BY SHARON SIBINDI

ROIL Bulawayo Arts Award outstanding actor Percy Soko, whose drama series titled Mandla has been showing on ZTV every Sunday night at 9 o’clock since last month, yesterday said the series was inspired by drug lords.

The series, which is self-funded and is scheduled to run for 13 weeks, was shot in the City of Kings with 12 actors.

Soko, who plays Mandla, told NewsDay Life & Style that the drama series is inspired by drug lords mushrooming in the country.

“The drama series is inspired by the drug lords that are emerging in our society. The writer is a young man and so is the producer. They asked me to direct the drama and also take the lead role,” he said.

Soko said the drama series also addressed issues of love and betrayal.

“The drama is a must-see. It also carries a message to the people, which is about drugs,” he said.

“These are seen slowly entering our country and people are killing each other fighting for drug territories, families are destroyed. Corruption is rife in our police services. They take bribes from the drug lords and we need to fight this.”

Recently, Bulawayo Metropolitan Affairs minister Judith Ncube accused adults of lacing foodstuffs sold to pupils with drugs, which ended up affecting the children and interfering with their learning process. She challenged parents to closely monitor their children to ensure that they were not abusing drugs.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

Opposition MDC party leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said the country was drawing to a “tipping point” as shortages of key commodities persist, while the collapse of the local currency and rising inflation have seen the cost of living going up weekly.

Zimbabwe is facing its worst economic crisis in a decade underpinned by shortages of fuel, medicine and bread, among others, while rolling power cuts have seen industry and households go without power for up to 20 hours daily.

The southern African nation’s public health sector faces collapse in the wake of doctors and nurses’ strike, while some State workers on Monday said they were unable to go to work anymore due to high transport costs, leaving government services under threat.

Chamisa said the unravelling situation in the country was the fault of the ruling Zanu PF party.

Speaking at a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said youths should take charge of the struggle to end the crisis being caused by Zanu PF.

“President Nelson Chamisa is concerned with the deteriorating situation in the country and recognises the urgent need for the people of Zimbabwe to engage this crisis immediately,” he said.

“All social and economic stakeholders must plan to end this crisis. Our young people have a lot at stake and must not allow this country to implode.”

An insider said the MDC was readying itself to ride on a wave of discontent which will come owing to the biting shortages and a likely collapse of industry and business as government fails to offer solutions.

“The party is aware that the fuel, electricity and cash shortages are getting worse. Disposable income has all but vanished and people are agitated. Things can’t continue like this. The party is getting itself ready to form the alternative and provide solutions. We all know the solutions are not with Zanu PF,” the source said.

Chamisa, who has been accused of lacking decisive leadership in coming up with a concrete action path against Zanu PF, said he was worried about the deteriorating socio-economic and political situation in the country.

His spokesperson did not elaborate what action the people of Zimbabwe should take to avoid an implosion.

Meanwhile, the MDC has denied reports that it was involved in any talks with Zanu PF either formally, ad-hoc or informally.

MDC secretary-general Chalton Hwende said the deepening crisis was a direct consequence of the unresolved 2018 presidential election.

“We, therefore, believe that it is fundamental that there be genuine dialogue aimed at resolving this legitimacy question and to attend to political and economic reforms,” he said.

“The MDC believes that the platform for this dialogue must be convened by a neutral arbitrator or institution and that the outcome of the dialogue and its execution be guaranteed by Sadc, AU or the UN.”

Yesterday, Zanu PF called for a special politburo meeting, where its leaders totally ignored the economic crisis and, instead, latched on restructuring to entrench the party’s stranglehold on power.

The ruling party’s secretary for administration Obert Mpofu said the extra-ordinary politburo meeting was only to receive a report on the restructuring of Harare province, which has been marred by controversy.

“This extra-ordinary meeting was to receive the reports of the outcome of Harare province only,” Mpofu said.

He said the politburo had accepted election of all district co-ordinating committee chairpersons from zone 1 to zone 6.

The politburo also resolved to fire any of its cadres involved in vote-buying in future internal elections after it emerged that money was used to influence voters in the Harare polls.

The post Chamisa itches for clash with ED appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.

BY CHARLES LAITON/BLESSED MHLANGA

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has approached the High Court with an urgent application seeking an order to interdict Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and Officer Commanding Police Harare Central District from threatening the party’s employees and interfering with the opposition party’s business at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House in Harare.

This came after police on Monday shut down the party’s headquarters in the wake of the discovery of 210 riot police and 41 municipal police helmets in a basement of a city building.
However, the opposition party accused police of deliberately planting the riot police gear to justify a crackdown on government critics.

Early Monday morning, armed police cordoned off the building and Robinson House, where the helmets were allegedly recovered on Saturday afternoon, forcing the MDC workers and several tenants to abandon their offices.

