Mr Gwasira

Felex Share Herald Reporter—
Zesa Holdings will fork out more than US$100 million to install 300 000 smart units as it moves to dump the two-year-old prepaid meter system. The power utility will also part with about US$7 million for Meter Data Management (MDM), a central system that enables remote communication with installed smart meters country wide.

Zesa said the prepaid metres, installed at a cost of US$60 million, were being tampered with by some consumers.
Some of the 400 000 prepaid meters installed to date could be modified to enable them to report to the central system, to curb abuse that has prejudiced the power utility of large sums of money.

Zesa officials described the installation of smart units as an investment that would see the power utility increasing its monthly revenue by almost 15 percent.

Zesa’s mean monthly revenue stands at US$50 million amid reports that it has been losing more than US$10 million monthly due to power theft and leakage through the prepaid meters.

A document prepared by Zesa engineers said the smart metering system, which comes barely two years after the power utility adopted the prepaid meter system is not only expensive but also technologically risky.

The current pre-paid meters cost about US$100 each, while a smart meter costs about US$350, meaning the power utility will use more than US$105 million on the project.

Prepaid meters would have cost US$35 million.
Installation of the smart meters is expected to be complete by year end and a pilot project is expected soon.
Fears are high that Zesa does not have sufficient resources to implement and sustain such a system.

The alleged faulty pre-paid meters being ditched were supplied by Solahart, ZTE, Finmark and Nyamazela of South Africa; who were contracted to supply 500 000 units.

The massive leaks of pre-paid meter units have seen more than 4 000 properties in Harare using electricity for free through by-passing the meter.
Zesa has to go to tender again for the supply of the additional 300 000 meters to meet the Zim-Asset target base of 800 000 units.

Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira confirmed the power utility was switching to smart meters saying the move was adopted because of changes in technology.

Energy experts said instead of migrating to smart meters, Zesa should have tightened specifications for pre-paid meters to reduce tampering and revenue loses.

Said Mr Gwasira: “A pilot project will be done to ensure that the system efficiently services customers once a full roll-out programme is executed. The decision to migrate to smart metering ties well with the ZETDC strategies of achieving energy efficiency, promotion of renewable energy alternatives and revenue protection.”

Responding on the high costs of installing the new system, Mr Gwasira said the move was a “business decision”.
“Engineering decisions are not based on price alone because sometimes what might appear expensive at face value may be the cheapest solution from a cost-benefit perspective,” he said.

“There is price convergence for the two metering technologies and the determining factor is not price anymore. The power utility made a thorough assessment of the whole project and a business decision was arrived at that initial capital outlay alone without factoring in the lifetime operational costs and benefits to the customers would not be in sync with the ideals of the organisation.”

Mr Gwasira said Zesa’s proposed financial model would ensure the project was self-financing.
“Under the arrangement, contractors will supply and install meters and will be paid from revenue collected from the meters installed over a 12-year period,” he said.

Zesa sources said while the prepaid meters could be modified to suit the specifications of a smart meter, most of the power utility’s engineers did not have the expertise to run a smart metering project.

“We are banking on one individual we have, Engineer Wilfred Shereni who has successfully rolled out and consulted on smart metering solutions in a number of countries.
“This means one person will be loaded with work,” the source said.

“The prepaid meter has a dormant smart metering functionality which can be activated by putting in a few additional components or gadgets.
“Just before roll out of those meters two years ago, changes were made to the initial specification used at tender to make the meters smart compliant without increasing the cost.”

Raymond Majongwe

Felex Share Herald Reporter—
Primary and secondary school teachers at public institutions of learning have vowed to defy a Government directive banning holiday and extra lessons. Teachers said they would continue the lessons until Government paid them salaries reflective of the poverty datum line amid concerns the teachers were deliberately relaxing during the term in order to fleece parents over the holidays.

Entry level teachers earn US$297 monthly (US$375 when the agreed increment is implemented), and charge anything between US$1 and US$5 per child weekly for extra lessons.

Teachers also say the additional lessons are necessary to prepare pupils for public exams.
Last week, the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry sent out a circular outlawing holiday and extra lessons.
Government said the 13 weeks allocated to every school term were adequate for pupils to complete their syllabuses.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora told The Herald that school administrators and teachers were using additional lessons to fleece parents.

He said there was no justification for additional lessons as there had been no disruption to lessons in recent years.
“Anyone caught doing the opposite risks being dismissed from the service,” Minister Dokora said.
“There is now little justification for one to apply for holiday lessons. The permanent secretary (Mrs Constance Chigwamba) asked school headmasters if the 13 weeks were not adequate in order for Government to increase the number of school days and all of them agreed that the days were adequate.

“This means that no one should hold any extra holiday lesson because the school curriculum is designed to transact in those 13 weeks.”
Secondary schools normally charge up to US$5 per subject for holiday lessons, with extra lessons going for between US$1 and US$2 an hour paid directly to the teacher.

On average primary school pupils are charged about US$3 every week.
Minister Dokora said schools that needed to conduct extra lessons should seek permission from the ministry.
“If there are extreme cases where lessons would have been disrupted, then we have no option except to grant them permission to do so. A good example is that of pupils affected by the Tokwe-Mukosi (flood) disaster. They have a genuine case and their situation warrants extra lessons during holidays,” he said.

Teachers’ unions labelled Government’s directive “insensitive”.
“That is unacceptable because teachers are trying to be innovative,” said Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe.

“It is either they live up to their pledge of paying us salaries that are in line with the Poverty Datum Line or we continue with the holiday and extra lessons. What the teachers simply need is money to look after their families, not these meaningless circulars that are far detached from the economic realities of these days.”

He said no child was forced to attend additional lessons.
“This is a facility benefiting those in need and it will be an arrangement between the parent and the teacher,” Mr Majongwe said. “It is also these extra lessons that have seen us maintaining the high literacy rate that we boast of today.”

