FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube says Zimbabwe’s agriculture must be climate proofed so that it depends more on irrigation than weather patterns.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

Ncube said this recently in the Senate during debate on the Finance (No. 3 Bill) on the 2020 budget.

He said in order to climate proof agriculture, there was need to invest more on irrigation, adding that a budget of $500 million was allocated towards that. In 2020, Ncube allocated $11,3 billion towards agriculture.

“We have set aside a budget of the order of $500 million for irrigation because we wish to climate proof our agriculture,” Ncube said.

“We have also set aside a budget of the order of $250 million to deal with dam construction, but also to acquire meteorological equipment for us to track weather patterns. Everyone knows that the drought has been severe and it has depressed agriculture by as much as 18% of gross domestic product (GDP) and overall GDP of minus 6,5%,” he said.

The Finance minister said financing agriculture could be through partnering with banks, and also crowd sourcing in the private sector.

“To achieve this we need to deal with the issue of the 99-year leases which have not been accepted by banks,” he said.

Rejoice Timire (Senator representing people with disabilities) then asked Ncube to explain what he will do to ensure that there is enough water in the country to support agriculture.
“Dams are a long term relief to irrigation, but Zimbabwean people are suffering because there is no water. Women are suffering because they are getting water from faraway places. Even in urban areas there are long queues of people trying to look for water,” Timire said.

Ncube said to alleviate water problems, the 2020 budget allocates $233 million to the District Development Fund (DDF) for the purpose of drilling boreholes, mainly in the rural areas.
“We have another budget for about $45 million for the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) to do likewise because they have different capacities. Zinwa is capacitated to drill deeper boreholes, especially in the drier areas, but we are aware that the Chinese have also given us aid for drilling boreholes where they pay contractors to drill boreholes,” he said.

On perennial water crisis in the urban areas, Ncube said: “In the budget we have allocated resources for chemicals and for upgrading the infrastructure in the urban areas,” adding that some of the devolution resources must focus on funding water and sanitation.

A POLICE officer was on Saturday bludgeoned to death, while his colleague was injured in an attack by machete-wielding artisanal miners who had invaded Good Hope Mine in Kadoma.

BY SIMBARASHE SITHOLE

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were still investigating the incident. “We are still gathering facts surrounding the case,” he said.

According to a leaked Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) memorandum seen by NewsDay, Constable Wonder Hokoyo (27) fell victim to the machete wars on December 28.

Hokoyo was among four officers guarding the mine and were armed with two FN riffles, but were over powered by the gold panners who were armed with axes and machetes.

Three suspects only identified as Mike, Kwedaz and Givy were apprehended while other miners are still at large.

“On December 28 at around 1400 hours, the accused persons, with many others who are still at large, proceeded to the vicinity armed with machetes, catapults and axes and forcefully took control of the mine shafts there by dispersing the genuine miners who were extracting gold ore,” the memo read.

“The police details reacted to the accused persons approach and fired some warning shots into the air to scare away the accused persons, but they did not take heed, instead the accused persons advanced towards the police in a bid to attack.

“One of the accused persons attacked Constable Hokoyo from behind and struck him once at the back of the head using a (wood) log and disarmed him leaving the police officer with no option rather than (sic) to escape from the attack.”

The memo further read: “The accused disarmed Constable Kamhuka before he escaped from the scene after being assaulted all over the body, the rest of the police officers managed to escape after noticing that their lives were under threat.

“The accused made a frantic chase to (sic) Constable Hokoyo and struck him all over his body using machetes and axes leaving him lying lifeless, Constable Hokoyo later died due to injuries sustained as a result of the attack (sic).”

The matter was reported at Battlefields Police Station under RRB number 41295128. Constable Kamhuka is currently admitted at Kadoma hospital.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabweazara could not be reached for comment.

The memo also states that former legislator for Muzvezve Constituency Peter Haritatos, who is the owner of Brompton Mine, Battlefieds Kadoma gave mining claims to Zanu PF provincial secretary for Mashonaland West Philmon Ndushu in 2010. The claims include Maglass, Goodhope, Alexander, Musakanene, Moddi, Ngangana, Bongola and Copper mines.

Since August, over 105 people have died in machete wars.

The majority of the machete hit squads, infamously known as MaShurugwi and the Al-Shabaab, come from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s home province of Midlands and have invaded claims in Mashonaland Central, West, Matabeleland provinces and Manicaland to terrorise locals.

