Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost.

1. (C) SUMMARY. Prominent exiled Zimbabwean businessmen Trevor Ncube and Strive Masiyiwa agreed that the upcoming March 29 elections offered opportunities for political change in Zimbabwe, but differed on the electoral prospects for independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni. Ncube, a strong Makoni supporter, claimed that Makoni has generated significant excitement in Zimbabwe and would do well in the upcoming poll, whereas Masiyiwa questioned Makoni’s organizational strength on the ground. Both believed that Makoni’s candidacy has created sharp divisions in ZANU-PF, and that Makoni and Tsvangirai may still form a coalition before the election. Some key ZANU-PF officials who were in involved in the rigging in previous elections now support Makoni, potentially making it harder — but not impossible — for Mugabe to steal the upcoming election. The MDC will attempt to combat rigging, but has not yet devised a plan for the “day after” in the event of a Mugabe victory.

Masiyiwa expressed his growing concern about the spiraling inflation, suggesting that there may be “no more room” for the economy to collapse. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) Visiting DAS Carol Thompson, AF/S Office Director, and PolOff met February 27 with prominent and influential Zimbabwean exile businessmen Strive Masiyiwa and Trevor Ncube. Harare Ambassador McGee joined the meeting with Masiyiwa. Ncube is publisher of the respected South African weekly newspaper the Mail & Guardian, as well as the Zimbabwean newspapers The Sunday Standard and The Zimbabwean Independent.

Masiyiwa is founder and CEO of Econet Wireless Group, a global telecommunications company with operations in Zimbabwe and 14 other countries.

Prospects for Makoni Candidacy

3. (C) A long-time advocate of a “third way” in Zimbabwe (ref A), Trevor Ncube expressed his enthusiastic support for the presidential candidacy of Simba Makoni (ref B). (NOTE: Ncube appears to be deeply involved in the Makoni campaign, and even received a phone call from Makoni during the meeting. END NOTE.) Makoni has generated “tremendous excitement” on the ground in Zimbabwe, Ncube claimed, leading to an upsurge in voter registration. Makoni’s biggest enemies are time and resources. Ncube said that the diaspora is helping to fund Makoni’s campaign through a Johannesburg trust fund (Ncube offered to provide the account number to the USG for contributions, an offer we did not follow up on). Ncube suggested that Makoni is making inroads in Mashonaland East, where former General Solomon Mujuru has broad support, in Harare, and in Matabeleland, both urban and rural areas. This support would spread into other areas, Ncube believes.

4. (C) DAS Thompson stressed to Ncube that the United States does not support particular political parties in Zimbabwe, despite rumors that the USG backs the opposition MDC. Instead, the United States wants to see leaders with vision, who can create political and economic change in Zimbabwe and a better life for the Zimbabwean people. Ncube said he appreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube Qappreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube noted that any association between Makoni and the U.S. or U.K. would be the “political kiss of death,” so urged the USG to speak carefully when commenting on the campaign.

5. (C) Strive Masiyiwa was much more cautious about the Makoni candidacy, questioning whether Makoni has support on the ground. He noted that Makoni does not have any “foot soldiers” to campaign for him, and thus limited ability to communicate with the man on the street, many of whom are deeply suspicious of Makoni due to his long association with President Mugabe and ZANU-PF. Both Masiyiwa and Ncube agreed that Makoni’s candidacy has divided ZANU-PF, including the security structures. While no one knows the exact extent of the division, Ncube said it is “extensive.” This division has created tension, distrust, and even paranoia within ZANU-PF.

Complicated Ties to Mujurus

6. (C) Ncube and Masiyiwa provided differing accounts of the relationship between Makoni and ZANU-PF heavyweight retired General Solomon Mujuru. Ncube claimed that Makoni decided to run for president without Mujuru’s blessing. Now that Makoni is “gathering momentum,” Mujuru has begun quietly supporting him, but many core Makoni supporters resent Mujuru’s late conversion. Mujuru is a controversial figure in ZANU-PF and could even become a negative factor in the Makoni campaign.

7. (C) Masiyiwa, on the other hand, said that Mujuru and former Home Affairs Minister Dumisa Dabengwa created the “Makoni project” as a means to get rid of Mugabe. Dabengwa will publicly endorse Makoni in the coming days, which will be “symbolically powerful” and will bring the former ZAPU leadership firmly behind Makoni. Masiyiwa helped organize a meeting in Johannesburg between Dabengwa and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai (ref C), a potentially important bridge between Makoni and the MDC. According to Masiyiwa, Mujuru will never publicly back Makoni. Mujuru is essentially a “mafia boss,” and Mugabe could simply threaten to arrest Mujuru if he got out of line. Masiyiwa also questioned the conventional wisdom that Mujuru controls much of the military, noting that Mujuru has been out of uniform for some 16 years and may not have as much influence.

