BY VENERANDA LANGA

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday came face-to-face with an elderly woman who interrogated him over the anguish of pensioners who sleep at bank queues only to get 50 cent coins while crisp new notes are channelled to the black market.

Mnangagwa was quizzed by citizens on issues of corruption in the country at the no-holds-barred event organised by the African Parliamentarians Network against Corruption (APNAC) in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), and Transparency International-Zimbabwe to commemorate the international Anti-Corruption Day Symposium under the theme Taking Stock of the Anti-Corruption Agenda in Zimbabwe.

Different panellists asked Mnangagwa to explain government policy on corruption in the banking, mining, the public and private sectors and the transport sector, among others.

Sixty-year-old Barbara Zamba, from Gokwe, who was one of the panellists, confronted Mnangagwa over the suffering of the Zimbabwean public at banks.

“I am a widow and I sleep at bank queues looking for money, and if I get that money, it will be only $60 in 50 cent coins, which are rejected by kombis and shops, and Mr President, can you explain why banks are giving people money which is not accepted for transactions,” Zamba said.

“We are also charged a premium when transacting on EcoCash, and there is a three-tier pricing system in the country which we view as corruption.”

Mnangagwa said all the bank queues and suffering of Zimbabweans were caused by sanctions.

“I am a listening President and you are saying you are a pensioner and you queue long hours or sleep at bank queues and yet you worked for that money. What I can say to you is that the country has a long history. After the liberation struggle, we then took our land and redistributed it to the people, but the whites then imposed economic sanctions upon us,” he said.

“If a country is to succeed, it needs to be backed by international banks like the World Bank to get lines of credit, but because of sanctions, people are suffering in Zimbabwe and it resulted in hyperinflation. We then decided to introduce our own currency. We have been surviving through our own hard work and yet all neighbouring countries have been getting lines of credit.”

Continued Mnangagwa: “The issue of failure to get money at banks is because we did not have much money in circulation. However, pensioners used to get $100 per month, but my government increased that to $800. As we go towards Christmas, the long queues at banks will be disappearing. I called the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya and told him about it and he said they used to issue $10 million to $20 million, but from Tuesday, next week they will be releasing $30 million to increase money supply.”

He said they were not going back on coins, but would also introduce $10 notes and $20 notes.
Child MP Vanessa Chivizhe said it was disheartening that young people were failing to get jobs due to nepotism and the comatose economy, which was sentencing them to poverty.

Child Speaker Christopher Mutasa told Mnangagwa that the country had policies to deal with corruption, but they were not being implemented and as youths, they demand strategic plans to solve the country’s problems.

APNAC chairperson Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said while Mnangagwa had appointed a new Zacc
board, there was need to remove the old Zacc staff so that the anti-corruption body is more effective.

Panellists told Mnangagwa that due to bribe-seeking tendencies at the Registrar-General’s department, some children are failing to acquire identity documents and that courts were releasing bigwigs implicated in corruption cases.

TI-Z programmes manager Farai Mutondoro said corruption had pervaded the extractive sector in terms of non-disclosure of contracts, bribes in mining contracts and machete wars affecting the gold sector.

Mnangagwa said to deal with unemployment, graduates should seek jobs in the diaspora.

“If you go to different countries in the world, you will find Zimbabweans at the top of global companies because we have the best education. Better be unemployed, but be educated because you can go outside the country and get employment, but what is critical is you must create jobs in this country.”

On corruption in mining, he said when he was in Belarus, he was told by businessmen there that they were buying US$60 million worth of gold from the black market trade in Zimbabwe, which he said should be going through Fidelity Printers and Refiners.

BY SILAS NKALA

DETHRONED Ntabazinduna’s Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni is challenging the government’s decision to eject him from the traditional leadership post and is seeking reinstatement.

Ndiweni, who was dethroned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration with effect from November 30, filed an application through his lawyer Dumisani Dube at the Bulawayo High Court yesterday, citing Mnangagwa, Local Government minister July Moyo, Chiefs’ Council president Fortune Charumbira, Chief Shana for Matabeleland North Provincial Chiefs Assembly, Matabeleland North provincial development co-ordinator (PDC) Latiso Dlamini and Umguza PDC Tapiwa Zivovoyi as respondents.

