Innocent Ruwende
Harare
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Articles by Innocent Ruwende
Zimbabwe: Unite, Diplomats Urge Nation. . . As Zim Marks 39th Uhuru Anniversary
By Innocent Ruwende Diplomats accredited to the country have urged Zimbabweans to unite and work together to realise President Mnangagwa's vision of making Zimbabwe an upper middle-income economy by 2030. The diplomats, who thronged the National Sports Stadium for the country's 39th Independence celebrations on Thursday, reiterated their respective countries' commitment to supporting Zimbabwe in its rebuilding efforts.
Zimbabwe: Skills Audit for Council Workers
By Innocent Ruwende and Sallomy Matare Harare City Council is set to conduct a skills audit of its workers to ensure it has the right workforce to achieve its goal of achieving world class city status by 2025. In an interview after a stakeholders' meeting at Town House yesterday, town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango said the city was conducting a job evaluation exercise to ensure that every job in council met the requisites of its title. "Vision 2025 is not just a talk show," he said.
Zimbabwe: Harare to Get 600 Solar Powered Buses from Chinese Firm
Photo: 263Chat Harare (file photo). By Innocent Ruwende A Chinese company, China Nanchang Engineering, has approached Harare City Council with a deal to supply 600 green energy (solar-powered) buses and additional fixed and working capital to service routes in Greater Harare Metropolitan. The project will include a central business district (CBD) shuttle service and the Harare Urban Route will service all suburban routes. It's divided into Norton, Southern, Eastern and Western suburbs.
Zimbabwe: Masiyiwa to Pour Over Us$225m Into Harare
By Innocent Ruwende Higherlife Foundation is set to plough over US$225 million into Harare's water and sanitation sectors as part of broader efforts to fight water-borne diseases like cholera and typhoid. The two partners are working on a Cholera Strategic Plan 2019-2025, which is set to change the way council does its business. Benchmarking and skills audit are some of the thematic areas set to be introduced in council.
Zimbabwe: Solar Buses for Harare
By Innocent Ruwende A Chinese company, China Nanchang Engineering, has approached Harare City Council with a deal to supply 600 green energy (solar-powered) buses and additional fixed and working capital to service routes in Greater Harare Metropolitan. The project will include a central business district (CBD) shuttle service and the Harare Urban Route will service all suburban routes. It's divided into Norton, Southern, Eastern and Western suburbs.
Zimbabwe: Moonlighting Council Drivers Suspended
By Innocent Ruwende Harare City Council has suspended 26 refuse compactor drivers who were moonlighting while on council duty and using the city's vehicles, compromising waste collection. This led to garbage piling up in most residential areas, presenting citizens of the capital with a potential health hazard. The drivers in question would allegedly rush residents and at times fail to collect garbage in some places while rushing to do their side work.
Zimbabwe: Govt Bonds Raise $117m for Roads
By Innocent Ruwende The rehabilitation of Beitbridge-Harare highway and other road projects got a major boost after Government raised $117 million from two separate bonds it floated in the market. A $150 million Infrastructure Bond floated by ZB Bank, which has already raised $62 million will be ring-fenced for the Beitbridge-Harare highway with Treasury bringing in an additional $50 million.
Zimbabwe: President to Open Dualisation Project
By Innocent Ruwende Government has completed dualising a 12km stretch of the Harare-Bulawayo Road from Norton turn-off, which is expected to be officially opened by President Mnangagwa. In an interview during a visit to the site where a bridge is being constructed, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said a road over rail bridge along the same stretch was expected to be completed in four months.
South Africa: R55 Million for Police Training
By Innocent Ruwende South Africa has extended 55 million rand to Zimbabwe to be channelled towards police training and protective gear required in policing activities. The area of police training and skilling is one of the areas identified in the Montlanthe Commission on last year's post-election violence which President Mnangagwa is implementing among a raft of other reforms.
