Wonder Chabikwa

Elita Chikwati Harare Bureau
Zimbabwe is the major flue cured tobacco producer in Africa and occupies fifth position in the world, as many communal farmers joined the lucrative farming sector following the land reform programme.

A recent study by BDO Zimbabwe Chartered Accountants revealed that the country only trails China, Brazil, India and the United States in tobacco production.

The BDO Zimbabwe study highlights that new tobacco growers, mostly communal farmers, had taken up tobacco farming since 2000, the year the country embarked on the land reform programme.

This resulted in changes in the demographics of the tobacco farmers, which saw at least 62 percent of those who produced the crop during the 2013/14 season being small to medium scale communal farmers.

The sector used to be dominated by white commercial farmers.

“The increase in tobacco production over the years is also attributed to an increase in average tobacco selling prices, funding from tobacco merchants through contract farming and timeous realisation of sale proceeds,” said BDO Zimbabwe.

“Proceeds from tobacco sales are received on the day the crop is sold. The average tobacco selling price in Zimbabwe compares favourably with prices realised in other tobacco producing countries. Tobacco contributed 10 to 12 percent to the Gross Domestic Product for the 2014 fiscal year with a crop value of about $685 million marketed during the season.”

According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board statistics, every year a huge number of new farmers register to grow the crop.

“For the 2014/15 growing season, there were 28,769 new registrations with TIMB,” the board said. “The 2015/2016 season had recorded 17,433 new registrations by June 30 2015.

“Production increased from 58,5 million kg in 2010; 123,5 million kg in 2011; 132,5 million kg in 2012; 144 million kg in 2013, 216 million kg in 2014 and 2015 recorded a decline to 198 million kg due to poor rainfall season.”

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Wonder Chabikwa said many people were willing to grow tobacco because of the cash crop’s orderly marketing.

He said farmers followed the trends on the market and would go for the highest paying crop.

“Farmers make decisions just like any other businesspeople, and will go for the highly paying crop. Some farmers are shifting from tobacco after realising low profits,” he said.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union director Paul Zakariya urged farmers to aim at increasing yield per unit area other than increasing hectarage.

Professor Samson Sibanda

Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
PROFESSOR Samson Sibanda has been appointed the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) acting Vice Chancellor following the expiry of Professor Lindela Rowland Ndlovu’s contract.

Prior to the latest appointment, Prof Sibanda was the university’s Pro Vice Chancellor.

The chairman of Nust council, Mike Ndubiwa yesterday said Professor Sibanda’s appointment was with immediate effect.

“Following the expiry of Professor Lindela Rowland Ndlovu’s contract, as the Vice Chancellor of the National University of Science and Technology, Prof Samson Sibanda has been appointed as the acting Vice Chancellor with immediate effect. On behalf of council and the National University of Science and Technology community, we would like to thank Prof Ndlovu for his contribution to the growth of the university as Vice Chancellor. We wish him well in his future endeavours,” said Ndubiwa.

Prof Sibanda, a chemist by profession, has more than 20 years experience in academia.

He has been actively involved in the development of Nust at various levels.

Prof Sibanda is a member of several professional organisations and sits on a number of committees.

He joined Nust from the University of Zimbabwe in 2001 as a senior chemistry lecturer.

Professor Ndlovu was appointed Nust Vice Chancellor on October 14, 2005.

He took over from Professor Phineas Mogorosi Makhurane who was the university’s first Vice Chancellor.

Prior to his appointment, Prof Ndlovu was the university’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic and Research).

• Audits unearth massive levies fraud: Minister

Professor Paul Mavhima

Lloyd Gumbo Harare Bureau
School authorities across the country could have embezzled millions of dollars from levies paid by parents thereby compromising infrastructural development, an audit ordered by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has revealed.

So far about 1,800 schools (18 percent) have been audited and the exercise has unearthed massive doctoring of accounts documents to conceal the shenanigans.

The auditors that conducted the exercise included those from head office in Harare, the provinces and districts.

Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Professor Paul Mavhima, confirmed to our Harare Bureau yesterday that the audits unearthed massive theft of funds by school authorities.

He said about $1 billion was raised by schools through levies every year of which if misappropriation was allowed to continue, it would result in schools failing to undertake infrastructure development.

“We did a round of audits where we deployed our head office auditors and also our auditors from the provinces and districts,” said Prof Mavhima.

“I don’t want to paint a rosy picture, yes we have problems especially where SDC (School Development Committee) funds are concerned.

“The round of audits that we did unearthed a number of problems. The most common was abuse of SDC funds and the typical problem was in the receipting process where different amounts are written in the top copy and the carbon copy.

“Typically the top copy because it’s going to the person who is paying the money, reflects the correct amount but the bottom copy reflects a smaller amount. The difference is then misappropriated. We need as a ministry and government to make sure that we find ways to plug these loopholes.”

Deputy Minister Mavhima said in order for the government to plug the loopholes, there was a need to audit all the schools since the audit indicated that misappropriation was rampant.

He said the anomalies were picked in both urban and rural schools.

Prof Mavhima said his ministry was in the process of consolidating audit reports from all the provinces to determine the gravity of misappropriation and come up with possible solutions to the problem.

“We’ve realised that there’s a need for us to continue with this exercise. It would be good if we could cover all the schools every year or at least 50 percent of the schools every year. When you have a situation where the probability of being audited is high, then there’s likely to be compliance, people are more likely to be diligent particularly the headmasters and the SDCs,” he said.

Prof Mavhima said if the school authorities know that there is no one watching them and the probability of being audited is next to nothing, then they will do whatever they want.

“It’s important for us to gather and mobilise resources to ensure audit is done annually.

“By and large, SDC funds are the largest contributor to the development of school infrastructure. What the government largely contributes at the moment is payment of teachers.

“If we don’t pay particular attention to proper and appropriate management of SDC resources, then we’ll be doing ourselves a disservice because that’s the biggest source of funds to develop schools in terms of infrastructure. Remember about $1 billion nationwide comes from SDC levies so there’s need to manage it well,” said Prof Mavhima.

He said some school authorities have been arrested, convicted and jailed for misapropriating school funds.

Prof Mavhima said the audit was meant to check if schools complied with regulations as well as identify gaps in their operations.

The ministry early this year embarked on an audit of school financial books following reports of massive embezzlement of schools funds.

Hillbrow in Johannesburg, South Africa

Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A 26-YEAR-OLD Matobo man allegedly shot and killed his fellow robber in South Africa before fleeing to Zimbabwe with the loot.

Welcome Ncube, 26, of Sigangatsha village who has been in remand prison since May last year, allegedly teamed up with fellow villager Prosper Ndebele whose age was not given and went on a robbery spree in South Africa.

The duo allegedly got away with large amounts of money and Ncube later allegedly shot and killed Ndebele. He then fled to Zimbabwe with the loot.

Ncube is said to have sought refuge at his grandmother’s homestead in Sun Yet Sen in Matobo which is far from his parents’ homestead as his family are neighbours to Ndebele’s family.

