Guest column: Reginald T Sibanda

THE African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) has a key role to play in enhancing political, social and economic governance on the continent.

Countries which are not performing well such as Zimbabwe have more to gain from this enhancement.

ACDEG is an important readily available instrument that should be utilised in promoting citizen urgency.

Ensuring that all public decisions are people centred is fundamental to the overall development aspects of a democratic nation.

Citizen urgency cannot be fully achieved through government efforts alone, but through a balance of concerted efforts from the government, private sector actors and civil society organisations (CSOs).

This article calls for the ratification and domestication of the ACDEG by the government of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s ability to develop prior and post the new dispensation era has been stifled by poor political, social and economic governance.

Corruption is the cancer wearing out the ability of public institutions to provide required public goods to citizens.

Development remains distant among social groups with special needs which include women, youths and people living with disabilities.

The level of participation of these groups in political and economic spheres is highly limited.

Their situation is worsened by corruption, which is highest in the public sector and perpetrated by elected officials and senior civil servants.

Women, youths and people living with disabilities are finding it difficult to break through into formal politics.

They have been sidelined to the periphery when it comes to decision-making processes, especially on decisions which have a direct effect on their lives.

Youths in Zimbabwe are victims of manipulation by politicians through adoption of thematic approaches which compromise their future.

The government is urged to intensify citizen participation in political, social and economic governance to empower ordinary people in order for them to actively participate in decision-making, both at local and national levels.

A vibrant community has higher chances of holding public policymakers accountable for their past public policies and election promises.

To promote citizen agency in Zimbabwe, the government is urged to domesticate the ACDEG, which prioritises involvement of groups with special needs into political, social and economic governance.

Article 32 of the charter provides that State parties shall ensure systematic and comprehensive civic education in order to encourage full participation of social groups with special needs in democracy and development processes.

The CSOs’ role and private actors in emancipating marginalised groups to participate in poverty eradication and reducing inequality should be fully harnessed.

ACDEG is the enabling legislation that facilitates effective partnership between government and CSOs as provided for in article 27(2) of the charter.

ACDEG domestication would facilitate the potential of Zimbabwe to develop into middle economy status, characterised by reduction of poverty and inequality and expansion of real freedoms.

Full participation of marginalised citizens eliminates corruption as the vulnerable groups hold public policymakers to account for their performance and election promises. Rent opportunities in the public sector can be curbed if accountability is strong.

Reginald T Sibanda is an Activista Zimbabwe member. He writes here in his personal capacity.

BY SIBONGINKOSI MAPHOSA/BRENNA MATENDERE

THE Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) yesterday claimed that the majority of its members had heeded the call to boycott classes over unresolved salary issues, and vowed to protect its striking members against victimisation by government.

Zimta chief executive officer, Sifiso Ndlovu said the union would not let its members be victimised for exercising their rights.

“No member of Zimta will be fired for exercising their rights. They have done nothing illegal instead they have informed the government that they are not reporting for duty because they are incapacitated,” Ndlovu said.

“Our members will not report for duty up until our employer capacitates us. Imagine a teacher who works at a school in Ntulula in Tsholotsho, the money she spends to get to her station compared to her monthly earnings is just pathetic.”

While some teachers yesterday reported for duty, others were in a no-show after Zimta, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe called for a nationwide industrial action.

Civil servants last week rejected a 97% salary increment offered by the government as they insisting on getting paid salaries equivalent to what they used to get during the multi-currency regime.

Teachers in most schools in the Midlands capital of Gweru stayed home.

A snap survey carried by NewsDay revealed that there was high absenteeism of the majority of teachers, while those that reported for duty were not taking up lessons.

At Mkoba 1 Secondary School, students were still roaming around the school with no order by mid-day, a sign that teachers were not in classes. The same scenario was witnessed at Chaplin High School, Senga Secondary and Thornhill High School.

Teachers, who spoke to NewsDay at the various institutions visited, said their colleagues who stayed home indicated in social media groups that they were incapacitated to report for work.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said most schools had recorded a low teacher turnout.

“Teachers are severely incapacitated and learners are ill-equipped for the learning season. Riot police has been deployed in the majority of urban schools scaring the already traumatised learners,” he said.

BY SHARON SIBINDI

RENOVATION work has begun at the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo after management secured funding from the Australian and Swiss embassies, NewsDay Life & Style has learnt.

Late last year, music legend and True Love hitmaker, Busi Ncube, staged a fundraising show to pool financial resources for the institution’s refurbishment after she received an SOS from the gallery’s director Butholezwe Nyathi.

The assistant curator at the gallery, Cliford Zulu, confirmed that funding had been secured and work has begun.

“2020 will be a busy year for the gallery. We devoted the greater part of 2019 to mobilising financial and material resources for renovations,” he said.

