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Revealed: Why MDC-T

supported Zanu PF
...as Komichi
speaks out
BY MOSES MATENGA/RICHARD MUPONDE

M
DC-T senators were cajoled into vot-
ing with Zanu PF to pass controver-
sial amendments to the constitution
in the hope that the ruling party will return

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

An employee at Holiday Inn Harare receives a Covid-19 vaccination at Monomotapa Hotel last Thursday. The government has since placed tourism and
hospitality frontliners on the priority list for the Covid-19 immunisation programme. Picture: Shepherd Tozvireva
2 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Local News
BRIEFS
Zapu to ‘recall’ MDC Alliance youths defiant
Zanu PF ministers BY Brenna Matendere

M
DC Alliance youths say they will re-
BY NIZBERT MOYO spond to a clampdown by President
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government
Opposition party Zapu says it will this week write to by mobilising supporters to vote in large num-
Parliament seeking to recall its former members, who bers in forthcoming elections.
are now part of the ruling Zanu PF. Lately, there has been a crackdown on most of
Iphuthile Maphosa, the Zapu spokesperson, said the the outspoken MDC Alliance youths with several
decision was taken at a special meeting of the party’s of them either in prison or on bail pending trial.
National People’s Council held in Bulawayo yesterday. These include Harare West legislator Joana
Former Zapu members in the current Parliament in- Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri.
clude Education minister Cain Mathema and his Small Makomborero Haruzivishe, another firebrand
and Medium Enterprises counterpart Sithembiso Nyo- opposition youth, began serving a 14-month
ni. prison term last week for instigating public vio-
“Our letter of recalls will be delivered to Parliament lence.
as soon as it re-opens after the holidays,” Maphosa said. The other youths languishing behind bars
“We are doing so because we have moved out of the on similar charges are Tinashe Bwanaisa, Rake-
Unity Accord, which is a pact that had brought togeth- shi Marufu, Collin Paison, Tafara Mafunde, Farai
er Zanu PF and PF Zapu together following the geno- Chidziva and Trust Nyamado.
cide on Zapu supporters perpetrated by Zanu PF in or- These developments have largely been de-
der to institute a one-party state.” scribed by analysts as a ploy to tame the coun-
Zapu broke away from Zanu PF in 2008 after the par- try’s biggest opposition party.
ties merged in 1987 to end the Gukurahundi killings in However, MDC Alliance national youth
the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces. spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma said the
Although the “recalls” may largely be symbolic, they party was far from being immobilised.
will bring another dimension to the debate over the re- “We are going deep right into rural areas re-
calling of MDC Alliance legislators and councillors by cruiting new voices for change,” Chuma said.
the rival MDC-T. “Through our vehicle, the one million youth
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has campaign, we will have an already mobilised
been accused of aiding the MDC-T’s push to decimate and radicalised youth ready to defend their vote.
the MDC Alliance by controversially facilitating the re- “Recently our teams were in places like Mu-
calls. pata, Gutu and Makungubwe in Masvingo prov-
ince sowing seeds of a pro-poor and pro-people
revolution.” Makomborero Haruzivishe
Prince Charles pays tribute Chuma said the 'persecution' of the youths
had hardened those that remain outside the nomic collapse and unemployment, hence we But Chuma shot back and defended Chamisa.
to ‘my dear papa’ Philip prisons.
“By persecuting our members through pros-
cannot afford further provocation in the form
of politically motivated arrests and convictions.”
“The mendacious view that president Nelson
Chamisa deserted youths by not attending Mako's
ecution, Emmerson Mnangagwa is dancing on When Chamisa failed to attend the court ses- court is purely malicious and a black market nar-
WINDSOR — Britain’s Prince Charles paid a personal political quicksand,” he said. sion that saw the sentencing of Haruzivishe, rative from Zanu PF’s varakashi (bashers)," he said
tribute yesterday to his “dear papa” Prince Philip, saying “The crackdown on our members is a clear in- there was an outcry on social media that he was “MDC Alliance is not a one-man band, hence we
the royal family missed him emormously and that the citement of violence by the state and it will not leaving the restive youths fighting for change on cannot expect our president to be omnipresent.
99-year-old would have been amazed at the touching end well”. their own. “He was well represented at court by other
reaction across the world to his death. “Young people are already fed up with this Others said it showed he was weak and a cow- standing committee members, hence his absence
Philip, the husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth who corrupt regime, which has presided over eco- ard. is not an issue.”
had been at her side throughout her record-breaking
69-year reign, died at Windsor Castle on Friday.
“As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father
enormously,” Charles, the couple’s eldest son and heir
to the throne, said outside his Highgrove House home
in west England.
Revealed: Why MDC-T backed Zanu PF
“My dear papa was a very special person who I think
above all else would have been amazed by the reaction CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “If there is any coaching, it has to come through
and the touching things that have been said about him the favour by backing it in its battles with the me as I am the chief whip.
and from that point of view we are, my family, deep- mainstream MDC Alliance, it has emerged. “When in Parliament, we allow our members to
ly grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular The Douglas Mwonzora-led party made a stun- make independent decisions.
loss and at this particularly sad time.” ning somersault last week by backing the amend- “We believe that the people we seconded to
Buckingham Palace announced that the funeral for ments that will see President Emmerson Mnan- Parliament know the party policy and also what is
Philip would be held on April 17, and that the queen’s gagwa single-handedly picking the chief justice, good for the country.”
grandson Prince Harry, who had become estranged deputy chief justice and the judge president. Mwonzora came under attack from civil socie-
from the family after moving to the United States with Mwonzora was one of the biggest critics of the ty and the MDC Alliance for siding with Zanu PF in
his wife Meghan, would attend. —Reuters proposed amendments that were first proposed passing the amendments, which they say threat-
five years ago, but appears to have changed his en the independence of the judiciary.

Weather report
position after the fallout with the MDC Alliance MDC Alliance vice-president Tendai Biti said the
led by Nelson Chamisa. constitutional changes were illegal.
www.thestandard.co.zw Only Morgen Komichi from the MDC-T voted “The starting point is that the Bill is illegal,” Biti
against the amendments. said.
Zimbabwe weather forecast valid until the end of day MDC-T senators told this publication that they “The sitting and reading of the Bill happened in
tomorrow. were convinced by the party’s leadership to vote Morgen Komichi the Robert Mugabe era. Section 147 of the consti-
with Zanu PF because of promises that the rul- tution is clear that any motion lapses at the disso-
Forecast for today: ing party will back them in their fight against the suit certain individuals. lution of Parliament.
Sunny and dry conditions are expected in most parts Chamisa group. “The constitution must be there for the people. “The 7th Parliament was dissolved on 28 May
of the country with brief cloudy periods over Harare They claimed that the government was mulling “I only expressed my feeling and cannot con- 2018 and the motion also lapsed.
Metropolitan and all Mashonaland provinces. Cool in further amendments to the constitution that will demn others for what they did. I respect their “That’s unconstitutional and illegal; we will
the morning, becoming warm by aternoon. include suspending by-elections further and rais- views." go to court about that. Zanu PF can’t unilaterally
ing the age limit for presidential candidates from Komichi, however, said the MDC-T senators amend a negotiated constitution, which was vot-
Temperatures for the main city centres (°c): 40 to 50. were not forced to vote for the amendments. ed for by three million people in a referendum.
Minimum Maximum Zanu PF is pushing to raise the age limit for “I did not see the connivance in the voting,” he “The challenge should be how to implement
Today Today presidential candidates to specifically target said. the constitution.”
Harare 10 27 Chamisa, who almost beat Mnangagwa in the dis- “I did not see the connivance there, people vot- He added: “On the MDC-T, let’s not waste our
Bulawayo 12 28 puted 2018 polls. ed independently.” time on this issue. To start with [Thokozani] Khupe
Gweru 12 26 “This is not the only constitutional changes the Mwonzora's spokesperson Lloyd Damba also and Mwonzora are Zanu PF.
Mutare 12 27 party is going to support,” an MDC-T senator said. refuted allegations that MDC-T had struck a deal “They were given money by Zanu PF to destroy
Kwekwe 12 29 The legislator, however, said the party’s lead- with Zanu PF on the constitutional amendments. the MDC Alliance.
Kadoma 09 29 ership was not united in backing Zanu PF’s pro- “Firstly, on the issue of coaching of MPs, I was “It’s an unholy alliance between Zanu PF and
Masvingo 11 27 posed constitutional amendments. not in Parliament to comment on that,” Damba MDC-T to destroy democracy.”
Chinhoyi 12 30 Komichi told The Standard yesterday that he said. Political commentator Fidelis Duri said the con-
Lupane 11 32 was against changes to the constitution to bene- “Then on the Constitutional Amendment Bill, stitutional amendments signalled the death of de-
Bindura 12 30 fit an individual. the writing of the constitution is a continuous pro- mocracy in Zimbabwe.
Marondera 10 25 “The national constitution needs to be protect- cess. “Worldwide there should be separation of pow-
Gwanda 11 30 ed from arbitrary amendments because it will do “Amendments are common the world over. ers between the executive, the judiciary and the
—MSD away with what the people actually voted for,” he “That’s why you see the American constitution legislature,” Duri said.
said in an interview. is amended to suit different times. “This is done to enable checks and balance in
“The people of Zimbabwe voted for the current “So the writing of a constitution is inconclusive, the system of governance.
national constitution. but continuous.” “When we hear that the executive is appointing
“It was the document they contributed to dur- MDC-T chief whip Tichinani Mavetera said the people to the judiciary, then it means the judici-
ing Copac (Constitution Parliamentary Commit- party’s senators were not coached on how to vote ary is captured.”
tee) times so for Parliament to then sit and make last week. The 2013 constitution received massive back-
amendments without consulting them, it is un- “Whoever is bringing that has a sinister motive. ing from Zimbabweans in a referendum after
fair." "Not a single person was coached or told what to Zanu PF and the MDC agreed to work together.
“We don’t want to amend the constitution to do,” Mavetera claimed.
 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021 3

Local News

$6m scandal haunts Mwonzora

BY RICHARD MUPONDE “Several members of the MDC-T stand- use of foreign currency in local transac- 3 this year, the MDC-T activist said there

A
ing committee have deposed affidavits tion. was enough evidence for the police to ar-
n MDC-T activist on Friday lodged a with the ZRP attesting to the theft and “That the funds from the Political Par- rest Mwonzora.
complaint with the Zimbabwe Anti- laundering of funds. ties Finance Act are public funds that “I strongly believe it is in the best in-
Corruption Commission (Zacc) accus- “The ZRP has conducted its own inves- should not and can't be laundered on the terest of justice that Douglas Mwonzora,
ing the party’s leader Douglas Mwonzo- tigations and evidence exists in support black market in total contravention of Todd Mapingire and others be arrested
ra of stealing over $6 million from the of both theft and illegal exchange of for- the country's monetary and fiscal poli- just like any other citizens will if they
opposition party's coffers. eign currency on the black market. cies,” he said. are accused of a similar crime," Muri-
Patson Murimoga, a former Mwonzora ally, ac- “The persons, who participated in the Murimoga wants Zacc to investigate moga wrote.
cuses the MDC-T leader of conniving with the par- illegal exchange of foreign currency are why police have not arrested Mwonzora “Justice is blind and should be dis-
ty’s finance director Toddy Mapingire to loot the known to the police. for the theft of funds despite overwhelm- pensed without fear or favour.’
money, which they allegedly used to buy foreign “There are recorded statements from ing evidence. Mwonzora’s stranglehold on the op-
currency on the parallel market. some members of the MDC-T standing “Arrest and depose all MDC-T stand- position party has come under constant
In December last year, Murimoga made an in- committee attesting to the theft and mon- ing committee members for their com- test after his protagonists including his
itial police report t under RRB /2236/12/2020 on ey laundering. plicity in money laundering stemming deputy, Thokozani Khupe put pressure
the eve of the discredited Supreme Court-ordered “That the laundering was in total con- from inability to report the theft and on him over the missing funds.
party extraordinary congress, which propelled travention of the country's Foreign Ex- laundering of party funds,” he added. Last month, Khupe made a statement
Mwonzora to the helm of the party. change Act and the prevailing official ex- “Take up the issue as a matter of ur- to the police on the alleged raiding of
However, police are still to charge Mwonzora change rate, which was US$1:83RTGS as gency in light of police inaction and the the from party’s coffers ahead of its dis-
over the matter. established by the auction market.” soon-to-be-disbursed $29 million as ga- puted extraordinary congress.
In his Zacc complaint seen by this publication, He said the MDC-T standing commit- zetted by the government”.
Murimoga said police appeared reluctant to act tee violated the government policy on the In his letter to Nyathi dated February
on the matter despite him writing to the Zimba-
bwe Republic Police spokesperson, Assistant
Commissioner Paul Nyathi, where he raised con-
cern over lack of action by the law enforcement
agency.
“The case was reported on December 26, 2020,
CASE- RB# 2236/12/2020,” Murimoga wrote.

RedLipstick Revolution founder Abigail Magwenzi

Women urged to
venture into mining
BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

YOUNG women in Zimbabwe have been urged to

take up mining seriously to empower themselves.
Speaking during a tour of small-scale gold mining
in the Makaha area in Mudzi by a group of women,
RedLipstick Revolution founder Abigail Magwenzi
said women need to be inspired by mining to move
the country forward.
RedLipstick Revolution is an organisation that
was formed four years ago with its main objective
being to empower women in all sectors.
"We need women to be inspired by mining,” Mag-
wenzi said.
“If Zimbabwe is open for business, then we need
to venture into mining and play our role in ensur-
ing that our country achieves Vision 2030 to become
a middle income economy.”
A female small-scale miner, Vengesai Matapure of
Shalom Mine, said miners faced challenges getting
funding for their operations.
"We applaud the government for allowing us to
venture into mining as women,” Matapure said.
“We, however, need funding as women so that we
realise our capacity.
“We need the funding to secure equipment, which
is crucial in mining.”
The group of women underwent vigorous train-
ing by officials from the Environmental Manage-
ment Agency (EMA) on best environmental practic-
es while the Mines ministry trained them on how to
acquire licences and regularising their operations.
The organisation has so far secured 25 gold claims
for its members.
EMA Mashonaland East provincial environmen-
tal education and publicity officer Astas Mabwe
said: “As EMA we are working with women teaching
them issues of compliance, for example, to acquire
the EIA (environmental impact assessment certifi-
cates.
“This is crucial in that when they start their own
businesses, they will be acquainted with all that is
needed for smooth operation.”
4 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Standard

PEOPLE
Third wave feared BRIEFS
Couple jailed 15 years for rape
... as Covid-19 cases surge
BY MIRIAM MANGWAYA

T
he spike in Covid-19 cases, es-
pecially in schools, could be A Zvishavane couple, who connived to rape a nine-
a signal of the beginning of year-old girl, was yesterday jailed to an effective 15
a deadlier third wave of the years after being jointly convicted of rape.
pandemic, health experts have tor of the national response against Cov- Benson Moyo (26) and wife Tafadzwa Moyo, whose
warned. id-19, said the government was investi- ages were not given in State papers, both from Chipikiri
According to a situation report re- gating the issue of surging cases, but said village under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane, colluded to
leased by the ministry of Health and the situation in schools was “under con- rape the complainant, who is a niece of Benson after she
Child Care, a boarding school in Mata- trol”. was left in their custody.
beleland South province recorded 78 Cov- But teachers’ representatives, who Gweru regional magistrate Pathekile Msipa convicted
id-19 cases on Friday. spoke to The Standard said they were the duo after a full trial and sentenced them to 17 years
Sacred Heart Girls High School and not surprised by the Covid-19 figures in before suspending two years on condition of good be-
Mzingwane High School in Matabeleland schools as they had foreseen the situa- haviour.
South had recorded 106 cases on the pre- tion. The couple, who kept on changing their defence dur-
vious day. They urged the government to shut ing cross, examination, had denied the charges saying
Government accused school authori- down schools before the situation went they were not at home when the offence was commit-
ties of failing to follow laid-down stand- out of hand. ted. But Msipa said the two's line of defence was not
ard operating procedures, which it said Zimbabwe National Teachers Union credible before finding them guilty of the crime.
led to Covid-19 infections. Manuel Nyawo said there was “disaster” – STEPHEN CHADENGA
But health experts bemoaned poor test- in schools as most of the learning institu-
ing facilities and relaxation of contact tions had no capacity to test children for
tracing measures, which was resulting in Covid-19.
a high number of cases left without being
detected, fuelling further transmissions.
“The reported Covid-19 infections in
schools are a tip of the iceberg as we are
Hit-and-run driver nabbed
Mpilo Central Hospital acting CEO Sol- likely to be having more cases that are
wayo Ngwenya said the fact that people undetected because schools have no ca- A Harare man, who seriously injured a seven-year-old
were increasingly becoming complacent pacity to test pupils,” Nyawo said. girl in a hit-and-run accident has been arrested after a re-
in observing Covid-19 protocols, and lack “There is need to get to the bottom of cording of the incident went viral on social media.
of adequate testing facilities could make these incidences to establish the cause.” Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Ny-
it difficult to contain the third wave. Community Working Group on Health athi said Herbert Chakanyuka was arrested after the ac-
“A fresh Covid-19 wave manifests it- executive director Itai Rusike said a rise cident was captured on a closed circuit television cam-
self through a rapid surge in new cases,” in new cases could be linked to poor era.
Ngwenya said. preparations ahead of the reopening of The incident occurred at the traffic lights-controlled
“That is when a huge number of peo- schools last month. intersection at Borrowdale Road and Harare Drive.
ple start seeking hospitalisation and start “It is worrying that schools reopened “The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that the
looking for oxygen. Agnes Mahomva without the enforcement of the standard suspect has been arrested and the victim has since been
“We will go back to the trend of the sec- operating procedure for infection preven- identified as Mitchelle Kapfumo,” Nyathi said.
ond wave where hospitals could not meet id-19 lockdown, our cases were ranging tion and control checklist in schools and “The suspect is being charged with negligent driving
the demand of people in need of admis- below 20, and deaths were not more than without capacitating the school health co- and failure to stop after an accident, failure to report an
sion. five and some days we would not even re- ordinators,” Rusike said. accident and failure to render assistance after an acci-
Johannes Marisa, the Medical and Den- cord a single death. “I think some schools have registered dent. The case is now pending before the courts."
tal Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe As- “But if we then see the number of new many children per class making it diffi- —MIRIAM MANGWAYA
sociation president, said the rising cases cases increasing each day consecutively, cult to manage social distancing meas-
were a cause for concern. then we know we are doomed. ures.
“When a new wave is coming, we see “We will have an upward trend in both “The ministry of Health and Child
a surge of cases in consecutive days,”
Marisa said.
new infections and deaths and the flat
curve will disappear."
Care should visit schools to provide guid-
ance on infection prevention and control Imbiber dies after binge
“As it was since the easing of the Cov- Agnes Mahomva, the chief co-ordina- measures.”
A 35-YEAR-OLD Concession man died last week after

