Mr Neven Mimica

Farirai Machivenyika / Paidamoyo Chipunza, Harare Bureau
The European Union is ready to work with the new Zimbabwe Government in formulating policies that will enable it to turn around the country’s economic fortunes.

This was said by visiting EU International Development Commissioner, Mr Neven Mimica, after meeting President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices yesterday.

Mr Mimica is the first high ranking EU official to visit the country since 2009.

“We discussed at the highest political level after 2009 but this demonstrates that EU would like to be a reliable partner of Zimbabwe in the process of (this) historic political, democratic transition,” Mr Mimica said.

“This is a process that the EU would like to engage on, to support and to accompany Zimbabwe’s authorities. We discussed it with the President and we agreed that this process should start first with fair and free elections in order to legitimise the whole reform processes in front of Zimbabwe,” said Mr Mimica.

“We look positively to the period in front of us and we would like to support Zimbabwe along the lines of the reforms that would actually open space for a new Zimbabwe, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe in the future.”

Acting Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, Simon Khaya Moyo said the meeting was productive as the EU had shown willingness to re-engage with Zimbabwe.

“The discussions were very productive. It is quite clear the EU is aware that the new dispensation is very serious about the matters of re-engagement and certainly the trips which His Excellency has undertaken to the Sadc region, the AU, to Abidjan and recently to the People’s Republic of China are clear indications that Zimbabwe is open for business at all levels,” Minister Khaya Moyo said.

“I can assure you that the discussions centred on a number of political, economic and other relations between us and the EU and in the end it was clear that the EU delegation is impressed by what is happening in the country and what efforts the new Government is making,” he said.

“They will be sending another delegation later on; obviously this would be to focus on specific areas in terms of economic cooperation,” he said.

He said President Mnangagwa had explained events leading to the launch of Operation Restore Legacy that ushered in the new Government.

“The President took the opportunity to explain the entire situation right from the day Operation Restore Legacy came into focus and the transitional measures which have been undertaken since then. The entire delegation was very impressed by what is happening in the country.

“We also touched on the coming elections and the President was very clear that these are going to be credible. We want to have elections which are free and fair and the delegation was invited to meet anybody they wish to meet in the country because we have nothing to hide.”

Also in Harare yesterday, the EU availed 23 million Euros towards health and the informal sector in Zimbabwe.

Majority of the funding, 20,6 million Euros will go towards ensuring equitable access to health services by women and children through reduction of maternal mortality, reduce the prevalence of stunting and mortality of children under the age of five.

It will also go towards fighting HIV and Aids, malaria and other prevalent diseases.

Efforts will be made to improve access by women to safe sexual and reproductive health and rights services.

The other three million Euro will assist local authorities in improving infrastructure for the informal sector and grassroots associations in selected districts such as Goromonzi, Manyame, Murewa, Mutoko and those in Harare.

Speaking at the signing ceremony by the EU, Government of Zimbabwe and a partnering organisation that will implement the projects in the country, Mr Mimica said the economic challenges in Zimbabwe had left many people vulnerable and resorting to the informal sector.

He said the EU had a long standing partnership with Zimbabwe in the health sector, particularly for individuals in most vulnerable situations where a number of gains had already been noted.

“The support of the EU can only be successful in partnership with the Government, with civil society, development partners and in particular the people that benefit from those projects,” said Mr Mimica.

Health and Child Care Minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said the funding would go a long way in sustaining gains made in the health sector through the Health Development Fund.

He said a pooled way of funding the health sector was more beneficial compared to a parallel approach evidenced by the success seen in the sector.

Dr Parirenyatwa said the Ministry of Health and Child Care would continue lobbying for more resources from the national fiscus to ensure that the health sector was not over-reliant on development partners.

“We will continue lobbying for more resources from the national budget so that we are not dependant on partners such as the EU, but these partners should complement us instead,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo thanked the EU for the support.

“There is immense potential for these informal traders to participate and contribute towards the growth of our economies,” he said. “Our country and local authorities have for long not taken advantage of this potential in the informal sector.

“I foresee this particular action providing a platform for tapping into this promising sector.”

Ms Sithulisiwe Mthimkhulu

Yemurai Ushamba, Chronicle Reporter
FORMER Police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri who was said to be in “hiding,” yesterday sent his lawyer to court to answer to a                $240 000 maintenance claim made by his mistress, Ms Sithulisiwe Mthimkhulu.

Dr Chihuri disappeared from the public space when he retired as the head of the country’s police force in December last year.

He has also failed to attend parliamentary hearings, where he had been summoned to testify.

Dr Chihuri’s mistress through her lawyer Mr Godfrey Nyoni of Moyo and Nyoni Associates last week revealed that she was failing to serve him with maintenance summons.

Ms Mthimkhulu is demanding a $240 000 lump sum from Dr Chihuri for the upkeep of their child doing Grade Four.

After failing to serve Dr Chihuri with summons Mr Nyoni resorted to a public notice in the Press to notify Dr Chihuri of his pending court case.

She notified him that he risked a default judgment if he failed to show up.

Dr Chihuri, through his lawyer Mr Arthur Marara of Mutamangira and Associates petitioned Bulawayo magistrate Miss Sharon Rosemani to make the matter private as it was attracting “unnecessary” attention to his client.

Dr Augustine Chihuri

“The matter is attracting a lot of media attention and we are trying to minimise it since this matter involves a child.

“We are also trying to protect the interest of the child. My client is still a public figure, a former police Commissioner and this can also damage his image,” said Mr Marara.

Mr Nyoni agreed that the matter should be confidential as it could also damage the reputation of his client, who is a senior police officer.

Miss Rosemani granted permission for the case to be heard confidentially before demanding that third parties vacate the court room.

A Chronicle news crew was among the people who were in the gallery who left court as the proceedings continued.

However, court papers that the news crew saw showed that the two parties agreed for an out of court settlement on the matter.

“By consent parties agreed to meet and do an out of court settlement and report back on May 14,” read the court papers.

Recently police said Dr Chihuri’s whereabouts were not known as they had failed to locate him to appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy.

His successor Commissioner General Godwin Matanga told legislators that he had unsuccessfully tried to locate his former boss.

Dr Chihuri did not turn up for the first hearing on March 16 when he was supposed to appear before the committee, along with Commissioner General Matanga, and former Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo.

He again failed to turn up on March 23, prompting committee chair Mr Temba Mliswa to order Comm Gen Matanga to leave no stone unturned in his search for Dr Chihuri.

Yesterday, he again failed to appear before the committee.

@YUshamba

Mr Nelson Chamisa

Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor
MDC-T leader Mr Nelson Chamisa’s attempt to ride on the legacy of the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo has backfired after the family dismissed as false claims that they endorsed and offered him the veteran nationalist’s intonga (sceptre).