Ndiweni wants his removal from the chieftainship to be declared unlawful, null and void and set aside.

“The recommendations of the Matabeleland Provincial Assembly of Chiefs that Chief Felix Nhlanhla Ndiweni be removed from office of Chief Ndiweni be and should be, hereby, declared null and void,” he submitted.

“The directive of first respondent (Mnangagwa) that applicant be dispossessed of his government issued vehicle, chief’s regalia and other government assets lawfully in his possession be declared to be unlawful, null and void and of no force and be set aside. “

In his founding affidavit, Ndiweni said his application was for a declaratory and consequential relief that his purported removal from chieftainship by Mnangagwa based on the recommendations by Provincial Chiefs Assembly must be null and void.

“… More particularly that I can only be removed from my office as a chief upon lawful action and processes fully respecting my constitutional rights under subsection (1) and (2) of section 68 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which grants me the rights to administrative conduct that is lawful, reasonable, procedural and substantive as well as the rights to be promptly given reasons for the administrative conduct taken … I was denied all these rights,” he submitted.

“When the issue of my removal from the office was being considered, I was entitled in terms of subsection (1)(2) of section 3 of the administration of Justice Act Chapter 10:28 not only to lawful, reasonable and fair treatment, but also to be given adequate notice of the nature and proposed action against me as well as to be given a reasonable opportunity to make adequate representation on the matter. None of these rights were respected in my purported removal from office …”

Ndiweni said during the process leading to his removal, he was denied the right to be heard.

“Chief Ndiweni having been duly and lawfully appointed by then President late Robert Mugabe in June 2014, accordingly no question arises under section 3(2)(a)(1) of the Traditional Leaders Act Chapter 29:17. Section 28(1) of the Constitution cited by first respondent as being the provision on the basis of which … he acted in purporting to remove me from office does not in itself grant first respondent any power of removal of a chief, but merely provides for limits, qualifications and conditions which must be included in an Act of Parliament making provision for the appointment, suspension, succession and removal of traditional leaders,” he submitted.

“I am the substantive Chief Ndiweni on Ntabazinduna, Umguza District having been duly appointed by then President in terms of sections 283 of the constitution Amendment No 20 Act 2013 and section 3(1) of the Traditional Leaders Act Chapter 29:17 having been duly appointed on June 20 2014.”

He wants government to be blocked from confiscating his official vehicle and regalia.

Respondents are yet to file their response.

THE National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (Nango) on Wednesday conducted training of its members in the Midlands province aimed at imparting skills to end existing regional conflicts.

By Brenna Matendere

The Midlands province has been dogged by conflict, which includes the 1980s Gukurahundi disturbances, which the government and other independent bodies have been trying to resolve over the years with little success.

Political violence, rifts between local authorities and vendors and the stand-off between non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the police over public gatherings haunt the city.

Gweru City Council and residents have also been haggling over the rates billing system, which could see pre-paid water meters being introduced.

There is also a fight between farmers and miners on land rights as well as the menace of MaShurugwi.

Nango central region co-ordinator Titos Mangoma told NewsDay on the sidelines of the Gweru workshop, that his organisation strived to ensure that all NGOs in the Midlands have personnel trained to deal with cases of conflict.

“The training was basically on conflict prevention, management, resolution and transformation. The training sought to capacitate civil society organisations and other stakeholders to understand their role in promoting peace through utilising various peacemaking mechanisms which prevent, manage, resolve and transform all forms of conflict,” he said.

“The key outcomes of the meeting were geared towards the development of a framework which encompasses early detection systems of conflict and strengthening various peace building mechanisms. There are several cases of conflicts which came up in the meeting and we resolved on how to tackle them one by one as NGOs.”

Some of the NGOs which took part in the training include Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, Childline, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Women Coalition of Zimbabwe and residents’ associations.
Mangoma urged the NGOs to go into communities and try to end existing conflicts.

“The issue of MaShurugwi who are terrorising people also came out in the meeting and we agreed on how to try and solve the conflict. There was also the issue of violation of children’s rights that is a conflict case in communities; as well as land rights fights between farmers and miners. We set out the tone for ending some of these conflicts and several others that are already known at the national level,” he said.

