We would like to thank you very much for your support throughout this year. It has been a tough year for many Zimbabweans, A coffee or two will be greatly appreciated by all of us here at Newsdzezimbabwe. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas
THE MILITARY
As Zanu PF factions destroy each other, the military will have a huge say as to who would take over from President Mugabe.
THE MILITARY
As Zanu PF factions destroy each other, the military will have a huge say as to who would take over from President Mugabe.
PROPHET WALTER MAGAYA
He is a controversial prophet who continues to draw large crowds with his promise of miracles. But as his popularity soars he faces all sorts of allegations. So far he has survived.
TSVANGIRAI THE SURVIVOR
Two secretary generals tried to topple him but failed. His wife walked out but returned home. Now MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, is plotting his way to State House.
NEWSDZEZIMBABWE
Latest news, entertainment and sports.
Tuesday, 25 December 2018
Monday, 24 December 2018
FOUR KILLED IN HEAD-ON CRASH
FOUR people were killed yesterday morning after a Botswana-registered Toyota Wish they were travelling in collided head-on with a haulage truck near Fort Rixon along the Harare-Bulawayo Road. The accident occurred at the 393km peg along the highway and all four people in the Toyota Wish died on the spot.The accident comes after police put in place adequate and effective measures to curb road traffic accidents during this year’s festive season.
In a statement, chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the four were travelling from Botswana through the Plumtree Border Post.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the Toyota Wish encroached into the lane of oncoming traffic resulting in a head on collision with a haulage truck that was travelling in the opposite direction.
She said they were appealing to motorists to exercise extreme caution and to avoid speeding.
“Motorists should also consider the condition of the roads especially during this rainy season. Those who are embarking on long journeys should take breaks and rests to avoid fatigue and where possible alternative drivers should be used,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
She recently said police had escalated efforts to reduce road carnage through awareness programmes and deployment of traffic police officers on the country’s highways.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Charamba said police were working with other stakeholders to reduce road carnage.
In Mashonaland East Province, ZRP and the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) teamed up to raise awareness of traffic safety in a bid to reduce road carnage during the festive season. Herald
DOCS SUSPENDED AS STRIKE WIDENS
THE Health Services Board (HSB) yesterday suspended 530 junior doctors without pay and benefits for embarking on an illegal strike and failing to heed a call by their employer to return to work. The suspension is with immediate effect.The junior doctors went on strike at the beginning of the month demanding a review of their salaries and general working conditions.
The junior doctors were suspended for 14 days to pave way for investigations into allegations of violating labour regulations after a labour court ruled recently that the industrial action was illegal.
The doctors ignored the ruling in which they were ordered to immediately return to work because they provide an “essential service” according to the country’s laws.
“This letter serves to advise you that in terms of section 6 (1) of the Labour (National Employment code of conduct) Regulations Statutory Instrument 15 of 2006 (the code), you are hereby suspended from duty for a period of 14 days from the date on which this notice is served,” wrote HSB executive director, Ms Ruth Kaseke, to the doctors.
She said the suspensions followed the ruling on Saturday by the Labour Court declaring the strike illegal.
“This suspension is premised on the fact that you did not report for duty from 01 December 2018 to 22 December 2018 and, additionally on other dates subsequent thereto whilst participating in collective job action, which has since been declared upon by the Labour Court to be unlawful under case number LC/H/APP/1025/18 dated 22 December 2018,” wrote Ms Kaseke.
The doctors had protested that the HSB had taken the matter to the Labour Court in the midst of negotiations.
Ms Kaseke noted that although Section 65 of the Constitution provides for labour rights and permits employees to go on collective job action, the same section permits the existence of a law that restricts the exercise of the same rights to maintain essential services.
She said the law prohibits health workers from embarking on industrial action.
“Section 104(3) as read with section 102 of that Act (Labour Act) prohibits persons engaged in an essential service from engaging in collective job action and the Labour [Declaration of Essential Services] Notice 2003 declared doctors, radiographers and other person engaged in health service, to be persons engaged in an essential service.
“Consequently, your engagement in collective job action as aforesaid was thus unlawful,” said Ms Kaseke.
She barred the junior doctors from visiting their workplaces during the suspension period.
“Your suspension is without pay and benefits and while you are on suspension you are prohibited from continued attendance at the workplace or continued performance of your duties, as the case may be, as this may be conducive to unbecoming or indecorous behaviour or may lead to further instances of collective job action or other acts of misconduct, or hinder or interfere with investigations into your misconduct or the gathering of evidence relating thereto,” she said.
Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association spokesperson Dr Mthabisi Anele Bhebhe said the doctors were disturbed by the suspension.
