BY STEPHEN CHADENGA

A 35-year-old Harare man who terrorised women in and around Kwekwe by robbing and raping them was last Friday jailed to an effective 23 years and six months after being convicted on three counts of unlawful entry, robbery and rape.

Gweru regional margistrate Pathekile Msipa initially sentenced Simbarashe Munyaradzi Muwaniki to 30 years before suspending part of the jail term.

On the unlawful entry charge, Msipa sentenced Muwaniki to five years, while on the robbery count she handed him another five years, but conditionally suspended one year. A further six months were suspended on condition he restituted complainant US$80 and $12 before January 30.

The complainant, who resides in Redcliff, positively identified Muwaniki after he had been arrested by Kwekwe police over similar offences.

The State case was that on April 30 last year, at around 3am, Muwaniki broke into the complainant’s house using an iron bar.

He went into the complainant’s bedroom and ordered her to remove the password from her mobile phone after threatening to kill her.

Muwaniki stole US$80 and $12 from a wallet in the wardrobe and later raped the complainant, who narrated her ordeal to her sister and a tenant, after which a police report was filed.

guest column:Crecey Kuyedzwa

From a clampdown on protesters over a massive fuel price hike, to rolling 18-hour power cuts, Zimbabwe’s government — led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa — had its work cut out in 2019.
By the end of the year, former South African President Thabo Mbeki visited Zimbabwe, engaging key political players in a bid to increase stability going forward.

Fin24 takes a look at the game-changing events that characterised Zimbabwe’s economy in the past year.

150% fuel price hike
On January 12, Mnangagwa announced a sharp increase in fuel prices, a measure he said was meant to improve supplies as the country struggled with its worst fuel shortages in a decade.

Petrol prices were increased by some 150% overnight to among the world’s highest at US$3,31 from US$1,24 a litre and diesel prices to US$3,11 from US$1,36 a litre. The price hike saw Zimbabweans taking to the streets, in violent protests, destroying property worth millions of dollars.

The government’s response was brutal, with eight people reportedly killed after army deployment. Fuel has since gone up several times and by year end, was retailing at $17,44 per litre of petrol and $17,90 per litre of diesel.

Currency float
The fuel price hike was followed by a currency float in mid-February. The Zimbabwean government was, at last, abandoning its three-year local currency peg to the US dollar. The move effectively devalued the quasi-bond note currency from a 1:1 parity to the US dollar to 1:16,65 as at December 19.

The impact has, however, been devastating, with Zimbabwe returning to hyperinflation, and annual inflation doubling to reach 176% in June. Finance minister Mthuli Ncube suspended the publication of annual inflation figures, which independent bodies, using statistics supplied by Zimstat, put at 481% in November.

An even bigger economic knock was to come in June after Ncube outlawed the use of foreign currency for all local transactions. This move meant shares and investments made in US dollars would now be traded in local currency only. This was a staggering blow to the market capitalisation of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, which saw its lowest value since 2009 after losing US$2 billion (bn) in value in under two months after the foreign currency ban.

Pensioners are also facing value erosion: Total assets for pension funds, which were valued at approximately US$10bn in December 2018, are now valued at approximately US$622 million (m) at the going exchange rate. While properties held by pension funds can be revalued to reflect closer to their former values, shares, where they have invested 40% of their funds, might take longer, if ever, to reflect their intrinsic values.

Currency shortages
The currency float was also not enough to solve foreign currency availability challenges, with more than US$1,2bn belonging to foreign suppliers and shareholders still locked in Zimbabwe. This is in addition to multilateral debt of close to US$10bn. The southern African country has struggled to pay for supplies ranging from food, medical drugs, electricity, raw materials and fuel, among others.

South African companies such as Eskom, SAA, Multichoice, Tongaat, PPC, Nampak, AB Inbev all have millions of dollars locked in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe units are not operating at full capacity amid raw material shortages. In February, three gold mines owned by ZSE listed RioZim shut down operations over forex availability challenges.