Alliance between Tsvangirai and Makoni

8. (C) Both Ncube and Masiyiwa believed it was still possible for Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai to form an alliance before the presidential elections on March 29 — or perhaps for a second round of elections if no one candidate receives 50 percent plus of the vote (a prospect both Ncube and Masiyiwa thought likely). Ncube, a harsh Tsvangirai critic, argued that the MDC-Tsvangirai has been “seriously weakened” by its failure to reunite with the MDC-Mutambara faction, and that Tsvangirai has no more than 20 percent support in the country. Tsvangirai is under significant pressure, even “rebellion,” from within his own party. Masiyiwa said that both Makoni and Tsvangirai are still sizing up their support, but at the appropriate time in the next couple weeks, he expected — and would in fact help ensure — that the two would meet and discuss forming a coalition. Masiyiwa floated the idea of Makoni serving as Prime Minister and head of government, while Tsvangirai would become president and head of state.

Rigged Election?

9. (C) Asked about the possibility that Mugabe would rig the election to ensure he received 51 percent of the vote, Ncube and Masiyiwa noted that the “people who did the rigging last time” are now divided between Mugabe and Makoni (Masiyiwa even joked that one CIO contact expressed concern that Makoni could steal the election from Mugabe!). Ncube said you cannot rule out the impact of fear and intimidation from Mugabe’s thugs, but that there were “competing forces at work.” Blatant rigging might not be accepted by the young people, Ncube observed, noting that many youth were frustrated when they were unable to register to vote. Qfrustrated when they were unable to register to vote. Masiyiwa is helping the MDC set up an “anti-rigging unit” that hopefully will help reduce the amount of electoral theft.

10. (C) The MDC does not have a clear plan for the “day after” the election, Masiyiwa said. The party is beginning to hold those discussions, but remains committed to non-violence. Tsvangirai is concerned that post-electoral protests could spin out of control. Masiyiwa has recommended to the MDC that they view the election as part of the process of de-legitimizing Mugabe — shrinking his international support base to a couple countries in the region like Namibia and Angola. Masiyiwa wants as many regional observers and journalists as possible in Zimbabwe to witness the election. He and others are urging the South African Communist Party (SACP) and trade union federation COSATU — both sympathetic PRETORIA 00000418 003.2 OF 003 to the MDC — to send observers through the ANC and South African Government delegations.

Economic Crisis

11. (C) Concluding, Masiyiwa expressed concern about spiraling inflation and economic meltdown in Zimbabwe. Mugabe is continuing to print and spend money in advance of the election, creating a “roaring monster.” “We have talked about the economy” for a long time, Masiyiwa said, but this time there “may be no more room” for collapse.

Comment

12. (C) Simba Makoni’s presidential bid has created excitement among the well-educated Zimbabwean diaspora in South Africa. Many, like Trevor Ncube, are supporting Makoni and are likely contributing resources to his campaign. A significant number of the elite and successful Zimbabweans dismiss Morgan Tsvangirai as ineffective, uneducated and incapable of ruling Zimbabwe, and see Makoni as the best hope for change in Zimbabwe. Others, like Strive Masiyiwa, continue to back the MDC and Tsvangirai, and Tsvangirai retains strong support among the working class and poor Zimbabwean exiles in South Africa. We expect few Zimbabweans living in South Africa, estimated between one to three million, will return to Zimbabwe to vote in the March 29 elections, although their financial resources, international connections, and ties to family members may make them an influential factor in Zimbabwean politics.

By Own Correspondent| Responding to whether the First lady Auxilia Mnangagwa should meddle in government business and mediate in the doctors’ strike or whether she is fast becoming like her predecessor Dr Grace Mugabe, over half of the respondents said Amai Mnangagwa is emulating Dr Mugabe.

According to a 24 hour poll which saw 753 people voting, 53 percent of the respondents believed that Amai Mnangagwa was fast becoming like Dr Mugabe.

A total of 35 percent of the 753 voters however believed that it was not her place to mediate and meddle in government business while 12 percent are of the opinion that she can and should mediate to end the impasse between government and the striking doctors.

Below is the final result of the poll:

Do you think Auxilia Mnangagwa should meddle in gvnt business and mediate in the doctors' strike or she is just becoming another Dr Grace Mugabe?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 5, 2019

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Teachers Association has confirmed that the organisation’s membership will be downing tools when schools open.

Below is the full text by ZIMTA:

DECLARATION ON INCAPACITATION DATED 5th JANUARY 2019

We, the ZIMBABWE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION;

HAVING collated experiences and submissions from our membership across all the ten (10) provinces,

NOTING the concerns and grievances raised in those submissions and the recommendations thereof;

CONCERNED about the rapid deterioration of conditions of work of our members across the country and the effects thereof, inter alia;
a) Systematic erosion of the value of our members’ salaries,
b) Sharp rise of prices of basic commodities and transport fares yet salaries remain static despite the decline of their value, and
c) Charging of prices of certain commodities in hard currency (USD) such as medicines.
OBSERVING that we have forewarned the Government of those eventualities,

WORRIED by the Government failure to address any of these grievances and concerns despite previous engagements and discussion;

NOW THEREFORE GIVEN THE FOREGOING, it is thus declared as follows:
a) Our members are unable to report for duty with effect from the 8th of January 2019 due to incapacitation.
b) To enable the teachers to report for work and to subsist, we demand the payment of salaries in US Dollars.