UNEMPLOYED youths roaming the streets of Zimbabwe have become “ravenous and dangerous” and the country could soon see a spike in violent crimes if the problem is not solved, the ruling Zanu PF party has noted.

BY MOSES MATENGA

According to a health, child welfare and the elderly report recently tabled during a party meeting, the country must brace for a rise in crime due to rampant unemployment. The southern African country has an estimated unemployment rate of 90%

“This includes the use of harmful substances, including alcohol by youths who are mainly not employed. The situation is a very serious health disorder and a danger to the future generation, owing to the substance abuse, the youths have become very unproductive and destructive,” the report read.

“This conjures the biblical saying that ‘An idle mind is the devil’s workshop’, as such we appeal for urgent introduction of entrepreneurship programmes to keep our youths busy and productive.”

The report noted the drug abuse, as a result of unemployment, has led to parents suffering together with communities as the youths have been turned into “ravenous and dangerous people”. “Needless to say, if this goes unchecked we should brace for a spike in violent crimes,” the report read.

The party proffered no solutions to the problem.

The Zanu PF government has been blamed for poor policies that have led to closure of industries and turning the country into an informal sector-centred economy in the process.

However, the ruling party maintains that sanctions imposed by the West are to blame for the current situation that has seen millions losing jobs while factories remain closed.

Authorities say there have been an upsurge in criminal activities across the country as people try to survive.

The situation has seen a rise in armed robberies and other violent crimes that also include the artisanal miners’ “machete wars” that have wreaked havoc across the country as desperate youths invade gold claims to eke out a living.

THE Municipality of Marondera has resolved to turn the state-of-the art but idle Bio-Nutrient Removal (BNR) plant into fish ponds despite residents facing a myriad of sewer problems.

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

BNR is a process used for nitrogen and phosphorus removal from waste water before it is discharged into surface or ground.

A generic image of a sewer pond

NewsDay is reliably informed that council is set to lease the sewage ponds for fish production at a time when the farming town is grappling with massive sewer bursts, while raw effluent is being pumped into Rufaro Dam, which provides water to the town.

The sewage ponds, located in Marondera’s industrial site, were constructed in 2002 before the project stalled due to lack of funding.

There are only three BNR plants in the country, with the most functional one being in Gweru.

Efforts to get a comment from town clerk Josiah Musuwo were fruitless as he is reportedly out of the country.

According to a reliable source, council is set to lease the sewer project to an individual who is going to embark in fish production.

“The state-of-the art sewer plant is going to be turned into fish ponds, with council set to offer a lease to someone who has shown interest in fish farming. The BNRs are a modern sewer system such that if completed, they could have solved all the sewer problems in the town,” the source said.

It is reported that council conducted a property audit leading to the resolution that the idle sewer ponds be put to “good use”.

Area councillor Saizi Vilela confirmed the development, but said he was going to get more details from council management.

THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information and Media has recommended that media practitioners who request for information from the government or any other entities must get a response within 48 hours.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

The committee, chaired by Prince Dubeko Sibanda, made the recommendation in their report on the Freedom of Information Bill, which is currently in the Second Reading Stage in the National Assembly.

Hon Prince Dubeko Sibanda

The Freedom of Information Bill will replace the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa), which was considered by many in Zimbabwe to be notoriously draconian and impinging on access to information.

“During public hearings on the Freedom of Information Bill there was a request that requests for information by the media practitioners should be responded to within 48 hours and that requests for information by the general public should be provided to within a maximum of seven days,” Sibanda said while presenting the committee report recently in the National Assembly.

“It was submitted that the period for requested responses is too long and should be reduced to at least five days or less, with some advocating for 48 hours or three working days since information easily becomes obsolete.”

Sibanda said the current Freedom of Information Bill is commendable because it has some positive departures from Aippa, including measures aimed at promoting transparency and accountability.

“However, there remain other issues related to the accessibility of information that must be given immediate attention to bring the Bill into line with section 62 of the Constitution. The Bill is silent on a number of issues which include the inability to transfer requests from one entity to another among others,” he said.

Mberengwa South MP Alum Mpofu (Zanu PF) said the Bill should ensure that people who request for information get that information in their preferred language.

“The issue of language is a very sensitive matter because language, citizenship and empowerment are greatly tied together. Citizens feel immediately disempowered if they are not allowed to get information in the language of their choice,” Mpofu said.

“Information officers or those responsible to deliver information should be adequately trained and show that they are actually committed to deliver that important public service of disseminating information.”

