BY SILAS NKALA/VENERANDA LANGA

WAR veterans and other members of the public will soon be able to express their opinions on the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill, which is currently at First Reading Stage in the National Assembly amid erosion of the current gratuities of ex-freedom fighters by inflation.

Next week, the Levy Mayihlome (Umzingwane MP Zanu PF)-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence and Home Affairs will gather views during public hearings on the Bill.

ZPRA Veterans Association says it has already begun mobilising its members and other war veterans to attend the meetings.

The committee will be at Bulawayo’s Entumbane Hall on January 29 from 9am to 12 noon and will proceed to Nketa Hall from 2pm to 4pm.

ZPRA Veterans Association secretary-general Petros Sibanda on Monday said they will hold a meeting on January 26 to look into the draft before the hearings.

“On the welfare issue, we want it to be clear whether we fall under the Welfare or Defence ministry. At the moment, it is not clear and the Bill must clearly state the position. On the composition of the board of the veterans, it must be clear as to who will be chairing and it must be chaired on a rotational basis by both the Zpra and Zanla and this must be included in the Bill,” he said.

“Zpra and Zanla must be apolitical, because it is clear that some of the war veterans end up being used by politicians. Yes, individuals are independent to belong to any party but organisations must be independent to avoid being used as political tools. The Bill must clearly state this.”

Sibanda said the liberation war hero status must be given to someone when he or she is still alive, adding that housing and land issues and development in the allocated area must be included in the Bill.

If passed, the Bill has economic implications as there have been suggestions that war veterans want pensions that are equivalent to those of retired army majors, as well as gratuities that will be paid to war collaborators.

The Bill seeks to compensate war collaborators (mujibhas and chimbwindos) who participated in the liberation struggle and defines them as “any person who had at least attained the age of 16 years by December 31, 1979, and who in the period between 1975 and February 29, 1980 consistently and persistently was closely linked with the operations of the liberation war fighters through different activities”.

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has assured residents over the safety of its foul-smelling water after being inundated with complaints from panicky residents fearing for their health.

There have been complaints over the smell of the water that the local authority has been pumping into ratepayers’ homes at a time when council is implementing a 48-hour water-shedding programme.

BCC health services director Edwin Sibanda confirmed the developments, but said the water did not pose a health hazard.

“Of late, there has been concern about an odour within the water system but as health services department, we monitor the water quality specifically for the bacterial content that is likely to be associated with diseases as well as the residual chlorine.

“So far, our water is safe. We admit that there could be an odour or two, but this is not a threat to human life,” Sibanda said.

This comes after the council embarked on major refurbishment works at its Criterion Water Works and reservoirs to improve water quality.

In July, council was forced to switch off water supplies for more than a week to facilitate the rehabilitation of the Criterion Water Works under a Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP) funded by the African Development Bank.

“When we monitor water for potability, that is suitability for human consumption, what we are mainly concerned with is the chlorine and the bacterial content.
The other parameters would have been cleared at Criterion laboratory as well as other laboratories outside,” Sibanda added.

“We have 100 sampling points within the city and samples are taken twice a month. Since 2011, we have collected lots of samples and less than 4% of those samples have proven to be unsatisfactory. Those unsatisfactory points are re-sampled within a very short time to prove that whatever unsatisfactory state is not persistent and we notify the engineering department to actually rectify the challenge.”

The council has already decommissioned two of its six water supply dams Umzingwane and Upper Ncema over dwindling water levels.

Over the weekend, council warned it would be forced to decommission another dam in the next three weeks if no significant rains were received soon.

BY CHARLES LAITON

THE Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) recently landed itself in trouble after refusing to settle a US$370 000 debt opting to pay off the same in local currency, a move that has prompted an international firm to attach the broadcaster’s property.

ZBC has since filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking an order to stay the sale in execution of its property by Optma Sports Management International t/a OSMI.

According to ZBC’s corporate secretary Patricia Muchengwa the issue started sometime in November 2018, when an order by consent was granted by High Court judge Justice Clement Phiri in favour of OSMI in the sum of US$370 000 together with interest.

