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.”

Minister Kasukuwere

Herald Reporter
Companies that are polluting Harare’s water sources should be held accountable and pay for the solid waste they discharge into the city’s major rivers and water supply dams, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said yesterday.
He said this when he and the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Dr Ignatius Minister Chombo toured the Morton Jaffray Water Works to check on the progress being made to rehabilitate water and wastewater treatment plants.

Minister Kasukuwere expressed concern that water pollution was pushing up water production cost and affecting water supplies to residents.
“Water is important and it is the key for the City of Harare and our coming here is to appreciate for ourselves the rehabilitation of water and wastewater treatment plants. We are satisfied with the work being done,” he said.

“We must work closely with city authorities in reducing the amount of pollution which is costing the city in terms of cleaning water.
The companies which are polluting our water must pay.

“The city is losing close to US$3 million by treating water with eight chemicals instead of three and the money can be channelled to other areas to reduce the burden of water for the residents.”

Environment Management Authority (EMA) director of environment protection Mrs Petronella Shoko told the ministers that the most persistent and frequent polluters of the city’s rivers and major supply dams were the Zimbabwe Phosphate Industries (Zimphos) and Olivine Industries.

The two companies, she said, were the major industrial polluters and were not accounting for their sludge.
As a result of the heavy pollution, Harare water production manager Engineer Lovemore Mlanda said the city was losing 160 megalitres per day because six clarifiers had broken down.

Dr Parirenyatwa

Dudzai Matewu
Zimbabwe needs to urgently train more plastic and reconstructive surgeons to address the manpower gap in the country’s surgical services, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said this at the opening of the first annual Swiss Eastern African Advanced Reconstructive Surgery course for re-constructive surgeons which was held at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals recently.

“There is clearly an urgent need for plastic and re-constructive surgeons on the establishment of each of the five major tertiary referral health centres in the country,” he said.

“The few Zimbabwean doctors who have trained in plastic surgery abroad have not returned to the country. Low salaries and unattractive conditions of service are probably a contributory factor. We need to address this problem and train more surgeons.”

The need for plastic and re-constructive surgeons has long been recognised in the country but lack of training programmes for surgeons has hampered the development of the surgical services.

A recent health survey, indicated that 25 percent of more than 2 800 patients seen in the outpatients department in most healthcare institutions over a period of 32 months had problems of a plastic and reconstructive surgery nature.

The healthcare units were reported to have dealt with a wide variety of conditions including burns, post burn issues, pressure sores, complex post traumatic soft tissue defects, skin malignancies and other soft tissue tumours.

Dr Parirenyatwa hailed the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) for spearheading efforts to train more surgeons to meet the growing demand for plastic and re-constructive surgery.

Health experts say COSECSA member states with a population of 450 million people have only 22 plastic surgeons, with half of these in one country, Ethiopia.
After realising these manpower constraints in the region, the college now provides a forum for the training of surgeons in most surgical specialities including plastic and re-constructive surgery.

At present, only four Zimbabwean post graduate students were training to be plastic surgeons under the COSECSA training programme.

Mr Chamisa

Farirai Machivenyika  Senior Reporter
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation yesterday began live coverage of the National Assembly question and answer session on television, a move welcomed by  legislators.
Two weeks ago, legislators called on ZBC to increase coverage of the legislative assembly’s events so that MPs are more accountable to their constituencies.
This followed a motion that was moved by Kuwadzana representative Mr Nelson Chamisa.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Cde Jacob Mudenda, made the announcement in the House yesterday.
“I am also told ZBC has resumed live broadcasts in the National Assembly every Wednesday starting today (yesterday) and I am hoping that in due course they will be able to cover live the whole parliament’s proceedings.

“This will enable members of the public to have transparency and accessibility to parliament,” he said.
Mr Chamisa welcomed the move by ZBC.

“It is a positive signal that authorities have responded to parliamentarians issues positively. Live coverage is not for MPs but for the people we represent.
“Quality democracy demands that the people participate in parliamentary processes. This development is in line with our Constitution and it guarantees accountability and openness,” Mr Chamisa said.

Bubi representative, Cde Clifford Sibanda, added that the development would enlighten the public on parliamentary processes.
“Parliament is about educating the people on the legislative agenda of the nation.