THE Bulawayo City Council has reportedly resolved to drive out goat sellers in Kelvin Industrial areas this month following complaints of selling uninspected meat as well as cruelty to animals.

The local authority says according to the by-laws, the goats are classified as stray animals.

BCC Senior Public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said the move to engage goat sellers follows complaints from residents.

“The City of Bulawayo has been receiving numerous complaints from individuals and organisations on goats roaming around the city. On the health aspect, the complaints have been on the selling of uninspected meat to the public which is also an offence,” she said.

Mrs Mpofu said they (goat sellers) were also accused of cruelty to animals as confining them and starving them of food and water is an offence as well as human and animal conflict.

“Because of the above reasons and by-laws goats roaming around the city are classified as stray animals. Council is working on a mechanism to accommodate all stakeholders and goat keepers inclusive to a better alternative place,” she said.

“Council is in dialogue with all the relevant stakeholders that include ZRP, Veterinary Services, SPCA, Agritex (LPD) Council Health Inspectorate, with a view of addressing all the necessary challenges associated with this matter and coming up with an acceptable solution to all the affected parties. Further directions will be given once the matter has been concluded.”

A source from BCC said council rangers had made a resolution to drive out the goat sellers as from January 9 and was also mooting setting up feedlots for the goat sellers.

“There mustn’t be any goats by January 9, any goats found there would be raided and confiscated by council and taken to Aisleby Farm before they are auctioned,” said the official.

The official said the decision comes as a disease prevention and control measure to both humans and animals as in most cases the goats are not inspected before slaughter.

“Some people are even slaughtering the goats there and it’s illegal. No one inspects that meat. Before the animals are slaughtered, the animals health officer inspector has to inspect it to check if it is not infected by any disease then it goes to the slaughter then comes to the meat inspector who checks if the meat is suitable for human consumption then its stamped then it goes to the butcher.

If there is a disease outbreak in that area and people just buy that meat it also affects people. That’s what we are trying to control,” said the official.

The official said they were working on tightening laws as the goat sellers falsely supply information to the police and veterinary officials when moving the goats to Bulawayo.

State Media

A pride of lions is wreaking havoc in Hurungwe’s Chief Chundu area, killing livestock and terrorising villagers, it has been reported.

Villagers under headman Nyakasikana in the Mayamba area said the lions were targeting donkeys, cattle and goats.

“On Tuesday, two donkeys were killed in the Mayamba area. The following day, a communal farmer lost two head of cattle in the Machecheni area. Several villagers have lost goats as well,” said a villager, Tongai Banda.

Another villager, Robson Taiumu, said they now lived in fear as they were not sure if the lions were not going to attack humans as well.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe (Zimparks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said rangers had since been deployed to capture the predators.

“This is in line with our motto of ‘living in harmony with nature’. We urge villagers not to move near game park areas where lions stroll. We have since deployed our rangers to deal with the lions in Hurungwe,” he said.

Farawo said there were other areas where elephants were now in conflict with communities due to their ballooning population in Hwange and Masvingo.

“Our national capacity for elephants is 46 000, but currently we have over 84 000 and this has a negative impact on our environment,” he said.

“Our mandate is to see communities benefiting from these animals. They must see the presence of animals as opportunities in infrastructural development, including building of clinics, roads, and availing drugs, among other projects.”

Farawo said in some of these areas elephants drove away smaller animals like kudus forcing lions to target livestock like cattle as easy prey.

“This is now a vicious cycle, but we are working hard to educate the communities to live well with wild animals and reduce human-animal conflict,” he said.

“We are putting mechanisms in place for communities to benefit from natural resources surrounding these communities.”

Farawo, however, warned villagers to refrain from killing the animals.

“We appreciate harmony in nature and urge communities to help us maintain that by not driving their livestock into game areas,” he said.

Last year, rangers had to come to Chundu to kill another pride of lions that had killed several livestock.

Standard

Unregulated and unregistered medicines are reportedly flooding into Zimbabwe, with consignments of expired medicines being smuggled into the country through the country’s porous border posts.

Syndicates are allegedly taking advantage of steep United States dollar prices being charged by pharmacies following the collapse of the value of Zimbabwe’s surrogate bond notes and electronic money.

The high prices being charged have left patients at high risk, as they are resorting to cheap and unregulated medicines coming from neighbouring Mozambique and Zambia.

Samuel Gamanya, a pharmacist in Harare’s central business district, said the influx of unregulated medicinal drugs had been on the increase since November when there was an acute shortage of essential drugs.

“We have had unregulated drugs flooding the country since November 2018 after essential drugs became scarce, and later on when they were priced in the US dollar,” he told African News Agency (ANA).

“These drugs, we hear, have been smuggled through Chirundu and Forbes border posts,” he said.

Medical Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) public relations officer Shingai Gwatidzo said the influx of unregistered drugs had been observed in the country and they were working with law enforcement agencies to curb the situation.