Zimbabwe Teachers Association president Mr Richard Gundane said Government should not deny teachers the extra they were getting from the lessons.

“We will be giving a service and get paid for that,” he said. “This is a topical issue and the circular by Government has seen an outcry in most schools. It will be difficult for our members to abandon those classes just like that.”

While people generally agree that civil servants in general deserve to earn more than they presently do, there are fears that teachers deliberately underperfom so that pupils are forced to pay them for additional lessons.

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter—
Zimbabwe’s fuel consumption has more than doubled in the past three years although the country’s major industries are sneezing. Figures compiled by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority show that consumption of diesel and petrol increased from 556 097 223 litres in 2009 to about 1 381 434 530 litres in 2013.

The sharp increase gives credence to claims that several billions of US dollars are circulating in the informal sector.
It is believed that the informal sector is accounting for the greater chunk of fuel usage amid increased imports of second hand vehicles from Japan and the United Kingdom.

Zera chief executive Engineer Gloria Magombo last Friday told the media that there was “another economy” running parallel to the formal economy.

“There is an economy somewhere,” she said.
“Consumption cannot keep growing. The consumption of fuel is not even matching the growth of the rest of the economy. What it means is that there is an economy somewhere which is not part of the formal economy.”

Eng Magombo said mining and transport were the biggest consumers of fuel in the country.
On Thursday, Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operatives Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni told Parliamentarians that at least US$7,4 billion was circulating in the informal sector.

While the usage of diesel and petrol has increased, consumption of jet A1 declined dramatically over the same period. Zera said Jet A1 use decreased from 17 338 308 litres to 5 398 000 litres.

The decline is largely attributable to challenges being faced by the national carrier, Air Zimbabwe.
At one point the national alirline halted its operations due to viability challenges.

Currently Air Zimbabwe has less than five planes that are taking to the skies resulting in low uptake of jet A1.
Turning to energy production, Eng Magombo said Zera had licenced no less than 10 independent power producers which are undertaking 15 projects.
Of the 15 projects, she said only five were operational.

Eng Magombo said the biggest power projects took time to be operational. Such projects include a 600MW power station being promoted by Makomo Resources, and another of equal size as a joint venture between local investors and Chinese investors.

The other big electricity projects are Gokwe North and another 600MW megawatt power project being promoted by Essar Investments.
Eng Magombo said the development of such projects was in line with the implementation of Zim-Asset.

“If you look at Zim-Asset, power and energy are the key enablers for this economy to take off,” she said. “We are trying to move all the projects and we are happy that there is a lot of progress. Even some of the investors who were not interested in Zimbabwe are now coming.”
She said all the big projects were valued at above US$1 billion and as such could not be implemented over night.

“From the time we licence them, they need between three and four years to put the necessary documents together and to get that amount of money,” she said.
She said the World Bank had released almost US$2 million for the Batoka project.

Economists say the money Zimbabwe pumps out daily could be better used to capacitate local industry.

FOR THE GAME . . . Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa and his deputy Thabitha Kanengoni-Malinga share the front row with (from left) Sports Commission board vice-chairman, Edward Siwela, zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda, zifa president Cuthbert Dube and (standing) Zifa board members after their meeting in Harare yesterday

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
GOVERNMENT yesterday said the recent zifa elections did not pass the test to win public approval of the process and challenged the leadership to spruce the organisation’s battered image, dissolve its crippling debt and provide a conducive atmosphere to take the game to another level.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Andrew Langa, met with the new zifa board, led by its president Cuthbert Dube, in Harare yesterday and challenged them to come up with a new turnaround strategy to drive the game, saddled by a crippling debt and stalked by bad publicity that drives away sponsors, to new heights.

Langa also ordered the new zifa board to, as a matter of urgency, bring closure to the long-running Asiagate scam which has brought the country under the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

Dube won a second term to lead zifa after crushing his rivals Trevor David Carelse-Juul, Leslie Gwindi and Nigel Munyati but the polls, which also brought a new-look board that has a number of fresh faces who have promised to make a difference, was condemned in some quarters as having been held on an uneven playing field.

Langa and his deputy, Thabitha Kanengoni-Malinga, met the new zifa board in his boardroom in the capital at a meeting that was also attended by the Sports Commission representatives.

Most of the new board members, senior officials from the ministry and the Sports Commission director-general Charles Nhemachena attended the meeting where all the parties pledged to work together for the development of the game.

The minister congratulated Dube and the new board members on their election victories and immediately reminded them to get down to serious business since the national game was crying out for attention.

Dube reiterated his board’s commitment to grow the game from grassroots up to the senior level, including women’s football, but bemoaned the various challenges they face.

Langa said the zifa board should put behind them the controversies that have stalked the organisation in recent years and work closely with the Sports Commission and his ministry to try and take football in the country to another level.

Their immediate challenge should be to clean up the image of the association for the good of the game.
“First you need to improve the image of zifa as the lead agency for football in our country. As you are aware, the public perception of zifa leaves a lot to be desired,” said Langa.

“There is need to develop a strategy for building the credibility of zifa in managing the affairs of football.
“More recently, the zifa elections did not receive due public confidence. In this regard, it is important that we accept that the zifa stakeholders also have a duty to contribute to the success of football.

“We may have our differences as to who we prefer to be in leadership of the association but the bottom line is (whoever) is at the helm has the mandate to make our game indeed beautiful.

“To this end I call on the board to develop strategies to embrace football stakeholders to assist our national cause by adopting a positive attitude which will see everyone, individuals and institutions contributing solutions that our football needs rather than celebrating anything that goes wrong at 53 Livingstone Avenue.”

The minister also applauded the football association on how they have managed to keep their relations with fifa intact in light of the numerous challenges they have faced.

Langa was elated by the proposed construction of a new zifa office building under the auspices of the world football organisation and promised to approach the ministry of local government for the provision of suitable land.

zifa are currently sitting on a US$500 000 grant from fifa for the project.
Langa also pledged to approach the Ministry of Finance to consider tax incentives in the next budget for the corporates that invest in football.

