admin
Herald Reporter
The year 2022 will go down memory lane as one of Zimbabwe’s best years in terms of infrastructural development, with the Government rolling out massive roads and dams construction, to ensure no one and no place is left behind.
The Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa has indicated that it is geared to change the face of the country for good, so as to put Zimbabwe at par with other countries, or surpass them.
In February, the Government demonstrated its seriousness by making permanent secretaries and other top officials in the civil service, sign performance contracts so as to track their performances.
The performance contracts were then extended to ministers, heads of local authorities, State-owned enterprises and State universities.
The Civil Registry Department also announced that the e-passports launched by President Mnangagwa in December 2021, had started to be accepted as an official travel document at all ports of entry.
To ensure economic development, all ports of entry were reopened to fully vaccinated travellers with valid Covid-19 PCR test certificates following convincing progress in the containment of the virus.
Cabinet agreed to the reopening of land ports after a prolonged closure due to the need to control the spread of Covid-19.
President Mnangagwa launched the National Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Campaign at the National Youth Day commemorations.
Zinara disbursed $17 billion to be distributed to all provinces and local authorities for road maintenance under the next phase of the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP).
A dark cloud then engulfed the nation as Tropical Depression Ana battered parts of Zimbabwe claiming 10 lives, destroying homes, crops, schools and other key infrastructure.
Former Mines and Mining Development permanent secretary Professor Francis Gudyanga was convicted and given a 30-month effective sentence for corruptly receiving sitting allowances for the board of the Mineral Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) while the board was not in place.
In March, Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi resigned from his position on medical grounds.
In other developments, President Mnangagwa rescued hundreds of former mineworkers who were facing eviction from their homes after a change of ownership almost rendered them homeless.
The majority of the workers used to work for the now-defunct Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) Minerals Zimbabwe (Pvt) (Ltd) and are residents in the towns of Chegutu and Norton.
With the world heeding the Second Republic’s mantra, “Zimbabwe is open for business” and the Engagement and Re-engagement drive, a German airline Eurowings Discover, flew its maiden flight from Frankfurt to Victoria Falls — becoming the first direct passenger flight between Zimbabwe and Europe since Air Zimbabwe discontinued its flights to London, the United Kingdom, in 2011.
Government also intervened, being a guarantor to the City of Harare and Netherlands investor Geogenix BV joint venture agreement on the Pomona waste-to-energy project.
The City of Harare, which is run by the opposition, has been determined to scuttle the deal which is aimed at converting rubbish into energy.
In April, Zimbabwe broke records by holding the main Independence celebrations in Bulawayo, the first time since 1980 that the celebrations were held outside Harare.
The President also had a busy schedule, including hosting a dinner for children in Bulawayo, opening the ZITF and commissioning fishing rigs in Binga.
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) also commenced the 2022 population and housing census in April.
President Mnangagwa was the first to be counted together with his family.
In the fight against Covid-19, Zimbabwe hit five million first doses in April.
The month also saw ZACC Commissioner Frank Muchengwa being fired following a recommendation from a tribunal set up by President Mnangagwa to investigate his suitability to hold office.
Trouble also brewed at Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI) with workers downing tools citing delays in payment of salaries and benefits.
Law enforcement agents also had a torrid time dealing with criminals having recovered fake US dollar notes in an abandoned vehicle.
They also intercepted and impounded nine buses carrying smuggled goods worth thousands of US dollars during an anti-smuggling blitz.
A suspected armed robber was shot and killed while two others were seriously injured during a shootout with police.
In May, President Mnangagwa directed the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, and public transporter Zupco, to put in place an efficient transport system to ease of movement of commuters during peak hours.
Local news and entertainment television channel Zimpapers Television Network Prime, a unit of multimedia giant Zimpapers, went live on DStv Channel 294.
The new bus terminal for Beitbridge Border Post, part of the US$300 million modernisation of the border post and basic town infrastructure also roared to life.
President Mnangagwa went to Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting joining 50 other heads of State and government to deliberate on policies and strategies needed to address challenges facing the globe.
Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Douglas Karoro was arrested on allegations of grabbing 700 bags of fertiliser, US$18 000 worth of maize seed and 5 000 vegetable seed kits from the Presidential Inputs Schemes.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Douglas Karoro at the Harare Magistrates Court.
Roselyn Dunga a security officer with the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe who allegedly stole US$2 million and went on a three-month lavish spending spree with her church pastor and a couple of relatives, had both her new mansions and a fleet of vehicles worth US$1,4 million frozen pending finalisation of criminal proceedings.
In June, Zimbabweans raised the country’s flag high with the Zimbabwe National High School Moot team making history after being crowned champions of the world at the 2022 International Moot Court.
President of the Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, was elected the new Pan-African Parliament (PAP) president, becoming the first person from Southern Africa to lead the organisation.
Moreblessing Ali of Chitungwiza, was brutally murdered allegedly by her former boyfriend, Pius Jamba.
Jamba went on a run but has since been arrested by police in connection with the matter.
CCC deputy chairman and Zengeza West Constituency legislator, Job Sikhala, was then arrested in connection with the spate of violence that rocked the Nyatsime area, leaving a trail of destruction.
Former Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Petronella Kagonye was slapped with a 36-month-jail term for stealing 20 laptops meant to benefit schools under the e-learning project.
In July, Zimbabwe marked 23 years since the late veteran nationalist and Vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo died.
Dr Nkomo left a legacy of selfless sacrifice, peace, unity and development.
President Mnangagwa swore in six new Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) commissioners who replaced the previous commissioners whose terms of office expired.
The six new commissioners sworn in are Ms Catherine Mpofu, Mrs Abigail Millicent Mohadi Ambrose, Mrs Janet Mbetu Nzvenga, Mr Kudzai Shava, Mrs Rosewita Marutare and Mr Shepherd Manhivi.
Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) through its innovation hub, designed a biogas system for its industrial park and campus energy needs, in line with the solutions-based Education 5.0 model.
A dealer at the former Ximex Mall in Harare, Tafadzwa Murengwa alias Boss Pangolin, shot and killed his ex-girlfriend near Bathroom Boutique along Simon Mazorodze Road in Waterfalls, Harare, after accusing her of cheating.
Seven security guards from Securico Security Services were also taken in for questioning by police following a brazen cash-in-transit heist in which four men pounced on a Securico cash-in-transit vehicle before casually seizing two trunk-loads of cash amounting to US$91 980 and $514 840 at Newlands Shopping Centre in Harare.
A former commissioner with ZEC Dr Petty Makoni, whose term of office expired over six years ago, was reported to have disappeared with the commission’s donated Toyota Prado and the Sheriff of the High Court charged with recovering the car is failing to locate her.
In August, Zimbabwe celebrated the Heroes and Defence Forces days.
Zimbabwe built a model eco-friendly house using polystyrene as the main construction material replacing the common brick and mortar.
The model house is in Sunway City and is spearheaded by the Zimbabwe-China Commission.
RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya announced plans to introduce smaller Zimbabwean gold coins, as small as a tenth of an ounce for ordinary people to invest in them and store value for their local currency.
President Mnangagwa announced an amnesty, calling on people to voluntarily surrender unlicenced guns.
The amnesty followed a spike in armed robbery cases.
A fleet of haulage trucks belonging to Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena, through his company Mayor Logistics, were seized by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and held pending the outcome of his fraud trial.
A Kwekwe resident magistrate Story Rushambwa (50) was jailed for an effective 15 months and a clerk of court Bright Mpiyabo (47) an effective nine months for criminal abuse of office after fraudulently releasing an impounded vehicle.
In September, President Mnangagwa turned 80 years old. He chose to put in a full day shift on duty as he joined other Heads of State at the inauguration of Angolan President Joao Lourenco in Luanda.
“I don’t feel any difference between yesterday and today. But of course one feels that at 80, one must be grateful that the Lord has kept you, up to that level.
“So, I am very happy, and I feel very good to continue working,” he was quoted saying.
in a historic moment, President Mnangagwa shook hands with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, breaking years of icy relations with the ex-Labour party leader during the plenary session at the Africa Green Revolution Forum 2022 in Rwanda.
President Mnangagwa then attended the first face-to-face United Nations General Assembly after a two-year break due to Covid-19.
In the same month, the President presided over the inaugural War veterans League conference, commissioned the modernised Beitbridge Border Post and a new fertiliser blending plant at Zimbabwe Phosphate Industries.
The Government also offered a 25 percent salary increment to civil servants in US dollar terms, resulting in State employees getting US$200 plus another portion in local currency from that month.
The Mbudzi roundabout was closed to pave way for the upgrade aimed at reducing congestion that used to characterise the area.
In October, Zanu PF successfully held its 7th National People’s Congress where President Mnangagwa was elected to continue as the party’s President and First Secretary.
He was also elected as Zanu PF’s sole Presidential candidate for this year’s harmonised elections.
Zimbabwe joined the rest of the continent in holding various events on October 25, a day set aside by SADC as the day of action against the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West.
President Mnangagwa had a dialogue with teachers under the Teachers for Economic Development banner.
He also commissioned the NatPharm warehouse and Dinson Iron and Steel Company in Mvuma.
Zimbabwe was plunged into mourning after six Tynwald High School learners perished in bus accident on their way to a school trip in Nyanga. Further, 10 workers also died while trying to extinguish a raging veld fire at a farm in Esigodini, Matabeleland South.
A gang of 13 armed robbers ambushed three Securico Security company cash-in transit vehicles, about 9km from How Mine and got away with four guns and 11,9kg of gold worth US$450 000 along Bulawayo-How Mine Road.
In November, Zimbabwe woke up to shocking news of a pregnant 9-year-old Tsholotsho girl.
She is now a mother after giving birth.
A few days later, news emerged of an 8-year-old Bindura girl was also impregnated.
Another 8-year-old girl from Macheke also exposed a case of shocking child sexual abuse after detailing in court how a neighbour and three close family members, who include her father and brother, took turns to rape her with her mother ignoring her pleas for help.
Exiled former Zanu PF members and Cabinet ministers, Professor Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao, apologised to the ruling party for their utterances backing opposition parties since the time they were kicked out of the ruling party on a number of charges in 2017.
In November again, the 2023 National Budget was unveiled while the President delivered his State of the Nation Address at the New Parliament Building.
Zimbabwe orbited its first satellite, ZimSat-1 joining the league of nations that have launched satellites into space.
Thousands of Zimbabweans that were returning home from South Africa after failing to have their exemption permits upgraded to normal immigrant visas were given greenlight to bring back all their belongings duty-free, including one vehicle.
President Mnangagwa appointed Air Force of Zimbabwe senior officer Winnie Mandeya to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, a rank equivalent to a Major General in land forces.
In December, it was hive of activity with the World Cup taking place in Qatar.
Back home, Unity Day celebrations were held on December 222.
Pensioners smiled all the way to the bank after President gave them a forex Special bonus.
A preliminary delimitation report on how constituencies are allocated between provinces and how constituency and ward boundaries are redrawn to match population movements since the last delimitation, was completed and handed over to President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa who is Zanu PF’s First Secretary and President appointed party Politburo members that saw him blending the old guard with new blood.
Zimbabwe achieved a milestone in wheat production by harvesting 375 000 tonnes of the cereal this year, the highest ever recorded since wheat growing started in 1966.
Online Reporter