adminAfrican Travel Association Congress begins in Vic Falls
Isdore Guvamombe in Victoria Falls
THE 37th edition of the Africa Travel Association Congress starts here today with organisers optimistic that the gathering will market Zimbabwe as a safe and attractive tourist destination. The congress, which is a precursor to the 2013 United Nations
Govt justifies new vehicle registration
Peter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
Government adopted the current vehicle registration system to enable law enforcement authorities to positively
Chaos dogs new car licensing system
Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe National Road Administration yesterday said it will not extend the deadline for registering for new computerised licence discs despite an outcry from the public that the process was “cumbersome and disorganised”.
Zim to miss economic growth targets: Biti
Business Reporter
FINANCE Minister Tendai Biti has warned that Zimbabwe could this year miss economic growth targets owing to revenue shortfalls and rising domestic debt.
He also attributed this to reduced demand for export commodities.
Minister Biti disclosed this to journalists at a briefing on the state of the economy for the period between January and March.
“We are facing a number of downward risks, which are threatening our macro-economic projections.
“The key reason is simply that we have not been able to meet our revenue targets and the key cause is non-performance of our diamond revenue.
“It is quite foreseeable that in the mid-term budget statement, major projections will be downwardly reviewed,” he said.
Minister Biti had projected that the economy would this year expand 9,4 percent, driven largely by mining, agriculture and tourism.
In the first quarter to March, Government collected US$771,1 million against a target of US$869,7 million.
Revenue collected from diamonds was US$30,4 million against a target of US$122,5 million.
Court to decide on Zimdollar labour awards
Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
THE Supreme Court is set to determine how litigants who obtained court orders in Zimdollars can be compensated in the prevailing multi-currency system.
Parliament did not prescribe the exchange rate for the conversion of the Zimdollar to multi-currency and this has brought challenges before the courts.
Since the introduction of the multi-currency regime in 2009, the Labour Court, High Court, Supreme Court and the magistrates’ courts have been inundated with applications for conversion of claims from Zimbabwe to United States dollars.
Such cases have been common in the Labour Court.
The Supreme Court’s full bench is expected to decide in a case in which 39 Fleximail Private Limited workers who were awarded damages for unlawful dismissal in Zimdollars rejected the Z$12 594,77 (revalued) cheque issued by their employer in February 2009 in settlement of the amount due.
The issue is perceived to be important and judges felt it must not be determined by the ordinary three judges of appeal, but a full bench.
Copac hits deadlock
Sydney Kawadza Assistant News Editor
THE Constitution-making process has hit a deadlock with Zanu-PF insisting the latest Copac draft does not reflect the views of the people while the MDC formations are standing by it.
A source close to developments said the draft has been referred to the management committee which meets on Monday next week and is expected to refer the document to the principals since the differences between the parties are so fundamental that only the principals can break the impasse.
MDC formations say the draft should just be subjected to editing and cleaning up while the Zanu-PF position is that the draft is not a reflection of the views of the people as captured in the national report.
The source said Copac, through its co-chairs forum, was stumped on whether to go with the first draft, as endorsed by the MDC formations, or to go with proposals made by Zanu-PF in line with the national report.
Hwedza reign of terror ends
Fortious Nhambura Features Writer
AN elderly Maxwell Mhende was sitting quietly and warming his old body with a fire lit in his thatched kitchen when suddenly, he is startled by the news the whole village had waiting for. In a state of confusion Mhende shook his head twice, pinched
Mum’s health key in tackling child mortality
LONDON. — The past decade has seen great advances in child survival, but while toddlers and small children are benefiting, the death rate for new-born babies remains stubbornly high.
Now a new report suggests that paying more attention to their mothers’ health, and focusing on certain damaging but treatable diseases, could be one key to tackling neonatal mortality.
The traditional childhood killers — measles, pneumonia and diarrhoea — are all down; even where malaria is still rife, treated bednets are saving children’s lives. But as deaths from other causes drop, mortality in the first month of life looms ever larger.
Good looks a plus: Former BBA housemate
Ex-Big Brother Africa housemate Miss P (Peo Sebotho) believes that good looks could work to the advantage of Botswana’s representatives, in this year’s Big Brother reality show adventure. The popular 24-hour show started a week ago. Botswana
Amateurs have no place at Hifa
Richard Kohola Music Ride
The vibrancy and success of the Harare International Festival of the Arts every year is always determined by the quality of artistes. Whether it’s the Coca-Cola Green, Global Stage, Youth Zone or the Main Stage the performances are always world