Political & General Headlines Less than half of gvt inputs distributed HARARE, Nov 24 (The Sunday Mail) – Only 40% of inputs sourced under the Presidential Inputs Scheme have been distributed so far amid revelations that logistical challenges are choking the smooth flow of the process. Fertiliser distribution was lagging behind since it was bulky and could not be moved as fast as seed. Mujuru shines at politburo meeting HARARE, Nov 24 (Papers) – Well the Sunday Mail didn’t put it in this way but the stories are all similar. VP Joice Mujuru seems to have taken the lead in the race to succeed President Robert Mugabe after Zanu PF’s politburo on Saturday which endorsed provincial elections in Mash Central, Midlands and Manicaland. Mujuru now needs three out of the seven remaining provinces to get an endorsement for presidium candidature. Members from Mujuru’s faction immediately said they were on course. Party spokesman Rugare Gumbo said elections for the remaining seven provinces will be held on November 30, simultaneously throughout the country. The Politburo also resolved that the party will provide material for conducting the remaining elections after those in the three provinces were marred by some irregularities, including failure to deliver ballot papers in some instances. Daily News (Nov 25) asks if President Mugabe has made his choice of a successor after he allowed the disputed elections to stand. Information minister Jonathan Moyo however says provincial elections are not succession elections and those who believed so would only have themselves to blame. He says there is no vacancy in the leadership of the party, government and country as President Mugabe was still alive. Zanu-PF provinces welcome Politburo resolution HARARE, Nov 25 (The Herald) - Zanu PF provincial chairmen yesterday pledged to work hard to ensure that mistakes and irregularities noted in provincial executive elections held in Manicaland, the Midlands and Mashonaland Central provinces are not repeated in the remaining seven.The provincial chairmen welcomed the Politburo’s decision to conduct elections in the seven remaining provinces on Saturday and expressed their readiness for the polls. Zanu-PF dinner rakes in US$1m HARARE, Nov 25 (The Herald) - We are told the Zanu-PF fundraising dinner was oversubscribed and raised almost US$1 million (against a target of $3 mln) towards the holding of the 14th Annual National People’s Conference. The Conference is set for Chinhoyi. A member of the fund raising committee and party legislator for Chikomba Central, Felix Mhona, said the party was on track to raise the US$3 million to stage a successful conference. Mutasa endorses Mujuru, attacks the state media HARARE, Nov 24 (Daily News) – Zanu PF secretary for Admin Didymus Mutasa has endorsed VP Joice Mujuru for the position of president once Robert Mugabe leaves office. Mutasa said the VP had credentials to lead not only Zanu PF but the country. He was introducing her at the Zanu PF fundraising dinner last Friday. Mutasa as he addressed the event also took a swipe at those within the party for abusing their authority to influence the media. Take it easy, VP Mujuru advises Mutasa HARARE, Nov 25 (The Herald) - VP Joice Mujuru on Friday advised Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa to take it easy when people criticise him. She was speaking at a Zanu-PF fundraising dinner after Mutasa, who is also the Zanu-PF secretary for administration, claimed people were scandalising him through the media. Mujuru said she would not respond to any utterances made on her in the media, saying the best way was to keep quiet. While introducing VP Mujuru to the guests at the dinner, Mutasa had said he had never heard Mujuru on any occasion saying that she longed to be the President of Zimbabwe. Zanu PF gags Jonathan Moyo HARARE, November 25 (Newsday) The Zanu PF politburo has gagged Media,, Information and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo and ordered him to stop taking internal party issues to the media following his verbal showdown with party national Rugare Gumbo last week. Gumbo refused to shed more details on how the issue was brought up for discussion at the special politburo meeting held on Saturday. Efforts to get comment from Moyo were unsuccessful yesterday as his mobile was not answered. Zanu PF to continue with one VP HARARE, November 23 (Newsday) Zanu PF now looks set to continue with one Vice-President instead of the usual two until next year’s elective congress after attempts by other top party officials to turn next month’s national people’s congress flopped. Some Zanu PF members had wanted the December conference agenda to include elections to replace the late Vice-President John Nkomo who died early this year. The second VP’s post has always been traditionally reserved for national party chairpersons and former PF-Zanu cadres in line with 1987 Unity Accord which led to