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Meet Your Candidates: Masvingo Urban Ward 7

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Meet Your Candidates: Masvingo Urban Ward 7

Fredrick Moyo

Out of the four wards that are going to have by-elections in Masvingo Urban, ward 7 can simply be called what they say in sports the ‘group of death’ after six candidates were successfully nominated for the March 26 by-election, before one withdrew due to double candidature.
There seems to be stiff competition in the ward, with relatively new parties managing to field candidates to contest for the first time.
Citizens Coalition for Change will be represented by Richard Musekiwa, ZANU PF by Prosper Dohwai, LEAD by Everjoy Chidindi, Prince Nato will stand for UDA while MDC-T has Getrude Tshuma following Charles Chipetu’s withdrawal from the race after the Douglas Mwonzora-led outfit held primary elections a week after the nomination court sat.

Richard Musekiwa – Citizens Coalition for Change

Richard Musekiwa

Musekiwa said there are projects that he left unfinished when he was recalled by MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora and he is looking forward to finish those projects if elected.
“As a resident of Rujeko I know which problems people are facing and I am looking forward to solve those problems. There are also some projects in which I left unfinished when I was recalled as a councillor and I am looking forward to finish those projects when I am elected.
“When I was still in office I wanted to build public toilets at every shopping centre in Rujeko as it is a place where people flock doing their day to day business. I will also make sure that the areas that need road attention will be attended to and tar those needs to be tarred and also those that have potholes,” said Musekiwa.
He also added that he advocated for the construction of Rujeko Secondary School as children from Rujeko where traveling long distances going to school and also crossing the busy Masvingo – Beitbridge highway.
“I also advocated for the construction of Rujeko Secondary School which is a good project as pupils now do not have to travel long distances to school and I am promising more projects to Rujeko residents when I am elected. My message to the electorate is that they should vote for CCC and also vote for me as Ward 7 councillor,” added Musekiwa.

Prosper Dohwai – ZANU PF

Prosper Dohwai

Dohwai said he is the best candidate and residents should vote for him as he is a free, loving and caring person and have good projects for the residents.
“What shows that I am the perfect candidate is that people selected me to represent the party and that shows that I am the perfect candidate. I am also caring, loving and I am a good listener who listens to peoples grievances,” said Dohwai.
He also added that if he is elected he will solve people’s challenges without discrimination according to tribe or race and also encouraged residents to vote for him.
“When I am elected, I will go with the grievances that people in ward 7 are facing to the local authority and also solve the problems without looking at ones tribe or race, as long as he/she comes from the ward that I am representing.
“I am encouraging the electorate to vote for me and see that what they want and like to be addressed will be done,” added Dohwai.

Everjoy Chidindi – LEAD

Everjoy Chidindi

Chidindi said she is the ideal candidate for the local authority post in ward 7 because she is young and vibrant and also that she was born and bred in Rujeko so she knows what challenges people are facing as she is prepared to solve the problems.
“What makes me think that I am an ideal candidate is that I am young and I am the future. I believe that if young people are given a chance they will definitely change things. I have a vision of the future like creating employment for the young generation.
“I have a community development agenda in which I will call all community leaders so that we work together for instance in road rehabilitation so that our streets have good roads and also improving the drainage system,” said Chidindi.
She also added that she grew up in Ward 7 and she knows all the challenges that the people are facing and she will try fix them once she is elected.
“I grew up in ward 7 so when I am elected as a young person who is very energetic will fix all the challenges like sewage and water that trouble residents in ward seven. My message to the electorate is that they should vote for me as I am a young person and give the young blood a chance and see what we are capable of,” added Chidindi.
Efforts to get hold of MDC-T ward 7 candidate Getrude Tshuma were fruitless as she was not available before the time of publication.
Prince Nato of UDA said he first have to get authority from his party to speak to the media, missing out on his chance to sell his ideology as the by-elections draw closer.

