THE Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province on Friday held a successful fundraising dinner for the forthcoming Nation People’s Conference to be held in Victoria Falls from 7-13 December, amid calls for people in Bulawayo to unite and revive the city which was once the industrial hub of the country.

Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko said the city’s revival was dependent on residents who have to stand up and be counted among other citizens as the city has all that it needs to be at its best.

“People of Bulawayo you have to do things on your own. We must not look down upon ourselves because we have the potential to do well. You must stand up and do things for yourself and Bulawayo has everything hence I urge you to stand up and be counted,” said Acting President Mphoko.

“The organising committee told me that they have been tasked to fundraise for the conference and they were saying people have no money but I assured them that I was going to support them. The majority of people who supported us are not here. We received $10 000 from Mbokodo, Choppies gave us $10 000 and our friend in South Africa called Gumede gave us $20 000, and the list goes on,” he said.

The Vice-President further implored that people should stop looking at their leaders on tribal grounds. He said tribalism will not develop the country, instead people should view every resource in the country as theirs.

“Don’t look at the President as a Zezuru but look at him as our leader, don’t also look at us on tribal grounds but look at us as your leaders. Those who are saying there must be a certain tribe to lead the country are misplaced. There is nothing like that. We never fought the war on tribal grounds,” said Acting President Mphoko.

The party’s Secretary for Administration, Cde Ignatius Chombo, lashed out at the private media for speculating the main agenda of the conference which he said has nothing to do with leadership positions.

Said Cde Chombo: “This conference is going to evaluate how last year has gone. We will look at how far we have gone with our resolutions which we made at the last year’s congress. Why do you speculate what we are going to talk about when we can tell you the truth for free?”

Cde Chombo heaped praise on Cde Obert Mpofu who is the Secretary for Finance in the party for the sterling job he is doing for the party. He said under the leadership of Cde Mpofu, the party has never struggled to pay its employees and operations are running smoothly.

Zimbabweans, Cde Chombo said, should embrace words of unity which Acting President Mphoko raised of not looking at leaders on tribal grounds, as tribalism distracts people from what they will want to achieve.

The fundraising dinner was characterised by auctioning of portraits of revolutionary icons. A portrait of the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo was auctioned for $900, the portrait of “the big four” which had Dr Nkomo, President Mugabe, Cde Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo and Cde George Silundika was sold for $1 000. The portrait of former Zipra members which had people like Cde Mphoko, Dr Nkomo and Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo was sold for $1 500. The First Lady’s portrait was sold for $2 000.

Also in attendance were Cde Kembo Mohadi who is the party’s Secretary for Security and also the Minister of State for National Security, the Deputy Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators and Former Political Detainees Cde Tshinga Dube, Cde Fred Moyo who is the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Bulawayo Parliamentarians, party members and the city’s business community.

PRESIDENT Mugabe last week implored authorities to engage contractors with the capacity to deliver quality work on our roads after noting that a lot of money had been spent on some shoddy work in the past.

The President was speaking when he commissioned the Harare International Airport Road, insisting that only qualified contractors should be engaged to do road works. We note that road works are very expensive as they require expertise from engineers and appropriate heavy duty equipment, among other resources. It is the high costs involved in the construction and rehabilitation of roads that have left motorists with a sour taste in their mouths, as they have to navigate their way through potholes and all manner of barriers that make driving a strenuous exercise.

Nonetheless, the Government managed to source resources for the rehabilitation of a number of the country’s major roads, and it is disturbing to hear that some shoddy work was done on the Plumtree-Mutare highway, after Government sunk in a whooping $206 million. Parliament heard recently that some areas of the road were being re-done, and that is a sign that all is not well in the construction sector.

The fact that contractors are meeting the costs of the repairs being done does not absolve them of wrong doing, and it does not lessen the gravity of the matter. The fact still remains that there was poor workmanship and the Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry should do more due diligence in future. What is clear is that there are other areas that will require attention in the near future, and chances are high that the constructors would not be in a position to do the repairs once they have moved out of sight. Moreover, we shudder to think what will happen to the road once rains fall heavily.

“Clearly, infrastructure development is expensive, hence whenever we undertake such projects we must demand that the product be of high quality, durable and give good value for money once completed. Sub-standard work should never be tolerated. In this regard, we must always ensure that qualified contractors are engaged and that they are strictly supervised to guarantee acceptable results,” President Mugabe said.

We note that poor workmanship on our roads is not only limited to the national project. Residents in towns and cities countrywide have always complained that roads show signs of failure a few weeks after they have been rehabilitated. Some of these roads belong to city councils and district councils, and things become really unbearable during the rainy season when potholes develop, leading to accidents and damage to cars.

In Bulawayo some roads have deteriorated soon after being rehabilitated, way before the ten-year grace period even starts kicking in and like the President pointed out, all that points to poor workmanship. In the past, the Bulawayo City Council said it did not have the right equipment to repair the roads, but said things will improve this year after it bought an assortment of machinery to be used on the roads.

Be that as it may, we also note that some sections of the city are still to be attended to even though they have busy roads, leading to some enterprising youths to fill up potholes with sand for a free from motorists. Nonetheless, such kind of patching is just a waste of time as it can not withstand the pressure that comes with heavy traffic and the rains.

We know that, like all structures, roads deteriorate over time. Experts say deterioration is primarily due to accumulated damage from vehicles, and environmental effects such as frost heaves, thermal cracking and oxidation. Experts warn that failure to maintain roads properly can create significant costs in future, and that is the message that should be at the back of the minds of the leadership in local authorities.

Ian Saunders

Dosman Mangisi, Business Correspondent
CANADIAN listed New Dawn Mining Corporation will this month commission the first gold stamp mill plant out of the three they pledged to set up for artisanal and small-scale miners in the gold sector at its Wanderer Gold Mine in Shurugwi, an official has revealed.

New Dawn chief executive officer Mr Ian Saunders revealed in an interview that the first crushing and milling stamp for the gold artisanal miners who received tributes from the company as part of facilitating formalisation will soon start operating while the second one is expected to also come on line before the end of the year.

New Dawn Mining signed three mining tributes to gold artisanal miners as part of their commitment under Chamber of Mines to assist artisanal miners.

“We shall soon be commissioning our first stamp mill and thereafter three more as the tonnages increase.

They are meant for the gold artisanal miners that we gave mining tributes and all mined gold ores will come to the stamp mills for processing,” said Mr Saunders.

Last year the Mines and Mining Development Minister, Walter Chidhakwa, and his Deputy Fred Moyo visited the Shurugwi project as it is the first pilot project between Zimbabwe Miners Federation and Chamber of Mines.

During the visit, Minister Chidhakwa said there was a need to speed up setting up of gold centres in all provinces in order to address the plight of artisanal and small-scale miners especially in technical skills.

Another project between the Chamber of Mines and small-scale miners is the Silobela Kwekwe under Freda Rebecca Gold Mine where 4 750 artisanal miners are mining in syndicates.

The Government is working with stakeholders in mining to formalise the operations of artisanal and small-scale miners in order to capacitate and improve production.

Pacific Gold Mine administrator Mr Chaderopa Chaderopa whose mine was one of the tribute beneficiaries said in an interview that the programme to help small-scale miners would benefit even communities around the mines.

“The service centre has proved to be a success with over 200 artisanal miners received the training on occupational health and safety.

