editorial comment

FOR 40 years, Zimbabwe has produced real talent such as Bruce Grobbelaar and Peter Ndlovu on the soccer field, who went on to be snapped up by foreign clubs and did the country much proud. Unfortunately, that talent has failed to shore up the country’s performances at the international level, with the southern African nation making feeble attempts at continental and World Cup titles.

And again this year, Zimbabwe is on the field attempting to yet again prove its worth in the footballing fraternity. This week, the country’s senior men’s soccer team was drawn into Group G for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, a group in which many believe the country has a real chance of, for the first time, reaching the global soccer showcase. The group has three others, giants Ghana, perennial chancers South Africa and minnows Ethiopia.

While, indeed, Zimbabwe has a real chance of qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, everything will boil down to how the country’s soccer administrators approach the challenge ahead.

Past experience has shown that even with the best talent in its team the country has floundered and left citizens heart-broken, with many suspecting foul play in the form of match-fixing. To prove this allegation at one time, the country was embroiled in a messy match-fixing saga, albeit the matches having been mere friendly matches. The matter left our image blemished.

For the Warriors team to break the jinx that has denied them and the country soccer glory, those at Zifa and the players themselves need to keep remembering that such opportunities should never be missed because they open up opportunities for them as individuals and raise the country’s profile.

It is undeniable that in the past, egos and selfish agendas betrayed us as a nation. And we do hope that this time around the players and Zifa keep the nation at heart. This is a perfect opportunity to shake off the whipping boys status. This is the chance to club with the giants.

We also hope that government will come on board in a big way in terms of availing adequate financial support so that our lads banish the thoughts of selling games to feed their families.

If the country adequately awards the Warriors for their efforts, we are sure this match-fixing scourge and poor performances at the critical moment will never visit our camp again. Good luck Warriors!

BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE

NATIONAL Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has revealed that it has lost US$3 663 725 to theft and vandalism of rail infrastructure between 2018 and 2019.

The parastatal complained that despite the arrest of some criminals, it was disappointing that they were given short sentences which are not deterrent.

NRZ spokesperson Nyasha Maravanyika on Friday said vandalism and theft were a major drawback to the efficient running of the rail company.

“From 2018 to 2109 we have lost infrastructure worth US$3 663 725,” he said.

“We have experienced theft and vandalism of copper, point machines, interlocking equipment accessories, telegraphic poles and copper cables worth US$1 144 403.”

Maravanyika said theft and vandalism was experienced nationally, but mostly in secluded areas where lighting was poor and areas close to settlements both rural and urban.

“Some of the infrastructure that have been vandalised include Saw Mills along the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo rail line, Mpopoma, Masasa in Harare, Kwekwe, Gweru, Shamwari and Dabuka,” he said.

He said NRZ had replaced infrastructure worth US$200 000 which was not enough to bring it back to its feet.

“Vandalism and theft have had a serious impact on NRZ as it affects service delivery, the safety and security of both the passengers and their goods. There are also delays on routes due to manual cranking of point machines to set the route among other problems,” Maravanyika said.

“People need to know that infrastructure does not belong to NRZ or any institution. The infrastructure belongs to us as Zimbabweans, therefore, let us all cooperate because maize, cooking oil are transported through the rail.”

Maravanyika said they had taken various measures including awareness campaigns to alleviate the challenges, which include rewarding whilstleblowers.

He, however, called for deterrent sentences to be imposed on vandals.

“The judiciary and the police are not hitting hard on the criminals, they are being given six months in prison and sometimes there are serious delays in courts to finalise the matters,” Maravanyika said.

BY EVERSON MUSHAVA

TUESDAY’S Supreme Court ruling declaring that debts owed in United States dollars (US$) incurred on or before February 22, 2019 should be settled using the Zimdollar at a 1:1 parity will further deepen investor mistrust and complicate the prospects of economic revival, analysts have said.

The court upheld a government decree introduced in February last year through Statutory Instrument 33/2019 that converted debts accumulated in US$ to the local RTGS currency.

The ruling came after Zambezi Gas Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd appealed against two judgments of the High Court in June 2018 and May 2019 ordering the company to pay coal and chrome mining company, NR Barber Pvt Ltd, over US$3,8 million in debts.

Economist Godfrey Kanyenze said the ruling had thrown the country on the edge of an economic precipice exacerbated by worsening investor confidence, thereby jeopardising the country’s prospects of economic revival.

“We have regularised the abnormal and now, in terms of prospects of economic revival, the year 2020 will be complex due to the deepening mistrust and lack of investor confidence in the government,” Kanyenze said.

