Zimbawe

By hotpress.com

Limerick hip-hop icon God Knows talks to Stuart Clark about his Uncle Dick Chinx Chingaira, a hero of the Zimbabwean revolution who gigged with Bob Marley and inspired his new summer banger, ‘Twelve 61’.

Talk about keeping it in the family. The new God Knows track, ‘Twelve 61’, samples his late maternal uncle, Dick Chinx Chingaira, who was a hero of the Zimbabwean revolution; features a guest appearance by present day Zimbabwean dancehall star Jah Master who’s his cousin on his father’s side; and is produced by his younger brother, Godwin Jonas.

“I come from a rich line of fighters,” God Knows says with a smile. “My uncle’s grandfather, Chief Makoni, was the first Shona-speaking Zimbabwean chief to stand up to the colonisers in the late 1800s. Of course, they retaliated with guns and mass killings. They took his skull back to England to examine because he was the only one to resist in that way. Despite being asked for its return, it’s still in the National History Museum in London.”

Which is not your average Irish hip-hop back story. When the Second Chimurenga, AKA the Zimbabwean War of Liberation, started in 1964, Dick Chinx Chingaira joined the Army Youth Choir where, as Comrade Chinx, he was responsible for such clarion calls as ‘Africa’, ‘Hondo Yeminda’ and ‘Mabhunu’.

“The song he made super-famous, which I sample, ‘Twelve 61’, was chanted when they went into battle. By the time the war was won and he left the army he was a national hero himself.”

Dick Chinx Chingaira’s revolutionary stance struck a chord with another roots rebel rocker.

“To celebrate Independence Day in 1980, Bob Marley headlined a massive concert in Harare where he played a specially commissioned song, ‘Zimbabwe’, which was later sampled by Akon on ‘Don’t Matter’,” God Knows reveals. “That day, Bob Marley made a point of going to see my uncle and told him, ‘I know all about you and your grandfather. Will you come and open for me?’ Of course, he said ‘Yes!’”

As with all of God Knows’ music, ‘Twelve 61’ is impossible to pigeonhole.

“I grew up in a house where reggae, dub, dancehall and jazz – albeit done the African way with bits added and subtracted – was played,” he recalls. “I didn’t think in terms of genres, it was all just music that seeped into my head. My music now is a continuation of that.”

It’s been a busy summer for God Knows and his Narolane pals Denise Chaila and MuRli who operate as both an Odd Future-style collective and as separate artist entities. First there were stadium shows with Ed Sheeran followed by an Ed remix; Denise playing a Glastonbury set that was cherry-picked by the BBC for its festival coverage; and a turn at the party thrown for the All Ireland-winning Limerick hurlers. MuRli’s already told us about their close encounters of the Sheeran kind, so let’s focus on Glasto.

Narolane by Shane Serrano

“It felt like the culmination of several things we’ve been working on for the past two years,” G notes. “I’d like to acknowledge, if I may, our wonderful booking agent, Sophie Roberts, who’s gone above and beyond in getting us gigs like this. She’d know a lot of the key BBC DJs like Jack Saunders who’s been gushing about Denise on his Future Artists show. His producer moved over to BBC Introducing, the curators of the stage we were on at Glastonbury, so it was one thing leading to another.

“Then, on the TV side, we’ve had Pippa Evers who also looks after Take That and Pharell Williams trying to get us on Later With Jools Holland, which is inevitably where Denise is going. The gigs that the Jools team had wanted to come and see her at were for various reasons cancelled, so they booked Denise for the televised Treehouse Sessions at Glastonbury, which they also look after.”

Let us not forget that Denise’s 2020 banger, ‘Holy Grail’, prophetically included the line “See you from the stage Glastonbury.”

“That’s Narolane – dream it and it’ll happen,” God Knows beams. “So, they finally got to see Denise and they loved it, which was a really cool moment. As a totally independent artist and label you sometimes wonder about the money you’re spending on things like plugging, but there was the payback. Immediately afterwards Jamz Supernova recorded ‘061’ for her BBC 6Music show and by 6pm that night Laura from The Guardian, who’s another big fan, had written a glowing review of Denise’s set. It was a massive spread with Kendrick on the left and Chaila on the right. That’s the company you want to be keeping!”

The post IRELAND: Hip-hop icon God Knows on Bob Marley and his uncle Cde Chinx appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Staff Reporter

THE military will be moving a large number of troops and equipment to six districts of Mashonaland Central province for a training exercise, Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has announced.

The notice comes amid growing tensions within the ruling executive, amid reports Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was plotting to oust President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The moving of army vehicles almost coincides with the Zanu PF elective congress and the last time large numbers of troops and vehicles were seen in the streets, the military was staging a coup.

In a statement seen by NewZimbabwe.com, the ZDF advised the public not to panic.

“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces would like to inform the general public that it will be conducting a training exercise in Bindura, Mbire Muzarabani, Rushinga, Shamva and Mt Darwin districts of Mashonaland Central Province, from 22 September to 21 October 2022. This year’s training exercise is a follow up to a similar exercise conducted in Masvingo Province in 2021,” reads the statement.