Lights out
Failure to get adequate power supplies from Eskom has also compounded an already dire situation as the Zimbabwe’s main source of power can only generate a small fraction of its installed capacity.

Dwindling water levels at Kariba Dam has meant less than 200MW is being generated from an installed capacity of
1 050MW. The coal-powered plants at Hwange constantly break down, resulting in rolling power cuts of more than 18 hours in some instances.

This has a huge bearing on industry and has reflected in reduced production at farms, factories and mines.

Zimbabwe also experienced a devastating drought that left some 7,7 million people facing severe hunger as the southern African country battled one of its worst food shortages in years.
The Zimbabwe government was recently forced to relax conditions of importation of grain in order to ensure the continued availability of essential foodstuffs.

Incapacitation
This term came into prominence with employees across the economy claiming incapacitation to come to work. They claimed their incomes had seriously been eroded by inflation and currency depreciation, which made it “next to impossible” for them to attend work.

Close to 500 doctors were fired for their failure to attend work for over 90 days following their claim of incapacitation.

Corruption
Having declared his intention to fight corruption, Mnagagwa ovehauled the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (Zacc) and put Judge Loice Matanda Moyo at the helm. Zacc has, however, been accused by critics of being partisian and only arresting those who would have fallen out of favour with the ruling elite.

Former Tourism minister Prisca Mupfumira became the first senior government official to be arrested for criminal abuse of office involving US$95m. She is out on bail and in December claimed she was not mentally fit to stand trial. A psychiatrist, according to her lawyer, recommended that she be given three months to recover.

The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs responsible for Monitoring and Implementation of government programmes, Joram Gumbo, was also arrested in November. Gumbo was accused of criminal abuse of office involving US$37m. In character with most high profile cases, Gumbo was released pending further investigations.

The latest corruption-related arrest is that of Zimbabwean Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, accused of externalising US$1m and laundering another US$990 000.

She is also accused of attempting to kill her husband when she accompanied him to South Africa to seek medical treatment by delaying his admission into a medical facility for more than 24 hours and subsequently attempting to disconnect his life support machine.

guest column:Peter Makwanya

THE news currently filtering in from recent meteorological surveys indicate a looming drought in southern Africa due to a number of reasons.

News indicating an imminent drought in southern Africa, with Zimbabwe being the hardest hit, have sent shivers and shock waves down the spines of the majority of people who survive on rain-fed agriculture.

As the scourge which can culminate into a humanitarian disaster was communicated, it’s the nature of language use which was not palatable and unfriendly which proved worrying.

As usual, there has been these deliberate attempts to scare people through language, to sound too complex and knowledgeable, leaving out the most important stakeholders, who in this case are the laypersons and most vulnerable who will feel the impact of drought.

For this reason, communication had gone, making the whole discourse non-inclusive.

In such scenarios, people invest trust on scientists for outcomes such as these, but what do they get in return, communication and knowledge gaps, sufficient to scare and disempower them.

As usual, scientists specialise in metaphors of fear and panic, academic hedging and uncertainties, leaving out the ordinary person shocked stupid, instead of creating opportunities of character building, behavioural change and human preparedness to deal with the looming drought.

The audience requires empowering information which is inclusive and human friendly, motivating them to be able to survive within the drought of any magnitude rather than inducing fear and despondence.

In this regard, people should not continue to view climate change only as a scientific problem, thereby ignoring the environment, humanitarian and political aspects.

This communication dilemma continues to nurture gate-keeping of knowledge rather than knowledge sharing.

Now that the information on drought is in the public domain, it remains to be seen how governments prepared for this humanitarian disaster.

This scenario is not only about people requiring humanitarian aid, but also how they can absorb some climate shocks and achieve resilience.

Donor assistance will come to pass, but the people need to continue surviving by engaging in projects which cushion them and increase their coping mechanisms.

