THE Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers’ Union (Zidamwu) has threatened to petition government and mine employers for salaries to be benchmarked against the obtaining rates in the Southern African Development Community region, among other demands.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

Zidamwu general secretary Justice Chinhema confirmed the development to NewsDay Business, adding they were targeting about 20 000 signatures before submitting the document on or before January 13, 2020.

The workers are also demanding the use of the poverty datum line (PDL) scale as of December 2019 as the benchmark to come up with a minimum basic wage or salary for the first quarter of this year.

As of November 2019, the PDL for an average family of five people stood at $3 656.

In the southern region, employees in the gold sector earn about US$800 per month, but in Zimbabwe they earn about US$60. Other sub-sectors in the region like diamond pay employees an average of US$1 800 but in Zimbabwe they earn far much less than that.

“As we enter 2020, we the workers of a registered mine in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe petition you all, as you shall be going for the 2020 wage negotiations to: use the ratio according to what is returned by the employer after selling the minerals mined,” reads the petition in part.

“Formulate policy document that promotes production, job creation/security, beneficiation/value addition as well as development in areas where mining is taking place. Use regional salary scales to come up with the basic salary per sub-sector in Zimbabwe. Amend the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) which is outdated especially on classes of work /job specification according to the current environment and systems currently being used,” it reads.

Zidamwu said the CBA needed complete overhaul so as to be in line with the Labour Act Chapter 28.01; fixed contract limitation in line with the Labour Amendment 5 of 2015; code of conduct procedures; clearly define the disciplinary committee, the role to be played by each person in the committee; strict time limits on dispute resolution and clearly separate powers of the designate agent, general secretary of the NEC with the parties to the NEC, create sub-sectors within the NEC and incorporate provisions that deal with safety and health at the work place as well as criminalise non-compliance with such provisions.

“Remove voluntarism on the NEC and create statutory NEC, start discussions on admitting other players who currently are not part to the NEC for purposes of inclusivity. Finally, we demand to be paid a living wage that recognises the value of workers in line with the value of minerals mined,” the petition reads.

“These must form the basis of any wage negotiation and collectively deal with the outdated CBA. They also form part to the promotion of industrial harmony.”

Zidamwu said if all of their demands were not considered, workers in the industry would resort to all available lawful means to have their voice heard.

TOTAL cattle slaughters in Zimbabwe declined by 11% to 185 853 head for the nine months to September 2019, due to drought and disease quarantine, a new report has revealed.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

In its latest report, Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (Lmac) noted that cumulative slaughters for the third quarter of 2019 were 63 233 head, a decrease of 11% and 3% over the same period in 2018 and the third quarter of 2019, respectively.

“Drought conditions have not yet had the expected impact of increased head at cattle sales as reluctance by farmers to sell their animals and quarantine orders following disease outbreaks have had a negative effect on cattle movements,” the report reads in part.

Lmac said large variations in monthly slaughters populate the months from January to September 2019, with the highest slaughter figure recorded in May of 23 970 head, while the lowest was in February of 17 962 head.

“For the first nine months of the year, Mashonaland West province recorded the highest number of slaughters at monitored abattoirs, accounting for 19% of the national slaughter. Masvingo, Midlands and Matabeleland South were second, third and fourth with 15, 14 and 13%, respectively,” it says.

Manicaland had the lowest slaughters, accounting for just 1%, which may be reflective of the lack of monitoring at abattoirs and not the absence of cattle slaughters, the report notes.

“Slaughters in Bulawayo have been on a significant downward trend in recent months.”

The report notes that in September, the breakdown of slaughter quality shows that manufacturing and economy grades account for 50% of slaughters. Economy grade continues to dominate the carcasses slaughtered, making up 39% of all slaughters, reflecting an increase of 2% over the same period in 2018.

“Typically, as the year progresses and pastures dry up, commercial farmers and feedlot operators normally resort to feedlotting. However, the economics of this practice are under huge pressure due to the cost of stockfeed. As slaughter stock is predominantly drawn from communal cattle producers, they will be most affected by the drought as producers rely on natural pastures,” says the report.

The quality composition of slaughtered cattle over the period under review shows manufacturing and economy accounting for 45% while super grade accounts for 18%.

Matabeleland North boasted the highest average carcass size, averaging 232kg over the third quarter of 2019.

Bulawayo and Masvingo were second and third, averaging 191 and 190kg, respectively. Manicaland had the lowest carcass weight of 161kg.

The wholesale price of economy grade increased by 510% in the period under review from $7,63 to $46,83 per kg. The highest increase of 656% was for choice grade, increasing from $9 to $68/kg. Supers continue to be in short supply on the market.

