adminUS blocks US$20m diamonds deal
Zvamaida Murwira in ChiadzwaANJIN Investment has lost a US$20 million business deal after a European diamond processing firm had its money to buy the diamonds from Anjin intercepted and frozen by the United States. This is part of intensified efforts by the US and the European Union to enforce the embargoes imposed on Zimbabwe as they feel the
Zanu-Pf nullifies Chiyangwa’s election
Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Zanu-PF has nullified the election of Cde Philip Chiyangwa as its vice chairman for Mashonaland West Province. He was elected on March 16 in Chinhoyi, beating former acting chairman Cde Reuben Marumahoko. Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo yesterday said Cde Chiyangwa will remain an ordinary member of the
Poll decision by May, says President
Sydney Kawadza Assistant News Editor
ZIMBABWE will go for a referendum in May, failure which it will revert to the Lancaster House Constitution and hold elections before the end of the year, President Mugabe has said.
He challenged Zanu-PF leaders afraid of elections to join the MDC formations that were trying to stall efforts to hold the polls.
Addressing the 88th Ordinary Session of the Central Committee at the party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday, the President said members of the South African government had no power to interfere in Zimbabwean affairs.
“South Africa are not our facilitators, but President Zuma as was President Mbeki. We cannot be facilitated by the whole of South Africa.
“We are a sovereign State and we cannot be led by the government of South Africa. Let’s not be told that South Africa is our facilitator.”
President Mugabe instructed the party’s Global Political Agreement negotiators to advise their colleagues that the Constitution-making process should be concluded.
Govt owes Zimsec US$1,9m
Felex Share Herald Reporter
GOVERNMENT owes the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council US$1,9 million, which has seen the body failing to pay last year’s Ordinary and Advanced Level markers.
Markers say the situation will affect future examinations as a lot of people were “continuously” losing faith in Zimsec.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart, yesterday said Treasury did not release money for the running of last year’s Grade Seven examinations, forcing Zimsec to divert “reserved” money to fund the exams.
Zimsec does not charge pupils fees for Grade Seven examinations.
Minister Coltart said this created cash flow problems at the examination body as some of the money Zimsec had budgeted was for paying markers.
Zimsec diverted the money in anticipation that Government would release money for Grade Seven examinations.
The markers were supposed to be paid between 90 cents and US$1,20 per script marked.
Markers were expecting between US$600 and US$700 but only got about US$300.
Said Minister Coltart: “The Government policy is that Grade Seven examinations are for free.
“That cost has to be paid by Government but it is unfortunate the Ministry of Finance did not release US$1,9 million for the running of these examinations.
Minister’s involvement quizzed
Court Reporter
THE trial of Core Mining director Lovemore Kurotwi and former Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation chief executive Dominic Mubaiwa resumed yesterday with the defence questioning why Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu was directly communicating with investors.
Advocate Lewis Uriri, who is representing Mubaiwa, raised this while cross examining ZMDC chairperson Mr Godwills Masimirembwa yesterday at the High Court.
Mr Masimirembwa is the first State witness in the case in which Kurotwi and Mubaiwa are on trial for allegedly defrauding the Government of US$2 billion.
Justice Chinembiri Bhunu is presiding over the trial.
“The minister is communicating directly to a potential investor . . . the minister is personally writing that his ministry received correspondences, ” Adv Uriri said referring to a letter written by Minister Mpofu to BSRG group.
Mr Masimirembwa said the defence was not being honest and accused the lawyer of segmenting the letter.
“It’s simply dishonesty to read the letter partly. He raises a reference to an expression of intent raised by the ministry,” Mr Masimirembwa said.
Adv Uriri insisted that the minister was not ZMDC and communication ought to have been between ZMDC and the potential investor.
“Accused two (Mubaiwa) indicated that there was need for more investors and on May 25, 2009, a day before Minister (Mpofu)
Baby dies in fire after power surge
By Junior Matombo
A five-month-old baby died at Mpilo Central Hospital from burns she sustainedInter-provincial B/ball games return
Ellina Mhlanga Sports ReporterTHE Inter-provincial basketball tournament bounces back today with 12 men and women’s teams expected to battle it out in the event at Mutare Boys High and Raylton Sports Club. The two-day
Afghan policeman kills nine colleagues: Officials
KABUL. — An Afghan policeman shot dead nine of his colleagues as they slept early yesterday in the eastern province of Paktika, police and provincial government officials said. It was the latest in a series of shootings by Afghan security personnel of their local and foreign colleagues, deaths that have
Rebels seize key north Mali town
BAMAKO — Tuareg rebels fighting alongside an armed Islamist group seized the strategic town of Kidal in the far north of Mali yesterday as the country grappled with a military coup, witnesses said. “The rebels are in charge, the army put up no resistance,” a teacher said on condition of anonymity in Kidal,