“The training exercise is meant to sharpen and perfect operational skills so as to enhance the Zimbabwe Defence Forces capability to fulfil its mandate. The exercise involves the movement of a large number of troops and vehicles from Harare into Mashonaland Central Province. Therefore the general populace should not be surprised by these movements.”

Observers say the timing of the exercise was curious amid unconfirmed reports two distinct camps within Zanu PF, one led by Mnangagwa himself and the other by his ambitious deputy, were tussling for power ahead of the party’s elective congress, where the presidential candidate will be nominated.

Recently, a dissident group calling itself Zanu PF original claimed that Mnangagwa no longer served the party’s interests and must, therefore, handover power to the former army general.

Mnangagwa was supposed to travel to Cuba, but cancelled his trip and returned home citing inclement weather, in yet another indicator all is not well in the former revolutionary party.

Chiwenga, who is reportedly sick, was at the airport to meet Mnangagwa when he arrived from New York despite failing to turn up for an official event in Gweru.

The post Army warns public of massive troop and artillery movements; claims training exercise appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By UK Correspondent

UNITED States-based rights group PEN America has called on Zimbabwean authorities to drop charges against world acclaimed writer and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga.

The Harare-based writer will know her fate Thursday in case where she is charged with inciting public violence.

“Tsitsi Dangarembga was arrested for exercising her right to peaceful protest,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Centre.

“Her arrest and the long drawn out trial against her is clearly intended to send a frightening message to anyone in Zimbabwe who wants to exercise their right to free expression and criticize their government.

“If she is convicted on these spurious charges, it will further stifle free expression and human rights in Zimbabwe. We urge the authorities to immediately drop the charges and to respect and uphold the right to free expression and association.”

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Dangarembga was arrested alongside journalist Julie Barnes in July 2020 for joining a peaceful demonstration criticizing the Zimbabwean government’s efforts to handle corruption and the struggling economy.

Both were charged with breaking COVID-19 lockdown measures to hold an illegal gathering and inciting violence in the Anti-Corruption Court – the only court that does not report to the Justice Ministry, but directly to the president’s office.

The trial has been delayed over the course of the last two years, and Dangarembga appeared in court nearly 30 times.

She is recognized internationally for her work; her latest novel, This Mournable Body, was short-listed for the Booker Prize in 2020. Her debut novel, Nervous Conditions (1988), was the first to be published in English by a Black woman from Zimbabwe, and was named by the BBC as one of the top 100 books that have shaped the world.

The post Drop spurious Dangarembga charges – PEN America urges Harare; court ruling set for Thursday appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Reason Razao

ZIMBABWE experienced a brief nationwide blackout Tuesday as power outages continue to rock the country.

Most traffic lights in and around the Central Business District (CBD) of Harare were not functioning as a result of the power cut.

Ear-splitting noise emanating from generators could be heard across the CBD as most traders staggered to keep their operations running.

The level of incessant power cuts even delayed court proceedings at the Harare Magistrates Court, where virtual cases were halted.

Despite network challenges emanating from the black out, Twitter was abuzz with Twimbos giving updates from different locations.

“As usual Kudzi is off the mark…. The whole nation was plunged into darkness from 10:20 to 11:30 .. including mines which don’t suffer from loadshedding,” twitted one Nickson Mhofu.

“Zimboz on the ground, do you have electricity in your town right now? My fellows in H-Town are telling me kuti tonaz magetsi dololo?,” wrote another user on Twitter.

Prior to earlier claims by Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) that power outages were being caused by increased economic activities, the power utility group last week issued a statement saying the intensified load shedding was a result of technical challenges in Kariba and Hwange.

“ZETDC would like to advise it’s valued customers that there is increased load curtailment from the 24th of September 2022.

“This is due to technical challenges being experienced at our Kariba and Hwange Power Stations as well as import constraints.

“The utility is therefore conducting a maintenance exercise to ensure full restoration of service,” read the statement.

Complaints have, however, been raised on the need for ZETDC to release a load shedding timetable.

Latest data from the Zimbabwe Power Company shows that the country is generating just 1 029 MW today against peak demand in excess of 1 700 MW.

The post Nationwide electricity supply disruption brings business to a halt appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Staff Reporter

ZHOMBE traditional leader, Chief Samuel Samambwa, has declared the district a no-go area for opposition political parties, but complained that successive Zanu PF governments have failed to electrify his homestead.

Speaking during the commissioning of Sherwood Clinic recently, the traditional leader said the opposition was not going to get any votes from his area, declaring it a preserve of the ruling Zanu PF party.

He insisted that his subjects would vote for President Emmerson Mnangagwa in next year’s general elections.

Chief Samambwa pledged his loyalty, and that of his subjects to Zanu PF, in the presence of Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, Larry Mavhima.

“Minister, I want you to take this message to President and tell him that he has our support here in Zhombe. He must be rest assured that the opposition is not going to get anything in Zhombe; that is a Zanu PF stronghold,” he said.

President Mnangagwa owns a thriving farming enterprise in Sherwood Block, just a few kilometres from Zhombe.

The farming enterprise falls under Samambwa’s jurisdiction.

The Chief however, took opportunity of the event to lash out at government for failing to instal electricity in his village.

“I want to tell the minister that I don’t have electricity at my place. I need electricity, the minister must, therefore, look into that issue,” he said.

