• admin
• Herald
• August 29, 2012
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Zesa stops disconnections

Felex Share Herald Reporter
ZESA Holdings has stopped disconnecting its domestic and commercial customers pending the installation of pre-paid meters, Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma has said.
He, however, said this did not mean that the elec­tricity consumers should stop paying their bills because they would still be required to pay up when the pre-paid meters are installed.

Officially launching the pre-paid meter pro­gramme in Harare yesterday, Minister Man­goma said those disconnected for non-pay­ment of electricity bills would be connected to the smart meters without paying a down pay­ment or reconnection fee.

“With the coming of the new system, no one will be disconnected, but this does not stop you from settling your bills now,” said Minister Mangoma.
“It is for your good to continue settling your debts because when the meter is installed, the bill would have accumulated.”

The new pre-paid meter system will see con­sumers taking complete control of their elec­tricity bills.
The pre-paid meters replace the conven­tional billing system that had posed challenges to the power utility and the consumers.
Zesa will deduct 20 percent on the amount paid for electricity on pre-paid meters for the consumers to settle their debts.

“I can confirm that all debt incurred during the Zimbabwe dollar era was written off. Any debt owing by a customer will be input into the meter automatically,” said Minister Mangoma.
“This initiative is in recognition of the hard­ships being faced by our consumers and hope­fully will go some way in alleviating their plight,” Minister Mangoma said.

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• August 29, 2012
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President seeks by-elections deadline extension

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
President Mugabe yesterday filed an urgent application in the High Court seeking an extension of the deadline to proclaim dates for by-elections.

This followed a Supreme Court order handed down by Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku giving the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces  up to tomorrow to publish a notice ordering the by-elections to fill the three parliamentary posts in Nkayi South, Bulilima East and Lupane East con­stituencies.

Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa told The Herald that he filed the application on behalf of Presi­dent Mugabe yesterday.
Minister Chinamasa said: “We have today (yesterday) filed an urgent applica­tion to ask for extension of time within which to comply with the court order.

“As you know, besides the three vacant seats, there are in total 28 parliamentary vacant seats and 164 local authority vacant seats.
“Conducting the by-elections in 28  parliamentary constituencies as well as in 164 local authorities is tantamount to a mini-general election where huge financial resources are required.
“We have applied for an extension of one month to give us more time to com­ply.

“If granted, during this period we will be able to mobilise more financial resources.”
Minister Chinamasa said the vacant seats were spread across the country, making the by-elections more                    costly.
“There is no province or administrative district which is spared from this by-elec­tion one way or the other, either at local or parliamentary level,” he said.

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• Herald
• August 29, 2012
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Zuma’s facilitation team meets GPA negotiators

Herald Reporters
President Jacob Zuma’s facilitation team yesterday met negotiators to the Global Politi­cal Agreement to hear an update on Constitu­tion-making in Zimbabwe.
The team is expected to hold a joint meeting with the three political parties today after meeting them separately yesterday.

Zanu-PF chief negotiator Cde Patrick Chi­namasa confirmed the meeting.
“Yes, we had a meeting with the facilitation team, but I cannot comment now on the issue, we are going to have a joint meeting tomor­row,” said Cde Chinamasa, who is also the Jus­tice and Legal Affairs Minister.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday told reporters that there was a deadlock on the way forward on the draft constitution. He said the principals had no veto powers on the draft.
But Cde Chinamasa said the PM should know of the need to secure consensus among principals to determine the way forward.

“He should convey that to the President,” said Cde Chinamasa.
“The projected meeting of principals is criti­cal to determine the course we are going to take. The PM is aware that the Constitution-making process is built on consensus and that without the support of Zanu-PF the process will not move forward.”
Cde Chinamasa said the fact that the draft had signatures of the Copac management com­mittee members from Zanu-PF was non-con­sequential.

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• Herald
• August 29, 2012
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VP Mujuru’s office avails US$10m to support farming

Herald Reporter
Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s office has availed at least US$10 mil­lion to purchase

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• Herald
• August 29, 2012
• 67 views

Acting President summons Nhema, Mzembi

Sydney Kawadza Assistant News Editor
Acting President Joice Mujuru yes­terday summoned Environment and Natural

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• Herald
• August 29, 2012
• 57 views

Zanu-PF chairmen off to China

Herald Reporter
ZANU-PF provincial chairpersons are today leaving for a two-week familiari­sation tour of China. The delegation is led by Matabele­land North Governor and acting Zanu-PF chair­person for the province Cde Thokozile Mathuthu. Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo and Chinese ambassador Mr Lin Lin said relations