BANK CASH OR LOSE LICENCES : CHINAMASA WARNS FIRMS

Businesspeople using multiple pricing systems and those diverting cash to the black market will face jail as part of Government’s cocktail of measures to restore normalcy to the monetary system.

Further, companies that do not bank their takings will have operating licenses revoked.

Cabinet has approved the changes to the Bank Use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering Act, and the proposed amendments will be tabled in Parliament “soon”.
And the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is investigating all banks to establish who dumped a large amount of freshly printed and minted bond notes and coins on the black market just over a week ago.

The flooding of the new money caused a run on the parallel market value of bond notes, and triggered an increase in prices of basic commodities while fuel retailers struggled to cope with the sudden demand for petroleum products as people hoarded the commodities.

Businesspeople took advantage of this to further entrench a three-tier pricing system that sees them charging differently for goods and services when customers pay with United States dollars, bond notes or via plastic/mobile platforms.

Last week, Government moved to rid the streets of foreign currency dealers by gazetting regulations that impose a prison sentence of up to ten years for those selling cash.
Now the State wants to descend on businesspersons who solicit for their illegal services.

In a Ministerial Statement to Parliament last week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said, “The selling of money on the streets is not legal and it reduces the circulation of money in the formal sectors of the economy. Selling of money at a profit without a license is illegal.

“It is against this background that a Statutory Instrument under the Exchange Control Act has been gazetted to avoid the dealing in cash by unlicensed dealers and traders and to clarify the law on the matter.

“Relating to the pictures and videos of wads of bond notes which have been circulating on social media, investigations are being carried out to establish the sources of the new bond notes in the street. My ministry and the RBZ do not participate in buying currency from the streets.”

He said there was an indication of black market collusion between bank executives and currency dealers.

“Mrs Tariro Nyazema of Stanbic was caught red-handed, two or so months back, with US$30 000 that she had exchanged for bond notes at one of the bank’s branches.

“It is, therefore, our suspicion that this malpractice could be what is happening at other banks working in cahoots with unscrupulous traders and retailers. It is for this reason that the RBZ is investigating all banks to root out this malpractice.

“The RBZ is also closing the net on the culprits captured in the video clips doing the rounds on social media, in the same way that they managed to cause the arrest of Tinashe Sikwila — the driver who was circulating the bond coin invoice from the South African mint.”

Minister Chinamasa said the Bank Use Promotion Act was being amended to give authorities more power to compel businesses to deposit surplus cash.

He went on, “The regulations require traders to accept all modes of payment modalities and prohibits multiple pricing which has become rampant within the economy.

“We are also working on the amendment to the Bank Use Promotion Act to strengthen its powers and these amendments whose Principles were approved by Cabinet shall be presented to (Parliament) in the next few weeks. My plea is that when these amendments are tabled, honourable members will give them expeditious passage.”

In addition to these measures, negotiations have been opened with the African Export-Import Bank for the extension of a US$300 million export incentive facility to spur production.

Last week, the RBZ introduced a US$600 million Nostro Stabilisation Facility from the Cairo-headquartered bank to address foreign currency shortages.

The nostro stabilisation facility will ease delays in processing of foreign payments by banks for procurement of necessary imports.


The facility will cover the foreign currency gap that widened after the 2017 tobacco marketing season ended. Sunday Mail 

Read More

WIFE LEFT ME BECAUSE I'M NOW BROKE

 I’m a man turning 31 in October this year. Two years ago I fell in love with a beautiful lady aged 21 and we are now blessed with a two-year-old baby boy pasina roora. I only paid US$100 for tsvakirai kuno. I am failing to pay roora due to the unforeseen delays in the remission of salaries at the company I work for. The company owes me a sum equivalent to 10 months work. Since the beginning of January last year we have not been regularly paid. 

To cut the long story short, our relationship has not been flourishing at all amai despite some ups and downs that are common in any other relationships. My wife is employed and when I fail to settle our rent I normally order her to pay and later on reimburse her monies. She buys more groceries than I do. I admit I am no longer financially stable, although, I am employed full time. 

The issue here amai is, two months ago we had a major fight. One day I came back late from work and I got home to an empty house. She packed up everything, the only stuff she left me was my clothes. Maid ne mwana vose vakaendwa navo. I then quickly went to her aunt to inform her about her move and the aunt said she would call us and have a sit down. 

Later on I discovered that she was renting an apartment in Glenview and I informed her relatives about her whereabouts. She was later on convinced by her aunt to pitch up for ma talks. Because I love her, I accepted her back. That was the biggest mistake I made. My wife is no longer the same, we are no longer intimate and she always complains. She assumes I only accepted her back because I am not financially stable and she always says ‘ini ndine pride’ because I am learned than her. 

Does that matter here amai? Especially if we consider the fact that I have accepted her for who she is? Her relatives do not visit us because I have not paid roora. I have not yet spoken with my relatives about this issue. Can I ask them about it? I am not sure if I will continue to love this lady. I have been thinking of letting her go. I am so confused and I do not see us going anywhere from here. I really need to know where I stand as far as this relationship is concerned.

MAI CHISAMBA RESPONDS
Congratulations on your upcoming milestone. Turning 31 usually means you have come of age and show signs of maturity. I do not see it so much in your case, let me explain. For starters, you are calling your girlfriend your ‘wife’. You are not married and you know traditionally kubika mapoto holds no weight. 