Local traditional leaders stand accused of helping coerce their subjects to vote for Zanu PF in contravention of constitutional provisions clearly stating that they must not leaders must not “be members of any political party or in any way participate in partisan politics … act in a partisan manner (or) further the interests of any political party or cause”.

Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs president Fortune Charumbira has been defiant over the issue, declaring that “Chiefs will never leave Zanu PF’.

“On behalf of all chiefs in this country, I want to tell you that we are together. It’s true we are together. We are behind you. I want to repeat this because there are people who ask us why we come here,” Charumbira told Zanu PF’s annual conference in 2021.

The post Chief declares Zhombe no-go area for opposition; complains that Zanu PF has failed to electrify his homestead appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Mary Taruvinga I Senior Reporter

TOP Harare lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa and her partners, have taken a former clerk to court on allegations of stealing ZW$32 million in trust funds, which was equivalent to US$128,000.

Mtetwa together with her partners, Tawanda Nyambirai, Mzokuthula Mbuyisa and Douglas Coltart are suing Tendayi Satarawu Murambiza.

The case was in the courts earlier this year but Mtetwa and Nyambirai law firm had withdrawn the matter after Murambiza admitted the offence and promised to pay back the money.

Murambiza however, backpedaled on his promises and became evasive after he was confronted by the partners.

Also cited as respondents are his wife Perpetua Shora and one Cade Shonhiwa Zvavanjanja who bound himself as surety and co-principal debtor after Murambiza agreed to pay back the money.

Summons filed at the High Court show that Murambiza made a surprise u-turn and defended the claim of US$128,000 against him.

“Although Murambiza surrendered the Mercedes Benz and Mazda vehicles set out in the annex A, he has despite demand refused, failed and neglected to sign or cooperate in any way in the process to sell such assets to recover embezzled amounts,” reads the summons.

“In respect of the herd of cattle, Murambiza has refused to surrender the stock book or to facilitate the sale or disposal of the cattle to recover part of the embezzled monies.

“With regards his rights, title and interest in Stand 130 Kambuzuma Township measuring 255 square meters and held under Deed of Transfer No 1370/1999, Murambiza has refused to surrender the deed, has refused to cooperate in any way in the sale of the property and has instead advised the Registrar of Deeds that the property is not for sale nd not to facilitate the transfer of the property to any third party,” further reads court papers.

Murambiza was in February this year taken to court charged with the theft of US$128,000 from the law firm’s trust account.

At the time, Murambiza admitted the theft and signed an agreement acknowledging liability in the sum of US$128,000.

This caused the law firm to withdraw the criminal charges against him.

Murambiza then pledged and surrendered various assets to the law firm which included his rights and interest in Kambuzuma property, an unfinished house in Domboshawa, two motor vehicles, 43 herd of cattle and US$15,210 which was in his possession at the time of his arrest.

Court papers show he also signed special powers of attorney authorising the sale by the lawyers of these assets.

However, when a buyer was found for the Kambuzuma property, Murambiza refused to cooperate, instead writing to the Registrar of Deeds on the 11 March, 2022 advising that his property had been fraudulently advertised as being for sale.

He also said this was done without his knowledge.

The matter is yet to be heard.

The post Top lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa sues former clerk for stealing US$128k in trust funds appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Alois Vinga

LISTED sugar producer, Star Africa Corporation Limited (SACL) says it is struggling to locate creditors owed ZW$759 002 under the firm’s Scheme of Arrangement.

The deal between Star Africa Corporation Limited, its lenders and creditors was sanctioned by the High Court on August 7, 2013 and registered with the register of companies on August 14 the same year, requires that updates be furnished to all scheme members.

The development was prompted by SACL’s struggle to settle a US$19, 7 million debt back then, and to date considerable progress has been made to offset the owings.

Presenting the financial performance for the period ended March 31, 2022, SACL chairman, Rungamo Mbire said a huge chunk of money remains unclaimed as some of the creditors cannot be located.

“The scheme expired on February 3 2022. Out of the total liabilities that were originally under the Scheme, ZW$759,002 remains unpaid, as the business cannot locate the creditors.

“Efforts to trace their whereabouts continue. Following the Scheme’s expiration, creditors’ rights to potentially convert the debts into equity
have ceased to be enforceable,” he said.

Meanwhile, during the period, the business unit recorded a 38% increase in production volumes, from 59, 571 tonnes achieved in 2021 to 82, 399 tonnes in the year under review attributable to capital investments made and a rigorous equipment maintenance regime.

The latter was introduced during the year under review and has reduced the refinery’s downtime.

Demand for granulated sugar remained high in the market resulting in an increase in sales volumes by 37%.

Electricity supply improved slightly, compared to last year, but remained unstable, mainly due to electrical faults. Operational challenges faced by the Harare City Council adversely impacted the effective reticulation of water to the plant.

“This resulted in a higher volume of water being sourced from private suppliers. The plant continues to be certified by The Coca Cola Company. It also has Food Safety Certification under the Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 series.

“The certifications enable the Company to supply products to TCCC franchisees in the Southern Africa region and beyond,” said Mbire.

Goldstar Sugars’ sales volumes grew from 60,388 tonnes recorded in the 2021 financial year to 82,500 tonnes in the year under review.