“What is commonly observed on the informal markets in Zimbabwe is an influx of unregistered medicines that are smuggled into the country. These end up being sold from unapproved premises such as street stalls, backpacks, tuckshops, unlicensed health shops, etc. Unregistered medicines, as their definition suggests, would not have been assessed to check their quality and safety profiles,” he said.

“This means that those that end up buying unapproved medicines from unlicensed sources are putting their health at risk because they are not guaranteed of safety, effectiveness, and of good quality.”

Gwatidzo said such medicines, as well as substandard and falsified medicines, were likely to harm patients’ health, “and even lead to death and may be ineffective towards the intended disease/condition”, adding this would ultimately lead to the undermining of confidence in medical products, healthcare professionals, and the Zimbabwe health system.

“Various measures are in place to try and control influx of unregistered medicines onto the Zimbabwe market. MCAZ is working together with law enforcement agents in conducting raids based on tip-offs,” he said.

-ANA

By A Correspondent| ZimEye has received the below alert message from a family member of a missing man inside the burning ship which went adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. The below unedited message is part of a disturbing story on the plight of the ship which was carrying several vehicles at the weekend. Some of the crew were at the time of writing said to have survived. – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE UPDATES AS THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY

Terrence Mawawa|Retail outlets in the rural areas have pegged high prices for stationery making it difficult for parents to cope with preparations for the new school term.

See below a statement that has been released by former Masvingo Central Constituency MP Jeffryson Chitando on the pathetic situation in the rural areas:
Eversharp 15 M ballpoint pen at Topora Township in Masvingo just after Lake Mutirikwi wall is going for $1,05 and the price of exercise books is $2,00 .An HB pencil is going for $0,75.

At Nyikavanhu Business Centre in Masvingo South an HB pencil is going for $1,00 and an eversharp 15M ballpoint pen is pegged $1,10. Exercise books range from $1 to $2,50 depending on size and quality of paper.

The parents of school going children in Malipati in Chiredzi South will fork out between $1,50 to $3 for exercise books.There is is no joy as a ballpoint pen is going for $1 to $ 2 depending on the type of the pen.Pencils are in short supply at the rural shops in this remote district.

In Chiredzi North at one substandard pole and dagga shop the price of an Eversharp 15 M ballpoint pen is pegged selling at $1,50.

Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost.

1. (C) SUMMARY. Prominent exiled Zimbabwean businessmen Trevor Ncube and Strive Masiyiwa agreed that the upcoming March 29 elections offered opportunities for political change in Zimbabwe, but differed on the electoral prospects for independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni. Ncube, a strong Makoni supporter, claimed that Makoni has generated significant excitement in Zimbabwe and would do well in the upcoming poll, whereas Masiyiwa questioned Makoni’s organizational strength on the ground. Both believed that Makoni’s candidacy has created sharp divisions in ZANU-PF, and that Makoni and Tsvangirai may still form a coalition before the election. Some key ZANU-PF officials who were in involved in the rigging in previous elections now support Makoni, potentially making it harder — but not impossible — for Mugabe to steal the upcoming election. The MDC will attempt to combat rigging, but has not yet devised a plan for the “day after” in the event of a Mugabe victory.

Masiyiwa expressed his growing concern about the spiraling inflation, suggesting that there may be “no more room” for the economy to collapse. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) Visiting DAS Carol Thompson, AF/S Office Director, and PolOff met February 27 with prominent and influential Zimbabwean exile businessmen Strive Masiyiwa and Trevor Ncube. Harare Ambassador McGee joined the meeting with Masiyiwa. Ncube is publisher of the respected South African weekly newspaper the Mail & Guardian, as well as the Zimbabwean newspapers The Sunday Standard and The Zimbabwean Independent.

Masiyiwa is founder and CEO of Econet Wireless Group, a global telecommunications company with operations in Zimbabwe and 14 other countries.

Prospects for Makoni Candidacy

3. (C) A long-time advocate of a “third way” in Zimbabwe (ref A), Trevor Ncube expressed his enthusiastic support for the presidential candidacy of Simba Makoni (ref B). (NOTE: Ncube appears to be deeply involved in the Makoni campaign, and even received a phone call from Makoni during the meeting. END NOTE.) Makoni has generated “tremendous excitement” on the ground in Zimbabwe, Ncube claimed, leading to an upsurge in voter registration. Makoni’s biggest enemies are time and resources. Ncube said that the diaspora is helping to fund Makoni’s campaign through a Johannesburg trust fund (Ncube offered to provide the account number to the USG for contributions, an offer we did not follow up on). Ncube suggested that Makoni is making inroads in Mashonaland East, where former General Solomon Mujuru has broad support, in Harare, and in Matabeleland, both urban and rural areas. This support would spread into other areas, Ncube believes.

4. (C) DAS Thompson stressed to Ncube that the United States does not support particular political parties in Zimbabwe, despite rumors that the USG backs the opposition MDC. Instead, the United States wants to see leaders with vision, who can create political and economic change in Zimbabwe and a better life for the Zimbabwean people. Ncube said he appreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube Qappreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube noted that any association between Makoni and the U.S. or U.K. would be the “political kiss of death,” so urged the USG to speak carefully when commenting on the campaign.

