PROSPECT Resources, which is developing a lithium mine at Goromonzi, north east of Harare, reports that it has discovered a “significant” presence of caesium, a rare mineral used for various purposes such as hydraulic drills and GPS technology.

The company says the discovery was made after soil samples were taken from the Prospect’s Shabaash claim during a satellite exploration and ground sterilisation programme.

Shabaash consists of a block of three mining claims, covering some 50 hectares located some 3km west of the planned Arcadia pit. The company now plans a trenching programme, which would confirm the scale and grade of the deposits.

“Although no statements as to the dimension and grade of the mineralisation can be made until it is followed up by trenching and/or drilling; the presence of pollucite is highly encouraging.

“In December 2019, a small number (61) of stored pulps were selected for re-assay for caesium.

These were selected from samples which had previously returned Lithium anomalies.

“These pulps were re-assayed successfully at UIS Analytical Services in Centurion, South Africa,” Prospect said on Tuesday.

The identified caesium is found within pollucite, a high value rare mineral that forms in lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatite systems.

“Global supply is very constrained,” the company adds. “The primary use of caesium is in caesium formate brine used in high temperature/high pressure oil and gas drilling.”

Prospect expects to bring the Arcadia lithium mine to production this year.

Most of the world’s reserves of pollucite are located in Canada. The United States is the world’s biggest consumer of caesium and gets all its supplies from Canada.

Zimbabwe has at least 60 proven minerals, according to estimates by the Ministry of Mines.
However, years of low investment in exploration means the country has no updated data on the scale of its mineral potential.

In November, British firm Rainbow Rare Earths, listed on the London Stock Exchange, acquired 10 claims in Zimbabwe.

The acquisition could give the company access to rare earths elements, a group of minerals used in everything from LCD TVs to batteries and defence technology. — newZWire

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

In a tragic incident, two pupils died on the spot in Vumba, while the other died on the way to Mutare Provincial Hospital when a driver of a pirate taxi lost control of his vehicle, veered off the road and hit the trio who were on their way to school.

Manicaland deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda said the accident happened last Friday at the 28km peg along the Mutare-Vumba Road.

He identified the deceased as Micayler Mapuranga, Kelvin Mwanase and Raymond Matondo.

Chananda said Kanganwai Sombreiro (39) of Mountain Lodge was driving a grey Toyota Wish belonging to Paul Mumhazhi, of Nyamunokoza village Chief Mutasa, along the Mutare-Vumba Road towards Leopard Rock with six passengers on board.

He said Sombreiro lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road to the right before hitting the three pupils, killing two of them on the spot.

Chananda said the driver and the six passengers, sustained minor injuries and were taken to Mutare General Hospital, where they were treated and discharged.

The driver has been arrested for culpable homicide.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has embarked on an infrastructure development project which will ensure that the marginalised and under-serviced communities in the country are able to access information communication technologies (ICT) and telecommunication services.

The Passive Telecommunications Infrastructure Project, which is supported by the Universal Services Fund (USF), has enabled the construction of 20 telecommunication sites which will cater for under-serviced areas in the remotest parts of the country.

Currently, members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology are on a fact-finding mission in different parts of the country to find out if telecommunication companies are sharing infrastructure.

Passive infrastructure refers to non-active facilities provided at a telecommunications site to support the provision of ICT services to the surrounding areas, for example, solar power, towers, diesel engine generators, power back-up batteries, access roads and perimeter fences.

Speaking on behalf of the director-general Gift Machengete, Potraz spokesperson George Manyaya said the passive infrastructure connectivity project would contribute to the turnaround of the economy.

“The projects were funded through the Universal Services Fund, which is aimed at promoting universal access and improving standards of life,” he said.

“Accordingly, we are working towards bridging the digital divide as testified by the increase in the country’s mobile and internet penetration rates. This also enables infrastructure sharing by operators as we provide the infrastructure and operators share the facility.”

Manyaya said after completion of the project, the infrastructure is assigned to a licensed telecommunications operator for operation and maintenance purposes.

“However, all operators are obliged to share the passive telecommunications infrastructure site facilities,” Manyaya said.

To date, USF has funded and constructed 15 shared passive mobile telecommunications base station sites in Midlands, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central provinces.

Meanwhile, Sikelela Nleya, the headmaster of Mangubo Primary School in Maitengwe, Plumtree, commented the USF for setting up a base station a few metres away from the school.

He said the school bought 11 computers to set up a computer laboratory to take advantage of Maitengwe Base Station and appealed to authorities to connect power to the institution.
Potraz programmes manager Mavis Maunganidze said the USF was prioritising connectivity to marginalised communities in the country.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi has implored the new magistrates who were sworn in yesterday not to give in to pressure from outside or within to preserve their integrity.

“Whatever you do today, you have been appointed and it is an onerous task before you. You may be young, but you must carry it with integrity and with a high level of professionalism.

That is a must. You must never compromise at all and at the end of the day, your integrity is what remains,” Hodzi said.

“There might be temptations, there might be pressures, but you must steadfastly refuse those. Never give in to those. Your chief magistrate and I and other members of the judicial service will be working hard to improve your working conditions.”

