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Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondent
The Midlands Provincial Peace Committee has been successfully launched, amid calls for the new peace advocates to spearhead resolution of conflicts mainly in the artisanal mining sector where conflict has often led to machete attacks in Kwekwe, Shurugwi, Lower Gweru and Zhombe.

The Midlands Provincial Peace Committee will be led by Commissioner Netty Musanhu and two deputies, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Cde Vongai Mpereri from Zanu-PF.

The Provincial Peace Committee comprises of 40 people drawn from political parties, Government, traditional leaders, churches, arts and cultural organisations, civil society, business, academia, persons with disabilities, women and youth, among others.

Speaking at the provincial launch, National Peace and Reconciliation Commission chairperson Justice Selo Nare implored the committee to promote tolerance building and provide strategic advice and early warning on potential threats to the peace and stability of the communities.

“It is your duty to promote peace within the province, create spaces for dialogue between groups and communities and for the exchange of ideas on issues that may threaten peace and stability,” he   said.

“I have been informed that a lot of conflict is prevailing in the artisanal mining sector in various districts in this province. It is an area where you need to intervene and proffer sustainable solutions.”

Justice Nare said Zimbabwe was undergoing a critical political and economic transition that has potential to transform the country towards sustainable development and improvement of citizens’   lives.

He said the peace committees will cascade to the district, ward and village level so that all levels of national structures are involved in the consummation of   peace.

“The committee will engage in public education, sensitisation and awareness about conflict indicators and how to ameliorate them while facilitating organisation of activities that build friendships, promote trust and goodwill between communities in conflict,” he said.

The NPRC is mandated to heal past conflicts, redress current hurts and fears while re-setting the foundation for peace now and in the future.

Charmaine Brown and Natasha Kokai
Government is set to engage investors to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure for higher and tertiary education institutions through public-private partnerships, as part of the attainment of Vision 2030.

Speaking during the Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust breakfast meeting in Harare recently, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development deputy director Ms Maria Adriano said the ministry was set to engage various investors to discuss how to develop formal infrastructure for education.

The breakfast meeting was organised by the Students’ Academic Freedom Regional Advocacy Programme in order to discuss issues concerning student academic freedom.

“The ministry shall engage investors to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure for higher and tertiary education institutions through public-private partnerships, Build, Operate and Transfer and other transfer arrangements,” said Ms Adriano.

“The inter-linkages of our institutions of higher learning both in research collaborations and credit transfer to enable student mobility as guided by the Zimbabwe National Qualifications Framework shall be key in turning the higher and tertiary education, science and technology development sector into an export product.”

Ms Adriano said the main aim was to cultivate an inspiring environment for nurturing students.

She said the ministry adopted two additional missions that are innovation and industrialisation, effectively reorienting Education 3.0 to Education 5.0 in order to deliver a competitive, industrialised and modernised Zimbabwe.

Midlands Reporter
FARMERS in the Midlands are grappling with a high livestock mortality rate as a result of unavailability of water and pastures.

The farmers have since been urged to consider supplementary feeding to save their livestock.

The summer cropping season was characterised by prolonged dry spells in the province which affected pastures.

The dire situation has also been exacerbated by veld fires that destroyed vast acres of grazing land during last year’s fire season.

Midlands provincial crop and livestock officer Mrs Madeline Magwenzi said a crop and livestock assessment programme conducted in the province indicated the need for farmers to start considering supplementary feeding for their livestock.

She said the assessment by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement showed that Mberengwa, Zvishavane and Gokwe North districts were the most affected.

Supplementary feeds

“Our livestock in the province is dying,” said Mrs Magwenzi.

“We urge farmers to start giving their livestock supplementary feeds.

“We are on the lookout for diseases and so we are advocating for dipping cattle, to vaccinate them from diseases such as tick borne disease that are affecting some areas in the province.”

Mrs Magwenzi said maize did not do well in natural regions four and five which she said received less than 140mm of rain-fall.

“So, across the province there is no good grain,” she said.

“Gokwe South, which has been our backbone, has nothing. Gweru and Kwekwe are better because there are groundnuts, but the popular sweet potato is in short supply since it didn’t do well.

