HARARE – Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa should consolidate the country’s local content policy in his National Budget presentation today to help steer industrialisation, Buy Zimbabwe has said.

The pressure group’s chief economist Kipson Gundani said the local content policy development initiative is necessary and should be completed timeously to revive industry. 

“We are therefore expecting the 2018 National Budget to re-affirm the commitment to a local content thrust as a critical policy tool to re-industrialise supported by the existing import control measures such as SI122 of 2017, promulgated by the Industry and Commerce ministry,” he said.

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The local content policy is expected to stimulate the use of local factors of production, such as labour, capital, supplies of goods and services, technology, and research and development, to create value in the domestic economy.  

“We expect the government to put in place an incentive scheme for companies that will comply with local content requirements, including but not limited to production and productivity-related tax incentives, indigenisation credits and public procurement preferences, while non-compliance should attract structured disincentives,” Gundani added. 

Oxford economics research unit NKC African Economics said it is expecting Chinamasa to announce some reforms that aim to attract investment capital and to widen the tax base.

“Key target areas should be reforming or repealing the Indigenisation law, which has hampered investment, and scrapping the bond note scheme in favour of hard currency borrowed abroad,” the company said in a research note.

Economic policy to attract foreign direct investment and build up a tax base should focus on agriculture — which produces far below potential and where much land is essentially lying fallow, mining and services in general.

NKC also noted that President Emmerson Mnangagwa might be the right person to halt the country’s deteriorating economic situation.

“Although we have reservations about…Mnangagwa, who is reportedly implicated  in a lot of crimes that happened under the Mugabe government, and we worry about the prospects of a free and fair election in August, we are fairly confident in our expectation of economic reforms that will improve the business environment and attract investment,” the company’s analyst François Conradie said.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) said the need for policy certainty, consistency and coherence can never be emphasised enough and the creation of an enabling environment for business development is paramount.

“Based on our 2016 manufacturing sector survey, most respondents felt that currently, over and above the inconsistency, there also were too many restrictive policies and the economy needs major changes and a business friendly environment.

“There is need to ensure consistency and clarity of key policies, particularly indigenisation and other policies. We seem to be violating our own rules. For example, we’ve had multiple reports by the Auditor General (AG) but little movement on implementation of reports’ recommendations. Work by the AG has to be respected. The minister should respond and give feedback on findings and recommendations by the AG,” the country’s largest industry body added.

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HARARE – Let me start by congratulating you on your assumption of the vitally important position of chief executive of our beautiful country.

Indeed, all eyes in our country, in our region and around the world are fixed on you as both citizens and the global community alike hope and pray for things to change for the better in Zimbabwe.

By way of introduction, I do not know whether you still recall the interesting one-on-one discussion on the importance of education that we had in Harare about eight years ago.

At the time, I was the chairman of the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship Trust, which had awarded one of your sons a university scholarship.

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I have to say that I was most impressed by your views then on the key role and importance of quality education in society — and you were most appreciative and complementary about the work of the Joshua Nkomo Scholarship Trust.

But I’m digressing.

I am writing this open letter to you with a heavy heart, in connection with the declining quality of both basic and tertiary education in our country.

I’m doing so in the fervent hope of persuading you and your administration to give the utmost priority to the sector, as we all work to rebuild Zimbabwe.

Indeed, one of Africa’s most famous sons once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” — and he was so right.

As you may remember from our conversation of eight years ago, I have been involved with higher education in our country and region for more than three decades, and I can state without any doubt or equivocation that the quality of our education has declined alarmingly over the past few years for a number of reasons.

One of the major reasons, in my view, for this decline emanates from the less than ideal governance of our institutions of higher learning. For example, the State president has traditionally been the chancellor of all our public universities — with, at best, debatable benefits.

In addition, vice chancellors have also often been political appointees, resulting in their work and thinking being significantly suffocated and constrained — even as almost all of them have had worthy academic credentials.

To that extent, I am confident that I represent the views of many other concerned patriots as I appeal to you and your good offices to revisit these twin challenges, which are widely seen as impacting negatively on the quality of learning and teaching, as well as on research at our institutions of higher learning.

Indeed, I would also like to believe that you have enough taxing work as it is as our executive president, without the added — and entirely unnecessary — burden of also being the chancellor of all our public universities.

The second major reason, which is negatively affecting the quality of our education, is the increase in student enrolments, which has taken place without the requisite national investment in teaching capacity and infrastructure.

Coupled with this is the worsening poor quality of students who are being admitted to our institutions of higher learning, which adds to the cocktail of toxic factors bedevilling the system.

The important point to be made here Your Excellency is that while the goal of “Education for All” is very noble, it has unfortunately had the terrible result of disadvantaging the very poor people it was supposed to lift up in the first place — which all demands an urgent review of targets, vis-à-vis the resources available and the situation on the ground, as well as their implications on education quality from primary school to colleges and universities.

This brings me to my third major point, which is the serious disconnect in our country between basic and tertiary education — which are managed by separate ministries, even as they are supposed to work synergistically.

I firmly believe that the time has come for Zimbabwe to rethink having these two ministries. A single and merged ministry of Education, Science and Technology will not only save unnecessary ministerial and bureaucratic costs that are being duplicated needlessly, it will also crucially eliminate the current confusion and competition between the two ministries — and also streamline and better serve the country’s education policies, curricula and quality of learning across the board.

I could go on and on, but space constraints dictate that I must conclude my letter. I look forward to the day that we will hear that you are considering some of the issues that I’ve mentioned, as well as many others that fellow Zimbabweans would like you to look into urgently.

Yours sincerely,

Prof Norman Nyazema.

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HARARE – This week Zimbabwe was plunged into mourning following the terrible accident at Jimila in Sipepa Area within Tsholotsho District, where 11 people died on the spot while 15 others passed on at Tsholotsho Hospital.

The fact that the deceased — all from Matabeleland North malaria control team — perished in such a fatal road traffic accident while being ferried to work in an overloaded government truck, is disturbing.

This tragedy could have been avoided, had it not been for gross negligence on the part of the Health ministry and as President Emmerson Mnangagwa said this week, “…we should not allow this to happen again. We should hire buses”.

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While there has been effort by government and the corporate sector to raise funds to assist in the burials, it is the aftermaths of such tragedies that are painful as breadwinners are lost for good.

The corporate sector has raised $50 000, Lotteries and Gaming Industry has donated $8 400 while Local Government minister July Moyo said government had set aside $1 000 for each of the bereaved families.

Yes, this money may very well cover the funeral expenses but what about the future of those families that have lost breadwinners — where will their children get school fees, food, shelter and clothes?

Since these people died while on duty, we hope government will compensate for their loss and even keep their salaries running for a certain period to help their families recover.