However, the association’s crippling debts, which are now estimated to be hovering above US$5m, were cited as a cause for concern but the zifa board gave an assurance that the debt will be dissolved in the next four years.

Langa urged the association to adopt viable financial models and to seek corporate partners to ensure that they stay afloat.
“The new board must address financial matters plaguing the association. While I would like to applaud the previous board for bringing the audit to zifa’s financial statements up to date, I understand that several audits were qualified and require further attention,” said Langa.

“Furthermore, zifa is heavily burdened with debt that this new board must address with utmost priority. I urge you to proceed to find strategies for addressing this debt in order to secure credibility and transparency especially amongst stakeholders.

“Naturally an improved financial status will attract potential partners to support football.”
As a matter of urgency, the minister said, zifa should also seek to put to finality the Asiagate saga.

He said government will assist zifa wherever possible.
The association’s spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela described the meeting as fruitful.

During the meeting, the board highlighted to the minister that it was committed to serve football in respect of the general administration, creating pathway for development, ensuring that the hanging debts are cleared within the next four years and the creation of reliable revenue streams.

The board also asked the government to intervene to force for a downward reviewing of levies which have turned out to be a rip-off to clubs and national teams.

Dube expressed confidence and optimism on his new term and pledged to establish a vibrant commercial arm to finance the operations of the association through such activities as mining, farming and retailing.

“Also discussed was the issue of competitions and the board told the minister that they are dedicated to ensure successful competitions for youth, women and all football portfolios. The board expressed their uttermost desire to organise a successful FC Cup this year.

“All zifa accounts for the past four years were audited and as per regulations they will be presented to the assembly for ratification.
“It is also significant to note that the issue of the new headquarters was discussed and both the minister and the president agreed that land be secured this month,” said Gwesela.

FLASHBACK . . . President Mugabe (then Prime Minister) is seen here with fellow Frontline States leaders (from left) Sam Nujoma (Namibia), Samora Machel (Mozambique) and Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia). The then Zambian President insists UNIP’s support for for the Zimbabwe liberation struggle was non-partisan

There were claims that Zambia had an uneasy relationship with Zanu-PF when the latter was still a liberation movement, although it supported the struggle in Zimbabwe generally and, in particular, the cause of Zapu, led by Cde Joshua Nkomo. In an interview with The Herald on April 8, 1980, though, Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda denied favouring any side, but the people.

Q: Rhodesia becomes the independent Republic of Zimbabwe this month. What, Your Excellency, does this represent, politically, for Africa, the Frontline States and for Zambia?

KK: The first thing I said at a Press conference here on the morning that followed the announcement of the election results in Zimbabwe was that if I could dance, I would have been on my feet. That just about sums up my reaction to this great event. After the slave trade which took millions of the black men to foreign countries, followed by the period of colonisation, which again had its own toll, the black man on the continent has been fighting for the restoration of his elementary rights. This struggle too has taken its great toll and, therefore, with this background I have given the independence of Zimbabwe that is the transfer of power from the colonialists and their puppets to the people themselves, is certainly an event of the greatest significance in the annals of history, not only for this region but for the entire continent.
The significance of this victory to Africa, Zambia in particular, is that for us it means we can now breathe some fresh air politically. For the people of South Africa and Namibia this is a source of great encouragement. When I say that we rejoice in this victory, we are also thinking of the opportunity to develop for the first time economically, politically, socially and culturally, scientifically, technologically and indeed in the field of defence and security – what we under humanism call the five main areas of human endeavour.

Q: What lesson is to be learnt from the Zimbabwe experience?
KK: The greatest lesson to be learnt from this is that no matter how powerful an oppressor might appear, at any given time anywhere in the world, he cannot continue to suppress the soul which God put in man.

Q: Your Excellency, there is a belief that Zambia supported the Zimbabwe struggle generally and Mr Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu in particular. In view of this, how do you take the outcome of the British-supervised election which resulted in the victory of Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF?
KK: I am glad you ask this question, because there is a mistaken view in some parts of the world that we supported individuals in this struggle. Let me assure you that whatever we have done here in Zambia under the leadership of the United National Independence Party has been true to the cause of liberation continent- wide and beyond that. Wherever we have supported the liberation struggle, we have supported that struggle as a matter of deep-rooted principle.

When ZANU started fighting they started fighting from Zambian soil. They were fighting from here for a long time and certain difficulties did arise within ZANU, not between ZANU and UNIP, its government and people, but within ZANU itself. Happily these were ironed out, but in the process of ironing these out some of the cadres moved to Mozambique which was then independent. That was not because UNIP and its government chased Zanu from Zambia and history shows that.

Indeed, when we started talking to the rebels and South Africans we demanded the release of the leaders who were detained and it should be remembered that when we demanded the release of the leaders, we demanded the Zapu and ZANU leaders.

At no time have we done anything here, and I say this in the name of God, to discriminate against Zanu at all. Indeed, let it be said quite clearly that there were two fronts. The creation of the Patriotic Front was done here on Zambian soil. I was given the task of getting the OAU to recognise the Patriotic Front at the Gabon summit. It was a tough job, but still we managed to pilot that through and Africa accepted the Patriotic Front as the only fighting force. We did not say ZANU or Zapu or separate the fight.

Even when some of our colleagues in ZANU tried to denounce us and call us all sorts of names we did not, it will be recalled, reply at all because we knew that the truth would be known. Everything we did was above board and indeed we helped ZANU in a small way here and there in terms of material assistance. What we gave to Zanu-PF is what we gave to Zapu. I am talking now about the Geneva conference to which we contributed financially and the London conference. Really our impartiality has known no bounds at all.