TWO soldiers based in Hwange, Matabeleland North province, allegedly threatened to kill a State spy bearing a Mugabe surname after accusing him of being related to the late former President Robert Mugabe.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

Sindiso Nkomo and Philani Nyoni allegedly threatened to kill Tawanda Mugabe in an act of revenge, claiming the late President had also killed thousands in the region.

The incident took place on December 8, 2019 at Cricket Club in Hwange.

This emerged during their court appearance before Hwange magistrate Aelene Munamati, who found the pair guilty and fined them $100 each.

Munamati also slapped them with a wholly suspended two-month jail sentence.

The State, led by Trymore Chitumbu, said the two soldiers, based at 1.2 Infantry Battalion in Hwange, took offence when they heard that an officer from the Office of the President and Cabinet had a Mugabe surname.

“The accused persons approached the complainant after they heard him being called Mugabe by his friend. The accused threatened to kill the complainant, accusing him of being related to the late former President. They said ‘we must kill him because Mugabe killed a lot of people in this region’,” Chitumbu said.

The pair reportedly beat up Mugabe, resulting in their arrest.

The late former President, Mugabe, has largely been blamed for the 1980s Gukurahundi mass killings in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces after he deployed a North Korea-trained Fifth Brigade in the region to ostensibly fight dissidents.

The arrest of the two soldiers comes after the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) raised concern over cases of indiscipline among its officers.

ZNA Chief of Staff Quartermaster Staff, Major-General Hlanganani Dube recently said cases of indiscipline were rising.

“I strongly feel obliged to express the command element’s concern over repeated acts of indiscipline by some of our members,” Dube was quoted saying during a recent speech and prize giving ceremony of Inter Formation and Unit Drill Competitions held at Headquarters 5 Brigade.

“We continue to experience an increase in the number of members involved in crimes committed both within and outside the organisation. Such acts of indiscipline must end immediately. Severe punishments will always be applied for any deviation from our set standards.”

LEGISLATORS representing rural constituencies now want a special allowance on the premise that they spend several days in Harare without attending to their constituencies, while Harare-based MPs are always able to be with their constituents.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

This was raised on Wednesday by Umzingwane MP Levi Mayihlome (Zanu PF) in the National Assembly as a matter of privilege to the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda.

If this is implemented, it will mostly benefit Zanu PF legislators who have the majority of constituencies in the rural areas.

Mayihlome’s suggestion did not, however, make any reference to legislators from far-flung urban constituencies, such as Bulawayo, Mutare, Victoria Falls, Plumtree and Beitbridge, which have MPs who also have to travel and spend several days in Harare in order to attend to Parliament business.

He also did not mention how much more he wanted for rural MPs.

“I rise on a point of privilege on an issue which concerns rural constituency MPs, who compared to their counterparts, particularly Harare constituency MPs, have to travel up to 700 kilometres every weekend to their constituencies,” Mayihlome said.

“Friday and Sunday are travelling days to and from Harare and so they only have one day per week to attend to their constituency issues on a daily basis and so it is my humble request that rural MPs be given a special allowance for this difference between the rural and urban constituencies,” he said.

Mudenda’s response was that the issue would be referred to the Parliament Standing Rules and Orders Committee (SROC).

“Yes, that affects the rights and privileges of MPs. Willias Madzimure (Kambuzuma MP) has been so mesmerised by your point of privilege, I do not know why. Let that matter be referred to the SROC,” Mudenda said.

Currently, MPs get sitting allowances of $700 per sitting, which was increased from the previous $75.

They also get fuel coupons whose value depends on the distance an MP travels from their constituency to Harare.
During the duration of their sitting, they also get accommodated at hotels.

While MPs have been very good at demanding a raise to their salaries, some of them — mostly from the rural constituencies — have been mum in Parliament, particularly on issues affecting the rural populace.

RODWELL Dhlakama has been rewarded for helping revitalise Ngezi Platinum Stars with a permanent position as the club’s head coach.

BY HENRY MHARA

The Mhondoro Ngezi-based side confirmed his appointment as substantive coach during the club’s player awards ceremony at their base on Wednesday night.

“Having commanded a gallant comeback in 2019, please join me in confirming the appointment of Rodwell Dhlakama as the substantive head coach of Ngezi Platinum Stars,” club vice-president in charge of technical, Lysias Chiwozva said to a thunderous applause.

