.98
NTS Industrials GBFS: ZH 1499.97 - 51911.29 55,700 1,609,250 - - 219.66 34,743.70
NMBZ HIPO: ZH 7500.00 51975.00 14375.00 102,500 - 6713.21 14.85 79.69 295,830.22
OK Zim Financial Services 10200.00 - 1275.00 1,162,268,000 - - 292.95 11,500.00
Proplastics Consumer Goods INN: ZH 800.00 1275.00 7500.00 800 - -224.97 -15.00 36.36 21,516.70
RTG LACZ: ZH 1020.00 - 10200.00 2,100 - - - -18.47 18,124.03
RioZim Industrials MASH: ZH 3500.00 - - - - 26,127.38
SeedCo Industrials MSHL: ZH 3268.71 800.00 - - -28.30
Star Africa Real Estate MEIK: ZH 2510.00 - 1020.00 3,100 - - - 61.90 6,045.18
Tanganda Industrials NPKZ: ZH 772.00 - 3500.00 1,819,050 - - 334.62 2,589.50
Truworths Industrials 14005.00 - 3219.56 - 3,765,000 - - 17.30 14,146.01
TSL Industrials NTS: ZH 6961.37 3200.00 2510.00 91,158,300 - -49.15 -1.50 -13.44 41,735.54
Turnall Industrials NMB: ZH 160.26 2510.00 772.00 - - - -1.03 6,323.58
Unifreight OKZ: ZH 8700.00 - 14005.00 - - - - 250.13 19,265.23
Banking PROL: ZH 275.00 - 6961.37 - 41,443 - - -34.06 17,090.23
Willdale Consumer Services RTG: ZH 4245.00 - 160.01 - - - - 38.11 17,359.82
ZB RIOZ: ZH 394.75 160.25 8700.00 - - -0.25 -0.16 29.73 7,544.61
Zeco Industrials SEED: ZH 5165.00 - 275.00 - - - - 37.50 22,712.62
Zimpapers Consumer Services 180.00 - 4245.00 56,500 - - - -39.51 1,056.19
Zimplow SACL: ZH 11295.00 - 394.75 150,000 30,990 - - -3.75 15,200.37
ZHL Basic Materials TANG: ZH - 5165.00 - - - - 72.36 1,946.28
TOTAL Consumer Goods TRUW: ZH 3.31 5165.00 180.00 - 327,555 - - -41.84 5,499.39
Consumer Goods 241.29 - 11295.00 - - - - 46.69 3,200.40
Consumer Goods TSL: ZH 1705.00 11295.00 25,900 - - - 589.58 19,787.78
Consumer Services TURN: ZH 401.99 - 3.31 - - - - -17.08
Consumer Goods UNIF: ZH - 241.29 - - - - -27.75 15.34
WILD: ZH - 1705.00 - 1,209,501,857 - - 6.89 1,389.83
Industrials ZBFH: ZH - 401.99 - - - 5,875.10
Industrials ZECO: ZH 600 7,309.06
Industrials - 1,811,754.34
ZIMP: ZH 2,900
Banking ZIMPLOW: ZH -
Industrials -
Consumer Services ZHL: ZH -
Industrials -
Financial Services 91,889,800

ETFs CSAG.zw 175.00 - 175.00 - - - - 75.00 63.35
DMCS.zw 155.21 160.00 160.00 62,250 99,600 4.79 3.09 60.00 112.86
Cass Saddle Agriculture ETF 113.67 102.00 113.75 23,090 26,266 0.08 0.07 13.75 2,719.77
Datvest Modified Consumer Staples ETF MIZ.zw
Morgan&Co Made in Zimbabwe ETF MCMS.zw 2300.00 2300.00 2300.00 10 230 - - 130.00 2,959.48
Morgan&Co Multi-Sector ETF OMTT.zw 690.91 670.00 677.16 9,642 65,291 -13.75 -1.99 53.87 972.57
Old Mutual ZSE Top 10 ETF
-
FINSEC Financial Services OMZIL 13000.00 - 13000.00 - - - 30.00 10,791.52
Old Mutual Zimbabwe -
- - -
VFEX (US cents) - - - US$m
82,774 - -
BNC Mining BIND:VX 2.30 - 2.30 330 18,872 - - -58.18 29.27
Caledonia Mining CMCL:VX 1300.00 - 1300.00 - 99 - -- 8.06
Nedbank Financial Services 1150.00 - 1150.00 - - - -13.27 1.84
Padenga Consumer Goods NED:VX 22.80 - 8.57
SeedCo International Consumer Goods PHL:VX 22.80 29.95 22.80 - 6.77 123.48
Simbisa Brands Consumer Goods SCIL:VX 29.95 - 29.95 - -63.17 114.25
SIM: VX 30.50 30.50 171.47

REITs TIG.zw 3800.19 3800.00 3800.19 - -- - 35.72 48,366.26
Tigere REIT
Close Change (%) Open YTD % Top 5 Risers Price Change % YTD %
Index +5.29 16,479.40 +60.32 +14.85 +219.66
ZSE All Share 17,350.85 +7.06 +57.16 Innscor 51911.29c +6713.21c +14.38 +238.74
Top 10 10,704.59 +6.69 9,998.77 +57.13 First Capital 1170.00c +147.10c +11.64 +289.25
Top 15 11,830.69 - 11,088.89 +11.88 African Sun 2500.00c +260.75c +8.98 +108.51
Small Cap 450,611.20 +0.95 450,611.20 +70.46 Delta +3.85 +246.70
Medium Cap 34,786.56 34,459.96 Axia 33888.63c +2793.84c
10418.37c +386.42c % YTD %
-15.00 +292.95
Top 5 Fallers Price Change -1.50 +17.30
Mash -0.16 +38.11
OK Zim 1275.00c -224.97c
Star Africa - -
- 3219.56c -49.15c - -
-
160.01c -0.25c

--

--

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

Tel: (+263) 08677008101-2 | Email: [email protected] | Address: 14165 Sauer Road, Gunhill, 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

Page 34 News Analysis NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

BRENNA MATENDERE Democratic space narrows
ahead of Zim's 2023 polls
AS Zimbabwe inches closer to the
2023 general election, the democrat- been set for 17 December. The NewsHawks: almost 20 and this does not project space has been narrowing since the
ic space is narrowing as authoritarian   “Your notification to hold the “The Coalition will not submit it- Zimbabwe well ahead of the 2023 2018 elections, going to the violence
rule takes a toll on the political oppo- general elections, sparking fears of of 2019 and we have seen a systematic
sition and civil society. above mentioned rally was received, self to authoritarian rule. To that end, heightened repression in months move by Zanu PF to shut down the
and the event was not sanctioned,” the Coalition will never register as a ahead. largest opposition party, CCC.”
In December alone, critical devel- said the police without giving any rea- PVO, we will defy all provisions of the
opments that undermine democracy son for the ban. repressive piece of legislation.” In the few cases CCC rallies have “The sustained assault on the mem-
have unfolded. been sanctioned, Zanu PF thugs have bers of the opposition and the arrest of
Earlier in the year, several other ral- “The Coalition will engage citizens physically attacked and even killed MP Job Sikhala as well as undermin-
Most notably, the draconian Pri- lies had been banned but going close and push back against authoritarian- opposition supporters. ing of the judiciary have also narrowed
vate Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) to the elections, the expectation was ism.  We will make dictatorship cost- the democratic space. The conduct of
Bill was passed by Parliament. that the situation would change, espe- ly for the government of Emmerson Recently a video circulated in Zec [Zimbabwe Electoral Commis-
cially after the visit of the Common- Mnangagwa.” which Zanu PF supporters literally sion], which has shown where its al-
Zanu PF legislators shrugged off wealth team to assess the country’s called for the assassination of Chamisa ligence lies, is also worrying,” he said.
or ignored wide-ranging criticism by preparedness to re-join the bloc. Chamisa, in a tweet, expressed his and people who will mourn him.
the public during nationwide hearings exasperation over the flagrant tram- He bemoaned the unlawful re-
and proceeded to vote for the Bill in During the visit, Harare had re- pling of democracy. “Forward with the death of Chami- striction to access to the voters' roll as
the National Assembly. peatedly promised to uphold tenets of sa, down with people who will mourn another indictment on the country’s
democracy. “Our end of year rallies are banned. him,” chanted leader of the group and purported democracy and warned
The discredited law will give the Police have prohibited our two rallies his compatriots repeated after him. that credible elections will happen
government unfettered discretionary Analysts say for a country that pur- this weekend after stopping our tree when President Emmerson Mnangag-
power to over-regulate and interfere ports to be a constitutional democ- planting programme earlier this week. No arrests have been made but wa controls Zec.
in non-government organisations’ op- racy, Zimbabwe is taking the wrong opposition MP Job Sikhala, who
erations. direction. No country can claim to be “I am told Zanu PF fears the was charged for inciting violence in “Mr Mnangagwa knows the real
entrenching democracy while placing bumper crowds and our big rallies will Chitungwiza after the murder of op- threat that lies ahead if Chamisa wins
For instance, it will give the author- NGOs under the noose and banning send the wrong message to the world,” position member Moreblessing Ali, the elections such as exposure of their
ities unchecked power to designate the activities of the political opposi- he said. is now clocking 200 days in pre-trial human rights abuses going back to
any PVO as “high risk” or “vulnera- tion. With the PVO Bill having al- detention. His latest bid for bail failed 1980 and so they are prepared to do
ble” to terrorism abuse, thereby allow- ready been passed, NGOs are vowing The ban on opposition events has and he appears destined to spend anything to stranglehold on power. As
ing the government to revoke a PVO’s to oppose it when it is passed into law, continued since government enacted Christmas in prison. we go towards the next elections, I see
registration and remove or replace its which may essentially lead to civil dis- its draconian Public Order and Secu- more efforts being done to prevent the
leadership. obedience. rity Act (Posa) which was replaced by Veteran opposition official David will of the people triumphing,” added
an equally repressive Maintenance of Coltart, in an interview with The Coltart.
In addition, to avoid civil penalties, Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe Peace and Order Act (Mopa). NewsHawks, said:
PVOs would be required to receive spokesperson Obert Masaraure told
approval from the government for any Since January this year, the num- “The reality is that democratic
“material change” including changes ber of banned CCC events number
to its management and internal con-
stitution.

Furthermore, PVOs would be pro-
hibited from supporting or opposing
any political party or candidate.

While the government claims that
the PVO Amendment Bill is neces-
sary to ensure counterterrorism and
anti-money laundering, there are al-
ready laws in place to address these
matters. Before the dust had settled
over passing of the Bill early this
month, another assault on democracy
occurred.

Police banned an event organised
by a citizen in Masvingo to plant
trees because he had invited opposi-
tion Citizens' Coalition for Change
(CCC) leader Neslon Chamisa.

The tree-planting event was sched-
uled to be held in ward 4, at Takaona
homestead in Gutu North constituen-
cy. The false reason given by the police
in banning the event was as ridiculous
as it was kindergarten.

“We can’t allow two parties to hold
political gatherings in the same ward
on the same date. There will be vio-
lence. Our duty as police is to main-
tain peace and order; hence we had to
stop one party from holding the meet-
ing,” said police officer commanding
Masvingo East district Joachim Mam-
bure.

A few days later, police in Harare is-
sued another ban on two end-of-year
rallies at which CCC leader Nelson
Chamisa was set to address the par-
ty followers in Budiriro suburb and
Chitungwiza.

The end-of-year celebrations had

NewsHawks The Big Debate Page 35

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

RUVIMBO MUCHENJE Opposition CCC made CCC through escalated repression.
loud splash in year 2022 The recent banning of a tree planting
THE dawn of 2022, January 24 to programme planned by the opposition
be precise, marked the birth of a new Citizens' Coalition for Change Nelson Chamisa. Citizens Coalition for Change pro-
political party, the Citizens' Coalition vides a microcosm of the 2023 cam-
for Change, which has outdone itself This was the trend among  rural Gokwe. So it appears that not much fractured the party’s senior stalwarts. paign landscape, party spokesperson
in terms of branding and publicity in elections in the 2022 by elections and has changed in terms of their inroads Recently, Chalton Hwende, who Mahere has said.
just one year. previous elections. into the rural areas. So the rural be-
comes a key area where the CCC must used to be viewed as a close ally of She told The NewsHawks that over
Two months after its formation, the And in most cases there in reduced work, particularly addressing the issue Chamisa, took to Twitter to register 40 activities have been banned since
party went on to contest in by-elec- participation of the electorate in of fear and patronage and the role of displeasure on how “other party mem- the party’s formation in January this
tions. by-elections than in national elections. traditional leaders. Traditional leaders bers” were denigrating his rural mobil- year
are supposed to be neutral,” he added. isation efforts.
It romped home to victory and Voter turnout in the election was “Over 43 CCC events, initiatives
made a bold statement by claiming significantly low, ranging between Ruhanya added that the party must He then announced that he would and meetings have been banned at
19 of the available parliamentary seats 250 and 300 voters per polling station ensure it wins by large margins in its be taking a backseat from party activ- the instance of Zanu PF since Janu-
and 75 of the 122 council seats, most where over 800 people are registered urban strongholds. ities. ary when the citizens’ movement was
of them in urban areas. to vote. formed. This is a clear sign that Zanu
The party has many teething prob- It seems this is the general feeling PF is in panic mode and running
A brief background. In 2020, the At the polling station where Cha- lems most of which can easily be cured towards the party by other members. scared ahead of the landmark 2023
Supreme Court handed down a ruling misa voted, Kuwadzana 2 Primary but, they are taking too much time to election,” said Mahere.
that the MDC, which was the biggest School, just over 200 people out of fix. They seem to have followed suit but
opposition party then, led by Nelson 856 registered voters had cast their without announcing. She added that the ruling party’s
Chamisa, should go to congress and ballots by 5pm. For example the party seems to be conduct is a reflection of growing un-
elect a president. a one-man band, with decisions being Chamisa is on record as saying the popularity.
In these parts, they were beaten made by the president only. absence of structures is a safeguard
Chamisa and his loyalists refused, hands down, for example in the recent against infiltration, but there are no “They have lost all popular support.
hence all MPs and councillors who Mutasa North by election zanu pf ’s Chamisa says the party only has the guidelines as to the conduct of mem- Zanu PF can never win a free and fair
aligned with Chamisa were recalled candidate had 1400 votes, while ccc president, the spokesperson Fadzayi bers because there is no constitution election in Zimbabwe.”
from their posts by Douglas Mwon- candidate had a measly 400. Mahere, the deputy spokesperson Gift and the one centre of power speaks
zora who became party president after Siziba and the citizens. more to dictatorship than to the de- The CCC has had hurdles during
going ahead with the judicially pre- Pedzisai Ruhanya, an analyst with mocracy the party preaches. the campaign and beyond, including
scribed congress. the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute No one else holds a post besides two of their last two rallies for the year
(ZDI), said the CCC should do more these three. After recalls from the MDC, some 2022 which were banned.
A total of 28 constituencies and 122 towards mobilising the rural vote. party members joined Zanu PF, in-
council wards were vacant by January This has evoked worry in the diplo- cluding Blessing Chebundo of Kwe- “Political parties must be allowed
2022, through recalls but other office “They have to improve their rural matic world as they do not know who kwe, who famously defeated Emmer- to campaign freely without interfer-
holders succumbed to Covid-19. strategy,” Ruhanya said. the party’s front runners are. son Mnangagwa in parliamentary ence as provided for in the constitu-
elections. tion. There must be fair access to state
The by-election humbled Douglas “Apart from Binga, you would real- Not only has it affected the image, media and political freedoms must be
Mwonzora, who held on to the MDC ise that they lost Mutasa, they lost in this leadership model seems to have The government has reacted to the respected. Vote buying, abuse of the
party, hoping to maintain its glory assisted voter process and all other
days. electoral manipulation must stop,” she
said.
Unfortunately all the candidates
fielded under the MDC banner did “The citizens have unequivocally
not get anything beyond a hundred in placed their faith in the CCC. Against
the constituencies and wards. all odds, we have demonstrated that we
are a competent, credible alternative to
This was the bold statement by Zanu PF. For progressive Zimbabwe-
CCC, announcing themselves as a ans who want transformation, oppor-
force to reckon with on the political tunity and prosperity, we’ve demon-
arena. strated that we are the only game in
town. Even the Afrobarometer report
Although they scored big, the mar- states that if an election were called to-
gins that ruling party candidates lost day, CCC would win. We want elec-
with were not too big to warrant the tions, not war,” added Mahere.
newly formed opposition party, a
stronghold, especially in rural areas. In Gokwe, CCC supporters
marched on and continued with the
Unfortunately, the rural areas re- rally despite police water canons and
mained difficult terrain for them, with tear smoke all over the rally venue. In
results as bad as opposition getting Kwekwe Central, their candidate Ju-
half or a third of the ruling party can- dith Tobaiwa won despite bloody vi-
didates. olence breaking out at the presidential
star rally.
Like in the Mutasa Rural District
Council by-election, Zanu PF’s Barara Mahere added that the bans were a
Regina won with 1 080 votes while show of strength of the party.
CCC’s Nyamururu Barbarah scored
408. “We take these bans to be an indica-
tion that we are being effective in our
Although the party campaigned ex- strategies, showing up in places where
tensively, with President Mnangagwa it is uncomfortable for the regime. So
headlining all rallies, the numbers at for us this is a sure sign that we must
rallies were not indicating in the ballot strengthen our commitment to engag-
box. ing in impossible spaces,” she said.

Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya As the 2023 harmonised election
said Chamisa and his party ought to beckons, the opposition could take a
strategise beyond rallies. leaf from the by-elections of 2022.

“CCC will need to marry crowds
with votes,” he said.

Page 36 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

SOUTHERN Rhodesia - now Blacks had no voice ernments. “But it was a lie to say
Zimbabwe - rejected joining the in 1922 referendum that this was the ‘final’ settlement.
South African Union in a historic of the outbreak of the First World ed People: Zimbabwe Before & Af- ing the idea of dividing the country When responsible government came
referendum in October 1922. War. After the elections in April ter Rhodes, Lawrence Vambe anal- more precisely into black and whites into effect, it appointed the infa-
1920, there was strong push for yses what the post-First World areas. These rumours came in the mous Morris Carter Commission
Voters had to choose between the need to decide on whether for War Southern Rhodesia meant wake of the appointment of the Na- to go into the same subject, which
establishing self-government, join- Southern Rhodesia should become to the black African. He argues tive Reserve Commission in 1914 to went about the country ‘consulting’
ing the Union of South Africa a British colony with self-govern- that while the war had been dev- make final recommendations on the African and European opinion on
or continuing under the British ing status or merge with the union. astating, it ushered a new age for allocation of land for African com- the matter. This was obviously an-
South Africa Company (BSAC). whites in Rhodesia in which a munal occupation.” other bluffing attempt at convinc-
The BSAC had governed South- In May 1920, the Legislative rosy future beckoned. ing the African people and the Brit-
ern Rhodesia since October 1889 Council pushed for resolution of The commission largely ig- ish Government that justice was
when it was granted a mining the issue. A commission was es- He thus states: “The most im- nored African opinion. It en- being done to everyone. But I am
exploration charter by the British tablished by the British govern- mediate effect of this was the in- trenched segregation based on old enough to know that the white
government. ment under the leadership of Earl creased flow of white immigrants the claim that whites men were settlers, through their government,
Buxton. Some representatives from who came to swell the ranks of those mischief makers who were busy knew exactly what they wanted
Its founder Cecil John Rhodes Southern Rhodesia visited Cape already in the country. This was a violating black women. and needed no African opinion to
was given permission to explore the Town to consult the Jan Smuts-led most welcome turn of events for the enlighten them on the system they
area north of the Transvaal with government on terms which they tiny white minority. The new im- Vambe adds: “Indeed, this pro- were evolving. All the same, they
unlimited powers. In 1890 the could be admitted to the Union migrants brought in greatly needed cess was already in evidence in the went through the motions of sound-
BSAC founded the town of Salis- of South Africa. Other representa- skills, capital and other valuable crop of coffee-coloured children that ing out African public opinion on a
bury (now Harare) and named tives went to London to push for assets.” had been and were being born ev- process whose basic intentions were
the territory Rhodesia in honour self-government and negotiate the erywhere where white men and directed at reducing black people
of Rhodes. From 1890 the com- terms. As regards Africans, Vambe black women had come into close to the state of permanent political,
pany operated as the government writes: “But for the African people, contact. For another the white men economic and racial inferiors,” he
of Southern Rhodesia until 1923. This culminated in a referen- white immigration and the grow- had plenty of money and could soon says.
In 1898 a governing body called dum on 27 October 1922 where ing confidence that it engendered buy up all the land leave Africans
the Legislative Council was estab- the white settler minority over- among the earlier settlers tipped the landless.” The Carter Commission result-
lished with members of the BSAC whelmingly voted against merging scales even more against their shaky ed in the enactment of the obnox-
dominating the body. In 1910, with the union. In 1923 Southern position…once the white man felt The Land Commission report ious Land Apportionment Act of
the Union of South Africa was Rhodesia became a crown colony secure in the company of his own worsened the African condition. 1930. It was upon this legislation
formed, bringing together former with self-governing status limited kind, he almost inevitably became It recommended the reduction in that “white Southern Africa was
Afrikaner Republics and the Cape to white settlers. arrogant and intransigent, and his the size of land that was held by to build its citadel of supremacy”.
Colony. South Africa was granted capacity to make the black man feel Africans. It assigned the best land
self-governing status as a colony TERERAI MAFUKIDZE insecure became correspondingly to Europeans. To be continued…
within the larger British empire. greater. These were the ugly realities
AS already stated previously, black that the decade of the 1920s ush- Vambe says that in this case, *About the writer: Advocate
This resulted in the division of Africans had no real electoral say ered in for my people. the Shona were the chief victims. Tererai Mafukidze is now a
opinions for settlers in Southern in the 1922 referendum. These recommendations which member of the Johannesburg
Rhodesia. As early as 1914 the “As early as 1915 the VaShawasha were officially described as ‘the Bar. He practises with Group
Legislative Council considered the In his seminal work An Ill-Fat- people had heard vague rumours final’ settlement of the land ques- One Sandown Chambers in
question on whether it was pru- that white people were entertain- tion were accepted by both the Sandton, Johannesburg. His
dent for the BSAC to continue as British and the Rhodesian gov- practice areas at the Bar are:
governing body of the colony, or general commercial law, com-
should the colony join the Union petition law, human rights, ad-
of South Africa. ministrative and constitutional
law.
This was postponed as a result

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 37

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Examining Johanne Marange’s cardinal
belief system, human rights imperatives

MATTHEW MARE  Women from the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church. vulnerable societies.
Not much has been written on
THE abuse of women and children and flesh. The 10 Commandments ism and its various manifestations. changing and changed circumstanc-
is a front-page item globally. are believed to have been written by Schools, clinics and hospitals came es. It is the assumption of this study how much government policies
God himself and were handed over along with colonialism; hence the that the JMAC theology is behaving aimed at uplifting the livelihoods
Religious-linked terror groups to Moses in their original form. Church taught and protested a lot as if the post independent Zimba- of the vulnerable children are ben-
use women and children as political against these. bwe is a colonial government. efiting children in AICs, particu-
pawns and human shields.  Children The church teaches that God is larly JMAC. The waywardness of
have always been victims of history still manifesting himself through the The protests and boycotting of On the other hand, the state’s the church is clearly captured in the
both in the secular and ecclesiastic. Holy Spirit and continuous revela- these institutions was part of the approach to JMAC is that of vol- 1648 treaty of Westphalia, which
The issue of child rights is a histor- tion. Thus, God directs his church decolonisation process and political untarism where the church has the created states to regulate the be-
ical subject matter and states are in real time and the role of the state theology more than they had any- right to choose to or not comply haviour of the church.
grappling to mitigate the abuse of in its theology is very limited. thing to do with spirituality. The with the government’s directive.
children’s rights in all spheres of life. role of Old Testament prophets who Reports from scholarship, non-state Thus, the state must take neces-
The state is only tolerated in line were statesmen, political figures, actors, state agencies and individ- sary measures to ensure that, chil-
To demonstrate the importance with Roman 13:1 and through that liberators, advisers, healers, inter- uals were deliberately ignored by dren in AICs are also benefiting
of mitigating child abuse, the study verse the church teaches that, the cessors, messengers and prophetic the government which is looking at from their social policies.  There is a
identified in history major world di- state is the subject to the church, figures influenced the political the- AICs from a political angle. relaxation on the part of the state, to
sasters in which children were key since the church is the representa- ology of JMAC. control and regulate the church. The
victims. Majority of the girls died tive of God on earth. In terms of The ruling Zanu PF considers seriousness of the state is seen in its
during world disasters, with some hermeneutics, the African indepen- The church’s major teachings AICs as its key and reliable political policies, laws and more importantly
minors forced into marriages, raped dent churches (AICs) and JMAC against the state were part of the voting constituency. In turn AICs enforcement.
and human trafficked. employs literalism when interpret- protest against colonisation and the seem to enjoy state protection and
ing the sacred scripture. demand for independence. Of note immunity which enable them to vi- A case in point is that there are
The Vietnamese war of 1944- is the rationale of continuing with olate laws and policies with impuni- no stringent conditions for the reg-
1945 claimed over two million lives, The AICs largely refer to Old Tes- protest theology and political theol- ty. There is a "new normal", mean- istration of churches to ensure that
a majority of whom were children. It tament verses where kings would ogy under changed circumstances. ing doing things the wrong way but before any church is allowed to reg-
was also noted that 1.5 million peo- go to man of God and prophets for still be considered normal. It is a fact ister; its constitution must be sub-
ple mostly children have died as a re- guidance, protection and interces- The country is no longer under co- that children and women in JMAC mitted to the Ministry of Justice
sult of human sacrifice in the Aztec sion. JMAC strongly believe that lonial rule. The majority of churches are not benefiting from the govern- and Parliamentary Affairs to check
culture and no known prosecutions the state is the subject of the church, of Western origin have Africanised, ment policies, and are having their its compliance with the constitu-
took place. and that it must seek God’s face and de-racialised and indigenised to the rights deprived by the church. tion. All existing churches would
repent from its wayward/worldly effect that they are now led and run also submit their theologies for ra-
The 1983-85 famine in Ethiopia deeds. by the indigenous people claiming The state turns a blind eye to such tionalisation and realignment with
claimed at least one million lives and autonomy from the West. human rights violations and instead the constitution.
most girls were abused in refugee The church obeys the state to a showers the church with praises
settlements. limited extent. This background Is it still valid, therefore, to talk when key government officials visit This will be in line with the doc-
was meant to give a brief theological of Western churches in Zimbabwe? their shrines and attend their pass- trine of ultra vires in the constitu-
The study used these statistics to exposition which perhaps helps to With the attainment of Indepen- over ceremonies. tion which states that any practice,
justify why this chapter was dedicat- explain why JMAC children are not dence and changes which took place law or belief system inconsistent
ed to children’s rights and their sus- benefiting from government’s social in once Western churches, JMAC Under the Responsibility to Pro- with the Constitution is invalid to
tainable livelihoods considerations. policies designed to uplift children. theology should have revised some tect doctrine and the Constitution the extent of its inconsistence.
of its theologies. The basic tenet of of Zimbabwe, the government has
The study is not against the the- The JMAC formulated most of any theology is that, it must be con- the legal obligation to protect, pro- This is to say, the church, like
ology of Johanne Marange Apostolic its theologies and teachings in the textualised to adapt and conform to mote and safeguard the rights of the any other legal person, has the duty
Church (JMAC) in its entirety but 1930s as a reaction to colonial- to abide by the conditions set out
it is concerned with those aspects of by the national constitution. This
the theology that violate the rights thinking was triggered by the fact
of children. that, since 1930s, when the church
was formed to date, no JMAC child
The criteria of identifying wheth- has benefitted from the govern-
er the theological practice, ritual ment’s social policies.
and teaching is a violation of Hu-
man Rights was by subjecting these The strict and extremist JMAC
elements to the constitution. The theology is blocking children from
constitution was an important doc- benefiting from the government’s
ument on this study since Zimba- social policies.
bwe as a country is a constitutional
democratic state. This comes at the backdrop a gov-
ernment that is apparently watch-
For years, women and children in ing haplessly as its policies are not
religious sphere are being exposed to impacting positively on the women
heinous acts of abuse including stat- and children in JMAC. The viola-
utory rape, forced virginity testing, tion of child rights through church
forced marriages, which deprive the doctrines is a cause of concern in
girl child the right to fair treatment Zimbabwe despite that there are a
in the sphere of access to education, plethora of laws and programmes
health care, child policies, political which are meant to promote chil-
determination, amongst others. The dren’s rights.
impact of these theologies includes,
pregnant women giving birth at Zimbabwe at a theoretical level
shrines, malnutrition and high in- has done well as far as ratification
fant mortality rates. or acceding to international child
rights instruments is concerned
Children in JMAC are not ben- which, in turn, has been comple-
efiting from most government pol- mented by domestication of inter-
icies due to JMAC’s theology. The national instruments and protocols
theology presents the church as a on child rights.
sojourner on this earth and that the
world is the kingdom of Satan. *About the writer: Matthew
Mare is a Zimbabwean academic
The government being a secular who holds two bachelor’s degrees,
entity is viewed by the church as part five master’s qualifications and
of the earthly kingdom. The church a PhD. He is also doing another
believes that the only laws that gov- PhD and has 12 executive certif-
ern it are the 10 Commandments, icates in different fields. Profes-
which the church teaches were given sionally, he is a civil servant and
to humanity by God himself. also board member at the National
Aids Council of Zimbabwe.
In the JMAC theology, the 10
Commandments are superior to the
constitution that was made by blood

Page 38 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Facing up to the damaging and
disruptive economic realities of 2022