Addressing an MDC Alliance rally in Bulawayo, made up of bussed people from outside the city, Mr Chamisa falsely claimed that the Nkomo family had told him that he was the first “national leader” to visit the Joshua Nkomo Museum in Matsheumhlophe suburb since Dr Nkomo’s death in 1999.

“I was so touched when I went to Dr Nkomo’s Matsheumhlophe house. I was going there to see the history of this nation. However, the family told me one thing, they said ever since the death of Dr Nkomo I am the first national leader to visit the house, they even offered to give me Dr Nkomo’s traditional sceptre (intonga),” he said at the rally at White City Stadium on Saturday.

However, Dr Nkomo’s son, Mr Sibangilizwe Nkomo said none of the family members knew about Mr Chamisa’s visit to the museum while dismissing as an abomination claims that they offered the MDC-T leader the late VP’s intonga.

The sceptre became synonymous with Dr Nkomo’s identity as he carried it everywhere he went.

“There is nothing like that. Chamisa went to the Matsheumhlope house which is now a museum at the invitation of the chief executive officer of the Joshua Nkomo foundation, Mr Jabulani Hadebe. None of the family members knew about his visit,” said Mr Nkomo.

“I live in the Pelandaba house and it is a lie that he met any of the family members unless he came here as a ghost. In actual fact, I have never met Chamisa in my life.”

Mr Sibangilizwe Nkomo

On claims that the family offered Mr Chamisa Dr Nkomo’s intonga, Mr Nkomo said he was shocked, that a young man like Chamisa can speak such an abomination.”

“It’s not a matter that you can joke about. It’s an abomination that he can talk cheaply about intonga ka baba. That’s no ordinary stick but it carries so much significance in terms of culture and tradition, it’s the property of our ancestors. It represents our family’s ancestry and it is unacceptable for him to joke around with such matters,” said Mr Nkomo.

“In our African tradition, we do not offer intonga ka baba to anyone one who is not a member of the family. None of the care takers at the museum know where that stick is so we really do not know what he is talking about.”

Historian and culturalist Mr Phathisa Nyathi said it was impossible for intonga to be given to anyone from outside the family.

“Firstly, the children are not the ones who give the stick to the next person but another relative who was at par with the deceased. It could be the older or younger uncle and the stick strictly follows a blood line. It is impossible that it could be given to a person outside the blood line.

“The stick is then given to the qualifying son in the blood line. The determinant of qualifying son does not necessarily follow that the eldest son gets it first but the chosen one,” he said.

Mr Nkomo warned Mr Chamisa against seeking political mileage at the expense of Dr Nkomo.

He also dismissed Mr Chamisa’s claims that he was the first “national” leader to visit the Joshua Nkomo Museum, opened in January 2012, saying many leaders had visited the monument.

“Even claims about his visit to the museum are not true. The likes of Dumiso Dabengwa, Simon Khaya Moyo and many national leaders have visited that museum. He must not mislead the people with lies,” he said.

Meanwhile, MDC-T functionaries yesterday distributed pictures of Mr Chamisa visiting former war veterans leader, Cde Jabulani Sibanda at his Nkulumane home on Saturday, creating a false impression that he was in support of their cause.

However, sources privy to the meeting disclosed that Mr Chamisa desperately tried to woo Cde Sibanda into the MDC-T but without success.

“He tried in vain to convince Sibanda to join them. He promised that they would reward Sibanda if he joins them with more benefits than those he got in Zanu-PF. However, Sibanda made no commitment towards Chamisa, he just listened but did not respond,” said the source.

Walter Mswazie

FOUR people died on Tuesday morning when a vehicle they were traveling in veered off the road and overturned at the 38km peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road near Bhati Business Centre.

Masvingo Province Acting police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa confirmed the accident.

More details to follow

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council yesterday averted a “faeces protest” by angry residents in Entumbane suburb who say they have been living with raw sewage flowing through their homes for almost two weeks.

The residents resolved to scoop the human waste in buckets and splash it at the council offices in Mabutweni in protest over burst sewer pipes that have become a nightmare in the area.

More to follow. . .

Elias Mudzuri

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
MDC-T deputy president Engineer Elias Mudzuri has cast aspersions on the presidency of Advocate Nelson Chamisa saying members “followed the wind” in choosing him as the late founding party president Morgan Tsvangirai’s successor.

In an interview, Eng Mudzuri, who was non-committal on his support for Adv Chamisa’s presidential bid in the forthcoming elections, said it was regrettable that the party had split following the sacking of Dr Thokozani Khupe and her allies.

Eng Mudzuri, one of the three MDC-T deputies who were angling to succeed Mr Tsvangirai but fell into line as it became clear that Adv Chamisa had successfully grabbed power, said the late MDC-T president had wished for the party to remain united.

He said he was not sure if the party was taking the correct path following its recent split.

“There is a lot I can say but he (Adv Chamisa) is already there and we have to find a way of working with him and to see whether we can deliver the political goods. Opinions sometimes don’t matter with public office, it is the public that judges people,” Eng Mudzuri said.

“The only thing that I can say is that he has reached 40 years. That’s the age you are allowed to become a president. And we have to work to find if we can get there.”

Eng Mudzuri, however, said Adv Chamisa’s fate would be determined by the outcome of the forthcoming elections.

“If we don’t (win elections) that will be unfortunate but people would have seen that maybe… That is when people may revise what they would have done.

People never revise when they are in a certain mode,” he said.

“There is a saying by Confucius — a great Chinese philosopher — which says ‘when the wind blows all the grass bends towards the wind’. I mean the grass can only rise when the wind has stopped. But if the grass goes against the wind, it will break.”

Eng Mudzuri said the party should have tried to bring Dr Khupe and her allies back into the party.

“My personal thinking is that we should have been together. That was the thinking of our leader (Tsvangirai). We should have tried to be accommodative.

He (Tsvangirai) told me to try to work to unite the party.

“My comment might be more unconstructive than being constructive. We should have found a way of having the MDC family together. I still believe that while Khupe is away, we should talk to her and find a way of coming together . . . that is my thinking. If we are to get anywhere we should work together, we should be able to talk to each other,” he said. — @nqotshili

Mr Robert Mugabe

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy has resolved to summon former President Robert Mugabe to appear for a hearing as it seeks to conclude its probe into the alleged disappearance of $15 billion worth of diamonds from Marange diamond fields.

Mr Mugabe was the whistleblower on the alleged looting of diamonds at Chiadzwa.

The chairperson of the committee, Mr Temba Mliswa, said the committee had resolved to invite Mr Mugabe as it seeks answers on what actually transpired.