the amalgamation of Zanu PF and PF Zapu. This would have made incumbent chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo who has since been appointed Senior Minister Without Portfolio an automatic candidate for the post. Convict vies for Zanu PF Harare chairmanship HARARE, November 25 (November) Convicted Zanu PF activists Justin Zvandasara has vowed to take on Harare provincial chairman Amos Midzi in this weekend’s elections, in a contest in which six candidates are understood to be vying for the same post. Zvandasara said his conviction over a $4 million fraud charge involving the selling 84 000 hectares of land belonging to fellow Zanu PF official Nyasha Chikwinya would not stop him from contesting the polls. Zvandasara was convicted of fraud despite his own plea of not guilty when appeared before Harare magistrate Temba Kuwanda last Thursday and he is set to be sentenced today. Ncube not yet in the political dustbin: MDC HARARE, November 24 (The Standard) The MDC party has said it still alive and its leader Professor Welshman Ncube has no plans to quit the party despite its drubbing in the July 31 elections and the recent quitting of several of its key officials. Deputy party spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said contrary to reports, the MDC was still intact and financially sound to continue with its political programmes. He said Ncube is still in control of the party and doing everything possible to motivate, energize and empower the MDC troops ahead of future political processes and does not have any plan to retreat or surrender. Zec still owing CMED US$3 million HARARE, Nov 23 (The Herald) - The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission still owes CMED (Pvt) Ltd US$3 million for vehicles hired from members of the public on behalf of the electoral body for the July 31 harmonised elections. The electoral body was owing a total of US$6 million for the hired vehicles, but has since paid US$3 million. CMED managing director Engineer Davison Mhaka said the company was now at loggerheads with some of its clients because of the non-payment of the funds. Zec finance director Stephen Goneso confirmed that they still owed CMED, but disputed the figure. Trusts hang in limbo HARARE, Nov 24 (Sunday Mail) - Only 14 of the country’s 58 Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOTs) are operational, amid revelations that some companies are resisting Government’s indigenisation and empowerment efforts. It has since emerged that the companies are refusing to recognise the CSOTs while in some instances the trusts’ leadership has been blamed for derailing progress. Indigenisation minister Francis Nhema conceded that most CSOTs were facing operational challenges. Nhema noted that some companies seem intent on not declaring dividends as a way of paralysing the operations of the CSOTs. Nhema also said as at October 31 this year, nearly 4 000 youths had benefited from the Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund with US$5,5 million having been disbursed. Share ownership trusts to be evaluated HARARE, Nov 24 (Sunday Mail) - Efforts to create a national referral database on the success recorded during the implementation of Community Share Ownership schemes through an evaluation exercise are currently underway, raising prospects that resources allocated to projects will be efficiently and effectively used. The evaluation exercise is a private sector initiative which is being driven by Brandspan, a local organisation, with the blessings of Government. Brandspan’s board of advisers, which is the decision- making unit also responsible for strategy formulation, is chaired by businessman Dr Nkululeko Sibanda. Other board members include Tawanda Mutyebere; Prosper Masenyama, Zanu-PF director of Indigenisation; George Magosvongwe, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Indigenisation; Davison Gomo, chief executive officer of the Affirmative Action Group (AAG), and speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda. The evaluation of the CSOTs will be conducted in three phases — management consultations, organisational operation site visitations and community tours — will culminate in the production of a report outlining both the milestone and challenges. African Union commends Zim Asset HARARE, Nov 23 (The Herald) - The African Union has commended Zimbabwe for coming up with Zim Asset, the economic blueprint, that prioritises use of local resources to turnaround the economy. The continental body also committed itself to assisting Zimbabwe in the implementation of Zim Asset so that it becomes an example to other African nations. AU representative and Head of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Agency’s Comprehensive Agriculture Development Programme MMartin Bwalya said this soon after meeting Acting President Joice Mujuru at her Munhumutapa Offices Friday. 