RICHARD D. WOLFF Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. since at least 1945. The Ukraine war
has so far served mainly to validate and
ECONOMIES around the world Widespread feelings that an old cap- alliance. Proliferating delusions need is our context now; it will last until thus harden that perspective.
were shocked and damaged over the italist world is falling apart are not deciphering. or unless a new global arrangement
course of 2022. fading. Global capitalism’s stumbles arrives. The French think tank École The US-China conflict has pro-
Global capitalism has already stum- de Guerre Économique (EGE) has for voked ongoing changes and shifts
Global capitalism had been brew- Those feelings emerge into public bled badly three times in this new cen- 25 years been studying the shadow among all players in the global econ-
ing conflicts among the major powers view during a period of massive con- tury: the dot-com crisis in 2000, the wars for dominance over the global omy. After more than two decades
(the United States, China and the Eu- tradictions — for example, the resur- subprime mortgage crisis in 2008 and economy with interesting, provocative of doing poorly in competition with
ropean Union) for some time as their gence of both white supremacy and the  Covid-19  crisis in 2020. Calling results.  China, the US has shifted from a pol-
relative strengths and vulnerabilities anti-fascism, or the blows against abor- each crisis by a different, conjunctural icy of neoliberal globalisation to one
shifted. tion access in the US following the su- name thinly disguises a cyclic instabili- In October 2022, EGE released a of economic nationalism. The pres-
preme court’s decision to overturn Roe ty intrinsic to and as old as capitalism. book,  Guerre Économique: Qui Est idencies of  Barack Obama,  Donald
US capitalism and its empire are v Wade in contrast with  France’s en- l’Ennemi?  (Economic War: Who Is Trump  and now  Joe Biden  illustrate
widely perceived as waning. Europe’s shrining of abortion access in its con- The capitalist system that domi- the Enemy?), which presented the the shift (even as orthodox econom-
role as a US ally, and indeed its eco- stitution. Chinese workers demand nates globally today organises 99% of findings of a survey of French business ics finds it awkward having celebrated
nomic future, became corresponding- better wages and working conditions its workplaces/enterprises with a small experts that was conducted by EGE’s laissez-faire for so long).
ly riskier as a result. China’s economic while the dishonesty of global capital- minority of employers who direct the Centre de Recherche 451 in July 2022. US shift to economic nationalism
growth encountered problems but ist polluters gets increasingly exposed. large majority of employees. It forces Respondents were asked to name five Objections from European, Canadian
continued to be remarkably posi- today’s great powers (the US, the EU foreign powers that most threaten and other corners flood into Washing-
tive and often crucially supportive of Meanwhile, global changes in great and China) to mobilise their allies and France’s interests. They answered that ton against new US subsidies for auto-
world economic conditions in ways power alignments risk being mis- compete to shape the decisions of the the US was France’s greatest threat, mobiles produced inside the US.
that were once more closely associated understood or undervalued because Global South. with China, Germany, Russia and the
with the role of the US. clashing capitalisms disguise them- UK following, in descending order. Those self-serving US policies are
selves, yet again, in great principles. The post-World War II years of US said to threaten deindustrialisation
China’s deepening alliance Russia versus Ukraine gets rewritten hegemony governed and held togeth- It would be wishful thinking to elsewhere. Europe’s traditional subor-
with  Russia  as well as its burgeoning as anti-Russian Nato expansion versus er a particular global arrangement of mistake this result as peculiar to the dination to, and alliance with, the US
global economic reach frightened Ukrainian self-determination. economies. The culmination of short- French. Many leaders and influencers since 1945 is fraying, notwithstanding
many in the US. Years of increasingly term instabilities and long-term trends around the world criticise and resent the loud claims to the contrary com-
aggressive competition, tariff and trade US capitalism’s shift from neoliberal inside and outside the great powers has the last 75 years of economic hegemo- ing from the US and the EU.
wars, and bans and subsidies, mostly globalisation to government-led eco- undermined US hegemony. A struggle ny wielded by the US. That perspective
initiated by the US, culminated this nomic nationalism to counter China’s to shape the emerging “new world or- on current events has only strength- The deep economic and political
past year in global economic warfare. rise in the global economy gets rewrit- der” is under way. That struggle is the ened in recent years as the US global decline of the UK before and especial-
Economic warfare ten as required by “national security”. economic reality as 2022 ends. empire lost power and wars in Asia, ly after Brexit has the US considering
The key fact is not the military war be- The further fracturing of Europe’s uni- and China emerged as the first serious reliable, alternative agents for its Euro-
tween Russia and  Ukraine, so far a ty gets rewritten, in truly upside-down The hegemonic war of manoeuvre economic competitor against the US pean interests. Germany is the likeli-
limited, secondary affair except for the fashion, as a rebuilt US-EU-Nato est candidate if it could play that role
massive on-the-ground suffering of without jeopardising its dependence
the Ukrainian people and the soldiers on exports to China.
on both sides of the conflict.
Manoeuvres inside Europe force the
The year’s key reality is rather the UK and each EU member to strategise
economic warfare between the US how best to respond to them as well
and the EU versus Russia and China: as to the US and China. Oil and gas
sanctions and counter sanctions. Their price inflation resulting from the US-
ramifications (energy price spikes, EU sanctions against Russia intensi-
supply chain disruptions and massive fied all these conflicts because they
market shifts) worsened the  infla- disadvantage Europe relatively more
tion already troubling many countries. compared to the other players in the
These, in turn, provoked central bank world economy and also European na-
interest rate increases that added more tions vis-à-vis one another.
disruptive and costly shocks to an al-
ready problematic 2022 global econ- Secondary themes distract many
omy. from grasping the global reorganisa-
tion now under way. Among these are
For decades, wealth and income principles such as “national self-deter-
have been redistributed upward — mination”, “freedom of the seas,” and
with minimal protest by the working “rules-based international order”.
classes who were harmed by that re-
distribution. During 2022, working They serve mostly to hide the glob-
classes in many countries were no lon- al reorganisation as if, suddenly, such
ger willing to defer their needs in the principles were the dominant reality
wake of that redistribution. requiring protection. The principles,
rather, provide convenient veneers for
Labour militancy, unionisation and another period of great power realign-
strikes have all been renewed with ments like those witnessed in capital-
remarkable energy and enthusiasm. ism before. Before 1914, contesting
Increasing numbers of workers are capitalisms fought over their respec-
unwilling to wait and see whether tive colonial possessions amid those
or not long sluggish centre-left and capitalisms’ shifting relative strengths.
centre-right governments and par- A declining British empire struggled
ties would do anything adequate to with the major aspiring contestants
change the deepening inequalities, to replace that empire (the US and
instabilities and injustices of contem- Germany) and the minor aspirants
porary capitalism. (France, Russia and Japan).

Capitalism’s victims increasingly Caught up in their global power
rediscovered and resumed alliances struggles were a disintegrating China
with its critics. Thus, they know that and a Global South that was prior-
stagflation, not recovery, may well be itising  decolonisation  above all else.
the result of inflation plus interest rate Within each nation, class struggles —
hikes. The emergence of the  Global especially a rising socialism challeng-
South as an important player in great ing capitalism — further complicated
power politics and its current realign- their external power manoeuvres.
ments took further steps during 2022.
To page 41

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 39

Issue 113, 23 December 2022 IMF technical assistance report
on Zim financial sector stability
The following is an abridged version. For
the full report, please visit:
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/
CR/Issues/2022/12/19/Zimbabwe-Tech-
nical-Assistance-Report-Financial-Sec-
tor-Stability-Review-Consolidat-
ed-527110
Preface
AT the request of the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe (RBZ), the Monetary and
Capital Markets (MCM) Department
of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) conducted a virtual mission
from May 3 to June 10, 2022 to assist
the RBZ on strengthening consolidat-
ed supervision framework.

The main focus was to support the
RBZ in updating the RBZ consolidat-
ed supervision framework, enhancing
prudential reporting on a consolidated
basis, strengthening the assessment of
banking group’s risks, and intensifying
cross-border and interagency coopera-
tion.

The mission had virtual meetings
with Mr. Philip Madamombe Director
of the RBZ Banking Supervision Divi-
sion (BSD), Mr. Ruzayi Chiviri, Ms.
Norah Mukura, Ms. Rachel Musho-
sho, Ms. Susan Kabungaidze, Ms. Vi-
olet Ndoro (all RBZ Deputy Directors
of the BSD) and supervisors responsi-
ble for consolidated supervision. The
mission also had virtual meetings with
representatives of a banking group to
gain their perspective on consolidated
supervision in Zimbabwe and present
the requirements of international stan-
dards in this area.

The mission team would like to
express its gratitude to the RBZ and
its staff, particularly to Mr. Philip
Madamombe, Mr. Ruzayi Chiviri,
and Ms. Violet Ndoro, for the excel-
lent arrangements made to facilitate
the work, as well as for their openness,
productive discussions, and excellent
cooperation.

As a follow-up to the Financial Sec-
tor Stability Review (FSSR), the Tech-
nical Assistance (TA) was financed by
the Financial Sector Stability Fund.

Executive summary requirements such as capital adequacy and enhance the reporting require- and where financial institutions are issues regarding the supervisory ap-
As a follow-up to the 2019 FSSR, ratio and limits on large exposures, as ments to capture developments, which part of banking groups, a ‘group-wide proach for a consolidated supervision,
a remote TA mission supported the well as supervisory approach and pro- arose since the reporting template was recovery plan will be required’. The like consolidated capital calculation,
RBZ on strengthening consolidated cess in relation to consolidated super- first developed. Recovery Plan Guidelines establish intragroup transactions, related party
supervision. The mission reviewed vision in a wider perspective. requirements for the plans, including exposures, concentration risk, large ex-
Zimbabwe’s consolidated supervision The banking groups’ compliance governance, key elements and com- posures, contagion risk and intercon-
framework (regulation, prudential The RBZ has partially implement- with prudential requirements need ponents, and the RBZ supervisory nectedness, particularities of corporate
returns, and supervisory approach) ed the Guidelines. The mission rec- to be analysed, monitored, and en- assessment and approach. For complex governance were discussed.
and identified areas for improvement, ommended to review and update the forced. Although the Guidelines pre- banking groups, group-wide recovery
thoroughly discussed supervisory ap- Guidelines in line with recent updates scribe minimum requirements and plans would provide in depth infor- The RBZ should develop a com-
proaches to consolidated supervision in the legislation, in order to harmo- operational limits (e.g. capital ratio, mation and insight into group opera- prehensive consolidated supervision
with the management of the RBZ and nize RBZ’s powers and its supervisory large exposures) on a consolidated ba- tions and structure. Recovery plans are manual for supervisory purposes. The
provided recommendations on en- approach for non-bank financial insti- sis, the consolidated ratios and expo- a useful tool in conducting effective mission recommended to segregate
hancing the RBZ consolidated super- tutions and non-financial commercial sures informed in the CS-1 report are consolidated supervision. the internal supervisory procedures for
vision framework. subsidiaries of bank holding compa- not subject of analysis. The mission banking groups from the prudential
The RBZ is taking steps to enhance nies and improve prudential require- recommended to develop a detailed The mission discussed the interna- requirements set forth in the Guide-
its risk-based supervision which will ments’ methodologies for banking understanding of the banking group tional standards and best practices re- lines, and to develop a comprehensive
work to support effective consolidated groups. structure, activities, and risks through lated to consolidated supervision with consolidated supervision manual.
supervision. Several TA missions have analysis of collected data and other the BSD management and relevant
supported various aspects of RBZ’s The RBZ has developed reporting supervisory activities and monitor supervisors. In particular, the mission The RBZ should review and modify
program to improve risk-based super- requirements for banking groups sub- the consolidated position of banking focused on sharing international best BSD’s current organization and super-
vision for solo banks. These improve- ject to the Guidelines and is moving to groups and their compliance with pru- practices and practical examples of su- visory processes.
ments to RBZ’s risk-based supervision enhance these requirements. The RBZ dential requirements on consolidated pervisory tools, techniques, and struc-
will also work to enhance consolidated has developed a reporting template for basis. tures for consolidated supervision. The review should ensure adequate
supervision going forward. consolidated supervision information human resources in numbers and ca-
The RBZ has established Guide- (CS-1 template) that comprehends a The RBZ has issued requirements The discussions covered the main pacity necessary for ensuring effective
lines for consolidated supervision broad range of banking groups’ finan- that financial institutions develop re- challenges faced by the BSD team in consolidated supervision. Training
(Guidelines) and is seeking to move cial and related information. The RBZ covery plans to support orderly and the implementation of a consolidated program for supervisors, responsible
forward with their implementation. is collecting quarterly data but is not timely management of crisis situations supervision framework, highlighting: for consolidated supervision, should
The Guidelines were approved in 2007 presently utilizing this information. In and avoid contagion and spill-over ef- a comprehensive understanding of a be a high priority. The RBZ may need
and provide a good foundation for the this regard RBZ is seeking to enhance fects. banking group and the scope of consol- follow up technical assistance to imple-
consolidated supervision, though ar- and update its reporting requirements idation, onsite and offsite supervision ment recommendations on strength-
eas for improvement were identified. as it moves forward with commencing Guidelines setting out recovery plan approaches, strategies to collect data ening consolidated supervision.
The Guidelines address a broad range consolidated supervision activities. requirements for banks were issued on a consolidated basis, and home-
of prudential standards applicable to The mission recommended to review in 20183 (Recovery Plan Guidelines) host supervisors’ relationship. Relevant During the meeting, the senior
banking groups, including minimum and extend to ‘financial institutions’ management of the banking group
presented the main structure, corpo-