The death of mother languages: A tragedy to learning progress

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The death of mother languages: A tragedy to learning progress

Rutendo Chirume

Nelson Mandela once said, ‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his/her head. If you talk to them in their language that goes to his/her heart.’
As the world comes together on February 21 to commemorate the International Mother Language Day, a special day set aside to promote the use of mother languages, experts have bemoaned the slow death of multilingual diversity.
According to a research by UNESCO in 2021, there are about 6,500 languages in the world, but at least one language disappears and dies every two weeks.
At least 43 percent of all languages are endangered, and fewer than 100 of the world’s languages are used in the digital world and 40 percent of the population does not have access to education in a language they can understand or speak.
2022 International Mother Language Day ran under the theme ‘Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities’ which seeks to make use of technology in order to promote language digitization, find and address challenges faced during the prevailing Covid-19 lockdowns.
In a statement, Midlands State University National Language Institute Executive Director Prof Wiseman Magwa said that this year’s theme is profound as it provide solutions to the prevailing Covid-19 lockdowns therefore as a country we should embrace technology in order to promote digitization of languages so as to facilitate distant communication.
“Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities are quite profound in the sense that it acknowledges the use of technology in promoting multilingualism in education and socio-economic development. This is inherently critical in that multilingualism enhances tapping from the full potential of humanity, since language is both a tool of communication and thought processing.
“In view of this, this year’s theme calls for innovative strategies as interventions towards the digitization of languages. This year’s edition hinges on providing techno-scientific solutions to challenges resulting from lockdowns, travel restrictions and bans in a bid to reduce human contact.
“The period 2021-2022 saw a series of lockdowns due to the prevalence of the Covid-19 pandemic, hence the call by UNESCO to harness the efficacy of technology to facilitate distant multilingual communication,” wrote Professor Magwa.
He also commented the country’s efforts to recognize all 16 languages in the country which enhances diversity and promote equality and inclusion of different tribes in the country.
“Efforts by Zimbabwe to ratify UNESCO’s motion of multilingualism are the drive to licence numerous language based community radio stations, thereby enhancing usage of the diversity of languages that Zimbabwe has. Failure to recognise multilingualism in society, subsequently leads to serious linguistic crises, expected to create layers of inequality, marginalisation and exclusion,” said Prof Magwa.

Dr Ignatius Mabasa

In an interview with TellZim News, Dr Ignatius Mabasa who did his PHD thesis in Shona noted the significance of this day and said a lot should be done in order to make strides to promote mother languages, calling upon government to enhance the promotion of local languages.
“If it was possible we would take the whole year to celebrate our mother languages because it is very important to us as it defines our identity and cultures which traces our origins. There are a lot of things lost in translation, in learning and that is problematic. Journalists should make noise and publish content in our mother languages which will promote them and ultimately shapes our identities,” said Dr Mabasa.
He also said the reason why people fail to reach the best and be recognized in international standards is that they undermine own languages, thereby eventually disowning their own identities.
“We are failing to reach our level because we tend to leave our own languages. We could have explored more and be developed to a greater extent if we had always been proud to use our languages. I did my thesis in Shona not only as a way to preserve our language, but I also wanted to make people realize that knowledge is not expressed in English only but even through our vernacular languages we can achieve great things,” said Dr Mabasa.
Dr Mabasa bemoaned the craze by parents to send their children to schools that are pro-English, with the intention that they learn only to converse fluently in English more than their mother languages.
“It is sad that we see other nationalities learn even technical things using their languages, but when it comes to us, we want to only use these borrowed languages. Parents cannot however give what they do not have to their children if they themselves are not proud of their languages.
“If there is anything that we will end up saying we once had, it is our languages. We need to be proactive about preserving these languages because we lie to each other that our languages are weak, but this is only because we do not use them effectively,” Dr Mabasa said.
The significance of International Mother Language Day is that it reminds people how important mother languages are to one’s identity as they are the testimony of the pride that people derive from their diverse cultures.

