BY EVERSON MUSHAVA

ZIMBABWE’s current mealie meal shortages have been blamed on the Industry and Commerce ministry which failed to register over 60 millers for maize subsidy, with millers withholding their stocks to avoid losses.

Government scrapped maize subsidies at the start of the month, but reintroduced them after a public outcry over high prices.

Government, however, introduced a new condition that millers should be registered with the Industry ministry to qualify for the subsidy programme, in a statement released on December 13 by the Finance ministry.

But some millers have complained that the registration process was very slow and about 60 millers have not been registered for the
subsidy programme.

The millers are now withholding their stocks for fear that they may not be registered at all.

“The 60 millers are holding on to their maize stocks and cannot risk producing roller meal without being registered,” a miller who requested anonymity said.

“The few who have been registered are struggling to supply the market and this has caused serious shortages of the product on the market. Only highly priced refined mealie-meal being sold at around $115 per 10kg is found in the shops.”

The gazetted price of the roller meal is $50, which is seen as affordable for the public.

NewsDay observed yesterday that many retail shops did not have roller meal.

The registered millers include National Foods Limited (NFL) and Blue Ribbon Foods, which were allocated

28 000 tonnes and 10 000 respectively, out of the 40 000 which government has availed to millers.

Millers who spoke to NewsDay said they were being sent from one office to another without getting any assistance.

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) spokesperson Garikai Chaunza confirmed receiving reports of delayed registration process from millers.

“We are receiving calls from our members asking if the association could assist them and it is our hope that the authorities would speed up the process, so that millers who are holding on to their maize grain start milling and supply the market given that we are in the festive season, where mealie-meal is one of the products on demand,” he said.

“We have the capacity to supply the nation throughout the festive season and what we are waiting for is that government registers us.

“Millers are now required to register with the Industry ministry and after that, approach the Finance ministry, which will give them the subsidy money before they go to GMB for maize collection. The process is cumbersome and millers are complaining that there is no transparency in the process.”

GMAZ used to facilitate the process for its members.

Last week, GMAZ Southern region members raised concern over what they described as a show of “unfair and anti-competitive behaviour,” shown by NFL, which allegedly met government privately and secured over half of the total subsidised monthly maize allocation of 40 000 metric tonnes outside the association.

However, according to the December 13 statement by the Finance ministry, not only GMAZ members qualified for the subsidy programme.

Industry minister Sekai Nzenza yesterday said the matter would be addressed.

“I am surprised that the process is taking long as the team is working hard to register millers. However, we need to resolve this matter quickly and there should be no shortages at all. Please do send the questions to my PA, Victoria Sigauke, and we will investigate,” she said.

BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA

FAST food company, Simbisa Brands Limited (SBL) says importation of more efficient machinery has seen the firm reduce its diesel usage by 15% to about 110 000 litres monthly.
In August, Simbisa reported that it was spending $780 000 on diesel monthly to run generators at its Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, Baker’s Inn, Creamy Inn, Fish Inn, Rocomamas, Steers, Nando’s and Galito’s outlets amid crippling nationwide power cuts.

“Diesel is still a big cost which was not there in the prior year. But, I am glad to say that there have been some improvements in that we have imported more efficient generators from South Africa and China which has helped in the reduction,” SBL managing director Warren Meares told NewsDay in a phone interview.

“We have even tried to import more efficient gas equipment to reduce the reliance on diesel. So, I would not say its huge, but we have managed to reduce our need for diesel by 15% (from our previous) usage. You are talking about 15% of about 120 000 or 130 000 litres, so we are still using around 110 000 litres just on generators alone.”

He said diesel costs forced them to reduce the planned 33 new outlets to just under 20 this year. During power cuts, Simbisa has sometimes employed food trucks that run on generators or used gas to continue serving customers during the daily power cuts.

As a result, SBL reduced working hours to only peak times to cut down on diesel.

According to the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce 2019 Survey Report on Energy Challenges in Zimbabwe earlier this month, about 88% of surveyed firms indicated that the use of generators instead of electricity had seen profits plummeting.

The firms complained that the use of generators for powering business activities was not the best option for Zimbabwe given the rising fuel prices. Diesel currently costs $17.90 per litre. The survey stated that 65% of the firms surveyed reported having electricity for only up to six hours, while 20% reported having between seven and 12 hours per day. These are among the reasons why Simbisa registered as a “tourist facility” under the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to allow it to start offering United States dollar pricing to reduce pressure on turnover.

