Category: News Feeds

HARARE
–
Zimbabwe’s
poor
infrastructure
and
policy
inconsistencies
are
worsening
the
impact
of
depressed
lithium
prices
on
producers
of
the
material
mainly
used
in
battery
technologies,
a
Zimbabwean
unit
of
China’s
Sinomine
Resource
Group
(002738.SZ),
said.

Africa’s
top
producer
of
lithium
has
attracted
over
$1
billion
investment
from
Sinomine
and
its
Chinese
peers
such
as
Zhejiang
Huayou
Cobalt
(603799.SS),
and
Chengxin
Lithium
Group
(002240.SZ),
since
2021
as
China
sought
to
maintain
its
grip
on
critical
metals.

However,
lithium
prices
have
fallen
sharply
from
their
2022
peak
as
a
wave
of
new
supply
has
overwhelmed
weaker
than
expected
demand
for
electric
vehicle
batteries.

The
price
slump
“is
making
it
difficult
for
lithium
companies
to
stay
afloat,
with
most
mining
entities
downscaling
production”
and
laying
off
workers,
Sinomine
unit
Bikita
Minerals
told
visiting
lawmakers,
according
to
a
presentation
seen
by
Reuters
on
Tuesday.

“The
lithium
mines
continue
to
operate
in
an
environment
with
risks
which
include
fragile
power
supply,
capital
constraints
and
foreign
currency
shortfalls,”
the
company
said.

There
was
also
lack
of
“clear
and
consistent
policies
on
licensing,
taxation
and
export
regulations”,
it
said.

Bikita
Minerals
added
that
Zimbabwe’s
foreign
currency
regulation
requiring
exporters
to
trade
25%
of
their
hard
currency
earnings
for
a
rapidly
weakening
local
unit
called
the
ZiG
was
resulting
in
loss
of
value.

“Lack
of
basic
infrastructure,
such
as
roads,
transportation,
power
and
water
supply
in
lithium-rich
regions
is
hindering
exploration
and
extraction
of
lithium
reserves,
significantly
influencing
production
costs,”
it
said.

The
government
could
help
lithium
miners
by
introducing
tax
breaks
and
lower
royalties,
the
company
said.

Both
the
mines
and
finance
ministries
were
not
immediately
available
to
comment.

PRETORIA,
South
Africa
–
The
Pretoria
High
Court
has
sentenced
three
illegal
Zimbabwean
nationals,
Edison
Ngamiko,
38,
Amos
Hassan
Masiya,
38,
and
Edron
Panashe
Chisanako,
39,
to
two
life
terms
each
for
two
counts
of
murder.

They
were
also
sentenced
to
10
years
of
direct
imprisonment
each
for
attempted
murder
and
12
months
imprisonment
for
being
illegal
in
the
country.

The
charges
arose
from
a
tragic
incident
that
occurred
on
17
February
2023,
when
the
three
men
were
approached
by
three
young
girls
aged
15,16,
and
23
at
Mashanganeng
Tavern
in
Olievenhoutbosch.

The
girls
requested
money
from
the
trio
to
purchase
alcohol,
and
the
men
initially
provided
them
with
R40.

When
the
girls
asked
for
an
additional
R20
to
pay
a
male
companion
who
was
going
to
accompany
them
home,
the
accused
complied,
bringing
the
total
amount
given
to
R60.

Later
that
night,
as
the
girls
were
leaving
the
tavern,
the
accused
accompanied
them.

When
they
reached
Mamello
Street,
Chisanako
demanded
sexual
favours
from
the
15-year-old
girl.

When
the
girl
refused
and
the
16-year-old
reprimanded
him,
Chisanako
shot
the
16-year-old
in
the
neck,
resulting
in
her
immediate
collapse.

He
then
shot
the
other
two
girls
multiple
times,
leading
to
their
deaths
at
the
scene.

A
shot
fired
during
the
chaos
hit
Ngamiko
accidentally.
Upon
realizing
the
16-year-old
was
still
alive,
Ngamiko
attempted
to
finish
the
job,
but
the
firearm
had
run
out
of
bullets,
thereafter
they
fled
the
scene.

The
surviving
victim
crawled
home
and
report
the
incident.

The
police
discovered
the
two
bodies
of
the
deceased
girls
after
patrolling
the
area
that
same
night.

