Ex-State House director’s trial fails to kick off
REBUILD Party of Zimbabwe has commended the engagements that have taken place under the banner of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) in a bid to come up with lasting solutions to the problems bedevilling the nation.
In an interview yesterday, Rebuild Party of Zimbabwe president Mr Everisto Chikanga said his party was committed to the development of the country.
“President Mnangagwa made a good move in creating POLAD and we are grateful as a party for that because it’s is a step in the right direction,” he said.
“Our party hopes to work with the Government to improve the livelihoods of the people of Zimbabwe. As a party we are not really doing anything, but to influence decisionmaking of those in power to improve the livelihoods of the people.”
Mr Chikanga implored the MDC-Alliance to take advantage of the window created by President Mnangagwa to engage other political parties.
POLAD brought almost all parties that participated in last year’s harmonised elections to dialogue as part of wider efforts to cement national healing and nation-building.
Political actors in the national dialogue met and adopted a code of conduct to promote conditions encouraging dialogue and political tolerance, mutual respect, consensus, information dissemination and commitment to principles outlined in the dialogue.
KARIBA Municipality plans to construct a 150-metre tunnel into Lake Kariba as it races against receding water levels which have left its pumps exposed.
This is making it difficult to draw water for treatment and distribution to residents.
As a result, some areas have gone for weeks without water as the municipality battles to clear sand and access points at its Breezes Water Intake Tower. As a stopgap measure, a submersible pump mounted on a boat has been introduced in the lake to track water levels while plans to add another complementary pump are at tendering stage.
In an interview during a stakeholders tour of the Breezes Water Intake Tower, Town Clerk Mr Richard Kamhoti said construction of the tunnel would provide a long-term solution to the challenge.
“We are having challenges in terms of water abstraction at Breezes Water Intake Tower,” he said. “It arises from the fact that the lake levels are receding and we need to chase the water so that we continue to abstract the required quantities. As a long-term solution, there are major works that we have proposed and we are in talks with a donor to see whether the organisation can assist us in that regard. It involves tunnelling for a distance of about 150 metres into the lake and putting the appropriate works.”
The prospective partner has already conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to gauge the impact of the intervention and possible mitigation for any adverse effects.
To ensure people get water, council is using about 400 litres of diesel every day to excavate around the intake tower at a cost of about $6 500.
Some areas are failing to access water owing to stoppages in pumping as the floating pump is moved further into the lake while excavation is being undertaken. Affected areas include Baobab Ridge Extension, parts of Nyamhunga, Garikai, Mahombekombe and intermittently some areas such as Heights, Camp Hill and Mica Point.
“We have to continuously excavate around the tower so that water can freely flow under gravity to the last penstock which is still submerged in silt,” said Mr Kamhoti. “As an alternative, we have a floating pump with flexi hoses which we use to continuously access water further away from the tower.”
Mr Kamhoti said stakeholder involvement was important as it opened commitments from some companies in Kariba, who offered another pump to complement the existing one.
THE trial of former principal director of State Residences in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Douglas Tapfuma, failed to kick off yesterday after prosecutor Mr Clemence Chimbare indicated they needed time to certify some documents for use during the case.
Harare regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya deferred the matter to November 4, as per the State’s application for a postponement.
Tapfuma allegedly abused his office by facilitating the importation of several vehicles duty-free.
Allegations are that on April 17, 2018, he allegedly assigned Bonani Ganyane, an officer working in the transport section of the Department of State Residences, to proceed to
Beitbridge and facilitate clearance of the two vehicles on behalf of the department using report order forms as if they were Government vehicles.
It is the State case that clearance of goods by report order forms is a clearance procedure that is normally used by Government departments to apply for deferred clearance of goods from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
Ganyane allegedly proceeded to Beitbridge and provisionally cleared the vehicles using the report order forms.
After allegedly clearing the vehicles, Ganyane advised Tapfuma, who instructed him to hand them to Vongaishe Mupereri, who at that time was National Assembly Member for Mbizo constituency.
The court heard that on April 20, 2018, Tapfuma made an application to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet requesting for duty-free certificates in the name of the President’s Department, which were issued.
Tapfuma allegedly applied for duty exemption for vehicles at Zimra, which was granted.
He then registered the vehicles at Central Vehicles Registry under the name of the President’s Department and started using the vehicles in his personal capacity.
The alleged vehicles were liable to pay duty amounting to US$3 180.
The court heard that on the second and third counts, Tapfuma allegedly purchased five personal vehicles between June and August last year, from South Africa.
Tapfuma is being represented by Mr Jonathan Samukange.