“We are getting a bit of forex which is about 15% and 20% of our turnover, but it is still 85% RTGS and swipe. You are talking about $100 million in bond and just under US$1 million per month so it’s tough trying to balance which is why we still need to go to the interbank,” Meares said.

“This is why we have slowed down; we are not opening as many outlets like we used too. We have had to slow down on our expansion.” Currently, Zimbabwe’s main power generation source, the Kariba Dam, has very low water levels due to recurrent droughts which have affected the nation’s power generation capacity. Also, Energy minister Fortune Chasi warned that recent power generation struggles in South Africa could also affect imports from that country that averages 400 megawatts.

BY TAFADZWA KACHIKO

EACH year comes with its own ups and downs. Such characterised the film and theatre sectors which, despite the challenges, thrived in 2019.

The death of artistes who played pivotal roles in the two sectors and unrelenting economic crisis characterised the down part.

Emerging new players and the premiering of new productions locally and internationally marked the up side of the year whose curtain is about to come down in a few days.

Deaths robs creative talents

The film and theatre sectors were left poorer following the untimely passing on of national hero and music superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi in January, novelist Charles Mungoshi in February playwright Stephen Chifunyise in August and Bibiana Mapuranga who played Mai Abhibho in the TV series Mawoko Matema.

Tuku’s role in film is evidently seen in a 1993 production Neria, in which he played Jethro and did the film’s soundtrack Neria, which has remained one of the most celebrated Zimbabwean songs.

Chifunyise played a critical role in the formation of the Zimbabwe Association of Community Theatres, marking the introduction of theatre for development in Zimbabwe.

Mungoshi also took part in some of the local Zimbabwean drama series in the late 1990s and played a role in a local drama Ndabvezera, which was produced by Aaron Chiundura Moyo.

ZIFF fails to take off

The collapsing economy saw one of the platforms for locals to showcase their films, the Zimbabwe International Film Festival (ZIFF) failing to open the 21st fiesta affecting the premiere of Maroro, a film by South Africa-based producer Brian Kugara of Guruuswa Productions.

Despite the annual ZIFF having failed to take off this year, the other festivals held this year included the inaugural International Theatre Festival, another new festival Mashonaland Central Short Film Festival, Mitambo International Theatre Festival, International Images Film Festival and the European Union Film Festival.

As the year progressed, filmmakers were also robbed of the opportunity to showcase their films in Ster Kinekor cinemas after the organisation pegged its fees in United States dollars or an amount equivalent to the local currency.

“US$535 is so much money. We are a struggling industry. If I get charged that amount to premiere my film how much then will I charge for entry to profit? As a result we have opted for cheaper venues. If you, however, have links they charge you differently from the rest,” said one filmmaker who spoke on conditions of anonymity.

The inflated fees have seen the filmmakers opting for cheaper venues such as Theatre in the Park, Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre and the State Lottery House.

New productions premiered

Despite setbacks, film and theatre did not sink into oblivion. Over 20 theatre productions and 10 films premiered this year.

Theatre productions include Song of the Sacred Mountain, Nzara, Harsh Realities, Bongile We Are, Last of the Suns, There Is a Field, Away from Home, Parliament of Animals, Inside Out, A Discussion with the Late Robert Mugabe and Idai: Till Death Do Us Apart. Song of the Sacred Mountain by Polish-American artist Klara Wojtkowska that premiered at the Alliance Francaise revived ceremony theatre.

Of the nine films that premiered, four are features and the other are television series. The features are Weekend Special, Lord of Kush, Boundaries Within, Chapungu, and 5th Anniversary, while the TV series are Chipo, Shungu DzeMoyo, African American, Simbimbino and Marbles
It’s quite sad that none of the television series made its way to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s television station ZTV, DStv’s Zambezi Magic or any other channels.

The Extra-terrestrial by Tatenda Katsande, scheduled to debut at Bulawayo City Hall on September 21, could not see the light of the day as a result of what the producer termed “sabotage due to tribalism”.

The aforementioned productions did well in reflecting the political and socioeconomic environment prevailing in the country with plays playing that role to a greater extent. What is, however, not pleasing is that some productions did not go on tour to be watched by a large population.

This was probably due to financial constraints since many donors withdrew their support from local productions.

