NewsHawks 10 June 2022

WHAT’S INSIDE Friday 10 June 2022 NRuEsWhwS aya Price
wants gold
KNuEvWimS ba inherits possession US$1
50% Russian stake decriminalised
in GDI platinum ‘SZPiOmRpTlayers have
project Story on Page 8 to hate losing’:
under-fire Rajput
Story on Page 5 turns on team

Story on Page 40

Scandal-ridden
company GVG
to monitor
Zimbabwe calls

ALSO INSIDE Failing ministers dodge MPs grilling

Page 2 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

OWEN GAGARE/ RUVIMBO MUCHENJE Scandal-ridden company
GVG monitors Zim calls
THE company which installed a Telecommu-
nications Traffic Monitoring System (TTMS) ICT Postal and Courier Services minister Jenfan Muswere
at the Postal and Telecommunications Regu-
latory Authority of Zimbabwe headquarters tender to GVG. Matela accused the minister of refusing to eted US$25 million from Liberian taxpayers
in Harare this week — Global Voice Group Makara revealed he had voted against Sel- approve, through a gazette, the M500 mil- during the ebola healthcare emergency from a
(GVG) — has a vast scandal-ridden footprint lion (US$32 million) tender by the LCA for controversial telecoms deal in December 2011
across Africa, checks by The NewsHawks have lo’s recommendation to the board to suspend the supply of a Compliance Monitoring and to implement an International Gateway Man-
shown. Matela. He said the minister had no power to Revenue Assurance system tender unless he agement System (IGMS).
give them orders, but merely make recommen- was given a US$194 679 bribe. She said the
From Lesotho in southern Africa to Ghana, dations which could either be accepted or re- minister also demanded to have his company Following an exposé by FrontPageAfrica,
Liberia and Guinea in West Africa, GVG has jected by the LCA board. sub-contracted by GVG before he could ap- the government ordered an audit of the deal.
faced allegations of bribery, corruption, esca- prove the tender.
lation of costs and failure to deliver in some Matela was, however, later suspended, while “The contract took advantage of the ebola
cases. her contract was not renewed on expiry as she According to a report in the Public Eye, Sel- outbreak, which took the lives of 4 810 Libe-
was elbowed out of the authority. lo however saw it fit to dismiss Makara because rians and affected livelihoods throughout the
GVG has an administrative office in Cape the tender awarded did not make sense finan- country, the following year in 2014 it brought
Town, South Africa, and Madrid, Spain. The former chief however denied any cially. It had a yearly budget of M120 million in thousands of international aid workers and
wrongdoing in the awarding of the tender to (US$8 million) for all its operations, but it created a flood of calls from the Diaspora
It was involved in many projects on the con- GVG and took her matter to court, insisting had to shell out nearly US$500 000 a month checking on loved ones. As a result, accord-
tinent, prior to its entry into Zimbabwe. It has Sello was pushing for her ouster on trumped to GVG, which is two thirds of its budget. ing to industry experts with inside knowledge
also done work in countries such as Senegal up corruption charges as she had turned down of international call volumes during crises, it
and Tanzania, among others. his sexual advances on several occasions. Liberia is estimated that the volume of international
CVG was at the centre of an alleged scam in calls to Liberia increased 20-fold during the
ICT Postal and Courier Services minister She also alleged in court that the minister which the company and top politicians pock- ebola crisis from 2014–2015,” reported Front-
Jenfan Muswere commissioned the TTMS was out to get GVG because the company did page Africa.
on Monday with Potraz director-general Gift not yield to his demands for a M3 million
Machengete — a former high ranking Central bribe (US$194 679).
Intelligence Organisation officer — insisting
“the commissioning facilitates the implemen-
tation of a cutting-edge technology-based sys-
tem that will effectively monitor telecommu-
nication traffic and provide accurate real-time
data collection”.

There are concerns by the public that the
system will in fact facilitate snooping and
eavesdropping into private communication.
GVG has faced allegations of spying before.

Potraz, however maintains TTMS is a rev-
enue assurance system that allows the regula-
tory body to track traffic by operators, hence
calculate revenue generated by each operator
in real time.

Machengete said the system will give the
authority “better visibility of market dynam-
ics which is essential for effective, efficient and
forward looking regulation’’.

The government and Potraz have not re-
vealed how much the GVG tender is worth
and how it got it, but it is likely to be running
into several millions of United States dollars
— some say it is about US$20 million — as
seen from payments the company has received
elsewhere in Africa.

In Ghana, for example, the company was
awarded an US$89 million contract for a sim-
ilar job in 2018.

However, GVG has a shady past littered
with corruption allegations, making it an un-
suitable partner in Zimbabwe.

The Potraz tender for this service was first
floated in 2015, with high-profile 27 bidders
accepted by close of deadline on 30 June that
year.

It had the previous month advertised for
companies interested in the supply of a TTMS
system in Zimbabwe.

Potraz shortlisted six companies for the
lucrative tender, which was later abandoned
amid government infighting over the deal un-
der the late former president Robert Mugabe’s
regime.

GVG was not one of the initial bidders in
2015, hence not shortlisted in the rigorous
process. But from nowhere in 2020 it was
handpicked by the government through Potraz
to implement the project.

The transaction was shady, raising the spec-
tre of corruption and underhand dealings.

GVG’s record in other countries is charac-
terised by allegations of corruption, mainly
bribery.

Lesotho
GVG was last year caught up in a bribery
scandal after it was awarded a M500 million
(US$32 million) contract to supply the Leso-
tho Communications Authority (LCA) with a
Compliance Monitoring and Revenue Assur-
ance system.
The tender was questioned by then Com-
munications, Science and Technology minis-
ter Keketso Sello, amid corruption allegations,
resulting in him firing LCA board chairperson
Motanyane Makara with effect from 31 May
2021, according to reports from the Lesotho
Times.
Makara was dismissed for resisting the min-
ister’s recommendation for the suspension of
LCA chief executive officer Mamarame Matela
for alleged corruption in the awarding of the

NewsHawks News Page 3

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

GVG was last year caught up in a bribery scandal after it was awarded a (US$37 million) contract to supply the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) with a Compliance Monitoring and Revenue Assurance system.

“. . . The scheme taxed all incoming interna- stopped payments in 2014. took the government to court challenging the “Today those who ensured that Subah con-
tional calls US$0.14 per minute and split that In May 2009, the French Post and Telecom- termination of their contract. tinued with tax revenue assurance are the same
revenue between stakeholders.” people arguing against Subah in the selfish in-
munications Regulatory Authority (ARPT) Writing on the deal, Dr Mawia Zakaria, the terest of their newly found lover: The GVG
The contract was signed between the Libe- signed a contract with the GVG group to pro- executive director of the Institute of Social Re- Group,” Zakaria wrote.
rian Telecommunications Authority (LTA), vide the institution with adequate technical search and Development based in Accra, Gha-
GVG and Conex Telecommunications Incor- resources to control and tax incoming interna- na, said the deal “stinks”. He said Afriwave Telecom was given a pro-
porated, a local shadow company created five tional and national calls, fight fraud, control visional (ICH) licence in June 2015 to build
days before the deal by Unity Party stalwart the frequency spectrum, etc. He said the parliament of Ghana had pro- and operate facilities for Clearinghouse ser-
Sheriff Abdullah. mulgated several laws under the erstwhile vices in Ghana before being awarded its final
But in 2014, the telecoms regulator stopped NDC administration to enable the National ICH licence in October 2016.
GVG, according to the report, was operat- paying GVG claiming acts of corruption, Communications Authority (NCA) to imple-
ing through its local partner, Conex Telecom- fraud and results that fell short of internation- ment projects that would accrue revenue to The scope included the provision of inter-
munications Inc, which is owned by business- al expectations and standards. the state. connect electronic communications routing
man Sherriff Abadallah who was believed to and reconciliation among mobile network
be a silent financier of Vice-President Joseph GVG however took the matter to court The NCA implemented these pieces of leg- operators, other licensed connecting entities,
Boakai’s campaign. claiming US$106 558 720 for unpaid debts islation through third-party entities as agents. revenue assurance for the NCA, SIM box de-
and wrongful termination of the partnership tection, centralised SIM activation and equip-
“According to LTA annual revenue data for agreement. GVG, with Gabby Otchere Darko as a lo- ment identity register platforms.
the period of January 1, 2013 to December 31, cal agent, was the first entity to be engaged in
2013, the first full year of the scheme, IGMS Ghana 2010 to implement the International Inbound “With this mandate Afriwave licence could
produced US$11 228 033.05 in total revenue In December 2017, the Ghanaian govern- Traffic Verification (IITV) gateway project. It easily have provided a common platform and
for stakeholders. Altogether, this means that ment through the ministries of Communi- was supposed to be a live monitoring of all in- leverage on to provide tax revenue assurance to
the IGMS scheme took in US$224 560 660 cation and Finance entered into an US$89 bound international traffic and revenue assur- the GRA even at no extra cost to government.
during the Ebola crisis, with the Sherman and million deal with Kelni GVG Limited, a joint ance to stopping sim box fraud numbers. Afriwave Telecom, as the ICH provider, could
his cronies’ share from the deal in a single year venture between the GVG and a local compa- provide this live monitoring for both the NCA
of US$44 912 132,” the report reads. ny, causing an uproar in parliament as there At about the same time, Subah Info Solu- and GRA at no cost to the GRA because they
were suspicions of corruption. tions was engaged by Ghana Revenue Author- would have access to about 20% live intercon-
In 2011 and 2012 advocacy group Cam- The contract was to develop and implement ity (GRA) to undertake Domestic Tax revenue nect traffic and it will be easy to just add 80%
paigners for Change scrutinised the deal, call- a common platform for traffic monitoring, assurance. on net traffic,” he said.
ing it “corrupt”. It demanded that the Liberian revenue assurance, mobile money monitor-
Anti-corruption Commission (LAC) investi- ing and fraud management. The contract with GVG, according to Zakaria, failed in im- Subsequently, the NCA proposed and
gate the matter. The case was never taken up Kelni GVG also sought to deal with revenue plementing the project since it only relied on amended the ICH licence of Afriwave in Oc-
by the LAC. losses and simbox fraud involving telecommu- Call Data Records (CDR) provided by the tober 2017 limiting the scope of the ICH li-
nication companies. telecommunication companies. The contract cence to provide international and national
LTA then stopped making annual revenue The contract became a subject of contro- with GVG was not renewed by the NCA and interconnect traffic routing and reconciliation
data publicly available in 2013. versy between policy think-tank Imani Africa instead it was given to Subah Info Solutions, among mobile network operators (MNOs)
and the ministry of Communications largely resulting in the company handling both the and other licensed connecting entities. Af-
The Liberian General Audit Commission because it was seen as “a careless duplication IITV and domestic tax assurance. riwave was therefore asked to stop all other
in 2018 concluded that money collected from of jobs and a needless drain on the country’s deliverables within the scope of its original
this was not shared by the above-mentioned scarce resources”. Subah was also unable to deliver as required licence, in a move seen as opening the door
parties but was taken by the Liberian govern- Imani insisted Subah and Afriwave were and relied on CDRs provided by the telecom- for GVG.
ment. awarded similar contracts under the National munication companies. There was a national
Democratic Congress (NDC) administration uproar about the Subah contract spearheaded Unlike the Afriwave deal under the erst-
Guinea to perform similar jobs, even though both by the then opposition National Patriotic Par- while administration, the award of the US$89
As reported by Ecofin Agency, which re- contracts were needless. ty (NPP). million contract to GVG was done silently
ports on ICT and telecommunications, GVG Communications minister Owusu-Ekuful with no record of open tender.
was in 2019 awarded US$20 million com- was dragged to parliament several times, where After the companies failed to deliver, the
pensation for damages it suffered after Guin- she insisted the deal would help the country NDC government licensed a new entity to “But for the exposure of the scandal by
ea terminated its contract with the company, to save money as compared to an earlier simi- implement the Interconnect Clearing House Imani, most, Ghanaians wouldn’t have heard
following allegations of corruption, fraud and lar deal with Subah and Afriwave. Subah also (ICH) project. The NPP however advocated a thing about the deal. In fact, the contract
failure to deliver. that tax revenue assurance should not be part had been awarded and payment effected for
GVG filed a complaint in 2016, demand- of the scope of an ICH to keep Subah in busi- no work done for some time before Imani ex-
ing US$107 million, when Guinea abruptly ness. They insisted that Subah had their man- posed the rot,” Zakaria said.
date from GRA, which fell under the ministry
of Finance.

Page 4 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

BERNARD MPOFU Kuvimba seizes 50% Russian
stake in GDI platinum project
STATE-OWNED mining vehicle Kuvimba Min-
ing House Ltd has announced its takeover plan The exit of Vi Holding from the GDI project, brings to an end 16 years of Russian involvement with the project.
of a 50% stake in a platinum project owned by
Russia’s Vi Holding NV, but the setting up of a early 2000s companies like Rio Tinto, Broken Hill al ambitions, the mine has been sold for a fraction signals investor fatigue on Zimbabwe.
multi-billionaire mine would require a cash-rich Proprietary Co (BHP) Hartley Platinum project of its book value after the Zimbabwe project ran Early this year Zimbabwe’s plans to develop one
and technically experienced international partner and Zimplats have faced technical challenges in up operating losses approaching US$100 million
before being rolled out due to past failures, it has extracting the ore. At the turn of the millennium, a year. of the world’s largest platinum mines stalled after
been established. BHP faced a loss of nearly US$700 million on its Impala Platinum Holdings asked for greater trans-
Hartley platinum investment, after then new chief The investment was carried in BHP’s books at parency on the ownership structure of the GDI
As first reported by The NewsHawks, nine years executive Paul Anderson sold the African venture about US$340 million after an earlier write-down project.
after the commissioning of the Great Dyke Invest- for less than US$3 million. of US$357 million. Critics say while the new take-
ments (GDI) platinum project there has been little over will give the government more control of the Kuvimba has been shrouded in controversy
progress towards getting the ore out of the ground, Once touted as a project to further BHP’s glob- platinum asset, the exit of the Russian investors since Finance minister Mthuli Ncube announced
which was targeted to start in 2021. its formation.

The company, according to information at
hand, had already spent over US$100 million on
geological exploration and construction of two
box cuts and surface infrastructure.

An off beam and shoddy mining develop-
ment approach led to the collapse of some shaft
at the stalled US$3 billion Zimbabwean and Rus-
sian-owned GDI platinum project in Darwendale,
65 kilometres west of the capital Harare.

The exit of Vi Holding from the GDI project,
which would have cost about $3 billion to develop
and become Zimbabwe’s biggest platinum mine,
brings to an end 16 years of Russian involvement
with the project.

The deposit was taken from South Africa’s Im-
pala Platinum Holdings in 2006 by former presi-
dent Robert Mugabe’s administration and Russian
investors were invited to participate.

Zimbabwe’s Treasury oversees Kuvimba. Vi
Holding’s exit follows sanctions imposed on Rus-
sia following the invasion of Ukraine.

GDI is 50% owned by Russian tycoon Vitaliy
Machitskiy’s Vi Holdings, through its JSC Afrom-
et subsidiary, and 50% by Landela Mining Ven-
ture linked to local tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei,
who is closely associated with President Emmer-
son Mnangagwa and his family.

After further wheeling and dealing involving
Tagwirei — who is under American and British
sanctions for shady deals — and his companies,
Sotic International and a labyrinth of shadowy
local and offshore structures, Kuvimba Mining
House, 65% owned by the government and 35%
by ghost shareholders, now controls 50% of GDI.

Zimbabwe’s government says it controls Ku-
vimba. But its assets, including the stake in Great
Dyke, are the same as those owned until at least
late 2020 by Sotic International, a company also
linked to Tagwirei.

“The board of directors of Kuvimba Mining
House (Private) Limited is pleased to announce
that KMH has concluded negotiations to pur-
chase 50 percent of shares from Afromet Joint
Stock Company. This acquisition will have a ma-
terial impact on the value of KMH as it continues
to take its rightful place in the economy,” the com-
pany said in a statement.

However, information gathered by The New-
sHawks shows that the new owners of the mine
may face geotechnical failure which was faced by
previous mining companies which had interests on
that part of the resource-rich Great Dyke region.
It is understood that since the 1970 up until the

NewsHawks News Page 5

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

NYASHA CHINGONO New massive grain imports
expose Command Agric con
THE first consignment of massive quantities
of imported maize will arrive in Zimbabwe on Command Agriculture was expected to produce a maize bumper harvest.
20 June, as the country moves to stem looming
shortages of grain amid failure of the much-vaunt- façade has come off in dramatic fashion. cover the gap through imports. liver grain to the GMB, Zakariya said due to late
ed Command Agriculture scheme to provide food On Command Agriculture’s failure to ensure “What happens is that it is government respon- rains some farmers were late in harvesting.
security.
food security in Zimbabwe, Musarara said: “That sibility to stock up what they call the strategic re- “Seasons are a bit different, we ended up having
Despite sinking US$3 billion into Command one is done by government, it is them who should serves in a season where the yields are low. These a lot of rain in April when we were supposed to
Agriculture to ensure food security, Zimbabwe comment.” past two seasons have been different. We are antic- be harvesting. The grain still had high moisture
finds itself having to spend more on imports as ipating a lower yield and it is normal for govern- levels. We still have a lot we need to deliver apart
farmers refuse to deliver grain to the Grain Mar- Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) executive ment to stock up,” Zakariya said. from the 12 000 metric tonnes already delivered,”
keting Board (GMB) at below market prices. director Paul Zakariya admitted that farmers were he said.
expecting poor yields, urging the government to On reasons why farmers were reluctant to de-
The government recently reacted by launching
a security-led campaign to force farmers to deliver Zimbabwean farmers are refusing to deliver grain to GMB at below market prices.
grain to the GMB.

Seeing that the security campaign had been met
with widespread condemnation, the government
this week moved to use financial incentives to en-
courage farmers to deliver grain to the national
silos. An incentive of US$90 per tonne of grain
will be paid to farmers who will sell their maize to
the GMB before month end on top of the fixed
ZW$75 000 per tonne to raise the price to at least
US$270 per tonne.

Farmers had been refusing to deliver grain, cit-
ing below market prices. This prompted govern-
ment to launch a futile search-and-seize campaign
to get grain. Cabinet resolved that the bonus will
be backdated to April when the marketing season
began as it battles looming hunger.

Speaking to The NewsHawks, Grain Millers’As-
sociation of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) national chair-
person Tafadzwa Musarara confirmed that Zim-
babwe will receive its first trucks of maize on 20
June.

“We are doing all the processes now and we are
hoping that the first truck should start coming in
by no later than 20 June,” Musarara said.

“We have made contingency measures to im-
port grain in addition to whatever we get. There
are countries with much better grain production,
they are importing because we do not know when
the Russia-Ukraine war will end, maybe it will de-
generate further, we don’t know. Many countries
are importing.

“They are building their food security. Interna-
tional best practice is that a country must have a
minimum three years’ cover of grain,” he added.

Musarara said even food sufficient countries
were stocking up to ensure food security, as Rus-
sia’s invasion of Ukraine gets prolonged, while
global warming continues to be a factor hamper-
ing food production in the country.

“On the maize side, it does not matter whether
we have grown enough or not. We are faced with
a problem of global warming. Last week, in some
places there were rains. That will delay the coming
in of grain. Where we are, given that we are deal-
ing with Russia, which is number one in terms of
wheat production and Ukraine, which is number
five, it is incumbent on us to say are we stocked,”
he said.

Musarara admitted that it is costly to import
maize and wheat, which are already in short sup-
ply in Zimbabwe.

“There isn’t much of a shortage, but an increase
in cost, yes,” he said.

He added that the cost of wheat had gone up
55% owing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We have a situation where the wheat has gone
up by 55% on the global market largely influ-
enced by the geopolitics of Eastern Europe. It can
be available, you can see bread is still available, we
are importing. The dual pricing has helped us, be-
cause on the other side we are able to get money
from the auction system and on the other side us-
ing our US dollar receipts,” Musarara said.

Command Agriculture is a government-run
import substitution-led industrialisation concept
deliberately meant to empower local producers
of cereal crops, particularly maize, to ensure food
security.

Introduced for the 2016/17 agricultural sum-
mer season, the programme was expected to pro-
duce a maize bumper harvest.

The programme was projected to produce
in excess of two million tonnes of maize on
400 000 hectares of land.

Vaunted as a resounding success, Command
Agriculture has been widely regarded as a failure,
with Zimbabwe continuing to face the spectre of
hunger, with millions in urgent need of food aid.

According to the Famine Early Warning Sys-
tems Network (Fewsnet), nearly 10 million Zim-
babweans face hunger.

Riddled with corruption and misappropriation
of billions of inputs, the Command Agriculture

Page 6 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Failing ministers dodge MPs grilling

MOSES MATENGA

POORLY performing ministers in President Em- Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga
merson Mnangagwa’s administration have resort-
ed to dodging parliamentary sessions, fearing a dressing key issues, particularly around the econ- “Of course, low remuneration is a challenge. I crement as their pay has been eroded by chronic
grilling from unimpressed legislators from across omy, with inflation, cash shortages and failure to have tried since I joined the ministry, to negotiate high inflation that continues plaguing the coun-
the political divide who have been constantly adequately pay civil servants wreaking havoc. with government to improve the salaries. We have try.
demanding answers on the falling economy and got a challenge, government is trying, resources
shambolic service delivery. Education minister Evelyn Ndlovu recently are limited but we are pushing for continual im- But while the country is faced with severe chal-
conceded that the government’s failure to address provement of remuneration of our teachers,” she lenges, ministers have resorted to propaganda to
Lawmakers from across the political divide have the headache of teachers’ salaries has seen many conceded. paint a rosy picture of the state of affairs, with
been demanding answers and challenging minis- quitting the profession while others opt to work Zanu PF insiders and MPs saying the lies will cost
ters, particularly those responsible for economic outside the country in search of greener pastures. Civil servants are also pressing for a salary in- the party dearly in the coming elections.
clusters, to show leadership and stop peddling the
propaganda that all is well in the country.

This also comes as senior Zanu PF officials based
at party headquarters are said to be unhappy with
the ruling party’s representatives in government,
particularly those appointed by Mnangagwa. The
party grandees say the behaviour and inconsistent
policy pronouncements of such ministers will cost
the ruling party in the 2023 elections.

MPs are supposed to be grilling the ministers
every Wednesday on key issues mainly on policy,
but are now tired of explanations as the cabinet
ministers are avoiding them, often nudging ju-
niors to answer key questions.

Norton MP Temba Mliswa has been vocal in
calling for ministers to take parliamentary busi-
ness seriously.

Harare East MP Tendai Biti challenged Speak-
er of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda to
make an order compelling the truant ministers to
change their ways.

“We are all aware that the country is burning
with so many issues. Inflation in May was 132%,
the cost of bread is now about ZW$900, the cost
of cooking fat is US$7, school fees have gone up,”
Biti said while asking why the ministers were con-
spicuous by their absence in the House during
important question-and-answer sessions.

“Hospital fees have gone up. So we would like
ministers to be here so that we exercise our right
to ask them questions. The country is burning so
we need members of the executive to be sitting on
your right so that we can ask questions,” Biti said.

Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya demanded
that Vice-President and Health minister Con-
stantino Chiwenga be summoned to Parliament
to speak on the increase in hospital fees beyond
the reach of many.

The government this week increased hospital
fees, with adults expected to fork out US$12 in
consultation fees while children are expected to
pay US$6.

The government has been found wanting in ad-

NewsHawks News Page 7

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Shadowy firms pocket millions in
Kwekwe roads scandal: Minister

Kwekwe City Council

BRENNA MATENDERE

TRANSPORT minister Felix Mhona has sub- Mhona said directors for Linash Construction are brought to Parliament by Mhona. Deputy Transport minister Mike Madiro
mitted to Parliament a breakdown of amounts of Elinah Shoko and Charntelle Murombwi. “His figures are different from those which are that Minister Mhona was supposed to just bring
money paid to condemned companies that were copies of the CR14 certificates of the companies
controversially awarded tenders to rehabilitate People who live in Kwekwe, including coun- at Kwekwe City Council. Secondly, from our in- as they appear at the Companies Registry so that
roads in Kwekwe. cilors and legislators, did not know the names of side sources, the names of directors he gave are names of owners of the firms are disclosed.
the companies that were repairing their roads as actually names of managers at the companies. We
The monies, all paid in United States dollars, their identities were a closely guarded secret until wanted to know the real owners of the companies “The roads were condemned by residents, the
exceed the ZW$68 million amount allocated to Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya forced Mhona so that we could check if they are linked to the minister himself and his deputy. There was no val-
the city under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation to disclose them in the National Assembly. powers-that-be,” he said. ue for money at all as this scheme ended up be-
Programme (ERRP2) by the Zimbabwe National ing a looting platform with known looters getting
Road Administration (Zinara). In an interview with The NewsHawks, Chik- Chikwinya, who also sits on the National As- away with impounity. We are going to pursue this
winya said he was not satisfied with the responses sembly's Transport portfolio committee, stressed matter further,” Chikwinya vowed.
The source of the additional funds is unclear,
amid fears that Treasury was bullied into disburs-
ing more money from the taxpayers’ purse.

The ZW$68 million allocated for road rehabil-
itation translated to less than US$1 million at the
interbank rate when the companies were contract-
ed, but figures given to Parliament by Minister
Mhona in his breakdown translate to more than
US$7 million.

In his written response to questions with no-
tice raised by Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya,
Mhona said Birthday Construction Company was
paid US$ 1.6 million, Zada Construction US$1.5
million while the Central Mechanical Engineering
Department got US$3 million for road repair.

The minister also revealed that two more com-
panies were paid for the road works. These are
little-known Linash Construction (US$146 725)
and Release Power which got two tranches of
US$292 990 and US$309 020.

The minister claimed that public procurement
law was followed in awarding the tenders.

“Madam Speaker, the proof of tender processes:
Let me hasten to say the awarding of contracts has
been done above board with due processes being
followed including reviews by the Special Procure-
ment Oversight Committee (SPOC) under the
Procurement Regulatory of Zimbabwe (Praz),” he
said.

While Mhona seemed to paint a rosy picture of
the road projects in the august House, he person-
ally condemned the companies which were con-
tracted when he visited Kwekwe on 6 February this
year to assess the work. His deputy, Mike Madiro,
who also visited Kwekwe last week (four months
later), to monitor progress on the road works, also
condemned the companies for the shoddy job
they did and promised to blacklist them.

Responding to a question on the ownership of
the companies that were contracted, Mhona said
directors of Birthday Construction Company are
Wedzerai Motose and B. Muroyi. He further sub-
mitted that Release Power Company has only one
director, named

Christian Matope, while for Zada Construc-
tion has Leons BJ and Giano Jacob as directors.