This drove a 50% increase in the company’s turnover during the period under review, from ZW$8,78 billion to ZW$13,16 billion.

The group’s operating profit grew by 255%, from prior year’s ZW$479, 61 million to ZW$1, 70 billion.

“While the COVID-19 situation is currently stable in Zimbabwe, the Board remains alert and vigilant with regards to potential future disruptions associated with the pandemic.

“The company will continue with its focus on retooling the business, with a view towards increasing productivity across its strategic business units,” added Mbire.

The post Star Africa says struggling to locate creditors it owes ZW$759 000 appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Staff Reporter

AN electricity cut frustrated normal business at the Harare Magistrates Court, forcing the abandonment of virtual hearings, which included Victim Friendly Courts.

The stoppage of virtual courts in light of the absence of alternative energy sources such as generators, goes against efforts of digitising court proceedings in the country by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Virtual hearings Tuesday were stalled as there was a power outage, which resulted in court staffers failing to utilise equipment such as recorders and cameras, thereby forcing proceedings to be held physically.

This comes after the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) issued a notice on the further curtailment of power throughout the country.

Most public service providers, including the judiciary, have been negatively affected by the rolling cuts.

ZESA has, however, not stated when power cuts would come to an end.

The post Harare Magistrates’ Courts abandon virtual hearings as power cuts persist appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Thobekile Khumalo

PARLIAMENT, in partnership with Zimbabwe Environmental Law Agency (ZELA), is working on crafting laws to curb illicit financial flows (IFF) manifested by loopholes in policies contributing to the crippled economy and underdevelopment in the country.

IFFs worsen poverty and are mainly exacerbated by the mining sector where gold is not submitted to Fidelity Gold Refineries but sold to the black market that offers a higher rate. This has necessitated the formalisation of small scale and artisanal miners as a way of preventing resource leakages.

In an interview with the vice chairperson of Africa Parliamentarians Against Illicit Financial Flows, Member of Parliament (MP) Vimbai Matevere said as law makers they should make sure they do not only enact legislation, but give solutions to problems.

“As Parliament we’re not only suppose to create laws but also be giving solutions so that we make our country go forward. So, here we are discussing about illicit financial flows because it cripples the economy.

“The moment that we have a lot of illicit financial flows going out of the country, we realise it reduces the amount that we’re supposed to have as a country.

“Our revenue collection then reduces from the intended ways that we want it to,” she said.

Matevere said they are working on certain laws that are able to curb illicit financial flows.

“We need to appreciate that there are certain sectors in the economy which include mining, tourism and agriculture which are the bases of National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and when we look at them we need to find out ways for them to become effective,” she said.

She added: “We are also talking about formalising gold mining, especially that is now small scale miners, it’s a matter of us having some cultural mindset which makes it important to understand why it is important to formalise the artisanal and small scale miners.

“We need to understand their contribution to economic development and we also need to appreciate that its also important for us to have a holistic approach so that we understand that it will go from generation to generation because we understand that land is an infinite resource and also the same with the mines and also the minerals that we have.

“We need to understand that we create mechanisms that make us be able to sustain our operations going forward as a country. So these are some of the objectives that also made us be able to get here.”

According to a 2013 African Development Bank report, Zimbabwe had lost a cumulative US$12 billion in the last three decades through lFFs, ranging from opaque financial deals to tax avoidance and illegal commercial activities.

The post Parly and ZELA draft laws to curb illicit financial flows appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Staff Reporter

Workers at RioZim are demanding that the mine be put under curatorship following teething challenges, which are dogging the gold producer, NewZimbabwe.com can reveal.

Through the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU), the workers argue that they cannot continue folding their hands while the mine continues experiencing challenges, which include non payment of salaries.

“Our members have reached a stage where they are initiating a process of applying for the placement of RioZim Limited and all its subsidiaries under corporate rescue in terms of Section 121 as read with Section 124 & 131 of the Insolvency Act Chapter 6.07.

“It has become very clear to the affected workers and other stakeholders’ including the union (ZDAMWU) that the organisation is in financial distress,” ZDAMWU General Secretary, Justice Chinhema said in a letter dated September 26, 2022 to RioZim Chairman, Saleem Beebeejaun.

The union noted that one of RioZim’s subsidiary Dalny Mine was closed.

“It is sad to note that Dalny Mine has closed and workers’ contracts terminated and nothing paid to them, we are also aware that more than 400 workers who were signing fixed contracts are being terminated in phases.

“It has further come to our attention that there is rampant casualisation of labour in your organisation,” Chinhema added.

The combative trade unionist, in his letter, indicated that it was shocking that a big corporation such as RioZim was failing to pay workers.

“Workers are employed to work and after working they expect to get paid their salaries in order to bring food to their families, pay school fees, medical bills for them and extended families, buy clothes and enjoy life of someone employed.

“We are totally surprised and disappointed by your organisation which we regard as one of the biggest employer and economic enabler in this country that it can subject its workers to the worst conditions like non-payment of wages when production is happening.

“The economic situation currently prevailing in our country requires that salaries and wages be paid promptly, when they are due and when they still have value,” he said.

Chinhema said RioZim was required by law to ensure workers live the life commensurate to the work they do.