Off artists arrests

While this year seemed to be a year in which artists could freely express themselves, freedom of expression was compromised when four players in the industries producer and director Tendai Maduwa co-writer Kudakwashe Bwititi and Theatre in the Park managers Daves Guzha and Peter Churu were arrested for allegedly contravening provisions of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act after premiering, Lord of Kush at Theatre in the Park without the greenlight from the Censorship Board. The four since July have not received their verdict.

“Lack of freedom of expression” leaves Mirazvo Productions co-producer Nick Zemura arguing that film is one of the fraternity that is not yet open for business.

“We are still working, but against the odds. Film is one sector in which Zimbabwe is not yet open for business. Artistes do not even need to be given anything before you give them the freedom to express themselves,” he said.

“It took me two days to get permits to start a production in New York, but in Zimbabwe, you need clearance from 11 entities if you really want to work without getting arrested. Such should be addressed for the industry to grow.”

The year 2019 was not all that gloomy, in addition to releasing of productions there are activities that took place that kept film and theatre moving such as the opening of Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre, where a number of plays premiered.

The opening of the Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre came along with the premiere of Inside Out, an emotional play centred on the January 2019 protests, which were characterised by looting of shops and killing of civilians following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision to hike fuel prices by over 150%.

Trading microphones for films and plays

This year has seen some musicians trading their microphones for roles in films and plays. Four music stars, Hope Masike, Gemma Griffiths, Tahle weDzinza, Bryn K and a plethora of exceptional dancers featured in a musical theatre, Bongile We Are that debuted at Reps Theatre in Harare.

The year has also seen Seke Mutema hitmaker Noel Marerwa bouncing back in theatre with Harsh Realities, first staged at St John’s Cultural Centre in September.

Talented Afro-pop songbird, Thamsanqa “Tammy” Moyo, also broadened her wings by landing a role in Sydney Taivavashe’s feature film Gonarezhou.

Cape Town-based afro-jazz musician Simbarashe Saini’s seven-year-old son, Kevin also landed a role in an American movie, Run With the Wolves.
Nigerian actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim torches a storm

The choice of renowned Nigerian actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim to play the character of the late President Robert Mugabe in the movie, The Hero, torched a storm among local filmmakers and among social media users during the course of the year.

The discussion triggered by the film produced by United States-based producer, Ofime Rodgers exposed the local industry’s unpreparedness to tell Zimbabwean stories. Despite that locals were featured in the film it also uncovered foreign producers’ lack of faith in local talent. There is, therefore, need to boost confidence in the film industry.

Zim films screened at international festivals

Quite a number of films were this year screened on the international platforms compared to the previous year. Melgin Tafirenyika’s Are We Strangers and 5th Anniversary were screened at Afro-Chinese Arts and Folklore Festival in Egypt. Daniel Lasker’s short film The Man played at Hollywood Silver Screen Festival in United States, Igi Matope’s Goodman at the Montgomery International Film Festival in Unites States and Brian Kugara’s Cry for Help was screened at uMgungundlovu Film Festival in South Africa.

Four films made it to Zambia’s Sotambe Documentary Film and Arts Festival in September. These are journalist Hopewell Ching’ono’s State of Mind and Binga teacher Kalulu Mumpande’s Mwenzule Uupya. Tafirenyika’s 5th Anniversary and Kugara’s Forgiveness.

Mirazvo Productions and Rain Media’s Kushata KweMoyo did not only showcase at the annual Lake International PanAfrican Film Festival (LIPFF) in Kenya, but got a triple award nomination – Best Actress, Best Feature Film and Best Editor, which the producer Shem Zemura described as a greatest achievement.

Kudos to Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust

The Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust should be commended for kick starting the Narrative from Zimbabwe project aimed at archiving the country’s culture and heritage on a website for use by artistes in preaching the Zimbabwean story and for the benefit of everyone else.

Off artistes triumphs

United Kingdom-based actor and singer John Pfumojena landed a role in the National Theatre-produced Peter Pan play adapted from an iconic Peter Pan. Playwright Thandiwe Mawungwa was selected to represent the country at the Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC) held in California, US.

Another notable 2019 development is the grooming of actors by renowned filmmaker Manuel Matsinye who after launching Marbles in May and introduced acting classes at Life Long College in Harare.