Drought is a natural and humanitarian disaster which affects both urban and rural environments.

Therefore, people concerned need to demonstrate at least few safety-net mechanisms which will enable them to survive when the drought is raging and also in the event that aid by-passes them.

The truth is that donor aid or strategic grain reserves cannot reach everyone due to corrupt tendencies of those who are in control of distribution programmes.

Therefore, information-empowered communities should be able to produce something that is drought tolerant to improve household food security. If people are not productive then they cannot adapt so they continue to be abused by the haves.

Memories are still fresh about people who lost cattle to fraudsters during the 2006-2008 drought period when a beast would be sold for a bucket of maize.

It is also common knowledge that during droughts, livestock and wildlife would die in large numbers.

Remaining with a few livestock means that owners may buy or prepare their own stockfeeds just to increase the chances of their survival.

In any drought situation, water is a major factor. Its scarcity presents sleepless nights to both urban and rural communities. In urban areas, water rationing can treble.

These are some of the projects that people can engage in, on small-scale basis just to survive and avoid climate inaction.

Issues of climate-induced disasters like droughts and floods are regular news features, but people are never fully prepared to encounter these scenarios.

Although the government has its strategic grain reserves situated at the Grain Marketing Board, oftentimes these are not enough.

People need to go the extra mile in mapping their own coping mechanisms just to be able to survive.

That is why people need to be sufficiently prepared in their mindsets, character, attitudes and overall behavioural practices through strategic communication so that they can move forward.

Strategic communication would improve people’s climate literacy and knowledge which would enable them to identify and interpret indigenous knowledge system indicators and scientific forecasters that contribute to early warning systems (EWS).

EWS are important in empowering people with context-specific knowledge of what their agricultural season would be like.

By so doing, the country and the people would be planning positively and for a sustainable future in which they would be active participants.

editorial comment

IF there is anything that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s two year-old government has managed to do and pass with flying colours, it has been its complete disregard to set rules of engagement specifically concerning its commitment to opening up the country for business.

As we speak, the cookie is crumbling big time as all old and new business prospects wither due to the regime’s casual approach to serious matters that ought to shore up its efforts to easing the doing business environment.

A perfect example of government’s apathetic attitude is its failure to bring law and order in the countryside where land invasions continue to be the order of day since the launch of the land reform programme in 2000. This has now led to the country losing €16 million worth of funding for the development of infrastructure in one of Zimbabwe’s prime wildlife conservancies – the Lowveld’s Save Valley Conservancy, which is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

For failing to stick to the letter and spirit of an earlier pronouncement that new land invasions will no longer be tolerated, the government has now lost crucial funding which it cannot even afford to replace through own resources.

While officials in government would like to assure us that they are busy engaging the European Union (EU) to try and rescue the deal, the damage has already been done.

It is not only the EU deal that has been affected by land invasions; there are many local and foreign investment properties that are facing constant threats from unbridled individuals and gangs seeking to occupy their lands.

Examples include the Leopard Rock Hotel and a flourishing tea and macadamia enterprise, all in Manicaland province. Two decades of perpetual land invasions is not sustainable and hardly good for business.

Other individuals and families are currently being pushed off their lands silently, while Mnangagwa’s government turns a blind eye.

Zimbabwe cannot be termed open for business under such circumstances when both local and foreign investments are not guaranteed of any form of protection from marauding invaders.
The country can only be certified as open for business once investments are guaranteed of protection through the rule of law.

So it would be most prudent for the so-called new dispensation to resolutely commit to upholding the rule of law in 2020 for it to shore up any chances of endearing itself with both local and foreign investors.

BY SILAS NKALA

SOUTH AFRICA-BASED Ndebele King Bulelani Colin Khumalo has urged people in Matabeleland to rally behind the dethroned Ntabazinduna Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni after the government recently stripped him of his traditional leadership position citing unprocedural installation.

Khumalo’s remarks came at a time Ndiweni has filed an application at the High Court challenging the government decision to dethrone him.

