Scores of parents of children learning at Sunningdale 1 Primary School in Harare early this week staged a demonstration against the school for demanding $35 from each pupil to replace stolen roof sheets.

By Ruvimbo Muchenje

The parents alleged that a member of the School Development Committee on Wednesday barred their children from entering the school gate unless they produced proof of payment for the missing sheets.

“We are here to defend our helpless children,” a parent, Learnmore Moyo, said.

Longina Mugadza, another parent, said the school had been missing a lot of things lately, but no investigations have been conducted.

“A water tank went missing, tablets for the children went missing, calculators, even bond paper, but there are no investigations. Instead, they want us to replace those things using our own money,” an irate Mugadza charged.

A teacher at the school, who refused to be named, blamed the security staff for the thefts.
“The headmaster confessed to having seen one of the guards holding the missing sheets, but he said he thought they were from next door. What I know is that if these guys are questioned thoroughly, they will lead us to their boss,” the teacher said.

The school head, Never Zviripi, said a security guard had already been arrested for stealing the roofing sheets and he appeared in court
yesterday.

He, however, refused to divulge more information, saying he was attending a conference out of Harare.

Media stakeholders have called on the government to ensure that its institutions provide citizens with access to information to minimise the spread of fake news in the country.

BY FARAI MATIASHE

The call, however, comes at a time the government has been accused by content creators as one of the biggest peddlers of fake news.

Speaking at a panel discussion on fake news organised by Perch Media in Harare on Wednesday, media consultant Koliwe Majama said when public institutions deny citizens information through public means, they find a way to get it, even if it means leaving a gap for fake news.

“When you look at the process that the African Commission is going through now to revise the declaration on freedom of information, it answers to (access to) information, you can’t separate the two. You can’t start to talk about freedom of expression without access to information. So the only way is to have more open public institutions,” she said.

Information ministry director for international communication services, Ivanoe Gurira, said government, through the weekly post-Cabinet briefing, was striving to timeously and openly provide information to the public.

“We are not already at 100%. We think communication is very important, it is the livelihood of any society and information in our age has become as precious as the oxygen that we need. Government will continue working to improve the public communication strategy platforms. Government, after every Cabinet briefing, has a media briefing to update citizens on every decision made by the government,” he said.

Gurira added that government, in the near future, would consider doing daily briefings with the media in a bid to give information to the citizens.

“What I like about the United States of America is that they have daily briefings. We are at a weekly basis, but I think in the future, we will move to more regular briefings, at least with the media. If the government comes up with daily briefings, that would, to a greater extent, sanitise the environment and reduce fake news,” he said.

Gurira also suggested that there was need to regulate social media as it is the major platform for fake news.

Up-and-coming Zimdancehall artiste Brian “Ding” Chipara has lamented lack of sponsorship in the farming town as a major drawback for most artistes in his category.

BY SIMBARASHE SITHOLE

Having started music in 2003, the 35-year-old chanter from Holland Farm in Mvurwi said he will not give up despite the hurdles thrown on his path as his dream was to be ranked among the country’s best musicians.

The artiste told NewsDay Life & Style that renowned studios such as Chillspot Records were charging high recording fees.

“We have vast talent here in Mvurwi, but promoters are turning a blind eye on us. We cannot afford the so-called big studios. Just last week, I went to Harare and tried Chillspot Studios who are demanding a minimum fee of US$50. I simply cannot afford that as an individual,” Chipara lamented.

The artiste, who has one album, Hupenyu, and has recorded 10 singles which he sent to various radio stations said to date only one single titled Castle has made it on air.

He implored radio stations to play his songs as he was currently marketing his music through social media platforms.

“We have a big challenge of airplay. So far only one of my songs is getting airplay. This speaks to the issue of sponsorship. For us to be heard we have to go to Harare, yet we have studios here in Mvurwi,” he said.

Chipara once shared the stage with sungura prodigy Romeo Gasa and Wasu Dacoda in Mvurwi and he aims to perform alongside big names like Soul Jah Love whom he is currently working with on a collaboration.

“I am currently working on a collaboration song with Soul Jah Love titled Kwamuri Baba to be released mid-month,” he said.

Mvurwi boasts of one Zimdancehall artiste, Takura Chioniso, popularly known as Blot Grenade, who hit the headlines after relocating to Harare, where he recorded his hit song Ndiri Bad on the Star riddim at Chillspot Records.

Despite recording his first song Pamangoma at Talkat Studio in Mvurwi, it did not help his career to soar to greater heights until he relocated to Harare.

Zimbabwe’s economy is set to shrink by 6,5% this year – its first contraction in a decade — after a drought and power shortages, the Finance minister said yesterday.

Reuters

Power generation could be cut at the largest hydro plant due to low water levels, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube also said.

Ncube told lawmakers in the resort town of Victoria Falls that Zimbabwe would spend more than $300 million to import 840 000 tonnes of maize, a staple crop, after the drought left more than half the population in need of food aid.

The national Treasury said on October 7 that the economy was projected to shrink by up to 6% this year.

