adminMinister Matibenga blasts Apex leaders
Harare Bureau
Civil servants leaders rejected the re-introduction of the rural allowance which would have benefited more than 60 percent of those in the service, Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga said yesterday.
The minister lashed out at the Apex Council for lack of negotiation knowledge and expertise believing that she “stayed with a bag full of money in my office”.
She was giving oral evidence before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Services chaired by Mazowe South MP, Cde Margaret Zinyemba (Zanu-PF).
The committee wanted the Minister to give them an update of the negotiations regarding the conditions of service and challenges being faced by civil servants.
“The rationale and wisdom by the Inter-Ministerial Committee in reintroducing the rural allowance was that at least 60 percent of the civil service would benefit, but the workers did not want any of that,” she said.
“We were conscious of the fact that 60 percent stood to benefit, that was the rationale when we formulated the idea of the reintroduction of rural allowance.”
City council in shock 1 000pc rates increase
Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has reportedly increased rates for buildings in the city centre by up to 1 000 percent.
The development has triggered huge rent increases that business people said would force them to close shop.
They called for an urgent downward review of the rates.
Property owners yesterday said they had no choice but to pass on the increase to their tenants, whom they said were already struggling to pay last year’s rates.
Rates are charged as a fraction of the total value of the land on which buildings are situated.
The bulk of the increases are reflected as “rates business CBD land and improvements” on the water bills.
A majority of the property owners said their tenants paid rates and other bills separate from their rent.
President warns of recolonisation of Africa
From Munyaradzi Huni in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
PRESIDENT Mugabe has warned that recolonisation of Africa might take place if leaders fail to handle issues as the continent’s founding fathers used to do.
He said the AU should not rush to recognise Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) but look at exactly what happened in that country leading to the callous murder of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
The President added that America and Europe have run out of resources and “they will come to Africa” as the continent continues to discover more resources.
Speaking during the session on Peace and Security here yesterday, President Mugabe said Africa should have said “No, No” to the bombing of Libya by Nato.
Zimbabwe is a member of the AU Peace and Security Commission.
“We fought imperialism and colonialism and forced them out of Africa. Our founding fathers did not have the means but they stood up and said no but here we are absolutely silent. We should have said no, no to Nato,” said the President, adding that due to the silence, “Gaddafi was killed in broad daylight, his children hunted like animals and then we rush to recognise the NTC.”
Lack of fitness cost DeMbare
By Mbonisi Mabhena
DYNAMOS coach Callisto Pasuwa on Sunday lamented his team’s lack of cutting-edge fitness as the defending Castle Premiership champions were bundled out of the Bob 88 Super Cup at Barbourfields Stadium.
Zimbabwe embarrassed by loss: Butcher
ALAN Butcher, the Zimbabwe coach, has said his players were embarrassed by their loss inside three days to New Zealand in Napier. Zimbabwe were bowled out twice on the third day of the Test, and lost by an innings and 301 runs, slumping to their lowest Test total, 51, in the process.
Nigeria present acid test for Mighty Warriors
Harare Bureau
THE Mighty Warriors, who have grabbed the nation’s attention and are attracting the corporate world into their corner, face their biggest test and will have to be at their very best when they square off against giants Nigeria in the last qualifying round of the 8th Africa Women Championships to be held in Malabo in November.
Magistrate subpoenas local pathologist
Harare Bureau
THE presiding magistrate in the inquest into the death of General Solomon Mujuru said he will only consider the Mujuru family’s request to bring in a foreign pathologist after
Incentives to be scrapped soon: Government
Chronicle Reporter
THE Government yesterday reiterated that it will soon stop payment of teachers’ incentives
Zanu-PF youth leader found dead
Chronicle Reporter
THE Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial youth vice-chairperson, Cde Lungisani Ngwenya, has died.
Veteran journalist Bwititi dies
Chronicle Reporter
FORMER Chronicle, Manica Post and Southern Times editor Makuwerere Bwititi has died.
He was 46.