“No investor will want to keep money in the country. This is the second time assets have been transferred from the creditors to the borrowers.”

Kanyenze said the financial services and real estate sectors will be the worst hit.

“The people in debt will celebrate, creditors will mourn, which destroys the basis of the sanctity of lending and borrowing. This destroys the basis of the society, store of value and medium of exchange,” he said.

Kanyenze said government was the biggest beneficiary of SI 33/19 which eroded salaries as well as consumer buying power.

Another economic analyst John Robertson said there was need for government to change its policies and attitudes if ever it was to entertain prospects of economic recovery. He said Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s ruling maintained the 1:1 parity but at the same time mentioned the issue of value, which is at the core of the problems in Zimbabwe.

“The value of a Zimbabwe dollar today is between one seventeenth and one twenty-fifth of its value a year ago,” Robertson said.

“Unfortunately, government appears to be determined to pay back only a fraction of the amount they borrowed by selling Treasury Bills to our pension funds and banks. Even more unfortunately, they borrowed billions of US dollars and they don’t have, and never did have billions of US dollars to settle the debts.

“Creating and then devaluing the RTGS dollars was government’s only way out of debt because they now want to pay six US cents-worth of Zimbabwe money for every US dollar they borrowed. Once again, our bank balances and pension fund savings have been almost wiped out.

“To rescue the country, we have to start now to behave in ways that persuade investors that we are deserving of their trust. That will call for a complete change in government policies and attitudes.”

UK-based Zimbabwean lawyer, Alex Magaisa, in his legal opinion released on Tuesday, described the ruling as a “greatest heist” by government, saddled by an US$11 million domestic debt, adding it was “hard to make sense of the reasoning” of the judges.

“A reduction in an asset from US$3,8 million to US$144 000 is, by all accounts, a serious erosion and violation of one’s private property rights,” he said, adding the judges’ argument showed that there was erosion of private property rights.

“The government has reduced its domestic debt by theft. All those who are owed by the government must count their losses,” he said.

“One thing for sure though is that this judgment brings to the fore the hazardous nature of the Zimbabwean economic terrain for those engaged in trade and commerce. Just a simple decree can have devastating consequences.”

Lawyer Tawanda Nyambirai said the ruling was simply confirming what had been in place since February last year when SI 33 was introduced. “The effect was that all balances except foreign debts would be converted to local currency,” Nyambirai said.

“All our balances that were in US$ were converted using the 1:1 exchange rate. The effects, we started feeling them last year. The effects were devastating on employees, Zimbabwe dollar loosing value on fixed salaries pegged on US$. Consumers were affected and so were retailers who benchmarked their prices to the parallel rate where consumer spending had been cut. People were impoverished.”

He added: “This is why I applied to the High Court challenging SI 33 because it constitutes compulsory acquisition or deprivation of property without compensation.”

Nyambirai filed an urgent chamber application in July last year challenging SI 33, which now constitutes Financial Amendment No 7. The court, however, ruled that the application was not urgent and had to give the opposing part time to file heads of argument, which they have now done and await a court date.

BY RICHARD MUPONDE

LATE notorious armed robber Edmund Edgar Masendeke’s two siblings have been arrested by the police crack team targeting machete gang leaders after they allegedly assaulted and robbed a motorist of US$300 in Kwekwe last week .

The Masendeke brothers — Edward, Kudzai and two accomplices were arrested over the weekend after robbing a motorist (not named in police records) along the Kwekwe-Harare Highway.

They produced machetes, dragged the motorist out of the car before assaulting and robbing him of hard currency.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he would get back to NewsDay after getting details of the case.

The case was reported at Kwekwe Central Police Station under RRB 4031491.

Allegations against the Masendeke brothers, Edward (42) of 449 B Section 6 and his sibling, Kudzai (26) of 180 Section 5 Mbizo suburb and their two accomplices, Lovemore Magorimbo (28) of Riffle Range Road Chegutu, Nesbert Banda (39) of Flat 4 D, Amaveni, Kwekwe, are that on January 11 at around 11:30am they followed the complainant who was driving a Honda Fit vehicle along the Kwekwe-Harare Highway.

He parked his vehicle at a truck inn. Before he disembarked, the robbers arrived in a Mercedes Benz with South African registration numbers.

They produced machetes and dragged the motorist out of the car, assaulted him and robbed him.

On Saturday, a police crack team hunting machete gang leaders received information that the four were involved in the armed robbery.