That is why her relatives do not engage you. To them you are just living in sin with their beloved sister. Having children when you cannot fully support them is tough. That is the source of your girlfriend’s frustration. She is being moody and not clearly articulating this but I assume that is where the problem emanates from. If you go back to your letter you will also discover that things changed after the birth of your son. Your employment situation is disheartening and it is really sad. 

I hope you get back on your feet soon. If your girlfriend cannot understand your situation now what more when you actually do find enough money to marry her? In marriage spouses share equally what is between them. If she has a car and you do not have one when you get married you will both share and own that car. Basing everything on this logic, what you are going through now is testing you to see how well you work together as a unit. 

She makes more and she does more and she is not having it. I think this speaks volumes. You say you are ready to give up on her; has she not already given up on you? If things are not working now when you have a child together and you live together, there is no need to get married. 

You are proving you cannot work together well as a unit. Whatever you do decide the child must be taken care of and protected from all of this drama going on. I would also advise you to seek counsel from your older male relatives who are married who understand what it takes to make a relationship work. Act swiftly and afford yourself peace of mind. This restlessness is not good for you.

Read More

MNANGAGWA : THE WORST IS OVER FOR ME

VICE-President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said the worst was over concerning his health as he is making a tremendous recovery.

Addressing hundreds of people at a memorial service for national heroine Cde Shuvai Mahofa at her home in Mpandawana growth point, VP Mnangagwa paid tribute to Zimbabweans for their prayers, adding that only God had the final word on the number of days one lives. 

Cde Mahofa — who was the Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister —died at Makurira Memorial Hospital in August after battling health problems for almost two years.

VP Mnangagwa said, “I only received news of her death when I was in hospital in South Africa; I was recovering. President Mugabe confirmed Senator Mahofa’s death when he visited me in hospital. I was not able to attend her funeral because I was not fit but her passing on was a great loss. We were very close.

“I only came back from hospital (in South Africa) on Friday evening and found out that there was a memorial service. Before resting, I made arrangements to be here today (yesterday). I am happy I managed to attend the memorial service. I can now go home and rest.”

VP Mnangagwa went on, ‘‘After falling sick, the late Senator Mahofa would phone me asking how I was feeling. There were some people who were spreading false information, so she was checking on me. I am still alive because the Lord has not called me yet. Thank you for your prayers.”

He promised to convey Masvingo gratitude to President Mugabe for conferment of national heroine status on Cde Mahofa, and urged the nation to follow the late minister’s example of preaching peace.

VP Mnangagwa lambasted Zanu-PF officials who sought to hijack the party for selfish ends, and called for unity of purpose to ensure victory in the 2018 harmonised elections.

Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Josaya Hungwe described Cde Mahofa as a daughter of the soil; while party provincial chair Cde Ezra Chadzamira said the national heroine had been instrumental in implementation of key projects like Tokwe-Mukorsi Dam and dualisation of the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway.

Gutu Central legislator Cde Lovemore Matuke assured President Mugabe that the party would win all 26 House of Assembly seats in the 2018 polls, just as it did in the 2013 elections.

At the memorial service were the family of the deceased, friends, traditional leaders, and Zanu-PF and Government officials.

Cde Mahofa was born in 1941 in Chivi and attended Chibi and Morgenster mission schools, before attaining a Diploma in General Nursing in 1960.

She was active in early nationalist politics as a member of the National Democratic Party before joining Zapu in 1960 and then Zanu in 1963.

A renowned war collaborator, Cde Mahofa worked with the likes of national hero Dr Simon Mazorodze, and supplied freedom fighters with clothes and medicines. She rose from being a councillor in the 1980s to become an MP between 1985 and 2008.

Cde Mahofa served as Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs (1987-1992) and Deputy Minister of Gender and Youth Development (1998-2007).

She was elected Senator in 2013 before her appointment as Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs in February 2015, a post she occupied until her death. sunday mail

Read More

13 NORTON COUNCILLORS FACE ARREST

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has opened an investigation into allegations of fraudulent land deals in Norton Town Council involving 13 councillors.  Investigators at the anti-graft body told The Sunday Mail that the 13 faced imminent arrest following a three-month investigation into allegations of shady land deals.

“The net is closing in on Norton councillors. Arrests will be effected any time soon. We can’t divulge time-lines as this can scuttle investigations,” said an investigator who cannot be named for professional reasons.


Norton Town secretary Mr Kizito Muhomba had already written to Secretary for Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Engineer George Mlilo, on August 3, 2017 condemning councillors’ behaviour.

He said, “Councillors are making decisions that play to the gallery at the expense of sustainable service delivery like sub-economic tariffs, unnecessary employment, failure to enforce compliance. Councillors should listen to advice and make decisions for the good of Norton Town as a whole.”

Mr Muhomba also raised concerns a developer in the Johannesburg area who was issued a certificate of compliance in 2002 but had only partially serviced the land in 15 years.

“Pipes are in place for water but there is no water in taps because of its location as Norton gravitates water when distributing.

“Certificate of compliance was issued in 2002 in circumstances which the current administration cannot understand,” wrote Mr Muhomba.,


He said roads servicing in the Damofalls area was progressing, while work in Tankatara had been delayed by rains in the 2016-17 summer season.  sunday mail

Read More

TOP COP APPOINTED ZACC BOSS

PRESIDENT Mugabe has appointed Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Silence Pondo as Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Secretary with effect from last Monday.

