BY NUNURAI JENA

Norton legislator Temba Mliswa (Independent) last week told President Emmerson Mnangagwa that he would not rejoin Zanu PF because it was “infested with corrupt” members.

Mnangagwa had told the gathering at the commissioning of the Norton Road Over the Rail on Friday last week that Mliswa was rejoining the ruling party.

While handing over gifts from Norton companies and residents to Mnangagwa, Mliswa said those who wish to rejoin the party should not be forced to write letters.

“His Excellency President Mnangagwa said I should come back to Zanu PF, but how can I come back to a party whose leadership is so corrupt . . . The issue of land barons is the latest as exposed by the recent report. Besides our coming back shouldn’t be conditional just as the President’s come back was not conditional. I thought President Mnangagwa was going to recall all members fired by the G40 who include Amai Joyce Mujuru, Didymus Mutasa, Rugare Gumbo, Jabulani Sibanda since he was also fired by the same people and came back. Mr President why do you want us to write letters when you did not?” said Mliswa
He said Zanu PF will continue losing elections in Norton because of corruption by land barons.

“Mr President Norton residents voted Zanu PF out because of land barons who you are protecting. It’s a system that was started by former (Local Government) minister Ignatius Chombo and people like Justice Mayor Wadyajena, Killer Zivhu (Chivi South MP) and Cuthbert Mupamhi have been fingered by the report,” Mliswa said.

Mupamhi, however, said Mliswa is the one who is corrupt because he wants to politicise the land issue by roping in the President.

“If there is one person who is corrupt in this whole issue, it is Temba Mliswa. He has been fighting me since he was Zanu PF provincial chairperson; he wants my private land… I was arrested by Zacc and cleared” he said.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Sale of State Land in and around urban exposed vote-buying by the ruling Zanu PF party with politicians illegally parcelling out State land in urban and peri-urban areas to lure voters.

BY FORTUNE MBELE

Giants Dynamos and Highlanders have moved swiftly to snap up bargain buys at Bulawayo Chiefs in preparation for the 2020 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.

A very reliable source at Chiefs said that Highlanders will make a hattrick of signings from Bulawayo Chiefs with goalkeeper David Bizabani, defender Malvin Mkolo and striker Farau Matare set to move to the Bulawayo giants.

The club’s top goal scorer for the just ended season Arthur Musiyiwa is set to join DeMbare.

Highlanders and DeMbare have not wasted time to bolster their squads as they look to launch title fights in the 2020 season.

In the just ended season Highlanders finished sixth, while Tonderai Ndiraya’s Dynamos were placed ninth in a season they struggled to make an impression.

DeMbare particularly struggled for goals, scoring just 28 goals all season and only Black Rhinos scored less in the entire league with 26 strikes.

The acquisition of Musiyiwa will help DeMbare improve their front line which has since lost Edward Sadomba, who hung his boots at the end of the season.

In the just ended season Ndiraya complained that he didn’t have quality players to mount a title challenge and the club is looking to back him in the transfer window.

Highlanders improved from a farce to a force once coach Pieter de Jongh stepped in midway through the season, but it was too late to mount any meaningful title challenge.

They won the Chibuku Super Cup and will be looking to build on that success.

For Chiefs, next term could well be another season of struggles as they are also set to lose Shadreck Nyahwa, who is on Triangle’s radar.

“We are likely to be building a new squad next season because we will be losing Diego (Musiyiwa) to Dynamos while three players, Bizabani, Matare and Malvin Mkolo are likely to go to Highlanders with Gabri (Nyahwa) wanted by Triangle,” said a reliable source.

Bulawayo Chiefs have fought relegation till the last day of the campaign for each of the two seasons, but they have produced some of the top players who are now at various clubs.
Goalkeeper Wallace Magalane, Ishmael Wadi and Last Sithole moved to FC Platinum in 2015.

Sources have also revealed Magalane could be joining his former coach Norman Mapeza at South African outfit Chippa United.

Wadi is now at Harare City while Sithole moved to Chicken Inn.

Last year Chiefs had exciting attacking midfielder Perfect Chikwende going to FC Platinum, while the duo of Barnabas Mushunje and Polite Moyo joined Ngezi Platinum.