Forget about the bereaved families soon after the burial would be a betrayal because this accident was not of their making and they were on official duty.

Families of the bereaved could actually sue government because how can one explain that health professions — 76 in all, together with their equipment — are carried in an open Nissan UD truck for an assignment?

In other countries, the minister responsible should have resigned over the embarrassing incident.

The Tsholotsho tragedy calls for a proper investigation into how this form of transport came to be used and who authorised it. Is it common practice within the ministry because the people of Zimbabwe and indeed the bereaved families want answers?

Reports that the driver of the UD truck is said to have been drunk makes an investigation into the accident worth pursuing to the fullest.

While the Zimbabwe Traffic Safety Council says 90 percent of road accidents are attributed to human error, allowing a drunk driver to get behind the wheel and overloading the truck with both people and goods was inhuman.

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MUTARE - Mutare Magistrates’ Court has convicted and fined a municipal traffic officer for using spikes on a city motorist who filed criminal charges after his car was damaged during the incident.

Ehud Murasiranwa, 50, of Mutare was convicted of malicious damage to property after a trial by magistrate Perseverance Makala.

Murasiranwa was fined $50 and ordered to pay $250 restitution for the damages to Nyasha Kavhukatema’s vehicle.

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The 50-year-old Murasiranwa was being charged with malicious damage to property as defined in section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23.

During trial, the court heard that Kavhukatema was driving along Herbert Chitepo Street on September 25 before midday when he slowed down near a popular city shop to pick up someone.

The person was on the other side of the road and when Kavhukatema decided to turn, the court heard, he spotted a speeding council car which he allowed to overtake him by slowing down.

Instead of overtaking him, the council vehicle parked in front of him.

The State said when he tried to move his car he heard a strange noise which turned out to be a damaged rear tyre which had been deflated by a thrown spike.

Musariranwa and his colleagues sped off, the court heard.

Moments later, a towing vehicle arrived with several council officials who towed away Kavhukatema’s vehicle to Mutare Civic Centre where he was ordered to pay $80.

He declined and went on to make a police report leading to the arrest of Murasiranwa.

Brighton Shamhuyarira was prosecuting.

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MUTARE – The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) operation to restore sanity in the mountainous city has been hailed by residents after the military drove away thugs, rank marshals and touts operating at bus and commuter omnibus termini across the city.

It was double victory for the military as some of the thugs and touts who were forced out of the termini had been involved in an incident which left their colleague — a footballer with Buffaloes — with an amputated arm.

Kudzai Mwaramba had his arm amputated after he was cut by a machete when he tried to call to order an alleged notorious city thug who had been involved in brawls with some marshals at a local car wash.

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The military had warned, well before their operation that they would rid the city and all suburbs of menacing people — including well-known terror groups and thugs — masquerading as rank marshals and touts.

Indeed they returned this week and turned the well-known trouble spots upside down in operation which aims to restore sanity in Mutare, especially at termini.

In a joint operation with municipal and Zimbabwe Republic Police, the army drove away touts and rank marshals from public transport ranks.

Most rank marshals were linked to the infamous terror group, Chipangano.

It took control of Mutare’s bus termini and ranks to cater for the welfare of its unemployed political thugs.

The group charged between $2-$5 on local commuter omnibuses and up to $70 per trip on long-distance buses.

Mutare City Council public relations officer Sprin Mutiwi said in a statement the Operation Restore Sanity would be “aggressive” in “flushing out touts and rank marshals who have become a menace to the travelling public”.

“We want the rank marshal and touts menace to disappear from Mutare, and all commuter and long distance bus operators should desist from engaging touts.

“It’s disturbing to note that a number of people have lost valuable items through theft due to the influx of touts at various bus termini,” Mutiwi said.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe is battling to control a fresh outbreak of fall armyworm pests.

Government has launched a new programme to combat the fall armyworm (FAW) in the country.

The FAW is a trans-boundary pest that is difficult to manage and was first reported in southern Africa in late 2016.

It continues to cause damage to maize and other crops both in Zimbabwe and the region.

Confirmed outbreaks can face import bans on their agricultural products because armyworm is classified as a quarantine pest.

The FAW is an invasive Central American species that is harder to detect and eradicate than its African counterpart.

Key concerns about FAW infestation are the impact on food security.

The armyworms usually attack fields en mass, consuming crops including maize, wheat, millet and rice, the main sources for food in Zimbabwe.

The programme will be conducted with assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (Fao).

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HARARE – Harare residents have been warned against drinking borehole water as it is heavily contaminated.

Council spokesperson Michael Chideme said tests done by the city in the high density suburbs of Glen Norah and Budiriro showed that boreholes in the area had water unfit for consumption.

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“We are urging these residents not to get water from shallow wells as they are contaminated by bacteria. Our routine surveillance tests in the areas have proven so and that water is not fit for human consumption. We therefore urge them to use municipal water as they are on 24/7 water supply,” Chideme said.

The municipality recently decommissioned two boreholes in Mbare and Kuwadzana 3 after they tested positive for E coli, a bacteria that causes typhoid.

Harare Water director Hosea Chisango said the city’s piped water was safe to drink compared to that drawn from shallow wells and boreholes.

“Municipal water is actually the safest compared to borehole water because it is treated and tested every day. E coli — the bacteria that causes typhoid — is what is not acceptable because that will be faecal contamination of water,” he said.

“Researchers from universities and laboratories are free to test our water and challenge us to meet the specifications of the WHO water quality parameters. The city laboratories and even those from government frequently get water samples to check whether there is contamination or not,” he added.

Chisango said before the foreign currency shortages, council would have 90 days stocks of chemicals but now suppliers provide them daily as per availability and orders.

“We have stocks of all seven of the chemicals that are used in the purification process. The issue is that even if we did not have sulphuric acid to treat the water, we would increase the dosage of other chemicals to counter the absence of another,” said Chisango.

“There are, however, other chemicals like chlorine gas and aluminium sulphate, which kill bugs which should not be out of stock at Morton Jaffray. If that happens we stop production completely because then we will be making residents drink raw water which is illegal,” he said.

He said some of the unpleasant green and black colours of the water were caused by a household’s internal reticulation problem, which was solved by letting the water run to clean the pipes.

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HARARE – After being snubbed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he appointed his Cabinet, opposition parties are now ganging up against the new Zanu PF leader who has indicated that the country would go for elections in seven months time.

Amid indications that MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai turned down overtures to join Mnangagwa’s Cabinet, the Coalition for Democrats (Code) has assigned Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa to lead talks for the formation of a broader coalition.

Morgan Tsvangirai

Presently, there are three major coalitions: Code led by Elton Mangoma, MDC Alliance led by Tsvangirai and the People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC), led by former vice president Joice Mujuru.