Region gears for World Press Freedom Day

taking too much alcohol without food.
Richard Ranjisi Muriswa (39) was found lying on the
ground by his friend Alfred Mutizwa (39) who took him
to his home.
Mutizwa left his friend and came back the next day
where he found that his condition had deteriorated before
he made porridge for him, but he was not able to eat.
BY STAFF REPORTER have been held, with another three ex- Muriswa died a few hours later.
pected this week. Acting Mashonaland Central police spokesperson As-
Stakeholders in the media sector are The consultations are supported by the sistant Inspector Naison Dhliwayo confirmed the case.
presently holding consultations ahead of United Nations Educational, Scientific — SIMBARASHE SITHOLE
World Press Freedom Day celebrations, and Cultural Organisation.
which will be hosted by Namibia. The Windhoek+30 Declaration builds
In Southern Africa, the regional con- up on the Windhoek Declaration, which
sultations are being led by Misa Zimba-
bwe and the Southern African Editors
was made 30 years ago in Namibia.
The Windhoek Declaration for the De- Fresh lockdowns
around the world
Forum (Saef). velopment of a Free, Independent and
“We are holding participatory and in- Pluralistic Press, is a statement of press
clusive consultations in an effort to pro- freedom principles by African newspa-
duce a summary of key elements to be per journalists in 1991, which became the MUMBAI — Fresh lockdowns and curfews were im-
included in the final Windhoek+30 Dec- foundation of World Press Freedom Day. posed on tens of millions of people from India to Ar-
laration,” Misa Zimbabwe regional cam- “The media landscape has changed gentina yesterday, as Covid-19 infections surged again
paigns coordinator Nqaba Matshazi said. since then,” Matshazi said, “with broad- and vaccine roll-outs were hampered by shortages and
The consultations will feed into the casting and the internet growing in leaps scares over side effects.
programme of the Africa Regional Fo- and bounds across the region, necessitat- In India, the worst-hit state of Maharashtra was run-
rum, which will be held on April 30 in ing an update of the Windhoek Declara- ning out of vaccines as the health system buckled under
Windhoek, Namibia, ahead of the main tion to reflect contemporary times.” the weight of the contagion, which has killed 2.9 million
celebrations on May 3. Furthermore, this year’s World Press people worldwide.
Due to Covid-19 protocols, the forum Nqaba Matshazi Freedom Day commemorations will focus Having let its guard down with mass religious fes-
will be hybrid, with a limited number of on the need to update global commitment tivals, political rallies and spectators at cricket match-
participants being there physically, while to freedom of expression, press freedom es, the world's second-most populous nation has add-
others will participate virtually. essential pillar for information to remain and freedom of information within the ed more than a million new infections since late March.
The consultations will focus on de- a common good. framework of Sustainable Development Every weekend from yesterday until the end of April,
veloping the viability of the media and The final thematic area looks at Goal 16.10. Maharashtra's 125 million people will be confined to
strengthening their role in the produc- strengthening media and information lit- The theme for this year’s World Press their homes unless travelling or shopping for food or
tion and sharing of information. eracy capacities in times of disinforma- Freedom Day celebrations is “Promoting medicine. — Eyewitness News
They will also focus on reinforcing the tion and hate speech. information as a public good”.
transparency of online platforms as an So far, three consultation meetings
 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021 5

Local News

In Zim some tech businesses

By Farai Shawn Matiashe

F
resh Foods Basket Zimbabwe co-founder Farai
Chisvo makes daily runs supplying fresh produce
to his growing list of clientele. Today is no differ-

struggle, others thrive

ent.
Before winding up the last of his scheduled de-
liveries and returning to the warehouse in Glen Lorne, the
34-year-old Chisvo sets course for Waterfalls, a medium-
density suburb in Harare.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government im-
posed a national lockdown to curb the spread of the global
coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 after the country re-
corded its first Covid-19 death. compared to when they were locked up but Fresh in A Box uses artificial intelligence
Since then, the lockdown has been relaxed and tight- needed supplies.” to interact with customers on various social
ened depending on the cases of Covid-19 in the country. Another startup, Farm Fresh founded by media platforms, and it takes an hour for cli-
Although fresh produce markets are open around the Desire Jongwe, which made home deliver- ents to receive their orders, he said.
country, most Zimbabweans have shunned visiting the ies of vegetables on Wednesdays and Satur- “At each lockdown, we maximise on
overcrowded marketplaces to limit their chances of con- days during the Covid-19 era, in 2020, has orders,”Musasiwa told The Standard.
tracting Covid-19 even though the vaccine programme is also shut down. The use of technology and app-based
being rolled out. The company, which was based in Mu- solutions has ensured that farmers keep
As of Friday, a total of 178 237 people had been inoculat- tare, the fourth-largest city in Zimbabwe, their ventures afloat while at the same time
ed against Covid-19 using vaccines from China, India and had customers who included people that growing a steady clientele base wary of
Russia. were concerned about the coronavirus pan- breaking the social distancing rules.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s economy has been reeling demic and did not want to visit the market.
from three-digit hyperinflation and the recent ravages of In Harare, Fresh in a Box, started by Kuda *This work was supported by the Na-
drought that have left the country teetering on the brink Musasiwa in 2018, last year partnered with tional Geographic Society’s Covid-19
of food insecurity. well over 2 000 farmers across the country Emergency Fund for Journalists
At the end of 2020, the UN World Food Programme esti- and is still thriving.
mated that the number of food-insecure Zimbabweans was Fresh fruits and vegetables
8.6 million people — a staggering 60% of the population.
The southern African country, which was once the bread-
basket of the continent, will import an estimated 1.1 million
tonnes of grain in the 2020/2021 marketing year to meet VACANCY
demand, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organ-
isation.
The situation has been worsened by Covid-19 which has
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: CHEMPLEX CORPORATION LIMITED
ravaged the economy and forced the government to lock
up its people with no social security. A vacancy has arisen for the above position which is based in Harare. Reporting to the Board of Chemplex Corporation Limited and to the General Manager
Amid all this, Chisvo and co-founders Brian Matasva (25), of Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe (IDCZ), the successful candidate will be expected, inter alia, to discharge the following major
Killian Masunda (25) and Kumbirai Makota (25) saw an op- responsibilities:
portunity, and they quickly moved in to fill the void. Scope
Chisvo told The Standard the situation in the country pre-
sented a unique opportunity. - e Chief Executive Officer is responsible for overall oversight of the business, provision of effective strategic leadership and direction in achieving the vision,
“The measures put in place to contain the spread of Cov- mission, values and strategic goals for the growth and development of the business in order to achieve the organization's objectives.
id-19 have disrupted the supply of agro-food products to - e role will be on a five (5)-year fixed term contract renewable once based on performance.
markets and consumers, both within and across borders,”
he said.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
“However, as Fresh Foods Basket Zimbabwe, we have
linked with most local farmers and created an online fresh Strategic Planning
agro produce hub where farmers with products ready for - Leads the business units management teams in the development of the corporation's vision, mission, values and strategic goals and lays down the
harvest and for the market can give notice and in turn, we success factors for approval by the Board.
push those products to our clients so that there is constant - Provides strategic guidelines to managers of business units and functional managers.
supply of what is in the market, thus keeping farmers in
business.” - Oversees and directs strategic implementation processes as to achieve goals and objectives of the Corporation.
He said they elevated demand by promoting the concept - Authorises development and investment plans in line with strategy.
of healthy eating and educating the masses on how healthy - Develops short- and long-term business plans for approval by the Board.
food helps to boost the immune system.
- Ensures the Corporation's adherence and compliance with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public
This unique set of challenges enabled Chisvo and the
co-founders to boost their start-up that they established in Entities Act and the Public Finance Management Act.
2019 to ensure convenience to customers, he said.
The start-up makes home deliveries daily during week- Financial Performance
days in Harare and surrounding areas, including Norton, - Approves financial and capital budgets for business units and submission to the Board.
Chitungwiza and Marondera
- Monitors financial performance against strategy to ensure value creation, profitability and growth to achieve shareholder requirements.
Fresh Foods Basket Zimbabwe supplies fresh farm pro-
duce to more than 900 customers on a weekly basis. - Ensure financial systems and policies are implemented.
They have their own farm in Marondera, some 70km from - Approves capital expenditure up to set limits, otherwise recommends to the Board.
Harare, where they get fresh produce and they also work
- Develops and implements strategies for cost containment within budget.
with more than 30 small-scale farmers in Harare and near-
by areas. Operational Performance
The agripreneurs, who are also tech-savvy, have provid-
- Approves strategic operational policies and plans for business units.
ed a mobile money payment platform for their customers.
“We accept Ecocash, Zipit and transfers through interna- - Ensures resources required for operations are available.
tional transfer platforms such as World Remit, Mukuru and - Monitors overall operational efficiency and effectiveness of the organization.
Western Union which are convenient to our clients,” Chisvo - Provides guidelines and approves capital projects within the limits set by the Board.
said.
In addition, Foods Basket Zimbabwe also markets its Human Resources
products using social media platforms, such as Facebook, - Creating an enabling environment that fosters high productivity through developing and maintaining strategically managed and effective human resources
Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp, the most popular mes- system. Agrees performance targets for business unit executive managers.
saging app in Africa, according to a 2018 report by We Are - Establishes overall conditions of employment.
Social and Hootsuite.
- Approves training and development, and succession plans for senior management and executives.
On the backdrop of the pandemic, the government an-
nounced a $18 billion (us$60 million) stimulus package - Recommends appointment, promotion, remuneration and all other aspects relating to the welfare of immediate subordinates, and authorises the same for all
meant to revive the economy. other senior managers.
In the first two weeks of the lockdown in 2019, an esti- - Ensures that appropriate Human Resources strategies are developed and effectively implemented to support the business strategies.
mated $10 million worth of farm-fresh produce was lost, ac-
cording to the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU), which rep- Public Relations
resents farmers’ interests. - Ensures the Corporation's relationships with stakeholdesr are in line with strategic goals.
Paul Zakariya, an executive director at ZFU, told The - Monitors activities and standards of operating units and Iiaises with key stakeholders.
Standard, Covid-19 disruptions have helped to bring in in-
novations on marketing and related logistics. - Approves and monitors corporate social responsibility programmes.
“Digital marketing platforms have emerged and these - Ensures effective networking with the key stakeholders.
are providing real-time information about what fresh pro-
duce is available, where and at what price. This is informing Subsidiary and Associated Companies
- Monitors performance of subsidiary and associate companies together with other shareholders and ensure achievement of planned goals and report to
decisions much quicker,” Zakariya said. the Chemplex Board.
“Our only hope at the moment is that we can continue to
build on these new and innovative ways of handling fresh Applications are invited from suitable candidates who meet the following attributes:
farm produce and not go back to the old ways.” Education
Some tech businesses that saw Covid-19 as an opportu- A technical Degree such as B.Sc. Chemical Engineering/ Chemistry or a relevant Business-related qualification such as CA, ACCA, CIMA,
nity to thrive have struggled to sail through the pandemic. Business Studies /Marketing.
An MBA or MBL is a must have qualification.
Quickfresh, a fresh farm produce delivery startup that Experience
was established in March 2020 on the backdrop of the pan- A minimum of ten years' experience in executive management role of which six years should have been in control of a major business unit or
demic, has since shut down. undertaking/responsibility.
Quickfresh co-founder Rumbidzai Mbambo cited de-
mand for home deliveries booming only when the lock- Qualified potential interested candidates should lodge their applications with the undersigned by
th
30 April 2021.
down is tightened by the government.
“The market is not quite ready for it yet,” Mbambo said. Email: [email protected]
“The lockdown created demand, but now that movement
restrictions have been relaxed they have more options as
6 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Local News

Covid a boon for telcos, says Liquid boss

L
iquid Telcom’s regional would add value through leading
chief operating officer for people.
the southern African re- Consumer-centric, customer-
gion Clara Mambo says oriented, because marketing is
the telecommunications and was my background and I
sector is reaping benefits from dis- ended up in general management.
ruptions caused by the outbreak of My functional expertise is mar-
Covid-19. keting and I would be one who
Mambo (CM) told Alpha Media would come on board and chal-
Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube lenge the status quo, which is
(TN) on the programme In Conver- something one has to do as a lead-
sation with Trevor that the lock- er in driving your teams.
downs to slow down the spread of So though I knew nothing about
the disease had forced companies to telecommunications, I did know
transform the way they operate by how to drive a business and get Liquid Telcom’s regional COO for the southern African region Clara Mambo in conversation with Trevor Ncube
embracing digital platforms. the results that were required.
The top business executive also TN: Interesting. So, what op- the nice-to-have kind of products. Those involve resources from We will discuss through what-
spoke about how she balances be- portunity have you seen there, In the case of Zimbabwe, we are the group who we will be working ever needs to be discussed or pre-
ing a mother and her demanding Clara? the largest data, voice and inter- with in terms of those projects. pared for the minister etcetera
job. CM: In the telecommunications net provider in Zimbabwe. We are also doing internal IT which will tend to be after 5pm.
Below are excerpts from the in- space? We offer wholesale fibre optics, transformation, so we do projects This is the same thing with
terview. TN: Yes. satellite and international carrier around that as well. Then we get ABC Holdings as well. I try not to
TN: I am very excited to be CM: There is actually plenty of services. into dealing with the day-to-day mix them up as much as possible
talking to you. Particularly in opportunity. Particularly because We are also in the retail space Zimbabwe operations. with my day-to-day duties for Liq-
a month where we are celebrat- of the Covid-19 crisis, but even in Zimbabwe. So, you will know TN: Uh huh. Yes. uid Telecom.
ing the achievements of many prior to the pandemic. us under the banner of Zimbabwe CM: You know day-to-day Zim- TN: I have been reading
women. Telecommunications is one of Online (ZOL). babwe. So that would be in terms around the challenges, Clara,
You represent one of those those industries that has totally TN: Aha. of whether we got any money that mothers are having from
women that we look up to. So benefited from the disruption that CM: Which is the best internet from the foreign currency auction working at home with two or
we are looking forward to hav- Covid-19 has caused. provider, particularly for person- if it is a Tuesday. three kids that require the
ing this conversation with you, Both from a business perspec- al use. If it is a Wednesday, we are look- kind of attention that you are
Clara. tive, as well as a personal perspec- TN: We are using ZOL right ing at other aspects of the busi- outlining right now. What has
CM: I am really looking forward tive, in people’s personal spaces now! Just in case something ness. it been like for you?
to it. Hopefully I will be able to in- from an education perspective. happens hey?! On top of that, I know we haven’t You have hinted that it is
spire a few people here and there. So you will find conversations CM: That is why the connectiv- gotten into it yet, I am also the something you do. How hectic
TN: I have no doubt you will. that were being held about digi- ity is perfect, Trevor. I am telling board chairperson of ZimTrade. is it?
Your life is an amazing life. tal transformation, where it was a you. There would be no glitches! I am also the board chairperson CM: So for me it has been easier
So, Clara, after 21 years with niche to have for companies, it be- TN: Hahahaha. Beautiful. for ABC Holdings. as my kids are older teens.
British American Tobacco came a necessity overnight. CM: So, it has been actually an So depending on the week, if I have a 15-year-old and an
(BAT), in 2019 you decided to That is where the opportunity exciting change, from tobacco and there are board meetings that 18-year-old. So, it is just making
cross over and join Liquid Tel- actually came through. We have cigarettes to the telecoms indus- would be happening the follow- sure they have started the day. Af-
ecom as the regional chief op- seen huge growth within the in- try. ing week there will be some time ter that they are really on their
erating officer for the southern dustry, as a result of the bene- I think going forward as well, spent in terms of touching base own.
African region. fits that came through from peo- Liquid Telecom is now moving to- with those various institutions to I have told them, they are adults,
That was a huge change. Not ple having to work from home, ward and transforming to not just make sure we are on track. I cannot be monitoring a 15-year-
just a change of career, but a people having to work remotely; being a telecoms company, but TN: Sounds like an exciting old or an 18-year-old.
change of industry, in a sense businesses having to gear them- now into technology. and hectic day. When does it If, however, I get a letter from
and in so many respects a new selves up as quickly as possible to So, now looking at the internet start and when does it end? the school that they have not been
beginning. Tell me about that. be able to facilitate those type of of things, what solutions we can CM: It starts early in the morn- attending lessons, then we will
CM: I describe it as cordless working conditions. provide, our customers, which ing because I am actually an early have an issue that we would need
bungee jumping. This is because TN: Liquid Telecom is a sub- is just not connectivity, so really morning person. to address.
when I moved from BAT where I sidiary of Econet Global. De- providing the full package. Look- So, around 6am, I tend to go I know for parents, particularly
started as a management trainee, scribe to me the basket of ser- ing at cyber security, products et- through my emails at that time mothers with smaller children, it
I moved up the ranks 21 years lat- vices that Liquid Telecom of- cetera. and get through them so I am done is a challenge, because if you have
er. fers to corporates and individ- So we are really moving to the with them. a child in Grade 1 or Grade 2, they
So BAT was home for me. uals. next level. I have children, so I am a wife cannot self-learn.
It was time for me to move, how- CM: Liquid Telecom as a group, TN: I was just trying to imag- and a mother. So, as much as they are doing
ever, in terms of my own person- we describe ourselves as a leading ine, Clara, what a normal day So, with children in this Covid online learning, as the parent you
al growth. communications solutions pro- looks like to you. I mean you environment they are doing on- have to literally be there going
The opportunity came within vider, right across Africa. are overseeing many countries. line school. through every single task with
telecommunications. I remember We are present in over 13 coun- So what does a day look like So, I need to make sure by them.
going for the interview with Wel- tries, which is incredible given for Clara? You walk into your 7:30am the kids are up and are Checking with them, checking
lington Makamure, and trying to that we started in Zimbabwe, and office in the morning. Talk us clocked into school by that time, their understating of the work.
read up on telecommunications have grown over the years to cov- through your ordinary day. because they can be in front of So a lot of my female colleagues
because I am not tech savvy in er 13 countries. CM: So an ordinary day would the laptop but not be logged into who have younger children, I
that way. Liquid Telecom has built Afri- start off with a morning meeting school! know that the home schooling and
I said to him in the interview ca’s largest independent fibre net- with one of the regional teams. They may have the best inter- digital learning has been a huge
that I had tried to read up on Liq- work. We have quite a number of pro- net which is ZOL, and all the nec- challenge for them and trying to
uid Telecom, reading up on LTE, So, here we are talking from jects running across the region. essary devices, but still can be tru- balance that with work.
IP, all these acronyms and I actu- Cape to Cairo, which is over So, currently we are handling ant. Work tasks do not change.
ally got a headache trying to cram 70 000km. Zimbabwe, Angola, DRC and we So, I am deliberate to make sure Our stakeholders do not say be-
them! We are embarking on some ex- are looking at going into Mozam- they are clocked in on time and cause we are now multitasking
So I told him I knew nothing citing projects from east to west bique from a Southern Africa re- correctly. our deliverables are halved.
about telecommunications, but right now, with a huge focus on gion perspective. After I have clocked the kids No. In fact our deliverables in-
there was an opportunity in it the Democratic Republic of Con- So a day starts off in the morn- into school, I will get ready for crease in this particular environ-
where I could add value from a go, which forms part of the patch ing with a quick morning meeting work and that is how I start my ment and given the sector we are
leadership perspective, because that I am currently working in. with the sales team, particularly day. in where we actually have a lot of
that is where my strength was. Liquid Telecom has state-of-the- for Zimbabwe and for Zambia. The evening also, it depends as business and work that is coming
That is where I could benefit art data centres in Kenya and in Just to check in to see where we I could have meetings as late as through.
Liquid. I remember that inter- South Africa. are in terms of the sales numbers 5pm or 7pm, depending on what is
view so well. It offers leading trial-based ser- and where we are falling behind actually happening.
I explained that I came from vices such as Microsoft Office 365 and where they require support. I try to do my other board duties l “In Conversation with Tre-
a place that would drive for re- (MS Office 365). So this is a very quick morning after hours, not so much during vor” is a weekly show broad-
sults, and the results were seen From the MS Office 365 perspec- meeting, particularly across those the working day. cast on YouTube.com//InCon-
for themselves during the period tive, we have seen huge growth be- markets. Normally around 4:30pm or 5pm versationWithTrevor. Please
I was at BAT. cause, as you can imagine, with We then go into projects meet- I will touch base with Alan Maju- get your free YouTube sub-
I told him I was very passionate people working remotely and ings, because of the many pro- ru from ZimTrade and find out if scription to this channel. The
about people and results would from home, these products have jects we are rolling out across the there are any issues where he may conversations are sponsored
be delivered through people. So I become necessities rather than region. need support from me. by Titan Law.
 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021 7