“It is disturbing to note that the HSB has gone further to suspend our members before they even complied with the Labour Court judgement, which was handed down over the weekend. This makes everything complicated,” said Dr Bhebhe.
Junior doctors went on strike on December 1 demanding payment of salaries in US dollars, provision of medicines at public hospitals and improvement of their working conditions. Herald
HUMAN HEAD MAN IN COURT
A Harare man who was allegedly caught with a human head in the car he was driving after a high-speed chase appeared in court yesterday charged with murder. Emmanuel Matsika (27) was driving a suspected stolen vehicle.Police had earlier recovered a headless body in a disused toilet in Harare’s light industrial area.
Matsika, who is homeless and stays at a dump site at the University of Zimbabwe, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elisha Singano who denied him bail and remanded the matter to January 7.
Allegations are that Matsika hatched a plan to kill the now deceased David Arendi.
He allegedly went to a disused toilet at the corner of Lyton and Paisley roads in Workington, Harare on December 21 and confronted Arendi, killed and cut off his head using a knife.
He then allegedly took Arendi’s head and left his body at the scene. Matsika was later arrested after a high-speed chase and police recovered two blood-stained knives and the head in the car he was driving.
Matsika allegedly indicated to the police how he murdered Arendi at the crime scene.
Prosecutor Mr Shepherd Makonde applied for Matsika to be treated as a psychiatric patient, but the magistrate, Mr Singano dismissed the application saying Matsika was in his right senses and fully understood and appreciated the allegations against him.
Matsika is yet to disclose why he allegedly killed Arendi. Herald
TOP DOC ARRESTED IN $65K LAND SCAM
A prominent Harare doctor, Jackson Nyambo, who owns Nyambo Medical Centre in Hatcliffe, appeared in court yesterday on fraud charges after he allegedly duped a family trust of US$65 000 in a botched land deal. The complainant is Munyaradzi Family Trust, which is being represented in the case by its chairperson, Mr Felix Munyaradzi, who is also the director of Delatfin Private Limited, a company that is into land development.Nyambo was the owner of the piece of land in Borrowdale Estate. He appeared before Harare Magistrate Ms Victoria Mashamba and was ordered to pay $1 500 bail.
He was remanded to January 14, 2019.
Prosecuting, Mrs Idah Mateke-Maromo told the court that on November 11, 2016, Munyaradzi Family Trust entered into a memorandum of agreement with Nyambo through Delatfin.
Delatfin was contracted to construct a 200-metre tarred road on the accused’s land and the deal was valued at US$110 875.
The two agreed that Nyambo would pay an initial deposit of US$20 000 and that an agent’s
commission of US$5 540 would be paid upon signing the Memorandum of Understanding.
Nyambo made the payments.
Thereafter, Nyambo is said to have engaged DanDeal Properties Private Limited, an estate agent, to sell the piece of land and it proceeded to draft an Agreement of Sale.
There were however, no title deeds to the property as the land had not yet been fully developed.
After the completion of construction work on the land, Nyambo obtained a certificate of Compliance from the City of Harare but did not inform Munyaradzi Family Trust.
Instead, Nyambo sold the land for $84 000 to Tapiwa and Theodora Kadzinga. Nyambo transferred the property to Kadzinga through a Deed of Transfer.
The offence was discovered when Mr Munyaradzi visited the stand and was told by Kadzinga that they had bought the stand from Nyambo. As a result, Munyaradzi Family Trust suffered a prejudice of US$65 000 and nothing was recovered. Herald
LAST MINUTE SHOPPING BOOSTS RETAILERS
What is regarded as a religious holiday by many could probably pass as a commercial day to retailers who are savouring the prospects of huge profits despite a generally challenging financial year, as consumers thronged supermarkets up to yesterday, seemingly undeterred by unjustified price increases.There was heightened activity from Saturday up to yesterday as consumers did last-minute shopping ahead of today’s Christmas celebrations.
Supermarkets have experienced a boom in sales in the past few days as consumers sought to make the best of this year’s festivities from what remains of their disposable incomes following a bout of price escalations which hit the roof in October.
A number of major supermarkets such as Pick ‘n Pay, OK Zimbabwe, Spar and Food World, had long queues of people buying an assortment of basic food stuffs, particularly bread, sugar, cooking oil, ice cream, chicken, beef and margarine, among others.
Clothing shops also had their fair share of activity as parents and guardians sought to buy clothes for children who still expect Christmas to bring with it new clothes.
The Herald Business also visited a number of tuckshops in downtown Harare where it witnessed hordes of people buying products such as cooking oil, Mazoe Orange Crush, soft drinks and sugar, in bulk.