Another point is that we made it very clear to Comrade Joshua Nkomo, and he will tell you this – he is an honest man, long before it was known who was going to win, even long before we knew there were going to be elections, that we don’t support individuals, we support the cause of Zimbabwe. He knows this. He has always known this and I think he has respected us for it. So when we say we rejoice we mean that. We rejoice fully and whole heartedly.

The fact that the people of Zimbabwe decided in favour of Comrade Mugabe to lead them at this juncture does not nullify the fact that there were two fronts and both fronts fought hard to attain this independence. So, really, for us nothing has gone wrong in this. Everything has gone right because the people have decided and we respect their decision.

Q: Your Excellency, can you describe the nature of relations between the Zambian government and UNIP on the one hand and the Zimbabwe government and Zanu-PF on the other?
KK: Really they are very warm indeed. I have no anxiety about anything. Comrade Mugabe, the Prime Minister, was here a few days ago and we had very useful discussions, extremely useful and very cordial. The wonderful things he said about Zambia’s contribution we know he meant.

He is an honest man. I believe that whether Zimbabwe was going to be in the hands of Robert Mugabe or Joshua Nkomo, we in Zambia would be very happy. We are very happy. Both are honest men. They are both patriots of Africa – pan-Africanists.
In fact, we in Zambia have told Comrade Mugabe that he can rely on Zambia 24 hours a day. What the Zambian people have that the people of Zimbabwe might ask them to help with we will give.

Q: Now that peace has been established in Rhodesia, what would you, as an elder statesman of Africa, consider the most important considerations for the Prime Minister, Mr Mugabe, the Zapu leader, Mr Nkomo, the Rhodesian Front president, Mr Smith, and the military leaders?
KK: I can only say from long experience  – unity. If I can begin with Ian Smith, I assume that in his mistaken view, he decided to participate in politics because of his love for the people, but in his case he limited the meaning of people to whites. For the Prime Minister and Comrade Joshua Nkomo it was for their love of all people black, white, yellow and brown. I know that because I know both of them very well. That love which they have for all people must continue to be the basis for their actions. That love which has sent them to prisons, to long terms of detention must be the guiding line. Without that there is no hope for Zimbabwe.
To Ian Smith, I say, outgrow that selfish, racial approach and put man, regardless of colour, tribe or anything else, at the centre of things. Once he has done that maybe his many unpardonable sins may be, not forgotten, but forgiven.
Love and unity in the hearts of all leaders and all the people of Zimbabwe is what we need all of us.

Q: Would Zambia, now that genuine majority rule has been achieved in Zimbabwe, consider at any time supporting any dissident group that may oppose the Government of Zimbabwe?
KK: The answer is a bold “No”. We will not do that.

Q: Turning to economic matters, Your Excellency, what has been the cost to Zambia of the Zimbabwe liberation war? How and when do you expect to restore the Zambian economy to stability?
KK: The United Nations put it at about K1 billion. When we think in terms of what we have not done which we should have done it’s incalculable. But whatever we have lost it was worth it. It was a price worth paying and we are proud to have paid it.

When we come to what we are going to do, we have for the first time now, a commission of planning of which am chairman – I have appointed myself chairman – because of the seriousness with which we view the whole process of developing ourselves. We are going to continue to develop our mines but emphasis will also be given to agriculture, to correct the present situation where we are only able to grow food as a result of good rain but when there is bad rainfall we are always in trouble as we are again this year. For three years now, 1978, 1979, and 1980, all these have been bad seasons.

So we intend to shift now and move towards getting two or three crops a year. We are thinking of technology in the field of irrigation and this, of course, needs a lot of capital. Perhaps I should add that we are going to use the present as the basis for our agricultural take-off.

Q: What economic advantages does Zambia expect to derive from Zimbabwe’s independence and what, Your Excellency, does Zimbabwe’s independence mean economically for Africa?
KK: For Zambia it means we will be able to get some of our raw materials for our factories more easily and more quickly, possibly in a better form than before. We are looking forward to more and more co-operation between Zambia and Zimbabwe in the economic field. For Africa what we began here a few days ago is a sign of what we expect of things to come and, therefore, as we meet at the Lagos conference, we will be strengthened by the birth of Zimbabwe. We are meeting this month to look at nothing but the economic development of Africa, and the birth of Zimbabwe with its strong economy is a booster to the continent.

Cde Mnangagwa

Midlands Correspondent
ZANU-PF has resolved bickering in its Midlands provincial executive by adhering to a recent Politburo directive to incorporate members erroneously excluded from the basket system used to elect executives. The decision was accepted at a meeting at the party’s convention centre in Gweru on Sunday. The Politburo said four members who had been wrongly included in the executive should be dropped and these are Cde Justin Mazambani, Cde Ernest Chipinda, Cde Plaxedes Maramwidze and Cde Majawa and in would come Cdes Tafanana Zhou, Chiratidzo Mabuwa, Freddy Moyo and Madonna Nyoni.

In an interview after the meeting, zanu-pf secretary for legal affairs Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa said, “I am happy that we have finally resolved the outstanding issues in the province that saw the province going for close to three months without an incumbent executive. This was caused by the issues that cropped in when the first executive was elected last year.

“I am pleased that (zanu-pf political commissar) Cde (Webster) Shamu put forward the resolutions of the Politburo which were received by party members in a harmonious manner. This is an indication that we will definitely make progress. “I have no doubt that as a province we are now going to move together and execute party programmes such as the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.”

Preparations for the 34th Independence Day celebrations are well on course at national, provincial and district levels, the Independence Organising Task Force Team has said. Zimbabwe celebrates its Independence on April 18. In an interview with ZBC News yesterday, deputy chair of the organising task force and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said, “Preparations are at an advanced stage and 63 buses have been hired to ferry people to various venues in all the 10 provinces.”

He said the celebrations would start with the annual Children’s Party on April 17 at Harare City Sports Centre, where President Mugabe would host young Zimbabweans from all provinces.

Dr Chombo called on Zimbabweans from all walks of life to converge at the National Sports Stadium and implored them not to wear party regalia on the big day itself.