Police later received information that Ncube was hiding after allegedly committing the murder in the neighbouring country leading to his arrest.

On Monday Ncube appeared before Matabeleland South Provincial magistrate-in-charge Willard Maphios Moyo who further remanded him in custody to November 23.

Prosecutor Takunda Mafudze told the court that Ncube who is facing murder charges, will be referred to the High Court for trial.

Police sources however said Ncube was likely to be extradited to South Africa where the crime was committed.

According to a police Request for Remand document, Ncube was arrested on May 22, last year for killing Ndebele in Hillbrow, South Africa.

“On May 18, 2014 at Hillbrow, in the Republic of South Africa, the accused shot and killed Prosper Ndebele and ran away to Zimbabwe soon after committing the offence,” read the police document.

According to the document, Ncube could not be released as he was said to be a flight risk as he ran away after committing the crime in the neighbouring country.

It was also stated that due to the gravity of the offence, his life would be in danger as he resides close to his victim’s relatives.

Ncube is being held at Gwanda Prison where he was admitted on May 27, last year, according to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) spokesperson for Matabeleland region, Senior Prison Officer Bothwell Bosha. He has been appearing in court fortnightly on routine remand.

Contacted for a comment on the matter, Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Thabani Mkwananzi referred all questions to national spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi who was not reachable.

The perception most Zimbabweans living in South Africa have is that South African police hardly make any follow ups on murder cases when foreigners are the victims.

Minister Joseph Made

Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
TREASURY has released $14,5 million to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to clear all outstanding payments to farmers for the 2014 to 2015 season, clearing the way for a good start to the new farming season.

GMB chairman Charles Chikaura said as at Tuesday, $11,007, 255. 89 had been paid to farmers’ respective bank accounts while the balance of $3, 492, 744. 11 was at their depots to be paid in cash to farmers who do not have bank accounts.

He urged farmers who have not collected their payments to visit their depots to collect their money.

“A receipt from Treasury was issued to GMB on November 5 to clear all outstanding farmer payments for the 2014 and 2015 grain marketing season, as well as commence part payments for grain delivered in 2015-2016,” said Chikaura.

“As at today’s date, GMB depots country wide are holding a total of $480,158.03 in uncollected farmer cash payments from previous disbursements dating back to August 2015. It’s evident that some farmers without bank accounts are not collecting their payments at depots where they delivered their grain.”

He said the situation whereby farmers were not collecting their payments was more prevalent at depots in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East.

“Accordingly, farmers without bank accounts who delivered grain in the previous marketing season and haven’t yet been paid, are urged to visit their respective depots to collect their payments,’ Chikaura said.

He advised farmers that the government had put in place a financing plan to clear outstanding farmer payments for the 2015 to 2016 marketing season.

“The plan is already being implemented through the GMB and outstanding payments are expected to be cleared as soon as possible,” said Chikaura.

In August, the government released $15 million to the GMB for payment to farmers who delivered their grain to the national granary.

At that time, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made said the payments were in line with the promise made by Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa during the Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review Statement in August that farmers would be prioritised so that they start preparing for the new farming season.

Edmore Nyamazana

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
A MAN from Gokwe took his wife from a church in Nkayi and dragged her to a bush where he allegedly brutally stabbed her with a pocket knife before dumping her body in a stream.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo heard this when Edmore Nyamazana, 35, of Nyamazana village under Chief Njelele area, appeared before her during a circuit in Hwange yesterday.

Nyamazana is facing a charge of murder in connection with the death of Lizzy Mpofu who was aged 33 at the time of her death in December 2011. Nyamazana had been on the run until his arrest in November last year.

Justice Moyo is expected to deliver judgment in the matter today.

Mpofu lived in Gweru with her husband and had visited her parents in Nkayi when the incident occurred.

Mpofu’s cousin, Samkeliso Sibanda, 47, in her testimony, narrated how Nyamazana stormed his wife’s church and ordered her to follow him under the guise that he wanted her to witness a break-in at their home in Gweru.

“On that particular day, Lizzy and I were attending a church service at Ginyilitshe village in Nkayi when Nyamazana came. He asked his wife to immediately leave church and join him on a journey to their home. When she tried to resist Nyamazana used force and I then joined them,” said Sibanda.

She said along the way, they met some local villagers who were in a donkey cart and they offered them a lift. Nyamazana refused to board the cart and ordered his wife not to join Sibanda in the cart.

“When I arrived home, Lizzy’s parents asked me about the whereabouts of their daughter and I explained to them that I had left her with her husband. We were shocked when we heard that she had been discovered lying dead in a stream the following morning,” said Sibanda.

Mpofu’s father, Office Amon Mpofu, 68, said his daughter and her husband had an undisclosed long standing domestic dispute.

His testimony corroborated Sibanda’s evidence.

“My daughter had a domestic dispute with her husband and at one time I sat down with her to discuss their problem but she insisted that it was just a minor issue without disclosing more. On that particular day, we had searched for Lizzy the whole day until we received news that she had been killed and I immediately suspected that Nyamazana was behind her death since they were last seen together by Sibanda the previous day when they left church together,” he said.

Mpofu described the murder of his daughter as gruesome.

“It was a terrible sight when I went to the scene and there was blood splattered all over. Lizzy had several wounds on the head, neck and cheek where the blade of the knife was lodged,” he said.

Nyamazana, in his defence through his lawyer, Tonderai Mukuku of Marondedze and Mukuku legal practitioners, denied the charge. He told the court that he was being framed.

“I didn’t commit the alleged crime. In fact, I was at my home in Gweru when it happened and I only got to know about it when police arrested me and forced me to travel with them to Nkayi for indications,” said Nyamazana.

He further claimed that he last saw his wife in 2009 when the two separated.

“When I was laid off, my wife ditched me and took our two children to her parents’ home in Nkayi and that was the last time I saw her until I heard that she had been killed. I’m not the one who committed the crime,” argued Nyamazana.

Prosecuting, Memory Munsaka said on December 2, 2011, Mpofu was attending a church service in Nkayi when her husband came from Gweru and took her.

The court heard that the two went outside and had a private discussion.

The two then allegedly left in the company of Sibanda heading towards the woman’s homestead.

“Along the way they met some people who were travelling in a donkey cart and they offered them a lift. Sibanda boarded the cart while Nyamazana refused and remained behind with his wife,” said Munsaka.

The court heard that Nyamazana dragged his wife to a nearby stream where he allegedly stabbed her several times on the neck, cheek and head and fled from the scene.

The body was discovered by a villager the following day and he informed Mpofu’s family who in turn made a police report.

According to the post mortem results, pathologists concluded that the cause of death was due to multiple neck stabbing, murder and haemorrhage shock.

Daniel Nemukuyu Harare Bureau
CHIEF Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku yesterday took to task lawyers advocating the abolition of corporal punishment, asking them to explain the impact of such an action on the behaviour of children in Zimbabwe.

The Chief Justice questioned the idea of seeking to invalidate Section 353 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, hinting that it may impact negatively on the behaviour of children in the country.