Dhlakama joined the club from Chapungu in the middle of the season, to replace Erol Akbay, with the club struggling on the bottom half of the log table.

He managed to guide the club to the final of the Chibuku Super Cup final, in which they lost 1-0 to Highlanders. In the league, Ngezi Platinum finished a remarkable fourth.

“As the newly-appointed substantive head coach of the greatest football club in the country, I have got no doubt that in him we have a capable and energetic young leader who can deliver the big prize for this brand. The onus is unto you head coach to deliver. We will support you by all means necessary to ensure that you deliver the aspirations of this club. Dhlakama will be beefing up his technical team.”

He is also expected to beef the squad as well. Reports suggest that Dhlakama will be reunited with Denver Mukamba, while Soccer Star of the Year finalist King Nadolo has been linked with a move to Mhondoro.

Chiwozva then took a dig at Akbay, saying if only they had fired the Dutchman earlier, Ngezi could have finished the season better.

“I was talking to the captain and he shares the same sentiment. He said if only this change had come in the first half of the season, we were definitely going to be somewhere better. But I am sure that the right platform has been set for us to take off. Rodwell Dhlakama joined the club at the halfway stage of the season as a caretaker coach and he did more than what he was supposed to do.”

In the players’ awards, winger Donald Teguru walked away the biggest winner of the night.

Teguru, a surprise exclusion from the league’s Soccer Stars of the Year finalist, got the players’ player of the year award, in addition of the golden boot award. He scored nine goals for Ngezi this season. The two awards got him a total $28 000 cash prize.

Unfortunately, Teguru was not around to receive his prizes as he had a bereavement in his family.
The club’s player of the year award went to their inspirational captain Frank Makarati, who received $20 000 and a trophy.

Ngezi Platinum Stars Player Awards

Player of the year: Frank Makarati – $20 000
Players’ player of the year: Donald Teguru – $14 000
Most disciplined player: Polite Moyo – $10 000
Most loyal player: Keith Murera – $10 000
Most improved player: Nelson Chadya – $10 000
Most promising young player: – Mandlenkosi Mlilo – $10 000
Rookie of the year: Wayne Makuva – $10 000
Golden boot: Donald Teguru – $14 000

NORMAN Mapeza and Kaitano Tembo have had glittering careers both as players and coaches and are regarded as some of the finest footballers in Zimbabwe.

BY HENRY MHARA

The two former Warriors defensive stalwarts will pit their tactics against each other for the first time and in the prominent setting of the Absa Premiership in South Africa tomorrow.

Mapeza has been plying his trade back home in Zimbabwe at national team level as well as at club level, winning three league titles and cup competitions, until he clinched the Chippa United job two months ago.

Tembo has not coached in Zimbabwe as he went into coaching after ending his playing career in South Africa, and having been an understudy, he took up the reigns at SuperSport last year.

The Chitungwiza-born tacticians lead teams that have contrasting fortunes with Tembo chasing the league title while Mapeza is fighting to keep his team afloat.

When the two collide, it will be civil war in a foreign land; they all have a point to prove in the South African top-flight league.

Hailing from the dormitory town of Chitungwiza, they were vital cogs in the senior national team at some point in their hugely successful careers.

Tembo rose to prominence at Harare giants Dynamos.

His career took him to numerous South African clubs before finally settling for SuperSport United, where, just like at Dynamos, he managed to establish a legendary status.

Mapeza has seen it all.

He played for several clubs in Poland and Turkey, even turning out for Galatasaray.

He was only the second Zimbabwean player to play in the Uefa Champions League, appearing in the competition for Galatasaray in the 1990s. The defender was part of the famed Dream Team in the early 90s.

Coaching wise, the two are some of the best brains that the country has produced. Zimbabwe football fans hope that one day Mapeza will return to coach the Warriors, while Tembo has also been pressured to take up the job.

Some fans are also divided on who the best coach is between the two and that debate could be put to bed when Mapeza’s Chippa host Tembo’s SuperSport tomorrow evening.

Mapeza has helped revolutionise the team since he took over, while sitting at the bottom of the log, but has put them on a upward trajectory.