He said Independence Day celebrations were a national event, which brought together Zimbabweans in the spirit of inclusivity and oneness. (ZBC/Herald Reporter).

Dr Parirenyatwa

Herald Reporter
Medical research experts have been challenged to come up with innovative strategies to improve the country’s healthcare sector. Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa told participants at the 20th University of Zimbabwe–University of California in San Francisco (UZ-UCSF) collaborative medical research day in Harare recently that he was convinced scientific research could contribute immensely to health and development.  “One of our priorities as a ministry now, is to look at ways of reducing the maternal mortality rate which is very high in the country,” he said. “Scientific researchers have a critical role to play in coming up with innovative strategies of addressing some the challenges facing the healthcare sector.” He added: “You can play a big role to improve personal and community health outcomes.”

Dr Parirenyatwa bemoaned poor funding for research. “This has forced researchers to leave the country and do multiple jobs to survive. The Government has no money but we need to look at ways of improving funding for the sector.”

Dr Parirenyatwa called for collaboration between researchers and Government. “The Health Ministry is not interacting with academic researchers enough. It’s interacting with NGOs only and this is really sad,” he said.

The annual medical research day was held to showcase new technologies and trends in medicine.

Edmund Kudzayi

Herald Reporter
ZIMPAPERS Group Chief Executive Mr Justin Mutasa has announced the appointment of Edmund Kudzayi as Editor of The Sunday Mail with effect from yesterday, April 7 2014. Kudzayi replaces Brezhnev Malaba, who has left The Sunday Mail to pursue other interests. He (Kudzayi) joins from sosimpledesigns.com, a software and new media company in the United Kingdom, where he was proprietor and served as the head of product design.

A media consultant with a strong technical background in software development and digital media, Kudzayi is expected to aggressively expand the Sunday Mail’s multi-media presence.

In an e-mailed statement to The Herald, Kudzayi welcomed his appointment saying: “The Sunday Mail is one of the strongest papers in the country. I am delighted to be joining their talented team and I am confident that we can build on its very strong legacy.”

Mr Mutasa thanked Malaba for his 16-year service to Zimpapers, part of which he spent as editor of Sunday News, then Chronicle and later The Sunday Mail, the country’s leading weekly paper.

He wished Kudzayi success in leading the country’s widely-read Sunday newspaper.
“We are confident that with his multi-media skills he (Kudzayi) will be able to take The Sunday Mail to a higher level,” Mr Mutasa said.
Kudzayi has also written for various publications.

VP Mujuru

Senior Reporter—
Amsterdam’s Ambassador in Harare Gera Sneller yesterday met Acting President Joice Mujuru to discuss a recently-brokered deal that will see Zimbabwe exporting fresh farm produce to Holland. Addressing journalists afterwards, Ambassador Sneller said Zimbabwean company Rollex Private Limited had opened a Dutch market for varieties of peas to mass chain, Alberts Hiyn Supermarket.

“We had a good discussion with the Acting President. I am with some businesspeople in the agriculture industry and we are using Zimbabwe to grow peas for export to The Netherlands.

“Our intention is to foster economic relations that will be good for Zimbabwe and The Netherlands. That will also create jobs and improve Zimbabwe’s economy.
“We are using Zimbabwe to grow peas for export into the European community.

“We are also an agricultural society and a number of Dutch businesspeople are in Zimbabwe growing flowers for the Dutch market,” she said.
Rollex executive chairman Mr Edwin Moyo said the company would start by exporting 800 tonnes of peas in the next four weeks.

“We are growing peas at our farms in Marondera and Mazowe and we will be selling the produce to Alberts Hiyn, which is the biggest supermarket chain in Holland,” he said.

Mr Moyo said Rollex was also exporting fruits and other vegetables to several countries, with South Africa being the main market for strawberries.
The deal came some five months after Ambassador Sneller met Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Prof Moyo

Herald Reporters—
Daily News group editor Stanley Gama and reporter Fungisai Kwaramba were yesterday picked up by the police for questioning in relation to a story published in January about businessman Mr Kamal Khalfan accusing him of shady dealings and being a homosexual. Gama and Kwaramba were questioned at Highlands Police Station after Mr Khalfan made a criminal defamation report against them.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi could not divulge further details.
“We confirm that Stanley Gama and Fungisai Kwaramba were picked up by police today (yesterday) in connection with criminal defamation allegations,” he said. “We have interviewed them and released them in connection with the ongoing investigations.”

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo said the arrest was unnecessary and individuals should not pursue “personal matters” through the courts.

Prof Moyo is on record saying criminal defamation laws breached the new Constitution.
Chapter 9:23 of Section 96 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act is due to be repealed as it has been found to be contrary to the Constitution.
Prof Moyo said his ministry reviewed the constitutionality of criminal defamation in terms the new Constitution and concluded there was no legal basis for retaining a law that was against progressive values rooted in the liberation struggle.

“To be honest with you, I hope the reports in question are not true because the reported action is not necessary at all and risks entangling the police in personal matters that are best left to the offended individuals to pursue in the courts through their own resources and on their own through civil litigation,” he said.

“As such, we believe we need to align the Criminal Law Code with the Constitution by removing criminal defamation from our statutes. Our ministry recently deployed an Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI), which is fighting criminal defamation among other enemies of our national development and advancement as an empowered society.”

Prof Moyo said there was “something medieval” about sending anyone to jail on the grounds that they had lied.
“While our much-respected police should indeed be left alone to get on with their work without hindrance, it cannot be right that their otherwise excellent work should include investigating whether so-and-so in the media has told a defamatory lie against so-and-so among the rich or influential in high society,” he said.

“It is worse when the matter is elevated to prosecution, as if we are not aware of the case backlog that is crippling our criminal justice system. And let’s face it, there’s something medieval about sending anyone to jail on grounds that they have told a lie.