The tuckshops are laden with almost all goods that are often not readily available in supermarkets amid reports that producers are opting to supply the small-scale traders who pay in cash – bond notes and US dollars – for their orders, unlike supermarkets that make electronic payments.
The tuckshops sell a carton of 2kg brown sugar at US$13 or $32 (bond notes), cartons of Mazoe ($35 bond or US$14,50) and Koo baked beans (US$11).
Other retailers with shops within Harare and nearby towns were also buying in bulk, both in bond notes and US dollars, so as to cash in on the boom in business.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) executive director Rosemary Siyachitema, confirmed to The Herald Business yesterday that there was reasonable consumer demand for goods ahead of Christmas celebrations.
“We have been to a couple of supermarkets and people were busy doing their shopping. However, the supermarkets are not as crowded as they used to be in previous years,” said Ms Siyachitema.
“There is not much of a hustle and bustle; it seems people are just buying and going back to their homes,” she said.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) Denford Mutashu concurred with Ms Siyachitema, saying there wasn’t much activity until late last week as citizens sought to get basics to spice up their festive holidays.
“Basically, there has been subdued activity in the month compared to the expectations we had as an industry, but I must say that Saturday and today (yesterday) have had better and improved activity,” said Mr Mutashu.
He said unlike in previous years, consumers were largely focusing spending their hard earned money “on back to school products”, with a view to making sure their children had all school essentials “before feasting”.
Added Mr Mutashu: “We also noted, since Thursday, an improvement in the supply and availability of the 14 basic and monitored goods due to continued Government support in as far as the supply of foreign currency is concerned and we really appreciate that, although it’s not at the level we want.”
The Herald Business also witnessed low income earners running around organising live chickens.
People who had reared chickens ahead of Christmas reported brisk business, with most of them indicating that they had been sold out.
Mr Siyachitema said she was working with Government to ensure prices come down for the benefit of consumers.
“There are various discussions going on under the auspices of the Vice President’s office to address concerns over prices but there isn’t much that we have seen in that regard,” said Ms Siyachitema, expressing hope that more ground could be covered next year.
Speaking to Herald Business, some shoppers said they were under pressure from children who insisted on having new clothes and a unique diet on Christmas Day.
“These children do not understand what we are going through in sourcing these items. It’s not their fault anyway, they need these clothes and food and we should provide as parents,” said a shopper identified as Mrs Shuvai Mutavara of Highfield.
A rural businessman Mr Thomas Chasarakufa from Mvurwi said the business complexion was different from urban centres where customers bought bulk groceries, thus boosting business.
“The only product that moves fast is opaque beer in rural areas. Yes, the customers have cash in some cases, but it’s not much to transform the business,” said Mr Chasarakufa. Herald
TRAVELLERS HIT WITH HIGH FARES
Long distance public transport operators have more than quadrupled fares, dealing a body blow to last-minute holiday travellers desperate to mix and mingle with friends and relatives over the Christmas holiday. Many people were left stranded because they could not raise the new fares which came as the nation is facing erratic fuel supplies.The operators claim to be sourcing fuel from the illegal black market and must pass on the cost to travellers.
The Herald observed dejected would-be travellers at Mbare Musika bus terminus yesterday who were shocked by the scale of the fare hikes.
A trip from Harare to Mhondoro (about 100km) now costs $25, up from $6. Travelling from Harare to Gokwe will now cost the passenger between $45 and $50, up from about $15 a week ago. Those travelling from Harare to Masvingo had to part with fares ranging between $35 and $40.
The Herald reports that public transport operators in that city are demanding fares ranging between $40 and $50 for a trip to Harare.
Those travelling from Gweru to Gokwe were also charged punitive fares. Transport operators who spoke to The Herald said they get diesel on the black market where prices are hugely inflated. They claimed 20 litres of diesel can cost up to $80 depending on the demand.
“We are forced to hike these fares due to the fuel shortages. We are relying on the black market for supplies,” said one operator.
Travellers accused public transport operators of profiteering from the current erratic supplies on the formal market.
“The fares that are being charged here are ridiculous. Someone wants to take advantage of the situation to demand $30 for a trip to go to Lower Gweru, a distance of less than 40 km from Gweru city?” said Onismus Ndlovu.
“I have cancelled the trip,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said he intended to celebrate Christmas holidays with his family in Lower Gweru but would now have to come up with other holiday plans.
“We are five who were supposed to travel and we cannot afford the fares. We have to come up with other plans,” he said.
Another traveller, Mr Byron Nyoni, said the bus crews had no justification for the new fares.
“What I have realised is that there is lawlessness in the transport sector.