Acting on the tip-off they arrested Magorimbo who admitted that he, indeed, robbed the complainant and implicated Banda, leading to his arrest.

Banda also implicated Magorimbo and Edward.

He then led detectives to Edward’s hideout who also reportedly admitted committing the offence.

It was also discovered that all the suspects had been released from remand prison on bail last year on charges of murder and armed robbery.

It has emerged that Edward is on bail pending murder trial.

He had been on the run since 2013 and was arrested in September 2018 after he resurfaced at his elder brother Elson’s funeral.

Edward, together with accomplices Walter Mahofa and Justice Mukarati, allegedly assaulted Jonathan Mpofu and his siblings Ernest and the late Elson following a misunderstanding in a bar in 2013.

Mpofu died on the spot from the assault.

BY MOSES MATENGA

FORMER Local Government minister and Zanu PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere’s Mazowe Farm has been repossessed by government with the exiled politician accusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa of engaging in petty politics to victimise opponents.

Kasukuwere was a key member of the G40 cabal that was targeted by a military coup in November 2017 that saw the ouster of the later former President Robert Mugabe from power.

In a letter to Kasukuwere signed by Lands minister Perrance Shiri, government said it was withdrawing its offer for the land for downsizing purposes.

“Notice of intention to withdraw land offer under the land reform and resettlement programme (model A2, Phase 2). Notice is hereby given that the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement intends to withdraw the offer of land made to you in respect of Subdivision whole measuring 556,617 ha of R/E of Concorpia Farm in the district of Mazowe in Mashonaland Central province,” the letter dated December 17, 2019 read in part.

“The reasons for the withdrawals are for downsizing for planning purposes. You are invited to make any representations you may have in this matter in writing within seven days of receipt of this notification. All correspondence in this regard should be directed to the minister.”

The letter was delivered yesterday to Kasukuwere’s farm manager Shepherd Siyanganga.

Kasukuwere breathed fire accusing Mnangagwa of being petty and targeting perceived political rivals.

Kasukuwere’s ally and former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo also had his farm taken by government last month.

“Obviously we will go to court,” Kasukuwere said.

He said the farm was legally acquired and a lot of investment including irrigation facilities, a school, roads among other projects were made on the piece of land.

“We know it’s targeted. A lot has been happening against this very person ever since the coup and largely to try and destroy what we have worked for. Government is using land to attack those they think are against them. That is pettiness and we must be above that. We have many challenges affecting the country that we have to deal with,” he said.

“The systematic attack on our economic assets has been going on and it is driven right at the top,” Kasukuwere fumed accusing the Mnangagwa administration of working towards undermining some tribes.

“This is sad and unfortunate,” he said.

On the arrest of his younger brother Tichaona, Kasukuwere said: “He has been arrested. He is with (police) Law and Order currently. He is a quiet and solid businessman with no interest in politics. If they want me, they should say so and stop targeting my siblings.”

He accused Mnangagwa of being vengeful and taking over power in the ruling party against the will of the people.

Several Ministers linked to Mugabe were forced out of the country after the military takeover and are plotting a comeback under different projects.

These include former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi who fronts the People’s Party project and Patrick Zhuwao who recently applied to join South African opposition party, Economic Freedom Fighters.

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BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

The large baobab tree could be seen from a distance as it protruded in the sparse bushes of rural Mt Darwin. The existence of this giant flora tells the story of an arid region, characterised by high temperatures and frequent droughts.

But under the baobab tree were lavishly growing plants that provided an eye-catching panorama.

The greenery under the and all round the massive baobab tree is Mt Darwin’s Majerejere Nutrition Garden, a success story that has become an example of how marginalised communities can alleviate hunger and improve nutrition through the use of modern irrigation technologies.

The garden was developed in 2018 and since then has improved access to nutrition for 545 households with 2 700 people. In total, the project has benefited 4 700 people.

The surrounding community is also indirectly benefitting by purchasing fresh vegetables from the garden and drawing water from the borehole.

The garden, stretching for over six hectares, offers a variety of vegetables, fruit trees, maize and boasts of two solar-powered boreholes, a project that has brought relief to the poverty-stricken communities, who are currently also benefitting from clean water for consumption as well as watering their livestock.

The World Food Programme (WFP)’s Food Assistance for Assets (FAA) programme in Mt Darwin is being implemented through a partnership with World Vision and Plan International, while being funded by the Japanese government.

The project has turned this patched corner of Mt Darwin into a thriving greenbelt through solar-powered irrigation projects that have enabled villagers to produce all-year round.