“The conditions your organisation has subjected its employees is not expected from such an organisation like yours. Only fly by night organisations can do this to its workers and the worst part of it all is when we hear some managers are in the business of intimidating workers for asking their salaries.

“This is contrary to the provisions of Section 2A, 5 & 6 of the Labour Act Chapter 28.01 together with ILO Convention No.95 and Section 65 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” he said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned a Biox plant at RioZim amid pomp and fanfare, and expectations were high the plant was going to turn around fortunes at the mine.

However, two years down the line workers find themselves in an unenviable position.

“Workers for two (2) years were made to understand that the Biox plant is going to be a game changer for everyone, months down after the commissioning of the Biox plant, things have gone from bad to worse.

“Lower level workers have lost employment and the community of Chakari where Dalny Mine was operating is now in darkness because Zesa switched off the whole community,” Chinhema said.

He said the situation in the RioZim group points to lack of strategic direction.

“Workers and other stakeholders shares the view that the poor performances of the group of companies are due to financial distress, gross undercapitalisation and lack of proper management.

“There is great variance on workers welfare and the extravagance on the part of the shareholders. To be honest Mr Chairman, we have lost confidence in the shareholders of the company and its management.

“Workers have been living in abject poverty and facing hardships under the watch of the current management who have failed to find lasting solutions in all problems that affects parties to an employment contract,” he said.

The workers have tabled their demands to the chairperson that the company must in the next seven days resolve, “All outstanding salaries be paid in full to everyone owed within the (7) seven days of receiving this letter.

“September salaries and all allowances be paid in full at once by the last day of September 2022. RioZim Limited through you Mr Chairman makes a pledge that going forward all salaries will be paid in full at the end of every month. No employee will be losing his/her employment because it is said workers are too many, instead the management team should see heads rolling.

“A financial re-capitalization to be made in all the entities so as to secure jobs of current workers,” said Chinhema.

Chinhema said failure by the company to meet the demands workers would be left with no choice but to place the company under corporate rescue.

“In the event that you fail to address the above within the stated time, or chose to ignore, we are under instructions to immediately start the process of corporate rescue which we believe is long overdue.

*As you may appreciate, corporate rescue is meant to resurrect failing entities like Rio Zim. In our view, we should not wait until another mine collapse, and jobs lost, but diligence requires that we act now,” he said.

The post ‘We want mine placed under corporate rescue’ – say struggling RioZim workers appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Anna Chibamu

CHAOS rocked a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) Tuesday after members came close fist-fights during a heated oral evidence hearing into the controversial tender involving ridiculously overpriced computers.

Parliament Clerk, Kennedy Chokuda, and his delegation were grilled by MPs seeking answers on why he awarded a tender to a computer company to supply laptops at US$9,000 each, yet the average price range of computers on the market does not go beyond US$5,000 each.

Belmate Investments had been awarded a tender by Parliament to supply 173 laptops at a cost of US$1,6 million, but Chokuda later cancelled the tender after Treasury red-flagged the deal.

During Tuesday’s deliberations, PAC committee members exchanged unpleasant words, accusing each other of either protecting the Parliament administration or helping in concealment of crucial information meant to nail management over the shady deal.

According to Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP Charlton Hwende, the deal was only cancelled by Treasury after a losing bidder unearthed the scam, exposing Parliament.

“Bhebhe (Parliament director Procurement) is lying to the committee. He is lying under oath. He needs to take this issue very seriously,” charged Hwende

This was after Bhebhe had told the committee that he did not visit the companies involved yet in his report earlier, had confirmed that Parliament did visit the companies to verify their locations for authenticity purposes.

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• SCANDAL: Parliament boss admits his staffers gave nod to shady US$1, 6million laptop supply deal
• Parly under fire for ‘ridiculously overpriced’ US$9 200 per laptop tender
• Heads must roll over US$1,6m Parly laptops scandal – says Mliswa

Mliswa read letters written by Chokuda confirming the awarding of the tender to Belmate Investments.

Independent Norton member of Parliament Temba Mliswa

He condemned the Parly Clerk, accusing some Zanu PF MPs in the committee (Marko Raidza, Mberengwa North and Berta Chikwama, Gutu East) of supporting Parliament administration.

“We cannot sit here and look at your face. I went to school and studied English and I am really clear unless this English is different. You must be honest and at times as a man you must be honest and say ‘I made a mistake’ and not for you to take us around and put this institution into disrepute,” said Mliswa.

“The Clerk, with due respect, must carry the cross. We are in this mess because of you. You sit there and deny this letter you signed on the 29th of August. The best you could say was ‘it was a fake signature’, not for you to sit there as chief accounting officer for this Parliament. Pack your bags and go!

“This Parliament is in a mess because of you. He cannot sit there and lie to us with his dogs barking. You cannot do that Mr Chokuda. Pack your bags and go! You are a disgrace to this Parliament,” an erate Mliswa shouted as other members tried to calm him down.

He added, “It seems some members are supporting the administration. This is not a Zanu PF caucus.

“You come here to disrupt issues. Parliament is not a Zanu PF institution. Mapiwa marii nhai Amai Chikwama (how much have you been given, Hon. Chikwama?) We are not in Gutu. This is Harare and Parliament of Zimbabwe,” Mliswa told the MPs.