Zimbabwe: Govt to Spend $1bn On Roads
By Innocent Ruwende Government has committed over $1 billion for road construction and rehabilitation with various projects underway across the country under the 2019 Road Development Programme. Funding for this flagship project, which is the biggest road project in 20 years, is being mobilised from the two percent Intermediated Money Transfer Tax as well as the Zimbabwe National Road Administration Infrastructure Bond, as President Mnangagwa's administration pursues its development trajectory.
Zimbabwe: SA Ministers Arrive for Bnc Talks
By Innocent Ruwende and Zvamaida Murwira Three South African ministers arrived in the country last night for the third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission, with president Cyril Ramaphosa expected to jet in today. The three are Lindiwe Sisulu (International Relations and Cooperation), Siyabonga Cwele (Home Affairs) and Blade Nzimande (Transport). Deputy Minister of Social Development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu arrived earlier during the day.
Southern Africa: Zimbabwe, Mozambique Joint Commission Opens
By Fidelis Munyoro and Innocent Ruwende The 11th session of the Zimbabwe-Mozambique Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security opened in Harare yesterday with the two countries expressing concern over smuggling of contraband and the influx of irregular migrants, particularly from the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa. In his welcome and opening remarks, Defence secretary Mr Martin Rushwaya said poaching of elephants and rhinoceros remained major security challenges for the two countries.
Zimbabwe: Harare Clinches $237m Sewer Deal
By Innocent Ruwende Harare City Council is set to partner one of the largest state-owned companies in China, Sinohydro Corporation, in a $237 million deal to construct four new sewage treatment plants, as well as rehabilitating and extending existing plants. The city says the project will increase waste water treatment capacity and quality, reduce sewage spillages and chokes, as well as reduce environment pollution and outbreaks of diseases.
Zimbabwe: Mass Typhoid Vaccinations Begin
By Innocent Ruwende Zimbabwe became the first country in Africa to vaccinate against typhoid yesterday when it rolled out a campaign in nine typhoid hotspots in Harare. The programme targets 325 000 residents between the ages of six months and 45 years. This follows the successful Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign last year, where 1,3 million people received the first dose of the vaccine (OCV1) in response to the massive outbreak that affected Harare and other parts of the country.
Zimbabwe: $400m NRZ Deal On Track
By Innocent Ruwende The $400 million National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) recapitalisation deal is on track with Government negotiating with its partner the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group/Transnet consortium. Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said many other suitors were approaching Government with various proposals. Minister Matiza was speaking at a meeting with road authorities and other stakeholders during his tour of Masvingo province road projects.
Zimbabwe: Govt Avails U.S.$30 Million For Matabeleland South Roads
By Innocent Ruwende Gwanda — Government has availed $30 million for various roads in Matabeleland South province under the road development programme that will see maintenance of roads and undertaking of developmental projects in the province.
Zimbabwe: Toll Fees Remain Unchanged - Zinara
By Innocent Ruwende Bulawayo — The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) will not increase toll fees, but will implement measures to minimise revenue leakages to channel more funds towards road projects in support of President Mnangagwa's vision of making Zimbabwe an upper middle income economy by 2030, an official has said. Zinara board chairman Engineer Michael Madanha told The Herald that a sound road network was key to achieving the ease of doing business.
Zimbabwe: Chitungwiza Sitting On Health Time Bomb
By Innocent Ruwende A health disaster is looming in Chitungwiza as streams of sewage continue to flow through most areas, with some of them stretching for up to several kilometres. Chitungwiza Municipality said it required at least $14 million to attend to most of the problems which tend to worsen whenever residents receive water. With cholera outbreaks still being reported in some towns in the country, fears abound that Chitungwiza might soon be a victim of the water-borne disease.
Zimbabwe: Attack On Makoni Police Station Preplanned - Cop
By Innocent Ruwende Officer Commanding Chitungwiza Police District Chief Superintendent Sekayi Mujiwa says protestors that laid siege on Makoni Police Station in Chitungwiza, burning cars and destroying windows on Monday last week, had planned the attack and appeared to have received prior training. Police have since arrested 114 suspected protesters and are closing in on the remaining suspects.