Page 8 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

BRENNA MATENDERE Residents’ leaders dare July Moyo

LEADERS of residents’ associations in major Anoziva Muguti, the Masvingo United Resi- Local Government minister July Moyo Councils Act clearly stipulates that a council can
cities and towns across the country have blasted dents’ Association (Mura) director, said Moyo’s belani Dube told The NewsHawks that Moyo’s review performance of committees and re-as-
Local Government minister July Moyo for in- directives had weakened councils and munici- interference in councils can only be solved by sign councillors or elect new leaders. July Moyo
terfering with the day-to-day running of local palities. devolution and the separation of powers. quoted a section that talks of the tenure of office
authorities following the infamous Harare Po- of mayors, rural district council chairpersons
mona deal. “Councils are now being run by ministerial The 2013 constitution, adopted via referen- and councillors, which has nothing to do with
directives and this is impacting negatively on so- dum, provides for devolution, but the govern- committees,” she said.
Moyo is currently in the eye of a storm for cial service delivery. Local authorities have chal- ment say it does not have money to fulfil the
pushing for the Pomona deal that entails giving lenges which differ from one local authority to provision. She said their inside sources revealed that the
Netherlands-based company Geogenix BV un- another, which can only be overcome by officials protection of old councillors aligned to Doug-
fettered control of Pomona dumpsite and in- from within the councils, not the minister,” he “Local government tier must be afforded the las Mwonzora’s MDC-T was meant to facilitate
come of US$22 000 per day or US$8 million said. autonomy it deserves, with Parliament together looting.
per year. with the executive playing the oversight role for
Muguti urged Moyo stop the interference. the smooth governance of the country,” Dube Gweru Residents and Ratepayers’ Association
Despite the deal having been cancelled by Mura public relations officer Godfrey Mtim- said. director Cornelia Selipiwe highlighted that there
Harare councillors, Moyo is adamant it must ba weighed in, saying “our fear is now that the are water pumps for the city’s Gwenhoro pump-
proceed albeit at the expense of ratepayers. interference will be spread to all the councils like Alice Kuvheya, the Chitungwiza Residents’ ing and treatment plant which were supplied to
ours.” Trust (Chitrez) director, pointed out that the the city after minister Moyo had negotiated a
In April, Moyo, in another case of interfer- Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association earlier directive by Moyo on council portfolio pay-upon-delivery arrangement with a South
ence, wrote to all local authorities and instructed (BPRA) secretary for administration Them- commitees which came before the exposure of African company.
them to block newly elected Citizens' for Coali- the Pomona deal was in itself misdirected.
tion Change (CCC) councillors from assuming “We later learnt that the company belonged
council portfolio committee leadership posi- “Section 96 sub-section 8 of the Urban to him. Those pumps were not up to standard.
tions. We are equally worried with minister Moyo’s
micro-management of councils. We say to him
In another development, on 26 April 2022, hands off our local authority,” he said.
acting Local Government secretary Lameck
Mudyiwa, under Moyo’s instruction, wrote to Marvelous Khumalo, the Manyame Resi-
the City of Harare renouncing the position of dents' Association leader, who doubles as the
acting mayor Enock Mupamombe after he had Harare Metropolitan Residents Forum (HM-
been elected four days earlier. Mudyiwa also or- REF) chairperson, told The NewsHawks that it
dered the council to rescind a resolution that was worrying to note that Moyo’s name contin-
reduced the local authority’s delegation to the ues to be associated with questionable directives
Zimbabwe International Trade Fair from 60 to at local authorities.
6.
“Chapter 14 of the constitution seeks to deal
The decision to cut the number of delegates with the level of undue interference in the run-
had been made in order to save money amount- ning of local authorities where power is shifted
ing to US$136 000. from the centre to the periphery. The chapter
speaks of a need for people at a lower level to
“It has come to my attention that on 22 April determine issues regarding their governance on
2022, an illegal meeting was convened where an their own.”
acting mayor was elected. We have observed that
this meeting which purportedly elected an act- “However, we see a direct violation of the
ing mayor was not properly convened as there dictates and letter of this provision by minister
was no declaration of vacancy and no notice by Moyo. With regards to Pomonagate, we have
the chamber secretary to convene the meeting, seen that government is determined to be in
hence it was illegal. control of both decision making and budgeting
at local authorities, which is wrong,” he said.
“Therefore, whatever decisions and resolu-
tions made during that meeting are null and Repeated efforts to get Moyo’s side of the sto-
void,” wrote Mudyiwa. ry did not bear fruit.

The letter was addressed to acting Harare Precious Shumba, the Harare Residents' Trust
town clerk Phakamile Mabhena Moyo. director, said minister Moyo’s actions had be-
come “contrary to the spirit and expectation of
Concerned by the developments, the res- the citizens in respect of elected councillors, the
idents’ leaders in towns and cities across the duties of local authorities and the mandate of
country have risen to speak out. councils in the eyes of the electorate.”

In separate interviews with The NewsHawks, However, he urged opposition councillors to
residents’ association leaders said Moyo was avoid being confrontational with the govern-
over-stepping his mandate. ment.

Chiredzi Residents’ Association leader Josep- “It is the ratepayers who will suffer at the end
hat Tizirai said Moyo no longer held the moral of the day if the government decides to be as
and professional compass of a minister. confrontational as the opposition councillors
who have adopted a contemptuous attitude to-
“All his directives to councils smack of cor- wards their colleagues who were not recalled and
ruption. Here in Chiredzi at one time we had the national government,” Shumba said.
to resist minister Moyo’s attempt to force coun-
cil to buy a transformer for our water plant in
Hippo Valley which was sub-standard. He came
with Kruger who was purportedly the supplier,”
he said.

Fresh plot to silence CCC concillors exposed

MOSES MATENGA Hammy Madzingira, Costa Mande, Lovemore of pursuing Zanu PF agendas. “They are questioning his continued sponsor-
Makuwerere, Tonderai Chakaredza, Anthony Mutizwa is also accused of dubiously support- ship for trips to include paid accommodation, al-
GOVERNMENT has renewed its plot to purge Shingadeya and Luckson Mukunguma were the lowances for him and chauffeur and fuel. He has
Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors other mentioned councillors who are in the dock ing the controversial Pomona waste management just come back from Victoria Falls from the First
who have been very vocal in their attempt to block for several cases, including alleged abuse of office. deal that will see the local authority paying mil- Lady’s programmes where he had a whole week
projects they perceive as murky at Harare’s Town lions of dollars for dumping garbage. sponsored by council together with all of Mwon-
House and has written to the town clerk demand- The CCC councillors led by Mafume are zora’s MDC –T female councillors.”
ing names of “troublesome” city fathers in a bid to strongly opposed to the alleged abuse of office In a letter dated 30 May 2022, addressed to act-
block them from the head office. by MDC-T councillors whom they accuse of not ing town clerk Moyo, Mafume ordered an imme- Mutizwa was said to have been supposed to
only working with the Zanu PF government but diate stop to the issuance of council vehicles and travel to Mutare on another sponsored trip.
The resistance led by mayor Jacob Mafume at also funding First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s personnel to Mutizwa who parades himself with
Town House has angered central government, projects. Among the projects the Zanu PF govern- the support of Zanu PF and central government “Councillors are questioning how the acting
with the ministry of Local Government perma- ment is desperate to protect is the US$400 million as the acting mayor of Harare. town clerk is authorising his spending spree where
nent secretary Zvinechimwe Churu writing to Pomona waste management transaction which the he attends meetings as acting mayor during the
acting town clerk Phakamile Mabhena Moyo CCC councillors blocked last week, saying it was “I do hereby give a lawful instruction that the presence of Mafume.”
demanding names of councillors who have cases corruptly agreed on. use be stopped forthwith. I refer to the numerous
before the courts. trips that are being approved for councillor Mutiz- “In fact Mutizwa, Mwonzora councillors and a
Central government, through the Local Gov- wa who has not been seconded to go on those trips few council employees have abused the First La-
In response, Moyo cited Mafume, former may- ernment ministry, has tried to block CCC coun- and is purporting to be the acting mayor in those dy’s name to siphon council funds.”
or Herbert Gomba, among others, as councillors cillors from Town House, who are facing charges trips. Any funds that are withdrawn on that mat-
who are still in the dock. before the courts, while also trying to block them ter, you will be held personally accountable should “There have been too many trips to Chiredzi,
from chairing committees. you continue to act as if there is a co-Mayorship at too many to mention. They have been all over to
“I refer to your request for information on the Town House,” Mafume warned. include places like
above matter. Please find outlined below, and at- While central government is targeting CCC
tached herewith, the requisite information,” the councillors for purging, some of the city fathers Council sources told The NewsHawks this week Binga, Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo, Gwe-
letter reads, accompanied by a list of names of are fighting those linked to the MDC-T, includ- that city fathers were breathing fire on Mutizwa’s ru, Victoria Falls. Mwonzora’s councillors made
councillors he said had pending court cases. ing acting mayor Stewart Mutizwa, accusing them spending and his continued use of the mayor’s ve- a council resolution to support the First Lady’s
hicle and mayoral chauffeur. projects and this is how they are abusing council
funds,” a source said.

NewsHawks News Page 9

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

I'll continue working with Zanu PF: Mutizwa

THE US$344 million Pomona waste man- l Says infighting derails, upsets council projects
agement deal has divided opinion, with of- l Washes hands on controversial Pomona deal
ficials from across the political divide trad-
ing accusations and counter-accusations of
corruption and plots to illegally milk mil-
lions of dollars from the already struggling
local authority. The deal involving Neth-
erlands-based company Geogenix BV, has
been widely criticised and blocked by Citi-
zens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) council-
lors while the MDC-T city fathers together
with the central government have thrown
their weight fully behind it.In the wake of
the drama around the controversial deal de-
scribed as murky by many opposed to it, The
NewsHawks’ reporter Mary Mundeya (MM)
spoke to the former acting mayor, councillor
Stewart Mutizwa (SM), on the deal and other
issues at Town House:

MM: You are one of the longest-serving SM: As council we agreed to the waste man- think it makes sense to have them accept a Acting Harare mayor councillor Stewart Mutizwa
councillors at the City of Harare. What has en- agement concept, not the finer details. By vir- waste management programme through which by Geogenix BV.
abled you to keep your post for so long? tue of it being a national project, the process council is required to pay US$22 000 per day
was taken over by central government so it is when you have been failing basic service deliv- MM: How is the diversion of devolution
SM: I have made sure that I do not become beyond council now, it is a national project. ery such as refuse collection? funds meant for community development to-
a slave to politics. I value my ideas and I’m not The figures you are speaking of were not ap- wards council’s daily payment to Geogenix BV
afraid to say what I believe in; whether it might proved by councillors, they were agreed to by SM: The ratepayers do not have to worry. not shortchanging ratepayers whose communi-
seem wrong to other people. council officials led by the Attorney-General They will not be in any way affected by this. ties are supposed to benefit from such funds?
and the office of the Chief Secretary. Government has given us some safety nets in-
MM: You have been in council since 2008. volving the diversion of part of the devolution SM: Mind you this is a joint venture, at the
What challenge has the City of Harare failed to MM: You have been advocating for the ac- funds that we will receive to go towards the dai- end of the day we will share the energy gener-
address and what do you attribute that failure ceptance of the deal by the public. Do you ly payment required at the Pomona dumpsite ation spoils with Geogenix BV. For every kilo-
to? watt of energy that will be produced, we will
have our own share as the council.
SM: One major problem that was and is still
there is the relationship between council and The Harare City Council is in huge debt.
government. Council is part of government and
we should desist from pointing fingers at each
other. Politics has played a huge role in pro-
moting the drift and it’s high time we worked
together as one people.

MM: The Harare City Council is in huge
debt. The government, residents and businesses
are failing to pay for services being rendered.
What do you think should be done to improve
the financial capacity of the local authority?

SM: We need to build confidence in our
stakeholders who have witnessed a lot of in-
fighting in council and, due to that, they see
no reason to support us. As council we cannot
expect residents whom we have told not to
support the government to support us through
paying their rates.

MM: Residents have attributed the issue of
poor service delivery to corruption and infight-
ing in council. How far true is this assertion?

SM: It’s true. We have had major corrupt ten-
dencies as far as land distribution is concerned.
More so, there is a lot of infighting and today
you hear someone saying let’s do this, tomor-
row someone else says let’s do the opposite of
what was said. There is no way that we can ful-
fill our mandate when we are divided like that.

MM: There are allegations that you are being
used by some elements in Zanu PF to advance
certain agendas. What’s your response?

SM: Being accused is not an issue (because)
people will always have opinions. I don’t think
there are any elements that are using me. I’m
not sure why my working with government is
being misinterpreted as being used. I have said
this and I’ll continue saying that I’ll not stop
working with government, it’s the government
of the day regardless of the existence of certain
quarters that are saying the government is ille-
gitimate.

MM: You are being accused of not having
followed due procedure, having been armtwist-
ed by the minister of Local Government and
having corruptly benefited from the Pomona
waste management deal transaction. What’s
your reaction to this?

SM: July Moyo is my minister directly and
there is no way I will stop working with him
and other responsible authorities. I don’t know
which procedure I was supposed to follow be-
cause everything, including the paperwork, is
there. I’m not the one who signed the deal on
behalf of council. The matter was brought to a
full council meeting and was agreed to. I have
no power outside council.

MM: Council is in huge debt already. What
was the rationale of you agreeing to a waste
management deal that milks the local authority
US$22 000 per day? Is council in a position to
pay such a huge amount of money daily?

Page 10 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

BERNARD MPOFU A ‘smuggler’ Rushwaya wants
gold possession decriminalised
CONTROVERSIAL Zimbabwe Miners Feder-
ation (ZMF) president Henrietta Rushwaya has Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya
made a shocking plea to the Zanu PF government
to repeal a piece of legislation which criminalises
the possession of gold without a valid licence from
the authorities.

Rushwaya, who represents the country’s small-
scale miners, is currently facing charges of at-
tempting to smuggle six kilogrammes of the pre-
cious metal outside the country. She was arrested
at Robert Mugabe International Airport last year
on her way out of the country.

Under the country’s laws, Fidelity Printers and
Refineries is the only entity mandated to buy the
yellow metal on behalf of the government.

The ZMP boss told delegates attending the
just-ended Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe an-
nual meeting held in Victoria Falls that the au-
thorities should liberalise legislation regulating the
gold industry in order to ramp up output.

Gold is Zimbabwe’s single largest foreign cur-
rency earner, accounting for more than 50% of
export earnings.

Official statistics show that small-scale miners
who are currently using rudimentary tools such as
pans, picks and shovels to extract minerals from
the belly of the earth account for the bulk of gold
mined in the country.

“With regards to growth prospects, we are re-
questing for the repealing of the Gold Trade Act
especially Section 3 up to Section 12 which mostly
talks about the criminalisation of gold possession
without a valid licence,” Rushwaya said during the
conference which was officially opened by Presi-
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa and attended by
senior Zanu PF officials such as party commissar
Mike Bimha. The conference ran under the theme
“Unleashing the Potential of the Zimbabwe Gold In-
dustry.”

“I have noted that Honourable Bimha is here
from the ruling party. Honourable Bimha please
carry our message as small-scale miners to the rul-
ing party — especially to politicians — insofar as
repealing the Gold Trade Act when it comes to
election time and re-enforcing it after the elections
and this should be a permanent feature in Zim-
babwe.”

Rushwaya also asked Justice minister Ziyam-
bi Ziyambi to speed up reforms which formalise
artisanal mining in the country and blamed the
Attorney-General’s Office for being lethargic in
its operations. She also appealed to large mining
companies to assist small scale miners with critical
skills which ensure the safety of the miners. Over
the years, several miners have been killed while
others have been trapped under disused mine
shafts while carrying out artisanal mining activi-
ties which are characterised by manual labour or
minimal-to-no mechanisation.

The International Labour Organisation statisti-
cal manual defines the informal sector as consist-
ing units engaged in the production of goods or
services with the primary objective of generating
employment and incomes to the persons con-
cerned. These units typically operate at a low level
of organisation. Thus accordingly formalisation
is the process of bringing players in the informal
economy into the formal economy. Formalisation
of the informal economy can take different forms:
registration, taxation, organisation and represen-
tation, legal and social protection, business incen-
tives and support.

In 2018, Rushwaya won her first ZMF elec-
tions and that same year deliveries to the country’s
sole gold buyer and exporter Fidelity Printers and
Refiners (FPR) by small-scale miners hit a record
high of over 21 tonnes. However, many citizens
are closely watching to see how the authorities will
handle her gold smuggling case.

Gold is the country’s single largest foreign currency Zimbabwe’s laws allows only Fidelity Printers and Refineries to buy gold on behalf of government.
earner.

NewsHawks News Page 11

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

ED sought vocal critics’ backing after coup

MOSES MATENGA l Top human rights lawyer predicted bloody polls
l Urges business to fund civil society organisations
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is said to
have sought the services of vocal critics to sani- THe late constitutional
tise the November 2017 military coup and while law expert Alex Magaisa
he could have succeeded in luring some, several,
including the late constitutional law expert Alex Zimbabwean investigative
Magaisa turned his emissaries down. Journalist Hopewell Chin'ono.

Mnangagwa came to power on the back of a for constitutionalism business thrives and inves- Magaisa was declared a people’s national hero for his Big Saturday Read (BSR) writings which
military coup that ousted Robert tors will follow, then the economy will thrive.” in recognition of his efforts to improve gover- touched on issues ranging from law to rural live-
nance. lihoods.
Mugabe amid heavy criticism from local and “Each one of us can contribute towards what
international observers including Magaisa. Amid Alex believed in. I am pained he died without Magaisa, a law lecturer at Kent University, The Thursday memorial lecture was attended
the coup euphoria, Mnangagwa enjoyed the sup- seeing the Zimbabwe he wanted and I am pained died on Sunday in the United Kingdom after by Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) leader
port of the opposition and the United Kingdom that he left as we approach an election that will be cardiac arrest. Nelson Chamisa, businessman Nigel Chanakira,
government who wrongly believed he was a re- bloody and those who relied on him will not have Zanu PF member of Parliament and former Jus-
formist. him as we approach that period.” Five days of mourning amid a series of events tice minister Fortune Chasi, among others.
have been set in honour of Magaisa, popular
Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who was close
to Magaisa, revealed on Thursday during a me-
morial lecture organised by the Constitutional
Law Centre (CLC) that there were overtures to
lure him and Magaisa, among others, to be part
of the government.

“The new dispensation approached him for his
services. In 2019, the late Douglas Munatsi and
a senior lawyer who is still around approached
me and wanted me in either government or at
ZBC, I called Alex and he said it's laundering,”
Chin’ono said.

“He said they want to launder their image us-
ing you. He said let them fix reforms and every
Zimbabwean would want to be part of a new dis-
pensation,” Chin’ono said.

“Magaisa was very clear with this government.
He said I worked with these people and I know
they will not change. He said it was just an op-
portunity for them as they wanted to get rid of
Mugabe who had other plans.”

“The new dispensation made an approach to
Alex and he said I am Zimbabwean and if you
want to do the right thing, do the right things
and every Zimbabwean will support you."

Chin’ono said Magaisa always spoke of his
days in government working as an adviser to the
then Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai where he
exposed a lot of corruption and incompetence.

“He would tell me of corruption when he was
in government and serious incompetence by se-
nior government officials. He told me of how the
system was corrupt.”

“He saved many from being poisoned by some
in the system and he loved to say how enablers
work. He said not everyone is an enabler in the
system, he used to tell me there are good people
also.”

Respected human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtet-
wa, who was the guest speaker at the memorial
lecture, said it was painful Magaisa died before
he could see a Zimbabwe he would have wanted.
She warned of a potentially bloody 2023 general
election campaign.

Mtetwa said under Zanu PF's solo rule since
the 2013 constitution was adopted, a lot of
amendments have been put forward to perpet-
uate undesirable aspects Magaisa and his col-
leagues in the constitution-making process had
dealt with.

“Now we see judges making decisions in a case
they are interested parties and seek to benefit
from the decisions they would have made. Alex
thought this would never happen when they
wrote the constitution,” Mtetwa said.

“I want to say to business executives that know
Alex, those bond notes you keep and do not
know what to do with them, the CLC will find
them useful.”

“Everyone must play a part. Businesses are the
biggest victims of policy flip-flops we get every
day. If you look at statutory instruments this year
alone, you can run out of figures and it is a trag-
edy that business is affected the most by failure
of government, but is not supporting voices of
reason where a constitution must be respected.”

Mtetwa said the situation in Zimbabwe is like-
ly to get worse, particularly with the coming in
of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO)
Amendment Bill, with donor funding to protect
human rights and other projects being blocked.

The leading lawyer also predicated a bloody
2003 election campaign.

“Business must come to the table and openly
support civil society organisations. Business must
know where there is the rule of law and respect

Page 12 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

NYASHA CHINGONO Chiwenga chases Schroeder’s
record —The Lord of Rings
ZIMBABWEAN Vice-President retired General
Constantino Chiwenga seems to be chasing for- l Who is the VP’s new wife Miniyothabo Baloyi?
mer German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s re-
cord in serial marriages — or divorces — after it Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga (left) with former wife Marry Mubaiwa.
emerged he has a new wife, army Colonel Mini-
yothabo Baloyi, following his much-publicised 2018 Bulawayo grenade attack with Chiwenga “Her current condition is critical (life-threat- Rising star
acrimonious divorce with former model Marry and other top Zanu PF leaders, including Pres- ening) and has necessitated hospitalisation and Meanwhile, Baloyi’s star has been rising. She
Mubaiwa. ident Emmerson Mnangagwa and co-deputy stabilisation with a plan for emergent right high has now consolidated her position as Chiwen-
leader Kembo Mohadi, Mubaiwa has been on a above elbow amputation as soon as she is deemed ga’s new wife after he reportedly paid lobola to
Chiwenga divorced Mubaiwa in 2019. Before slippery slope, lurching from one crisis to another, medically stable. She has severe sepsis secondary her parents in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, last
that, he had left another former wife, Jocelyn including life-threatening experiences. to deep infection after revision surgery to fix a month in an event characterised by pomp and
Mauchaza, in 2010 for Mubaiwa. Prior to that, re-fracture of the right humerus shaft against fanfare.
Chiwenga was married to another woman. She is now bed-ridden and faces the gruesome a background of chronic sepsis in her forearm. A source close to the family says Chiwenga paid
prospect of amputation of one of her arms, amid Careful in-patient clinical management of her “a herd of huge fat beasts” to the Baloyi family last
This means his marriage to Baloyi is the third a life-threatening condition. current state is required and a multi-disciplinary month. While Baloyi is originally from Nkayi in
in 12 years — an average of a new marital union team is in attendance,” Nyahunzvi said. Matabeleland North, the family moved to Filabu-
or divorce every four years. A medical report by specialist trauma and or- si, where she grew up between her home area and
thopaedic surgeon John Nyahunzvi in March re-
Schroeder — a controversial figure in the West- vealed Mubaiwa needed amputation.
ern political world due to his colourful personal
life — is now in his fifth marriage after he tied the
knot with his partner, Korean Kim So Yeon (48),
on 2 May 2018 when he was 74.

That was the fifth marriage for the centre-left
German politician, and the second for the Kore-
an, an economic expert, not to be confused with
the eponymous 37-year-old Korean actress. The
wedding was celebrated in grand style in Berlin.

Schroeder split from his wife of 18 years, Doris
Köpf, in 2016 and moved out of the family home
into a separate apartment.

In the process, Schroeder earned the nickname
“Audi chancellor” during his political career, as he
had worn as many wedding rings as the German
car-maker’s four-ring symbol.

His other nickname is The Lord of the Rings,
which now aptly fits Chiwenga.

Schroeder wed Kopf, a former journalist, in
1997, but left their home in the upmarket area
of Hanover in 2016. The two had adopted two
Russian children, Viktoria and Gregor, from or-
phanages in St Petersburg in July 2004 and 2006
respectively. Schroeder has now been married
four times to: Eva Schubach (1968-1972); Anne
Taschenmacher (1972-1984); Hiltrud Hampel,
aka Hillu (1984-1997); Köpf (1997-2018) and
now So Yeon.

Schroeder identifies himself as a protestant, but
does not appear to be religious. He did not add
the optional phrase So wahr mir Gott helfe formula
(so help me God) when sworn in as chancellor
for his first term in 1998. When he campaigned
for re-election in 2002, the issue of his endless
marriages and divorces — Chiwenga-style — was
spoken about in political circles, although it was
not part of the real issues.

Throughout the build-up to the 2002 Ger-
man election, Schroeder’s Social Democrats and
the Green Party under Joseph “Joschka” Fischer
trailed the centre-right candidate, Bavarian and
Christian Social Union leader Edmund Stoiber
until the catastrophe caused by rising floodwater
in Germany led to an improvement in his polling
numbers.

Furthermore, his popular opposition to a war
in Iraq dominated campaigning in the run-up to
the polls. In the 22 September 2002 vote, Schro-
eder shook off his broken marriages tag and se-
cured another four-year term, with a narrow nine-
seat majority down from 21.

One of The NewsHawks’ current editors cov-
ered the Germany elections for weeks in 2002,
mainly following Schroeder’s campaign trail.

Baloyi walks into Chiwenga’s life — the lion’s
den — against a backdrop of the former mili-
tary general’s vicious acrimony and toxicity with
his previous wife Mubaiwa, whom he had seized
from former footballer Shingi Kawondera.

Shakespearean tragedy
Mubaiwa’s story is the stuff of Shakespear-
ean tragedy. After a glittering modelling career,
Mubaiwa got married to someone else — the
father of her first child — before tying the knot
with Kawondera, whom she later literally deserted
for Chiwenga.
While she moved from rags to riches in mar-
riage and dominated the social scene as Chi-
wenga’s wife, it all ended in tears, amid arrests,
prolonged detention and charges of attempted
murder, fraud, money laundering and assault — a
tragic downfall. On top of that, Mubaiwa has not
been able to see her minor children with Chiwen-
ga for four years now. It has been a harrowing and
traumatic experience for a woman at one time re-
ferred to as “Zimbabwe’s Second Lady” when she
had the world under her feet and lived in the lap
of luxury.
Since her arrest in 2019 after surviving the

NewsHawks News Page 13

Issue 84, 10 June 2022 Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s new wife Miniyothabo Baloyi

home town, Bulawayo.
Various confirmations show Baloyi is now

staying with Chiwenga at his new Borrowdale
home after he left his Borrowdale Brooke home
— where he lived with Mauchaza and Mubaiwa
— and the Chinese Villa, also in Borrowdale.

Chiwenga’s new property is located along
Manombe Close in Carrick Creagh Estate in Bor-
rowdale and has reportedly been lavishly fitted
with imported furnishings.

Carrick Creagh, which overlooks the upmarket
Borrowdale Brooke neighbourhood, is a prime
suburb, where a 2 000-square-metre stand can
cost around US$100 000, according to indepen-
dent realtors.

In a leaked recent video, Chiwenga, also
Health minister, is captured telling a Zimbabwe
Statistical Agency enumerator that he is currently
staying with Baloyi, referring to her as his spouse.
She now wears a marriage ring.

“I am staying here with my spouse, Baloyi and
the children,” Chiwenga says answering a ques-
tion on who had slept at his home on census
night, 20 April.

Who is Baloyi?
Since news broke out that she is now Chiwen-
ga’s wife, questions have been asked as to who
Miniyothabo Baloyi is.
Born on 9 September 1976, when Chiwenga
was fighting in the liberation struggle as a Zan-
la guerrilla in Tanzania and later Mozambique,
Baloyi — commonly known as Minnie — orig-
inally hails from Nkayi in Matabeleland North
province, although the family moved to Filabusi,
where the lobola cattle were paid. She grew up
in those localities and between her home town of
Bulawayo. Baloyi did her primary schooling in
Filabusi and went to Ekusileni Secondary School
in the same area from 1990-1993, where she
completed her Ordinary Levels.
Those who went to school with her in the early
1990s speak of a quiet young lady who was calm
and focussed. Some of the information is also
confirmed by her social media profiles, including
Facebook.
“She went to Ekusileni Secondary School for
her ‘O’ Levels, from 1990-1993. She was cool,
calm and collected; not bothered by many things,
and focussed,” a former schoolmate told The
NewsHawks. “That is still her character and de-
meanour up to now — an introvert, quiet and
hardworking.”
This appears to be the opposite of Mubaiwa
who was a jovial, talkative and an extrovert — she
flamboyantly enjoyed life — before running into
seemingly insurmountable problems, including
life-threatening health afflictions.
After Ekusileni,
Baloyi in 1994 went to JZ Moyo High School,
formerly Majoda, in Gwanda, Matabeleland
South, 12km north of West Nicholson. She com-
pleted her Advanced Levels there and proceeded
to tertiary studies.
In 1996, she studied with the Institute of Ad-
ministration and Commerce in Harare. The Insti-
tute of Administration and Commerce is a pro-
fessional management Independent Examining
Board established in Cape Town, South Africa, in
1927 and registered in Zimbabwe in 1958.
Baloyi is multi-talented. Besides her native
Ndebele language, she speaks various other lan-
guages, including Chinese (Mandarin), French,
Zulu, Sotho and Shona, among others. Ndebele
is a Zulu dialect, hence second nature to her.
Due to her multilingual background, Baloyi
became a government translator in 1996.
From 2005 to 2009, she studied Mandarin at
PLA University of Foreign Languages in Kun-
shan, Jiangsu province, China, obtaining a first-
class Bachelor of Arts degree.
She has also studied locally at university level,
earning herself a Master’s in international relations
(international/global studies) from the University
of Zimbabwe and a PhD in Business Leadership,
Business Administration and Management from
the Midlands State University.
Besides her military work as an army colonel,
Baloyi is involved in business. She is managing
director of Kolamminnie (Pvt) Ltd T/A Style by
Minie and runs a clothing and electronics oper-
ation, Style by Minie (VVIP), with branches at
Longcheng Plaza, Linquenda House and Sam
Levy Village.
Some of her closest relatives include Nhlosw-
enhle Baloyi (brother), Balue Nyathi (sister),
Charity Khumalo (sister), cousins Mark Nyathi,
Dumisani Dube and Brian Nyathi and nephew
Wonder Dube.