Petition against the PVO Bill gathers momentum

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Petition against the PVO Bill gathers momentum

Thabiso Nxumalo

The controversial Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) Amendment Bill has sent Civic Society Organizations (CSOs) and PVOs in a state of frenzy as they have launched a massive nationwide campaign against the bill in a bid to deter it from being passed into law.
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) director, Jestina Mukoko said CSOs cannot sit back and watch the populace’s rights being stripped away and as such have engaged in conscientising the public about the bill and launched a petition against it.
“We cannot remain silent as an organization that fights for human rights when the rights of our people are being stripped away.
“This bill if passed will definitely shrink the civic space and will disadvantage citizens as beneficiaries from various PVOs that is why we have come together in unity as such organizations to educate our people of what might befall them when such a bill is passed.
“We urge the nation to sign this petition, and if this bill passes in parliament, we as organizations that are seen as anti-government risk being overtaken by the government as the bill gives power to the minister to run the organization if any ‘irregularities’ are suspected,” said Mukoko.
ZPP wrote in a statement that extreme poverty and withdrawal of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) will be the order of the day if the bill passes.
“Vulnerable groups will be exposed to extreme poverty, many churches work with foreign-based charity organisations so by putting restrictions on foreign funding for NGOs, the Bill will lead to many charity groups withdrawing their support leading to extreme poverty among vulnerable groups,” read part of the statement.
The petition which is directed to the speaker and members of parliament is circulating on Twitter under the hashtag #StopThePVOBill and has, as of February 24, 2022 garnered 461 signatures out of the 800-mark set goal on The Action Network website.

ZCC embarks on multi projects at Mbungo

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ZCC embarks on multi projects at Mbungo

Fredrick Moyo

One of the largest indigenous African churches, Zion Christian Church (ZCC) has embarked on a number of projects that will benefit the Mbungo community and the nation at large.
The projects include a dam which is being constructed alongside two lodges that have 10 guest rooms and a conference room that will accommodate more than 60 people.
Brick moulding, farming, maize milling, mineral water packaging Boer-goats and dairy cattle farming are some of the projects underway.
Speaking during a tour of the projects on February 17, 2022, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi said they are creating projects that will benefit the Zion community and the nation at large while he encouraged others to participate in community development.
“The projects here will be benefiting Zion community and the nation at large as people can come here for religious tourism and also religious activities. I also encourage other members to partake in community development,” said Mutendi.
Speaking at the same event, Masvingo Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Jefter Sakupwanya commended the work being carried out at Mbungo and promised to support all the projects being carried out at the site.
“As we planned about today, we were people that came here to assist the ZCC church with the experience that we have as government but to be honest, after the tour many of you will agree with me that we have learnt a lot from what we have seen here.
“I would like to thank you because of the great work you are doing here and have seen the action. I want to pledge our commitment to support all the endeavours that are being held here and we have also taken down some issues that were raised and we will take them back to our colleagues so that they are attended to as soon as possible,” Dr Sakupwanya said.

Citadel of African education now in shambles

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Citadel of African education now in shambles

…bleak future as second republic commits ‘educational genocide’

Melinda Kusemachibi/ Emmanuel Chitsika

Zimbabwean educational sector used to be ranked among giants on the African continent, making most countries green with envy with the way the country produced academic intellectuals ready to invade any market on the global arena.
The country used to churn out complete and competent graduates to meet the requirements in the global job markets.
However, the former citadel of academic prowess seems to be slowly turning into a shadow of former self with a number of forces at play, ranging from job actions by educators over poor remuneration as well as boycotting marking of Advanced and Ordinary level examinations among other issues.
The ongoing impasse over improvement of salaries between government and teachers, with the battle culminating into the former resorting to use of threats and suspensions to the striking employees serves no good to the sector.
The spilling into the High Court of the suspension of educators by their employer is also another cause for concern with educators approaching the courts seeking redress over ‘illegal suspension’ by the employer and technically on whether the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has the authority to suspend employees who belong to the Public Service Commission (PSC).
ZIMSEC markers downed tools in protest allegedly accusing the examination body of acting in bad faith by failing to honour their part by paying their allowances in hard currency instead of the local one a factor that could stall the release of the 2021 Ordinary and Advanced level results after grade 7 results were delayed as well.