“Stockfeed prices continue to be driven by inflationary pressures of raw materials. It is anticipated that as supply bottlenecks of key raw materials increase, this reality will be reflected in the price. Disposable consumer income is being eroded by inflation and as a result, dietary changes that will reduce demand for animal protein are inevitable,” the report reads in part.

Buying conditions have been characterised by prices being quoted in United States dollar and paid in ZWL at the prevailing exchange rate, a situation that has increased prices in ZWL terms.

“The outbreaks of diseases such as foot and mouth and theileriosis have resulted in regular quarantining of cattle in parts of the country, complicating the marketing of cattle in those areas,” it said.

POLICE in Kwekwe have banned the carrying of machetes and other traditional weapons in public places in a move meant to rein in notorious hit squads that have been a menace in the gold-rich city.

By Brenna Matendere

Officer commanding Kwekwe district, Chief Superintendent Conrad Mubaiwa issued a prohibition order against the weapons in terms of section 14 (1) of the Public Order and Security Act Chapter 11:17.

The prohibition order covers weapons such as catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives, spears and daggers and is effective for the next three months.

Mubaiwa cited a surge in criminal activities by people wielding the weapons as the cause of the order.

“The reason for the prohibition order follows an upsurge in crimes such as murder, armed robbery, assaults, domestic violence, malicious damage to property and unlawful entry and theft in Kwekwe district,” he said.

Machete-wielding gangs operating under the moniker Al-Shabaab, Anaconda or MaShurugwi have lately become a menace in Kwekwe where they have been accused of killing rivals and innocent people while also robbing unsuspecting people of their money and belongings.

The gangs have been linked to senior Zanu PF officials who allegedly shield them from arrest and prosecution over the crimes while benefiting from the gold they amass from surrounding mines.

After several years during which younger leaders have come to power across Africa, 2020 could hold challenges that may force many of the newcomers to take a step back.

Not all the young politicians are progressive, or even pro-democracy. But they are all representative of sweeping changes across the continent that have destabilised long-standing regimes and forced out some veteran leaders.

They include a 34-year-old female finance minister of one of Africa’s biggest States, a 37-year-old dissident rapper and opposition leader and a dynamic 43-year-old Nobel-prize-winning prime minister.

Two “dinosaurs” who were forced out of politics in 2019 — Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the 82-year-old President of Algeria, who had ruled since 1999 and Omar al-Bashir, 75, in power in Sudan since 1989 — fell victim to mass movements spearheaded by young protesters, though in each case the once-powerful rulers were left vulnerable when armed forces withdrew their support.

The huge numbers of young people reaching adulthood across Africa have fuelled a powerful desire for change and have pushed forward a new wave of younger political figures who could dramatically influence the continent’s future.

One of the most striking recent appointments was in Angola, where its President, João Lourenço, appointed Vera Daves de Sousa, a 34-year-old former researcher and analyst, to be the new Finance minister. The political system in the former Portuguese colony has long been dominated by elderly men, especially senior soldiers who fought in the decades-long civil war.

Alex Vines, director of the Africa programme at London’s Chatham House, said Lourenço’s appointment of a swath of younger people, including many women, to senior positions in the government was a gamble.

“He has leapfrogged a generation to appoint more technocratic, able people, including many women, to key posts. He sees them as change agents … Next year will be the litmus test for the reform process,” Vines said.

Perhaps the most high-profile of the young leaders is Abiy Ahmed, the 43-year-old Ethiopian Prime Minister and winner of 2019’s Nobel peace prize.

Since coming to power in 2018, Abiy has ended a nearly 20-year military stalemate with Eritrea and pushed through reforms at home, dramatically changing the atmosphere in what was regarded as a repressive State.

But he faces upcoming elections amid political infighting and rising ethnic tensions, which have led some analysts to fear that “the State could crumble”.

Nick Cheeseman, professor of democracy at the University of Birmingham and an expert in African politics, said Abiy was facing a hard choice between a shift towards authoritarianism, or the difficult task of generating confidence and belief in his reforms.

“What happens in Ethiopia has massive implications for the countries around it,” Cheeseman said.

In Sudan, the protest movement that swept away Bashir has opened the way to younger political figures. But some may not be any more progressive or less predatory than the former ruler.

One is Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, a 43-year-old warlord accused of systematic human rights abuses, who has emerged as perhaps the most powerful man in the country. He is now deputy chairman of the sovereign council that still holds supreme power.

Elsewhere some young leaders who have challenged entrenched interests have stumbled. In South Africa, Mmusi Maimane, a 39-year-old once breathlessly hailed as the Obama of Soweto, resigned as leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance following disappointing election results.