Zacc human resources and administration chair Commissioner Farai Chinyani said Snr Asst Comm Pondo was appointed by the President after due process. She said he was one of 20 candidates interviewed by the anti-graft body for the job, after which six names were short-listed.

The six names were then forward to the President. “There are some elements suggesting that Mr Pondo did not succeed in the interviews and all the due process. ‘‘This is false because we followed the necessary process until we came up with a list of six candidates.
‘‘All the paperwork and evidence is available to prove due process was followed,” said Comm Chinyani.

She said Zacc had since written to Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri to effect Snr Asst Comm Pondo’s transfer to the anti graft body.

The senior cop was seconded to Zacc as acting secretary two years ago after Mr Ngonidzashe Gumbo was fired over a US$400 000 scandal.

Zacc spokesperson Ms Phyllis Chikundura said, “We officially want you to know that: Zacc conducted interviews for its substantive Secretary among them the then Acting Secretary Mr Silence Pondo. A list of 6 candidates who had passed the interviews was sent for security vetting

“The top six candidates with all their vetting and interview results were submitted to the Office of the President and Cabinet. Mr Pondo was then approved as the substantive Secretary.


As Zacc, we can authoritatively say Mr Pondo passed the security vetting and we have documents to prove it.” sunday mail 

Read More

ALL EYES ON GRACE AS MUGABE HEADS TO SA

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, whose wife Grace remains at the centre of a legal storm over an alleged assault of a 20-year-old local model, is heading for South Africa next week.

Zimbabwe's first lady, who was granted immunity from prosecution by the SA government for allegedly whipping Gabriella Engels with an electric cable in a Johannesburg hotel room last month, denies the allegations. Instead, Grace, 52, says an "intoxicated and unhinged" Engels attacked her with a knife.

The Presidency on Friday said President Zuma will on Tuesday host Mugabe, during his official visit to South Africa to attend the 2nd Session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC) scheduled to take place in Pretoria.

The Agreement establishing the BNC was signed in April 2015 and inaugurated in October 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe, and it stipulates that the BNC should meet on an annual and rotational basis.

Next Tuesday's BNC session, which will be co-chaired by Zuma and Mugabe, will afford them an opportunity to review the state of the bilateral relationship between the two neighbouring countries.

"It will further provide a platform to strengthen and deepen the warm and cordial bilateral relations between the two countries as well as to review and determine the actual progress made on bilateral undertakings and commitments made during the inauguration Session of the BNC last year," said the Presidency.

Zuma and Mugabe are also expected to deliberate and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, particularly peace, security, stability and development in the SADC region and some parts of the continent.

South Africa and Zimbabwe have good bilateral political, economic and social relations underpinned by strong historical ties dating back many years. The two countries do not only share strong historical relations but also economic cooperation.

Zimbabwe is one of South Africa’s top five trading partners on the continent, with trade statistics showing annual growth. In 2016, South Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe amounted to approximately R29.3 billion.

There are over 120 South African companies doing business in Zimbabwe in various sectors including mining, aviation, tourism, banking sector, the property sector, the retail sector, construction sector, and the fast food sector and many more.

To date, the two countries have signed more than 40 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and Agreements. The Agreements and MoUs cover a broad range of areas, which include among others, trade and investment, immigration, defence, transport, agriculture, environment, energy, health, labour, water management, taxation, as well as arts and culture.

Zuma will be supported by several ministers including International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nkqakula, Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant, Home Affairs Minister Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize and Transport Minister Joseph Maswanganyi.

It could not be immediately established if the 93-year-old Zimbabwe leader will be accompanied by his wife, Grace.

African News Agency

Read More

CHINAMASA MUST BE ARRESTED : MUDZURI

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa is under pressure to deal with the current economic crisis, as legislators from both the Zanu PF and opposition MDC called for his arrest, accusing him of promoting the foreign currency parallel market.

Speaking in the National Assembly after Chinamasa’s ministerial statement, MDC MP for Warren Park Elias Mudzuri said the chief treasurer must be arrested.

“…you minister and your team should be the first people to get arrested; you are arresting the wrong people.  Minister, we want you to be arrested for the offence that you are misleading us that the dollar and the bond note are the same,” Mudzuri said.

This comes after the Cabinet approved a new foreign exchange law which will see unlicensed forex dealers jailed for 10 years.


On the other hand, Zanu PF MP Esau Mupfumi accused Chinamasa’s ministry of promoting corruption.

“The issue of corruption and misuse of money stems from his (Chinamasa) ministry, permeating downwards.  Banks are given $1 million, and they are not supervised to see that they distribute the money to the people, because the money is coming from the RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) to the bank and straight on to the streets. That is why we see that there is money on the black market,”Mupfumi said.

The shortage of foreign currency has led to commodity prices in Zimbabwe to shoot up in the past week as manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers took advantage of a lull in the monitoring of price controls, blamed on a shortage of cash, to raise their prices to what they said were viable levels.

The country has also been convulsed by critical fuel shortages, with most filling stations rejecting EcoCash and swipe cards and demanding cash.
This has left many motorists stranded as they cannot access the cash demanded by fuel retailers.

MDC MP for Kuwadzana Nelson Chamisa said the government must withdraw the use of bond notes.

“The problem started from the onset of bond notes. Why don’t you remove the bond note so that it is no longer in use? We would want to have a currency that is acceptable to everyone. Remove the bond notes. Are you looking into that so that we use the multi-currency basket?