Page 40 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

rate governance, and business lines of groups, including minimum require- supervision to reflect recent legislative reporting requirements, and eventual ulations relevant to banking groups)
the group. This direct contact with a ments such as capital adequacy ratio changes and clarify prudential require- enforcement steps and tools also need to include methodologies applied in
banking group framework was very and limits on large exposures, as well ments and expectations for banking more detailed elaboration. the calculation of standard e.g. capi-
important to exemplify the main chal- as supervisory approach and process in groups. The Guidelines provide a good tal ratios, large exposures limits, LCR,
lenges faced by the RBZ for the imple- relation to consolidated supervision in foundation and address most issues The RBZ should review the concepts NSFR, leverage ratios; ii) review the
mentation of consolidated supervision a wider perspective. The RBZ has not presented by consolidated supervision. of ‘connected counterparties’, ‘related relevant reporting templates to ensure
in Zimbabwe and helped to align the yet fully implemented the Guidelines. However, the Guidelines should reflect parties’ and apply them accordingly in that the information needed will be ad-
discussions towards concrete objec- any recent legislative changes to the the Guidelines. The Guidelines should equately provided; iii) enhance current
tives. The RBZ has developed a reporting Banking Act and to recent changes to also benefit from incorporating the systems and adapt monitoring tools to
requirement for banking groups sub- any applicable related standards or re- BCBS guidance17 in the methodolo- receive data on a consolidated basis; iv)
The mission included two days of ject to the Guidelines and is moving to porting requirements (e.g., corporate gy for the identification of ‘connected establish a monitoring process focused
training. About 50 supervisors from enhance these reporting requirements governance guidelines, large exposure counterparties’ for large exposures’ re- on the compliance of the prudential
the BSD participated in the training. The RBZ has developed a report for rules, related party transaction rules). quirements for banking groups. The requirements on a consolidated basis;
Topics covered fundamentals of con- consolidated supervision information Guidelines should also include the and v) update the application mecha-
solidated supervision and main issues (CS-1 template) requiring a broad The RBZ’s Guidelines should be definition of related parties as provid- nism of enforcement measures in case
discussed with the BSD management range of banking groups’ financial rooted firmly and connected plainly ed in Banking Regulations and use the of vulnerabilities or violation of pru-
and relevant supervisors during the and related information. The RBZ with the Banking Act definitions. The concept in the requirements for trans- dential requirements on consolidated
mission. receives the financial information but Banking Act affords RBZ the power actions with related parties and con- basis.
does not adequately analyze CS-1 data to monitor and supervise ‘banking centration risk.
Banking sector overview and information. It is seeking to up- institutions’, ‘associates’ of banking RBZ should develop a comprehen-
The banking sector of Zimbabwe date its reporting requirements to cap- institutions and ‘controlling compa- The RBZ should develop prudential sive consolidated supervision manual.
consists of 13 commercial banks, ture developments, which arose since nies’ – each with a related definition limits on intra-group exposures tar- The consolidated supervision manual
five building societies, and one sav- the template was first developed, and in the legislation. Under the current geted at banking groups. Intra-group would be a compilation of formalized
ings bank that, in total, account for move forward with commencing con- Guidelines, RBZ extends qualitative transactions are a primary source of procedures and RBZ supervisory poli-
ZW$969.245 billion in assets (31 solidated supervision activities. and quantitative prudential standards risk transmission (financial, conta- cies that supervisors should follow for
March 2022). to non-bank financial institutions gion, operational) among and between the supervision of banking groups. It
Of the 19 banks, nine banks have The banking groups’ compliance that are members of a ‘financial con- banking group members and affiliated would discuss the relevant laws, reg-
foreign shareholding, with a market with prudential requirements need to glomerate’ and applies only qualitative banking institutions. ulations or guidelines, and interpre-
share of over 60 percent. Other banks be analyzed, monitored and enforced. standards to non-financial entities op- tations. The manual would enhance
are local, or state owned, in part or Although the Guidelines prescribe erating within a ‘mixed activity group’. Given the breadth and complexity staff’s ability to implement the RBZ’s
whole (the structure of the banking minimum prudential requirements There is scope for further amendment of intra-group transactions and expo- onsite examination, supervisory, and
sector and its indicators are presented (e.g., capital ratio, large exposures) on to the Banking Act and/or Banking sures in banking groups, it is recom- monitoring activities. The manual
in Appendices I and II). a consolidated basis, the consolidated Regulations to incorporate terms such mended that the RBZ review current should be periodically updated to re-
The top ten institutions in Zimba- ratios and exposures in the CS-1 report as ‘financial conglomerate’ and ‘mixed requirements and guidelines that are flect the latest supervisory policy and
bwe are banks operating within bank- are not subject to analysis. activity group’ which are currently directed to address and establish pru- procedures and to address changes in
ing groups (foreign or domestic) and used in the Guidelines but not em- dential limits upon intra-group trans- industry risk-management practices.
include both non-bank financial enti- The methodology for measuring ployed in the Banking Act. actions. In line with best practices, the manual
ties and non-financial commercial en- large exposures for banking groups could be made publicly available con-
tities. The banking sector in Zimbabwe established in the Guidelines needs The RBZ should review and up- The RBZ should reinforce its sistent with the RBZ policies.
is concentrated in the top five banks to be reviewed. The Guidelines define date its prudential requirements and Guidelines and legal authority to re-
(almost 60 percent of total assets) and large exposures as commitments to supervisory procedures to clearly de- quire banking groups to make material The comprehensive consolidated
two of the top ten banks are identified any single person, common enterprise fine the scope of RBZ authority and changes to their structure or operations supervision manual should build upon
as members of “mixed conglomerates”, or corporate exceeding 10 percent of its supervisory approach for nonbank to ensure that effective consolidated and enhance the current internal su-
which are banking groups that contain the banking group’s capital base and financial institutions and non-finan- supervision is not hindered by opaque pervisory procedures set forth in the
commercial enterprises as affiliated establishes a 25 percent limit towards cial commercial subsidiaries of bank or complex structures. Large and com- Guidelines. The current Guidelines
subsidiaries of a parent or bank hold- the exposure of a single counterparty. holding companies. RBZ’s prudential plex banking organisations can present and RBS Guidelines provide a solid
ing company. Foreign-owned banking approach and internal supervisory pro- organisational structures or operations foundation upon which to build more
groups are required to establish local This position be compared to the cedures need to more fully elaborate that are not transparent and do not descriptive and effective internal su-
subsidiaries for local banking, non- BCBS standards, 10 in terms of which how supervisors should exercise RBZ allow for effective identification, mon- pervisory procedures for consolidated
bank and other operations. Overall, a single counterparty may represent a supervisory authorities while accom- itoring and oversight. Complex layers supervision. The Guidelines discuss
the vast majority of banking assets group of connected ones and the defi- modating the role of primary regula- of ownership and intragroup exposures the types of organisations subject to
are housed within group structures nition of ‘connected counterparties’ tors of non-bank financial institutions or dependencies can create channels of consolidated groups and address most
that contain entities which are also involves not only control relationship, (e.g., insurance and securities regula- risk transmission or operational depen- supervisory procedures that will need
subject to non-bank regulation (e.g., but economic interdependency as well. tors). It is also necessary to clarify the dencies that challenge effective super- to be considered and conducted. The
insurance and securities firms). These extent to which commercial enterpris- vision. The Banking Act requires the overall process and ‘main steps’ de-
groups should be subject to consoli- The scope of the Guidelines and es operating as a subsidiary of a bank RBZ to consider whether the structure scribed in the Guidelines, together
dated supervision, by RBZ and/or by RBZ’s supervisory powers extend to holding company are excluded from or governance of a banking group ‘hin- with the tying to the RBS supervision
foreign regulatory bodies as the home banking institutions, bank subsidiar- RBZ investigatory and enforcement ders effective supervision’ in deciding cycle, represent a good first step.
supervisor. ies, bank holding companies, and to powers, while remaining subject to to license a banking institution.
Consolidated supervision frame- subsidiaries of bank holding compa- RBZ’s power to monitor and supervise As a first step and as a foundation to
work in Zimbabwe nies and broadly to ‘any person’ that such commercial businesses. The RBZ’s powers to require oper- consolidated supervision, RBZ should
The RBZ derives its supervisory has direct or indirect control of the ational or structure changes to address build upon the current Institutional
authority from the Reserve Bank of banking institution. It should be clear to what extent equal hindrances to supervision pre- Profile developed for solo banks and
Zimbabwe Act (RBZ Act) and the RBZ is empowered to gather informa- sented by group structures should be develop a group-level Institutional
Banking Act. The RBZ Act in Section The Guidelines provide a scope of tion, conduct onsite inspections, take made prominent in the banking laws Profile that sets forth a comprehen-
6 (1)(e) empowers the Reserve Bank of application to “every banking institu- enforcement actions, and ‘monitor or and the Guidelines to address chal- sive description and analysis reflecting
Zimbabwe to “supervise banking in- tion, bank holding company, financial supervise’ the non-bank, non-financial lenge presented by financial conglom- a deep understanding of the banking
stitutions and to promote the smooth conglomerate, mixed activity group, and unregulated entities that operate erates and mixed activity groups. group. The information necessary to
operation of the payment system.” The and their associates as defined in sec- as subsidiaries of a bank holding com- gain a comprehensive understanding
Banking Act [Chapter 24:20] provides tion 2 of the Banking Act [Chapter pany or controlling company. Supervisory approach and proce- of banking groups should be tailored
for the registration, regulation, contin- 24:20].” The term “associate” is de- dures to the scope and complexity of the
uous monitoring, and supervision of fined in the Banking Act and extends The RBZ should clarify the pruden- group’s operations, and typically may
persons conducting banking business to bank holding companies and enti- tial standard related to the requirement The RBZ internal supervisory pro- be obtained from the organization's
in Zimbabwe. The Banking Act [Part ties that are also subsidiaries of such that banking groups focus on ‘core’ cedures should be segregated from the management, public reports, regula-
45(1)(a)] provides that RBZ is respon- bank holding companies. The Guide- banking activities. Under the Guide- prudential requirements for banking tory reports, third-party sources (e.g.,
sible for “continuously monitoring lines define “financial conglomerate” lines, a banking group is required to groups set forth in the Guidelines. credit rating agency and market ana-
and supervising banking institutions, to mean “any group of companies un- concentrate on core banking business, The current Guidelines mix internal lyst reports), and other relevant pri-
controlling companies and associates der common control whose exclusive which sets a threshold as a proportion RBZ supervisory processes (e.g., RFI mary supervisors or functional regula-
of banking institutions to ensure that or predominant activities consist of of regulated financial activities to the ratings approach, regulatory coopera- tors. RBZ Guidelines and Risk-based
they comply with this Act.” providing significant services in at least balance sheet total of a mixed activity tion) with prudential requirements for Guidelines both reflect a need – as a
The RBZ has established Guide- two financial services sectors.” And group of 70 percent. This requirement banking groups (e.g., corporate gover- first step to effective supervision – to
lines for consolidated supervision and the Guidelines define “mixed activity appears to seek to minimize the extent nance, fit and proper requirements). develop a comprehensive understand-
is seeking to move forward with their group’’ to mean “a group which con- to which non-banking commercial Separating the RBZ internal supervi- ing of the institution.
implementation. The Guidelines were trols at least one banking institution activities can grow to such levels that sory procedures from the prudential
approved in 2007. They provide a as well as commercial and industrial concentrated commercial risks may be requirements imposed on banking Reporting requirements are estab-
good foundation for the consolidat- companies.” presented to the banking institution groups will allow RBZ to modify and lished to obtain information regard-
ed supervision, though areas for im- or bank holding company. The mean- update its internal procedures on a reg- ing corporate structure, business lines,
provement are identified below. The Since issuance of the Guidelines, ing of ‘financial activities’ and of ‘core ular and more detailed basis as needed. risk management structures and other
Guidelines address a broad range of the Banking Act was amended to clar- banking business’, the scope of ‘ancil- group elements.
prudential standards to the banking ify that RBZ supervisory powers ex- lary activities’, the measurement meth- The RBZ should implement up-
tend to ‘controlling companies’, which odology and its application beyond dated Guidelines and supervisory These should be coordinated with
clarifies the meaning of bank holding ‘mixed activity groups’ would need to procedures to monitor and assess the information being received from banks
company. be articulated clearly in Banking Reg- banking groups’ compliance with pru- and banking groups as an element of
ulations and the Guidelines related dential standards on a consolidated their recovery plans.
IMF's key recommendations basis.
The RBZ should review and update The in-depth understanding of
the 2007 Guidelines on consolidated The RBZ should i) update the
Guidelines’ (and other prudential reg-

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 41

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

banking groups offered by the Insti- Specialists should expand their actions, critical shared services, enter- 2007, updated for current application. tation requirements. The RBZ should
tutional Profile would support RBZ’s range of responsibilities, by incorpo- prise-wide risk management (gover- The RBZ should continue to en- develop detailed internal procedures
supervisory planning and allocation rating the macroprudential perspec- nance and controls) and the operations set forth in a comprehensive supervi-
of resources. At present, RBZ assigns tive. In the micro perspective, BSD and supervisory oversight of non-bank hance its coordination activities with sion manual that is updated regularly
supervisory staff to an identified bank specialists are required to conduct the financial entities and non-financial en- domestic and foreign regulators and to provide direction on supervisory
for on- and offsite supervision. These assessment of the issues under their tities. Risk profiles, capital and liquidi- leverage their risk assessments in con- responsibilities and activities related
bank-specific teams are supported by respective scope of action for the su- ty management issues across the group ducting consolidated supervision. to consolidated supervision. It is rec-
specialists in a ‘matrix’ management pervisory assessment of each banking require a full understanding how group ommended that the procedures docu-
approach that would assign staff with institution. Expanding their scope to operations might impact the safety net Many banking groups supervised by ment should cover the key elements of
identified expertise to work within an- an macroprudential approach, will entities, especially the banking entities. RBZ have foreign-ownership or partic- a fulsome supervision report as well as
other bank team to support targeted allow them to plan and perform hor- ipation, and domestic banking groups guidance on financial analysis, related
analysis. Resources are allocated based izontal assessments on the risks under The RBZ should review and mod- maintain cross-border operations. The formulas, and reporting templates.
upon the RAS and conducted as part of their umbrella, emerging risks, relevant ify as needed its current organization, inter-connections among and across
the annual supervisory planning cycle. markets or specific issues. The macro processes, staffing, and training to foreign and domestic financial and The RBZ should review the CS-1
Developing a group-level institution- perspective will improve their ability support consolidated supervisory ac- non-financial institutions presents an reporting template and requirements
al profile will support the conduct of to identify emerging concerns and vul- tivities. With this expansion in scope especial challenge to supervisors. It to capture developments which arose
risk assessment at the group-level and nerabilities, and better contribute with of supervisory activities, new and addi- is incumbent upon RBZ to develop since the template was created. At pres-
support allocation of RBZ resources to the establishment of priorities to the tional supervisory resources, training, and maintain an understanding of the ent, the RBZ requires banking groups
consolidated supervision. BSD’s annual supervision planning. and staff will need to be brought to the quality of consolidated supervision by to submit a form CS-1 that provides
fore. Staffing, organization, processes foreign regulators over banking groups a good foundation for relevant su-
The RBZ should ensure that the The supervision of complex bank- and training will need to reflect that that operate subsidiaries within Zim- pervisory information pertaining to
specialist supervisors, responsible for ing groups expands supervisory re- consolidated supervision expands the babwe. It is an equal responsibility to banking groups needed for consoli-
consolidated supervision, should have sponsibilities and requires extensive supervisory perimeter and increases ar- assess the safety and soundness of a dated supervision. It also is important
access to training programs and peer supervisory knowledge, skills and abili- eas for review and evaluation. group operations in foreign jurisdic- to highlight, however, that the report
learning attachments. The specialist ties that build upon but go beyond the tions. will need adjustments to incorporate
examiners need to be aligned with in- oversight of solo banks. While many of The updated prudential Guidelines data for the assessment of compliance
ternational concepts and best practices. the underlying financial analysis mir- should be issued consistent with RBZ's As RBZ expands its supervisory ac- with the liquidity minimum standards
In this sense, they should have access rors that required of banks (e.g., capital regular policy-making approaches and tivities into group-level operations, the (LCR and NSFR) and the implemen-
to regional and international training adequacy, asset quality, liquidity mea- be supported by strong outreach and frequency and depth of contact and tation of the liquiditymonitoring tools,
programs, as well as peer learning at- sures, corporate governance, risk man- engagement with industry. interactions with foreign and domes- simultaneously with their implemen-
tachments, focused on their respective agement), these supervisory concerns tic sister regulatory agencies should tation in Zimbabwe. Appendix III also
specialties and emerging issues, in or- are expanded to the banking group as The RBZ should conduct a consul- increase. Joint inspections and supervi- presents a check list for the improve-
der to be able to contribute with the a whole and its nonbanking elements tative process on content and scope of sory colleges should be continued, and ment of data collection to supervisory
continuous update on the RBZ’s su- (the wider group). Consolidated su- the updated Guidelines (among other regular contact maintained sufficient purposes, regarding report templates,
pervisory activities and procedures, as pervision requires consideration of dis- issues) in line with its practices on the to allow RBZ to leverage the supervi- offsite processes, and monitoring tools
well as provide training for the BSD tinct and additional supervisory areas new supervisory procedures. The fo- sory assessments of relevant regulators. that RBZ may use as reference.
staff. such as complex, intra-group trans- cused outreach to the industry should
emphasize the initiative to upscale im- The consolidated supervision man- — IMF/The NewsHawks.
plementation of guidelines issued in ual would provide necessary guidance
to supervisors and establish documen-