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“After the euphoria died, we are now focusing on the elections. We need to prepare for the elections because we all realise the task ahead of us and if we are not united we could end up playing second fiddle. Dabengwa is presently engaging churches so that they meditate in unity talks with other coalitions,” said Code spokesperson Mjabisi Noko.

Prior to Mnangagwa announcing his Cabinet, the opposition parties had hoped that the new Zanu PF leader will take on board his rivals in a transitional authority of sorts.

This did not happen.

Mnangagwa included in his Cabinet some technocrats that are his associates to work alongside ministers from his Zanu PF party.

Now, with Mnangagwa’s stock rising after an inspiring inauguration speech, and having masterminded former president Robert Mugabe’s downfall, the MDC led by Tsvangirai said it is now trying to convince Zimbabweans that the war has not been won as the Zanu PF entrenched system is still intact.

“We had put eyes off the ball but now we are back to basics. We are going ahead with plans for 2018 elections and are occupying ourselves with voter registration — that is our main focus for now.

“We don’t want to lose focus, other issues are subordinate to that, people were almost losing sight of the ball, we want reforms first, this is the end game, this is a build up to the end game,” said Obert Gutu, MDC’s spokesperson.

On Monday when he swore-in Cabinet ministers, Mnangagwa indicated that the country would go for elections in the next six to seven months.

He called on Zimbabweans from across the political divide to unite and grow the economy, which had almost collapsed under the stewardship of his predecessor.

But there is no room for such niceties in the opposition, with PRC saying while removing Mugabe was one giant step towards tackling a system that previously rigged elections, the task ahead now is to ensure that Zanu PF is defeated by a united coalition come 2018.

He said Mnangagwa, who succeeded Mugabe because of legal provisions in the Constitution, should now level the playing field before seeking his own mandate.

“We are still trying to reach out to other players. But after Mugabe’s fall it should be noted that the Mugabe must go mantra has not been the correct identification of the problems that Zimbabweans are facing, Mugabe was representing a failed system — that system is made up of several layers which amongst other saddening facts is none mitigated interference in civilian matters by the military. Clearly it is a remiss to suggest that Mugabe was responsible for this crisis on his own without those who were with him taking collective responsibility, those who served with Mugabe to make this country suffer also have a collective responsibility to step down with him. The euphoria was a bit misplaced,” said Gift Nyandoro, Mujuru’s spokesperson.

And as the country hurtles towards the crunch 2018 polls, Nyandoro said there is need for the Mnangagwa administration to put in place requisite political reforms.

“We believe that among the key demands to the new administration is the issue of electoral reform agenda, there are several issues that cannot be realised in the next seven months such as the economy but on elections he must deliver. Mnangagwa is not a product of an election but of a legal process that nominated him so in order to assert himself he needs that mandate from the people  and not a technical one,” said Nyandoro.

Ahead of next year elections the opposition is demanding that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission flushes out military personnel within its tanks, level the electoral playing field and also allow Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to vote.

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HARARE - The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence comes against a back drop of increased media focus, thanks to more women that are survivors of gender based violence (GBV) speaking openly about their experiences.

This is an opportune time to double our efforts to end violence against women and girls – leaving no one behind – as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 5 focusing on gender equality.

Leave no one behind means leave no girl and woman behind. 

Leave no perpetrator behind, regardless of who it is and what standing he has. It also means leaving no institution behind, regardless of how sacred it is.

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Ireland believes in investing in prevention of GBV and providing support services to survivors of GBV.

Doing so improves the economic and social development of a country and enhances society.

There is a need to do more to prevent GBV in Zimbabwe. For instance, one problem encountered is the low awareness of services that are available to GBV victims within the first 72 hours after rape.

It is extremelycritical for rape victims to visit medical clinics in the first 72 hours after sexual violence to prevent STIs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), and HIV infection.

Ireland hopes that ongoing information campaigns in Zimbabwe can make this known to all survivors of GBV.

Ireland will therefore continue to support the joint UN-program to fight GBV for the coming three years in Zimbabwe.

Combating GBV is first and foremost a leadership challenge.

Leaders in homes, churches, government departments, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector organisations need to take a stand and not tolerate violence against women and girls.

If our leaders do not set the compass in the right direction, both in word and in deed, other efforts will be seriously compromised.

Families should as a matter of principle value gender equality by nurturing and training children – both boys and girls – to develop a better culture around gender.

This will take deliberate effort on the part of parents. Parents will have to hold each other to account in terms of both teaching and demonstrating gender equality.

Especially important is the role of good fathers and husbands that can be champions against GBV and influence other men in society.

Institutional leadership have a responsibility not only to enact policies that safeguard against GBV but to also lead by example.

For instance, institutions should listen to the jokes, social talk and subtle comments that reveal the organisation’s culture around gender.

Institutions should set the right tone, reinforce positive behavior and address inequalities faced by women.

To end GBV, we need to work in partnership with all leaders in society.

Business owners, parents, grandparents, politicians, the coach, the chief, the imam/pastor/priest can help us achieve equity, end discrimination and eliminate social practices that increase gender inequality.

As we head towards the end of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, I call upon every man, woman, boy and girl to embrace a new culture that stands against violence.

We call upon you to value women and girls as equal to men and boys.

* Liam MacGabhann is the Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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HARARE - The Zimbabwe Diaspora Investment Group Limited (ZiDIG), a private equity investment consortium launched by Zimbabweans based in the UK, will lead an investment mission of Diaspora investors to Zimbabwe in January 2018.

The Zimbabwe Diaspora Trade and Investment Mission, which will include at least 20 Zimbabwean professionals and entrepreneurs based in the UK, is set to meet with senior government officials, business leaders and trade bodies to explore various investment opportunities for Zimbabwe’s Diaspora.

“We are finalising our itinerary for the trade mission which we will publicise shortly” said ZiDIG’s chief executive officer Taffi Nyawanza said.

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Nyawanza said he had always been an optimist when it came to Zimbabwe as an investment destination for the Diaspora population and the developments in the country in the last two weeks of November have added an exciting dimension for ZiDIG.

“We were certain that change was imminent when we set up ZiDIG and our timing as well as faith in the country and its opportunities have been vindicated,” said Nyawanza, a practising lawyer and principal solicitor at UK legal firm Genesis Law Associates.

He said although ZiDIG already had plans in place to launch its Zimbabwe offices, the changes in the country have made it necessary to include an investment mission comprised of Diaspora investors with interests in various sectors of the economy.

“We believe that Zimbabwe is an exciting investment destination and we have reached out to various institutional investors who are equally excited about investing and unlocking value in the economy and creating jobs”.

The mission, in the 10 days, is expected to sign various agreements that will lead to the efficient channelling of Zimbabwean Diaspora investment funds into the country.