The
police
investigation
led
to
Ngamiko’s
arrest
three
days
later,
on
20
February
2023,
while
he
was
receiving
treatment
for
his
gunshot
wound.

Masiya
was
arrested
on
9
October
2023
on
unrelated
charges
but
was
later
linked
to
the
murder.

After,
he
identified
Chisanako,
who
was
apprehended
the
next
day
on
10
October
2023.

During
the
trial,
all
three
accused
pleaded
not
guilty,
with
Ngamiko
and
Masiya
acknowledging
the
incident
but
claiming
that
Chisanako
was
the
one
who
committed
the
offence.

Chisanako
denied
being
present
on
the
day
of
the
incident.

However,
Prosecutor
Advocate
David
Molokomme
successfully
presented
compelling
evidence,
including
witness
testimonies,
that
established
the
trio’s
common
purpose
in
committing
the
crimes.

During
sentencing,
the
defence
sought
leniency,
appealing
to
the
court
to
consider
their
family
responsibilities
in
Zimbabwe.

However,
Advocate
Molokomme
argued
firmly
for
life
sentences,
reflecting
the
serious
nature
of
the
offences
and
the
lasting
impact
on
the
victims’
families.

He
emphasized
the
defendants’
lack
of
remorse
and
their
previous
convictions
for
violent
crimes
including
robbery
and
house
breaking.

He
highlighted
the
significant
emotional
trauma
inflicted,
supported
by
a
Victim
Impact
Statement
(VIS)
facilitated
by
the
Court
Preparation
Officer
Legobang
Lebese,
which
revealed
the
lasting
psychological
effects
on
the
surviving
victim
where
the
victim
indicated
that,
she
still
has
flash
backs
of
the
day
of
the
incident
and
still
experiences
pain
where
she
was
shot.

The
Acting
Judge
Matlapeng,
upon
reviewing
the
evidence
and
arguments,
agreed
with
the
State’s
position,
noting
the
lack
of
remorse
and
the
brutal
nature
of
the
act.

He
noted
that
the
three
men,
while
seeking
a
better
life
in
South
Africa,
instead
chose
a
path
of
violence
and
disrespect
for
the
law.

Moreover,
it
was
the
responsibility
of
the
court
to
protect
society
from
such
acts
of
violence,
emphasising
that
illegal
immigrants
must
respect
the
laws
of
South
Africa.

Therefore,
he
found
no
substantial
and
compelling
circumstances
justifying
a
deviation
from
the
prescribed
minimum
sentences.

The
National
Prosecuting
Authority
(NPA)
welcomes
the
sentencing
of
the
three
men,
considering
it
a
crucial
step
towards
justice.

Story
based
on
unedited
statement
by
South
African
National
Prosecuting
Authority

HARARE
–
Jailed
fraud
suspects
Mike
Chimombe
and
Moses
Mpofu
claim
their
constitutional
rights
have
been
violated,
adding
they
will
raise
the
complaint
with
the
court
as
trial
starts
this
Wednesday.

The
business
partners
are
accused
of
embezzling
US$7
million
state
funds
under
a
botched
goats
supply
tender
issued
by
government.

“Our
clients’
constitutional
rights
…
have
been
violated
left,
right
and
centre,”
lawyer
Lovemore
Madhuku
told
journalists
after
court
adjournment
Tuesday.

Madhuku
said
under
the
circumstances,
his
clients
will
not
be
afforded
fair
trial.

He
added,
“When
rights
are
given,
they
ought
to
be
enjoyed.”

Madhuku
is
taking
instructions
from
Ashiel
Mugiya
who
is
representing
Chimombe.

In
court,
Madhuku
said
he
needed
some
time
to
acquaint
himself
with
the
case
as
he
got
instructed
only
recently.

Tapson
Dzvetero,
representing
Mpofu,
also
said
his
client
will
raise
complaints
over
alleged
constitutional
violations.

He
told
court
that
prosecutors
have
failed
to
furnish
the
defence
with
sufficient
particulars
they
required
to
prepare
for
the
trial.

“We
are
not
ready
to
proceed.
On
September
20,
we
wrote
and
asked
the
state
to
furnish
us
with
further
particulars.