Facing up to the damaging and
disruptive economic realities of 2022

From Page 38 than private employers, in conjunc- have combined to produce a broad nomic nationalism and its character- without fundamentally challenging
Those conflicts culminat- tion with state-planned distributions crisis in socialism. European social istic propensity for wars. capitalism, the organisation of an
rather than free markets).  democracy has steadily lost support economy whose production entails a
ed in  World War I. That war also across the continent. Neoliberalism The less fantastic propaganda has powerful minority (private or state)
changed everything: the global power China took advantage of that space had undermined social democracy its traces of truth, but they are faint. owning and operating enterprises.
configuration and, likewise, the inter- but soon diverged into its own version ideologically even as economic reali- Repression of internal dissent occurs These organisations seem to have
nal class struggles. of socialism, a hybrid of Soviet-style ties provoked socially divisive immi- in all powers, more or less. Efforts failed, but their failure left a lesson we
state enterprises and private capitalist gration, automation and job exports. by socialists and other working-class can learn and build on.
The US empire replaced the British enterprises, both with similar employ- advocates are repressed or barely tol-
empire. The USSR replaced Russia. er-employee structures. Much the same had happened in erated if carefully disconnected from A truly internationalist socialism
Germany’s empire was erased. Japan Repeating patterns the US to the centre-left represented global power politics. would not tolerate the inequalities
tried to build an Asian empire and Now, yet again, capitalism’s contradic- by the Democratic Party, thereby pav- within and among the nations of
splinter China. Anti-imperialism tions are driving toward another war ing the way for Trump. China’s rise Socialists were split by World War the world. Drastically reducing those
gained strength everywhere. But so that would, likely, once again change has challenged the declining US em- I. On one side were those (Rosa Lux- would be the top priority. Providing
did the capitalist economic system everything. But now we can discern pire and provoked it to adopt increas- emburg, Eugene Debs and  Vladimir full guarantees of food, clothing and
— the structure of production that a certain pattern that would likely be ingly desperate economic nationalism Lenin) who upheld the primacy of housing for all — across each indi-
positions a tiny minority of owners/ repeated, more or less. An old empire in response. Brics (Brazil, Russia, In- the anti-capitalist class struggle and vidual’s lifetime — would be the sec-
directors — the employers — over a (the US) is now clearly in decline, and dia, China and South Africa) and oth- transition to a post-capitalist eco- ond-highest priority.
vast majority of workers — the em- a new one (China) is emerging. The er related international blocs reflect nomic and social system. On the oth-
ployees. only other potential major power is and advance the rising strength and er side were those who took sides in Democratising not only political
the EU, but the disunity among its voice of many in the Global South the global power struggles of capitalist life (one person, one vote for all major
True, the USSR led global move- members greatly weakens its competi- who are moving toward alliances with powers and found convenient social- community decisions) but also eco-
ments against capitalism, but they tiveness relative to the US and China. China and Russia (accelerated by the ist-sounding rationales for doing so. nomic life (ensuring each employee
mostly focused on displacing private Ukraine war and sanctions regime). has one vote on all major workplace
employers with state officials as em- Secondary global powers are Japan World War I split socialists even as decisions) would be the third key
ployers. For most in that generation, and Russia, which are aligned with Propaganda, trials and errors char- it strengthened a broadly defined so- priority. A world committed to these
capitalism meant private employers, the US and China, respectively. Lag- acterise efforts by all sides to navigate cialism. World War II did the same. goals — the concrete meaning of “go-
whereas socialism meant state em- ging behind the major and secondary a dangerous, tension-filled time of It not only hardened the splits within ing beyond capitalism” or “socialism”
ployers. Capitalism’s basic workplace powers by varying degrees, there are change. One side’s “freedom fighters” socialism (such as social democracy — could overcome the causes of cap-
structure — employers versus em- other countries, including many in are characterised by the opposing side and Soviet socialism) but also extend- italist wars and hopefully also of wars
ployees — persisted in both its state the Global South, that have become as agents of domination by major ed the social reach of socialist variants in general.
and private forms. Capitalism’s two economically stronger but whose powers. of anti-capitalism, especially to the
forms contested and worked their economic power remains relatively former colonies and China. — Economy For All.
profound influences everywhere, cul- limited given their own divisions and One side’s expansion of its interna-
minating in World War II. divisiveness, as some play the major tional trade and capital is branded as Capitalism has been the context *About the writer: Richard Da-
powers against one another (or try “aggressiveness” by another side rat- and ultimate cause of world history’s vid Wolff is is an American  Marx-
Britain, Germany, Japan and to). tling its swords. two worst wars. Many had thought, ian economist, known for his work
Russia were all deeply damaged and hoped and worked so that those hor- on economic methodology and class
weakened, leaving the US to expand The collapse and disappearance Shifts from neoliberal globalisation rific wars might enable and empow- analysis. He is  professor emeri-
and solidify its empire for the next 75 of Eastern European socialism after to assertive economic nationalism er first the League of Nations and tus  of economics at the  University
years. The USSR was strong enough 1989 and China’s major opening to are all rationalised as requirements of later the  United Nations. The goals of Massachusetts Amherst and a vis-
to provide some counterweight to US both Chinese and foreign private cap- “national security”. Decades earlier, of these organisations were to secure iting professor in the graduate pro-
military power, chiefly by creating italist investments in recent decades devotees of neoliberalism celebrated peace in place of global power politics gramme in international affairs of
space for the emergence of replicas of its contributions to “peace” by merely moving toward war. the New School in the US.
its socialism (state employers rather existing as a passive contrast to eco-
They tried to achieve that goal

Page 42 Critical Thinking NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

The wave of coups in West Africa:
Superficial democracy is to blame

TEMITOPE J. LANIRAN

WEST Africa has seen  coups  and
military takeovers in three countries
in 2022.

Like those of the past, they came
with promises of a quick return to
civilian regimes once socio-econom-
ic and political challenges had been
met. The challenges are usually list-
ed as inept governance, corruption,
rising insecurity and popular revolts
amid economic hardship.

One  view  of governance on the
African continent is that liberal de-
mocracy has spread since the 2000s,
bringing an end to dictatorships.
Most African countries, it’s argued,
have multiparty democracies with
elected governments.

My own view is that a mere intro-
duction of electoral democracy is not
sufficient. A strong democracy needs
strong institutions to build resilience
against fragility. Poverty and insecuri-
ty are an indication of fragility. They
show that institutions are not effi-
ciently distributing wealth. Civil rule
is under threat as long as institutions
remain fragile.

In my opinion, based on  my re-
search, is that the failure of civilian
governments to improve living condi-
tions, provide leadership and protect
citizens is a major threat to democra-
cy in the west African sub-region.

The military never left 1999 ushered in a sense that military incubators for the return of the mil- dividends, in the form of good gover- Mali military officers. Credit: Getty
The military continues to wield huge coups and autocratic regimes in the itary. nance, remain elusive.
influence in governance in the region. region would end. Failure to protect the lives, prop-
Citizens do not seem willing or able In the last 24 months, govern- Periodic elections are held, which erty and rights of citizens fuelled
to challenge this. The presidency of  Olusegun ments in  Mali,  Guinea  and  Burkina legitimises civilians in power. But the the  “EndSARS” protest, which is
Obasanjo  and the  Economic Com- Faso  were toppled in quick succes- critical fundamentals that foster de- fast crystallising into a social move-
In Nigeria, for example, since munity of West African States (Ecow- sion. mocracy are missing: ment with potential to make a strong
the return to civil rule in 1999, for- as) were diplomatically active against political statement in the  February
mer military generals have largely led military coups. But more recently it In Mali, outrage over the erst- • informed and active participation 2023 elections.
the country. By the end of the current appears that the regional bloc is  rel- while president Ibrahim Keita’s inef- • separation of powers
regime in May 2023, former military atively weak and individual countries fective leadership in the face of rising • respect for the rule of law In Ghana, local lobby groups have
rulers will have been civilian presi- are challenged by economic, social, insecurity and corruption led to his • fundamental human rights staged street protests  amid growing
dents too for 16 out of 24 years of political and security issues. ousting. • accountability. anxiety over economic conditions in
civil rule. As insecurity rises and living con- the country and rising allegations of
Citizens are dissatisfied with mul- In Guinea, the attempt to stay in ditions worsen, will the region expe- corruption and government lethargy.
Similarly, in Sierra Leone, former tilateral institutions – such as Ecow- power by altering the constitution, rience more military takeovers?
military head of state Brigadier Maa- as and the African Union. These bod- even in the face of rising inequali- Democracy appears to have come The future of democracy in the
da Bio  returned as elected civilian ies may be quick to condemn military ty, corruption, gross under-perfor- to stay in parts of the region, such as region will depend on the level of
president in 2018. takeovers, but they are slow to express mance and human rights violations, Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. development in democratic institu-
concern about poor governance, such led to the ousting of President Alpha Others still have work to do in get- tions, level of military sophistication
Election periods in these countries as altering of constitutions for regime Conde. ting the military back to the barracks and professionalism, level of literacy,
see frequent trips by candidates to the survival. permanently. and presence of a broad based elite
homes of previous military or auto- In Burkina Faso, civilian president Even governments in the rather class that is not self-serving.
cratic leaders, seeking their endorse- Governments have failed to deliver Roch Marc Christian Kabore  was more stable nations cannot afford to
ment. on the promises that got them elect- removed because of rising internal be complacent. They will have to in- Elected civilians need to respect
ed. This failure has led to growing displacement, widespread poverty, tensify efforts to deliver the dividends their social contracts with citizens.
An example is the move by dissatisfaction and a quest for alterna- inequality and insecurity. Security of democracy, if they are to avoid civil Citizens need to feel better off with
the  Gambian president Adama Bar- tives. In some cases, citizens welcome forces were also discontented over his unrest or military incursion. civilians in power.
row to form an alliance with the hith- the military, as witnessed in Burkina failure to adequately support them What will shape the future of de-
erto sit-tight dictator Yahya Jammeh. Faso. against militants linked to Al-Qaeda mocracy in the region Nepotism, graft, outright theft of
Jammeh ruled the country for 22 and the Islamic State. Nigeria still exhibits fault lines of reli- public funds and constitutional ma-
years, starting with a 1994 coup, and Common to most of the military Democracy is not necessarily good gion and ethnicity, as well as abuse of nipulations create grounds for mili-
sustained himself in office through takeovers in the sub-region is the fail- governance privilege by the elites over the rest of tary coups.
incessant human rights violations. ure of the civilian regimes to deliver. Although the region has made some the citizens.
Rising insecurity and worsening liv- headway with efforts to propagate — The Conversation.
Barrow gave Jammeh a soft land- ing conditions remain the fate of the democracy, it remains superficial. Its
ing before going on to renege on his people. These factors have acted as *About the writer: Temitope J.
agreement to resign and transfer pow- Laniran is a research associate at
er. the University of Bradford in Brit-
ain.
He is now relying on support from
the old order to stay in power, know-
ing that his popularity with the peo-
ple has diminished.
A toothless regional bloc
The return of civil rule to Nigeria in

NewsHawks Critical Thinking Page 43

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

The ICC upholds 25-year jail term for
Ongwen — Why it matters for Africa

TONNY RAYMOND/ DENNIS JJUUKO

THE International Criminal Court former Ugandan rebel commander Dominic Ongwen.
(ICC) has upheld its 25-year jail term
against former Ugandan rebel com- judges will henceforth be mindful of yond the context of armed conflict. regarding the issue of child soldiers. tively engaged in investigations and
mander Dominic Ongwen. the vulnerability of women during The  explicit recognition  of Ongwen It allows courts in other African con- providing evidence.
armed conflicts. victims’ experiences of harm with- texts to differentiate between between
In a decision delivered on 15 De- in the context of sexual and gen- children as victims (child soldiers) Going forward, proponents of the
cember, the  ICC Appeals Chamber Ongwen’s was also the first case der-based violence can address so- and as perpetrators of crimes. The international justice in Africa will
confirmed, by majority, the punish- where the ICC dealt with the crime cio-cultural injustices against women conscription of children into combat need to engage with ICC member
ment imposed in May last year. of forced pregnancy. Equally import- in transitional contexts. is still a challenge in contexts like the states. They should also seek techni-
ant to note is the Trial Chamber’s em- DRC. cal and financial support from donors
Ongwen was the first Lord’s Resis- phasis of its expansive interpretation The ICC judgements in the On- and private stakeholders.
tance Army leader to be found guilty of the Rome Statute. It noted: gwen case are highly relevant for fem- As a result of this ICC precedent,
of the crimes during which thousands inist legal scholars and proponents African courts can no longer absolve Victims, experts and academics
were killed or displaced in Northern As with any crime, forced pregnan- of gender-sensitive judging, viewed as former child soldiers from criminal made key contributions to this sig-
Uganda. cy must be interpreted in a manner an important precedent on reproduc- liability for crimes committed after nificant jurisprudence on sexual and
that gives this crime independent tive autonomy and rights. they rose to high command positions. gender-based violence in the Ongw-
His commander and Lord’s Resis- meaning from the other sexual and Support by member states is very en case. For other African countries
tance Army founder, Joseph Kony is gender-based violence crimes in the The ICC therefore sets a good crucial — The investigation, surren- dealing with legacies of international
still at large. The US is offering up Statute. precedent for analysing the precari- der and successful prosecution of On- crimes and war crimes, availability of
to  US$5 million  for information ous situation of victims of sexual and gwen cost significant amounts of fi- adequate finances and technical ex-
leading to his capture. The Appeals Chamber stresses the gender-based violence. This will be nances. It required support from state pertise will be crucial.
need to protect the woman’s repro- helpful in conflicts like the  Central and other actors. It shows the depen-
One of Kony’s tactics during ductive health, including the right to African Republic,  Democratic Re- dence of the ICC on member states’ — The Conversation.
the two decades of insurgency was family planning. public of Congo, Ethiopia and South cooperation to fulfil its mandate.
the  abduction and conscription  of Sudan. *About the writers: Tonny Ray-
children into his army. Ongwen was The implication is that prosecution Criminal Liability of former child The Ugandan government, for in- mond Kirabira is a teaching fellow
aged about nine years when he was of sexual and gender-based violence soldiers  — The decision on Ongw- stance, referred the Lord’s Resistance at the University of Portsmouth in
abducted. Many of the former child within armed conflict and post-war en provides an important precedent Army crimes to the ICC. It also ac- Britain. Dennis Jjuuko is a doctoral
soldiers surrendered to the Ugandan contexts will most likely increase. candidate at the University of Mas-
forces under an amnesty framework, sachusettes in Boston, US.
and were resettled back into their The pattern of violating women’s
communities. body cannot be overlooked, even be-

In 2005, the ICC Pre-Trial Cham-
ber II issued  warrants of arrest for
Kony, Ongwen and three other   se-
nior leaders of the Lord’s Resistance
Army for war crimes and crimes
against humanity committed in
Northern Uganda.

On 6 May 2021, the ICC sen-
tenced him to 25 years’ imprisonment
after finding him guilty of 61 counts
of war crimes and crimes against hu-
manity. He appealed against the jail
term.

So why is the verdict on Ongwen’s
appeal important to the African con-
tinent? There are four key reasons.
The decision of the ICC Appeals
Chamber:
• sets precedence on forced mar-

riages and forced pregnancies,
• advances international jurispru-

dence, tackles the question of
child soldiers; and
• underscores the role of ICC
member states.
Why it matters
Precedence on forced marriages and
forced pregancies  - The ICC Trial
Chamber convicted Ongwen of  sex-
ual and gender-based violence crimes
against seven women   he held in
custody. Unlike the crimes of en-
slavement, rape and sexual slavery,
the crime of forced marriage is not
explicitly set out in the Rome Statute.
Recognising and interpreting
forced marriage as a separate crime
against humanity was a  critical step
in the direction of achieving justice
for the victims of sexual and gen-
der-based violence  at the Hague-
based court.
The Trial Chamber indicated that:
The crime of forced marriage de-
pends on the unlawful confinement
of a (forcibly made) pregnant wom-
an, with the effect that the woman is
deprived of reproductive autonomy.
This interpretation implies that

Page 44 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Many Kenyans have embraced vigilante
cops: An ineffective police force to blame

KAMAU WAIRURI

IN  March 2017, Ahmed Rashid,
a Kenyan police officer, shot and
killed two unarmed teenagers ac-
cused of theft. They had surren-
dered and were lying on the ground
in a Nairobi neighbourhood. Rashid
executed them in full view of the
public. This was caught on camera.

On 23 November 2022, Kenya’s
policing oversight body announced
that Rashid would face murder
charges over this incident. This
drew mixed reactions. Some saw it
as positive and long overdue; oth-
ers opposed it strongly. Those who
welcomed the news of Rashid’s im-
pending prosecution find the sup-
port he received befuddling.

I have  studied  this phenomenon
of popular support for brutal polic-
ing. I examined three-day protests
held by residents of Githurai, a poor
neighbourhood in Nairobi, against
the arrest of constable Titus Musi-
li, popularly known as Katitu, in
September 2014. Katitu had been
arrested for the murder of a young
man, Kenneth Kimani. Before this
arrest, he is said to have  shot and
killed  a criminal, Oscar Muchoki,
Kimani’s elder brother.