“That is why criminal defamation or libel is no longer in the statute books of constitutional democracies such as ours.”
Sources close to investigations said the matter was in relation to a story published in the Daily News in January 2014, which said Mr Khalfan was in a bitter contest with his Omani compatriot Mr Thamer Al Shanfari over a German investor.

The paper reported that a series of e-mails between Mr Khalfan and Mr Dietrich Herzog revealed money laundering and accusations of gay activities.
The report dragged in the names of top Government officials.

Last month, Mr Khalfan sued the Daily News for US$10 million over some of the stories, with the newspaper responding by filing an appearance to defend.
Mr Khalfan said the Daily News had damaged his reputation by publishing the articles without giving him the right to respond.

Dr Olivia Muchena

Takunda Maodza Assistant News Editor—
A Government probe into the state of affairs at Hexco has confirmed that the officer running the national exams database is not qualified for the job, while several board members have no clue what their duties are. The Herald reported in February that Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Dr Washington Mbizvo approved the appointment of an automotive precision machinist to oversee the exams database, an IT function.

Higher Education Minister Dr Olivia Muchena subsequently appointed a six-member team to probe potential threats to Zimbabwe’s higher examinations system.
The team confirmed that Mr Francis Taivavashe — who was appointed by the then acting director for standards development and quality assurance Mr Joyce Mbudzi — with authority from Dr Mbizvo, had no IT qualification as required.

It also said some Higher Education Examinations Council board members did not know their responsibilities.
The Hexco board comprises polytechnic principals, the director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism, two private colleges’ representatives, two ex-officio members representing teachers colleges, and directors from the ministry as ex-officio members.

Not only was Mr Taivavashe found to be unqualified, but he also placed the credibility of national exams at risk because he carried the database around on flash drives.
He designed, installed, operationalised and individually managed the database of all testing of tertiary students in Zimbabwe and it is unclear who actually owns the system.

Because no one supervised him, he could do as he pleased with the exams database.
“Mr Taivavashe is a qualified automotive precision mechanist identified by the then acting director to develop the National Examinations Management Information System (NEMIS) software. However, he does not possess qualifications in IT but has experience gained through training and exposure at national, regional and global fora,” the team said.

NEMIS started operating in 2012 and has been used in three national exams.
Previously, ICT officers at the Higher Education Ministry and the Hexco secretariat head office in Harare managed the database.

The team recommended that the ministry “approach the Civil Service Commission to approve (an) IT post within Hexco to bring normalcy to the operations of Hexco and the ministry at large”.

They also confirmed, as reported by The Herald, that procurement of NEMIS did not go through the tender process.
“However, Mr Taivavashe was paid US$2 000 which was called a token of appreciation. This could either have prejudiced Mr Taivavashe or the Government,” reads the report.

The team said it was not provided with some of the information it needed to thoroughly conduct its probe.
“No design and operational manuals for NEMIS were availed to the task team therefore the task team could not determine ownership of the NEMIS.

“The director (of) standards development and quality assurance should have design and operational manuals in both soft and hard copies as a security and back-up measure. Design and operational manuals help with continuity.”

Their investigations show that Mr Taivavashe had sole privilege to monitor and upgrade the system.
“It is recommended that the ministry develops and implements a succession plan for continuity, to instil confidence in the National Examinations Management Information System. There must be an audit trail of Mr Taivavashe’s entry and exit from the system which currently is not monitored giving rise to speculation that he can tamper with the database without anyone knowing,” further reads the report.

It was also confirmed that Mr Taivavashe was moving around with exam materials on flash drives.
“The task team noted that Mr Taivavashe was observed to move around with flash disks, being tools of the trade in IT business, for the purpose of upgrading the system and attending to queries. The above necessitates excessive movement from region to region where NEMIS is installed,” says the report.

“The fact that the system was developed by one person who is the only one with the authority to give permissions and passwords to access the database puts the system at risk.”

On the Hexco board, the team concluded that some “board members were not well-versed with their roles in the board” and recommended training for them.

Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter—
GRANT Thornton Camelsa has been stopped from auditing Harare City Council’s books by the State Procurement Board after it emerged that its engagement could jeopardise the outcome and that the firm was taking too long to produce a report. Many had questioned the logic behind the city authorities engaging the chartered accountants who are the city’s traditional auditors, as that was akin to having the firm auditing itself.

Council officials were accused of attempting to hide corruption and mismanagement by failing to engage an independent firm to sift through its books.
The appointment of Camelsa followed revelations that most city deals, especially joint venture agreements, were riddled with corruption, while the city officials were being accused of mismanagement and taking home huge salaries at the expense of service delivery.

The SPB questioned the criteria used by the city to appoint the auditing firm after noting that the task it was to undertake required a company without prior links to the council.

Harare City Council audit committee chairperson Mr Panganayi Charumbira yesterday confirmed that Camelsa was no longer auditing the city’s books.
“The State Procurement Board questioned the chamber secretary (Mrs Josephine Ncube) on the grounds used to select the firm considering that they are the city’s traditional auditors.

“The chamber secretary has written back to SPB and we are now waiting for them to give us a nod to restart the exercise.”
Mr Charumbira said councillors feared that if there were any irregularities noted by Camelsa, the evidence would be swept under the carpet since it was taking too long for the audit to be conducted.”

These revelations are in contradiction with what Harare mayor Mr Bernard Manyenyeni said last month when he indicated that the audit was proceeding at a slower rate than expected.

Mr Manyenyeni said yesterday that the SPB wanted to review Camelsa’s appointment and approve forensic fees.
“I am not sure what they had done so far or until they had to stop, because of the sensitivity and the intended speed of execution, we cannot say much, he said.
“We expect the Comptroller and Auditor General to remove the red tape to allow the process to continue. The residents of Harare are waiting for answers. We all have the duty to meet that expectation.”

Councillors have in the past defended their decision to appoint Camelsa, saying they still believed in the firm’s independence and that going to tender would delay the audit.