ZiDIG in February at its launch in UK’s second city Birmingham, raised from its founding shareholders  £100 000 into a seed fund to leverage larger institutional investor funding.

In addition to this, the consortium recently secured a grant from a UK Developmental Institute to, among other things, open an operations office in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe operations head office opened in Eastlea in Harare will coordinate Diaspora trade and investment activities including carrying out due diligence on projects and businesses seeking foreign investment.

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HARARE - President Emerson Mnangagwa must pursue a package of comprehensive reforms aimed at underpinning the sea political change won in the military-led intervention with economic gains, economic experts said yesterday ahead of the National Budget presentation today.

Scrapping bond notes, attracting investment capital, widening the tax base and creating opportunities and jobs are a constant demand by younger Zimbabweans frustrated that economic progress has not matched the political transition ushered by the uprising that ousted autocrat Robert Mugabe as president.

It is a delicate balance for the new government. Mnangagwa swore in his new Cabinet on Monday, attracting much disappointment on the make-up of the team.

But economists are mostly interested in the medium-term moves of under-fire Ignatius Chombo’s successor as Finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa.

Chinamasa, who had previous experience as Justice minister, was sacked from the Finance portfolio in early October after four years in the job over his vocal opposition to the most destructive policies in the late stages of Mugabe’s time in office: the bond notes and the Indigenisation law.

On Monday, as his Cabinet took office, Mnangagwa was emphasising the importance of economic progress.

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“I want (Zimbabweans) to be united, we must grow our economy,” he said.

A military operation undertaken in Harare in the second week of last month, which resulted in the stepping down of Mugabe, ignited a heavy stocks sell-off on outlook optimism.

The initial shock saw industrials shed 40 percent in value before partial recovery.    

NKC African Economics analyst François Conradie said while expectation was that Mnangagwa will seek support for his policies at the Zanu PF congress on December 12, he said Chinamasa will give some clearer indication of what can be expected in terms of policy changes when he presents his 2018 National Budget today.

Government spending in Zimbabwe has been out of control in recent years: with a budget deficit forecast of $1,5bn in 2017 or 8,7 percent of GDP as the government continues to pay out high amounts in wages to a bloated civil service while it struggles to tax the slow-growing economy. Problems with “ghost workers” on the State payroll make matters worse.

Government has had trouble borrowing money from abroad as prospective lenders have had doubts over Zimbabwe’s ability to repay.

“This explains the rapid loss of value of the bond notes in September and October: Government simply printed notes that were not backed by hard currency, and traders started charging premiums to shoppers using the notes.

“The International Monetary Fund said last week it will dispatch a staff mission to Zimbabwe in the coming days to meet with officials of the new government and assess the country’s fiscal and economic situation, IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice said.

Rice told a news briefing the regular staff visit to Harare “will update our assessment of Zimbabwe’s fiscal position, foreign exchange developments and enquire about the new administration’s economic plans.”

In late November, some automated teller machines were again issuing US dollars — a clear indication that Mnangagwa’s transition team has been able to borrow something.

“We expect that means he has made some promises on policy reform to potential investors, and that he will announce these reforms on Thursday (today),” Conradie said.

Former Finance minister Tendai Biti told the Daily News that Zimbabwe’s “bond note” currency must be scrapped pronto.

“Bond notes should be demonetised, nobody has confidence in anything that resembles the Zimdollar,” Biti said.

“It has become an instrument of arbitrage, we don’t need bond notes, we must stick to the multiple currency regime, perhaps join the Rand Monetary Union. We should stimulate exports, earn more.

“You can’t have an instrument not backed by any value. Zimbabweans were traumatised and raped by the Zimdollar. You can’t put a tanker against the economy.” 

Businessman and financial engineering expert Mutumwa Mawere said: “They (bond notes) should be dead. However, there is a physical problem of cash in motion. What is the most durable cure?

“The moment that people in government realise how powerless they are and should be on matters that fall outside their control, the better.

“Cash is a product of effort and willing buyer and willing seller transactions.

“Cash that is a consequence of value addition should never be stolen in the name of a mistaken and self serving interest.”

Introduced by Mugabe’s government last November as part of a desperate bid to starve off a cash flow crisis, the notes are supposed to be traded 1-1 with the US dollar but are trading at anything up 1-1,3.

Zimbabwe abandoned its own currency in 2008 and officially adopted the American currency.

But continued economic uncertainty led people to stash dollars outside the country, prompting a critical shortage.

Mnangagwa has proclaimed an amnesty for people to return money stashed abroad in the country.

Conradie said: “Although we have reservations about Mnangagwa, who stands accused of a lot of crimes that happened under the Mugabe government, and we worry about the prospects of a free and fair election in August, we are fairly confident in our expectation of economic reforms that will improve the business environment and attract investment.”

Conradie said he expected that Chinamasa will announce some reforms that aim to attract investment capital and to widen the tax base.

“Key target areas should be reforming or repealing the Indigenisation law, which has hampered investment, and scrapping the bond note scheme in favour of hard currency borrowed abroad,” he said.

“Economic policy to attract foreign direct investment and build up a tax base should focus on agriculture — which produces far below potential and where much land is essentially lying fallow, mining, where a parallel State under Mugabe kept production secret to avoid paying any money to Treasury and services in general — tourism is an easy early play here.”

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HARARE – The late health advisor to the President and Cabinet Timothy Stamps passed away on Sunday at the age of 81, but his months-long battle with a stroke and broken neck showed how tough the fight was — and how unusual it is for people to survive with these ailments for long.

His son narrated at his memorial at the Celebration Centre yesterday how he struggled with slurred and long speeches and failed to attend family weddings and funerals.

The former Health minister eventually succumbed to a lung infection. He was declared a national hero. The family passed an opportunity to have him interred in a royal burial ground at the National Heroes Acre.

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He asked to be cremated so that his ashes could be kept by his beloved family. He reportedly left precise instructions about the kind of funeral he wanted.

It is understood that he told his family he did not want to be buried. His family respected his wishes to be cremated, and a private funeral service.

“Dad had a stroke in 2001 but he continued to serve the people in a mildly handicapped state, his mind still as sharp as ever,” Stamps’ son Kenyon said.

“He spent more time with us as a family to which we are really blessed...

“We remember that this extra handicap later frustrated him, because he was not able to do what he was used to, and sometimes he struggled with long speeches.”

He said in 2008, his government salary could only buy him two loaves of bread a month.

“During my visit from university, we used to have one meal a day of home grown potatoes. Despite the economic challenges of the time, he continued to forge a way forward, the best he could to serve the people of Zimbabwe.