Other players who left the club are Gracious Muleya, now at relegated Chapungu and Andrew Tandi, who is with Black Rhinos.

Stanley Ngala left Bulawayo Chiefs for Manica Diamonds.

Chiefs are, however, said to be eyeing Zifa Southern Region Division One side Bosso 90’s striker Dominic Jaricha.

Despite the player exodus, the team believe next year they will not be fighting relegation with coach Thulani Sibanda who has been linked to other clubs, likely to stay.

They ended the season on the 13th position on 41 points from 34 games and beat giants FC Platinum, Chicken Inn, Dynamos, Harare City and Triangle in the 2019 campaign.

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

The Kangetsambo family farm along Nyazura-Chivhu highway has sadly become the final destination for scores of road traffic accident victims as it is located right at the black spot popularly known as PaChimbwa.

If one visits the farm, shells of accident damaged cars, both old and fresh are strewn around while the fence has remained torn down from repeated smashes from vehicles.

The farm owner has since given up on repairing the fence.

Pachimbwa (name derived from a nearby farm) is a junction where the Harare-Murambinda road connects with the Nyazura-Chivhu highway in Zviyambe South, Wedza.

The vendors who operate at the area, farmers and other road users have witnessed a lot of horrific accidents for a number of years that include both public and private vehicles.

“It is a pity that our property has become the final end for a number of people for years now while others are seriously injured. We used to repair the fence but the frequency of the road accidents forced us to abandon the repairs,” said Arnold one of Kangetsambo’s sons.

The larger number of motorists who use the Harare-Murambinda road are oblivious of the junction’s existence and often tore through it and straight into the bushes or collide with vehicles along the Nyazura-Chivhu highway.

In a bid to reduce carnage at the spot government has erected at least four humps but all this has been in vain..

The junction has become a blackspot with some calling for both churches and traditional leaders to perform some rites and exorcise the area.

“We are tired of watching people die at this area. Something needs to be done and the road authorities know exactly the solutions to be proffered to avoid more deaths. There are humps but they are of no use. I have been selling my wares here for some time and what I have witnessed is horrific,” said Rumbidzai, a vendor at the junction.

The community leaders said they have engaged relevant authorities and hope that a solution will be found soon.

According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), about 90% of road accidents are a result of human error, with speeding and overtaking errors topping the list of major causes of road accidents in Zimbabwe. It is estimated that at least five people die daily on the country’s roads, with an average of 2 000 people losing lives in accidents annually.

TSCZ spokesperson Tatenda Chinoda said the problem lies with motorists who are not adhering to traffic rules.

“We are seized with reports from people who live around the area and we will engage all stakeholders so that we come up with solutions to the problem. However, motorists need to adhere to the road rules to avoid loss of life. The drivers should take heed of all road signs,” he said.

A local businessman Shacky Kandava said it is high time relevant authorities do more in putting more signs at Chimbwa Junction as they are ‘tired of seeing blood’.

“There are humps but they are not doing justice at all. People are dying and we are witnessing accidents frequently. I suggest that the authorities do work on increasing the signage maybe at least about 200m from the junction. The signage that is currently there is no longer visible while some of the road signs have been vandalised. We are tired of seeing blood,” he said.

Recently, the Government of Zimbabwe agreed to harmonize traffic signs with those in other Sadc countries. The Sadc-Road Traffic Signs Manual (Sadc RTSM) became native legislation in Zimbabwe in 2016, with implementation currently under way.

Apart for the Chimbwa Junction, Zimbabwe has some blackspots along major highways where a lot of people are perishing especially during the festive season. Some of these include the Gejo RaRuby stretch along Harare-Nyambapanda, the Kandava curve in Seke along Harare-Wedza, Valley of Death in Nyanga and the Odzi stretch near Odzi Bridge in Manicaland among others.

Traditional healer Sekuru Forbes Maseko (81) said there is need to cleanse the Chimbwa Junction blackspot to avoid more accidents.

“There is need to perform some cleansing rituals at the area so that we appease the spirits of those who died long back at the spot, it is possible. We can win the war that way,” he said.

After the Gejo Raruby bus disaster that claimed a total of 27 people few years ago, the Roman Catholic held a mass and prayer session to cleanse the area from any further bad lucky.