“The committee had already resolved to invite him after we had heard the evidence and if our recommendations suit what the inquiry was about, there might be no need to call him because it’s up to the information that we require. I cannot pre-empt anything because we will be seeking what we are seeking regarding the $15 billion worth of diamonds which went missing,” said Mr Mliswa.

The Norton legislator declined to state when Mr Mugabe was likely to appear before the committee saying it would depend on the answers that they would get from officials invited so far.

“If we have the answers there might be no need. But we had resolved that he must attend. My point is that we are not witch-hunting, we are actually trying to get institutions to respond to the $15 billion leakage in terms of diamonds.

“When we have received all the evidence we will deliberate on it but in terms of him coming we had resolved that we will invite everybody especially him since he was the source,” he said.

“But if the oral evidence indicates that he was right, what is the point. It’s subject to what we went through yesterday (Monday hearings) but we had already resolved (to invite him). After every oral evidence session, we sit down and deliberate. Before we met, we had resolved that he must come. The next thing is that now that we have received all this information, what is the way forward pertaining to the resolution that we made .This is when we say he will come on such a date.”

He said Mr Mugabe, as former President, would come last in the hearings.

Mr Mliswa said the committee would be  done with its hearings and recommendations in a fortnight.

“We will be done in the next two weeks. We will be doing recommendations as soon as we go back to the House (Parliament). We will certainly be tabling our report and recommendations. Definitely we will done before Parliament is dissolved otherwise we would have wasted our time and resources,” he said.

If Mr Mugabe appears before the committee, it would be the first time he makes a public appearance following his resignation last year.

The committee has summoned a number of the top officials to give evidence into the mining of diamonds from Chiadzwa.

Among the officials is Vice President Kembo Mohadi in his capacity as former State Security as well as Home Affairs Minister, former Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi and former State Security and Presidential Affairs Minister Mr Didymus Mutasa.

Vice President Kembo Mohadi, who was the Minister of Home Affairs at the time a concession  was granted to police in 2012, did not attend  the hearing on Monday as he had commitments elsewhere.

Minister of Home Affairs and Culture, Dr Obert Mpofu, who was the Minister of Mines at the time, recused himself from the hearings as he had written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Cde Jacob Mudenda, saying he was uncomfortable to do so as long as Mr Mliswa was chairing the hearing.

Comm-General Godwin Matanga, former Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo, former Mines and Energy Minister Walter Chidhakwa and officials from the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) have appeared before the committee in connection with the probe.

Mr Mliswa said the committee intends to leave no stone unturned in investigating the alleged                                                                                                              diamonds looting at Chiadzwa and was keen to interview former police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri whose whereabouts remain unknown.—@AuxiliaK

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A MAN from Binga struck an 86-year-old man to death with an axe after accusing him of bewitching him before setting upon two women from the same area with the same weapon, leaving them seriously injured.

Munkuli Mahlabezulu (30) of Minsale village went on a rampage on Sunday between 2PM and 3PM after claiming to have seen visions of Mr Chilemba Mudenda of Siyafugama Village bewitching him.

He allegedly struck Mr Mudenda, who was on his way home from the fields, once on the neck and he died on the spot.

Wielding the bloodied axe, Mahlabezulu allegedly proceeded to Mr James Mwinde’s homestead where he axed his two wives Ms Therezia Munkuli (41) and

Ms Sophia Siamuleba (53) after they “misunderstood” him while he was explaining why he had killed Mudenda.

The two women are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit at Binga District Hospital.

A police source said: “Mahlabezulu said he killed Mudenda because he suspected that he was bewitching him. He said he had visions and dreams of him doing evil practices on him”.

Mahlabezulu later went to Mr Mwinde’s homestead where a misunderstanding arose as he was explaining to the latter’s wives why he axed Mr Mudenda.

“He struck one of the women on the head once with the axe. He charged towards the other woman whom he struck three times on the head, chest and neck,” said the source.

Chief Saba yesterday said the incident had shocked the community.

“Mahlabezulu is a well respected family man. We are wondering what could have driven him to this frenzied and gruesome killing mode. The now deceased was a pensioner and had returned to stay at his rural home with his wives. He has never clashed with anyone,” said Chief Saba.

He warned villagers against behaving like animals and urged them to respect human life.

A source that preferred anonymity said Mr Mudenda’s wife, Selita (61), found his body in a pool of blood.

“She advised her neighbour Robert Munkuli and together they rushed to the scene,” said the source.

The source said Mr Mwinde’s wives attracted the attention of other villagers with their screams.

“The villagers apprehended Mahlabezulu and handed him over to the police,” added the source.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the murder and attempted murder incidents but could not give details.
“I’m waiting for details,” she said.—@winnie_masara

The first of the Zimbabwe Airways planes, a Boeing 777, at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare yesterday

Daniel Nemukuyu, Harare Bureau
Government yesterday took delivery of a Boeing 777 aircraft from Malaysia, which is part of an envisaged fleet of 10 aeroplanes to be managed under a new company tasked to boost the local aviation sector.

The 300-seater plane which arrived at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport yesterday is wholly owned by Government’s special purpose vehicle, Zimbabwe Aviation Leasing Company, which in turn, is leasing the aircraft to Zimbabwe Airways.

Zimbabwe Airways is also owned by Government and was formed to give Air Zimbabwe time to come back to its feet and recover from its debts.

The second Boeing that has already been paid for in Malaysia is expected in the country soon.

It is believed that the newly acquired planes will add oomph to efforts to open up the country to investment and boost local tourism and trade.

In essence, Government, through Zimbabwe Airways, plans to acquire three additional Boeing 777 aeroplanes to service regional and international routes, including six small planes that will be used as feeder aircraft for long-haul flights.

Government has already paid $41 million out of the $70 million that is needed for the four Boeing 777 planes.

It is believed that to date, local authorities have managed to arrange funding for two Boeing 777 planes and one Embraer.

Speaking after the delivery of the plane at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the new aeroplanes, contrary to speculation, belonged to Government.

“I wish to categorically state the aeroplane that is outside there is the property and asset of the Government of Zimbabwe,” he said. “I know speculation has been rife that the aircraft belonged to the former First Family.

“That is wrong and I am here to set the record straight. (Mr) Simba Chikore (former President Mugabe’s son-in-law) has no interests in the business, directly or indirectly.”

Minister Chinamasa said Mr Chikore, who was one of the pilots who flew the plane from Malaysia, was initially roped in to offer technical support and assist in negotiating the deal.

“(Mr) Simba Chikore has no shareholding in this plane,” he said. “We only recruited him to assist us with technical support during the negotiations since he has vast experience in the aircraft industry.”

Government has decided to lease out the planes to its newly created firm, Zimbabwe Airways, in order to allow Air Zimbabwe – currently laden with a $300 million debt – time to recover.