“The
state
wrote
back
and
furnished
us
with
some
of
the
particulars
but
not
all.

“We
have
had
an
engagement
with
my
colleagues
and
agree
that
we
have
to
sit
down
and
identify
documents
they
can
give
us
and
which
ones
they
cannot.
After
that,
we
can
commence
the
trial,”
he
said.

Witness
Mabhaudhi,
representing
the
State,
consented
to
trial
postponement.

Prosecutors
say
the
fraud
charges
emanate
from
tender
documents
submitted
by
the
two
suspects
through
a
company
called
Blackdeck
Private
Limited
in
September
2021
when
the
Lands
and
Agriculture
ministry
invited
bids
for
the
supply
of
632,001
goats
under
a
scheme
worth
US$87,757,168
to
distribute
goats
nationally,
whose
beneficiaries
would
pass
on
the
animals
to
the
next
needy
household
after
kidding.

They
say
after
winning
the
tender,
it
was
Blackdeck
Livestock
and
Poultry
Farming,
an
unregistered
company,
which
signed
documents
with
the
ministry.

Mpofu
represented
the
company
and
Chimombe
acted
as
a
witness.

On
further
review
of
Blackdeck
Private
Limited’s
documents,
it
is
alleged
that
the
company
had
no
valid
tax
clearance
certificate
from
the
Zimbabwe
Revenue
Authority
for
2021,
and
that
a
QR
code
attached
to
the
National
Social
Security
compliance
certificate
belonged
to
a
different
company
called
Skywalk
Investments.

Both
documents
were
required
for
one
to
be
eligible
to
bid
for
the
tender.

Acting
on
the
misrepresentations,
prosecutors
say
the
ministry
went
on
to
pay
30
percent
of
the
contract
in
the
local
currency,
an
amount
of
ZWL1.6
billion
which
was
allegedly
equivalent
to
US$7,712,197
in
two
instalments
on
April
21,
2022,
and
June
29,
2022.

Following
delays
in
delivering
the
goats,
the
ministry
engaged
Blackdeck
and
was
informed
that
the
company
had
mobilised
32,500
goats
across
the
provinces
which
were
ready
to
be
distributed
to
the
beneficiaries.

A
verification
process
by
the
ministry
at
various
sites,
it
is
alleged,
however
showed
that
the
company
only
had
3,713
goats.

“After
the
ministry
of
lands
realised
that
they
were
being
deceived
by
the
accused
persons,
they
then
cancelled
the
contract
on
August
29,
2022,”
charges
the
National
Prosecuting
Authority
(NPA).

To
date,
the
prosecution
says
4,208
goats
worth
US$331,445.25
have
been
delivered
and
the
ministry
was
prejudiced
of
US$7,380,751.85.

The
two
deny
the
allegations.

HARARE
–
Town
clerk
Hosiah
Chisango
has
been
suspended
by
Harare
mayor
Jacob
Mafume
over
a
slew
of
alleged
misdemeanours
which
include
the
embattled
city
boss’s
awarding
of
a
streetlighting
tender
to
a
blacklisted
company.

His
suspension
is
effect
from
September
30
but
is
with
pay
and
other
benefits.

Chisango
faces
corruption
allegations
emanating
from
his
awarding
of
a
US$9,2
million
Harare
streetlighting
deal
to
jailed
businessman
Moses
Mpofu’s
company.

He
was
arrested
in
July
this
year
and
was
later
released
on
US$500
bail
September
17
this
year.

In
a
letter
outlining
the
reasons
behind
Chisango’s
suspension,
Mafume
said
“The
employer
has
a
good
cause
to
believe
that
you
have
committed
a
serious
misconduct
in
that
you
contravened
Section
4(a)
of
the
National
Code
i.e.
S.I.
15
of
2006
otherwise
known
as
‘Any
act
or
conduct
or
omission
inconsistent
with
the
fulfilment
of
the
express
or
implied
conditions
of
his
or
her
contract’.
You
did
so
in
one
or
more
of
the
following
ways;

“You
misconducted
yourself
in
the
procurement
and
award
of
a
tender
for
streetlights
to
Jukula
Enterprises
in
that
you
awarded
the
contract
to
a
blacklisted
company
which
had
a
record
of
breaching
its
tender
obligations.