Elijah Chitsika

Renowned educationist Elijah Chitsika said the education system is in the intensive care unit (ICU) with no workable solution in sight to put the system on a proper trajectory as government and teachers seem not to find each other.
“There seems to be no sincerity on the part of government which has developed a culture of attempting to address the teachers’ grievances at the last minute always. Teachers had their grievances on the employer’s table since last year if not beyond and government had more than ample time since last year to address them during normal holidays as well as Covid-19 induced extensions.
“A number of questions prop up like: Is government serious about the welfare of teachers, To what extent are teacher unions genuine representatives of teachers, are teachers seriously concerned about their welfare, to what extent are parents as key stakeholders in education concerned about the education of their children and does the country have enough resources to sustainably improve teachers’ welfare?
“It is realistic to state that the powers that be have no commitment to solving the teachers’ problems. Whatever solutions are provided, are piecemeal solutions that do not aim to genuinely improve teachers’ welfare. The teacher is the hungry man that knows what he needs but government is a ‘heartless master’ who offers wrong solutions that do not genuinely improve their welfare,” said Chitsika.
He also said the new dispensation has taken down the education system towards a decline.
“I t is a mere fallacy for our government to clamour that our education system is the best on the continent. The Second Republic has set our education system on a serious decline. There is a possible danger of lowering our grading system to give a false impression of a sustained high pass rate.
“The current impasse between Zimsec and markers does not do well to the already wounded education system. Zimsec, like government has also shown itself to be a ‘dishonest employer’. Zimsec has not been able to honour the allowance promises made to markers. Markers who own an important niche in the country’s education system are a very demoralized force and hence this compromises their output. All these developments come at a time when a new dimension in form of Continuous Assessment of Learning Activities (CALA) was introduced and with this current pace at which markers are moving, learning time is lost as teachers are occupied at marking centres than the classroom,” he added.
Veteran educationist Cabnson Magaya concurred with Chitsika and said the education sector in Zimbabwe is now underrated.
“We are not happy with the education sector in Zimbabwe as it is depriving the rights of children to education. Teachers are now into extra lessons as most children cannot afford to pay for extra lessons. Since communication is important government, Zimsec and teachers should communicate in order to resolve those issues,” said Magaya.

Raymond Majongwe

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary general Raymond Majongwe said government should reconsider their stance and treat teachers with the dignity they deserve.
“Teachers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect as they are on national duty. Zimsec should not treat teachers like workers at a tobacco farm in 1923,” said Majongwe.

Obert Masaraure

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure indicated that Zimsec should fulfill its mandate it signed with the teachers.
“Zimsec should honor its contractual obligation signed with the examiners. The current impasse threatens to destroy the credibility of examinations. The evaluation process is no longer trusted. These examiners are already underpaid and are only asking for timely payment of the paltry allowances. The use of force by the Zimbabwe Republic Police should also stop forthwith.
“These allowances they promised are supposed to sustain the teachers while marking. If they do not get 100percent who is going to pay for the rest. Zimsec should pay these allowances in full,” said Masaraure.
Contacted for comment, Zimsec Public Relations Officer Nicholette Dhlamini said Zimsec markers were not on strike.
“Examiners were not striking but they were calling for a general meeting in which we engaged with them and resolved the issue. We never promised to pay them in US$ even the contracts they signed, we indicated that they will receive ZW$,” said Dhlamini.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) who is the employer of the civil service was also quoted in sections of the media emphasising on their tough stance to rid the service of teachers resisting the call to go back to work.
PSC secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said disciplinary measures shall be taken against defaulting teachers.
“The few civil servants who are reported to be absconding will face frim disciplinary measures,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
Such use of a commandist approach by the employer speaks volumes about their commitment to break the deadlock by amicably engaging teachers to map the way forward. The stance which follows barely a week after the High court ruled in favour of striking teachers by nullifying Minister of Primary and Secondary Education’s (MoPSE) decision to suspend the former.
Efforts to get a comment from PSC secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe proved fruitless as his mobile number went unanswered while WhatsApp messages were not responded to.
Teachers reportedly stated that Zimsec agreed to pay them US$25 a day for those staying out of residence and US$12 per day for those in residence but instead they only received ZW$19 000 and ZW$9 500 for 28 days of marking respectively prompting them to protest.
Last year government forcibly re-introduced CALA in both primary and secondary schools without the consent of various key stakeholders including school administrators and teachers as well which left many people pondering about the future success of the programme.