Local News

Elderly people dispel Covid-19 vaccine myths

BY NYASHA CHINGONO “I do not know why the queue is not mov-

T
ing. I know of several people who left with-
HEY may be old, frail, and vulnerable, but they out being vaccinated.
are the foot soldiers at the front of Zimba- “I’m asthmatic, so I feared that I would get
bwe’s Covid-19 vaccination drive. Covid-19. But thankfully, I managed to do all
Amid widespread scepticism among the I can to stay safe.”
younger population, it is the elderly people Elizabeth James (61), has been struggling
who are coming out to lead by example. to eke out a living during the pandemic.
The queues at the vaccination centres in the capital, She said: “The vaccine is good for some of
Harare, are dominated by older people. us who have underlying health issues, like di-
At Wilkins Hospital, Felda Mupemhi (85), grasps abetes and hypertension.”
her walking stick as she trudges towards a white tent, James hopes that the vaccination pro-
where nurses are administering the Sinopharm vaccine. gramme will enable the country to return
“We stand a chance of beating Covid-19 if we take to normalcy, as long periods of lockdown
this vaccine. continue to impoverish millions of informal
“So, I came here to make a statement to the younger workers forced to stay home without any in-
[generation] that they too can get vaccinated, so that come.
we save others,” said Mupemhi. “When we were younger, we used to drink
There were worries the vaccine might cause her herbs [because] there were no such things
health complications but after a short assessment inter- as vaccines, but we appreciate the efforts by
view with a health worker, she received her first dose of government to get us a vaccine, if it is safe,”
the Sinopharm vaccine she said.
Mupemhi said initially she had been sceptical: “I had — The Guardian The ederly queue for vaccination
already dismissed prospects of getting this vaccine.
“I feared it would trigger some health issues, as I am
not young.
“But after seeing that my neighbour, who is my age,
was still OK a week after getting it, that gave me the
courage.”
Peter Hadingham (82) was initially turned away when
health officials cited his age and asthma as possible risk
factors, but a few weeks later he was thrilled to be ac-

4
cepted for his first dose.
“I have a bit of asthma and a bad back, so I cannot

US
walk straight, but otherwise I am healthy,” Hadingham
said.
“I have a flu vaccine every year, there is no difference.
“[People] should think of the rest of the population
— they should get vaccinated, because there is noth-
ing to be afraid of.”
Health officials have recorded growing numbers of
senior citizens getting the Sinopharm and the Sinovac
vaccine as Zimbabweans begin to soften their attitudes
towards the Chinese jab.
“The uptake from last week is very encouraging. The
elderly are coming, and those with chronic diseases
have also been visiting our centres in large numbers,”
Harare city health department director Prosper Chonzi
told the Guardian.
“Our older population appreciates that they are vul-
nerable. Once you get the infection, chances of severity
are high, so they are jumping at the opportunity.
“If you are given the offer of getting the vaccine, and
it is free, it is wise to take it.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the
second phase of the country’s vaccination rollout on
March 24, covering people with pre-existing conditions,
the elderly and those confined to settlements and insti-
tutions, such as prisons and refugee camps.
Zimbabwe’s economy was precarious before the pan-
demic, and has been hit very hard by Covid-19 lock-
downs; in March the World Food Programme reported
that food insecurity, particularly among the urban poor,
was soaring.
Food prices in February were 35% higher than the
same month in 2020.
Parirenyatwa Hospital, one of the biggest in the coun-
try, was overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients at the peak
of the pandemic, just after Christmas.
Now its stressed health professionals are working
their way through the long vaccination queue, a stark
contrast to the low numbers who showed up during the
first phase of the programme.
By March 29, about 69 751 Zimbabweans had been
vaccinated, up from 43 295 people the week before.
The government plans to inoculate 60% of its popula-
tion to achieve herd immunity, about 10 million people,
and has received nearly two million doses of vaccines
from China, while India donated 35 000 doses of the Co-
vaxin at the start of April.
Health officials say there was initial scepticism about
the efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine, said by the gov-
ernment to be between 65% to 70% effective.
Low uptake was also recorded among frontline health
workers during the first phase of the rollout, despite ef-
forts by doctors to encourage uptake on social media.
At a Harare vaccination centre, Malcom Michelle (65)
has been queueing for an hour, and is not happy about
the lack of social distancing.
“There is need for more vaccination centres to open.
As you can see, there is hardly any social distancing
here. Apart from that, we just must go with the flow,”
Michelle said.
According to Harare City Council, which runs satel-
lite clinics around the city, 24 vaccination centres have
been set up, but people still prefer to go to the major
referral centres such as Parirenyatwa, meaning longer
queues.
Sean Moyo (41) is frustrated by the slow pace of the
process.
“The experience was horrible; I was here at 8am but I
got my vaccine at 12noon,” Moyo said.
 8 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Local News

Lightning strikes Dinde twice: Defiant

news in depth
BY OSCAR NKALA

D
inde is a sprawling, lands under the Hwange Rural
poverty-stricken com- District Council.
munity located 40km The company’s main investor is
east of Hwange along an entity identified in official doc-
the Bulawayo-Victoria uments only as “Jinan”.
Falls road. It remains unclear if this is the
In 1937, this mixed community same company or another linked
of Nambya and Tonga speakers to Chinese diamond miner Jinan,
was forcibly evicted from their which operated in Marange for
ancestral homeland in Sinamatel- over a decade and was kicked out
la and resettled in barren Dinde to with several others over allega-
make way for the Hwange Nation- tions of multi-billion gem leaks.
al Park. When the company surveyors
Dilapidated pole and mud huts went to Dinde in December 2019,
sit atop the hillocks, defiantly they immediately angered lo-
proving that even after 41 years cals by invading homesteads and
in an independent Zimbabwe, the farming fields to scout for drilling
benefits of trophy hunting they sites without consulting the occu-
were told to expect from the game pants of the land, civic or tradi-
reserve they helped to create are tional leaders.
still evading them. Beifa Investments plans to drill
The elderly who trekked from at least 100 exploration wells over
Sinamatella 84 years ago may wit- a total area of 21 000 hectares of Signpost to Chief Nekatambe’s rural residence. Pictures: Oscar Nkala
ness history repeat itself when land in wards 13 and 14. If coal
they are evicted to make way for a mineralisation is confirmed, the the Dinde community in any ca- forging signatures off an old at- the community on that matter,
Chinese-owned start-up that was company will start open-cast min- pacity. tendance register and never con- leaving us with no choice, but
recently granted a licence to open ing operations on 3 100 hectares Community grievances sulting the people. to take legal action against the
a coal mine in Dinde, as shown in and expand guided by the miner- In a list of grievances read out The signatures were allegedly mine.”
this track-down produced in col- al resource. at a recent tense meeting where appended to the consultant’s EIA The community said the mine
laboration with Information for Exploration is already under- Matabeleland North Provincial report, which has not been re- would violate their right to live in
Development Trust (IDT). way with an initial staff comple- Affairs minister Richard Moyo, vealed to or shared with the com- an environment that is not harm-
The IDT is a non-profit organi- ment of 13. even dropped President Emm- munity. ful to health or human well-being
sation supporting journalists to Although the company claimed erson Mnangagwa’s name to co- Community members said the as guaranteed by Section 73 of the
investigate public sector corrup- in papers submitted to govern- erce the community into accept- consultant lied when he told Moyo, Zimbabwe constitution.
tion and bad governance. ment that all 13 would be locals, it ing eviction, Dinde residents said the minister, that he held three The community said it wants to
Beifa Investments did not reveal that the workforce they did not want the Chinese in consultation meetings with them. avoid the fate of villagers in Chi-
Beifa Investments is a Hwange- already includes seven Chinese their area and told Beifa to leave Moyo expressed surprise that adzwa, who were evicted to make
based, Chinese-owned coal explo- machine operators and two sur- immediately. the villagers had not been consult- way for diamond mines only to be
ration vehicle, which was in De- veyors, leaving locals to fight for “The Chinese miners, who en- ed, after the consultant claimed to left wallowing in abject poverty
cember 2019 licensed by govern- just four menial jobs suited for tered our area in Katambe village him that he held three meetings when the Chinese mines closed.
ment to carry out coal explora- unqualified personnel. in December 2019 with machinery with them. Dinde residents are worried
tion in a special grant that covers To date, Beifa Investments has to start a mining project did so "We are worried that this fail- that mining would contaminate
virtually all of Dinde communal not employed a single member of without consulting our communi- ure to consult us threatens our water quality and bring new
ty and its leadership. constitutional right to partake in health problems as already seen
“The entire community is now deciding matters that affects us,” in communities living along the

Daring robbery happened feeling very uncomfortable.

“The proposal by the Chinese to
start mining activities in Dinde
the community leaders added.
“We were not consulted dur-
ing the Environmental Impact
nearby Deka River.
Through a tributary that runs
full circle around Hwange, the

in Zim, not South Africa is not welcome and is hereby re-

jected by the community,” said
the community in a message read
Assessment. We contend that the
EIA was not done.
“If the company has it (EIA cer-
Deka carries effluent from all the
coal mines and power generation
stations in Hwange, into the Zam-

facts&fiction
to Moyo by the Dinde Residents tificate), it was obtained through bezi River.
Association secretary, Benjamin forgery, misrepresentation and “The experience of people liv-
Dube. signature fraud because the peo- ing along the Deka River is among
BY AFP FACT CHECK Dinde people are worried that ple whose signatures were used to the reasons why we reject this
they would be forced to leave their legitimise it were never consulted proposal,” read the community’s
heritage sites. and did not consent to the mine as message to Moyo.
A screenshot from what ap- rency is the rand. Community assets likely to claimed. “Along the Deka River, livestock
pears to be part of a newspaper A reverse image search uncov- be lost include a cattle sales pen “Beifa Investments have con- suffer miscarriages because the
article describing how armed ered another tweet with a larg- and loading bay, rest camp, dip- sistently refused to engage with water is contaminated with raw
robbers held up a petrol station, er screenshot, this one revealing tank, two schools, a business cen-
posed as staff and sold fuel be- a complete news story beneath tre, a roads maintenance unit
fore pocketing the cash has been the picture and headline about camp and “the graves of our rel-
shared on Facebook, along with the fuel station robbery atives buried here since we forci-
the claim that the incident hap- The incident described in the bly evicted from Sinamatella dec-
pened in South Africa. While the screenshots took place in Zim- ades ago.”
story of the daring robbery is babwe and was reported by lo- “We also have the Nyantue Riv-
true, it took place in Zimbabwe cal newspapers the Chronicle on er, which is our only perennial
and not in South Africa. March 5, 2021, and The Herald a source of water for animals and
A headline in a screenshot day later. people running through the pro-
shared in this Facebook post According to the reports, on posed mine site,” the community
from April 3, 2021, reads: “Armed March 1, 2021, three armed rob- leaders said.
robbers tie up staff, sell fuel for bers struck the Amakhosi Ser- “We are scared of the con-
three hours.” Above the head- vice Station in Bulawayo, Zim- sequences of water pollution
line is a picture of a fuel station babwe’s second-largest city, at through discharge of mine efflu-
with pickup trucks parked next 11pm. ent into this critical river system.
to the pumps. They confronted two fuel at- “Mining will create health
“Good evening Africa... This tendants and a security guard problems arising from air and en-
happens only in SA,” reads the by demanding cash at gunpoint, vironmental pollution. It will des-
post’s caption. before tying up the employees ecrate our ancestral and cultural
The same image appeared in a and serving motorists for about heritage sites.”
tweet from March 9, 2021, but on three hours, taking the proceeds Constitutional rights under
this occasion suggesting the in- of the sales with them. threat
cident happened in Nigeria. A local journalist, Musa Maki- The villagers said eviction to
Both locations, however, are na, who lives near the area, con- make way for the mine would vi-
false. firmed to AFP Fact Check that olate their constitutional rights
Social media users respond- the petrol station is indeed in to participate in decision-making
ing to the Facebook post were Bulawayo and that it was recent- where investment projects have
sceptical about the claim, noting ly robbed. He shared a number adverse impacts on people and
that the signboard on the right of his own pictures of the sta- livelihoods.
of the picture shows fuel pric- tion, located on Victoria Falls They accuse the consultant
es in dollars. South Africa’s cur- Road. hired by Beifa to do an environ-
mental impact assessment of Mines minister Winston Chitando
 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021 9

Local News

villagers battle to stop Chinese coal project

mine effluent. help develop the country.
“Women in Deka complain of corrosion of their “Among the investors he found in China, there was
private parts because they only bath with contam- Beifa Investments, which wants to mine coal here.
inated water. “You have always complained that there is no invest-
“In Dinde, there is no farming and all our sav- ment happening in Matabeleland North, so here is the op-
ings are held in livestock. If these exploration op- portunity you have been waiting for,” declared the minis-
erations hit an underground aquifer, acid mine ter.
drainage occurs and we will be in trouble. So the “President Mnangagwa wants this project to succeed
Chinese should leave.” and you should support it.
Unleashing army on subjects “Work with the investors and we will talk about
However, the people of Dinde appear to be fight- whether there will be evictions and compensation
ing a losing battle because their traditional leader, when the time comes,” Moyo said to loud interjections
Chief Nekatambe, is actually leading efforts to co- from the villagers.
erce them to make way for the coal mine. The sensitivity of the matter was underlined by the
In a meeting held on November 26, 2020, he al- presence of 16 agents from the Central Intelligence Or-
legedly threatened to deploy the army and police ganisation, the Criminal Investigation Department
to evict all those opposed to the coal mine. and military spooks.
Chief Nekatambe allegedly told villagers that But the Dinde residents remain adamant that they do
refusing to make way for the mine was disloyalty not want the mine, preferring to take their matter to
to the government and disrespect for his person- parliament and the courts with the help of local advo- Unnamed Beifa Investments representatives follow proceedings during a meeting in
al authority. cacy groups. which Dinde residents rejected plans to open a coal mine in the village
There is no resettlement plan for the Dinde peo-
ple, and the chief has told them to choose where to
go after eviction.
According to community meeting records, the
chief is reported to have angrily told the defiant vil- Get the news to your doorstep everyday - at no extra cost!
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Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo

10 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Comment & Letters

Constitution mutilation
a threat to democracy

T
he passing of the controversial constitu-
tional amendments by the Senate last week
marked yet another major reversal in Zim-
babwe’s push to transform into a democracy
since the 2017 coup.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the se-
curity forces that masterminded the military
putsch justified their move to topple Robert
Mugabe by claiming that they wanted to protect
the constitutional order that was allegedly being
threatened by a Zanu PF faction.
Yet in three years, Mnangagwa’s government
is about to do the biggest damage to the constitu-
tion by introducing the first amendments to the
2013 constitution with the sole objective of en-
trenching his rule. OPINION

Monarchy: The cornerstone of

The amendments will give the president pow-
ers to appoint the chief justice, deputy chief jus-
tice and the judge president.
Some of the progressive clauses that came with

African existence
the widely supported new constitution meant
that aspiring High Court, Supreme Court and
Constitutional Court judges were subjected to
public interviews.
That way chances of neposition and cronyism
were minimised in the selection of judges. pieces of degenerate minuscule countries de-
It took Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu PF, which en-
joys a super parliamentary majority, over three
mathabelazitha/the anvil vised by the Berlin Conference chefs that com-
prise the southern Africa pizza have no chance
years to push through the contentious amend- of ever realising their intrinsic competitive ad-
vantage in a ruthless global economy until
ments after a spirited campaign by the opposi-
tion and civil society to block them. BY ZII MASIYE someone confronts the dysfunctional evil of
those boundaries.
The Bill was initially passed in August 2017, It brought me to a fresh realisation that un-
but Constitutional Court judges ruled that the PRINCE Phillip is no longer in our midst. Some cultural rooting as an African, perhaps render- less our conversation starts from deep within
process violated the constitution. dark cloud seems to envelope Britain. May his ing me a permanent mental slave of his ways. who we are as Africans, unless Africa reboots
soul rest in peace. A couple of weeks back, I felt somewhat naked, robbed of my rich his- her factory settings and pursues a sincere un-
After a year of purges targeting the main- Southern Africa seemed to stand still under tory and culture. I felt embarrassed of our con- derstanding of herself from an internal per-
stream opposition MDC Alliance whose legisla- a similar dark cloud when isilo samabandla, fused funerals and so-called white weddings. spective, our syllabus and curriculum are mis-
tors were controversially thrown out of Parlia- Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekizulu, left us. I am Goodwill Zwelithini did not die like com- aligned... We continue to dance the wrong
ment, the amendments were passed unopposed neither Zulu nor am I South African. Yet some- moners do. No. But ilanga litshonile (the sun song on an alien and oily dance floor… the
by the Upper House. thing of the death, as indeed something of the has set). A King doesn't quite die like politi- evils of self-hate, division, conflict, poverty, un-
death of Chief Maduna of Godlwayo, torched cians. No. But inkosi ikhotheme, he bows. The derdevelopment and failure are yet with us for
Zanu PF got help from the opposition MDC-T to something much deeper inside of me than King is not buried, but uyatshalwa. another century!
push through the amendments. would the death of some renowned political I have had an inspired discussions with my The strong sense of identity and pride of be-
Zimbabweans were not adequately consulted giant out here interred in the Heroes’ shrine. grandchildren about these and implications longing, the voluntary desire for group loyalty
before the amendments were passed. Even in our thriving democracies, the true al- or several similar euphemisms that accompa- and willing patriotism—all compelling condi-
This also came on the back of government’s legiances and ultimate abode of our African ny the life and death of African royalty. They tions for unity, for collective purpose, visioning
hearts lie with the traditional rather than the are not just decorative euphemisms. They go and effective nation- building could never de-
failure to align most of the laws to the new con- political or elective leadership of our times. deeper into locating the entire life-scape of rive half as well from any elected political lead-
stitution and the retention of various pieces of As the whole gripping ceremony unfold- umZulu’s primarily pivoting on the fulcrum er as it does from a monarch, a king, a chief. By
legislation that are unconstitutional. ed, I thought what kept my eyes glued on the of the monarch and kingship. The king is way their very nature politicians must divide peo-
It has become very clear that Mnangagwa does screen and my heart bleeding would have bigger than the person of Goodwill Zwelithi- ple. By their very nature, traditional leaders
not intend to keep the promises he made when he been the whole unique repertoire of nostal- ni. He is a timeless institution, the epicentre bind and unite people.
gic and traditional theatrics that accompany of being Zulu. The king is an epitome that sin- It became evident to me how the moral re-
was installed by the military as president three the death of a monarch. The defiant stomp- gularly symbolises the natural elements and generation of the Zulu people and the at-
years ago that he was ushering in a “new and un- ing rhythm of the king`s regiment, the “Ama- ecosystem that provides the tangible liveli- tempts at pacifying tribal emotions that threat-
folding democracy”. butho”, the sheer stature of those determined, hoods and the cultural wellbeing and identi- ened to rip apart the entire governance fabric
However, it is not too late for the president to stop huge men clad in amabhetshu moving in dis- ty of his own nation—the land, the water, the was courtesy of the king and the unifying force
the slide into mediocrity by refraining from sign- ciplined unison, singing and stomping in the air—perceived as prior and above the political around traditional leadership since the bloody
cultured military fatigue and roaring war-cries sphere and political authority. The power and wars of IFP and ANC. Above all else the king’s
ing the Constitutional Amendment Bill into law. reminiscent of that little-told Battle of Isandl- relevance of so omnipotent an institution in a brand was that of Peace Maker. In very delib-
By refusing to sign the Bill, he will undo the wana. Their eyes steely and intent, their war- people's lives is such that it may never die— erate ways, Goodwill Zwelithini had restored
damage done by both Zanu PF and the MDC-T rior arms brandishing their spears and 'ama- or cease. It is permanent. Like the sun, it may the cultural pride of the Zulu nation. His insist-
and restore hope that indeed Zimbabwe is not de- hawu', the King`s regiment embarrassed gov- set, but only so as to rise again tomorrow. Like ence on the revival of such traditional ceremo-
scending into some Banana Republic. ernment authorities, sent Cyril Ramaphosa a seed, the King goes into the earth only to be nies as “Umkhosi Wokweshwamisa” boy-child
and SAPS scampering for cover, defied Cov- planted. circumcision, a youth rites passage designed to
The government and the legislature should be id-19 protocols would never leave sight of the I was left in awe as culturalists and historians initiate and engender strong mores and prin-
channelling their efforts into ensuring that laws body of their commander–in-chief, in death as of different orientation unravelled the primacy ciples that make men of integrity out of boys,
are aligned to the constitution instead of muti- in life. and historical wealth of KwaNongoma, the cul- are shining examples. Shaka mobilised men for
lating the supreme law. I thought, like any other perverted male, tural cauldron and home of Isilo's six palaces, the military warfare. Zwelithini did the same for the
it would have been the sensual assault of in- capital of the heroic Ndwandwe nation and the war against Aids.