Road accidents are the leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds globally, according to a report published by the World Health Organisation. Forty of the 50 countries with the highest road-death rates across all ages are in Africa. Traffic accidents now kill more people than malaria in many African countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa and Sudan.

The looming festive season is often characterised with numerous fatal road accidents with road safety authorities already on the highways on awareness campaigns. According to statistics, most road deaths occur between December 15 and January 2 every year.

TSCZ acting board chairperson Gift Machengete said at least 20 teams including police officers will be on the major highways to alert motorists on road safety.

Recently, First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa launched the road safety campaign dubbed “Save life #slowdown, chikuru kufunga pamigwagwa yedu” where she spoke to passengers saying curbing road carnage needed a multi-sectoral approach.

“Let us unite and be champions of road safety at all levels, from families, villages, churches and workplaces. Each social group must have distinguished road safety champions and play an important role is saving lives,”she said.

At least 111 people died on the country’s roads during the last festive season.

Reforms to Rig Elections: Arthur Mutambara, former Zimbabwe Deputy Prime Minister

WE have been talking about the need for political reforms to level the playing field thus facilitating credible, free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. While we have argued that political reforms are necessary, but not sufficient, we have also emphasised that without these reforms all other interventions are futile.

We having been insisting on dialogue and agreement about these reforms, and thereafter their effective implementation.

As we posit these averments, it is instructive to note that Zanu PF is actually designing and implementing political reforms — albeit in the opposite direction!

While we are in a political slumber and majoring in minors, Zanu PF is busy carrying out political changes to enable the theft and rigging of elections.

More importantly, they are putting in place political reforms that will allow them to steal or rig those polls with absolute impunity.

One of the key objectives of the 2013 Constitution was to whittle down the authority of an all-powerful presidency. This was not sufficiently addressed but significant inroads were made.

However, on December 17, 2019, the Zanu PF government announced a raft of measures to roll back that progress and reintroduce an imperial presidency through Constitutional Amendment Bill 2019.

They seek to remove the running mate clause so that the President will appoint and fire his two deputies. They intend to abolish the use of public hearings for the appointment of Judges and return that authority to the President.

Furthermore, they propose the appointment by the President of the following: Chief Secretary to President and Cabinet and the deputies; Public Protector and deputy; and the Prosecutor-General.

This is an unequivocal and unambiguous reconstruction of the pre-2013 all-powerful presidency. In fact, it is even more consolidated and over-reaching than that obtaining pre-2013.

An imperial presidency is central to the orchestration of fraudulent electoral processes. It enables the rigging of elections and guarantees impunity for electoral theft.

When one is aggrieved with electoral outcomes, where do you go? To the courts (High Court, Supreme
Court, and Constitutional Court), right? Who will be manning those courts? Compromised judges appointed by an illegitimate President who is a product of electoral theft! What justice do you expect?

A further cynical part of the Zanu PF’s constitutional changes announced on December 17 is the obvious and shameless reward to Chief Justice Luke Malaba for his role in upholding the results of the fraudulent 2018 presidential elections.

He is due for retirement soon, but Zanu PF has put a specific provision that allows him (beyond the retirement age of 70) to renew his contract annually, for a period not exceeding five years.
How sick can we get?

Let us be woke. Political reforms are taking place. They are just in the opposite direction. Zanu PF is busy implementing reforms to rig elections with absolute impunity.

Another fool’s errand: Advocate Thabani Mpofu

On December 17, 2019, the nation became aware that Cabinet had considered and approved Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2019, which seeks to introduce a gamut of amendments to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013.

The contemplated amendment is a sovereign disgrace which shows that this government feels little disposition to submit to the wholesome restraints of constitutionalism.

Although the whole amendment is the relentless work of rascals, I am particularly taken by the invalid attempt to increase the retirement ages of the Chief Justice, his deputy, judges of the Constitutional and Supreme courts.

The attempt to amend the Constitution is in that regard an unprovoked and unjustified vote of no confidence in the entire judiciary. There is evidence that it is meant to benefit only one person, with other senior judges being used as a cover up.