Chippa are unbeaten in their last four matches, with three wins and a draw, in a run that has seen them climbing out of the relegation zone.

Their win over Cape Town City last week saw them moving to 11th position and if they win this one and other results go their way, they could finish the year on 7th position.

Mapeza last week shared his secret to the success at Chippa so far.

“Whenever you get to a new club‚ the foundation is to build a solid defence – to have a good goalkeeper‚ four quality defenders who can depend on each other‚ fullback who sometimes can join up with the attack,” he told South African journalists.

“When I arrived here some two months ago‚ I knew the situation with the club. I thought ‘let me take the challenge‚ let me lift these boys. I’m not taking anything away from the other coaches (that came before). They did very well. Surviving relegation is not easy.”

“The results have been positive‚ especially in terms of training‚ the approach‚ the desire. You can tell that they are willing to learn‚ they are willing to push

“So for me as a coach this is a big positive‚ I always leave the training ground and go home in good spirits because the guys are willing to push‚” added the ex-Zimbabwe international and national team coach.

Despite their good form, Mapeza has warned his players against complacency.

“When things are going like this‚ it is very easy to switch off‚ so what’s important is to maintain the discipline and the positive attitude. If we are going to lose that‚ then we are in trouble‚” he warned.

SuperSport are also enjoying their best form of the season at the moment.

They are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning three of those. They are third on the log and could move to second with a victory in the clash against Mapeza’s side.

The two clubs are home to a number of Zimbabwean players too.

Tembo’s side boasts of Onesmor Bhasera, Kuda Mahachi and Evans Rusike, while Mapeza has the Moyo twins Elvis and Kelvin, who he worked with at FC Platinum.

It will be a clash of arguably Zimbabwe’s finest when the two collide in a match that will attract a lot of local interest.

GOVERNMENT will continue to allow the importation of old second-hand vehicles, the older the vehicle, the less the duty charged.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

The issue was discussed on Tuesday in the National Assembly during debate on clause 25 of the Finance (No 3) 2019 Bill, after Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa (MDC Alliance) questioned why more duty was levied on new imported vehicles and less on old ones without taking into consideration the impact on the environment.

Clause 25 of the Finance (No 3) 2019 Bill states the Zimbabwe dollar rates of special excise duty on second-hand motor vehicles, which will take effect from January 1, 2020.

For example, an imported second-hand vehicle with a lifespan of zero to four years and an engine capacity of up to 1 000cc will pay excise duty of $3 000; five to 10 years and engine capacity of 1 000cc ($1 500); 11 to 15 years with engine capacity of 1 000cc ($750); and over 20 years all engine capacities ($500).

Mushoriwa added that Zimbabwe should consider setting up its own manufacturing plants.

“Minister (Finance, Mthuli Ncube), why should we reward a person who wants to import a vehicle which is more than 20 years and we punish a person that wants to import a vehicle which is less than five years? I thought the Hon Minister was going to simply say any vehicle which is more than 10 years has to be charged high excise duty,” Mushoriwa said.

“So what it means is that the best way to buy cars is for people to go to Japan and get vehicles which are 20 to 25 years old and put them into the market and they end up flooding the market. They only have to pay US$500; you are not putting into consideration the issue of the environmental impact,” he said.

Chegutu West MP Dextor Nduna (Zanu PF) said government should not curtail people’s choice of vehicles.

“To then force the ordinary Zimbabwean to buy brand new vehicles is out of this world. I applaud the minister for not trying to (stop) the ex-Japanese vehicles from getting into the country,” Nduna said.

Ncube said in coming up with the Zimdollar duty charges for imported vehicles, government converted the old United States dollar rates using a factor of eight to the current rate.

“That is way below the inter-bank rate of 15. So these are not high at all and these are in Zimbabwe dollars. This is simply an issue of excise duty in terms of livelihoods in line with the size of the engine capacity and the number of years,” he said.

The Treasury boss said duty was meant to be progressive rather than regressive, and that is why it was lower as the age of the vehicle goes higher.

“We are not trying to necessarily restrict the old vehicles over new vehicles. The intention rather is to recognise the remaining life and making sure the excise duty is progressive enough. Those with newer cars pay more because of longer shelf life and those with older cars pay less. That is how we have designed it and we think it is fair to design it that way,” he said.