Hodzi’s impassioned appeal comes a day after he sensationally claimed that the Judiciary has been captured by cartels that are bleeding dry the country’s economy.

Acting chief magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi, who swore in the 16 new magistrates, urged them to be professional and have integrity.

He said the addition of magistrates would be a welcome relief to the staff complement.

“We urge you to be professional and to always uphold integrity that is required for a judicial officer. A judicial officer without integrity is not a judicial officer at all,” Mutevedzi said, adding that the new magistrates would be deployed outside Harare and would bring the number of magistrates countrywide to 235.

A ONE-STOP border post that will fast-track trade between South Africa and Zimbabwe will be fully operational at Beitbridge in 2024, according to South African Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

The crossing is one of Africa’s busiest land borders, with about 25 000 people and 500 trucks passing through daily. However, delays and congestion mean it can take as long as four days to receive clearance from customs officials, according to a Global Economic Governance report. A one-stop border would harmonise customs clearance procedures between the two countries.

“We all know the frustration of travellers when they go through Beitbridge: the long queues, the long waiting times, the congestion,” Motsoaledi said in an interview. “Now, the one-stop border post is going to do away with all that because it involves massive infrastructural changes, not just operational changes.”

The upgrade is one of four projects that President Cyril Ramaphosa last week said the government would fast-track to facilitate greater regional and continental trade, after the country assumed the chairmanship of the African Union.

Construction will include a building for immigration officials and separate traffic lanes for commercial, private and public vehicles as well as a pedestrian pathway. The minister didn’t provide a cost estimate for the project as private companies would bear the costs.

The appointment of an international consulting firm is imminent and five consortia — SPG-CHEC JV, Border Post Consortium, Fast Post SA, Hlanganani Consortium and CSCEC Imbani Consortium — are on the short-list to undertake the project that will include a 20-year concession for the winning bidder to cover the costs, Motsoaledi said.

Similar projects are also planned at South Africa’s borders with eSwatini, Mozambique, Lesotho and Botswana, he said.
— Bloomberg

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

A ZANU PF-aligned civic society organisation #308 has written to the Justice ministry, National Prosecuting Authority and the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) calling for an investigation into the conduct of Prosecutor-General (PG) Kumbirai Hodzi whom they allege has failed to discharge his duties.

The organisation, which is fronted by Eden Mandava in a letter to Hodzi, said the admission by the PG of the existence of cartels which he claimed were controlling the NPA, judiciary and police was a clear indication that he had failed to discharge his constitutional mandate.

Mandava is a national executive member of Zimbabwe Congress of Students Unions, a Zanu PF-linked group.

“Honourable sir, your admittance that truly cartels exist, that corruption is sinking the economy is a clear sign that in your capacity as the PG you have failed… we found it disturbing to hear that you alleged lack of co-ordination as a reason why corruption is growing yet the Constitution of Zimbabwe section 260(11) gives you the power to deal with these issues,” Mandava wrote.

The Constitution gives the PG powers to direct police to investigate any acts that might constitute a crime, with the view of establishing the facts and taking action.

“Direct the Commissioner-General of police to investigate and report to you anything which in your opinion relates to an offence or alleged or suspected offence and the Commissioner-General to comply with that directive,” the section reads.

#308 demanded that Hodzi tells the nation what action he has taken to ensure that he breaks the cartels other than singing about it.

“We kindly seek clarity on whether or not that was done before we take action as citizens of Zimbabwe against your words. This is because we found such sentiments as inciting the citizens of Zimbabwe to sympathise with you against all the other departments. We do not know whether you understand actions that can follow your sentiments and how such can be politicised,” the letter read.

Highly-placed sources said the statements by the PG have caused some discomfort in the corridors of power and #308 was being used as a front to send a clear message that he could be pushed out if he continued to be reckless with his speech.

Zanu PF’s politburo recently suspended its top youth executive leaders, Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu for alleging that cartels have captured government and critical institutions, allegations then cemented by Hodzi in Bulawayo. Zanu PF youth secretary, Pupurai Togarepi was also suspended for endorsing his subordinates.

Justice permanent secretary Virginia Mabiza said she had not officially received #308’s letter but became aware of it through social media.

“I have not officially received the letter maybe because I am out of office, but I am aware that there is concern over statements attributed to the PG, which he has also been on record denying of having said. We are yet to get to the bottom of it,” Mabiza said.

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa on Monday said Hodzi’s statement exposed the anti-corruption crusade by President Emmerson Mnangagwa was nothing but a façade and rhetoric which will not achieve anything.

“The anti-corruption rhetoric is a mere facade designed to hoodwink Zimbabweans and the world. Over the past two years, the level of corruption and State capture has escalated to obscene levels. There cannot be sustainable prosperity when national wealth is in the hands of a few,” he said.

“It is a call to action when the country’s Prosecutor-General confirms that cartels have captured State institutions. This reflects a captured and compromised State and that the regime is not fit for purpose. Politics aside, we must now unite in this big fight against corruption.”

