Excise duty reduction spurs vehicle imports

Tuesday, 08 March 2011 22:39

By Thupeyo Muleya

THE slashing of excise duty in the 2011 budget has seen an upsurge in vehicle imports into Zimbabwe, rising from what were already high rates following the switch to hard currencies and a pent-up demand for affordable second-hand cars in reasonable condition.The number of cars coming in through Beitbridge Border Post rose by 36 percent in January this year to 3 150 compared to the same month in 2010 as more people can afford to buy cars that still have five or more years on the road.Zimra commissioner for legal and corporate affairs Ms Florence Jambwa confirmed the trend in a recent interview."The number of vehicles imported through Beitbridge Border Post has gone up significantly since January 2011 mainly due to the fact that many importers delayed the delivery of vehicles they bought last year to this year so as to benefit from the new rates of duty effective on the first of January, 2011."At Beitbridge Border Post, 3 150 vehicle submissions were made for the month of January 2011 compared to 2 310 vehicles imported in January 2010."On average, we handle about 15 car carriers per day, translating to 101 vehicles that we clear per day. There are peak periods for arrival of car carriers, especially Thursdays and Fridays and on these days we handle about 30 carriers per day translating to about 150 vehicles cleared on these days."Cars with an engine capacity of between 1 000 cubic cm and 1 500 cubic cm now attract excise duty of 25 percent, Value Added Tax of 15 percent and a surtax of 25 percent for vehicles that are more than five-years-old."A Herald survey showed that smaller numbers of vehicles come in through Kariba, Chirundu and Nyamapanda while a handful of importers use the ports of Beira and Dar es Salaam.Most prefer Durban and Cape Town in South Africa, with the vehicles largely originating from Japan and other developed Far East countries with right-hand drive cars and systems that make it an advantage to change cars when they have less than 100 000km on the clock and are just reaching five-years-old. Japan, with a car industry in the doldrums, has a range of incentives that make it difficult to keep a car on the road as it runs out of its guarantee, financing and service plan and makes it very easy to replace that car, even though few Japanese do more than 15 000km a year. This means that there are a large number of Japanese cars with 50 000km to 100 000km on the clock, and which have been properly serviced under a service plan. These cars can be bought cheaply in that country, the third largest car market in the world.The Zimbabwean landed price is largely made up of transport charges and taxes, and the cut back in import duties has reduced that landed charge and made these cars even more affordable. The Finance Ministry and Parliament both felt that these imports were the only way the majority of Zimbabweans were ever going to own a reasonable and reliable car and so they decided to make it easier for them to do so. The rise in imports means the Government is now making more money than it did from car import taxes.Mrs Jambwa said Zimra faced the challenge of cars piling up at the vehicle workstation and they were in the process of moving all clearance processes to the Manica Bonded Warehouse.Last year, Zimra moved the clearance of all imported vehicles from the Customs yard in a bid to decongest the border post.This was because some importers dumped their cars there after failing to pay import duties.Mrs Jambwa said they were working towards reducing the time importers spend at border posts.Some people spend between two and three days to get their vehicles cleared.Although the upsurge in vehicle imports is attributed to the reduction of excise duty, it is apparently clear that the demand for second-hand vehicles in the country is very high inasmuch as Japanese used vehicles have flooded the region pulling down the prices.Small used cars imported from Japan cost around US$5 000 locally if directly imported and around US$6 000 if bought from an importer and the mid-sized cars are only a couple of thousand dollars more expensive.Most car buyers cannot afford to buy new imports or new locally-assembled vehicles which are fetching astronomic prices. The cheapest locally-assembled car, brand new will cost over US$20 000. Second-hand cars from Zimbabwe and South Africa are also expensive as the owners try to claw back as much as possible of these high prices when they sell.The decision by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructure to ban the importation of vehicles that are over five-years-old into the country from June 30 has put extra pressure to import now, although many who hope to buy within the next year simply cannot do so at the moment and might never own a car of their own.The increase in imports has in recent years also resulted in a burgeoning car sales business in Zimbabwe.While many car dealerships are reputable, the courts are handling several cases in which the public has been conned by bogus importers who demand cash up front, but never deliver on their promises. Most genuine dealers are members of trade associations, or have proper premises that are easy to find.Many dealers sell on commission, having gone through the paper work supplied by the direct importer and made sure that all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed before selling the car.While Japan is the largest single source of cars, others come from South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. All these countries use right-hand drive vehicles and while the ban on using left-hand drive is still more than five years off, few people want to end with a dud and most want something that is acceptable in Zimbabwe. The Transport Ministry says it will not go back on the ban of import of second hand cars that are more than five years old.The ban also extends to imports of cars with tinted windows and left-hand drive vehicles.It comes into effect at the end of June this year.The Secretary for Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development, Mr Patson Mbriri, repeated this last week when he appeared before the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee on Transport and Communication."It took us a long time to have them (the regulations) gazetted within the system and we thought it worthwhile to defer the implementation. But come end of June this year we will implement them."What we will be prohibiting is new registration of left-hand vehicles," he said.While many see the point over left-hand drive vehicles where possible, if nothing else because modern headlights are designed to through their beams to the verge when dipped and a left-hand drive in Zimbabwe will thus throw the beams to the road centre, there is less understanding for the five-year ban so long as the car is still in reasonable condition.Care buyers have noted that other countries with similar bans have far higher salaries and a sophisticated finance sector that makes it easy to obtain loans. Even in Zimbabwe had the cheap loans, few people would be able to buy new or nearly new cars since their salaries would still be too low to make the payments.

