Time flies ladies and gentlemen, this time around last year people were busy asking about zvigunwe kkk hanzi people are making money nekutengesa zvigumwe, but nyaya yacho yakazongopera and I am yet to see mbinga with some missing toes kkkk. But maZimbo so, regai titambure coz zvimwe zvinhu zvatinoita serious nazvoka. Takamboudzwa kuti chihuta will transform the economy, jatropha rikauyawo, imi woye, zvakaoma.It was just one of the many social media frenzy that is a result of poverty. Right now everyone is busy with Mai Titi. That lady is fond of controversy and is busy tarnishing our images as women. Haa but I think now she will take her motivational skits to Chikurubi. However, while everyone was captivated by Mai Titi, our own parliament was busy upholding ZECs US$20 000 presidential nomination fee kkkk. Thats what they are good at, they throw around controversial issues and Zimbos nekuda zvinhu will be busy netunyaya tusina basa while they do what they want. This is what they are going to do come election time, munenge muri busy nezvisina basa while they are busy rigging the election. Come on Zimbabweans, wake up and smell the coffee. We should be fighting Sikhala’s release not vana Mai Titi, mukasadaro hatina kwatoenda, infact, kwatiri kuenda hapana. We are going back where we came from.
Ama2000 are lucky, our president Cde Trabablas Dzokerai Mabhunu has decided not to be outdone by the late uncle bob and is taking this country back a bit, vasina kuona 2008 here is your chance. Soon and very soon, Ndobva Ndafunga zvangu Brenda Fassie, soon and very soon we will all be billionaires ndikuudzei, everyone will become a millionaire if not billionaires. Zviya zvekuti anaMasiiwa are the only billionaires is going to be a thing of the past. Soon Zim will cease to be called a land locked country, kuVID it will not be called a cattle country, everywhere, and it will be a country of billionaires kkkk. Zvekuzoti uri billionaire in which currency reratovawo drama. But honestly speaking, what I love about this government which is far much better than the ones in heaven according to trabablas is that inotienzanisa kkkk. Whether uri ku Chamisa Chete Chete, Zanu, KwaTogarasei, Mangoma, Egypt Dzinemunhenzva or kwaTyson, we are all being affected nerate. hazvinei kuti uri KuFAZ or Heritage, it doesn’t matter kana uri kuRiot Police which is sent to deprive us from demonstrating or kuArmy, tese tiri kungochema neRtgs.
You know what I think now? I think its the time to cut at least 2 zeroes? I know it won’t solve the problem but I think zviri nani pakuti tibate matrillion. Nhai Panonetsa naMtuvi, you can go and get a few notes from Gono, he is still alive inga wani, he is just thin like Mai Mujuru and Biti kkkk. But Mukati Mai Mujuru naBiti naGono havana ukama imi? I think Tinashe Mugabe should look into this. But all I am saying Mazero avakuda kuwandisa, let’s do the Gono’s famous from Zero to Hero, thank me later then this year becomes the real gore rezvidzidzo. Riya ramaiti rezvidzidzo I don’t think it matches 2023, remember we are reviewing Cala kkkk.
Makorokoto Masvingo Makarangarirwa nemukuru last week, at least you got a chance to see Trabablas achiri President, by end of August he will be former president kkkk. Handisini ndadaro, I am neither a prophet nor a seer, ndingori gentlemen handivanze chete. Zvekuti he will no longer be president zvakataurwa, this is the year which Zanu PF will be defeated, ndiChamisa akadaro. I know you want to say he said the same in 2018 but lost. I am sure this time he has upped his game. I heard despite taking us back like Zanu PF, CCC is confident that they will win this election, vasina mastructures kudaro end of August Trabablas won’t be in office. Yeah CCC took people back and did primary elections which they were avoiding in most areas kkk, the most amusing thing is that vakaita Bereka mwana kkkk. Haa vakomanaka, but at least you allowed candidates to bus people from Mashava, Vamwe kwaMushandike, vamwe Kuzaka Chaiko kkkk. Ko ndovadiiwo when the process is flawed, what is important is to win, zvimwe zvese is just drama. Few days before nomination court, we are yet to know CCC candidates, mukati variko imi? What game is the young man playing? I heard he is planning to dump Biti, Welsh and others he used to snatch the presidency from Madam Thoko. Ivo varipiko? She is quiet maybe she is strategizing how to defeat Mthuli, that is if she is spared nemukomana.