Mangwana orders village heads to pledge votes to Zanu PF

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Mangwana orders village heads to pledge votes to Zanu PF

Brighton Chiseva

Zanu PF National Secretary for Legal Affairs Paul Mangwana recently told village heads in Chingwizi to pledge the number of votes each will bring to Zanu PF on the March 26 by-election.
Mangwana was speaking at a rally organised by Zanu PF in Chingwizi area where he called all village heads and cell chairpersons, telling them to pledge the number of votes each will bring to the ruling party in the upcoming by-election.
“I want all the cell chairpersons here and all village heads to come here. We are in a war and these are our field commanders so you have to listen to them. So I want them pledge to us how many votes each is going to produce for Zanu PF and (Master) Makope on 26 March.
“After this meeting, leadership, I want to you to sit down with these people and each one should tell us the votes he or she will give to Zanu PF and Cde Makope from his area in the upcoming election. After the election, we will have another rally here where we would want to see how each one of you has performed,” said Mangwana.
He went on to order the registry department operating in the area to be lenient with people so that they get access to identity cards and other important documents for them to register to vote.
“I also heard people complaining also against the registry department. We have brought their boss, the District Development Coordinator here. So DDC, please tell the registry department to be lenient with these people when they go to get IDs,” said Mangwana.
Speaking at the same event, Zanu PF chief whip and Gutu South MP Pupurai Togarepi labelled all the people in Chingwizi as belonging to Zanu PF saying victory was certain.
He went on to praise Zanu PF candidate for Mwenezi East Makope as the best saying he will soon have him in parliament.
“If you meet a woman or a youth in Chingwizi you have met Zanu PF. I want to thank you for that and I am happy because I heard Makope speaking and I knew as the chief whip in parliament that I have got another best MP,” said Togarepi.
Makope will battle it out with Free Zimbabwe Congress’ Turner Mhango and Tendekai Mandizvidza of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
Zanu PF has been known to use traditional leaders to intimidate their subjects into voting Zanu PF, a trick that has worked over the years and gave the party control over the rural electorate.
Last year Chiefs were taken for induction together with the District Development Committee members who had been elected where they were inducted by members from the Hebert Chitepo School of ideology.
Mwenezi, Zaka and Bikita traditional leaders are known to be Zanu PF supporters and would force their people to vote for Zanu PF, threatening all those who vote for the opposition with unknown consequences.
Chief Nyakunhuwa of Zaka once bragged publicly that all headmen should join Zanu PF.

Zimbabwean football in ‘turmoil’

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Zimbabwean football in ‘turmoil’