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Mbanje fields found along river

Tuesday, 29 March 2011 23:00

By Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge

Police in Beitbridge have discovered two hectares of mbanje and arrested two suspects, including a village head in Makhakavule, for allegedly cultivating the illicit plant along the Umzingwane River.The crop - with an average height of 2 metres was found in several fields dotted along the river.Detective Chief Inspector Robert Ndlovu, the officer-in-charge of the Criminal Investigations Department in the border town, yesterday said investigations were still on-going.He said the duo was arrested in a pre-dawn raid by a team from the Dangerous Drugs Squad, the Dog Section and the Support Unit.Det Chief Insp Ndlovu said more villagers could soon be arrested in connection with cultivating the illegal the drug.He said they suspected it was being smuggled into South Africa."We carried out surveillance for two days and the results were positive."We dispatched a team on a pre-dawn raid this morning (yesterday). "We found the whole village deserted with a lot of the plants having been uprooted. "Further investigations then led to the village head, Saradebe Sibanda of Mabidi Village, and Mulweli Singo - who also had mbanje at his house - being arrested."We went to fields belonging to Shepherd Muleya and Khumbulani Dube, where 122 plants and 78 plants were recovered respectively from their gardens."We are yet to ascertain the value of the drugs and we are keen to interrogate a number of villagers as it appears the whole village is involved in this syndicate.He said there were mbanje "nurseries" along the river and the total land size dedicated to the drug could be two hectares."We believe there are people involved here who we arrested a few years ago."This time they have moved their ‘gardens' to a more secluded area in the village."He said the suspects would soon appear in court for contravening sections of the Dangerous Drugs Act.In 2006, the police arrested 29 suspects - most of them women aged above 50 years - for cultivating mbanje on more than three hectares of land along the Umzingwane River.Most of the suspects were convicted and sentenced to an average of three years behind bars each.

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Council unveils five-year plan

Sunday, 27 March 2011 23:50
Beitbridge Bureau
The Beitbridge Rural District Council has unveiled a five-year development plan that would see the local authority operating as a viable entity and improving service delivery systems by the year 2015.
The plan was unveiled last week during a quarterly review workshop at the council chambers.
In an interview Beitbridge RDC chief executive Mr Albert Mbedzi said the stra-tegic plan would see the district becoming a tourism hub.
He said in coming up with the plan, council had used a community-driven development approach that envisages crop irrigation, development of livestock sector, tourism and the commercial exploi-tation of natural resources as the key engines of economic growth in the district.
He said council would also consider the Millennium Development Goals which include improving accessibility of health service delivery, promoting tourism by way of conserving natural resources and providing quality education and reduction of poverty among other things.
Mr Mbedzi called on stakeholders to make effective implementation of the strategic plan as it would play a crucial part in national development.
"The basic theme of the strategy is creating a rural community that owns and runs a vibrant economy to achieve food security, meet its social needs and enhance household incomes.
"The strategic goals and the corresponding strategic objectives crafted were; to enhance agricultural production, value chain development and market access, to develop and promote tourism sector.
"Furthermore, we are looking at promoting and supporting the Small to Medium Enterprises and to provide appropriate infrastructure and quality social services to the community while strengthening local Government institutions from the district to the village levels.
"We also seek to strengthen partnerships with other private, public and civil organisations. Apart from that our aim is to develop integrated natural resources and land use management system and exploit opportunities in the mining sector by the year 2015," he said.
Mr Mbedzi said the plan also sought to mobilise financial resources and establish a participatory monitoring and evaluation system to enhance the implementation of activities programmed in the strategic plan by 2013.
"We are also calling on other concerned stakeholders to play their part towards the successful implementation strategic plan.
"As a local authority we are building this plan on the success of our 2006-2010 projects which was supported by the district's local economic development initiative.
"It is a reality that we should not just be ambitious but instead, we should mobilise funds to meet our set target," he said.