This came after Tendai Biti of Biti Law Chambers and David Hofisi of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights cited international journals and foreign judgments in trying to push for the abolition of caning as judicial punishment as well as chastisement at home and schools.

Chief Justice Chidyausiku made the remarks in a case in which the Constitutional Court was being asked to confirm a High Court judgment outlawing corporal punishment in a case involving a teenage boy who was sentenced to caning for rape.

The Chief Justice asked the lawyers if it was prudent that Zimbabwe simply adopts the decisions of other countries to scrap the penalty without assessing its applicability in the local context.

“In countries that don’t allow corporal punishment, how do the children behave?” he asked the lawyers. “Do you think it’ll be acceptable in Zimbabwe to have cases of children going to school with knives and guns in their jackets?

“Are those children better off than those that are subjected to corporal punishment? We hear some Zimbabwean teachers who have gone to teach in such countries have abandoned the profession because the children are uncontrollable.”

The lawyers insisted on the use of international instruments and judgments in coming up with a proper decision, saying it was actually an obligation of the court.

“The court is obliged to follow international instruments in coming up with a decision on whether or not corporal punishment is cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,” said Biti.

“This court must place our law at par with international conventions. Any attempt by the National Prosecuting Authority, Attorney General and the Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) for the State to disregard the instruments is meant to drag our law into the 13th century.”

Advocate Thabani Mpofu (who is the friend of the court in the case) argued that only Zimbabweans could determine whether corporal punishment was cruel or not.

He equated the debate on corporal punishment to that of homosexuality, saying foreign views should not be relied on when coming up with a determination on propriety or otherwise.

“What’s degrading and inhuman should be determined by Zimbabweans and we can’t rely on decisions of other countries next door,” said Adv Mpofu.

“Zimbabweans must not be told by foreigners that corporal punishment is cruel, inhuman and degrading, but the decision must be made in terms of Zimbabwean values.”

Adv Mpofu said when the High Court ruled against corporal punishment it ought to have heard views of the State, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, probation officers, psychologists and sociologists to get the views of Zimbabweans.

A representative of the AG’s office, Olivia Zvedi, argued that there was nothing cruel and inhuman about corporal punishment in Zimbabwe.

Instead, Zvedi said, caning was a better penalty for serious offences like rape because the child would be saved from incarceration where the juveniles would share cells with hardcore criminals.

She said the manner in which the punishment was administered in Zimbabwe did not amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

“Before the strokes are administered in Zimbabwe, the juvenile is supposed to be clothed,” said Zvedi. “They’re not beaten up naked. Strokes are administered on the buttocks and on no account shall the strokes be administered on the back or on the same spot repeatedly.

“Section 8 of the Corporal Punishment Prison Regulations requires a medical officer or registered nurse and the officer-in-charge of Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services to be present to ensure that it’s administered in accordance with the law.”

NPA representative Justin Uladi said in terms of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, the punishment must be “moderate” and not inhuman or degrading as alleged by the anti-corporal punishment lawyers.

He said cruelty could be witnessed where a juvenile was jailed and exposed to hardcore criminals, which was the only other option available for juvenile rape offenders.

Uladi said chastisement of children at home and at school had always been there since time immemorial and there was nothing unconstitutional about it.

Chief Justice Chidyausiku reserved judgment in the case.

Faith Mabuto Midlands Reporter
A GWERU hooker who cut the foreskin off of her boyfriend’s manhood in anger after he caught her having sex with a client has been ordered to perform community service.

Beauty Nhokwara, 33, of Mkoba 4 suburb, who had pleaded not guilty to one count of domestic violence, was found guilty by provincial magistrate Musaiwona Shotgame.

In passing sentence, Shotgame said what Nhokwara had done was morally unacceptable.

“I’ve taken into account that you are a first offender and you’ve a child to take care of.

“However, what you did was bad. Your boyfriend got his manhood injured and had to get treatment for what you did,” he said.

“You should learn to solve issues without violence. You are hereby sentenced to 15 months imprisonment of which 6 months are suspended for 5 years on condition you do not commit a similar crime.”

The magistrate said the remaining nine months were suspended on condition that she performs 117 hours of community service at Matinunura Secondary School in Mkoba.

Herbert Jani, who has a child with Nhokwara told the court that he had a fight with her for bringing her clients home.

She told the presiding magistrate that she looks for clients at nightclubs, where she first met Jani.

She denied “circumcising” him.

She said he was upset and became violent after finding her with a client.

Nhokwara said Jani, after getting rid of her client, unzipped his trousers and ordered her to suck his manhood, “like she did with other men who paid for her services.”

“I refused and he started assaulting me. I just held his manhood with my hands,” said Nhokwara.

She told the court that her boyfriend started dragging her around the house before releasing her and threatening to report her to the police.

“Your worship I’m a frequent visitor of clubs and I first met Jani at a club and he hired me for sexual services. That is when I got pregnant,” said Nhokwara.

Jani said they went to sleep arguing with his girlfriend and woke up in intense pain, with his manhood bleeding profusely. He said at first, he thought Nhokwara had cut off his manhood.

Prosecuting, Ernest Muzembi told the court that on October 15 this year at around 10PM, Jani and Nhokwara had a misunderstanding at her home. “The duo was at Nhokwara’s place of residence and Jani was asking her why she was bringing her clients and boyfriends home. He accused her of lying that her child was his,” said Muzembi.

He told the court that at around midnight, Jani woke up and realised that the outer layer of his manhood had been cut off and he was bleeding.

Muzembi told the court that when Jani asked Nhokwara what was going on, she asked him why he had said that the child was not his.

The court heard that Jani was rushed to hospital and later reported the matter to the police, leading to Nhokwara’s arrest.

In 2012, two of Nhokwara’s sisters Sophie and Netsai and their friend Rosemary Chakwizira were arrested but later cleared by the courts for allegedly raping male hitch-hikers in order to harvest their sperm.

The Nhokwara sisters were arrested after police found 30 used condoms in their car boot, but they apparently told a Harare court they merely hard-working prostitutes.

Jeffery Gettleman

Mduduzi Mathuthu Editor
A FOREIGN journalist who published fabricated quotes of President Robert Mugabe has said he takes “full responsibility for the mistake” after Zimbabwe protested.

The New York Times’ Kenya Bureau Chief Jeffery Gettleman lifted quotes from a satirical website, spectator.co.ke, which claimed the African Union chairman had called Kenyans “thieves”.

Harare believes Gettleman’s actions were a deliberate attempt to “contrive conflict” between Zimbabwe and Kenya.

Gettleman only tried to verify the truthfulness of the quotes after he had caused their publication in the world-respected American newspaper.

This week, after being called out on the shocking boob by President Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba, who accused the journalist of being “a blunderous, if not outright racist”, Gettleman was forced to admit professional failings.

“It was not intentional,” Gettleman says in an e-mailed letter to the President’s Office seen by The Chronicle.

He added: “As soon as the error was brought to my attention, I corrected it and published a retraction. I took full responsibility for the mistake.”