The auditors are to audit city executives’ salaries and benefits as well as sales of commercial and residential stands to managers.
The investigations follow reports that the city’s 18 directors were gobbling over $500 000 in salaries monthly even as service delivery deteriorated.

There were also allegations that directors bought industrial and commercial stands, whose official prices ranged from $20 to $30 per square metre, for as little as $3 per square metre.

In addition, council could have lost up to $100 million through inflating prices of equipment in a $144,4 million loan agreement with a Chinese firm for refurbishment of water infrastructure.

The forensic audit was to cover the period form 2009 to 2014, also investigating fuel allocation and consumption and procurement at Harare Water, repairs and servicing of refuse removal trucks, vehicle parts cannibalism at the municipal automotive workshop and hire of plant and equipment for the department of engineering services.

Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe National Army is on a recruitment drive and is inviting prospective soldiers to report at designated military camps in their respective provinces of origin throughout the country. In a Press statement yesterday, ZNA public relations officer Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore said prospective candidates should be between 18 and 22 years.

“The potential candidates will be required to report between March  17 and May 31, 2014 at designated military camps in their respective provinces of origin throughout the country.

“The candidates must have “A” Level passes with a minimum of six points (6), plus five (5) “O” level passes at grade C or better including English Language and Mathematics. They must also be aged between 18 and 22 years for “A” level holders and 18 and 24 years for those with diplomas, or any other higher qualifications,” he said.

Senior Reporter
Two fishermen are feared to have drowned on Sunday night on Lake Kariba and 12 others were rescued after their boat capsized. National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident. “The fishing rig which was on Lake Kariba . . . with 14 people on board encountered some strong winds and it capsized,” he said. He said another fishing vessel rescued 12 people but two men — aged 22 and 24 — were still missing.

Chief Supt Nyathi said the Police Sub Aqua Unit was searching for the two men and that the capsized rig belongs to Mr Gerald Vanreinsburg.
In January, last year, one person died and another was seriously injured when two speedboats taking tourists to a houseboat on Lake Kariba collided.

The accident occurred at the Antelope Chalala Point when a Sun Runner speed boat owned by Delta Company and steered by Ozias Maneta (29) hit another boat.

Mr Tsvangirai

Hebert Zharare Political Editor
Embattled MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and his allies will increasingly use “disciplinary” measures to silence officials who are calling for a change of the guard. Addressing a rally at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru on Sunday, MDC-T national chairman Mr Lovemore Moyo branded renewal proponents “betrayers of the highest order”.

He ordered use of party structures to deal with those who want leadership renewal as Mr Tsvangirai’s camp muzzles freedom of expression and democracy in the opposition.

This could put Mr Moyo and secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti on a collision course as the chair oversees disciplinary matters while the latter — who is pro-renewal — is in charge of party administration.

“People that we picked when they were nobodies and were made who they are by this movement are today turning their backs on it.
“If you want to deal with a person who has violated the party’s constitution, I am giving you, as your national chairman, that right to deal with those people who are misbehaving, using the structures,” Mr Moyo said on Sunday.

Already, deputy treasurer Mr Elton Mangoma — the face of the renewal agenda — has been suspended as have many other officials across the country.
However, treasurer-general Mr Roy Bennet has been allowed to “explain” to Mr Tsvangirai what he has meant by calling for leadership renewal without facing any reprisals. Sources said this was because Mr Tsvangirai was hesitant to take on Mr Bennet, who is a leading party fundraiser from his base in South Africa.

Mr Tsvangirai’s supporters have been using violence to try and silence his critics, who point out the fact that the party leader has not won a single national election between 2000 and 2013.

On Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said no one had the right to tell him what to do and said those who wanted leadership renewal should leave the party.
“Where you there when we formed the party? What values are you talking about — do you know where the party came from? Form your party if you want!
“Do not listen to those people who say Tsvangirai wants to privatise the party. I am not going to privatise the party. I am merely a leader of the people. If you want to form a party that kills MDC, so you want to promote Zanu-PF. That is what it means.”

His critics are uncomfortable that the “T” in the party name stands for “Tsvangirai”, thereby personalising the opposition. They have since dubbed themselves MDC Team.

Mr Gwasira

Felex Share Herald Reporter
Zesa Holdings has started selling prepaid electricity tokens through three Government enterprises, though the State Procurement Board has not sanctioned the arrangement. Thirty-eight other companies had bid for the same job but Zesa settled on ZB Bank, NetOne and CBZ Bank. Zesa Holdings spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira on Monday said they would introduce electricity scratch cards this month.
The power utility has also introduced electronic vending (e-vending) so that consumers can buy electricity via their mobile phones.

E-vending is provided through Zesa subsidiary PowerTel and its technical partner, E-Solutions.
The SPB twice cancelled the tender to sell electricity tokens citing technical irregularities.

The deal has always been shrouded in controversy with Energy and Power Development ministry officials alleged to have vested personal interest in E-Solutions.
The Energy Ministry hand picked PowerTel, which created the distribution networks for sale of the tokens, after ordering the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company to cancel tender number ZETDC/HO 04/ 2013 that sought companies with expertise in provision of prepaid electricity vending.
PowerTel and E-Solutions had also submitted bids for the cancelled tender.

The other companies that submitted bids to become aggregators are challenging the legality of the cancellation of the tender arguing that Chapter 22.14 of the Procurement Act does not give ZETDC authority to make such a decision.

Energy Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire and his deputy, Engineer Munacho Mutezo, have been accused by Zesa staff of having interests in E-solutions.
The two have consistently refused to discuss the deal in the media.

Zesa’s Mr Gwasira said the sale of electricity coupons through third parties would de-congest the power utility’s banking malls and make purchases convenient.
“Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, a subsidiary of Zesa Holdings has introduced an electronic vending service (e-vending) that will enable customers to purchase prepaid electricity through cellular phones, third party over-the-counter vending as well as through ZB’s e-wallet and NetOne’s One Wallet,” he said.