“They are doing whatever they want because there is no fixed fare. Short distances are the most expensive. Imagine I want to go to Silobela, which is about 40km outside Kwekwe, and commuter omnibus crews are charging $35. It is not normal,” said Mr Nyoni.
Ms Lorraine Goto of Gokwe said buses were charging $70 and $75 to travel to Gokwe from Gweru. “I had no choice but to leave behind my two children who wanted to accompany me to Gokwe. I paid $75 for the trip,” she said.
Mr Timothy Maromo, a bus driver with Mwenje Bus Services, blamed it on fuel shortages. “We get fuel on the black market so there is no choice but to hike the fares,” he said.
Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo yesterday said he was engaging major fuel suppliers who had pledged to work round the clock to ease the fuel situation.
He urged the public to desist from hoarding fuel.
“The fuel situation remains constrained primarily due to a huge increase in fuel demand since May. As you might be aware, the country is also facing foreign currency shortages.
“I also want to appeal to the public to be economic on the use of fuel. We should be very conservative on what we do or use fuel on. The country is however not dry.Our major fuel companies have assured me that they will continue supplying fuel throughout the festive season,” he said.
Zuva Petroleum chief executive officer Mr Birthwell Gumbo, who is also the Petroleum Association of Zimbabwe chairperson, told The Herald: “We are providing our normal daily supply to the market.” Herald
MONEY CHANGER ESCAPES JAIL
A BULAWAYO forex dealer has been sentenced to perform community service after she pleaded guilty to illegally dealing in foreign currency.$1 608 in bond notes, 2 280 rand and US$5 belonging to Esther Sibanda was also forfeited to the State.
The woman appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Ndlovu facing charges of illegally dealing in foreign currency.
The magistrate sentenced her to five months in prison, but one month was suspended on condition of good behaviour and the other four months were suspended on condition that she performs 140 hours of community service.
“You are sentenced to five months in prison, a month suspended on condition of good behaviour, four months suspended on condition that you perform 140 hours of community service in Cowdray Park,” said the magistrate.
Sibanda pleaded guilty to dealing in foreign currency without a licence, permit or permission.
Prosecuting, Mr Leonard Chile said last week on Wednesday, Sibanda (27) unlawfully exchanged currency at a premium or discount without a licence or permit.
“Allegations are that on December 19 this year, police officers who were on patrol for apprehending illegal currency dealers in the CBD at around 3.15PM at L Takawira and Herbert Chitepo Street found Sibanda seated at the centre parking.” said Mr Chile.
“Sibanda touted one of the police by calling him and mentioning that she changes money. The officer responded positively to the offer with intentions of wanting to buy rands. During their conversation the other police officer stood behind Sibanda hearing the conversation. The officers then introduced themselves and arrested her.”
The court heard Sibanda was taken to ZRP Bulawayo Licence inspectorate where she was searched and $1 608 in bond notes, 2 280 rand and US$5 were found in her possession. Chronicle
PRIVATE DOCS TAKE OVER BYO MATERNITY CLINICS, HIKE CHARGES
SOME Bulawayo City Council (BCC) clinics’ maternity wings are now run by private doctors who are charging up to $250, more than eight times the usual $30 council fees, resulting in expecting mothers overcrowding Mpilo Central Hospital which offers free maternity service.Residents said clinics in Tshabalala, Pumula South and Mzilikazi suburbs have their maternity wings run by private doctors who are charging varying fees between $100 and $250.
This emerged during a female residents meeting organised by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) in partnership with the Women’s Institute of Leadership Development (WILD) meant to discuss how BCC service delivery affects women.
The BCC Gender Focal Person Mrs Audrey Manyemwe represented the council while residents had representatives from all 29 wards.
However, council’s senior spokesperson Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said only two clinics had been leased out to private doctors.
“There are four maternity centres provided by the City of Bulawayo namely Luveve; Nkulumane; Pelandaba and Northern Suburbs,” said Mrs Mpofu.
“Two clinics Tshabalala and Pumula South have their maternity wings rented out. Two doctors who are not council employees lease these facilities simply because the council is not able to run these facilities due to staff shortages.”
She said council is running at an average of 62 percent of the staff establishment.
Speaking at the meeting, BPRA vice chairperson Ms Ntombizodwa Khumalo said women are forced to go to Mpilo Central Hospital which is already congested.
“If you go to these council clinics today, you will find that the maternity ward is now under a private doctor. These doctors are not BCC workers and we are not sure how they got employed there. They charge high prices which ordinary women cannot afford. At Tshabalala Clinic, the doctor charges $250 ante-natal booking fee,” she said.
Ms Khumalo said there are cases of some women who end up giving birth at their homes which puts their lives at risk.