“Can you not have integrity and lifestyle audit for senior government officials in terms of ethics? You urge people to bank their money and that they should suffer when your own money is outside the country.  Can you not have this integrity and lifestyle audit?  That is important in building the banking sector confidence or confidence in the country.”
Zanu PF Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna said the forex shortages were being caused by 
RBZ which is buying gold at less than the world price.

“Why is it not buying at the world price because this might be a cause for illicit outflows and it might be your Achilles heel in terms of revenue leakages in the gold sector? Is RBZ only acting as a middleman in terms of gold buying and selling?

Another Zanu PF MP for Hurungwe East Sarah Mahoka said there should be equality in the treatment of people and the law should apply equally to everyone.

“Earlier on, you promised us that the US dollar and the bond note are the same.  Why do the banks not use my bond notes and transfer them to my child so that my child can go to school without any problems. This is because you told us that they are the same.  I sell my tobacco in US dollars, I already have US dollars. Why am I failing to access US dollars?  This means the banks are promoting the black market.  Can you please look into that issue?”

Chinamasa denied that his ministry and RBZ is supplying cash to money changers.
“Relating to the pictures and videos of wads of bond notes which have been circulating on social media, investigations are being carried out to establish the sources of the new bond notes on the streets.  My ministry and the RBZ do not participate in buying currency from the streets.”

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) secretary for Finance Vince Musewe said Chinamasa is not capable of solving the current crises.

“The current conundrum is a cocktail of selfish economic actors both in government and private sector. We do not have national responsibility but each according to his or her greed. The informalisation of the economy makes matters worse in that you cannot regulate effectively. The root cause is of course fiscal policy more concerned with politics than economic principles.”

MDC secretary for Finance Tapiwa Mashakada said: “You can have laws like we did with the Pricing and Competition Commission during those years. Clampdown, yes we can but the market will determine the fundamentals and levels of the US dollar. So, what the market has told you is that the US dollar is not 1:1 with the bond. That is the message that the market has demonstrated. This is why if I want to pay my foreign payments, the bank will ask me to supply them with foreign currency. It is a statement that this parity is fallacious. It does not exist. I hope we can begin to address the proper value and exchange rate of the US dollar rather than pretend that it is still 1:1 with the bond.” Daily News

Read More

MAN BASHES TWO COPS

A Harare man reportedly bashed two cops before stealing a bag with $65 in traffic fines.
Piyano Simbarashe, 33, appeared before Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko charged with assaulting a peace officer and theft.

He denied the charges and is currently out of custody pending finalisation of the case.
The complainant is Priviledge Fadziso Nyongani, a cop employed by Zimbabwe Republic Police National Highway.

Prosecutor Idah Maromo alleged that on September 23 around 2pm, Nyongani was at corner Robert Mugabe Way and Innez Terrace Way in the city on traffic duties in the company of one constable Magura and observed Simbarashe failing to obey a stop sign.

It was alleged that Nyongani signalled for Simbarashe to stop and advised him that he had breached road regulations before ordering him to pay a fine but he refused and suggested that a docket be compiled for him to contest the matter in court.

Nyongani and Magura forced themselves into Simbarashe’s car ordering him to go to Harare Central Police Station but instead he diverted route and drove to Karigamombe Centre claiming his driver’s licence was kept there.

The court heard that when Simbarashe arrived at Karigamombe, he disembarked from his car and locked the detectives inside the car before returning with a mob that threatened to kill the detectives if they attempted to arrest him.

It was alleged that commotion broke at the scene and some of Simbarashe’s accomplices — who are still at large — stole a traffic porch bag number 0240 and $65.

Read More

MONEY CHANGERS VANISH

Illegal foreign currency dealers disappeared from the streets yesterday and immediately went underground following the promulgation of harsh regulations that criminalise cash vending without permission from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

A survey by the Daily News showed yesterday that illegal foreign exchange trading points in the major cities of Harare and Bulawayo were deserted as money changers retreated underground for fear of arrests.

This was after plain-clothed police officers launched a blitz against the money changers in areas that had become a haven for illegal money changers.

In Harare, there was no sign of any foreign currency trading at the popular Eastgate Mall — along Sam Nujoma Street — Fourth Street bus terminus; Ximex area and Copacabana.
While the money changers also disappeared from their favourite spots in the second largest city of Bulawayo, including from the popular Usiphatheleni — also known as the World Bank — illicit dealing is still taking place in hidden corners.

The usually congested street corners of Bulawayo were conspicuously empty, as the money changers have devised new ways of trading in currencies that are in high demand.

Most of them are now leaving their money in cars to evade being detected by police unlike in the past when they would publicly parade the notes for all to see.

On Thursday, government gazetted regulations that criminalise cash vending without permission from the exchange control.

Through the regulations, police have been empowered to arrest illegal money changers and seize whatever currency they will be trading in.

Another law is in the offing, according to Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa that will send unlicensed foreign currency dealers to jail for 10 years.

“Trading in currency without a licence is an offence. The regulations make it clear that anyone who deals in currency as commodity either at a premium or at a discount commits an offence,” Chinamasa told parliamentarians on Thursday.

The new law is expected to be rammed through the bicameral Parliament, where President Robert Mugabe enjoys a commanding two-thirds majority in both houses.
For now, the authorities can, however, not claim victory as yet as illegal foreign currency dealers are still operating discreetly in both Harare and Bulawayo.

Legal experts welcomed the move, but said there was need to address the root cause of crisis which has led to the sprouting of money changers and the availability of notes in the street, while it’s scarce in banks.