Quote of the week

nocence conjured by stunning bare-breast- birthplace of my own king, uMzilikazi kaMasho- Multiple constructive conversations have
ed Zulu maidens prancing about, singing and bana. I was intrigued by the chronicles of Nongo- arisen from “Umkhosi Womhlanga”, the Maiden
dancing in their own beautifully provocative ma, of Cetshwayo and the Battle of Mhlathuzwe, Reed Dance that, in its own right, has shone an
routines that would hold me prisoner to the the warrior exploits of Zwide kaLanga. important spotlight on genderbased violence,
funeral show of an arrogant, potentially hom- The captivating tales, coupled with the the girl child and the roles and the pride of be-
ophobic, xenophobic charlatan of lavish tastes sheer charm of the king's coffin to attract so ing an African woman. “Umkhosi Wesivivane”,
and outlandish controversies. many people.. mourners of Zulu and non-Zulu an adult women rendezvous with the King that
“Minister, the burning issue here is that MDC’s I was drawn too, by the shift in text, in syn- extraction, excited interest and brought me to provides an important national platform for fe-
land policy in the past was that no one member tax and discourse and the rich language and a deeper enquiry of who I really am and what male dialogue around governance and what
should accept a farm from the government. Now communication motifs that conveyed ceremo- the true place of traditional leadership could it is to be a Zulu woman. These and multiple
… they also want farms. Give them farms when ny and the intrinsic power of the moment and be in modern society—It brought me to a initialises around land, the birthright and pri-
they come to your offices and treat them as citi- that made pointers to the wealth of culture fresh realisation that in fact nothing is a great- mary source of livelihood, defending territory,
zens. Do not look at politics. They are citizens of Zimbabwe and history in the tangible and the intangible er social and economic fallacy than the pseu- land ownership, agriculture, social integrity, co-
and want to engage in farming as well.” —Gokwe-Nembudzi- heritage of both citizens of Zulu origin and the do-ethnic boundaries imposed on a homoge- hesive co-existence, discipline are matters that
ya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena chairing the parliament port- peoples of Southern Africa in general. I felt that neous Basotho people straddling Southern Af- hang in abeyance here in my country and in
folio committee on agriculture on Thursday. civilisation, “education” and the white men rica for his sole convenience by the white man most of Africa that has allowed the relegation
may have deliberately de-educated me, de- who colonised us. It brought me to the fresh of traditional leadership to a governance dust-
cultured me and ripped me off my essential conclusion that, in fact, the poisoned pizza- bin or to control stooges of the state.
 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021 11

Letters to the Editor

Constitutional amendment a disregard of people’s will Feedback

C risis in Zimbabwe Coalition is concerned
with the wanton disregard of the people’s
will by the ruling party, Zanu PF, which has
embarked on a campaign to amend the constitu-
tion, adopted in 2013, before its full implementa-
It never rains, but pours for Zimbabwe's
education sector as Covid-19, coupled
with the Zanu PF government’s care-
less response to teachers' plight, is out
tion. to make sure the gains made after inde-
On April 6, 2021, the Constitutional Amend- pendence are completely eroded. The
ment Bill (Number 1) passed through the Senate Mnangagwa government is surprising
after it was submitted for the second time. on its approach to solving its impasse
The Bill, through amendments to Section 180 with teachers who are complaining of
of the constitution, gives the president powers being abused by being given peanuts
to appoint the chief justice, deputy chief justice as salary.
and the Judge President in consultation with the The word command came into fame
judicial service commission. to mean command agriculture, but
In essence, the Bill erodes the previous consti- now it is meaning everything that the
tutional provision to subject the process of ap- Mnangagwa government want's to
pointments of the dhief justice, deputy chief jus- achieve using force like the Command
tice and the judge president to public scrutiny exams our children sat for the last learn-
and interviews. ing season. Our children sat for exams
The Bill essentially gives the president the dis- without receiving formal education in
cretion to choose his preferred candidates for ap- classes. There was no teacher-student
pointment. contact so our children are assisted in
This works against judicial independence and areas of problem so they sit for exams
goes against the principles of rule of law, separa- well prepared.The education sector was
tion of powers and transparency in government commandered to prepare for exams
processes. and foist questions on unprepared stu-
The Bill is thus an attempt to consolidate au- dents This is raping of children by this
thoritarian rule through judicial capture and government more of child abuse.
therefore, merely seeks to serve the interests of The Constitution of Zimbabwe is the supreme law of the land The government has managed to
ruling party politicians at the expense of the will create more of a warfare in the educa-
of the majority, who voted for the constitution in of machinations by the ruling-party, Zanu the tenets of constitutional democracy and tion sector where its relationship with
2013. PF, to create a one-party state in which they uphold the will of the people. teachers is more of a rat and cat with
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition stands firmly have sole authority to determine the gov- Respect for the constitution is a funda- the government being unreasonable,
against constitutional amendments before full ernance of the country. mental pillar of a democratic society. unfair, barbaric and causing children
implementation of the constitution adopted in Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is disturbed We further implore the ruling party, Zanu to lose education time. Really, how
2013. by the fact that through constitutional PF, to desist from abusing its parliamentary can government which gives a learned
Amending the constitution before implementa- amendments, ruling party officials have ex- majority to amend the constitution against the somebody less than US$200 expect
tion amounts to amputation. hibited a tendency to retain political power will of the people who voted overwhelmingly such a person to pay for their children's
The constitutional amendments are a real at the expense of the will of the people. for the adoption of the constitution in 2013. school fees let alone food and clothes
threat to civic and political rights and are part We implore the government to abide by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition for common life?
Is there any vocabulary to mitigate

2018 electoral disputes continue to challenge legitimacy

such confusion and insincerity? Is High-
er Education minister Paul Mavhima in
his brains if he continues addressing the
media trying to explain himself? I sug-

Z
gest he stops treating government em-
imbabwe’s controversial only the Electoral Court could re- Despite this requirement, it ry and other benefits that accrue ployees as slaves of the 21st century.I
July 2018 parliamentary verse their wrongly announced took until May 24, 2019 for the Su- to a member of parliament, even feel for teachers who I stay close to
elections, which saw Presi- result. preme Court to finally hear the though ZEC had recognised that who struggle every day to make ends.
dent Emmerson Mnangagwa re- An application was therefore case. he had received fewer votes than Some end up displaying Maputi,Zap
turned to power in the face of na- filed immediately with the High When they did, Justice Rita Ma- Konjana. Nax,sweet at pathways so they earn
tional and international disputes Court on August 6, 2018. According karau, a judge of the Supreme It has also taken the Supreme some cents which I don't understand
about both the process and re- to the Zimbabwe constitution and Court who has had significant ex- Court two years and eight months how they add up to earn a living. What
sults, are once again in the spot- electoral law, the state must “en- perience with ZEC and elector- after ZEC’s acknowledged error I am seeing from government employ-
light, this time about one of the sure the timely resolution of elec- al issues, accepted that the case for the Supreme Court to finally ees discourages me from allowing my
initial election court challenges. toral disputes”(Section 155 (2) (e) should be heard. hand down judgement on the case. children, seek employment in the pub-
Gift Konjana, who won the of the Zimbabwe constitution). Heads of argument had not Additionally, it has flouted de- lic sector as I think they are better off
Chegutu West constituency par- More specifically, cases have to been filed by Dexter Nduna’s law- mocracy by stating that the right- them running around, hassling.
liamentary seat for the opposi- be finalised by the Zimbabwean yers however, so the Supreme ful winner is unable to take up his Mavhima must stop posturing and
tion Movement for Democratic courts within six months of the Court postponed the case. seat in parliament because of de- quickly address the plight of teachers as
Change Alliance (MDC-A) party, election; “Every election petition Two months later, on July 29, lays by the courts. our children have been affected many
is still being prevented from be- shall be determined within six 2019, the Supreme Court con- As the Zimbabwe Human Rights times.
coming a Member of Parliament, months from the date of presenta- vened again, this time with a dif- NGO Forum commented in its Au- Isaac Mupinyuri.
two years and eight months since tion” (Section 182 (1) of this Act). ferent bench led by Bharat Patel. gust 2019 report titled: “The New
winning the majority vote, de- Appeals “shall be determined Once again the court did not Deception: What Has Changed?”,
spite appealing to the courts for within three months from the look at the substance of the mat- the disputes resulting from 2018 Voluntary Media
justice. date of the lodging of the appeal” ter because Justice Patel was con- elections have “left the country
Supreme Court judges Justic- (Section 182 (2). cerned that he needed to consid- more deeply divided than at any Council
es Bharat Patel and Chinembiri After 14 separate visits to the er whether the case could contin- other time in the past, with gov- of Zimbabwe
Bhunu recently dismissed Konja- High Court to get the case final- ue, given that appeals should have ernment struggling to build con-
na’s appeal challenging the pro- ised and the correct ZEC result all been finalised by the Supreme sensus around unity, national dia- The Standard newspaper subscribes to
nouncement of the ruling Zanu confirmed, Justice Mary Zimba- Court within a maximum of three logue and almost everything else”. a Code of Conduct that promotes truth-
PF party’s candidate, Dexter Ndu- Dube dismissed the case on a tech- months. As the European Union’s elec- ful, accurate, fair and balanced news re-
na, as the winner. nicality. The requirement would have tion observer mission pointed porting. If we do not meet these stand-
Justice Patel, while admitting She claimed that the case had therefore been early February out in the executive summary of ards, register your complaints with the
that the appeal had merit, said the been wrongly presented by Konja- 2019, nearly seven months previ- its 2018 election report: “[Zimba- Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
case could not be heard because it na’s lawyers. ously. bwe’s] legal framework provides at No 34, Colenbrander Rd, Milton Park
had exceeded the time limit stipu- An appeal to the Supreme After that another 20 months for key rights and freedoms for Harare.
lated by the Electoral Act. Court was immediately launched went by, and despite letters to the the conduct of competitive elec- Telephone us at 04-778096 or 04-
After the Zimbabwe Elector- by Konjana’s legal team and was Registrar of the Supreme Court tions. 778006
al Commission (ZEC) had added lodged at the beginning of No- and the Judicial Service Com- However, delays in adjudica- 24 Hr Complaints line: 0772 125 659
up the votes incorrectly and an- vember 2018. mission, as well as various meet- tion, dismissal of court cases on Email: [email protected] or info@
nounced Nduna as the winner of According to the Electoral Act, ings and visits, no judgement was merely technical grounds and a vmcz.co.zw Whatsapp: 0772 125 658
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seat, ZEC quickly admitted their such electoral cases that go to ap- his fellow judges. ments compromised the right to Website: http://www.vmcz.co.zw
mistake, corrected their figures peal within three months, in this In the meantime, Nduna was an effective legal remedy.” Facebook page: vmcz Zimbabwe
and declared Konjana the winner. case by the beginning of Febru- sworn into parliament as a law Sadc Tribunal Rights Watch
However, ZEC then claimed that ary 2019. maker, with the substantial sala-

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12 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Opinion

Dougie now showing us his true colours

tally unnecessary ritual.
I know you will say Baba used

letter to my people to do it as well, true, but he was

a statesman and he deserved a
stately send-off.
It’s a truly pointless waste of
fuel and time and the more I see
BY DOCTOR STOP IT it, the more ridiculous it seems.
Surely, they can just call each
other and bid each other farewell

M
y Dear, my people, ty so much that she has a dedicat- without having to go to the air-
For years I was ed team of journalists in tow. port.
your first lady, but One of the journalists at the And did he really have to go to
there was never a Herald was driven to tears after Mozambique?
time when you heard that my mo- she rang her and blasted her for That meeting could have been a
torcade was involved in an acci- using a bad picture. WhatsApp call and it would have
dent. Poor woman, she loves publici- been just fine.
In fact, you never heard any- ty but has no clue on how the me- Ngwena could have saved Zim-
thing at all about my motorcade. dia operates. babwe thousands of dollars of
So I find it quite strange that It was not the job of the jour- scarce foreign currency by sim-
the Herald’s Page 2 girl has been nalist to place pictures on the ply buying data bundles and call- Douglas Mwonzora
involved in so many accidents in page, but rather of the sub edi- ing his friends.
such a short time. tors and the graphic designers. That said, I hope the situation
At the last count, I think it is But I digress, propaganda and in Mozambique is resolved soon,
three accidents in one year. publicity are not always the best the loss of life is very tragic and gie voted to mutilate this provi- to get the vaccine jab and not take
May someone please explain to counter negative publicity, but the conflict should not be allowed sion and safeguard at the very a picture, or taking a photo is a le-
what is going on there. rather an introspection on what to go on for a day further. first chance he got. gal requirement?
Or if there are any investiga- was causing the accidents. I have faced so many disap- Maybe Dougie was working I’ve seen enough of these vac-
tive journalists out there, they re- Oddly enough, Ngwena advised pointments but never has a per- with Ngwena all along. cine pictures to last me a lifetime.
ally need to investigate this phe- against unnecessary travel over son disappointed me like Dougie, I mean, how is it possible for In fact, I’ve really had enough
nomenon. Easter, but then the Herald’s Page such a herbert. someone to make such a quick of this.
It really doesn’t make sense to 2 girl decided not to listen to that We all watched him on the doc- somersault in such a short peri- The vaccination drive has been
have so many accidents in such a and instead went gallivanting. umentary about the constitution- od of time? quite chaotic and government
short time. If she travelled less, listened making process and we watched After all, I remember that taxi communication has been almost
Instead of dealing with the ac- to the government on cutting him shed what we now know were driver saying Dougie was the non-existent, but at least it’s mov-
cidents, the Herald’s Page 2 girl on unnecessary inter-provincial crocodile tears — excuse the pun. right man to lead the MDC Alli- ing along nicely.
goes on a media and publicity travelling and stuck to following Dougie claimed there were peo- ance ahead of Nero, probably be- But, in spite of the chaos, I
blitz. Covid-19 regulations, then there ple — the system — that manip- cause he was their Trojan horse must confess, this is one thing
I tried watching the news on won’t be as many accidents. ulated the process and he looked all along. that Ngwena is almost getting
Tuesday, I gave up. Our own flying crocodile, Ng- defeated. Dougie accused Nero of taking right.
It was “the first lady this, the wena, was back to doing what he But it seems that was all fake, the MDC Alliance and delivering The Zanu PF government, like
first lady that”. There were as knows best — being in a plane. as at the first chance he got, he it to G40. Dynamos, seem to thrive where
many as four stories about her. Ngwena travelled to Mozam- voted to amend the constitution Well, he has just taken MDC-T there is chaos.
I simply turned off the TV and bique where he met other Sadc to give Ngwena the power to ap- and delivered it to Lacoste. Munopenga
began watching the grass grow leaders to discuss the security is- point the Chief Justice and the Talk about seeing a speck in Dr Amai Stop it! PhD (Fake)
— that was a more useful way to sue in that country. judge president. your neighbour’s eye when you
spend my time. The usual and more were all at The constitution was meant to have a log in yours.  Feedback: Doctorstopit@
I am told that she loves publici- the airport to see him off in a to- strengthen institutions, but Dou- On a lighter note, is it possible gmail.com

Here’s why people are not getting vaccinated

NOT exactly the best thing to do
on a Sunday, but let’s do some bit
of math to start with.
corruptionwatch lost as to whether I must return
or just resort to “home remedies”.
And I’m also confused on what ad-
Sinopharm as the “most unsafe
vaccine in the world”. Pity I got to
know about that learned opinion
Zimbabwe has received slight- vice to give to those that are con- after my first “jab”.
ly under two million Covid-19 sidering going for their first “jab”, The Wuhan Institute has a very
free and purchased vaccine dos- WITH TAWANDA MAJONI or the second one for that matter. bad history, as it were. You will re-
es since mid-February this year. I’m praying that they didn’t dose member that, in 2018, it delivered
The vaccines comprise a batch of enough to take you out of bed, turn came, the nurse injected me me up with Sinopharm, because close to half a million substand-
one million doses of Sinovac from have been given. with some substance. Well, I had fresh information that’s coming ard vaccine doses of diphtheria,
China at the end of March, 200 000 Heh, we don’t have enough vac- to ask her twice if she had really out will spook a corpse out of the tetanus and whooping cough for
Sinopharm units in February and cination centres. Heh, we don’t injected me, because I didn’t feel a grave, straight into your bedroom. innocent kids.
a further 400 000 in mid-March. In- have enough manpower. Heh, single thing. Have you heard about the Prime That doesn’t sound like good
dia gave us 35 000. most of the doses have just ar- It was the first injection my Minister of Pakistan, Imran news for people who have been
By April 8, a cumulative 166 543 rived, so you don’t expect us to whole life so far when I didn’t feel Khan? That dude was vaccinated “jabbed” with Sinopharm, espe-
people had been vaccinated for use them up all in a day. Heh, this; a single thing. I wondered how in- with Sinopharm and he started cially given the cultic secrecy that
the first time and another 27 134 heh, that. jections could be so pleasantly going about with a renewed spring surrounds the vaccine trial. You
had received their second “jab”— Nonsense. The bottom line painless. But that’s not a bother in his step. But then, last month, know it all well, the World Health
a trending cliché among our excit- is that the vaccine rollout pro- again. Feeling no pain can’t be a he fell ill and it was discovered Organisation has already said
able journalists. From April 6 to gramme is so poorly managed, it’s bother. that he was positive on Covid-19. Sinopharm lacks all sorts of key
April 8 — that means three days — actually a wonder we already have The point is, nobody ever both- Where does that happen? How information.
Zimbabwe was getting an average that number stepping up to be in- ered to explain things to me. They do you get inoculated against Cov- And it boggles the mind why our
of 14 181 people being vaccinated oculated. Information is so poor- just asked for my name, ID num- id-19 and then you fall ill? Well, if authorities saw it prudent to buy
every day for the first time, and ly managed and the Zimbabwean ber and address, almost like they it’s because there is a new variant, the AstraZeneca vaccine that our
1 692 for the second time. government is at sixes and sevens wanted to then tell someone who, it shows one new thing about Cov- neighbours in South would love
What the figures say is that just — if not more — trying to man- exactly, I am. id-19 vaccination. to shove down the sewer drain. If
under 179 000 had been vaccinat- age, if at all, the suspicions that Up to now, I don’t know what That you would have to take all it doesn’t work for South Africa,
ed by April 8. If you use the daily have arisen from its procurement vaccine they used on me. I looked types of doses in sight and then how can it work for Zimbabwe?
averages above, it means that, cu- of vaccines. at my vaccination card afterward, go round the village gulping all So, it seems my workmate was
mulatively, some 209 000 have been I went out to get my first dose re- but the section that talks about sorts of home remedies, including right in some way. Home reme-
vaccinated for the first time, and cently. Well, my colleagues at work the vaccine type was all hiero- anointing oil and holy water. Kind dies. You can’t trust these vac-
32 200 for the second time. flatly refused, and never bothered glyphics. of ghostly, isn’t it? cines. You can’t trust the authori-
The total number of doses used to explain why, but you can guess The kind of stuff they put into But the buck comes back to our ties, never mind the fact that they
by today, therefore, is 241 200 or well, well. One of them just said your records at the hospital when authorities. They ordered Sin- are busy getting placebos after
thereabouts. he would resort to home remedies you want medical attention. So, I opharm and what not with hard- ducking vaccination for so long.
Never mind this attempt at try- to counter Covid-19. “Home rem- don’t know whether I got Sinop- ly any knowledge of what they And you can’t trust the manner
ing to be clever with figures. The edies” means a lot of things, but harm, Sinovac—from China—or were doing. Look here. Those sup- in which the rollout is happen-
point is, about 1.5 million doses of that’s not my bother. Covaxin from India. pliers back in China — including ing. That’s the reason why there
vaccines that Zimbabwe has re- I had to wait for at least three It could just as well be AstraZen- the Wuhan Institute of Biologi- is such a poor uptake of the doses.
ceived have not been used. hours for my turn, but that’s not eca, the one that South Africa re- cal Products that produces Sinop- All else is propaganda.
In other words, the daily uptake the bother too. After all, the nuns jected and said it was selling to us harm and is just about where Cov- Tawanda Majoni is the na-
of the doses by Zimbabweans re- who were trickling in, in batch- and a few other hapless African id-19 came from — have not given tional coordinator at Informa-
mains acutely pathetic. es were just jumping the queue countries, I don’t know. enough details about their trials. tion for Development Trust and
The question is: Why? Some rea- ahead of me and never saw any- They told me when to come back Tao Lina, a Shanghai-based doc- can be contacted on tmajoni@
sons, most of them hardly good thing wrong about that. When my for my second dose, but I’m now tor of note, has actually described idt.org.zw
 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021 13