…As FIFA suspends ZIFA

Fredrick Moyo

World football governing body Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has suspended the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) due to third-party interference following the meddling of the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) in football affairs.
In a letter directed to ZIFA secretary general Joseph Mamutse, dated February 24, 2022, FIFA stated their decision to suspend ZIFA with immediate effect because of ‘scandalous violations of FIFA statutes’ hence the national association loses all its membership rights until further notice.
“The FIFA Council considered that the aforementioned circumstances were serious and constituted a clear case of undue interference by a third party. Therefore, temporarily suspend with immediate effect a member association that seriously violates its obligations – the FIFA Council decided to suspend ZIFA with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of FIFA Statutes, furthermore and without prejudice to the ongoing investigations into the allegations of sexual harassment and bribery.
“Consequently, and in accordance with article 13 of the FIFA Statutes, ZIFA loses all its membership rights as of February 24 2022 until further notice. ZIFA representative and club teams are therefore no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted. This also means that neither the ZIFA nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA and/or CAF,” reads part of the letter.
However, the SRC responded to the ban through a press statement on February 24, saying that FIFA is only protecting its statutes, taking issues allegations on ZIFA as mere allegations.
“In essence, it appears that FIFA is constrained by the provision of its own statutes to protect certain of the undoubted sexual predators, fraudsters and corrupt administrators at the helm of football administration in Zimbabwe.
“It is clear that FIFA has interpreted these very serious charges as ‘mere allegations’ notwithstanding its … zero tolerance policy towards corruption, sexual abuse and other unethical conduct”, reads part of the statement.
SRC added that they will hold a press meeting on February 28 to advice the nation on its road map on football and ZIFA for the year 2022.
“The SRC will hold press conference with the media on Monday February 28, 2022, at a time to be advised, in order to render more fully its view on the correspondence from FIFA, and more importantly, to advise Zimbabwe of its road map on football and ZIFA for the duration of 2022,” added the statement.
Late last year the SRC suspended entire ZIFA board with immediate effect accusing it of several transgressions including abuse of public funds and gross incompetence.

Zivhu’s rebound: is Chiwenga gaining more ground?

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Zivhu’s rebound: is Chiwenga gaining more ground?

…As he makes his first Zanu PF address after two years of suspension
….boasts that no one owns Zanu PF

Beatific Gumbwanda

NGUNDU-Controversial businessperson and former Chivi South Zanu PF legislator, Killer Zivhu who was shown an exit door by the party’s highest disciplinary body, the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) in 2020 for allegedly pushing for dialogue between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa recently made his first public Zanu PF address at Ngundu, Chivi South, during the launch of by-elections campaign by Zanu PF National chairperson as well as Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri.
This has been described by some as a likely indicator that the alleged faction led by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is gaining more ground in Masvingo province.
During the recent launch of by-elections in Chivi South, Zivhu, was given the chance to address party supporters in the constituency where he threw riddles that he has returned to Zanu PF for the people of Chivi, though he knew many were not happy with that decision.
“Do we have women here? In your homes, I know there is a certain point when you were once sent packing by your husbands, or at some point you left by yourself but later came back, citing that you were coming back for your children. This also applies to me. I was once sent packing but note that I have returned back for my people of Chivi South.
“I have returned to protect the seat from going to the opposition. I have come back, whether they like it or not, but I have returned even if I am not allowed to attend funerals I do not care. I was born and bred in Zanu PF which I served for more than 20 years. No one owns Zanu PF, lets vote for Zizhou and I am going to help him with whatever support he needs,” he said.
Zivhu, through his Twitter handle, Zivhu once mocked President Emmerson Mnangagwa for promising title deeds to Epworth residents saying the houses are not worth to have title deeds.
“Zvimwe taurai muchiti tinotamba varume. Mwari vanonzwa, Epworth majacha muya munhu onzi une title deeds, musatamba nepfungwa dzavanhu, (Sometimes you must say we are joking guys. How can such sub-standard houses be given title deeds). Politicians in Zimbabwe hell is your final destiny,” wrote Zivhu.
He once urged people to vote for their future in 2023, subtly suggesting that the current administration had failed to provide the future of Zimbabweans.
“2023 just ignore any useless promises. Get ready to vote for your money, job, future, house, family, car and etc. Your children will inherit your wealth not your loyalty, position, education etc,” tweeted Zivhu.
Zivhu is yet to be readmitted into the party by the Politburo which once sacked him after the recommendations by the National Disciplinary Committee.

Dollarization or De-dollarization in Zim – The way forward

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Dollarization or De-dollarization in Zim – The way forward

Recent utterances by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga on February 19, 2022 at a ZANU-PF rally in Marondera that the country will not revert to the use of the United States of America $ has left tongues wagging as a section of the population were eagerly anticipating the return off the greenback to revitalise their buying power in the wake of ever rising inflation.