He claimed he had contacted a Zimbabwean journalist in Harare, who assured him the President had made the phantom comments.

He wrote: “Just so you know, I had contacted a Zimbabwean journalist in Harare before we published the story. I sent a copy of the article to that journalist in order to confirm with government officials in Harare that President Mugabe had in fact said those things about corruption in Kenya. The journalist came back to me several hours later, but still before we published the story, saying that it appeared that President Mugabe had indeed said those things. That was my attempt to verify the story and it was only after the story was published that I learned that the journalist had not checked with your office or other appropriate sources.”

“Again, I’m sorry. It was important to me to own up to the mistake and I’ve learned from it.”

In an article published on November 5, the New York Times quoted the President as having said that “those people of East Africa shock me with their wizardry of stealing. You can even think that there is a subject in their universities called Bachelor of Stealing.”

President Mugabe, it was further claimed, “told his countrymen to be on ‘high alert’ in case they visited Kenya” because “they might infect you with that disease”.

Gettleman came under a barrage of attacks on Twitter after Charamba exposed the lie and accused him of disrespecting Africans.

Charamba said Gettleman “should never be entertained on the African continent”, adding it was a “shameful anomaly that a great paper like the New York Times finds the boldness to make him a Bureau Chief.”

In his mea culpa to Twitter attacks over unprofessionalism, Gettleman said: “Guilty as charged. The Mugabe quote was fake. I deeply regret the way we presented it.”

Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Senegal Trudy Stevenson welcomed the retraction, stating: “Thank you for admitting error. Other journalists should follow your example.”

But others were not so forgiving, like James North (@jamesnorth7) who said: “Now maybe you should go back to DRCongo and correct your mistaken reporting in 2012.”

James Ochola (@kakajaluo), a Kenyan, was unimpressed by Gettleman’s naivety, stating on Twitter: “Problem is the horse has bolted the barn already, there are some things no matter what (that) head of state can’t say in public.”

The New York Times’ online paper no longer carries the fabricated quotes published in the print paper on November 5.

At the foot of the story, the New York Times says: “Correction: An article last Thursday about an extraordinary rise in public corruption in Kenya, no stranger to graft, erroneously included remarks attributed to Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean president, saying that Kenyans were thieves and telling his countrymen to be on alert when visiting Kenya so as not to catch ‘that disease.’

“The Spectator, a Kenyan newsmagazine that published the remarks, said last week that they had been fabricated, and were intended as satire.”

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko bids farewell to outgoing US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton in Harare recently

Clemence Manyukwe News Editor
OUTGOING United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton yesterday described President Robert Mugabe as a lion of Africa who has dedicated his whole life to liberating the continent.

Speaking to journalists in Harare, Wharton said he was leaving the country at a time when relations between the US and Zimbabwe were improving.

He said there were still areas of concern that needed to be addressed before his country removes its illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe, but commended the country for holding peaceful elections that were convincingly won by Zanu-PF in 2013.

“Robert Mugabe is a lion of Africa. He has dedicated his life to creating a free and independent … a lion of Africa … he is one of the leaders, not only of Zimbabwe’s liberation but of the Frontline States,” said Wharton.

He said there were areas in which credit was due for Zimbabwe.

“We do recognise the improvement in the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. Thank God, the election of 2013 was peaceful. It’s a huge step forward,” said Wharton, who is returning to Washington to become the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs at the US Department of State.

He, however, alleged that some people still disregard court rulings.

Wharton said there was need to restore property rights and compensate former white farmers, but added that he believes Zimbabwean authorities were sincere when they say they are presently incapacitated economically to pay compensation.

He also talked about the disappearance of MDC-T activist Itai Dzamara, but was quick to add that he could not prove in a court of law who was responsible for his abduction.

Wharton said he accepts the government’s explanation that people disappear everywhere including in the US, but added that he feels more could be done in Dzamara’s case, including roping in Interpol.

On the economic front he said “a small number of policy reforms” were needed to improve the country’s economy, and praised Zimbabwe’s empowerment policy, though adding that it needed to be made clearer.

“The indigenisation idea is a very worthy concept. All governments have the responsibility to protect their own citizens’ economic rights first, but the implementation of the indigenisation law has remained hard to predict and it seems to change from time to time and that has a chilling effect on an investor’s willingness to put money into a country,” added Wharton.

He said as he leaves Zimbabwe, some of his achievements are that he has been able to facilitate high level meetings between government officials, adding that people on the sanctions list “were 25 fewer” since he came.He said for the past 12 months, he supported the IMF staff monitoring programme in the country and was supportive of the country’s debt repayment plan, which he said may clear the way for debt relief and new loans.

The US ambassador said as a result of that support the US “did not bang our shoes at the podium and say no, no, no” at the recent meeting in Lima, Peru, where Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa met the IMF and World Bank officials to resolve the debt issue.

“Fundamentally, the most important determinant of Zimbabwe’s future will be the actions of the people and government of Zimbabwe.

“You’ve heard me say the future of Zimbabwe is in the hands of Zimbabweans. I absolutely believe that,” he said.

Nust Chancellor President Mugabe confers a Doctor of Philosophy Honoris Causa on Obadiah Moyo who is a librarian and founder of Rural Libraries and Resources Development during a graduation ceremony at the institution in Bulawayo. (Picture by Eliah Saushoma)

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday capped 2,388 students who graduated in different disciplines at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo. A total of 1,752 were undergraduate degree recipients while 629 were conferred with masters’ degree and seven were doctorates.

The acting minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Lazarus Dokora, who is also the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, the Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs, Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo and Nust council chairperson Mike Ndubiwa were among the officials that attended the graduation ceremony.

In his speech, Nust’s acting Vice Chancellor Professor Samson Sibanda said the institution was in the process of reverting to its mandate of teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, in line with the government’s new national thrust.

“In terms of enrolment our part one intake for 2015 stands at 2,325 of whom 1,381 (59,4) percent are of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This shows a gradual shift of emphasis towards STEM disciplines in line with the university’s mandate. We’re fully aware of the concerns and perception of the government that Nust seems to have deviated from its mandate. We’re addressing this issue and we hope that by next year there’ll be evidence of efforts in this regard,” said Prof Sibanda.

He said despite numerous challenges that the university was facing, it had made huge strides towards widening access to higher education through increasing the number of parallel and block release programmes for the benefit of working individuals and students who could not enter university through the conventional way.

“The second strategic direction relates to the generation of knowledge, development of skills through research and solutions as well as identifying and exploiting alternative sources of funding,” said Prof Sibanda.

He said there was a need to upgrade infrastructure and pay staff on time to ensure effective learning.

“Infrastructural development is at variance with staff and student numbers. Since its foundation in 1991, Nust has remained largely a construction site. The issue of timely or untimely disbursements of salaries is an area of great concern to us as a community. All the same we would like to thank the government for restoring the 100 percent salaries disbursement to universities,” said Prof Sibanda.