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Couple sets dogs on herd boys, court told

Sunday, 27 March 2011 22:45
By Thupeyo Muleya
TWO white commercial farmers from Makhado Ranch, some 80 km west of Beitbridge town, have been dragged to court for assaulting and setting dogs on two herd boys they found looking for stray donkeys in their ranch.
George Watson (30) and his wife Elaine Du Plooy (25) are being jointly charged with assaulting the teenagers aged 14 and 19 years.
The couple is however, denying the charges.
They were both remanded out of custody to April 15 for judgment.
Beitbridge resident magistrate, Miss Gloria Takundwa presided over the matter.
Prosecutor Mr Foster Abheki told the court that on August 27 last year, the two boys went to Makhado Ranch to look for their stray donkeys.
He said when they were near Magumazi Dam in the ranch, they were spotted by Du Plooy who in turn summoned her dogs.
She then set the dogs on the boys.
As the boys tried to flee from the vicious dogs, Watson rushed to the scene where his wife grabbed one of the boys and pinned him down to stop him from restraining the dogs which were attacking the 14-year-old boy.
The 14-year-old boy sustained severe injuries on the head and buttocks.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Watson and Du Plooy.
The injured boy was then taken to Beitbridge District Hospital after three days for treatment.
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Langa, blasts Biti

By Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge 21 March 2011
Deputy Minister of Public Service Cde Andrew Langa has lambasted the finance minister Tendai Biti for failing to avail funds to pay civil servants salaries and urged him to act on the issue as a matter of urgency.
In an interview a recent interview, Cde Langa his ministry had since sent a proposal to the finance minster of their intention to review the salaries of civil servants to a scale that would see them earning salaries above the poverty datum line.
The current poverty datum line is over $500 dollars for an average family of six.
He however raised concern over the minster’s conduct which he said was more about politicking at the expensive of productivity.
“We are really concerned with the plight of our civil servants. As a ministry we have made our proposals to review the civil servants salaries so that they earn something which is above the poverty datum line.
“However this is being delayed by Mr. Biti's politicking he has the money but he wants to play hide and seek. We are trying everything within our power to address the issues of civil service salaries.
“You will note that the President is also involved on this issue and we hope that minster Biti will see the light any time soon. We only have one head of state in this country and it is disturbing for the finance minster who has the money to frustrate our hardworking civil service.
“Personally as a minister I am concerned about the plight of our patriotic civil servants. We are very much ready to engage with their representatives to find a lasting solution to the salaries issue” he said.
The deputy ministered could neither confirm nor deny that the ministers had been awarded a 200 percent salary increase saying that was not subject to discussion.
“I cannot discuss ministers’ or legislatures salaries, what is important are that we work together as stakeholders and find a solution to the problem we are currently facing.
“The welfare of our civil servants is of paramount importance to government and hence we are working tirelessly to get the grievances resolved. As soon as we get the money and our proposal is considered, we will give them living salaries” said Cde Langa.
The public service is the country’s biggest employer and on average most of the workers are earning less than $200 per month.
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SA remands suspects

Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Friday, 25 March 2011 00:51
The four Zimbabwean men charged with the recent killing a fellow countryman for ritual purposes in South Africa have been further remanded in custody to March 31.Johannes Chikukuta (31), Innocent Muvembi (26), Ngonidzashe Mapfumo (22) and Blessing Hove (17) were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before a Musina magistrate yesterday.Charges arose on March 8 this year when they allegedly kidnapped Munyaradzi Muthetwa.They allegedly took him to a bush near Matombo Lodge and fatally stabbed him before removing his eyes and private parts.It is alleged that they hung his body from a tree to make it look like a suicide.Police investigations led to the arrest of the four.
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Cabinet approves Bills