5. (C) Strive Masiyiwa was much more cautious about the Makoni candidacy, questioning whether Makoni has support on the ground. He noted that Makoni does not have any “foot soldiers” to campaign for him, and thus limited ability to communicate with the man on the street, many of whom are deeply suspicious of Makoni due to his long association with President Mugabe and ZANU-PF. Both Masiyiwa and Ncube agreed that Makoni’s candidacy has divided ZANU-PF, including the security structures. While no one knows the exact extent of the division, Ncube said it is “extensive.” This division has created tension, distrust, and even paranoia within ZANU-PF.

Complicated Ties to Mujurus

6. (C) Ncube and Masiyiwa provided differing accounts of the relationship between Makoni and ZANU-PF heavyweight retired General Solomon Mujuru. Ncube claimed that Makoni decided to run for president without Mujuru’s blessing. Now that Makoni is “gathering momentum,” Mujuru has begun quietly supporting him, but many core Makoni supporters resent Mujuru’s late conversion. Mujuru is a controversial figure in ZANU-PF and could even become a negative factor in the Makoni campaign.

7. (C) Masiyiwa, on the other hand, said that Mujuru and former Home Affairs Minister Dumisa Dabengwa created the “Makoni project” as a means to get rid of Mugabe. Dabengwa will publicly endorse Makoni in the coming days, which will be “symbolically powerful” and will bring the former ZAPU leadership firmly behind Makoni. Masiyiwa helped organize a meeting in Johannesburg between Dabengwa and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai (ref C), a potentially important bridge between Makoni and the MDC. According to Masiyiwa, Mujuru will never publicly back Makoni. Mujuru is essentially a “mafia boss,” and Mugabe could simply threaten to arrest Mujuru if he got out of line. Masiyiwa also questioned the conventional wisdom that Mujuru controls much of the military, noting that Mujuru has been out of uniform for some 16 years and may not have as much influence.

Alliance between Tsvangirai and Makoni

8. (C) Both Ncube and Masiyiwa believed it was still possible for Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai to form an alliance before the presidential elections on March 29 — or perhaps for a second round of elections if no one candidate receives 50 percent plus of the vote (a prospect both Ncube and Masiyiwa thought likely). Ncube, a harsh Tsvangirai critic, argued that the MDC-Tsvangirai has been “seriously weakened” by its failure to reunite with the MDC-Mutambara faction, and that Tsvangirai has no more than 20 percent support in the country. Tsvangirai is under significant pressure, even “rebellion,” from within his own party. Masiyiwa said that both Makoni and Tsvangirai are still sizing up their support, but at the appropriate time in the next couple weeks, he expected — and would in fact help ensure — that the two would meet and discuss forming a coalition. Masiyiwa floated the idea of Makoni serving as Prime Minister and head of government, while Tsvangirai would become president and head of state.

Rigged Election?

9. (C) Asked about the possibility that Mugabe would rig the election to ensure he received 51 percent of the vote, Ncube and Masiyiwa noted that the “people who did the rigging last time” are now divided between Mugabe and Makoni (Masiyiwa even joked that one CIO contact expressed concern that Makoni could steal the election from Mugabe!). Ncube said you cannot rule out the impact of fear and intimidation from Mugabe’s thugs, but that there were “competing forces at work.” Blatant rigging might not be accepted by the young people, Ncube observed, noting that many youth were frustrated when they were unable to register to vote. Qfrustrated when they were unable to register to vote. Masiyiwa is helping the MDC set up an “anti-rigging unit” that hopefully will help reduce the amount of electoral theft.

10. (C) The MDC does not have a clear plan for the “day after” the election, Masiyiwa said. The party is beginning to hold those discussions, but remains committed to non-violence. Tsvangirai is concerned that post-electoral protests could spin out of control. Masiyiwa has recommended to the MDC that they view the election as part of the process of de-legitimizing Mugabe — shrinking his international support base to a couple countries in the region like Namibia and Angola. Masiyiwa wants as many regional observers and journalists as possible in Zimbabwe to witness the election. He and others are urging the South African Communist Party (SACP) and trade union federation COSATU — both sympathetic PRETORIA 00000418 003.2 OF 003 to the MDC — to send observers through the ANC and South African Government delegations.

Economic Crisis

11. (C) Concluding, Masiyiwa expressed concern about spiraling inflation and economic meltdown in Zimbabwe. Mugabe is continuing to print and spend money in advance of the election, creating a “roaring monster.” “We have talked about the economy” for a long time, Masiyiwa said, but this time there “may be no more room” for collapse.