Ndiweni, who was dethroned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration on November 30, 2019, has through his lawyer Dumisani Dube filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court.

He cited Mnangagwa, Local Government minister July Moyo, Chiefs’ Council president Fortune Charumbira, Chief Shana for Matabaleland North Provincial Chiefs Assembly, Matabeleland North provincial co-ordinator Latiso Dlamini and Umguza district development co-ordinator Tapiwa Zivovoyi as respondents.

Ndiweni said his removal from office was unlawful.

He also wants the court to block the collection of his official vehicle and regalia indicating that the government’s actions were a violation of his rights and the Traditional Leaders Act.

Over the weekend, Khumalo said he was humbled by the Mthwakazi people’s unwavering support for the revival of the Mthwakazi nation and urged them to also support Ndiweni during his “vilification and humiliation” by “oppressors”.

“I am however saddened by the perpetual attacks on our nation and Induna (Chief) Nhlanhlayamangwe Khayisa Ndiweni by our oppressors,” he said.

“I therefore wish to remind you that unity is of paramount importance if we are to stand against our oppressors and we should therefore support our Chief or anyone who is attacked or is fighting for our nation.”

Ndiweni has been the front-runner in pushing for the revival of the Ndebele kingdom and was one of the organisers of the coronation of King Bulelani which was blocked by government sometime in 2018.

The coronation ceremony was supposed to be held at the Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo, but ended up being held at a private venue after the government banned the proceedings to take place at public a place.

BY RICHARD MUPONDE

THE first consignment of 15 tonnes of rice donated under the presidential food aid scheme to benefit Chivi South villagers in Masvingo is reportedly still missing although the local MP Killer Zivhu has received the second consignment which he distributed in his constituency on Friday last week.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Ezra Chadzamira’s name has been dragged into the alleged diversion of the 15 metric tonnes of the donated rice amid reports that the staple food had been diverted to Harare and other parts of the country.

The rice was allocated through Zivhu on the strength of a letter from the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Simon Masanga to Harare depot manager of the Grain Marketing Board.

A relative to Chivi Rural District Council chairperson Godfrey Huruva Mukungunugwa identified as Donny Huruva, and his wife Veronica Mhlanga, has been arrested over the matter.

Zivhu yesterday confirmed that the first consignment was still missing but he had collected a second one which he has since distributed in his constituency.

“I collected a second consignment of another 15 metric tonnes. The first one they are delivering it in bits and pieces. It’s now more than 14 days but mine was just a day and I have since distributed it to the villagers,” he said.

Huruva and Mhlanga were arrested last week when the case was reported under Immediate Report (IR) 010074 and a Criminal Record (CR) is still to be opened.

This was after Zivhu had to trace Mhlanga through her Facebook page and she allegedly confessed to having collected the rice after being given the green light by Mukungunugwa.

After the police report was made, 100 bags were reportedly delivered at a councillor’s shop in the constituency amid reports the remainder was to be delivered within seven days.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police investigations revealed that the rice was collected on Chadzamira’s instruction and distributed in the constituency. He refuted claims that the rice had been diverted to other areas.

Zivhu and Chadzamira have not been in good books after the provincial minister who is also Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chair last year recommended the summary expulsion of the legislator from the ruling party.

He accused Zivhu of treacherous behaviour after he called on Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to hold talks to resolve the country’s economic crisis.

Zivhu’s fate now lies with the Zanu PF national disciplinary committee chaired by Oppah Muchinguri after he appealed against the decision by Chadzamira’s executive.

BY PATRICIA SIBANDA

GOVERNMENT has been challenged to reverse its decision to re-introduce maternity fees if the country hopes to eliminate the current high maternal mortality rate.

Government announced that it was re-introducing maternity fees after they were scrapped following calls by women’s groups and politicians a few years ago.

