INTERVIEW Desmond Chingarande

The late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’a memorial service will be held on Saturday, more than a year after the former Prime Minister succumbed to cancer of the colon in February last year.

Tsvangirai’s younger brother and family spokesperson, Manasa said the family has invited both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu PF party to the memorial service. NewsDay (ND) reporter, Desmond Chingarande hooked up with one of Tsvangirai’s daughters, Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java (VTJ), who is now Member of Parliament for Glen View South (MDC Alliance), to hear her views about the event and other issues regarding her political career.

ND: On Saturday, there is a memorial service for your father. Your uncle, Manasa has said everyone, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF party members will be welcome to the memorial; do you share the same view?

VTJ: This is a memorial service, not an MDC rally. Everyone who feels they want to attend, can do so, the church, civil society, political parties, individuals, and all. Although it is a memorial service for the MDC founding leader, we should also remember that he was once a Prime Minister, who served all the people of Zimbabwe, regardless of their political affiliation. When my uncle made the decision, he was possibly basing it on that idea that it is a memorial service and like a funeral, all people are welcome.

ND: As the country remembers him at the weekend, can you kindly share your last days with your father?

Mugabe proved age is all but a number when he entered the race against all odds and triumphed over his bitter rival MDC-T’s Morgan Tsvangirai for the Presidency.

VTJ: I was always in and out of his hospital room. We spent most of the time together, talking to him. We laughed, prayed and sang praise and worship songs. He was brave; I would want to believe that he knew that he no longer had time to live, but would always put a brave face like the Morgan full of life. The memorial service would give me time to reflect on his dream and vision.

ND: And how was your relationship with your father?

VJT: My father always wanted the best out of me. He was a father who would encourage me to take up challenges, like he did to any of his children and everyone. It is more than a year after he is gone and I feel empty without his encouragement. I intend to continue to work hard and commit all my achievements as a tribute to him.

ND: You are now MP and a year after your father’s death, what lessons do you think you will borrow from his life to guide your political career?

VJT: First, he had the people at heart. Second, he was forgiving. In politics, people are abused a lot, but he remained focused and interacted with everyone, including those perceived to be his enemies to teach them that having different political views doesn’t necessarily mean being enemies. Thirdly, he had the courage to stand for what he believed in regardless of the tribulations. I also admired his political values which were anchored on democracy, peace and oneness.

President Mugabe chats with PM Tsvangirai.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai showed tolerance of each other, despite past differences

ND: What motivated you to join politics? Did your father play a part in the decision?

VTJ: Entering politics was not something I started when I became an MP. Politics has always been my passion. I was driven by the need to fight for the
voiceless. Yes, my father played a part, always debating political issues with him motivated me. In 2002, we (together with other Tsvangirai children), I left
the country into political exile when my father formed the party to challenge Zanu PF. It was a tough time. I would have meetings wherever we were to support my father. I was in Australia and would appear on national television there telling them the plight of Zimbabweans. I came back in 2009 after the death of my mother (Susan). I worked with him since then until his death. We would always share ideas and that is where I got the inspiration of taking a public office and serve the people.

ND: Can you explain what you are doing to the people of Glen View South as MP.

VTJ: When I took up office, cholera soon broke out and I had to run around looking for assistance to manage the epidemic. Currently, I am working to try to have a refuse truck to consistently service my constituency. I am also engaging council for my people to get decent market stalls with proper facilities to ensure they have a livelihood at the same time being safe from diseases. Due to unemployment, I am in the process of introducing self-help projects and currently consulting youths in the constituency on what they would want support on.

DC: What challenges are you facing as an MP?

VTJ: People come to me as an MP with problems such as unemployment, and you don’t have an immediate solution. Companies are closing, those operating are struggling; it’s a challenge to the people. It is a tough job to face people with an array of problems which should best be addressed by central government. Widows and elderly are struggling to survive. Parents are unable to send children to school. Things are bad and as MPs, we are made to interact with hungry people everyday. It pains me as an MP. The problems have nothing to do with gender, an MP is an MP and they all meet similar challenges.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will be unchallenged at the party’s congress to be held in Gweru next month after he emerged the only presidential candidate nominated by all the opposition movement’s 13 provinces.

Chamisa was nominated uncontested by 10 provinces in the country as well as the North American and United Kingdom branches before South Africa sealed his victory on Saturday.

