…as CCC reaches final stage of candidate selection
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-Chiredzi Town Council Vice Chairperson, Ropafadzo Makumire is one leg in as he won the recently held Citizen Coalition for Change’s (CCC) Chiredzi Central Constituency’s Bereka Mwana primary election.
Makumire narrowly won the election with United Kingdom based businessman, John Manganye tailing closely behind in a tightly contested battle of the final phase of candidate selection.
Makumire, who won as an independent candidate for the local authority seat in 2018 and went on to be elected Vice Chairperson for Chiredzi Town Council and later joined the newly formed political outfit CCC and is now vying for a parliamentary seat.
Chiredzi Town Council’s Chairperson, Alderman Gibson Hwende, Ropafadzo Makumire and John Manganye were all nominated to represent the party in Chiredzi Central Constituency during the first phase of the selection process before Hwende was technically disqualified by the National Election Directorate over undisclosed circumstances.
Makumire seem to be the people’s favorite as is also alleged to have been successful in the third phase of the selection process in Chishamiso, Hippo Valley where aspiring candidates presented their election manifesto in the presence of party members by independent adjudicators before going into the last phase of the selection.
Makumire garnered 862 votes leading in four wards against Manganye’s 591 who was leading six wards.
If he is declared winner, Makumire will be face Zanu PF’s Francis Moyo who is also former Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson who won the primaries against Chiredzi West incumbent Farai Musikavanhu
…supporters confront bigwigs, threatens bhora musango … Gutu district masters of rigging
Brighton Chiseva
GUTU – No amount of intimidation can stop Gutu East Zanu PF supporters, George Vhengere’s camp to be precise, as the team continues to campaign for him despite numerous warnings from the party to accept the party’s decision of disqualifying him in spite of him being the winner in the just ended party primary elections.
Vhengere contested and won the primaries against the party’s ‘favorite’ candidate Benjamin Ganyiwa who was declared as the winner and Zanu PF Gutu East’s candidate for the upcoming August 23, 2023 harmonised elections.
In a bid to tone down the losing candidates who had grievances against the Forever Associates of Zimbabwe (FAZ) controlled party primary elections, the party started by banning WhatsApp groups especially those with losing candidates who were accused of fanning Bhora Musango but Vhengere’s group is still active and vibrant with more than 500 participants who are rallying behind him.
The Party went on to contact healing programmes in wards and constituencies declaring winning candidates and urging the losers to support those who will represent the party in the election.
Masvingo Provincial Youth League convened a press conference in which they warned all losing candidates to accept the outcome of the politburo saying they would not tolerate anyone who want to undermine the authorities and go against the outcomes of the primary elections.
As if that was not enough, during President Mnangagwa’s visit to Masvingo last week where he had a rally guised as meeting first time voters, the provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa told Mnangagwa that the province was grappling with threats of Bhora Musango mainly from Mwenezi west and Gutu East.
However, all the threats seem not to move Vhengere’s supporters who are determined to defend their vote a few days before nomination court and ‘imposition’ of Ganyiwa is proving to be a sore shoe for Zanu PF provincial bigwigs who are being humiliated on social media and on the ground.
Recently, three meetings were abandoned in Gutu East after two rival camps clashed where the incumbent MP for Gutu north who is now vying for women’s quota had gone with Ganyiwa to address suppoters.
Sources said Vhengere’s people started singing and brought placards in which they were denouncing imposition of candidates saying this time they won’t be cowed down.
“Two meetings at Makudo and Chinyika business centers were abandoned on Sunday (June 11) after Vhengere and Ganyiwa’s people clashed in the presence of Deputy Minister Yeukai Simbanegavi who had come with Ganyiwa to address people. They had flyers written ‘Gutu East Yaramba Mudzimikrwa’, Respect our rights, and respect our voice. The third one was abandoned again at Bhasera over the same issue,” said the source
The source further said 18 people from Vhengere’s camp were later arrested and were remanded out of custody for disrupting meetings.
Now the camp is in the habit of humiliating the leadership in their WhatsApp group titled Gutu East 2023 ED Pfee.
The group has some top leaders including secretary for Legal Affairs Paul Mangwana, Gutu South MP Pupurai Togarepi, the provincial chairperson Mavhenyengwa among others.
In leaked chats from the group, one participant accused Simbanegavi of urinating on the voters who elected her to be where she is now.
Nhasi wave padenga manje wakuwetera isu tiripasi, Imhosva here kukusimudzira mumusangano wedu weZANU PF???, Hondo yawatanga nesu iyi unoihwina here nhai Simbanegavi????,Pasi nekuuraya musangano, Pamberi na Baba Mnangagwa, Pamberi naGeorge Vhengere, PASI NEIMPOSITION,” said the participant
Another participant questioned, can a father give his child a snake after asking for a fish, are we not important in the party to the extent that our choices are ignored, we voted for A but we are being given B as our choice.
“Ko isu hatina kukosha here zvekuti tinovhotera A asi topihwa B. Kana tisina basa mumusangano weZANU PF vakuru tiudzei. Chairman Mavhenyengwa, baba vaMatuke titomboriwo vana venyu here mumusangano nekuti mwana akakumbira hove hakuna baba vakakwana vanomupa nyoka.