In terms of the consent order, Muchengwa said the parties agreed that ZBC would settle a portion of the judgment debt being US$110 000 through peak advertising time, which was to be availed to OSMI on or before December 15, 2018.

“In terms of the order by consent, the applicant (ZBC) would settle a portion of the judgment debt in the sum of US$260 000 over a period of seven months by way of monthly instalments of not less than US$20 000 beginning on or before November 30, 2018 with the first instalment being for US$30 000. The instalments would be payable into an account nominated by the first respondent (OSMI)’s legal practitioners, which would be supplied to the applicant,” she said.

Muchengwa further said pursuant to the consent order and following ZBC’s failure to comply with the terms of the order, a writ of execution was issued against her firms’ movable goods on July 1, 2019 and consequently, the goods were attached and seized by the sheriff on September 5, 2019.

The secretary also said pending the date of removal, the parties engaged each other and agreed that in accordance with the law and in light of their discussions before Justice Phiri, the national broadcaster would continue paying the judgment debt in local currency at a rate of 1:1 and that execution would accordingly be suspended.

“The applicant duly paid off the judgment debt in the total sum of $260 000 (local currency) and has availed peak advertising air time to the first respondent in respect of the remaining portion of the judgment as per order by consent. I attach hereto a reconciliation statement showing payments in the total sum of $172 000 which were made towards the judgment debt,” Muchengwa said.

“Notwithstanding the above payment, the first respondent has proceeded to instruct the sheriff of the High Court to proceed with the removal of the applicant’s property on the basis that the judgment debt is in United States dollars and has not been extinguished. The removal date is January 15, 2020 and thus the matter cannot wait.”

By Phyllis Mbanje

Striking doctors have effectively ended their near five months industrial action after the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) yesterday urged all its members to take up the cash offer made by Econet Wireless founder Strive Masiyiwa’s Higher Life Foundation (HLF) to improve their working conditions.

The Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) also said its members met on Monday and agreed to upscale from offering emergency services to include the urgent cases, which could not be assisted all along.

Striking junior and senior doctors had in November turned down offers to be paid $5 000 monthly by Masiyiwa and his wife, Tsitsi, through their HLF.

But in a rare show, the ZHDA yesterday issued a statement urging its members to apply for the offer of training fellowship before the stipulated deadline.

“The ZHDA remains eager and committed in engaging all the responsible authorities and interested parties in finding a long-lasting solution to the doctors welfare, to the working conditions in hospitals for the benefit of our patients,” the doctors said.

A source said once the doctors have signed up, they would resume duties.

Senior doctors, on the other hand, said last week they met Acting President Constantino Chiwenga, who expressed his commitment to a holistic approach in handling their issue.

However, the SHDA said issues that caused the incapacitation remained unresolved.

“In view of the persisting shortages, relatives are expected to actively take part in the care of their loved ones through the purchase of drugs and sundries from time to time, including some drugs that are ordinarily hospital-based and not found in general pharmacies,” the senior doctors said.

“Some complicated surgeries and other producers requiring sophisticated equipment shall remain suspended until such a time equipment is availed.”

BY MOSES MATENGA

HARARE City Council has threatened legal action against Zanu PF, government departments, parastatals and other entities owing the local authority more than $1 billion in unpaid rates.

Council is owed more than $1 billion by Zanu PF, National Social Security Authority, National Railways of Zimbabwe, among other entities and residents.

Other debtors that top the council debtors’ list are Norton and Chitungwiza municipalities.

A debtors’ list gleaned by NewsDay shows that a company identified as M&S Syndicate (Pvt) Limited, with its address given as Rotten Row, Zanu PF, Harare, owes the local authority $1 189 768 in unpaid water bills.

“We are engaging them and, in fact, we have set up a team doing rounds. We have made an agreement to have letters sent to all the political parties and churches owing council money to come up with a plan. Every political party owing us must pay so that we can provide services to people, its members included,” mayor Herbert Gomba said.

“So every political party must pay or else we will be resorting, if engagements fail, to the courts. They should give us our money so that we provide services. Every political party failing to pay us has no right to criticise us because they are not playing ball.”