“Zimbabwe Aviation Leasing Company, which is 100 percent owned by the Government, is leasing the new Boeing 777 to Zimbabwe Airways, which is also wholly owned by the Government,” said Minister Chinamasa.

“We will lease the aircrafts to third parties until Air Zimbabwe, which is now a bottomless pit, puts its house in order.”

Minister Chinamasa said the deal had been kept under wraps since 2016 to avoid jeopardising negotiations.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive officer Mr Karikoga Kaseke urged Government to appoint a vibrant leadership to the new airline.

“I urge you to put a very serious board for the airline and a serious management team and everything will follow,” he said.

Mr Kaseke said in future, Government should inform the nation of such crucial deals to avoid speculation.

“I am one of the people who believed in the media reports,” he said. “We are concerned because when you do not give us information we will have to believe the newspaper stories.”

Mr Kaseke urged Government to reopen the traditional international routes for business.

“These Boeing 777 planes should go to their traditional routes like the Harare-London route,” he said. “Before Air Zimbabwe became a bottomless pit, we used to win awards every year as the best airline in Africa.

“I hope we will be flying to London, China and other countries as soon as possible.”

Government says aviation experts that have examined the Boeing 777 planes from Malaysia say they can operate efficiently for between 15 to 20 years.

Mr George Charamba

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson, Mr George Charamba, has said more government officials face arrest as the crackdown on corruption in Government is continuing.

He also shot down claims that the Government was targeting members of a particular cabal saying some officials in government were being investigated.

In an interview with a local radio station on Monday, Mr Charamba said more arrests would be made.

“Arrests have to be made on certain people, the question is have we seen enough of arrests and I’d dare say no for the simple reason that for as long as there are human beings who are operating in an environment and who are given to breaking the law then necessarily more arrests would be made in future,” he said.

Mr Charamba said the people who were arrested had cases to answer and arrests could not be made unnecessarily to justify that arrests were not political persecution.

“Except, the persons who have cases to answer were persons who were in the government that made way to the new dispensations isn’t it? It’s not being suggested that I should go to Buhera and arrest someone merely to balance it off. If the question is about the integrity in the use of resources then necessarily, those that were in government will have a case to answer.

“And really the questions in terms of which persons will have answer is not a closed chapter. It’s ongoing. There are quite a number of investigations underway. Investigations involving persons who are even in Government as we speak and when the investigations are done and complete definitely those persons would be arraigned before the courts.”

Mr Charamba said the fact that there were one or two characters that were arrested first might probably just indicate the pace of investigation and enormity of the alleged crimes which they are facing and that does not mean closure to the crackdown on corruption.

“Rather than prejudge a process why not take comfort that the era of impunity is gone and how that era goes is really a function of time and fullness,” he said.

Mr Charamba said the publishing of the list of externalisers by Government was to draw a line on investors and local business people to trade in a lawful way.

“So really, what we demonstrated through that list was an indication that high or low, wide or thin, big or small if at all you play games with our law we will not hesitate to take you down and a signal has been sent.

Firstly, to make sure that the errant companies do make restitution to this economy which is terribly abused and secondly to tell everyone in the market place that the past is another country. We’ve drawn a line and we better behave and trade in a lawful way,” he said.

Turning to agreements signed by the Government during President Mnangagwa’s visit to China recently, Mr Charamba said they were different from the previous ones signed by the last Government which were not economic focused.

“I fully understand and appreciate the frustrations of Zimbabweans. We have had so many so-called mega deals, a phrase I never use, that were signed in the past which as I said gave us lots food for thought but hardly any for the stomach.

“So necessarily, under those circumstances it’s only natural and fair that Zimbabweans develop sceptical outlook under terms of these initiatives. Except there are three key issues that define this new era that we are in and which therefore lays a basis for a different expectation which also exhorts us to move from cynicism and put ourselves anew,” he said.

He said on the first aspect, the new Government had moved from a business as usual tempo of doing business to a 100 day cycle results-oriented,    high accountability philosophy of managing public affairs.

“The second aspect is what I called the re-engineering of the state away from politics to Zimbabwe is open for business mantra as it has been articulated by the President. “You see that is much more than a mantra, it’s a world view where we are saying ultimately the behaviour and conduct of the state is judged by how well it responds to the FDI requirements as well as requirements of business as it moves forward.

Then, the third aspect which is really critical is that the previous mega deals emphasised government-to-government interaction. What I find very fascinating about this latest engagement by the Chinese is that there is more accent on company-led or private sector-led agreements so that the debt battle that we have can now be got better of, by redirecting capital via private enterprise which means essentially we are lowering the risk but we are also putting forward our private sector as the best leg on the basis to which we can beat the limitations that we have arising from the indebtness that is ours as a country,” he said.

@AuxiliaK

Thandeka Moyo, Health Reporter
PEOPLE who have their hair cut at salons are at high risk of contracting HIV through sharing barber clippers, the National Aids Council (Nac) has warned.
Clients also risk contracting the potentially fatal Hepatitis B and C.

Corroborating findings of a study published by the South African Medical Journal recently, a senior Nac official acknowledged that there is significant contamination of barber hair clippers with blood and blood-borne viruses.

The doctors concluded in the study that there is a need for public education on individual clipper ownership as is the case with a toothbrush.

Nac monitoring and evaluation director Mr Amon Mpofu said since cuts during a haircut or shave are inevitable, chances of infection are high.

“HIV is transmitted through fresh blood hence if anyone sustains any cut during the use of the clippers and there is blood, it can remain on the piece of equipment. If another person uses the same clipper and there is also breakage of the skin, he or she can get infected,” said Mr Mpofu.

“We encourage barbers to invest in sterilisers and numerous clippers so that they don’t use the same for all clients. They should use a single clipper on one person and sterilise it before it can be used on the next person.”

He encouraged members of the public to rather carry their own clippers to the salon rather than risk getting infections.

“It is almost like using one razor blade. Though HIV does not exist in dead blood, they cannot take that risk. When blood cells die the HIV virus dies but we encourage members of the public to be cautious and ensure they only use sterilised clippers or carry their own,” added Mr Mpofu.

It has been a long held public opinion that sterilisers at most barber shops in the country do not work.

“They put the clippers under ordinary light to make you think they are being sterilised. Those things should have UV light to kill the virus,” said Ms Eunice Mkhize from Bulawayo.

The journal article entitled, Blood and virus detection on barber clippers says most men still prefer the clean shave impabanga or zuda worn by the majority of black African men, which is also part of certain cultural rituals.

“This study confirms that there is significant contamination of barber hair clippers with blood and blood-borne viruses. Hepatitis B was detected with enough DNA copies to pose a risk of transmitting infection,” reads the study.