The police linked the helmets to possible criminal activities.

But it later turned out that the helmets had been sold by the police through ABC Auctions to businessman Mitchel Chibwe, who was questioned in the company of his lawyer Kudzai Rangarirai.

NewsDay understands police also demanded that Chibwe produce the receipts of the helmets which were never reported stolen or missing from police vaults.

MDC secretary-general Chalton Hwende deposed to an affidavit which forms part of the application urging the court to intervene and protect the interest of the opposition party together with its employees and tenants by granting an interdict against the country’s law enforcement agents.

“This is an urgent chambers application for an interdict, stopping respondents (Mathema, Matanga and the Officer Commanding) and anyone acting through them, directly or indirectly from barricading applicant’s (MDC) premises at number 44 Nelson Mandela Avenue, interrogating and intimidating applicant’s employees, visitors and tenants as well as interfering with applicant’s business at the premises,” Hwende said.

He said the presence of the police and their actions had adversely impacted on the day-to-day running of the party’s business as well as a private business, being a hair salon which is housed at the same building.

Hwende further said he was challenging the police to take them to court if they committed an offence, adding the law enforcement agents must also take them to a police station because they now fear for their lives due to the presence of the suspicious police officers at the building. The matter is pending.

Meanwhile, the MDC has alleged an attempt to use State apparatus to destabilise the opposition party, which includes blocking its meetings, planting fake evidence in an effort to justify a crackdown and arrest of its leaders.

In a letter to Matanga, Hwende said the MDC was worried by the constitutional violations by the police, who looked bent at undermining the opposition by effectively putting them under lock down.

“We write to bring to your attention and seek an explanation concerning the unlawful prohibition of our internal party meetings by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” part of the letter to Matanga reads.

Hwende requested a meeting with Matanga and his team over the constitutional violations, which saw all party activities being banned in nine provinces and police camping at the party headquarters.

In a response dated October 11, Matanga avoided answering to the allegations levelled against the police a month ago and also putting the meeting request on ice, saying the MDC should write to the Home Affairs minister for permission to meet him over the opposition concerns.

“Reference is made to your correspondence of September 26, in which you were requesting for a meeting with the Zimbabwe Republic Police. You are being advised to submit your request through our parent ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, as dictated by protocol,” he wrote.

The response came as police and the MDC are currently in a stand-off over allegations that party youths have declared the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House a no-go area for the law enforcement agents.

BY FARAI MATIASHE

Government has approved the ratification of the Eastern and Southern Africa-United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (ESA-UK) economic partnership agreement aimed at maintaining access to the UK market by Zimbabwe and other countries.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare yesterday, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said under the agreement, the UK would grant duty-free and quota-free market access for all goods exported by the ESA countries to the UK, except for arms and ammunition.

“Following presentation by the Attorney-General, Cabinet approved ratification of the Eastern and Southern Africa-United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland economic partnership agreement. The agreement seeks to ensure the maintenance of existing market access to the UK by ESA Signatory States, which comprise Zimbabwe, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zambia,” she said.

“In terms of the agreement, the UK will grant duty-free and quota-free market access for all goods exported by the ESA countries to the UK, except for arms and ammunition. On their part, the ESA States will continue to gradually liberalise 80% of their trade imports from the UK covering capital, raw materials and intermediate goods up to 2022.”

Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwean products to be excluded from the liberalisation process include products of animal origin, cereals, beverages, paper, plastics and rubber, textiles and clothing, footwear, glass and ceramics, consumer electronics and vehicles.

She said Cabinet was briefed by the Information Communication Technology minister Kazembe Kazembe regarding migration to the holding of e-enabled paperless Cabinet meetings as well as the introduction of the Executive Electronic Dashboard to monitor the implementation of priority government programmes in real time.

“These two innovations are part of the broader e-government programme, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into a digital and knowledge-driven society in line with Vision 2030. In terms of the progress already made, it is projected that Cabinet meetings will go paperless by early February 2020,” she said.

In preparation for the Executive Electronic Dashboard Monitoring System, Cabinet members have been issued with the relevant tablets which will be used by the Presidency, government ministers and senior government officials to track progress of government programmes by ministries and government agencies in keeping with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s clarion call to prioritise implementation of policies.

She said Cabinet had approved a memorandum of understanding between the government and We Care Solar, a non-governmental organisation registered in the United States aimed at reducing maternal mortality rate through providing power at hospitals around the country at a time the country is facing power shortages.

Grace Mugabe

BY CHARLES LAITON

FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe’s business empire is headed for the cliff, as a Mazowe gold miner she displaced during her late husband, Robert Mugabe’s reign, is now seeking to evict her and repossess the farm where the mine is located.