Zulu indicated that following the release of funding through a Direct Aid Programme grant, renovations to damaged sections of the building housing the gallery were now underway.

“The renovations will include installation of a disability ramp in line with our principle of enhancing ease of access to the building by people with disabilities,” he said.

Zulu said another grant from the Embassy of Switzerland will see them installing a solar system to power sections of the gallery.

“We will also increase the storage capacity of our permanent collection so that we keep an expanded range of the visual memory of the region. We look forward to unveiling a refurbished and environmentally friendly gallery by the end of the first quarter of 2020,” he said.

“In our commitment to improve artists’ competencies and the quality of artists in Bulawayo and the greater Matabeleland region, the partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland will see the gallery implement a series of capacity development programmes for local artists,” he said.

Guest column: Obert Chinhamo

THE appointment of a nine-member Zanu PF-dominated Parliamentary Privileges Committee to investigate MDC Alliance legislators for snubbing President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the National Assembly smacks of conflict of interest.

It is alleged that on September 18, 2019, the MDC Alliance parliamentarians walked out of the august House when Mnangagwa came to address them. The opposition MDC Alliance has for a long time been maintaining that it does not recognise the Zanu PF leader as the country’s President because he lost the elections to Nelson Chamisa.

The exasperated Zanu PF parliamentarians compelled the party’s chief whip Pupurai Togarepi to raise a point of privilege on November 14, 2019, regarding the conduct of MDC Alliance parliamentarians.

In response, the Speaker of Parliament appointed Jonathan Samukange (Mudzi South), Joseph Chirongoma (Mashonaland West senator), Omega Hungwe (Harare Metropolitan senator), Cecil Kashiri (Magunje MP), Stars Mathe (Nkayi South MP), Levi Mayihlome (Umzingwane MP), Kindness Paradza (Makonde MP), Alignia Samson (Proportional Representative) and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC). Apart from Misihairabwi-Mushonga, the rest of the members are from the ruling Zanu PF party.
However, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga declined the offer because of conflict of interest.

As if not caring or bothered by the challenge of conflict of interest, the rest of the members accepted the offer and have started the investigations and are due to hand over the report on February, 28, 2019.

The question that should be asked is why the rest of the members, with the exception of Misihairabwi-Mushonga, are not bothered by the challenge of conflict of interest? Also worrying is why the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, is equally not bothered by the glaring conflict of interest.

Before delving into a discussion on this issue, it would be a remiss if the term conflict of interest is not explained. The definition of conflict of interest in the Code of Conduct for the Parliament of Zimbabwe is inadequate, too narrow and limiting. It needs broadening as it focuses on conflict of financial interests.

However, Article 3 of the Code of Conduct for the European Parliament is more telling and compelling. The EU code says conflict of interest arises where a Member of the Parliament has a personal interest that could improperly influence the performance of his or her duties as a member.

More clearer is the Scottish Parliament definition which describes conflict of interest as arising “… where you have an interest which may actually compromise or be reasonably perceived to compromise your ability to perform your role ….in an impartial and objective manner (that is, where your interest provides you with an incentive and your role responsibilities provide you with the opportunity to grant an unfair advantage or disadvantage).

It is recognised that actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest would inevitably occur and that these may arise across all levels of decision-making and areas of work. The types of potential conflicts of interest which are most relevant in the parliamentary context are generally of a personal, financial, political or other professional nature.”

In the case under review, Zanu PF and MDC Alliance are known and declared political rivals and the leading political parties in Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose address was snubbed, hails from the ruling Zanu PF and conflict of interest arises from the fact the members of the committee are also from the same political party.

Also worrying is the fact that the Speaker of the National Assembly is also from his Zanu PF party.

The Speaker is quoted to have shown favour for the party sponsoring him. It is on record that the same Speaker ignored a point of privilege raised by Mbizo legislator Settlement Chikwinya of the MDC Alliance to investigate Zanu PF legislators disrupting parliamentary portfolio committees chaired by MDC Alliance legislators.

This case can be used to explain the hypothesis that the Speaker is also there to serve the interests of the ruling Zanu PF. It would thus be surprising if the committee reports positively on members of its rival political party.

This way, conflict of interest is a form of corruption and Zimbabwe, currently waging a war against corruption, should not allow this discredited committee to proceed, let alone produce a report of its findings.

The way forward should be to protect the integrity of the institution and make efforts to set up an independent committee.

Institutions such as Parliament should engender ethics and accountability in order to gain citizens’ trust.

The committee should be independent from both Zanu PF and the MDC Alliance. This means that Zanu PF and MDC Alliance legislators should not be members of the committee.

Furthermore, the Speaker of the National Assembly should not be responsible for appointing the committee since he is also from Zanu PF. Let me also recommend that Parliament of Zimbabwe revisits its definition of conflict of interest in its Code of Conduct.