Zimbabwe: ZUPCO Buses Return - Kombis Feel the Heat
By Innocent Ruwende Commuter omnibus operators were yesterday forced to reduce their fares following the introduction of conventional buses mobilised by the Government to ferry passengers in and around Harare. Commuters in Harare and Bulawayo slammed kombi operators for exploiting them, with some people calling for their immediate ban. The buses are being coordinated by the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO).
Zimbabwe: Kombi Operators Speak On Fares
By Innocent Ruwende Transport operators yesterday slammed unscrupulous drivers and conductors for taking advantage of a review of fuel prices by the Government on Saturday to charge commuters extortionate fares. The Government also immediately undertook to neutralise the ripple eff ects of the fuel price increase on general goods by extending tax rebates to all registered businesses in key sectors of the economy, including transport.
Zimbabwe: CJ to Open Legal Year
By Innocent Ruwende Chief Justice Luke Malaba is today expected to deliver a keynote address to mark the official opening of the 2019 Legal Year at Mashonganyika Building, which houses the Constitutional Court in Harare. The High Court is expected to hear 44 murder cases during the first quarter. Only one case of fraud, involving Chitungwiza land baron, Frederick Mabamba, is on the case list released ahead of the opening of the legal year.
Zimbabwe: Police Deploy in Hot Spots
By Innocent Ruwende The Zimbabwe Republic Police has deployed officers in all residential areas, shopping centres and the Central Business District to conduct patrols, surveillance and stop and search following some social media articles agitating Zimbabweans to engage in violence and unsanctioned demonstrations. In a statement yesterday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema implored Zimbabweans to disregard the social media posts.
Zimbabwe: Vehicle Registration Plates Run Out
By Innocent Ruwende The Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) has run out of vehicle registration plates, with a few available at post offices outside Harare. This means those who used Harare addresses when they purchased their vehicles cannot access the remaining plates. Motorists who require the short versions of the plates have been waiting for more than two months to access them, while those who require long versions have been waiting for over a month.
Zimbabwe: Harare Left With 18 Months' Water Supply
By Innocent Ruwende and Vanessa Makava Harare'S main water supply dam, Lake Chivero, is now left with water to last only 18 months largely due to siltation, droughts and algae, which has also affected water quality. Harare city officials say water levels have gone down by as much as three metres, while the depth of the lake has been reduced by about 8,0 metres due to siltation.
Zimbabwe: Relief for Victims of Land Barons
By Innocent Ruwende Government will sympathise with home-seekers who were fleeced and illegally settled by land barons as it moves in such areas to bring order and sanity as well as create self-containing urban settlements, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Zimbabwe: Nuts and Bolts of City Budget
By Innocent Ruwende Harare City Council presented a largely accepted $472 million 2019 budget which saw the local authority allocating more than 10 percent to water and sanitation issues which have been problematic over the years Refuse collection and sewer blockages have given a rise in water-borne diseases with the latest being cholera in September which claimed more than 30 lives.
Zimbabwe: $472m Budget for City. . . Water Tariffs, Clamping and Towing Fees Up
By Innocent Ruwende The Harare City Council yesterday presented a $472,2 million budget for 2019 indicating that the local authority will increase water tariffs by 19 percent while charges for most services remain unchanged.
Zimbabwe: Zim Has Enough Fuel - Govt
By Innocent Ruwende Fuel service stations are getting the normal supplies of a combined eight million litres daily, but panic buying by motorists in anticipation of a price increase and the festive season have meant that queues continue to exist, a Cabinet minister has said. In an interview yesterday, Energy and Power Development Minister Joram Gumbo indicated that there were enough fuel stocks at Msasa fuel depot, and there was no need for motorists to panic.
