adminFarmers begin preps for tobacco marketing season
Business Reporter
TOBACCO farmers have started preparing for this year’s marketing season which starts mid-next month.
Greek debt default possible without market mayhem
LONDON — Europe still has a chance of safely shepherding Greece through an increasingly inevitable default and could restore faith that investors can protect themselves against governments not repaying debt.
Time is fast running out. Greece cannot pay a 14,5 billion euro (£12 billion) bond falling due on 20 March, and a deal with bondholders needs to come well before that, because the paperwork alone takes at least six weeks.
Obama rejects oil pipeline from Canada
US President Barack Obama has rejected the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, saying he could not vouch for its safety by a deadline, despite intense election-year pressure.
Kodak rolls into bankruptcy
Eastman Kodak, the US-based company which brought photography to the masses over a century ago, has filed for bankruptcy protection after years of failing to become a profitable seller of modern consumer products.
The 130-year-old photographic film pioneer said it had also obtained a $950m loan from Citigroup, the US financial firm, to help keep it going.
Murdoch company to pay hacking damages in 36 cases
LONDON — Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper company yesterday agreed to pay damages to 36 high-profile victims of tabloid phone-hacking, including actor Jude Law, soccer player Ashley Cole and former British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
Mutuma flops at Ajax
Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
RODRECK MUTUMA has failed to make the grade at South African Premiership side, Ajax Cape Town, and yesterday sent a message to his Dynamos fans – The Prince is Back! Mutuma flew back home on Wednesday night and everything now points
Taylor misses jackpot
Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
BRENDAN TAYLOR missed a huge pay cheque of, at least, US$100 000 yesterday when the Zimbabwe skipper incredibly failed to get a franchise to secure his signature at the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League cricket auction in Dhaka.
‘General Mujuru unhappy with ZRP security’
Lovemore Chikova and Innocent Ruwende
GENERAL Solomon Mujuru was not happy with three policemen on guard at his farmhouse the night he died. The trio would reportedly fire guns at will and assaulted a farm worker. Gen Mujuru’s maid, Ms Rosemary Short, said relations between her boss and the policemen had deteriorated to an extent that he stopped her from giving them food.
She said constables Obert Mark, Augustinos Chinyoka and Lazarus Handikatari disturbed peace at the farm.
Ms Short was testifying at the ongoing inquest into the death of Gen Mujuru in a fire on August 15 last year.
The hearing is being presided over by provi-ncial magistrate Mr Walter Chikwanha at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.
“The police officers’ relations with Gen Mu-juru were sour,” said Ms Short.
“He told me that the officers were avoiding him and he wanted them changed, but he let them stay because they had only a few days left.
“Gen Mujuru was always concerned with security at the farm and at one time he told me that there was virtually no security at the farm
1 000 families face eviction
Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
THE High Court has given over 1000 families a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate residential stands they bought from politician Mr Justine Zvandasara’s co-operatives in Hatcliffe, Harare, to pave way for the legitimate occupant Cde Nya-sha Chikwinya.
Justice Chinembiri Bhunu ruled that Mr Zvandasara, chairman of Harare North Housing Co-operatives Union, was illegally occupying the 84-hectare land.
The land was duly allocated to Zanu-PF Central Committee member Cde Chikwinya.
The ultimatum expires today.
The ruling is likely to trigger lawsuits as those who acquired stands through the Zvandasara-led union claim refunds.
Failure to vacate within the stipulated period will see police and the deputy sheriff effecting evictions.
“It is ordered that the first and second respondents (Mr Zvandasara and Harare North Housing Co-operatives Union), all those claiming occupation through them are hereby ordered to vacate occupation of any stand situated at Hatcliffe North State Land depicted on
29 legislative seats vacant
Senior Reporter
TWENTY-NINE legislative seats now stand vacant since the formation of the inclusive Government although the GPA’s 12-month moratorium on by-elections expired in September 2009. Assistant Clerk of Parliament Mr Johane Gandiwa said the seats fell vacant after the incumbents died, were elevated or expelled from the House of Assembly.
“We have 17 vacant seats in the House of Assembly and 12 seats in the Senate. Eleven legislators from the House of Assembly died while political parties expelled four parliamentarians. Two others were elevated to top posts, creating the vacancies,” Mr Gandiwa said.
In total, Zanu PF now has 16 vacant seats, eight of which in the House of Assembly.
MDC-T has eight vacancies of which four are in the House of Assembly.
MDC factions headed by Professor Welshman Ncube and Professor Arthur Mutambara have now lost three legislators in the House of Assembly.