“... he failed to attend two daughters’ weddings and a daughter-in-law’s  funeral and also restricted us children from studying in the United Kingdom. Despite this, he continued with a stubborn resolve to serve the people of Zimbabwe.

“In 2015 he broke his neck for the second time in his life, which confined him to a wheelchair but still continued to serve Zimbabwe.

“At times he would be ill but nevertheless going to the office as he did. Through this whole time he used to invite us his family over for lunch every Sunday.”

Stamps’ other son Talfan said during the last two months, the former Health minister hated how his poor health restricted him to his home.

“He hated his last months unable to see anyone. Dad was incorruptible, even in 2008 when his salary could not even pay school fees for one child. He would not even change $1 on the black market,” he said.

World Health Organisation country representative David Okello gave credit to Stamps over the establishment of a WHO regional office in Zimbabwe.

Stamps was an advisor for many government programmes including national disability issues.

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HARARE – Air Vice Marshal Shebba Shumbayaonda has replaced Perrance Shiri as Air Force boss on an acting basis, President Emerson Mnangagwa said at the unveiling of the name change of KG VI to Josiah Magama Tongogara barracks in Harare yesterday.

Shiri is now Lands minister in President Mnangagwa’s new Cabinet sworn in on Monday.

A former Air Commodore, Shumbayaonda was promoted to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal in April 2011. He joined the Airforce of Zimbabwe as Air Sub Lieutenant on April 1, 1980, rising through the ranks.

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It is not clear who has replaced Major General Sibusiso Moyo, who appeared on State television on the morning of November 15 to announce the military intervention with the memorable words “the situation in our country has moved to a new level.” Moyo is the new Foreign minister.

Efforts to get a comment from Mnangagwa at the ceremony if Moyo and Shiri had resigned from the armed forces were futile.

Mnangagwa said  Aaron Nhepera is now the acting director general in the President’s Department, replacing Happyton Bonyongwe who served briefly as Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister.

Bonyongwe became one of the shortest lived Cabinet ministers after he was replaced by Zvimba West legislator, Ziyambi Ziyambi, a month into the job.

Yesterday, the Daily News correctly reported a shake-up was looming in the security sector as Mnangagwa moves to fill in the vacancies occasioned by the elevation of top service chiefs before and after the dramatic exit of his predecessor, Robert Mugabe.

By virtue of their Cabinet appointments, Shiri and Moyo automatically relinquished their positions in the security service.

Section 106(2) of the Constitution does not allow vice presidents, ministers and deputy ministers to directly or indirectly hold any other public office or undertake in any paid work during their tenure of office.

In the secret service, the office of director-general of the Central Intelligence Organisation has been vacant since October when Bonyongwe was appointed Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister by Mugabe.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa said his priorities on economic recovery is to introduce cost-cutting measures, stamping out corruption and plugging all resource leakages wherever they have occurred.

“This includes the compelling need to ensure that all those who looted State resources return them or else the long arm of the State will catch up with them.

“As the economy improves, it also gives us the room to improve your conditions of service particularly in the area of institutional accommodation where we can leverage on the abundant engineering skills amongst ZDF members,” Mnangagwa said later at the graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe Staff College.

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HARARE – Former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo’s bail hearing in the High Court was postponed again to today.

His hearing is being heard together with that of ex-Zanu PF youth chairperson, Kudzanai Chipanga, who is being charged with publishing falsehoods prejudicial to the State.

Allegations against Chipanga arose after he compiled a speech he read out at a press conference in Harare last month, criticising Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, Constantino Chiwenga.

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Prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba applied to have both matters deferred to today.

He said only received the transcribed record of proceedings that were held in the lower court late.

“We only managed to receive the transcribed script last night (Tuesday) and have not finished compiling a response to the accused person’s application for bail. We assure the court that it will be in by end of day,” Nyazamba said.

Chombo’s lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, consented to the postponement and both parties will commence oral arguments today.

The ex-minister is being charged with fraud, criminal abuse of office and contravening the Prevention of corruption Act during his tenure of office in the Local Government ministry with the State arguing that his alleged activities prejudiced it of $3,6 million.

He was denied bail by Harare magistrate Elisha Singano last month following a ruling that he was a flight risk and would cause public outcry if released on bail.

If convicted of the charges, Chombo faces up to 55 years behind bars.

The ex-Local government minister had offered $2 000, his passport, title deeds to his house, report at Marlborough Police Station thrice every day and give police free passage to visit his residence anytime in an attempt to buy his freedom but the court turned down his offer.

Nyazamba — presenting allegations against Chombo — alleged that on October 1, 2005 he hatched a plan to defraud the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) under “Other Crops and Livestock Support Facility” provided by the central bank.

It was alleged that Chombo would apply for capital expenditure loans purportedly for agriculture equipment but splashed the money on his personal endeavours and bought various cars, one of which was delivered to his stepdaughter, socialite Pokello Nare.

Chombo applied for Capital Expenditure Loan amounting to ZW$14 billion which was to be paid within 18 months and indicated his address as Allen Grange Farm, Rafingora, it was alleged.

Under Section 4 of the RBZ “Other Crops and Livestock Support Facility Application Form” Chombo was alleged to have misrepresented that he was going to use the proposed funds for the purchase of various agricultural equipment.

The equipment included a 30-tonne lorry valued at ZW$2 billion, a 30-tonne truck valued at ZW$1,5 billion, a 200 hp tractor four-wheel drive valued at ZW$2,5 billion, a combine harvester valued at ZW$5 billion, 52 dish roam disc valued at ZW$1 billion, nine row monosem planter valued at ZW$1,2 billion , 2x500kg chicken feed mixer valued at ZW$ 8 million.

Under Section 7 of the application, Chombo declared as borrower that the funds shall not be used to finance non-eligible expenditure and a performance contract was signed between Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) Limited represented by now RBZ governor, John Mangudya and Chombo as borrower in which he acknowledged that any deviation will be considered a serious offence.

The court heard on December 2005, a total of ZW$14 billion loan was credited into Chombo’s CBZ account number 20973050018, which became the opening balance for the fraudulently opened.

It was further alleged that on December 15, 2005, Chombo with the intent to defraud RBZ gave written instruction to Collin Muchirahondo of CBZ Borrowdale Branch to transfer ZW$14 billion from his CBZ individual current account into Red Beard Investments trading as Equivest Asset Management.

The court also heard that Chombo abused funds and it was investigated and established that he had imported various motor vehicles, including a Toyota Hilux Vigo for socialite Pokello which was delivered at 222 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare.

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HARARE – Barely a fortnight after executing a smooth transfer of power in a soft, smart rebellion whose sophistication earned them global acclaim, the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) embarrassingly unveiled a plaque with a misspelt name of the country etched onto expensive granite.