“The most affected area is Mberengwa, where some areas didn’t receive any rains like in Zvomukonde.”

Johannesburg — Zimbabwean company Twenty Third Century Systems (TTCS) — a pan-African corporate specialising in information technology solutions — has fallen foul of dirty tactics, after winning a lucrative tender in Malawi.

TTCS last September won a US$15 million Integrated Financial Management System tender adding to its huge profile in East and Southern African markets.

However, according to a report by News of the South, TTCS has become a victim of mudslinging from a competitor, Indian company Techno Brain.

According to reports, TTCS and Germany IT giant SAP are Techno Brain’s biggest competitors across the African continent.

TTCS has operations in most countries where Techno Brain is also operating. In recent years, it is alleged that TTCS has taken away significant business from Techno Brain in Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania and other African counties.

Techno Brain offers solutions in tax and revenue management as well as in finance, that TTCS and SAP, have spread.

Slighted by the latest reversal, Techno Brain has reportedly gone for broke to scuttle TTCS, allegedly hiring an ex-employee, who is also a former SAP employee, to raise misconduct allegations against TTCS.

“There was tangible anger when Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) was lost to SAP, as this was a key account for the company,” a source told this publication.

“Techno Brain has since been trying directly and indirectly to discredit TTCS to TPA, allegedly working with some TPA executives, as a way of getting back at TTCS,” the source said.

Investigations have revealed that Techno Brain is also known to be using the same tactics against TTCS’ other clients in the      region.

Recently, a range of internet publications and articles were published in the Malawian press to discredit the tender process which culminated in TTCS being awarded the contract.

Investigations also revealed that Techno Brain also tried to influence several institutions and civic society organisations in Malawi to discredit the award to TTCS, all meant to have the IFMIS award cancelled.

It has since been established that the timing of revelations by the so-called whistleblower on contracts that were signed in Tanzania more than three years earlier, was aimed at derailing the IFMIS deal in Malawi.

Each time contract negotiations were scheduled, coincidentally an article disparaging TTCS would be published, sanctioning TTCS to undergo further scrutiny before the deal could be done.

As TTCS got cleared, the spread of venomous articles increased in social media, where this so-called whistleblower story was leaked, portraying TTCS as corrupt, with one story going viral on the eve of the contract.

Further investigations have confirmed that the Techno Brain’s hitman, working with a senior Techno Brain executive, had been instructed and paid to give details of partners he had worked with, especially targeting     TTCS.

“The threats and intimidation became more vicious as IFMIS was awarded to TTCS and just before contract signing,” another source close to the developments said.

An industry observer told this publication: “Technology industry players find this quite frightening to think at what lengths firms will go to, to get these coveted opportunities and retain market share.

“The saga of these happenings, apparently so emanated to territory encroachment since TTCS is said to have taken away the prime Tanzania Ports deal, another customer of Techno Brain who had outgrown their  solutions.” —News of the South/Herald Reporter.

Osbert Mashonganyika Manicaland Correspondent
A Greenside woman last week drowned in Chikanga Extension water reservoir where she had allegedly gone to perform traditional rituals with friends.

Bridget Mangazi’s body was discovered floating in the dam by Joseph Mutimudye, a Chikanga resident, who alerted the police.

Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident.

He said Mangazi (28) had gone to the dam with five friends for traditional rituals, but fell into the reservoir while relieving herself.

“Instead of helping her, her friends left her and rushed to Himalaya Village, under Chief Zimunya to look for her parents as they believed she had been taken by a mermaid,” said Insp Kakohwa

Mangazi’s body was discovered by a passer-by before her friends returned.

The Police Sub Aqua Unit was called in to retrieve the body.

SPIELBERG. — Max Verstappen overcame a poor start to storm to the sixth victory of his Formula One career and end Mercedes’ record unbeaten start to the season when he triumphed in yesterday’s thrilling Austrian Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old Dutchman, who won last year’s race at the Spielberg circuit, recovered after dropping to seventh and charged through to battle past Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in stirring fashion with two laps remaining.

His dramatic overtaking move was immediately announced as under investigation by the stewards, Leclerc feeling that he was given insufficient space as Verstappen forced him wide off the circuit.