“Further studies to investigate barber clipper sterilisation practices and whether the clean-shave hairstyle is an independent risk factor for HIV, HBV and hepatitis C virus infections are warranted.”

Zimbabwe recorded 40 500 cases of new HIV infections in 2016 with the country’s southern region contributing 59 percent of them.

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in the HIV and Aids Estimates Report for 2016, there were approximately 36 700 new HIV infections that occurred among adults and 3 900 among children in 2016.

@thamamoe

Thokozani Khupe

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent

ADVOCATE Nelson Chamisa led MDC-T today recalled fired MDC-T deputy president Dr Thokozani Khupe from Parliament following her dismissal from the party.

Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda announced Dr Khupe’s expulsion during today’s National Assembly session.

Dr Khupe had served as the leader of the opposition in parliament for 10 years until her latest expulsion.

More details to follow…

Temba Dube , Deputy News Editor
A WOMAN from Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo has been arrested for possessing about 3kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of $470 000.

Sheron Tholiwe Tshuma (25) was arrested in a sting operation at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority offices in the city centre on Wednesday following a tip-off.

Tshuma, who works for an insurance company in the city, received 3,14 kg of cocaine through the post from India, via Harare.

Sources close to the case yesterday said Tshuma was supposed to send the highly addictive recreational drug to South Africa using omalayitsha.

“Police got a tip–off that a parcel containing the illegal hard drug was being sent to Tshuma from Harare,” said a source.

Detectives, said the source, went to Courier Connect Post offices and identified the parcel.

“The police liaised with Zimra and the contents of the parcel tested positive for high grade cocaine,” said the source.

“Police then monitored the parcel to see who would collect it in Bulawayo. Tshuma first showed up without enough money to pay for the delivery. A week

later on Wednesday, she returned with the money and collected the parcel,” the source said.

A source close to investigations said Tshuma burst into tears and claimed she had not been aware she was being used as a drug mule.

“She said she was supposed to collect the parcel and send it to South Africa on behalf of an unnamed colleague,” the source said.

Police, added the source, had a torrid time in deciding the value of the contraband.

“Cocaine, which is relatively rare in this country, can fetch anything between $75 and $150 per gramme depending on the grade and market. They came up with two values, $470 000.25 and $313 500,” said the source.

“Further investigations entail tracing the parcel back to the sender through Interpol and locating the alleged receiver in South Africa.”

The source said Tshuma is expected to appear in court today.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abedinico Ncube could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Cocaine, also known as coke, is a potent stimulant used mainly as a recreational drug. It may be smoked, snorted or injected into the bloodstream.

It causes mental effects that makes the user lose touch with reality, gives them a false feeling of extreme euphoria or agitation.

An overdose may be fatal while prolonged use causes severe addiction.

Morgan Komichi

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
THE bitter fight over the ownership of the MDC-T party name and symbols pitting two rival camps, one led by the party’s president Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the other by the party’s expelled co-deputy president Dr Thokozani Khupe, has spilled into the courts.

The Adv Chamisa led MDC-T last month fired Dr Khupe together with her two allies Mr Abednigo Bhebhe and Mr Obert Gutu, following a national council meeting.

Prior to his dismissal, Mr Bhebhe was the party’s national organising secretary while Mr Gutu held the post of national party spokesperson.

MDC-T has been disintegrating following power struggles emanating from the death of its founding president Mr Morgan Tsvangirai on February 14 this year.

Adv Chamisa’s camp has, through its lawyers Atherstone and Cook Legal Practitioners, filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing Dr Khupe, Mr Bhebhe and Mr Gutu, as respondents.

Adv Chamisa’s group is seeking an order stopping the respondents from “unlawfully exploiting and abusing its registered MDC-T trademark, symbols and signs.”

In his founding affidavit, MDC-T acting chairperson Mr Morgen Komichi said: “This is an application for an order interdicting the respondents from unlawfully using the applicant’s name in the pursuit of their political agenda and infringing on registered trademarks. The respondents were dismissed as members and office bearers of the party on 23 March 2018”.

Mr Komichi said Dr Khupe and her allies were causing confusion and misleading MDC-T followers by continuing to use the party trademark, symbols and signs. “Notwithstanding the dismissal, which effectively terminated their membership, the respondents have, in common purpose, purported to present themselves as not only MDC-T members, but office bearers thereof and thereby causing a lot of confusion amongst party supporters,” he said.

“MDC-T is our name and is our own property. We have past experience on this issue, some tried to do it previously and you know what happened. We are going to approach the courts when the right time comes,” Mr Komichi said.

“The applicant (MDC-T) is the owner of the trademark which the respondents are unlawfully exploiting, including the open palms slogan. The respondents have now started creating their own political structures in the name of the applicant, including making use of the party’s registered trademark and their derivative marks, symbols and colours.”

Mr Komichi accused Dr Khupe of portraying herself as the leader of the MDC-T and the party’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming harmonised elections.

“It is also apparent that the first respondent (Dr Khupe) and all persons acting through her and on her behalf are making use of and exploiting a registered trademark which belongs to the MDC-T in violation of the Trademarks Act,” he said.

Mr Komichi said although Dr Khupe ceased to become an MDC-T member soon after her expulsion, she continued to use social media platforms misrepresenting herself as the acting president of the party. “The MDC-T contention is that the respondents’ actions are clearly unlawful. The applicant is a party that will contest in the 2018 harmonised elections and has been doing preparations for the past five years. If the respondents are aggrieved they should follow the due process of the law and not openly defy resolutions properly taken by organs of the party to which they belonged,” he said.

The respondents, through their lawyers TJ Mabhikwa and Partners yesterday filed a notice of opposition to the application.

Dr Khupe, in her opposing affidavit, insisted that she was the acting president of the MDC-T. “I became acting president of MDC-T by operation of law in terms of Article 9.21.1 of the party constitution upon the untimely death and sad passing on of our party leader, the late Morgan Tsvangirai on 14 February 2018. Before I became acting president, I was the deputy president of the party having been elected by the congress in 2006, 2011 and 2014 as provided for in Article 6.44 of the party constitution,” she said.

Dr Khupe said her rivals whom she accused of purportedly acting on behalf of MDC-T, chose to defy her and walked away claiming they were party members.

She also accused Adv Chamisa of imposing himself and seeking to consolidate his “coup d’état” efforts by refusing to follow the dictates of the party constitution.

Dr Khupe said her group was the genuine MDC-T and accused her rivals of being rebels bent on destroying the party and causing divisions ahead of the elections. She said the application by the Adv Chamisa-led group is a back-door attempt to hoodwink the court into declaring his camp as the lawful MDC-T.

Dr Khupe said the urgent chamber application by her rivals is incompetent, arguing that no application was filed by the applicants in terms of section 72 of the Trademarks Act.

