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Victoria Falls residents boycott 2023 budget meetings as tension rises over graft

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Victoria Falls ratepayers are boycotting the city council’s 2023 budget consultations as they are demanding answers on various allegations of corruption scandals that have rocked the local authority.

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The budget meetings that started this week failed to take off on two consecutive days as residents stayed away while demanding to be first addressed about the alleged irregular sale of commercial stands, a US$89 000 loan that was given to town clerk Ronnie Dube to buy a car and a luxury car for the mayor.

A budget meeting that was organised the business community comprising of tourism operators, non-profit organisations and special interests groups saw only five residents attending.

Four of the people that attended the meeting were members of the Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association (VIFACORA) while a meeting for wards nine and 10   that was held at Mosi-Oa-Tunya High School had less than 20 residents.

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Those who attended the meetings demanded answers from the local authority on how it was handling its funds given the latest scandals.

VIFACORA and some residents accused some council employees and councillors of shifting from the core mandate of service delivery to pursue corrupt deals for personal gain and this has impacted negatively on council’s finances.

In both meetings, residents demanded accountability on the sale of stand 8300 to the lowest bidder yet the highest bidder had offered more than double the amount.

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VIFACORA chairperson Kelvin Moyo said residents’ concerns must be addressed before the budget could be formulated.

“This stand was earmarked for the state-of-the-art hospital that was supposed to be built before Covid-19, but the investor was affected by the pandemic,” Moyo said.

“After that it was resolved that it must be retendered and at the time it was valued at US$14 million and then then investor was supposed to build two reservoirs in Mkhosana, which was to deal with perennial water challenges there, especially between the months of august to November,” Moyo said.

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The residents are querying how the stand was bought by the lowest bidder.

“There are a lot of questions that residents are asking,” Moyo said.

“They want to know what exactly happened (on the stand issue) and we feel this should be addressed in order to bring confidence to residents before we continue with the budget formulation.”

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Residents said they also needed an explanation on circumstances that saw town clerk Ronnie Dube getting a US$89 000 to buy a car with a 25 percent discount and at the interbank rate.

“We all know what that means,” VIFACORA secretary general Trymore Ndolo said.

“Additionally, the same vehicle bought using council funds becomes personal property entitling the town clerk to claim mileage on it, which means that in the end council will repay the loan and more.

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“The town clerk has a contractual office vehicle, which should have been bought as a priority over the personal vehicle loan and where is the signed loan agreement, did he get a loan without signing a loan agreement or an offer?”

Residents are also demanding answers on council’s proposal to give mayor Somvelo Dhlamini a Toyota Fortuner vehicle as a golden handshake at the end of his term next year without a full council resolution.

“The resources are not theirs to squander, but ours to protect for the benefit of everyone and future generations,” Ndolo said.

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“At this rate nothing will remain of our beautiful city.”

Other issues include the controversial leasing of the council brewery for 15 years without proper procedures being followed.

Residents also queried why councillors were not attending the budget meetings.

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Councils’ finance director Neville Ndlovu in response said residents who felt aggrieved should always raise questions with the local authority.

“I know there is so much information that goes out and we have seen so much in the media, (but) those things have nothing  to do with the budget processes that we are currently doing,” Ndlovu said.

“If stakeholders have issues they feel they need clarification on, council officials are available from Monday to Friday (where) we do those engagements because this will actually hamper other progress because as it is now.

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“We need to do the budget for 2023 because come January one, we have not really completed the process, we will have not a budget to work with.”

Budget meetings in other wards are scheduled for today and Friday.

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National

ZIMRA customs officer appears in court for criminal abuse of office

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) customs officer, Phillip Kuvenga, has been accused of criminal abuse of office for allegedly assisting in the importation of banned motor vehicles.

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Kuvenga, 28, who is stationed at Victoria Falls, allegedly received documents from clients, completed valuation sheets, and carried out the valuation process. However, he is accused of endorsing different chassis numbers to deceive his supervisors during the validation and approval process.

After obtaining approval, Kuvenga would capture the correct chassis numbers in the ASYCUDA World System. He would then alter or replace the documents submitted earlier to his supervisors.

The offense came to light when a motor vehicle that had not yet arrived in Zimbabwe was found to have been already registered. A thorough check by ZIMRA led to Kuvenga’s arrest.

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Kuvenga appeared in court on February 1, where he was denied bail by Magistrate Gift Manyka. He is expected to appear in court again today for another bail hearing.