Various learned and eminent citizens have already panned this as an attack on judicial independence, democracy and constitutionalism. I add my voice to the loud chorus of boos. This is what all modesty wish to see buried in everlasting oblivion.

The intention to amend is, however, not well thought out and is quite frankly illiterate nonsense.
It seems to me that the regime has not considered provisions of section 328(7) of the Constitution, which reads as follows:

“Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an amendment to a term-limit provision, the effect of which is to extend the length of time that a person may hold or occupy any public office, does not apply in relation to any person who held or occupied that office, or an equivalent office, at any time before the amendment.”

The effect of this provision, being underpinned as it is by a non-obstante clause, is that if the amendment sails through, the new law will have no effect on the tenure of office of the Chief Justice, his deputy and the current judges of the Supreme Court who must all retire once they reach the age of 70.

The effort is, therefore, a pointless re-arranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic. I bet my last dollar, the miscreants who are behind this amendment are not alive to this legal position.
They have accordingly wasted time but have in the process shown us the lengths to which they are prepared to go in undercutting the spirit of the constitution. Mwari ave navo!

Towards a dictatorship: LSZ

On December 17, 2019, Cabinet at its 45th meeting approved several amendments to the Constitution.
Some of the notable proposed amendments relate to the appointments of vice-Presidents, Prosecutor-General, Public Protector, promotion of judges and the terms of office of judges.

The other notable proposed amendments relate to the composition of the provincial councils and the extension of the provision on the women’s quota which was scheduled to end in 2023.

The Constitution provides for its amendment. Although amendments to the Constitution are allowed these ought to be necessary for the promotion of the rule of law and protection of the principles of democracy.

Our Constitution is a democratic document which came out of extensive consultations. It is a national document which should be enduring. Amendments to the Constitution must be necessary for the enhancement of enshrined rights, accountability and good governance. Amendments must not be retrogressive.

In terms of section 92 of the Constitution, the presidential candidate chooses running mates who upon election become the national Vice-Presidents. The rationale for the provision was to introduce a non-disruptive succession plan while ensuring that in the event of a Vice-President taking over the office of President he would be having the people’s mandate.

The effect of the proposed amendment to section 94 means that Vice-Presidents will no longer be elected, but appointed by the President. This removes the transparency and democratic process sought to be achieved by section 92 in relation to the assumption of these important offices.

In addition, the Vice-President’s tenure will be at the pleasure of the President. An amendment is expected to cure a problem or mischief. This is not apparent in the present case. The proposed amendments further seek to change the procedures for the appointment of the Prosecutor-General.

The current procedure for the appointment of the Prosecutor-General is similar to that of the judges. This is a transparent way of appointing this important office, which like the judiciary ought to enjoy prosecutorial independence.

The proposed amendment whereby the President appoints the Prosecutor-General upon consultation with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is reverting to the old constitution.

The current provisions promote transparency in the appointment process. This will not be achieved under the proposed amendment. It is not clear what mischief the proposed amendment seeks to address. The fact of the matter though is that the amendment is retrogressive. It emasculates a position that is pivotal to our criminal justice.

The amendment will remove the Prosecutor-General’s independence. The appointment system also does not guarantee meritocracy as the basis for appointment. This cannot be achieved by simply consulting the JSC. In any case in terms of section 339, such consultation may not be binding on the President.

Section 180 sets out the conditions that must be met in relation to the appointment of judges. The proposed amendment seeks to provide for the President to appoint a sitting judge to a higher court upon consultation with JSC.

This approach seeks to reverse the elaborate, and transparent system currently in place. It is not clear why we should depart from the current system. The proposed changes will take us back to the pre-2013 era, where judicial appointments were shrouded in a veil of secrecy.

The proposed extension of the tenure of judges albeit on a contract basis and subject to medical certification on fitness, is not desirable in a country with a vibrant legal profession. There are many legal practitioners who are fit to hold the office of judge.

The introduction of the office of the Public Protector should be based on a true desire to achieve administrative justice especially by public offices. The 2013 Constitution deliberately omitted this institution on the basis that the functions could be effectively undertaken by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.

The Justice ministry recently lamented that this commission is under-resourced. Instead of properly funding the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, the Cabinet is creating another institution which will have its own resource-chewing bureaucracy.