500 000 vehicles unroad-worthy: Mpofu HARARE, Nov 25 (The Heral) - Transport minister Obert Mpofu says more than 500 000 vehicles countrywide are unroadworthy, while the same number of drivers are not licenced, a situation that has resulted in fatal road carnages. Mpofu said Vehicle Inspection Department officials would continue mounting roadblocks in conjunction with the police to make sure that all unroadworthy vehicles were impounded to bring sanity on the roads. Mpofu said that penalties which were being passed by the courts on negligent drivers were not deterrent enough. He also said his Ministry identified all the black spots in the country and corrective action was being taken on some of them. ZMC registers 85 media organisations MUTARE, Nov 25 (The Herald) - At least 85 media organisations have been registered by the Zimbabwe Media Commission since its formation in 2009, as part of efforts to enhance access to information by Zimbabweans. ZMC Commissioner Chris Mhike aid the approach taken by the commission was to allow all those who applied for a licence as long as they met the requirements of the enabling legal statute, Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. One application ZMC declined registration was a company whose majority shareholding was foreign, something that was not consistent with the law, said Mhike. Another applicant was a community radio firm which they felt could best be dealt with by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe. Chitungwiza mayor scared of Chombo HARARE, Nov 25 (Daily News) – Chitungwiza mayor Philip Mutoti says the MDC-T led council is scared of being fired if it investigates corruption in the town that has resulted in a proliferation of illegal structures, which government now seeks to demolish. Mutoti says the council’s hands are tied as they can not do anything without approval from Minister Ignatius Chombo. Land baron Mabamba speaks out HARARE, Nov 23 (NewsDay) - ZANU PF Chitungwiza Ward 25 councillor Frederick Mabamba said he is not a land baron as most of the land he controls does not personally belong to him, but to a housing co-operative which he registered 20 years ago. Mabamba said the housing cooperative, United we stand multi-purpose housing co-operative — legally acquired the land from Chitungwiza Municipality. He disputed allegations that he was using his links with top officials in the Local Government ministry to acquire huge tracts of land. Operating five schools in the sprawling town, Mabamba said he hopes to construct a university — People’s University in Africa for Sustainable Development — at Chitungiwza Town Centre next year on a piece of land he said once again was procedurally acquired. Parly mulls cancer levy HARARE, Nov 25 (The Herald) - Zimbabweans who are arguably among the highly taxed in the world, should brace for yet another deduction by the State from their salaries following an overwhelming support for a cancer levy in Parliament last week. Legislators across the political divide in the National Assembly and the Senate endorsed the call for a levy that would go towards cancer management, but economists and workers said the move would be disastrous for the country. MDC-T MP and former DPM Thokozani Khupe introduced the motion in the Lower House recommending the introduction of a cancer levy. Medical aid societies, clients speak on tariff hike HARARE, Nov 25 - The usual Heraldese reaction says medical aid societies and patients on Friday reacted angrily to the more than 100 percent increase in consultation fees by doctors and specialists, saying the move will lead to the total collapse of the societies as they fail to honour their obligations. Most doctors are now charging patients US$50 for consultation up from US$20, while specialists are asking for US$120 up from US$60. Association of Health Care Funders chief executive officer Shylet Sanyanga said the medical societies were already failing to honour claims with the US$20 fees. Unemployed nurses to be retrained MASVINGO, Nov 23 (The Herald) - Health Deputy minister Dr Paul Chimedza says nurses who have not been recruited for the past years because of the Gvoernment job freeze in the civil service will have to be retrained upon being offered employment. Chimedza said the unemployed nurses needed to be trained first before starting work as they would have lost most of the skills attained at nurse training schools owing to redundancy. Chimedza said Government should immediately lift the freeze on recruitment, especially for health workers. Govt revamps Beam HARARE, Nov 24 (Sunday Mail) - Minister of Public Service Nicholas Goche says government is in the process of revamping the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) which last year saw over 400 000 children benefiting. He added that his ministry would also institute measures aimed at assisting children who have since dropped out of school. Goche said plans are underway to introduce a