New perspectives

Contextualising Zim’s
By Paison Tazvivinga and Vusa Ncube

I
t is a default of the Zimba-
bwean psyche to feel disen-
franchised when local condi-

fuel price increases

tions are deemed to be less fa-
vourable than those at play in
the world at large.
This “feeling” is oftentimes un-
substantiated and thus lacks an
empirical basis. The recent fuel
price adjustment has reignited
this feeling.
The figure above reveals an in-
teresting trend, one which will
most likely recur in the short
term.
There have been monthly fuel bles in the fuel pricing model in tainly lead to cost-push inflation.
price reviews on the fifth of every that country are international The retailer’s conundrum:
month since January 2021. petroleum costs and foreign ex- Retailers are faced with two
The net effect has been a 7.31% change rate movements. equally unenviable prospects. Op-
increase in the price of Diesel Additionally, proclamations tion one, to increase prices and
50, and a 10.74% surge in that of by the Finance minister Tito pass the burden on to the consum-
Blend E10 between January 5 and Mboweni, in his budget speech on er.
April 5, 2021. February 25, 2021 to the effect that This will likely lead to a reduc-
The prevailing interbank ex- the Fuel and Road Accident Fund tion in volumes and footfall, in
change rate is applied to the free levies on both petrol and diesel the absence of commensurate re-
on board (FOB) price of fuel, in- would increase on April 7, 2021 views to purchasing power.
cluding duty and levies, to estab- will have a weighty bearing on the Whilst trading may remain at a
lish the landed cost. soon to be felt pinch at the pump. profitable level, that is, revenue at
To curtail arbitrage opportu- The world view above break-even levels, the loss
nities presented by the prospect Covid-19 disrupted global travel of customers, however, margin-
of misclassifying one for the oth- for the greater part of 2020. al, may present an undesirable
er, the following diesel and pet- Travel restrictions implement- reduction in a key viability and
rol duty and levies were synchro- ed and enforced on an unprece- competitiveness metric.
nized by the Finance minister dented global scale decimated the Option two, to absorb some of
Mthuli Ncube in his 2021 budget aviation industry and significant- the price increases, through mar-
speech: ly reduced inland travel. gin reduction.
lPetroleum importers’ levy at The foregoing implied a mas- Contingent upon the behaviour Fuel prices since January 2021. Source: Zera Twitter handle
US$0,05 per litre. sive reduction in demand for fuel, of competitors, this may main-
lExcise at US$0,30 per litre and by implication, crude oil. tain volumes, and perhaps grow 10% year-end inflation target. to be worn by captains of indus-
lCarbon tax. On April 20, 2020, the price of footfall. This means, even though head- try to ensure this price correction
lZinara road levy. West Texas Intermediate crude This strategy, however, requires line inflation may increase be- is effected smoothly, without dis-
lNoczim debt redemption. dropped by almost 300%, and trad- meticulous attention to below the cause of the direct effects of fuel rupting volume momentum, and/
lStrategic reserve. ed at a negative US$37 per barrel. line costs, to ensure they are in price correction, core inflation or scuttling customer loyalty.
Due to mandatory blending re- Because oil is extracted in a so- sync with the reduced margin and and inflation expectations must Government also, on the oth-
quirements, the cost of ethanol is phisticated process, one which is avoid sliding into a loss-making remain contained. er hand, must review fuel pric-
integrated into the price of pet- unthinkably expensive to halt, the position. In the end, the effects of this ing model to ease pressure on con-
rol. process kept churning out prod- The welfare question fuel price volatility will never be sumers who are battling to stay fi-
Oil marketing company (OMC) uct for which there was minimal How soon do salaries have to be as large as conventional wisdom nancially afloat.
and dealer margins are then fac- demand. reviewed to ensure employees do would suggest. lPaison Tazvivinga is a de-
tored in to arrive at the maximum Stocks thus piled up. not significantly lose purchasing Outlook velopment economist. He may
pump price. Storage fast became a con- power? Immediately, the employ- If brent crude oil price correc- be reached on ptazvy@gmail.
The South African context straint, and the negative price ees might respond. tion persists to pre-Covid-19 highs com.
The Department of Energy in was thus an incentive for the oil Gradually, management may of US$75,23 observed on October lVusa Ncube is a financial
South Africa has published fuel to be absorbed by the refiners, to suggest, to ensure the increase is 2, 2018, then we may be in for reg- analyst and a keen student of
price adjustments effective April defray storage costs on the pro- priced into revenue. ular uncomfortable notifications the world. He may be reached
7, 2021. ducers’ side. Whichever path will be taken, from energy regulators. on [email protected].
The inland cost of unleaded Travel restrictions were relaxed there is need for engagement be- The current crude oil price These weekly “Insights”
petrol (Inland 95) will increase as the year progressed, and Brent tween management and staff to (US$62,15 per barrel) is at a 21,04% articles are coordinated by
16,55% from 14,86 rand in Janu- crude oil closed 2020 at US$51,80 avoid a deterioration of the indus- discount to the said high. Lovemore Kadenge, independ-
ary 2021 to the imminent 17,32 per barrel and has since surged trial relations environment to a However, in light of the back- ent consultant, past president
rand (effective April 7, 2021), 19,98% to US$62,15 as at April 5, point of hostility. ground and context shared in of the Zimbabwe Economics
whilst the Inland cost of 0,05% 2021. Communication is essential the article, the price movements Society and past president of
sulphur diesel will surge 13,62% Back home whenever such situations present. ought to be viewed as price cor- the Institute of Chartered Sec-
from 13 rand to 14,77 rand over the The chief underlying cost of Furthermore, the public must rections and should thus not be retaries and Administrators
same period. freight and distribution is fuel. take cognisant of the fact that a reason to lament the emerging in Zimbabwe. Email: kadenge.
According to the energy depart- The ramifications of an in- government is committed to fight- trend. [email protected] and mobile
ment, the two significant varia- crease in the price of fuel will cer- ing inflation as evidenced by the Strategic thinking caps need +263 772 382 852

Aggressive promotion necessary to catalyse Covid-19 vaccination uptake

By Canisio Mudzimu ophy might be critical in the roll- Distance, travelling costs, time be persuaded to get a jab when be easier for policy makers to
ing out of the vaccination pro- constraints, lack of urgency and their colleagues do so or when reach out to the younger genera-
The ongoing vaccination pro- gramme. the culture I have alluded to cre- the vaccination team is within tion and millennials by using the
gramme is a noble initiative to This is in tandem with learn- ate a concoction of debilitating an arm’s reach through the effect celebrities to feature in advertise-
protect the general populace ing theories and philosophies, factors that might slow down the of mob psychology, imitation and ments or even record vaccination
from the Covid-19 pandemic and such as Albert Bandura’s So- momentum of the vaccination observation as expounded earli- in progress in order to reduce the
it is axiomatic that robust strate- cial Cognitive Learning Theo- drive. er on. anxiety among some Zimbabwe-
gies should be employed to raise ry, which place emphasis on ob- To overcome this lacuna and Opinion leaders ans and boost the propensity for
awareness of the importance servation, imitation and mould- inertia, it might be necessary for Generally, people’s behav- their followers to receive the Cov-
and safety of vaccination as well ing of behaviour as critical to the the powers-that-be to consider iours and attitudes are shaped id-19 jabs.
as to reduce apathy and anxiety learning process. taking the vaccines to the people and moulded by the behaviours For instance, the elderly in the
among the people of this country. I have noted that most of the through a myriad of ways. and perceived attitudes of their rural areas would be persuad-
In as much as the current ef- vaccination is being done at If it is medically feasible – role models and opinion leaders ed when their church leaders,
forts being undertaken by the health institutions like hospitals which I feverishly hope it is - in- whom they look up to for inspira- spiritual leaders, political lead-
government to promote the vac- and clinics, which may be due to troducing mobile vaccination tion and motivation. ers or chiefs, among others, en-
cination programme should be medical reasons I might not be clinics that are set up where peo- The current drive to use celeb- courage them to be vaccinated as
acknowledged, there is room for privy to, but most of the people ple are found, for instance at shop- rities like television news report- these opinion leaders wield im-
vast improvement in the promo- are accustomed to visiting such ping centres, vegetable markets or ers to promote vaccination is ac- mense influence over social be-
tion and communication initia- institutions only when they fall bus termini may, ceteris paribus, knowledged but it would be more liefs, norms, values and practices
tives for the Covid-19 vaccines to ill, or when a relative or friend is boost uptake of the vaccine. efficacious to extend the tentacles in their respective societies.
be “embraced” as the panacea to sick but rarely when they are fit. I am not sure about bars and of this strategy to encompass a The efficacy of the vaccination
the crisis the country in particu- Taking a trip to a health insti- beerhalls as they are officially gamut of opinion leaders such as programme would be enhanced
lar and the world at large are en- tution when one is healthy is not closed, although on the ground priests, pastors, chiefs, tradition- if the promotional programmes
meshed in. part of our culture as Zimbabwe- the situation is not in consonance al leaders, political leaders, social- would incorporate the magical
Supply chain management ans (or is it Africans), no wonder with the official position (let us ites, athletes, footballers, actors, wand of influence, role model-
Just like the Biblical Thomas, why things like regular health leave this discussion for another musicians, captains of industry, ling and persuasion in order to
some people only believe the ef- checks, dental checks and even day!). and other stars and celebrities. change attitudes and behaviour
ficacy or veracity of something cancer screening are not as pop- People who are sitting on the With the proliferation of so- towards vaccination.
only after seeing and this philos- ular as they should be. fence vis-à-vis vaccination may cial media and internet, it must Continued on Page 14
14 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Opinion

O Freedom of the press: The cost!

n October 2, 2018, Ja-
mal Kashoggi faced
a 15-member black
watch group in the
Saudi Arabian embas-
sy in Turkey. When he entered the
embassy to get a marriage certifi-

Letter from America

cate, the street camera across the
street had recorded his entry.
He never came out. We know
now, from the US intelligence
sources, that his finger nails were
first pulled out by men in dark with KENNETH MUFUKA
glasses. It was a warning that
they were serious.
Jamal had worked for Saudi shipped to Saudi Arabia. lion followers.
Prince Turki bin Faisal, securi- Former president Donald Justice Clarence Thomas re-
ty chief in the old regime. In that Trump had but two choices. The gards this as a new form of mo-
position, he was privy to the se- Saudis were in an arms deal nopoly or restriction of free
cret funding surrounding Al Qae- worth U$8.5 billion and more. If speech, never mind it is Trump’s
da and Osama Bin Laden. More, the US condemned the Saudis, speech being restricted.
he had, in a previous life, been a they stood to lose business. Thomas says when crossing
mujahedeen and worked with Bin Ray Choto and Mark Chavun- Charles River Bridge, one must
Laden in Afghanistan. duka pay a toll. If the citizen prefers
Returning home a hero, after Two weeks ago, I was in touch not to, he can swim across. Simi-
the Russian infidels had been ex- with Ray Choto, who with Mark larly, if one refuses to use the Ore-
pelled from that country, he en- Chavunduka, were journalists at gon Turnpike Road, one can walk
joyed the confidence of Turki bin The Zimbabwe Standard. through the Oregon Trail to his
Faisal. But another war had start- On October 22, 2011, Angus destination.
ed at the turn of the century. The Shaw, reporting for the British In- Should the Turnpike or the
US, with Saudi support, had in- dependent newspaper, witnessed Charles Toll Bridge, both owned
vaded Iraq. Saudi Arabia, with Mark (37) and Ray (34) being re- by concessionary, companies be
US support, had invaded Yemen. leased from a jailhouse on bail. treated as private property, whose
Both expeditions went sour. Both were tortured by Zimba- owners can refuse service to users
At home, Prince Muhammad bwe military police for a report whose demeanour or attire they
bin Salman, the new ruler, was about 23 soldiers who had been de- loathe?
suspicious of Prince bin Turki. tained for incitement to rebellion. It is alright to lie about Trump
Jamal got wind of it and crossed While in prison, Ray was When Amy Gardner wrote in
the border just before 30 journal- told that then president Robert the Washington Post, January
ists were arrested and Turki him- Mugabe had signed a death war- 3rd that Trump had pressured the Ray Choto
self placed into “a restricted situ- rant for them. Mark died as a re- Georgia attorney to move votes in
ation”. sult of the torture. Choto lives in his favour, and reverse the elec- with Liberian senators and con- ies will be cut into little pieces. In
Of the 21 eleven terrorists in- exile as we speak. tion outcome, that information gressmen. Egypt, journalists are picked up
volved in New York Twin Towers Zimbabwe black watchers was part of the impeachment ma- Senators Christiana Tah and from the street, after years in pris-
bombing, 19 were Saudi nation- wanted knowledge of the report- terial on January 6. Randolph MaCain were men- on without trial, dropped back on
als, funded and trained by Ai Qae- ers’ sources. The transcript to Frances Wat- tioned in the story. These two the street.
da. But Al Qaeda was the brain- US: A different kind of torture! son reveals that Trump said that did not receive any bonuses nor In the US, journalists are pro-
child of Saudi and US intelligence The US is going through a differ- “dishonesty” occurred in Ful- were they consulted before the tected from the authorities, but
against the Russians. ent kind of soul-searching about ton County (the largest inner city story was published. Hidden not from their companies, which
Then there were daily atroci- freedom of speech. Last week, the black county), not Cobb Coun- somewhere, Global Witness con- conspire to create fake news, ban-
ties being committed in Yemen, US Supreme Court made its rul- ty where Watson was looking. fesses that there is no evidence ish certain ideas they don’t like,
in the hope of forcing Yemeni na- ing on a case brought by Knight Trump never asked Watson or any that “Exxon directed Nation- and act in a monopolistic way.
tionalists to accept a stooge gov- Communications Centre in New other officer to change the vote. al Oil Company to pay bonuses The result, as my journalistic
ernment favoured by US-Saudi in- York. On March 3, the Washington (bribes).” brother Joram Nyathi has told
terests. While Knight rejoiced when Post wrote a “correction”, but Thomas argues, in his brief, me, is the same difference. One
Jamal, now a renegade journal- Twitter banned Trump from us- making itself the hero of the sto- that Tah and McCain’s characters can count to six; the other can
ist, was preparing an expose' for ing their platform, its complaint ry. The damage was done. were deliberately tarnished, and count to half a dozen.
the Washington Post. was to forbid Trump from block- It is this damage, which Thom- to assume that Global Witness did
Jamal’s fingers were chopped ing his opponents from cursing as has worried about in his es- not appreciate the import of their l Ken Mufuka is a Zimbabwe-
off. At this time it was too late to him out and saying bad words. says. Global Witness wrote sever- article is being naïve. an patriot. He can be reached
back off; to allow him to escape As private entities, rather than al stories about oil exploration in Thus, there are two standards. at [email protected]. His
would have been disastrous for public platforms, Twitter, Goog- Liberia. Exxon Oil Company em- In the Third World, journalists books are available in Zimba-
the House of Saudi. He was then le and Facebook do not fall under ployed a surrogate National Oil can find their fingers pulled out, bwe from Innov Bookshops
hacked off piece by piece and the Section 230 of the Decency Act. Company to smooth things over (Kashoggi) and if they do not re- and in the wider world from
morsels packed into 30 boxes and Trump lost touch with his 33 mil- by sharing a U$4 million bonus veal what they know, their bod- kenmufukabooks.com.

Aggressive promotion necessary to catalyse Covid-19 vaccination uptake

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 vaccinated. What is needed is to assure the
Massive promotion Such print material should be nation that vaccination is a solu-
Use of promotional techniques readily available in supermar- tion not a curse and for the spin-
is necessary to reduce the infor- kets, restaurants and other out- doctors to dispel any misconcep-
mation gap and assuage the spec- lets that are permitted to be oper- tions that Zimbabweans might
ulation that some people have ational in terms of the Covid-19 have pertaining to the jabs.
about the vaccination. regulations. This can only be achieved by
In the absence of informa- I salute the inclusion of Cov- regularly publishing statistics
tion to counter gossip and hear- id-19 on the postage stamps, but of people who would have been
say, people regrettably take these based on the low frequency of use vaccinated as a way to prove
as the gospel truth and what the of letters in this modern world, that the programme is proceed-
government ought to do is to put such strategies ought to be aug- ing smoothly as a way of thera-
in place measures to set the re- mented by using both print ma- peutically convincing the ‘Doubt-
cord straight by dishing out the terial that is popularly used and ing Thomases’ that “it indeed
correct and unadulterated infor- electronic media as well. works”.
mation. Pasting print material on such According to consumer behav-
It is unfortunate that the Cov- places as notice boards for super- iour theorists, the buyer decision
id-19 pandemic makes some of markets, television sets in super- making process is a delicate sys-
the most effective ways of reach- markets, Zupco buses, churches, tem that is initiated by the recog-
ing out to the masses untenable, bus termini, market stalls, shop- nition that there is a need to be Government should encourage people strongly to get vaccinated
such as road shows, but what is ping complexes, and even using fulfilled (protection against cor-
needed are out-of-the-box mech- door-to-door distribution might onavirus) and this stage is sup- tion on Covid-19 and the vaccines the dark pertaining to vaccination.
anisms that maximise reach, en- improve the uptake of Covid-19 ported by intensive information is imperative if this nation is to This information asymmetry
gagement and information pro- vaccines. search as the potential purchas- ‘fast-track’ the process, taking has be to remedied to save lives
cessing. Effective communication er gathers information on how into cognisance what Dambud- of our people and I urge the gov-
Maybe I have missed the dis- It is widely acknowledged that best to solve the problem/needs zo Marechera once wrote in one ernment to move a gear up in
tribution points of such materi- communication is the epoxy that as well as evaluating alternative of his novels that, “to know the its current programme to make
al as fliers that explain – in all of- glues any nation to the wheel of courses of action before a final name of a demon is to have pow- information readily and easily
ficial languages – what the Cov- success and in the wake of the decision is made. er over it”. available to its people for them to
id-19 vaccine is all about, how it Covid-19 pandemic; it becomes This process can be likened to Even the Bible has it on good get vaccinated.
works, the different vaccines that increasingly necessary for the the one that a sane person under- authority that “my people suffer l Canisio Mudzimu is a free-
are available in the country at government to speak with one takes in deciding whether to be from lack of knowledge…” (Ho- lance writer, who can be con-
the moment, any potential side voice with conviction, assurance, vaccinated or not. As alluded to sea) and it goes without saying tacted on canisiomudzimu@
effects and why people should be consistency and dexterity. earlier on, a deluge of informa- that some Zimbabweans are still in gmail.com.
 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021 15

Standard

EDUCATION
School is boring
under much pressure, no doubt, but
bringing immense value. They are far
more valuable than any mineral found
in the ground. That is interesting, is it
not? And valuable.
Diamonds? Sure, we dig it! Dogs? No,
they dig the ground! School? Now we
are talking; we dig that!
 Tim Middleton is the executive
director of the Association of Trust
BY TIM MIDDLETON and exploded) to the interesting, to the der the surface, just waiting to be ex- Schools [ATS]. The views expressed
point where the process will provide plored (but not exploited). Gina Barre- in this article, however, are solely
THEY say “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” — great interest and value. ca, an American author, once said that, those of the author in his private ca-
Marilyn Monroe certainly sung that in the 1953 We do not need diamonds; in fact, “It’s not that diamonds are a girl’s best pacity and do not necessarily repre-
film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and many would we do not even need to have a dog in- friend but it’s your best friends who are sent the views of the ATS.
suggest she should know! If it is indeed true, it stead of diamonds; we already have your diamonds”. In fact, it is our chil- email: [email protected]
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16 The Standard April 11 to 18 2021

GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE
Ministry of Health & Child Care
The following posts have arisen in the Ministry of Health and Child Care

Key responsibilities and 1. In line with the Sustainability Transition Implementation Plan (STIP), the officer will lead the
Post A HIV TesTIng serVIces QuAlITy IMPrOVeMenT OffIcer
Accountability development of the sustainability benchmarks in provinces and districts:
station AIDs & TB 2. Engages with PHE, DHE and local level stakeholders to develop the provincial and district
sustainability plans.
reports to national HIV Prevention coordinator 3. Leads the review of the VMMC training curriculum so that it aligns with the VMMC training
summary of key functions The job exists to ensure HIV Testing Services and its innovations meet established standards of quality needs during the sustainability phase.
consistent with National HIV testing regulations, policies, monitoring and evaluation 4. Facilitates the further decentralization of VMMC service delivery and capacity building from the
current verticalized provincial level programme.
Key responsibilities and Technical Support 5. Participates in the development and introduction of the VMMC Online training (Blended
Accountability 1. Provides technical support for continued implementation of comprehensive quality HIV Testing learning approach) as part of sustainable capacity building approach.
and Counseling services for Client-Initiated and Provider Initiated Testing and Counselling at 6. Participates in the development and introduction of pre-service training manual on VMMC as
facility and Community levels part of long term sustainability strategy of the programme.
2. Supports collaborative CQI activities in support of the national HIV Prevention program towards 7. Conducts district sustainability readiness assessment and site capacity readiness assessments.
achieving the first 95 targets focusing on priority areas such as index partner testing and HIVST 8. Identifies sustainability transition needs of personnel at VMMC implementing sites in liaison
with province and district VMMC team.
3. Provides technical support to ensure IQA and EQA’s are performed regularly and reports 9. Participates in development and review of VMMC sustainability indicators as well as tracking
compiled disseminated, and discussed during technical working group meetings progress at provincial and district levels using the VMMC Transition Assessment Dashboard
4. Maintains a record of Quality Evaluation records for all HTS testers to ensure HTS services are (VTAD).
conducted within set standards 10. Participates in the process evaluation of sustainability districts to ensure scientifically sound
5. Assists Project Manager to develop systematic and realistic monitoring plans that capture implementation
quantitative and qualitative data to report on program performance indicators. 11. Conducts mentorship visits to districts handed over to DHEs to ensure sustained service delivery
6. Provides technical support to facility and district teams to ensure HTS services are conducted in 12. Supports VMMC clinical mentorship at provincial levels by centrally based national mentors.
13. Conducts integrated HIV Prevention Internal Quality Assurance audits
compliance with standard algorithms and SOP.
14. Supports Quality Improvement Initiatives at national and sub-national levels
7. Supports facility teams as needed in performing data management activities, such as 15. Ensures services are provided in accordance with WHO and national VMMC quality assurance
abstraction, verification, validation, and entry into an electronic database. guidelines and protocols
8. Provides guidance and technical support in HIV and AIDS-related testing and counselling 16. Facilitates use of approved sustainability models e.g. scaling up of reusable instruments and
including psychosocial support. adherence to approved MC methods.
9. Provides technical assistance in monitoring and evaluating of HIV and AIDS-related counselling 17. Collaborates in the process of planning and conducting of annual HIV Prevention and AE Review
and provide integration of HIV and AIDS-related testing and counselling in HIV and AIDS care meetings
18. Participates in exploring potential use of circumcision Shang ring device as part of routinization
programmes.
of VMMC services at lower level health facilities
10. Collaborates with training institutions and non-governmental organizations in the integration 19. Contributes in the development and documentation of sustainability best practice reports and
of testing and counselling into different training programmes. research
11. Maintains a current knowledge of changes in core measures and standards of HTS and its 20. Reviews of M&E tools including VMMC, HTS, STI service delivery protocols as well as VTAD
innovations. assessment tools
12. Participates in various QI committees and workgroups convened to improve the process and/or 21. Participates in the research on the effectiveness of the result based financing method as a
health outcomes, and contributes meaningful detail, based on functional knowledge.  possible replacement of current cost reimbursement
13. Investigates and incorporates national best practice interventions to effect greater rate 22. Serves as secretariat to the Service Delivery technical working group.
increases. Qualifications & experience • Degree or Diploma in Nursing or Public Health.
14. Conducts periodic support and mentorship visits to monitor program implementation and • Post basic training in Community Nursing, Public Health, Theatre and Midwifery an added
ensure the provision of quality HTS services. advantage.
• Clean class 4 drivers licence
15. Training, Capacity building
• At least 2 years post qualification experience in relevant fields
16. Assists in the development and dissemination of HIV testing and counselling guidelines and
protocols.
17. Works with all stakeholders to review and update training manuals and other resource Post c covid Medical laboratory scientist – x 2 posts
documents. reports to chief medical laboratory scientist
18. Ensures that training protocols conform to national standards
19. Disseminates information on revised guidelines and policies in the form of training and station nMrl
workshops. summary of key functions Responsible and accountable for delivery of high quality Covid-19 laboratory services at NMRL. The
20. Facilitates orientation programs for revised curricula, guidelines and protocols. incumbent will be responsible for timeous processing of Covid-19 samples at the reference laboratory
21. Undertakes pilot of revised documents and training curriculum with relevant stakeholders. as well as ensuring all quality indicators are within limit.
22. Undertakes training needs analysis and refresher training in HIV and AIDS programs which Key responsibilities and 1. Laboratory system strengthening to ensure Covid-19tests are being done as per program
include Provider rapid HIV testing, Counselling, Self-testing, Index testing, PrEP, and FP. Accountability targets
23. Documentation, Evaluation and Dissemination 2. Monitoring of total TAT to ensure samples and results are moving smoothly between the
24. Monitors and evaluates CQI activities such as IQA and EQA at all HIV testing sites. laboratory and requesting facility
25. Contributes to the documentation and knowledge sharing of CQI results through articles, 3. Report on daily, weekly and monthly statistics
conference posters, web postings, and presentations. 4. Implementation of QMS in the Covid-19 department
26. Supports the documentation and dissemination of key QI activities taking place at the facilities 5. Maintenance of Covid-19 testing platforms
to stakeholders (e.g. QI Committee meeting minutes, QI projects and QI related process data). 6. Stock management of Covid-19 commodities
27. Participates in the various peer learning platforms and review meetings. 7. Participate in compilation of monthly Covid-19 laboratory performance report and essential
Qualifications • Degree or Diploma in Nursing or Public Health. performance indicators
• Post basic training in Community Nursing, Public Health, Theatre and Midwifery an added 8. Participate in Covid-19 rapid antigen testing programme.
advantage. 9. Evaluate new technologies on Covid-19 testing
• Clean class 4 Drivers Licence 10. Participate in support and supervisory visits to provincial and district laboratories.
• At least 2 years post qualification experience in relevant fields 11. Perform any other duties as delegated

POsT B VMMc sustainability Transition and Quality Assurance Officer Qualifications and • HBMLS or Equivalent from a reputable University
reports to national VMMc coordinator competencies • At least 3 years post graduate experience
station AIDs & TB • Experience with PCR diagnostic and monitoring tests is an added advantage
• Ability to interface with clinical facilities to troubleshoot and institute corrective actions for out
summary of key functions The officer will report to the National VMMC Coordinator in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, of range indicators.
working with Combination HIV Prevention programme. The VMMC Sustainability Transition and
• Computer competence with spreadsheet, word processing and presentation applications
Quality Assurance Officer will be responsible for provincial, district and facility transition from the
current scale up to sustainability mode. In particular support will be focused on the 9 unfunded • Must be registered with Medical Laboratory Clinical Scientist Council of Zimbabwe
districts which include the two funded in the Global Fund grant. The officer will also provide oversight
on clinical mentorship and capacity building of the VMMC programme personnel at the different
levels that includes both clinical and non-clinical personnel that support various aspects of the of the POsT D chief Medical laboratory scientist
VMMC programme. The officer will also be responsible for sustainability readiness assessments and reports to nMrl coordinator
support the transition process accordingly.
station nMrl
summary of key functions Management responsibilities:
1. Overall laboratory management and leadership
2. Provision of technical guidance on management of diagnostic services to ensure attainment of
the recommended quality and national standards
3. Supervises and mentors all other laboratory staff
 The Standard April 11 to 18 2021 17

Key responsibilities and 1. Provides leadership in laboratory planning, monitoring, and evaluation of processes in line with responsibilities 1. Develops and implements monitoring and evaluation strategies and frameworks for the
Accountability hospital management system. province
2. Ensures application of national policies, guidelines, and operational plans for laboratory 2. Implements, and manages an M&E system that will generate timely information and feedback
management for attainment of the required standards of laboratory service delivery to stakeholders
3. Liaises and collaborates with staff of different departments at provincial level as well as with
3. Develops, guides, and ensures achievement of quality laboratory standards for all departments other partners of Ministry of Health and Child Care to harmonize M&E strategies and optimize
4. Leads on establishment of supportive supervision and quality control measures for all tests health information systems
done in the laboratory. 4. Provides information to key decision makers to communicate and facilitate efficient deci-
5. Liaises with MOHCW, and other relevant partners, stakeholders, and collaborators in ensuring sion-making.
delivery of quality capacity building schemes for laboratory. 5. Compiles, analyzes and presents data for reporting of program progress and impact, and quality
6. Facilitates establishment and maintenance of relations with partners and donors with timely assurance.
reporting and regular feedback. 6. Captures lessons learned and best practices, documentation and dissemination of information,
7. Develops annual work plan and manages activity budgets and equipment. assisting developing presentations, abstracts, articles, etc.
8. Compiles, analyzes, and reporting routine monthly and quarterly laboratory reports. 7. Plans for and conducts monitoring activities and ensures accurate and timely reporting to line
9. Collaborates with relevant programs and/or partners in identification of operations research managers and national level
8. Develops monitoring and evaluation capacity at provincial, district levels and facility level
questions and development for continued quality improvement. 9. Designs and implements studies when necessary
10. Plans and implements on job training for all laboratory staff. 10. Supports and supervises the operationalization of M&E plans, assuring data quality through
Qualifications and • HBMLS degree or equivalent appropriate and feasible data collection methods, analysis and reporting.
competencies • Master’s in Public Health or Clinical epidemiology is an added advantage
• Must be registered with the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe
• At least 3 years post graduate experience, proven history in a management position is an added Qualifications, experience 1. HND in Statistics/ Health Sciences or a Degree in Social Sciences /Statistics or equivalent
advantage. & attributes Minimum of 2 years experience in monitoring and evaluation preferably health program
• Ability to coordinate health services at national, provincial and district levels 2. Demonstrated understanding of and familiarity with a range of applied research and monitoring
• Fluent in written and spoken English and evaluation approaches including health information and data management systems, and
quality assurance.
• Proven computer competence with spreadsheet, word processing, presentation and database 3. Good working knowledge of descriptive, inferential and advanced statistics.
applications 4. Strong quantitative and analytical skills and ability to communicate technical information
Post e Medical laboratory scientist x 2 posts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical colleagues.
5. Strong skills in MS Excel Word, PowerPoint and Access, and at least one data management
reports to chief Medical laboratory scientist software program (SAS, SPSS).
station national Microbiology reference laboratory 6. Strong oral and written communication skills
7. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
summary of key functions Ministry of Health & Child Care seeks a dynamic Medical Laboratory Scientist to establish and coor-
dinate the early infant diagnosis of HIV at the NMRL .The NMRL supports public health activities and Post H software Developer/Programmer
provides support to the national ART program station AIDs & TB
Key responsibilities and 1. Establishes and conducts early infant diagnosis of HIV using molecular laboratory techniques. reports To sI coordinator
Accountability 2. Coordinates the Laboratory component of the national early infant HIV diagnosis program.
Job summary Responsible for systems design, software development and modifying existing software (program-
3. Trains other Medical Laboratory Scientists in molecular techniques. ming).
4. Works with the Director of Nursing Services to plan and implement the training of nurses in
specimen collection – Dry Blood Spots. Key responsibilities 1. Assists in planning, designing, developing and maintaining software applications.
5. Works with partners to set up a timely sample and result transport system that will provide 2. Writing, testing and documentation of source codes.
rapid collection and feedback to pediatric ART sites. 3. Assists in gathering user requirements and creation of the system design and functional
specifications for new development projects
6. Establishes a database for specimen tracking and reporting. 4. Plans, builds, maintains and upgrades existing and new MOHCC ICT systems
7. Ensures that quality systems are in place in the molecular laboratory and that quality control 5. Creates and reviews user and training manuals
procedures are followed. 6. Ensures the security and integrity of all systems and data.
8. Ensures that the laboratory participates satisfactorily in an external PT program. 7. Identifies opportunities that can improve efficiency of electronic systems and business
9. Compiles summary reports as required for the Coordinator at the NMRL and relevant Program processes.
Managers. 8. Participates in reviewing of policies and procedures.
10. Ensures that Standard Operating Procedure manuals are up to-date. 9. Participates in the integration of systems.
11. Participates in meetings as required. capacity Building.
12. Coordinates the decentralization of early HIV infant diagnosis to the provincial level using p24 1. Trains system users
antigen testing. 2. Provides third line systems support.
13. Prepares annual budgets for the molecular section of the laboratory. Qualifications, experience Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems/Computer Science/Software Engineering.
14. Works with NatPharm logisticians to coordinate and manage all supplies and reagents required & attributes 2. Proven experience or certification in any software programming language.
for smooth implementation of the program. 5-10 programming experience years
15. Contributes to research activities conducted as part of the program Designed and proposed electronic system until implementation
Qualifications, experience & Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent. Post I Information, communication Technology Officer (IcT Officer)
attributes MSc Medical Microbiology would be an added advantage.
reports To Deputy Director, Information Technology (IcT) /central hospital HIV Programme Managers
Registration with the Health Professions Authority as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
(Adult and Pediatric)
Excellent knowledge of molecular techniques including PCR.
• Knowledge of laboratory systems. station chitungwiza central Hospital
• Good communication skills. Job summary Responsible for assisting in planning, designing, developing and maintaining networking, hardware
• Strong public health leadership skills and software applications to support implementation of Health Management Information Systems in
• Good technical skills clinical and public health settings. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage Key responsibilities 1. Provides day- to- day support for installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of various ICT
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills hardware infrastructure.
• High level of interpersonal and diplomatic skills 2. Provides day- to -day support for all ICT hardware and networking equipment including installa-
• Strong financial and laboratory administration skills tion, preventive, maintenance, troubleshooting and repairs
3. Implements ICT quality and security control systems.
Post f Data Officer: 2 posts 4. Supports site training and roll –out of systems.
reports to section Head: specimen Management 5. Up to date inventory of ICT equipment
6. Status report of ICT equipment and services.
station national Microbiology reference laboratory 7. Simplifies user guides on information systems available.
8. Documents user requirements for hardware, network and systems
Key responsibilities 1. Receives, sorts and registers samples into Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
9. Work with the MoHCC to assess opportunities for future related ICT interventions
2. Checks completeness of request forms as well as appropriateness of samples.
3. Prints, packages and distributes results to requesting health facilities. Qualifications, experience 1. HND OR Degree in Information Systems/Computer Science or equivalent
4. Maintains a robust filling system for request forms and any other documentation generated. & attributes 2. At least two (2) years’ experience in system development or networking or server setup,
5. Checks the quality and completeness of the laboratory results 3. 1 - 2 years’ experience providing comprehensive technical support to users of computer software
6. Records discrepancies and making necessary notations. 4. Ability to model and represent systems effectively and creatively.
5. Knowledge of the theory, principles and practices of systems and applications programming
Qualifications experience • Recognized certificate in Computers or laboratory related discipline
6. Knowledge and experience in setting up computer networks (WAN/LAN) and server setup and
and attributes • At least 2 years’ experience in handling biological samples, laboratory data and sample
maintenance.
management
7. Ability to set and meet time-lines and deadlines
• Highly computer literate
8. Fluent in English (excellent oral and written skills)
• Knowledge of ISO 15189 standard will be an added advantage
9. Strong communication skills, with experience conducting trainings and delivering presentations
• Experience in SPSS and EPI info will be an added advantage
on complex information to sizable groups
• Good communication skills
10. Willingness to travel frequently and at short notice.
POsT g Provincial Monitoring & evaluation Officer 11. Knowledge of MoHCC systems and organisations will be an added advantage

station Bulawayo city Health Post J chief Pharmacist x 2 posts

reports to Director, Health services stations uBH & Ingutsheni central Hospital
Post K Provincial Health services Administrator
station PMD Matabeleland south
Post l Procurement Manager
station PMD Manicaland
Post M Traditional Medicine Officer
station Head Office

Detailed Job Descriptions and qualifications for posts J to M are available on the Ministry’s website; www.mohcc.gov.zw
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their CV’s, a cover letter and proof of qualifications to:

The secretary for Health Hand Deliveries:

Ministry of Health and child care 1st floor, Kaguvi Building
P O Box CY 1122, Causeway Fourth Street/Central Avenue
Harare. Harare.

closing date: 03 May 2021. Only short -listed applicants will be contacted.
18 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Standard

RELIGION
Reality about the 10 Commandments
sundayword to the arrangement of Moses, in
the order of the commandments.
In Matthew 22:34-40 and also Mark
ous other molten or graven images
that were perceived to be a repre-
sentation of some gods, in the like-
the seventh day you shall rest; in
ploughing time and harvest time
you shall rest.
12:28-31 he is asked a same ques- ness of those other gods. After “You shall observe the feast of
BY PROSPER TINGINI tion; “Which commandment is the Moses had pleaded for forgiveness weeks, the first fruits of your har-
first and greatest of all?” In both on behalf of the people for the sin vests."