On the other hand, the present Constitution already provides for the establishment of an independent complaints mechanism to deal with misconduct by members of the security sector.

This has not been instituted and yet Cabinet finds it necessary to create the Public Protector’s Office. The Executive is failing to diligently and without delay perform all constitutional obligations as provided in section 324.

The proposal to remove MPs and Senators from provincial councils also appear ill conceived. The presence of these members was supposed to bring the nexus between national and local development.

The proposed amendments will perpetuate the disconnect between the national programmes and the local/provincial programmes, thus creating development inertia.

The Law Society of Zimbabwe reiterates that the provisions to the Constitution ought to be guarded jealously. Any proposed amendments to the Constitution should be for the people and by the people.

The Law Society of Zimbabwe further reiterates its position that the Constitution of Zimbabwe should be jealously guarded and protected in pursuance of the supremacy of the rule of law.

The proposed amendments to the Constitution at most, are unnecessary, retrogressive and are not in the interest of transparency, good governance and respect for the rule of law. Accordingly, the LSZ categorically denounces them.

BY TAFADZWA MHLANGA

THE Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHCD), civic society organisations professional bodies and business last week launched the much-anticipated National Convergence Platform (NCP), which is meant to co-ordinate non-political actors as they deliberate on ways to solve the socio-economic and political crises prevailing in the country.

In a statement, NCP urged citizens to join them in finding a lasting solution to crises pervading the nation, including collapsing health and social services and the chronic food shortages.

“Following the issuing of compelling Sabbath call by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, on October 7, 2019, which sought to invite the whole nation towards finding a lasting comprehensive solution to the many crises affecting the nation, leaders of various apex bodies of civil society organisations came together to establish the National Convergence Platform as a space for deliberating and exploring ways to collectively contribute towards finding a lasting solution to the national crisis through national dialogue,” NCP said in a statement.

The seven-year sabbatical from polls was rejected by the ruling Zanu PF party and the main opposition MDC on the grounds that it was an extraordinary and difficult ask, with legal and constitutional ramifications since the national Constitution provides for regular elections.

NCP said the organisations that make up the platform were driven by a “shared realisation that the socio-economic and political situation in Zimbabwe had continued to deteriorate”.

“This deterioration was most evident in the failing health and other social services, the looming catastrophic food shortages, the broken mistrust and confidence among citizens, the continuing breakdown of social cohesion, deepening political paralysis and polarisation seen by the failure of the main political parties in Parliament to co-operate for the sake of the nation. They were also worried that there seemed to be no solution being proffered towards a credible solution both in the immediate and even long-term future,” the statement read.

The NPC, which will be housed under ZHCD, would be made up of “various actors, including but not limited to churches, civil society organisations, professional bodies, women and youth organisations business as formally represented by the apex bodies where possible”.

The statement said inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue was the only credible route towards finding a lasting solution to the country’s deep-seated and recurrent problems.

BY MOSES MATENGA

ZIMBABWEANS are supposed to join the world in celebrating Christmas in a few days, but the mood remains sombre in the country with nothing to show that it is time to be merry.

With only three days to Christmas, workers, who spoke to NewsDay Weekender yesterday, said there was nothing to celebrate this festive season as the future remained bleak.

Several companies are failing to pay workers and to those who can, local banks are not able to avail cash, hence meandering queues being the order of the day around the country.

A survey by NewsDay Weekender last week showed desperation among Zimbabweans who queued for cash, fuel and struggled to plan for the holidays amid speculation that schools were planning to raise fees.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) said 2019 had been a tough year for the workers and there was no joy this festive season.

“It has been a difficult year for Zimbabweans. It has been one of the difficult years for workers.
We are not sure if the majority will be able to enjoy their festive season. We are not sure if the majority of workers will be able to visit their loved ones. We are not sure the majority of workers will be able to pay school fees for their children come January,” ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo said.

“The majority of people have not been able to access their money from banks and are resorting to buying money through EcoCash. It is really tough,” he said.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition spokesperson Marvellous Khumalo said there was nothing in the country and this was a desperate situation for Zimbabweans.

