THE country’s export promotion body, ZimTrade has urged small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to form viable associations to improve their performance and competitiveness on the export market.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

In its latest report, ZimTrade said small businesses and smallholder farmers have a potential to export their products and services but given the nature of their economic activities and economies of scale, they often face competitiveness challenges.

In most cases they end up not participating in global market activities, leading to minimal contribution to Zimbabwe’s export growth.

To address these challenges, ZimTrade said business associations play a crucial role in giving much-needed support to boost exports from small businesses.

“These associations form alliances to work together and improve their business performances and capacities. For example, it might be expensive for a local small business to pay for transporting goods outside Zimbabwe, but if they belong to an association, there is room to pull resources together and fund logistics required to transport goods,” it said.

“This arrangement will ensure that one small business does not bear the huge cost of transporting goods on its own and will be more competitive on the export market.”

ZimTrade said the pulling of resources could also assist small businesses to develop into larger enterprises, through acquisition of capital equipment that improves on efficiencies.

For example, one small business producing 500 pairs of shoes per week might fail to meet a demand for 10 000 pairs per month.

This target can, however, be easily met if five or six similar small businesses all produce the same required type of shoe and export as one consignment.

“This way, small businesses will have an opportunity to take part in the global export market, and over time grow their businesses,” ZimTrade said.

Additionally, entities that are members of business associations have the advantage that their issues are well represented at the level of government and other relevant authorities.
SMEs in Zimbabwe have become the key economic drivers due to the shrinking formal sector.

Former Water minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo allegedly stalled progress on the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project by refusing to work with the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Trust (MZWT), the Southern Eye has heard.

BY SILAS NKALA

This was revealed by the newly appointed MZWT chairperson Richard Ndlovu at a Press conference in Bulawayo on Friday.

Ndlovu took over from the late Dumiso Dabengwa who died in May 2019.

MZWT chief executive officer Sarah Ndlovu said the board sat early Friday where they agreed on Ndlovu taking over the chairmanship.

Addressing members of the Press, the new chairperson said MZWT — which was registered in 1993, was aimed at pushing for development of Matabeleland after the signing of the Unity Accord in 1987.

He said under the trust were committees such as the Matabeleland Action committee which instigated the construction of the maternity wing at Mpilo Central Hospital, the National University of Science and Technology and Solusi universities.

“In 1987 there was a Unity Accord and in 2008 we had the GNU (Government of National Unity) that is when we started having problems,” Ndlovu, who is also a Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial member, said.

“Minister Nkomo did not want to work with MZWT. He refused to work with us resulting in the setback.”
Ndlovu said they have since mended relations with government and now expect progress.

Ndlovu said they were pushing government to look at many water projects which can help Matabeleland, which currently faces serious water challenges.

“We are working with local authorities. We are trying to push government to relive water problems in Gwanda and other areas in Matabeleland. We have proposed that the government should construct another dam along the Tegwane River to help parts of Matabeleland with water,” Ndlovu said.

“Yes the Zambezi Water Project is a project which will benefit the whole of Matabeleland, but we also look at other water projects in the region.”

His remarks were buttressed by the trust’s board secretary Angeline Masuku who said the government has channeled some funds towards the project so that the region has enough water supply.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Nkomo said Ndlovu’s remarks confirmed that the project was a Zanu PF initiative and was bound to fail.

He admitted that during his tenure he had a standoff with MZWT because they wanted to privatise a government project.

“What made us not to agree is that the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project is a national project which is the responsibility of government to construct, not a private thing,” he said.

“During my time as a minister it became the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project because it needs to be a government responsibility like what the government did at Tugwi-Mukosi and Mtshabezi dam projects. The government funded these projects to completion because they were its responsibility and the Zambezi Water project must be handled the same. Why must the people of Matabeleland take responsibility of things that government must do? The problem is that MZWT wanted to privatise the project.”