“There is business activity around with transporters earning a living by transporting miners to and from the mining sites every day. Ore transporters, loaders and traders are also making brisk business from selling food and clothes, a sign of employment creation. Activity in Shurugwi town has changed and it’s easily noticed,” said Mr Chaderopa.

He applauded the assistance of crushing and milling equipment which is being offered by New Dawn adding this will reduce overheads.

“The setting up of the stamp mills is a relief to us on cutting overheads in our mining operations. We no longer need to factor in transport costs which include loading and offloading of ores,” he said.

Tsholotsho FC coach Lizwe Sweswe is lifted by the team’s joyful fans after they drew 1-1 with Harare City at White City Stadium yesterday, a result which made sure that Iziqholo ZeZhwane extended their stay in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League beyond this season

Tsholotsho …………………………………… (1) 1
Harare City…………………………………….(0) 1

TSHOLOTSHO extended their stay in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League beyond this season when they drew with Harare City at White City Stadium yesterday.

Iziqholo ZeZhwane had led for most parts of the game through a first half goal by Kriess Chitiyo, only to let Kudakwashe Kumwala equalise for a wasteful Harare City at the end. For their survival Tsholotsho had Dynamos to thank after the former champions defeated Buffaloes 1-0 at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare.

A draw meant that Tsholotsho endured a few anxious minutes soon after referee Allen Basvi blew his final whistle. When news filtered through that Buffaloes who trailed Tsholotsho by a point heading into the final day had been beaten by DeMbare, the Tsholotsho fans invaded the pitch in celebration. Tsholotsho ended the season with 31 points secured from six wins and a massive 12 draws.

In an action filled match, Harare City were the first to get a chance to score. Talent Chawapiwa’s dangerous looking cross was headed over by Honey Chimutimunzeve 13 minutes into the encounter. A minute later, Chimutimunzeve was given enough time to twist and turn in the box but his shot at goal was not powerful enough to trouble Tsholotsho goalkeeper Nickel Marichi.

Chitiyo came close for Tsholotsho in the 16th minute, his snap shot was saved by Tatenda Munditi, in goals for Harare City.

As Tsholotsho worked hard for their safety, an unmarked Chitiyo in the box found the target, benefiting from a good cross delivered from the left by Simbarashe Gorogodyo to slam the ball into the nets. A blunder by a jittery Marichi nearly saw Harare City pull one back with eight minutes remaining in the first half only for Martin Vengesayi to shoot wide off target.

In the second half, a great block by Spar Dube denied Vengesayi a shot at goal eight minutes into the second period. Four minutes after, Chimutimunzeve headed over the bar while Kumwala guided his header wide off target in the 62nd minute.

As Marichi continued to be exposed, his failure to deal with a cross resulted in the ball falling to Chimutimunzeve whose header was wide off target. Substitute Kudzanai Machazane could not punish Harare City after a nice lay off by veteran Joel Luphahla, the young striker’s shot at goal drawing out a brilliant save from Munditi in the 76th minute.

Harare City had an opportunity to draw level nine minutes before the end when substitute Benson Maglasi failed to beat Marichi. Lynoth Chikuhwa had the ball in the back of the net for Tsholotsho in the 84th minute but the flag was up for offside.

Just when Tsholotsho thought that they had wrapped it up, Kumwala found himself unmarked in the box in the 90th minute and obliged by blasting the ball past Marichi.

Tsholotsho coach Lizwe Sweswe paid tribute to his boys for managing to survive their first season at the top. He disclosed that conceding the late goal did not concern him as he had all the confidence that they survived. He urged local clubs to stick to their players even after being relegated and stop recycling athletes. Sweswe made a plea for a stadium to be constructed in Tsholotsho as that will help a lot in allowing the club to set up junior structures.

The teams that got demoted were Buffaloes, Dongo Sawmill, Whawha and Flame Lily. Joining the big boys are Bulawayo City from the Southern region, Border Strikers from Central region and Ngezi Platinum from Northern region. Winners from the Eastern region were yet to be confirmed with Mutare City tipped to sail through.

Teams

Tsholotsho: Nickel Marichi, MacClive Phiri, Spar Dube, Donald Dzvinyai, Nkosilathi Moyo, Butholezwe Ncube, Simbarashe Gorogodyo, Joel Luphahla, Kriess Chitiyo, Lynoth Chikuhwa, Nixon Gama(Machazane 63 minutes)

Harare City: Tatenda Munditi, Raymond Uchena, Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye, Themba Ndlovu, Munashe Chinembeza(Chipangura 82 minutes), James Jam, William Manondo, Kudakwashe Kumwala, Honey Chimutimunzeve, Talent Chawapihwa (Maglasi 73 minutes)

Minister Mike Bimha

Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent
A NUMBER of investors have shown interest in taking over operations of Ziscosteel in the wake of the collapse of the Essar Deal, Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha has said.

In an interview on the sidelines of a visit to Sable Chemical Industries in Kwekwe on Friday, Minister Bimha said there were investors who have shown interests in Zisco and are willing to take over the operations of once the region’s giant iron and steel manufacturer.

Minister Bimha’s remarks came in the wake of Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa announcing that the company will offload over 1 000 workers following the collapse of the Essar deal. The company also owes the workers about $ 200 million in salary arrears. It is understood that Essar Africa Holdings Limited failed to revive Zisco since 2011.

Minister Bimha reiterated that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will take over the company’s liabilities so that Ziscosteel becomes attractive to any suitors who may want to invest in the company.

“The Zisco board and management have been working on a programme to ensure that there is full utilisation of human resources until such time that Zisco gets back on stream. We might still use the same workforce and people. We are very much aware of their outstanding salaries. There have always been many investors interested in Zisco. There are so many aspiring investors as far as the steel production in concerned,” he said.

“There have always been many investors who have expressed interest in joining Government in operating Zisco steel. What has been a sticking issue was the issue of debt. The Government taking over the debt will enable us to continue negotiations with other potential investors.”

Minister Bimha, however, could not reveal potential investors who have shown interest in the Kwekwe based iron and steel manufacturer in fear of jeopardising the negotiations.

The Government rekindled hope for the revival of once the biggest integrated steelworks in Africa when it sold 54 percent of its shares to Essar in a $750 million deal which included taking over Zisco’s debts and liabilities.

Ziscosteel had seized operation in 2008 as it choked under a $340 million debt and other viability problems and Essar Holdings came to its rescue.

The Essar deal was expected to bring back life to Redcliff while at the same time uplifting the wellbeing of over 3 500 workers.

But a year after the signing of the deal, hopes which had been rekindled are slowly fading.

Under the deal Essar Holdings were to invest over $4 billion over the next four years at New Zim Steel, including setting up a 600MW thermal power plant to support the steelworks. The Government-Essar deal had brought light to ailing industries in the Midlands Province who have since downscaled production due to liquidity challenges.

Varaidzo Torto Murangandi

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
WHEN mourners gathered at Varaidzo Torto Murangandi’s home after her husband passed away, they pitied her as they believed that the death of her husband was going to plunge her into poverty. Few believed that she would use her baking talent to strike gold.

But that’s what she did thanks to her entrepreneur mother, who motivated her to wipe away her tears and stand up like an empowered woman. She has defied the odds and managed to live a successful life as a young widow and entrepreneur who is into bakery.

Born in Kwekwe 35 years ago, Murangandi, a mother of three boys, has defied the odds as she has established herself as one of the best cake bakers in Bulawayo.

In an interview, Murangandi said she has always had a passion for baking from the time she was in high school.