Instead of the correct spelling, Zimbabwe, the plaque had the inscription Zimbawe, with the letter b missing.

The humiliating incident happened during the ceremony to rename the iconic King George VI Barracks in Harare.

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Until yesterday, the barracks had remained saddled with the colonial era name of George VI, who was an imperial King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 until his death in 1952.

The barracks were renamed Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks, after the venerated commander of Zanla who never witnessed the independence he so fervently fought for as he died tragically in a suspicious car accident right on the eve of liberation.

Many Zimbabweans have several theories relating to the death of Tongogara, a charismatic guerrilla leader who was widely expected to win the 1980 presidential election.

The ZNA is in the process of immortalising the decorated freedom fighters by renaming all barracks countrywide after ornamented liberation war heroes.

But the beginning of such an exercise was not so rosy as the unimaginable spelling error ended up stealing the thunder, leaving the top military men who skilfully masterminded the former president’s ouster with egg on the face.

A meticulous President Emmerson Mnangagwa spotted the flagrant error.

Flanked by the adored fallen commander’s widow, Angeline, and other dignitaries, Mnangagwa approached the plaque, radiating with confidence before he was struck with the unbelievable error as he read the engraved message.

The plaque read: “Renaming of the barracks was officially commissioned by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and commander-in-chief of the Zimbawe (sic) Defence Forces, Cde. E.D. Mnangagwa on 06 December 2017.”

Mnangagwa shook his head and abruptly stopped reading when he got to the spelling mistake.

He immediately called ZNA chief-of-staff, Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba.

“Douglas where are you, come here,” Mnangagwa said softly, scanning the crowd.

Nyikayaramba then quickly weaved his way through a cluster of security men to reach his new uppermost commander.

“Chii ichi? What’s that, a spelling mistake?” asked Mnangagwa pointing at the misspelt nomenclature of the Republic.

Nyikayaramba immediately acknowledged the mistake.

“Your Excellency, we are going to correct it,” said Nyikayaramba and promptly saluted.

Mnangagwa did not salute back.

The two men then shook hands and turned their backs on the plaque.

The incident left watchers wondering how the mistake eluded the army’s usually strict gate-keeping procedures.

The mistake comes days after the weekend boob that saw Mnangagwa dropping two men he had originally named to his Cabinet in the face of public opposition: Lazarus Dokora, the very unpopular Primary and Secondary Education minister, whom he had originally intended to retain from Mugabe’s Cabinet, and Clever Nyathi, who was replaced with Petronella Kagonye apparently to improve women’s representation and to conform to the constitutional requirement that all but five ministers must be members of Parliament.

This is not the first time that a bizarre spelling mistake involving a president has triggered widespread national reaction.

In 2006, two Air Zimbabwe workers who were part of the crew handed Mugabe and his family a menu card with a stomach-churning typographical error during a flight to the Far East in August and got themselves demoted.

The corrupted menu card to the then all powerful Mugabe had an item that should have read “Chimukuyu and Dovi” and yet it turned up as something revolting when as a result of a typographical error, the letter ‘d’ replaced ‘v’, and ended up depicting human faecal material.

The rightful menu would have been dried beef laced with peanut butter.

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HARARE - CAPS United defender Hardlife Zvirekwi’s reign as the Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Star ends when his successor is inducted into the elite club at a ceremony set for a local hotel in the capital tonight.

Zvirekwi had a relatively quiet season by his high standards and was plagued by fatigue as he rarely had an off season for the past three years due to his involvement with the national team.

The Makepekepe utility player even failed to make it on the shortlist this year largely due to subdued performances for the Green Machine.

In a rather average season for most Premiership players, there has to be a winner and who will walk away with the big award remains to be seen this evening in what promises to be a glittering ceremony.

The Soccer Stars selection was done last month by a panel of football writers, club coaches and captains, who met in the capital to pick XI players who make up the finalists of this year’s award.

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What is only left is for the top three players to be announced at tonight’s banquet.

It appears there is going to be a tight call between players such as FC Platinum’s Rodwell Chinyengetere, Dynamos’ Ocean Mushure, Tichaona Mabvura of Ngezi Platinum Stars and CAPS United’s Devon Chafa.

Other contenders are FC Platinum defender Kelvin Moyo, Chicken Inn’s Moses Jackson as well as Dynamos’ Cameroonian striker Christian Ntouba.

Chinyengetere started the season quietly but blossomed in the second half of the season where he was the leading light in the FC Platinum attack.

The former Hwange forward finished the season with nine goals as he helped his side to become the first team outside Harare or Bulawayo to win the league title.

His teammate Kelvin Moyo also had a memorable season at the heart of Pure Platinum Play’s defence.

Apart from providing a reliable shield at the back, the left-footed centre back also scored some crucial goals to steer the Zvishavane-based side to league title glory. 

Mushure also had a good season with the Glamour Boys as he blossomed after coach Lloyd Mutasa pushed him forward in a advanced role in midfield.

The DeMbare skipper scored a number of memorable goals especially from dead-ball situations to help his side finish in second place just two points behind FC Platinum.

Ntouba illuminated the local Premiership with his goal scoring prowess especially in the first half of the season.

The Cameroonian was unplayable in some games as he used his physical stature to bully defenders.

Ntouba could have scored more than the 12 goals he managed in his maiden season in Zimbabwe had he found the back of the net more regularly in the second half of the season.

Mabvura was arguably the reason why Ngezi Platinum launched a sustained assault on the Castle Lager Premiership title before finishing in third place.

The midfielder was the heartbeat of Tonderai Ndiraya’s team this season in which he finished with seven goals and assists 13.

While CAPS United struggled to juggle between the domestic campaign and their African Champions League commitments, Chafa emerged as the midfield beast.

He never put a foot wrong in what was a demanding season for the Green Machine making him one of the favourites to land the top gong tonight.

CAPS United’s Dominic Chungwa has already been confirmed the Golden Boot winner after finishing the season with 17 goals.

Chungwa is also in the running for the Soccer Star award after making in on the finalists’ list.

Although Chicken Inn unravelled in the dying stages of the season, Jackson had already done enough to earn the plaudits of football followers.

He was solid at the back and a major threat when going forward as he chipped in with some important goals.  

Delta Beverages, who are official sponsors of the Premiership, are also bankrolling tonight’s awards where the winner is guaranteed to pocket $5 000.

His two runners-up will get $3 000 and $2 000 respectively while the rest of the finalists take home $1 500 each.

The Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and the Referee of the Year will also be honoured at the same event.

It appears a two-horse race between FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza and Dynamos’ Lloyd Mutasa for the top award.

Mapeza led the platinum miners to their maiden championship in an intriguing race which involved DeMbare who had to settle for second finishing two points behind the newly crowned champions.