Back to the presidential visit, I was amused to learn that there are Masvikiro for ED, if I had known I would have sneaked and joined them, handiti the first stage yekuva svikiro is to be shabbily dressed just like me, wongoitawo tsvina like me, maybe ndaizoshaya dresscode hangu coz I heard they were wearing black. I later learnt that they offended the guys from Matabeleland hameno how. I also heard the local leadership is doing a great job in making ED unpopular pavakanyima vanhu upfu. The president as a good will on his last visit as a president to Masvingo was to give his loyal supporters 10kgs of mealie meal but Masvingo being Masvingo, they managed to divert it just like what Chikoforo used to do naBaba vaHungwe. I will be asking hangu next week kuti hwakazoenda nepi upfu uhwu kkkk.
Ko Zvana zvekwa Uncle Bob are still making headlines, hazvinzwi, I hope this time around the court will give them a custodial sentence just like Mai Titi, we are sick and tired of hearing cases of these spoilt brats. Still on the Bob issue, I hear Simba Chikore is likely to lose the contest in which he was going to be the second man to represent the gender on the contest which was once won by Hakim kkkk. Imi varume musada kutijairira, Hakim iyeye akakwana, kuda kujaira kutiitisa isu vakadzi. But on the Bona issue hangu I wanted them to share, mmm mapurazi akawandisa aya, even if they would spare one and give it to Mapombi they would still be pakanaka.
Before I go zvangu kunokanga maputi angu for lunch, let me give good news to aspiring candidates, my bosses in town have since launched a column for you where you can share your manifesto. Any candidate is free to do, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Imi veCCC neZanu zvamurimi mugotangirwa neMDC.
Anyone ever heard from Mphoko? Is he joining Tyson Wabantu movement? He may be given the vice presidency since the party has no people just like MDC naMwonzora. If anyone sees him please tell him to bring incubators, chando chakauya. He should finish what he started. If anyone has Kasukuwere’s line up please bring it ndionewo. But Mphoko should be VP alongside Dr Amai. Mboko Imboko.
Soon we will all be millionaires
Latest MPC Resolutions: Wholesale Auction for Banks as ZWL Plunges
Zvikomborero Sibanda
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s (RBZ) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) convened an ad hoc meeting on the 6th of June 2023 amid a deepening currency crisis. The MPC meeting comes after the Treasury had earlier announced a cocktail of policy measures to stabilize the local currency and prices.
The Zimbabwe dollar (ZWL) which was re-introduced in 2019 following a decade of full dollarization is again on the verge of collapse and total market rejection. The local unit of exchange which was trading at an average ZWL/USD 3600 in the alternative exchange markets as of the end of May 2023 has lost a staggering 40% of its value to ZWL/USD 6 000 in only the first 8 days of June 2023. In year-to-date (YTD) terms, the ZWL is down 85% in parallel markets.
A granular analysis shows that largely driving ZWL price inflation haywire is the unsustainable growth of liquidity in the economy. The RBZ was massively engaging in quasi-fiscal activities (QFOs), buying forex from exporters. Also, the Treasury is overseeing elevated spending, for instance, paying for ongoing infrastructure projects, supporting the 2023 Agric marketing season purchasing grains from farmers through the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), salary increments for public servants, and electioneering pressure from the ruling political party. There is a consensus among monetary economists that inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon. This is because too much money in circulation in an economy creates an imbalance between aggregate demand and aggregate supply of goods & services. Thus, forcing prices to keep rising, a case being faced by Zimbabwe.
The figure shows an excessive growth of the ZWL component of high-powered money also known as central bank or reserve money (M0). Latest RBZ statistics show this monetary aggregate expanding at an unsustainable rate averaging 12% per month between October 2022 and April 2023. Generally, M0 holds the topmost position in monetary policymaking. Since it is injected at the discretion of a central bank and includes currency in circulation with the public, M0 decides the level of liquidity and price level in the economy. As such, prudent management of M0 is thus very important to manage liquidity and inflation.