“There is a high risk if someone gives birth at home because she has no option. Firstly, that pressure of going to a clinic and you are told you cannot afford the service can cause high blood pressure. Also there are some complications that need the attention of a doctor,” she said.
In separate interviews at the sidelines of the meeting, Ms Pretty Ndlovu from Pumula South said the maternity ward is now meant for the elite at the expense of ordinary residents.
“Council clinics are meant for the people but now they are affordable to those with money. Sometimes we go to Pelandaba and Nkulumane but it’s a strain, especially when a mother is at a critical stage. We ask BCC to bring back our council maternity wings,” she said.
Another resident, Mrs Brilliant Sibanda from Mzilikazi suburb said: “Some pregnant women do not have transport money and they walk to Northend to get maternity services which puts their life at risk Our plea is for the city fathers to bring back the council maternity ward.”
In response, Mrs Manyemwe said the city fathers have cut some services at clinics due to economic constraints.
In an interview, Mpilo Central Hospital acting Clinical Director Dr Xolani Ndlovu said ever since some council clinics privatised their maternity wings, there have been an overwhelming number of mothers coming to the hospital to deliver.“Ideally hospitals are meant to attend referred complicated cases from clinics but nowadays mothers are coming straight from their homes. However we are not allowed to turn patients away,” he said.
Dr Moyo said the staffing levels had not increased and the wards had not expanded to cater for the overwhelming number of women.
“This will ultimately compromise services because the staff will be exhausted from handling so many women,” he said. Chronicle
GUTI STEALS THE SHOW AT CASSAVA LISTING
Econet Wireless (Econet) founder Strive Masiyiwa has always attributed his entrepreneurial success to faith and divine intervention, but only last year did he reveal how clergyman Ezekiel Guti was closely involved in his personal journey.Writing on his Facebook wall in October 2017, the billionaire told of how one day he received a message that Guti wanted to see him alone, this was before he ever incorporated Econet.
“I had never met him even though I knew who he was! I was not even a member of his assembly. The meeting was in secret…He knew all about my plight and the persecution I was enduring because of my stance. Then he prayed for me and told me not to give up. And with that I left. Victory was still several years away, but without that moment I probably would have given up,” Masiyiwa said.
Back then, Masiyiwa was struggling to get a telecommunications licence for his business.
“We met alone. It will still be many, many years before I’m ready (if ever) to tell people what he said to me. My life changed forever!,” he added.
It was then not surprising when Guti — the founder of Zaoga, one of the biggest churches in the world — rang the bell, together with his wife Eunor, to signal the listing of Econet spin off, Cassava Smartech (Cassava) on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.
The 95-year-old preacher was supposed to be the clergy man for the event but his stature made him the de facto guest of honour and bell bearer at the historic event.
Before ringing the bell, Guti had made a rousing prayer of blessing for the financial technology company, asking the heavens for the company to grow “deep roots” and branch out far.
The iconic evangelist’s curious appearance at the event has been linked by some to the run that Cassava’s stock went on to have in its opening day of trading on the local bourse.
The technology group’s shares closed trading on Tuesday at $1,49, 240 percent higher than its initial listing price of $0,44. The counter also became the most valuable on the local market with a market capitalisation of $3,8 billion.
In splitting Econet’s listing into two separate listed companies, the value of the combined shares has gone up from $3,2 billion to $7,6 billion in less than three months.
This has achieved the stated objective of Masiyiwa, who said it was designed to “unlock” the value of the business.
Several international research analysts had already predicted that Cassava would command high valuations because of the nature of its businesses.
African Alliance, a Kenya-based market research firm predicted that Cassava would trade over $3,2 billion, in a research paper published last week, while a new report by Investec Bank of South Africa, valued the company at almost $6 billion.
Cassava Smartech is essentially a technology platforms business that uses the mobile network to deliver services in almost every sector of the economy including financial services, health, agriculture, media, transport and logistics and education.
The most popular services are EcoCash, and EcoSure, which have become mainstays of financial services (Fintechs).
Both Investec and African Alliance pointed out in their reports that Cassava should be seen as one of the most successful Fintech platforms primarily because of EcoCash and EcoSure.
Its banking unit Steward Bank is not a traditional bank, as its revenues are driven by the embedded role it provides in supporting EcoCash. It has more customers than all the banks put together.
The biggest push by Cassava at the moment is in transport and logistics, where its Vaya brand is set to be Zimbabwe’s own “Uber”. Daily News
GRAMMA RECORDS : NO TAKERS
One of the country’s largest recording businesses, Gramma Records has failed to attract buyers since it was put up for sale two years ago.The company owns a state-of-the-art recording studio and one of the most sophisticated Compact Discs (CD) manufacturing plants believed to be one of the only two such plants in southern Africa.