She said any possible confusion arising from the use of party names and symbols will be resolved in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

“The court is urged to take judicial notice of the fact that since 2005, the electorate has lived with MDC and MDC-T and there can be no urgency founded on an alleged need to prevent confusion. At one point we have had an MDC-N, MDC-M and MDC-99. I therefore submit that there is no urgency in this matter,” argued Dr Khupe.

Mr Gutu and Mr Bhebhe, in their affidavits, concurred with Dr Khupe, saying she is the rightful, lawful, legitimate and constitutional acting president of the MDC-T until such a time that an extraordinary congress is held to elect a new substantive president of the party. Adv Chamisa recently severed ties with Dr Khupe and her faction after the expiry of a seven-day ultimatum that she had been given by the MDC-T national council.

The council, which is the MDC-T’s highest decision-making body in-between congresses, had ordered Dr Khupe to reach out and make peace with Adv Chamisa, whom it elected to lead the party following the death of Mr Tsvangirai. Since Mr Tsvangirai’s long illness and subsequent death, the opposition party has been a rocked by an acrimonious wrangle to succeed him.

Although Adv Chamisa was recently elected to lead MDC-T by the party’s national council, Dr Khupe and her allies have openly refused to recognise him as the party’s presidential candidate, insisting that constitutionally, she was the party leader until congress elects Mr Tsvangirai’s successor.

Dr Khupe has since formed new structures across the country with the epicentre of the political changes being Bulawayo.

The latest development in the opposition party mark the third split of the original MDC, formed in 1999.

The MDC initially split in 2005 with Professor Welshman Ncube walking away from the then Mr Tsvangirai-led party.

In 2014 the opposition party split again with Mr Tendai Biti at the front of the rebellion.

Both Mr Biti and Prof Ncube are now back in the MDC Alliance led by Adv Chamisa.  — @mashnets

President Mnangagwa

Elita Chikwati, Harare Bureau
President Mnangagwa yesterday said he was charmed by the efficient governance systems in Rwanda, including the excellent performance of its highly organised young chief executives.

He said this at a meeting in Harare where Rwandan governance expert, Ms Clare Akamanzi addressed Cabinet Ministers, Politburo members, senior Government officials and members of the private sector.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda and his deputies were also in attendance.

Ms Akamanzi, who is the Rwandan Development Board (RDB) chief executive officer, was accompanied by RDB chief operations officer, Mr Emmanuel Hategeka.

The two shared their experiences on how Rwanda managed to improve the ease of doing business and economic performance after emerging from the genocide on minority Tutsis of 1994.

President Mnangagwa said he was smitten by Rwanda’s way of doing business when he went to the east African nation for an African Union summit last month.

“During my visit to Rwanda, I was impressed. I met the CEOs of Rwanda and hardly anybody was above 50; very young. I did not know why, and President Paul Kagame explained to me. We then agreed that a team be sent here to share with us their experiences,” President Mnangagwa told his audience yesterday.

“Rwanda is not as gifted as Zimbabwe in terms of resources and is 15 times smaller than Zimbabwe in size, but the manner in which they are organised is a marvel.

“I felt it was necessary for you my colleagues to be exposed to Kigali and I asked President Kagame to send us his team,” he said.

“I have no doubt a majority of us will appreciate what Rwanda has achieved, especially in the manner they process investment. It’s like a machine. Here we do not even know when an investor comes or where he will stay and he may spend three weeks moving from one ministry to another. If the minister is out, the investor may wait for him to come back; it’s absolutely unnecessary.

“Systems must continue to function and this is what we want to achieve,” he said.

Ms Akamanzi said their invitation by the Zimbabwean Government showed the country was keen to follow through on its commitment to open up and develop its economy.

“Zimbabwe is not only open for business, but clearly you mean business, Mr President,” she said.

For Rwanda to make significant progress, she said, it stressed unity, accountability and aiming high.

“We united our people because we came from a history of division. The first priority was to ensure that the Rwanda that was being built was united; that everyone could see themselves in. The youths, women, educated, rural and urban and all those that came from outside the country to be part of the re building. So unity was very important,” she said.

“The second thing President (Kagame) said was think big. Even though we were coming from the lowest place you could imagine, even though we had a divided past, even though we had challenges such as being a landlocked country with few skilled people, the point was how could we think about that and aim high. How can we think Rwanda can achieve what other developed countries can achieve. Thinking big changed our mindest and trained us.”

She said Rwanda also established strong institutions to enhance accountability.

“Accountability ensured leaders remained accountable to the citizens and the citizens remained accountable to the leaders,” she added.

Mr Hategeka told the same meeting that central to Rwanda’s transformation was the private sector, including running the public service as efficient as the private sector.

“Our President (Kagame) ran the country like a company and so there were performance contracts. It’s not exclusive to enterprises and corporations, it also works in the public service. And every ministry and government employee at the beginning had to sign performance contracts that contained the priorities that impact positively on the lives of the people, and was signed by the President,” he said.

Mr Hategeka said there was also deliberate effort for Government, civil society, the private sector and citizens to work around an agreed agenda and national vision.

“The national dialogue brought accountability. It was a moment of truth,” he said.

Rwanda has also made significant progress towards gender inclusivity, with 64 percent of its leadership being women.

The Rwanda Development Board is a one-stop centre responsible for making instant decisions on investment inquiries across all sectors of the economy and as a result, it only takes six hours for one to start a business in Rwanda.

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
FIRED MDC-T deputy president Dr Thokozani Khupe yesterday described the party’s acting president, Mr Nelson Chamisa as power hungry leader who was elevated to the helm of the party through mobocracy.

Addressing a small crowd here, Dr Khupe also taunted Mr Chamisa for hiring crowds to his rallies.  She insisted that her grouping was the original MDC-T, threatening to recall Mr Chamisa from Parliament in the event that the courts reverse her ejection from the august House.

Dr Khupe was on Thursday expelled from Parliament after the MDC-T wrote to the Speaker saying she no longer represented their interests.

She said she was on the ground drumming up support ahead of their congress next week to select a new leader.

“I was elected deputy president in 2006, 2011 and 2014 where the congress unanimously endorsed me.

“As such we remain the original MDC and we are going to call for an extraordinary congress on April 21 where a leader will be elected. Right now we are busy going around drumming up support for the congress and as acting president I have declared interest for election. I could hire crowds like them but that is only mobocracy and it doesn’t vote, such people don’t vote,” said Dr Khupe.

“I will remain resolute. They have made me stronger and they can’t break my spirit. I can’t be fired by them, how do you fire somebody who is not with you?