This automatically means that he goes to the May 24-26 congress only for confirmation as the substantive leader after leading the party for a year on an interim basis since the death of founding president Morgan Tsvangirai last year in February.

During the initial provincial congresses, party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora had expressed his desire to challenge Chamisa, but no province nominated him for the top job and will have to face off with Charlton Hwende for his current post.

Accepting his victory in a post on his Twitter account, Chamisa thanked the MDC provinces for endorsing him and seeking prayers for grace and wisdom to lead the party.

“Change arrives and begins now. Thank you, Machinja (MDC supporters) for an emphatic 13/13 nomination, vote and endorsement as the second president of MDC, the people’s party after our icon the late Dr MT (Morgan Tsvangirai). Help me pray for the grace and wisdom to lead Zimbabwe to happiness, prosperity and freedom,” Chamisa tweeted.

Chamisa becomes the only leader in the coming congress set for Gweru to go unopposed since nominations cannot be done from the floor.

After his early victory, focus now shifts on who will be his three deputies from the pool of Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, Morgen Komichi, Elias Mudzuri, Tracy Mutinhiri, Paulina Mpariwa, Lynnet Karenyi-Kore and Lilian Timveus.

On Saturday, the MDC national council resolved to have a woman as one of its vice-presidents and this will see the four female politicians battle it out although they can still grab all the three available posts.

The eight VP aspirants, just like other contestants vying for other senior posts, will have to prove why the 6 000 delegates set to attend the congress should vote for them through a public debate.

Currently, the party has three VPs –Ncube and Komichi – who were appointed by Chamisa and Mudzuri, who was appointed by Tsvangirai.

BY JAMES MUONWA

The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) has fired salvos at government officials and family members, who grab farms and dispossess widows and children of fallen heroes.

ZNLWVA said it would vigorously protect heroes’ widows and can “kill to defend what is rightfully ours”.

This, the association noted, follows a worrisome trend whereby officials from the Lands ministry connive with unscrupulous individuals to push fallen heroes’ widows and their children off farms following the deaths of heroes.

ZNLWVA Mashonaland West chapter secretary-general Mudzingaidzwa Nyikadzino Mudarikwa said ex-combatants will fight tooth-and-nail to defend surviving spouses’ entitlement to land and anyone who harbours sinister motives would bear the brunt of the former guerrilla fighters.

“We get mad when we are denied what is rightfully ours. We claim what is ours. Our solemn liberation struggle pledge was to claim our land from colonialists and, therefore, to attempt to dispossess widows and children of departed liberation war heroes would be an affront to our cause.

“Anyone who tries this automatically becomes our enemy. We were trained to confront and kill the enemy,” Mudarikwa said while addressing mourners at the burial of State spy agent Martin Nyashanu in Chinhoyi on Wednesday.

Nyashanu, who was a senior Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative, collapsed and died on Easter Monday and was conferred provincial hero.

Mudarikwa reiterated that the Lands ministry should expedite ownership transfer of farms to widows to avoid condemning them and their off-spring to destitution.

He cited a case in which Woodlands Farm, Tengwe in Hurungwe district, measuring 100 hectares, was snatched from a war veteran’s widow and sold off to an Indian businessman.

The widow is challenging the illegal take-over of the land at the courts.

Mudarikwa challenged bereaved families to productively utilise allocated farms and guard the gains of the liberation struggle that brought the country’s independence.

Mashonaland East ZNLWVA chairman Daniel Sigauke echoed the same sentiments, urging war veterans, ex-detainees and war collaborators to remain united in defence of the country’s sovereignty.

Recently, the widow of national hero Vitalis Zvinavashe lost a huge chunk of her fertile Knockmallock Farm in Norton to a Chinese company, Sunny Yi Feng Tiles (Zimbabwe) (Pvt) Ltd, after it was given the land to set up a ceramic tiles factory under controversial circumstances.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

PRICES of goods and services have continued to gallop away with another massive hike effected at the weekend as retailers seek to cushion their businesses against runaway inflation and foreign currency shortages.

This comes hardly a fortnight after government threatened to introduce price controls as part of measures to tame the price madness and protect hard-pressed Zimbabwean consumers, but the retail sector has warned that price controls would trigger massive shortages of goods on the market.