Comment

12. (C) Simba Makoni’s presidential bid has created excitement among the well-educated Zimbabwean diaspora in South Africa. Many, like Trevor Ncube, are supporting Makoni and are likely contributing resources to his campaign. A significant number of the elite and successful Zimbabweans dismiss Morgan Tsvangirai as ineffective, uneducated and incapable of ruling Zimbabwe, and see Makoni as the best hope for change in Zimbabwe. Others, like Strive Masiyiwa, continue to back the MDC and Tsvangirai, and Tsvangirai retains strong support among the working class and poor Zimbabwean exiles in South Africa. We expect few Zimbabweans living in South Africa, estimated between one to three million, will return to Zimbabwe to vote in the March 29 elections, although their financial resources, international connections, and ties to family members may make them an influential factor in Zimbabwean politics.

Terrence Mawawa|Zimdancehall musician Kelvin Kusikwenyu, also known as Killer T, has trashed the artists’ awards arguing that musicians are not gaining anything in monetary value.

Killer was responding to a statement by the organisers of the annual event indicating that the awards should not be regarded as lottery tickets.

Incensed by the remarks Killer T recently took to social media platforms trashing local awards organisers for “giving gongs and certificates which are not accompanied by substantive financial value.”

It seems Killer T’s remarks reflect the general sentiments in the music industry.

Terrence Mawawa|Popular musician Braveman Chizvino better known as Baba Harare might have poured cold water on his album launch by inviting controversial musician Chief Hwenje to his album launch.

Baba Harare is at pains to defend his inclusion of the ED Pfee’ singer on the list of artists expected to perform during his album launch on Friday.

Although Baba Harare has defended the inclusion of Zanu PF loyalist on the list of supporting acts that will perform at the launch of his latest 10-track album titled Ramba Wakadzvanya, critics believe the popular singer has all but tainted his career.

“Baba Harare has to gauge the mood of the people, personally I think his decisions is ill-advised.

The guy will spoil the whole thing. Baba Harare must distance himself from anyone who is sympathetic to the ruling party,” said a Masvingo based radio presenter.

Terrence Mawawa| Ms Miriam Mutizwa, a human rights activist yesterday presented an argument on whether sanctions imposed primarily by the US government since 2001 should be removed or they must remain in place as some form of leverage to lift Zimbabwe out of its current political and economic mess.

A dispute seems to be in existence between the US administration and the Zimbabwean government as to whether the conditions set out in the ZIDERA Act and its subsequent 2018 amendment have been met.

Emmerson Mnangagwa has made a number of positive and encouraging pronouncements since assuming office following the military assisted removal of Robert Mugabe but the US administration is yet to be impressed by concrete translation of words into deeds on the ground.

Strive Masiyiwa has emerged as a the strongest private sector voice, albeit in a personalized framework, to stand out as the most visible proponent for the removal of sanctions.

Mr. Masiyiwa has said: “Is that ($10 million donated to fight cholera) what angered you? I did that to save lives and I will do it again, so long as I have breath in me. I am with the people of Zimbabwe and their suffering must end and end now. Sanctions must end and name-calling will not intimidate me.”

It is against this backdrop that the Banking on Africa’s Future (BOAF) team sought to provoke, ignite and inspire a new conversation around the critical importance of the rule of law and constitutionalism, a key objective of the US sanctions, in building an inclusive and prosperous Zimbabwe.

See Mutizwa’s argument below:
I was pleasantly surprised to read this tweet from Mr. Busisa Moyo, the former President of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry, as follows:
I have been advocating for the repeal of the Reconstruction of State Indebted Insolvent Companies Act (the Act) and at times I felt I was backing a wrong horse especially after what Mrs. Tsitsi Masiyiwa had tweeted to the effect that it was right to suspect any call for justice, outside the traditional voices, in Zimbabwe, as having been sponsored for ulterior motives.

It was refreshing that Mr. Moyo after exchanges on social media, which exchanges I followed closely, that he effective from 4 January 2019, he has become a fellow advocate with me for the repeal of the Reconstruction Act among other laws that have yet to be aligned to the 2013 Constitution.

It is rare that a person like Mr. Moyo would proceed to credit other private citizens like Mawere and Ndoro for igniting him to look critically at the Reconstruction Act.

I have said before that this law applies retrospectively making its existence and operation a real risk that if not nipped in the bud could very well be used against many other companies going forward.

I also took note of another Mr. Moyo share on tweeter as follows:

It is significant that Mr. Moyo correctly observed that in most of our discourses the voice of organized business and labour as social partners is missing on what matters to our common future.

I have said this before that ZIDERA is real indictment on all of us because here you have a foreign government being more concerned about a democratic and accountable government than ourselves.

The continued life of ZIDERA since 2001 goes a long towards exposing the lack of checks and balances that would ensure that bad laws will never find room to exist in Zimbabwe.

With respect to ZIDERA, we are talking about repealing laws that exist without applying much thought as to naming and shaming the true authors of such repugnant and draconian laws. On the contrary, there are attempt to focus on the removal of a residual weapon available to the people of Zimbabwe to resist tyranny in the name of a new dispensation that is characterised by values that are similar to those that characterised the First Republic.