Hopes that the economy would quickly recover under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who came to power after the late ruler Robert Mugabe was removed after a coup in 2017, have dimmed quickly as Zimbabweans grapple with soaring inflation, rolling power cuts and shortages of foreign exchange, fuel and medicines.
Ncube said the economy was projected to recover and grow 3% next year on the expectation that there would be better rains to power agriculture as well as improved foreign exchange inflows and electricity generation.

Power cuts have hit industry and mining, the biggest export earner. Earnings from mining fell to $1,9 billion between January and September this year, compared to $2,4 billion during the same period in 2018, central bank governor John Mangudya said.

Ncube said water in the Kariba Dam, which has capacity to produce 1 050 MW, was so low to the extent that “we are dangerously close to a level where we have to cut off power generation.” Kariba was producing 122 MW yesterday.

Zimbabweans are experiencing daily hardships with prices of basic goods, fuel and electricity soaring, while the Zimbabwe dollar that was re-introduced in June has continued to weaken against the United States dollar.

The national statistical agency stopped publishing annual inflation figures in June, but with prices surging, economists examining the official monthly data put the rate in September at 380%, the highest since the hyperinflation horrors of 2008.

Critics accuse Mnangagwa of lacking commitment to political reforms and failure to tackle entrenched corruption but the 76-year-old leader has pleaded for time and patience to bring the economy back.

THE final event in the 2019 Drag Racing Series is set for Donnybrook Raceway in Harare on Sunday as the season draws to an end.

By Freeman Makopa

At least 45 drivers and 15 superbike riders are expected to battle it out for national points in front of a colourful crowd, if usual trends are followed this weekend.

The drag racing series has now become a premier motorsport event in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Motorsport Federation spokesperson Temba Mazvimbakupa said he expects this year’s event to be a memorable one and fun-filled with adrenaline-pumping action.

“We are ready to roll and we hope this year’s event will be a memorable one. This event is a crowd puller and this year we are expecting around 5 000 spectators. We have had a good season and I hope fans will throng Donnybrooke raceway to witness adrenaline-pumping action,” he said.

“Competitors will range from first-timers, who are out to have fun, to the highly competitive participants determined to leave a mark at the fast-growing competition,” he said.

The competition is expected to be particularly fierce in the battle for the fastest car and fastest bike of the day.

Mazvimbakupa said the association is on overdrive to spread the sport to every corner of the country.

“We have motorsport which has been doing well in places like Zvishavane and we are also trying to take drag racing there and we will also continue spreading the sport to every province and that is achievable because Zimbabwe is filled with talent. Drivers are also bracing for the 3-Hour Enduro to be staged in Bulawayo and Zimbabwe Summer Series which will be season’s closing event and will also be held the same month and will have riders from other countries,” he added.

High speeds of over 200km per hour are achieved over a quarter mile (402m), the sport is more about showing off dexterity on the wheel. Control is the name of the game.

ELECTION observers who were part of the 2018 general elections, have called on Zimbabwe to implement a law capping political party expenditure during polls to curb vote-buying and abuse of national resources for political party gains.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn) has suggested that the law should open for audits into political party spending and how they use campaign funds to ensure electoral malpractices and unfair advantages are dealt with.

“The law should provide for disclosure and audits of parties’ sources and use of campaign funding. It should confer an independent institution with the legal mandate to regulate and oversee electoral finance issues and undertake verification of the contestant’s financial reports,” Zesn said in a statement.

Political parties represented in Parliament have access to public funds through the Political Parties (Finance Act), but these have used the money without being audited.

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) said such a law will ensure accountability and transparency on the source of funding of political parties and how the money was used.

“Promote accountability and transparency of campaign finance and expenditure by introducing explicit regulations on campaign expenditure including reporting requirements before nominations and after the declaration of results,” COG said.

The law will also require that candidates declare their assets before nomination and all donations received by political parties to ensure that voters have full information as they go to vote.

Money has been a major factor in deciding elections in Zimbabwe with opposition parties accusing the ruling Zanu PF party of abusing State resources to fund mega rallies, buy campaign regalia, spending big on billboards and flashy cars as well as buying votes.

The draft Child Justice Bill, which seeks to establish a distinct criminal justice system for children, does not meet international standards by failing to provide for compulsory provision of legal assistance for children, a children’s rights organisation has said.

BY FARAI MATIASHE

During his recent State of the Nation Address, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said one of the first Bills to appear before the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament would be the Child Justice Bill.

The draft Bill, which was released recently by the Justice ministry and yet to be gazetted, is going to consolidate existing child protection instruments, including the Children Act (Chapter 5.06), Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (Chapter 9.07) and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9.24).

Speaking at a panel discussion on the draft Child Justice Bill convened by Justice for Children in Harare yesterday, the organisation’s children’s rights lawyer Musa Kika said the draft Bill fails to provide the right for the children in conflict with the law to unqualified legal representation.

“The Bill marks significant progress in the treatment of children in conflict with the law. By and large the best interest of the child principle is upheld. However, the Bill is fraught with some glaring inconsistences, omissions and shortcomings in meeting international law stipulations and standards in child justice as provided for in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) and the Beijing rules, such as compulsory provision of legal assistance,” he said.