Harare lawyer Emmanuel Mukweva told the Daily News yesterday that even though the sentence might be deterrent, it is not the panacea to the money problems the country is facing, as the solution is to deal with the root cause.

“Generally, I think the solution is to address the economic situation that the country is facing and to get rid of the parallel market. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe must do its mandatory duty to deal with the crisis. Even if they arrest the money changers, it will not change the situation at all.

“The current situation involves bigger players, because the notes that we see on the streets are crispy, meaning the money is being taken from a certain source. They get the money from the bank, someone is supplying that money, there is someone doing all these things. The one supplying the notes is the biggest problem and that primary player must be held accountable,” Mukweva said.

Another Harare lawyer Dumisani Mthombeni commended the move to jail the money changers although he said this came a little too late.
“A welcome move albeit belated. Laws alone will not achieve much without implementation and the right attitude from us all,” Mthombeni wrote on the micro-blogging site Twitter account.

He further told the Daily News in a telephone interview that the laws should be used uniformly to deal with the money changers.

“Laws are only effective as we want them to be. We can have a law in place but the law is useless on its own unless we implement it. We hope there will be uniformity in the application of the law and law enforcement agents will not use the laws corruptly for self-enrichment through bribery,” Mthombeni said.

Zimbabwe is currently suffering a cash crisis as banks have run dry of bank notes.
Nonetheless, wads of cash are being channelled into the informal sector, where the exchange rate for the bond note introduced in November last year is running wild.
While the bond notes were meant to trade at 1:1 viz-a-viz the United State dollar, rates have gone up by as much as 50 percent if not more.

The market has also experienced a three-tier pricing system with each form of transaction having its own price.

Heavy premiums apply to electronic transfers effected through the Real Time Gross Settlement system. daily news

Read More

MUGABE RALLIES BEING USED TO SETTLE PERSONAL SCORES : CHIPANGA

ZANU-PF Youth League secretary Cde Kudzanai Chipanga has urged members in Bulawayo to put aside their differences as the party prepares  for the Presidential Youth Interface to be held in the city.

Cde Chipanga said even though there had been speculation in the media that the rally would be held this month end, a date is yet to be announced for the rally that will be held at White City Stadium.

Addressing members at the party’s Provincial offices at Davies Hall in Bulawayo where the Youth League national executive met to assess the progress made by the province ahead of the interface, Cde Chipanga said the province should not use the Presidential Interface to settle personal scores.

“The Presidential interface is for the President to interact with the youths and it is an initiative of the Youth League’s national executive. We know that there are some people who want to use that opportunity (President’s visit) to settle personal scores. That is not the time. 

It’s time to come and listen. It’s not time for showcasing your indiscipline skills. We don’t expect people to come and misbehave. No,” said Cde Chipanga.

He said party members can differ in opinion but that is not an excuse for them to be indisciplined.

“You might differ in terms of opinion and that is expected in a big organisation like Zanu-PF. You must differ but at the end of the day you must agree. That is democracy,” he said.
Divisions have in the past rocked Bulawayo province and at one time youths fought during a meeting at Davies Hall.

Cde Chipanga urged party members to come in their numbers to the rally. If you are a Zanu-PF member you don’t have a choice when it comes to the visit by the President. All of us must join hands,” he said.

Cde Chipanga said the party will assist Bulawayo with 10 000 litres of fuel and 10 000 T-shirts. The Youth League national executive also visited White City Stadium. Chronicle 

Read More

FEMALE RAPIST JAILED

AN HIV positive woman from Mangwe who sexually abused her two juvenile nephews and infected one with an STI has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The 34-year old woman ‘raped’ the two minors aged 7 and 13 between July and August this year. She infected the elder child with herpes. It was revealed in court that both complainants tested negative for HIV.

The court heard that the woman made the 13-year-old boy conceal the forced sex by telling him that her husband would kill him if the matter came to light. The mother of a 16-year-old child, had last week pleaded not guilty to aggravated indecent assault before regional magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere.

Mr Mberewere however convicted her due to overwhelming evidence and sentenced her to 20 years in prison.

In passing sentence, Mr Mberewere said what was aggravating was that the accused was aware of her HIV status.

The woman did not show remorse as she insisted she did not abuse the two minors even during mitigation.

Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said sometime in July, the woman called the 13-year-old to her bedroom, locked the door and demanded sex from him. “She undressed him, played with his manhood until it became erect. She then had unprotected sex with him,” he said.

“She committed the offence several times until the boy developed blisters on his back. The minor reported the matter to his headmaster who made a report to the police leading to her arrest on August 3,” Mr Manyiwa said.

The court heard that she raped the seven-year-old once in July during the absence of her husband.

Mr Manyiwa said: “The minor only revealed the sexual assault after his aunt had been arrested for abusing his brother.”

The headmaster testified in court and said the minor showed him his back and he suspected it could be an STI and sent him home.

He said a medical examination revealed that he had herpes.
The court heard that the headmaster asked the minor what had happened and he started crying saying his uncle was going to kill him because he had slept with his wife. chronicle

Read More

BITI FIRES MOYO

CHAOS escalated in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday with “fired” president Mr Tendai Biti’s faction wielding the axe on secretary general Dr Gorden Moyo and Mrs Lucia Matibenga for engineering a coup within the party.

Dr Moyo on the other hand insists that the resolution passed on Thursday to fire Mr Biti and other senior leaders stands.