Julius Malema, the 38-year-old leader of the populist, radical leftwing Economic Freedom Fighters, also failed to make any breakthrough in the polls in South Africa and senior party members have been hit by corruption charges, which they deny.

In Uganda, Bobi Wine, an opposition MP and popular music star, has generated international attention, but is yet to build the kind of political machine that would challenge the country’s veteran leader, Yoweri Museveni, while in Zimbabwe, Nelson Chamisa, a 41-year-old pastor, who has led the Movement for Democratic Change since 2018, has struggled to mobilise sufficient numbers to destabilise the ruling Zanu PF government under 78-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“They have inherited, or are opposing, deep-seated neo-patrimonial systems. You can destabilise them, you can even bring down a leader, but the transitional politics are very, very difficult and sometimes they just don’t work out,” Vines said.

The situation was highlighted in Algeria, where disputed presidential election results handed victory to Abdelmadjid Tebboune, a 74-year-old former Prime Minister and Bouteflika loyalist.

The young rulers and challengers remain a minority. The average age of African leaders is more than 60, which means that the continent with the youngest citizens has the oldest rulers.

“We have seen some younger leaders, but there are still a lot of very old ones too,” Cheeseman said.

Pollution, populism and presidentials…… will these define the 2020s? This has been a turbulent decade across the world — protest, austerity, mass migration.

–The Guardian

Jason Burke is a Guardian columnist

INKULULEKO Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa) member Portia Sibanda on Sunday tied the knot with Gabriel Madume during a colourful ceremony held at Lakeside Events in Bulawayo.

BY DARLINGTON MWASHITA

Sibanda referred NewsDay Life & Style to her boss, Nkululeko Dube, when contacted for comment as she said she was busy with the wedding.

Dube, who is Iyasa’s director, told this paper that it was a special occasion for them and they were happy to witness the young couple walking down the aisle.

“We are here celebrating one of our own, Portia Sibanda, who is tying the knot,” he said. “It is a special occasion for us because we call ourselves trendsetters and I am happy to see these young people taking up marriage as a very important part of their lives.”

Dube said the development disproved the notion that artistes could not settle down.

“This is a career like any other and in those careers, we meet people we love and decide to create and build homes with them. Sibanda set such an example and I am really proud of her,” he said.

“We have had several other members of Iyasa who have wedded before, so we are happy to be trendsetters.”

Dube said they had been in the entertainment industry for two decades and moving towards another hoping that they would be redefining entertainment.

“We are not stopping as long as people support us, believe in what we do as there is a lot lined up for this year — new album, new songs, new video, several projects and an international tour. We are looking forward to the year,” he said.

VISUALLY-IMPAIRED gospel musician John Munodawafa, who scooped the top prize with his track Tenda in the highly popular Radio Zimbabwe Coca Cola Top 50 charts on New Year’s eve has described his music journey in 2019 as tough.

By Precious Chida

The musician walked away with US$1 500 after clinching third position in the same competition last year.

Munodawafa told NewsDay Life & Style yesterday that he worked hard during the course of last year to take his music to the people.

He said the winning song — the title track off the album Tenda — laden with a message designed to touch people’s souls and his visits to various churches marketing his music could also have helped increase his popularity ratings and subsequent amassing of votes.

“I thank God about it and I am so grateful. This journey of music is so tough, but it needs hard work. However, this has shown me that I have got a bright future in the music industry and the sky is the limit,” he said.

“I think Tenda stood out and got a lot of votes because it is a song that touches many souls. It encourages people with different expectations to hold on to faith and also because I visited many different churches, where I encouraged people to vote for the song as well,” he said.

He said plans were underway to release more tracks and stage more live shows this year, as part of a campaign to market his brand.

The musician, who recently charmed sungura ace Alick Macheso after watching a one-minute video of Munodawafa doing a rendition of his hit song, Ndakakutadzirei, off his latest album, hogged the limelight early last year after toping the Radio Zimbabwe charts and becoming one of the finalists at the Starbrite competition.

Some of the winners were Prophet T Freddy, with his song Munyama Wegonzo in second place and Panganai by Panganai Hare, which was in third place.

Dancehall crooner, Winky D won first place on the Video of the Year with his hit song Mugarden.
Prices for the winners are yet to be announced.

LOZWI King and direct descendant of King Mambo, Mike Moyo,has thrown his weight behind the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) and urged political parties to put their differences aside and dialogue for the good of the country.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU/SILAS NKALA

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has refused to have any dialogue outside of Polad. The main opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa has refused to participate in Polad meetings held by Mnangagwa and fringe opposition parties, saying it is not a genuine platform for any meaningful dialogue, while also demanding a neutral interlocutor and venue.