“The Bill provides that in certain cases a child may be provided legal representation at the State’s expense, effectively regurgitating the position of the Constitution in Section 70 (1) (d). The Bill does not provide for an unqualified right to legal representation for all children in conflict with the law at all times, as required by Article 40 (2) (b) (ii) of the UNCRC and Article 17 (2) (c) (ii) of the ACWRC.”

Kika said the international standards on children’s rights require children in conflict with the law to be protected from members of the Press, but the daft Child Justice Bill was silent on that.

“Clause 81 on privacy and confidentiality does not carry an express prohibition of the Press in court proceedings involving child offenders or child witnesses, as required by ACRWC,” he said.

Johannesburg — Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande is nearing the record of teammate Itumeleng Khune as he gears up for the upcoming back-to-back Soweto derbies.

Kickoff

Katsande could run out for his 24th consecutive derby appearance in this weekend’s Telkom Knockout quarter-final clash at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, before adding another in next weekend’s Absa Premiership meeting.

Khune has featured in 27 derbies since making his debut for Amakhosi in 2007, but has missed a couple in recent years through injury.

Former club star Siphiwe Tshabalala, who remains without a club this season, holds the current record for most Soweto derby appearances, having featured in 31 consecutive clashes against Orlando Pirates prior to his departure from Naturena in July 2018.

Katsande, meanwhile, has never missed a competitive meeting with Pirates since his arrival from Ajax Cape Town back in 2011, with only Shabba having made more consecutive derby appearances for the club.

The 33-year-old Zimbabwean has since reflected on his journey in the biggest fixture on the PSL calendar and insists he is not targeting his former teammates’ record.

“I can’t say I’m eyeing Shabba’s record of 31 (derbies) because I’m just a poor boy coming from Zimbabwe and playing in these derbies are so special to me,” Katsande said.

“I’m just enjoying these moments, which is to be part of these kinds of games. When I sit down after I’ve retired, I’ll tell my grandkids that I was part and parcel of these Soweto derbies.”

guest column: Tsepang Nare

I RECALL vividly President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sentiments that were full of life, hope as he sought to depict a clear picture about the new trajectory the country was to take.

On his inauguration on November 24 2017, he categorically said: “Above all we must remember and realise that we hold and run this country in trust. It belongs to future generations whose possibilities we must not mortgage as a result of decisions of expediency we might selfishly make today out of fear and difficult choice of the decisions that have to be made.”

As young Zimbabweans, this provoked the wildest dreams we once had while growing up — but we later realised that they were just dreams which will remain imaginary. To us, Mnangagwa’s inauguration speech was news which we welcomed and assumed would enrich, uplift and empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) who had been relegated to a low status due to unfavourable living conditions in Zimbabwe. To us here was a leader who ushered in a transformative era of endless possibilities.

As young persons with disabilities we thought that his utterances were going to ensure that there is meaningful development which would uplift our lives as PWDs.

Again, in his speech after winning the 2018 harmonised elections, he reiterated that he would keep his promises after being declared the winner. To quote him, he said: “My administration will continue to prioritise the advancement and empowerment of women, youth, and the disabled in every sphere of the economy. We will make firm and deliberate efforts to strengthen their capacity to participate in the economy and governance of the country.”

Sadly, in the last 14 months, PWDs and other citizens have witnessed a wave of changes that have crippled the economy including austerity measures that precipitated suffering. Government says these austerity measures are the path to economic recovery.

These austerity measures have seriously affected PWDs, who can no longer afford the basics of life. What surprises us is that the President promised that he would advance and promote disability issues. The environment is so demeaning for persons with disabilities. Actually, children with disabilities are the most affected by these austerity measures.

Education for children with disabilities has become more or less a priviledge when it is actually supposed to be a human right.

The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) which Zimbabwe signed on March 2018 in article 43 (1) states that, “State parties shall endeavour to provide free and compulsory basic education to all – especially girls, rural inhabitants, minorities, PWDs and other marginalised social groups.” For a child with disabilities, the right and opportunity to acquire education is salvation from poverty. It is a catalyst for empowerment and development.

Zimbabwe’s population for PWDs stands at 7%, and 52% of children with disabilities have no access to education (UN report). The continued decline of the economy therefore has escalated the increase in percentage of children with disabilities that have no access to education. Parents face a plethora of challenges in a bid to ensure children with disabilities get an education because education is generally expensive. The rise in school fees, transport costs and erosion of incomes has affected children with disabilities the most.

Children with disabilities have less mobility and they are forced to use public transport (kombis) to get to school. This costs on average $80 per week and $320 per month and it is beyond the reach of many.

We, therefore, call upon the President to put in place strategies or policies to empower PWDs.

ACDEG further alludes to participation of PWDs in article 31 (1) which says, “State parties shall promote participation of social groups with special needs including the youth and people with disabilities in the governance process.” To ensure realisation of this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice must hasten the process of ratification and domestication of ACDEG. Budget allocation should also support the disadvantaged like PWDs. There is need to increase budget allocations to the Department of Social Welfare.