He said during his tenure he spoke to then President the late Robert Mugabe, who said government was folding its hands because MZWT people wanted to make it a Matabeleland project.

“If they want more evidence up to the time I left government as to what made it fail I have it. At the time I was minister it was the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project and this was meant to make government take responsibility to complete the project, but these people still wanted to privatise the project. For it to succeed government must take full responsibility,” Nkomo insisted.

The Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project started in 1912 and to date it has not been completed amid concerns that there has not been any political will by successive governments to see the completion of the project.

State security operatives reportedly pounced on Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader, Takavafira Zhou’s office on Thursday last week following reports of his involvement in the planned national shutdown.

By Brenna Matendere

The majority of PTUZ members across the country are reportedly boycotting classes citing incapacitation, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the main opposition MDC party have threatened a national shutdown protest over the deteriorating economy.

Unsettled by these developments, three Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives pounced at Zhou’s offices in Masvingo, while others called him from Kwekwe in a bid to thwart the impending shutdown.

“They were trying to the link teachers’ strike with threats of a shutdown and we informed them that our struggle is a dispute with the employer in which the employer unilaterally (devalued) teachers’ salaries from US$500 to US$35. That is tantamount to unfair labour practice,” Zhou told NewsDay on Saturday.

“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation. They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”

Zhou also revealed that police from the Central Investigations Department (CID) contacted him over the stayaway by teachers in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown of Kwekwe.

“I also received a phone call from CID in Kwekwe, who wanted to know why PTUZ teachers have not reported for work and I also explained to them that teachers’ incapacitation was the modus operandi,” he said.

Last year, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure was abducted by suspected CIO operatives, who tortured him for leading a strike.

Zhou said he was still assessing the situation in order to measure his safety.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware whether or not the police were investigating Zhou as he was out of office.

“I am currently out of office as it is a weekend. I am, therefore, unable to comment on that one because I can’t look for the facts at the moment,” he said.

FOR many years, effective communication has always bypassed those who actually need it most, especially those in rural settings due to the fact that by uttering or writing something down, people assume that communication has taken place. Achieving total communication is actually more than the act of writing or simply saying out something.

Communicating the people’s deeper underlying issues and concerns based on their needs and worldviews is key for rural development. This is not done in isolation, but through exploring communication tools and approaches that influence the outcomes of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Information dissemination in action is paramount for engaging local and rural communities. As development communication experts disseminate information in rural communities, the networking activities and tools should strive to situate knowledge and information at the heart of rural developmental needs. The important ingredients involved in rural development are not inputs or materials but human resources, that is why communication experts talk of human-centred approaches. Therefore, appropriate communication methodologies, channels and tools that are far, reaching and effective are the hallmark of successful networking. These strategies strike the right chord of the actual needs of the stakeholders involved.

Powerful interactive and networking tools used in rural development communication need to compensate for lack of resources and technology delivery systems inherent in most rural communities. Poor information packaging, sub-standard communication systems and methodologies do not bring the desired communication outcomes and tangible results which resonate well with the people’s expectations and desires.

Communication for rural development should be interactive and diagnostic enough in order to harness the required knowledge and skills necessary for achieving livelihoods. In this regard, overall people’s participation and mobilisation should be enhanced. Despite the social structures inherent in rural communities, all stakeholders are viewed as communication equals.

Communication for rural development is designed to instil and effect changes in attitudes and behaviours for the people involved. Successful communication for rural development is hinged on the use of engaging multimedia tools such as cameras, audio-visuals, radio, film, the internet, mobile phones, power-points, videos, slides, stories and visuals, among others. These are sufficiently interactive and engaging to help change the people’s behaviours through appealing to their senses. In this regard, information should not only be disseminated, but it has to be motivating and inclusive in approach.

In this current changing climate and warming scenario it is the rural people who need to sufficiently adapt so that they can also cope in the face of climate change impacts. Having a wide range of multimedia communication tools at their disposal, rural communities would be able to understand environmental changes taking place in their communities so that they can sufficiently prepare themselves to deal with impacts of climate change.