“It should not be seen as something that is closed to the public because they are the ones who make parliament. This is going to expose MPs to their constituencies and it should also be extended to all parliamentary activities including committees,” Mr Sibanda said.

Midlands’ representative, Cde Melody Dziva, said quality of debates would improve.
“This is a good thing that we welcome and hope that it is extended to cover all parliamentary proceedings. I also hope that as female MPs, we will also receive equal coverage to our male counterparts.

“This will improve quality of debate and ensure that the electorate is aware of what their representatives are doing,” she said.
Mashonaland West representative Ms Concilia Chinanzvavana echoed similar sentiments saying it was long overdue.

“This was long overdue, people have to follow what their representatives are doing and we hope they also cover our constituencies and what we are doing there,” she said.

ZBC’s SFM radio also started live broadcasts of the question and answer session last month.

Mr Sikhala

Albert Chavhunduka Herald Reporter
MDC-99 members will not follow their former leader Mr Job Sikhala to the opposition MDC-T as they announced yesterday plans to join the United Democratic Front proposed by secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti.
This blows off steam from the so-called reunion of MDC-T former members suggested by Mr Morgan Tsvangrai as the leaders who have come back so far do not have supporters.

Mr Sikhala, two officials from the Professor Welshman Ncube-led MDC, Mr Edward Mkhosi and Siyabonga Malandu Ncube and secretary-general of another MDC faction Mr Jobert Mudzumwe are the only individuals who have heeded Mr Tsvangirai’s call.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, MDC-99 acting president Mr Gideon Magadzira said the troubled party was now dead and buried, adding they were waiting to join the proposed UDF.

“(We are joining) an alternative party that has come under the umbrella word of the United Democratic Front. These are fronts of progressive forces with credible ideas, which will sit together and come up with strategies to tackle the issue of leadership in the country,” he said.

“In the UDF, we want to work with so many fronts. We are working with the likes of Zapu, Professor Welshman Ncube and even Zanu-Ndonga and we have some pockets in both the MDC-T and Zanu-PF who support us.”

Mr Biti recently proposed the formation of a new political movement that recognises values and the ethos of the liberation struggle to challenge Zanu-PF, signifying a complete break with his own party.

However, Mr Biti and his MDC Team Renewal have tried to conceal the formation of a breakaway political outfit.
He said this at SAPES Trust policy dialogue on March 6 this year.

Mr Magadzira said they were going to work with the MDC Team that was calling for leadership change in the opposition MDC-T.
“We are aware of the emergence of the renewal team within the MDC and we would like to state categorically that we share their views and aspirations to revitalise efforts to democratise Zimbabwe,” he said.

He denounced MDC leader Mr Tsvangirai and blamed him for failing the country.
“Morgan Tsvangirai has reached his upper limit and is no longer fit to govern. It is with regret that Zimbabweans have had 15 years of their time wasted by Tsvangirai who has turned out to not to be a democrat, someone without vision, a flip flopper, a man who suffers from indecision, needs to retrace his moral compass and offers no hope for the future,” said Mr Magadzira.

The now defunct United Movement for Democracy (UMD) secretary-general, Mr Tafirenyika Chikwati who also addressed the media, called on all minor political parties to come together and join the proposed UDF.

“We are happy with what the MDC led by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai did in the process of democracy, but its system is falling short. So we are calling on all progressive forces in Zimbabwe and minor political parties so that we become a united front to tackle the challenges of this country,” said Mr Chikwati.

MDC-99 leader Mr Job Sikhala rejoined Mr Tsvangirai led party after he abandoned his party which he formed in 2010 after breaking away from Professor Arthur Mutambara’s MDC faction.

The MDC-T leader is so desperate to gain power and last year he formed a coalition with Mavambo Khusile Dawn leader Dr Simba Makoni and Mr Reketai Semwayo reportedly representing Zanu-Ndonga.

However, it emerged that Mr Tsvangirai had signed a pact with Mr Semwayo who was actually his party member and was contesting the elections on an MDC-T ticket and had been disowned by his own Zanu-Ndonga party.

T.B Joshua

Moleen Machingura Herald Reporter
Renowned Nigerian televangelist Termitope Balogun Joshua yesterday disowned, as a “dream” claims by Prophetic Healing Deliverance Ministries leader Walter Magaya that he is coming to Zimbabwe.Local newspapers reported on Tuesday that the famous preacher was headed for Zimbabwe at the invitation of Magaya, quoting church spokesperson Oscar Pambuka.
Pambuka said Magaya was already in Nigeria finalising TB Joshua’s visit to Harare.

“Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper article which claims that Mr Walter Magaya is bringing TB Joshua to Zimbabwe,” the Nigerian preacher posted on his official Facebook wall. “This is not to be believed. This is a dream.

“We pray that your dream comes to pass one day. Sometimes, one’s heart’s desire comes true if one is steadfast in God’s will. It is my desire to come to the country because I love the nation and people of Zimbabwe, but there is no plan for now, so this story is not to be believed.”

TB Joshua also denied reports that Magaya’s wife was undergoing prophetic training at the Synagogue Church of All Nations.

“Regarding the issue of Mr Magaya’s wife undergoing prophetic training at the SCOAN, there is nothing like that,” he said. “The story is not true. We do not train people for prophetic ministry; God does, by the adoption of the Holy Spirit.

“By the way, how many prophetess do we have in the SCOAN for now? None. God bless the people of Zimbabwe, the nation of Zimbabwe, and its leaders, in Jesus’ name.”
Pambuka yesterday distanced himself from the reports, saying Magaya was in Nigeria to meet and share ideas with TB Joshua.

“Mr Magaya never said he was bringing TB Joshua to Zimbabwe,” he said.  “He just said it was his wish that he would visit the country.”

He said reports that Mrs Magaya was to train as a prophetess at the SCOAN were also false.

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
Namibia benefited immensely from the skills and expertise of judges and magistrates from Zimbabwe who made sterling contribution in improving justice delivery system during the country’s judiciary reformative years, Namibia Chief Justice Peter Shivute has said.He hailed the Zimbabwe judiciary for rendering support and urged both countries to continue sharing mutual assistance at the judiciary level.

Chief Justice Shivute made the remarks at the three-day Judges’ Symposium held for local judges in Victoria Falls last week, which sought to evaluate and reflect on the performance of the superior courts during the first quarter of the year

At attainment of independence in 1990, Chief Justice Shivute said Namibia’s courts had challenges in their efforts to dispense justice efficiently because of a restricted pool from which to appoint Namibians to judicial offices.

He said Zimbabwe’s judiciary rendered immense support by seconding one of the country’s eminent judges Justice Simpson Mtambanengwe, now retired, to join Namibia’s superior courts.

Chief Justice Shivute said there were eight Zimbabwean magistrates serving in that country’s various magisterial districts.

‘‘These pioneers from this great country (Zimbabwe) have made a sterling contribution to our jurisprudence and have laid a strong foundation after independence upon which the succeeding judges have built,” Chief Justice Shivute said.

He said the two countries’ judiciaries’ co-operation was testimony of a continually growing symbiotic relationship between them.

“We remain forever indebted to the Zimbabwean judiciary for the steadfast support rendered to our judiciary,” Chief Justice Shivute said.

In the early 90’s, the Zimbabwe judiciary seconded Justice Mtambanengwe to Namibia’s High Court.

During his stint, Justice Mtambanengwe served in various capacities including Acting Chief Justice of Namibia.

Other Zimbabwean judges among them Justice Nicholas Ndou and Justice Mafios Cheda were also appointed to Namibia’s Supreme Court and High Court benches by private arrangement.

Daniel Kachere Herald Reporter
At least 120 families were left homeless and are living in the open after they were evicted from Tamar Farm in Goromonzi District on Wednesday.
The families were evicted by the police and the Messenger of Court from the farm owned by Mr Tineyi Mautsa.
In an interview, Mr Danny Ticha, one of the affected people, said he had been living and working on the farm for the past 20 years and had been promised packages from the sale of farm equipment owned by the white former farmer.

“We want our packages that he owes us before we leave, said Mr Ticha.
“The former owner of this farm left machinery and irrigation pivots meant for resale and the proceeds were supposed to meet our packages.
“The equipment was sold and Mr Mautsa did not give us anything from the proceeds.”

Another disgruntled former worker said they had not received their salaries for the past eight months from Mr Mautsa.
Mr Mautsa could not be reached for comment.

Mr Zingwina, who is the deputy Sheriff for Murehwa, said the families were evicted after a default judgement passed by Justice Owen Tagu at the High Court last week.

Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
More than 13 houses, stands and other properties will go under the hammer today after the owners failed to pay back a collective $250 000 they borrowed from the Small Enterprises Development Corporation.A local auctioneer would sell the properties at Raylton Sports Club in Harare this morning.

On offer are complete houses, houses under construction and commercial buildings among others.

SEDCO general manager Ms Gladys Kanyongo said the company gave loans to different people in different sectors.

“Most of the loans were disbursed between 2010 and 2012.  When our clients fail to pay we engage them. Selling properties is the last option we take.
“SEDCO has distributed over $4 million to business people and selling the defaulters property is the last option,” she said.

She said if a client repays the loan, the interests are put back to the normal rates.

Some farmers whose properties would be auctioned allege that they took long to pay back because they were owed money by the Grain Marketing Board after delivering their maize.

Ms Kanyongo said the houses being sold did not belong to farmers.

“We deal with clients from different sectors. Sometimes poultry and horticulturalists borrow money from SEDCO and these normally borrow small amounts of money.
“The maximum amount of loan that can be provided to an applicant for the current SEDCO loans is $20 000, regardless of the sector that they operate in,” she said.

She said GMB received funds from Treasury to pay all farmers it owed money and so farmers could not use that as an excuse for not paying their loans.

“Farmers can also bring their receipts to show they are owed money by GMB and we will extend the repayment period until the day when they will receive the money,” she said.

She said all clients are informed about all their loans’ conditions inclusive of the rate of interest chargeable during the agreed loan tenure and the interest chargeable when the clients default on agreed loan tenure.

The client is availed a copy of the loan agreement after signing the contract.

Herald Reporter
The University of Zimbabwe is developing drugs that increase absorption of tuberculosis medication and help people living with albinism, an official has said.
UZ pharmaceutical department lecturer Mr Joey Chifamba said this while addressing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education in Harare on Wednesday.
“We are doing everything under a restricted environment and we have the hope of patenting the drugs we are currently developing … Through nano-technology the drug will enhance absorption of few TB drugs by the patient and they will mainly concentrate on the disease in the lungs than to take many drugs. A patient will take fewer drugs, which minimises the dosage of medication and the mortality rate,” said Mr Chifamba. He said they were also developing a drug that would assist people living with albinism.

“People with albinism have been using sun screen lotions which are leisure creams used by Europeans when going for holidays. We incorporated zinc and titanium from natural sources and indigenous trees and they are crucial and suitable for people with albinism in tropical areas.”

UZ College of Health Sciences’ Professor Charles Maponga said they were developing several drugs in a harsh economic environment and these would be patented.
“We produce at least 65 pharmacists every year who all rely on one laboratory. We were once promised US$5 million by the Japanese government but that faltered after an embargo was imposed on the country and we are doing all we can. We require US$300 000 to buy critically required research equipment although the Zimsec Advanced Level syllabus does not encompass nanotechnology which differs from that of Cambridge. We need to fully utilise the medicinal values in our indigenous plants,” he said.

Prof Maponga said they were conducting workshops for A-Level teachers and herbalists on nanotechnology.

Mr Sifiso Ndlovu

Felex Share Herald Reporter
Civil servants want Government to include them on boards of entities that directly deal with their welfare.
Workers’ unions said this in a meeting with Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche on Tuesday.
They want their representatives on the boards of companies like the National Aids Council, NSSA, Premier Service Medical Aid Society and the Retrenchment Board.
Employees also want the Tripartite Negotiating Forum — a dialogue platform bringing together Government, business and labour — revamped to include them directly.

Currently the civil servants unions are represented at the TNF by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions.
Minister Goche yesterday said, “We are still talking to them on that. I spent the whole day in a meeting with them (on Tuesday) and all I can say is that we are discussing those issues with them,” he said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said workers had to be part of decision-making so as to prevent some of the problems that bedeviled institutions like PSMAS.
“We told the minister that we do not have to pick from the media what is happening at institutions which are run using money deducted from our salaries,” he said. “This is why we ended failing to access medical services yet contributions are deducted every month from civil servants’ meagre salaries. Our inclusion will ensure the effective use of our monthly subscriptions.”

He said previous attempts to engage Government over the issue failed.
“We are happy that now an ear is listening to us. The door has always been shut for us. It is our hope that Government will look into our issue as Minister Goche has started doing,” Mr Majongwe said.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said their involvement would make the boards more responsible.