Shabanie Mine’s Takesure Chiragwi is also being mentioned in some sections for the manner in which he led the Chinda Boys to escape the chop in dramatic fashion.

Mutasa is being credited for salvaging what looked like a lost season for the Glamour Boys with a relatively average side made up of mostly misfits assembled at the start of the season.

There is also an award for the Goalkeeper of the Year with FC Platinum’s Wallace Magalane and Chicken Inn’s Elvis Chipezeze appearing to be the two front runners.

Just like every year, the 2017 Soccer Star of the Year selection created lot of debate after the selectors did not considered a goalkeeper to be part of the best XI.

Ever since the awards started, a goalkeeper has always been part of the crème dela crème of domestic football.    

2017 Soccer Stars finalists: Christian Ntouba, Clemence Matawu, Devon Chafa, Dominic Chungwa, Kelvin Moyo, Moses Jackson, Ocean Mushure, Qadr Amini, Rodwell Chinyengetere, Terence Dzvukamanja, Tichaona Mabvura.

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HARARE – South African socialite and dancer Zodwa Wabantu who was billed to grace Private Lounge in Harare and Club Connect in Bulawayo has once again duped her local promoters, Devine Assignments.

This is the second time that Zodwa has sold her local promoters a dummy.

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“Devine Assignments regrets to announce the cancellation of Zodwa Wabantu’s scheduled tour of Zimbabwe which was supposed to start on Thursday December 7 in Harare and in Bulawayo on December 8.

“As we had paid her for, we are treating this unfortunate incident of bad faith, unprofessionalism and outright deceit as fraud and will be advised by our partners on the way forward. We deeply regret this turn of events for the fans who were anticipating the show,” reads a statement from Devine Assignments director Biggie Chinoperekwei.

This comes barely a month after the mother of one sold another dummy to the same promoters.

Last month she was booked for three shows in Bulawayo (Club Connect), Harare (Private Lounge) and Mutare (Club 263) but she chose not to fulfil assignment claiming she feared the former Ppresident Robert Mugabe despite the fact that she had accepted advance payment.

After the resignation of Mugabe, Zodwa agreed to fulfil the shows on December 7 and 8 in Harare and Bulawayo respectively.

However, she was nowhere to be found on the last minute.

“While every effort was made to ensure that the socialite fulfils her scheduled appearances, in bad faith and with no communication, Zodwa has gone incommunicado and all access lines to her are either going unanswered, or are totally off. This is in spite of the fact that to ensure she turns up, we as an entertainment entity had sent an emissary to Durban to be her chaperone and accompany her to Harare for her tour,” reads the statement.

“Although she had talked to the chaperone and promised to pick them up from the airport, Zodwa did not turn up and has been running circles around the chaperone and us. While we appreciate that her legions of fans in Zimbabwe have been clamouring to have us bring her to the nation, our patience has worn thin and barring a very spectacular explanation from Zodwa, we will NOT be having any further dealings with her.”

Initially the controversial socialite was invited to be part of the Harare International Carnival held in September courtesy of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority but she faced a lot of resistance from some sections of the society who viewed her dressing as misfit to the Zimbabwean culture.

After some heated social debate, Zodwa was banned to perform at the event by the Censorship Board because of her stance in not wearing underwear, a development that was deemed a threat to Zimbabwe’s conservative culture.

Later, the Censorship Board chaired by former Education minister Aeneas Chigwedere cleared Zodwa to come into the country but she failed to attend for undisclosed reasons.

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HARARE - Today and tomorrow all roads in Harare will lead to Alexandra Sports Club where the inaugural Zimbabwe Arts Festival will be held, courtesy of Bumris Entertainment.

The event is expected to attract more than 200 artists from all forms of art.

Some of the musicians expected to perform today at the event include Jah Prayzah, Soul Jah Love, School Bands, Ammara Brown, Extra Large, Trevor Dongo, Ex Q and Winky D among others.

On Saturday, Baba Harare, Mbira Dzenharira, Suluman Chimbetu, Somandla Ndebele, Oliver Mtukudzi, DjTamuka, BaShupi, Tocky Vibes, Sniper Storm and Dj Stavo among others will share the stage.

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Jah Prayzah returns to Jongwe Corner

Jah Prayzah will take his Kutonga Kwaro album to Jongwe Corner in Harare’s Hatfield suburb on Sunday afternoon.

He will be supported by Carlos Green.

Young Igwe returns to Chegutu

Sungura musician popularly known as Young Igwe in showbiz circles is performing at Top 3 in Chegutu tonight before moving to Tsungubvi Bar in Glendale on Saturday.

Westgate throws early Christmas party

Jah Prayzah, Oliver Mtukudzi, Ammara Brown and Winky D will share the stage today from 1500 hours at Westgate shopping centre in Harare.

Dubbed Westgate Christmas Lights Ceremony, the event is for free.

Apart from the performing artistes, there will be jumping castles, Father Christmas and Ajigija among other interesting characters for children.

Sulu embarks on a busy weekend

Captain Suluman “Sulu” Chimbetu’s fans are in for a rare treat this weekend beginning this afternoon when the Nyuchi singer performs at Takashinga Cricket Club in Highfield in Harare for The World Human Rights Commemoration on Saturday.

During the night, Sulu will perform at Iridium Life (ex-Jazz 24/7) in Harare.

He Sulu will first join other musicians at Westgate Complex in Harare before proceeding to Harare Gardens for another performance at EcoSure draw.

Party continues on Saturday night with a performance at Alex Sports Club at Zim Arts Festival.

The Orchestra Dendera Kings wraps up the weekend assignment with a family show at Extra Mile Leisure Spot on Sunday.

Zim photographer up for continental gong

Zimbabwean-born Kudzai King could be honoured by the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards (Asfa) set to take place tonight at Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda.

King, who was born and raised in Harare and is currently based in Cape Town, South Africa, is in the running for the Fashion Photographer of The Year (Africa) at the gongs that celebrate and acknowledge fashion industry stake holders such as designers, stylists, hair and makeup artists and media personalities on the continent .

Asfa, held annually in Kampala since 2013, touted as the biggest red carpet event in Africa, is running under the theme “African Fashion is the Future #FashionTakeover.”

Songstress launches debut album

Rising songstress Carmen Hwarari Mutengo will launch her album tonight at Harare International School located in Mt Pleasant, Harare.

Titled I Call to You, the 10-track album is Carmen’s debut solo album.

The young Zimbabwean singer is happy with the versatility she showed on the album.

“Most of the songs on the 10-track album have a gospel incline and some are insightful social commentary. It is hard to pin down to a single genre; it is really diverse but with a strong African identity in terms of rhythms and vocals,” said Carmen.