The miner, Langton Chapungu, recently approached the High Court seeking the former First Lady’s eviction together with two other individuals who were only identified in court papers as Tongai and Jemwa.

Since Mugabe’s ouster from power through a coup in November 2017, the former First Family has not enjoyed peace following several lawsuits filed against them by farmers and miners dispossessed of their land as the Mugabes expanded their business empire in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province.

The family is facing similar threats from Harare property owners who were displapced to pave way for expansion of Mugabe’s Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale.

“The first and second respondents (Tongai and Jemwa) are doing illegal mining activities in my plot and the third respondent (Grace) is also doing her farming activities in that same plot of mine, to an extent that she had even erected some structures at my place,” Chapungu stated.

“The defendants have gone further threatening me with unspecified action if I continue disturbing them from their illegal activities in my plot. In spite of the demand to vacate, the defendants have refused and offered flimsy and fabricated reasons to justify their continued illegal stay at my place, leaving me with no option except to approach this honourable court for relief,”

The eviction bid comes shortly after Mashonaland Central provincial mining director Tariro Ndhlovu, through a memo dated September 18, 2019, called on all mining claim owners in Manzou, Surtic, Smithfield, Arnold, Yarrowdale, Foyle Estate, Brecon, Bandari, Brundret, Maggiesdale and Glenbervile farms, some of which were owned by Grace, to get back to the farms.

There were also reports that Grace risked losing one of her properties that form part of her family’s Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale Brooke following a High Court ruling in June to let go of the land in favour of the applicants, Farai and Nyasha Chitsinde.

The Sherriff of the High Court has issued a warrant of ejection against the Mugabe family, which has until the end of today to move out of the contested portion of the land.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE / EVERSON MUSHAVA

CIVIL servants have declared incapacitation to continue reporting for duty on their inflation-battered salaries, adding more misery to the government, which is struggling to tame the triple-digit inflation, shortages of local cash, foreign currency, fuel, bread and rolling power cuts.

The unions, however, stopped short of calling a strike to give the government more time to respond to their US dollar-based salary demands.

Government workers announced the development after tabling their salary review demands to their employer at a National Joint Negotiating Council meeting on Monday.

Doctors and nurses have since last month, not been reporting for duty citing incapacitation.

On Monday, they defied a recent Labour Court ruling compelling them to go back to work immediately, saying they would only be able to do so after their salaries were adjusted to match the rate of inflation.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration’s decision to end subsidies on fuel and electricity as well as to re-introduce the Zimbabwe dollar accelerated inflation and dimmed hopes of economic recovery as prices of goods and services shot through the roof.

Cecilia Alexander, chairperson of the Apex Council, an umbrella body for civil servants’ labour unions, yesterday said the skyrocketing prices against stagnant salaries had severely eroded workers’ earnings.

“We have notified the government of our incapacitation and in the notification, we clearly explained the situation that is obtaining. The 76% cost of living adjustment given to them on September 3 this year has been eroded by inflation and that their October 2018 US$475 salary for the lowest paid worker be multiplied by the interbank rates as is happening with all other goods,” she said.

Alexander said they had also requested that government, through their inspectors and supervisors, should desist from victimising workers who fail to turn up for work until such time a remedy to their incapacitation is found.

“Do not borrow money for transport or walk to work for instance. It is not your duty to subsidise the employer,” she advised government employees, adding: “We are the only people carrying the burden of austerity as all prices of goods and services are now bench-marked to the interbank rate. Some businesses are transacting in US dollars.”

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou yesterday said they had mobilised their members to down tools starting next week as they could no longer cope with the rising cost of living.

He accused the Apex Council of hijacking the fight against government by declaring civil servants’ incapacitation after teachers’ unions were the first to do so.

“Apex is trying to hijack a united front of teachers after receiving information that we have completed mobilisation in schools across union divide. We, however, welcome Apex to the terrain of our struggle and hope that their machinations and romance with government would not disturb our process that was already on course. Their endorsement is nothing other than a fait accompli, registering something that was already on the move outside their orbit,” Zhou said.

“I can confirm to you that our members in schools have mobilised teachers across the union divide and there will be a strike next week starting on Monday or Tuesday. We have also engaged all teacher unions and there is consensus on incapacitation. Even Apex cannot ignore the incapacitation wave, but we are aware that they are on a mission to hijack our incapacitation industrial action in order to seek relevance and would try to call it off after three days on the pretext of giving dialogue a chance.”

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure also said despite the Apex engagements with the government, they were going forward with the strike since there is no favourable outcome coming from the employer.

“The government has failed to review our salaries in line with the obtaining economic realities. Teachers and civil servants have been reduced to paupers,” he added.

“The National Joint Negotiating Council (meeting) yesterday was a direct response to our planned indefinite job action which begins on Monday. Our members will be patiently waiting at home for a favourable outcome of the negotiations.”