“Or
that
you
awarded
a
tender
to
a
company
owned
by
proprietors
of
blacklisted
companies
thereby
exposing
Council
to
potential
financial
losses
and
which
company
in
this
case
had
not
won
the
tender.

“In
doing
so
you
have
failed
one
of
your
primary
functions
as
the
accounting
officer
which
is
to
protect
the
council’s
interest.”

Among
the
grounds
of
his
suspension,
Chisango
was
also
accused
of
“failing
to
secure
effective
Enterprise
Resource
Planning
(ERP)
software
for
the
management
of
the
council’s
billing
and
accounting
systems
over
five
years”.

“As
the
Accounting
Officer,
you
have
failed
to
secure
an
effective
Enterprise
Resource
Planning
(‘ERP’)
Software
and
System
support
for
the
management
of
the
Council’s
billing
and
accounting
systems
for
about
5
years.

“This
has
resulted
in
failure
to
carry
out
statutory
audits,
to
obtain
timeous
budget
approvals
and
also
has
led
to
adverse
reports
by
the
Auditor
General,
Moreso,
you
have
generally
mishandled
the
(‘ERP’)
procurement
and
tender
processes
leading
to
several
court
challenges
and
attracted
negative
publicity
thereby
putting
the
name
of
the
organisation
into
disrepute,”
Mafume
wrote.

The
Town
Clerk
is
accused
of
extending
his
contract
indefinitely
after
its
expiration
in
July
2023,
without
the
required
authorization.

“You
effected
changes
to
the
council
organogram
and
structure
by
appointing
senior
council
officers
to
Grades
1,
2
and
3
without
Council
Authority
and
without
the
approval
of
the
Local
Governance
Board
in
terms
of
Section
134(1)
of
the
Urban
Council’s
Act.

“In
particular,
you
appointed
a
senior
council
official
to
Grade
1B
without
the
requisite
approvals.

“You
also
appointed
more
senior
officials
from
Grade
4
to
Grade
3
without
the
necessary
approvals.

“In
doing
so
you
abused
your
authority
and
also
undermined
the
authority
of
Council
and
the
Local
Government
Board.

“At
the
expiry
of
your
fixed
term
contract
around
July
2023,
you
proceeded
to
give
yourself
a
contract
without
limit
of
time
without
the
knowledge
and
authority
of
the
council
and
without
the
approval
of
the
Local
Government
Board
in
terms
of
Section
132(1)
of
the
Urban
Council’s
Act.

“In
violation
of
the
circular
issued
on
the
26th
of
June
2014
paragraph
2.2
by
the
Ministry
of
Local
Government
and
approved
by
Cabinet”.

Chisango
was
barred
from
visiting
his
workplace
during
the
period
of
his
suspension.

“During
the
period
of
your
suspension,
you
shall
not
be
allowed
to
attend
the
workplace
or
carry
out
any
duties
unless
directed
to
do
so
by
the
Mayor.

“You
are
requested
not
to
interfere
with
Council
staff
and
other
witnesses
in
the
matter,”
further
reads
the
letter.

HARARE
–
Rains
are
expected
to
lash
Zimbabwe
“from
November
onwards”
as
October
–
which
usually
sees
the
onset
of
rains
–
will
remain
fairly
dry,
climate
minister
Sithembiso
Nyoni
briefed
cabinet
on
Tuesday.

Nyoni
said
Zimbabwe
will
receive
“normal
to
above
normal
rainfall”
in
2024/25.

“The
month
of
October
is
expected
to
be
drier
than
the
long
term
average,
but
from
November
onwards
the
forecast
is
for
normal
to
above
normal
rainfall.
Farmers
and
the
whole
nation
are
guided
to
plan
accordingly,”
Nyoni
briefed
ministers,
according
to
a
post-cabinet
readout
by
information
minister
Jenfan
Muswere.

Poor
rains
last
year
into
this
year
affected
yields
leaving
20
percent
of
Zimbabwe’s
15
million
people
at
risk
of
famine,
according
to
the
World
Food
Programme.

Farmers
in
rural
Matabeleland
say
cattle
are
dying
owing
to
depleted
open
pastures
and
drying
water
bodies.
A
prolonged
dry
spell
could
devastate
heads,
particularly
in
parched
Matabeleland
South.