Page 14 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Residents petition MPs over scary fires

NYASHA CHINGONO/ THOMAS DUBE are increasing. As a result of these fires the road revealed to the community,” further reads the and mitigatory measures being taken.
that links Makwika Village with Madumabisa petition. “Hwange Colliery Company Limited, a pub-
HWANGE residents have petitioned the Parlia- Village has since been closed to both pedestrian
ment of Zimbabwe to intervene in dealing with and vehicular traffic. There are several reported Residents’ organisations have been petition- lic company in which the State holds an interest
underground fires that are posing harm to the cases of the residents and livestock being burnt ing Hwange Colliery to deal with the coal seam is on record as undertaking to hire expertise to
mining community, livestock and wildlife. by these underground fires. The community fires. contain the threat of fire. Ordinary residents,
of Hwange is now living in fear of the danger who are at risk, are unaware of any measures
Residents say legislators should add their which underground fires are posing. Com- The petitioners further argued that in addi- that have been taken or are being taken to con-
voice on coal seam fires, which have killed sev- munities are concerned that the underground tion to the rise in cases of children being burnt, tain the threat of fire,” the petition reads.
eral, while dozens have been left with lifelong fires could spread to residential areas if urgent the fires were reportedly manifesting close to
scars. measures are not taken to mitigate the impact. the Deka River, a major water source for the Efforts to get an update on the issue from the
The scale of the underground fires has not been Hwange community. company’s corporate adfairs manager, Beauty
Hwange Colliery Company Limited has Mutombe, were fruitless as her phone went un-
been battling runaway underground fires, but The residents accused Hwange Colliery of answered.
the community feels the company is not doing keeping them in the dark on the level of threat
enough to deal with the life-threatening prob-
lem. Coal seam fires in Hwange (above) have killed several people, while dozens have been left with lifelong scars.

In their submissions, the residents through
the Greater Whange Residents Trust (GWRT)
appealed to Parliament to exercise its authority
by investigating and instituting measures to en-
sure sustainable mining.

“Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray as
follows: That the Parliament of Zimbabwe to
exercises its constitutional mandate to; inquire
into the nature and extent of the threat posed
to residents, livestock and wildlife in Hwange
due to the fires aforementioned; inquire into
the cause of the underground fires, and how
they can be dealt with; investigate and inquire
into what mining companies have done to deal
with underground fires; investigate the extent
to which coal mining companies are adhering
to sustainable mining that does not pose danger
to the community, and inquire into the extent
to which mining companies are moving towards
cleaner mining models and alternative energy
sources,” the petition reads.

Last year, an eight-year-old girl succumbed to
severe injuries after she was burnt by the under-
ground fires.

Alisha Muzvite was out playing when she felt
the urge to relieve herself. But as the eight-year-
old crouched, the ground beneath her shifted,
pulling her into an underground fire near her
home.

With only one public toilet for more than
500 people living at Number 3 settlement, a
housing area for Hwange Colliery Company
employees, bushy areas have become convenient
for open defecation. But, impossible to see on
the surface, coal has been burning under the
earth here for years, injuring unsuspecting peo-
ple, including children.

Most coal seam fires exhibit smouldering
combustion, particularly underground coal
seam fires because of the limited availability of
atmospheric oxygen.

According to Global Forest Watch, coal seam
fires, which happen when a layer of coal ignites,
are hard to detect and even harder to extinguish.
There are thousands of them burning around
the world in coal-mining countries, estimated
to cause 40 tonnes of mercury to enter the at-
mosphere each year and representing 3% of the
world’s annual carbon dioxide emissions.

Following a public outcry, Hwange Colliery
Company engaged a German firm to ascertain
the extent of the fires and recommend contain-
ment procedures. The company, DTM, is yet to
make known the findings of the German con-
tractor following the lapse of the March dead-
line for the release of the report.

The residents demanded to be protected,
citing environmental rights guaranteed by the
Constitution.

“Your petitioners are aware that section 73
of the Constitution guarantees their right to an
environment that is not harmful to their health
or well-being, and to have their environment
protected for the benefit of present and future
generations. In this regard the State has an ob-
ligation to ensure the progressive realisation of
this right by residents of Hwange.”

They contended that they were not safe, argu-
ing that residents were living in fear as a result of
an increase in fire incidents.

“Residents are unaware if mining methods
being employed in Hwange are sustainable and
environmentally friendly. Over the years under-
ground fires have been spewing ash and smoke,
causing sinkholes that are consuming and dam-
aging the road network in Hwange. The fires

NewsHawks News Page 15

Issue 84, 10 June 2022 Mines minister Winston Chitando
The 1972 Kamandama mine disaster, saw a shaft at Hwange coal mining plant burying the 427 workers alive.
Colliery
disaster
widows
door-step
minister

BRENNA MATENDERE

ELDERLY widows and children of the 427
workers who died in the 1972 Hwange Col-
liery mine disaster this week door-stepped
Mines minister Winston Chitando to call for
government aid and allowances that can cush-
ion them against abject poverty.

The horrific incident, now known as the Ka-
mandama mine disaster, saw a shaft at the coal
mining plant caving in and burying the 427
workers alive.

Each year on 6 June, the government holds
commemorations to mark the day that is held
dear in the collective memory of the Hwange
community.

On Wednesday, Chitando visited Hwange to
lead this year’s commemorations that marked
the 50th anniversary of Zimbabwe’s worst-ever
mine disaster.

It was in-between the commemorations that
a number of elderly widows of the workers who
died in the disaster approached Chitando with
a distress call.

He hastily arranged a meeting with them on
the sidelines of the event.

Hwange Central member of Parliament
Daniel Molokele confirmed the development.

“The widows and children of the workers
who perished in the disaster were not happy
when the minister said he had been told by the
company that all was well with them and that
they were being provided with basic needs of
survival,” Molokele told The NewsHawks.

He said while he saw the meeting between
the widows and the minister being hastily ar-
ranged, he was not privy to what was discussed
but got informed that Chitando promised to
look into their grievances.

The NewsHawks gathered that the Hwange
Colliery coal mine used to provide freebies and
other basic needs for the widows and children
since 1972, but stopped doing so four years
ago when its business plunged, leading to the
company being declared insolvent by the High
Court.

Currently the company is under judicial
management and coal mining is being done at
a very low capacity.

The coal-mining giant at present also does
not have a board of directors to oversee pro-
duction strategies and ramp up revenue.

The government has an existing social wel-
fare department that must be taking care of
vulnerable citizens like these, but in the past
no meaningful support has materialised.

It is also the government’s policy to support
citizens who fall victim to national disasters.

“Historically the company tried to help the
widows and children of the victims of the di-
saster. The company would employ the chil-
dren and provide other necessities like food,
blankerts among others. But when the compa-
ny went under judicial management, it stopped
doing so; that has always been the concern,”
Molokele said.

He urged the government to heed the calls
for support made by the widows and children
of the victims of the 1972 disaster who are wal-
lowing in poverty.

Molokele also reiterated calls that have been
made by the families of the

Kamandama victims that 6 June must be de-
clared a national public holiday to remember
the lives of those who perished in the disaster.

Page 16 News NewsHawks

Zec defies court Issue 84, 10 June 2022
order, refuses with
2018 voters’ roll Chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana

NATHAN GUMA He said Zec has been insincere in providing
copies of the voters’ roll despite, in clear contra-
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) vention of the Electoral Act.
has failed to release the 2018 provisional voters’
roll to an independent think-tank, the Election “We have requested for it, and even if they say
Resource Centre (ERC), thereby flouting a High they give those requesting for it, we have not got-
Court order, while betraying its insincerity in ten the voters’ roll,” Bobosibunu said.
availing the voter register for audit.
Bobosibunu said if Zec fails to furnish the
The ERC has been continually writing to Zec, ERC with the voters’ roll for inspection ahead
requesting the voters’ roll, but in vain. of the delimitation exercise, the credibility of the
process will be compromised.
The 2018 High Court order read by The New-
sHawks shows that Zec was directed to furnish “The electoral process will be shrouded in se-
the ERC with the provisional voters’ roll that it crecy,” he said.
used for the inspection exercise in the period of
19-29 May 2018. “The voters’ roll can never be a secret. It is a
document that is meant for Zimbabweans.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the reasonable
period within which the respondent should “And the voters’ roll contains details that we
furnish the applicant with the copy of the Pro- need either to contest or support. So you don’t
visional Voters’ Roll as per this order is hereby want people to be questioning the document be-
determined to be no more than five working days cause you are simply keeping it to yourself. The
following payment of the prescribed fees,” part document must be provided as per procedure; we
of the ruling on the High Court order dated 14 write for it, we pay the prescribed fee as provided
June 2018 read. for in the Electoral Act.”

While chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwa- The opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change
na said in a statement dated 28 May 2022 that (CCC) says it is important for Zec to provide
the commission “will always make available cop- independent think-tanks with the voters’ roll,
ies of the voters’ roll upon request in accordance as this enhances the credibility of the electoral
with the Electoral Act”, the ERC says efforts to process.
get a copy have continually hit a brick wall.
“The voters’ roll is a critical measure of any
“The voters’ roll is also a public document electoral integrity, hence denying anyone that le-
which, in any case, should also be available,” says gal entitlement is not only illegal but a violation
Solomon Bobosibunu, the ERC programmes of the citizens’ right to audit the country’s elec-
manager. toral systems and processes,” Ellen Shiriyedenga,
CCC deputy secretary for elections, said.
The commission should provide . . . any per-
son who requests it, and who pays the prescribed “Zec as a state institution has a specific pub-
fee, with a copy of any voters’ roll, including a lic obligation to act in a transparent manner and
consolidated roll, according to section 21 (3) of respect the citizens’ political right to access infor-
the Electoral Act. mation. If at all the voters’ roll is in a good state,
then there is no reason why citizens should be
Bobosibunu says the ERC is currently request- denied a copy, unless otherwise.”
ing Zec for a copy of the voters’ roll ahead of the
delimitation exercise, a process that is proving to Meanwhile, Zec says verification of the voters’
be an uphill task for the organisation. roll can only be done by registered voters who
are interested in checking on whether their de-
“Its availability (voters’ roll) confirms trans- tails are correctly captured.
parency. It is important that we obtain the voters’
roll for the purposes of providing oversight on “Please note that the law does not provide for
the entire process, which includes its compilation the independent audit of the voters’ roll hence
and upkeep,” Bobosibunu said. the commission will not yield to any pressure ex-
erted on it to act ultra vires its governing act,”
Silaigwana said in a statement on 28 May.

NewsHawks News Page 17

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

They’re successful black farmers. Why
did Zim’s government seize their land?

JOHN MCDERMOTT It’s hard to do business when the ruling party has a grudge against you

AS I drove north through Mata- Above is Esidakeni Farm tomato field and below are women harvesting onion from one of the farm's fields.
beleland in southern Zimbabwe,
bumping in and out of potholes, geous critic of the government, ther, he is a trenchant defender of something of the soil to his two risk to buy a farm, because of his
warm air wafted into the car. speaking out against the genocide human rights. As a lawyer for the children. background. Like his father, he has
in Matabeleland in the 1980s, when United Nations, he stood before called for justice for the victims of
Out of the windows I could see security forces loyal to Mugabe judges in East Timor, worked to He decided to club together with the genocide in the 1980s. He has
half-empty villages, the parched se- scorched huts, raped women and rebuild Afghanistan’s courts and Dhlamini, a university friend who lambasted the corruption and thug-
pia bush. There were few other ve- murdered children. (Locally, the cajoled African governments about works as an academic, and Moyo, gery of Zimbabwe’s government,
hicles. Amid the calm, it was hard killings are known as Gukurahun- human-rights abuses. a successful local businessman and both under Mugabe and Emmer-
to imagine the turmoil this region di, which loosely translates as “the drinking buddy. In 2017 the three son Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s head
has witnessed. early rains that wash away the chaff But Malunga knew that he would men paid $250,000 for Esidakeni, a of security during the Gukurahun-
before the spring rains”.) Malunga return home one day. In 2013 he working farm. Farming would be a di, who took power in the coup in
In the early 2000s there were was arrested on trumped-up charges left the  un  for a new job as head hobby alongside their day jobs, and 2017.
violent land invasions in this area, of treason and tortured. Though he of the southern African branch an opportunity to boost their pen-
as there were in other parts of the was eventually acquitted, he died in of Open Society, an internation- sion pots. As Malunga put it when I When Dhlamini spotted the
country. Militants linked to the rul- suspicious circumstances in 1994. al  NGO  funded by George Soros met up with him in Johannesburg, farm was for sale, Malunga’s re-
ing party,  Zanu PF, evicted white that gives resources to local hu- the farm at Esidakeni gave him sponse was, “Zanu will take it from
farm-owners, and beat and mur- Like millions of his countrymen man-rights groups. He moved to “the comfort of doing something I us!” But since they were black farm-
dered black farm-workers. They who left Zimbabwe for a better Johannesburg but longed to buy a love…and [the chance to make] a ers taking over a white-owned farm
were acting under the orders of life, Sipho Malunga has spent most farm near his childhood home in shitload of money, too.” Soon they (as a thriving dairy farm, Esidakeni
Robert Mugabe, the dictator who of his career abroad. Like his fa- Matabeleland, wanting to pass on were bringing in tens of thousands was deemed too important to seize
ruled for 37 years after indepen- of dollars selling cabbages, onions, in the 2000s), they felt that not
dence until he was deposed in a tomatoes and butternut squash. even  zanu-pf  would be vindictive
coup in 2017. enough to stop them.
Those who benefited the most
After an hour’s driving, I reached from repossessing white farms were They were wrong. The men
my destination: a farm called Esida- Mugabe’s cronies. claim that in 2019 a senior official
keni in an area known as Nyamand- at the Central Intelligence Office,
lovu, which means “the meat of the “We wanted to show that you the spy agency once run by Zimba-
elephant”. can succeed as black farmers,” said bwe’s president, warned them that
Malunga. Though the pretext for Esidakeni would be taken unless Si-
The gates were open – there’s repossessing white farms in the ear- pho toned down his rhetoric. That
no point in locking them, said ly 2000s was to return land to the wasn’t going to happen. So the gov-
Charles Moyo (58), who owns the black majority, those who benefit- ernment snatched the farm, parcel-
farm with two friends, Siphosami ed the most were Mugabe’s cronies ling out portions of the property to
Malunga and Zephaniah Dhlami- in  zanu-pf, who amassed multi- well-connected bigwigs.
ni, also in their 50s. As he told me ple properties. These apparatchiks
ruefully, many people come and go proved incapable of running farms, I visited Esidakeni in October
without a care for such niceties as so large swathes of land now lie fal- 2021, the farm was languishing in
property rights. low. a form of agricultural purgatory.
Moyo, Malunga and Dhlamini were
On first impressions, all seemed Malunga knew that it was a
well. Dozens of women were pick-
ing tomatoes for sale to supermar-
kets. They are paid US$5 a shift –
a decent wage in a country where
60% of people live on US$3 a day.
But Moyo told me he couldn’t
promise them a steady future. “You
can’t plan when you are under
siege.” In late 2020 Esidakeni was
the scene of another invasion. But
it was not a white-owned farm the
government wanted to seize; this
time, the owners were black.

Since the land invasions of the
early 2000s, Zimbabwe’s economy
has collapsed, a demise accelerated
by vast corruption and Soviet-style
economic policies.

Given this backdrop, you might
expect entrepreneurial black farm-
ers to be celebrated. In most Afri-
can countries they would be. But
Zimbabwe is no ordinary country.
And one of Esidakeni’s owners is no
ordinary farmer.

In most African countries black
entrepreneurs would be celebrated.

Zimbabwe is no ordinary coun-
try.

Siphosami Malunga (51), better
known as Sipho, is the son of Syd-
ney Malunga, a hero in Zimbabwe.
He was a leading member of Zimba-
bwe African People’s Union, which
fought against white rule alongside
Mugabe’s party, but which, after in-
dependence, was seen as a threat to
the new regime’s aim of one-party
rule.

Sydney Malunga was a coura-

Page 18 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

trying to keep it going – not an easy bought in a free marketplace is, re-election as president again next looked like there’d been an ex- of shock at how low the ruling par-
task when surrounded by powerful he says, “an unnecessary intrusion year, but races are usually rigged: plosion at a Laura Ashley factory ty has sunk. “We are black people.
people who claimed that the farm on private property”. This makes a “People feel so hopeless and des- and photographs of Rhodes were We are investing in our country. We
now belonged to them. mockery of Mnangagwa’s claim that perate and helpless.” They feel that proudly displayed. Moyo seemed are employing our own people. We
Zimbabwe is “open for business” af- “Zanu PF will always win, that they the more phlegmatic. He is com- are providing jobs. We are provid-
In one field, Moyo pointed out ter the Mugabe years. control everything.” He is challeng- fortably off (he has stakes in small ing food. Why can’t they promote
where the “invaders” had rerouted ing them, in part, because those less gold mines) and refuses to give up. that?”
irrigation lines to grow their own It also disrupts the transmission powerful cannot. “They have tried to divide us,” he
cabbages, starving existing crops of of black wealth. Malunga is proud said, “but we told ourselves we’d I asked about the “sinister” prom-
water. In another, the newcomers that he finally owns land – some- “We are black people. We are fight together.” In any case, he add- ises he says have been made by the
had built several two-room hous- thing that was impossible for his providing jobs and food. Why can’t ed, “we’re friends and there would government – that if he and Moyo
es, though no one appeared to be father both under white rule and they promote that?” be life after the farm.” got rid of Malunga, their problems
living in them. He showed me the under Zanu PF, which declared him would go away. Was he tempted?
homestead, a large house built by an enemy of the state. “If I want Although Malunga’s willingness Dhlamini, by contrast, was Dhlamini laughed and turned to
the previous owners in a pastiche to give my farm to my children I to sue the state is brave and ad- stressed. Like many Zimbabweans Moyo: “Maybe it’s high time we
of the Cape Dutch style, all curved should be able to do that without mirable, I couldn’t help but won- I have met in years of reporting in did!”
gables and faded white. The friends the state having a veto,” he says. He der whether his friends shared his the country, he is talented, driven
wanted to decorate, spruce it up likens the confiscations under Zanu stomach for the fight. One of the and is a big deal,” he said, when I I studied his face, trying to see
for family gatherings. Wander- PF to the actions of Cecil Rhodes, insidious things about authoritari- asked how much of his own fami- if there was a genuine uncertain-
ing through the sparsely furnished the British imperialist who created an regimes is the way they poison ly’s money he’d put into the farm. ty amid the mirth. But I couldn’t
rooms it seemed like a distant a fiefdom that later became the col- the well of ordinary joys, such as “This is all we have. That’s basically see it. Seriously, he said, “you can’t
dream: the place was empty save ony of Rhodesia. friendship. The men claim the all we put in there.” victimise someone to that extent
for some beds, antelope horns and government has tried to turn them because of their views. It’s just not
empty whisky bottles. Malunga knows that powerful against each other by saying that “I was telling Charles [Moyo] right. It’s not ethical.”
people in Zimbabwe often get away Dhlamini and Moyo could keep the yesterday that I’m really tired,” he
Malunga likens the current gov- with bullying. Most on the receiv- farm if they dumped Malunga. said. “This is taking a toll on me. — The Economist.
ernment’s policies to the actions of ing end pay up. “People are beat- There’s nothing that I can think
Cecil Rhodes. en down in Zimbabwe,” he says. Before visiting the farm, I met about any more other than this.” *About the writer: John McDer-
Mnangagwa is expected to run for Dhlamini and Moyo on the terrace For him, there is an enduring sense mott is The Economist’s chief Afri-
In December the situation got of a nearby hotel: the furnishings ca correspondent.
even worse. Militiamen chased
away the remaining farm workers
and put an armed guard at the gate.
The trio are taking the government
to court to get their rights restored;
the case is due to be heard later
this year. In the meantime they are
counting the costs of the invasions.
Plans to resurrect dairy-farming
have been postponed indefinitely.
Tens of thousands of dollars’ worth
of produce has rotted.

In court papers, the government
denies persecuting Malunga and
claims it seized the farm because the
men had broken the law by failing
to inform the authorities about the
sale, making the purchase unlaw-
ful (an allegation Malunga rejects).
The government says the state must
first be offered the right to buy land
before it can be sold to anyone else.

David Coltart, a human-rights
lawyer who represented Malunga’s
father in the 1980s, says that “za-
nu-pf  is driven by blind anger be-
cause Sipho [Malunga] has the gall
to criticise Mnangagwa.” He reck-
ons the case exposes the real agen-
da behind land policies: “It shows
you retain land not because of the
colour of your skin but because of
your political allegiances.”

For Sipho Malunga the case is
both political and personal. The
idea that the state can take land

NewsHawks News Page 19

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

MOSES MATENGA Zim community solidarity rescues
Elvis Nyathi’s traumatised family
A TWO-BEDROOMED house, clay grey or ce-
ramic clay in colour, stands out in a vast swathe The slain Elvis Nyathi’s widow Nomsa Tshuma (right) with his friend Prince Mkhwebu (left) and unidentified family member (centre).
of open land with seamless horizons dotted with Elvis Nyathi’s daughter Sandisiwe at her school.
sparse trees and grass among scattered homesteads
in the desolate area.

The place looks like a semi-desert; a dry ex-
panse characterised by sparse vegetation, albeit
with higher precipitation.

Construction of the flat-roofed house is almost
complete. Only windows are still being fitted.

A slim male figure in dark clothes and a cap
stands by the window making the fittings. Next
to him is a lady wearing a red top, milling around
with an overwrought face, close to yet another
equally slim guy in overalls with a white and yel-
low hat.

Besides the newly built house is a pile of red
bricks, solar panels, a chair and a car parked at
a distance from the residence constructed for a
family that has just moved into the yawning area.

Amid all this, veteran radio presenter Ezra
“Tshisa” Sibanda arrives to talk to the family
about the house and the widely reported tragedy
that befell them in April.

This is the new home of Zimbabwean immi-
grant Elvis Nyathi’s widow and her children lo-
cated in Ntabazinduna, 40km outside Bulawayo
along the Harare highway.

Nyathi was brutally killed in the poverty-strick-
en Diepsloot township in Johannesburg, South
Africa, on 6 April by a rampaging mob of mind-
less brutes.

The gruesome way he was murdered through
savage attacks and being burnt alive by a xeno-
phobic mob for merely not having an identity
card sparked a storm of outrage and raw emotions
at a time when the anti-immigrant Dudula Move-
ment was whipping up xenophobic sentiments
and stoking tensions.

Nyathi, who worked as a gardener in Fourways
in Johannesburg, was buried in Bulawayo days
later amid an outpouring of grief and anger.

Fourteen suspects were arrested in connection
with his murder as demands for justice intensi-
fied.

While Zimbabweans in South Africa did
not mobilise mass action against the murder of
Nyathi to show solidarity and vent their anger, at
community level people came to the party to help
his wife and family to overcome the shock and
angst, while also finding a new life without their
breadwinner.

Sibanda, who is breaking new ground in com-
munity journalism in Zimbabwe, led the Nyathi
story coverage and efforts within communities
and civil society to mobilise resources to help out
the family.

Community journalism is a locally-oriented,
professional news coverage that typically focuses
on specific communities either in rural areas, ur-
ban neighbourhoods, individual suburbs or small
towns, rather than metropolitan, provincial, na-
tional or world news.

If it covers wider topics, it concentrates on the
effect they have on local communities.

Community reporting encourages journalists
and news managers to find ways to capture citizen
priorities, concerns and perspectives on different
issues of importance to them as opposed to other
places or the broad national context.

In a low sombre tone, Sibanda approaches the
house, greets the family and starts interviewing
Nyathi’s widow Nomsa Tshuma who left Johan-
nesburg in a huff after the murder of her husband.

He starts by asking how she is feeling and then
congratulating her on the new home before she
responds with gratitude amid anxiety. She ex-
plains they now have a two-bedroomed home, al-
though she says it’s too small for the whole family
and a bigger one would be needed going forward.

The sorrowful conversation, punctuated with
spasms of cautious joy, shifts from Tshuma to
Nyathi’s friend who actually built the house,
Prince Mkhwebu, a survivor of the traumatic ex-
perience on the day of the grisly murder.

Sibanda’s narrative is both heart-rending and
celebratory against the backdrop of the Nyathi
murder tragedy.

After a fairly long conversation under a linger-
ing shadow of murder and sprouting hope, every-
one seems to embrace the Shakespearean logic: All
is well that ends well.

Despite the murder and emotional rollercoast-
er, the family now has a home, kids are going to
school and the future can only be bright if solidar-
ity with Nyathi’s widow and children is sustained.

Page 20 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

In his social media update on the story he has ly on poor against poor. Elvis Nyathi’s kids Khumbulani (left) and Mike, with their pizza brought by Ezra Tshisa Sibanda. The
doggedly covered, Sibanda exudes solidarity: “I Solidarity is needed to defeat lingering com- older brother Melusi was not there.
want to take this opportunity to thank good and
kind people who helped us build a home for the munity divisions, Bantustan isolation legacies
late Elvis Nyathi’s family. The two-roomed house and vestiges of colonialism that still haunt com-
has been completed and was constructed by El- munities and immigrants in South Africa.
vi’'s best friend Prince Mkhwebu who survived
being killed on the night his best friend was bru- Everyone is part of the human family and peo-
tally murdered by Dudula hyenas. ple are all interconnected and interdependent.
The “us” versus “them” mentality in this context
“A million thanks to individuals, social media is a legacy of colonialism which should be eradi-
groups, Asakhane, Facebook friends and many cated, although real issues of illegal immigration,
other groups for donating funds to buy building crime, drugs, human trafficking and prostitution,
material. We have done half the job good people. and cutthroat competition for jobs and opportu-
nities in South Africa should be addressed seri-
“She will need a bigger house in future and also ously.
start a project to help sustain herself and look af-
ter her children. MaTshuma is getting much bet- Operation Dudula is a manifestation of the
ter after the counselling, but needs more courses frustration of ordinary and mainly poor South
so is Prince who needs medical attention to oper- Africans who have waited forever for jobs, the
ate his ear raptured by those Dudula thugs. Elvis’s tackling of inequality and change of life in vain.
children are finally all in school.
Immigrants have become an easy and conve-
“I thank Nhlambabaloyi Secondary School, nient scapegoat for ordinary people, businesspeo-
its head and teachers for accepting Khumbulani ple and politicians in South Africa.
Nyathi as a new student to their school. He is
now a happy boy. The other siblings Sandisiwe Solidarity, a recognition that people are “all in
and Mike Nyathi are doing amazingly and cop- this together”, is needed to ensure change as was
ing well at Nhlambabaloyi Primary School and I shown in the Nyathi case — a commitment to
appreciate the teachers for working so hard in in- strengthen communities and promote a just so-
tegrating and giving counselling to the two kids. ciety.

“The older brother Melusi completed his ‘O’ Living out solidarity is at the heart of the mis-
Level and needs a job to work and look after his sion of development and peace: to stand against
mother and his siblings. Any donations of any injustice in society.
kind, including clothing, blankets, food etc, will
always be appreciated. Thank you Slice Pizzeria “Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion
for the treat, they loved your pizza and it’s the or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many
best in town!” people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is
a firm and persevering determination to commit
The biggest lesson from the Nyathi tragedy is oneself to the common good; that is to say to the
that solidarity makes a difference in people’s lives. good of all and of each individual, because we are
all really responsible for all,” Saint John Paul II,
Whether people are confronting the Covid-19 Sollicitudo Rei Socialis 38, once said.
pandemic, global warming, income inequality,
gender-based violence, racism or xenophobia, Pope Francis, at the World Meeting of Popular
solidarity to tackle the problems depends on how Movements 2014, put it this way: “It is a word
individuals and communities come together for a that means much more than some acts of sporad-
common cause. ic generosity. It is to think and to act in terms of
community, of the priority of the life of all over
Community solidarity defines how people the appropriation of goods by a few. It is also to
understand and share responsibilities to, and re- fight against the structural causes of poverty, in-
lationships with, each other to deal with issues equality, lack of work, land and housing, the de-
affecting them individually and collectively. nial of social and labour rights. It is to confront
the destructive effects of the empire of money:
While solidarity may be a fundamental human forced displacements, painful emigrations, the
need, its meaning can sometimes be elusive. traffic of persons, drugs, war, violence and all
those realities that many of you suffer and that we
It requires values, relationships, networks and are all called to transform. Solidarity, understood
activities grounded in explicit cultural, ethical in its deepest sense, is a way of making history.”
and collective commitments. l This article was written by The NewsHawks,
courtesy of veteran radio presenter Ezra Tshisa
At local level, people can come together to Sibanda’s body of work on the Nyathi murder
build a church, a road or school for commu- story.
nal utility. They can also join forces to help one
person, a group or the whole community with Veteran Zimbabwean broadcaster Ezra Tshisa Sibanda (left) with Elvis Nyathi’s son Khumbulani at his new school in Nhlambabaloyi, Ntabazinduna.
anything that is needed to improve a particular
situation.