I found that the support for bru-
tal policing has its roots in the un-
der-protection of communities by
state police and the criminal justice
system. When an officer that a com-
munity has come to depend on for
safety is arrested by the very state
that people feel has failed to protect
them, they see it as interference in
local security arrangements that
they consider effective and efficient.

Police failures Studies show that people belonging to marginalised groups are disproportionately affected by police brutality.
Studies  from around the world
show that the urban poor are dis- rowdy crowds pursue and attack Insecurity persists as people leagues, the police institution and again to protest police brutality by
proportionately affected by police people accused of crimes; or vigi- blame each other, creating spaces for the entire criminal justice system. other officers.
brutality, so how could the residents lante groups. However, communi- various interventions. These spaces People come to believe that such of-
of Githurai express public support ty vigilantism has its limits. People come to be occupied by police offi- ficers are the solution to crime and Therefore, the support expressed
for it? may not participate in mob justice cers who are willing to short circuit insecurity. for officers like Katitu and Rashid
My study  included interviews because of a fear of possible legal re- the system and deliver justice in the should not be read as a blanket en-
with Githurai residents, from pas- percussions. Additionally, vigilante way it’s demanded on the streets: Thus, the arrest of a police officer dorsement of police brutality and
tors to self-identified reformed groups can – and often are – brutal- quickly and brutally. That is, they like Katitu triggers a moral panic, impunity, or as a rejection of police
armed robbers. Everyone I inter- ly crushed by the state, as happened take a violent approach to policing leading to expressions of support accountability. It is a signal that, in
viewed said the level of crime in the in the early 2000s in Kenya. Thus, that goes beyond the limits of their from the community. some of these cases of police excess-
area was high. people in Githurai felt that they had legal power. es, the state and human rights ad-
They were concerned about their no effective mechanisms for dealing Way forward vocates are failing to acknowledge
safety and security. They com- with crime. These police officers, like Katitu The arrest and prosecution of residents’ lived realities.
plained that the police had failed and Rashid, come to be known as “police vigilantes” is aimed at deliv-
to offer them protection. I use the Unsurprisingly, the people I “super cops”. Essentially, they are ering the promise of police account- The conversation about police
term under-protection to refer to spoke to directed their frustrations police vigilantes and  become pop- ability. However, for people like the accountability – and police reforms
this failure of the police to provide with insecurity towards the police. ular  because they are seen as being residents of Githurai, it is seen as more broadly – must be had at the
a satisfactory level of protection to The police are the closest institution willing to do what their colleagues an affront to their “home-grown” grassroots, and take the views and
people who are or are likely to be- to them and they are understood and the police institution are un- solution for crime and insecurity – perspective of community members
come victims of a crime. to be responsible for dealing with willing to do to deal with crime. a solution they had to find because seriously. Even as the government
In contexts marked by insecurity crime. In turn, the police blame Additionally, since they remain a the state failed to offer adequate le- and human rights practitioners ad-
and under-protection, people find the community for not providing symbolic representation of the state, gal protection. vocate for police accountability,
innovative ways of responding to them with information that would even when they operate outside the This is not to say that residents they must demonstrate that they
crime. Some rely on private security help them catch criminals, and the law, they don’t face the limitations support all forms of police brutality, care about the safety of communi-
and others, especially the poor, rely courts for releasing those they arrest that constrain community vigilan- or brutality by all police officers. ties.
on community vigilantism. That is, and prosecute. tism. In fact, many residents of Githu-
they take security matters into their rai opposed the violence deployed — The Conversation.
own hands. Many criminal cases in Kenya fail The more such officers deploy vi- by police officers against protesters.
Community vigilantism takes because of police failure to provide olence against suspected criminals, Those who support officers like Kat- *About the writer: Kamau
two main forms: mob justice, where adequate evidence in court. the more their legitimacy grows itu and Rashid may be on the streets Wairuri is a lecturer in criminol-
as they are contrasted to their col- ogy at Edinburgh Napier Univer-
The rise of ‘super cops’ sity in Scotland.

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 45

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Jihadists, bandits are cooperating.
Why this is bad news for Nigeria

FOLAHANMI AINA

THE Nigerian state has come un- The interests of bandits and jihadists are converging in Nigeria and this poses a formidable threat to the country’s security.
der severe security stress in recent
times. It has faced multiple national bandits in the pursuit of its goals and ate. The groups differ among them- imity to them, if they resolve their re- What needs to be done
security threats:  jihadist groups  in objectives, which it claims are to pro- selves on how exactly to achieve this. curring differences. To avert this, the federal government
the north-east; armed bandits in the tect Muslims across Africa by fighting This explains the internal rift within of Nigeria must act fast. It must in-
north-west;  militia secessionists  in against the Nigerian government and Boko Haram which led to the emer- Doing so would guarantee steady tensify covert action to disrupt the
the south-east; and  militancy  in the international interests. gence of ISWAP in 2015. In May sources of funds and arms for both potential consolidation of partner-
south-south. 2021, ISWAP staged an  assault  on armed non-state actors. ships between armed bandits and ji-
Though there have been occasion- Boko Haram’s leader  Abubakar hadist groups.
Thousands of people have died or al clashes between bandits and jihad- Shekau, resulting in his death. A second trigger could be the ef-
been displaced. ists, the quest for strategic relevance fect of ransom payments to kidnap- In doing so, it must however be
among jihadist groups implies a will- What they have in common how- pers being made illegal. The Nigerian careful not to rely solely on the use
Hardly a day goes by without re- ingness to form new alliances and ever is a hierarchical leadership struc- government recently enacted this law. of force, which tends to result in the
ports of kidnappings for ransom, bolster existing ones. Bandits could ture from which they derive their in- over-militarisation of an already com-
thefts, cattle rustling or sexual vio- confer strategic relevance on jihadists structions. ISWAP has ties with the As the law takes effect, families of plex issue. It ignores the triggers and
lence by armed bandits in the trou- by providing them with the manpow- Islamic State, and Ansaru and Boko kidnapped victims will be less willing drivers of terrorism and has the un-
bled north-west region. er and economic resources required Haram have ties with Al-Qaeda. to pay ransom – the major financial intended effect of terrorists becoming
in the pursuit of their goals. resource for armed bandits. Bandits adaptive over time.
Armed bandits have become so The absence of such external lead- could potentially become desperate
emboldened as to stage  highway at- The Nigerian military’s Operations ership structures for armed bandits and set aside their differences with Efforts must be directed at address-
tacks  and set  ambushes  against the Hadarin Daji  and  Thunderstrike  in- means it might be difficult to achieve jihadists, choosing to partner with ing underlying socio-economic, envi-
country’s security forces. Concern is flicted operational defeats on the ji- an ironclad partnership between them. ronmental and political root causes of
increasing about the threat they pose hadists. They have since embarked on them and jihadists in the long run. the country’s farmer-herder crisis,
to peace and security in Nigeria. an intensified effort to recruit fighters A synergy between armed bandits which contributes to the prolifera-
into their fold, including  child sol- As armed bandits become more and jihadists would lead to more ci- tion of small arms and light weapons
Much has been written about this diers. assertive, however, they might adopt vilian deaths, displacement, and de- across the region.
banditry, including its linkages to the a political ideology. This is evident struction of property.
country’s  farmer-herder crisis  – the Numbering over 30,000 across the from their recent attack on an  im- Lastly, poor governance must be
tensions over grazing for livestock. northern region, armed bandits could migration base  and their attempted It could attract more foreign ter- replaced with  people-centric gover-
But there appears to be a new trend in fill the void. attack for the  second time  on the rorist fighters, too, given Nigeria’s po- nance, given that the former has con-
the bandits’ way of operating which An attractive option Nigerian Defence Academy - both rous borders, who would be keen on tributed  to the emergence of both
warrants attention. Armed bandits and jihadists in Nige- of which represent institutions of the recruiting combat-ready terrorists for jihadism and “banditism” across Ni-
ria have a common enemy – the Ni- state. A potential trigger for this is armed conflict across the Lake Chad geria.
In a previous article, I explored the gerian security forces. the proscription of armed bandits as Basin and Sahel regions.
factors that contribute to the spread terrorists by the federal government. — The Conversation.
of violence in Nigeria and across the Armed bandits are interested in ex- This also has serious implications
Sahel region. These include poverty, ploiting governance gaps. Armed bandits could potentially for external state actors such as the *About the writer: Folahanmi
inequality, high unemployment and formalise whatever existing strategic United States, France and the Euro- Aina is a doctoral candidate in
illiteracy rates, weak institutions and The jihadists’ objective is to estab- partnerships they have with jihadist pean Union in the long run. That’s leadership studies at King's College
poor governance, to mention a few. lish sharia rule and an Islamic caliph- groups such as Ansaru, given its prox- because the activities of terrorists in London in Britain.
Taking these factors into account, I the region could jeopardise their eco-
argue in this article that the interests nomic interests.
of bandits and jihadists are converg-
ing. This poses a formidable threat to
Nigeria’s national security.

The large number of bandits offers
a significant pool of potential fighters
for jihadists.
Why the bandit threat is real
Bandits are mostly known for their
pursuit of economic opportunism.
They are mostly interested in enrich-
ing themselves rather than taking
other kinds of power.

Jihadist groups such as  Boko Ha-
ram  and the  Islamic State in West
Africa Province  are rather driven by
political ideology.

But there are pointers that armed
bandits may be willing to work along-
side jihadists  in the north-west. The
government has said this may have
been the case in the  attack  on an
Abuja-Kaduna bound train. More
than 160 commuters were abducted
in a jihadi-style attack.

There have also been records that
point to  arms trading  between ban-
dits and terrorists in Nigeria.

The jihadist group  Ansaru, which
broke away from Boko Haram in
2012, has recently re-emerged.
This proscribed group is known for
its deadly attacks  on the United Na-
tions headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s
capital, in 2013.

The Al-Qaeda affiliated group now
mostly operates within Birnin Gwari,
a local government area in north-west
Nigeria’s Kaduna state. The group has
also sought the cooperation of armed

Page 46 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

WILLIAM GUMEDE Ramaphosa will pay heavy of the ANC will necessitate banning
policy price for his victory the theatrics: the heckling, sloganeering
CYRIL Ramaphosa may have won and the defamatory statements mas-
the presidency of the African National African National Congress President Cyril Ramaphosa. querading as debate. It will also have to
Congress (ANC), but it is clear from ban thugs, the corrupt and the violent
the behaviour of delegates at the con- Mantashe, for example, is opposed tashe what he wants. now becoming a party that is trading from all structures of the ANC.
ference that the political culture of the to renewable energy as a solution to With exceptions, the party has large- on its past to get voters to vote for it
organisation is toxic. South Africa’s power crisis, ideologically based on its struggle legacy, rather than It will also mean suspending many
defends coal and chases unsustainable ly recycled older leaders, from the top its current performance. Furthermore, of the RET leaders, such as  Lindiwe
The depth of the party’s leadership is energy solutions for the energy crisis seven to the NEC. Younger leaders such the ANC has essentially become a shell, Sisulu and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,
shallow and divisions between his fac- such as creating a second state-owned as Justice Minister Ronald Lamola and only used to allow party members and who have openly attacked the pres-
tion and that of the  radical economic power company and using power ships. deputy Finance minister David Mason- leaders access to state resources. ident. The question is: now that he
transformation (RET) group deepened Ramaphosa will be forced to give Man- do have been pushed to the margins. has been re-elected will he garner the
at the conference. Renewal of the toxic political culture strength to do that, or will he continue
What is clear is that the ANC is with his clearly failed pre-conference
The divisions may be unbridge- unity strategy of tolerating leaders who
able, beyond the conference. It is clear are corrupt, incompetent, and deliber-
from the conference that Ramaphosa’s ately destructive, just to keep the fac-
renewal project of the ANC has been tions together?
firmly rejected by delegates.
Although having won the presiden-
His party leadership strategy so far tial battle, Ramaphosa’s own political
of uniting opposing groups within the battles have just started. Parliament
ANC — by appointing representatives may have opted not to start impeach-
to all groups to cabinet, key positions ment over the Phala Phala scandal, and
in parliament and the state, and giving the ANC’s NEC may have given him
patronage equally to all groups, has not the green light and the national confer-
only promoted incompetence, allowed ence itself may have passed over a deci-
corruption to thrive and caused policy sion on how to deal with it, but Phala
paralysis. It has also failed to keep the Phala is unlikely to go away.
party united.
Former president  Jacob Zuma  has
Although the president’s “Ankole” initiated a private prosecution against
faction is evenly represented in the him.
top seven leadership of the ANC, the
party’s  national executive commit- Ramaphosa’s opponents are also
tee  (NEC), from which the cabinet likely to continue to press him on Pha-
is appointed, parliamentary caucus is la Phala, which will distract him from
picked and which provides the party governing effectively, introducing par-
leadership between national confer- ty renewal reforms and from tackling
ences, is dominated by the RET fac- corruption in the party and the state.
tion. Failing to do so may mean that while
Ramaphosa may have won the party
Ramaphosa will pay a heavy poli- presidential election, it will cause the
cy price for his victory. He will be re- ANC to lose the 2024 national elec-
quired to reward the key ANC leaders tions.
who enforced his re-election, such as
re-elected ANC chairperson  Gwede — Mail&Guardian.
Mantashe and newly elected ANC gen- *About the writer: William Gu-
eral secretary  Fikile Mbalula. Neither mede is associate professor at the
of  them are even close to decent ad- School of Governance, University
ministrators, but Ramaphosa will have of the Witwatersrand, and author
to reward them with senior positions in of  Restless Nation: Making Sense of
cabinet and indulgence for their policy Troubled Times (Tafelberg).
preferences.