Communication for rural development should be able to appeal to local communities’ needs, necessities and desires, using participatory methods and active involvement of all participants involved. Development agents are there to support and guide stakeholders rather than influence the communication processes. The role of policy in executing communication should not be undermined as policy provides guidance and influences quality as well.

The reason for bringing a variety of multimedia tools and strategies is to close the information gaps caused by lack of proper infrastructure in rural areas. Multimedia tools also provide wide access to information being communicated. These will also help to strengthen the overall communication process and avoid communication breakdown. Effective rural communication should not just be mutual exchange of information, but should also enhance the conducive environment for engagement. Those spearheading the communication programmes should also possess good and effective communication skills so that they are able to communicate across the rural divide.

The other critical factor in this developmental paradigm is that the whole process is guaranteed feedback so that the interactions and networking are ongoing. As a result, knowledge is created, maintained and repaired to suit current demands. The rural communities, which are mostly poverty stricken and vulnerable, can also be accommodated and be heard. In this regard the communication process, because of its inclusive and participatory nature, is designed to solve problems and offer solutions. For this reason, effective rural communication for development should be transformative enough and designed not only to change behaviours and attitudes, but to change lives as well.

The main purpose of effective rural development communication is to be cost effective and more accessible to fragmented and disadvantaged communities so that development does not elude them. Although communication tools and channels are mostly technological in nature, integration with the people’s world-views and cultural standpoints is highly recommended. This includes trusted media channels that speak in their languages so that they are seen as credible and dependable.

After all these have taken place, received, accepted, learned and understood then we can safely say that, indeed yes, communication has taken place.

 Peter Makwanya is a climate change communicator. He writes in his personal capacity and can be contacted on: petrovmoyt@gmail.com

COGNISANT of the fact that the intriguing divorce matter involving Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and his estranged wife Marry is still subjudice, given that the out of court settlement both parties have hinted at is yet to materialise, it would probably be within our legal rights and limits as the Fourth Estate to just speak truth to power as far as how the State should, henceforth handle sensitive matters that fundamentally affect the reputation of an entire government and its systems as well as the nation at large. The concern comes at a time President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s other deputy, Kembo Mohadi, is embroiled in yet another divorce case.

NewsDay Comment

Snippets of what transpired behind the scene in the life of Vice-President Chiwenga and his estranged wife is definitely juicy stuff for a blockbusting soap opera any Hollywood, Bollywood or Nollywood director would die to get hold of, but what this thrilling divorce case has critically done is to expose Mnangagwa’s government.

Long before Chiwenga and Marry became so estranged that they decided to take each other to court, the government system should have picked it up and for the sake of protecting the regime’s reputation and interests, the case would probably never have been brought to the public glare. It could probably have surfaced years from now with minimal damage to the government systems and operations. For the sake of national security, is it not prudent upon the country to have a democratic rule book that binds people occupying key government positions?

Should key government administrators, chiefly the President and his deputies, not be bound by a certain code of ethics and conduct that reins them in when profound matters that affect government reputation such as nasty divorces need to be handled? We currently have two divorce cases involving the country’s two second most powerful people and these issues are doing very little to shore up Mnangagwa’s administration.

Two divorce cases involving the country’s most powerful people at one go is unprecedented and calls for the country to have a code of ethics that guides all those occupying State power. This is definitely not the first time the world has witnessed powerful people seeking divorce, but the Zimbabwean case has not only exposed our leadership, but the entire nation’s poor morality.

In ages gone by, whenever people sought to go their separate ways, efforts would be made for the divorce to be amicable and whatever set the two apart would be their own secrets. But in our case everything, including the government’s poor and corrupt systems is now in the public domain. And this is quite unfortunate indeed.