Zimbabwe: Budget to Be Beamed Live
By Innocent Ruwende The Harare City Council will present its budget live on television on Monday next week, with Harare Mayor Cllr Herbert Gomba saying the financial plan will set the agenda to turn the capital into a smart city. He said the city was going to present a programme-based budget where money would be distributed according to specific programmes. Programme-based budgets do not give room to hidden costs and allow residents to track council expenditure.
Zimbabwe: City Revenue Drops Despite 50pc Discount
By Innocent Ruwende Harare City Council's revenue has plummeted from $22 million in October to $12,5 million this month, despite introducing a promotion where it offered residents a 50 percent discount on every payment. The promotion ends on Friday and residents have pleaded with council to once again extend the reprieve to December 31. Government, businesses and residents owe the local authority about $800 million.
Zimbabwe: Home-Seekers Duped in Harare South
By Innocent Ruwende Fresh land invasions have rocked Harare South, particularly Churu Farm, amid reports that some suspected land barons are illegally parcelling out stands to home-seekers without council's authority and have since erected a structure where prospective home owners are parting with their hard erned money. Those who have already settled are being asked to pay $15 each on the pretext that council would regularise their stay in the area.
Zimbabwe: 6 Vehicles Burnt to Shells At Siyaso
By Innocent Ruwende An inferno yesterday reduced to shells six vehicles at an automotive workshop outside Siyaso SMEs complex in Magaba, Harare, bringing to five the number of major fire incidences which occurred in the country in the past four days, in which property worth millions of dollars has been destroyed.
Zimbabwe: Mixed Feelings Over Council Rates Discount
By Innocent Ruwende Harare City Council will assess its 50 percent discount promotion to ratepayers on amounts that they pay against their debt, amid fears that it may be promoting delinquency and not benefiting paid up ratepayers. In an interview after meeting with the business community who had misgivings about the promotion, Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba said council will take a stock of the initiative when the window closes on November 30.
Zimbabwe: President to Attend Peace, Family Festival
By Innocent Ruwende President Mnangagwa is expected officiate at the first national level Peace and Family Festival to be held on November 21 this year at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. At least 40 000 couples from over 200 countries will rededicate their marriages at a huge ceremony that will be led by Dr Hak Ja Han Moon from South Korea. The international peace crusader is the widow of Mr Sun Myung Moon, who founded the Unification Church.
Zimbabwe: Councillors Demand Security At Functions
By Innocent Ruwende Harare City Council has resolved that adequate security be provided for councillors and city officials when council business like pre-budget meetings are being conducted, after a city official was bashed by residents in Hopley. MDC-Alliance's Harare Ward 1 councillor, Tendai Katsaria was reportedly attacked by residents in Hopley last month and sustained head injuries.
Zimbabwe: Condolences Pour in for Crash Victims
Photo: New Zimbabwe The wreckage of one of the buses after the accident. By Innocent Ruwende Condolences have been pouring in for victims of the horrific crash involving two buses which claimed 46 lives at the 166km peg along the Harare-Mutare Highway on Wednesday evening. The ruling party, Zanu-PF consoled the bereaved and wished the injured a speedy recovery in a statement yesterday.
Zimbabwe: Rusape Accident National Disaster
By Innocent Ruwende and Nyemudzai Kakore Government has declared a state of national disaster the accident in which 46 people were killed when two buses side-swiped at the 166-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare highway on Wednesday evening. The accident involved Bolt Cutter and Smart Express buses. Declaring an accident a state of national disaster enables the State to mobilise resources to assist the injured and bereaved families with cash and burial arrangements.
Zimbabwe: Harare Extends Rates Discount to Corporates
By Innocent Ruwende Harare City Council has extended to corporates, churches and leaseholders the 50 percent discount, which had previously been reserved for domestic clients. The facility ends on November 30. City corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme said commercial enterprises owe council $278 million.
Zimbabwe: Road Contractors Suspend Works
By Innocent Ruwende Companies contracted by Harare City Council to carry out road maintenance projects under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) have suspended works citing the unavailability of bitumen and high price of stone. Companies like Bitumen World and Tencraft have since written to council informing it of the development.