Ante-natal and post-natal care in general wards at referral hospitals will now cost $200, central hospitals $160, provincial hospitals $120 and district hospital $80 per day.

Those referred for caesarian delivery at central hospitals will now pay $2 500, provincial hospitals $1 500 and district hospitals $1 000.

Before the maternity fees were scrapped, expecting mothers paid $50 at council clinics and $65 at public hospitals for babies delivered through caesarian procedure.

The bulk of the women who ended up at government hospitals were those who would have paid $25 to register at their respective council clinics, but experience complications which required them to go to the referral hospitals.

Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights treasurer Norman Matara said the major reason why government has re-introduced maternity fees is because hospitals have run out of resources to use.

“In some cases, I can safely say that it is a good thing …. because almost all hospitals had ran out of sundries and they were falling short of resources. However, it has its challenges because this will push people to end up resorting to traditional means of giving birth which is not 100% safe, hence leading to high maternal mortality rates,” he said.

Matara said the only problem was that the maternity fees to be paid now were unaffordable.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, Ruth Labode said government should reverse the decision of wanting to re-introduce maternity fees because it comes with a lot of challenges in the country.

“A lot of these women are not working, so are their husbands. Very few will afford and government is simply reversing the gains it had achieved on reducing mortality rate,” she said.

“This will also promote illegal abortions as women are also failing to access family planning materials due to the exorbitant prices.”

Worst hit by the exorbitant fees would be rural women who struggle to access life-saving maternal and child health care.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, a woman’s lifetime risk of dying of pregnancy complications stands at one in 42 and of every 1 000 live births, while 80 children die before reaching the age of five.

By SIMBARASHE SITHOLE

MVURWI residents have blasted their local authority for failing to act on an illegal tin shack that was allegedly erected by town secretary Sheri Nyakudya’s son in the town centre in December last year.

Residents association’s representative, Emmanuel Nkambala blasted the town secretary for nepotism because similar structures were previously destroyed by the same council.

“As Mvurwi residents, we are disgruntled by our town secretary, who is accused of authorising an illegal structure in the centre of the town. What raises eyebrows is that the same council destroyed similar structures previously, hence we cannot doubt that it’s her son’s structure,” Nkambala said.

The town secretary could neither confirm nor deny that she has been embroiled in a nepotism scam.

“The council has no authority on someone’s premises. That premise belongs to Peacock,” she said.

Quizzed on whether her son owned the structure and why they destroyed similar structures previously, she became evasive.

The ward councillor Fanuel Chigonero vowed to take action on the structure by calling for an official meeting.

“The structure is very disturbing considering that it is at the heart of the town. We are yet to sit down in an official meeting and condemn the structure,” he said.

BY DARLINGTON MWASHITA

A MASS exodus of students from expensive learning institutions due to astronomical fees and economic challenges has started rocking most schools with many parents transferring their children to day-government schools.

The receiving schools, according to teachers’ unions, are reportedly hit by overcrowding in a development which will result in many students failing to get places and teachers at those schools being overworked.

Since end of last year, many parents have been seeking places for their children at government day schools following reports of astronomical fees increases which were announced by private and government boarding schools.

However, teachers’ unions who spoke to NewsDay last week said the move would have a negative impact on learners as well as on government schools.

“Transferring of pupils to new schools affects their performances. Children will lose their teachers as they have to start afresh the syllabus with the new teacher. This is also a sign that parents can no longer afford fees for the children,” Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said.

“Good quality of education will be only available and accessed by the privileged children due to the economic challenges which are affecting the parents who can no longer afford quality education for the children,” he said.

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said a number of children who were being transferred to new schools were in Form Three and Four, and that will affect their performance and concentration levels.

“This will result in overcrowding in government schools which will also affect the learning of pupils as government schools do not have enough learning materials such as text books will not be enough to sustain them as one class can have 60 to 90 children,” he said.

Majongwe said most government schools had inadequate health facilities and with the current situation of water rationing, pupils will be affected by several types of diseases.