I
answers, Jesus vividly replies, of the sculpture of the golden calf, “You shall observe the fruits
have in the past written about and the Lord said to me, ‘I have “You shall love the Lord your God God withdrew His anger; and then of ingathering at the year's end.
my reservations on the doc- heard the words of this people, with all your heart, and with all set apart ten distinct command- Three times in the year shall your
trine of the Ten Command- which they have spoken to you; your soul and with all your mind. ments to be strictly observed by males appear before the Lord
ments, in relation to the num- they have rightly said all they have This is the greatest command- the people during and after their God....
bers. I have vociferously ar- spoken. I wish that they has such ment. And a second is like this. expedition to Israel. These are “You shall not offer the blood of
gued that the numbers of God’s a mind as this always, to fear me You shall love your neighbor as listed as follows (Exodus 34:12-26): my sacrifice with leaven; neither
commandments are collective- and keep all my commandments, yourself. On these two command- “Take heed to yourself, lest you shall the sacrifice of the feast of the
ly in their hundreds. My diction- that it may go well with them and ments depends all the law and the make a covenant with the inhabit- Passover be left until the morning.
ary tells me that a commandment with their children forever! Go prophets.” ants of the land wither you go, lest “The first of the first fruits you
is a directive or instruction to do and say to them, “Return to your Clearly Jesus Christ teachings it become a snare in the midst of shall bring to the Lord your God.
or not to do certain things. I hum- turns.” But you, stand here by me, is in tandem with what Moses was you, you shall tear down their al- “You shall not boil a kid in its moth-
bly agree that the Ten Command- and I will tell you all the command- directed by God to teach to the peo- tars, and cut down their Acher- er's milk.” (These are a total of ten).
ments referred to are only a refer- ments and the statutes and the or- ple. Yet, this first and most impor- im, lest you make a covenant with Thereafter the Lord instruct-
ence to those first ten command- dinances which you shall teach tant commandment of God, taught the inhabitants of the land, and ed Moses (Exodus 34:27); “Write
ments spoken by the Lord our God them, that they may do them in the by both Jesus Christ and Moses, when they play harlot after their these words, in accordance with
directly, within the sight and the land which I give them to possess is nowhere within the confines gods, and sacrifice to their gods, those words I have made the cove-
hearing of the assembly of the (Deuteronomy 5:28-31)." of the Doctrine of the Ten Com- and one invites you, you eat of nant with you and Israel.” Verse 28
trekking descendants of Jacob at Moses then follows up to reveal mandments. Something is clear- his sacrifice, and you take of their then goes on to read, “And Moses
Mt Sinai. They had been request- what other commandments God ly not right about this, something daughters for your sons, and their was there with the Lord forty days
ed by the Lord to gather at the foot spoke to him about, for him to is amiss. In my readings of the daughters play harlots after their and forty nights (a second time),
of the mountain, under the leader- teach to the people. In Deuteron- scriptures, the first mention of the gods, and make your sons play the he neither ate bread nor drunk wa-
ship of Moses. The purpose was to omy, chapters 6-27, Moses repeats words “Ten Commandments” in harlots after their gods”. ter and Moses wrote upon the ta-
ensure that the people would see all those other commandments, the old testament is in reference to “You shall make for yourself no bles of the covenant, the ten com-
with their own eyes and hear with statutes and ordinances which the a specific covenant drafted by God molten gods.” mandments.” It could be that peo-
their own ears, to be witnesses to Lord spoke of, to be preached to the and primarily directed to guide “The feast of the unleavened bread ple then mistook this reference,
the world, of the presence and ex- people. Apparently, the first and the children of Israel on their on- you shall keep. Seven days you shall of this set of ten commandments,
istence of the Almighty God. His top on the list was this, “Hear, O ward journey to their promised eat unleavened bread, as I command- as if to mean a reference to all the
presence was so fearful that they people: The Lord your God is one; land. This was after the people had ed you, at the time appointed in the commandments of God. I have
begged Moses to let them with- and you shall love the Lord your built a golden calf in the absence month of Abib. For in the month of previously written that there are
draw from the mountain, and that God with all your heart, and with of Moses, while he was in the Abib you came out of Egypt. many other possible reasons that
him alone (Moses) would remain all your soul, and with all your mountain with God writing all the “All that opens the womb is could have caused such a misinter-
on their behalf, so as to continue might....” For the next twenty one commandments. I am sure the peo- mine, of all your cattle, the first- pretation, or possibly a deliberate
to listen to the additional instruc- chapters, Moses goes over all the ple moulded the golden calf some- lings of cow and sheep. The first- change to some texts of the Bible,
tions (Exodus 20:18-20). Moses others, of a host of other statutes, what innocently, copying this from ling of an ass you shall redeem for reasons I also mentioned.
clearly spells out what then tran- in their hundreds in numbers. other religious cultures. They with a lamb, or if you will not re-  Prosper Tingini is the
spired as the people pleaded with Coincidentally, when Jesus were simply imitating other sym- deem it you shall break its neck. scribe of the Children Of God
him to withdraw from the fear- Christ was asked by various peo- bolic religious statues which they All the first born sons you shall re- Missionary Assembly. Con-
ful sight of the Lord. He relayed ple, of which of all the command- saw among other nationalities, deem. And no one shall appear be- tact details: WhatsApp/SMS:
the information, "The Lord heard ments is the first and most impor- from the time they were in Egypt. fore me empty. 0771260195 or email: ptingini@
your words when you spoke to me; tant, he similarly quotes according They had obviously seen numer- “Six days you shall work, but on gmail.com

Difference between false, true prophets

divineinsight
no longer connected to God and are to maintain the act. He always has uses perfect people, but look in the
living ungodly lives. Many assume a way to reflect his true nature and Bible, the example of David and
false prophets are prophets that if you pay attention and are able to Saul; they both lived sinful lives,
miss and prophecy in error. But discern you won’t be fooled. but one of them would always re-
false prophets can be more accu- Just because the prophecy is ac- pent. Saul justified his errors
BY HUMPHREY MTANDWA rate than even real prophets. The curate or there are miracles does which led him into more errors
manifestation of gifts is not a sign not mean that God is involved. and David would always repent of
MOSES spent so much time in not guarantee that one has a re- of being connected to God. The Bi- Look beyond the miracle by his errors.
the presence of God that when lationship with God. ble says you will know them by searching for character or person- Just because there are miracles
he was coming down the moun- Imagine the devil still has the their fruit. The easiest way to see ality that consistently reflects God does not mean God approves one's
tain, the Bible records how anointing he received before he if someone is connected to God and and a relationship with God. The errors. Learn to live in a way that
the skin on his face was shin- was chased from heaven, what still has a relationship with God is Bible narrates how some will say I brings glory to God. A relationship
ing/glowing. When one spends more a man who at one time through the fruits in their lives. did miracles in your name and Je- with God is more important than
time in the presence of God in, spent most of his time in prayer Many assume the devil has sus will say I never knew you. The manifestation of gifts.
prayer there are parts of God's and in fellowship with God? horns and a tail like how Holly- word knew in the scripture means God bless you.
glory or light that rub on to that Apostle Paul says when God wood represents him. But the Bi- to relate. So Jesus in that statement  Humphrey Mtandwa is an
person and as they walk away gives an individual a gift he does ble says the devil can appear as an says I never had a relationship anointed minister of the gospel
from prayer they are radiat- not repent, meaning the gift re- angel of light, to show that the dev- with you. These individuals could and teacher of the Word based
ing with God's glory. The dev- mains his even without him or il is attractive and to some extent have had a relationship once with in South Africa. He has writ-
il, because of the time he spent her having a relationship with beautiful. The only way to judge Jesus but lost it, and through cor- ten several books including The
in the presence of God, got this God. if it's the devil or an angel of light ruption maintained the gift with- Enoch Generation, Truthful-
rub-off and even after he was Many judge a man’s relation- is through the fruits and by hear- out the giver of the gift. ness and Theophany. He blogs at
kicked out from heaven he still ship with God with how well he ing if the speech is consistent with The sad part of these individuals mtandwa.blogspot.com and can
maintained that light. Just be- preaches or prophecies, but one God's will. The devil can act as an is that the Bible says they will lead be contacted via e-mail or What-
cause there are miracles does can do miracles when they are angel of light, but it's hard for him many astray. I am not saying God sApp on +27 610286350.
 Standard
BUSINESS
Listed companies
defy crisis, pay out
dividends

The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Milk shortages hit Zim produce 85 million litres of milk

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

Z
this year, against the national re-
imbabwe has been hit by quirement of 120 million litres.
a serious milk shortage, The country imports approxi-
with dairy farmers cit- mately 48% of its annual milk re-
ing viability challeng- quirements.
es emanating from poor Chirima said major challenges
producer prices, it has emerged. faced by farmers included stock-
Zimbabwe Association of Dairy feed shortages, high cost of drugs
Farmers (ZADF) chairperson and chemicals.
Kudzai Chirima told Standard- "We are looking at measures
business that prices offered by to try and mitigate milk short-
milk processors to farmers were age, but naturally as Zimbabwe
not viable. we have always imported milk be-
Some farmers have quit dairy cause our requirement is around
farming. 120 million litres per year and we
“We have a milk shortage in the produce about 80 to 85 million li-
country. Farmers realised that tres,” he said. “That's the gap that
it's not viable to produce milk at we are trying to close.”
the moment because of the pric- Farmers said they require for-
es that are being paid by proces- eign currency, vaccines, cleaning
sors,” Chirima said. detergents, semen for artificial in-
“The prices are ranging from semination and equipment.
$42 to $48 per litre, yet some are Confederation of Zimbabwe
selling at $157 while others at $127. Retailers president Denford
“They can't even pay the farm- Mutashu expressed dismay over
er who is producing, at least half the milk shortage, urging the gov-
of that. Stockfeed prices have also ernment to intervene.
gone up.” “Yes, I can confirm that there is
To produce a litre of milk, a widespread milk shortage in the
Chirima said farmers would re- country, rather with a fewer milk
quire about $57 as compared to suppliers struggling to meet the
the $42 or $48 which they are be- local demand and unfortunately it
ing paid. is happening at a time that we are
“We have engaged the proces- approaching winter where milk
sors and some of them have re- demand sometimes doubles,” he
sponded positively, they have in- said.
creased their prices to about $50,” “A lot of consumers are com-
he said. plaining bitterly.
“It’s still slightly lower. “It has also coincided with the
“What is happening is that schools reopening and that devel- Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu
farmers are not feeding their cows opment has got to be sorted out as
well because of the prices and soon as possible. policies more than five years after to limit quantities it may also be crease milk production by be-
cows are producing less milk.” “We also believe that it is always the policy was implemented suc- misinterpreted by the consum- tween 97 million and 100 million
Milk production declined by critical to be proactive as an econ- cessfully,” he said. ers and we begin to see some ten- litres per annum.
11,26% to 5,4 million litres in Feb- omy to meet such shortages by al- “The shortages are actually dencies of hoarding. Fortunate- Government and the Europe-
ruary this year. lowing imports. Right now, they worrisome and unfortunately, we ly, milk is a perishable product,” an Union have launched a US$45
Output declined by 4% in Janu- have also escalated the prices.” have not seen the government tak- Mutashu said. million Zimbabwe Agricultural
ary. Mutashu said the government ing action through the responsi- Dairy farmers are struggling Growth Programme fund which
“We were down by about 555 000 should do away with monopolistic ble ministries.” to access funding from banks be- is expected to boost the livestock
litres as at end of February and policies and allow retailers to im- He said the milk should be suf- cause of high interest rates. sector, maximise smallholder
we attribute that to low prices,” port milk. ficiently available and supplied Milk production has plummet- farmers’ profits and improve com-
Chirima said. “The dairy industry was given in quantities that the wholesalers ed from the 1990s peak of 260 mil- petitiveness on domestic and in-
“We have two farmers who have sufficient time to retool and take had ordered and the customers ac- lion litres per year to 79,89 million ternational markets.
closed saying it’s not viable to pro- the market by storm after the en- cessing the quantities that they which was achieved in 2019. At least 1 000 in-calf dairy heif-
duce milk.” actment of Statutory Instrument require. In 2018, milk output stood at 75,4 ers will be distributed to farm-
Despite these challenges, Chiri- 64 of 2015 and we should not be “Some shops are limiting quan- million litres. ers on a revolving basis under the
ma said farmers were targeting to talking about the protectionist tities and the moment you begin Government is targeting to in- programme.

RioZim gold output falls 27%

BY CHIEDZA KOWO from the nearby One Step Mine haul- rose by 4% to 580kg during the period exchange rate with a foreign currency rency required for the basic continua-
ing low grade ore to the Cam & Motor after management unveiled a strategy auction-determined rate towards the tion of operations.”
LOW ore grade at the Zimbabwe Stock plant for processing. to increase milling throughout. end of the first half, were welcome de- Covid-19 hit RioZim’s expansion
Exchange-listed gold producer RioZ- “This resulted in a drastic fall in gold But output at Dalny Mine plummet- velopments which had a positive im- plans, both for the BIOX plant, and for
im’s flagship unit Cam&Motor Mine saw production compared to the prior year ed by 46% to 198kg after the operation pact on the company in the second half its energy projects.
the firm’s total output tumble by 27% when the mine processed higher grade was hit by breakdowns in the milling of the year,” RioZim said. Plans to secure funding for the first
during the year ended December 31, ore from its Cam pits,” RioZim said in a section of its ageing plant. It joined several firms that have said phase of the 2 800-megawatt (MW)
2020, said the firm on Friday. commentary to the financial statements. Dalny is one of Zimbabwe’s oldest the foreign currency auction system Sengwa power project “were signifi-
RioZim said breakdowns at Dalny It said low ore grades were offset by gold mines. had saved their operations from the cantly hampered by the uncertainties
Mine, one of its key operations, also higher gold prices during 2020. On the regulatory side, the foreign second half of 2020. presented by the Covid-19 pandemic”.
contributed to the slowdown. Gold prices averaged US$1 765 currency auction system brought some But at the beginning of the year, the The company is progressing with se-
Gold output declined to 1, 21 tonnes per once (oz) during the review peri- relief, but gains were reversed by tight- Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe started giv- lecting an external power contractor for
during the review period from 166 od, which was 27% higher than 2019’s er export retention requirements an- ing exporters just 60% of their earn- the 178MW solar projects for its mines,
tonnes in 2019. US$1 395/oz. nounced this year. ings, which, RioZim says “has left the and is waiting for finalisation of power
“Throughout the current year, the The company swung to a net profit “The review upwards by the central company in an extremely challenging purchase agreements with the Zimba-
group’s flagship operation Cam & Mo- for the year from a loss in 2019. bank of the gold retention to 70%, cou- position arising out of the markedly re- bwe Electricity Transmission and Distri-
tor Mine carried out mining activities The firm said output at Renco Mine pled with the replacement of the fixed duced amount of requisite foreign cur- bution Company.
20 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021
Business

BRIEFS Listed companies defy

More money poured into stocks
LONDON — Equity funds have attracted more than
half a trillion dollars in the past five months, exceeding
inflows recorded over the previous 12 years, according
crisis, pay out dividends
to data from BofA, which has likened the stampede to BY BUSINESS WRITER cents per share by African Distillers for
a “melt-up” in markets. the half year ended December 31 2020.
The flows are also raising fears of a pullback from re- A SIGNIFICANT number of Zimbabwe Mobile phone giant Econet Wireless
cord highs, given valuations are at the highest since Stock Exchange (ZSE) listed companies Zimbabwe has declared an interim div-
the dotcom bubble of the late 1990s, with the S&P 500 have declared dividends in the past year, idend of 40 cents per share for the year
trading at nearly 22 times forward earnings. defying an economic crisis that contin- ending February 28 2021.
“Goldilocks and melt-up are popular terms this week ued in 2020, compounded by the Covid-19 The National Foods Limited board said
and we think that can be seen through market valu- pandemic, financial statements for the it had declared an interim dividend of
ation,” said Emmanuel Cau, head of European equity firms indicate. 803,27 cents per share payable in respect
strategy at Barclays. “We remain optimistic but there’s Zimbabwean firms have also been af- of all ordinary shares of the company
less upside left in our view.” fected by a dire foreign currency crisis, that will be payable to all the sharehold-
Deutsche Bank said this week it expects a 6% to exchange rate volatilities that only stabi- ers of the company registered at the close
10% pullback over the next three months as econom- lised in the second half of 2021 and high of business on April 9, 2021.
ic growth peaks. inflation. The most recent dividend payment fol-
It was followed by a massive $40 million bet in the Experts say the payouts demonstrated lows a trend that was reported through-
U.S. options market on Thursday that the Cboe Vola- Zimbabwean companies’ resilience against out 2020, which saw several firms paying
tility Index - often called Wall Street’s fear gauge - will the tough economic environment. shareholders despite the difficult year.
break above the 25 level and rise towards 40 by mid- Blue-chip counter Delta Corporation Zimbabwe’s largest financial services
July. —Reuters posted $1,1 billion profit for the half year group by asset base, CBZ Holdings, pro-
ended September 30, 2020, and declared posed the declaration of an interim div-
an interim dividend of $0,45 per share, idend of $350 million, or 67,05 cents per

China fines Alibaba $2,75 billion which was paid out on December 17, 2020.
Canaan Dube, the group’s chairman,
said the volumes were recovering and the
Canaan Dube

2021.
share, for the half year ended June 2020.
This was after the bank recorded a
handsome $1,8 billion profit in the period
board saw it fit to reward shareholders. He added that the shares of the compa- under review.
SHANGHAI/HONG KONG — China slapped a record 18 Significant volume recoveries were re- ny would be traded cum-dividend up to “This declaration translates to a
billion yuan ($2.75 billion) fine on Alibaba Group Hold- ported in several companies after the sec- the market day of April 13 2021 and ex- growth of 6 244,3% on the comparative
ing Ltd yesterday, after an anti-monopoly probe found ond half of 2020 on the back of improved dividend as from April 14 2021. 2019 interim dividend,” the bank’s chair-
the e-commerce giant had abused its dominant mar- access to foreign currency and the bene- He said the company’s share register man, Mark Holtzman, said.
ket position for several years. fits of a relatively stable exchange rate. would be closed for the period April 14 to Diversified concern Innscor Africa de-
The fine, about 4% of Alibaba’s 2019 domestic rev- “The company will continue to defend 17 2021. clared a final dividend of $1 per share,
enues, comes amid a crackdown on technology con- its capital base and achieve modest prof- Last month, the diversified blue chip payable in respect of all ordinary shares
glomerates and indicates China’s antitrust enforce- itability under the circumstances. Axia Corporation Limited said while it of the company, bringing the total divi-
ment on internet platforms has entered a new era after "However, all this is dependent on the was re-investing most of its free funds dend for the year to $1,14 in respect of the
years of laissez-faire approach. unknown and unprecedented Covid-19- into its bedding and lounge suite manu- financial year ended June 30 2020.
The Alibaba business empire has come under in- related risks and the resultant trading facturing businesses to significantly in- The group, which made a $3,6 billion
tense scrutiny in China since billionaire founder Jack environment,” Dube said in a statement crease the manufacturing capacity as a profit, also declared a final annual divi-
Ma’s stinging public criticism of the country’s regula- accompanying Delta’s financial results. way to meet available demand, it would dend totalling $28,2 million to the Inns-
tory system in October. Although agro-based firm TSL saw its be paying out a 24,5 cents dividend to cor Africa Employee Share Trust (Pri-
A month later, authorities scuttled a planned $37 profits dip by 37% to $378,4 million in the shareholders for the half year to Decem- vate) Limited.
billion IPO by Ant Group, Alibaba’s internet finance financial year ending October 31 2020— ber 31, 2020. “The Innscor Africa Employee Share
arm, which was set to be the world’s biggest ever. The from $709 million in 2019 – the group de- “The board has also declared an inter- Trust continues to support all qualify-
State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) an- clared a final dividend of $0,28 per share. im dividend totalling $6,2 million to the ing beneficiaries with both dividend flow
nounced its antitrust probe into the company in De- TSL company secretary James Mu- Axia Employee Share Trust (Private) and access to various loan schemes,” said
cember. —Reuters chando said the payment of the dividend Limited,” it said. Innscor chairman Addington Chinake.
would take place on or about April 30 This followed the declaration of 50 Several firms also declared dividends.

Boeing union to vote over strike

Washington — A union representing about 220
Boeing Company workers said on Friday that members
will vote today whether to authorise a strike after con-
Rabbit meat to hit local market
tract negotiations “have taken a turn for the worse.” BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
Teamsters Local 174, which represents workers in
transportation, warehousing, and logistics (TWL) and THERE is a potential uptake of 20 to 25
facilities and asset management in the Puget Sound tonnes of rabbit meat on the Zimbabwe-
area of Washington State, said in a statement Boeing’s an market every month, the Zimbabwe
management “is devoted to destroying all benefits and Commercial Rabbit Breeders Associa-
wages our members have earned.” tion (ZICORBA) has said, urging indus-
The employees support freight deliveries and dis- try players to ramp up production.
patch services. Rabbit is one of the healthiest, lean-
Boeing said Friday the company “continues to en- est, and most environmentally friendly
gage and negotiate in good faith to reach an agree- meats one can eat.
ment that works for all the company’s stakeholders — Compared to beef, pork, lamb, turkey,
employees, customers, the community and the union.” veal, and chicken, rabbit has the high-
—Reuters est percentage of protein, the lowest per-
centage of fat, and the fewest calories per
pound.

