by Stephen Chadenga

SMALL and medium-scale gold miners are now demanding that at least 80% of their gold sales to the central bank be paid for in the more stable United States dollar to enable them to sustain their operations.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Miners (CZM) president, Advance Rangani Chauke said such an arrangement would improve the operations of miners since the bulk of their consumables are imported.

“We would prefer a situation whereby we are paid 80% in US dollars and 20% Zimdollar cash for our gold,” Chauke told NewsDay Business yesterday.

“Such an arrangement would help us keep afloat as we have to purchase most of our consumables from outside the country. The mining sector contributes a lot in terms of generating foreign currency and we feel government should also cushion us from the costs we incur.”

Recently, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe lowered the forex retention threshold for small-scale miners from 70% to 55%.

The central bank argued that the move was largely informed by the fact that traditional sources of US dollar cash had shut their doors on Zimbabwe.

Miners, however, argue that the current retention threshold would cripple miners’ operations.

Gold production subsequently nosedived last year and failed to meet the projected 40 tonnes as players preferred to sell gold at attractive prices offered on the black market.

Zimbabwe, which is endowed with vast natural resources seeks to create a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023.

Under the US$12 billion mining roadmap, gold is expected to contribute US$4 billion, platinum US$3 billion, while chrome, iron, steel diamonds and coal will contribute US$1 billion.

Lithium is expected to contribute US$500 million, while other minerals will contribute US$1,5 billion.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

FOREIGN currency shortages have reportedly stalled a deal between the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and Union Wagons of Russia (UWR) for the supply of wagons and locomotives, an official has said.

Last year, NRZ board chairman Martin Dinha told the State media that NRZ had signed the deal with UWR for the supply of 5 000 wagons and 70 locomotives, adding that the first batch of 100 wagons was expected to arrive in the country this month.

However, Dinha was singing a different chorus last week.

“So our dilemma is that we must quickly look for foreign currency to pay for the wagons, the down payment. That’s where we are at the moment. Once we raise the money and pay US$1,5 million, we will secure our first consignment of 100 wagons.”

The deal, according to Dinha, was meant to capacitate NRZ, which currently has only about 3 500 wagons.

At its peak in the 1990s, the company used to move about 14,4 million tonnes of freight against an installed capacity of 18 million.

Last year, it moved a paltry 2,8 million tonnes of freight.

The parastatal requires about US$1,9 billion for its recapitalisation programme and rehabilitation of its track, information communication technology and acquisition of new wagons and locomotives.

Previous efforts to revamp the rail transporter failed to bear fruit due to lack of seriousness on the part of the major shareholder — government.

Last year, government cancelled a US$400 million NRZ recapitalisation programme signed two years ago between NRZ and the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group after the latter reportedly failed to comply with contractual timelines.

Meanwhile, NRZ general manager Lewis Mukwada said the parastatal grossed more than $400 million in revenue in 2019 after moving about 2,8 million tonnes of freight.

“In terms of volumes, we have been on an upward trend. We did 2,7 million tonnes in 2016; 3,1 million in 2017 and 3,4 million in 2018 and last year we had expected to maintain that trajectory, but we ran into a number of challenges,” he said.

“Our performance is down to about 2,7 or 2,8 million tonnes. We are still finalising the figures, but we have regressed in terms of the previous trajectory that we have been following. Financially, in terms of our projections, subject to confirmation by external auditors once our accounts have been audited, on total revenue we are looking at over $400 million,” he said.

Mukwada said total expenditure, without exchange losses, was $388 million.

“Previously, we have been trading in the negative in terms of gross profit. Last year we had a gross profit rate of 27%, but there are quite a number of distortions that come with inflation.”

BY Nkululeko Sibanda

BULAWAYO High Court judge, Justice Thompson Mabhikwa has freed a 34-year-old city man who was in 2016 slapped with a 12-year jail term on 49 counts of fraud.

In his judgment obtained by NewsDay yesterday, Justice Mabhikwa said that it was “sheer coincidence” that all institutions that claimed to have received payment from Audriane Ndebele had all issued receipts which had been presented in the lower court and said to be fake.

“In a long judgment, the trial magistrate reasoned, in the main, that the complainants are many and varied. They also operate independently. She resolved that apart from the utility/service providers such as Zesa and the Bulawayo City Council, institutions such as CBZ and Zimra also operate independently of each other,” he said.

“She (the magistrate) thus reasoned that when they all contend that they did not receive the monies supposedly paid to them despite receipts and deposit slips produced by the accused which they all claim do not originate from their institutions, it is more than sheer coincidence.”

Justice Mabhikwa said the High Court was convinced that the evidence produced by the State witnesses was of no evidential value, thus could not build a strong case against Ndebele.

The judge also said that it was surprising that in 14 of the 49 counts, there were no cash slips but the lower court, in its wisdom, saw it fit to jail Ndebele despite the absence of evidence to nail him down.

It was the State case at the time that Ndebele was employed by various complainants as a messenger.