The classes benefited both theatre and film and have seen the grooming of — comedienne Tyra “Madam Boss” Chikocho, Monile Murape, Shahmaine Mukutirwa, Hazel Chingwaru, Anesu Matibvu, Mathias Kureva, Munashe Tapfumanei Chitsiga, Joseph Marikano, Wellington Billiat, Mitchelle Sanyanga, Arthur Kupakuwana, Mapfumo Katsaya, Lorraine Mushati, Catherine Vingirai, Lovemore Medzani and Gloria Zengeya.

All the actors have featured in various films and plays such as Marbles Season Two, Estate Blues, Inside Out, Away from Home, Toxic, Harvest of Thorns, Born Again, Pero, Nzara, The Divorce and Chapungu.

Although 2019 had been tough because of the difficult economy, players in theatre and film did not hang boots. In the face of criticism, emerging filmmakers soldiered on. The likes of Nechironga renewed their energy when his production with Down Rains Entertainment, Shungu Dzemoyo was alleged to be a half-baked production.
There were other productions that did not adhere to basic rules governing filmmaking, but this and did not demoralise emerging thespians. Instead criticism gave them an opportunity to learn and aim higher.

What is in stock for 2020
There are many productions that are likely to premiere next year, hopefully they will attract a wide audience.

These include Mirazvo Productions and Rain Media’s Thicker and Kudzamara Rufu, Joe Njagu’s Mirage, Matsinye’s Enigma, Munashe Chitsiga’s Let’s Plot a Wedding, an animation Patriotic Force and Kugara’s Murindagomo and The Legend of the Magical Pot.

The artists’ struggle against odds is proof of their commitment to save the industries from collapsing, reviving and growing it. It’s an appeal to the corporate world and government to support the sectors as this in turn would benefit the nation’s economy. It’s high time trust was bestowed on the sectors as full support consequently means the booming of the economy.

The arts sector and arts industry at large need to be supported financially and technically. Hopefully 2020 will be a great year for the industry players.

BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA

Energy and Power Development deputy minister Magna Mudyiwa has blamed the Finance ministry for the fuel shortages in the country.

The previous Energy minister, Joram Gumbo, also earlier this year blamed Treasury and the central bank for the fuel shortages.

“We do have enough fuel at our depots in Mabvuku and Msasa, but it is bonded. This means that we need to pay before we can withdraw that fuel. We are discussing with the RBZ [Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe] who issue letters of credit to fuel traders so that they access the fuel,” Mudyiwa said in response to parliamentarians who demanded an explanation over fuel shortages during a Parliament sitting last week.

“I can assure the nation that we do have enough fuel at our depots, save for the lines of credit. If the process is expedited, then the fuel can be available. We are doing everything within our means to make sure that we have enough fuel for our motorists during the holiday.

“I think the arrangement of payment between the RBZ and the traders is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance. Our mandate as a ministry is to ensure that we have got enough fuel at our depot. The details about the issues of payment can be referred to the Ministry of Finance”.

According to official statistics, Zimbabwe has around 1,4 million vehicles, which require on average three and two million litres of diesel and petrol, daily.

However, due to the country struggling to generate foreign currency to pay, most operators struggle to access the fuel.

This is happening even though government earlier this year liberalised the fuel market by allowing oil operators to source their own foreign currency to make direct imports, instead of relying on RBZ allocations.

According to the RBZ’s September 2019 monthly economic review, the country spent US$97,2 million on fuel imports, up 16,4% from the previous month’s US$83,5 million.

“We were informed that government liberalised the fuel market. What then they simply did through the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority was to benchmark the prices and there is a margin of profit. One garage can differ from the other by a few cents, but the fuel market is liberalised,” Mutare South legislator Nyasha Chikwinya said.

“Fuel suppliers were told to go and procure their foreign currency on the market at the interbank exchange rate. Where is the issue of letters of credit coming from because what it takes us to is that now, the RBZ is responsible for issuing out foreign currency when government policy says they are supposed to procure on the interbank market rate. I need the minister to respond to us on the issues of letters of credit.”

Mudyiwa responded saying her ministry’s job was only to make sure there was enough fuel in the market.

“Go to our depots, there is enough fuel which is bonded, but the details of payment is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance,” she said.

by Business reporter

Zimbabwe, which is banking on investment in its natural resources to arrest an economic free-fall, faces having the assets of a State mining company seized after a final appeal of a 2014 arbitration ruling failed.