A survey conducted by NewsDay yesterday revealed a new wave of price hikes of most basic commodities with a two-litre bottle of cooking oil now selling at between $13 and $15, up from about $11, two litres of Mazoe orange crush jumped from $8,50 to $13, two kg of rice from $7,50 to $9, while a kg of salt is now $2,15 from $1,90.

Beverage manufacturer, Delta Corporation has also increased the prices of beer by at least 20% just after a 25% increase of the commodity two months ago.
The wholesale prices of clear beer increased from $2 to $3 per pint.

Brown quarts in most liquor shops are being sold at $7 to $8 from $5, while green bottle quarts are selling at $9 to $12. The wholesale prices of opaque beer have also gone up with Chibuku Super now $3 and Scud $2.

Prices of basic commodities have increased by about 200% since October last year after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya separated bond note and foreign currency accounts. Prices jumped up again in February as Mangudya’s monetary policy statement devalued the official exchange rate from 1:1 to 1:2,5.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu yesterday said the increases were necessitated by some suppliers who were now demanding cash on delivery.

“The increases are suffocating the consumers who are hapless under the current situation. It is, however, a chicken and egg situation as suppliers have been increasing prices into the sector at a faster pace, citing rising costs. Some suppliers are demanding payment in cash or United States dollars, which pushes sector players to the parallel market,” Mutashu said.

“Trading terms have shifted drastically and more are on cash on delivery and moved from extended payment terms like a week (7 days), fortnight (14 days) and a month (30 days), citing changing operating environment anchored on one’s ability to source cheaper foreign currency. The economy is dangerously dependent on the US$ availability in most sectors.”

Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi last night told NewsDay that the issue will be discussed in Cabinet tomorrow.

“Cabinet will discuss the issue of wanton price increases this Tuesday and a solution will be found. Certainly, we cannot have a market where speculators hike prices unnecessarily. We want some discipline in the retail sector. However, in the meantime, we are saying no to parallel market exchange rate-driven inflation. Those bent on increasing prices basing on the parallel market rates are economic saboteurs,” Mutodi said.

“We do not have a budget deficit as we speak. Now we have a problem with the RTGS$ and US dollar supply ratio and we have noticed that once the US dollar supply subsides on the market, speculators increase the exchange rate by offering more RTGS dollars for one US dollar. Our people prefer US dollars even for domestic transactions and for locally-made goods. This is what we will discuss and see if we can come up with measures to curtail the increasing pressure on foreign currency and the business of escalating prices based on speculative US/RTGS dollar exchange rate movements,” he added.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Sifelani Jabangwe told our sister paper, Zimbabwe Independent last week that the price increases battering the economy were a reflection of toxic policies being pursued by government.

“The main issue that you should note is that these prices are a reflection of policies on the ground. Volumes are going down, margins are going down, there is an increase in product costs and there is no money at the inter-bank market. If you don’t increase prices, there is no way you will be able to restock. There is also resistance on the currency market, liquidity is getting less and less, so exporters are scaling down as rates are increasing on the black market,” he said.

Following the latest price increases, many are expecting the cost of living to shoot up. In a report late last year, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) conceded that the family food basket had increased, but said most prices being charged by retailers were not justified.

Efforts to contact CCZ executive director Rosemary Siyachitema over the latest wave of price increases were futile as her mobile number was not reachable.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently told a Zanu PF youth meeting that his government would not hesitate to introduce price controls to protect the citizens against profiteering businesses. Business immediately warned that such a move would trigger shortages, especially of foodstuff.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union president Peter Mutasa yesterday said: “It’s sad that the alliance between government and business that is pushing us deep into crony capitalism is seriously affecting all workers.”

“Most working men and women are now vulnerable, with the majority now in abject poverty, failing to provide food for their families. Many are failing to pay rent, school fees, medical care, clothing and other basic needs. A lot of workers are walking to work, while most families are food insecure.”

The trade unionist said medical aid schemes have been rendered useless with workers being asked to top up as high as US$400 in case of emergencies where one is requiring to be admitted overnight.

“Most workers have resorted to unorthodox medical procedures endangering their lives, while many more are left to die. The average salary is US$60 against a poverty datum line that is believed to be around US$600.

“As schools open, many kids are going to drop out because parents can’t afford fees and uniforms that are now beyond the reach of the working class majority. The situation is dire and there is need for an urgent intervention.”