“From high school I loved baking as I was a food and nutrition student so after Ordinary Level I enrolled at the School of Hospitality and Tourism and studied bakery and I managed to get a diploma,” she said.

At the height of the economic meltdown, she left for South Africa, where she worked in the bakery section at a Spar outlet from 2008 to 2010. She also furthered her education and managed to get a Higher National Diploma in Bakery Studies while she was there.

Having left her husband and children in Zimbabwe she returned to be a full time housewife in 2010, then tragedy struck soon after, her husband Henry, who was aged 36, lost his life in a car accident along Khami Road in Bulawayo.

Instead of throwing in the towel after the death of the breadwinner, Murangandi took to baking in order to feed, educate and dress her children.

“My husband died when my youngest son Daniel was just six months old and I had to pull my socks up and concentrate on making cakes so that I raise my children,” she said.

Murangandi said she has made progress in her small business and has plans to grow bigger.

“I want to build a bakery in Gweru and that is my 2016 project. I will be supplying cakes for the Gweru and Kwekwe market where I have customers so I feel I should grow the business,” she said.

Currently she supplies cakes in Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe, Plumtree and Beitbridge.

The cake guru is not only a cake maker as she is also a tutor to some of her customers drawn from the public and private sectors.

Murangandi said the cake making business was not for the weak as the industry has many bakers that make good cakes.

“Business is tough as the economy is strained already and people are after getting the best quality product so as to realise value for their money. You have to make quality products for people to buy from you,” she said.

She mentioned that she has challenges with customers who sometimes disappear after having paid deposits especially for wedding cakes that are expensive. She said people promise to pay in full after their weddings but at times they vanish with the money and even the cake stands that they would have hired from her.

Murangandi let slip that she also makes dummy wedding cakes for clients that have no money to invest in large cakes.

“Life is tough now, so people are trying to improvise by all means possible, so I make dummy cakes out of kaylite and decorate them with plastic icing to match a real cake. So we can make two real cakes and several dummy cakes.

“The bride will know which one to cut and which one to leave out because the other cakes will be fake,” she chuckled.

Besides dummy cake requests, Murangandi also gets clients that demand expensive cakes. Early this year she made a wedding cake worth quite a lot of money. She used the money to purchase a car.

“I did a 21-tier wedding cake and I used the proceeds to purchase a vehicle from outside the country after adding some more money. This has made life much easier for me as I can deliver cakes with ease,” she said.

It took her four months to bake the giant cake.

She also has another order for a giant cake for a wedding in April 2016. She will use the money to purchase another meaningful asset. Asked if she had any last words that she wanted to share with Sunday Leisure, Murangandi said:

“Cakes made me who I am today,” she said.

Gabriel Masvora, Business Editor
THE Government has ordered an additional $6 million worth of bond coins as demand soars on the back of increased usage trigged by the rejection of the South African Rand by some businesses.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa announced in his budget statement on Thursday that the new coin order will bring the total number of coins in circulation to almost $20 million as nearly $14 million were in circulation.

“To date, the Bank (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) has issued about US$13 567 million worth of bond coins, in various small denominations, and more coins will be provided in line with demand developments. Already, additional coins worth US$6 million have been ordered,” he said.

The demand for bond coins have soared in the past months as the transacting public prefer the coins to the rand.

The demand has been necessitated by the continued fall of the rand to the greenback with the exchange rates now hovering around 1: 14 from around 1:11 at the beginning of the year.

Business and the public are also preferring the coins to deal with the rates distortions which had seen transactions being done using estimated rates resulting in unfairness especially on change. Since the Government introduced the use of coins, prices of most basic goods have also gone down.

“The bond coins have proved popular, and have resulted in the reduction of prices, particularly in the lower end retail sectors,” said Minister Chinamasa

He said so high was the demand for bond coins that some “money vendors” have emerged selling the coins at a rate of $1 for 90 cents of bond coins.

“In order to improve distribution, the Reserve Bank will announce in its Monetary Policy Statement arrangements to broaden the interface to also embrace other bulk customers, to include retailers, transport operators, among others. This will eliminate the current scenario, where the travelling public often resorts to purchase bond coins from street ‘money vendors’. Reports of individuals parting with a dollar to access 90 cents bond coinage have been made.”

The central bank introduced the bond coins on 18 December 2014 in denominations of 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents and later 50 cents.

At first the public was skeptical over the use of the coins with some businesses rejecting them but over the year Zimbabweans embraced the coins and are now in turn rejecting other currencies.

Minister Chinamasa also said the central bank through its financial web managed to convert Zimbabwe dollars worth $8,8 million during a demonetisation process that ended in September.

The demonetisation process started in June to compensate non-loan bank accounts as at 31 December 2008 as well as cash held by the public.

Cash holders were allowed to exchange the money at any banking institutions at no questions asked basis while account holders who had zero to Z$175 quadrillion as at 31 December were paid a flat US$5.

Account holders who had balances above Z$175 quadrillion were paid the equivalent value after applying the UN exchange rate of US$1/Z$35 quadrillion or US$1/Z$35 000 (then revalued).

Minister Chinamasa also said consultations for the conversion of Insurance and Pensions Values were underway so that Government can come with conversion rates for the locked pensions.

“Government established a Commission of Inquiry into the conversion of insurance and pension values from the Zimbabwe dollar to the US dollar. The objective is to determine whether there was fairness in the conversion process. Information gathered from the public will be used to determine an appropriate compensation and value entitlement for former and current insurance and pension subscribers. The hearings as well as other submissions, will run from 30 October to 3 December 2015.”

A number of people and pensioners are still reeling from the effects of hyperinflation which wiped out their savings.

Insurance companies have also been struggling to come up with an acceptable exchange rate resulting in a sluggish uptake of insurance products.

Economists said the raft of measures Government was taking to correct the currency issue and align most of its transactions to the US dollar was an indirect admission that Zimbabwe has “unofficially” endorsed the dollar as the official currency.

“If you put together the introduction of bonds, it was meant to fortify the use of the dollar compared to other foreign currency.

Now Government wants to deal with the last remains of the Zim dollar so that the country can officially become a US dollar country,” said an economist with a leading financial house based in Bulawayo.

He added that the move would completely eliminate currency distortions but Government can also officially adopt the use of the dollar.

“On paper we use multi-currencies but we are basically a dollar country. Of course we cannot officially announce the exclusive use of the dollar as this will involve a number of processes in consultation with the primary source of the money which is America. However, clarity can also bring confidence among business. It can even bring back businesses such as Bureau de Change,” he said.

Business Reporter
THE Government will cancel offer letters to all farmers who would fail to pay Development and Rental levies for three consecutive quarters, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Presenting his 2016 budget on Thursday, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the law will also apply to those who are leasing farms. The Government with effect from 13 November introduced a rental and land development levy for both A1 and A2 farmers. Under the new law A1 farmers are supposed to pay a $10 Rental Levy, and $5 Development Levy, all per annum.

A2 farmers are mandated to pay a Rental Levy of $3 per hectare, and a Development Levy of $2 per hectare, all per annum.

The levies are payable quarterly, and apply to all resettled farmers with permits and 99-year leases across the country.

“The Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement will cancel offer letters of farmers who fail to pay Development and Rental Levies for three consecutive quarters. The above provisions also apply to cancellation of permits in the case of the failure by a lessee to pay any rentals,” said Minister Chinamasa.