Committee chairperson and MDC Alliance MP Brian Dube warned members that he would not be forced to adjourn the meeting prematurely.

“For the record, whether someone has any other motive; As long as I am not dead, this meeting shall proceed. All the disruption will only result in the extension of the meeting. I am not going to chase anyone out of this meeting until we finish the discussion,” Dube warned.

Finance Ministry permanent secretary George Guvamatanga

At least 92 bidders applied for the tender, but only 30 managed to make it to the last stages of the process.

According to Bhebhe, prices for desktops ranged from US$1,105 to US$8,827.

Chokuda told the committee that he cancelled the tender deal on September 9, 2022 after it came out on social media.

However, Chokuda explained that all tendering processes were followed as due diligence was also done accordingly. He told this committee that Treasury had not written to him but he only saw Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga’s letter on social media as he responded to it.

“We do our job diligently. There was no way as Clerk of Parliament that I would buy a laptop worth US$9 000. I am the one who wrote a letter of cancellation of the tender,” Chokuda said.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) director, Theresa Kamvura told PAC that the organisation was looking for an HP Spectate- H360,which is a 360 ex-convertible touch-screen gadget that can function as a tablet or a laptop.

It was considered to be convenient in carrying out the expected work, including field work by Parliament staffers.

However, Kamvura admitted the prices of the quoted gadgets in the tender were far too much than those offered by most companies on the market.

“Parliament settled for a Core i7 processor instead of a Core i9 processor because we were looking at the standard requirement for plenary meetings such as the Zoom,” Kamvura told the committee.

The post ‘Pack your bags and go’ – Mliswa shouts at Parly Chief; MPs close to blows over probe into computer scandal appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

By Alois Vinga

THE Zim$ value this week depreciated by 1,3% amid indications that demand for the greenback is waning on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Foreign Exchange Auction.

A trading update released at the close of business Tuesday shows that the exchange rate depreciated to US$1:ZW$621 from the figure of US$1:ZW$613 recorded last week signifying a 1,3% percentage decline.

Allotments during the day were tilted in favour of supporting the productivity which saw raw materials on the Main Auction receiving US$4,94 million, machinery and equipment US$1,84 million, Consumables US$803 831, Services US$1,57 million, Retail and distribution US$ 107 761.

On the SME Auction, out of the total US$1,468 million allotted, more than half of it went towards raw materials and machinery.

The grand total allotted on the two platforms reached US$11,011 million signifying a decline from the US$13,6 million allotted last week.

Economist Persistence Gwanyanya described this week’s outcome as an indication of waning demand for foreign currency due to the obtaining tight liquidity.

“What we are witnessing today is a significant reduction in foreign currency demand due to tight liquidity conditions obtaining in the market. As value for money continues to take effect, typified by high interest rates among other measures,” he said.

The top economist said the current developments, coupled with recent policies to increase foreign currency sales to a single entity from US$20 000 to US$100 000 on the interbank market will further reduce pressures from the Auction.

“In the long term, this will sustain durable stability while further reinforcing the disinflation narrative,” added Gwanyanya.

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By Staff Reporters

The transmission and distribution arm of power utility ZESA this week announced new power cuts, blaming generation problems and curtailed imports.

Ordinary Zimbabweans and small and medium enterprises are feeling the heat from the so-called load-shedding which can last more than 16 hours daily.

At home, residents are bing forced to throw away rotting meat from fridges in a development that has also affected butchers who do not have alternative power sources.

Motor vehicle repair shops as well as hammer mills in the high density areas have also been left struggling with increased costs of running generators to keep their businesses going.

RELATED:

• ZESA says more power cuts nationwide; blames technical and imports challenges
• Countrywide ZESA power cuts trigger gas shortage in Bulawayo

Destiny TV reporters visited some high density suburbs in Harare and filed the report below;

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By BirminghamLive

BIRMINGHAM: Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Leon Chiwome has been named as one of the brightest young talents in the Premier League.

Each year The Guardian compiles a list of youngsters from each Premier League club to keep an eye on, and 16-year-old attacker Chiwome has been highlighted in the 2022 edition. Chiwome joins Owen Farmer (2021), Kamran Kandola (2020), Chem Campbell (2019) and Jackson Smith (2018) in making the prestigious list since Wolves returned to the top flight three years ago.

But who is Leon Chiwome? BirminghamLive provides the lowdown on the Wolves teenager receiving national attention.

Chiwome, the son of a Zimbabwean father and a British mother, was born in Brighton and only joined Wolves from AFC Wimbledon in the summer. He was only with Wimbledon for little over six months after impressing whilst playing for the Sussex Schools FA team.

Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Leon Chiwome

Michael Hamilton, who served as academy manager during Chiwome’s time at Wimbledon, said: “For Leon to join a Premier League club, following the departures of other players and staff to higher levels, is a measure of the quality and potential we’ve developed here.

“Leon has applied himself correctly since day one, and he has huge potential. If he continues to apply himself, there’s every chance of him fulfilling his ambitions in the future.

“We wish Leon every success and we will be monitoring his progress closely. Though he wasn’t here long, his potential was obvious from the outset.”

Chiwome has scored twice in his first three outings for Wolves’ under-18s. He also made a cameo off the bench in the under-21s’ EFL Trophy victory over Shrewsbury Town at the end of August.