Zimbabwe: Embrace Culture of Paying Taxes - Mnangagwa
By Innocent RuwendePresident Mnangagwa has urged individuals and corporates to embrace the culture of paying taxes, saying tax evasion leaves Government with limited funding options. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) is owed $4,5 billion by tax defaulters, among them private sector players and individuals.
Zimbabwe: U.S.$2 Million Surveillance Cameras for Harare
By Innocent RuwendeHarare City Council and its parking unit, City Parking, have embarked on a $2 million programme of installing surveillance cameras at traffic lights in the central business district (CBD) to deal with congestion and traffic offenders. The cameras will help identify traffic offenders, especially those who impede the smooth flow of traffic. It is also envisaged that the cameras will assist police in identifying those who commit various crimes in the CBD.
Zimbabwe: Urban Councils Score Big
By Innocent RuwendeThe country's major urban local authorities tied up major deals at the just-ended Local Government Investment Conference held in Bulawayo with one of the world's leading automotive manufacturing companies, FAW Group Corporation, expected to set up an automobile assembly plant in Bulawayo. Harare City Council is considering proposals for onsite sewage treatment technologies, housing projects as well as tourism facilities tabled by various investors at the conference.
Zimbabwe: Govt Targets Errant Councils
By Innocent RuwendeGovernment has targeted urban local authorities with serious arrears in audit reports in a clampdown meant to promote accountability and financial discipline in councils. The Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry is set to take tougher action and hold councillors accountable for the process as 20 councils were not up to date in terms of audits.
Zimbabwe: Harare Extends Discount Offer
By Innocent RuwendeHarare City Council has provisionally extended to October 31, the window within which ratepayers who settle their debts will enjoy a 50 percent discount of the amount paid following a request from residents who want the promotion to run until December. The promotion was supposed to run until yesterday and residents at various council offices were jostling to make payments so they could benefit from the reprieve.
Tanzanian Envoy Bids Farewell
By Innocent RuwendeOutgoing Tanzanian Ambassador Lieutenant-General Charles Lawrence Makakala (retired) yesterday bade farewell to President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa Offices. The Tanzanian envoy hailed the efforts being undertaken by the new political dispensation and President Mnangagwa to revamp the country's economy as well as bringing peace and prosperity to Zimbabwe. Ambassador Makakala has been in the country since 2015 and will return to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Zimbabwe: City Rakes in U.S.$17 Million From Ratepayers
By Innocent Ruwende in BulawayoHarare City Council's has raked in $17 million for the month of September from ratepayers, a record which has not been achieved in the past four years. The city is now expecting between $20 to 25 million in October, the month in which the 90-day window within which ratepayers who settle their debts in full will enjoy a 50 percent discount expires. Harare was collecting between $10 million and $12 million from potential monthly collections of $22 million.
Zimbabwe: Council Puts Land Sales On Hold
By Innocent RuwendeHarare City Council has with immediate effect halted land sales to ensure that it gets value from its properties given the prevailing economic situation. Council made the resolution at a full council meeting on Thursday. In an interview, Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba said council would review rates to protect its interests. "There were numerous resolutions which were passed," he said.
Zimbabwe: Taxis, Vendors Cost City U.S.$2 Million
By Innocent RuwendeIllegal taxis, vendors and commuter omnibuses occupying parking bays within the Central Business District are costing Harare City Council's parking unit, City Parking, over $2 million in revenue annually. According to the company's half-year review report to July 2018, the taxis and kombis are occupying 784 parking bays, depriving City Parking of $94 080 monthly.
Zimbabwe: Disease Outbreak Exposes Councils
By Innocent RuwendeThe recent outbreak of cholera exposed water and sanitation infrastructure challenges facing local authorities attributable to lack of investment in the sector for the past 20 years, Town Clerks Forum chairperson, Mr George Makunde, has said. He made the remarks during a media briefing on the third Local Government Investment Conference (LOGIC 2018) set for Bulawayo from October 16-18.
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