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas came home third ahead of Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari and defending five-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes, the series leader having suffered front wing and heating problems.

British rookie Lando Norris was an excellent sixth for McLaren ahead of Pierre Gasly in the second Red Bull, Carlos Sainz who finished eighth in the second McLaren after starting from the back of the grid, Kimi Raikkonen and his Alfa Romeo team-mate Antionio Giovinazzi.

“After that start, I thought my race was over,” said Verstappen. “But after the pit-stops we were flying. It was hard racing — and if that’s not allowed, what’s the point in racing in F1. We may as well go home.” His victory brought Red Bull’s engine supplier Honda their first win since the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix after returning to Formula One.

Leclerc said: “I had more degradation than I thought at the end – we touched and I had to go wide and I didn’t have a chance to fight back.” — AFP.

LONDON. — Arsenal are open to selling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but will demand at least £56 million for the striker, according to reports.

The 30-year-old ended up sharing the Golden Boot in his first full season in the English Premier League by scoring 22 goals for Arsenal, while he netted another eight times in the Europa League. But Arsenal’s campaign ended badly as Unai Emery’s side were beaten by Chelsea in the Europa League final, meaning that they failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League football.  That setback has severely restricted Arsenal’s transfer budget this summer as the club have £45m to spend and need to offload several first-team players if they want to boost their funds.

According to The Times, the Gunners have made Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan available but both players have not attracted any interest. The club would also consider offloading Aubameyang but their initial asking price would be £56 million — which is what they paid to sign the striker from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018. Earlier this month, Aubameyang was linked with a shock move to Manchester United, while reports in Italy claimed last week that he had “agreed” a switch to Old Trafford.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are looking to raise their funds as they are keen to complete a deal with Crystal Palace for Wilfried Zaha. The Cote d’lvoire international is valued at £80m by Palace, while the club are also reluctant to sell their star player after agreeing a £50m deal with Manchester United for Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Zaha, however, is understood to be intent on a move to Arsenal and is hoping that Palace lower their asking price. Crystal Palace are determined not to lose Zaha this summer and have slapped a £100 million price tag on his head as he continues to be linked with Arsenal. — Metro.

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Reporter
The unsustainably high number of litigation cases involving the City of Harare and its former and current employees, which is bleeding council of ratepayers’ money running into millions of dollars, is attributable to a lack of appreciation of basic good corporate governance practices, legal experts have said.

Harare is spending ratepayers’ money in fighting and settling litigation instituted by unlawfully fired employees, who go on to win their cases in the courts.

The MDC-Alliance-run council’s blundering is bleeding the city when it comes to the much-needed revenue that could be utilised to fund key priority areas, amid reports that council is saddled with huge workers’ claims for damages coupled with legal fees.

Auditor-General Mildred Chiri on Friday revealed that Harare borrowed $32,5 million to fund salaries and terminal benefits without ministerial approval, in clear violation of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15).

Council is expected to fork out close to $8 million in a labour settlement involving six retired top managers, namely treasurer Mr Misheck Mubvumbi, business development manager Mr Cosmas Zvikaramba, housing and community services manager Mr Justine Chivavaya, urban planning services manager Mr Psychology Chiwanga, health director Dr Stanley Mungofa and director amenities Mr Dombo Chibanda.

The six were forced to leave employment before reaching the retirement age of 65.

Mr Mubvumbi has since been paid in excess of $800 000 for damages, according to his lawyers.

The quantification of damages was reached on the grounds that the managers were retrenched in 2014 and the Supreme Court handed down its judgment last year.

This means the council has to pay for the four years they were not at work plus damages in lieu of reinstatement because their positions were already filled, thus they cannot be reinstated.

Mr Mubvumbi was city treasurer until 2014 when council reduced the retirement age from 65 to 60 and he was among over 1 000 workers sent home.

Recently, Harare Municipality Workers’ Union chairman Mr Cosmas Bungu won his appeal for reinstatement after a protracted 10-year legal wrangle.

In the event that council refuses to reinstate him, the local authority has an obligation to pay him damages in excess of $1 million.

In 2017 alone, council lost $700 000 in default judgments.

Legal experts who spoke to The Herald said the City was poorly run, describing most of the local authority’s bureaucrats as ignorant to due diligence.