“What we saw in him was an excellent profile for a centre-forward who is big, strong and quick,” said Wolves’ academy manager Jonathan Hunter-Barrett told The Guardian. “He’s very keen to learn and get on the ball, and he knows where the back of the net is.”

Chiwome competed in athletics during his school days, often racing over the sprint distances, while he also tried his hand at the long jump. He will be hoping to make the jump into Wolves’ under-21s on a permanent basis before too long.

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By Erica Jecha

TINAPAN Investments Company, a registered customs clearance entity, has been dragged to court by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) on allegations of misappropriating funds amounting to US$437,433.

Represented by Tinashe Jongwe, the company appeared Tuesday before Harare Magistrate, Taurai Manuwere, and was granted ZW$50 000 bail.

The company is said to be a ZIMRA agent based in Beitbridge that holds a prepayment account for the purposes of clearing goods. The account is primarily used to effect commercial entries such as bills of entry.

According to court papers, sometime in February this year, Chaotas Investments made a payment of US$3 658 into Tinapan Investment’s prepayment account.

The money was to be converted into local currency at the then prevailing rate which was US$1: ZW$119, 5 giving a total of ZW$437 373.

However, the transfer mistakenly appeared on the ZIMRA interface account as US$437 373 and credited into Tinapan prepayment account.

Tinapan is said to have then used all the money to pay for duty for importation of motor vehicles and fuel on several occasions.

The company ran out of luck September 16 after a post clearance audit, and a discovery was made that a fraudulent deposit of US$437 373 was processed into their account and evidence had been wiped out as it was not reflecting on their bank statements.

The deposit was fraudulent and fully utilised by Tinapan Investments, and nothing was recovered.

Jongwe was subsequently arrested and detained at Rhodesville Police Station September 26.

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By thenational.scot

The David Livingstone Birthplace Museum is set to host Our Stories Between the Myths and Memories between October 22 and 23, which has been organised by Scottish-Zimbabwean artist Natasha Thembiso Ruwona.

The event will bring Scottish-African figures from across the globe, including Nigerian-Scottish writer Tomiwa Folorunso, who is set to hold a discussion on storytelling within different cultures and communities on the Saturday.

Glasgow-based filmmaker and comic book writer Etienne Kubwabo, who wrote Beats of War featuring Scotland’s celebrated first black superhero, will then hold a workshop to discuss his body of work.

Saturday’s programme of events will close with a music event hosted by DJs from Jambo!, Scotland’s only radio station dedicated to African and Caribbean music.

On the Sunday, the subject of decolonisation will be explored, with a panel presented by the museum staff discussing decolonising its collection and object handling.

Scottish-Zimbabwean artist Natasha Thembiso Ruwona

A live music event will follow with the Congolese Gig Group due to perform a set featuring Afro-Congo pop, reggae, seben/rumba and afrobeat.

The weekend will close with An Exercise in Exorcism, a multifaceted exhibition using dance, performance and installation from Ashanti Harris, which will reimagine historical narratives from the perspective of the Caribbean perspective.

Ruwona, the Scottish-Zimbabwean who programmed the event, said: “I’m really excited to be able to bring together so many brilliant creative practitioners from the Scottish-African diaspora to one space and to celebrate their contributions to the creative sector.”

“This project speaks to our past, present, and potential futures that examine black Scottish history, culture, and identity. It is also a timely event that will spotlight the work that David Livingstone Birthplace are doing as they consider the role of museums within truthful storytelling, by asking important questions about legacy and memory.”

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By Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG: Beleaguered former South African President Jacob Zuma says he is ready to make a surprise return to politics by standing for a top position at the ruling African National Congress’ elective conference in December — if he is nominated by party members.

The 80-year-old Zuma was president from 2009 to 2018 before he was forced to resign amid wide-ranging allegations of corruption in government and state-owned institutions.

He was sentenced to 15 months in prison last year for defying a court order to testify at a judicial commission investigating corruption during his tenure, and has since been released on medical parole. Zuma is also facing trial for corruption in a separate case involving a major arms deal the South African government was negotiating more than 20 years ago, around the time Zuma was a deputy president of South Africa.

In a statement released late Monday, Zuma said he had been approached by some ANC members to consider contesting for the position of party chairman at the end of the year.

“I have indicated that I will be guided by the branches of the ANC and that I will not refuse such a call (to contest for the chairman position) should they deem it necessary for me to serve the organization again at that level or any other,” Zuma said.

The party meeting at the end of the year will be crucial to the future of current President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is facing stiff opposition to be re-elected ANC leader and stay on as the country’s president.

Zuma has been critical of his successor and the pair are seen to be part of opposing factions within a divided ANC.

Zuma also endorsed his ex-wife, current government minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to contest for the position of president of the ANC against Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa’s position has been weakened by his struggle to get a grip on corruption, a scandal of his own involving a large amount of cash stolen from his ranch, and an ongoing electricity crisis that has recently left Africa’s most developed economy in power blackouts for up to 10 hours a day.

Zuma is still popular among some factions of the ANC and at grassroots levels in some regions, but it’s unclear how he would deal with an ANC rule that anyone facing criminal charges may not stand for leadership positions. The rule also demands that those occupying leadership positions should “step aside” from their positions if they are charged.