COSAFA president Philip Chiyangwa is in the eye of a storm after it emerged that he and his executive members at the regional football governing body allegedly pocketed over R1,5 million in allowances last year, at a time the association had posted a R2,5 million loss.

BY HENRY MHARA

The details are contained in an audit report done by Baxters and Co, which was circulated to member associations ahead of the Cosafa annual general assembly (AGM) meeting set for Saturday at the Southern Sun OR Tambo Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The audit shows that the executive members got R1 429 400 in allowances last year, a massive increment from the R857 064 they received in the previous year. It is Chiyangwa, the report shows, who received a huge chunk of the money. The flamboyant businessman was allegedly given R301 150 in allowances, in addition to a R580 000 payment he received as an “honorarium”.

An honorarium is a voluntary payment that is given to a person for services for which fees are not legally or traditionally required. Honoraria are typically used to help cover costs for volunteers.

Chiyangwa then allegedly claimed another R19 696 from Cosafa in travel costs reimbursements.

His deputy Frans Mbidi of Namibia received R156 850 while Cosafa executive member (competitions) Timothy Shongwe of Swaziland got R147 390. The other executive members (six) received just over R100 000. Travel and accommodation alone gobbled R749 055.

Member associations who spoke to NewsDaySport on condition of anonymity said they were not happy with the huge perks that Chiyangwa and his executive awarded themselves, when the organisation is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

They complained about the honorarium payment, a sum which is above the prize money given to the team that wins the Cosafa senior men’s football tournament. Winners of the Cosafa senior men – the flagship competition of the organisation, receive R500 000, while the runners-up get R250 000.

“And all that money was paid in a year the organisation posted a record loss. How do you justify paying one person allowances that are above the winning prize money for your main competition? It’s unacceptable. We will want that to be debated at the AGM. There will be fireworks this year and heads will certainly roll,” a president of one of the member associations wrote to NewsDaySport last week.

Another member association also alleged mismanagement of funds by the Cosafa executive. They said that former Cosafa president, Patel Suket, who was deposed by Chiyangwa, left huge cash reserves of more than R13 million, which have since been reduced to R3,8 million.

“We have also been made aware that all private trips to South Africa by the Cosafa president and some members of his family and friends have been covered and paid for by Cosafa and such are tucked in the R749 055 summarised figure of travel and accommodation for the year 2019. We are not sure which rule, policy or resolution is being followed. This is violation of financial prudence and we will request detailed reports and ledger accounts to unlock and lay bare what lay beneath these summarised figures,” another source said.

“Also worrying is a figure of R19 696 which was paid to Chiyangwa as reimbursements. Cosafa has always provided tickets to officials and so under what circumstances was the refund paid to the president? Was this not a case of double dipping after another organisation like Fifa had provided the travel tickets? How and why has such only happened to one person, the president? Is it a coincidence or an act of fraud?” the source queried.

Some were further infuriated on realising that one of the items on the agenda was a proposal for an annual contribution by member associations to competition funds.

“We will totally rebuff such. The executive wants the member associations to pay money so that they can get more perks. If they can avoid paying huge allowances and the so-called honorariums, they will be able to fund competitions easily.”

NewsDaySport yesterday sent questions to Cosafa secretary-general Sue Destombes, and the spokesperson Lynda Greeff, but they had not responded by the time of going to print last night.

The audit report also noted that there were party transactions involving a company called Execusports Proprietary Limited which is “owned by a close family member of a key management”.

The company received business from the organisation worth almost R2 million in the last two years, something that has rattled the member associations.

Execusports Proprietary Limited, which is allegedly run by a daughter of one of “a very senior figure” at Cosafa, received R790 201 last year. They were paid R970 917 in the previous year for the services they provided to Cosafa. It is not clear what kind of services the company provides.

Some member associations, perceived to be outspoken, are complaining that Destombes allegedly withheld critical information and also deliberately communicated late about the AGM.