“We stated categorically on March 18 that we dissociate ourselves with the Chamisa group when they deviated from the constitution. It’s possible for me to recall them because I am the leader of the original MDC but we can’t talk about that now since we are waiting for the appeal which I have instructed my lawyers to file today,” she said, in an interview after the event.

Dr Khupe accused Parliament of meddling into MDC-T politics against its mandate.

This, she said, was evidenced by the acceptance by the National Assembly of Adv Chamisa’s letter to recall her and the allocation of $1.8 million to MDC-T account in the midst of internal fights.

“I wrote a letter to the Speaker of Parliament telling him we have leadership problems hence the House should not accept any correspondence from any of us without consulting the other.

“I did the same in relation to the Political Finances but to my surprise some money was deposited into the account of MDC-T. I phoned the Clerk of Parliament because the Speaker (Adv Jacob Mudenda) was on leave and we have communicated with the Ministry of Justice demanding our share. We had already opened a bank account which we initially didn’t have and our lawyers are already working on an urgent appeal,” fumed Dr Khupe.

She said precedence was set when Mr Tendai Biti left MDC-T to form the People’s Democratic Party and still received similar funds.

“When Biti split the money was shared. Why not this time? Is it because Khupe is a woman or because she comes from a different region? The Biti issue set precedence.

“I have been treated unfairly and am not getting protection from anyone while Chamisa is being protected by the system. That’s why I am sticking to the constitution. What Parliament did is not acceptable and it’s evident that the system is taking sides because how can Parliament decide on the fate of a political party’s members,” she added.

The party expelled Dr Khupe and her allies Messrs Abednico Bhebhe and Obert Gutu who were organising secretary and national spokesperson respectively before recalling her. — @ncubeleon

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
TWO armed robbers yesterday attacked three illegal fuel dealers and got away with more than $250 at gunpoint at West Nicholson in Matabeleland South.

The robbers who are on the run allegedly approached their victims under the pretext of selling 50 litres of fuel to one of them before attacking him and demanding cash.

They even claimed ownership of a truck that was parked near the shops saying the fuel they were selling was in it.

The incident occurred at about 1AM at West Nicholson shops where the fuel dealers had retired for the night in broken down vehicles.

A source close to the case yesterday said the robbers shot at one of the fuel dealers, Mr Peter Moyo, as he tried to rescue his colleague Mr Cosmas Moyo not realising that his attackers were armed with a pistol.

Fortunately, they missed.

“The robbers approached Cosmas pretending to be selling 50 litres of fuel and during the negotiations he offered them $50 for the full tank. As he was empting one of the tanks so that they could go fetch the fuel, he was attacked by one of the robbers who grabbed him by the collar and pointed a gun at his head,” said the source.

Mr Moyo, the source said, screamed to alert Peter who was still asleep.

The source said Peter blindly advanced towards the robbers and one of them shot at him.

“The one who had pointed a gun at Cosmas’s head was hesitant to shoot Peter as his accomplice ordered him to shoot. Maybe the fuel dealers thought the gun was fake but his accomplice took the gun, shot and missed. The bullet smashed the windscreen of a Toyota Granvia which was parked at the shops,” said the source.

Mr Moyo’s attacker wrestled him for his wallet tearing his pocket and robbing him of $250.

The source said the fracas and gun shots woke up a third fuel dealer Mr Isaac Moyo who was also robbed of $15.

He said it later turned out that the truck the robbers were claiming belonged to a traveller who was not related to the case. “It seems the robbers had a well thought out plan. The truck that they claimed had the fuel they were selling wasn’t theirs. The truck only drove away at 4AM long after the robbers had vanished. What is worrying is where the robbers got the firearm,” said the source.

He said the armed robbery case was reported at West Nicholson Police Station and cops initiated investigations into the matter.

Matabeleland South acting police officer Sergeant Loveness Mangena could not be reached for comment last night. — @nqotshili

Codelia Mondela, Chronicle Reporter
A BINGA man allegedly fatally stabbed a fellow villager six times and a police officer tasked to investigate the issue severely assaulted his superior with an iron bar, after refusing to take on the case.

Apheti Mudimba (24) allegedly stabbed Mike Munenge (36) on the forehead, chest and back with a kitchen knife in front of his kraal on Saturday morning while a fellow villager watched.

Mudimba works at a plot at Kensington in Bulawayo. Police have since launched a manhunt for him, as he disappeared after the killing.
A source close to the investigations said the two had a misunderstanding over a cow which Munenge was given by his uncle, William Muleya in March this year.

The source said Mudimba also wanted the beast and argued that he was its rightful owner since he grew up herding it.

“On Friday, Mudimba arrived from Bulawayo to Lubu to discuss the matter with Munenge. On the following day, he went to his homestead and found him with an unnamed villager,” the source said.

Mudimba said he had come to collect the cow and forced Munenge to go with him to the kraal. He opened the kraal and Munenge tried to stop him.

The source said Mudimba picked up a log and assaulted Munenge.

“Munenge tried to retaliate, but Mudimba took a knife from his pocket and plunged it twice into the right side of Munenge’s chest. He pushed him to the ground and frenziedly stabbed him three more times on the back and once on the forehead. He then fled from the scene and hid the knife in a bush,” the source said.

“Munenge was taken to Binga Hospital where he was pronounced dead.”

At around 1PM, Detective Assistant Inspector Iyanayi Lartino Zvironzo (47) from Binga Police Station assigned Sergeant Eckhem Chipara (43) to attend the scene of crime but he allegedly refused.

A police source claimed Sgt Chipara is very superstitious and he believed Mudimba would bewitch him if he instituted investigations.

Asst Insp Zvironzo, the source said, took an official book to record Sgt Chipara for insubordination.

“Sgt Chipara blew his top. He got hold of an iron bar near the office, charged towards his boss and threatened to kill him. He hit Asst Insp Zvironzo on the arm. Police officers fled from the office leaving the screaming Asst Insp Zvironzo at the mercy of Chipara. He was rescued by a detective who was brave enough to return to the office,” the source said.

The incident was reported to a Chief Inspector Mukahanana, the officer in charge of Binga Police Station.

The source said Sgt Chipara, who was breathing heavily through flared nostrils, would not relent.

“Even in the presence of the boss, he continued threatening to assault Asst Insp Zvironzo and poking him with the iron bar that everyone had been afraid to take from him,” said the source.

Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment.

A week ago, another man from Binga struck an 86-year-old man to death with an axe after accusing him of bewitching him before setting upon two womenfrom the same area with the same weapon, leaving them seriously injured.

Munkuli Mahlabezulu (30) of Minsale village went on a rampage on April 11 after claiming to have seen visions of Mr Chilemba Mudenda of Siyafugama Village bewitching him. — @MondelaC

VP Constantino Guvheya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga

From Walter Nyamukondiwa in CHAKARI
GOVERNMENT launched a 67 000 hectare Command Wheat Programme yesterday, which at minimal yield is expected to significantly cut the country’s cereal import bill.