Mutasa South MP Regai Tsunga (MDC Alliance) said the Freedom of Information Bill would give effect to the constitutional provisions that guarantee the rights to access to information.
Tsunga said the period of 35 days for which one is given to request for information and make an appeal if that information is not released was too long.

“The Bill provides a further 14 days if the information cannot be availed within 21 days for a total of 35 days before one can appeal. This period is obviously too long because, for example if one went to ZIMSEC [Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council] to get information about maybe missing examination results which they want to use to enrol at some university, they might have to wait for 35 days before they can get that information and meanwhile, perhaps the closing date for enrolment would have long passed,” Tsunga said.

He suggested that the period must be reduced to seven days so that information is not withheld by public entities.

“Requests for information should be admissible in any form — verbal, written, text, email so that our people are able to make their requests and the information is granted. The Bill also insists on payment for translation if the information that one requires is not maintained in the language that they use that is readily available in the offices,” he said.

INCARCERATED wife of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, Marry’s health has reportedly deteriorated dangerously while in remand prison ahead of her bail application hearing tomorrow.

BY MOSES MATENGA/EVERSON MUSHAVA

Her father, Keni, denied social media reports that she had been rushed to hospital, but told NewsDay yesterday that his daughter was, indeed, unwell and remained incarcerated.

Mubaiwa said Marry had been unwell for some time, while her lawyer, Taona Nyamakura, told the court at her initial bail hearing that she was being denied access to her doctors during the incarceration.

She is facing allegations of trying to kill her husband, a former army commander, and of externalising foreign currency.

“She is unwell. She had been unwell before as she went there (to remand prison). That is the issue we really feel concerned about,” he said

Marry was arrested on December 14 and is held at Chikurubi Female Prison after she was denied bail.

The former top model has been battling to secure bail and will be back in court on Tuesday for her bail hearing after spending the Christmas holiday behind bars.

On reports that she was taken to hospital, Mubaiwa said: “I have spoken to people who are there, she is there (remand prison), she was not taken to hospital, but if you had seen her before, she has been unwell and like I said, that remains a major concern for us.”

However, some close relatives who visited Marry yesterday said the former model was not hospitalised as claimed.

“Yes, we saw her, she was doing as well as can be (under) the circumstances. That she has healthy problems is not a secret,” a relative said on condition of anonymity.
Prior to her arrest, pictures of Marry showed her with swollen arms and legs.

She claimed in her court papers that she was a victim of an assassination attempt when a hand grenade was thrown at a Zanu PF rally in Bulawayo in June 2018, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly being the target in the run up to the 2018 elections.

Several top Zanu PF officials, including Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, Defence and War Veterans minister Oppah Muchinguri, were injured.

The VP filed for divorce soon after he returned from China, where he was being treated for suspected poisoning.

Marry said in court that her estranged husband had caused her arrest so that he gains an upper hand in the divorce case currently before the courts.

INTERVIEW: Tatira Zwinoira

The economy is imploding and mostly as a result of the Zimbabwe dollar losing value.

As the country approaches the New Year, NewsDay Business reporter, Tatira Zwinoira (ND) talks to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya (JM) about plans to stabilise the currency.

ND: A lot of businesses are optimistic about the first quarter of next year. What do you think of it?

JM: That is why we are trying to put our house in order so that the New Year will be a better year for everyone and that we will continue with the spirit of love and discipline so that the economy will move on that pace.

ND: In trying to examine what went wrong with the Zimbabwean dollar as it has failed to maintain its value, what are your thoughts pertaining the issue from the authorities’ side, as Reserve Bank?

JM: I am not sure how the Zimbabwe dollar failed to maintain its value. That question presupposes that the authorities had made a statement on where the Zimbabwe dollar should settle. Where are you coming from yourself?

When you say it’s not getting its value, it sounds as if someone had told you that the Zimbabwe dollar was supposed to settle at a certain level which is not true.

TZ: As the Reserve Bank, did you not have your own expectations?

JM: That is what I am saying that I do not rely on hear-say, which does not have evidence. For you to say it has failed, it means you already had your own objectives over the issue. It seems you had your own predetermined level that you thought the Zimbabwe dollar was supposed to settle.

The best way of saying it is as follows: The economy is in transition and that transition will liberalise under the TSP (Transitional Stabilisation Programme). We liberalised Zimbabwe’s exchange rate/prices and because we liberalised them, it means the exchange rate was supposed to find its level within the market because it is market-determined. In that market determination, our mandate, objective and key focus area was to make sure that the Zimbabwe dollar remains stable at a certain level where it would have to settle.