Two honorary degrees of Philosophy were awarded to Obadiah Moyo of the Rural Libraries and Resources Development Programme and Barbara Nkala, an author and publisher.

Moyo was honoured for his initiative that has enabled rural communities to access reading and learning materials through donkey drawn mobile library.

The donkey drawn mobile library concept has been adopted in many African countries.

Nkala was honoured for her published works that have seen some of her books being used as textbooks in schools.

Some of the notable people who were capped yesterday include Zanu-PF provincial secretary for indigenisation and economic empowerment Cde Mlungisi Moyo and Bulawayo City Council public relations officer Bongiwe Ngwenya who both graduated with Masters in Business Administration.

Sunday News senior reporter Roberta Katunga graduated with a Masters Degree in Journalism and Media Studies.

The Chronicle Correspondent Nqobile Tshili, former intern Vimbai Chinembiri graduated with Bachelor of Science Honours Degrees in Journalism and Media Studies.

Thembelani Moyo was awarded the Zimpapers award for the best graduating student in the department of Journalism and Media Studies.

There were also students who graduated in new programmes.

The new programmes are Master of Science Degree in Accounting, Master of Science Degree in Midwifery Education, Post Graduate Diploma in Water Supply and Sanitation and the PhD in Business Administration.

Minister Mike Bimha

Funny Hudzerema Harare Bureau
The government and an Indian company which makes Pepsi products yesterday held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $30 million bottling plant in Harare, which will create close to 5,000 jobs by 2018.

Varun Beverages Limited will also venture into the agro-industry, solar energy and health care to increase its investment to almost $250 million in the next few years.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at the site in Willowvale, Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha said the investment will attract other Indian companies to invest in the country.

The investment is part of the country’s efforts to turn around the economy by encouraging investors to come.

A number of investors from both Europe and Asia have been expressing interest to bring their money into the country.

Zimbabwe and China signed nine landmark investment agreements in August last year that will see the emerging global giant providing financial support for the much-needed economic enablers in critical sectors that include energy, roads, national railway network, telecommunications, agriculture and tourism as part of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

Some of the Chinese mega projects are already under-way, with the financial closure for the $1,1 billion funding of the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station expected early next month.

Russian investors are already working on a $3 billion platinum mining venture in Darwendale that is expected to change the face of mining in the country.

Earlier this year, the government signed more mega investment deals in energy, cement manufacturing and coal mining with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote.

More investment delegates have been to Zimbabwe from countries such as Germany, Britain, France and the United States.

Minister Bimha said at the groundbreaking ceremony that apart from the bottling plant, Varun Beverages Limited, which is in a joint venture with a local company Glaciem (Pvt) Ltd, would be a major player in the agro-industry sector.

The joint venture has resulted in the formation of Varun Beverages Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd, which is spearheading the estbalishment of the bottling plant.

“I’m informed that the project will directly generate employment for more than 600 people and indirectly employ a further 5,000,” said Minister Bimha.

“The state-of-the-art bottling plant will manufacture Pepsi co-products that is Pepsi, Mirinda, 7UP, Mountain Dew and Aquaclear water on this site and create 600 jobs directly.”

“Downstream linkages will create positive spin-offs in source industries for raw materials like sugar, water, carbon dioxide chemicals, consumables, glass bottles, plastic shells and packaging material since these will be sourced locally in support of the local chemicals.”

Minister Bimha said women would also benefit from the bottling plant as they would form the Women Entrepreneurship where they would earn between $5 and $7 per day selling the Pepsi products.

During President Mugabe’s visit to India for the India-Africa Summit at the end of last month, he met and was briefed on the project by the chairman of Varun Beverages Limited, Ravi Jaipuria.

“I’m also informed that after the successful implementation of this project, the group intends to be a major player in the agro-industry sector by setting up potato processing and tomato paste manufacturing units, operations which will go a long way in realising our value addition and agro-processing objectives,” said Minister Bimha.

The construction of the bottling plant is expected to commence in the next 11 months and is expected to be completed in 2018.

Varun Beverages is an international firm with factories in a number of countries such as Zambia and Brazil.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Varun Beverages Africa chief executive Krishnan Shankar said the group had already complied with laws required to set up a business in Zimbabwe.

“We’ve acquired all the requirements which are needed to start business in the country which include indigenous licences and we’re expecting to finish by 2018,” he said.

Shankar said the group would also construct a tomato and potato processing factory during the same period since the market is readily available in India and the local market which is growing with companies like Kentucky Fried Chicken joining in.

Zimbabwean ambassador to India Maxwell Ranga said the investment will strengthen the relationship between Zimbabwe and India.

Fume Chibvuri and Aaron Zivuku

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
TWO Plumtree police officers were caught on camera demanding a bribe from a cross border transporter at the Plumtree Border Post. The officers, Fume Chibvuri, 32, and Aaron Zivuku, 27, who are both attached to the Police Internal Security Intelligence (PISI) section at Plumtree Police Station, were outmanoeuvred by Gift Moyo of Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb who recorded them demanding payment to allow him to pass through the border.

Chibvuri and Zivuku yesterday appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa facing extortion charges. They were remanded out of custody to November 26 on free bail.

Prosecuting, Jane Phiri said the police officers approached Moyo and demanded a bribe to allow him free passage. They threatened to arrest him if he did not comply. Moyo gave them $20 but they complained that it was not enough. They said they also wanted money for their workmate Constable Taurai Musiiwa.

“On 14 July around 3PM the two police officers were deployed at the Plumtree Border Post.

Moyo arrived driving a Toyota Grandhiace on his way to Bulawayo from Botswana and he went through all border formalities. Upon reaching the entrance gate he was approached by Chibvuri and Zivuku who demanded money from him. They threatened to arrest him if he didn’t comply,” said Phiri.

She said Moyo pointed out to the two officers that he did not have money on him but they insisted until he gave them a $20 note.

Phiri said the cross border transporter requested $10 back indicating that he did not have any money left.

“The two officers refused to give him change but instead demanded more money, saying it was for their workmate Constable Musiiwa who wasn’t with them,” she said.

The prosecutor said the pair again threatened to arrest Moyo if he did not give them more money.

She said after realising that the police officers were bent on extorting him of more money, Moyo then recorded them on video using his cellphone.

Phiri said the video recording could be played in court as evidence.

The Chronicle managed to obtain two video clips from Moyo showing the police officers separately demanding money from him.

In one of the video recordings, Moyo is confronted by Cst Musiiwa who orders passengers to disembark from the vehicle to leave the driver alone inside.

Moyo goes on to handover some money to the police officer and indicates that it was $30.

An unsatisfied Cst Musiiwa, however, demands $20 more.

‘’I can see that this is $30 but I’m saying produce an additional $20 more. Come on bring the money,’’ says Cst Musiiwa persistently.

Moyo insists that he does not have the money and indicates that he has to bribe other police officers and leaves.

The other video recording shows Moyo being confronted by Chibvuri and Zivuku who tell him to give them money so that he could go through.

‘’I want a lot of money from you. Smuggling is one offence which we can’t allow to go by unnoticed without a payment being made,’’ says Zivuku.