He said this was part of Government efforts to ensure that farmers use the land they were allocated. He said the levies will form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“The Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, through officers in the Ministry designated by the Secretary of that Ministry, shall be responsible for the collection of the Rentals and Development Levies on behalf of the State.

“The amount of all rentals paid by the holder of an offer letter who becomes a lessee shall be deducted from any amount required to be paid by him or her in terms of the land resettlement lease as arrear rentals from the time the holder occupied the A2 farm to which the lease relates.”

Rental levy, said Minister Chinamasa will be used by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, while Local Authorities will utilise funds raised from the Development Levy. Part of the Development levy will also be used to meet expenditures on projects within the rural district council area from which the levy was collected. To unlock potential in agriculture, Minister Chinamasa said Government has been working on measures to improve the security of tenure of both the A1 and A2 resettled farmer.

He said Government will provide security of tenure for both A1 and A2 farmers.

“This programme will facilitate issuance of permits and tradable lease agreements, that way giving economic value to land under both the A1 and A2 resettlement model.”

Financial institutions have been reluctant to recognise land distributed under the land reform programme as security when applying for loans resulting in funding constraints for the sector.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union past president Mr Donald Khumalo said Government must sit down with farmers and find out why some were not producing or were not utilising the land rather than coming up with measures which will even hinder the growth of the sector.

“Of course I want to encourage farmers to pay the levies but there are a lot of factors why farmers might not pay. Government thinks some farmers are sitting on land and they should ask themselves why,” he said.

Mr Khumalo said farmers were being frustrated by lack of markets and the influx of cheap products in the country.

“Right now how would a farmer who grew wheat or maize do that when they are paid after a year or not paid at all? Do you think that farmers will continue farming?, That is when you will find some farmers with idle land.”

Although Government has finally paid farmers who were owed by the Grain Marketing Board, bakers have indicated that they can no longer buy wheat locally since it was expensive, meaning wheat farmers have been completely thrown out of the picture.

Mr Khumalo said there was a lot of fiscal pressure on Government but that does not necessarily mean squeezing a cent from every one.

“If a tree does not produce lemons, you don’t take lemons from another tree and say they must cater for those from the one not producing. You investigate why it is not producing and address the factors,” he said.

Business Reporter
VICTORIA Falls town is set for a major facelift as the Government will soon declare it a Tourism Special Economic Zone while an International Financial Centre will be set up to promote transaction for tourists.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa in his budget presented on Thursday said the Government has already availed 274 hectares of land to a Special Purpose Vehicle, the Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development Company incorporated through the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality to facilitate the implementation of the concept.

“This project should leverage on the various tourism products already in existence, which include, among others, leisure, business, conferences, financial, medical, sports, religious, cultural, and education. These tourism products require different facilities and, hence, the proposed Tourism Economic Zone should be designed in a manner that meets the different interests of these customer groups,” said Minister Chinamasa.

He said the project is set to bring immense benefits through expected growth in tourism arrivals, increase in tourism generated income and employment creation across the value chain.

“Accordingly, drawing from international best practices, the necessary incentives and dispensations in the areas of taxation, duty, liberal visa regimes and exchange control regulations will be availed.”

Tourism, he said, was one of Zimbabwe’s focal sector which is expected to yield quick results. He said this year, the sector recorded some growth due to the marketing programmes that were done at major fairs in Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.

In addition the country also successfully hosted the Harare International Carnival and the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Expo.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has projected arrivals to increase this year to 2,5 million. However, Minister Chinamasa said more still has to be done to improve the numbers.

He said a Tourism Enhancement Project supported by the African Development Bank was progressing well. The project seeks to produce a conducive environment for tourism investments.

“A total of US$0,6 million against an allocation of $1,3 million was disbursed as at 30 September 2015, with an additional US$200 000 expected by end of year,” he said.

Next year, he added, $500 000 will also be disbursed towards the tourism enhancement project. On the progress of the upgrade of the Victoria Falls Airport project, Minister Chinamasa said the project will be completed this month and commissioned early next year.

“Completion of the project will boost the airport’s aircraft handling capacity and tourism into Victoria Falls by accommodating around 1,2 million passengers per annum compared to the existing capacity of 400 000.”

The airport is being upgraded through a concessionary $150 million loan from China’s Exim Bank. The project was initiated in February 2013 to boost tourism and its aircraft handling capacity and is also aimed at Victoria Falls the regional aviation hub.

Expansion work also included expansion of the existing runway, construction of a new terminal building, control tower and a car park.

A new fire station, sewer ponds and water tank are also being built at the airport. To improve the flow of tourists between Zambia and Zimbabwe the two countries that share the Victoria Falls, Minister Chinamasa announced plans that Government will extend operating hours at Livingstone border to 24 hours. This will also be implemented at Chirundu Border Post.

“Similarly, the opening hours at the Kazungula Border Post with Botswana are being extended to 20 hours, from the current close of business at 18 hours,” he said.

Kazungula is also close to Victoria Falls.

Mehluli Sibanda in Harare
AS was hugely anticipated, the 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn contributed the highest number of players in the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year with four of them included in the list voted for in Harare today.

Skipper Danny Phiri, hard working seasoned midfielder Clemence Matawu, left footed striker Edmore Chirambadare and goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze made it after the electronic voting was conducted by journalists, coaches from the 16 PSL teams and their captains at Mandel Training Centre.

Former champions Dynamos with a poor season by their own high standards surprised many by providing two of their stars, goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva and left back Ocean Mushure to the list.

There was one contribution each from Caps United with Stephen Makatuka, Highlanders represented by prolific striker Knox Mutizwa, Triangle chipping in wit Hillary Bakacheza, ZPC Kariba having Raphael Manuvire and FC Platinum represented by striker Brian Muzondiwa.

Chicken Inn skipper Phiri, a driving factor in the Gamecock’s way to clinching their maiden title who had to sit out the last game of the season against Flame so that he does not pick one more yellow card which would make him ineligible for selection now has to fight it out for the top accolade with the likes of Mutizwa, Muzondiwa and Matawu.

The Soccer Star of the Year and his two runners up were also chosen today but will only be announced at a crowning ceremony in Harare on Friday 4 December.

Just to show how inconsistent the local players are, none of 11 from 2014 managed to convince the selectors to choose them again this year.

2015 Castle Soccer Star of the Year full list Hillary Bakacheza(Triangle), Elvis Chipezeze, Danny Phiri, Clemence Matawu, Edmore Chirambadare(all Chicken Inn), Stephen Makatuka(Caps United), Tatenda Mukuruva, Ocean Mushure (both Dynamos), Brian Muzondiwa (FC Platinum), Knox Mutizwa (Highlanders).

Richard Muponde Sunday News Correspondent
BULAWAYO City Council is engaged in marathon discussions with its sister city of Polokwane in South Africa to establish a China City in Bulawayo similar to that which was constructed in the neighbouring country’s Limpopo province. Polokwane, the capital of Limpopo province, established a China City which is a shopping complex with 72 shops ranging from those selling clothes, shoes, handbags, toys, furniture and restaurants, among others.

BCC and Polokwane mooted the idea last year which also saw Polokwane coming to exhibit together with BCC at the local authority’s stand at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

The local authority’s senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, last week confirmed that indeed efforts to set up a China City in the city were gathering momentum.
“Our sister city Polokwane has developed a China City in their city and the idea to set up one in Bulawayo came through discussions with our counterparts in Polokwane. The suggestion was made that Bulawayo could enter into a similar arrangement and develop a China Mall. The discussions, however, are ongoing and have not been finalised. At the present moment we cannot give an actual timeline on this project” said Mrs Mpofu.