Apart from excess liquidity, local currency, and ZWL price instability are partly fuelled by increased velocity of money. When an economy is going through rising inflation, people tend to spend money at a faster rate increasing the velocity of circulation of money in the economy (Total Money Use = Money Supply × Velocity of Circulation). In addition, weak exchange rate management framework, adverse inflation expectations, structural rigidities like perpetual load-shedding, spillover effects from the Russia-Ukraine war, and rent-seeking are also exerting upward pressure on prices.
The currency conundrum is disproportionately affecting ordinary citizens largely earning in ZWLs as shops are forced to adjust ZWL prices daily yet workers’ salaries are sticky. Officially, inflation (blended rate, that is, a weighted average of ZWL and USD) is estimated at 86.5% as of May 2023 while independent estimates show ZWL inflation at over 700%. This increased volatility of ZWL prices will greatly subdue consumer demand which is generally considered one of the key drivers of national output growth (GDP). Volatile prices are also affecting shop restocking, company profitability, and the predictability of business – the ability to predict forthcoming events and adapt operations to them. A lack thereof inhibits great business market fit and quality customer service while breeding waste and inefficiencies, a foundation of unsustainable enterprises.
To clamp the increased ZWL volatility and contain galloping inflation, the MPC has resolved to introduce a wholesale forex auction where RBZ will be selling forex at a market-determined exchange rate through banks and the banks shall, in turn, sell that forex to their customers. According to the MPC, this move will help support and strengthen the interbank market to ensure that it is the primary source for forex needs in the economy. The policy shift comes after the May 29th announcement from the Treasury limiting forex auction envelope to a maximum of US$5 million per week.
The inaugural wholesale forex auction for banks was conducted on the 7th of June 2023. About US$11.2 million was allotted as the ZWL plummeted by 24.5% to ZWL/USD 4868.52 from ZWL3673.77 a daily earlier (June 6th) when US$4.99 million was traded at the retail forex auction for importers. In the previous week, the ZWL plummeted significantly against the USD at the Dutch forex auction of 30 May 2023 as it erased about 26.7% of its value to settle at ZWL/USD 2577.06 from ZWL/USD 1888.01 realized on the 23rd of May 2023. All this shows that in only 6 days (30 May-7 June) the ZWL has lost about 47.1% of its value in the Dutch auction market. In year-to-date (YTD) terms, the local unit is down 85.5% at the auction market.
The foregoing massive decline of the ZWL in the official markets can be viewed as an exchange rate adjustment to recent Treasury policy shifts. When the forex auction was introduced on 23 June 2020, the ZWL lost 56.4% in the first trade. However, as authorities buttressed the new auction system with fiscal discipline and tight monetary targeting, the ZWL gained 20% in the alternative markets between July and September 2020. The average parallel rate sailed stable through November 2020 before it started to burgeon again in response to rising liquidity growth associated with spiking fiscal spending in the fourth quarter.
So, I highly commend the MPC for the bold action it took toward increased liberalization of the exchange rate which if aided by other prudent policy actions like discontinuation of quasi-fiscal activities by RBZ, sustainable Treasury spending, and increased fiscal transparency will help arrest the ongoing ZWL instability. To allow the market to freely determine the true ZWL price, the MPC has also removed the 10% interbank trading margin to the auction and increased interbank maximum bids from US$100 000 to US$500 000. The 90-day forex liquidation requirement which was instituted earlier by Treasury was scrapped by the MPC. To me, this move will help reduce forex demand on the interbank market as many businesses will utilize their FCA balances to meet forex needs.
More so, the MPC had resolved to increase the RBZ benchmark policy rate from 140% to 150%. This is meant to discourage speculative borrowing in the economy which fuels consumer and business spending, especially on big-ticket items. Rising interest rates tend to weigh on asset prices, reversing the wealth effect for individuals and making banks more cautious in lending decisions. Also, when the RBZ responds to elevated inflation risks by raising its benchmark policy rate, it effectively increases the level of risk-free reserves in the financial system, limiting the money supply available for purchases of riskier assets.