Moyo goes on to plead with the officers to reduce the amount saying business has been low.

The officers tell Moyo that the amount he has given them is not enough for them to share.

It is not clear if Musiiwa would be taken to court.

Corruption has become a common feature at the country’s border posts where officials are facilitating criminal activities in exchange for bribes.

An immigration officer in Plumtree was recently arrested by police in Botswana after he was found in illegal possession of 70 Zimbabwean passports belonging to different people.

Mncedisi Ngwenya, 34, who was the Principal Immigration Officer in charge of Mpoengs Border Post, is alleged to have been involved in a scam of illegally extending days for Zimbabweans working in the neighbouring country. It is alleged that he would collect passports and stamp them to extend the days at a fee of 100 pula per passport.

Snr Asst Comm Charity Charamba

Takunda Maodza Assistant News Editor
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has carried out massive transfers and redeployments of senior officers at Police General Headquarters in what the agency described as part of improving “effectiveness” in law enforcement.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the transfers in an interview with our Harare Bureau.

She said there was nothing untoward about the redeployment of senior staff.

“Yes, I can confirm those transfers have been effected as from November 9, 2015. There’s nothing unusual about these transfers as the ZRP undertakes routine transfers as a way of strengthening the operational effectiveness of the organisation. Some of these transfers have been necessitated by vacancies which were created due to retirement,” she said.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said contrary to assertions that the Legal Services Department had been hardest hit by the transfers, it had in fact been strengthened and the “movements are mostly internal”.

“The new director of the Legal Services Department, Senior Assistant Commissioner Eve Mlilo holds a Masters Degree in Law and she brings in a new dimension.

“The transfers are also meant to strengthen the Bulawayo Legal Department where we have lost numerous legal cases, some of them due to default judgments, hence the transfer of an experienced Assistant Commissioner Chivhayo,” added Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

“As for the Support Unit, Senior Assistant Commissioner Guvamombe recently acquired a Doctorate Degree in Administration, hence the posting is in line with her new qualification. These transfers are based on our promotion and transfer policy and there’s really no need to disclose the specific details on why we effect transfers.”

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the transfers were routinely conducted when need arose.

The list of transfers in a document from the deputy commissioner general, human resources’ office and sent to all police stations states: “The following transfers have been approved and should be implemented immediately — Senior Assistant Commissioner Guvamombe A, from Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) Crime to Support Unit as Officer Commanding. Senior Assistant Commissioner T.B Mhiripiri from PGHQ Legal Services to PGHQ Crime as Chief Staff Officer.”

Also moved from the PGHQ Legal Services is Assistant Commissioner N Chivhayo.

Assistant Commissioner Chivhayo has been transfered to provincial legal services (Bulawayo).

His jurisdiction covers Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South.

Senior Assistant Commissioner E Mlilo has been transferred from Depot to director, Legal Services while Senior Assistant Commissioner M Taedzerwa has been moved from Support Unit to Depot as Commandant Depot.

Assistant Commissioner W Marecha has been moved from Bulawayo to PGHQ Legal Services unit as Deputy Director (crime).

Chief Superintendant A Mashinda moves from PGHQ Legal Services to Depot as Legal Officer (Depot and Head Law Training).

Also redeployed are; Assistant Commissioner S Thethe, who has been moved from PGHQ (Internal Investigations) to National Traffic as Assistant Commissioner (Operations) while Assistant Commissioner B Dube has been shifted from National Traffic to Support Unit ,Southern Region, as Assistant Commissioner (Operations).

Assistant Commissioner P Sande has been moved from PGHQ (Administration) to National Anti-Stock Theft as Assistant Commissioner (Operations) while Assistant Commissioner S Chiwoko is now with the Support Unit as Assistant Commissioner (Administration) moving from National Anti-Stock Theft.

According to the document, Assistant Commissioner C Mushore remains as Support Unit Assistant Commissioner (Operations) while Assistant Commissioner S Dube moves from Support Unit, Southern Region, to Internal Investigations as Senior Staff Officer.

Assistant Commissioner H Musiiwa has been transfered from Quartermaster to Midlands as Assistant Commissioner (Operations) with effect from November 15.

The notice further announces the redeployment of Assistant Commissioner J Khumalo from Support Unit to National Anti-Stock Theft as Assistant Commissioner (Administration) while Assistant Commissioner T Nyazema has been moved from Harare to Quartermaster as Senior Staff Officer (Construction).

Chief Superintendent M Chikunguru has been moved from National Traffic to Harare Province as Acting Assistant Commissioner (Crime) while Chief Superintendent Z Mupini has been moved from National Traffic to PGHQ as Acting Senior Staff Officer (Administration).

Justice Martin Makonese

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
THE High Court has ordered Bulawayo businessman, Graeme Jansen van Vuuren to immediately return about $1,3 million worth of mining property he seized from Blackiynx Investments, a local gold mining company jointly owned by locals and South African shareholders.

The businessman has been locked in a legal wrangle with Blackiynx Investments and ZNK Investments CC, a South African company with shares in Baragon Trading (Pvt) Ltd over the control of the gold mine, Baragon in Fort Rixon.

Van Vuuren is a minority shareholder in Baragon (Pvt) Ltd and in ZNK Investments.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese last week dismissed the businessman’s application seeking an order interdicting Blackiynx Investment from carrying out mining activities at Baragon Trading.

The assets to be returned include mining claims and equipment.

The latest ruling comes a month after the businessman won the case at the High Court, but the judge reversed the ruling after, Blackiynx Investments, who were not cited in the initial case successfully challenged the ruling.

In court papers, Van Vuuren was cited as the applicant while ZNK Investment CC (Pvt) Ltd, Blackiynx Investments, M and M Intertrade Resources, a Mauritius-based company and one of its directors, Michael Horwitz were cited as the respondents.

“The applicant (Van Vuuren) be and is ordered to forthwith return all property to Blackiynx Investments that was seized in enforcement of a provisional order under HC 2462/15,” ruled Justice Makonese.

The judge said in the event that Van Vuuren fails to comply with the order within 48 hours, the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court is directed to seize the property and deliver it to Blackiynx Investments.

Van Vuuren was also ordered to pay the legal costs. ZNK Investments entered into an agreement of sale with Baragon Trading in August in Johannesburg to buy mining claims.

In terms of the pact, the parties agreed that upon the purchase of the mining claims they would be registered under Blackiynx Investments.

However, after learning about the sale, Van Vuuren rushed to the High Court to stop the imminent transfer of the gold claims and assets to ZNK Investments.

Justice Makonese ruled in favour of Van Vuuren and granted an order interdicting the transfer of the gold claims and assets to the South African company and also barred it from conducting any mining activities.

Van Vuuren then took control of the mining machinery and equipment.

The gold claims are part of more than $2 million gold claims in dispute between Van Vuuren and ZNK Investments.

The South African company bought the claims which are worth over $2 million for $650,000 from M and M Intertrade Resources (Pvt) Ltd, which has major shareholding in Baragon Pvt Ltd where Van Vuuren is a minority shareholder.