Moyo, however, said dialogue was necessary to alleviate widespread suffering faced by millions at a time when hunger is stalking the country.

“Next year we are expecting a turnaround for Zimbabwe. We know that there will be political negotiations through Polad and I am expecting that political parties would put people first.

“Ordinary Zimbabweans are feeling the heat through sanctions. We would continue to pray for peace and stability,” Moyo said in his end of year message.

But most civic and political groups from Matabeleland said Polad was a waste of resources by presidential losers in the July 2018 polls.

MDC Bulawayo provincial chairperson James Sithole told Southern Eye that the political actors participating in Polad were “acting in a boring movie”.

“Bulawayo province as part of the greater national MDC family is committed and supports the party’s leadership guided by its resolution to participate in dialogue and dialogue for the people and not individuals, only when the dialogue involves the representative of the 2-5 million people can be genuine,” Sithole said.

“The current dialogue (Polad) is not genuine because it’s presided over by a conflicted person who is at the centre of an election dispute. (Nelson) Chamisa’s MDC wants real and effective dialogue, the kind that will bring electoral reforms, peace and stability and improve the life of the suffering masses of this country.”

Human rights activist and political commentator Effie Ncube said if it was true that some in Polad were demanding cars and allowances, then it would be a serious indictment of the platform.

“Polad is a conversation between political parties as non- State entities. To give allowances and vehicles to participants from the national fiscus would constitute a colossal scandal and an evil abuse of trust and office,” he said.

Habakkuk Trust chief executive officer Dumisani Nkomo said Polad’s demands to government were ridiculous.

“Polad itself is a questionable process that excludes key political and social factors. These demands are preposterous, nefarious, callous and careless. They border on mischief and a flagrant disregard of the bulk of the citizenry who continue to grovel in grinding poverty while others in Polad wine at the altar of political expediency in a glorified talk show,” Nkomo said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said Polad members were showing their true colours and were a liability to national development.

National Peace and Reconciliation Commission chairperson Selo Nare on Sunday said Polad has been a success, citing the response by Sadc to Polad in solidarity with the government on the unconditional removal of sanctions as a major success.

ZIMBABWE has very little or practically no concerts that bring out the multi-racial composition of its citizens and permanent residents.

BY PAIDAMOYO MUZULU

Many a time, Zimbabweans stay in their own silos adhering to the unwritten rules of social and class intercourse, but one band has broken the barriers — Mokoomba from Binga.

The all-men band over the years has become Zimbabwe’s most commercially successful group after the Bhundu Boys.
While the Bhundu Boys’ claim to fame rest on playing before 90 000 screaming fans at Wembley Stadium in London and perfectly endearing themselves to the English audience, Mokoomba’s strength lies in being the only group from Zimbabwe that annually performs more than 30 shows at big festivals in Western Europe and North America.

Mokoomba fronted by Mathias Muzaza remains less known in Zimbabwe due to a number of factors including their limited shows in the country, four at most in a year, and singing in Tonga a minority language that many radio DJs and journalists do not understand.

However, their spirited stage performance, Muzaza’s spine-tingling vocals, Trust Samende’s lead guitar exploits and the band percussion is seductive, drawing one into the web of their songs even without understanding a word.

Pathisani Moyo (keyboardist), Ndaba Coster Moyo (drums), Abundance Mutori (bass guitar) and Miti Mugande (percussionist) make up the full ensemble that has mesmerised audiences across the world.

On Friday, Mokoomba was closing their performances in Harare for 2019, actually their third show in the capital this year.

In the spirit of helping out up-and-coming artistes Mokoomba shared the stage with Probeatz, a new artiste with his art that defies definition. The guy can make the mike sound like drums and produce a spellbinding rhythm.

Mokoomba also gave emerging musician Solution a chance to showcase his music and exquisite vocals when he came on stage to do a duet with diva Amara Brown.

Just before 10pm, Mookomba came to the stage with the audience expecting another electric performance and the boys duly delivered. The band started on a slow tempo playing Kuma Kamukanda, Anachibale, Kazola and by the time they got to Africa the dancefloor was lit.

They pushed further and by playing the crowd favourite Nyaradzo an acappella song that shows the band’s vocal prowess, swaying all the lovebirds to the melody and lifting their spirits to the heavens.

Like always they band saluted the audience with a bow and the lights went out to the great pleadings of “one more, one more,” but the night had since changed to morning and the sated audience trooped out still filled with delirium.

After a decade on the road, touring every continent, raising the country’s flag with their Afro-fusion beat, Mokoomba does not seem to be slowing down but ready to release their third album after Rising Tide and Luyando.