adminPut national interest first — President
Takunda Maodza in Gweru
PRESIDENT Mugabe has implored Zimbabweans to put the well-being of the country ahead of foreign interests.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces made the plea during the pass out parade for Regular Officer Cadets at the Zimbabwe Military Academy in Gweru yesterday.
“I wish to remind all Zimbabweans throughout the length and breadth of our country and, indeed those outside the country that we should always put the well-being of our country first in everything we do.
“We should never, ever, put foreign interests ahead of those of our own people, be it in the constitution-making process, which is underway, in negotiating contracts, offering opinions and comments on our country even in sporting and other social activities. Remember that no country can develop against a background of self-hate and pity within its own fabric,” President Mugabe said.
The President reminded the graduands that the country continues to bear the brunt of illegal economic sanctions imposed by Britain, the European Union, US and their allies.
“Contrary to the misguided views of some citizens of our country, these sanctions are not targetted but seek to hurt our economy as well as our people,” he said.
President Mugabe said many companies have closed down leaving people unemployed while those that have continued to operate are doing so far below their optimum capacity as a result of the illegal economic embargo.
Council fines illegal: Parly
Lloyd Gumbo
Herald Reporter
The Parliament’s Legal Committee has declared all forms of fines charged by local authorities through by-laws as unconstitutional.
The committee said only a court of law, has the mandate to impose fines that exceed Level Three (US$20).
Councils, the committee noted, could only impose fines below US$20, which would also be subjected to court reviews.
This means that council fines for clamping and towing vehicles are illegal because they do not go through the judicial system.
However, the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe dismissed the assertions saying there was no provision in their by-laws to go through the court process.
Ucaz president and Masvingo City Council Mayor Femias Chakabuda urged legislators to understand council by-laws.
“Our fines are gazetted, our MPs should learn to read our by-laws so that they know because there is no provision that we are supposed to go through court processes,” Mayor Chakabuda said.
“When we gazette those fines they don’t say anything, they only raise these arguments when there is a problem. Each MP is from a local authority and they are under a councillor so they should interact with them.”
Harare City charges about US$56 for clamping vehicles and US$120 for towing the vehicle away.
Government urged to support farmers
Herald Reporters
GOVERNMENT should not hesitate to subsidise farmers in order to boost production on the farms as this is the norm elsewhere in the world, the Zanu-PF secretary for Land Reform and Resettlement Cde Ignatious Chombo has said.
Cde Chombo, who on Monday met with provincial governors from all the country’s provinces and the Minister of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement Herbert Murerwa to discuss administrative issues affecting land reforms, said the meeting was of the view that Government was not funding agriculture.
The meeting called on the Minister of Finance Tendai Biti to release funds for agriculture on time.
“Farmers are not being supported in any way by Government. Government should not hesitate to subsidise farmers as this is the norm everywhere. In the EU farmers are subsidised.
“For instance, each cow in France is subsided to the tune of $2,50 a day,” he said.
Cde Chombo said cotton prices were low because local farmers were competing with subsidised products on the international market.
CAPS Utd expel Sengu
Grace ChingomaSports Reporter
CAPS United have terminated the contract of their captain David Sengu in the wake of the one-day player’s revolt on Tuesday over the delay in the payment of their salaries.
Hard won Zim, lest we forget
Lest we forget
Catherine Murombedzi
THE war of liberation had started in earnest. First, it was the word that spread like a veldfire, then it was a whisper and later it was one boy and girl after the other in the neihgbourhood and Rhodesia caught fire.
Transfer of workers
At the workplace
Wenceslaus Murape
Worker transfer is one area that is greatly misunderstood in the country. As a result it has caused a lot of problems in most institutions to the detriment of both the employers and employees. Recently, a branch manager with Truworths — Batsirai Zhuwawo — was dismissed for refusing to be transferred from Mutare to Harare.
The transfer was effected to allow Zhuwawo to undergo intensive training in store management after his branch had been experiencing stock losses.
Has NTC hijacked Libyan ‘revolution’
WHEN the Libyan story is retold, the facts remain very stubborn even in the face of a current election. At the end of the story, the West is going to be left with an egg splashed on its political face. The National Transition Council in Libya didn’t have any muscle to topple Muammar Gaddafi.
Shamu urges media to have national pride
Municipal Reporter
THE media should promote national coherence, investment and exhibit national pride in reporting issues, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Addressing the country’s editors yesterday Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu said Cabinet was not happy with the quality of reportage by the local media.
Council approves US$100m shopping mall
Michael ChidemeHARARE City Council has approved the construction of Zimbabwe’s biggest shopping complex,
Mnangagwa hands over 75 houses to soldiers
Midlands BureauDEFENCE Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has handed over 75 core-housing units in Senga’s Nehosho section in Gweru constructed under the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Benefit Fund.