Although the policy rate recently set by MPC is way below the prevailing ZWL inflation independently estimated at above 700% (inadequate to discourage speculation), rising interest rates signal the likelihood that RBZ will continue to tighten monetary policy, further tamping down inflation expectations. In addition, the MPC decided to increase the statutory reserve requirement (SRR) ratio on ZWL call and demand deposits to 15% from 10%. The SRR is an instrument used by central banks to manage the significant build-up of liquidity which may result in financial imbalances and create risks to financial stability. As such, increasing the SRR ratio has the effect of reducing the money available for lending by banks.
The foregoing actions taken by the MPC this week complements stabilization measures previously announced by the Treasury such as promotion of ZWL use and sterilization of excess liquidity. If prudently implemented in full, these actions will go a long way in suppressing ZWL decline, ceteris paribus.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if there is adequate political will to allow the Treasury to thwart mounting spending pressure emanating from the upcoming harmonized elections. Generally, elections in developing nations like Zimbabwe fuel opportunistic political business cycles – volatile changes in fiscal spending and taxation – which worsen the already fragile macroeconomic environment. In other words, without political will to swiftly reform the economy and public institutions, the status quo (massive ZWL decline, rampant price growth, rising abject poverty, etc) will remain thus risking full market dollarization.
Zvikomborero Sibanda is an economic analyst and an astute researcher. He writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted via email:
bravosibanda@gmail.com
Twitter: @bravon96
JSC celebrates 13 years
Perpetua Murungweni
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Saturday (June 10) celebrated 13 years of operating as an independent institution in charge of justice administration affairs.
The celebrations were held across the country under the theme, ‘Enhancing justice delivery through improved overall employee’.
In Masvingo, JSC members and other stakeholder had a march from Mucheke Hall to Masvingo CBD distributing fliers and inviting people to come to either the magistrates’ court or High Court to get more information on how JSC operates.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira and Assistant Commissioner Florence Marume were among Masvingo’s top leadership who were part of the march.
The JSC became an independent institution in charge of the affairs of the administration of justice on 10 June 2010, through the enactment of the Judicial Service Act [Chapter 7:18].
The functions of the JSC were broadly defined and entrenched by section 190 of the Constitution.
77-year old jailed for mbanje
Beverly Bizeki
A 77-year-old man from Mushagashe was sentenced to 12 months behind bars by a Masvingo magistrate after being found guilty of cultivating and being in found in possession of dagga on June 7, 2023.
Aaron Pedzisai pleaded guilty and told magistrate Conceptor Ngwerume that the he was selling dagga to eke out a living so as to be able to take care of his grandchildren left behind by his deceased children.
It was the state case as presented by Prosecutor P Tichava that on October 16, 2022 the accused was found in possession of dagga plants in his field as well as dagga twists in his fowl run.
It is reported that on the given day, police officers patrolling in the Zimuto area received a tip off to the effect that the accused person was cultivating dagga in the garden at his homestead.
The police officers visited the place and found 14 plants of dagga measuring between 32 centimeters and 132 centimeters planted in the garden weighing 1 kilogram.
A further search by the police led to the team recovering two large twists of dagga stashed on the roof of a fowl run at his homestead leading to the arrest of the accused.
BILCRO employees fret over company retrenchment
… As company closes branches, sells properties
Beverly Bizeki
There is fear among employees at Bilcro Investments that the company could close shop due to economic hardships following various activities which have seen some employees being retrenched, allegedly without prior notice to their colleagues.
Some employees who spoke to TellZim News on condition of anonymity said they were worried that the company could close shop as it has been on record for closing branches and selling some of its properties.
“Our concern is that we do not know what the future holds for us when the company is selling properties because this has been our security that we always have something to hold on to in the event that the company closes which is the company property.
“The truck force has been sold leaving behind only a few T35 trucks, as well as some buildings. At times we only get to see adverts of buildings on sale on social media platforms,” said the source.
The sources however said the company was not facing liquidation or viability challenges as the company always manages to sell available stock.
“It is not a liquidity or viability problem that is haunting the company because we are always selling when there is stock available,” said the sources.
Managing Director of Bilcro Investments Richard Billing denied allegations of the company closing shop amid concerns by employees that the company has been on the record for closing branches and unfairly dismissing employees since last year.