His duties among others included going to the bank to make deposits, making payments at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) as well as utility bill payments at the Bulawayo City Council on behalf of the complainants.

The State further alleged that in his capacity as a messenger, Ndebele received varying sums of money from a host of complainants for banking and payment of utility bills.

However, the State alleged then that Ndebele, on 49 occasions, converted the money to personal use.

The State averred that Ndebele would, after commission of the said crimes, allegedly present fake receipts which he claimed were proof of payment.

Bulawayo-based lawyer, Maqhawe Mpofu of Samp, Mlaudzi Legal Attorneys represented Ndebele.

BY SILAS NKALA

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is working to complete the construction of the Lupane Magistrates Courts by the end of the year while work on the Gwanda Provincial Court has begun after stalling for years due to shortage of funds.

This was revealed by Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza when she officially opened the 2020 legal year at the Bulawayo High Court on Monday.

“Last year, we embarked on an aggressive infrastructure refurbishment and construction programme as part of our access to justice initiatives. I am happy to report that despite the fiscal pressure which dealt our projects a heavy blow, commendable progress was made at Lupane and Gwanda Magistrates’ Courts,” Justice Gwaunza said.

She said at Lupane, all the preliminary work was finalised and construction commenced during the last half of 2019.

“The progress at the site is very encouraging. At that rate of progress, it is projected that the courthouse will be ready for occupation by the end of 2020,” she said.

“The construction of Gwanda Provincial Court which had stalled during the course of the year under review is back on course.”

She said while the project may not be completed by the end of the year, significant progress is expected to have been made by that time.

Justice Gwaunza lamented that some people in remote rural areas were travelling long distances to access justice as there were no courts close to their places.

“We acknowledge that residents in places such as Bulilima, Insiza, Umguza and Mangwe still travel long distances to access justice. It is a priority for the commission to establish at least one resident court in each district of the country in the not-too-distant future,” she said.

“The decentralisation of the High Court is a continuous process. The commission is currently considering the modalities of implementing the next phase, after Masvingo and Mutare.”

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

A BULAWAYO-BASED Tyson Wabantu activist appeared in court on Monday charged with illegal distribution of the movement’s campaign fliers in the city.

Andifasi Banda, the Bulawayo Tyson WaBantu interim provincial mobilisation and recruitment secretary appeared before magistrate Lizwe Jamela facing a charge of contravening section 8(11) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act.

Banda, alongside former Zanu PF members, particularly from the G40 faction, last month unveiled the Tyson Wabantu movement in Bulawayo during roadshows held in the city’s high-density suburbs.

According to the State, Banda, who applied for police clearance on behalf of the movement to hold the roadshow allegedly failed to comply with the directive or condition under which the procession or public demonstration was authorised.

He allegedly went on to organise the procession of persons and vehicles where fliers written #Tyson Wabantu for My Hope, My Choice, My Voice were distributed in pursuit of a common purpose of demonstrating support for a political organisation namely National Patriotic Front (NPF), the State alleges.

Banda was remanded out of custody and advised that the matter would proceed by way of summons.

Banda, who is also the national commander of the Zimbabwe National Service Graduates Association, an association of the National Youth Service graduates, was represented by human rights lawyer Mehluli Dube.

Exiled former minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who is reportedly behind the Tyson Wabantu movement, did not hide his interest in leading the political project in an interview with a South Africa television station in December last year.

The movement, that draws its members mainly from Zanu PF’s G40, NYS members and expelled G40 members has set its sights on dislodging the ruling Zanu PF party from power in the 2023 elections.

BY Garikai Mafirakureva

MDC Bikita East ward 15 councillor Samson Dzinodya and his Zanu PF ward 19 counterpart Easeburn Chivasa are embroiled in a nasty wrangle over the distribution of government agricultural inputs.

Dzinodya is accusing Chivasa of roping in Zanu PF militia to usurp his authority and distribute inputs in his area to ruling party supporters without proper paperwork.

The MDC councillor said he had to write to the district development co-ordinator for Bikita, Bernard Hadzirabwi, complaining about the politicisation of government inputs.

He said Hadzirabwi had not responded to his complaints, resulting in the problem persisting.

Hadzirabwi confirmed receiving a letter from Dzinodya, but said government officials who were present during the distribution exercise told him everything was done above board.

“As far as I am concerned, everything went well, but after receiving the letter I cannot rule out that there might be some grey areas which need to be dealt with. So I have invited him to my office so that we can talk about the issue and map the way forward so that such incidents are never repeated again,” Hadzirabwi said.

Chivasa, however, played down the issue, saying he only participated in the distribution of the inputs in Dzinodya’s ward because he is a Zanu PF provincial member in the security department.

“Yes, I can confirm that I was present in Dzinodya’s ward during distribution of inputs. I feel he overreacted because as a fellow councillor, I was not supposed to be there, but I only attended the distribution exercise as a Zanu PF provincial member in the security department and not as a councillor,” Chivasa said.