Obert Chinhamo is the chairperson of the Southern African Anti-Corruption Network (SAACoN) and director of the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA). He is writing in his personal capacity. He can be contacted on e-mail: director@anticorruptiontrust.org

BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

CELEBRATED gospel musician Michael “Minister” Mahendere has hinted on a new album titled The Secret Place of Worship scheduled for release in March this year.

The Zvichanaka hitmaker told NewsDay Life & Style that the new offering will be for moments of meditation, adding that it carries a message of hope.

“The Secret Place of Worship is more of an ‘alone time’ with God. It’s a project for those moments of communion between the God Almighty and the creation. It’s a project for those moments of meditation.

“The album carries a message of hope and direction in those moments you might not know what to say in prayer,” he said, adding that the new offering will be targeted at all age groups.

“It targets everyone. There is a song for everyone on this album, but for those who enjoy being in the presence of God, this will be a great addition to your music library.”

Mahendere said besides the new project, he has also lined up collaborations with artistes from three different African countries.

“We are still finalising on the collaborations with some guys from Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. Of course, in 2020 we will be travelling more again. As I said, I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise, but maybe you’ll see some collaborations with some of the guys from Nigeria,” he said.

Editorial Comment

VIGILANCE and swift action by the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) security guards who recently arrested copper cable thieves in Chegutu and Gweru should be commended.

Thieves and vandals who are busy looting and destroying the little infrastructure left in our troubled land should be arrested and sentenced to rot in jail.

However, it is quite distressing that the NRZ security personnel are only waking up in 2020, decades after thousands of kilometres of cables, as well as other infrastructure vanished under their very watch.

Once upon a time, this now miserable country had electric trains plying the Harare-Gweru route with plans to extend the service to Bulawayo. But organised theft of the cables that powered the electric trains saw the entire more than 300km cables disappear, starting from Harare’s main train station to Gweru’s busy Dabuka shunting junction.

As far as we can recall, not even a single person was ever arrested for the theft, yet the NRZ guards now want to walk with an exaggerated gait, nose pointing to the sky and appearing to be heroes and giving the impression that they are doing sterling work.

Where were they when theft was so rife that it reduced the rail entity into the shell it is today?

It is more than dumbfounding that more than 300km of overhead cables disappeared without trace and yet today the NRZ guards want to act as if they are vigilant.

Unless they want to tell Zimbabweans that all their problems are political.

In all honesty, the cable thieves who these guards are now arresting could be scavenging for the last few strands of copper wire left after the bulk of the parastatal’s wires were looted long back.

Many years ago, we used to be told that train operations were constantly being interrupted by cable vandals, meaning that there are few to none copper cables left along the country’s entire railway line system. In our view, the NRZ guards have woken up a little too late for us to give them a pat on the back.

And as we speak, lengths of railway lines are being looted at sidings of long-distance routes to farms and mining areas.

Wagons are also being stripped bare by thieves. It is even laughable that the parastatal still believes it has security to protect its infrastructure.

BY CHARLES LAITON

VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga (pictured)’s divorce proceedings has opened a can of worms with the retired army general disclosing graphic details of how his estranged wife, Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa), allegedly consulted witchdoctors and sprayed unknown substances on his clothes as she tried to kill him and inherit his vast property empire.

The VP opened the lid on their acrimonious fallout while responding to Marry’s court application where she sought unfettered access to the couple’s three minor children, top-of-the-range vehicles and their matrimonial Borrowdale house. He also claimed Marry, who he customarily married following his divorce with Jocelyn, was “a drug addict”.

“Applicant (Marry) is a very dangerous person who basically wanted to liquidate me (Chiwenga) from the face of this earth. Possibly what saved me was failure on my part to sign a marriage certificate due to incapacity, which if done would have been my passport to death as her possible wish to self-aggrandisement would have been achieved,” Chiwenga said in his founding affidavit.

“While I went out of the country for treatment it has since transpired that applicant’s actions caused my illness, leading to attempted murder charges against her.”

He also claimed to have become aware that Marry had been using “juju” on him when he returned to his Borrowdale residence just after her arrest late last year by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on several allegations – among them externalisation of funds and money laundering.

“It became incumbent on the respondent (Chiwenga) to take the children. I took them on holiday abroad and initially they had signs of trauma as they explained the black magic rituals they were subjected to by the applicant,” Chiwenga said.

“The various tools of trade used by the witchdoctors which were unexpectedly left behind by the applicant after her arrest told a horror story. My clothes in some instances were heaped together and sprayed by applicant with some unknown substance. I had to take the children away to cleanse the memories of the horrors they experienced…witchcraft was all over the house, it is embarrassing in this day and age.”