So the issue now is on how to make it settle where it is so that it would not pass through the effects of inflation. If you ask me whether we believe the exchange rate is now stable, we will say yes because over the past two months up to December, the exchange rate has been stable.

TZ: That’s quite true because I have seen on the interbank parallel market, the exchange rate is now relatively stable, but …

JM: The next question should be what are we going to do to ensure that the rate of the exchange remains where it is as it is relatively stable? So, there are two deliverables that we are going to work on, that is, to ensure that the reserve monetary target is maintained at levels that do not put pressure on the exchange rate and we are also ensuring that we will seek finance through the letters of cash that we are issuing out so that the demand for foreign currency would reduce on the interbank market by the use of debt instruments called letters of credit.

A letter of credit is a debt instrument which makes it easy to plan for cash flow in a manner that helps to reduce pressure on the exchange rate and, therefore, for bulk imports like fuel, maize and cooking oil. By so doing, we are looking for foreign currency through letters of credit to ensure that there is not too much money on the market by making sure that we target our reserve money growth.

In that way, it will pass through the benefits to the inflation so that prices are also stable.
So, our main job, going forward into 2020, is to maintain price stability through the exchange rate stability and to ensure that the public has confidence in the local currency. That has to simultaneously harness as much foreign currency as possible from the people in the diaspora and the exporters so that we improve on the efficiency and the utilisation of the foreign currency in Zimbabwe.

TZ: But governor, don’t you think you should be focusing on trying to get foreign currency reserves to stabilise the currency because, unlike in America, where they use just the confidence in the economy to stabilise their currency, there is no confidence in this economy. You have said it yourself so many times, so don’t you think where there is no confidence in the economy, something should be backing our economy other than the reserve money that you are targeting?

JM: We are saying the same language here. We are saying we are managing our local currency so that we do not put pressure on foreign currency exchange because people have got much money in the market because they increased the rate of the currency.

And we are also saying simultaneously, we are going to harness as much foreign currency as possible from the diasporas and the exports (by) giving them incentives so that the exporters continue to export.

Besides, the market will become competitive and at the same time, the people in the diaspora will bring in money. I am talking about an open market economy.

TZ: So how much foreign currency do you think as the central bank will be enough to sustain our local currency?

JM: Let me put it this way. Once the confidence levels are high and if there is discipline in the market and the love within the Zimbabweans which is the fundamental principle of life, with that, I can tell you that the economy will become so simple and grafted towards the growth in the new year.

I am hopeful that what the Zimbabweans have gone through over the year which has been difficult cannot continue under that context.

This economy requires about US$520 million on a monthly basis for us to be comfortable with our economy and its earning around US$490 million.

If you get more money from the exports and that from the diaspora and if we get more money from the letters of credit and money from the finance, we can bridge that gap of about US$30 million very easily.

Our foreign currency situation is very stable and fundamentals on the foreign side are not that bad.

TZ: As the Reserve Bank, how are you going to build confidence in the economy in 2020?

JM: We are going to focus on a number of things in the New Year. We want to lower to under 5% by year end the month-on-month inflation.

TZ: And with the exchange rate, what level are you targeting?

JM: We are expecting a stable exchange rate, but that one is very difficult to measure, but we expect it to be stable in view of what we are doing on the foreign exchange side to make sure that, as I said, we harness as much foreign currency from within, the diaspora and from the lines of credit.

Number two, under key focus areas, which we are working on as a bank, is to enhance financial sector responsibility to make sure people have got confidence in the financial services sector and that the money remains safe and sound.

The third one is to enhance the functioning of Zimbabwe’s financial markets in support of economic resilience and development.

The fourth, as I was saying, is to ensure they (Zimbabweans) have confidence in the local dollar, currency, and that the cash is disbursed in such a manner that we minimise the premiums that are being charged and that money is available when money is required because that instils confidence in the banking public that they will get their money as and when they need it.

TZ: How are you going to be spending your Christmas, if you don’t mind me asking?

JM: Right now, I am in the office trying to make sure that the economy can keep going forward.

My philosophy in business, Tatira. As you know, in whatever circumstance that you are going through, keep moving forward, whatever the circumstances. So, I want to urge Zimbabweans to know that while we went through difficulties in 2019, we need to keep moving.