Companies linked to British Virgin Islands-based Amari Holdings won the right to seize assets worth US$65,9 million in compensation for Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC)’s cancellation of nickel and platinum ventures formed in 2007 and 2008.

The ruling by the International Court of Arbitration was made after a hearing in Lusaka, Zambia.

The development comes at a difficult time for Zimbabwe, with the government forecasting the economy will contract 6,5% this year because of crippling foreign-currency, fuel, wheat and power shortages. The State is seeking to convince investors from Cyprus, South Africa, Russia and Nigeria to spend billions of dollars developing its platinum reserves, the world’s third-largest. It’s also rich in gold, chrome and iron ore.

“We are by law entitled to attach any asset belonging to the ZMDC or their 100% shareholder, the Zimbabwean government,” Ian Small-Smith, a lawyer acting for Amari, said yesterday.
“They seemingly still don’t appreciate how adversely this will impact the credibility of Zimbabwe as an investment destination.”

Nickel, platinum

The dispute arose over plans Amari had to develop mines in Zimbabwe. The company formed platinum and nickel ventures with ZMDC that were 50% and 45% owned by the state company respectively.

Zimbabwe’s assertion that the deals were not appropriately approved by ZMDC officials and the Mines minister were rejected by the court.

Amari will seek to seize fixed assets owned by Zimbabwe and ZMDC both in the country and elsewhere and may also target shipments of diamonds and tobacco, Small-Smith said.

“The Ministry of Mines is aware of this development and the matter is under control through a number of stakeholder engagement processes,” Mines secretary Mazai Moyo said.

Amari has been approached by Benedict Peters, a Nigerian billionaire who was awarded the platinum prospect initially held by Amari, Small-Smith said. Peters had been seeking a settlement with Amari, he said. This was denied by a representative of Peters’ Bravura Holdings.

“There is no truth that any entity or party has been approached by it to settle any such disputes,” said Lionel Mahlanga, Bravura’s representative in Zimbabwe.

“Bravura holds legal and rightful titles to exploit some platinum claims in Zimbabwe awarded to it after interests ostensibly held by the previous owners were forfeited by the Ministry of Mines as a result of their non-performance of key statutory and commercial obligations,” he said.

Amari was founded by Mike Nunn, the South African mining entrepreneur who established Tanzanite One Ltd to exploit the blue precious stone found only in Tanzania.
— Bloomberg

By Nhau Mangirazi

Women and Aids Support Network chairperson Tariro Kutadza has implored government to consider taxing the tobacco industry, with proceeds used to fund treatment for lung cancer and tuberculosis (TB) usually caused by smoking.

Kutadza was speaking at a belated Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day roundtable discussion with the media in Harare last week.

The UHC Day commemorations are held annually on December 12.

Kutadza called for inclusive health for every citizen through prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.

“In Zimbabwe, we are pushing to be a middle-income economy by 2030 and it’s a dream that can be achieved, but the reality is that we must close some gaps on how our economy is performing. Our economy is agro-based and tobacco is part of foreign currency earners for the country,” she said.

“Our Parliament must formulate laws so that tobacco tax will add value to our health sector because some diseases are linked to the crop, one way or the other.

“Tobacco must cater for lung cancer diseases, including tuberculosis, that we are made to believe is treated freely, but how do you access health facilities situated over 200km away? Instead, treatment of TB is no longer free at all. We must be talking with one voice to achieve UHC by 2030 as a nation.”

Kutadza admitted that there was potential to reach the goals of universal health.

“Few countries reach this goal. Rich or poor (we) can make progress. For Zimbabwe, let us focus on realty as tobacco is affecting our environment through tree cutting for curing tobacco and it is a health issue on lung cancer. Should we stand by and fail to get solutions to this when tax can help avert a social health time bomb in our communities?” she said.

Kutadza said attainment of the Abuja Declaration, which stipulates that 15% of the national budget be allocated to health, remains a pipeline dream due to a poorly economy.

“We must be pushing for a better per capita for an individual as our economy is not performing well, hence negatively impacting on health sector that cuts across every household,” she noted, suggesting removal of user fees in public health facilities to achieve health sustainable development goals.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

FORMER Dynamos and Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa (picture)lifted the Malawi Super League title for the second successive season after guiding his Nyasa Big Bullets side to an emotional 2-0 victory over TN Stars on the final day of the league programme yesterday.

