HARARE – The State yesterday changed charges several times against Kariba pastor Phillip Mugadza who “predicted” President Robert Mugabe’s death, before remanding him in custody for one more night. His lawyer, Gift Mtisi, said his client had initially been charged with undermining the authority of the president, then “criminal nuisance” and finally “insulting people of…
HARARE – The country’s dying economy resulted in the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) missing its 2016 revenue target by four percent. The national tax collector only managed to raise $3,4 billion against projections of $3,6 billion, on the back of the country’s ever deteriorating economic conditions. Zimra chairperson Willia Bonyongwe said yesterday that the slowdown…
BULAWAYO – Opposition political parties and civic organisations have described as insensitive Zanu PF youth league’s decision to celebrate President Robert Mugabe’s 93rd birthday in Matobo District, Matabeleland South, ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Gukurahundi atrocities. Mugabe’s annual birthday celebrations, which are held amid pomp and fanfare, will be held at Matopos National Park…
HARARE – President Robert Mugabe’s stone-broke government has once again failed to raise funds to bankroll civil servants’ bonuses, raising the spectre of widespread protests by the restive workers. Last year, Mugabe — in a typical populist move — vowed that the public service workers would receive their 13th cheques, despite advice from Finance minister…
HARARE – The Zimbabwean government has come under fire after allocating a paltry $16,4 million for water and sanitation programmes over the next financial year, a sum which environmental experts said is woefully inadequate given the size of the country and the health challenges it faces. Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa proposed $16,4 million towards water…
HARARE – Residents have approached lawyers seeking recourse over a 10 percent commission charged by Harare City Council (HCC)-hired debt collectors. Council has engaged WellCash Debt Collectors to recover money owed for water and rates by residents, with the debt collectors forcing ratepayers to be liable for the 10 percent commission charged on each instalment…
HARARE – The shortage of basic drugs in most health institutions is set to worsen as it emerged that government is failing to honour Treasury Bills (TBs) worth $3,5 million that had been issued to raise funds to import medicines. The failure to honour the TBs — issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe — has…
HARARE – The opposition MDC has said the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) is free to investigate the party’s council officials who might have engaged in corrupt activities. Following reports that the country’s corruption-busting body is investigating cases of irregular deals by the MDC-run Harare City Council, the party’s spokesperson Obert Gutu told the Daily News…
HARARE – Scores of Zimbabweans yesterday took to Twitter to express concern over the proposed introduction of foreign languages — Mandarin, Portuguese and Swahili — in schools’ curriculum. According to a government document published in the State media, the move will promote Ubuntu/hunhu, equality, inclusivity and diversity. Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) organising secretary…
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s long-suffering civil servants are yet to receive their 2016 bonuses despite getting assurance from President Robert Mugabe. What makes the situation worse is the fact that the nonagenarian leader has taken time to enjoy himself with his family in the Far East on his annual vacation, while the country’s over 300 000…