“This can be likened to shareholder interest . . . The task is for Government to make careful selection to come up with the right candidates who can represent the workers.”
Mr Ndlovu added: “On the Tripartite Negotiating Forum, the generality of the workers are not represented as the representation is through congresses. It means we are there by default and it is something we need addressed.”

Municipal Reporter
Harare City Council may have flouted tender procedures when it appointed Grant Thornton Camelsa as external auditors after it emerged that the State Procurement Board, which was supposed to appoint an auditing firm for the city, was not aware of the engagement.
The SPB questioned the criteria council used to appoint the auditing firm both as external and internal auditors for the city, following allegations of corruption by council officials.
The development has since seen the audit being stopped, while the SPB and the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s Office is still to give a nod to Camelsa to continue the exercise.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Thomas Muzuva on Tuesday confirmed that council was still to get approval to allow Camelsa to continue with the audit or to seek other auditors.
“The State Procurement Board questioned how Camelsa became the city’s external auditors when they (SPB) are the ones who are supposed to appoint auditors for the city,” he said.
He said they were now waiting for approval to continue with the audit.

Audit committee chairperson Clr Panganayi Charumbira said it would need a new council resolution for them to appoint new auditors.
“It will require a council resolution for us to appoint a new auditing firm. As far as we are concerned we had chosen Camelsa to conduct the exercise and we are now waiting for SPB’s approval,” he said.

Stakeholders had argued that the engagement of Camelsa could jeopardise the outcome of the audit since the firm was taking too long to produce a report and that they are the city’s traditional auditors. 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.

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.

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.

There were also allegations that directors bought industrial and commercial stands whose official prices ranged from US$20 to US$30 per square metre, for as little as US$3 per square metre.
In addition, council could have lost up to US$100 million through inflating prices of equipment in a US$144,4 million loan agreement with a Chinese firm for refurbishment of water infrastructure.

Chinhoyi Bureau
A four-year-old Chegutu boy died and four other pedestrians, including his sister and mother are hospitalised after a car veered off the road and hit them while they were walking in Chegutu.The boy whose name has not been released as his next of kin have not yet been notified was among several people walking along the road when the accident occurred.

Tragedy struck when the driver of a Toyota Raum, Maxwell Matumba (41) who was travelling to Shurugwi from Harare lost control of the vehicle and it veered off  at the 106-kilometre peg in Chegutu along the Harare-Bulawayo Road hitting five people who were taken to hospital and the boy died on admission.

Police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the incident adding that investigations into the cause of the accident were still in progress.
Insp Mabgweazara urged motorists to observe speed limits.

Dr Olivia Muchena

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
A report on the probe into operations of the Higher Education Examinations Council will next week be tabled in Cabinet. The report noted that the person running the examination database is not qualified for the job and that the entire database is housed on flash drives and has no back-up.Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr Olivia Muchena, who ordered the probe, said the report could be presented to Parliament if Cabinet adopts it.

The probe confirmed, as reported by The Herald, that Mr Francis Taivavashe — appointed to set up and manage the database by the then acting director for standards development and quality assurance Mr Joyce Mbudzi and with authority from Higher Education Secretary Dr Washington Mbizvo — had no IT qualification as required.

It also said some Hexco board members were clueless on their responsibilities. Dr Muchena said it was premature for her to comment on the report.

“We don’t know who leaked the report, but we have to take it to Cabinet first before we table it before Parliament. Before we do that, I cannot comment on its contents.”
Dr Muchena said this on the sidelines of a workshop attended by senior Government and university officials to review legal statutes governing institutions of higher learning.

Her deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa, who led the Hexco probe, added: ‘‘I am not comfortable to discuss our findings before we present them to Cabinet.”

The Herald reported in February that Dr Mbizvo approved the appointment of Mr Taivavashe, an automotive precision machinist, to oversee the exams database yet the job requires an IT expert.

Mr Taivavashe designed, installed, operationalised and individually managed the database of all testing of tertiary students in the country. It is unclear who actually owns the system he set up.

Because no one supervised him, he could do as he pleased with the database.

On reviewing of legal statutes governing universities, Dr Muchena said all institutions should adopt a business approach to their operations.