By Thupeyo Muleya

Thursday, 24 March 2011 20:19

Parastatals and State Enterprises Minister Gorden MoyoBusiness Reporter GOVERNMENT has approved Bills relating to the governance and restructuring of State enterprises and parastatals.Parastatals and State Enterprises Minister Gorden Moyo said the adoption of the State Enterprises and Parastatals Management Bill and the State Enterprises Restructuring Agency Bill will ensure successful restructuring of the companies.The State Enterprises and Parastatals Management Bill will provide for, among other matters, the duties, functions and responsibilities of the minister respon- sible for State Enterprises and Parastatals, with respect to areas of corporate governance and performance monitoring. This Bill will therefore facilitate the codification of the Corporate Governance Framework that was launched last year.On the other hand, the State Enterprises Restructuring Agency Bill seeks to provide for the establishment, functions and responsibilities of the State Enter-prises Restructuring Agency and the institutional framework for the restructuring.Minister Moyo said the State Enterprises Restructuring Agency is operating as per Cabinet and Constitutional mandates."The adoption of the principles of the two Bills is further confirmation of my Ministry and Govern-ment‘s overall commitment to ensure the successful restructuring of State Enterprises and Parastatals," the Minister said yesterday.Once drafted, the two bills would provide a legal framework forboth the Ministry of State Enterprises and Parastatals and the State Enterprises Restructuring Agency.Minister Moyo said the legal framework was necessary to facilitate successful implementation of reforms aimed at improving the operational efficiency and effectiveness of State-run entities."Let me remind the nation that the overarching intention of these reforms in SEPs is to improve service delivery and achieve sustainable economic growth for Zimbabwe," he said."These two Bills, once adopted will not replace enabling Acts governing Parastatals and the Companies Act with respect to State Enterprises, but will address specific policy gaps with respect to corporate governance, performance monitoring, restructuring, and cross-cutting issues affecting State Enterprises and Parastatals in general," State Enterprises and Paras-tatals will continue to be managed through the responsible ministries, which provides general policy direction, said Minister Moyo.
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Whites add voice to anti-sanctions lobby

By Thupeyo Muleya

Monday, 21 March 2011 00:00

A sizeable number of whites was seen at St Christopher Primary School on Saturday where people from all the province’s seven districts gathered to show their displeasure over the West’s illegal sanctions. Some members of the white community in Matabeleland South Province have added their voice to the anti-sanctions lobby by appending their signatures to the petition against the imposition of illegal sanctions by some western countries. A good number of them including, miners, farmers, professionals and businessmen were seen at St Christopher Primary School on Saturday where scores of people from all the province's seven districts gathered to show their displeasure over the illegal embargo. Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development minister Dr Olivia Muchena led the proceedings and as usual the MDC was conspicuous by its absence. In separate interviews, they said sanctions were not targeted, but affecting everyone across the country and the Government's economic recovery programmes. "These sanctions must be removed as soon as yesterday, they are strongly affecting our businesses. "You will realise that it's difficult to access loans from banks to procure inputs and we also need to import some of these implements," said Mr Patrick Middleton a dairy farmer from Esigodini. "Business was very sound around here before the country was slapped with sanctions and if they are not removed any meaningful efforts to revive the economy will be met with challenges. "I am calling on all concerned Zimbabweans to come out in their numbers and support the anti-sanctions campaign." Mr Middleton said farmers and businesspeople were concerned over the issue because their businesses were slowly crumbling."We need money and there is no way we can succeed under these conditions. "We are calling on the western governments to reconsider their decision which has led to suffering among most Zimbabweans," he said. Another dairy farmer from Esigodini identified as Ms Tinky said the banking systems were crippled and there was no access to money to support the agro-based economy in the province and the country as a whole. A representative of resettled farmers in Matabeleland South, Mr Iaya Moyo said the illegal sanctions imposed by the European Union, US and its western allies had rendered them poor since they could not access capital to finance their projects. "These sanctions must go if we are to make any meaningful progress towards economic recovery. "This is the work of the economic saboteurs who are against our land reform programme. These conditions have led to the closure of many businesses in the country," he said.Meanwhile, the Anti-Sanctions Petition Campaign has gone international.One Zimbabwean working in Dallas, United States of America resident Thomson Mabvundwe who lives in Dallas has decided to take over the campaign from the Diaspora.Mr Mabvundwe hopes to launch his campaigns in three continents and four countries within 48 hours."I hope to do the first campaign at Dallas' Fort Worth Airport on the March 29 en-route to Gatwick Airport."Once I get into London, I have ten-hour lay-off and hope to continue with the demonstration."My next lay-off will be OR Tambo International Airport the next day for three hours and I hope to continue with the same plan before I land in Harare in the afternoon of the 31st," he said.Mabvudzwe, an ordinary worker in Dallas says he will wear T-shirts with President Mugabe's face during the journey.The Zimbabwean flag, he said, will become the emblem of the message that the sanctions are affecting ordinary people not the "targeted" Zanu-PF leaders.Mabvundwe is collecting signatures of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora that would be added to the petition. "We hope to collect about a hundred signatures in Texas and hope to spread the campaign to other states and hopefully countries like Canada and Australia," he said.Speaking during the launch of the petition in Gweru, in the Midlands Province, Mr Douglas Kanengoni said continued imposition of the sanctions would undermine efforts to resuscitate the economy."In business terms sanctions have caused massive de-industrialisation, capital flight and brain drain. "The general socio-economic environment has deteriorated and this has negative impact on business people."We no longer have access to lines of credit from international institutions thus re-capitalisation is impossible. "It is against this background that we join other voices in denouncing the illegal sanctions." He said the sanctions have eroded investor confidence."Most banks are holding onto their money and those headquartered in Europe tend to follow the directives of their masters not to release money to us."This is clear evidence that the sanctions are wholesale and not targeted as the British say," he said.Mr Farai Chidowe, a farmer at Romac said every industry depends on agriculture."Production costs for farmers have conti- nued escalating owing to the high cost of inputs. "To manufacture fertilizer you have to import raw materials and chemicals but it is impossible because of sanctions."He said without the lines of credit farming activities would collapse. "Farmers are failing to fully utilise the land because conditions of operation are not favou-rable," he said.
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Beitbridge on path to modernity