General (retired) Chiwenga urged the court to revoke Marry’s $50 000 bail granted by the High Court last week, saying she had supplied the court with false information pertaining to her diplomatic passports and her current place of residence.

“Number 614 Nick Price Drive, Borrowdale, Harare is my house of sentimental value awarded to me by High Court judge Justice Mutema. I have no other home,” he said.

“When I came back from China I had no other home to go to. I went there after the arrest of the applicant and have been staying thereat. I am a State witness and in other charges I am a complainant. She surely cannot stay where I am staying. Since her release from prison, she is staying somewhere in one of her houses. She must stay there so as not to interfere with a State witness and a complainant.”

The Vice-President added: “She is one of the causes of the predicament I endured in India, South Africa and China leading to her being barred to visit me in China.”
He claimed Marry had two diplomatic passports.

“She has surrendered one diplomatic passport, yet she has two. She is not a candid person. By lying she should have her bail revoked….applicant has become a dangerous person to me and by extension to the children,” Chiwenga said.

Chiwenga said Marry only owns a Range Rover (Autobiography) and other vehicles in South Africa but the rest of the cars she wanted to lay her hands on were owned by the State.

“Again and furthermore, I note that the ancillary relief sought is for vehicles and clothes, which vehicles do not belong to her but to the State. The certificate of urgency does not state how she acquired and came to own six vehicles belonging to the State, some of which were my package from the army when I left to enter political office,” he said.

“The Toyota Lexus belongs to the respondent allocated to him (Chiwenga) under the Command Agriculture programme, to supervise the programme countrywide. Mercedes Benz S400 is a Ministry of Defence vehicle purchased for use by the respondent when he was Commander Defence Forces (CDF).

Chiwenga said Marry was not suitable to be granted custody of the couple’s children.

“There is evidence to suggest that the applicant is unfit to look after the children. While this is a subject of another hearing, Annexure D herein attached to her bail application shows how unfit she is to have custody. The medical affidavit on page 12 is very clear. The doctor concluded that she should be under the care of a physician, a surgeon and a psychiatrist,” he said.

“It is indicated that she has flashbacks, suffers from lack of sleep and has difficulty breathing, symptoms of illicit drug abuse. This abuse also caused swollen limbs and arms due to pricking needles. Applicant cannot be trusted with children in the circumstances.”

The matter is pending.

Some reports suggest that Zimbabweans would have to pay US$76,000 to get their hands on just one bitcoin. But is that true and what’s the real story?For anyone trying to keep up with the tremors and earthquakes in the crypto world, they could be led to believe that Zimbabwe is a pending fintech hub. Cryptocurrency in Africa is interesting because it has a real possibility to make a significant change, giving banking access to mass populations often denied financial services – and a chance to improve the economy.

Zimbabwe also falls within this category because its economy is flailing with repeated bouts of inflation. Cryptocurrency has significant potential in the country and many locals have realised that, especially now that foreign currencies have become banned – more on that below.

Lots of Zimbabweans use exchanges like Luno to own a bitcoin wallet and acquire their bitcoin via their platform, but having reliable services is not enough to prevent barriers to participation because the latest reports are suggesting traders are seeking over $50,000 to sell locals just one BTC. So, is this true and what’s the story behind it?

A Background on Zimbabwe and Money

In 2009, Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe abandoned its local fiat currency the Zimbabwe dollar (Z$) and chose to use both the South African Rand and the US dollar. This was because of hyperinflation. In fact, at the time of scrapping the Z$, it was worth so little that you would need around 35 quadrillion of them to buy a single US$.

Due to these changes, Zimbabwe largely became a cashless society and technology was needed to manage the flow of monies. This has also helped it take well to cryptocurrency as most locals already have a habit of using apps to manage their finances.

In February 2019, there was another shift with all electronic money becoming RTGS, which has since become the new official Zimbabwe dollar. As a result, Zimbabwe has tried to protect its new official currency by banning trading with foreign currencies, including the US dollar.

This has resulted in national protests because locals do not trust a local fiat currency and often choose to seek shelter with cryptocurrencies.

So, Is Bitcoin Really That Expensive in Zimbabwe Now?

The answer is yes and no. There have been screengrabs and people sharing stories on social media of traders seeking astronomical amounts to sell their Bitcoin in Zimbabwe. One particular screengrab shows the price set at US$76,000 – a 600% premium rise.

Yet, numbers like these are not a genuine reflection of premiums that Zimbabweans have been subject to. Moreover, this is inflation which will not be recognised by the local government. It can also be argued that talk of 600% premium rates is a reflection of the USD black market rate that is being held in EcoCash as the government has frankly made this worthless.

Zimbabwean crypto fans should not expect to have to pay these astronomical fees to purchase bitcoin in the future, which will enable the nation to continue its progress within the bitcoin movement.