ANALYSIS: Moses Matenga

“There are complex challenges in Zimbabwe … We know there are serious and seemingly intractable political factors that might need attention, in fact, that needs attention if solutions are to be effective or implementable. The political formations in Zimbabwe remain at loggerheads and have apparent deep antipathy toward each other which makes joint decision-making and planning extremely difficult,” said South Africa International Relations and Co-operation minister Naledi Pandor on November 18, 2019 at a symposium on the Best Path Towards a Prosperous Zimbabwe at the University of South Africa in Pretoria.

Pandor’s message came exactly two years after Emmerson Mnangagwa assumed power as President in November 2017 following a military coup that deposed long time ruler, the late Robert Mugabe.

Upon assuming power, Mnangagwa premised his message on rebuilding Zimbabwe, insisting on the need to “let bygones be bygones” and his swearing in was attended by Mugabe’s long-time nemesis, Morgan Tsvangirai (the late MDC leader), a clear sign that Mnangagwa meant well.

Two years down the line, all hope is slowly fading, and Mnangagwa is leading a deeply divided nation, plagued with economic challenges that observers insist, require a political solution.

Mugabe’s loyalists, better known as the G40 cabal, including former ministers, Saviour Kasukuwere, Jonathan Moyo, Patrick Zhuwao and Walter Mzembi, among others, remain exiled, fleeing possible persecution and prosecution at the hands of Mnangagwa.

Chamisa is on record describing Mnangagwa as having betrayed Tsvangirai after having earlier agreed to a “transitional mechanism” with him as part of the transition.

“Tsvangirai told me that ‘Chamisa, we are now going to help remove the poverty caused by Mugabe, but the assurance I have is that we are going to have a transitional authority’,” Chamisa was quoted as saying.

“I said to him, this was a good thing, but asked him if he was sure about the people he was dealing with and he said ‘let us give them time’. We gave them time and they betrayed my old man.”

According to a leaked intelligence report in early 2017, Mnangagwa and Tsvangirai allegedly engaged in secret talks to form an arrangement post-Mugabe, with Tsvangirai telling Reuters in June of that year that he would not rule out a coalition with political opponents, such as Mnangagwa, and wanted white farmers to come back into a “positive role”.

Tsvangirai supported the military intervention and Mnangagwa’s takeover, even rallying his supporters for the action at Parliament in the days Mugabe was about to be impeached.

Mnangagwa acted as if he meant well even by visiting an incapacitated Tsvangirai later on at his Highlands mansion, a sign that made many believe, the unifier was in town.

But alas, Mnangagwa pushed for polls and opted to go it alone, and it is that decision observers say which led to the prevailing socio-economic crisis that was to be born out of the unresolved July 2018 elections, and there is no hope for Zimbabwe as it stands.

In Chamisa’s words, had Mnangagwa not betrayed Tsvangirai and implemented the agreed transitional mechanism, the story would have been different.

Mnangagwa’s woes started after the July 31 harmonised elections, where the Zanu PF leader won, but his victory was challenged.

Moyo, a former government spin-doctor, claims Mnangagwa lost to Chamisa and evidence is supposedly contained in his book Excelgate, which was set to be launched last week before suspected Zanu PF supporters interrupted it, chasing out guests, including diplomats.

As Zimbabwe waited for results of the delayed presidential election results, soldiers shot and killed six people in Harare, injuring scores in the process after opposition supporters took to the streets protesting the delay.

A commission of inquiry into the killings led by former South African President Kgalema Monthlante called for unity among political actors and up to now, this and other recommendations are yet to be fulfilled.

Another huge dent on Mnangagwa’s administration was to come on January 14, hours after he sparked a fire that would lead to at least 17 deaths, more than 80 sustaining gunshot injuries, with more than 300 cases of torture at the hands of the police, the military and Central Intelligence Organisation operatives.

Mnangagwa made a surprise announcement of a 150% hike in fuel prices that led to violent protests across the country.

Shortly after making the announcement, Mnangagwa flew to Russia, but had to cut short the trip following the widely condemned attacks on civilians.

The January shootings were to be the beginning of a tough year for Zimbabweans, characterised by week-in, week-out price hikes of fuel, cash shortages, doctors’ and nurses’ strikes and hospital closures, among other challenges.

Over half the population is facing starvation caused by drought and a wobbly economy, with ordinary citizens evidently losing faith in the ruling party’s ability to resolve the crisis.

In its latest central committee report, Zanu PF stated that the economy remains a “latent security” threat, but blamed the United States, the MDC, some civic society organisations and even drought for its failure.