Prior to this, the purchase of pre-paid electricity tokens was only done at Zesa banking halls and at two OK Supermarkets in Harare, as well as at a ZETDC desk in TM Supermarket in Mutare.

The tokens were sold during working hours.
“The e-vending product which is running under the theme Powerplus, will ensure more convenience through keeping queuing to a minimum as most customers would be in a position to purchase electricity through Short Message Services (SMS) and over the counter of transactions from vendors that have been engaged by ZETDC,” said Mr Gwasira.

He said more State enterprises would soon become aggregators.
Mr Gwasira defended the selection of PowerTel saying it had the necessary technical capacity.

Reasons for the cancellation of the initial tender were not clear with Minister Mavhaire on one hand claiming there had been deep-seated corruption while the SPB and ZETDC cited technical irregularities.

During the tender process, there were queries over companies that already had a  relationship with Zesa putting in bids.
These include pre-paid meter supplier Finmark Industries, PowerTel and Revma.

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
HURUNGWE North legislator Cde Reuben Marumahoko (Zanu-PF) yesterday told the National Assembly there was nothing wrong with public sector bosses earning high salaries as long as they were contractually agreed. He was debating a motion calling for the establishment of a Parliamentary ad-hoc committee to investigate public sector corruption and recommend remedies.

“If you look at the discussion that was in this Parliament, Mr Speaker as result of salaries which ended up as salarygate, the first questions that come to mind is how did this happen? The man applies for a job, he goes for an interview and he offers his services.

“The company asks what are you worth? The man says whatever he is worth and the company agrees that we pay and the contract is drawn and the man is paid. Would it be his real problem if he is paid a high salary?

“This is an agreement between the employer and the employee. Where does corruption come in? He has been offered whatever salary he is offered. Mr president Kennedy said there is no employee who will ever be satisfied with his salary,” Cde Marumahoko said.
He said it would only be corruption if the salaries were not in the contracts.

Cde Marumahoko also questioned where the line ministers and boards were when executives were earning huge salaries.
His remarks were met with murmurs of disapproval.

Former PSMAS chief executive Dr Cuthbert Dube, suspended ZBC boss Mr Happison Muchechetere and Harare Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi, were among the first executives to have their huge salaries exposed, prompting Government to temporarily cap public sector packages at US$6 000 inclusive of allowances.
Bikita West representative Dr Munyaradzi Kereke said most CEOs had clandestinely increased their salaries.

“I want to respectfully differ that the so called salarygate is invalid particularly where executives would have overruled sitting boards in making certain decisions. It then means they would have fast-tracked their ascendancy of their conditions of service which would not be the same with the conditions of service they bargained for when they joined the respective institutions,” he said.

Dr Kereke commended Government’s remuneration cap.
Kuwadzana representative Mr Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) said senior Government officials, including ministers, fingered in corruption resign so as to foster public confidence.

Trinidad Engineering workers protest in front of their offices in Msasa, Harare, yesterday having gone for two years without pay

Moleen Machingura and Bronfenbrenner Torubanda
Workers at a chemical manufacturing company Trinidad Industries have taken to sleeping-in at the workplace in protest over non-payment of their wages. At least 58 workers from the company, which specialises in adhesives,  moisture proof membranes, sealants and coatings have been sleeping at the company’s premises for two days to press the company to pay them US$560 000 in wages arrears.

The workers, from the Msasa branch in Harare, are protesting the failure by the company to pay them their salaries over the past three months.
The chairperson of the workers’ committee Mr Mavhuto Mlauzi said they only received US$150 each as payment since the beginning of the year.

“We need money and since January this year we were only paid US$150 each and we do not know how they expect us to survive,” he said.
“We are now leading miserable lives and we want the company to pay us our money.”

On Monday this week, Trinidad Industries management asked workers to go on unpaid leave until June this year as the company was failing to secure raw materials for production.

Mr Mlauzi said four workers have since died after failing to access medical treatment due to non-payment of salaries.
He said children of most of the workers had dropped from school as workers could no longer afford to pay fees for them.

“Some of our members have been ejected from their homes after they failed to pay rent. It’s tough for us and we want the company to pay us so that we can fend for our families,” he said.

Trinidad Industries managing director Mr Clever Boterere declined to comment.
“I cannot answer you pertaining that issue, you have to book for an appointment with me so that we can discuss the matter in detail,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Media ,Information and Broadcasting Services, Supa Mandiwanzira.

Herald Reporter—
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe will soon collect listener’s licence fees following alleged abuse of the money by management at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, a senior Government official has said. In an interview with Star FM last week, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Supa Mandiwanzira said this would be implemented before year-end.

“The thrust, the thinking in the ministry right now is that ZBC has abused licence fees. It has taken these licence fees to fund huge perks for its executives and luxurious packages and vehicles that had nothing to do with what we watch on television.

“The thinking is that we must remove the collection of licence fees from ZBC to BAZ. BAZ must use this money to fund Zimbabweans who want to produce films, documentaries, dramas and create good content for the television and radio industry in this country,” he said.

“The law does not require any Zimbabwean to pay a licence fee for watching ZBC or listening to ZBC. The law of the land requires every Zimbabwean to pay a licence fee for owning a receiver. It does not say ZBC must give you good programmes to pay a licence fee.”

ZBC chief executive Happison Muchechetere has been suspended and is facing criminal charges related to the purchase of an outside broadcasting van.
Asked why some of the senior ZBC managers accused of fraud were not suspended, Cde Mandiwanzira said: “You cannot go into an institution and fire everyone.
“Who will then answer questions from the auditors if all are sacked? The public must be patient and allow the forensic audit to take place.

“If an institution is rotten and corrupt, first the person who must be asked questions and is answerable is the person at the top, then you go down. What has happened is that the consequences of the allegations meant that the one at the top has been excused to step aside and allow for an audit which is now taking place.”