BY Richard Muponde

SEVEN police officers based in Marondera were arrested on Tuesday after they were caught red-handed by their bosses while receiving a bribe at a roadblock.

The cops were allegedly nabbed after taking an $18 bribe from a commuter omnibus crew in full view of their superiors.

Deputy Commissioner-Generals Stephen Mutamba and Elliot Ngirande, Commissioner Isaac Tayengwa and Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, who is also the national police spokesperson, were travelling in an unmarked police minibus on their way to Odzi Mine when they allegedly caught their subordinates in the act.

One of the policewomen manning the roadblock with six others was observed taking a bribe of $18 from a commuter omnibus conductor.

She was immediately arrested and a search led to the recovery of undeclared $200 in her handbag, leading to the team’s arrest.

Nyathi yesterday confirmed the arrests while addressing a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists community reporting workshop in Harare.

“It was around 9am when we observed the female police officer being given money by a conductor of a commuter omnibus which had no proper documention,” Nyathi said.

“We had no option, but to arrest her and recovered $18 in her hands. We also searched her handbag and found another $200 which was undeclared. We later arrested seven members and they are losing their jobs.”

He urged journalists to help flag corruption issues and commended Alpha Media Holdings — the publishers of NewsDay, Zimbabwe Independent and The Standard — for highlighting the arrest of a 13-member anti-machete crack team last week for alleged extortion.

“I was happy to see an article about those Chegutu police officers who extorted from miners. This is what the media should do. Those police officers have lost their jobs. As police, we promise the public that if you report any corrupt activities by our officers, the long arm of the law will catch up with them as we don’t tolerate rogue elements in our rank and file,” Nyathi said.

He also appealed to the media to have trust in the police as they recognise the fourth estate as an important partner in policing issues.

“We can’t do our job without the journalists. It’s a reality as you do some of our jobs. You are doing it consciously or unconsciously. In that regard, we should continue to interact with you the media,” Nyathi said.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe allegedly received funding from Zanu PF to destabilise the MDC Alliance and oil her party activities including the legal battles towards the 2018 general elections, party insiders have revealed.

Former party spokesperson Linda Masarira, said during the time she was at the helm of the party, she got to discover that Zanu PF was funding activities of the MDC-T through Khupe, who had failed to win the leadership battle in the MDC.

“We were receiving money from Zanu PF. I don’t know who was the direct contact person who was bringing the money, but we got funding for the party from Zanu PF,” she alleged.

“We were not a real opposition, this is why I took a picture of myself wearing Zanu PF regalia in Zambia and posted it on social media because I wanted to tell a story.”

The MDC led by Nelson Chamisa, has been accusing Zanu PF of funding projects to destabilise the party and even withholding financial resources in what opposition secretary-general Chalton Hwende said was a scotched earth policy by the ruling party.

Masarira was fired by the party for wearing regalia of the ruling Zanu PF party ahead of that of her own party at a time Khupe was leading other opposition entities at the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad).

“I just wanted to show people that we are being forced to fight over nothing. Zanu PF was funding the MDC-T and I asked questions. They did not want the questions I asked. But you can see from the events (Polad) that are happening now, that they were just a project,” Masarira said.

Insiders confirmed that Khupe received money from Zanu PF for campaign material, fuel and legal fees for court cases against Nelson Chamisa’s MDC in a grand scheme to give the ruling party an upperhand in the elections.

The source said there was discontent in the party because the only person who appeared to be benefiting from the liaisons with Zanu PF was Khupe, while other members were getting nothing.

“There is no grassroots activities in the MDC-T all you see is Khupe and inner circle going to Polad receiving allowances and travelling around the country, this has left many who believed in the party unhappy,” a source said.

Another source said then vice-president Obert Gutu left the party because he was being forced to use his money to fund programmes of the MDC-T, while Khupe was getting money from Zanu PF and not declaring it and just using it to fund a lavish lifestyle.

But party secretary-general Nickson Nyikadzino dismissed the allegations by Masarisa saying the party had not received money from Zanu PF.

“We have not received any funding from anyone. We do not wish to receive funding from anyone except ourselves. The only funding that we have received is the 48 000 votes which we got from the people of Zimbabwe and we wish to remain an independent democratic party set up to serve the people of Zimbabwe,” Nyikadzino said.

Zanu PF also dismissed Masarira’s allegations as “utter rubbish”, saying the party had its own challenges as it was struggling to fund its own activities.

“That is utter rubbish. I am the party’s secretary for finance and I can tell you that we have not funded any other party,” Zanu PF secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa said.

“We are struggling to finance our own party. Where would we get money to pay other people, and we have no appetite to undermine anyone or any party. The MDC is doing a good job undermining themselves. How can a party just have one policy to bring sanctions against the people.”

The MDC has insisted that Polad is a grouping of “Zanu PF lite political parties” and they will therefore not join the dialogue which they allege is not genuine.

Already two opposition leaders Brian Mteki and Ambrose Mutinhiri have rejoined Zanu PF since Polad started and the revelations by Masarira leaves Polad’s reputation hanging.