“It should be appreciated that the two cities are currently at the stage where relationship is in the process of development. We continue to explore opportunities to create linkages within the identified areas of cooperation.”

The China City in Polokwane is situated along the N1 Highway leading to Beitbridge at the Polokwane Airport junction that is on a central focal point of the Limpopo province making it easier for people to do their shopping without travelling all the way to Johannesburg.

Bulawayo and Polokwane signed a memorandum of understanding on 19 October 2012 under the auspices of the Trans-Limpopo Spartial Development Initiative.
Modalities of the joint ventures has grown to higher levels which saw BCC being invited to exhibit at the Polokwane Trade Affair in May this year which gave the local authority an opportunity to tap into the investment market of the neighbouring country.

The development comes at a time council is involved in efforts to convert Bulawayo’s Basch Street Terminus, popularly known as Egodini, into a regional public transport hub.
The project, which will involve construction of a shopping complex at the site, is expected to cost $59 million.
A South African civil engineering firm Tearracota (Pvt) Ltd has been awarded the tender for the job.

President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan are welcomed by President Mugabe and First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe in Harare last week

Vincent Gono and Tinomuda Chakanyuka
A TRUE friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues to be a friend unchangeably. This truism is only apt in describing the almost half-a-century long relationship between Zimbabwe and its all weather friend — China that was concretised during the historic two-day State visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The visit saw about 12 mega investment deals worth $4 billion being penned that are likely to see a major transformation in the area of economic, technological and infrastructural development in the country.

The investment deals are a bold statement — a sucker punch on the gaping jaws of the country’s economic detractors and opposition parties that thrive and feed on the decline of the economy to campaign against the ruling party.

They were, however, falling on each other in opposition media whose mantra has been that of see no good, hear no good and speak no good about Zanu-PF and the Government. They have been employing a language that obfuscates the reality and trying to rubbish the deals as inconsequential but those who are cultured know better that when one has nothing to say they rather keep quiet than bubble like someone chewing water.

It is all too clear that the shameless West and an embarrassed opposition who have been working hand in glove are enemies of such developments. And we need not be reminded that an enemy is an enemy, even when you dance on the water; he will still accuse you of raising dust particles into his eyes.

The visit is far from the vuvuzela politics that the country has been subjected to by opposition politicians and the Bretton Woods institutions but part of practical solutions that are going to wake up and release the Zimbabwean economy from the dungeons of the hurting economic sanctions imposed by the West.

Although the mega deals do not benefit Zanu-PF only but the entire population, them included, they seem to point to Zanu-PF as the sole beneficiary. Yes, politically the revolutionary party has scored a brilliant goal by its strong Sino- Zimbabwe relations.

There is no doubt and it is no secret that China is the world’s emerging economic giant and that Zimbabwe’s ideological ties with China that date back to the days of the liberation struggle places it right in the ward where the doctor is.

Even the West is now looking East. And in the likely event that the economic deals are seen to their fruition, Zimbabwe is going to emerge stronger among other African countries that currently bask in the glory of Western aid that the country has been denied.

However, in trying to unpack the Chinese leader’s heroic visit to Zimbabwe it is important to trace the historical narrative of the two countries dating back to the sad episodes of imperial conquest and colonial bondage when Zimbabweans suffered under the heartless British rule. There were also attempts to annex parts of China before the Second World War.

As such the methods of deriving independence through a protracted guerrilla armed struggle were more or less between the two countries, that is both Zimbabwe and China. In such a scenario and given that the international system is largely anarchical in pursuit of self-interests at the epicentre of each state actor’s realm, China and Zimbabwe share the same common interests at an international scale whose umbilical cord is the organic cooperation spanning historical and ideological epochs.

In addition one will not have missed the point to locate the coming of President Xi to Zimbabwe as a major fulfillment and exhibition that the Look East Policy put in place by the Government of Zimbabwe, solely by President Mugabe is fast coming to fruition and goes beyond mere megaphone diplomacy and political rhetoric.

Zimbabwe’s Look East Policy was a deliberate foreign policy stance adopted by President Mugabe following the diplomatic fallout between Zimbabwe and Britain and later the United States of America and the entire European Union.

As early as 1992 Zimbabwe announced an economic thrust to its foreign policy with a particular bias towards the Eastern bloc which anticipated among other economic endeavours, future trade, investments, joint ventures and tourists coming from the East.

Since 1980 Zimbabwe has pursued relations with the then Eastern Bloc, China, Cuba and North Korea because of their support for the country’s armed struggle and as a method of modulating its historically structured dependence on the West.

The relationship of Zimbabwe and the East precisely China intensified in the post-2000 era, the very same time of Zimbabwe’s antagonistic relations with the West.
The new millennium saw China adopting a policy to open new markets and trade relations through its initiative of the Forum of China Africa Co-operation (FOCAC).

Whereas the Look East Policy was once described as a desperate measure by Zimbabwe at a time the state was facing isolation from the West and the international community by the prophets of doom, the pending visit is not only an egg on the skeptics’ faces but a critical gesture of where China’s priorities lie.

The visit by the Chinese leader who has been in USA, Britain and now Zimbabwe is a clear exhibition that Sino-Zimbabwe relations are not a mere talk show, they are a reality and Zimbabwe is bound to benefit from the Chinese cake with its nemesis — America and Britain who are surprisingly lining up for a share of economic benefits from China as well.
Whereas it has been negatively prophesied by detractors that the Chinese have been reluctant to ride to Zimbabwe’s economic rescue but instead intends to use the Southern African country as a spring board into other African States, this thesis has been falsified by the successful visit of President Xi.

Yes, the visit by the Chinese President and his delegation seem to have overshadowed all other deals that the country had signed in an effort to drive the country’s economy out of the quagmire that it was in. The deals that were put on paper also seem to carry the budgetary hopes for the country and in an apparent admission of China’s economic status the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced its recognition of the Chinese currency by adding it to the global basket of its currencies.

The Bretton Woods institutions rejected the Chinese currency in 2010 saying the currency did not meet its criteria which are the volume of international trade and use of the currency in international trade. Now it has emerged that China without doubt has the biggest volume of international trade but only 2,5 percent of tabulated international trade uses the Yuan due to lack of recognition as a tradable currency.

The recognition of the Chinese currency by the West-controlled IMF is a major climb-down by the West and an admission that China is the fast lane to overtake the traditionally recognised international powerhouses such as America and Europe in its totality.

Although skeptics and those with a Biblical Thomas attitude say a considerable judgment on the efficacy of the Look East Policy require some time, the visit will surely unlock the country’s economic potential that has been locked by the West imposed sanctions after they accused the country of being a purveyor of a deadly contagious land take over and redistribution disease that was unwelcome to the social order hence the country was quarantined.

And in the country’s period of solitude, China proved to be keeping it company and exhibited the true values of a genuine friend. Yes, true to the saying a friend in need is a friend indeed. An all weather friend indeed.

ASKEPTIC is a person who, when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it is a forgery.” The quote is from Morris Bender, one of the most widely published neurologists of his generation. When Zimbabwe and China signed a number of bilateral agreements last year after the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mugabe visited China, there was some hullabaloo from the usual suspects who dismissed the visit as a waste of taxpayers’ money.