“We have observed duplication of duties and neglect of areas, she said. We have deliberated on that and one of their suggestions is that universities should look at the Act of Parliament that governs their operations.  We want to run universities with a business approach.”

Dr Gandawa said universities should respond to industry’s demands.

“A person who graduates today might not be equipped with what the industry needs. There is that skills gap between universities and industry,” he said.

Senior Reporter
Zesa Holdings is increasing the number of vendors selling pre-paid electricity tokens from three to eight next month. The power utility will also introduce scratch cards and enable consumers to buy electricity using mobile phones.CBZ, NetOne and ZB Bank will be joined by Petrotrade, Zimpost, POSB, Agribank and TelOne in selling electricity tokens.

Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire told journalists in Harare on Wednesday that, “At the end of the month Zesa should be able to have connected all those new outlets. In addition, there will also be a scratch card method of paying and that will be also available at the end of the month.”

Minister Mavhaire said the pre-paid system would change people’s attitudes towards electricity consumption as they would have to manage their own use.

“This time the gadget is very simple, if you use the money you have paid, nobody is going to come to your area to switch off your lights, the system will automatically at the end of your money switch off and as soon as you pay your bill through the various methods we have put in place,” he said.

He said Zesa Holdings subsidiary PowerTel will be the new billing system’s aggregator.

Moleen Machingura Herald Reporter
Nearly 1,3 million Zimbabweans are blind and the majority will end up developing common vision-loss due to cataract related ailments, a University of Zimbabwe ophthalmologist said.UZ ophthalmology (vision and eye science) Prof Rangarirai Masanganise said this at a ceremony to commission optometry equipment worth US$120 000 which was donated by Cimas Medical Aid Society at Sekuru Kaguvi Hospital in Harare.

“I can tell you that 10 percent of the total Zimbabwean population is blind,” he said. “Almost everyone in this country will also end up using reading glasses because of cataracts.”

Prof Masanganise said over 10 000 per million children have refractive errors which is a condition whereby they cannot focus parallel rays of light on the retina.
He said the establishment of the Optometry Training Unit would help increase the number of optometrists in the country.

“There are only two ophthalmologists per million people and 10 optometrists for the same number of people,” he said.  “The establishment of the Unit is going to ease pressure on them.”

He said there was no optometrist training in Zimbabwe and the first batch may be recruited beginning next year.

“The establishment of the Optometrist Training Unit is a move in the right direction because optometrists will now be trained in Zimbabwe,” Prof Masanganise said. “This will not only help in easing pressure on the available optometrists but will also help in the provision of optometrist services in public hospitals.”

He called on the Ministry of Health and Child Care to create positions for optometrists.

“We are requesting the Ministry of Health to create posts for the optometrists within the public health sector since there were none,” he said. “The Ministry of Finance should also come on board to support the Training Unit as well as the running of the new programme.”

According to the World Health Organisation about 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide while 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision. About 90 percent of the world’s visually impaired live in developing countries.

Herald Reporter
The resumption of full production at New Zimsteel should start by mid-year when Government is expected to have sealed loose ends on the Essar deal that it signed with the Indian firm, Parliament heard.Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa said a lot of work and discussions were on going and in the next few weeks people would begin to see “concrete evidence of progress.”

Deputy Minister Mabuwa said this in Senate while responding to a question from Manicaland Senator Mr Patrick Chitaka (MDC-T) who wanted her to give a specific time frame when operations should be expected to resume at the Redcliff based steel firm.

She told the Upper House that while giving specific dates was problematic, Government was certain that conclusion of loose ends would have been made by June this year.

“If I were talking to senators on their own, I would come up with specific dates but for us to now start quoting dates in the media, it becomes a little bit suicidal in case that plane does not land with Mr X with whom we anticipate that in the next few days, as I have said, we are anticipating closure,” said Deputy Minister Mabuwa.

“But you can take it from me that it will not be in the next year or will it be in the second half of the year. We intend the closure to be within the first half of this year.”
Sen Chitaka said it had been a long time since the nation had been given assurances that operations would resume but nothing had materialised.

“Madam President, let me tell this Senate that in the next few days, there will be concrete evidence of the progress because we are going towards the conclusion of the initial stages of the revival of Zisco through Essar.

“That will also be the second stage whereby production will also have started. The third phase should be introduced soon and we will also be happy to see that Ziscosteel has regained its performance because we will have realised reasonable production.”