It is against this background that I found it disturbing that the Mr. Moyo who seems to have accepted the need to give a voice to the importance of us taking ownership as active citizens on what kind of Zimbabwe we want, would say the following words that incidentally have been incorporated in an article published by the Herald Newspaper yesterday under the title: “Sanctions Must End, quotes Masiyiwa, in a tweet as follows:

It is instructive that Mr. Moyo would find it fit to suggest that he has yet to meet a single businessman worth his salt who is pro-sanctions. I for one would not ordinarily support sanctions or violence but like Mandela said it would be futile to expect a regime steeped in its ways to see value in change.  It has taken us 39 years to arrive at a point where laws that were born in the era of independence have to be repealed without ourselves asking key questions about where we all were when these laws were born.

I would have expected Mr. Moyo to say: “I have yet to meat a single Zimbabwean worth his salt who is for the repeal of acts that undermine the rule of law without having the courage to name and shame the brains behind this evil.  In addition, I have spoken to organized business and labour as two of the three social partners in the context of the TNF with a view to better organizing ourselves to identify and lobby for the removal of all laws that are inconsistent with our constitution. Furthermore, I have spoken to Zimbabwe’s bilateral and multi-lateral stakeholders so that we can work together as we seek to accelerate the reforms contemplated for our benefit in ZIDERA and any other such limitations imposed on us by our friends.?

On the contrary, I seem to hear one chorus seeking to have sanctions, that we played no part in imposing, removed being the basis of our anger.

What would Zimbabwe hope to benefit by refusing to make our country open for business as a reality through our own actions that can then be augmented by our external partners.

Is it not ironic that even our strategic neighbour like South Africa has no input to assist us in steering our country towards constitutionalism?

I am tired personally of people who are pushing a single lane agenda of lobbying external partners to remove sanctions while doing absolutely nothing on the ground to address positively the reasons what the sanctions were imposed in the first place.”

A former Zimbabwe National army officer, Knowledge Kafuramika (27) has threatened to storm the state house and confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the prevailing economic situation.

Describing his move as “bold”, Kafuramika told 263Chat that he believes Mnangagwa has failed the nation and should be held to account.

“We have reached a breaking point. The 2018 elections were supposed to bring hope to our future hence people should not take them lightly. Now after the elections there is no hope and were cannot be sure where the future lie.

“One thing I want to do is go to the state house and meet President Mnangagwa and tell him that he promised us jobs, a better life in 2019. We are in a new year and everyone has resolutions and goals. We want to realise that.

“For the youths it’s even worse because we have reached a breaking point where we care less about dying because we are dying already. If you look at the United Nations statistics on drug abuse, it’s very worrying,” said Kafuramika.

“I have a burden in my heart, I want to do this radical move and I know the consequences but I want to do this for my generation. I’m willing to sacrifice even my blood and I have to do it. It’s not about the money or any political agenda but it’s for the good of my generation,” he added.

Kafuramika added that he will not back down even even it means being abducted or tortured saying he is prepared to go the route followed by missing activist, Itai Dzamara.

The former President Robert Mugabe critic, Dzamara, went missing in March 2015 after he continuously called for the resignation of Mugabe and his whereabouts have remained unknown.

Zimbabweans have grown increasingly frustrated over the current state of the economy, characterised by shortage of cash and basic commodities and inflation among other challenges. — 263chat

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By Own Correspondent| Police details today refused to arrest and charge protesting Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) members.

ARTUZ members who are currently protesting in a demonstration dubbed #SalaryCaravan are demanding the payment of their salaries in US dollars.

This was revealed by one of the protestors while addressing the protestors who are currently camped at Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s offices.

Said one of the protestors:

“We are in this struggle for US dollars not juat for teachers but for each and every civil servant who is earning RTGs.

We are happy that today junior officers refused to effect a command which was a violation of the Constitution and arrest us for exercising our democratic right to protest.

The junior police details refused to arrest us for close to an hour.”

By Own Correspondent| MDC senior official Sesil Zvidzai said that his party’s view of devolution is totally different to that of ZANU PF.

Zvidzai, a former Gweru executive mayor and Member of Parliament said this while speaking to a local publication.

He said:

“There is a huge and fundamental difference between Zanu PF’s view of local governance and the MDC’s. Zanu PF believes local government exists at the will of the central government and, therefore, should account to same. They believe in centralisation with a passion.

This is why mayors have been fired left, right and everywhere. This is why local level policy positions have been wantonly trumped upon by [former Local Government ministers Ignatius] Chombo and [his successor [Saviour] Kasukuwere, among others.

This is the reason why local authorities have been suffocated through the closure of resource arteries such as vehicle licence fees and the constitutional 5%.

The MDC believes in the devolution of power to sub-national governments and allowing these to govern out of their own initiative.

We believe these devolved governments should first and foremost account to their electorate.”-Newsday

Terrence Mawawa|Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya believes Robert Mugabe was a “better devil” than Emmerson Mnangagwa because the former was cruel but not stupid while the latter is “cruel and stupid.”

“Mugabe was cruel but not stupid. The current coup class is both cruel and stupid. Tragically, they are not aware that everything they are doing is  undesirable in Zim,” Dr Ruhanya wrote on twitter.