This comes as Government is targeting to improve cotton production in the country which will lead to the setting up of inaugural cotton auction floors by the end of the year.

Speaking at the launch of the Command Wheat Programme at Mr Collen Gura’s Green Valley Estate in Chakari yesterday, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said the move was part of efforts to reposition the country as the bread basket of the region.

“Pursuant to Government’s efforts to guarantee food security, the Command Agriculture Programme is targeting 50 000 hectares for the 2018 winter wheat season funded by Sakunda,” said VP Chiwenga. “A further 17 000 hectares will be funded by other contractors. A total of 67 000 is therefore targeted countrywide.”

At a conservative average yield of four tonnes per hectare, VP Chiwenga said the country would realise 268 000 tonnes of wheat.

The country requires 460 000 tonnes of wheat every year and current efforts are expected to progressively increase production to wipe away the deficit.

VP Chiwenga said the irrigation support programme, which would see each district getting centre pivots to irrigate 200ha would also go a long way in increasing wheat production at communal level.

This is part of a broader plan to ensure value addition at community level where confectionary shops and bakeries are to opened.

The country, said VP Chiwenga, should dream big and espouse hard work.

He said Government had already mobilised inputs for the winter wheat programme.

“The bulk of the inputs for this season are already in the country and they should be distributed to farmers in time to optimise yield,” said VP Chiwenga.

“Comprehensive plans are also underway to improve wheat harvesting capacity to avert losses due to early rains as was the case last season.”

VP Chiwenga said farmers should start planting soon after Independence Day on Wednesday to reduce chances of the crop being destroyed by rains later in the year, and to increase yields.

To improve irrigation in the country, Government has lined up the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe-funded Spain Centre Pivot Facility, the Sakunda-sponsored irrigation development scheme and the 200ha per district scheme.

This will lead to the realisation of President Mnangagwa’s target of 300 000ha of wheat under irrigation countrywide.

VP Chiwenga said the expanded Command Agriculture Programme would see the launch of pilot poultry production in Goromonzi next week and heifers were being mobilised locally for beef and breeding in Matabeleland.

Successes in maize production under the Command Agriculture Programme are expected to be replicated under the various programmes being spearheaded by Government.

Turning to cotton, VP Chiwenga said cotton production should be restored to surpass previous levels.

“The white gold (cotton) must return to its former glory and we want it to surpass previous production levels,” he said. “We have set up a committee comprising the Minister of Finance, Minister of Agriculture and the Reserve Bank to see that we can produce cotton.

“Starting this year, we want to start cotton production under Command Cotton to produce enough cotton.”

At least 265 000 tonnes of cotton will support the oil industry, lint and value addition which will also lead to the resuscitation of downstream industries such as the textile industry.

VP Chiwenga said if things go according to plan, there should be a cotton auction floor opened by the end of the year.

The auction floor will operate in the same way as the tobacco auction floors where bidders compete for the product.

“If things work the way we have planned and if our lieutenants execute the tasks we have given them, we are going to open cotton auction floors for the first time in the country,” he said.

The goal, said VP Chiwenga, was to promote value addition.

Areas such as Sanyati, Gokwe, Middle Sabi, Chiredzi and parts of Mashonaland Central province are some of the cotton production hubs, but interest in the crop had declined over the years owing to poor prices.

Turning to the maize buying price of $390, VP Chiwenga said the price was aimed at cushioning the farmer after a hostile environment soon after the country embarked on land redistribution.

“The war to reclaim the land cannot be survived by any other country,” he said. “Some people take it lightly, but if it was not for the fact that God loves this country, there would have been bloodshed. Bones would have been everywhere. People would have died.”

With the land firmly in the hands of Zimbabweans, VP Chiwenga said the next frontier was mechanisation to improve production.

This is expected to reduce production costs which will lead to the prices coming down.

“We are looking at getting our machinery at a cheap price and inputs,” he said.

“This is why the President is going around the world so that we remove antiquated machinery in our factories. These have been the reason why some of them closed down.”

VP Chiwenga said modernisation of machinery would lead to prices going down.

Some of the machinery, he said, was installed during World War II and was no longer in production, pushing the price of products up.

Codelia Mondela, Chronicle Reporter
MYSTERY surrounds the death of a suspected thief from Bulawayo whose body was discovered in a bushy area two days after he had been allegedly stabbed.

A passerby found the body of Dumisani Nyathi (22) from Vundu Flats in Makokoba with two stab wounds between Barbourfields and Entumbane suburb on Friday.

Two friends suspected to be part of his gang who were with him on the day have disappeared.

According to his roommate, Mr Bernard Ncube (57), Nyathi was stabbed on Wednesday but a passerby stumbled on his body on Friday.

He said he was now stuck with the body as Nyathi did not have relatives who could bury him.

Neighbours yesterday told The Chronicle Nyathi was a known gangster and they suspected that he had been killed while mugging a person.

However, Ncube said he had lived with him for five years and he was a quiet person.

“I last saw Dumi on Tuesday night when he went to watch soccer at MaKhumalo Beer Garden with his friends Mbonisi Zulu and Menzi. His friends have since disappeared,” said Mr Ncube.

“I can neither confirm nor deny if Dumi was a known thief. I only know he often went to drink beer at Manor Hotel and Waverly. He made a quiet living selling tobacco at Big Bhawa. I never asked him much about his business and no one has ever complained about him to me.”

On Wednesday, Mr Ncube said, Mbonisi called Dumi’s younger brother Nkosi (20) on his cellphone saying that his brother had been stabbed and they would bring him home. Nkosi tried to ask where they were so he could go collect him but Mbonisi cut the call,” he said.

“We called his other friend Menzi who also terminated the call. I later went to Pumula where Mbonisi resides and found his wife who stated that he had not returned home since Tuesday night.”

Mr Ncube said no one knew whether Nyathi was stabbed by his friends or if he was attacked by  someone else because police have so far failed to locate them.

“On Friday, I heard that there was a body of a person which was discovered near Mpilo (Central Hospital) along the rail way line. We went there and discovered that it was Dumi. His shirt was torn and he had stab wounds on the shoulder and under the ribs,” he said.

Mr Ncube said he did not know who would bury Dumi as his known relatives did not have the capacity to do so.

“I don’t know what is going to happen to his body or who will bury him as their only living relative is a granny who is 95-years-old. She lives in Gwanda.

His younger brother is unemployed,” he said.

The news crew did not meet Nyathi’s younger brother as he was said to be assisting police with investigations.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango yesterday said she was not in the office and could not immediately comment on the matter. — @MondelaC.