“There is nothing in the country, but unfortunately we are lacking leadership. The leadership is focusing on wrong things despite a myriad of challenges we have. In the current crisis, instead of leaders focusing on how to give a good festive season by addressing economic challenges, we are witnessing sideshows,” he said.

“As we go into this festive season, prices of basic commodities have sky-rocketed. Early next year, we will be talking of school fees when children will be expected to go back to school.”

The crisis in Zimbabwe has reached boiling point and people are set for a Christmas without basics, water, fuel and cash among other necessities, making it one of the worst ever for the country.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailer’s Association president Denford Mutashu said although the last days have been slow, the situation seemed to have improved yesterday as more people did their shopping.

“Business has started picking up and this has been the trend even in the past two years.
Business picks up even a few days before the actual Christmas itself and there has been some movement as compared to the previous days. Most consumers are doing their last-minute shopping and the basket composition has improved from basics,” he said.

BY MOSES MATENGA

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa will tomorrow meet members of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) at his Kwekwe farm.

The government confirmed the meeting, saying it was centred around production and will include a tour of the farm.

Polad is made up of the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe, the National Constitutional Assembly led by Lovemore Madhuku and many other small parties.

The meeting comes as MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has called for the non-inclusion of Polad in talks between his party and Zanu PF, saying the coming in of the actors will confuse the process as they have their own agendas.

Polad was created by Mnangagwa after the disputed 2018 elections to dialogue with losers in the presidential poll.

Chamisa, however, refused to be part of the process, saying meaningful dialogue should be between his party and Zanu PF and should address the legitimacy issue first.

While the MDC leader has refused to recognise Mnangagwa as the legitimate President, Polad members have, however, recognised him and are working with him.

The meeting comes days after the visit by former South African President Thabo Mbeki to initiate dialogue among political actors.

“The President has invited all members of Polad for them to appreciate what he is doing at the farm,” presidential spokesperson George Charamba said yesterday.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

ENERGY deputy minister Magna Mudyiwa was on Thursday quizzed in Senate over upgrading of Hwange and Kariba power stations which have been going on for several years without tangible improvement in power generation.

Mashonaland West Senator Voice Chinake (Zanu PF) asked Mudyiwa to explain government policy to ensure electricity availability in the country, to which she said government was upgrading Hwange Power Station.

However, Midlands Senator Morgen Komichi (MDC Alliance) pointed out that the prolonged power projects were bleeding government coffers.

“We have measures that we have been putting in place to import electricity, but we also have Hwange Thermal Power Station, where we get some of our electricity and there are six units that are supposed to be working to generate 705 megawatts (MW),” Mudyiwa said.

“Due to that, the generators are now obsolete, they work for at least two days and they break down, hence we are experiencing serious electricity shortages.”

Mudyiwa told Senate of the Hwange seven and eight expansion project, which is 30% complete and is expected to be completed by 2021, adding that plans were afoot to upgrade Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare thermal stations.

The deputy minister said business and institutions such as Parliament should harness solar power and get off the grid.

“There are companies that we are encouraging to do this such as Econet and Schweppes that are already using solar.

“Through the renewable energy policy, institutions like hospitals and universities should have solar fields so that they can generate solar for use. We also urge people who can afford to use solar energy to do so,” she said, adding that excess power could be fed to the national grid.

Komichi then raised the issue of ageing thermal power stations which are always being upgraded with nothing tangible to show.

“This is not the first time that upgrading has been done at the three thermal power stations – Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare – and a lot of money has been used and channelled towards these upgrades. If you look at your records, you will notice that Bulawayo was upgraded, but nothing came up, then Munyati was upgraded and nothing came up. Harare was also upgraded, but nothing came up. Why not build new power stations because those already there can be museums because they are useless. It is better to put independent units of 200MW in Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare,” Komichi said.

Mudyiwa said she would take Komichi’s recommendations.

BY EVERSON MUSHAVA/PATRICIA SIBANDA

FLIGHTS were temporarily stopped yesterday after air traffic controllers (ATCs) at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International and Joshua Nkomo International airports downed tools for the second time in a month citing antiquated equipment and poor remuneration.

The first strike on November 26 plunged the airport into chaos, with several passengers inconvenienced when fights failed to take off or land at the RGM International Airport.