Mnangagwa was touted as a cult hero following the removal of his mentor, Mugabe from power in 2017, in the wake of the “Kutonga Kwaro” euphoria, has all but been brought back to earth by the biting economic challenges.

By Own Correspondent| A Zimbabwen prophet based in the  UK, Walter Masocha, has been suspended from his church after he admitted to sexual misconduct to his followers.

The founder of Agape For All Nations Ministries was reportedly suspended with immediate effect over the Christmas holidays after it emerged he had had sexual relations with his daughter as well as several married women in his church.

A statement by his church announcing the suspension was posted on its website and reads:

Following recent development in which the Visionary, Dr Walter Masocha, on his own volition admitted that in his private life, he had a moral fall; he has been suspended with immediate effect as leader of the church Agape For All Nations Ministries International (AFANMI/Agape).

The Vision of AFANMI whose goal is to find the lost and equip the found, continues under the leadership of the Commissioners.

A full investigation will be conducted and appropriate action taken for the reputational damage to his wife Dr Judith and the wider community of believers especially in Agape. In the current state of affairs, we have a duty of care to offer spiritual, moral and emotional support to the wider member of the church who are affected, Dr Judith and family and also to Dr Walter Masocha

The statement does not specify the sexual misconduct he was engaged in. However, blogger Jean Gasho, who was once a member of the church, and once got Masocha arrested for other cases of sexual misconduct revealed on her blog:

I Mary-Tamar was Jean Gasho, can reveal today on Christmas day 2018 that ‘Prophet’ Walter Masocha has stepped down as leader of Agape For All Nations Ministries International after he allegedly confessed to having sex with his married daughter.

She also revealed that Masocha had sexual relationships with several married women in the church, which he admitted to:

…on 24 December on a quiet evening in Stirling, Scotland, as the Masocha family was getting ready for a jolly Agape Christmas, the wife of the prophet Judith Masocha found herself holding her husband’s phone after an alleged tip-off from her son-in-law that the Bishop had been allegedly having sex with his own married daughter.

…Judith had found a lot more on her husband’s phone, naked pictures of several married women in the church, as well as explicit messages the Bishop sent to his lovers/concubines.

Upon the shocking discoveries, Judith called Walter Masocha’s family, both in Zimbabwe and in the UK.

Shadreck who is a member of Agape church, took it into his own hands to ‘deal’ with Masocha….

Shadreck is reported to have said to his Uncle, “You are a disgrace to our family! We had to put up with you dragging the family name down with Jean’s case, now this again! Step down now!” Shadreck demanded, in front of the whole family.

Lost for words and humiliated, it is reported that after confessing to his grave sins which included incest, Walter Masocha was FORCED to write a resignation letter to the elders of his own Church, stating that he had suffered a ‘moral fall’ of sleeping with countless married women and his own daughter.

The sex scandal is not the first the prophet has been involved in. In January 2014, Masocha was arrested in the UK on allegations of sexually abusing Jean Gasho as well as underage girls. He was convicted by a court but appealed the conviction and was eventually cleared of the charges.

Terrence Mawawa|Youthful MDC A councillor for ward 4, Masvingo Urban Constituency, Godfrey Kurauone has said Zimbabweans are suffering because the nation is being run by “muscles without brains.”

Reflecting his sentiments on the current economic crisis in the country Kurauone blamed the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government for dismally failing to resolve the impasse due to “lack of wit.”

“G40 was the brains of Zanu PF.
Lacoste was the muscle.Now we are seeing the effects of the muscle
without the brain,” wrote Kurauone on Facebook.

By Own Correspondent| A former Zimbabwe National army officer, Knowledge Kafuramika (27) has revealed plans to storm the state house and confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa over his electoral promises and the deteriorating economic situation.

Describing his move as “bold”, Kafuramika told a local online publication that he believes Mnangagwa has failed the nation and should be held to account.

Said Kafuramika:

“We have reached a breaking point. The 2018 elections were supposed to bring hope to our future hence people should not take them lightly. Now after the elections there is no hope and we cannot be sure where the future lie.

“One thing I want to do is go to the state house and meet President Mnangagwa and tell him that he promised us jobs, a better life in 2019. We are in a new year and everyone has resolutions and goals. We want to realise that.

“For the youths it’s even worse because we have reached a breaking point where we care less about dying because we are dying already. If you look at the United Nations statistics on drug abuse, it’s very worrying,” said Kafuramika.

“I have a burden in my heart, I want to do this radical move and I know the consequences but I want to do this for my generation. I’m willing to sacrifice even my blood and I have to do it. It’s not about the money or any political agenda but it’s for the good of my generation,” he added.

Kafuramika added that he will not back down even even it means being abducted or tortured saying he is prepared to go the route followed by missing activist, Itai Dzamara.

The former President Robert Mugabe critic, Dzamara, went missing in March 2015 after he continuously called for the resignation of Mugabe and his whereabouts have remained unknown.

Zimbabweans have grown increasingly frustrated over the current state of the economy, characterised by shortage of cash and basic commodities and inflation among other challenges. — 263chat