Small loans: Microcredit means more people can
borrow money – but more scrutiny is also needed

LUNGILE NTSALAZE private capital driven by profit maxi- ent company, Net1 Technologies Grant beneficiaries ended up no ery business transaction and from
misation objectives. (Net1),  received an equity invest- longer able to meet their households’ the conversion of community cur-
UNDOUBTEDLY, financial tech- ment from the World Bank’s IFC for immediate needs on a reduced grant rency to official currency. Conse-
nology (fintech) is driving  greater Economists Milford Bateman and broader expansion into Africa, was and were forced to seek additional quently, microloans made to the
financial inclusion. Fernando Teixeira  suggest  that the contracted to disburse social grants debt, likely from unscrupulous lend- community for social development
fintech drive in the name of finan- in South Africa. The  company ers, to cover shortages. programmes and entrepreneurship
Innovations are giving people cial inclusion mirrors colonial-style abused  its monopoly position over are at zero or very low-interest rates.
more access to financial services extractivism to maximise profits. the personal data of beneficiaries. The consequences were deepened This is much lower than in the mar-
through mobile and computing levels of poverty and the perpetual ket-led approaches.
services, the internet, and payment substantial profits for its private The Net1 group made more mon- over-indebtedness of those suppos- Takeaways
cards. One of these services is mi- investors and significant indebted- ey from cross-selling financial prod- edly getting relief through govern- Fintechs are an essential way to ad-
crocredit: small loans for individuals ness for its target market. ucts, such as microcredit by sister ment grants. dress market failures of traditional
and informal businesses. companies, than the CPS contract. banking. But market-led innova-
CPS, a subsidiary whose par- Similarly, in India, the  Aadhaar tions exploit the poor. These practic-
But a closer look at the microcre- system  gathers detailed profiles of es are made possible when govern-
dit channel of inclusion shows an beneficiaries. These are monetised, ments fail to develop the capacity to
emerging form of dispossession of and through the process huge profits deliver social services and outsource
the poor. Examples include the cat- are made. them to private entities.
astrophic collapse of microfinance
in  Andhra Pradesh, India, in 2010. Private companies have access Data is now seen as “the new oil”.
Microfinance institutions were in- to the personal data of government It thus makes sense for the state to
volved in reckless lending in the grant recipients. This is used to sell guard it jealously. Developing coun-
chase for abnormal profits. Over-in- financial products to the grant recip- tries should protect the interests of
debted clients could no longer ser- ients. Grants get used as collateral the poor by carefully scrutinising
vice their debt. for credit, with investors bearing no market-led financial inclusion ef-
risk for their commercial enterprise forts. They should develop internal
Some even took their own lives because loan repayments are deduct- capacity to safeguard citizens’ data,
due to debt recovery-related harass- ed before grant payments are made and explore the viability of fintech
ment and the shame of being unable to beneficiaries. models.
to service debt in group-lending sit-
uations. There are  alternatives. In Brazil, — The Conversation.
a state-led fintech approach is fol- *About the writer: Lungile
In an attempt to restore confi- lowed. This works through Banco Ntsalaze is executive dean-desig-
dence, global development agencies Mumbuca, a community bank. A nate at the College of Business and
quietly rebranded microfinance. But community-restricted currency that Economics, University of Johannes-
the microcredit element of financial is pegged at 1:1 to the official cur- burg, South Africa.
inclusion still presents problems. It’s rency is created and used to disburse
even worse now that there is a shift social security payments.
in the funding patterns of microfi-
nance institutions from donors to In addition to taxes, the bank is
sustained by revenue earned on ev-

NewsHawks Africa News Page 47

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Why Zambia’s president is popular
abroad but disappointment at home

SISHUWA SISHUWA

DESPITE his lack of real domestic Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
achievements and rising discontent
with his leadership, President Hakain- from a distance, look to Lusaka with idiot” who can help them secure their and willing puppet of major Western Competition for strategic metals
de Hichilema of Zambia has a re- uncritical admiration. strategic interests in security, energy powers. such as cobalt and uranium — key to
markably positive image abroad. and mining, and counter the grow- the production of electric car batter-
If much of Africa is saturated with ing influence of China and Russia in First, he swiftly moved to allow ies — is increasing, while climate-re-
There are two major reasons for ineffective leaders, Hichilema is con- Zambia. the US to establish an  Africom-like lated reconstruction plans in Europe
this. The first is that Hichilema is ben- sidered better because he occupies a military office  in Lusaka, something and North America will need large
efiting from a dismal political climate spot a long way down this inglorious The latter point is one that Jim that all his predecessors had strongly amounts of copper.
in Africa and a favourable comparison list. Risch, a ranking member of the US opposed.
to what came before him. senate foreign relations committee, Like the ancestral African chiefs
The second reason behind Hichile- was willing to state unambiguously af- Second, his administration who gifted their subjects to Europe-
Across the continent, political ma’s positive image abroad is that he ter meeting Hichilema, whom he de- has abolished all visa fees for British, ans and Arabs during the slave trade
transitions have not gone well. In positions himself to be flattered by scribed as “a strong leader and bright Canadians, Europeans and Americans in exchange for mirrors and alcohol,
neighbouring Malawi, many had high the West, often at Zambia’s expense. spot for democracy in Africa … [who] arriving in Zambia as tourists. There Hichilema has shown that he is hap-
hopes for the pastor-turned-Presi- One of the most concerning and long- is  working hard to curb China’s ma- is no chance that this move would be py to accept invitations for pomp and
dent  Lazarus Chakwera  only to see standing weaknesses of many African lign and predatory influence in Zam- reciprocated. And it is telling that not kind words from the West in exchange
him appoint family members to key leaders is their craving for approval by bia  as well as increase cooperation a single African country was included for Zambia’s minerals.
political positions while doing little to the United States and Europe. with the US”. on the list easing visa access.
revive the country’s economy beyond Opposition parties claim that the
begging the  International Monetary In Hichilema’s case, this repulsive This exhibition of Hichilema as a Third, Hichilema has cut extremely government plans to privatise the re-
Fund (IMF) for loans. obsession appears to be incurable. willing dupe in the US’ ideological generous deals with mining multina- maining state parastatals, such as the
He has a particular weakness for rivalry with the Eastern power only tionals that operate in Zambia. An Zambia Electricity Supply Corpora-
South Africans thought they had praise — especially if it comes from serves to hurt him in the eyes of Zam- example here is the recent decision tion and Zambia Telecommunica-
escaped from the graft of the Jacob white South Africans, Europeans and bians and China as well as the coun- by the government to  relinquish  its tions company, among others, with
Zuma years until they learnt that an- Americans, who consequently, do not tries aligned to it. 20% shareholding stake in Kansanshi British and US firms in the running.
ti-corruption crusader Cyril Rama- have to work hard to make him feel Mine, operated by a Canadian firm Yet, Western governments, diplomats
phosa had stuck half a million dollars that he is one of them. It is a psyche In less than a year, Hichilema has that had invested in Hichilema’s elec- and commentators were vocal in their
in his sofa. that Western countries have exploited taken several steps that have left him tion, in return for a paltry 3% royalty criticism of attacks on democracy and
to effortlessly recruit him as “a useful vulnerable to charges that he is a naïve payment on revenue.
The removal of Robert Mugabe in
Zimbabwe brought no political im-
provement or economic revival. The
death of President John Magufuli in
Tanzania has not seen a rise in the
people’s living standards nor resulted
in any serious efforts to curb corrup-
tion by his successor, Samia Suhulu
Hassan.

Voted to power on a promise of
ending local terrorism, President Mu-
hammadu Buhari of Nigeria has in-
stead delivered greater insecurity and
ethnic-religious divisions.

A floundering economy beset by
staggering debt, soaring inflation and
high unemployment in Ghana has
triggered popular protests, sent the
country into the toxic arms of the
IMF and left many longing for the
return of John Mahama.

In Kenya, where William Ruto’s
child has created the  ‘Office of the
First Daughter’, the grand optimism
that had followed his election is slowly
turning into despair.

Such is the deficit of competent
and quality leadership across much
of Africa today that ordinary people
are desperate for a success story and
yearning for a leader who has stature.
Superficially, Hichilema seems to fit
the bill. He is relatively new, dresses
smartly and talks quite well.

The capacity of  his social media
team  to promote the president even
when the reality is far from rosy and
the absence of effective opposition to
expose the emerging policy failures of
his administration and popular dis-
content have created the impression
that all is well. 

Deprived of greater understanding
of the local context, discussed below,
many Africans consequently measure
Hichilema against what they are grap-
pling with in their own countries. In
other words, the strength of Zambia’s
democracy and the state of its econo-
my have barely improved under Hi-
chilema, but the situation is so bad
elsewhere that outsiders, peering in

Page 48 Africa News NewsHawks

Issue 113, 23 December 2022

human rights under his predecessor, has disappointed Zambians who had tial to further divide the country on Hichilema has stolen public funds, his ignoring corruption, mismanaging an
Edgar Lungu. been assured by Hichilema only a few ethnic-region lines. reluctance to release his net worth is already poor economy, undermining
months ago that his administration concerning given his  extensive busi- democratic institutions and serving as
The same abuses have continued had completely ended the energy cri- One key criticism of Lungu’s rule ness interests. a stooge of foreign mining companies
under Hichilema, but the benefits sis that had badly affected production. was that he marginalised Zambians and Western countries — an issue that
that his leadership provides to these from southern, western and north- As well as undermining the fight unites Zambians across party lines —
extractive forces outside the continent After condemning the previous western provinces, regions that have against corruption and the need for risks alienating him from voters.
appear to have bought their silence. government’s appetite for borrowing, historically voted for Hichilema. Most government transparency, it has added
This demonstrates how the West in- his administration has, in just a year, of Lungu’s ministers, for instance, to suspicions about the extent of the Already, many ordinary people are
strumentalises human rights and added at least $2 billion to Zambia’s were either from the eastern province president’s involvement in Zambia’s beginning to consider the idea that
exploits local struggles for political external debt. Shortages of pharma- or from one of three Bemba-speaking economy and whether his policies are Hichilema may not be the leader they
change to advance their own interests. ceuticals and other medical supplies provinces. deliberately designed to benefit com- thought he was, or would become. As
in public hospitals are so acute that a panies in which he has an interest. a result, they are increasingly adopt-
The incriminating applause and parliamentary committee appointed This preference was also seen clearly ing a more critical attitude towards his
positive coverage that Hichilema is by the government recently recom- in the top leadership positions of the Another major concern is Hichile- actions.
receiving in Western circles contrast mended the adoption of emergency police, army, air force, national service ma’s reluctance to pass a law on access
sharply with the growing criticism of measures to avert a likely catastrophe. and office of the president. Hichilema to information (ATI) which would Regrettably, however, he appears to
his leadership at home. promised to do things differently if enhance transparency in government pay more attention to the voice of a
Promises of wide-ranging demo- elected, but has not delivered. and assist the media and civil society particular constituency in South Afri-
“Everyone feels cheated by the cratic reform have not been fulfilled. to fight corruption. The ATI law has ca, Europe and the US than the peo-
[governing] UPND because nothing After more than a year in office, Hich- While his cabinet is relatively rep- been promised by successive govern- ple who elected him.
is happening”, complained the highly ilema’s administration is yet to repeal resentative of Zambia’s ten provinces, ments over the past three decades. It
regarded retired archbishop of Lusaka, repressive legislation that undermines areas that historically voted for the was originally promised in the mani- “A government that doesn’t listen
Telesphore Mpundu, who added that democracy or enact any that pro- Patriotic Front are  grossly underrep- festo of the Movement for Multiparty to the people, sooner rather than later
“people cannot be waiting for donkey motes human rights and strengthens resented  while most ministers are Democracy in 1991, and a Bill was goes out. People are a sovereign ele-
years for change to take place”. accountable governance. from ethnic groups that have typically brought before parliament. After a ment in the running of the country,”
formed the core of Hichilema’s base. protracted debate, the proposed leg- Archbishop Mpundu warned in July.
Much of the disillusionment is Not only that.  More people have islation was withdrawn “for consulta-
centred on the state of the economy, been arrested and sent to prison for The key ministries — home affairs, tion with other countries which had The co-optation into government
delays to make structural changes that breaking a dubious 1965 law against defence, finance, justice, education, similar legislation”. bodies of several members of civil so-
strengthen accountable, democratic defamation of the president — a law local government and many more — ciety who spoke truth to power under
governance, the threatened national that effectively criminalises criticism and leadership positions in the five Thirty years later, Zambians are still Lungu, the studied silence of Western
unity and the seeming lack of com- of the president — in Hichilema’s first security services, the entire leader- waiting for the results of this consulta- actors and ordinary people’s real fear
mitment to fighting corruption in the year than there were under six years of ship of the justice system, the post of tion. In 2011, the Patriotic Front also of arrest for criticising the president,
government. Lungu. speaker of the National Assembly and promised an ATI law and even pro- has reduced possible sources of legiti-
most permanent secretaries in the civil duced a Draft Bill in 2012, but no Bill mate feedback on government perfor-
The main reason behind Hichile- This poor record and lack of lead- service are all held by people from the was put before parliament. mance.
ma’s sagging domestic fortunes is the ership on institutional reform did not region that voted for Hichilema.
failure of his administration to revive stop the US from heaping praise on One year in office should have been Zambians may be poor at choos-
the economy. Hichilema came to Hichilema as “a bright spot for de- Added to this are most of the ap- enough time to pass the ATI law, but ing leaders, but they are very good at
power promising to resolve the disas- mocracy in Africa” during last week’s pointments to the diplomatic service, Hichilema’s party has not even got as removing them from power.  Indeed,
trous mismanagement by the previous US-Africa summit on democracy. boards, State House and the Electoral far as producing a Draft Bill. And so, this is how Hichilema ended up as
government of Konkola Copper Mine This premature recognition will be of Commission of Zambia. There has his government joins a long list of ad- president. The calamity of his prede-
and Mopani, two of the largest com- little comfort to those languishing in been a near complete reversal where- ministrations that have dragged their cessor’s leadership pushed many peo-
panies in Zambia. He has not done so. the country’s filthy jails for having in- by yesterday’s victors have become to- feet on the matter. ple to breaking point and made any-
sulted the president. The US human day’s victims, and vice versa. one, however ill-equipped, look like a
Tens of thousands of jobs in the po- rights defender presides over a coun- The reluctance to introduce an ATI better alternative.
litically important Copperbelt prov- try where critical social media posts Among other things, this adds law arises from the fear by political
ince remain threatened, with no pros- about his leadership can lead to jail to the risk of a vicious cycle where- elites that such a law may make avail- If Hichilema does not take a long
pects of resolution in sight. To this can with hard labour. by each new leader from the groups able information held by the govern- hard look at himself, there is a greater
be added the government’s willingness that were marginalised continues this ment — especially on procurement chance that he would become the first
to offer mining multinationals huge Hichilema has also disappoint- trend and makes it more likely that and asset declarations — that would incumbent president to suffer elector-
tax cuts and other incentives. ed many Zambians by undermining the next election will be driven by eth- make corruption easier to spot. As al defeat after serving only one term.
formal institutions. As well as pack- nic, rather than policy, considerations. former US president Jimmy Carter
For instance, First Quantum Min- ing the civil service with ruling party once remarked, only crooks and cor- What largely determines the fate of
erals has secured huge concessions in functionaries and inexperienced loy- Major concerns have also emerged rupt political leaders would oppose presidents in Zambia is not the econ-
exchange for  developing a new mine alists, he has appointed allies to head about Hichilema’s commitment to the ATI bill. omy; it is the failure to manage the
and expanding production. This the Electoral Commission of Zambia fighting corruption. The first is the politics of perceptions. For instance,
would produce, at most, a few hun- (ECZ), the judicial body that ap- lack of examples. Despite being elect- The third concern is that Hichi- in spite of his impressive economic
dred jobs but would mean a few bil- points and dismisses judges, as well as ed on a platform of anti-corruption, lema has ignored accusations of cor- record, Rupiah Banda lost the 2011
lion kwachas in lost revenue. The cha- to the National Assembly. accountability and transparency, Hi- ruption in his government. When election while Lungu rode the tide of
os in the agricultural sector has raised chilema has so far failed to publish the opposition parties presented evidence economic decline to retain power in
fears of potential food insecurity next The refusal to embark on judicial value of his assets. Along with Lungu, showing executive involvement in 2016.
year. reforms, the constant arrest of op- he is the only major party nominee an inflated fertiliser contract awarded
position leaders on spurious charges, not to do so since the return to multi- to one of the president’s business as- It was only in 2021 that Lungu was
In opposition, Hichilema promised and the abuse of the electoral commis- party democracy in 1991. sociates, for instance, Hichilema kept defeated after widespread consensus
to deliver large and subsidised quan- sion to exclude political opponents quiet. seemed to exist among voters that
tities of fertiliser to farmers. In office, from electoral competition show how This is especially concerning as Lungu was either corrupt or tolerant
he has raised the price of fertiliser and, democratic institutions remain as sus- Zambian presidents have general- The Anti-Corruption Commission of corruption and guilty of assaulting
in a move aimed at benefiting friends ceptible to manipulation now as they ly used state power to accumulate (ACC), which now sits under the pres- democracy, mismanaging the econ-
of the governing party, disturbed the were under Lungu. wealth. In less than 16 months in ident’s office, also looked away. When omy, fostering ethnic division and
distribution and supply chains of agri- power, for instance, Lungu’s net the minister of health, Sylvia Masebo, hurting the country by locking it into
cultural inputs by awarding contracts But perhaps the most serious issue worth  grew  from K10.9 million got embroiled in what appears to be a dependency path with one major
to companies that lack the capacity to that risks alienating him from many ($0.62million) in 2015 to K23.7 mil- a major corruption scandal, Hichile- power bloc in an increasingly polar-
meet the demand.  Zambians is Hichilema’s failure to re- lion ($1.34 million) when he ran for ma kept quiet. The ACC also looked ised world — key weaknesses that Hi-
flect adequate ethnic diversity in most re-election in 2016. away. This is symptomatic of the new chilema is already mirroring early into
And instead of reducing fuel and appointments to public office. When administration’s  laissez-faire  attitude his first term.
food prices as pledged, these costs asked before his death what he consid- Lungu refused to reveal his net towards corruption within its ranks.
have seen a dramatic increase over ered the foremost threat to Zambia’s worth ahead of last year’s vote, per- — Mail&Guardian.
the past 12 months, worsening the future, founding president Kenneth haps because of fears that knowledge The growing perception that Hichi-
cost-of-living crisis that started under Kaunda identified Hichilema’s poten- of his wealth would increase calls for lema is promoting ethnic-regional dis- *About the writer: Dr Sishuwa Si-
Lungu. Meanwhile, the resumption his removal of immunity if he lost. crimination in public appointments, shuwa is a Zambian historian and
of crippling six-hour daily power cuts Although there is no evidence that political commentator.