But last week, such doubting Thomases were left to eat humble pie when Chinese President, Xi Jinping made a reciprocal trip to Zimbabwe to make a follow-up on talks held in China, and also to ink more deals that will benefit the country. Of course, there are some within our midst who still think it’s all “forgery”, but judging by the political perspective in which they view things happening in our motherland, we can only pray that they wake up from their deep slumber and realise that indeed, the future looks bright.

The International Monetary Fund has now granted the Chinese currency reserve status, which means the Chinese yuan is one of the world’s strongest. Moreover, the largest telecoms equipment maker in the world is China and the biggest hydropower construction companies in the world are in China, including the biggest banks in the world; four of the top five according to Forbes are Chinese. That is why the visit by the Chinese President and his delegation was a milestone.

The visit by the Chinese President, whose economy is also the second biggest in the world to the US, put icing on the cake on an eventful year for Zimbabwe and President Mugabe, after the His Excellency started the year on a high, when he took over the reigns of leading the region and continent as chairman of Sadc and the AU.

It was the second visit to the country by a Chinese President since President Jiang Zemin visited Harare in 1996, and the fact that President Xi Jinping lived true to his promise of visiting Zimbabwe, showed that the country’s all weather friend was indeed sincere in giving a helping hand, and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries that started during the pre-independence era, with China assisting to liberate the country from the bondage of colonialism.

And China did not stop there, when the country attained independence, China continued to support the country, and even went a step further to remind the self-appointed “world prefects” the US and the UK, not to meddle in internal affairs of the country.

The two-day State visit by the Chinese President followed President Mugabe’s successful 13th State visit to China in August last year, where another set of nine mega deals was signed. And last week, 12 landmark agreements between the two countries to fund vital projects in key economic sectors were signed, and they are expected to give impetus to the county’s economic blueprint, Zim Asset. The signing of the new agreements, which cover key sectors such as infrastructure, telecommunications and energy was witnessed by Heads of State and Government of the two countries, President Mugabe and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Some of the deals included funding for the Hwange Power Station expansion. The expansion project at Hwange will see Sinohydro from China adding two units with a capacity of 600MW. There were further deals signs on aviation co-operation, construction of a national pharmaceutical warehouse and an agreement on the construction of a new Parliament building as well as communication and technology and courier services. There was also a donation from China of equipment for wildlife protection in Zimbabwe. Two more private sector agreements were also signed between International Business of China and China Africa Sunlight Energy on the development of coal and methane gas mines as well the establishment of 600MW thermal power station in Gwayi. The other agreement was between AVM Africa Limited and Beijing Automobile Assembly, among others.

Earlier on, President Mugabe had described China as Zimbabwe’s best friend at international level. He said the relationship between the two countries was not premised on the fact that China was a rich country, but that the Chinese were people of action. After attaining political independence, President Mugabe said, Zimbabwe embarked on another struggle to empower people economically. He said Zimbabwe was seeking financial support from the Chinese to convert the country’s vast natural resources into wealth.

“We now have freedom and the task at hand is to convert our natural resources into wealth for our people,” said President Mugabe.
In response, President Xi who was speaking through an interpreter, said China placed high premium to its relations with Zimbabwe. He said his visit, which was the only one on a bilateral level during his second visit to Africa, was in fulfilment of the promise that he made to President Mugabe last year that Zimbabwe would be his first destination on his second visit to Africa.

Other projects between Zimbabwe and China are already underway, and what is left is for policy implementers to put on their work suits and busy themselves with work on the ground. The President has played his part to source resources and support for projects that will truly transform people’s lives.

Vusumuzi Dube and Simba Dube Sunday News Reporters
A NKULUMANE man yesterday morning ran amok beating his wife, children and brutally attacking two neighbours with a shovel. The man, who is employed as a security guard, also destroyed property in his house and two of his neighbours’ window panes and doors using stones and a shovel. The family of Lovemore Khumalo (42) reportedly had to endure five hours of horror when he went on a rampage destroying property and beating his wife, Mrs Annah Khumalo, their children and a relative, Miss Ayanda Moyo, from 2am until around 7am yesterday.

It is further alleged that after the family had escaped from the family house, Mr Khumalo then went on to attack a neighbour identified as NaSharon who was sweeping outside her house with a shovel, leaving her lying in a pool of blood.

He then went on to attack another neighbour, identified as Mr Moyo who was cultivating his field.
Efforts to get a comment from national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi on the matter were fruitless.

However, when a Sunday News crew got to the scene, police officers were taking statements from Mrs Khumalo and neighbours. Neighbours interviewed said they were still shocked at the occurrence describing Mr Khumalo as a humble man who had no grudges with anyone. Some police officers were shielding Mr Khumalo from the crowd which was baying for his blood; others had lit up a tyre saying they wanted to burn him alive.

“We initially heard people screaming and shouting at around 7am. When I went outside I saw Mr Khumalo beating Mr Moyo, who was lying helplessly in his field, with a shovel. It was so horrific because he seemed not to care that the person he was attacking was lying helplessly.

“It was difficult for us to intervene because he was armed with this shovel and he was also using stones to assault anyone who tried to stop him. It was then that I noticed that he had also attacked NaSharon who was lying in a pool of blood in front of her house,” said Mr Timothy Phiri, a neighbour who witnessed the incident.
Mr Bruce Ndlovu, who was chased after by Khumalo while trying to attack him with a shovel, said he was fortunate he was able to outpace Khumalo.

“I just came across him as I was on my way home and he started chasing me with a shovel and some stones. I’m lucky to have survived otherwise I could have been injured or killed,” he said.

In an interview, Mrs Khumalo revealed that her husband started shouting in prayer non-stop from midnight and when she asked what the problem was, he started beating and biting her arms threatening to kill her. Mrs Khumalo also pointed out that her husband started vandalising property and they had to seek refuge from neighbours.
Miss Moyo, who stays at the same house with the Khumalos, said they reported Khumalo to the police but they delayed in coming to arrest him.

“We initially heard Mrs Khumalo screaming at around 2am. When we tried to help her, my uncle became so violent and he overpowered us. At first we thought he was demon possessed and we tried to sprinkle him with anointed water but the problem persisted and we could not hold him since we were only females so we escaped.

“I then decided to report the matter to Tshabalala Police Station, but the police were too reluctant to help. They told us they could only come and pick him up in the morning,” said Miss Moyo.

Police sources who spoke to this publication said NaSharon was in the Intensive Care Unit at Mpilo Central Hospital while Mr Moyo was in a stable condition.
“We took Mr Khumalo to Tshabalala Police Station where he is assisting police with investigations, we are also checking on the lady victim’s condition because she is very critical. So at the moment he will be charged with attempted murder among other charges relating to damaging property,” said the police source.

Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
THE Zanu-PF Parliamentary candidate for Nkulumane constituency, Cde Killian Sibanda, has launched a door-to-door campaign ahead of the 19 December by-election. Cde Sibanda took his campaign to the people of Nkulumane and is optimistic of a clean sweep come election time.  Addressing party supporters at Sekusile Shopping Complete in Nkulumane yesterday morning, Cde Sibanda called on the supporters to campaign peacefully.

“As you go to people’s homes do it in peace; you just have to preach unity, development and empowerment to them. We want this to work for us and it is possible if done peacefully,” he said.

Last week, President Mugabe urged Cde Sibanda to campaign vigorously if he is to win the election. He said campaigning was a morale booster and the whole party was going to support Cde Sibanda and ensure that he wins the seat which fell vacant after the death of MDC-T legislator Thamsanqa Mahlangu in September this year.
Asked on what he had in store for the people of Nkulumane, Cde Sibanda said he was the link between the people and Government.