At a higher level of consciousness, solidarity as-
sumes a different dimension and meaning.

In his work, Decolonisation and the Pedagogy of
Solidarity, University of Toronto scholar Professor
Rubén A. Gaztambide-Fernández says the con-
cept of solidarity is often evoked within projects
of decolonisation.

More recently, however, the failure to construct
solidarity relationships that seriously engage the
demands posed by decolonisation has provoked
scepticism as well as suspicion regarding the via-
bility of solidarity.

A consideration of the genealogy, as well as
the multifarious uses of the concept of solidar-
ity reveals some of the ways in which the con-
cept re-inscribes colonial logics and operates to
obscure complicity and continued colonisation.

At the same time, it is possible to articulate a
set of parameters for solidary relations through
which to imaginatively construct new ways of en-
tering into relations with others for the common
good.

In fact, when informed by the failures of re-
sponses such as multiculturalism and cosmopoli-
tanism to the problem of human difference, soli-
darity remains an important possibility.

Possibilities of relational, transitive, and cre-
ative solidarity as a strategy for recasting not only
human relations, but also the very notion of what
it means to be human is crucial for decolonisa-
tion.

The Nyathi story carries lessons of solidarity at
community level and the need for it as a cata-
lyst for decolonising the mind among the poor
in South Africa’s poverty-stricken townships and
slums where black-on-black and poor-on-poor
violence still reigns supreme.

While xenophobia in South Africa is now
more characterised as Afrophobia, the reality is
that the violence and hate are concentrated main-

NewsHawks News Page 21

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Daily agonies of invisible stateless citizens

NYASHA CHINGONO Hopley settlement (above) comprises families of migrants, many of whom remain undocumented, 42 years after Independence.

LIKE stray animals, they wander through life perpetuated across generations. Parents are de- tution. born here, but I just cannot get an ID,” he
without a sense of belonging. nied birth certificates for their children if they Constitutional challenges have trapped thou- lamented.
cannot present their own, leaving their children
This is the story of undocumented Zimba- facing precarious futures,” Amnesty Internation- sands in statelessness. Countless trips to the Births and Deaths Reg-
bweans, whose existence is not recognised even al says. Clever Musareka (53) is among the hundreds istry office in Harare and others to satellite towns
after decades living in the southern African have been futile in his quest to get citizenship.
country. Descendants of foreign nationalities who in Hopley leading a stateless existence.
moved to Rhodesia to provide cheap migrant Having moved to Hopley from Caledonia “At one point I was told to pay US$300 to
Outside Boka tobacco sorting house in Hop- labour have for decades struggled with stateless- process my papers, but I was then warned that
ley, Harare, a dozen women and men sit on any- ness, with their situation worsened by discrim- Farm after the 2005 Operation Murambatsvina the agent could be fake,” Musareka said.
thing they can find as they impatiently wait for inatory laws which are victimising the descen- house-demolition tsunami which threw thou-
the foreman to give them a day’s work. dants of migrant workers. sands into homelessness, Musareka got a piece Desperate for identification documents, some
of land where he built a small house. of the stateless Zimbabweans fall prey to fake
To be considered as casual labour, one needs According to Amnesty International, draco- documents peddled by unscrupulous agents in
to have an identity document. nian laws like the 1984 Citizenship of Zimba- He has been staying here with his family. But Harare. Others have been offered stolen IDs and
bwe Act, deprive persons of foreign origin their his existence is unknown to the authorities. passports.
It is tobacco marketing season, and it has citizenship rights.
come as a relief for job seekers in Hopley, a Musareka owns a cellphone but uses a sim Amnesty International argues that citizenship
low-income settlement. The area comprises fam- Although section 43 of the constitution of card registered in a neighbour’s name because of is a human right.
ilies of migrants, many of whom remain undoc- Zimbabwe states that any resident who was a lack of identification.
umented, 42 years after Independence. born in Zimbabwe to parents with a claim to “Amnesty International is calling on the Zim-
citizenship of any Southern African Develop- Before he began staying in Caledonia, Mu- babwean government to urgently take adequate
But Esther Manyinyo (45) is using her cous- ment Community state — including Malawi, sareka lived in Chipinge where his father, a Mo- measures to ensure the registration and resto-
in’s ID to find work. Their resemblance often Mozambique, Zambia, and South Africa — is zambican migrant, married a Zimbabwean. ration of Zimbabwean nationality to all those
confuses the foreman, so she lives to fight an- a Zimbabwean citizen by birth, the piece of leg- entitled to it, as provided for under the consti-
other day. islation is yet to be aligned to the 2013 consti- After he left Chipinge in 2000, he has no tution, including all those born and raised in
trace of his relatives, most of whom returned to Zimbabwe to foreign parents,” the human rights
Her existence in Zimbabwe is unknown to Mozambique or are now deceased. organisation says.
the authorities, as far as official records are con-
cerned. “I have no one to help me get identification.
I consider myself a Zimbabwean because I was
Manyinyo is a second-generation stateless
Zimbabwean in her family after her father
moved to Southern Rhodesia in 1966 to find
work.

Her father, who came from Zambia, then
Northern Rhodesia, to work on a farm in Ruten-
ga, failed to secure Zimbabwean citizenship after
the country attained Independence in 1980.

“My cousin and I look alike, so the foreman
does not see the difference. But I know that one
day he will find out,” she chuckles.

“I have never been formally employed in
this country because I do not have an ID. It is
a tough life, which I do not want to leave my
children, who are already looking to start their
own families,” Manyinyo, a mother of four teen-
agers, said.

Her children have found the going tough in
schools as they are barred from taking their ex-
aminations without IDs.

“Besides finding work, I fear that my children
will never lead a normal life without documen-
tation. My eldest son is 18, but has failed to
write his examinations,” she said.

To worsen an already complicated life, Many-
inyo’s husband left her four years ago after sever-
al years of marriage.

Her husband left her because she is undocu-
mented.

“I am now old, with five children. I have tried
several times to get a birth certificate, with no
success. My marriage is broken because of failure
to get particulars. He said he could not live with
a woman without an ID. This has affected my
children, they too do not have any documents,”
she said.

As she recounts her heartrending story, her
friend Marceline Mwendi (38) listens carefully.

They share the same story. Mwendi’s husband
also left three years ago , leaving her to shoulder
the burden of taking care of two children, who
also do not have identification.

“My husband left me because I do not have
any particulars. My sister also got married and
bore four children, but the husband chased her
away because she has no ID. Living without any
form of identification is tough, I cannot get a
job. I survive on doing laundry, but we get ex-
ploited because there is no choice. There are al-
ways jobs, but they take people with ID cards,”
laments Mwendi.

Many families in Hopley are leading a state-
less existence. They can neither vote nor partici-
pate in national processes.

According to the United Nations High Com-
missioner for Refugees, about 300 000 people
are currently at risk of statelessness, while the
exact number is unknown due to lack of official
data.

According to report by Amnesty Internation-
al titled Like Stray Animals, the statelessness cri-
sis has its roots in colonial history. The British
colonial government largely depended on cheap
migrant labour from Malawi, Mozambique and
Zambia to grow its industries.

“In this way, the legal limbo of statelessness is

Page 22 News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Factions openly fight as MDC-T burns

MOSES MATENGA MDC-T
leader
FACTIONALISM and blame games have Douglas
hit the MDC-T ahead of the elective con- Mwonzora
gress that has been kept a closely guarded MDC-T treasurer-general
secret by party leader Douglas Mwonzora
and his loyalists who are now plotting the Tapiwa Mashakada
expulsion of those perceived to be pursuing MDC-T
an agenda to challenge him. vice-president
Elias Mudzuri.
The party is yet to announce its date for
the elective congress, a move that has unset-
tled senior officials who now claim Mwon-
zora was deliberate in his delay to consol-
idate his power that is now under threat
following successive by-election losses.

Factions have hit the party hard as names
of candidates eyeing the leadership post
continue to grow and now include treasur-
er-general Tapiwa Mashakada, aspiring Ha-
rare Central member of Parliament Norest
Marara, national chairperson Morgen Ko-
michi and vice-president Elias Mudzuri.

Congress has been provisionally set for
July 23 to 24 subject to change.

Within the party, there has emerged a
group under the moniker of “the Guptas”,
which was initially accused of manoeuvring
to abuse money to capture Mwonzora, but
is now said to be fighting for his ouster.

“Those who are ill-advising Mwonzora
tell him of a plot by a group of people using
money to dislodge him. They accuse them
of meeting privately at a local hotel and
other places to strategise on his ouster,” an
insider said.

Those in the Guptas camp purportedly
include the late former party leader Morgan
Tsvangirai’s son Vincent, Marara and other
party officials who are said to be burning
the midnight oil to challenge Mwonzora.

They are said to have worked with Ep-
worth parliamentary candidate Zivai Mhe-
tu who is among those who were dismayed
by Mwonzora’s apparent lack of popularity
within the party and dismal failure in the 26
March by-elections.

Mwonzora loyalists now accuse the team
of working with Mhetu to alienate the for-
mer secretary-general and call for his ouster
to rejuvenate the party.

Mwonzora loyalists argue that those
fighting Mwonzora were the ones agitating
for congress in what they denounce as a des-
perate bid to oust the party leader.

“They are known and some are even in
the party’s standing committee who pre-
tend to be working with him but they are
plotting against him. Their time is up,” a
Mwonzora loyalist warned.

They also accused some within the par-
ty of working for Citizens’ Coalition for
Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa.

Knives are out for Mashakada, who is ac-
cused of restricting funding, making it diffi-
cult to steer party campaigns.

The accused politicians told The New-
sHawks in several off-the-record briefings
that Mwonzora was determined to purge
key allies who were asking “the right ques-
tions” following the embarrassing 26 March
electoral loss.

There is reportedly no running water at
Morgan Tsvangirai House (formerly Har-
vest House), the party headquarters, while
the Mwonzora administration is failing to
pay workers.

Those plotting Mwonzora’s ouster are
said to be determined to block a probe on fi-
nances while those fighting in his corner are
declaring war on his perceived opponents.

“Those who stay in glass houses must not
throw stones,” an anti-Mwonzora official
warned.

Insiders said Mwonzora is keeping the
date of the elective congress a closely guard-
ed secret.

“He hasn’t announced it yet. He wants
to buy time so he receives a government
grant.”

The government grant, funded by taxpay-
ers, is due in September.

NewsHawks News Page 23

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Fierce court battle of wills rages on

Local businesswoman Luminitsa Kimberly Jemwa. Insurance and Pensions Commission member Grace Muradzikwa.

THE fierce court battle over a house break-in and theft incidenta at Borrowdale Brooke in Harare between local businesswoman Luminitsa Kimberly Jemwa and corporate executive Grace Muradzikwa,
current Insurance and Pensions Commission influencial heavyweight, is intensifying unabatedly. The court hearing on Wednesday was marked by Jemwa's submissions of name-dropping, interference,
disappearance of the docket and obstruction of the course of justice against Muradzikwa who also has her own issues against her former tenant whom she says was not the lawful occupier.

Page 24 International Investigative Stories NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

InInvteesrtniagtaiotinvaelStories

How a Belgian aristocrat
under investigation for
money laundering moved
millions into Colombia

HENRI De Croÿ was accused of wake of the “Dubai Papers,” a leak of his chateau in France,” she added, re- with the aim of suggesting that Helin claim, made in a 2018 interview with
masterminding a scheme that hid about 200,000 internal documents ferring to the Château d’Azy, a neo- client money was “used for private the Swiss newspaper Le Matin, that
hundreds of millions from tax au- from De Croÿ’s group of companies, classical villa built in 1846. purposes.” he had only engaged in legal “tax op-
thorities on behalf of rich clients Helin Group, first published by the timization.”
in Europe. Reporters found him in French magazine L’Obs in 2018. “Before the Swiss justice system, The Black Prince
Cartagena, busy investing money in he presents himself as someone who In the 2010s, De Croÿ earned the After the Dubai Papers bombshell,
a series of luxury properties. L’Obs shared the Dubai Papers now has little to no financial resourc- nickname “Black Prince” in the Bel- several former Helin clients in Swit-
with reporters at OCCRP’s Colom- es.” gian press when he was at the center zerland launched a complaint for
He once walked the halls of global bian media partner, Cerosetenta, of one of the country’s biggest-ever breach of trust and mismanagement.
financial institutions and hobnobbed who had already obtained exclusive Regardless of such claims, and de- tax fraud cases. De Croÿ was accused Swiss prosecutors began investigat-
with Europe’s elite, but today the information about De Croÿ’s proper- spite the European investigations, De of funneling the money he managed ing De Croÿ for money laundering
Belgian prince and disgraced banker ties in their country. Using the leaked Croÿ and his family members have for clients into offshore firms. With in 2018, and in 2019 both Belgian
Henri de Croÿ has reinvented him- documents, and Colombian proper- accumulated properties estimated to relatively little left in their regular ac- and French prosecutors began their
self as an affable Colombian hotelier. ty registration records, they found be worth at least $16 million in and counts to declare, the clients escaped own probes into his affairs.
that the prince has quietly built a around Cartagena. paying about 75 million euros in tax,
Ditching the suit and tie of a luxurious real estate fiefdom on the according to Belgian media reports. “There is an ongoing investigation
high-flying financier, he was spot- country’s northern Caribbean coast. They own four mansions in the A Belgian court sentenced him in regarding money laundering and tax
ted recently in leather moccasins city’s old town, two of which have 2012 to a three-year suspended pris- fraud, and we are cooperating with
and a loose button-down shirt in the The discovery could have legal been converted into boutique hotels, on term, according to media reports. Belgium and Switzerland,” French fi-
tastefully-decorated lobby of one of repercussions, according to a lawyer and one into an event venue. Anoth- He appealed and was acquitted in nancial prosecutors told Cerosetenta.
his Cartagena hotels –– far from the representing two clients suing De er of the mansions awaits renovation. 2015.
prying eyes of European authorities Croÿ in Switzerland to regain a total They also have a high-end resort on But three years later, when the De Croÿ has been tied to Colom-
investigating him for tax evasion and of about 7 million euros they say he a private beach on the peninsula of Dubai Papers emerged, documents bia for about three decades through
money laundering. “mismanaged” by transferring it to Barú, about 50 kilometers by road from inside De Croÿ’s Helin Group his wife, María del Socorro Patiño
an account in the United Arab Emir- from Cartagena’s old town. — including emails, voice messages, Cordoba, who was born in the small,
A descendant of one of Europe’s ates (UAE), which he did not con- accounting records, and bank trans- southwestern city of Popayán.
oldest aristocratic families, De Croÿ trol. She said the UAE has frozen his De Croÿ’s Swiss lawyer, Grégoire fers — showed he had expanded his
is under investigation for allegedly local assets, and her clients are now Rey, said in an email to reporters that money management scheme to cli- Patiño and De Croÿ first crossed
masterminding a scheme that hid trying to get their money back. the funds used to buy the Colombian ents far beyond his native Belgium. paths in London, where he was work-
hundreds of millions from tax au- properties have “nothing to do with” The leak cast doubt on De Croÿ’s ing in banking, a career that would
thorities on behalf of scores of rich “He hides his assets very well,” said funds that have been subject to litiga- take him to the financial capitals of
clients. Authorities in three Europe- the lawyer, Sonja Maeder Morvant. tion by former clients of Helin. Hong Kong and Luxembourg. They
an countries launched probes in the “He even denies being the owner of married in 1994.
He said reporters were acting on
“knowingly biased” information, The couple were known to throw

NewsHawks International Investigative Stories Page 25

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

sumptuous receptions at their French Henri De Croÿ was dubbed the ‘Black Prince’ after becoming embroiled in a fraud case. for the purchase to Patiño’s Colom-
estate, which sprawls over more than bian bank account, with a bookkeep-
40 hectares, while maintaining their about $300,000 in revenue that year, offers you the best of both worlds, Baru.” er for the company noting the reason
primary residence first in the U.K. leaked records show. They would go Cartagena de Indias and Isla Baru” The Dubai Papers show that the as “funds for the new property.” But
and later in Switzerland. on to buy another building suitable the chain’s website promises. “In the the couple was apparently advised to
for a hotel in 2016. Together, these walled city we have two houses that couple paid for their final Casa Cór- send back the funds and purchase the
Slowly, the family’s connection to properties form a mini-chain of ho- will make you travel through time…. doba property in late 2015 and 2016 property through a company, accord-
Colombia grew. In 2002 –– during tels called “Casa Córdoba.” Then you will have the possibility of using money sent directly from He- ing to a copy of a fax in the Dubai
the period he was later suspected of making a visit full of magic in Isla lin. Papers.
running the tax-evasion scheme –– “The Casa Córdoba Resort group
De Croÿ was granted a Colombian At first, Helin transferred money “They advised us to buy the prop-
passport. erty through a company instead of
doing it in the personal name of
Eight years later, as the prince María del Socorro Patiño Córdoba,”
faced Belgian authorities in court, the fax said.
Patiño gave a sworn declaration at
her country’s consulate in London, It concluded that she should trans-
letting them know she was shipping a fer the funds back to Helin, “rather
container of furniture from the fami- than risk being the victim of an over-
ly’s French estate to Colombia. zealous public servant, to put it mild-
ly,” it read.
“We wish to take up residence in
Cartagena,” she wrote in a message The couple ended up making the
included in the Dubai Papers. (She purchase using Ethical Tourism Lim-
was not investigated in the Belgian ited, a company controlled by Helin
tax evasion case, and there is no evi- International, but whose sole share-
dence she has ever been linked to any holder and legal representative was
of the other investigations involving Patiño.
her husband.)
De Croÿ’s lawyer acknowledged
As De Croÿ fought tax evasion that Helin sent funds to buy the
and money laundering charges in property, but he said this was family
Belgium, he and his wife were busy money under management by Helin.
building a new life on the Colombi- He said De Croÿs had a trust fund
an coast, where they had bought their containing 6 million euros that were
first property in 1997 and would ac- kept in the same bank account also
quire three more in the quaint old used for Helin client funds. Howev-
town of Cartagena and the nearby er, he insisted this account was total-
tropical area of Baru between 2004 ly separate from the money Helin’s
and 2008. former clients were trying to reclaim,
which was held at a different bank.
In 2012 –– the same year a Bel-
gian court reportedly convicted De “The family funds were held in a
Croÿ –– the couple changed the sta- “CARTHAGENA TRUST”, incor-
tus of one of their Cartagena proper- porated in 2000 with some 6 million
ties from residential to commercial; euro,” he wrote in an email.
two others were re-classified as com-
mercial properties in 2015. “While the custodian banks have
changed, the trust’s holdings have
By the time De Croÿ’s conviction never (!) varied until this 2016 real
was overturned in 2015, he was in estate investment.”
the hotel business. The couple had
renovated their Cartagena proper- — Organised Crime and Cor-
ties into three hotels that brought in ruption Reporting Project.

There is a future.

ZIMBABWE
CHILDREN’S CANCER RELIEF

EARLY
DETECTION

IS THE BEST PROTECTION!

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

Page 26 Editorial & Opinion NewsHawks

CARTOON Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Sow mediocrity
and reap disaster

ONE of the hottest debates emanating from Zimbabwean social Magaisa: A legacy of civic activism
media platforms in the past fortnight was triggered by a simple
question: Who is the best leader between Emmerson Mnangagwa, Hawk Eye
Robert Mugabe and Ian Smith?
Dumisani
Before we can even tackle that topic, it would be helpful to ask Muleya
ourselves why citizens are finding such a question necessary, 42 years
after Independence.

The question itself is a damning indictment on Zanu PF — a
former liberation movement which lost its way and catastrophically
degenerated into yet another kleptocratic autocracy.

Nobody should be surprised by the direction the debate is taking.
The overwhelming sentiment out there on social media is that
although all three leaders were brutal and cruel, Smith stands out
because he bequeathed the country food self-sufficiency, one of
Africa’s most stable economies, a solid currency and infrastructure
which still exists today. This is how disastrous Zanu PF rule has
been. It has destroyed the country, plunging citizens into an abyss
of hopelessness and convincing many that Rhodesia’s racist regime
— with all its unspeakable crimes against humanity — was a better
devil than today’s corrupt dictators. Nothing screams failure louder
than this. What is worse, when people speak out against corruption,
mediocrity and injustice, they are viciously victimised.
Smith left behind hospitals which segregated white from black,
but the health facilities were decently stocked with essential med-
icines. In Mnangagwa’s crumbling hospitals, patients cannot even
get basic drugs. If the Zanu PF government does not consider the
health sector a priority, then where is taxpayers’ money going?
Smith left behind tarred roads, even in high-density suburbs, and
a piped water system. Today Mnangagwa is patting himself on the
back for drilling boreholes in Harare’s impoverished townships. His
ruralisation of urban areas is dragging Zimbabwe 60 years back-
wards.
State revenues are not meant for funding the decadent lifestyles
of political elites; that money should be making a difference in the
quality of life of long-suffering citizens.
The rulers are not accountable. The High Court this week found
it unacceptable that nine years after the adoption of a new constitu-
tion, Zimbabwe has no code of conduct for vice-presidents, minis-
ters and deputy ministers.
Zanu PF has been a huge disappointment to all self-respecting
Africans. With such clueless leaders in power, the continent appears
doomed.
Recently we witnessed a shocking spectacle when the African
Union sent a high-powered delegation to Moscow to grovel for food
supplies.
African leaders are blaming the worsening hunger crisis on the
war in Ukraine. But it is a crying shame that Ukraine, a country
of 44 million people, has been feeding Africa, a continent of 1.4
billion folks. Are we not ashamed?
Africa has all the necessary ingredients to attain food self-suffi-
ciency — well, all the decisive factors are in place except competent
leadership. The world’s most arable land is found in Africa. With a
median age of 25, Africa has the planet’s youngest population and
superb human resources. Despite the global climate crisis, rain-fed
agriculture is still a viable prospect in some countries. All the same,
there are lots of dams and rivers to sustain sizeable irrigation. Above
all, the continent’s huge population means there is a ready market
for farm produce. So why are African leaders grovelling for food in
Russia and Ukraine? The answer is clear: failed leadership.
We see the same pattern in Zimbabwe where millions of citizens
are wallowing in hunger and the government is deploying police
and soldiers to seize maize from farmers.
Deceptive politicians are peddling the lie that there is no food
crisis in Zimbabwe. Finance minister Mthuli Ncube is claiming —
with a straight face — that there is no economic crisis in this coun-
try. He conveniently forgets that Zimbabwe has the world’s highest
inflation rate and half the population lives in extreme poverty.
Zanu PF’s failure has been so tragic that many citizens are now
openly declaring that the racist Smith regime was a better evil. Can
you wrap your brain around that?

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Companies & Markets 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

A tale of two neighbours: Zambia
tames inflation, while Zim screams

BERNARD MPOFU an interview with The NewsHawks. local think-tank, said the taming of inflation in Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema
Unlike in Zambia where the kwacha remains Zambia is a vote of confidence on Hichilema’s cial auction market compared to US$1:ZW$550
THE downward trend of Zambia’s year-on-year government. on the streets.
inflation as it retreats towards the single-digit the preferred medium of exchange, most Zim-
mark, while prices in neighbouring Zimbabwe babweans have found confidence in the United “For Zambia, the coming to power of HH, Mnangagwa’s counterpart, Hichilema, an
have shot through the roof has brought into sharp States dollar. who is very pro-business has really helped to economist by training, has signalled his intention
focus the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, inspire greater confidence within the Zambian to normalise relations with creditors with a view
governance issues as well as currency dynamics Fiscal and monetary authorities in Harare also economy and obviously that has had a very posi- to improving the country’s debt profile. Zimba-
between the two countries. blame the rent-seeking behaviour of some busi- tive effect in terms of ensuring greater stability of bwe, on the other hand, has been moving in cir-
nesses and supply-chain disruptions caused by the macro economy and also the disinflationary cles. Harare is apparently not ready to make more
While both countries share a common heri- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February for trend that we have seen,” Chitambara said in an political reforms which may bring the economy
tage and also look up to mining and agriculture the surging prices. interview with The NewsHawks. out of the woods.
to drive economic activities, parallel narratives on
which development plan to pursue are emerging. Mnangagwa’s recent public utterances, which “So it is really about confidence and also polit- Following the war in Ukraine and sanctions on
included last month’s unprecedented move to ical stability is also good for macro-economic sta- Russia which have sent metal prices soaring, ma-
Zambia’s annual inflation rate decelerated for stop banks from lending, point to a government bility. It is also quite interesting that even after re- jor mining firms are now searching for new sourc-
the 10th straight month to 10.2% in May. Before which resents neo-liberal policies such as floating moving subsidies on fuel in Zambia, we are seeing es of the battery metals, copper and cobalt. Last
that, inflation had slowed to a two-and-a-half- the domestic currency. that their inflation has been trending downwards. month, First Quantum Minerals said its board
year low in April, easing pressure on the central When you look at Zimbabwe, I think our major had approved plans for a US$1.25 billion expan-
bank’s monetary policy committee to raise inter- Tony Hawkins, a University of Zimbabwe problems are to do with the creation of money sion of its Kansanshi mine in Zambia, a decision
est rates. economics professor, said: “What is driving pric- and distortions in the foreign exchange markets.” it said was prompted by renewed confidence in
es in Zimbabwe cannot be explained by what is Zambia's investment climate.
Food-price growth slowed to 14.1% in April, happening internationally but what is happening Gift Mugano, an independent economist, last
compared with 15.3% in the previous month, domestically.” month sounded the alarm bell, warning that the While Zimbabwe’s yesteryear copper mines
and non-food inflation decelerated to 8.2% from Zimbabwe dollar may soon be ditched due to ris- such as Mhangura have long shut down, experts
10.3%. Prices climbed 0.7% in the month. “Looking ahead, we will be lucky if the year ing inflation. project that the bullish prices of other minerals
closes at an annual inflation rate of 400%. There such as gold, nickel and platinum group metals
Across the border, Zimbabwe is battling a wave are so many pressures such as wage pressures After the government promised to liberalise will offset economic losses as Russia’s military ag-
of price increases, prompting the authorities to which will drive food prices.” the exchange market, the discrepancy between gression in Ukraine continues.
embark on interventionist measures and increase the official and parallel rate remains wide. The lo-
interest rates. But the rout is unrelenting. Prosper Chitambara, senior economist and cal unit is trading at US$1:ZW$320 on the offi- But with bad policies, the effects of this boom
policy adviser at the Labour and Economic De- may not cascade to the domestic economy.
After enduring two years of economic contrac- velopment Research Institute of Zimbabwe, a
tion from 2019-20, latest figures from the coun-
try’s statistical agency show that the economy re-
mains stuck in a quagmire.

The country’s inflation is dramatically surging
to three-digit figures after jumping to 131.7%
in May from 96.4% in prior month, reflecting
contrasting economic fortunes between the two
southern African nations.

The central bank sees annual inflation hovering
between 50% and 70% by year-end. But experts
and some captains of industry say this may not be
achievable under current circumstances.

For Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema,
a former opposition leader who rose to power last
year after years of persecution, the obtaining eco-
nomic outturn signals growing confidence in his
administration.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimba-
bwe, on the other hand, has been publicly saying
the economy is on the mend while at the same
time blaming an invisible hand for the deprecia-
tion of the domestic currency and soaring prices.

Business has been accused by the authorities of
driving parallel market activities and stoking in-
flation, but economic commentators say compa-
nies would need surplus Zimbabwe dollar liquid-
ity to do so. With elections beckoning, analysts
say money supply growth would grow as politics
reigns supreme.

Chris Mugaga, Zimbabwe National Chamber
of Commerce chief executive, said the currency
conundrum remains the primary driver of infla-
tion locally.