Harmonised Social Cash Transfer Programme (HSCTP) to cater for households that have food deficits and assist them with unconditional cash disbursements proportional to household size. Pasuwa, DeMbare make history HARARE, Nov 25 (Papers) - The Castle League Premier Soccer League Championship went to the wire yesterday with the top three teams – Dynamos, Highlanders and Harare City- finishing level on 54 points but Dynamos clinched the title for a record 20th time courtesy of superior goal difference. Not only that, DeMbare also became the first team to win the Championship for the third consecutive year and by superior goal difference on each occasion. Judgment day set for Zaac man HARARE, November 25 (Dailynews) Harare regional magistrate, Hosea Mujaya will on December 4 deliver judgement in a case involving Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission commissioner Emanuel Chimwanda accused of contravening the Official Secrets Act. It is alleged Chimwanda requested a number of dockets and supplied information to four MDC officials who have since appeared in court facing charges of impersonating the police, possessing articles for criminal use and breaching the Official Secrets Act. Tycoons clash over $3 million HARARE, November 25 (Dailynews) Two European investors say that they were left $3 million in the red in a gold deal involving Oman based business tycoon, Thamer Al Shanfari. Al Shanfari has business interests in Zimbabwe, although Oasis Energy group founder denied knowledge or links to the companies, an October 2012 letter by Andrew Taylor-led firms says Al Shanfari had left them in debt after bailing him out over some gold deal with German investor, Deitrich Herzog. While the Raslans were ejected from the country and briefly returned on Seychelles passports, this has sparked an immigration inquiry against the Arabian business man and his partners. 300 workers retrenched each week HARARE, November 25 (Newsday) The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has urged the Zanu PF government to urgently address the current economic meltdown and stem the tide of retrenchment which reportedly reached a peak of 300 workers per week. Japhet Moyo ZCTU secretary general said the retrenchment levels had reached alarming levels and this is a sign that the economy is getting to a dead end. Moyo said sectors mostly affected by pharmaceuticals, commercial, cement and lime and of late mining and most companies which are retrenching in these sectors are citing restructuring as well as the liquidity crunch the country is facing. The ZCTU calls for government to move with speed to avert disaster which has been fuelled by the failure by Ministry of Finance to announce the 2014 budget. Airport cleaning saga takes new twist HARARE, November 25 (Newsday) The Registrar of Companies has disowned the documents allegedly used by a local cleaning company Sterile Systems Hygienic Services to secure a cleaning tender at the Harare International Airport. Martha Chakanyuka an official at the Registrar of Companies told the court last week that the cleaning firm used fraudulent documents. Chakanyuka was giving evidence in the trial of the cleaning firm’s director Venah Kufakunesu who is facing fraud charges. Kufakunesu is accused of having used fraudulent company registration document and bank statements to win airport cleaning contract from the State Procurement Board. Chief fines murderer 16 head of cattle HARARE, November 23 (Newsday) Buhera District traditional leader Chief Nyashanu, real name Kangeya Rugare Chemvi, is reported to have presided over a murder case and ordered the culprit to pay 16 head of cattle as compensation for the crime and never reported the criminal matter to the police. According to the country’s laws, chiefs have no jurisdiction to preside over murder cases and are expected to refer them to the police, but can only deal with traditional compensation issues while the culprit faces criminal charges. The accused person in question confessed to have killed her nephew and was ordered to pay 16 beasts. Xenophobia rears ugly head in SA BEITBRIDGE, Nov 23 (The Herald) - Xenophobia motivated attacks have resurfaced in Liphalale town in South Africa’s Limpopo province where five shops, two houses and two vehicles belonging to Zimbabweans were burnt on Thursday night. The incident has raised fears of the return of the chaotic situation where 62 foreigners were brutally killed and thousands others displaced during similar attacks in May 2008. Sources in the coal mining town of Liphalale said tensions were still high in Maropong suburb yesterday amid reports that the locals were planning another onslaught on Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe’s Consular General to South Africa Godfrey Magwenzi said he was still assessing the situation together with South African police.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 06:20:51 +0000