The corruption charges Zuma faces are linked to a 1999 arms deal, and the case covers a time when he was a political figure on the rise and then deputy president. He is accused of receiving bribes from French arms manufacturer Thales to provide political protection for the multi-billion dollar deal. Zuma has denied the charges and has moved to have the prosecutor taken off the case, claiming he is biased.

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By Associated Press

LONDON: The British pound stabilized Tuesday as U.K. authorities tried to ease investor concerns after the biggest tax cuts in 50 years sent the currency tumbling to a record low the previous day.

The turmoil is already having real-world effects, with several British mortgage lenders pulling offers from the market amid expectations the Bank of England will sharply boost interest rates to offset the inflationary impact of the pound’s recent slide.

It was trading at around $1.08 on Tuesday, after plunging as low as $1.0373 early Monday. The British currency is still down 4% since Friday, when Treasury chief Kwasi Kwarteng announced plans for 45 billion pounds ($49 billion) of unfunded tax cuts. The pound has fallen 20% against the dollar this year.

Kwarteng’s announcement, which comes at the same time the government plans to borrow billions to help shield homes and businesses from soaring energy prices, sparked concerns that the new government’s policies would swell government debt and further fuel inflation.

Late Monday, the central bank said it was “closely monitoring” financial markets and was prepared to boost interest rates “as much as needed” to curb inflation, which is already running at 9.9%, the highest among major economies. The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee isn’t scheduled to meet until Nov. 3.

“There is no rate increase today and speculators will enjoy the prospect of two months of Bank of England inactivity if the statement is taken at face value,” said Alastair George, chief investment strategist at Edison Group.

The U.K. Treasury also sought to reassure investors, saying it would set out a more detailed fiscal plan and independent analysis from the Office for Budget Responsibility on Nov. 23.

“We have responded in the immediate term with an expansionary fiscal stance on energy because we had to. With two exogenous shocks — Covid-19 and Ukraine — we had to intervene. Our 70-year-high tax burden was also unsustainable,″ Kwarteng said in talks with investors on Tuesday following the so-called “mini-budget″ last week.

“I’m confident that with our growth plan and the upcoming medium term fiscal plan — with close cooperation with the Bank — our approach will work,” he said.

That did little to quiet criticism of the government’s policies.

Lawrence Summers, who served as U.S. Treasury secretary under Bill Clinton, said he was surprised that the International Monetary Fund hadn’t spoken out because a currency crisis in Britain could have worldwide consequences and affect London’s viability as a global financial center.

“I was very pessimistic about the consequences of utterly irresponsible U.K. policy on Friday,” Summers tweeted Tuesday. “But, I did not expect markets to get so bad so fast.”

Kwarteng and Prime Minister Liz Truss, who replaced Boris Johnson as prime minister on Sept. 6, are betting that lower taxes and reduced bureaucracy eventually will generate enough additional revenue to pay for the tax cuts announced Friday.

But many economists say it is unlikely the gamble will pay off.

Torsten Bell, who heads the Resolution Foundation, a think tank focused on economic inequality, said the markets were looking at the government’s plans “and saying that is not what serious policymaking looks like.”

Market reaction to Friday’s announcement will hurt consumers by fueling inflation in the short term, leading to higher mortgage payments in the medium term, and boosting government borrowing in the long term, the foundation said Monday.

“The world we are heading for is a bumpy few weeks,” Bell told Sky News. Kwarteng “is now going to have quite a tough time because he has now set out plans to balance the books in November. That is going to be very hard.”

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By Associated Press

BARCELONA: A Spanish judge on Tuesday approved a trial for Colombian pop singer Shakira on charges of tax fraud.

Spanish prosecutors accused the entertainer in 2018 of failing to pay 14.5 million euros ($13.9 million) in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. Prosecutors are seeking an eight-year prison sentence and a hefty fine if she is found guilty of tax evasion.

Shakira, 45, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and rejected a deal with authorities to avoid going to trial. Her public relations firm has said that she has already paid all that she owed and an additional 3 million euros ($2.8 million) in interest.

The court based in the town of Esplugues de Llobregat near Barcelona said that Shakira will face six counts of tax fraud. The date for the trial has yet to be set.

The case hinges on where Shakira lived during 2012-14. Prosecutors in Barcelona have alleged the Grammy winner spent more than half of that period in Spain and should have paid taxes in the country, even though her official residence was in the Bahamas.

Shakira, whose full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, has been linked to Spain since she started dating soccer player Gerard Pique. The couple, who have two children, used to live together in Barcelona but recently ended their 11-year relationship.

Spain has cracked down on soccer stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the past decade for not paying their full due in taxes. They were found guilty of evasion but both avoided prison time thanks to a provision that allows a judge to waive sentences under two years in length for first-time offenders.

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Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporter MR Martin Nyoni and Ms Fattela Nleya run a 3,5-hectare plot in Village Six, Heaney Junction estates along the Bulawayo-Harare highway. The plot has various farm produce, such as rabbits, layer chickens, fish, tomatoes, cabbages, green pepper, lettuce and beetroot. Their plot is going towards self-sufficiency as the fresh produce subsidises […]