Zanu PF officials have criticised the opposition party councillors for failure to address perennial water challenges and to provide basic services, including refuse collection.

Walter Magaya-owned Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries Church, is also yet to pay close to $400 000 and the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport owes $101 250 000.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Former Health minister David Parirenyatwa has applied for discharge in a case in which he is accused of criminal abuse of office after allegedly directing NatPharm chairman George Washaya to appoint Newman Madzikwa as managing director.

In his application for discharge at the close of the State case, Parirenyatwa said the State failed to prove a prima facie case against him.

“There is no evidence that he committed the offence of which he may be convicted of. There is a sound basis for ordering the discharge of the accused at the close of the State case for the prosecution where there is no evidence to prove an essential element of the offence,” the submission read.

Parirenyatwa said the evidence led by the State was so manifestly unreliable that no reasonable court could safely and properly convict him.

The former Cabinet minister said he was caught in a blatant bias exhibited by the prosecution of perceived G40 members by the Executive, but there was no evidence to implicate him in the matter.

The State, represented by Brian Vito, is expected to respond to the application before the February 13 ruling by magistrate Elijah Makomo.

Parirenyatwa’s passport was released to allow him to attend to an HIV/AIDS conference in South Korea from February 3-9. The matter was postponed to February 13 for the ruling of the application for discharge.

Allegations against Parirenyatwa are that on June 4, 2018, the former minister ordered Washaya to terminate Flora Nancy Sifeku’s contract as managing director, saying that he required her services at the ministry’s headquarters in Harare.

He also allegedly directed Washaya to appoint Madzikwa as acting managing director with effect from June 1, 2018. The board complied and the two were given six-month contracts with effect from June to November 30, 2018.

The prosecution said the two ended up receiving salaries at the same time and thus prejudicing the company of $30 000.

BY MOSES MATENGA

ZANU PF has claimed that while it has a burning desire to address the economic challenges affecting the country, its hands remain tied by nature.

This came as the ruling party has been accused by the opposition MDC and civic society organisations of being clueless on how to end the economic crisis facing the country.

But the ruling party said it was implementing its 2018 campaign manifesto and now stands guided by its 2019 Goromonzi conference resolutions to turn around the economy.

“What are they (MDC) proposing? What are those alternatives? Why don’t they tell us? They must tell us those alternatives. They are saying they have an alternative, we want to know those alternatives. Let the nation know those alternatives,” Zanu PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo told NewsDay yesterday.

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa told mourners at the burial of Casper Tsvangirai, younger brother of the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, in Buhera in 2018 that he had solutions to the economic crisis prevailing in the country, adding that Zanu PF cannot rig the economy.

Last year, the MDC leader said the cause of socio-economic crisis in Zimbabwe was political, pointing to the disputed 2018 elections.

But Khaya Moyo said the ruling party was just a victim of natural disasters.

“We have just had a conference. Resolutions were passed and we have just begun the year and we have to implement our resolutions. Our focus is the economy. You know the theme of the conference speaks to that. We are focusing on Vision 2030 and the focus is on the economy. We want to create jobs, we want more and more production but we are not in charge of the weather,” Khaya-Moyo said.

“The climate, you are aware of erratic rains and naturally we are trying to now divert and look on how best we can concentrate on aspects of irrigation where possible. We are not in charge of climate change, of drought as it were but our focus is very clear, our manifesto is very clear and we are working on implementation.”

There was great anticipation when President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over power from the late former President Robert Mugabe in 2017 amid hope for a better economy.

However, two years on, the country is faced with one of the worst economic crises since independence characterised by shortages of fuel and cash among other issues.

Government has failed to adequately capacitate civil servants including teachers and doctors who are now engaged in a job action.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has secured major investment deals worth over Sh170.8 billion in the ongoing UK-Africa Investment Summit in London.

Daily Nation

On Monday, the country also set history after its first ever green bond, called the “Simba Bond”, was listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The bond is the brainchild of Acorn Holdings Ltd, a residential real estate developer.