“Masvingo leadership, Gutu East tiri vana venyu here? Pamwe makatotirasa zvenyu kare” said one participant.
Extracts from a Zanu PF WhatsApp group
Others are saying they do not want Ganyiwa because he paid the incumbent Bertitha Chikwama who they accuse of being corrupt and vowed to vote for opposition instead of Ganyiwa.
“We cannot vote for Ganyiwa, he is Chikwama’s proxy, Chikwama is very corrupt and if we vote for Ganyiwa we will suffer for the next five years,” said another participant.
When contacted for comment on the on goings in Gutu East, Zanu PF provincial spokesperson Pepukai Chiwewe said Vhengere’s supporters were wasting their time as the party had already decided that Ganyiwa is the best candidate.
“It is just a waste of time, the party decided that Ganyiwa will represent the party, so anyone who thinks will overturn that is not serious. The President was told about that issue when he came here and he is aware of what is going on there,” said Chiwewe.
He went on to urge party members in Gutu to support the candidate who was recommended by the party saying the primary elections were already past and the party should focus on mobilizing supporters for the main election.
Catholic run St Anthony High School in Zaka has been thrown into mourning following the death of two of its staff members hours apart.
One of the most senior teachers at the school Clemence Chipato died at the mission hospital early morning on Thursday June 16 only for the boarding mistress Hellen Dungare to be found dead in her room at the school.
Chipato is said to have been diagnosed with TB and was not well for some time as he was on a sick leave.
He was 63, survived with his wife, four children and several grandchildren
At school he was nicknamed Bismack (Prussia and Germany leader) because of his history subject prowess and also his heavy handedness when it comes to instilling discipline at the school.
In the political circles he was known as Materritory as he was a staunch Zanu PF supporter and Zaka District Coordinating Committee member and he also contested ward 19 local authority seat and lost in the primaries.
The late Clemence Chipato
Chipato did his secondary education at St Anthony between 1975 and 1978 and went to Gweru teachers college for his tertiary education.
He came back at St Anthony as a student teacher in 1982, he went back to college to finish of his course and returned as a qualified teacher in 1984 and has been there until his time of death.
Chipato will be buried at his rural home in Chipinda on Saturday 17 June.
On the other hand, the Boarding mistress is said to have joined the school in 2010 as a security guard in the girl’s hostels.
In 2015 she was then appointed the boarding mistress and was responsible for girl’s welfare in the hostels.
Dungare is said to have been off duty on the day she died and a colleague found her lifeless body in her room after several attempts to call her to try some new uniforms for the ancillary staff.
Burial arrangements were yet to be established by the time of writing.
A 26 year-old Vavarirai Mapingure from Chivi village Gashanga of Chief Masunda who was arrested in connection with the murder of Owen Mabwe at Mucheke Rank made his initial appearance in court on June 15 before magistrate Conceptor Ngwerume who remanded him in custody.
It is the state’s case that on June 13 2023, Mapingure was drinking beer and was about to go home when he met Mabwe and started to joke with him.
It did not go well with Mabwe who then challenged the accused person for a fight. During the fight the accused person was defeated by Mabwe and then fetched a knife from his pockets and stabbed Mabwe three times on the chest causing his death.
Mpingure was arrested the following day on June 14 2023 at around 1300 hours. An okapi knife which was used in the commission of the murder was recovered from Mpingure and a postmortem report from Masvingo provincial hospital confirmed that Mabwe died from a stabbed wound.
Isabel Pambuka prosecuted.
In a bizarre incident of murder, an epileptic woman from Mwenezi axed her 5 year old son before attempting to kill herself saying she was tired of pain on June 9, 2023.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident.
“We can confirm that we received a report where an epileptic woman killed her son using an axe and tried to kill herself” said Dhewa
It is alleged that on the fateful day, 50 year old Revesai Magare from Miraga Village under Chief Maranda in Mwenezi decided to end her life because of the pain that she suffers from as an epileptic patient.
At around 2100hours Revesai was sleeping in her bedroom together with her son Wiseman Matutu when she woke up and struck her son with an axe several times on the head and neck until he died.
After killing her son, she then took a kitchen knife and stabbed herself with the knife several times, in a bid to end her own life, until she lost power and passed out whilst on the floor.
The following morning at around 1000hours, Revesai’s siblings, Ophias and Dhadhe Magare visited her place and found the doors locked.
The two opened the bedroom door and found Magare lying on the floor covered with some blankets, upon uncovering the blankets they realized that she had deep cuts on the neck and asked for her son’s whereabouts.
Dhadhe removed a heap of clothes covering the body of the child and saw that the boy had some injuries on the head and neck.
Revesai told her siblings that she had suffered a lot and thought it better to kill herself and her son.
Ophias reported the matter to the police at Mwenezi police station.
The police attended the scene and the deceased’s body was taken to Neshuro District Hospital whilst Revesai was admitted in the hospital where she was in a serious condition.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
