adminDeveloping, industrialised countries on collision course
Morris Mkwate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Industrialised and developing countries represented at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) here are divided after the former gave the clearest indication that they intend to renege on commitments to fund programmes that help third world nations address the effects of climate change.
‘Arrest errant behaviour’
Municipal Reporter
POLITICAL parties are free to investigate errant behaviour by their councillors but must furnish Government with the information to allow for proper action to be taken, a Cabinet minister has said.
Make 2013 budget programme-based, city told
Michael Chideme Municipal Reporter
THE 2013 Harare City Council budget should be programme based and in line with its 2025 World Class City Vision, a Cabinet minister has said. Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo made the comment yesterday in response to questions critiquing the city’s 2025 vision, which was launched
Government asks rural councils to assist in grain movement
Municipal Reporter
Government has asked rural district councils to assist the Grain Marketing Board to move grain to vulnerable communities under the State-administered food relief programme.
13 perish in Mbembesi crash
Crime Reporter
THIRTEEN people died on the spot while four others were injured when a kombi they were travelling in plunged into a dry riverbed along the Mbembesi-Fort Rixon road on Monday night.
More energy players licensed
Lloyd Gumbo Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has licensed three more independent power producers with a combined capacity of 724 megawatts expected to be operational within the next three years.
Nigeria calls for strengthening of relations with Zimbabwe
Herald Reporter
Nigerian ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Mamman Nuhu has called for the further strengthening
President to address Rio+20 summit
Morris Mkwate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
President Mugabe is expected to address the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
Bail out cotton farmers, say MPs
Herald Reporters
LEGISLATORS say Government should consider buying cotton to ensure farmers get meaningful returns.
They said merchants were offering unprofitable prices, while Government was yet to come up with prices for the 2012 marketing season.
Some ginners are reportedly offering higher prices.
The cotton price war has, however, sucked in the police with traditional leaders and farmers accusing members of the force of acting as debt collectors for ginners.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made yesterday said the Statutory Instrument on cotton marketing was still in preparation.
The SI seeks to make the cotton crop for the 2011/12 season a controlled commodity, effectively giving the State the power to fix the price.
Under the SI106A of 2012, buyers will be required to buy the crop at a price fixed by the Government.
“The SI is not yet in force in terms of the price determination and, as the minister, I have given room to ginners and farmers to agree on a price.’’
Minister Made urged farmers to harvest their crop before its quality deteriorates.
“Ginners should buy the crop and they should pay reasonable prices. If they are not reasonable, I will move in as the minister,” he said.
The price of cotton will only be gazetted after farmers and ginners reach an agreement.
Judge gives ‘yellow card’ to city lawyer
Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
HIGH COURT judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu yesterday rapped a defence lawyer for smuggling politics into the courtroom and demonising the judiciary in a case in which 29 MDC-T activists are being accused of murdering a police officer in Glen View, Harare.
This follows a newspaper article in which one of the defence lawyers, Mr Charles Kwaramba, was quoted portraying the judiciary as biased against MDC by not granting the accused bail.
The suspects have been in remand prison for almost a year now.
The judge equated his warning to a yellow card issued to footballers, saying further misbehaviour will attract a red card.
Justice Bhunu directed the Registrar of the High Court to serve the secretary of the Law Society of Zimbabwe with a copy of the judgment.
“Everyone knows what happens when a player attacks the referee or umpire. He risks a red card.
“At this stage I am, however, content to issue a yellow card and let this be a stern warning against any