NewsHawks World News Page 49

Issue 113, 23 December 2022 Xi versus the street program, while embarking on a costly
industrial policy aimed at making the
IAN JOHNSON The protests in China could herald a turbulent new era. country less reliant on foreign technol-
ogy.
OVER the past week, as more than a the government, the protests have raised population with more effective messen- Chinese President Xi Jinping.
dozen cities have been engulfed by large far-reaching questions about how Xi’s ger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, protecting Collectively, these problems have put
protests, China has seemed more unset- second decade in power will play out. vulnerable groups, and preparing the of most Chinese cities—and this was a powerful drag on the economy, which
tled than at any previous point in Xi Jin- population for the fact that the virus despite a housing slump. Meanwhile, has increasingly stymied the upward
ping’s 10-year reign. If Xi is weakened at home, is he like- could spread widely for a time and that China’s unemployment rate  for 16-to- mobility of many Chinese. Most of the
ly to embark on adventuresome policies some Covid deaths will occur. This pol- 24-year-olds has soared to more than 18 population probably doesn’t see it this
By 29 November, after a weekend in abroad or pull in his horns to face down icy shift would be challenging but not percent. way, however, because many of these
which people sometimes openly directed domestic challengers? Will he be forced impossible for Beijing to  implement. A state-driven projects are embraced as part
their ire at the country’s leadership, au- to backtrack not only on his signature path away from zero Covid exists, if Xi These challenges have grown dramati- of China claiming its rightful place in the
thorities had sent out a small army of po- zero-Covid strategy but also on his wants it. cally since the pandemic began and wors- world order. But people are directly af-
lice in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities state-driven economic model? And could ened further this year with China’s GDP fected by these policies because they are
to restore order, arrest protesters, and try factions even reemerge in China, perhaps But the trouble is that such a shift forecast for 2022 now revised downward slowing down the economy.
to put the movement to rest. But as the coalescing around a younger leader seen would still leave China’s underlying social to a dismal 3.2%, versus the official tar- The turbulence to come
government reasserts control, it must as more pragmatic? These questions will and economic predicament unresolved. get of 5.5%. Beijing has blamed faltering Staring down the largest popular chal-
also now contend with the reality that be all the more pressing given that Beijing Conditioned for decades by Beijing it- growth on the pandemic and the global lenge he has yet encountered, Xi has
large swaths of the general public have now confronts other challenges, ranging self, the public has come to expect that economic slowdown. Chinese authorities reached a crucial turning point. To truly
begun to question the wisdom not just from a rapidly aging population to a stag- China will grow continuously richer and are clearly aware that their lockdowns are reverse China’s downward trajectory, his
of local officials but of Xi’s leadership in nating economy. Judging China’s mood more developed. They want a return to significantly contributing to China’s eco- administration would likely have to em-
Beijing. That raises a once unimaginable is always difficult, but it is beyond doubt this kind of ever-increasing prosperity. nomic woes. bark on a new round of large-scale eco-
question: Has Xi, newly installed for an that a significant change has taken place That would be difficult even under the nomic reforms, equivalent in scale to the
unprecedented third term in office, lost among usually apolitical people, one that most competent leadership but is espe- But they are wrong to think that this is ambitious measures launched in the late
the Chinese street? may carry significant consequences for cially unlikely under Xi. the primary or only cause of the country’s 1990s and the first decade of this century
China and the world. Lost youth sclerosis. The reality is that the slowdown by then party leader  Jiang Zemin, who
Right up until 2022, such a possibility Ill fares the land Popular anxieties about China’s future has exposed deeper-seated structural died on November 30, and his premier,
seemed implausible. After all, throughout Based on  my  surveys of working-class began to take hold in the 2010s. For problems, the fixing of which will require Zhu Rongji. Back then, this economic
Xi’s first decade in office, when he shut- people in Beijing between 2018 and much of that decade, China’s economic great vision and daring on the part of liberalisation kept China’s economic rise
tered independent film festivals, closed the present, as well as follow-up conver- growth remained respectable, but it lost China’s leaders. And both qualities are on course.
history journals, and generally made life sations I have had  over the past week, the firepower it had maintained earlier in singularly lacking in the current admin-
difficult for free-thinking people, observ- many Chinese want a return to normal the century and was trending downward. istration. In many respects, the country has
ers usually had to concede that he could life. And they seem to define normal as a For young people in particular, this has been living off those reforms ever since,
count on the backing of ordinary Chi- time when people traveled freely around translated into eroding economic secu- As Chinese and Western scholars have while using massive infrastructure spend-
nese. Of course, such mainstream sup- the country and even overseas on vaca- rity. documented, for example, China is ing to keep its growth figures superficially
port was impossible to prove, given the tion, a time when passports were issued facing an acute education crisis that respectable. But that is no longer enough.
lack of independent polling in China. automatically, foreigners were part of the Take the country’s housing stock. In a has left huge swaths of the population Needed reforms include giving rural res-
Yet many indications made clear that he Chinese landscape, and China seemed to multiyear survey in the late 2010s for a inadequately prepared for the future. idents full rights to move to cities and
was popular among the lower- and mid- have close ties to the rest of the world. project on folk religious groups in Chi- Over half of China’s population comes to send their children to better schools.
dle-income population. Many of these Take the contrast between the 2008 na, many working-class families reported from rural areas where they are served by The country also needs policies that favor
people were fed up with the widespread Olympics, which for many Chinese were that the days were gone when their chil- second-rate schools and largely preclud- private enterprise and reformed equity
corruption and growing inequality that a genuine outpouring of excitement and dren could find an apartment of their ed from pursuing a university education. markets that send capital to worthy com-
had taken hold during the administra- fun, and the  2022 Winter Olympics, own. Back in the 1990s, many of these And many of the unskilled jobs that these panies rather than state champions. And
tions of Xi’s immediate predecessors. which unfolded under extreme lock- families had benefited when the state people could once count on have been China probably needs to go through a
down conditions and which few foreign privatised the housing stock, with some replaced by automation or outsourced to new round of breaking up state monop-
Xi, by contrast, was prepared to take visitors were able to attend. ending up with multiple apartments. But other countries. olies to inject more competition into the
on party corruption and the robber bar- that was a one-off. economy.
ons who had profited from it. He had a In fact, lifting China’s formal travel Other structural problems in-
gravelly voice and a popular singer as a restrictions is the easy part. The Com- Two decades later, it was hard for clude  debt-driven growth,  a  population Nothing in Xi’s biography, however,
wife, and pushed China’s interests vigor- munist Party could pivot away from its young people to imagine affording the that is aging even faster than had been suggests that he will embrace such bold
ously on the international stage. When zero-Covid strategy by revaccinating the astronomical sums that are required to assumed, and an increasingly state-con- measures. Instead, he is much more
the  Covid-19  lockdown began nearly own anything within the urban core trolled economy in which state enter- comfortable as a status quo policymaker
three years ago in Wuhan, a few protests prises suck up huge amounts of capital. who keeps the population under control
erupted, but most people embraced Bei- Meanwhile, Beijing has made huge out- through ever-growing surveillance mea-
jing’s stringent "zero Covid" lockdown lays on lavish defense systems and pres- sures and ideology, especially nationalism
policies as reasonable — especially as they tige projects, such as the Chinese  space and appeals to traditional Chinese values.
watched the United States and other de-
veloped countries that Chinese assumed As long as China was able to main-
were better run succumb to successive tain high growth rates and the country
waves of overflowing hospitals and high appeared to be heading in the right direc-
death counts. tion, most people didn’t care about Xi’s
lack of reforms — no wonder, because
But as the rest of the world seemed reform usually involves painful chang-
to put the pandemic behind it, many es. Instead, ordinary Chinese were ap-
Chinese began to bridle at these once peased by his crackdown on corruption,
lauded  measures. For many Chinese, his nationalistic foreign policy, and his
lockdowns and nearly daily swab tests revival of traditional religions. But the
became a kind of forever war that had no mounting costs of zero-Covid lockdowns
end in sight. In October, when the Chi- seemed to have awakened a growing part
nese Communist Party’s massive  20th of the population to the larger challenges
Party Congress came and went with no the country faces and to their own di-
signs of easing of the policy, they took to minishing expectations. In other words,
the streets. the tight pandemic controls have become
an easy way for people to explain why
Small-scale protests are not unusual standards of living are stagnating.
in China. But until now, nearly all have
been limited to local issues such as pol- This is Xi’s conundrum. Even if he lifts
lution or unpaid wages. By contrast, the the zero-Covid restrictions, the economy
protests that have gathered force over is likely to get only a temporary bounce.
the past year have been nationwide and Barring a sudden conversion to reforms,
increasingly aimed at Xi himself. Public Xi is likely to find that his next five, ten,
demonstrations against zero-Covid stric- or more years in power are plagued by
tures began in late 2021  in Xi’an, then increased unease in the population and
spread to  Shanghai  during that city’s further outbursts of protest spurred by
prolonged lockdown in the spring. And other crises that will inevitably arise. Just
they undergirded last week’s violent pro- last month, Xi seemed poised to rule
tests by tech employees at a gargantuan unchallenged for years to come. But his
iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, which had frittering away of his first decade in pow-
recently imposed lockdown measures of er on control measures instead of for-
its own amid difficult working condi- ward-looking reforms means that China’s
tions. problems have become tangible for ordi-
nary people. This is the real meaning of
Finally, after ten people in the western the Covid protests: they are not simply
city of Urumqi were killed in a Novem- cries for personal freedom but signal the
ber 24 fire — implying that authorities start of a more turbulent era in Chinese
were putting anti-Covid policies ahead politics.
of human life — many had had enough.
Over the next few days, protests spread — Foreign Affairs.
to more than a dozen cities  across the *About the writer: Ian Johnson is the
country. Stephen A. Schwarzman senior fellow
for China Studies at the Council on
Of course, given Beijing’s powerful Foreign Relations.
tools of surveillance and control, it seems
unlikely that these events pose a direct
threat to the regime.  Xi  may well stay
in power another five or ten years, and
perhaps even longer. But in challenging

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 50 Issue 113, 23 December 2022

Revellers spoilt
for choice this
festive season

Winky D

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA akaire Village in Makanda, Wedza where more Wikead. form at Theatre in the Park on 23 December 2022
than 100 artistes lined up to perform. Braai Out ZW featuring Nasibo as an opening act. The concert
MUSIC lovers seeking a night of fun will be spoilt On 22 December 2022 there is a Braai Out show follows the success of Mokoomba’s live recording
for choice this festive season with several gigs lined Sungura singer and man-of-the-moment, Alick dubbed FioFest at Takashinga Cricket Club in simply titled Njoka. What makes Mokoomba
up to end the year in style. Macheso, who is riding on the crest of the wave Highfield, Harare. The gig features a host of talent- standout is their authentic Nambya and Tonga idi-
with his latest album Tinosvitswa Nashe, headlines ed musicians including Shinsoman, Peter Moyo, oms, which make their craft unique.
While Harare almost always retains its glow the cast. Gemma Grifftiths, Van Choga, Extra Large, and DJ Robbie Tee
during every other festive season, this year it is DJs Fyah Lynx, Judgement Yard and Merciless South Africa-based Zimbabwean top RnB DJ Rob-
quite different due to electricity shortages and per- The free show will give a chance to rural folk Zim. Cooler Boxes are allowed before 4pm. bie Tee real name Robert Tichareva is back in Hara-
haps lack of disposable income. who do not necessarily attend such live shows. Fiesta Fiesta re for the festive season. Robbie Tee, who has staged
The outdoor show returns on 23 December 2022 a number of sold-out gigs, will perform at ZimCafe
At most pleasure spots, club owners are having Contemporary singer Jah Prayzah, one of the at Alex Sports Club featuring the queen of Amapi- on 21 December for the Diaspora Welcome Party.
to run generators to try and keep the hangouts best stage performers in the country, is expected ano — Shasha. The South Africa-based musician Then on Christmas Eve he plays at Yard at 43 Old
alive. And without electricity, everything looks dull to bring more energy with the likes of Killer T, makes a welcome return to Harare following an- Enterprise Road alongside Candy. On Unity Day
and less festive. Another issue is that food is now Mambo Dhuterere, Michael Mahendere, Bio DT other sold-out concert eearly this year. Shasha will he rocks at Emagumeni at Helensvale with some
expensive and for one to go out and have fun they Mudimba, Leonard Zhakata, Freeman, Bazooka, be supported by Tanto Waive and RnB singer — Soul, RnB and Old Skool music.
have to part with no less than US$100 for at least a Pumacol, Hwinza, Enzo Ishall, Sulumani Chim- Hillzy of the Muroora fame. Winky D album launch
group of six people. betu and Blessing Shumba, among others, bring- Caravan Park, Zvishavane Zim dancehall star Winky D will stage his album
ing variety. Nutty O alongside Kinnah will perform at what launch on New Year’s Eve at the Harare Interna-
Traditionally festivities are all about merry mak- Gwanda Shutdown has been dubbed Fill Up Caravan Park in Zvisha- tional Conference Centre in what has become al-
ing, braaing and partying, but in the absence of On 26 December 2022 at the Phoenix Shisa Nya- vane on 24 December 2022. The Christmas Eve most a ritual for the Gombwe hitmaker.
these, then it is a festive season like no other --- a ma Eyahdini, Gwanda will reverberate to the mu- party will feature some Djs Lil Tuch, Lagga and
boring one you might add. sic of Nutty O and ExQ. It is a Boxing Day gig Xhost. For the past year or so Winky D has been
and those who will be travelling to Gwanda will be Theatre in the Park, Harare launching his albums on New Year’s Eve.
Be that as it may, there are those who will still go treated to a great show that features the two young Touring international group Mokoomba will per-
out and break a leg. musicians who are at the top of their game. There is so much anticipation surrounding the
album whose title is yet to be announced, with
And there are some few big shows that are in the Also on the line-up are DJs Virus, Wycliff, Tony word doing the rounds that early-bird tickets have
offing by some top musicians. Touch and emcee are Freddy Kay and Gibbons. been sold out already.

They annual Wedza Arts Festival is back, with Both Nutty O and ExQ will join forces at The
a bang. Boundary on 27 December 2022. The gig will
feature Mzoe, Nickimicks, Henry P and Kead
After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19
scourge, the musical jamboree has made a rebound.

And on Christmas Day, all roads lead to Mach-