“He just didn’t know that I and my fellow colleagues from Zanu PF were supposed to oversee every distribution process in the district. That is why he coerced heads to sign that false petition.”

Isaac Mashanda, a well-known Zanu PF member, who used to man the party’s district co-ordinating committee (DCC) officer before they (DCCs) were disbanded in June 2012, also confirmed that he was present, but was quick to say everything was done properly.

However, Dzinodya maintained that the distribution exercise was done fraudulently with several signatures being forged.

This led to 52 of the 75 village heads in ward 15 signing a petition which was copied to the DDC and Bikita Rural Council chief executive officer Peter Chibi in which they denounced the way the distribution process was conducted.

According to the village heads, women, the elderly, people living with disabilities as well as orphans and vulnerable children were left out during the distribution exercise as the inputs were looted by the Zanu PF militia.

Efforts to get a comment from Chibi were fruitless as his mobile was not reachable.

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

THE MDC-led Bulawayo City Council recently turned down the opposition party’s provincial structures’ request for free use of Stanley Square in Makokoba, Southern Eye has learnt.

The councillors argued that allowing the MDC to use the facility for free was tantamount to abuse of office and would set a bad precedence.

According to a recent council report, MDC Bulawayo provincial administrator Sithabile Moyo wrote to council on December 4, 2019 requesting the free use of Stanley Square for an event scheduled for December 21 where party leader Nelson Chamisa was expected to be the guest of honour.

Council normally grants free use of its stadia and other facilities for charity and national events such as Independence, Heroes and Defence Forces Day, among others. Special needs groups are also eligible to use council facilities for free upon application.

The councillors said acceding to the MDC request would open floodgates for abuse of council facilities by political parties.

“Normally there were costs involved and council did not want to set a precedence. Zanu PF recently paid for the use of Stanley Square. Alderman Clayton Zana wanted to know if other parties were paying. Alderman Monicah Lubimbi suggested that if other parties were paying, MDC should also pay,” read the minutes.

Councillors Donaldson Mabuto, Frank Javangwe and Joyce Ndlovu concurred.

“Councillor Silas Chigora said the party should pay even though Zanu PF usually abused council facilities. Councillor Arnold Batirai and Tawanda Ruzive proposed to pay for the party,” the minutes read.

Thereafter, it was resolved that the request for free use by MDC Bulawayo province of Stanley Square by Chamisa should not be acceded to.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association director Emmanuel Ndlovu yesterday hailed the councillors’ decision.

“We would like to commend the councillors for that move coming at a time when resources and office abuse is the dominant form of corruption. What is needed is consistency, policy consistency right through and right across so that Bulawayo can regain its status as the best-run local authority,” he said.

BY Brenna Matendere

Police in the Midlands province have banned the possession of machetes in public places as cases of violence involving gangs wielding the weapons escalate.

Last month, Kwekwe police issued a three-month prohibition order against possession of machetes, but in a statement yesterday the force extended the ban to the other four main districts that have been hotbeds of criminal activity. These are Gweru Urban, Gweru Rural, Gokwe and Zvishavane.

“Due to the increase in cases of violence using machetes, knobkerries, swords, knives, spears or daggers, catapults and other offensive weapons the possession of such whether by openly carrying or concealment in public is likely to occasion public disorder or a breach of peace,” Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko said in a statement.

He said people who disregard the ban would face the full wrath of the law.

“The police in the province shall be visible in residential areas, central business districts, industrial, mining and rural communities. We shall be conducting patrols and traffic enforcement activities as a deterrent measure against the commission of crimes using these dangerous weapons,” Goko said.

This comes as the judiciary has also threatened tough action on machete gangsters. Yesterday, a 49-member machete gang, which last week invaded a police base in Gokwe North in an attempt to rescue its arrested counterparts, was denied bail. Gokwe magistrate Musaiona Shortgame remanded the gang to January 22 for trial. Shortgame said the gang members were facing a serious crime and were a flight risk if released on bail.

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

ZIMBABWE’s liberation war fighters, long feared for leading a terror campaign against opposition party activists in previous elections, are likely to spearhead Zanu PF’s 2023 election campaign, NewsDay has learnt.

Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial chair, Joel Biggie Matiza told a provincial co-ordinating committee meeting at the weekend that war veterans had been incorporated into the main party structures to reinforce the ruling party’s mobilisation exercise ahead of 2023 general elections.

“We are happy that the war veterans are now a wing. They used to be an affiliate, but the current set-up is good for the party as they play an important role in mobilising supporters as well as safeguarding the ethos of the party. We will be working closely with them as well as appointing some of them in influential positions to strengthen our party,” he said.

During the party’s national annual conference in Goromonzi last month, Zanu PF resolved to incorporate war veterans into the main party structures as it seeks to consolidate power ahead of the elections.

The war veterans have previously played a pivotal role in Zanu PF through leading violent election campaigns against the opposition, invading white farms as well as instilling war ideologies among party supporters.

They have, however, often clashed with the party’s top leadership after they demanded preferential treatment and improvement of their welfare.