The Zimbabwean economy suffered a blow at the turn of the millennium mostly as a result of the Land-Reform programme which saw the ‘unlawful eviction’ of white farmers and with Zimbabwe being an agro- based economy, this caused instability economically triggering inflation to rise rapidly and rendering the Zimbabwean dollar unpractical to use as a means of exchange.

During the period of the Government of National Unity (GNU) stretching from 2009 to 2014, Zimbabwe officially dollarized, adopting the United States currency as the official legal tender and immediately arresting the soaring inflation thereby bringing sanity to the economy at the time.

This move saw the country stabilising financially and increased the livelihoods of most if not all Zimbabweans but however this meant the country had lost its monetary policy sovereignty and because people were earning in Zimbabwe and spending in the neighbouring countries like South Africa, industries back home seized to be profitable and eventually most of them closed business.

Currently, given almost similar conditions of rising inflation and the slow endorsement of the United States dollar by the monetary authorities, most people predict dejavu, anticipating the official return of the green-back to be the ‘Messiah’ in this economic quandary as teacher unions and various workers from both the public and private sectors continuously lobby for foreign currency salaries as a result piling pressure on government to dollarize.

In a stakeholders’ engagement meeting hosted by Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) in Masvingo at Chevron hotel on February 23, 2022, specialists from various professions echoed that the economy was headed towards dollarization.

Dr Regret Sunge, an economics lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University said re-dollarization seems imminent as the public seems to be swaying in that direction.

“Dollarization can occur either through instructive dollarization or market based strategy, with the latter being the imminent route in our case as we are seeing that prices are pegged according to the black-market rates.

“Also, we see a lot of workers’ unions lobbying for foreign currency salaries for their workers as recently evidenced by teacher unions and also as of December 2019, our national foreign currency deposits were beyond 103 percent. All these are pointers that the economy is warming up for dollarization,” said Dr Sunge.

Veteran journalist and ex-ZUJ president Mathew Takaona said partial dollarization is a corruption enhancer and politics is a big influencer in economics, hence as the country head towards 2023 harmonised polls, politicians might want to use dollarization as a campaign tool.

“Politics shape the economics of a country and as we are heading towards the 2023 general elections, the ruling party may use dollarization as a way to win votes and stay in power by introducing the green-back to cushion people’s livelihoods or else offer workers full-pay in foreign currency.

“If the economy is left as it is, in a partially dollarized environment, corruption will run havoc because those in power may misuse the Zimbabwean dollar by printing it in order to invest  in the black market to syphon foreign currency or in the same way to finance their selfish interests and campaigns,” said Takaona.

However, Masvingo renowned entrepreneur Ignatious Mazambani said de-dollarizing was the way to go as this will boost local industries and goods at the same time having the country’s monetary policy sovereignty intact.

“As a businessman who has been operating in both pre and post dollarized eras, I can attest that de-dollarization is good for the economy because in the dollarized era we had over 90 percent of imported goods in our shops and that means local industries were disadvantaged and as a result they closed down while a lot of people lost jobs in the process raising the rate of unemployment.

“I am happy that as we speak, 60 percent of goods in our shops are locally made, thanks to de-dollarization. We really need the local currency for sovereignty and industrialization capacitation,” said Mazambani.

Dr Simon Matsvai an economics lecturer at GZU also said the huge appetite for imports prompted by possession of foreign currency culminated into issues like balance of payment deficit, while there was a growth in foreign currency inflows whose allocation however seemed to be misplaced by the authorities.

“We are having episodes by our monetary and the fiscal authorities trying to defend the existence of local currency. Dollarization as a process is also considered as a transitional one as something would have gone wrong then a nation adopt a multi-currency or dollarize so that is re-aligns its fundamentals for the temporary period normally 5-10 years after which we gradually revert to our own currency.