“The most latent security threat that has grave consequences is the unstable economy which is largely propelled by the thriving parallel market (black market),” the report by the party’s national security department read.

The report further stated that ordinary Zimbabweans have lost confidence in the direction the economy was going and were “angry”, while government also took to blaming natural disasters for the crisis.

“Formal trading prices are determined by the parallel market exchange rate which has been sharply rising on a daily basis. This has resulted in inflation also rising to unprecedented levels. Prices of all commodities and services have followed suit to unsustainable levels. Most people are failing to make ends meet, so are poverty levels that are rising very much throughout the country. As a result, anger is brewing among the citizens, while there is loss of confidence on the direction the economy is taking,” the Zanu PF central committee report said.

“Owing to the incessant price hikes of commodities, food security situation is exacerbated by the fact that there were poor harvests experienced due to the El-nino induced drought.”

Zanu PF lamented the high unemployment in the formal sector due to company closures, and raised fears that unemployed graduates can be used by detractors to work against the ruling party.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition blamed all this on the incumbent leadership that focuses on pettiness, giving the much-publicised divorce of Mnangagwa’s lieutenants, Vice-Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi as examples

“The most unfortunate thing that we are lacking as a country is leadership,” Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition spokesperson Marvellous Khumalo said.

“Instead of the national leadership to focus on addressing the economic challenges that we have, the social, political and other related challenges that are bedevilling the country at the moment, we are witnessing a host of the sideshows taking place. The arrest of Marry Chiwenga, all this is being done and is raking attention from the leadership and the country at large yet we have important things, bread and butter issues to attend to,” he said.

“It is sad.”

Chiwenga is embroiled in a nasty divorce with his wife of eight years, Marry, and so far, a lot has been exposed and the VP is likely to be kept busy at the courts in 2020, joining Mohadi who has had violent confrontations with his estranged wife, Tambudzani, including an incident whereby the Vice-President chased after her at their Beitbridge home, armed with an axe and threatening to kill her.

Chiwenga accuses his wife of wanting to kill him while he was hospitalised in South Africa.
Marry, who is also accused of fraud and money-laundering involving close to US$2 million, was remanded in custody to December 30, but has made a High Court application for bail.

This comes after a lengthy absence from the political scene by Chiwenga, who was receiving treatment in China following suspected poisoning.

In Mnangagwa’s short reign, the police and military have launched a massive crackdown across the country, which has also seen MDC supporters being violently dispersed during gatherings in what the opposition party describe as “an unofficial ban” of the party and closure of the democratic space.

Several people, most of them ordinary Zimbabweans, were injured, while others were arrested last month ahead of Chamisa’s Hope of the Nation Address that was quashed by the police.

Chamisa was to survive an incident in which he claimed to have had gunshots targeted at him last month during a tree planting event in Marondera, although the police claimed otherwise.

But in the entire crisis, Chamisa yesterday said he would push for change in 2020.

Recently, he was also quoted as saying something would happen to change the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans by May 2020.

“My biggest Christmas gift is the hope I see in 2020. Change will come, if it doesn’t come, we go and get it for the people,” Chamisa said.

His statement also comes as former South African President Thabo Mbeki jetted into Harare last week to meet almost all political actors who included Mnangagwa, Chamisa, Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) and also with the churches on a “listening exercise” to understand the challenges affecting Zimbabwe.

Mbeki has promised to come back for more talks before year end.

While Mbeki has brought renewed hope to suffering Zimbabweans, with Chamisa warming up to possible dialogue with his nemesis convened by a neutral interlocutor, Mnangagwa dashed the hope by insisting that there would be no talks outside Polad, a grouping the main opposition party has sworn never to join.

Political analyst Eldred Masunungure thinks it is too early to celebrate.

Mbeki was at the centre of talks between Mugabe and Tsvangirai that led to the Global Political Agreement of 2009 that saw Tsvangirai becoming Prime Minister in Mugabe’s government, an arrangement that led to some brief stability before it ended in 2013.

Meanwhile, Kasukuwere has thrown his hat into the opposition political ring, vowing to challenge Mnangagwa if he chooses to answer to calls by a movement dubbed “Tyson Wabantu” that is pushing for him to lead.

Said Kasukuwere of the situation in the country: “It is not hatred of each other that will take our country out of this challenge, but a need to collectively confront the elephant in the room.
The pain in our society is deep and sharp. Let’s accept our failings and correct our steps. It’s the economy and politics.”