In an interview with TellZim News, Billing said the company is only trying to consolidate in the prevailing economic conditions.
“Nothing is changing really but the company is trying to consolidate and adjust in the prevailing economic conditions. We are moving forward.
“We have always kept an open line of communication with our employees hence we would communicate if there is anything , the branches that are closing are the ones which are not performing well so they are rather being closed for purposes of consolidation,” said Billing.
Charles Austin Theatre committee to be dismissed over incompetence
Beverly Bizeki
Masvingo City Council has resolved to dissolve the Charles Austin theatre committee following allegations that there is lack of activity at the theatre since the election of committee.
The development was revealed in the Health and housing Committee minutes dated May 4, 2023 that the committee had been deemed incompetent and the need for a new committee at the theatre.
“It was reported that there was no activity going on at the Charles Austin Theatre ever since the new committee was elected into office,” read part of the statement.
The committee has been accused of pushing their political aspirations at the theatre at the expense of theatre of issues.
“It was noted that the most of the office bearers seem to have had an interest in launching their political careers than theatre issues. Some of the members have chosen to contest as councilors while some have already resigned citing lack of activity,” reads the statement.
It has also been reported the Ministry of Youth, arts, Sports, and culture together with the National Arts Council also expressed concern over lack of activities and council has resolved to dissolve the committee at the at the expiry of their term of office.
“The committee be dissolved at the expiry of their term of office end of May 2023 and an interim committee be appointed.
“The committee will be made up of people with arts and culture background and are active participants in the industry,” reads the statement.
Council has also proposed to ensure the appointment be done in consultation with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Arts and National Arts Council.
Harsh economy pushes women to the sharp end of the stick
…the tale of Masvingo female quarry miners
Beverly Bizeki
Anna Nhenga (27) of Victoria Ranch recalls the events of 2021 when she almost lost her life after an open pit collapsed on her as she was trying to unearth what has been termed the ‘bluestone’ by quarry miners in one of Masvingo’s suburbs.
“An open shaft collapsed whilst I was digging for stones underground and I almost lost my life which is why I have this scar on my ear (points at her ear). My workmates thought I was dead as half of my body had been trapped into the earth,” says Nhenga.
The sad part however is that Nhenga has not been able to make much from the over 7 years that she has spent mining quarry stones and whenever she considers leaving the trade she always finds her way back as life has not given her many options when it comes to work.
“I have five children, four of which are of school going age but I can only manage to send two of them to school and have no idea of when I will be able to send them to school,” says Nhenga.
Nhenga is one of the women that have been pushed into hard labour by abject poverty faced by many owing to the worsening economic situation in the country.
Becoming a mother at 16 with no parents or husband to support her, Nhenga says life has not given her too many options except to join others in breaking granite stones to create quarry, where she has been trading hard labour for a very few dollars.
“We try to reach a target of coming up with at least 10 buckets a day so that we can have a cubic after three days which we sell at roughly US $10 to US $12 to make a meagre US $100 on a good month where sales would be better.
“We can go for days or weeks without making any sales which is problematic as we have bills to pay every month, as we speak my landlord has given me a notice because I always pay my rentals very late,” says Nhenga.
The US $100 that Nhenga makes from selling the stones has to pay US $50 for her children’s fees, US $30 rentals and the remaining US $20 is for foodstuffs and other basic commodities.
Concilia Mugeji who has also spent the past seven years of her life breaking and selling stones for a living says motherhood in the prevailing economic conditions has pushed her to the sharp end of the stick forcing her to endure such a dangerous environment as she has to provide for her family.
“Our line of work requires lots of strength in digging and extracting stones from the ground as sometimes we use 14 pound hammers which are very difficult to use but as a mother you have to endure the weight and work to make sales,” she said.
Mugeji who is a mother of four says her line of work is male dominated and considered illegal which brings about huge challenges to her as a woman.
“Sometimes when we get clients, we ask men to help us load the quarry into the client’s vehicle and they have to charge us for that, taking part of the little money we would have made.
“Men also tend to take our loads and never pay or return the loads we would have given them,” she added.