Yesterday, travellers were briefly stranded in the morning when they were told to disembark from planes because the traffic controllers were refusing to work.

Travellers at both airports yesterday morning said the planes could not take off at the expected time due to the stand-off, which ended around 11am after the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) held talks with the controllers.

The strike come after weeks of negotiations failed to resolve the dispute, with the ATCs giving notice of a strike on Tuesday over several issues, topped by old equipment and poor salaries.

ATC spokesperson and CAAZ manager Anna-Julia Hungwe confirmed that there was a brief strike, but said the dispute was promptly resolved.

She said the workers resumed their duties after the engagement.

“It was just an operational issue which affected the traffic control, but now, we are okay.

Everyone has resumed work. It’s now all back to normal,” Hungwe said.

A source at the airport revealed that the equipment was old and frequently broke down, giving the controllers a tough time to do their work.

Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza reportedly visited CAAZ on Thursday to try and resolve the issue, but failed to stop yesterday’s strike.

“The air traffic controllers’ downed tools and flights only resumed at around 11am after the CAAZ management held talks with them,” the source said.

ATCs are a key section of CAAZ as they are responsible for issuing landing and take-off instructions to pilots, monitoring and directing the movement of aircraft on the ground and in the air using radar, computers or visual references.

BY NIZBERT MOYO/ PRAISEMORE SITHOLE

OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa says his party would only go into talks for the purpose of enforcing a cocktail of reforms for the country to move forward, unlike the ruling Zanu PF which he said seemed to be obsessed with positions and power.

Chamisa and a delegation of the party’s top leadership were in Bulawayo since Thursday to hold National Standing Committee, National Executive and structures meetings.

In an interview, Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda yesterday said while the political crisis continues, on the international stage, the MDC’s narrative of the Zimbabwe crisis was being received and recognised.

“Currently, Sadc is engaged with the Zimbabwe situation through (former South Africa) President Thabo Mbeki. Chamisa is not negotiating for positions, but for something better than a Government of National Unity (GNU),” he said.

“He (Chamisa) is negotiating for political reforms first to correct the record of 2018 elections, reforms that will never go back again, disputed elections, military coup and corruption. That is his agenda. Those who are thinking about positions must forget.”

Sibanda said the national dialogue must be a credible, bankable and a legitimate process fully guaranteed by the international community with specific deliverables, benchmarks and timelines through a mutually agreed and acceptable facilitator “this is his agenda and must be guaranteed”.

He said Chamisa was looking for a national transitional mechanism, comprehensive reform agenda and free and fair elections under international supervision.

“It is not a honey trap, but a bee trap. Zanu PF has no honey to offer. It is clueless, but consistent on its power retention agenda. There are two options in assisting a sinking ship, it’s either you sink with it or it will offload you when it gets to the shore,” Sibanda said.

He said Chamisa could not engage in the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad), describing it as a kids’ game, and adding that MDC was the one that called for talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa by writing two letters first before and after last year’s elections.

He said Chamisa wanted to discuss electoral conduct to avoid the issue of illegitimacy, but was spurned.

Addressing journalists at a Press conference, MDC spokesperson Daniel Molokele said the opposition party is opting for a national transitional mechanism that includes all stakeholders in the country, both political and non-political groups.

He said this would ensure improvement in the political and economic environment.

Molokele said the European Union, United Nations and Sadc had also pointed out that a national transitional mechanism could change the dire situation in the country.

“A national transitional mechanism is a different concept altogether because with GNU the political parties in Parliament must form a government, but in this we are saying all stakeholders in Zimbabwe must form a temporary government,” he said.

“This means that the president must not come from any political party, but can be a respected former judge or civic society leader. The leader is given a two to three-year period to ensure that we have a transitional process to have comprehensive reforms.”

Molokele said this had happened in other countries such as Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

“It is guaranteed by Sadc, UN, AU that within a two-year period, it will create a free and fair environment for elections and the winner becomes the president and illegitimacy comes to an end,” he said.

“As long as there is a dialogue, which has no MDC or Zanu PF, then there is no dialogue. We will not join Polad as they are an extension of Zanu PF.”

Molokele said the MDC did not invite Mbeki, adding that the talks have not yet begun.