Due to the economic meltdown, the plant is currently down because its proprietors cannot access the scarce foreign currency required to import spares to keep it running.
Gramma Records also operates sister companies namely Zimbabwe Music Company (ZMC), Ngaavongwe Records and Records and Tape Promotions.
Along with the parent company which pioneered the recording, production and distribution of local music in the early 1970s, these sister companies were also put on the market in 2016.
This Daily News on Sunday is reliably informed that interested investors should be prepared to part ways with a cool $5 million to acquire the record label which boasts a rich catalogue of yester-year hits that are still selling even today.
At its peak Gramma Records used to sell more than 100 000 albums on a single release. It succeeded in enticing musicians such as Alick Macheso, Deverangwena Jazz Band, the late Leonard Dembo, the late Tongai Moyo, Khiama Boys, Charles and Olivia Charamba to record with it.
ZMC also became a household name, producing music for big names such as Leonard Zhakata, Oliver Mtukudzi and the late Simon Chimbetu.
But with the advent of piracy, the recording business has been dealt a body blow and is now a pale shadow of its glory days.
Nonetheless, most of the aforementioned musicians’ music is still being reproduced at Gramma Records, ZMC and Ngaavongwe categorised as catalogue records with most of the early releases repackaged into ‘Greatest Hits’ compilations.
A visit to the record companies revealed that the music of other yesteryear greats such as Lovemore Majaivana, the late System Tazvida, Four Brothers, the late Paul Matavire, the late Andy Brown, Bhundu Boys, Mechanic Manyeruke, Thomas Mapfumo, Marxist Brothers, John Chibadura, Hosiah Chipanga and Deverangwena Jazz Band is still in stock.
“Old music keeps us going. There is a market for the old school type of local music. However, we can’t say this singer is selling more than the other one as they have different catalogues. The bigger the catalogue, the more the sales,” said Gramma Records’ managing director Emmanuel Vori.
While some of the yesteryear local music is now available on CDs, most of it is still on cassette format.
What has been completely phased out is the Long Play (LP in vinyl format) as the gramophones are no longer in existence
Cassettes or simply tapes were the most common formats for pre-recorded music between 1970s and early 2000s before the introduction of LP record and later CDs.
“Despite technological advancement in Zimbabwe, there is still a significant market for cassettes. We are still producing cassettes mainly for motorists driving ex-Japanese cars. The bulk of ex-Japanese cars have radio sets that are compatible with cassettes,” said Vori.
With the country at one time reportedly importing between 2 500 and 3 000 second-hand cars on monthly basis, mostly ex-Japan cars shipped through the Beitbridge Border Post, the music cassettes had a ready market.
According to Vori, the cassette market is no longer as big as that of CDs. “CDs are selling fast though we are affected by piracy,” he said. Of late, Gramma Records has been a pale shadow of its former self mainly because of rampant piracy which has destroyed the market for original copy sales.
The giant recording studio which was incepted in the 1970s used to record big names in the music industry but most of them have opted out preferring to record as independents. Daily News
WE WERE ROBBED : MORGAN HERITAGE FANS
Reggae music lovers were left fuming as they felt robbed at the Friday Morgan Heritage, headlined gig at Harare International Conference Centre, HICC after the renowned group used CD backtracks instead of a live band.Musicians Mono Mkundu and Dereck Mpofu among other people could not hide their displeasure after parting ways with $50 entrance fee and took to social media venting their anger.
Dancehall star Winky D also pulled out on the 11th hour after failing to agree with organisers who had requested him to also perform using CD backtracks without a band.
Winky D’s camp said: “Vigilance Management hereby informs music lovers who were looking forward to seeing Winky D at the HICC tonight, that he is no longer performing there as earlier advertised.
“We sincerely apologise for the difficult decision that had to be taken, this was necessary, as informed by the failure of the promoters to abide by contractual obligations, chief among which was their denial of Winky D to perform with his full band, the Vigilance.
“The reason given for this denial was that since headline acts were not using a live band, he likewise should give up the band arrangement. This led to direct orders for the sound engineers to pull down the set up that would have enabled Winky D to perform with a band,” his camp said.
Renowned wheel-spinner Garry B was in charge of the decks playing for Morgan Heritage. He also played for Lutan Fyah and both camps did justice to their slots despite not having bands.
Soul Jah Love represented the local acts well with an energetic performance that saw him introducing new styles on stage that left many clamouring for more.
One of the show sponsors Boss Werras said fans should be respected in all aspects hence both artists and promoters should learn to compromise.