US oil prices edged lower ZICORBA president Regis Nyamakan-

ga said one of the challenges that had
held back the growth of the local rabbit
meat market was lack of consistent sup-
NEW YORK — Oil prices edged lower in rangebound ply.
trade on Friday on rising supplies from major produc- “There is a potential uptake of 20 to 25
ers and concerns over a mixed picture on the Covid-19 tonnes of rabbit meat on the Zimbabwe-
pandemic’s impact on fuel demand. an market every month, if we ramp up
Brent crude futures for June fell 16 cents, or 0.3%, rabbit production,” the ZICORBA boss
to $63,04 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) said.
crude for May was at $59,38, down 22 cents. Nyamakanga said ZICORBA was cur-
Both contracts are on track for a 2%-3% drop this rently exploring a number of export mar-
week but still far from a low of $60,47 hit two weeks kets for rabbit meat.
ago. “We will soon formally launch rabbit
Downward pressure has been exerted by the deci- meat on the local market, following suc-
sion of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting cessful trial runs during the month of
Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known as OPEC+, to in- March,” he said.
crease supplies by two million barrels per day between “Our target is to go full throttle in Local farmers are exploring a number of export markets for rabbit meat
May and July. April 2021.”
“Favourable oil demand prospects are being large- Nyamakanga added that securing a ZICORBA last July that we meant busi- would be processed at an approved and
ly offset by the expected increase in OPEC + produc- long-term market for rabbit meat had ness and that all the challenges facing certified abattoir.
tion that could be approximating two million barrels been top on the agenda of the association the rabbit industry for many years would Zimbabwe’s first export-approved abat-
per day by the end of July,” said Jim Ritterbusch, presi- since 2020. be tackled. toir, with a capacity to process one tonne
dent of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois. “We are excited to have found a market “That is what we are doing.” of rabbit meat per day, will be commis-
—Reuters for our farmers, something that has been Nyamakanga said that the condition sioned in Harare soon, opening the flood-
a mirage for many years,” he said. agreed to with leading retail chains was gates for trading of rabbit meat in the
“We made a promise when we launched that all rabbit meat to be sold to them country, he said.
 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021 21

Business

Unit trusts outpace ZSE

BY CHIEDZA KOWO 90,15% in the comparable period.
“On the other hand, the money market funds of-
UNIT trust funds outperformed the Zimbabwe fered yields ranging between 3% and 46%, which
Stock Exchange (ZSE)’s All Share Index during remain below inflation,” said the report.
the first quarter of this year, according to a report “However, should inflation continue on a down-
by the Securities and Exchange Commission of ward trend, it is possible that fixed income funds
Zimbabwe (SECZ). may also start offering positive real returns in
Unit trusts are investment schemes that pool due course.
funds from different investors and invest accord- “Even on a monthly basis, most equity funds
ing to pre-defined objectives set out in the pro- outperformed inflation and the ZSE performance
spectus for the fund. in March, an indication of good stock selection by
The underlying investments can be in fixed in- fund managers.
come instruments, listed equities, property or “On average the equities funds recorded a posi-
other alternative investments. tive performance of 13,73% in March 2021 against
“The latest edition of the GroWealth Unit Trusts the ZSE All Share Index performance of 8,05%
Performance Survey shows that most unit trust and inflation at 2,26% in the month.
funds outpaced the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange All “To give investors choices in the multi-currency
Share Index and inflation in the first quarter end- environment, some fund managers have recent-
ed 31 March 2021,” SECZ said. ly started foreign currency-denominated (United
“This is a positive outcome for unit trust inves- States dollar) unit trust funds to cater for those
tors as they enjoyed positive real returns above investors with hard currency or nostro balances.
inflation, which was on a downward trend during “This widens the available options in the mar- Unit trust funds outperformed the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange's All Share Index during the first
the period under review, thanks to the stability on ket,” SECZ added. quarter of this year
the exchange rate.
“The performance was driven by a bullish trend
on the ZSE, which was up 70,27% for the first three
months of the year.
“Fund managers who had superior stock-pick-
ing ability surpassed this average growth on the
ZSE.”
The survey showed returns from unit trust
funds invested in listed equities growing between
65% and 104,71% during the first quarter, said the
report.
It said balanced funds, the fund that can invest
in both listed equities and fixed income securi-
ties, saw their returns range between 49,91% and

AMA introduces online

permit issuing system
BY BUSINESS WRITER

THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has

launched an online permit application system, which al-
lows customers to apply and receive electronic permits
from anywhere.
The firm said last that the launch was a culmination of
ongoing transformation from being a collector of levies
to a driver of innovation within the agricultural sector,
which started last year.
The development confirms AMA's new orientation to-
wards innovation and investing in creation of platforms
that facilitate ease of doing business to stakeholders.
AMA said last week that through innovations like the
app, the authority would strengthen service to stake-
holders and help them face challenging situations like
those brought about by Covid-19.
CEO Clever Isaya (pictured above) said the creation
of an online permit application system aligned with the
government's modernisation thrust would be instru-
mental towards achieving Vision 2030.
"We are committed to helping our stakeholders with
digital solutions so that they are successful in their agri-
cultural endeavours,” he said.
“Our goal is to accelerate the growth of the agricul-
ture sector and help it thrive by delivering value to our
stakeholders and being responsive to problems bedevil-
ling agric-markets as spelled in the Agriculture and Food
Systems Transformation Strategy.”
Accessible through the AMA website, the system is
linked to relevant government departments and agen-
cies for verification and security purposes, he said.
He said the ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisher-
ies, Water and Rural Resettlement had been allocated
a unique link to access the platform and check validity
for all issued permits against issued customers' permit
numbers.
He said AMA had a packed programme of action that
would see the rolling-out of several tech solutions this
year to enable creation of new markets, orderly market-
ing of agricultural products and enhancement of pro-
ductivity in contribution to the attainment of a middle-
income economy by 2030.
22 The Standard April 11 to 18 2021
Business

Advantages of dispute resolution in CAS

arbitration insights
WITH JACOB MUTEVEDZI
THE Court of Arbitration for based in different jurisdictions,
Sport (CAS) was established for numerous problems arise. The
the purpose of resolving sports party seeking relief has to deter-
disputes “within the family of mine, which court has jurisdic-
sport”. It is a global and non-gov- tion to hear the matter and there-
ernmental institution which pro- after, grapple with complex ques-
vides extra-judicial res- tions relating to the ap-
olution of sports dis- plicable law. Further,
putes based in Laus- the foreign litigant
anne, Switzerland. must contend with
CAS was found the use of a for-
in 1984 by a eign court lan-
Spanish sports guage and an al-
administrator ien court proce-
and then pres- dure.
ident of the CAS arbitra-
International tion removes
Olympic Com- many of these
mittee (IOC), obstacles in the The Court of Arbitration for Sport headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland
Juan Antonio following man-
Samaranch (pic- ner: i) the CAS national agreements that enjoin alities often guarantee the swift The CAS ad hoc division is able
tured), and Keba provides a single most countries to recognise and and effective settlement of dis- to both constitute a panel and de-
Mbaye, an Interna- jurisdiction; ii) the enforce arbitral awards. putes because their decisions are liver a final decision within 24
tional Olympic Com- parties are free to elect CAS is tailor-made to resolve respected by the parties involved. hours. Talk of performance-en-
mittee member and Sen- the applicable law; iii) the sports-related disputes Generally, such experts also ren- hanced justice!
egalese court judge. procedure is regulated by a uni- The settlement of sports-related der solutions that are adapted to It is a court of single instance
This article outlines the numer- versally applicable international disputes requires specific exper- the sporting context. Invariably, most countries have
ous advantages which this high- code of sports-related arbitration; tise which most ordinary court Simple and versatile numerous levels of jurisdiction.
ly specialised forum confers on iv) except in special instances, the judges may not have. At the CAS, Unlike the courts which are For instance, actions are institut-
those who submit their disputes official court languages are Eng- arbitrators are selected from a usually bogged down by com- ed in the court of first instance.
to it. lish and French and; iv) arbitra- rich list of individuals appointed plex and rigid rules of procedure Thereafter, the disgruntled lit-
Suitable for resolving interna- tion awards wield better interna- because of their mastery and spe- and evidence, the CAS’ procedur- igant is entitled to appeal to a
tional disputes tional effectiveness than ordinary cialised knowledge of issues con- al rules are simple and flexible. court of appeal. In the final in-
When parties to a dispute are court rulings because of inter- nected with sports. Such person- These rules are tailor-made to stance, a litigant can approach a
make the CAS readily accessible. constitutional court. This process
An applicant can institute action can drag on for years. Sporting ca-
by way of a simple application in reers can even end before parties
which they are required to briefly exhaust all these judicial reme-
set out reasons. Appellants mere- dies and the decision becomes fi-
ly have to file a simple statement nal. Awards in the CAS are imme-
of appeal in support of which diately final and enforceable. The
they must subsequently provide applicable rules afford parties re-
reasons. A respondent is expected stricted possibilities of appeal.
to do no more than explain his po- Confidential and private
sition in writing. Thereafter, the Court records are ordinarily ac-
parties are summoned to attend cessible to the public and anybody
an oral hearing where evidence can walk into the gallery to attend
is heard from witnesses and ex- a hearing. CAS arbitration is pri-
perts and counsel are heard in ar- vate and is convened far from the
gument. madding crowd. In principle, the
The parties are at liberty to se- CAS hearings are not public and
lect their preferred arbitrators they are shielded from the prying
from a panel published by the eyes of the public and the media.
ICAS. As previously mentioned, Copies of the awards are only fur-
the use of English and French nished to the parties. This confi-
makes it convenient for most par- dentiality safeguards the privacy
ties. However, the parties have the of all the parties involved and en-
latitude to agree to the use of any courages amicable settlements.
other language. This flexibility Affordable
dispenses with the various prob- One of the foremost objectives
lems associated with translation. of the CAS is to provide the sport-
Translation increases costs and ing fraternity with swift but af-
slows down proceedings. fordable dispute resolution. Un-
Moreover, parties may appear in der the ordinary arbitration pro-
person before the CAS or be repre- cedure, the parties are responsi-
sented by a person of their choice. ble for payment of the fees and
This representative does not nec- expenses of the arbitrators. These
essarily need to be a lawyer. Law- fees and expenses are calculat-
yers are notorious for complicat- ed in accordance with the CAS
ing simple matters. schedule. The parties are also li-
Quick resolution able for a share of the CAS costs
The need for speed in the resolu- and the costs of witnesses, ex-
tion of disputes is more pressing perts and interpreters. In the ap-
in the sports world than anywhere peals procedure, however, CAS it-
else. The reasons are self-evident. self pays the fees and expenses of
Sports careers are relatively short the arbitrators and the CAS costs.
and it is only fair that decisions Conclusion
be rendered while the athlete is Over the years, CAS has gained
still in peak condition. Similarly, the acceptance and confidence of
an athlete may need to know the the global sporting fraternity and
outcome of a dispute to enable is presently the forum of last in-
them to participate in an upcom- stance for the determination of
ing event. They clearly cannot af- appeals brought by parties in-
ford to await. Similarly, sports fed- volved in a wide range of sporting
erations must be able to know the disputes.
result of the dispute as quickly as
possible to enable them to adjust  Jacob Mutevedzi is a com-
or amend their rules without de- mercial lawyer and arbitration
lay, if necessary. practitioner. He can be con-
The procedural rules enjoin ar- tacted on jmutevedzi@gmail.
bitrators to deliver their ruling com, on Twitter @jmutevedzi_
on appeal matters within four ADR and on +263775987784. He
months from filing of the appeal. writes in his personal capacity.
April 11 to 17 2021

Female boxer
Madondo reflects
on journey
Forbes ranks Dewji,
Motsepe in annual world
billionaires list
Page 24

Italy boost for Zim

marathon runners
Page 25

Floyd Mayweather and

partner reveal
business investments
Page 26
SH24 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021

Rugby

Female boxer Madondo

reflects on journey
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE an can make a career out of boxing. A lot of times
people laugh at me saying fighting is for men but, for
Upcoming female boxing star Revai "Black Jag- a sportsperson who understands where I want to go
uar" Madondo is set to challenge for the World Box- I refuse to be discouraged by negative comments,”
ing Federation (WBF) flyweight title and also fight Madondo said.
for the All-Africa WABA title this year alone. Boroma is a renowned coach, referee and adminis-
Things are beginning to look up for the 21-year-old trator in local boxing.
pugilist from Shurugwi who would love to emulate As a young girl at Chironde Primary School, Ma-
iconic Zimbabwean boxer Charles Manyuchi by win- dondo was not known for fighting and only fought to
ning multiple titles in her career. defend herself.
After all, she remembers a time when she would While she was not the smartest in class, she reck-
hear about Manyuchi’s achievements on the radio ons she was better known by the teachers for being
and it also made her dream. quiet and well-mannered.
Madondo’s WBF fight with Argentinian boxer Ma- When she makes it big in boxing Madondo has a
riela Ribera Valverde is, likely to be staged in Harare buring desire to give back to the community that
this July, but the dates are yet to be finalised while brought her up.
she is set to take part at the Tanganyika Trail Boxing “Of course, everybody wants to win world titles
Bonanza in Tanzania in September. but one thing in my heart when I become famous
She will be gunning for a WABA title in Tanzania. is to be able to give back to the community where I
But for Madondo it has not been an easy journey. grew up in Shurugwi especially at the school that I
“My desire is to win titles and have multiple belts went to. I would love to establish a project that uplifts
at the same time like (Charles) Manyuchi. I used to other kids so that they can follow my footsteps. That
hear a lot about his achievements on the radio back is my wish,” she said.
in the day in Shurugwi and I would be challenged to Madondo also reflected on the upcoming title
want to emulate him. I hope I will be able to achieve fights.
the success he had or do even better,” Madondo told “It’s like a dream come true to have such big fights
The Sports Hub. for a boxer. It shows how far I have come. I promise
Madondo, whose career began in Shurugwi as an to do my best in the upcoming fights. My heart is tell-
amateur, is now under the wings of international ing me that I can bring the titles home,” the youthful
trainer, agent and matchmaker Clyde Musonda who boxer said.
owns Deltaforce Boxing Academy. However, with boxing bouts far apart, Madondo
In seven bouts so far, Madondo has won three, has had to find other ways to eke out a living.
drawn two and lost two. “I am an informal trader. I sell things in the streets,
She reflects on how her journey began and the that's how I make a living. That is how I can pay for
challenges she has faced. my rentals and feed myself when I do not have fights.
“I used to be good at running when I was at school. I just look for things that are in demand at the time—
I then had to leave athletics because my parents it could be footwear, clothes and kitchenware,” she
didn’t like it. My sister Sarudzai Boroma urged me said.
to try boxing and I fell in love with the sport. Madondo’s trainer Musonda believes the boxer is
“It all started in 2010 when my sister (Boroma) in- destined for the top.
troduced me to boxing. She always encouraged me to “It’s our third year working with Revai and she
continue in the sport even when things were difficult has a bright future in boxing especially because of
and here I am still fighting on. her discipline and work ethic. I see a world champi-
“It’s hard when you are a woman who is a boxer on in her and it's just a matter of time,” Musonda Revai ‘Black Jaguar’ Madondo
because people don’t really understand that a wom- said.

Forbes ranks Dewji, Motsepe in annual world billionaires list

The two are among the most wealthy in- not lost a single game.
dividuals in Africa who are currently en- Wekundu wa Msimbazi have also made
gaged in football their targets in the Africa club's premier
Caf president Patrice Motsepe and Sim- competition known. As they have already
ba SC's bankroller Mohamed Dewji have qualified for the quarter-finals, the Tanza-
been listed among the richest persons in nian giantwwwwws are now targeting to
Africa in the Forbes 35th annual World’s reach the penultimate stage.
Billionaires' list. Apart from the continental targets, Sim-
New Caf chief Motsepe, who was elected ba have been dominant in the local front
unopposed to take the mantle from Ahmad having been Mainland Premier League
Ahmad, ranks above Dewji as he is in posi- champions for the last three seasons. In-
tion nine with a fortune worth $3 billion. deed, they lifted the league title, the FA Cup
Dewji, a passionate football lover who and the Community Shield in the 2019/20
is understood to have invested billions in season.
Wekundu wa Msimbazi, is the only East Af- Apart from the investment in the playing
rican to have made it into the latest list. unit, the Msimbazi giants built a modern
Forbes has listed Dewji's fortunes as training ground in Bunju, Dar es Salaam.
standing at $1.6 billion above Youssef Man- When Dewji made a move to acquire the
sour of Egypt at $1.5 billion . Othman Ben- club's majority stake four years ago, he stat-
jeloun of Morocco with a fortune of $1.3 ed why there was a need to have the giants
billion is 15th while South Africa's Michiel compete at a higher level in the country.
Le Roux stands in 16th position with wealth “Simba fans need to see their club win-
worth $1.2b. ning top honours and it is important that
Zimbabwe's Strive Masiyiwa and Yaseen we recruit top-quality players, hire out-
Mansour of Egypt are 17th and 18th respec- standing coaches and if we set aside 4bn/-
tively with wealth worth of $1.2 billion and per season, we will certainly be an edge
$1.1 billion respectively. above our competitors - Young Africans
Under Dewji, Simba have been able to and Azam FC," stated the investor then .
sign key players assembled to pursue their "I want to see Simba win the Caf Cham-
Caf Champions League dream. pions League title. Our club is not supposed
After faltering at the preliminary stage to be where it is at the moment, running
in the 2019/20 season, the investor pursued four seasons without winning the league ti-
key players like Bernard Morrison, Joash tle is unacceptable."
Onyango, Perfect Chikwende, Taddeo Since his takeover, Wekundu wa Msimba-
Lwanga, Larry Bwalya, Chris Mugalu and zi have not experienced financial difficul-
Peter Muduhwa in an effort to strengthen ties as was the case before his arrival.
the team. Currently, with three games in hand,
Currently, Simba top Group A of the they are standing second to archrivals Yan-
Caf president Patrice Tlhopane-Motsepe- Champions League — with 13 points — af- ga in the Mainland Premier League chart.
ter picking four wins and a draw and have — Goal.com
 The Standard April 11 to 17 2021 SH25

Rugby

Italy
boost
for Zim
marathon
runners Four Zimbabwean athletes with ambasador Carlo Perrotta

BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE

Four Zimbabwe marathon runners will bid to

qualify for the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Games in Sienna, Italy, this morning after getting
assistance from the Italian Athletics Federation to
be part of the first edition of the Tuscany Camp
Marathon.
Munyaradzi Jari, Ngonidzashe Ncube, Isaac
Mpofu and Fortunate Chidzivo left the country on
Thursday for the European Olympic Marathon
Qualification Race, also known as the Xiamen Mar-
athon, and Tuscany Camp Global Elite Race.
South African coach Craig Fry, who works with
Jari, Mpofu and Ncube, was also part of the dele-
gation
The four will be looking to get the qualifying
times for the global games at the Tuscany Camp
Marathon with the qualifying period for the mara-
thon expected to close on May 31.
The Italian embassy in Zimbabwe, which wished
the athletes well, revealed that the marathon run-
ners got assistance from the Italian Athletics Fed-
eration to be part of the event.
“The Italian Athletics Federation invited the Na-
tional Athletics Association of Zimbabwe to send
four athletes —three men and one lady—for the
Tuscany Marathon Camp which is an Olympics
qualification event,” cultural attache at the Italian
embassy in Zimbabwe Massimo Amadeo said.
“The Italian Athletics Federation also assisted
the athletes with air tickets, food, health insurance
and accommodation.
"We are happy that Zimbabwe is participating at
this event. The ambassador Carlo Perrotta met the
athletes and wished them well,” he added.
Perotta met the athletes on April 1 when they col-
lected their visas for the trip.
The race comes as a relief for the athletes since
competitions have been limited due to the pandem-
ic.
Massimo said Italy and Zimbabwe a history of
collaborating with each other in many areas other
than sport.
The Olympics qualifying time for men is 2 hours
11 minutes 30 seconds, while women have to com-
plete the race inside 2 hours 29 minutes 30 seconds
to make the trip to Tokyo.
Top marathon runners from across the globe
will be taking part at the European Olympic Mara-
thon Qualification Race. Among them are Ethiopi-
an Leul, Marius Kipserem from Kenya and Yemane
Tsegay (Ethiopia) who have recorded times under 2
hour 5 minutes before, in the men's category.
Others to watch out for are Eritrean Ghirmay
Ghebreslassie, Marius Kimutai (Bahrain) Deribe
Robi (Ethiopia) and Kenyan Eric Kiptanui.
In the women's category, Chidzivo, who set a new
national record at the
World Half marathon
last October, in Po-
The Italian Athletics land posting a time of
Federation invited the 1 hour 10 minutes, will
National Athletics As- line up against some of
sociation of Zimbabwe the best marathon run-
to send four athletes— ners.
three men and one Notable names in-
lady —for the Tuscany clude the Ethiopian trio
Marathon Camp which of Tigist Abayechew,
is an Olympics qualifi- Kuftu Tahir and Rah-
cation event ma Tusa, while Ken-
yan Ruth Chebitok will
also be challenging for
honours.