This meant closest challengers Wanderers’ 3-0 away win to Mlatho Mponela on the same day, counted for nothing as the Zimbabwean wrote another glorious page for the biggest club in Malawian football and his own history. He has won the league title in his last six seasons as a club coach.

He won four successive championships with Harare football giants Dynamos from 2011 to 2014 before leading the Zimbabwe senior soccer team to the 2017 African Cup of Nations and then left to join Nyasa Big Bullets after almost two years on the sidelines. He joined the Malawi football giants in the middle of the campaign and led them to their 14th title in the TNM Super League.

It was an emotional victory for Pasuwa whose side was playing catch up for the better part of the season.

But once they got to the top of the table, Bullets showed an unbreakable resolve to maintain their grip and were eventually crowned champions for the 15th time, making them the most successful club in the history of the league.

They went into the match three points clear of the rivals with the win taking their points tally to 70, one ahead of Be Forward Wanders.

Pasuwa’s men, who have turned Kamuzu Stadium into a virtual fortress, remain the only club unbeaten at home.

The latest achievement represents another milestone for the unassuming coach who is still a revered football figure at his former club Dynamos, where he helped the club reach the final of the prestigious Caf African Champions League in 1998 only to lose 4-2 to Asec Mimosa of Ivory Coast in hugely controversial
circumstances.

BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE

The MDC has said it will use all the available platforms to halt the random constitutional amendments proposed by Zanu PF, which the opposition party says are moves by the ruling party to consolidate its stranglehold on power.

The Nelson Chamisa-led opposition party on Friday called on citizens including civil society, the clergy and labour movements, to defend the Constitution. The party said what was required were reforms that enabled the country to move forward.

Cabinet last week approved Constitutional Amendment Bill 2019 which repeals section 92 of the Constitution dealing with presidential running mates, giving the President power to hire and fire his deputies as well as appoint and promote judges.

Chamisa last week led a delegation of top party leadership to Bulawayo for National Standing Committee, National Executive and Structures meetings.

Addressing journalists in Bulawayo, MDC spokesperson, Daniel Molekele said as a party they were opposed to systematic constitutional amendments being carried out by Zanu PF and called on all Zimbabweans to defend the Constitution.

“We are strongly against the constitutional amendments because it negates the gains of the 2013 Constitution. As the MDC we will use all platforms that are available for us to contest against any changes of the Constitution,” Molokele said.

“We will make sure that we contest in Parliament and all public spheres, we will even engage on a diplomatic initiative. We will go international and bring attention to this attempt to negate the democratic gains as gained in the 2013 Constitution.”

“We will come up with an advocacy campaign, we are calling civil society, faith-based leaders, labour movements, students, youth, women and every interested stakeholder to defend the Constitution of the country,” Molokele said.

He said their actions will not be a political process, but a national process.

“This Constitution was enacted after a referendum in 2013 and we are saying people of Zimbabwe if we allow Zanu PF to change the Constitution like any other act of Parliament we will have a big problem,” he said.

Molokele said the party condemns the actions of Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda who has succumbed to pressure and reduced Parliament to a captured entity.

“The party will escalate its quest to safeguard the independence of Parliament to appropriate international bodies,” Molokele said.

Last week opposition MPs confronted Mudenda over the alleged bias over Zanu PF.

BY SIMBARASHE SITHOLE

A 41-YEAR-OLD Mvurwi businessman was allegedly dispossessed of cash and valuables by five armed robbers at his house last week Thursday.

Shepherd Mapungwana, of Lee and Lee in Mvurwi, lost US$5 500, $23 000, ZAR3 700, a camera, pistol, a television set, a Toyota Quantum microbus and two mobile phones during the robbery.

According to police sources, the matter was reported at Mvurwi Police Station under CR number 87/12/19.

Five armed robbers allegedly scaled the wall and disarmed Mapungwana’s two security guards, Eliot Machisau (57) and Samuel Isaac (23), and taped their hands and mouths.

The complainant was awakened by the robbers when they were breaking his kitchen door.

Mapungwana went to investigate what was happening, but was caught out.

He was ordered to surrender and the robbers force-marched him into his bedroom demanding cash.

After robbing him they taped his hands and mouth.

They deflated tyres of the businessman’s two vehicles before leaving the scene in the Toyota Quantum, registration number AFG 1941.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe could not be reached for comment.