Some claim that they only received the notice and agenda of the AGM and the financial statements on Friday last week, on the deadline day to submit their proposals, submissions and questions for consideration and actioning during the meeting.

They said this was a deliberate ploy to disenfranchise and suffocate their input. Some immediately wrote back to the Cosafa secretariat requesting for “more time and details to enable them to adequately prepare and effectively participate in the AGM”.

Zifa have also made their proposal to make a presentation at the meeting, where they are planning to move a motion to dismiss Chiyangwa.

The association last year unsuccessfully made a bid to recall Chiyangwa as the president of the 14-member regional body.

They accuse him of interfering with their administration. “Football in Zimbabwe is being poisoned by someone who should be at the worst not negatively interfering and at most complementing efforts of the FA,” wrote Zifa to Cosafa last week. Chiyangwa, who was removed from the Zifa presidency by Felton Kamambo in 2018, maintains his innocence.

THE City of Gweru has run out of mealie-meal with major supermarkets failing to restock, leaving hundreds of people stranded.

BY BRENNA MATENDERE

The dire situation has opened avenues for black market merchants in the down town areas where the commodity is selling it at exorbitant prices.

While a 10kg pack of roller meal is supposed to sell at $50, according to government gazzetted prices following a subsidy arrangement, on the black market the commodity is being sold for $120. The unscrupulous businesspeople are not accepting all modes of payments like swipe and mobile money transfers, but demanding cash only.

Last week, Bulawayo residents also accused some retail shop owners of abusing the subsidised mealie-meal facility by forcing consumers to buy other goods in order to be able to purchase the scarce commodity.

Residents told Southern Eye that supermarket owners forced them to buy other goods worth over $20 in order to buy a 10kg mealie-meal bag. There has been haggling between the government and millers over registration of firms meant to receive the subsidy, which sources yesterday said was the reason for the acute shortage of the basic food commodity.

“There has not been a fair supply of subsidised grain to millers as the scheme seems to be benefitting a few who are close to the powers that be. That is the reason we have reached this stage whereby there is virtually no mealie-meal in Gweru. The Ministry of Finance and Grain Marketing Board are not doing the right thing. They are corruptly handling the grain subsidy scheme,” said a source.

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Garikai Chaunza referred questions to Andrew Bvumbe, a Finance ministry official in charge of the grain subsidy programme.

“He is the one who is running the roller meal subsidy programme,” Chaunza said.

However, Bvumbe refused to shed light on the shortages of mealie-meal in Gweru or reveal if millers have received disbursements from his ministry to sell the commodity at subsidised prices.

“A statement was issued that it is the Ministry of Industry and Commerce that is in charge of that programme,” Bvumbe curtly said.

HARARE City Council has suspended four senior officials for alleged dereliction of duty and contributing to the water crisis in the city.

BY MOSES MATENGA

The axe fell on head of city chemistry, production manager and water distribution manager and their alleged transgressions include failure to act decisively on leakages, arrogance and taking long to attend to faults, among others.

Mayor Herbert Gomba confirmed the development, saying the move was meant to improve service delivery and get rid of non-performers.

“As we are working together as Zimbabweans and residents of Harare in particular, we have discovered that some among us are not playing ball in as far as the transformation of the city is concerned. We have managers who are reposed with the mandate to deliver services, but are not doing so according to expectation.

“Managers are supposed to visit the areas where work is supposed to be. A chemist or production manager and distribution manager should be on the ground to ensure work is done. Facts are that they are not and we will act to protect our residents under the mantra ‘residents first’,” he said.

Gomba read the riot act at a high-level meeting held at Town House last week where he also ordered the council’s water department to vacate a rented building they were using in the city and make use of either Cleveland or Rowan Martin, both council premises.

Council sources said all divisional failing to perform their duties will be taken before a disciplinary committee.
It was also revealed that most workers at the council’s biggest water treatment plant, Morton Jaffray Waterworks, were spending most of their time running personal errands, including selling fish at the ratepayers’ expense.