“Zimbabwe as a country quickly rushed to re-dollarize before re-aligning the fundamentals so that the economy can operate independently without those foreign currency back-ups. We were a bit reluctant as we enjoyed the multi-currency error’s benefits and forgot to look at production in our country,” said Dr Matsvai.

Zanu PF sells another dummy in Chingwizi

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Zanu PF sells another dummy in Chingwizi

…promises to address problems they failed for 8 years

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – Zanu PF Masvingo provincial leadership last week took their campaign to Chingwizi area in Mwenezi where the 2014 Tugwi-Mukosi flood victims were relocated and are still living in deplorable conditions.
The leaders promised the people of Chingwizi ‘heaven on earth’ if they vote for Zanu PF in the upcoming elections pledging to address their problems mainly centred on land and accommodation as well as infrastructural development which they have failed for the past eight years.
The visit was however necessitated by the need to secure votes for the ruling party as the 26 March by-elections draw closer, with uncertainty on Chingwizi community’s political loyalty making the ruling party jittery.
Chingwizi area falls under Mwenezi East constituency, one of the only two constituencies with by-elections in the province alongside Chivi South.
The seat fell vacant following the death of its legislator Joosbi Omar in 2020 and three candidates are readying themselves for the seat.
During the visit, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said the people in Chingwizi were so many that they deserve to be a constituency on their own and said Zanu PF will rely on their votes on the by-election as well as 2023 elections.
He said he had noted their problems and would take it up to the President Emmerson Mnangagwa so that they are addressed in time.
“We have been sent here by the president, he knows that this ward is bigger than many constituencies and it deserves to be a constituency on its own hence it is a very important ward for Zanu PF,” said Chadzamira.
He went on to confirm the bad state of roads in the area and hunger that is likely to affect people as crops are already showing signs of moisture distress and said government was developing Mwenezi through road rehabilitation and the construction of a Marula Plant at Rutenga among other things.
“I talked to the District Coordinating Chairperson (DCC), have brought him here and told him that all other places are better and there is no need for food hand outs. All the food aid should be brought here. No discrimination whatsoever, everyone should benefit despite having children in South Africa or so.
“Construction of the Tende–Runde dam will start this year and will benefit the people of Mwenezi through irrigation and soon you will start donating food to other areas,” said Chadzamira.
However, that seems to be just another empty promise to the electorate since the people of Chingwizi were supposed to benefit from the Tugwi–Mukosi Dam which displaced them.
“The president has noted that you were affected by Tugwi-Mukosi and people from here should benefit from it, you worked well with our government department who were doing the planning and the first phase has already been completed. We are going to have another meeting soon for implementation. The canal has already been pegged and what is left is the money to make sure that the water reaches here. You will soon be food donors as there will be no food challenges here,” said Chadzamira
Zanu Pf Secretary for Legal Affairs Paul Mangwana who hails from Chivi told Chadzamira that he has to address the Chingwizi people’s problems as a matter of urgency saying the people were originally from his home area.
He also urged the people to vote for Zanu PF and Makope in the coming by-elections so that the leaders would be able to convince the president to address their problems.
Mangwana said he received complains about the welfare of the people and ordered Chadzamira to quickly address the problem.
“I heard complains about your welfare here, Minister, I come from Chivi and all these people here are from Chivi, so if they are not staying well here it troubles my soul, so address their problems.
“We have already given Makope a duty here, we know he is a candidate but he has to start working as an MP. So I want him to start addressing your problems. Vote for him so that we have the power to go to the president and tell him that you love him. We need to show him the results to prove to him that you love him because of how you would have voted. Vote well and I assure you with my colleagues here, we will raise the issue to the president,” said Mangwana.
Another politburo member and Gutu South legislator Pupurai Togarepi told Chadzamira to honour his pledge of addressing Chingwizi problems as soon as possible.
“Minister we heard you saying you will address challenges here in Chingwizi, let it not take six months to address, it has to take a few days. When we come to celebrate Makope victory, we need to hear that this problem has been addressed,” said Togarepi.

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