Govt identifies safe haven for Binga flood victims
ZIMBABWE Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo has introduced a new system that will see high-profile corruption suspects being summoned to court when their dockets are ready.
Suspects, in terms of the new approach, will not be arrested while investigations are in progress.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said once the docket was completed and ready for trial, the suspect would be summoned to court. “We are changing style this time,” she said. “We want to take suspects to court on summons rather than arresting and placing them on remand for long. The traditional way of doing things is proving to be difficult.
“Lawyers will start making endless applications and those matters are not going to trial. So, we have changed strategy. We are completing our dockets first and once we complete our dockets, we then take those accused persons to court on summons.”
Justice Matanda-Moyo said the new strategy was set to register more convictions.
Meanwhile, ZACC and Transparency International Zimbabwe yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at fighting corruption.
Justice Matanda-Moyo and Transparency International Zimbabwe executive director Ms Muchaneta Mundopa represented the two organisations.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said corruption had been affront to the corporate governance of most public institutions, thereby negatively affecting service delivery. “The concept and practice or collaboration will guarantee success in fighting corruption and engender public confidence, trust and belief in the general Government efforts to curb corruption and promote sustainable economic growth.”
Ms Mundopa said fighting corruption required a committed and holistic approach through the participation of all stakeholders. “The signing of this MoU today between these two institutions is, therefore, a significant milestone in the fight against corruption as it formalises and strengthens the already existing collaboration between ZACC and Transparency International Zimbabwe,” she said.
GOVERNMENT has identified a temporary site to accommodate flood victims and mobilised resources to assist the affected families mainly in Nsungwale under Chief Sinakoma’s area here.
The floods claimed an elderly man’s life on Monday while 34 families were evacuated to safety by Government’s rapid response teams led by the Civil Protection Unit (CPU).
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo yesterday distributed bags of grain and food hampers to the families that were affected by flash floods.
Cde Moyo also visited the affected areas. He said Government was committed to addressing the plight of the victims and urged other stakeholders to complement its efforts.
“Government is aware of the plight of Binga villagers who were affected by floods in Nsungwale area under Chief Sinakoma. We have since started mobilising support to assist the affected communities. Food and non-food items have been mobilised and some of it will be swiftly dispatched to the site, which we identified as a temporary shelter,” he said.
Cde Moyo said the Zimbabwe National Water Authority had availed water bowsers and water treatment chemicals and 261 tents to the victims.
The tents, which were mobilised by the CPU, will be mounted onsite to house the affected families.
Cletus Mushanawani
ZIMBABWE is vigorously pursuing commercial diplomacy, with envoys at embassies now having their performances measured over how effective they are in fulfilling the country’s goal to facilitate the growth of national exports of goods and services by at least 10 percent yearly to US$14 billion by 2030.
Last year, President Mnangagwa launched the Zimbabwe National Trade Policy Vision and Export
“We will continue to monitor the situation in order to give the appropriate intervention to the affected communities. I therefore urge all stakeholders to continue supporting the Nsungwale community and all donations should be channelled through Government structures, precisely the CPU,” said Cde Moyo.
Jafuta Foundation, a Victoria Fallsbased NGO, chipped in with clothes, blankets and water purifiers, among other items.
According to a CPU report, 181 homes were affected by flooding of which 37
Promotion Strategy which seeks to contribute towards the attainment of Vision 2030 goals.
The National Trade Policy’s strategic goal is to facilitate the growth of national exports of goods and services by at least 10 percent annually from US$4,5 billion in 2018 to US$7 billion in 2023 and US$14 billion by 2030.
Speaking at a three-day commercial diplomacy workshop for senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Harare yesterday, Minister Sibusiso Moyo said were completely destroyed, leaving the families homeless.
A bridge that links Nsungwale Village with a local primary school as well as Chininga Bridge connecting Siabuwa and Binga centre were extensively damaged, rendering them inaccessible.
Senator Chief Siansali urged Government to address the issue of communication in areas like Binga which had no mobile phone networks, saying it impacted negatively in the event of natural disasters. He said there was need for Binga Rural District Council, in consul
Government expected a shift of the mind-set of foreign service officers.
The shift should be from just making friends to making friends with an economic benefit to the country, with foreign missions expected to contribute towards the 10 percent growth of exports of goods and services.
“Our foreign diplomatic representation must, therefore, take international trade, investment and tourism promotion as their key result areas,” said Minister Moyo.
“One of the key strategies of the tation with local traditional leaders, to consider relocating the affected villagers, saying the area was not conducive for human settlement.
“We need to come up with a well-coordinated human settlement plan. This type of settlement found here is not conducive for human habitation and besides being surrounded by rivers, the place is hilly such that no meaningful farming can take place,” he said.
“A robust human settlement plan should be availed by the council in conjunction with local traditional leaders.”
National Trade Policy Vision and Export Promotion Strategy is to re-orient and capacitate our diplomatic missions to adopt economic diplomacy with trade and investment promotion activities being the priority focus areas.”
Minister Moyo said Government was working towards addressing high levels of poverty, high rate of unemployment and an economy which is performing below expectations.
“Government is working hard towards addressing these challenges with a view to mitigate their impact on the citizenry,” he said.
Minister Moyo said efforts were underway to create a conducive environment to attract significant and sustained Foreign Direct Investment.
“It is important to note that as Zimbabwe aspires to achieve sustained economic growth, it needs other countries,” he said. “Guided by Pan-Africanist ideals, Government will continue to deepen its political and economic ties with African countries, some of whom have remained our major trading partners over the years.
“Government is also determined to protect all investments, including those covered by bilateral investment agreements. Government has resolved to address all BIPPA related issues and to compensate all those whose investments were affected by the land reform programme.”
Minister Moyo said Zimbabwe should continue re-engaging with the West as this will widen the country’s base of trading partners, as well as sources of foreign direct investment.