By Chris Mahove

A PALTRY 27 out of 1 278 sitting tenants in council-rented houses in Dzivarasekwa 3 have taken up an offer by the Harare City Council to buy the properties on a rent-to-buy basis, a council official revealed Friday.

Addressing a meeting between the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) and City of Harare officials at Dzivarasekwa Community Centre, district officer for the area, Shepherd Tonderai Mawire, said the low uptake of the houses was as a result of huge arrears which residents owed to council.

He said an assessment by the local authority had proved that old age, which resulted in incapacity to pay, had contributed to the low uptake.

“One of the conditions for one to buy the house from council was to clear their arrears. From 2013 when the offer was made to December 2018 when it closed, only 27 houses had been sold to sitting tenants,” he said.

The district officer said most of the tenants were very old and of foreign origin, who were even struggling to make ends meet and could, therefore, hardly afford to buy the houses.

Council, he said, was looking at ways of helping those who had reached advanced age so they could retain ownership of the houses.

He said council had valued the houses, mostly in Dzivarasekwa 3, at $10 000 with discounts depending on the number of years one would have stayed at the house, with those who had lived there for 30 years and above getting a 50% discount.

Mawire said the offer had lapsed, adding they were now waiting for a council resolution on how they would proceed to sell the remaining houses.

However, it emerged during the meeting that what constituted the bulk of the arrears that most residents owed to council were charges for “illegal structures” which were seven times higher than normal council rentals.

As a result, residents’ representatives argued, most of the residents who otherwise would have qualified for the offer had been disenfranchised because of council’s dubious billing system.

“A lot of people were disenfranchised because of the improper billing by council. We are not saying people don’t have to pay, but we have problems with the quantum of some of the bills. You cannot have someone in a high-density area owing $13 000, especially considering that all debts were cleared in 2013,” said Hardlife Mudzingwa, project manager at Water Alliance.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

THE Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) says it hopes to increase trade with Zimbabwe from the current US$30 million to US$105 million buoyed by the export credit line scheme currently under discussion, an official has said.

Harare and Gaborone are currently working on a P1 billion credit facility to support Zimbabwe’s private sector.

BITC chief operations officer, Reginald Selelo told delegates attending the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Buyers and Sellers’ Forum in Bulawayo last week that: “Looking at the trade statistics between the two countries, there has been a decrease since 2014.
In 2014, we exported about $105 million worth of goods to Zimbabwe compared to $30 million in 2017. There’s need for us to increase trade. The instruments are there. We have the Zimbabwe–Botswana Trade Agreement, which can help us improve economically.”

“The export credit line scheme will open opportunities for companies in Botswana and Zimbabwe to do business. I would like to see an increase of exports from $30 million to the $105 million that we had in 2014 and it is very possible. So if we really believe in it, it can happen,” he said.

Selelo said Botswana was interested in products from Zimbabwe.

“This is the message that we have come here with and we are encouraging companies at the ZITF to seriously consider taking up opportunities in Botswana,” he said.

Selelo said his country was a safe and stable destination for investment, with tightly controlled inflation and interest rates as well as minimum corruption.

“Looking at the investment climate in Botswana, it’s easy for companies to borrow and invest in their businesses. In terms of macro-economic stability, we are the best, according to the World Economic Forum and we are the second least corrupt country in Africa,” he said.

“We have a stable democracy and we don’t have foreign exchange controls in Botswana. Issues around inflation and interest rates in Botswana are tightly controlled. We export mainly mining products and we import manufactured products, fuel and food products. On the relations between Botswana and Zimbabwe, we are both members of the African Union and Sadc Trade Protocol,” he said.

Zolile Makeleni

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO

LOCAL soap opera Wenera actor, Zolile Makeleni, said the lengthy period he spent acting has made him a better director who can bring out the best from the cast because he has been in their shoes before.

Makeleni — who played the role of Tsotsi in the soap — told NewsDay Life & Style last week that his consistency under the tutelage of the soap’s executive producer Eddie Ndhlovu saw him rise from being a mere boom swinger to be one of the best stars on the cast and now, a director.

“The transition from a boom swinger to a director required me to be a very flexible person, listening more and talking less when acting and doing the opposite when I am directing. As time goes on, you learn to understand the difference between being on set as an actor and as a director,” he said.

“Acting has helped me to become a better director for I understand how it feels being on set and listening to someone directing me, so each time I am directing, I have a better position of understanding the actors.”