Horwitz reportedly sold the gold claims and other company assets to ZNK Investments in which he is said to have interests albeit without the authority of his employers and shareholders.

Baragon Pvt Ltd owns six mining claims under its six subsidiaries.

The matter is still pending before the courts where Van Vuuren is also seeking High Court permission to represent all the shareholders in terms of the law. Van Vuuren was represented by David Mhiribidi of Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Legal Practioners while Blackiynx Investments was represented by Tazorora Musarurwa, of Mambosasa Legal Practitioners.

Elizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
A 16-year-old mother who was in a forced marriage has been arrested for suffocating her newborn baby.

The teenager, from Phihli Village under Chief Bunina in Lower Gweru who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Gweru Magistrate Judith Taruvinga facing a charge of infanticide.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded in custody to November 25 for trial.

For the State, Daniel Tafuma told the court that the teenager was married sometime this year after she fell pregnant and killed her baby after giving birth eleven days ago.

He said she was living with her mother-in-law when she committed the crime.

The prosecutor said a neighbour who heard the baby crying from the girl’s room came and forced open the door, only to find the dead baby in a plastic bag.

“On November 5 this year at around 9AM, she didn’t tell anyone about her labour pains and gave birth while alone in a room at her mother-in-law’s residence,” said Tafuma.

He said the accused took the baby and put it in a plastic carrier bag and suffocated it.

The neighbour reported the matter to the police leading to the teenager’s arrest.

The post mortem results showed that the baby died due to suffocation.

The teenager however insists that the baby was already dead when she delivered hence she decided to put the body in a plastic bag to take it to a nearby clinic.

She told the court that it was best for the child to die because her husband was denying responsibility.

She said her husband always told her that his mother had forced him to marry her.

The teenager said the baby could have died during delivery as she was alone when she gave birth.

She said she was alone at home when she went into labour so there was noone to take her to hospital.

“Your worship I didn’t kill the baby as alleged but I couldn’t get anyone to take me to the hospital so I suspect the baby died during delivery. I didn’t have clothes for the baby so after delivery I had to wrap it in a plastic bag. When I was preparing to go to hospital that’s when my neighbour walked in and found the baby in a plastic bag and suspected that I had killed it,” said the teenager close to tears.

• President looks forward with ‘great interest’

Power . . . President Mugabe (second from left) joins world leaders, including the Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama at the G20 Summit in Turkey

Mduduzi Mathuthu Editor
CHINESE President Xi Jinping is due in Zimbabwe early December on an historic state visit that will elevate political and economic ties between the two countries.

President Robert Mugabe, speaking to reporters in Turkey where he and Xi Jinping are attending the G20 Summit, said he looked forward to his Chinese counterpart’s visit with “great interest”.

It would only be the second time that a Chinese President has visited Zimbabwe after President Jiang Zemin in 1996.

“We actually await the visit with very great interest, and when he visits us we shall be discussing some of the projects and programmes we would want China to assist us in undertaking,” President Mugabe said, according to the state-run China Radio International.

He added: “It’s more than the visit of the Chinese head of state that’s very important to us. We’ll discuss programmes of cooperation.”

Xi Jinping will embark on the two-day state visit on December 1 and 2, a visit that President Mugabe sees as of great significance to Zimbabwe which has been gravitating towards China, seeking economic lifelines to jump-start its economy ravaged by debilitating economic sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States as retaliation for the Zanu-PF government’s repossession of land from white commercial farmers to resettle landless Zimbabweans.

From Zimbabwe, the two leaders will attend the sixth ministerial meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in South Africa.

President Mugabe made a State visit to China last year where the two countries signed a number of agreements that will see the Asian giant providing financial and technical assistance in infrastructure development in the areas of transport, agriculture, water, tourism and power generation among others.

Several Chinese delegations have since visited Zimbabwe to expedite the implementation of the deals, most of them underwritten by Chinese banks and investors.

China, alongside Russia, has announced multi-billion dollar investments in Zimbabwe which when complete will lessen the impact of Western isolation.

China has also proved to be a key political ally by checking the bullying of Zimbabwe by Western countries at international forums, including the United Nations.

In July 2008, a push by the United States and Britain to impose punitive sanctions on Zimbabwe through a UN Security Council resolution which Harare says would have been a precursor to illegal military intervention to effect “regime change” floundered after China and Russia vetoed the resolution.

The US, which used a similar UN resolution on Iraq to wage an illegal war that toppled President Saddam Hussein, had claimed Zimbabwe was a “threat to peace and security in the region.’’

Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
TWENTY-THREE police officers have taken Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri to court for “dissolving” an entire police station by transferring them to various police stations while on suspension following the arrest of three of their colleagues for allegedly soliciting for bribes.

The officers were stationed at Mabvuku Police Station in Harare before they were re-deployed to various stations including in the Matabeleland region.

The cops, led by one Assistant Inspector Mhizha, yesterday filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court challenging the setting up of a board to determine their suitability to continue in their jobs

The police officers, through their lawyer, Norman Mugiyo, are seeking an order to bar their bosses from convening any hearings pending the finalisation of the matter, arguing that it was unlawful and a violation of their constitutional rights.

Mugiyo told The Chronicle yesterday that apart from that application on their suitability to continue in their jobs, the police officers were this week also going to go to court to challenge their transfers and suspensions.

In the papers before the court, the 23 police officers are the applicants while Chihuri, Senior Assistant Commissioner Justice Chengeta, who is the chief staff officer-in-charge of ZRP human resources and the president of the suitability board were cited as the respondents.

Mhizha, in his founding affidavit, said they were shocked when they received a radio signal summoning them to appear before the board of suitability last Thursday.

He claimed that the board of suitability is aimed at unfairly discharging them from the police service.

“No reason has been given as to why the respondents decided to convene a board of suitability against me and the rest of the applicants in violation of the provisions of section 68 (2) of the constitution. Clearly the purpose of convening the board of suitability in terms of section 50 of the Police Act is to discharge us from the police service,” said Mhizha.

He queried the decision by his bosses to convene the board of suitability considering that they had not committed any crime.

“I tend to speculate that what ignited the sudden decision to convene the board of suitability against me and the other applicants is the fact that we were transferred from Mabvuku without notice and the rest of the applicants were suspended from work a week ago,” said Mhizha.

He argued that the board of suitability is only convened after a police officer has been tried in terms of the Police Act or under ordinary law and convicted.

“In casu, the respondents did not charge me or any of the applicants let alone convict us and it therefore boggles the mind why the respondents should convene the board of suitability. Chihuri is clearly deprived of wise legal counsel by his law officers and he is fed with toxic legal advice which defeats the rule of law,” said Mhizha.

He said that as a result of misinformed decisions by their bosses, they were now forced to pay dearly for other people’s sins.

“The reason why the respondents took such drastic measures is because of three officers who were arrested for soliciting for bribes and when it occurred we were not on duty. The respondents then decided to punish all police officers at Mabvuku Police Station notwithstanding the fact that we were not linked to the offence. We are now paying dearly for the sins committed by the three police officers,” said Mhizha.