“We are talking of thousands of fans who came for a show and we all should learn to respect them and learn compromise,” he said. Daily News
MPs IN 12-HOUR BUDGET SESSION
In one of its rare sittings, last week legislators held a marathon 12-hour National Budget debate on Thursday as they could only adjourn sitting early Friday morning.The National Assembly usually starts around 14:00 hours before adjourning around 17:00 hours but for Thursday it was business unusual as the august house adjourned around 01:30 early Friday morning.
MDC chief whip Prosper Mutseyami said legislators united to pass the budget. “That was clear sacrifice and the spirit to pass the budget was unique, that spirit was really patriotic.”
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi also hailed MPs for their effort. “I want to thank the … members for staying up until 1am so that we consider matters of our budget.
“I really appreciate the effort that has been put in debating and the robust debate that we had today. It is much appreciated. I want to thank everyone and I want to wish all…a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year,” Ziyambi said.
However, it is not the first time for the Parliament to debate up to midnight as in early 2000 then legislators did the same debating the Public Order and Security Act (Posa).
Meanwhile, legislators from across the political divide spent much of the debate on Thursday demanding the government to improve their welfare which forced the Finance minister, Mtuli Ncube to increase the Parliament budget from $101 million to $145 million.
Legislators made outrageous demands which include top-of-the-range cars (V8 Toyota), gym at the Parliament premises, improved diet and upward review of their allowance among others.
Some of the legislators who were vocal during the debate include Norton Independent MP Temba Mliswa, Zanu PF Wedza North MP David Musabayana and MDC Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya.
At one time the Parliament was forced to adjourn for 30 minutes as MPs demanded to have a joint caucus to agree the way forward.
After the adjournment Ncube proposed to increase the budget to $120 million, however, the legislators rejected the proposal and threatened to sink the budget.
“This budget can be approved somewhere not in this house,” MDC Binga North Prince Dubeko Sibanda said in protest.
After growing pressure from parliamentarians Mthuli then increased the budget to $145 million.
“I propose to increase the vote for Parliament to $145 million,” Mthuli said to which the legislators broke into song clapping hands celebrating. Daily News
BOOZE, COKE VANISHES FROM SUPERMARKET SHELVES
Local beers and soft drinks are among some of the products that have disappeared from supermarkets’ shelves thereby depriving embattled Zimbabweans of the things they had become accustomed to during the festive holidays.A survey by the Daily News over the weekend revealed that most retail outlets have run out of local beer brands and soft drinks, particularly those manufactured by the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed Delta Corporation.
Where one finds local beverages, the cost would have gone up from the recommended retail price.
In most shops, shelves are filled to the brim by imported substitutes that cost an arm and leg.
Some of the imported beers are actually being sold in foreign currency as confirmed the Zimbabwe Retailers Association (ZRA) yesterday.
Several other basic products, among them the standard loaf of bread, are also hard to come-by.
Government confirmed the shortages yesterday but said it is determined to bring cheer to long-suffering Zimbabweans.
Nick Mangwana, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, told the Daily News yesterday that government — through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) — has disbursed foreign currency to the beverage companies and is in the process of releasing more hard currency for the procurement of their inputs.
“There have been shortages of some beverages and some will still experience these shortages over Christmas but government is doing its best to support industry and bring the much-needed merriment to Zimbabweans,” he said.
Going forward, Mangwana said the ministry of Industry and Commerce will continue to engage with industry players and the central bank to find long-term solutions to the economic crisis.
“There is also a need to address the cause of Zimbabwean products being off Zimbabwean shelves but found in abundance in our neighbouring countries,” he said.
ZRA president Denford Mutashu told the Daily News yesterday that retailers were failing to access some of the local products from suppliers who are struggling to get foreign currency allocations from the RBZ.
“There is a short supply on the part of the suppliers. We often expect supplies to increase around the festive season: You should understand that this has been an ongoing thing, but because of the festive season the demand has actually trebled and that has not been matched by supply.
“Most of the beverage companies are faced with shortages of foreign currency. Usually there is a preparatory period of up to three months before the festive season but that has not been the case this time around. Of course we have engaged government on this and other issues as retailers,” said Mutashu.
The ZRA president said those importing beers have no choice but to charge in United States dollars.
For the first time since the 2007/8 economic implosion, Zimbabweans are set to celebrate a dry Christmas — stripped of all the essentials that used to make the day the most celebrated on the country’s calendar.
Also dampening the merrymaking is the pricing madness being fuelled by the shortage of foreign currency on the official market, resulting in prices of basics shooting through the roof.
Those who were steeped in the tradition of trekking down to their ancestral homes for a Merry Christmas have to confront long fuel queues due to fuel shortages that have seen motorists sleeping in queues waiting for the product.