The deals include job and investment opportunities in various sectors, among them housing, finance, renewables and entrepreneurship.

“The United Kingdom (UK) has a huge amount to offer ambitious African firms and we have a strong reputation for quality, integrity and reliability,” British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said in a statement.

“Today’s summit showcased to the world the best of Kenyan government, business and entrepreneurship and the partnerships today will help Kenya continue to flourish.

“We believe that a strong, diverse, accountable private sector is key to unlocking Kenya’s economic potential and creating the jobs and opportunities Kenyans tell us they want.”

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Some of the announcements made include a Sh3.9 billion investment in affordable energy-efficient housing that will see the building of 10,000 low-carbon homes for rent and sale.

The deal will also see a Sh21.9 billion investment by British firm Diageo in building environmentally friendly breweries in Kenya and in the wider East Africa region.

“Diageo already invested Sh15.76 billion into East Africa Breweries Limited in Kisumu in 2017,” a statement from the UK Embassy in Nairobi reads.

“This investment is supporting over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs (over half for women); including recruiting 15,000 new farmers taking the total number of farmers employed in their Kenyan supply chain to 45,000.”

The inaugural UK-Africa Investment Summit is aimed at rejuvenating the partnership between the UK and Africa using trade and investment to boost growth and improve the lives of the citizens of the two continents.

HISTORIC SUMMIT

The historic summit brings together at least 20 African heads of state, ambassadors, high commissioners and captains of industry.

“In 2020, the UK is the ultimate one-stop shop for the ambitious, growing international economy … Africa is the future and the UK has a huge and active role to play in that future,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in his opening remarks at the conference.

In 2018, Kenya exported 237.5 million pounds (Sh31 billion) worth of goods to the UK, with imports valued at 303.6 million pounds.

The largest taxpaying company in Kenya, Safaricom PLC, also enjoys a large UK investment from Vodacom.

According to State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena, more than 200 British companies operate in Kenya, with over three billion pounds invested in daily operations.

During the visit, President Kenyatta is expected to meet at Buckingham Palace with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate, who will represent the Queen.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

HARARE football giants Caps United have snapped up former FC Platinum goalkeeper Wallace Magalane as they reconstruct the side after a major overhaul that has seen the departure of several key players.

The Green Machine was in a tussle with several other local Premier Soccer League clubs, including Highlanders and Ngezi Platinum for his signature.

Magalane had appeared on course to join South African Premier Soccer League side Chippa United who are now under the guidance of FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza following the expiry of his contract on December 31.

However, the unavailability of a slot for a foreign quota at Chippa meant his options had been limited to the domestic scene.

And Caps, who have been one of the busiest teams on the transfer market ahead of the start of the new season, moved fast to tie him down to their side.

Although no comment could be obtained from Caps, in-formed sources said the deal was sealed last night.

Magalane was one of the heroes of FC Platinum’s 2019 campaign after helping them to win a third straight championship when they beat rivals Caps and Chicken Inn to the finishing line on the last day of the league programme.

With goalkeepers Prosper Chigumba and Chris Mverechena having decided against renewing their contract, Magalane is set to compete with Tonderai Mateyaunga for keeping the goals.

Caps will also not be renewing contracts of several players such as captain Hardlife Zvirekwi, Dominic Mukandi, Carlos Rusere, Lincoln Zvasiya, Valentine Ndaba and Kudzanayi Nyamupfukudza as they seek a fresh start after a disappointing campaign last term which saw them being beaten to the championship by FC Platinum on the last day of the league programme.

They eventually finished in third place.

Those that have been shown the exit door are accused of bringing the name of the club into disrepute after they were alleged to have led a player boycott ahead of their league penultimate game against Ngezi Platinum which they lost 3-2 to seize FC Platinum the initiative.

However, other seniors like Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo, Phineas Bhamusi, Justice Jangano, Valentine Musarurwa, John Zhuwawu and Kelvin Ndebele among others have not been affected.

Caps have also added some new faces who include Harare City duo of Tatenda Tumba and Ishmael Wadi. Enock Karembo and Leeroy Mavhunga formerly with Yadah FC have also joined.