“Exchange misalignment is creating domestic
pressure as companies are scurrying for cover.
This is now driving inflation in both Zimbabwe
and United States dollar terms,” Mugaga said in

Page 28 Companies & Markets NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

BERNARD MPOFU AfDB projects 43% Zim
inflation by the year-end
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) sees
Zimbabwe’s annual inflation for 2022 clos- inflation aided by improved food supply. The The weakening domestic currency has resulted in cost pressures.
ing at 43% at a time prices have been soaring official exchange rate was Z$108/US$1 in De-
against the backdrop of a weakening domestic cember 2021 and was overvalued as reflected
currency, among other economic headwinds. in a 67% disparity with the parallel rate of
Z$180/US$1.
Zimbabwe’s year-on-year inflation has con-
tinued to jump in quantum leaps, reaching “Growth is projected to average 3.5% in
three-digit figures in May, amid warnings that 2022 and 3.2% in 2023, driven by continued
the domestic currency may soon be jettisoned favourable agricultural performance and im-
for the United States dollar due to unrelenting proved macro-economic stability. In the same
inflationary pressures. period, inflation could drop to 85% and 43%
on the back of stability in food prices and ex-
Official figures show that year-on-year infla- change rate stability.”
tion for May climbed to 131.7% from 96.4%
in April. Zimbabwe is in debt distress, with total debt
of US$13.7 billion, of which US$13.2 billion
According to the regional development fi- is external. The current account balance re-
nance lender, Zimbabwe’s economic growth mained positive on account of reduced food
accelerated to an estimated 6.3% in 2021 imports.
from a 5.3% contraction in 2020, supported
by a bumper harvest, expanding agriculture Financial sector performance was satisfac-
by 36.2% in 2021, up from 4.2% growth in tory in 2021, with non-performing loans at
2020. 3.5% against a benchmark of 5%, while the
capital-adequacy ratio was 32%, above the
The weakening domestic currency has re- 12% requirement, in June 2021.
sulted in cost pressures despite the easing of
inflation from 659.4% in September 2020 The fiscal deficit is forecast to narrow to
to 60.7% per annum recorded in December 0.2% of GDP given continued fiscal disci-
2021. pline. The current account balance will remain
positive largely because of reduced food im-
As inflation continues galloping and con- ports as domestic production improves, as well
fidence in the Zimbabwe dollar wanes, two as increased export earnings stemming from
prominent local economists have warned that improved commodity prices.
the domestic currency may soon be ditched for
hard currency.

“Per capita GDP likewise grew, by 4.9%
in 2021 from a contraction of 6.7% in 2020.
A mix of improved revenue mobilisation and
expenditure restraint contributed to a positive
fiscal balance of 0.6% of GDP in 2021,” the
AfDB said in its 2022 Economic Outlook for
Africa.

“Inflation slumped to 98.5% in 2021 from
557.3% 2020, reflecting a fall in food price

NewsHawks Companies & Markets Page 29

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Zim needs US$3bn tourism injection

BERNARD MPOFU

ZIMBABWE is scouting for investors
to inject at least US$3 billion into tour-
ism, which is currently recovering from
a slowdown in business triggered by the
outbreak of Covid-19 and economic
meltdown, a report done by the coun-
try’s investment agency has shown.
Official statistics show that tourism
accounted for 4.25% of gross domes-
tic product in 2018, which translated
to US$1.03 billion. In 2019, the sector
accounted for 6.3% of the GDP.
According to the Zimbabwe Invest-
ment Development Agency (Zida)
projects booklet, the domestic tourism
industry, which is battling competition
from regional and international peers,
requires major upgrades, as well as new
experiences to position the country as a
destination of choice.
Some of the major projects which
require a huge capital outlay are the
Mtarazi Tourism Resort which requires
US$700 million for a joint venture
which will entail the construction of a
luxury hotel, theme park, leisure cen-
tre, golf estate, shopping mall, confer-
ence centre and condors/time shares.
The country reported its first case of
coronavirus in March 2020, prompting
the authorities to enforce several mea-
sures such as halting global travel which
hit hard the tourism industry.
According to the private sector lend-
ing arm of the World Bank Group,
Zimbabwe lost US$700 million in
business due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development
Company wants a US$300 public-pri-
vate partnership to establish the Victo-
ria Falls Integrated Resort project. The
project will entail the construction of
a five-star hotel and three-star hotel,
among other key amenities.
Kariba Municipality and Kariba
Integrated Resort require a total of
US$850 million for the setting up of
world-class hotel infrastructure.
Other tourism projects which re-
quire less capital include Mutare City
Council's ambitious plan to set up a
five-star hotel in the eastern border
town.
There is also the proposed US$100
million Zimbabwe International Trade
Fair luxury hotel.
The Zida report reveals plans to con-
struct a US$100 million five-star hotel
and conference centre in Binga.
Industry players say while the coun-
try has many scenic places, a huge ex-
ternal debt and concerns over policy
inconsistency have stood out as the ele-
phant in the living room. Zimbabwe’s domestic tourism industry requires major upgrades.

Local authorities should refine proposals: Zida

DUMISANI NYONI submissions and inquiries to Zida for analysis Bulawayo City Council, which is embarking bwe Ltd, Satewave Technologies and Network
and recommendations to relevant committees, on a scheme to introduce solar farms to miti- Building Services Engineers.
LOCAL authorities are submitting poorly mostly public-private partnership (PPP) pro- gate power outages in the metropolis, is among
packaged projects to the Zimbabwe Investment posals. Zida has noted in most cases that the local authorities that have accused Zida of stall- Other proposals were by Williams Engineer-
and Development Agency (Zida) for approval, projects were not properly packaged and need- ing its projects. ing, Dennis Garison representing Solar PV
resulting in the delay in authorisation of their ed rework — and advised on missing elements Partners Ltd, and Fly Servicios de Construction
projects, an official has said. and how they should or could be addressed,” Deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube late last year from Madrid in Spain.
she said in emailed responses. said they submitted solar power projects to
Local councils have been complaining that Zida for approval, but the investment agency Shinya said Zida has taken it upon itself to
Zida has been stalling their projects. “In particular reference to the City of Bula- was yet to grant approval. try and capacitate local authorities and pro-
wayo, Zida met the council in virtual meetings vincial development offices of the regulatory
Zida acting chief executive officer Duduz- in January 2022 to discuss their four project In July last year, council said nine companies processes and requirements for submission of
ile Shinya, whose organisation is responsible submissions and in the meetings, Zida high- were competing to partner with the city in its different types of project paperwork covering
for promoting and facilitating both local and lighted all the shortcomings of the submission ambitious drive. Special Economic Zone development and pub-
foreign investment, said they noted that the which include projects submitted for PPP with lic, private partnerships.
projects submitted by councils for approval no project site or land identified. The city has The companies include Infuxion Power
were not properly crafted and needed to be re- been notified of all outstanding issues and Zida Distribution site on Farm 6, Plot 2 Victory “We will continue to do so in order to ensure
worked. awaits their re-submissions.” Whitesrun Road in Umzingwane, Liogle Tech- that councils submit strong solid investment
nologies, Rishi Investments and Doncaster Bel- projects for their urban and rural areas,” she
“A number of councils have made project mont Bulawayo, NaNaaNovo Energy Zimba- said.

Property
NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022 PROPERTY INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE GARDENING Page 30

The home of prime property: [email protected]

Lupane Provincial Govt
Complex almost complete

The Lupane Provincial Government Complex in Matabeleland North is almost complete and various
government departments are expected to move into building soon. Work on the complex was commis-
sioned by former president Robert Mugabe in 2004 but has been moving atva snail’s pace over the years.
Most government departments in the province are housed at the Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in
Bulawayo. These include the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution and the Provincial
Development Cordinator’s offices.

NewsHawks News Analysis Page 31

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Pomona scandal exposes shameless plunder

NYASHA CHINGONO

THE government's penchant for Work on the current Pomona scandal Pomona site.
opaque deals and dodgy characters has
once again been brought to light with dodgy deals that will ultimately fleece He added that systematic corrup- are being used for rent seeking; they During the start of his reign,
the US$400 million waste-to-ener- taxpayers. tion is widespread. are being used to build power bases. Mnangagwa touted US$11 billion
gy Pomona tender, which not only They are being used to build a klep- worth of business commitments,
stinks to the high heavens — pun Reminiscent of the US$60 million “This is a case where central gov- tocracy in Zimbabwe. There are no the bulk of which were murky deals
intended — but also betrays state rot. Covid-19 deal by the same Nguwaya ernment is intruding into lower gov- transparent deals, and they are crafted spearheaded by dodgy characters.
in 2020, which led to the sacking ernance. Being systematic means it is to benefit those in power. Nothing is
The Pomona dumpsite deal fronted of former Health minister Obadiah widespread. It is so widespread that is benefiting the locals,” he added. Screaming headlines in the pub-
by controversial businessman Delish Moyo, the Pomona dumpsite tender begs the question: who will bell the lic media have often raised doubt
Nguwaya and President Emmerson is yet another tragic page in Zimba- cat? There is need for an overhaul of Since the 2017 military coup that among the public, triggering ridicule
Mnangagwa’s son Colins in which bwe’s corruption history. the system at all levels. Government toppled Robert Mugabe, Mnangag- from Zimbabweans who nicknamed
the City of Harare will pay US$22 is intruding into local governance,” wa’s government has inked countless Mnangagwa “Mr Mega Deals”.
000 a day to Geogenix BV, a shad- It is another manifestation of Masunungure said. opaque deals.
owy Netherlands-based company, is opaqueness that has spread unhin- Despite promising massive invest-
another looting ploy by criminal ele- dered in present-day Zimbabwe, Political analyst Rashweat Mukun- Most of the companies that have ment for an economy teetering on the
ments seeking to suck Zimbabwe dry. where dodgy fellows continue to dip du said lack of transparency had signed so-called mega deals since brink of collapse, none of the deals
their fingers in the proverbial honey robbed Zimbabwe of millions of dol- 2017 have either been connected to have materialised.
Last week, opposition Citizens' Co- pot, political analyst Eldred Masun- lars through opaque deals.  Mnangagwa, his family or cronies in
alition for Change (CCC) councillors ungure told The NewsHawks government. Some of the deals Mnangagwa’s
moved to suspend the deal through a “There has been an undermining “New Dispensation” has clinched
vote after Local Government minister “It is a manifestation of the opaque- of local authorities and their engage- All the opaque deals have often involve controversial business char-
July Moyo had made frantic efforts ness in Zimbabwe national affairs. In ment with officials. They have been gone up in flames in no time after acters, including Zunaid Moti, Lucas
to unprocedurally railroad the deal this case it’s a local government issue undermining of elected officials; it is much-publicised signing ceremonies, Pourolis and Jacco Immink, among
without due process. The councillors' usurped by central government. The a clear indication of corruption and often held under pomp and fanfare. others.
objection was dismissed as a "farce" motivation is the gain that accrues misgovernance,” Mukundu said.
by presidential spokesperson George from such deals. It depicts systematic His rule has attracted the world’s But until there is a change or heart
Charamba in his weekly column un- governance failure and lack of trans- “Many of these projects have been most controversial business figures, and a system overhaul, public coffers
der the Jamwanda moniker. parency,”  Masunungure said. politicised. They have been used as whose investments are shrouded in will continue to be sucked dry by
piggy banks for the ruling party. They mystery. greedy oligarchs.
He argues that the Pomona dump-
site project had taken the shape of a
"national" project, adding that trou-
bled Harare mayor Jacob Mafume
had no power to stop the deal.

In language that reveals the pow-
er play afoot, Charamba says ongo-
ing blubber about the suspension of
the Pomona deal is much ado about
nothing as the real sheriff in town will
have the last laugh.  

This is a clear admission that cen-
tral government has usurped power
from the local authorities who, ac-
cording to the constitutional princi-
ple of devolution, ought to be auton-
omous self-governing entities. While
this abuse of power has subsisted for
years, the Pomona deal has revealed
the complicated relationship between
central and local government.

In Harare’s case, the collusion be-
tween Zanu PF and MDC-T coun-
cillors raises a stink around the deal.

The structure of the deal shows
how defective the entire Pomona ar-
rangement is.

The City of Harare, the landlord of
the dumpsite, is expected to pay rent
to Geogenix BV, a tenant. The com-
pany is being paid at least US$22 000
a day and US$14.6 million a year,
translating to over US$300 million
for 30 years according to the contract.

This led to a public outcry, who
feared the new cost burden for the lo-
cal authority would be transferred to
monthly bills.

It is nauseating that the state is
once again complicit in peddling

Page 32 Obituary NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

A livication to the late Dr Alex Magaisa

Taona B. stoically and valiantly dedicated to his
Denhere duty and calling.

KARL Marx in the critique of  the political issues that affect our nation. bwe would congregate weekly and The late Alex Magaisa. The late former heavyweight boxer
18th Brumaire coup of Louis Bona- Suffice it to say that, it was this appli- quench their thirst for socio-econom- ordinary people were also scaffolded and international human rights icon
parte  once said: “Men make their own ic, legal and political  knowledge. by mutual respect and humility. Muhammadi Ali once said: “Service
history, but they do not make it as cation of organic intellectualism from to others is the rent  you pay for your
they please; they do not make it under Magaisa that enabled him to incisively Thus, the BSR became an essential Except in those rare occasions where room on earth.” Accordingly, Magaisa,
self-selected circumstances, but under and brilliantly integrate socio-cultural socio-legal and political toolkit for the he felt accostated by rabble rousing through his selfless deeds such as being
circumstances existing already, given issues and everyday challenges of the layman and ordinary citizens to under- and morally bankrupt “Varakashis”. part of the constitution-making team
and transmitted from the past. The tra- ordinary people into his socio-legal stand the legal and political principles That was when he would activate his that  crafted   the 2013  Zimbabwean
dition of all dead generations weighs and political commentary of his week- and complexities that underpin and hairdryer treatment of consigning constitution, and also provided rigor-
like a nightmare on the brains of the ly BSR. Consequently, this  intellectual bedevil  our legal, political and elec- them to the goat skinners. That is ous  and objective critique of the con-
living. And just as they seem to be oc- skill of application of context specific- toral processes.Therefore, WaMagaisa blocking them from his Twitter ac- stitutional, political and legal pitfalls 
cupied with revolutionising themselves ities  resulted in his publishing of BSR was a Gramscian organic intellectual. count. Moreover, WaMagaisa had the within our body polity, indeed paid his
and things, creating something that articles which were rich in socio-cul- According to the Italian philosopher  special gift of deploying  parableised rent on earth and allowed others to pay
did not exist before, precisely in such tural and political metaphors that apt- Antonio Gramsci, organic intellectu- solomonic metaphors and idioms that their rents through his objective and
epochs of revolutionary crisis they anx- ly captured and unpacked the social, als are those who remain connected to could effectively disarm even the most thoughtful public engagement with
iously conjure up the spirits of the past economic and political malaise within their class and further class interests. rabid of varakashi. It was through the generality of Zimbabweans.
to their service, borrowing from them our body polities. For instance, time- use of those parableised metaphors and
names, battle slogans, and costumes less BSRs like “When Mamvura drove Moreover, Magaisa effectively used idioms that Musaigwa effectively and Magaisa would punctuate his social
in order to present this new scene in the bus; The regime and its enablers ; the barrel of the pen both as a sword simply drive his point home without media postings with the natural  geo-
world history in time-honoured dis- Critical analysis of the Supreme Court and shield in advancing and defend- engaging in time-wasting and atten- graphical landscape that dominates
guise and borrowed language.” judgement; The post-power syndrome ing human rights and constitutional tion-deflecting discourses. and colonises his ancestral lands of
and many others” quintessentially democracy. What was also refreshing Wedza and Njanja. In that regard, he
This quotation from Marx imme- demonstrated this intellectual gift.  about Magaisa was that he was an However, a revisit of his Twitter post would post the iconic  mountain of
diately flashed through my mind, Therefore, this religious, tenacious equal opportunity legal and political of 21 September 2018 shows a man Gandamasungo as well as the mighty
when like many progressive Zimba- dedication and selfless commitment by critic. who seems to have had a premonition Save River. This shows a man who had
bweans I received the tragic news on Musaigwa in producing weekly BSRs of his departure from this world and a strong emotional, cultural and social
the mid-morning of Sunday the 5th clearly demonstrates to a man who That is, despite openly supporting was prepared to come to terms with attachment with his ancestral land and
of June  2022, to the effect that the followed the scholarly dictum of Mari the opposition, particularly the Cit- his life-threatening health condition. rural homestead. If Musaigwa has his
beautiful soul and indomitable spirit Matsuda who said that “Human-made izens' Coalition for Change, he was In that tweet, he subtly disclosed the own way, he would be happy to have
of Dr Alex Tawanda Magaisa has trag- systems respond to social and political nonetheless objectively and  equally fact that he had a chronic illness that his soul buried in the Save River and
ically left the shores of time and rested pressure and they decay in the absence critical of their omissions and com- will negatively impact on  his longev- his spirit interred in Gandamasun-
on the banks of eternity. Alex Magaisa of the same.” missions. Thus, he taught us that it ity. That tweet was made in reference go Mountain.  Nonetheless, Gan-
had tragically died after suffering cardi- can be mutually inclusive supporting to the message of goodwill he had ex- damasungo Mountain and the Save
ac arrest at 10am at  Margate Hospital  Therefore, it was this unique skill and objectively critique the opposi- pressed towards the late retired Gener- River have preserved a special place
in the United Kingdom. from Musaigwa that made his week- tion at the same time. Hence, there al Sibusiso Moyo, who was ailing from for Musaigwa to rest among his fellow
ly BSR readable and understandable has been an outpouring of heartfelt a chronic kidney condition. Therefore, Musaigwas.
Accordingly, like many progressive to the ordinary readers and citizens. and  contagious grief over the death of  the fact that, Magaisa has been unwell
Zimbabweans, I was shocked and This special  gift allowed him to sim- WaMagaisa  on social media. since 2013, but still managed to con- On a personal note, it was Magai-
emotionally disturbed by Magaisa's plify and demystify legal and political tinue with the emotionally draining sa who exhorted  me to take a leap of
untimely death.  Suffice it to say that complexities within our country. Ac- Not many people who had such im- and physically demanding rigours of faith and start to seriously write opin-
Magaisa as a public intellectual and a cordingly, the BSR articles became a peccable and sound social, academic being a public figure and public intel- ion pieces. This came after I routinely
public figure, his private life automati- weekly oasis where information and and legal profile like that of Musaigwa lectual, who continuously published provided objective and well-thought-
cally became the public and the public education-thirsty citizens of Zimba- were humble enough to connect  and his weekly BSR, clearly shows a man out commentary on his social media
life  became his private life, hence the interface with ordinary people. Thus, who had the strong willpower and was postings, which I religiously followed.
reason he had assumed different names most of his Twitter interactions with It was in 2019, when Musaigwa out
and monikers within the public con- of the blue inbox me in my facebook
sciousness and socio-political discourse messenger and said to me “mun`in`ina
of Zimbabwe. Consequently, he you need to seriously consider writing
would weave in  and out of those pub- opinion pieces, because you have the
lic personas with much  relative ease. potential to be a good writer”.  There-
For instance, he would be very much fore, it was Magaisa who mentored me
comfortable being addressed  with his and  gave me the confidence to trans-
totem as Musaigwa and be equally be mogrify my skeletal social media com-
at home with names such as mukoma mentary into well-thought-out and
Tawanda, Alex, WaMagaisa  and also well-balanced opinion pieces.
addressed as Archbishop or Bishop by
the legion of his Twitter  followers  and Like many other Zimbabweans who
readers of his  weekly opinion pieces are struggling to come to terms with
under the flagship of his online blog Magaisa's tragic and untimely death,
the Big Saturday Read (BSR). I am therefore reminded of what Dr
Martin Luther King Jr said about
Magaisa was a well-gifted public  death, when he eulogised the four mar-
academic and organic  intellectual, he tyred Sunday school girls of the 16th
had sound and robust academic and street Baptist Church in Birmingham
professional  credentials. This explains Alabama in 1963.  King said: “Death
why he was hired as a law professor at comes to every individual.
Kent University in the UK. Nonethe-
less, despite being an ivory towered There is an amazing democracy
academic, he remained grounded and about death. It is not an aristocracy for
humble.  This innate and rare gift  en- some of the people  but a democracy
abled him  to interact, intellectualise  for all the people. Kings die  and beg-
and socialise with every Zimbabwe- gars die; rich men die and poor men
an regardless of their social, academic die; old people die and young people
and economic status. Consequently, die; death comes to the innocent and
Magaisa would usually say that, it is it comes to the guilty. Death is the
these social interactions with the ordi- irreducible common denominator of
nary folks that provides him with use- all men. I hope you find some conso-
ful nuggets that allow him to unpack lation from Christianity`s affirmation
and critique various socio-legal and that death is not the end. Death is not
the period that ends the great sentence
of life, but a comma that punctuates
it to more lofty significance. Death is
not a blind alley that leads the human
race into a state of nothingness, but an
open door which leads man into eter-
nal life”

Rest in Power, Musaigwa.

NewsHawks Rest in Peace Page 33

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Presidential decree: A bout of economic
madness and cocktail of illegalities
Prominent legal scholar and public intellectual Dr Alex Magaisa, who died on Sunday in the United Kingdom
Alex T. where he taught law at the University of Kent, wrote a popular blog, the Big Saturday Read, which provided cut-
Magaisa ting-edge analysis and critical insights into Zimbabwean law and politics. This was his final article:

ON 7 May 2022, President Emmerson
Mnangagwa issued an economic dec-
laration that must surely claim a place
among the most absurd economic poli-
cy initiatives by a governmental authori-
ty anywhere in the world.

Apart from reversing a disastrous
public transport monopoly that should
never have been established in the first
place, the rest of the measures were
knee-jerk reactions to try to solve an
economic problem that is fast spiralling
out of control.

Among the raft of measures was an
outright ban on bank lending whose
immediate effect was to pose an exis-
tential threat to financial institutions,
particularly those solely licensed to carry
out lending activities. The presidential
decree was self-defeating: by banning
lending, a government whose mantra
is “Zimbabwe is open for business” was
effectively sending the message to the
market that it has no trust in the coun-
try’s future. To appreciate the weight of
this message, one must understand the
concept of credit and the basis upon
which it is constructed.

No trust in the future Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mthuli Ncube.
The concept of credit is intimately tied
to trust in the future. As historian Yuval threatens the viability of the business. Job losses services, which effectively means rising tion to sugar-cane producers.
Noah Harari puts it, credit represents A rise in bank charges Another constituency that bears the bur- household poverty.   The ban has therefore had a predict-
the difference between today’s pie and However, as I will demonstrate, it is the den is bank workers. Whenever capital Loss of credit facilities
tomorrow’s pie. You can only lend when ordinary citizens that carry the heavy suffers a hit, labour takes a heavy beat- Another predictable consequence of the able chain reaction in the credit system.
you believe that tomorrow’s pie will be burden of this hare-brained policy in- ing. Banks will start talking of restruc- ban on bank lending has already man- The supply chain in the credit system
bigger than today’s pie. When a bank tervention because banks will devise turing and staff rationalisation, which ifested in the past week as businesses has been broken by the ban. If the
lends money to a company, it is because ways to survive. One other source of is corporate-speak for job cuts. Wages that offer goods and services on credit banks cannot give credit, those that rely
both the bank and the company have income for banks is bank charges. Banks might also fall or stagnate. In this way, responded by shutting down all credit on bank loans will also not be able to
trust that the company’s future will be charge customers for all sorts of services. capital passes on the cost of the gov- facilities. The Surrey Group wrote to its provide credit to their customers. This
brighter than its present. This means the They might charge for maintaining the ernment’s misguided policies to labour. clients indicating that it was suspending creates a vicious cycle: If in the case of
company will be able to repay the loan account, making transfers, using cash That will mean more people joining credit facilities. Fivet, which specialises sugar-cane farmers, those customers
plus interest, from which the bank de- machines, printing statements, custody the ranks of the unemployed and many in veterinary goods and services, also are producers of goods, this will put a
rives its income. of assets and so much more. Customers young people being kept out of employ- suspended credit facilities as did ho- squeeze on production. If this results
regularly complain of too many bank ment as companies reduce their intake.   tel chain Cresta Hotels and Wholesale in low production, trust in the future
Therefore, all credit is based on trust charges. Now, if they cannot earn in- Rise in cost of goods and services Beef, which is based in Bulawayo. is eroded. Consequently, there will be
in the future; a belief that tomorrow will come from lending because of the gov- Companies that use banking services less credit where there is no trust in the
be better than today. There is more and ernment ban, banks will simply go for will be hurt by the rising bank charges. Tongaat Hullett, the sugar producer, future. The result is increasing levels of
cheaper credit in an economy where the next easy target: the customers. They But like the banks, these businesses also was more direct in attributing its change poverty among those at the bottom of
there is more trust in the future. By will just raise their charges, and some have an easy outlet for their pain. They of course to the government’s ban on the credit chain.
contrast, where there is no trust in the might even invent new charges. Already will just pass it on to their customers by bank lending when it announced that
future, there is less credit and where it is some banks have started sending notices raising the prices of their goods and ser- it was cutting all advance payments to Realising the carnage that the presi-
available, the credit is usually short-term to their customers regarding increases in vices. The ultimate victim of the govern- farmers. “We normally fund the advanc- dential decree was having on the cred-
and very expensive. All this leads to the tariffs. ment’s ridiculous ban on bank lending es from proceeds that we access from the it market, the RBZ tried to make an
conclusion that when you ban credit, The government’s ban, therefore, hurts is the long-suffering citizen who has no banks. Following the recent suspension exception. Late on 12 May, the RBZ
you are effectively saying that you have ordinary citizens the most as banks pass outlet. For many, the only way to avoid of lending by banks we find ourselves tweeted, “Suspension of lending facili-
no trust in the future. You are saying the on the burden. the high prices is to forgo the goods and unable to continue offering advances,” ties does not apply to marketable com-
future cannot be better than the present. wrote the company in its communica- modities such as tobacco. Cotton, sugar,
Far from promoting belief in the econ- maize, etc. All banks have been advised
omy, the Zimbabwean government’s accordingly”. This was in response to
hare-brained declaration is sending neg-
ative and demotivating messages to the
market.