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Retailers send Mnangagwa SOS as shops continue shutting down over operational woes

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BY ZIMLIVE

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene and save the sector which has seen various formal retail and wholesale businesses closing shop countrywide due to operational challenges.

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In a statement on Sunday, CZR president Denford Mutashu said the continued closure of formal retail and wholesale businesses is a direct consequence of the tough economic environment that has consistently failed to support formalised sector players who face stiff competition from informal businesses and vendors the majority of whom have no tax obligations to deal with.

Mutashu said his association was concerned that authorities continue to downplay the crisis.

“The recent closure of several outlets under the N. Richards Group, coupled with Spar Zimbabwe’s painful decision to shut down Queensdale Spar, Choppies Zimbabwe’s exit from the market, and Mahommed Mussa’s significant reduction of shop space by 60%, highlights the growing crisis.

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“As the representative association for these and other brands, CZR is alarmed that while formal businesses face enormous challenges, the authorities continue to present a different picture of the operating environment,” he said.

Given the situation, Mutashu said, only President Mnangagwa can rescue the troubled sector.

“CZR therefore calls for urgent intervention from His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to rescue what remains of the formalized retail and wholesale sector,” said Mutashu.

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He said the sector was in urgent need of rescue.

“While CZR acknowledges the continued support from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it is clear that the root causes of these challenges are fiscal and monetary in nature. These require urgent and decisive action to ensure the survival of formal businesses.

“CZR therefore appeals to the Presidium to prioritize interventions aimed at saving jobs and mitigating the ongoing wave of shop closures and retrenchments,” he said.

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Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition vows to resist term limit changes

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BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Zimbabweans are speaking out against proposed constitutional amendments that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond the constitutional limit of two five-year terms.

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A stakeholder engagement meeting convened by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition today brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including labor, church, and business representatives, to devise a collective strategy against the proposed amendments.

“The participants firmly argued that such changes would significantly undermine the spirit and collective will of the Zimbabwean populace,” the meeting noted.

They characterized the amendments as “self-serving maneuvers orchestrated by a small clique of politicians pursuing personal ambitions over the broader interests of the nation.”

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“This clique’s pursuit of power undermines the very foundation of Zimbabwe’s democracy,” the meeting emphasized. Furthermore, the participants noted that the proposed amendments “fundamentally contradict the democratic principles enunciated in the country’s constitution.”

The meeting expressed concern that enacting such changes would exacerbate the lingering legitimacy crisis, leading to increased international isolation and a further decline in Zimbabwe’s global standing.

The participants also reflected on how these ongoing attempts to alter the constitution demonstrate a profound disregard of the will of Zimbabweans, as expressed in 2013 when they unanimously voted for the supreme law.

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The meeting further noted that the relentless efforts to amend the constitution will continue to limit the democratic space in Zimbabwe. “The shrinking environment poses a serious risk of consolidating authoritarian practices and eroding the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizens,” the meeting warned.

In addition to the constitutional amendments, the meeting highlighted the ongoing economic crisis in Zimbabwe, which has severely impacted the daily lives of ordinary citizens. “As inflation spirals and basic necessities become increasingly scarce, many families struggle to meet their fundamental needs,” the meeting noted.

The participants expressed concern that political elites and a small group of individuals with close ties to the government are exploiting the nation’s resources for their own gain. “This systematic looting occurs with little regard for the welfare of the populace, exacerbating the country’s economic plight and contributing to widespread hardship among the general population,” the meeting emphasized.

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To resist these developments, the meeting resolved to:

– *Build a Broad-Based Movement*: Unite various stakeholders to defend democratic space and resist the proposed constitutional amendment. This comprehensive approach seeks to unite stakeholders, including the media, diplomats, community mobilizers, and rapid response teams, to ensure ordinary Zimbabweans are empowered to engage in this righteous and noble cause.
– *Mobilize Nationally*: Prioritize community consultation to safeguard the constitution and nurture a culture of constitutionalism. This mobilization effort must extend across all political affiliations and should commence without delay.
– *Convene a National Convention*: Organize an inclusive national all-stakeholders convention that incorporates all stakeholders to prepare for a united response, specifically a collective VOTE NO campaign, should a referendum be called regarding any constitutional changes.
– *Employ All Permissible Channels*: Utilize mass mobilization initiatives, organize demonstrations, engage in diplomatic discussions, and pursue public interest litigation to challenge and stop the encroachments on democracy.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition emphasized the urgency of mobilizing citizens across the country to defend democratic ideals and resist any proposed amendments to the constitution.

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