Makeleni said he has since fallen in love with his role behind the scenes and after directing nearly 120 Wenera episodes, he was now working on his own project.

“I feel it is time I do feature films and two projects are on the cards,” he said.

Makeleni, who drew inspiration from his day-to-day life experiences, said he received professional training in filmmaking which helped sharpen his acting skills.

“Whatever I go through today inspires me to look forward to tomorrow, for I believe that we are all designed for greatness,” he said, adding that he still had a lot he wanted to achieve in his career.

The 31-year-old Makeleni said his dream was to turn film into a business rather than just entertainment through a foundation he intends to establish to nurture young and talented television personalities.

On the lighter side, the filmmaker said he was often forced to explain to people that Tsotsi in Wenera and Makeleni in real life were two different personalities.

“I frequently find myself having to explain that Tsotsi and Zolile Makeleni are two different people,” he said.

Makeleni has also featured in Makomborero and television series, Revelations.

by TINASHE MUNGAZI

BINGA Rural District Council (BRDC) chief executive officer, Joshua Muzamba, has been acquitted of criminal abuse of office charges following an appeal to the High Court.

Muzamba, who was facing a criminal abuse of office charge, had applied for discharge at the close of the State case. The application was, however, dismissed by presiding provincial magistrate Livard Philemon who said the council boss had a case to answer.

This prompted Muzamba, through his lawyer, Shepherd Chamunorwa of Calderwood, Bryce Hendrie and Partners, to approach the High Court seeking a review. The High Court recently ordered that he be found not guilty and acquitted at the close of State case.

Muzamba (53) of 176 Lakeview in Binga stood accused of unprocedurally employing and promoting Lovemore Siamuyi without following council resolutions as enshrined in the local authority’s employment policy.

The State kicked off its case by calling its two key witnesses: Council chairperson, Mathias Mudenda and executive health officer, Enock Mugande.

Muzamba however, argued that the charges were politically-motivated before alleging that there were persons who wanted him removed from council.

Prosecuting, Vusimizi Mangena said on November 3, 2014 Muzamba took advantage of his position as the chief executive officer of BRDC to abuse the public office by employing Siamuyi without advertising for the vacant post and conducting interviews outside council resolutions regarding his employment.

Muzamba misrepresented to council that Siamuyi was temporarily employed as commissioned revenue collector.

On September 29, 2015 he promoted Siamuyi to the post of acting sub-office administrator without a full council resolution. The council boss went on to further promote Siamuyi unprocedurally without following a council resolution, thereby tarnishing the image and reputation of council.

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

Terrence Machocho, a director in Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba’s office has lost a case in which he was trying to evict a Chipinge farmer from his Stilfontein of Umzila Farm.

The matter was heard at the High Court circuit in Mutare by Justice Isaac Muzenda, who ruled against Machocho’s farm grab.

The applicant in the matter was Lameck Bvurere, who cited Machocho as the first respondent, Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement minister Perrance Shiri as the second respondent, while Gwaradzimba was the third respondent.

An order seen by this publication reads: “The first respondent and those or anyone acting through him be and are, hereby, ordered to restore to the applicant, peaceful and undisputed possession of subdivision 2 Stilfontein of Umzila Farm in Chipinge district.

“The determination of the applicant complainant currently pending before the second respondent, the issuance of the offer letter in favour of the first respondent by the second respondent in respect of subdivision 2, Stilfontein of Umzila Farm in Chipinge district, Manicaland province.”

Justice Muzenda further added: “The applicant be and, hereby, ordered not to engage or commence new farming operations and activities in respect of subdivision 2 Stilfontein of Umzila Farm in Chipinge, the parties are to maintain peace and order towards each other pending resolution of the process mentioned in the entirety of paragraph one of the order.”

The applicant had made an urgent High Court application to stop Machocho from evicting him. In the application, he said the first respondent disturbed his farming operations.

“The first respondent unlawfully and irregularly moved into the applicant’s farming operations on subdivision 2 of Stilfontein of Umzila in Chipinge,”.

“Without lawful cause, the first respondent resorting to self-help has disturbed applicant’s peaceful possession of subdivision 2 of Stilfontein of Umzila farm,” Bvurere said in the application.

He added that Machocho’s actions endangered the economic activities at the farm. Bvurere said he supplies maize to the Grain Marketing Board and was a grower of export macadamia nuts.