Besides, as already stated, banning
bank lending undermines the core of
banking businesses, which threatens
their very existence. One of the principal
sources of bank income is lending and
charging interest. The interest represents
the profit a bank makes when it lends
money. Prohibiting lending is like stop-
ping a dairy farmer from selling milk. It
destroys a critical source of income and

Page 34 Rest in Peace NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

the obvious damage the outright ban on up in a never-ending debt cycle. Once ernment’s knee-jerk reaction to banning are willing to challenge the establish-  A currency no one trusts
bank lending was causing on the pro- in debt, it is hard to get out and debt- bank lending. ment. As one banker said in a private At the core of our national problem is
duction side of the economy, a belated ors live at the mercy of their creditors. interview, their overseas bosses would the government’s misguided attempt to
realisation that the blanket declaration This is part of the dark economy that Only one bank, BancABC, issued chide local managers if they tried to force people to use the discredited local
was unsound. operates alongside the formal econo- a critique that, although directed at its challenge the illegal and economically currency. Zimbabwe’s currency prob-
my. However, the need for chimbadzo clients, found its way into the public irrational government measures. They lems have a long history and will not be
But still, this Twitter announcement services is limited by the availability of domain. The statement was sober and do not want to rock the boat so they solved by knee-jerk policies. The gov-
is not without fault. It is vague because credit through formal and regulated critical of the measures introduced by would rather comply if they kept their ernment must understand that money
it does not define what it refers to as a institutions. People are less likely to re- the decree. It highlighted the existential property. In this way, business elites be- is a mental construct. Historian Yuval
“marketable commodity”. It mentions sort to chimbadzo if they have access to threat that it posed to the banking sector come complicit as enablers of authori- Noah Harari puts it very neatly when he
agricultural products which might mean credit in the formal markets. It is usually and the policy inconsistencies that had a tarian regimes. says, “Money is anything that people are
the exception is limited to “marketable those that cannot access credit on the bad impact on the economy. However, Labour’s voice willing to use in order to systematically
commodities” of the agricultural variety formal markets that fall victim to the in an interesting and intriguing twist of By contrast, labour provides a critical represent the value of other things for
only. But is that the intention? Further- loan sharks. events, BancABC issued another state- voice against illegalities in the banking the purpose of exchanging goods and
more, when it says “etc”, it leaves room ment disowning its earlier statement. In sector. The union for workers in the services”. Historically, therefore, money
for other commodities without limita- Now, however, with the govern- its second statement, BancABC declared banking sector was bold and unapolo- has been represented in various forms
tion but what might these commodities ment’s ban on bank lending, everyone that it was “fully aligned with the direc- getic in its criticism of the presidential such as cowry shells, coins, notes, etc. In
be? This vagueness is not a good policy. who wants finance is forced to go to the tive issued by the Monetary Authorities” decree. The Zimbabwe Banks and Allied the modern age, most of the money that
It leaves room for guesswork and cor- black market in which the chimbadzo pledging to “implement all measures Workers' Union (Zibawu) raised con- we use is not even in physical form but
ruption. All this could easily be resolved merchants reign supreme. The govern- as directed and in full compliance with cerns over the ban on bank lending, ar- it is electronic and digital.
by having a clear legal instrument that ment’s ban on bank lending, therefore, the law”. The irony of all this is that the guing that it put its employers’ business
regulates market conduct, not an illegal serves to fuel a rise in the black mar- bank was pledging compliance with an and consequently its members’ jobs at Money is a system of mutual trust be-
presidential decree amended through ket in credit, creating a new breed of illegal “directive”. Why would the bank risk. Apart from restructuring and clos- tween individuals in society: people ac-
social media and Press statements. That merchants in the chimbadzo business. disown what was in fact a sober and ing departments, the viability of cred- cept money when they believe that oth-
is not how to run an economy. Because it is unregulated, it will be the measured critique of the ridiculous de- it-only institutions was at serious risk. er people are willing to accept it. If you
Cancellation of dividends Wild West of the credit market. Since cree? It explained how its members rely on have one US dollar, you are confident
The ban on bank lending has also put the cost of accessing credit in the chim- bank loans for basic services like medical that if you go to Thailand or Namibia,
a squeeze on companies’ cash resourc- badzo market is high, businesses getting The answer lies in two parts: first, fees, school fees, and other emergencies someone there will want it.
es affecting their ability to meet their finance from there will simply pass it on is that there is the rule of fear which is and how they would be forced to resort
legal obligations. One listed company, to the consumers, meaning a rise in the practiced by the regulatory authorities. to the parallel market where rates are Trust in the US dollar increases if your
Dairibord, suspended the payment of cost of goods and services. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe behaves harsh and punitive. Ironically, it was left government demands taxes in that cur-
dividends to shareholders. This is to Legal deficiencies like the government whose operating to labour to question the government’s rency. Compare that to the status of the
preserve the cash it has for working cap- Apart from the economic ramifications, manual is based on authoritarianism. unreasonable policies while capital re- Zimbabwe dollar. While a Zimbabwean
ital. It would have relied on bank loans the presidential decree also has import- It rules the financial sector with an iron mained silent.    bank will accept the South African rand,
to plug the gap but, with the ban, that ant legal deficiencies. The measures were fist. The same fear with which the gov- What is the government trying to a South African bank will not accept the
tap has been shut. This means existing announced without any legal instru- ernment exercises power over citizens is solve? Zimbabwe bond note. It is worse when
shareholders that were due to receive ment to back them. In the absence of a what the RBZ uses toward regulated en- So, what is the mischief that the govern- the Zimbabwean tax authorities prefer
dividends as a return on their invest- recognised legal instrument, the central tities. The result is that, just like citizens ment is trying to solve by banning bank the US dollar ahead of the Zimbabwe
ment must wait. bank resorted to referring to the mea- fear their government, financial institu- lending? We can get some clues from dollar. Money is a question of trust and,
Risk of litigation sures as a “Presidential Announcement”. tions are also fearful of the central bank. tweets and interviews given by the RBZ. if the market has no trust in it, it has no
However, since this dividend had al- But there is no legal instrument under They would rather comply with an ille- The government thinks some compa- value.
ready been declared, the suspension of Zimbabwean law that is called a Presi- gal directive than challenge it because nies and individuals are borrowing from
payment exposes Dairibord to a law- dential Announcement. the regulatory authority is vindictive. banks to fund the purchase of foreign Learning from Chikurubi
suit by one or more of any disgruntled Like citizens, regulated institutions have currency at cheap rates on the forex This can be explained at a very basic lev-
shareholders. This is because although It is trite that any directive that affects habituated to government illegalities. auction system. They think if they stop el. A study of the political economy of
ordinarily a shareholder does not have the right to private property must be They might complain for a moment but bank lending, it will reduce funding for the community of inmates in Chikuru-
a right to demand a dividend, once it based on a law of general application. If eventually they just fall into line. these activities. In one tweet, the RBZ bi Maximum Security Prison can reveal
has been declared by the directors, a div- it is not passed by Parliament as primary threatened to reveal the names of those some very useful lessons to the author-
idend becomes a legally claimable right. legislation, then it must be issued under The second reason is the absence of that have made “significant borrowings” ities. Among inmates, cigarettes are an
The only reason the shareholders might a statutory instrument as secondary leg- the rule of law in Zimbabwe. In coun- from banks, which is ridiculous because important form of currency. It does not
avoid taking legal action, in this case, is islation. Secondary legislation can only tries where the rule of law prevails, cit- there is no law that prohibits “significant matter whether the inmate is a smoker
because it is not in their interests to sue be issued within the terms prescribed by izens and corporations have the confi- borrowing”. This is a clumsy attempt by or not, or whether they are religious or
the company in which they are invest- the primary or enabling legislation. No dence to defy and challenge regulatory a regulator to create an innuendo that not, everyone uses the cigarette as a me-
ed in the long term. But while existing such legislation was cited in this decree. authorities. If there was respect for the those who are borrowing significantly dium of exchange. If you have cigarettes,
shareholders might bite their teeth and At the very least, President Mnangagwa rule of law in Zimbabwe and compa- are the ones who are causing currency you can trade them for other goods or
take the pain because they understand could have used the Presidential Powers nies were confident that they could find problems. If it had proof and if offenc- services. Prisoners accept them as a cur-
the difficult operating environment that (Temporary Measures) Act, which per- refuge in the courts and the law, they es were committed the regulator would rency because they know that other pris-
has forced the company to take such mits the President to issue regulations would probably challenge illegalities not hesitate to act. oners also accept them.
drastic action, this type of news is not temporarily. as companies do in other jurisdictions.
encouraging to prospective investors. This certainly used to be the norm in In trying to explain the ban on bank Yet interestingly, there is no central
The ban on bank lending therefore This is a controversial law that is the past. lending, central bank governor John authority telling them that this is the
could have wider ramifications on the arguably unconstitutional, but at least it Mangudya gave an illogical metaphor of only acceptable currency. Indeed, there
country’s reputation as an investment exists in the statute books and is avail- For example, Econet, now an inter- closing the tap when a tank is overflow- may be other items that are used con-
destination. able to be used until it is repealed or national phenomenon, would never ing. He said the ban on lending was a currently as currency, such as soap or
Rise of chimbadzo struck down by the courts. However, have been established had it not success- temporary measure to shut the tap be- food. One might therefore say there is
One inevitable consequence of the ban it is a sign of a sheer disregard for the fully challenged the state-run monopo- cause the tank was overflowing. But as a multi-currency system in the prison
on bank lending is the proliferation of a rule of law that President Mnangagwa ly, the Posts and Telecommunications water engineers would explain, the tank community in which the cigarette just
black market in credit. Banks and other and his advisers could not even be both- Corporation, in the late 1990s. It got its does not overflow unless there is a prob- happens to be the most universally ac-
credit institutions are licensed to provide ered to resort to it and decided instead first licence through a Supreme Court lem in the system. Shutting down the cepted and dominant currency. Since
lending which makes it a regulated busi- to issue a blunt and illegal instrument. decision and the government duly com- tap does not solve the problem because there is no central authority dishing out
ness. Regulation means the regulator This is a country in which a President plied. But that was in another era when when it is opened again, the problem cigarettes, the currency is subject to mar-
can keep an eye on the licensed credit has no regard for legality that important there was a semblance of the rule of law will recur. ket forces: much depends on who can
market, ensuring that there is compli- economic measures with serious con- in Zimbabwe. By contrast, it is doubt- access cigarettes from outside and who
ance with rules of fair play. This is im- sequences are issued under a blatantly ful that Econet would achieve the same In short, the authorities are not solv- wants them inside. The currency works
portant for the protection of consumers. illegal process.   success in current times with the way the ing the source of the problem, which is because everybody trusts it, something
However, this does not mean there is no Why there is no legal challenge from judicial institution has become compro- the rigged forex auction system. It is that that the Zimbabwe dollar has failed to
unregulated credit business that goes on the affected banks mised and politicised. Those who dare which is at odds with market realities achieve since its re-introduction.
in the economy. Loan sharks – individu- Curiously, despite the economic impru- to challenge the regulatory authorities that there is a huge arbitrage opportu-
als and companies that offer short-term dence and illegalities of the presiden- invite vindictive attacks. In an author- nity from the start, which politically In a nutshell, it is arguable that the
and punitively high-interest loans have tial decree, there was a muted response itarian environment, the attacks come exposed persons (business and political community of inmates at Chikurubi
existed from time immemorial. The from the banking industry. There was in various ways with tax, policing, and elites) have exploited. They were warned Maximum Security Prison has a cur-
common name of this type of punitive virtual silence from the Bankers' Asso- licensing authorities being weaponised when the auction system started but rency system that is more stable and
loan is “chimbadzo”. ciation of Zimbabwe, the body that rep- against individuals and companies that they paid no attention. To use a dra- predictable than the system being run
resents regulated banks in the country. challenge the regime.    matic African metaphor, RBZ governor by the trio of Mangudya, Ncube and
The methods used in the chimbadzo Its mute response was in total contrast Mangundya, Finance minister Mthuli Mnangagwa for the rest of Zimbabwe.
business are harsh and often brutal, es- to its excitement when the government As a result, facing vulnerabilities, Ncube and President Mnangagwa are They might benefit from a crash course
pecially in the collection of payments. introduced the foreign currency auction very few individuals or companies have trying to solve the problem of diarrhoea with inmates.
The exceedingly high rates of interest system in 2020. Ironically, it is that for- the guts to challenge illegalities even if by stitching the anus. This will not solve
mean that individuals are often caught eign currency auction system that has they are obvious. The Confederation of the problem which lies in the cause of WaMagaisa  
proved disastrous, leading to a free-fall Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), another the diarrhoea.  [email protected]
in the Zimbabwe dollar and the gov- industry association that issued a biting
critique of the government’s economic Rest in Peace, Dr Alex Magaisa. Our
policies a few weeks ago, ended up mak- sincere and heartfelt condolences from
ing a U-turn and disowning its earlier The NewsHawks.
statement. Very few owners of capital

NewsHawks Critical Thinking Page 35

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Dictator dilemma: Is Zimbabwe ready
to surrender Mengistu Haile Mariam

PETER FABRICIUS Zimbabwe hints at sending genocide fugitive Mengistu home to
Ethiopia to face justice – but critics are not buying it.
IS Ethiopia’s former brutal dic-
tator, Mengistu Haile Mariam, Is it just more Zanu-PF smoke-and-mirrors and deception? Some
about to be sent home at last, suggest it is meant to deflect criticism that Zimbabwe is harbouring
after three decades of asylum in genocidal killers.
Zimbabwe, to serve the rest of
his life in jail for genocide? Former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam. Zimbabwean military officers
had then invited him to settle in
This is the prospect Zimba- Coltart. cide, recently discovering their came in the context of questions Zimbabwe.
bwe’s Foreign minister, Frederick He notes that the cheerful most wanted suspect, Protais by the  VOA  journalist about
Shava, seems to have dangled. Mpiranya, had died in Zimba- Mpiranya. Shava told  VOA  that Harare
He told the  Voice of Ameri- woollen scarf in national colours bwe at the age of 50 in 2006 and had “fully cooperated with the
ca (VOA): “If the people of Ethi- that Mnangagwa always wears had been buried in Zimbabwe Shava denied any suggestion UN Residual Mechanism” in its
opia approach the government on public occasions is “emblem- under a false tombstone. that Harare was a safe haven for investigation of Mpiranya. And
of Zimbabwe, appropriate steps atic of what goes on in his gov- genocide fugitives and insist- it does seem true at least that af-
will be taken by the government ernment. It is literally sheep’s “They have been deeply em- ed that his government had not ter the Mechanism’s prosecutor,
of Zimbabwe in response to the clothing on the wolf. In relation barrassed by the UN revelation,” been aware that Mpiranya had Serge Brammertz, had criticised
request, to the legitimate request to Mengistu, it’s part of exactly Coltart said. “And Mengistu has been in the country until the Zimbabwe in the UN Security
from the government of Ethio- the same strategy.” been a guest of this country for UN Mechanism found his body. Council, Harare increased its co-
pia.” decades. And so I think this is But DM168’s well-placed sourc- operation. This might, though,
He and other commentators designed to try to deflect criti- es suggest it is highly unlikely have been part of Mnangagwa’s
Shava’s remark has sparked believe Shava mentioned the cism… I would be very surprised the Zanu-PF government did efforts to thaw relations with the
considerable interest and spec- vague possibility of extraditing if they released him. I think not know Mpiranya was in Zim- international community in the
ulation about a possible radical Mengistu only to deflect crit- their intention is to deflect, let babwe. They said they believed hope that it would lift remaining
about-turn in Zimbabwe’s pol- icism that Zimbabwe was har- the dust settle and then they can he had met military officers in sanctions on Zimbabwe.
icy. After long-time Ethiopian bouring genocidal killers. This get on with their lives. This in- the Democratic Republic of
Emperor Haile Selassie was top- was prompted by the Interna- terpretation is reinforced by the Congo in 1998 when both were In the end, Brammertz’s team
pled in a military coup in 1974, tional Residual Mechanism for fact that Shava’s hint that his engaged in repelling an attack discovered Mpiranya’s body by
Mengistu, an army colonel, then Criminal Tribunals, which is still government might favourably on then president Laurent Kabi- its own good sleuth work, in-
seized power in 1977 with the pursuing the leading perpetra- consider an extradition request la’s government by Rwanda. The cluding coming across the false
support of the All-Ethiopia So- tors of the 1994 Rwandan geno- name under which he had been
cialist Movement, a Marxist-Le- buried, in a sketch of his tomb-
ninist group. He ruled Ethio- stone on a computer.
pia with a bloody, iron fist as a
one-party Marxist dictatorship The same goal of winning in-
until 1991, when he in turn was ternational approval – or perhaps
ousted. deflecting disapproval – might
have motivated Shava to hint at a
He then fled to Zimbabwe, possible extradition of Mengistu.
where his friend and fellow auto-
crat, President Robert Mugabe, He told  VOA: “We are not
gave him sanctuary and whence harbouring Mr Mengistu. We
the ruling Zanu-PF has so far have allowed Mr Mengistu to
resisted all efforts to send him stay in Zimbabwe since he fell
home to face justice. out with his people in Ethiopia.
It was not a conspiracy; every-
In 2006, he was tried in ab- body knew he was coming here
sentia in Addis Ababa, found with his family, and there is no
guilty of genocide and other comparison with what you are
charges after a 12-year trial and asking about [about Mpiranya].”
sentenced to life in prison. His
main offence was directing the In Addis Ababa, however,
“Red Terror” in the late 1970s there are doubts whether the
to try to eliminate his political government of Prime Minis-
opposition, mainly the Ethiopi- ter Abiy Ahmed really wants
an People’s Revolutionary Party. Mengistu right now, since it is so
Tens of thousands of opponents preoccupied with its war against
were killed or tortured. Tigrayan and other dissidents.

But Mugabe still refused to In 2018, former Ethiopian
send him back to face trial or prime minister Hailemariam
serve his sentence. Desalegn had a strange meeting
with Mengistu in Harare.
Mugabe himself was ousted in
a palace coup by Vice-President Desalegn — just months out
Emmerson Mnangagwa in No- of office — was in Zimbabwe as
vember 2017, but he too showed head of the African Union’s mis-
no signs of surrendering Mengis- sion observing Zimbabwe’s elec-
tu. tions.

Now Shava’s surprising state- His officials tweeted a picture
ment suggests that Mnangagwa’s of him with Mengistu without
position might be shifting. explaining what they had dis-
cussed in their meeting.
But is it? Zimbabwe commen-
tators are rather bemused but — Daily Maverick
also sceptical.

“What you have to understand
about the Mnangagwa regime is
that it’s all about smoke and mir-
rors and deception,” says opposi-
tion politician and lawyer David

Page 36 Critical Thinking NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Zim’s 2023 elections: How to judge
candidates’ social protection promises

GIFT DAFULEYA cess to education, health and water worker compensation. But this ling distances. when it comes to social protection
for all citizens. doesn’t cover the risks faced by Lessons from elsewhere in Zimbabwe.
ZIMBABWE is heading for general What’s in place most workers as it only applies to A number of countries in Southern
elections in 2023 amid an ongoing I have  researched  social protec- formal employment. Only 15% of African Development Communi- The first is the lingering view that
macro-economic crisis. tion  in Zimbabwe and beyond  for Zimbabweans are employed in the ty region have national social cash social protection creates a depen-
the past decade. There are a few key formal economy while 85% work transfers for all vulnerable people dency syndrome – not only in Zim-
In the decade starting from social protection measures to con- in the informal economy. of a certain demographic group. babwe, but Africa-wide. This myth
2001, the state-led economy start- sider. Among them are social in- For instance, in Botswana, Eswa- has been busted  by scientific evi-
ed to show  signs of strain. Unem- surance, such as pension, sickness, Many informal workers create tini, Lesotho, Namibia and South dence showing that cash transfers
ployment  reached 85%. Inflation, maternity and unemployment ben- their own risk mitigation mech- Africa, older people receive an  old do not lead to fewer people seeking
which was a staggering  79 million efits. These depend on contribu- anisms such as  burial societies  or age grant. jobs.
percent in 2008, came down but tions from formal economy work- subscribe to funeral insurance
has been rising in the  past two ers and their employers. policies to cover funeral expenses, Some governments in Africa The second is whether the state
years. It is still  among the highest which can be as high as their year- complement the risk mitigation can afford to finance the extension
in the world. The coverage of the Harmonised ly income. Another cost that could mechanisms of informal workers. of social protection to all food in-
Social Cash Transfers programme be covered by social protection is For instance, the Rwandan govern- secure households. In a constrained
The economic crisis has height- is  limited to 52 049 households. school fees. According to the Zim- ment adds a matching contribution macro-economic environment such
ened the vulnerability of house- So, it covers only 6% of the food babwe National Vulnerability As- plus life and funeral insurance pol- as Zimbabwe’s, funding social pro-
holds and the need for social pro- insecure households. But over four sessment Committee  2020 report, icies on the contributions that in- tection among other competing
tection to prevent hunger among million Zimbabweans, out of a 50.3% of children of school-going formal workers make towards their needs is about budget priorities
poor households, complement the population of 15 million, are food age were sent away from school in pension. In Ghana, the government more than it is an issue of sourcing
risk mitigation mechanisms of in- insecure. the first term of 2020 because they contributes 5% to the new national new revenue.
formal workers, and improve access could not pay fees. pension scheme, which includes in-
to social services such as education, The flagship social assistance pro- formal workers. Where there is high unemploy-
health and water. gramme gives households between The report also notes that 75% ment and food insecurity, it is so-
US$20-50 bimonthly, depending of all rural residents who are chron- Free access to education has cially and legally justified for the
It is highly unlikely that the on household size. ically ill miss their medication be- had positive impact on enrolment poor to depend on social assistance
formal economy will turn the tide cause they cannot afford it. in  Kenya, Malawi and Uganda. as it is their right, for which the
soon to create formal employment, Since inception in 2011, the pro- There are fee waivers for health care government must be held account-
which is vital for the stability of gramme has covered  less than 20 In the short-term, social protec- in countries such as  Eswatini and able.
household income, and reduce districts. There are 59 districts in tion must focus on fee waivers to Burundi.
the need to support food insecure Zimbabwe and all have food inse- improve access to education and Conclusion — The Conversation.
households. cure households. health care services for all citizens. It’s important to address two issues
*About the writer: Gift Dafu-
In the last presidential election Then there is  social insur- In the medium term, all these leya is a lecturer in economics at
in 2018, several presidential can- ance  which covers pensions and critical social services must be the University of Venda in South
didates promised to provide social brought within acceptable travel- Africa.
protection for citizens.

The ruling Zanu PF promised to
create safety nets and enhance ac-
cess to health and education ser-
vices. Safety nets are also called so-
cial assistance and typically include
cash and food transfers, public
works, subsidies and fee waivers for
education and health.

The Zanu PF government’s safe-
ty net package includes cash trans-
fers to  52 049 households, public
monthly maintenance allowances
in form of food and or cash to  6
688 households  and paltry tuition
grants and examination fee subsi-
dies for underprivileged students.

The main opposition party,
MDC-Alliance (now  Citizens'
Coalition for Change), promised
to bolster social protection and re-
form the National Social Security
Authority. The terms  “social pro-
tection” and “social security”  are
used interchangeably, and typically
include social assistance and social
insurance measures.

Little-known opposition par-
ties also made promises. For in-
stance, the  People’s Rainbow Co-
alition  promised to  provide social
security, and the  Alliance for the
People’s Agenda  undertook to  de-
liver social packages such as support
for education and health care.

As Zimbabwe heads for the 2023
elections, new or recycled promises
will be made to voters.

Voters must judge candidates by
the soundness of their promises to
improve the reach of cash and food
transfers to poor households, ex-
tend social insurance coverage to
informal workers, and facilitate ac-

NewsHawks Reframing Issues Page 37

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

A pair of twentysomethings from Ugan-
da and Ghana thought there was a for-
tune to be made bringing transnational
financial services to Africa’s 1.2 billion
people. With 5 million users, San Fran-
cisco-based Chipper Cash is just getting
started

JEFF KAUFLIN

IT was the summer of 2018, and How two Africans overcame bias
Ham Serunjogi, a 24-year-old Ugan- to build a start-up worth billions
dan immigrant, thought the pitch he
was making to a Palo Alto venture gi and his two brothers to a private In the spring of 2018, Serunjogi transfers. doesn’t, transaction times can slow to
capit­al firm was going well. high school and enrolled them in a texted Moujaled, who was working as By mid-2019 Chipper Cash was a full day or longer. Money can solve
competitive swim club. In 2010, Se- a software engineer in San Francisco, that problem. A bigger worry is com-
He had explained how his fintech runjogi, then 16, made the Ugandan to say it was time to get going. Se- available in Uganda, Ghana, Kenya petition. Senegal-based startup Wave
startup, Chipper Cash, would enable Youth Olympic team. After having runjogi quit his job and moved into and Rwanda. It soon expanded to offers similar services (albeit in dif-
African consumers to send money to problems completing a bank transfer, Moujaled’s studio apartment, sleep- Nigeria, Africa’s biggest market with ferent countries so far) and notched
each other, across national borders, his father was forced to fly to South ing on an air mattress in the kitch- more than 200 million people, and a  US$1.7 billion  valuation last year.
more cheaply and easily than the an- Africa with an envelope full of cash to enette. The two used their combined by the end of the year, it had 600,000 Other remittance companies such as
tiquated banking system — a sort of pay his son’s swim coach while they savings of less than US$30 000 and customers. It also introduced a for- Remitly and Wise don’t yet let peo-
Venmo for the continent. were training there. Moujaled’s ongoing salary as seed eign-exchange markup fee of 2% ple send money from one African
capital. They launched a test version to 5% to start generating revenue. country to another, but there’s noth-
Then came a question from one After high school, Serunjogi fol- of their app in July 2018, letting cus- As bitcoin rose from US$14 000 to ing stopping them from entering the
of the partners: “Why don’t you go lowed his older brother to Grinnell, tomers send money from Uganda to US$20 000 in the fall of 2020, Chip- market.
look for donations and grants to fund a small liberal arts college in Iowa Ghana for free. per began to let users buy and sell
this?” Because, Serunjogi replied, this known for its strong academics, where bitcoin and ether, establishing a sec- For now, Serunjogi is focused on
will be a profit-making business. The both swam varsity. At Grinnell he They took pitches to more than ond lucrative line of business: trading maintaining Chipper’s steep growth,
clueless partner persisted: “Why don’t met Moujaled, a Ghanaian computer 50 VC firms until, in November fees. It reached a US$2.2 billion val- moving to profitability — and help-
you talk to Unicef or an impact in- science major who had started a pop- 2018, 500 Startups agreed to invest uation in late 2021, with investment ing Africans while doing so. Cus-
vesting firm?” Serunjogi discreetly ular student coding group. Almost US$150 000. Before the papers were from firms including Sam Bank- tomers benefit, he says, when they
declines to name the firm, or to say immediately, the two began talking signed, Mohnot wired US$40 000 man-Fried’s FTX, Ribbit Capital and can move money easily and have new
which VC later told him that “regard- about developing an African money to Chipper after Serunjogi told him Bezos Expeditions. Transactions grew ways to invest and build wealth. “I’m
less of what the metrics are, I have to transfer app. But first they wanted re- he was about to miss rent. “I will be from US$200 million in the first a deep believer in the role of entrepre-
apply a discount to this business be- al-world tech experience and needed eternally grateful to him for that,” Se- quarter of 2021 to US$1.6 billion 12 neurship and capitalism in improving
cause it’s in Africa.” work visas. So during his junior year runjogi says. months later. the lives of people who live in devel-
Serunjogi sent cold emails to Mark oping countries.”
Those memories still sting, even Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg and Chipper’s free, easy-to-use app was All that growth comes with add-
though Chipper Cash has now raised snagged an internship with Facebook, a big improvement over the available ed high-stakes challenges. One is li- — Forbes.
US$300 million from a roster of which turned into a full-time job in alternatives. For example, Kenya’s quidity: Chipper needs to make sure
blue-chip VCs, most recently in No- Dublin after he graduated in 2016. M-Pesa, which launched in 2007, it has enough funds in each country *About the writer: Jeff Kauflin is
vember at a US$2.2 billion valuation. charges 1% to 2% for many domestic to support instant transfers. When it a Forbes magazine journalist.
“These were things I’d have to take
with a straight face. But it was out-
rageous, and it still is,” Serunjogi says
from the San Francisco office where
he, cofounder Maijid Moujaled and
nearly a fifth of the company’s 350
employees are based. The two found-
ers each have an estimated 10% stake
in Chipper, translating into paper
fortunes north of US$200 million.

Sheel Mohnot, a former partner
at 500 Startups — Chipper Cash’s
first backer — chalks up some early
investor resistance to ignorance about
Africa. “No one was investing in Af-
rica at the time,” he says. That has
changed. Per CB Insights, venture
capitalists invested US$1.5 billion in
African fintech companies last year,
up sevenfold from 2020. Sub-Saha-
ran Africans today have 605 million
registered mobile money accounts
— with which they can send cash via
text message — up from 469 million
in 2018. That makes the area fertile
ground for more advanced consumer
financial apps.

Four years after its founding,
Chipper Cash has 5 million registered
users in seven countries, including
Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria. It offers
not only low-cost money transfers
but bill payment, crypto trading and
the ability to buy U.S. stocks. Exclud-
ing crypto transactions, it booked
more than US$75 million in revenue
in 2021, compared with US$18 mil-
lion in 2020.