On Thursday, Dr Moyo fired Mr Biti, his deputy Mr Kucaca Phulu and party’s spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume among others over differences around the formation of an opposition coalition.

Mr Mafume immediately described Thursday’s action as a nullity. In reaction Biti’s faction yesterday held their general council meeting and resolved to fire

Dr Moyo and Mrs Matibenga who was the national chairperson for engineering their expulsion.
“We have resolved to remove the office bearers who masterminded the coup and we will appoint people in their place. We are going to have an acting national chairperson Evelyn Masaiti, acting secretary general Settlement Chikwinya until the next congress,” said Mr Mafume.

He said it was senseless for the Dr Moyo clique to fire the whole leadership of PDP.
“We could not go into the kindergarten process of exchanging expulsions. We do believe that if people meet and decide to chase the whole leadership there is an element of madness and that their madness cannot be answered by more madness,” he said.

Dr Moyo rubbished Mr Mafume’s statement saying Mr Biti’s group is now part of the MDC Alliance and cannot make decisions on PDP.

“The general council met yesterday and made resolutions and these people who were fired cannot make decision on PDP issues,” said Dr Moyo. Chronicle

Read More

SIX MONEY CHANGERS CHARGED

SIX suspected illegal money changers in Bulawayo have become the first to be charged under a new law that criminalises buying and selling forex.
The law was gazetted on Thursday.

Maritha Ncube (32) of Lobengula West, Celestino Panganai and David Madaba both from Cowdray Park, Enias Dzinavhanu from Nketa 9, Fortune Mhenyu (37) and Nyasha Museka (34) both from Makokoba appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya.
They were charged with contravening a section of the Exchange Control regulations.
Madaba and Panganai were represented by Mr Lawrence Chikwakwa from Sansole, Senda and Partners.

Mr Chikwakwa said both his clients were pleading not guilty to the allegations before applying for bail.

Mr Tashaya granted each of the accused $100 bail on condition that they reside at their given addresses and do not commit similar offences.

Dzinavhanu’s  trial starts on October 5, Mhenyu and Museka’s is on October 6 while that of Panganai, Madaba and Ncube will commence on October 11.

Prosecuting Mr Taurayi Hondoyemoto alleges that on Wednesday, Dzinavhanu, Mhenyu, Ncube and Madaba were arrested at Chicken Inn opposite Tredgold Courts.

“Mhenyu and Dzinavhanu were holding a bunch of money and inviting people to carry out currency exchange transactions. They were asked to produce a licence authorising them to deal in foreign currency and they failed,” said Mr Hondoyemoto.

“A search was conducted and Mhenyu was found in possession of $5 x 147 bond notes, $2 x 316 bond notes, US$1 x 35, R200 x 1. The two were arrested and taken to Bulawayo central police station.”

The State alleges that on the same day Ncube was arrested along Jason Moyo Street and 8th Avenue while calling for people to come and exchange money.

“Museka was arrested along 6th Avenue and Jason Moyo Street when she failed to produce a licence for dealing in forex,” said Mr Hondoyemoto.

The Government gazetted regulations that criminalise cash vending without permission from the exchange control authority and empowered police to arrest money peddlers and seize whatever currency is involved.

In an Extraordinary Government Gazette published on Thursday, President Mugabe issued Statutory Instrument 122A of 2017 — Exchange Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (No 5) — to deal with the widespread cash vending on the streets.

This comes after Government’s realisation that cash vending had become a catalytic agent to the price madness obtaining in the country.

President Mugabe amended the Exchange Control Regulations of 1996, published in Statutory Instrument 109 of 1996, in particular section 2 of the principal regulations.
The amendment was done in terms of Section 2 of the Exchange Control Act (Chapter 22:05).

According to the changes, Section 40 (Orders) of the principal regulations was amended by the insertion of subsection (2c) after subsection (2b).

The inserted subsection relates to dealing in currency and provides that: “an authorised officer or a police officer acting to enforce any order — (2c) (a) may, for the purpose of holding the currency as exhibit in subsequent prosecution, seize any currency upon a reasonable suspicion that the possessor thereof is dealing in it unlawfully, that is, in contravention of any order or any provision of the Act or these regulations by virtue of which the order is made.” chronicle 

Read More

COURT OKAYS KWESE AGAIN

ECONET Media Mauritius will now distribute its Kwese TV satellite content to the Zimbabwean viewership without any glitches after the High Court granted the application by the company’s business partner Dr Dish (Pvt) Ltd.

Dr Dish early September won its High Court case against the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) and the judge suspended an earlier decision by the authority to cancel its content distribution licence.

The court allowed the firm to enjoy full rights and benefits of its licence. The judgment specifically allowed Dr Dish and its partner Econet Media Mauritius to distribute the satellite content to the masses, pending finalisation of the licence dispute pitting Dr Dish and BAZ. BAZ approached the Supreme Court with an appeal against the High Court judgment.

While the Supreme Court appeal was pending, Dr Dish was last week back at the High Court with a fresh application for leave to offer its service to the masses pending determination of the appeal. Justice Charles Hungwe heard arguments from both sides in the matter and ruled in favour of Dr Dish. In a judgment availed yesterday, Justice Hungwe ruled that BAZ’s prospects of success on appeal were next to none.

“There is no basis for the view that an appeal court, applying its mind to the issues to be considered would come to a different conclusion. I must say that one must always accept that an appellate court may be persuaded to a different conclusion on any finding by this court. While there is that possibility, it seems to me that in the present case, that possibility is a bit remote.