The police officers want the court to grant them an interim relief interdicting their bosses from convening a suitability board until the matter is finalised.

Last year, the ZRP fired 300 police officers for corruption. The cops were found guilty among other breaches of the ZRP Charter of receiving bribes from motorists who had fallen foul of road regulations.

Cde Saviour Kasukuwere

Felex Share Harare Bureau
THE forthcoming Zanu-PF’s 15th Annual National People’s Conference is not about leadership change, but a crucial indaba meant to press forward the economic empowerment agenda, national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere has said.

As such, Cde Kasukuwere said, Zanu-PF cadres should be contented with their current positions.

Addressing delegates during a Mashonaland West provincial inter-district conference on Sunday, Cde Kasukuwere said those carrying out covert operations were wasting their time as the revolutionary party’s focus was on improving the livelihoods of Zimbabweans.

This is contrary to misinformed assertions by some sections of the media that the conference, slated for December 7 to 13 in Victoria Falls, would see the Zanu-PF constitution being amended and some leadership changes taking place.

“Our conference is coming and, we’re going there to discuss about empowering the people not about President Mugabe. That issue has been finalised,” Cde Kasukuwere said.

“We’re aware of clandestine, stupid moves. They’ll not succeed. I’m happy where I’m as secretary for the commissariat, Cde (Ignatius) Chombo is secretary for administration and he’s happy where he is, the chairman of the province (Ephraim) Chengeta, Cdes (Edna) Madzongwe, (Josiah) Hungwe, (Christopher) Mutsvangwa and everyone else should be happy and contented with where they are.”

Mashonaland West province endorsed President Mugabe as the party’s 2018 election candidate.

Cde Kasukuwere said the conference theme: “Consolidating People’s Power through Zim-Asset” was all about transforming people’s lives.

He added that those angling for the party’s top post would be dumped along the way as President Mugabe remained the people’s favourite.

“Going astray and selling out isn’t about what you do physically, but what you think when you’re sleeping with your wife, dreaming of when you’re in a post already occupied by someone,” he said.

“The danger comes when you start thinking about succession. Temba Mliswa did the same and look what he’s doing. Today he’s with MDC, tomorrow he’s with Mai (Joice) Mujuru. He’s everywhere. The issue of defending President Mugabe is non-negotiable. For some of us, it’s a matter of life and death. Be focused, defend the President.”

Mliswa was part of a putchist cabal led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru which wanted to topple President Mugabe ahead of Zanu-PF’s Congress last December.

Ring leaders of the cabal were sacked while other members were suspended from the party.

Cde Kasukuwere warned party members against consorting with opposition forces saying Zanu-PF was not afraid of booting them out and having by-elections, where necessary.

“Those who’ve been suspended from the party, toe the party line,” he said.

“The moment you start hobnobbing with people the party is against, you’re on your own and we’re ready to come back for by-elections and I assure you Zanu-PF will still prevail. This is a message to those wavering. In politics there’s no wavering just like in the church you can’t worship God and Satan at the same time.”

He said the First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe, who is the Zanu-PF Women’s League secretary, deserved respect as she had played a leading role in bringing back stability in the party that had been rocked by factionalism steered by the former VP Mujuru’s cabal.

“Amai Mugabe is our First Lady, she must be respected equally alongside the President of our country,” Cde Kasukuwere said.

“We support the President and you can’t say you don’t support his wife. We asked her to come into politics and she did a good job, helping in the kicking out of the wayward ones. The country and stability of the party was being threatened. The Americans and their money had found their way here and your farms were now under threat.”

He added: “One thing Zanu-PF isn’t scared to do is to discipline someone. Even If I go astray I’ll be disciplined. No one is above the party. No one owns the party, it belongs to the people of Zimbabwe.”

Cde Kasukuwere commended Cde Hungwe for leading the restructuring programme in Mashonaland West.

“What’s now important is to unite and move forward building the party. Down with forming small groups that have sinister agendas,” he said

“Cde Chengeta, you’re the provincial chairperson and if there’re any grey areas (in the district elections) go back and let the people’s will prevail. You’ve the support of the Politburo, don’t be scared.”

He said mobilisation and strengthening of the party structures should continue ahead of the 2018 general elections.

Austin Ndlovu’s rotting arm (top) and (above) after his arm had been amputated

Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
A MAN has had his arm amputated after a nurse at Mpilo Central Hospital allegedly gave him a wrong injection which caused it to rot.

The hospital has admitted wrong-doing and performed the amputation free of charge.

Austin Ndlovu, 63, of Bhazhe Village was amputated on Monday night following fears that the gangrene on his arm would spread to the rest of his body.

The decomposing arm, Ndlovu told The Chronicle yesterday, was producing a foul stench.

Ndlovu, speaking from the hospital yesterday, said trouble started after a nurse injected him in the back of his arm.

“I was admitted here on October 26 for oesophageal cancer. Things changed suddenly on November 4 when a nurse injected me,” he said.

Ndlovu said he immediately began feeling intense pain and told the nurse that the injection was unusually painful.

Hours later, Ndlovu said, his arm started swelling.

“The skin on my arm began to change, it appeared as if I had been scalded with a hot liquid. Later it became very dark. My fingers became very dry and numb,” he said.

Ndlovu’s nephew Thankswell Moyo said they sought clarification from the hospital authorities and they admitted that something had gone wrong with the medication.

“They told us that the arm had become gangrenous and had to be amputated. They’ve offered to foot the operation bills as they acknowledge that they’re at fault,” said Moyo.

He said medical examinations carried out later showed the gangrene was not caused by the cancer.

“What’s really painful to us is that he came here for a different ailment and the hospital staff negligently caused the loss of his arm.

“Imagine, he has lived for 63 years with his arm, only to lose it due to negligence. He’s a self-employed man. How’s he going to survive after losing his hand?” asked Moyo.

He said the family had written to the hospital authorities seeking an explanation.

Mpilo Central Hospital’s clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said the institution regretted the “unfortunate incident.”

“The man has lost his arm which is a very disturbing thing. Across the public sector we’ve a variance in the competence of individuals, such bad apples [as the nurse] can be found in organisations,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said the negligent staffer would be brought before a hearing.

“It appears that one member of staff allegedly injected and caused the reaction on the man’s arm rendering it useless. We’ll launch an internal inquiry and disciplinary action to try and improve the health care of our patients,” he said.

The hospital, Dr Ngwenya said, had agreed not to charge Ndlovu since the institution was at fault.

This is not the only case of negligence at Bulawayo health institutions.

Last month, a woman told The Chronicle that she will never conceive again due to negligence by the United Bulawayo Hospitals’ doctors who left a piece of cloth in her womb after she gave birth at the institution.

Idai Nyika, 21, from Pumula North suburb said the cloth went undetected for about four months and the horror of what had happened to her was revealed through an X-ray examination, resulting in her womb being removed.