The idea for Chipper Cash was
seeded when high-school-age Se-
runjogi saw the problems his father
encountered trying to move mon-
ey through Africa’s ossified banking
system. Serunjogi’s family lived in
Gayaza, a Ugandan town 10 miles
outside Kampala, the capital. His
parents owned a farm, and his father
also ran an IT operation helping local
businesses set up networks. Though
hardly rich, the family sent Serunjo-

Page 38 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Ethiopia’s complicated barriers to peace

BIZUNEH GETACHEW YIMENU

AT the start of this year, promising signs Pedestrians walking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Credit: Natasha Elkington/CIFOR.
began to emerge that the war in Ethio-
pia might be entering a new phase. ed the prime minister as he side-lined against the Fano. The federal govern- militaristic means. It remains to be seen the impartiality and inclusivity of the
the TPLF and challenged Ethiopia’s ment said it was acting against “groups if this strategy is any more viable today national dialogue to build trust in the
After over a year of fighting, hun- federal system. And in the war, Amhara involved in the illegal arms trade, loot- than it has been in preceding decades of process. This would show willingness to
dreds of thousands of deaths, and mil- special forces and militias have played ing and destroying property of indi- conflict in Oromia. listen and an openness to meaningful
lions of displacements, it seemed that a key role in the federal government’s viduals, killings, and creating conflict Eritrea talks. For their part, rebel movements
negotiations might be on the horizon. assault on Tigray. among the public”. The war in Tigray provided an oppor- could express good faith by publicly
tunity for Eritrea’s long-standing leader, recognising the legitimacy of Abiy’s
The African Union envoy Olusegun In return, Amhara elites have re- The Fano question is likely to test President Isaias Afwerki, to settle an- government.
Obasanjo met with the main warring newed their claims to certain territories, Abiy’s relationship with Amhara elites cient scores with the TPLF and occupy
parties. The US envoy for the Horn including Western Tigray. This area further. The federal government wants the contested border territory of Badme. The specific disagreements will be
of Africa flew to Addis Ababa. Unit- has witnessed several  crimes against to demobilise their former military al- Eritrean forces have been involved from harder to resolve but can be done so
ed Nations secretary-general Antonio humanity during the war and remains lies who they cannot control and who the start of the war and helped federal peacefully. Ethiopia’s House of Feder-
Guterres optimistically  declared  that occupied. are deepening resentments and instabil- forces take control of Tigray in the early ation is constitutionally empowered to
“there is now a demonstrable effort to ity in parts of the country. But doing so months of the conflict. resolve inter-regional border disputes
make peace”. Since then, there has been Amhara leaders insist the territory is would reduce the Amhara region’s bar- and could lead comprehensive discus-
some progress. In March, the federal theirs – and their backing of Abiy may gaining power and weaken its military Through the war, Tigray’s leaders sions over contested territory that take
government implemented an indefinite be contingent on his tacit support for strength. and international actors have repeated- into consideration the wide array of his-
humanitarian ceasefire, which forces in this claim – while Tigray forces say they Oromia ly demanded that Eritrean forces, who torical, political, economic and social
Tigray  welcomed. Aid convoys have will fight to regain it and will not ne- In Oromia region, federal forces have have been accused of various atrocities, dynamics. This will not be straightfor-
been allowed into the Tigray region. gotiate until it is returned. The federal been  fighting  the Oromo Liberation withdraw from the region. This is also a ward and will require time, continuous
Some political prisoners have been re- government is additionally concerned Army (OLA), an armed group that condition of the TPLF accepting to en- negotiation, and careful navigation.
leased. about Western Tigray because it bor- emerged out of the Oromo Liberation ter talks. Eritrea has ignored these calls,
ders Sudan and would give Tigray forc- Front (OLF). Both groups want self-de- likely because it sees Badme as part of As things stand, peace in Ethiopia re-
At the same time, however, move- es greater access to foreign support and termination or genuine autonomy for its territory and because it fears a resur- mains elusive. The route to talks appears
ment towards meaningful talks has weapons if it were back in their hands. the region. While the OLF is recognised gent TDF. This has left the federal gov- to have stalled and militaristic rhetoric
been slow. Different regional and as a legal political party, however, Addis ernment in a difficult situation. Firstly, is ramping up once more. Tigray’s lead-
international peace efforts have lost Another issue relates to the Fano, an Ababa designated the OLA – which it Abiy promised in 2018 that Badme will er Debretsion Gebremichael was quot-
momentum. Prime Minister Abiy influential militia group that started refuses to call by its chosen name and be transferred to Eritrea in accordance ed on 12 May as saying that diplomacy
Ahmed’s national dialogue initiative as an Amhara nationalist movement refers to as Shane – a terrorist organisa- with the 2000 Algiers Agreement. Sec- had failed and that people should pre-
has been  criticised  for its opacity and and has played a significant part in tion in May 2021. ondly, the prime minister does not want pare for the “final phase of the strug-
exclusion of key parties. Moreover, the conflict. Their soldiers joined fed- to risk losing President Isaias’ support. gle”, leading the Amhara government
while fighting with Tigray forces has eral forces in sweeping into Tigray in The OLA has conducted joint of- Possible ways out to warn of further violence too.
subsided, the federal government has 2020 and have come to occupy several fensives with the Tigray Defence Forc- The big question is how Ethiopia can
intensified military operations against neighbouring areas, not just in Tigray es (TDF) and is part of a nine-group transcend such complex problems. Unless all parties act swiftly and re-
the  Oromo Liberation Army  (OLA) but  Oromia  and Benshangul-Gumuz rebel coalition alongside their Tigrayan sponsibly, Ethiopia might enter another
and recently arrested 4,000 people in regions too. In 19 months of the war, counterparts. The federal government There is, of course, no easy way out, phase of the war, deepening the already
Amhara region in a crackdown against the Fano have been accused of several has  accused  the OLA of numerous but the federal government can take devastating humanitarian crisis.
the militia group known as the Fano. atrocities and were recently alleged to atrocities, including the killing of 150 some productive measures as a starting
have  killed  about 27 Oromia police people in August 2021. The group de- point. It could repeal the designation — African Arguments.
Reasons behind the delays in peace forces. nies the charges, which are difficult to of the TPLF and OLA as terrorist or-
talks include mistrust among parties verify as no independent body has in- ganisations. It could end the blockade *About the writer: Bizuneh Ge-
and the complexity of different groups’ As relations between the Amhara vestigated the matter. of services to Tigray. It could release tachew Yimenu is a lecturer in politics
demands. Here are some of the key par- elite and the federal government have political prisoners and declare a cease- at the University of Kent in the Unit-
ties to the war and what they want. become strained, Addis Ababa has in- The OLA has been excluded from fire in Oromia, as it has done in Tigray. ed Kingdom. His PhD thesis, "Imple-
Who wants what? creasingly turned against the militia negotiations and the federal govern- It could also address concerns over menting Federalism in a Developing
Tigray group. The federal government recently ment’s strategy for dealing with the Country: The Case of Ethiopia, 1995-
The conflict began in November 2020 declared that no informal mercenaries group remains to be to defeat it through 2020", won the Civil Society Scholars
after relations between the federal gov- should exist and, in late-May, arrested Award of the Open Society Founda-
ernment and the Tigray regional gov- 4,000 people in a sweeping crackdown tion in 2018.
ernment, led by the Tigray People’s
Liberation Front (TPLF), broke down.
Tensions escalated as each party accused
the other of illegitimacy, and the war
was sparked after Tigray forces attacked
the federal Northern Command bases.

Within weeks, the Ethiopian Na-
tional Defense Force (ENDF) had tak-
en control of much of Tigray, including
the regional capital Mekelle. The federal
government imposed a media blackout
and a devastating blockade on aid, tele-
communications, and banking services.
By mid-2021, however, Tigray forc-
es had fought back and  retaken  most
of the region. In November 2021,
the TPLF and its allies came within 250
km of Addis Ababa before retreating.

Through the war, the Tigray gov-
ernment has called for peace talks on
several occasions, but with  precondi-
tions that one Ethiopia security official
described as “unrealistic”. The TPLF’s
key demand is that Eritrean forces and
Amhara militia withdraw from areas
they continue to occupy, which is more
complicated than it seems for reasons
explained below. For their part, Tigray
forces have withdrawn from the Afar
region.
Amhara
Since Abiy took office in 2018, Amhara
elites have been among the groups that
have benefited the most. They support-

NewsHawks Africa News Page 39

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Disparities in global empathy: Why some
refugees are more welcome than others

OYENIKE BALOGUN-MWANGI

THE world is accustomed to the ste- Many Africans who fled Ukraine now live in refugee camps across various European cities.
reotypical face of the refugee. The well-
worn tropes of the Black or Brown face women — I have given much thought can conclude is refugees from Ukraine following in evaluating exchanges with trauma and injustice. Because humans
from post-genocide Rwanda, war-torn to how we may begin to understand evoke waves of empathy, the kind that her White college roommate who, she are social beings, healing invariably be-
Somalia, or gang-ridden Honduras. these seemingly disparate responses to galvanises valuable support, because believed, held a single stereotypical story gins with another seeing our pain and
According to the United Nations High pain and suffering. others perceive a shared humanity. of Africa: responding to it in a way that commu-
Commissioner for Refugees (UN- nicates that we matter. That the world
HCR), in the first half of 2021, there I believe there are harmful impacts Another study  found that  White In this single story there was no possi- seems indifferent is a metaphorical stab
were  more than  26.6 million refugees if these obvious disparities are ignored. participants showed less physiological bility of Africans being similar to her, in to the collective hearts of Black Africans
worldwide. Most notably, the depictions of unfair (bodily) arousal to the pain of Africans any way. No possibility of feelings more and it is not benign in its impact. It is its
responses are in full view of Black Af- than to other Whites. In the same study, complex than pity. own trauma.
The humanitarian aid organisation ricans (those directly affected and those White individuals who had higher levels
Save the Children  reports  that only not) who time and again see evidence of implicit racial bias were more likely No possibility of a connection as hu- Other  researchers  found that trau-
about 1% of refugees receive the sup- that their value and humanity is worth to have reduced reactions to the pain of man equals. ma-specific invalidation was correlated
port they need to resettle in new coun- less than other groups. Africans. What these findings suggest is Invalidation and trauma with poorer mental health outcomes,
tries. Most refugees end up languishing that implicit racism plays a potent role Being discriminating in which refugee including increased anxiety, depression,
in a sort of limbo, not fully transitioning I contend that there are a few frame- in muting empathetic responses to ra- groups are supported can have traumat- and post-traumatic stress disorder.
to a new life. works in our field to shape our thinking cially marginalised groups. ic effects.
and nudge our attentions. The refugees fleeing Ukraine are de-
Refugee crises are far from novel, the Intergroup empathy There is wealth of research on the role As an immigrant of Nigerian descent serving of all the support and aid we
world seems to shake its collective head, One possible explanation can be found of stereotypes underpinning racial prej- to the US, I am sitting with the hurt as can muster on their behalf. All refugees.
mutter sympathetic utterances, and in- in studies of intergroup empathy. There udices. A recent study seems to suggest I have watched the news lately. On the One group coordinating evacuation and
variably move on. is some evidence that individuals expe- more of a bidirectional relationship. In one hand, I appreciate the evidence of resettlement support is the Global Black
rience a more visceral (emotional) re- other words stereotypes breed prejudic- the goodness of humanity in the face Coalition, they support refugees of co-
It has been personally stirring to wit- sponse to the pain of another when the es, and prejudices breed stereotypes. of a senseless war. On the other hand, I lour from Ukraine or other displaced
ness the response to a relatively atyp- sufferer is perceived to be of the same am contending with the reality that fac- persons from marginalised groups.
ical refugee face. A fair skinned and in-group. The study argues, at a neural Nigerian author  Chimamanda es like mine do not move the empathy
straight-haired version of displacement. level, individuals feel the pain of others Ngozi Adichie  argued in her now fa- needle for most of the world. What does — The Conversation.
In late February, millions of Ukrainians who they perceive to be like them. Im- mous  TEDTalk  that stereotypes serve it mean to witness your own dereliction
were forced to flee their homes as Rus- portant here is the human perception of to diminish a sense of shared human- ignored while others are aided? *About the writer: Oyenike Balo-
sian military strikes commenced across who constitutes the in-group. What we ity across groups by providing us only gun-Mwangi is assistant professor of
Ukraine, most notably in the city of single narratives of particular regions, Trauma researchers have stressed the cross-cultural psychology at Salve Re-
Kyiv. Vivid images of the heartbroken nations or peoples. Adichie states the importance of validation in the face of gina University in the United States.
throngs who were suffering unspeakable
losses captured the hearts of the watch-
ing world – as they should. Empathetic
responses, including the tangible kind,
were swift.

The US Senate has passed a US$40
billion bill to provide military and hu-
manitarian aid to Ukraine. The Euro-
pean Union has also  pledged  close to
1 billion Euros to support Ukraine and
countries who have accepted Ukrainian
refugees.

While this is an unprecedented re-
sponse from governments, there are
also countless stories of individual and
community level acts of support and
outpourings of kindness. One  viral
photograph by photographer Francesco
Malavolta showed a neat row of donat-
ed strollers at a Polish train station left
as a thoughtful gesture for Ukrainian
refugees with young children.

In the hours following the mass evac-
uations from Ukraine, however, a story
of disparity emerged. African immi-
grants fleeing Ukraine  reported  being
blocked by border guards at departure
points. They were refused entry to sur-
rounding nations who were accepting
refugees.

The vast majority of the 76,000 inter-
national students registered in Ukraine
are Nigerian.

As President Biden  announced  his
plan to accept 100,000 Ukrainian ref-
ugees to the US via temporary protec-
tive status, asylum seekers on endless
wait lists looked on. Some cried foul.
In ensuing weeks, the UK government
was  careful to note  that Ukrainians
would not fall under its newly minted
plan to relocate, to Rwanda, asylum
seekers arriving through irregular mi-
gration routes.

As a trained counseling psychologist
— who focuses on mental health dis-
parities, cross-cultural issues in mental
health, and body image among African

Page 40 Reframing Issues NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

DZIKAMAI BERE Youth are key to bringing down
entrenched towers of oppression
ON 12 May 2022, I was priv-
ileged to deliver the keynote Toddler Looking Through Clear Glass Window.
address at the Regional Sym-
posium to Foster the Domes- “The example of the French immemorial, at the centre of Policy Framework (AUTJP) is do not simply mean numbers,
tication of The African Union Revolution served as a beacon Africa’s historic transformations a good beginning to tackle the we mean citizens taking positive
Transitional Justice Policy in the for our own endeavours. We going back to the fight against issue. action to bring down the towers
Southern Africa Development were certain that those who de- colonialism, and in mod- of oppression.
Community region. nied us our rights were march- ern-day times – the rise of the It sets out five key principles
ing against the tide of history. Black Lives Matter movement, that open the avenue for young We must seek to raise as many
The symposium was hosted We who have just emerged from the Zimbabwean Lives Matter people not only to be included, young people as possible, and
by the Southern Africa Youth centuries of deprivation and movement, the Rhodes Must but to shape the conversation equip them with tools to scale
Forum in collaboration with the tyranny draw inspiration from Fall movement, Fees Must Fall and ultimately lead it. It is not up the pyramid of participation
Institute for Justice and Recon- your indomitable spirit.”  movement, #FreeMako move- enough to participate – lead. To- from mere awareness to champi-
ciliation. Thanks to the good ment,  among many others. day, not tomorrow. The critical onship. Young people must lead
leadership of brethren Webster Now how should young peo- mass – the numbers give young this journey. And because they
Zambara and Misheck Gondo. ple understand transitional jus- These are transitional justice people the leverage to take the possess this zeal and energy, the
They lead with compassion. tice? Over the years, we have actions that are already target- fight a level higher if need be. continent hopes in them.
found so many nice definitions ing the towers of oppression as Because transitional justice is
In my keynote address, I fo- of transitional justice. And it is our young men and women are a revolution and young people The continent will not die.
cused on how young people can nice that we speak of transition- already seeing visions and fu- must take it head-on. Because in the fullness of time,
be at the centre of transition- al justice in ways that do not tures where power is at the ser- young people will rise and de-
al justice processes. This was cause discomfort in the towers vice of good. In this fight, through the mand transitional justice.
mainly a summary of the lessons of power. AUTJP, young people must
I learnt in the past decade of Confronting power is not a shape a genuinely pan-African This is why Zimbabwean
transitional justice advocacy in The reality, however, is that joke. It is a war as power can transitional justice agenda. It is founding nationalist leader
Zimbabwe. But over these years, transitional justice is about never be handed away without hypocritical to be outraged by Joshua Nkomo said: "The coun-
my approach to transitional jus- power shift.  It is a fight and a a fight. How we challenge pow- Gukurahundi, Operation, Mur- try will never die; the young
tice has been evolving. struggle. When we appreciate er in the 21st century demands ambatsvina, Cecil Rhodes’s stat- people will save it."
that the grave injustice that we critical investments in strate- ue and other forms of injustices
As the activist that I am, I are confronting today are a re- gy. Passion and anger are not in Africa without being out- *About the writer: Dzikamai
have come to understand tran- sult of power being deployed to- enough. raged by slavery and colonialism Bere is the national director at
sitional justice in a manner dif- wards the decimation of human and their continued impact on the Zimbabwe Human Rights
ferent from when I embarked dignity, then we must define our Young people must design the continent’s progress. Association (ZimRights) and
on the journey. These are the goal as transitional justice activ- strategies for a power shift with- deputy chairperson of the Na-
insights I shared with the youth ists being to see a power shift. out using violence because, as We must address all these tional Transitional Justice
movement, with no apologies. Mahatma Gandhi said, “there issues and injustices to move Working Group (NTJWG).
It is my hope that young people We desire to see power serving is no way to peace, peace is the forward through transitional For more information on the
find these useful, take them up the common good. Although way.” The question is; how do justice processes and reconcili- thoughts shared here, read the
and fulfil the Madiba prophecy the language used by academics you transform powerful and of- ation. policy brief published by IJR
– “bring down the towers of op- may be polite, it is indeed a rev- ten violent systems without re- on the Role of Youth in Ad-
pression”. olution. sorting to violence? Strategy! These are continuing injus- vancing Transitional Justice
tices that have not been ad- in Southern Africa, available
In an address on France’s Bas- Young people do not need Where do you begin the jour- dressed that young people must here https://bit.ly/3FOzzXy
tille Day in July 1996, the late an invitation into the transi- ney? Young people can begin never ignore. Comments on this article can
South African liberation strug- tional justice discourse because with the current assets. What be sent to: [email protected].
gle icon, Nelson Mandela, said: they are already in the heart of do you have today? The Afri- And finally, our strategies to- zw
it. They have been, since time can Union Transitional Justice day must go beyond awareness.
“In South Africa the youth When we say "critical mass" we
played a pivotal role in our lib-
eration. They braved bullets
with stones. Some sacrificed
their youth and dedicated their
entire life to the struggle. Now
they are harnessing their own
energies and creativity as fight-
ers for reconstruction and de-
velopment. They are nurturing
the skills and talents which will
make them the leaders of to-
morrow and the producers of
our nation's wealth. 

“It is such youth, and youth
such as yourselves, that will
shoulder the destiny of man-
kind into the next century.”

Prior to that, Mandela had in
his speech spoken about Bastille
Day and apartheid, drawing
parallels about how the experi-
ence of the former historic event
informed the struggle against
the latter.

“How refreshing it is to join
you today in the celebrations of
Bastille Day — an event which
is as much a part of world histo-
ry as it is part of French history. 

For generations this event
has inspired millions across the
globe to resist oppression and
discrimination. It is a joy to join
the descendants of those great
revolutionaries in celebrating
the birth of their nation,” he
said.

NewsHawks Page 41

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

GRACE NSOMBA/ SIMON ROBERTS Enforcing competition would
ease food price hikes in Africa
SMALL and medium-scale farm-
ers and agri-businesses in east and Dar es Salaam could have
southern Africa are getting a raw sourced soybeans from Malawi,
deal. Zambia or Uganda — all neigh-
bouring countries — to add to
To succeed they need fair and domestic supplies. Prices at over
integrated regional markets. Re- US$1 200/t in some months, such
search by the Centre for Compe- as October to December 2021,
tition, Regulation and Economic were US$200-400/t above what
Development  has highlighted it should have cost to land goods
the need for better integration of from Uganda and US$400-750/t
regional economies as a step to- above what it should have cost to
wards food security in the region. land from Zambia. This includes
an efficient transport rate, calcu-
Powerful commercial interests, lated at US$0.04/t/km from var-
high transport costs and poor ious sources.
access to facilities such as for
storage mean that small and me- Regional trade and competitive
dium-scale farmers are often not markets are also impeded by gov-
getting fair prices for the food ernments. Zambia had an export
they grow. Fair prices are those restriction on soybeans from Au-
that meet demand and cover rea- gust to November 2021. Remov-
sonable costs of supply including ing the restriction brought lower
transport across borders. prices to buyers in Dar and higher
prices to sellers in Zambia, bene-
During the course of  our re- fiting both sides through trade.
search we came across examples of
how the odds are stacked against Where the region is unable to
most small and medium-scale take advantage of good supply in
farmers. Take the experience of some locations to meet demand in
Endrina Maxwell, a small produc- others at competitive prices, this
er in Malawi. In April 2021, she places great pressure on down-
sold her soybean crop in central stream industries. For example,
Malawi and realised the returns animal feed producers in Kenya
from investing in commercial ag- who are buyers have been hit hard.
riculture as a female agribusiness
owner and farmer. She got pric- A package of interventions to
es around Malawi kwacha 350/ ensure regional markets work bet-
kg, about US$450/t. At the same ter is urgently required.
time, the prices in the main mar-
kets in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi bought-up by intermediaries at underlined the benefits to small- is the most cost effective way to Making regional markets work
were over a US$1 000/t. low prices at the harvest and held er market participants of  market meet the needs of customers and We propose the strengthening of
back to drive prices up. data. to reward producers for expand- three priority areas:
A number of hurdles stood in ing supply.
Endrina’s way to take advantage The fragile food systems in the This year, with the African • policy and advocacy,
of the high prices in neighbour- region, combined with increasing Market Observatory, it has been This is most evident in Kenya • enforcement, including
ing countries. First, specific price concentration at multiple levels possible to track markets through where food prices have risen  ex- against cartels; and
information was not readily avail- of key value chains, calls for a crowd-sourcing prices from small- ponentially. The country is expe- • regional merger evaluation.
able for someone in Endrina’s regional competition policy for er market participants. Access to riencing the most severe drought Competition advocacy and pol-
position to be aware of the gains resilient and sustainable regional this data has allowed Endrina to in 40 years. In addition, the war icy is essential, as many of the fac-
from exporting. Second, transport value chains. anticipate what she should get in Ukraine is compounding inter- tors undermining effective region-
costs are very high for smaller pro- for her soybean harvest. It has national pricing pressures. al competitive markets include
ducers. Third, to hold-off from A stronger regional market also enabled her to plan her other policy aspects. Regulatory barri-
selling at the harvest and to bar- referee to monitor and enforce business – oil production — more This means that Kenya needs ers, for example, undermine trade
gain for better offers, producers competition rules would level the efficiently. to source imports from the re- and reinforce the market power of
like Endrina need to have storage playing field for fairer food mar- gion where weather has been companies within countries.
options. kets. The pricing patterns have high- good at fair competitive prices. The Comesa Competition
lighted the crucial role that access Yet, despite growing production Commission and national author-
This situation does benefit The Common Market for East- to competitive transport services in countries such as Malawi and ities in the region need to urgently
some. These include the main ern and Southern Africa Compe- as well as storage facilities play Zambia, cross-border trade is not act together in these areas to tack-
traders and processors in Mala- tition Commission  working to- in accessing markets and fairer happening effectively. le poorly working regional food
wi and across the region. These gether with national competition prices. This has informed Endri- Unfair trade markets.
companies bought up much of authorities, has the central role to na’s decision to invest in storage By considering the market clear- The African Market Observa-
the crop at the time of harvest at play. facilities on her farm as a result of ing sources of supply for the main tory is a starting point for data
low prices, for local use and for What’s missing discovering that there is value in centres of demand in Dar es Sa- collection where analyses can be
export, taking advantage of their The  African Market Observato- spreading her grain sales through- laam and Nairobi we can see that deepened, collaboration can be
storage facilities and private in- ry was created to fill the gap of re- out the year as opposed to selling soybean prices have been way strengthened, and access to pric-
formation. Prices in Malawi then liable market information for key only at the harvest. above the fair import prices. This ing information improved for
increased to peak at US$1 350/t food products at the wholesale implies that producers received market participants.
in January 2022, as if there was a and producer levels. The obser- To strengthen the region’s frag- too little and end users paid way
severe scarcity. vatory tracks and compiles prices ile food security — made worse too much, with intermediaries *About the writers: Grace
monthly. The first 12 months of by climate change — it is essen- capturing the difference. Nsomba is a researcher at the
The trebling of soybean prices data gathering by the observatory tial that produce can be sourced Centre for Competition, Regu-
affected another cohort of small- from across the region, which lation and Economic Develop-
scale farmers. Soybeans are a ment at the University of Johan-
key component of poultry feed. nesburg in South Africa. Simon
Small-scale poultry farmers saw Roberts is professor of economics
their animal feed prices increase and lead researcher at the Cen-
by similar amounts, squeezing tre for Competition, Regulation
them severely. and Economic Development,
University of Johannesburg.
Our  research  identifies a lack
of effective regional competition
and indicates the need to inquire
into transport, storage and logis-
tics issues. The differences in pric-
es between locations on transport
corridors translate into rents to
transporters and arbitrage mar-
gins being made by large traders.
It also points to supplies being

Page 42 NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

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NewsHawks Africa News Page 43

Issue 84, 10 June 2022 Ramaphosa suspends Public
Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane
SOUTH African President Cyril Ra-
maphosa has suspended Public Protec- South African public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
tor Busisiwe Mkhwebane from office
with immediate effect. heard and the duty of the state to guar- she argued. She also said she had to employ sation for damages suffered" and legal
antee the independence of the courts. She wants the commission to find attorneys and advocates and had in- costs incurred in the Western Cape
In a statement, the Presidency said curred disbursements and legal costs. High Court and the Constitutional
Mkhwebane would remain suspended "The violations in the present case that the rule, which relates to the ap- Court.
until the section 194 process in the Na- occurred within the territorial jurisdic- pointment of judges as part of the in- Mkhwebane now wants South Af-
tional Assembly has been completed. tion of the respondent [South Africa]," dependent panel, is inconsistent. rica to pay R50 million "as compen- — News 24.

"President Ramaphosa has fulfilled
his obligation to provide advocate
Mkhwebane a fair hearing by accord-
ing her sufficient time and opportuni-
ty to make submissions," the statement
said.

"In considering each element of the
public protector's submissions careful-
ly, the president has taken into account
the nature of the public protector's
office and his own constitutional ob-
ligations.

"Section 2A (7) of the Public Protec-
tor Act states that whenever the public
protector is, for any reason unable to
perform the functions of his or her
office, or while the appointment of a
person to the office of public protector
is pending, the deputy public protector
shall perform such functions."

The Presidency said Mkhwebane's
absence would not impede the prog-
ress of any investigations that are pend-
ing or underway.

"President Ramaphosa and advocate
Mkhwebane are both obligated to act
in the best interest of the country, in
compliance with the Constitution and
mindful of the need to protect all con-
stitutional institutions. The president's
decision to suspend advocate Mkhwe-
bane is the best manner to fulfil these
obligations."

Mkhwebane had previously argued
that Ramaphosa was conflicted and
therefore could not suspend her.

Meanwhile, in a last-ditch effort to
stop the impeachment process against
her, Mkhwebane approached the Afri-
can Commission on Human and Peo-
ple Rights, accusing the Republic of
South Africa of violating her rights by
seeking to remove her from office.

She said South Africa had violated
her rights under articles 7(1) and 26 of
the African Charter, which relate to the
right of an individual to have their case

THE Great Lakes region  has histor- Rwanda-DRC tensions complicate the
ically been a region of great conflict Nairobi peace talks for the Great Lakes
and contestation. Since the mid-
1990s, the eastern part of the Demo- The M23 has committed horrendous Lakes region. These former Hutu reb- Stabilisation Mission in the DRC has crush them militarily.
cratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) acts of violence on the local popula- els were the leaders of the genocidal failed to improve the security situa- In addition to this, the Nairobi
has been at the centre of violent con- tion while exploiting the vast range of death squads of the Interahamwe that tion or disarm the M23 rebels. The
flict driven by both internal and ex- minerals in the Great Lakes region of fled into the DRC when the Tutsi-led DRC government, on the other hand, talks will need to centre on a carrot
ternal armed militia. This has resulted the DRC.   Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) swept is faced with a cruel dilemma, namely and stick approach. Providing amnes-
in more than six million people dead to power in 1994 ending months of that of Rwanda deciding the fate of ty to the M23 rebels for laying down
and about two million displaced as With the DRC joining the East genocidal killing. the Great Lakes region with the DRC their weapons in exchange for the de-
internally displaced persons in the African Community in April, there government willing but unable to de- ployment of a robust regional peace-
DRC or as refugees in neighbouring was hope a regional effort could bring The current spate of killing by the feat the M23 rebels militarily. This is keeping force.
countries.  peace to the Great Lakes region. This M23 in the DRC can be attributed because Rwanda supports the M23
has failed to materialise because there to two concentric variants. On one and uses this militia to control and In addition to this, the DRC gov-
This April, about 30 representa- is not enough political will from hand, the M23 are using violence as protect attractive mineral extraction ernment will need to integrate the
tives representing armed groups from DRC’s neighbour Rwanda to disarm a negotiating tool to gain bargaining from the region. M23 into the regular Congolese
DRC’s Ituri, North and South Kivu the M23 militia. leverage ahead of the Nairobi talks army with the incentive of political
and the Congolese government met brokered by President  Uhuru Ken- The government in Kinshasa, for appointments to M23 representa-
in Nairobi. One group that walked The DRC has repeatedly accused yatta  of Kenya.  On the other hand, its part, is too weak to defeat the M23 tives. This carrot approach should be
out of the Nairobi talks was the Rwanda of supporting the M23 reb- this rising violence can also signify in the region. backed by strict penalties for ceasefire
Rwanda-backed M23 militia group. els. The Tutsi-led government in Ki- a desperate effort by the M23 to en- violations by the M23 and criminal
The M23 is at the heart of the ten- gali on its part, has continued to pro- trench their control of lucrative min- The path to fruitful peace talks in prosecution for any M23 member
sions between Rwanda and the DRC. vide support to the M23 rebels, while eral fields in anticipation of the arriv- Nairobi over the Great Lakes region that resumes fighting in the region.
This tension complicates the Nairobi vehemently denying it is doing so.  al of increased regional military forces in the DRC lies in a regional effort
peace talks for the Great Lakes.   from the East African Community. from all DRC’s neighbours, to en- The DRC cannot defeat the M23
Rwanda has historically used this This volatile security environment courage Rwanda to rein in the recal- militarily but can incentiviSe the reb-
The conflict in the DRC is com- rebel group as a proxy militia. This complicates any peace talks for the citrant M23 rebel militia. This will el group to put down weapons for the
plicated. As a result of Kinshasa’s in- militia functions as a border buffer Great Lakes. pave way for the M23 militia laying sake of the country, regional stability
ability to control its national territory against attacks from remnants of the down their weapons as the DRC gov- and the prosperity of all the people of
in this region, the Rwanda-backed former Hutu rebels called the In- For its part, the United Nations ernment in Kinshasa is too weak to the DRC.
M23 has capitalised on the situation. terahamwe domiciled in the Great
This rebel group is made up of ethnic — Mail & Guardian.
Congolese Tutsis called the Banyam-
ulenge that get military support from
the Tutsi-led government in Kigali.