“I do not wish to second-guess the appellate court’s final decision, but it occurs to me that the respondent lodged the appeal for some indirect purpose. The respondents’ prospects of success are minimal,” he said.

Justice Hungwe found that Dr Dish had satisfied the requirements for the grant of leave to proceed with its operations.

“In the result, I make the following order:1. Leave to proceed in terms of the judgment of this court in case number HH-598 /17 be and is hereby granted.
2. The respondents (BAZ) shall bear costs of this application.”
Dr Dish partnered Econet Media Mauritius with a view to distribute Kwese TV content. Before the launch of the product, BAZ wrote a letter purporting to cancel Dr Dish’s licence on the basis that it had not formally applied for the amendment of its licence to provide Kwese TV channels. The matter spilled into the High Court, with Dr Dish challenging the cancellation of the licence. Herald

Read More

CASH DEALERS CLASH WITH COPS

Illegal foreign currency traders who operated on street corners in Harare yesterday went underground for fear of arrest and losing their money, a day after Government gazetted regulations criminalising cash vending.

The regulations also empower police to arrest money peddlers and seize whatever currency involved. The dealers are now conducting their business covertly, either in vehicles or areas where there are less chances of being spotted by the police. The illegal cash traders had turned such areas as Eastgate Shopping Mall, Copacabana, Roadport, Market Square and First Street into zones for the illicit foreign currency deals.

They were nowhere to be seen yesterday as they feared the long arm of the law. This came as the police yesterday welcomed the newly gazetted law that criminalises cash vending, saying deterrent sentences could eradicate the illegal money changing crime. MDC-T youths and social media domiciled Tajamuka tried to incite the illegal forex and cash dealers to demonstrate against the new law yesterday.

Police arrested three hooligans in connection with malicious damage to property during the failed demonstration. Officer Commanding Harare Senior Assistant Commissioner Elias Mvere confirmed the arrest of the three hooligans for damaging property.

“We arrested three hooligans in connection with malicious damage to property and we recovered cellphones and watches,” he said. “Investigations are still in progress. We are gathering facts on the ground.”

The Herald witnessed the youths throwing stones at shops, forcing some banks and supermarkets to briefly close. Police responded swiftly by deploying in areas like First Street, Julius Nyerere Street, Africa Unity Square and along Nelson Mandela Avenue near Harvest House, the MDC-T headquarters. The rowdy demonstrators said they wanted to handover a petition to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya over shortages of cash.

Some of the criminals started looting shops. Several shops had their windows stoned, while a vehicle belonging to Zanu-PF was damaged. A Daily News reporter Mugove Tafirenyika was injured in the protest. Denford Ngadziore, a member of Tajamuka, alleged on social media that they were demonstrating peacefully and were disrupted by the police.
In June, a police officer was attacked and killed by thugs that operate at Harvest House during an illegal and violent demonstration. Talkmore Phiri was among police officers who had been deployed to the Deeds Office near Harvest House on June 29, where the rogue 
vendors had allegedly damaged property during the demonstrations.

Police said yesterday that they would continue to enforce the law against cash vending. National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba told our Bulawayo Bureau that the law would ensure police efforts were more visible, unlike in the past when they would arrest offenders who would pay a fine and continue with their illegal business. She said deterrent sentences will discourage cash vending.

“We welcome the law because it assists the police, it’s also deterrent because if someone is involved in a particular offence and they are taken to prison, they will not engage in the same crime,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

She said cash vendors, just like touts, were difficult to remove from the streets due to minor penalties that were imposed on them. Snr Asst Comm Charamba said touts in some cases ended up committing serious crimes such as murder, as they always paid fines and returned to the streets.

“Recently, there was a case which you all know about, where an elderly man was killed by these touts and a pregnant woman was killed last year,” she said. “What the police have been doing is that they have been arresting these touts and they pay a fine of $20 and are back on the streets.”

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said police would conduct countrywide raids on illegal money changers popularly known as osiphatheleni in Bulawayo.

“In Bulawayo, they have conducted some raids on those who change money,” she said. “They conducted an operation and this is going to be countrywide.”

The illegal cash dealers have sparked a black market cross rate for the bond note and the US dollar, causing panic in the economy and an artificial shortage of basic commodities. The new law empowers police to arrest suspected dealers and confiscate money and even freeze bank accounts for people suspected to be vending in cash. The police can present the money as an exhibit in court. herald

Read More

THREE WORKERS FOUND DEAD IN A SHOP

Three shop workers were yesterday found dead in a superette in Chitungwiza in a mysterious incident that police are investigating.

The incident happened in Unit L at Nzou Superette. Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying they were still to establish the cause of death.

“We confirm that we are investigating the issue of three people who died in Unit L, Chitungwiza at a local superette. It is alleged that these workers who are all related had just concluded their day on September 28 and were now conducting their daily stock-take. It is not clear what happened,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

Chief Supt Nyathi said the bodies were discovered by a teenager who had gone to the shop to buy bread yesterday. She discovered two female bodies and one of a male.

“Police were called in and established that besides these three, was also a man who was very weak after he vomited and was taken to a local hospital,” said Chief Supt Nyathi. At first he was unable to speak and later said something.”

He said the survivor told the police what had happened the previous day.
“It is alleged that they last ate food at 5pm yesterday (Thursday). Currently, we are conducting investigations to establish what transpired.”