“I am offering linkage and visibility to the people. I will ensure that I connect them to the right people in Government that will aid in the development of the constituency. Opposition forces cannot give this to the people,” he said.

He said those that are going to vote for an opposition candidate are risking development that should come their way. The people of Nkulumane constituency have been clashing with council rangers and Cde Sibanda promised to get to the bottom of the issue. Cde Absalom Sikhosana who also attended the launch said during the campaign that will go on until 18 December, party members should inform the people about the Zanu-PF candidate.

“Tell the people of the Zanu-PF candidate so that they know who to vote for, give them all the information that they need about Cde Sibanda and they will stand behind him,” he said.

He also said those that were not interested to hear about the campaign should be left alone so as to avoid clashes.
“Abangafuniyo ukuthi lingene emzini yabo batshiyeni. We want to go with humility to people’s homes, and when one is not interested just move to the next house. We do not want violence at all,” he said.

Nkulumane constituency is estimated to have approximately 16 000 registered voters.
Cde Sibanda has so far held 56 meetings with residents as a means to inform them about his plans. He said smaller meetings proved effective as people attended.

Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
TRUE to her word, the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, provided more than enough food for over 5 000 people who had gathered at Maphisa Growth Point in Matobo District on Thursday with the distribution spilling into Friday morning. So plentiful was the consignment brought in by Dr Mugabe that one truckload had to be sent to Gutu where she had another rally on Friday morning.

Confirming the development, Matobo North legislator Cde Never Khanye said the distribution lasted all night.
“I have been here from yesterday (Thursday) afternoon when the distribution started and it went on all night long until today (Friday) mid-morning. Everyone who attended received food and everyone is very happy,” Cde Khanye told a Sunday News crew at Maphisa Growth Point on Friday morning.
He said the distribution was done in an orderly fashion and some people even received double portions.

“There was so much food and we realised that others were now receiving for the second time and we then stopped the distribution and channeled the truck of rice to Gutu in Masvingo where Cde Mugabe has a rally today (Friday),” he said.

Cde Khanye said the truckload of rice was diverted to Masvingo so as to assist those that were in need of food as his people had received enough.
The food, he said, was meant for the people of Matobo District but they also distributed to those that came from surrounding districts like Beitbridge, Insiza and Umzingwane who came to support them.

The chairman for Ward 20 in Insiza, Mr Thembisani Dube, who was still at the growth point on Friday mid-morning together with scores of people from the district, said they were happy about the gesture by the First Lady.

“We are pleased by the food aid we received as you can see we slept here as the distribution was done throughout the night, some of us only got our share early in the morning and we are ready to leave for Insiza,” he said.
He said the process was fair and people managed to get something out of the whole consignment.

Mrs Lizzy Chikosi, also from Insiza, said she was happy that she had food to take back to her family and applauded the First Lady for remembering her children as she is the mother of the nation.

“A mother never forgets her children and this is what Amai has done, she has remembered to feed us her children and we are forever grateful for this,” she said.
Cde Khanye further said food meant for drought relief is already available.

“Parts of the district that are in need of food aid will be getting their share soon as maize has already been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board. In Matobo at least five out of 14 wards are in dire need of food,” he said.

“We asked the First Lady to inform the President that we need assistance to construct dams as all the water from our rivers flows directly in to the Limpopo River. We have to harness that water and have irrigation schemes in each ward that will benefit us as a district.”

Several parts of Matobo have very low rainfall patterns and are constantly in need of food aid yearly, the irrigation schemes will change their fortunes if they manage to harness water from the major rivers.

Nduduzo Tshuma recently in Johannesburg, South Africa
President Mugabe and China’s President Xi Jinping had an emotional farewell at the end of the Summit of the Forum on China Africa Co-operation in Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday. After bidding other African Heads of State goodbye, President Xi requested a special moment with President Mugabe. And then the two leaders spoke, holding hands in solidarity, for close to 10 minutes.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, who witnessed the farewell, said, “It was such an emotional moment when President Xi moved from where he was seated and requested to make a special farewell to President Mugabe.

“The leaders engaged in a warm conversation as they held hands, and one would easily mistake the South African event for the continuation of President Xi’s state visit to Zimbabwe.”

Minister Mumbengegwi said of the Summit: “The high watermark was the opening session when (Presidents Mugabe, Xi and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma) spoke. The function for President Xi was to spell out what China had in terms of assistance to Africa for the next three years.

“The President commended China for the positive developments it was bringing to Africa and also outlining Africa’s position in terms of what they expected and appreciated in the relationship, and how the relationship was different from the former colonisers.”

President Mugabe got rousing applause from the 40-plus Heads of State in attendance, with President Zuma describing the African Union Chair’s delivery as rich in wisdom. At the roundtable discussions, President Mugabe said: “As you are aware, China, together with Russia, exercised their veto to block attempts by Britain, the United States and the European Union to bring Zimbabwe under Chapter VII (sanctions) of the Charter of the United Nations.

“Zimbabwe and China have, thus, had historical relations which have made them all-weather friends. We both cherish the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations which include those of the equality of nations and their right of self determination.”
President Mugabe highlighted that China was Zimbabwe’s largest investor, with companies from that country implementing several major projects.

“Zimbabwe is currently implementing its economic blueprint, support set, which is anchored on indigenisation, empowerment and employment creation. Our economic blueprint is propelled by the judicious exploration of our abundant natural resources.

“With value-addition and beneficiation of our natural resources as its policies, Zimbabwe welcomes China’s support for facilitating and encouraging more Chinese enterprises to invest in its productive sectors and financial institutions.”

President Mugabe said last week’s successful visit to Zimbabwe by President Xi was clear testimony to the ever-growing Harare-Beijing partnership.
“President Xi Jinping’s visit afforded us the opportunity to review the state of our bilateral co-operation. It enabled us to conclude agreements in several sectors. We also were able to exchange views on global issues of mutual concern. I want to again thank you, President Xi Jinping, for that memorable visit,” he said. And in an interview with China’s CCTV, Zimbabwe’s leader said the US$60 billion development aid from China would transform African economies from being exporters of raw materials to producers of higher value processed products.

President Mugabe described as nonsense claims that China was colonising Africa, saying former European colonisers were actually the ones who continued to plunder the continent’s resources. He also slammed illegal Western sanctions on Zimbabwe as an example of this still subsisting predatory approach by ex-colonisers.
On Friday, at the Summit’s opening, President Xi outlined China’s US$60 billion funding structure.

The development financing includes US$5 billion in grants and zero-interest loans, US$35 billion in concessional loans, an additional US$5 billion to the China Africa Development Fund, and an initial contribution of US$10 billion to the China-Africa Fund for Production Capacity Co-operation.

President Xi said the plan will support creation of industrial parks and regional education centres, as well as training 200 000 African technical personnel.
Agriculture modernisation will involve technology transfer, large-scale grain storage and animal husbandry. Agricultural specialists will be deployed to 100 African villages.

President Xi said China would help with planning, design, construction and maintenance of railways, roads, aviation and maritime ports, and energy installations; in addition to building five transport universities.

Beijing will push its financial institutions to open branches in Africa to spur co-operation.
Further, China and Africa have identified 50 trade-for-aid programmes. The Asian giant will also participate in building the African Centre for Disease Control, a venture that will see 20 Chinese hospitals partnering 20 South African health institutions.