Page 44 World News NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

We’re almost out of ammunition and
relying on western arms, says Ukraine

UKRAINE's deputy head of mil- sive equipment at the contact shows that Russia is running low In terms of the three frontlines, “It will now be harder to get
itary intelligence has said Ukraine group meeting with Nato in on rockets.” Skibitsky said most of Russia’s that territory back,” said Skib-
is losing against Russia on the Brussels on 15 June. forces were now concentrated itsky. “And that’s why we need
frontlines and is now reliant al- Skibitsky said Russia was un- in the Donbas region and seek- weapons.”
most solely on weapons from the Skibitsky thinks the conflict able to produce rockets quickly ing to occupy the administrative
west to keep Russia at bay. will remain predominantly an because of the sanctions and that borders of both the Donetsk and “If they succeed in the Donbas,
artillery war in the near future it had used around 60% of its Luhansk republics. This was the they could use these territories to
“This is an artillery war now,” and the number of rocket attacks supplies. area, he said, where the artillery launch another attack on Odesa,
said Vadym Skibitsky, deputy – which can be launched from battles were the heaviest. [the city of ] Zaporizhzhia [and]
head of Ukraine’s military intel- Russia and have hit civilians – The sound of sirens has be- Dnipro,” said Skibitsky of major
ligence. The frontlines were now will remain at their current rate. come a daily feature for Ukrai- In north-east Ukraine, around cities under Ukrainian control
where the future would be decid- nians. Sirens regularly sound in Kharkiv, he said Russian forc- which are in close proximity to
ed, he told the Guardian, “and we In the first month, Russia multiple regions simultaneously es were focusing on defence af- the southern Russian-occupied
are losing in terms of artillery”. was constantly striking Ukraine but most of the time, for people ter Ukraine’s counteroffensive areas. “Their aim is the whole of
with rockets but in the last two on the ground, it passes without pushed them out of several towns Ukraine and more.”
“Everything now depends on months it has slowed. Recent a bang. According to Skibitsky, and villages in the region in May.
what [the west] gives us,” said figures published by the head of each siren signals a rocket has en- Ukraine’s military intelligence
Skibitsky. “Ukraine has one artil- Ukraine’s armed forces assert that tered Ukrainian airspace but its “The threat to Kharkiv has less- believes that Russia can con-
lery piece to 10 to 15 Russian ar- Russia launches between 10 and impact is not always reported for ened,” said Skibitsky, of Ukraine’s tinue at its current rate without
tillery pieces. Our western part- 14 a day. security reasons. second-biggest city, which has manufacturing more weapons or
ners have given us about 10% of been shelled regularly since the mobilising the population for an-
what they have.” Rockets are expensive to man- “The rockets take anywhere beginning of the war. other year.
ufacture. Each rocket can cost from 40 to 90 minutes to im-
The Ukrainian president, Volo- anywhere between a few hundred pact, depending on where they Lastly, in Zaporizhzhia and Skibitsky does not exclude the
dymyr Zelenskiy, praised the thousand dollars to several mil- are launched from … We don’t Kherson, two southern Ukrainian possibility that Russia will freeze
UK’s support for Kyiv on Friday lion. know where they are going to regions that Russia almost com- the war for a period of time in
and reiterated his call for more land,” said Skibitsky. He noted pletely occupies, Russian forces order to convince the west to lift
weapons, as the UK defence min- “We have noticed that Russia that Russia was currently using were digging in for the long haul, sanctions. “But then they will
ister, Ben Wallace, made an un- is carrying out far fewer rock- long-range bombers which can said Skibitsky. According to him, start it again – look at the last
announced visit to Ukraine. et attacks and it has used H-22 reach anywhere in Ukraine with- they are building double, some- eight years,” he added.
rockets; they are old 1970s Sovi- out leaving Russian airspace. times triple, lines of defence.
“Words turn into actions. et rockets,” said Skibitsky. “This — The Guardian.
That’s the difference between
Ukraine’s relationship with Great
Britain and other countries,” Zel-
enskiy said in a video statement.
“Weapons, finance, sanctions
– on these three issues, Britain
shows leadership.”

Ukraine is using 5,000 to
6,000 artillery rounds a day, ac-
cording to Skibitsky. “We have
almost used up all of our [artil-
lery] ammunition and are now
using 155-calibre Nato standard
shells,” he said of the ammuni-
tion that is fired from artillery
pieces.

“Europe is also delivering low-
er-calibre shells but as Europe
runs out, the amount is getting
smaller.”

Zelenskiy said last week that
between 60 and 100 Ukrainian
soldiers were dying each day and
a further 500 were being injured.
Ukraine has kept the total num-
ber of its military losses secret.

Soldiers speaking to the Guard-
ian from Ukraine’s frontlines this
week painted a similar picture.

Skibitsky emphasised the need
for the west to supply Ukraine
with long-range rocket systems
to destroy the Russian artillery
pieces from afar. This week the
Ukrainian presidential advis-
er Oleksiy Arestovych told the
Guardian that Ukraine needed
60 multiple-rocket launchers
– many more than the handful
promised so far by the UK and
US – to have a chance of defeat-
ing Russia.

Ukraine is set to ask the west
for a list of weapons and defen-

Porsche just got angrier Being a Fashion Model

&Life Style

STYLE TRAVEL BOOKS ARTS MOTORING

Page 45 Issue 84, 10 June 2022

JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA Twerking Zim military from Zimbabwe,” he tweeted the
officers charm Konshens video of the soldiers rocking their
A GROUP of female army officers thing together with Zimbabwean
took time off at the barracks to Come whine 'til you bruk off yuh Know you got the glue showed they are keeping up with flag emoji.
shake it off in a video that has since back Come bruk off yuh back the trends even though they spend
captured the imagination of Jamai- Bruk off yuh back much of their time in barracks The post reached 618 retweets
can music star Konshens! Bruk off yuh back Bruk off yuh, bruk off yuh where they hardly go out for some and thousands of likes.
Bruk off yuh, bruk off yuh Bruk off yuh back fresh air.
Clad in Zimbabwean army gear, Bruk off yuh back It was really a relaxed moment Konshens is not new to Zim-
the young women put up quite a You fi bruk off yuh back for the ladies who for once showed The video has since captured the babwean fans, having visited the
show, twerking and moving their Bruk off yuh back how life is like in the barracks. imagination of social media users country at least once for a concert.
derrière to the music of Konshens. Bruk off yuh, bruk off you More often than not, people think and Konshens who shared his de- And his appreciation of the sol-
Bruk off yuh back soldiers have no time for a bit of light at the video with some of his diers was akin to South Africa’s Sho
The raunchy video has since bro- Gyal, you know you got the glue fun. 407.5K followers on his Twitter Madjozi who after releasing her
ken the internet, leaving Konshens Know you got the glue But no. In fact, the soldiers also account: “@and Shout out to all 2019 breakout track — John Cena
with no choice but to applaud the ur lit co workers. Happy Monday —shattered music charts locally
sexy officers for bringing back his and garnered her international rec-
2018 hit – Bruk Off Yuh Back to ognition.
life from his top-selling album, It
Feel Good. It also grabbed the attention of
the American wrestler it is named
Not only did the female soldiers after. Cena appeared  during her
dance, they also sang along to the performance on The Kelly Clark-
lyrics: son Show.

Page 46 Life & Style NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Artist Richard Mudariki’s vision for
Zimbabwean contemporary art fair

TINASHE MUSHAKAVANHU

In the past 20 years, a new generation
of Zimbabwean artists has attained in-
ternational acclaim, or emerged as stars
with work showing at top galleries and
museums, collected by prominent people
such as Jay Z. One of these stars, Cape
Town-based Richard Mudariki, is now
using his growing fame and network to
create a contemporary art fair to spot-
light emerging artists in Zimbabwe.
With it Harare has joined other major
African cities like  Cape Town,  Da-
kar,  Lagos,  Marrakech  and  Kampa-
la  in bolstering its contemporary art
scene.

Mudariki co-founded  artHARARE
Contemporary Art Fair with art histori-
an Aya Koudounaris. The first editions
in 2020 and 2021 took place online in
a time of COVID isolation. Now it’s ex-
panding its scope by fundraising to take
place in physical form in Harare some-
time in November 2022.

While fairs are marketplaces where
various galleries display art for sale in
order to attract collectors, artHARARE
is also driven by a sense of community
building. It is addressing a lack of infra-
structure  that continues to force young
talent to look elsewhere for support. I
spoke with Mudariki about the project.

Who attends or views artHARARE,
from where?
Because of the power of the in-
ternet, our growing audiences for
the two editions of artHARARE were
international. According to the web-
site analytics and reports, we have
a huge following from South Afri-
ca, Germany, the UK, the US and
of course Zimbabwe. Most visitors
(87%) came to our site directly, not
from a link from another site, while
47% came through Google and 16%
through our social media platforms.
The majority of our audience are art
collectors, curators, art institutions,
journalists, art historians, art lovers,
art students and artists.

What kind of model is artHARARE and secondary market prices. Year two saw an increased interest sions and the professional jury team • We need to work together and
built on? We are heavily investing in build- in the activities of the fair both from –  Fadzai Muchemwa, Moffat Takad- speak as one voice.
The model that artHARARE has ad- the artists (more than 30) and art col- iwa, Marwan Zakhem, Serge Tiroche
opted is unique in that it is an art- ing a robust network of artists, cura- lectors representing all continents. We and Richard Mudariki – had a hard • The digital renaissance in the
ist-run contemporary art fair. Artists tors, collectors, galleries, art dealers, were privileged to showcase artworks time picking the two winners  Wil- global art market is here to stay.
are our key partners in this venture. art historians, and art lovers, a form of internationally recognised Zimba- fred Timire and Franklyn Dzingai.
Our value proposition is to bring of social capital, or call it cultural cap- bwean artists such as  Moffat Takadi- A group exhibition of the shortlisted In future will you change any as-
under one umbrella and celebrate all ital. As an entrepreneurial venture, wa  and  Portia Zvavahera. Their par- artists was held. pects of the fair?
leading contemporary Zimbabwean we have a time horizon of five years ticipation allows for the fair to have
visual arts and cultural producers in to develop the brand artHARARE, anchor artists that give it weight. The It will be run as an annual prize. Going forward, the fair will have a
an open, easy to view platform. Our realise our vision and place it on the fair’s art prize was established and we The sponsors, Africa First founded by physical presence which seeks to ac-
mission is to attract the attention of international art calendar. facilitated a programme that brought art investment expert  Serge Tiroche, tivate various spaces in the city (and
leading international art collectors, art an emerging female artist  Prudence share our vision of promoting con- country) to host creative and artistic
museums, art foundations, auction In our launch year, we saw signifi- Chimutuwah  from Harare to a four temporary art from the continent. interventions. An art education pro-
houses and corporate collections to cant contributions of skill, energy and week residency in Cape Town. gramme is also on the plans to educate
acquire and add contemporary Zim- time by many art professionals in Zim- Why did you feel an art prize was a What have you learnt so far? and encourage a new generation of
babwean visual art to their collections. babwe and in its diaspora, and a dedi- necessary intervention? I have learnt these important les- young local art lovers and art collec-
cated team that worked to launch the The  artHARARE Africa First Art sons: tors. This will also be complemented
Over the past 18 months artHA- online fair in just under four months. Prize  was set up to benefit emerg- • Opportunities exist in the midst by an artist incubation programme
RARE has received tremendous sup- A lot of value was created, with many ing and mid-career artists working of a crisis. that seeks to develop artists to become
port from the artistic community in artworks by emerging Zimbabwean in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean • Working with an energetic, com- professional in their practices.
Zimbabwe and its diaspora. The plat- visual artists being acquired in local diaspora by increasing their profile. mitted and hardworking team makes
form aims to deliver economic value and international private collections. For the inaugural prize, we received a difference. — The Conversation.
to both the artist and the collector or In addition, a number of emerging a number of high quality submis- • Zimbabwe is full of fresh talent
art institution by being the go-to plat- artists who were showcased in the fair and the artists are eager to be success- *About the writer: Tinashe
form to showcase and discover art, ex- were picked up by international gal- ful. Mushakavanhu is a junior research
plore Zimbabwe’s rich artistic heritage leries in London and Milan. fellow at University of Oxford in the
and establish competitive primary United Kingdom.

NewsHawks Poetry Corner Page 47

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Title: Cedars of Lebanon and I hold it out to you, hoping that when I see Title: A Hopeless Home.
Poet: Andrew Manyika you, Poet: Obey Chiyangwa
I will know you to be
They’re looking for us to lead them into love a woman taken from the fabric of a dream, We are sitting in a huge dish
For the longest time I carried the biggest torch And you are. From the way you walk Trapped in some filthy water
for you, like there’s a dance bound in your frame, This wetness goes very deep
I ripped it out from beneath the bark to how even music lacks lustre Such dirty water is very cold
of a Cedar tree of Lebanon, compared to the sound of your name, I am sure it is all father's fault
but you don’t hear me though, your silence which is a miner’s reward Struggling to stand
In a treasure trove of cedar groves and your laugh which is a musician’s invention, Let alone run away
there are evergreens that forever grow Would that you would lace your voice Our limbs are all numb
seasons change, and it never shows, with some of the fire in your belly, Feet cramped of cold
because these trees they never stray, use that passion to light it and see, Sad hearts dying of fear
save upward. With a bark that is etched that I love you from the deep ends of my heart, The food has depleted
from the marks of the stretch, where the flavours of my affection are concen- An empty pantry room
of striving to drink from the clouds trated like a deep thought, Field crops all shrivelled
while feet stay parched in the earth, you leave me both shaken and stirred Vegetables bowed down
Upward. With needle like leaves, Light it and see, that I would bind myself to you This grass has no life left
that are straining to teach buildings at an altar Tsitsi is crying for some food
what it means to scrape the skies. Upwards. and proceed to suckle the honey from the The dog barks for some also
Forward. moon, because I have decided to give you ev- Our black cat yawns of hunger
I hurtled forward toward this forest, erything, saving nothing for later, White mice gnaw exposed feet
having too often been thrown into the throes leaving nothing in reserve, Chickens sitting on their laurels
of reckless abandon, because of time without you, I have surpassed Mother sits starving in the pantry
only to find my soul trampled under soles my quota, Tobias is raiding the whole kitchen
then recklessly abandoned so I’m here to give you everything, every dot, Roaches are on endless night patrol
Having wearied of being wary and every iota. Mosquitos have invaded this our den
of false affections and feigned fealties, See that I would even honour the marks They crave to drink of human blood
of distressing damsels on your celestial body, Tiny termites on endless errands
that disdained detection whilst in reality, Because I understand, these aren’t scars, They don't look like starved ants
they came with a charm that is disarming, these are hieroglyphs Dragging morsels into their domain
taught me that love is a battle, Hewn into you I read them, and as I tune into Scurrying back and forth all day long
but I resigned my commission from this army your rhythm, They never seem to drink any water
I was looking for better wars for my metaphors, I become consumed by you my prism. You add Rats have little care in a busy world
so I set down my pen and pad colour, To the light-years of my life Helter skelter upon cracked floors
and tried to shut Forever’s door. But I was So I’m carrying a torch for you, Hunting open ground for tiny tit bits
hurled through. I ripped it, Messing and pissing our own world
Hurt and riddled with scars, I carved it, Ants drag their stool drink their urine
I sought shelter in this Cedar’s shade I tore it out from beneath the bosom Darkness is gathering around
till it only hurt a little, of a Cedar tree of Lebanon Light is disgruntled with life
And when the memory of present suffering To light the path to the great trees of Mamre, All the stars have stayed away
had been reduced to a mere murmur A place where God comes down. Moon is on a month long strike
in the chambers of my heart, Because they’re looking for us to lead them into Darkness has a field day tonight
I pronounced that I would love again love. All the fruit trees are groaning
And though I st-st-stammered a little, A large orchard full of mourning
I grabbed both hammer and chisel, Title: Untitled Rotten fruit dropping all morning
And set to carving. I took the wood from the Poet: Jurgen Namupira The mango trees weep in sorrow
tree, Maybe some rain will fall tomorrow
fashioned the good that could be, Tomorrow is too far, Both mother and father are jobless
and formed a torch from it. I overlaid it with gold Look! Tsitsi's mornings only job is fruitless
and placed it in my own two palms to hold, I'm here now, Uncle Tom's daily hustling is hopeless
so that when I met you, I would have more to What if tomorrow never comes? Father is always drunk and clueless
present to you than the mere time on my hands It's not even promised, This dish water is now getting frozen
So when I say I carry a torch for you, under- But he promised to come.
stand, Are you sure he will come?
I carved it out of the bleeding heart I am thirsty,
of a Cedar Tree of Lebanon. Understand, So are you
that with more time spent in my hands, Let's indulge already.
it took on features like the fibres of my being, I swear,
You'll never regret.

Page 48 People & Places NewsHawks

Issue 84, 10 June 2022

Alex Magaisa memorial service in pics

NewsHawks Sport Page 49

Issue 84, 10 June 2022 Fourth Zimbabwe qualifier
and falsehood of old men
NEWPORT on Rhodes Island, Crocker scored 64 and 67 to
United States, is part of the Nick Price. obtain one of the very few plac-
late President John Fitzgerald es available.
Kennedy's Connecticut "Shan- and the first 10 years of his life Championship winner Justin suyama, Louis Oosthuizen. It
gri-la" with its famous Yacht nearby. Thomas, Will Zalatoris, Bryson might even turn out to be some- So if I am asked who will win,
Club and multi-million-dollar de Chambeau, Harry Vardon, body almost unknown. I will say it is the one who has
houses scattered around the Brookline has staged three Dustin Johnson, Jordan fewest watery grave shots, bad
harbour's shores. previous Opens – in 1913, 1963 Spieth, Tony Finau, Cam- lies in the long rough, three-
and 1988, the first won famous- eron Smith, Collin Morika- putt holes and missed short
I was there in September ly by Francis Ouimet soon after wa, a long and compelling HawkZone ones. Basically he will be a play-
2011, staying at the Yankee giving up caddying. Next was list. Britons include Tommy er who can manage to keep out
Peddler hotel with my wife Bar- Julius Boros and then Curtis Fleetwood, Paul Casey, Mat- of trouble through 72 holes.
bara, when two aircraft were Strange most recently, but since thew Fitgerald, Justin Rose, John Trying to predict who that
flown by terrorists into the twin then there has been a 34-year Danny Willett, Luke Donald Kelley would be is like locating the
World Trade Centre skyscraper gap for the club's opportunity and Tyrell Hatton as well as proverbial needle in a haystack.
less than 200 kilometres away. to host this event again for only Irishmen Graeme McDow-
a fourth time. The 2023 Open ell and Shane Lowrey. Tiger This will most likely be the
Three or four days later we Championship will be at Pine- Woods cannot be seriously most intense of all US Cham-
took an Amtrack train down to hurst No.2. considered. He looked to be in And we must now also in- pionships, due to the long list
Philadelphia to visit friends and a lot of pain during the PGA clude Zimbabwe's Sean Crock- of serious top class competition.
passed close to the smouldering The last five winners of the Championship third round er, only the fourth Zimbabwean For the winner there will be no
ruins in New York. Open have been Jon Rahm in before he withdrew. He has to do so after Nick Price, Mark greater sense of achievement in
2021, Bryson de Chambeaux presumably been considering NcNulty and Brendon de Jonge. any sport this year.
Our friends lived close to (2020), Gary Woodland (2019), whether to enter for the cham- That is if you still want to
a university and I took a walk Brooks Keopka (2017) and Ke- pionship and may decide closer consider Crocker as a Zimba- Meanwhile, Zimbabwean golf
through the extensive sports opka again (2018). to the entry deadline date. bwean. The son of Gary Crock- professional Scott Vincent has
grounds, passing a noisy foot- However, a long-odds out- er, a former Zimbabwe interna- secured a place in the forthcom-
ball practice session before The course has been altered sider could win in addition to tional cricketer, Bulawayo-born ing British Open, commonly
coming to a large building. This for this year's championship, that august group, so high is the Sean was taken to America at known as The Open, his quali-
was the joint clubhouse of the slightly reducing it to about 6 present general standard of pro- a very young age and raised in fication coming through victory
university cricket club on one 700 metres, still long though fessional golf. Some examples California, with golf a main fea- in the 2020 Mizumo Open of
side and golf club on the oth- and with many a pitfall for its – Patrick Reed, Daniel Berger, ture of his education. In a very Japan following a tense playoff
er. Adorning it was a three-me- par of 70. Patrick Cantlay, Hideki Mat- recent qualifying tournament, against Anthony Quale.
tre-high statue of a Red Indian
chief in full warrior regalia. Main interest this year will 30-year-old Vincent is only
fall on Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, the third Zimbabwean to do
Sitting on a bench enjoy- Scottie Scheffler, recent PGA so, the others being Nick Price
ing the sunshine were three and Mark McNulty. He will be
old men. I was warmly greet- one of 156 competitors. He has
ed. We chatted and I remarked been a professional for seven
about the state of the nine-hole years, achieving three victories
course, which looked more like in Japan and another on the
a military tank training ground. Asian Tour, where he had five
Such was its terrible condition, runner-up tournament finishes.
clearly caused by neglect.
Vincent started off on the
They told me proudly that Canadian Tour, which is where
it was the location site of the the late Lewis Chitengwa fol-
very first US Open Champion- lowed his short career, but his
ship in 1912. Also that a certain best successes were mainly in
Nick Price was due shortly to Japan, where he won well over
give an exhibition and some les- US$2 million along the way.
sons. Had I heard of him?
It is a fitting development for
They apparently had me down the Harare-born and Virgin-
for an ignorant tourist and I as- ia Tech College student to be
sumed that they did not know it playing alongside the greatest
was actually won by an English golfers in the world. He cannot
youth named Horace Rawlings, expect to win the British Open,
in 1895, who beat Harry Var- but making the cut would be a
don, the most prominent golfer marvellous achievement.
of the time, into second place.
His wife Loupee will surely
And that the true location of be pencilled in as caddy as she
the very first US Open was the has worked for him frequently
aforesaid Country Club, New- in the past. They live in Denver,
port, on Rhode Island. He was Colorado.
the first of 11 successive British
winners of the new American This qualification entry into
national championship. the US Open Championship is
a major breakthrough for him
Over the 127 years since in- and, by extension, all Zimba-
ception, there have been 122 bweans involved in the devel-
Open Championships staged at opment of golf. And it ensures
many of the most difficult and a big following by golf enthusi-
prestigious courses in America. asts here.

This year there will be 156 *Veteran author and jour-
competitors teeing up, com- nalist John Kelley, who cad-
peting for a winner's prize of died at The Open in the 1960s,
about US$2 million, total fund now lives in Southsea near
of US$12.5 million, and with Portsmouth, England. Kelley
a 10-year exemption for forth- still plays golf at the age of 91
coming Opens also available. and writes occasionally for
Rawlings received US$150! The NewsHawks.

This year the venue will be
Brookline Country Club, which
is somewhat infamous given the
Ryder Cup gamesmanship and
poor etiquette vigorously en-
tered into by some of the Amer-
ican team. But it has more in-
teresting precedents. President
JF Kennedy was born in 1917
and spent his early schooling

Sports Zim evade
‘grudge match’
with De Villiers

Real Madrid’s

golden era

sustained by

myth, epic and
Thursday 1 October 20c20old intelligence

Friday 10 June 2022 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

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‘Zim players have to hate losing’:NEWS WHAT’S INSIDE
$60 Covid
tariff for
visitors & regulations
Under-fire Rajput turns on teamtourists
Story on Page 3
under review

Story on Page 8

ENOCK MUCHINJO Chamisa reac
out to Khupe
FOR the first time in his four-year
reign, Lalchand Rajput came under in- Unofficial president calls for emerge
tense scrutiny in front of Zimbabwe’s
cricket Press corps, and he was clearly A disgruntled Zimbabwe cricket fan waves a red-card at Harare Sports Club on Thursday to call for the dismissal of the team's Indian coach Lalchand Rajput.
not prepared to accept blame for his
team’s scandalous decline. missed (Tadiwanashe) Marumani with As for Rajput, the Chevrons coach time and when we get into those situ- time, the better players become. Matu-
injury. This is not controllable, you was further asked on Thursday – all ations, how we get out of those situa- rity comes faster. I’m sure that’s happen-
Following Zimbabwe’s whitewash know. But there is no excuse for that. things being equal – if he considers tions. We have started the game time. ing now because when you look at it,
defeat to Afghanistan in three ODIs, The players have to be hungrier, they himself to be the right person to lead It will come, and it will happen even- we played the ‘A’ team of South Africa
the African team’s under-fire Indian have to hate losing. That’s simple, if you the team into the future. tually.” and our ‘A’ team played against Nepal.
coach blamed everything but himself start hating losing, automatically you Again, the former India batsman After taking charge of the Zimba- So you see, it’s happening, it’s coming.
– from Covid-19, to supposed lack of start winning.” seemed to lay everything at the players’ bwe side since 2018, Rajput’s contract And we are now competing most of the
game-time, to absence of some players. With the clean-sweep over Zimba- ALdSoo“OYr.ouINseSe,IiDt’sEthe miFnidnseat,ntco ebeMhoinn-istytwhwarseiepreyneeaesrwso,edauntldas$ht 3eO.b2cetloiBebvielerlsiohfoenr caadnneottpuhreonrsitotTirm2s0e,f, uatnhndednLsoowgaynouCZuhpaivm, etht'sheelPaNrtoPe5Ls0t,(Ntlhaae-nd
bwe, Afghanistan inched closer towards c
But pressured by the relentless re-
porters, who grilled the 60-year-old automatic qualification for the 2023 est,” Rajput retorted. “Because as coach- around the fortunes of the team if play- tional Premier League). So there are lots
gaffer in the player’s pavilion of Harare Cricket World Cup in India. The Af- es, we have a certain amount of things ers are involved in more matches out- of matches going on. I think it’s a good
Sports Club in a no-holds-barred Press ghans are now second on the 13-team we can do. But it’s the mindset of the side the international arena. start. It is more about maturity, the
conference on Thursday, Rajput quickly ICC World Cup Super League with 10 players who have to go and play in the “Simple solution, you have to play more you play the better you become.
realised he had to face some hard truths wins in 12 matches. middle. And in the middle, the more more ‘A’ games,” said Rajput. “You Simple. They are getting the game time
over his horrendous spell in charge of Zimbabwe, meanwhile, remain sec- they play, the better they become. So know, you need to have a lot of play- now, and hopefully they will become
Zimbabwe. ond from bottom on a measly 35 points. simple, that’s why we talk about game ers from the ‘A’ side. The more game better.”

It was put to him that the pandemic
had affected everyone in world sport,
one way or the other, and that his team’s
free-fall had not exactly started when
one or two of his key Zimbabwe players
were absent.

Somewhat cornered, Rajput came
short of blaming his team, questioning
the “mindset” of the players in a thin-
ly-veiled excuse that his tactics were not
being properly executed by his charges.

“That hunger is still not there, be-
cause, you know, I come from India and
we are hungry,” Rajput told the report-
ers when asked about the mentality of
his Zimbabwe players.

“We (in India) are hungry to win
every game. We hate losing, to be very
honest.”

“But if you look at it, we are not
getting the full team sometimes. If you
look at Namibia (Zimbabwe lost 3-2 in
a T20I series in Bulawayo last month),
we never had all our players. We went to
Abu Dhabi last time and Craig (Ervine,
Zimbabwe’s limited-overs captain), was
injured. We are always missing three to
four players at some stage or the other.
So even in this game against Afghani-
stan, we are missing Sean Williams,
we are missing Richard Ngarava, we
are missing Wellington Masakadza.
Against Namibia, we missed Ryan Burl
with Covid, Craig with Covid, and we

ALSO INSIDE Fourth Zim qualifier and falsehood of old men