In her bid to come up with a quality debut offering, the rising songstress, who is also a music teacher, worked with some of Zimbabwe’s best instrumentalists. These include gifted young drummer and marimba player Blessing “Bled” Chimanga who featured on a song titled Zvisikwa.

Other notable instrumentalists who worked with Carmen include Mokoomba guitarist Trust Samende, former members of Victor Kunonga’s Band Peace Norman Masamba (guitar) and Pritchard Chikwama (bass).

Carmen also roped in Zweli Hlatshwayo (bass), Enock Rugube (keyboard), Vusa Mtunzi (saxophone), Taona Mutengo (guitar), Courage Gwezhira (guitar) and Brian Munongwa (drums.)

Backing vocals on the album were provided by Monalisa Kapofu, Taona Mutengo and Robin Murenzvi.

Old Skool Braai Party at CBC tonight

The City Bowling Club (CBC) Kitchen in the Harare Gardens, which is located at corner Hebert Chitepo Avenue and Parklane Street, will host yet another free Old Skool Braai Party tonight.

DJ Snizzle will as usual be on the turntable.

Club Mandisa host BV Labien Musica

Mutare city centre joint — Club Mandisa is winding off a two-day B.V Labien rhumba fest tonight.The Boniface Nyamhanhindi-owned club will then transform into a dancehall with Mandisa Queens and Kings battling for bragging rights from tonight through to Sunday.

Golden Peacock Villa Hotel hosts Star Brite semis

Hospitality concern Golden Peacock Villa Hotel says it is ready to host this year’s semi-finals of Star Brite talent show penciled for December 8 and 9.

The grand finale will be held in Bulawayo before year end.

“We are ready for the show. In fact we have always been ready considering that hospitality is our business,” the hotel’s representative Willard Madhombiro told the Daily News this week.

Madhombiro said the top hotel was going to give guests to the talent search show a fore taste of what their festive packages will be like.

“While this talent show will be a big night we have many other events lined up into the new year with some big events on Christmas eve and new year’s eve,” he said.

Madhombiro said their institution was proud to be associated with the talent show because of its ability to unlock the potential many young Zimbabweans have bottled inside them.

“This show will be special for us as an institution because of what it represents — the ability to unlock the talent so many of our young people have across the country. We are proud to be associated with such an initiative,” Madhombiro said.

The event will see around 60 acts from all the country’s provinces battling it out for a place in the prestigious talent search show finals.

Star Brite patron Barney Mpariwa says 23 acts are set to qualify for the finals.

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HARARE – Opposition political parties in Zimbabwe should wake up from their deep slumber and smell the coffee because President Emmerson Mnangagwa is fast moving with the ball of change.

And already, Mnangagwa seems to be pre-empting everything that the opposition has been fighting for and his first port of call has been clamping down of Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)’s wings.

For years now, opposition political parties and the generality of Zimbabweans have been complaining bitterly about the ZRP’s unprofessional conduct, especially on the roads which had also irritated tourists.

The police force had also been blamed for riotous eruptions every time Zimbabweans or the opposition took to the streets for peaceful protests.

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The opposition was also denied the right to hold rallies. Mnangagwa has heeded Zimbabweans’ cries; hence he put the ZRP under lock and key.

And ordinary Zimbabweans, not only motorists are happy that the police is off the roads.

People were getting to work late because of the numerous police check points that had coloured roads and streets leading into towns and cities.

In the eye of the public, reining-in the police has been a major score for Mnangagwa and recent calls by the opposition that the ZRP should come back to the streets soon without the monitoring of army officers are at the least surprising.

The opposition should not be blind to these developments as they are happening just a few months before the elections — they need to read the mood of the nation otherwise people will turn against them.

At the pace at which Mnangagwa is playing ball, the opposition will be surprised when the president among other pressing issues orders for electoral reforms to be implemented, scraps some controversial laws, allows international observers to monitor the elections and lays a conducive atmosphere for campaigning ahead of the 2018 elections.

I am sure Mnangagwa would like the issue of bank queues done with as soon as possible so that come 2018; he would have amassed a lot of trust from ordinary Zimbabweans.

While most Zimbabweans would have loved to see Mnangagwa appoint a Cabinet inclusive of opposition political figures that could have seen MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai bouncing back as prime minister, his new setup, however, best suits democracy.

We all agree that Zimbabweans, including opposition Members of Parliament, took part and celebrated the removal of former president Robert Mugabe, but that does not entail that all who participated had to be part of Mnangagwa’s government.

A Government of National Unity would have taken time to put together and this would have meant changing the Constitution to create the prime minister’s post.

Opposition parties have a lot of work to do within the few months left; they had all along been clamouring for Mugabe to resign or step down, and he has.

So what’s next for the opposition when they cannot even agree to form a grand coalition?

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa is stealing the limelight; calling for the white farmers to be compensated for the farms they lost, engaging with the West and fighting government corruption which had become a cancer!

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HARARE - A Harare court yesterday refused to prosecute a war veterans’ leader under an archaic law that punishes insulting the president with a one year jail term.

Prosecutors dropped charges of undermining the authority of the president against war veterans leader Victor Matemadanda, reflecting greater judicial independence under new President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

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Matemadanda — who was represented by leading rights attorney Beatrice Mtetwa — was a harsh critic of Mugabe who was pressured to resign by the army and ruling Zanu PF party a fortnight ago after 37 years in power.

Matemadanda, along with other executive members of his war veterans association, were arrested in July last year for allegedly penning a damning communiqué that denounced Mugabe for running down the country, formenting divisions and being manipulative in general.

The crackdown against dissent has been central to Mugabe’s authoritarian drive. The freedom to lampoon political leaders is one of the crucial differences between liberal democracies and authoritarian states. Freedom of expression simply cannot be negotiated with autocrats, dictators or bullies.

Mnangagwa has been rightly praised for refusing to use laws that undermine freedom of expression.

After all, Zimbabwe’s highest court has declared unconstitutional the draconian law which makes it a crime to insult the president. At least 80 cases have been filed in recent years under the law but there has not been a single conviction.

Under Section 33 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, a person could be jailed for up to a year or fined $100 for insulting the president’s office.

A new Constitution approved by 95 percent of Zimbabweans in a 2013 referendum expanded civil liberties.

Yet Mugabe remained in the propensity of punishing free speech under the guise of national security or insult laws, simply to silence dissent.

It is refreshing that Mnangagwa — an attorney-at-law —  is taking a different route.

After all, the international law framework governing freedom of expression is clearly contained in treaty law: Articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

There are also relevant but broadly-worded provisions on freedom of expression in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The withdrawal of presidential insult charges against Matemadanda is a victory for free speech and a further step away from state censorship powers.

Mnangagwa must now move towards total abolition of insult laws.

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