Another US$60 million will go to building the African Standby Force and African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa

Lungile Tshuma Sunday News Correspondent
FINANCE and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa gave workers who were retrenched on three months’ notice an early Christmas present in his 2016 National Budget Statement when he announced that all those fired following the 17 July Supreme Court ruling will get their pensions without being taxed. According to the announcement, workers who will get $10 000 or less will not be taxed at all while those who will receive pension payouts of up to $60 000 will have a third of their money being exempted from tax, a facility which was previously reserved for the prescribed retirement age of 55.

At least 20 000 workers were retrenched following the ruling which gave employers power to terminate workers’ contracts at any time, without offering them packages by giving them three months’ notice.

The Government then amended the law with retrenched workers getting a minimum retrenchment package of one month’s pay for every two years served. The amendment was backdated to July 2015, meaning employers who retrenched since then will have to fork out for payouts they thought they avoided.

Presenting the 2016 National Budget Statement, Cde Chinamasa said due to the harsh economic conditions, workers who were retrenched deserve not to be taxed so that they can be able to start a new life.

“The current legislation provides for exemption from income tax on a third of the total value of the pension or annuity commuted by an individual who has attained the prescribed age of 55 years. In terms of Pension Fund rules, a member who is retrenched before attaining the prescribed age of 55 years is deemed to be a pensioner and is allowed to commute a third of the total value of the pension or annuity,” said Cde Chinamasa.

“However, the commutation is subject to tax. Due to the current economic challenges, a number of employees are being retrenched before attaining the prescribed retirement age of 55 years. Most of these employees, however, have minimal opportunities to be re-employed.

“In order to provide relief to retrenched employees who have not yet attained the prescribed retirement age, I propose to exempt a minimum value of $10 000 or one third of the total value of the pension or annuity up to a maximum of $60 000.

“Future pension payouts accruing to these retrenched employees will, however, not benefit from the income tax exemption.”
Economic analyst Mr Bongani Ngwenya said the reprieve is a good incentive which will assist retrenchees in making decisions regarding their future.

“To employees who were retrenched, what matters most is that they are going to get their money in full. It is a reprieve because that little money whether it’s a dollar or less than that which was going to be taxed, will go a long way in assisting them.

“This is really good because the future still looks bright for retrenched workers and this is the best which the minister can do in assisting retrenched workers,” said Mr Ngwenya.
Mr Ngwenya also advised ex-employees to start up business ventures. He said many people who during the economic hardship of 2008 had lost hope, started their own business ventures and are now doing well. With the money people are going to get, Mr Ngwenya said, their lives will be rejuvenated.

“The majority of people who were retrenched should also try to establish their own small business. There are some people who are doing well in their small to medium enterprises.
“On average, employees were getting good salaries hence they are going to have more money which they should use wisely,” he said.

Gweru-based economic analyst Mr Trust Chikohora described the reprieve as a “pain killer”.
He applauded the minister for the move as failure to do so was “going to inflict more pain to retrenched workers”.

“I can describe what happened as a pain killer. The real problem is still there and that involves helping people get new jobs.
“However, the Government did a good thing because their full package, no matter how small it can be it is going to assist them.

“We also hope that these Chinese deals which were signed are going to unlock some opportunities which retrenched workers can utilise,” said Mr Chikohora.

Kiki Divaris

Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO’S modelling industry yesterday plunged into mourning after learning of the death of legendary modelling instructor and philanthropist, Vassiliki Babaletakis Divaris, warmly known as Kiki Divaris.

She was 90. Divaris died in her sleep on Friday after succumbing to an illness.

She died at Borrowdale Clinic Trauma Centre in Harare. Bulawayo veteran modelling instructor Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda, who was one of her closest acquaintances, said she was deeply heart broken and that the industry had lost a great icon.

“I am so heart broken. I realise now that she had so much belief in me in my knowledge of the industry. When the Miss Zimbabwe Trust failed to host the event some years ago she approached me and told me I could do it and we hosted the first and only ever Miss Zimbabwe event to be held in Bulawayo.

“Also I remember when it was struggling and wanted to partner with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, she had me fly to Harare for a meeting that lasted hours. I remember we left the meeting in the early hours of the following day. I really learnt a lot from her, she was passionate about the industry. Her death is a great loss to the fraternity. She was truly a humble person. I loved her with all my heart, I am happy to have met her,” said Mpofu-Sibanda.

Former Miss Bulawayo and Miss Zimbabwe 1996 Nomusa Ndiweni expressed the same sentiments, saying despite the differences they had she was indeed the greatest patron to the modelling industry.

“I am still in shock, I saw her last year and we reconciled. We reflected and talked about our lives and the industry. I am glad to have met her and to have been a part of her life. Her death is the end of an era but her legacy will surely live on. She was the real deal when it came to modelling, she was the real McCoy. I am proud to have worked with her. She knew the true essence of pageantry and we hope that what she bestowed upon us will remain and will be passed down to other generations,” said Ndiweni.

Divaris became known shortly after Zimbabwe gained Independence, as a renowned designer. She designed the dress that was worn by the first black Miss Zimbabwe.

She became president of the Greek Hellenic Ladies’ Association, and worked closely with the late First Lady Amai Sally Mugabe, before becoming chair of the Child Survival and Development Foundation, whose patron was President Mugabe. She is survived by two sons, Sotirios and Dimitris, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mourners are gathered at 68 Churchill Avenue, Alexandra Park, Harare.

A woman reads a banner advertising Zanu-PF’s 15th Annual People’s Conference at the Tent Village in Victoria Falls, Tuesday December 8.

Leonard Ncube, Sunday News Online

PRIVATE homeowners in Victoria Falls have hiked rentals as they seek to cash in on the 15^th Annual Zanu-PF People’s Conference which started yesterday.

Mainline hotels and lodges in the resort town which have a combined 3,400 beds are fully booked for the week, thereby throwing a lifeline to private home owners to cash in on the development, charging between $30 and $35 per night per room.

Zanu-PF local organising committee, chaired by former Victoria Falls Mayor Alderman Nkosilathi Jiyane, and charged with organising accommodation for delegates, reportedly pegged private accommodation at an average of $35.

It was all-systems-ready for the Zanu-PF 15th Annual Peoples Conference which started Monday, December 7 at the Tent-Village in Victoria-Falls.President Mugabe is expected to officially open the conference on Friday.

About 6 500 delegates, of which 2 500 are VIPs, are expected at the conference which ends on Sunday.

The VIPs are booked in mainstream hotels and lodges while the majority will be accommodated at schools.

Most residents have upgraded their houses into private lodges and are offering accommodation to visitors to the city.

A room that used to cost $20 is now pegged at between $30 and $35. During off peak periods some rooms even cost $10, but now they are attracting $35.

Zanu-PF’s two Second Secretaries and Vice Presidents Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko toured the venue over the weekend.

Most of those seeking accommodation at private houses are service providers drawn from different government Ministries whose accommodation is not covered by Zanu-PF and they share a room in threes or fours.

Demand for accommodation is usually high when there are big conferences and residents cash in on the opportunity.

A view of the Tent Village which hosts Zanu-PF’s 15th Annual People’s Conference from 7 to 13 December, 2015.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Chief Operating Officer Givemore Chidzidzi recently said the hosting of the revolutionary party’s conference was a rare business opportunity for private home owners and an early boost for tourism players ahead of the festive season.