Former mayor and veteran lawyer Mr Muchadeyi Masunda said councillors, including the mayor, needed to understand that they were primarily responsible for formulating the policy framework within which the city council should operate in compliance with the enabling legislation — the Urban Councils Act — as read with any other relevant and applicable pieces of legislation.

“The elected councillors also have oversight responsibilities, which, however, do not entitle them to assume and exercise any executive duties of hiring and firing any member of staff for allegedly errant behaviour,” he said.

“In this latter regard, they have to be guided by the chamber secretary and his/her team of in-house legal practitioners, in close conjunction with the human capital (human resources) director. If necessary, these two heads of department can seek, with the city council’s approval, assistance from external firms of professional advisers.”

Mr Masunda said the council could best reduce the number of litigation cases instituted against it by making sure that at all material times, there is strict adherence to the hallowed principle of segregation of duties.

“I am an ardent believer in letting experts handle cases which fall within the ambit of their respective areas of expertise,” he said.

“It is a matter of regrettable and grave concern that, during the best part of the First Republic, elected officials at both central and local government levels arrogated to themselves powers which they neither had constitutionally nor were able to discharge professionally.”

Another legal expert, Mr Obert Gutu, said the administration of the City of Harare was in shambles and called for a complete overhaul of the local authority.

“The level of lethargy, laziness, indolence, incompetence, ineptitude and corruption within the city administration is unparalleled,” he said. “As it is, the concept of due diligence is an unknown factor amongst the majority of the local authority bureaucrats.

“Most of their decisions and actions are random, ill-thought out, illegal and in some cases, vapidly and rabidly corrupt. Council administration should be urgently cleansed of all the incompetent and corrupt elements most of whom have overstayed their usefulness at Town House.”

In 2015, Mr Bernard Manyenyeni, then city mayor, had to flee rowdy councillors who were baying for his blood after he reportedly described some of them as “functionally illiterate” or “uneducated” because of the manner they conducted council business.

The poor corporate governance is seen as an impediment to President Mnangagwa’s aspirations into turn around fortunes of the country to an upper middle class economy by 2030.

This is also hampering the city officials’ aspirations to turn Harare into a world class city by the year 2025.

Blessings Chidakwa in Kadoma
Government has ordered the City of Kadoma to decommission and urgently demolish General Barracks and Single Quarters housing in Rimuka to pave for the construction of flats.

The move is part of Government efforts to bring sanity and improved accommodation for citizens in urban centres across the country.

At least 1 000 people are living in GB’s and SQ’s and share communal toilets, while the area has no access to potable water, exposing them to deadly disease outbreaks.

Many people were victims of the cholera outbreak in 2008 in the area, amid reports that at least five adults share a single room.

In support of Government’s thrust towards modern housing facilities, private land developers here have also donated 50 residential stands earmarked for the relocation of the occupants, while council also hinted on availing its own land.

In his remarks during a full council meeting last week, Kadoma Mayor Alderman Action Nyamukondiwa said senior Government officials who toured the area during the recent clean-up campaign highlighted the need to relocate the  residents.

“After the clean-up campaign, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga made a follow-up and had an interface with council officials, as well as land developers in the city where Craft Properties donated 30 stands, 20 being for the relocation of GBs and SQ residents and the other 10 for people living with disabilities in Kadoma,” he said.

Destiny Africa land developers donated a further 30 stands for the residents to be relocated.

“As council we are also going to avail our own land earmarked for the relocation exercise,” he said.

Deputy Minister Mhlanga visited the area in the company of Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka during the clean-up campaign.

On the relocation of the residents in the GBs, Alderman Nyamukondiwa said council had made arrangements to cater for the affected people.

“There is a 2016 resolution stipulating that any tenant with 20 years or more staying in that house and up to date financial books with council is entitled to get the house free of charge,” he said. “While those with less than 20 years will calculate on a pro rata basis and evaluate the price value of the house.”

Alderman Nyamukondiwa said council would embark on an exercise on each block in the SQs to note those willing to move out and receive the donated stands before the area is destroyed.

A recommendation is expected to be tabled before council after the final assessment of the affected residents.