The bodies of the deceased were taken to a local hospital mortuary. When The Herald visited Unit L yesterday residents were still in shock. Witnesses and relatives of the deceased were still to come to terms with the sad news. According to the information gathered by The Herald, the deceased were Karen Chingunduru (23), Ethel Mufari (35) and a male only identified as Chiko.

The survivor was identified as Tangai Masvosve. “I woke up around 5am to do household chores,” said 17-year-old Moleen Chada who stays close to the shop.

“I went to the shop and knocked to get dish washing liquids, nobody answered. When I went to check again around 9am to buy bread, I knocked and the survivor Tangai, who had smeared himself after vomiting, was complaining of weakness. I asked him of the other three. He told me they were sleeping inside. He had vomited something greenish and when I asked what had happened he professed ignorance.”

Chada said she went inside to investigate and discovered the three dead bodies and alerted neighbours.

Mr Wilbert Ndundu, uncle to Chingunduru, one of the deceased said: “We were called after the incident. What we gathered is that the four were conducting stock-taking when an unknown person came knocking at around 11pm. The person said he wanted to buy bread. We understand that one of the deceased women later started complaining. She was sweating.”

Shop owner Ms Rebecca Mufari was overwhelmed with emotions and could not comment on the matter. Herald

Read More

WHATS UP WITH BEARDS?

The trend of having a big bushy beard is normally considered a little scruffy. But for anyone reaching for the razor, you might want to think again. The days when women used to appreciate a man with a clean shaven look may be coming to an end.

While men’s trends change quickly, facial hair, especially beards have never been more appealing. With the beard style back in trend, men are taking utmost advantage of wooing women with a stubble or a long bearded image. It is no secret that fashion is a fickle game and as soon as a trend becomes truly popular and is adopted by celebrities, many want to copy it.

Many celebrities are now sporting long beards. In barbershops and men’s medicine cabinets around the world, sections devoted to facial care have grown. Items such as beard soap, wax, combs and oils have become staples. Beard-appreciating groups have gone viral on social media and men have been flaunting their beards using the hashtag #beardgamesmatters.

One of them is the “Beard Games Matters” Facebook page created by American artist Mike McMillan in an effort to create space where other bearded men could collaborate and learn about his beard care products. To people’s surprise, the group, which boasts 82 000 members, has recently gone viral.

“I am shocked that women really love beard like that. I always thought that they liked it when we had the clean look but I guess I was wrong,” commented one Facebook user Tinei Musano.

Pictures of bearded men are splashed all over the page and all sorts of accolades mainly from women have been thrown. It is quite clear that women have grown to appreciate a well-cared for beard and some have even confessed that bearded men are more attractive.

“A beard is one of the ways that a man can stand out in a crowd without resorting to a too wild for work look. Perhaps men are simply hoping to reclaim a bit of their alpha male status by wearing such a masculine style. It makes them more attractive,” commented one Theresa Chikore on Facebook.

Another reason however that men have turned to growing beards is simply to help them look older or more mature as noted by 23-year-old Tinashe Makamure from Chitungwiza. 

“A full beard shows the world that a guy has become a man. I love keeping my beard because I look mature and people respect me more. Of course, the right style can also help an older man show off his youthful side,” he said.

Some ladies also agree with him as said by 29-year-old Tami Mlambo from Avondale.

“This is obviously dependent on many factors and it is completely subjective but I think whether or not a woman likes a beard is a little related to why men love certain features on women. I think a lot of women think facial hair on a man makes him look more masculine and mature. A man, not a boy and I am one of those women. I have always preferred at least a little stubble to a clean face, and my boyfriend has a beard, and I love it,” she said.

Some think that the masculine styles that a beard represents are a direct reflection of the blurred gender roles in society. As women become more powerful and men take on increasingly gender neutral roles, beards are a way of showing the world that a man is still masculine as explained by gospel musician Mathias Mhere.

Rick Ross

Rick Ross

“Yes I think a beard is really stylish. It just distinguish us men from women and it is one thing we get to keep to ourselves,” he said.

Beards have always held a certain allure for an example, the father in many families is often the one to wear a full beard, while younger men wear more carefully trimmed styles.

Wearing a beard may reflect a bit of yearning for days past when men’s trends relied less on fashion and more on the benefits of age. A study co-authored by Glasgow University’s Dr Anthony Lee and St Andrew’s Sean Talamas, found that a beard could compensate for smaller features. They said “We found that bearded faces in which the jaw size was manipulated to appear less prominent were judged as most attractive, followed by bearded faces and clean-shaven faces with larger jaws.

“Clean-shaven faces with smaller jaws were rated the least attractive”

In the study, 37 male faces were rated for their attractiveness, and dominant appearance, when clean-shaven and fully bearded. For all men having a higher facial width-to-height ratio worked out by measuring distance between cheekbones, the top lip and eyelids was a sign of both masculinity and attractiveness. Some women have confessed that men with beards throw out a confident and strong personality.

“Whether it is a goatee, a stubble, a moustache or a full-grown beard, facial hair make men look confident. There is something about men with beards. They define the sense of being a man. It is the masculine look that just make them attractive,” said 25-year-old Runyararo Fundi from Highfield. “A beard makes men look more mature and serious when compared to men who go clean shaven. This is another reason we love bearded men, because it makes us feel secure and easily rely on them,” said 23-year-old Teclar Masamba from Borrowdale. Herald

Read More