Climate change effects have had a heavy toll on Zimbabwe, with close to seven million people in both rural and urban areas in dire need of food assistance this lean season, according to latest findings by the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee.

“Our food for assets programme in Mt Darwin is helping communities increase food productivity, reduce the impact of climate shocks and strengthen resilience to natural disasters by creating productive assets. The communities are equipped with skills like smart agriculture techniques and soil water conservation techniques that preserve natural resources,” WFP country director Eddie Rowe said.

“In addition, work was done to reclaim watersheds, thereby protecting community woodlots. These efforts will overtime improve water management and increase vegetation cover. Communities were taught composting and the farmers were encouraged to plant drought-tolerant crops which are less susceptible to erratic rains. Members of the nutritional garden do not only have food on their table throughout the year, but are also able to access diverse and nutritionally rich food.”

Government has been relying on donor funding, while there has been no meaningful efforts to increase agricultural production through employing modern technologies and empowering villagers to become self-sustainable.

Speaking during the handover of Majerere Nutritional Garden, Japanese ambassador Toshiyuki Iwado said it was high time the country seriously tackled the issue of food insecurity and come up with ways of improving productivity.

“And donors, including Japan, have continued to provide support for the most food insecure communities in Zimbabwe for many years. Our assistance and that of other donor countries can only support the efforts of Zimbabweans, so I strongly urge the government to seriously consider the issue of food insecurity and come up with ways of ensuring food security for its people,” he said.

The negative effects of climate change have resulted in the country facing massive food shortages, with government mulling to implement the smart agriculture concept to mitigate hunger.

Government introduced the Command Agriculture scheme a few years ago hopi ng to financially empower both communal and commercial farmers, while others received farming equipment from other countries. However, the programme failed to address the major problem of hunger due to droughts and corruption.

With the wrath of successive droughts still expected in Mt Darwin district, thousands of villagers have something to smile about as the garden project has proved to be a success.
The Majerejere project is an epitome of how government can empower its own people to eradicate hunger and enhance food security.

BY MOSES MATENGA

VIOLENCE broke out between Zanu PF and opposition MDC youths in Mbare yesterday, a day after the opposition leader Nelson Chamisa addressed supporters in the volatile suburb.

Three MDC supporters were reportedly arrested while Zanu PF claimed three of its youth leaders were hospitalised after the violent clashes.

Zanu PF district co-ordinating committee secretary for youth affairs, Emmanuel Mahachi, said violence broke out after suspected MDC youths attacked ruling party cadres during a clean-up exercise.

“There was a clean-up campaign and in the process, they passed through a place where some were not happy with the programme. They started
throwing stones, attacking them. I was shocked by the reaction,” he alleged.

“We called police to the place and they arrived to calm down the situation. People were injured including the secretary for environment who was leading the programme, secretary for health and one of our youths. They were taken to hospital,” he said.

“A report was made at Matapi Police Station.”

However, MDC youth secretary for Harare province Denford Ngadziore blamed Zanu PF youths for the violence.

“Zanu PF pretended to be mobilising its supporters for a clean-up campaign but later went to the market operated by MDC youths and vandalised property,” Ngadziore said.

“MDC youths went to report the matter at Matapi Police Station but they were detained. We are not surprised by Zanu PF’s actions. We have a duty to stop this now and forever.”

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the skirmishes, but said the details were still sketchy.

“Police are investigating issues said to have happened in Mbare but currently details are not yet clear so we will only be able to shed light in due course,” Nyathi said.

When NewsDay visited Mbare in the afternoon yesterday, MDC youths were being addressed by local legislator Starman Chamisa after the violent clashes.

The MDC youths said the violent clashes started when Zanu PF mobilised for a meeting at their party offices in the area before attacking a building occupied by opposition members where they allegedly pulled down the party flag.

“They came mobilising vendors for a meeting and when they got here, they started throwing stones, destroying the building. People where not happy with their actions and retaliated and they fled the scene. They reinforced and came back and police managed to calm the situation,” one of the MDC youths said.

The opposition party later released a statement saying Zanu PF youths armed with machetes and logs went on the rampage in Mbare, indiscriminately attacking residents.

“The Zanu PF youths (ran) amok and wreaked havoc by attacking residents and dispersing any group of innocent residents going about their business,” deputy party spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said in a statement.

At the time of going to print, MP Chamisa was reportedlyholed up in a police station, hiding from the marauding gang who were “baying” for his blood.