admin28 firms apply for Dimaf
Chronicle Reporter
ONLY 28 companies in Bulawayo have applied for the Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf), which is being disbursed through CABS, a Government official said yesterday.
Last week the Government shortlisted 58 Bulawayo companies earmarked to benefit from the $40 million fund.
In an interview yesterday the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr Willard Manungo, said the fund was being disbursed and the 28 companies would share $15 million, of which $2 million has already been given out.
“We have started disbursing the funds through CABS and only 28 companies have applied for the fund so far. The 28 companies will share $15 million and we have so far disbursed $2 million,” said Mr Manungo.
“The bank is going through the logistics of sharing the remaining $13 million. Although the Government had shortlisted 58 companies, only 28 applied to the bank while the rest have not done so as we speak.”
He said the fund took a long time to be disbursed because of the annual shutting down of companies between December and January.
“Companies must take into account that the process took a bit long because we were disturbed by the annual shutdown by most companies, which re-opened on 18 January this year.
“However, we are progressing well and the bank would disburse the fund accordingly,” said Mr Manungo.
Council water unaccounted for
Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has failed to account for about 33 percent of the water that was pumped from the city’s supply dams between March 2010 and September last year.
The latest council report shows that only about 67 percent of water from the supply dams was billed to residents and companies during the period.
‘Debris packaging could have affected forensic results’
Harare Bureau
A SOUTH African Police Service (SAPS) forensic expert yesterday said the packaging used by local policemen to keep the debris collected from the scene of the fire in which General Solomon Mujuru died could have affected forensic results.
Woman in court over $137 000 fraud
Court Reporter
A 36-year-old Bulawayo woman has been arrested for allegedly defrauding her employer of $137 000 belonging to clients.
Municipal police trap conman
Chronicle Reporter
ENTERPRISING Bulawayo municipal police posed as property buyers to trap a daring fraudster who impersonated a council director to con desperate home-seekers of cash.
The conman allegedly worked in cahoots with his girlfriend to swindle home-seekers, on the pretext of selling them housing stands in the city.
Reveller runs amok, stabs fellow imbiber
Midlands Correspondent
A 26-year-old Mberengwa man has been arrested after he allegedly ran amok and fatally stabbed a fellow imbiber and seriously injured another patron following a dispute over a dog he had brought into the bar.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Chademana confirmed the incident, which occurred at Bvumbura Business Centre, under Chief Mahlebadza on Saturday.
Donor community extends a helping hand to rural areas
Chronicle Reporter
THE donor community has availed a $50 million fund for water and sanitation in rural areas, a development that is likely to ease water problems in the districts.
Gwanda businessman to languish in prison
Court Reporter
A businessman from the Makwe area of Gwanda district, who broke into 10 premises from where he stole property and two motor vehicles, was yesterday sentenced to 25 years in jail.
Mthokozisi Ntokozo Ngwenya (26), the proprietor of J.T.S. and Sons General dealer at Makwe Business Centre, initially pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of unlawful entry, 10 counts of theft and two counts of theft of motor vehicles.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: Let us be wary of EU sympathies
So an European Union delegation is on a tour of Matabeleland to find out what interventions they could come up with to improve our people’s standard of living. And is this the same European Union that slapped Zimbabwe with sanctions more than a decade ago over the land reform programme?
It’s never too late to further your education
By Yoliswa Dube
REMEMBER the first time you were able to right your name, then later on being able to say “birth certificate” without any difficulties, sitting for Grade Seven examinations and later Ordinary Level examinations — hoping to pass Mathematics.