Week 38
Een wekelijkse selectie artikelen uit Zimbabwaanse kranten
Govt in a fix as farmers reject ZiG
Government is in a fix as its bid to promote the use of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG) hit a snag after farmers last week forced authorities to pay them in United State dollars for wheat deliveries, NewsDay can report. The farmers rejected payment in local currency citing its sharp depreciation against the US dollar.
The ZWG (formerly ZiG), introduced in April this year in a desperate attempt to mitigate currency instability and hyperinflation that has plagued the country for decades, has lost at least 40% of its value.
Payment of wheat farmers in US dollars will trigger the rejection of the local currency by other farmers and exporters, thereby weakening attempts to build forex reserves, experts say.
‘Police lead in rights violations’
At least 213 human rights violations were reported and documented across Zimbabwe, with key violations being harassment, intimidation and unlawful detention of citizens, human rights defenders and political activists, latest data has shown.
The data shows that leading the rights violations are police officers, having participated in nearly 40% of the infractions.
Coming second after the law enforcement agents is the ruling Zanu PF party, at about 26% of the breaches.
In its August Monthly Monitoring Report, Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) revealed that police led in the violation of human rights, followed by Zanu PF.
Mnangagwa celebrates 8 decades and 2 years
“I don’t count my age; others count it for me… and I feel very young and strong. What I was doing 10 years ago, I still do today. Some people have their age in mind, but not me,” said President Emmerson Mnangagwa when asked about the secret behind the success of his thriving Precabe Farm in Kwekwe. His comments came last week, just ahead of his 82nd birthday today, September 15.
President Mnangagwa, born in 1942, received a flood of congratulatory messages yesterday, with many praising his wisdom, leadership, and guidance, which have been instrumental in setting Zimbabwe on a path of “unprecedented economic modernisation and transformation.”
Dutch organisation steps up bid to plug Byo water challenges
A Dutch non-profit organisation, Wetskills Foundation, is this week launching an inaugural Wetskills Challenge to address critical water challenges in Bulawayo, running from tomorrow to September 25 this year.
The foundation is working in collaboration with the Kingdom of the Netherlands embassy to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, the City of Bulawayo, the National University of Science and Technology and the Green Hut Trust.
In a statement this week, the foundation said the pioneering event was aimed at tackling the pressing water challenges being faced by Zimbabwe and the region through youth-driven innovation and international collaboration.
“The Wetskills Challenge will bring together local, regional and international Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students, recent graduates and young professionals to develop creative, sustainable solutions for water-related issues exacerbated by climate change,” the foundation said.
Govt raids borehole owners, unregistered ones to pay US$150 fine
Government has threatened to fine people who own boreholes that are not registered with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority in Upper Gwayi Sub-Catchment area in Matabeleland North province.
In a notice dated September 12, the Upper Gwayi Sub Catchment Council advised borehole owners on the requirements for registering boreholes and wells.
The notice, which was signed by D Mapolisa, was posted at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo.
“Do you have a well or borehole? Is the well or borehole registered with the Upper Gwayi Sub-Catchment Council? If your answers are yes to question 1 and no to question 2, please visit our offices and register your well or borehole and pay outstanding levies,” the notice read.
Jailed O’ Level student Nicole Chabata finally out on bail
Nicole Chabata, an Ordinary Level student who was arrested alongside Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction leader Jameson Timba and 76 party activists, is finally out on bail.
Chabata, 18, was granted US$50 bail by Harare magistrate, Collet Ncube this Monday following a successful attempt, the third such bid since her arrest June 16 this year.
The same magistrate had last week put the teen on her defence, ruling that she and other 65 activists have a case to answer.
Zimbabwe’s ballooning US$21 billion debt spirals out of hand
Madzivanyika highlighted a stark increase in the national debt from US$17 billion in December 2023 to over US$21 billion within a year. This surge, he argued, threatens to undermine the country’s economic growth prospects and its Vision 2030 goals.
“It is clear that the debt question has gone out of hand for Zimbabwe. Let us be honest with each other. Only last year, by December 2023, our debt position was US$17 billion, but it ballooned by more than US$3 billion to US$21 billion,” Madzivanyika said.
Constitution can be amended to suit expectations: Matuke
Constitutional amendments are possible everywhere in the world and the Second Republic can equally do the same to meet its expectations, Zanu PF Secretary for National Security Cde Lovemore Matuke has said.
In remarks at a Zanu PF Midlands Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting held recently, Cde Matuke said the Constitution was “not cast in stone”.
“I have heard people talking about the Constitution, about what it purportedly stipulates and that is your feeling,” he said. “But remember we have some few amendments which we have done on the same Constitution and this Constitution is not cast in stone.
Zimbabwe lacks political will, financing to implement SDGs
Zimbabwe lacks political will and finances to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which is affecting its development endeavours, the United Nations (UN) has said.
This comes as Zimbabwe prepares to join the rest of the world at the Summit of the Future set to be held in New York early next week.
The country, since 2019, has no comprehensive budget and financing framework to cater for the execution of the goals leading to recession and stagnation.
In an interview with NewsDay on the sidelines of the Summit’s Consultative Stakeholders Meeting in Harare last week, UN resident co-ordinator Edward Kallon said a comprehensive budget was the starting point for Zimbabwe.
SA gives Zimbabwean immigrants lifeline
Dube, a former lecturer of art and design in the Department of Teacher Education at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda, quit his job in 2007 because of poor remuneration. “The economic challenges caused by economic instability forced many of us out of Zimbabwe.” Dube said he studied with a South African college through distance education to make sure that he gets a recognised qualification before moving to the neighbouring country.
Dube said his family still residents back home in Zimbabwe.
“My family frequently visits me in South Africa but stays in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Reaching out to remote communities in Zimbabwe on two wheels | UNICEF Zimbabwe
Sanele lives in Matabeleland South Province, a poor rural region of Western Zimbabwe, where it is difficult for young mothers to reach a health facility and have their babies vaccinated. But now they can rely on village health workers (VHW) who come and reach out to them, where they live.
In the arid landscapes of Mangwe and Matobo districts, the sight of a village health worker in her distinctive smock uniform and brown hat, pedaling down dusty paths on a blue bicycle with a China Aid logo, has become a beacon of hope.
Lake Kariba’s drying waters: People in Zimbabwe affected by severe drought
Droughts caused by climate change have resulted in a significant drop in water levels on Lake Kariba to the point where there is no longer enough water for hydropower generation. Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa reports. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7XQ_Jwtktc )