Bus fares have also skyrocketed. For instance, a trip to Rusape, which is about 170 kilometres from Harare is now $15 — a massive jump from the $6 around this time last year. Daily News
STRIKING DOCS TAKE FIGHT TO THE SUPREME COURT
Following Saturday’s ruling by the Labour Court declaring the strike by junior doctors illegal, the medical practitioners are escalating their case to the Supreme Court.Munyaradzi Gwisai, who is representing the junior doctors and is being instructed by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, said he will approach the highest court on an urgent basis to appeal the ruling.
“I have instructions to file an application for leave to appeal at the Supreme Court because there are serious human rights issues which were raised,” he told the Daily News yesterday.
“We have received the court order and when we receive the judgment detailing the reasons for ruling, we will approach to the Supreme Court”.
Contacted for comment, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) declined to comment saying they could only do so after being served with the order.
“I cannot give you our position right now. We have not yet been served with the Disposal Order. The 12 hours have not yet lapsed. For now, I cannot comment on that,” said ZHDA president Elias Muzoremba.
Labour Court judges Betty Chidziva and Gladys Mhuri ruled on Saturday night that the industrial action by the junior doctors was illegal in terms of the Labour Act.
They said the health practitioners did not give notice of the strike as prescribed by the law and that they were members of the critical services prohibited from embarking on collective job action.
It was noted by the learned judges that the doctors failed to prove that they were exposed to any occupational hazard which they reasonably feared to pose an immediate threat to their health and safety.
They therefore ordered the junior doctors to report for work within 12 hours of service of the order on ZHDA.
The Disposal Order states that the medical staff will not be paid for the time they were not at work.
It also directs the doctors to bear the legal costs of the suit on the ordinary scale.
The junior doctors, who fall under ZHDA, downed their tools early this month in protest over poor working conditions and have also demanded that the government pay their salaries in foreign currency.
The strike is the second in as many months by junior doctors, with the latest strike coming against the backdrop of a recent cholera outbreak.
Gwisai argued yesterday that his clients were not afforded a fair opportunity to be heard.
“The Labour Act calls for just resolutions and section 69 of the Constitution calls for the right to a fair hearing. Our client did not get that. On Friday (December 21) and around 12 noon, we received communication that the matter has been set for hearing on Monday (today). Around 3pm of the same day, we received a Show Cause Order instructing our clients to appear in court on Saturday (December 22) at 10am as earlier communicated.
“We closed offices and I left for home. At 16:47, one of our junior lawyers received a new notice from the assistant Sheriff instructing us to appear at the Labour Court at 5:15pm. We had less than 30 minutes to prepare for the hearing despite receiving formal communication earlier in the day.
“What kind of justice is that? I did not even have time to take instructions from my client. What is it that made the court decide to change dates? The court did not explain the sudden change in dates,” Gwisai fumed.
Saturday was a public holiday. He described the ruling as insensitive as it concluded that there were no occupational hazards threatening the doctors’ health.
“Is it not true that members of the executives and ministers seek medical attention outside the country? If the hospitals are good, why are they not treated here? Is it not in the public domain that government is running around seeking medicines for the hospitals?” he questioned.
Gwisai said they made about five preliminary applications which were all dismissed.
On Saturday, Chidziva dismissed an application by the doctors where they challenged the applicability of the Labour Act, the validity of the cause order issued by Health minister Obadiah Moyo, the validity of the current proceedings and citation of Muzoremba and its secretary Mthabisi Bhebhe as third and fourth respondents respectively.
Chidziva also dismissed another application by the doctors seeking referral of the ruling to the Constitutional Court (Con-Court) on the basis that the striking members were not governed by Labour Act as they were employees of the State as stipulated by the Health Services Act.
The doctors had argued that by moving the date from Monday backwards to Friday, the courts violated their right to fair hearing.
It was also argued that the ruling raises constitutional matters which are of substantial and material interest for determination by the Con-Court.
Chidziva threw out that application, saying they raised preliminary rather than constitutional issues which can be addressed on appeal. She said the request was frivolous and vexatious. Daily News
RESTAURANT WORKER ROBBED AT KNIFE POINT
A robber armed with an okapi knife pounced on a restaurant employee and robbed her of two handbags and three cellphones in Beitbridge.The knife wielding robber fled from the scene soon after committing the crime. The incident occurred at around 5AM on Wednesday at 24/7 Restaurant, Dulibadzimu Bus Terminus. Police are appealing to anyone who may have information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect to contact any nearest police station.
Christina Dube (23) of Shuleshule area had just opened the shop and did not have cash.
The suspect allegedly threatened to kill her if she disobeyed his orders.
He demanded cash and grabbed the two handbags and three cellphones valued at $335 and nothing was recovered.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident.