For Mugeji, the job is heavy especially with the health challenges taking a toll on her body but she has to do it for her children one of whom is set to re-write his Ordinary Level examinations this year.
Asked why she has chosen this line of work, Mugeji said it requires little to no capital and records few losses as she can keep her ‘stock’ for as long as it takes before she gets a client.
Mugeji also says lack of equipment places them at a disadvantage as contractors often choose more refined stones unlike the ones which they often produce because they use manual equipment like hammers.
“We can go for about three weeks without making any sales because contractors often want finer products but we cannot produce such because of lack of equipment,” said Mugeji.
Because of the hard hitting economy, Mugeji who has always wished to purchase a residential stand has not been able to make much which has seen her only making enough to put food on the table for her children and hardly any to send them to school.
“I had hopes of buying a residential stand but after all these years of trying I have nothing to show for it because it’s always hand-to-mouth.
“My hopes are getting shattered now because I feel sick and I cannot continue working for long under these circumstances,” said Mugeji.
Mugeji however, wishes for better working conditions as they are exposed to all harsh weather conditions in the pits they extract the stones from.
“We wish for helpers or well-wishers to assist us in starting projects that can help sustain us as women. We are often excluded from society as we are always working in the outskirts so we are often left out of community activities as well as opportunities,” she added.
Women’s political participation remains a challenge
Perpetua Murungweni
Women seem to face a number of challenges in political participation than men. Due to economic hardships in Zimbabwe lack of economic empowerment seem to be a major drawback for women participating in politics.
Women’s economic empowerment is widely regarded as the transformative process that helps women and girls move from limited power, voices, and choices at home and in the economy to having the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to compete equitably with man in markets control and benefit from economic gains.
As economic empowerment is the ability to make and act on decisions that involve the control over and allocation of financial resources, it is prudent to give women access to income and assets which equip them with power to make decisions.
According to experts, when women are able to make decisions they can pursue goals free from the threat of violence or revenge and it helps them to fully participate in politics without challenges.
Statistics provided by the United Nations indicate that Zimbabwean women’s participation in leadership and politics remains low at 35percent in parliament, 16percent in local government and 11.5percent in Cabinet. This is due to lack of women empowerment, inadequate implementation of the Constitutional provisions and inadequate capacity of state institutions to mainstream gender in electoral and political processes.
Tendeuka Matara, who said she was nominated to contest in the forthcoming elections in her party said women usually hesitate to take part in politics because of the economic empowerment gap between men and women, with most women being less capacitated than men in terms of education and employment.
“The economic empowerment gap between men and women hinders us women from political participation; most women are less educated than men and fewer women are employed. This affects our campaigns because we do not afford resources needed to become effective leaders but if we become economically empowered we will be in a better position to compete with men in politics,” said Matara.
Women Coalition of Zimbabwe Masvingo Chapter Coordinator Blessing Mombo said economic empowerment improves women’s access to resources as they will be able to make decisions, giving them a sense of self-worth.
“Economic empowerment improves women’s access to resources. Lack of economic empowerment is a major setback for women to participate in politics. For instance lack of financial resources can limit women’s political participation given the cost associated with elections and this is where most of women lose the game especially during primary elections when they do not have financial support from their political parties.
“In primary elections women campaign using their own resources hence they cannot stand the competition as their male counterparts have a better economic base,” said Mombo.
Leah Matavire, the information officer of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD), said that economic empowerment signifies power in political discourse, and women need this power so that they effectively participate in leadership roles.
“The economic muscle in every society represents power and especially when it comes to the political discourse.
“For women to be able to effectively participate and get elected in politics there is need for them to be economically empowered, as financial resources aid the smooth flow of campaigning, mobilizing electorate and managing the hefty fees required by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for one to be registered as a candidate,” said Matavire.
Zanu PF primaries hangover still haunts Masvingo – Mnangagwa told
Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – The hangover from Zanu PF chaotic primary elections that were held in March are still haunting Masvingo province despite healing processes by the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC), President Emmerson Mnangagwa was recently told.
Addressing party supporters at Mucheke Stadium at an interface rally duped ‘Meeting first time voters’, Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa told Mnangagwa that they were still facing challenges from other party members who were failing to accept the outcome of the elections.
