HARARE – Zimbabwe has no plans to introduce command economy, Information minister Chris Mushowe has said. This comes after recent reports indicated that government intends to introduce the Soviet-style model to revitalise the country’s ailing economy and ease cash shortages. A command or planned economy occurs when the government controls all major aspects of the…
HARARE – Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Rita Makarau has backed down on her earlier decision to shut the door on opposition parties committing to engage them in future discussions on elections, MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said. Last week, Makarau called off a meeting with opposition political parties, accusing them of engaging the commission through…
HARARE – Three generations of Peter Haritatos’ family have owned bakeries amid the rocky outcrops jutting up at the centre of the Kadoma mining area, which provides gold, copper and nickel here. He is popular in town, and speaks fluent Shona. Haritatos is just one of the locals, he even has a Shona nickname —…
HARARE – Senators and chiefs have urged political parties to ensure the looming 2018 general elections are peaceful, amid a rise in violence that they blamed on ambitious politicians staking claims as candidates. This comes as critics and opponents say President Robert Mugabe has hung on to power by unleashing violence and terror, among other…
HARARE – The trial of a Mbare police officer-in-charge, who allegedly attempted to swallow bribe money after being trapped, has been deferred to April 6 because the magistrate was not available. Violet Sigauke is being charged with criminal abuse of office. Trial proceedings are before Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube. [Adz] Sigauke was represented by Admire…
HARARE – A former State Procurement Board (SPB) chairperson, who fell seriously ill following an arrest over $1 million corruption charges, was granted $2 000 bail yesterday. Charles Kuwaza’s remand proceedings were first held at Metropolitan Clinic before Harare provincial magistrate Elisha Singano on Wednesday. He was admitted to bail in absentia at Harare Magistrates’…
HARARE – Government is clearing its $62 million debt to tertiary institutions, paying $30 000 monthly, the National Assembly has been told. This comes as Tertiary Education deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa admitted that the multi-million debt was stifling the development of universities, which now rely on students’ fees as nothing is coming from Treasury. “We…
HARARE – The on-going water shortages in Harare have forced municipal authorities to deploy water bowsers to parts of the city. This comes as residents of the densely populated Hatcliffe suburb, which receives water only twice a week — have blamed shortages of the precious commodity for causing a cholera outbreak that has so far…
BULAWAYO – Former Magwegwe legislator Felix Mafa Sibanda — through his Post-Independent Survivors Trust (Pist) — is moving to pressure government to address Gukurahundi atrocities. The atrocities have become known as the country’s worst genocide. Thousands of men, women and children were shot, starved, and tortured to death by members of the Fifth Brigade as…
BULAWAYO – More than 300 mental health patients and inmates at Mlondolozi Prison are living in better conditions after a refurbishment that created a conducive environment for psychiatric treatment, and social rehabilitation. The institution, situated in the outskirts of Bulawayo, caters for inmates on remand and those doing time. The improved facilities were commissioned by…
