National

Mwonzora-led MDC Alliance recalls Victoria Falls, Binga councillors

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2022

Admin

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC Alliance has recalled eight councillors in Matabeleland North after accusing them of working with the Nelson Chamisa-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

According to MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube, the eight councillors from Binga and Victoria Falls were fired last week for supporting CCC.

MDC-T leads the MDC Alliance, the opposition coalition that won parliamentary and council seats during the 2018 elections while still under the leadership of Chamisa before Mwonzora took over under controversial circumstances.

Mwonzora’s party has been wielding the axe against elected representatives who are still loyal to Chamisa and the latest recalls followed months of a lull in the removals.

Dube insisted in an interview with VicFallsLive that the recalls were being done to protect the interests of voters.

“When we do recalls as a party we do them in accordance with section 12K of the national constitution, which gives any party authority to recall any public official who would have ceased to be their member through whatever means and we have a right to recall them so as to protect the vote of the people,” he said.

“It is true that we have recalled councillors in Binga and Victoria Falls in line with the same constitutional provisions (because) they are now supporting other political parties while still serving our term.

“Councillors were elected in 2018 under the MDC Alliance banner, so for them to then turn around and support other political parties is illegal and it is a misrepresentation of the 2018 votes.

“In this case we even had a very awkward situation whereby people stopped belonging to MDC Alliance and started belonging to a newly formed political party which has no policy document, which has no constitution, which has no manifesto, which is even just following individuals and that is very unfair to the voting public in Zimbabwe.”

In Victoria Falls two councillors were recalled namely Thuso Moyo from ward seven and Joseph Dzangai from ward eight.

From the Binga Rural District Council the recalled councillors are Wilson Siampolomba from Kariangwe ward, Matheas Mudenda (Simatelele), Kingson Mpofu (Kalungwizi), Joseph Mwembe (Sikalenge), Chrispen Munkuli (Lubimbi) and John Sikabotu (Siachilaba).

Dube said the purge would leave the party with loyal members only.

“We want to pause and paint the problem that this creates,” he said.

Dube said when political parties go to elections they present their manifestos and the assumption was that once people were elected into public offices they would abide by the policies.

“This movement of public officials from one party to another during their term of office or during the exercise of their duties is not in line with the constitution because the voters would’ve voted for the policies of the party that they represent even in their manifestos,” he added.

Dube said the MDC intended to fill the vacancies created by the recalls once by-elections are hrld, but in the meantime the remaining councillors will have to cover wards that do not have representatives.

MDC Alliance has not contested in by-elections since it was humiliated by CCC in the March 26 by-elections.

National

Zimbabwe’s economy to defy drought odds, says Fin

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Admin

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In his midterm budget presentation for 2024 , Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube outlined the government’s fiscal strategy to navigate the challenges posed by the El-Nino induced drought, while maintaining a stable economy.

“The fiscal policy thrust and macro-fiscal framework of the approved 2024 National Budget remains unchanged under the theme ‘Consolidating Economic Transformation’,” Minister Ncube stated on Thursday at the National Assembly.

Despite the drought’s impact, the government’s priority is to “alleviate the impact on vulnerable households and the economy, as well as ensuring that the economy emerges stronger and more resilient going forward.”

Minister Ncube emphasized the need to address the elevated food assistance needs of citizens, while maintaining a stable economic environment.

The introduction of the ZiG currency in April 2024 has brought “relatively stable prices and exchange rate stability,” according to Ncube.

To maintain this stability, the government will implement supportive tax and expenditure policies to increase demand for the local currency, complemented by monetary policy that manages market liquidity.

Looking ahead to the end of the year, Ncube outlined measures to protect the domestic currency and restore macro-economic stability. “Containing expenditure pressures and major expenditure heads such as the wage bill and debt servicing will be critical in order to avoid monetising the budget deficit,” he cautioned.

The re-calibrated 2024 Macro-Fiscal Framework projects revenues of ZiG93.2 billion (22% of GDP) and expenditures of ZiG98.8 billion, resulting in a budget deficit of ZiG5.6 billion (1.3% of GDP).

Despite the drought, Ncube expressed optimism, stating, “The current stable economic environment, together with economic transformation and diversification underway, is expected to enable the economy to register positive economic growth of 2%.”

National

Police refute claims of inciting violence at ZINASU gathering

Published

3 days ago

July 24, 2024

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has refuted allegations that they had sparked violence at the ZESA Training Centre in Harare, where 44 Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) activists were arrested on Wednesday morning.

“The Police were only called in after violence erupted amongst the ZINASU group,” ZRP spokesperson assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi said on X.

“The violence led to the destruction of ZESA and State property,”he added.

“As a result, Police were called in to come and maintain law and order. This is on record and can be confirmed by ZESA officials.”

The press statement was released after the human rights lawyers and civic organizations took to social media to condemn the police, alleging that they had instigated the violence.

ZINASU reported that the police, violently disrupted the ZINASU General Council Meeting at 10:00 am at ZESA National Training Center.

Most of the students were brutally assaulted and some were arrested and take to Harare Central Police Station.

Hours later, they updated the public that the students arrested were to be released on fine, but President Emmanuel SiTiMaH was taken into CID custody, amid calls for his immediate release.

But the ZRP stood firm, dismissing these claims and emphasizing that their sole objective was to maintain law and order.

“We appeal to civic organizations to verify with Police before issuing statements or raising unsubstantiated allegations,” Nyathi said.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that there are laws to be observed in the country and anyone who engages in acts of violence and destruction of property will be brought to book.”

Police did not disclose the whereabouts of the 44 and the ZINASU President.

National

Developing: ZINASU students under siege

Published

3 days ago

July 24, 2024

Admin

BY STAFF REPORTER

Disturbing reports emerging from Zimbabwe, where students attending a Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) General Council meeting at ZESA National Training Center were allegedly beaten, injured, and arrested by riot police.

Image: ZINASU

“Students gatherings have become a taboo in this country, students are suffocating as we speak‼️Students are not free”ZINASU shared on X.

The Zimbabwe Peace Project notes students also received suspicious calls from unknown numbers.

ZINASU a united front of Zimbabwean students, dedicated to the socio-economic advancement of students and the liberation of students from all forms of exploitation and oppression.

More to follow…