Mavhenyengwa singled out two cases, one from Mwenezi West where Tafadzwa Masvayamwando-Shumba allegedly lost to incumbent Priscilla Zindari Moyo and will stand as an independent candidate as well as Gutu East where the George Vhengere won the primaries but was later disqualified and replaced by Benjamin Ganyiwa.
Mavhenyengwa said as a province they had done some healing processes to reconcile the losers and the winners
“As Masvingo we are united, however, we are having some problems over the recent primary elections with some who are yet to grasp how things are done in Zanu PF. There are some members who still think that going to primaries means they are the ones who should win. Some win, some lose, now some who lost are behaving like they are bigger than the party,”
“I say so because in Mwenezi West, one of our members who was in Central Committee and NCA is now standing as an independent candidate after losing. We however promise to show him that the power he had was because of Zanu PF and once you are no longer in the party, you no longer have people because they all belong to Zanu PF.
“We also have some who do not want to accept the outcome, like in Gutu East, one losing candidate is still arguing that he is the winner like he doesn’t know that if the party has declared one as the winner that’s final and tomorrow shall come and has another chance to contest again.
“However, in other areas they are accepting defeat and are coming back to work with the winners and if that continues, I want to assure you that we are going to give you all Masvingo’s 26 constituencies,” said Mavhenyengwa.
Mavhenyengwa also told Mnangagwa that cotton and sugarcane farmers were complaining over delays in receiving payments after delivering their produce and appealed to Mnangagwa to intervene.
“We have a complaint from cotton farmers in the province who are saying they are not getting payments in time from Cottco, as two months have passed now but they haven’t received their payments so we want you to know that your children are producing but there is a challenge in payments,”
“Another challenge is the usual one where the sugar processing company Tongaart Hulletts is still delaying in paying famers after delivering their cane. We once tried to solve the issue together with the Minister of State but up to now they haven’t signed agreements with famers,” said Mavhenyengwa, who is also a sugarcane farmer.
The interface was organized by Young Women for ED, one of the many forED affiliates, and was alleged to be a platform for the President to meet with first time voters who were drawn from across the country.
Also present was Mnangagwa’s Deputy Kembo Mohadi and National Political Commissar Mike Bimha.
Winter wheat target reviewed to 2100ha
Beverly Bizeki
Masvingo province has revised its winter wheat target from the set 2000ha to 2100 ha following the review of the national target by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development from 85 000ha to 90 000 ha.
Masvingo Province Agritex Acting Director Nobert Masiiwa confirmed the development and said the ministry was reviewing the target upwards.
“As Masvingo province, we have planted 1238 ha as at June 2, 2023 which is 59 percent of the target, we are expecting the plantation to keep increasing as the plantation date has also been moved to June 15 2023,” said Masiiwa.
“In terms of area planted by district, Bikita has a target of 150ha and 142 ha has already been planted, Chiredzi has a target of 220ha and they have planted 153ha, Chivi has a target of 100 ha and they have done 56ha.
“Gutu’s target is 367 ha and they have done 243 ha, Masvingo’s target is 1 100ha and 533 ha have been planted, Mwenezi has a target of 13 ha and they are yet to plant and Zaka has a target of 150h and they have done 108ha,” said Masiiwa.
Farmers have however experienced some challenges in terms of tillage services.
“Most of our farmers need tractors for ploughing, disking and rolling but unfortunately our province does not have enough tractor power but we have had a lot of support from AFC bank leasing services private tillage operators but we still have a lot of farmers who are lagging behind in terms of tillage,” said Masiiwa.
Masiiwa urged farmers with bigger farms to start registering with the ministry for leasing services.
“Our farmers are urged to go to their respective extension officers and indicate the area put under winter wheat which they need services for in terms of combining to enable us to link them with service providers.
Masiiwa also stated that they have had challenges with the quilia bird but there is now a department in the ministry responsible for migratory pests and bio security and farmers are implored to alert extension officers when they come across the pests for control.
Zimbabwe last year recorded its highest wheat production since production of the cereal in the country after harvesting 375 000 tonnes of wheat from the 80 833 hectares planted.