Public Service minister Sekai Nzenza was not responding to calls up to the time of going to print last night.

BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA, in New York, United States

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has widened its estimated contraction for Zimbabwe’s economy to 7,1% by year end owing to worsening macro-economic challenges.

Previously, the IMF had predicted Zimbabwe’s economy to contract by 5,2% by year end while government recently revised its economic contraction to 6,5% from an initial 3% in its 2020 Pre-Budget Strategy Document.

The revised estimated amount is due to continued macro-economic challenges on the back of austerity measures implemented by government without corresponding social protections which has greatly reduced consumer activity.

“Data is based on IMF staff estimates of price and exchange rate developments in US dollars. IMF staff estimates of US dollar values may differ from authorities’ estimates. Real gross domestic product is in constant 2009 prices,” said IMF, in its 2019 World Economic Outlook released yesterday.

The IMF said Sub-Saharan Africa growth is expected at 3,2% in 2019 and 3,6% in 2020, slightly lower for both years than in the April 2019 World Economic Outlook due to instability in commodity prices and poor polices in the bigger economies.

At the heart of the macro-economic challenges is a declining local currency that lacks either foreign currency or market confidence backing, causing both official and parallel forex rates to rise.

As a result, businesses are constantly changing their pricing in line with those rates to maintain the value of their goods and services.

This has resulted in endless price hikes,ultimately pushing the economy into hyperinflation.

Recently, the Public Accountants and Auditors Board announced “hyperinflationary reporting” in firms crafting their financial statements.

“Our outlook for the Zimbabwean consumer continues to deteriorate. Government reforms have so far been unpopular and have had adverse effects on the consumer base. Moreover, extremely high levels of inflation are weighing on consumer purchasing power,” said American financial services firm, Fitch Solutions, in its October 2019 Africa Monitor for southern Africa.

TWO Zimbabwean brothers based in Australia recently released a track calling on Zimbabwe’s political leaders to unite for the betterment of the ailing economy.

By Tafadzwa Rusike Gondo & Kuda Pembere

Two brothers Farai & Fungai Katiyo

Dubbed ‘So Harare’, one of the brothers Farai Katiyo said the song is an analysis of what was once Zimbabwe during its progressive period .

“I talk about our colonial history, our independence, and our days as the “breadbasket of Africa” to now being a laughing stock. I touch on the harsh realities our people face whilst living as migrants in foreign countries for example xenophobia.

“I plead with our President to work hard to restore our country, to make it the country our liberation fighters dreamed of living in as they died fighting for our freedom,” he said.

In the song, Katiyo addresses corrupt leaders and those who promote sanctions.

“I also touch on my desire to see our opposition fighting alongside the ruling party for a better Zimbabwe.

“I talk about the police and army brutality which we saw after the elections last year and during the riots early this year. I also touch on the rise of fake prophets who are taking advantage of our desperate people,” Katiyo says.

It is his hope that this I hope people will not be misconstrued as if he is attacking the political parties.
Speaking about the depth of the song he urged the general public not to misconstrue his intended message

“I hope people won’t misinterpret this track thinking that I am attacking one political party or another.

“I am neither for ZANU nor MDC, I am for Zimbabwe and I just pray for a better Zimbabwe with dedicated leaders, who are not corrupt and who will bring change whether they ZANU or MDC or any other political party,” he distances himself as an apolitical.

The song comes on the back of the trending ‘So Brooklyn Challenge initiated by Casanova and Fabulous.

“The Instrumental is from Casanova and Fabulous‘s song “So Brooklyn”. They ran a challenge to promote their track called the “So Brooklyn Challenge” in which rappers had to rap about their hometown / city.

“My brother told me about it, and I decided to embrace the challenge and talk about my hometown Harare. The lyrics really came out of my love for my country; I love Zimbabwe with all my heart. I would do anything humanly possible to contribute towards its success,” Katiyo said.
Born in Harare, the chanter’s family moved to New Zealand while he was in Grade 4.

“I was born in Harare at Parirenyatwa hospital in 1992. I went to Greendale nursery school, before studying at Belvedere primary from grade 1 – 3, I then went to S.O.S Hermann Gmeiner primary from grade 4-5 before moving to New Zealand.

“Whilst in New Zealand I completed my primary education at Onehunga primary before going to Royal Oak intermediate. I then did form 1 – 2 at Marcellin College then I finished high school at Sacred Heart college before heading to Otago University to complete my bachelor of science,” he said.

Based in Melbourne, the rapper also works as a speaker and medical technician.

“I also run an events company formally known as “Clarence.K.Photography” now “Clarence.K.Events” and we provide planning, photography, videography, MCing and Djing services for parties, weddings, anniversaries and other events. I am also working on my own clothing line,” Katiyo said.