adminZim capable of hosting 2013 UNWTO summit
Isdore Guvamombe in Victoria Falls
ZIMBABWE has the capacity to put in place the necessary infrastructure ahead of the 2013 United Nations World Tourism
Bleak weekend: No beer, no water, no power
Herald Reporter
HARARE residents could endure a bleak weekend without water, electricity and beer.
Zinara collects US$57m in toll fees
Peter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
A total of US$57 million in toll fees has been collected since the toll system was started three years ago.
In a statement yesterday on the collection and utilisation of toll fees, Secretary for Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Mr Partson Mbiriri said US$57 million was collected from August 18, 2009 to April 2012.
“Since we started collecting on August 18, 2009 to April 10, 2012 the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has collected US$56 552 513,39 and remitted a total of sum of US$47 026 318,83 from toll fees to Zinara after retaining 10 percent for administration purposes and US$49 000 for security each month,” the statement reads.
During the same period, Zinara in turn disbursed US$34 million to the Department of Roads for regional, primary and part of the secondary road network maintenance.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development said US$16,3 million went towards routine road maintenance, US$10,2 million to road dualisation and road
US$5m share ownership trust for Gwanda
Bulawayo Bureau
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday laun-ched the fourth Community Share Ownership Scheme Trust in Gwanda as part of the indigenous economic empowerment programme.
Thousands of people from Matabeleland South Province turned up to witness the launch where 15 mining companies and a cement manufacturer donated US$5 million to kick-start the Gwanda community development fund.
The companies pledged to give 10 percent of their annual profits for community development and ceded 51 percent of their shareholding to indigenous people.
The scheme is a countrywide Government initiative spearheading development and empowering rural communities by giving them 10 percent stake in all businesses that exploit natural resources in their areas.
So far, three platinum mines — Zimplats, Mimosa and Unki — have launched community share ownership schemes.
Econet bosses face arrest
Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
ECONET Wireless directors face imprisonment for contempt of court after they allegedly defied two High Court orders barring them from terminating a joint venture deal with a Namibian firm.
Trustco Mobile, which jointly operated Econet’s Ecolife cover and the bonus points system, has since filed an application at the High Court seeking 90-day jail terms for Econet chairman Mr Tawanda Nyambirai, deputy finance director Mr Roy Chimanikire and chief executive officer and director Mr Douglas Mboweni.
In response, Mr Mboweni deposed an affidavit on behalf of the company and his co-accused opposing the application.
He denied the contempt of court allegations, saying there was no evidence or proof of the alleged breach of court orders.
“It is categorically and emphatically denied that first respondent has failed to abide by the provisional orders referred to and or unlawfully and or intentionally violated the repute of this honourable court.
“It is also categorically denied that the third respondent (Mr
Divine Appointments: Glory to God for walking with Zaoga FIF
Tendai Manzvanzvike
The Lord continues to show us His awesome power and tremendous love through people and events that happen in our midst. His manifest presence proves that He is the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God who leads His church
Editorial Comment: Time Africa sets up own crimes court
Wednesday’s much anticipated court address by former Liberian leader Charles Taylor, convicted of war crimes at the International Criminal Court’s Special Court on Sierra Leone, opened another can of worms and put the international justice system under spotlight. Taylor’s 30-minute address affirmed what we have always questioned. He did not just give a
Gender equality: From fight to drive
The World Telecommunications and Information Society Day celebrations were held on March 17, 2012 in Bulawayo at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds. The theme for the celebrations was “Women and girls in ICT.” Its objective was therefore to draw particular attention to use of ICTs by females. I think we agree that the drive towards gender equality has
Zanu-PF: Fending off, fighting on
As the story of TB Joshua rages on, rages towards its denouement, I have been reminded of the church politics in England of the late middle ages. And of course church politics necessarily meant the Catholic Church with its many Orders, its vast real estate, its ever swelling coffers, all set against gargantuan appetites of its supposedly holy, otherworldly inmates, starting with the Pope.
Far reaching reforms suggested for the Church in the 12th and 13th century had come to spectacular grief, as dictates of happy secular life got the better of monks and friars, got the better of church dogma, philosophy and vows to a life of devotional privation. Gone and gone for good was the devotional self-abnegation of the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th centuries which had given these religious figures and orders a higher spiritual plinth, well ahead of ordinary men and women of their time. Wealth had slowly but inexorably driven out single-mindedness and the devotion of yore, bringing with it “the world’s slow stain”, to quote A R Myers.
Preserving Tonga culture online
The Tonga Online project continues to confound critics of the project that took upon itself the quest to have enlightened communities amongst the Tonga people of the Zambezi Valley.Initially funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and Horizont 3000, the project changed hands in May 2010 when the funders shifted base to South Africa as Zimbabwe was faced with challenges.
Now run by the ably managed Basilwizi Trust, the Tonga Online project has shifted gears and its upward trajectory seems to know no bounds.
“Of course, the initial funders of the project had challenges in 2010 and could not continue with the project and because it