Monday, 14 March 2011 20:46

Construction of institutional facilities to ensure Beitbridge meets world class standards. By Thupeyo Muleya LIMPOPO River seethes and froths in the rainy season and shrivels to a shadow of its self in the dry season and so has been life in Beitbridge to which the river is an inspiring vein of life. Year-after-year, life has mainly been a pendulum swinging from one end to another, but proffering no significant improvement, when one seriously looks at people-centred service delivery and developments. In short, this has been a tale of many intentions, without action. It is a fact not fiction, that improving people's quality of life and expanding opportunities to determine their destiny, higher incomes, better education, health care, protected environment, gender equality, freedom and security is every government's top priority. This has been the case with the Government of Zimbabwe, which soon after independence in 1980 undertook to develop all areas that were previously viewed as remote by the then colonial regime. The transformation of social, economic, cultural and political structures in society are some of the key factors towards achieving development. It is in this spirit that in July 2006 the Government, through the National Economic Development Priority Programme then co-ordinated by Vice President Joice Mujuru, sought to give Beitbridge town a newlook. This massive civil works programme sought to facelift the once neglected growth point into a medium city. Very few people would remember when Beitbridge Growth Point was granted town status, as most were quick to dismiss it as an under developed rural settlement. It is against this background that President Mugabe officially launched the Beitbridge Redevelopment exercise saying Government wanted to turn it into a fully-fledged modern medium city. The ministries of Local Government and Urban Development and that of Public Works were thus tasked by Cabinet to oversee the implementation of the project. The programme has a provision for the construction of 16 blocks of flats to house 64 families, mainly middle class civil servants; 250 core houses that would be for home ownership; 52 F14 houses for civil servants; road dualisation, upgrading water supply and sewer infrastructure in the town. Furthermore, there is also the construction of institutional facilities; namely, a hospital, primary school, secondary school, civic centre, Government composite office block, modern truck inn, shopping complex, a five-star hotel, an aerodrome and the upgrading of the current border post to meet world class standards. This ambitious project has raised hope among Beitbridge residents and other people across the country and the continent. Two thirds of these projects are nearing completion, while others have been completed and some are at various stages of construction. It is understood that the Government would need US$10 732 200 to complete the outstanding civil works. Early last year, the Ministry of Public Works was allocated US$450 000 in the fiscal budget last year and they expected the bulk of it to be used on housing projects. According to the 2002 population census, the town had a population of 22 387 and an estimated 2 570 houses in formal settlements (primarily for Government officials and mid-level private sector staff) and 3 000 in informal settlements. This number has since increased owing to the town's proximity to South Africa and its economic activity as one of the busiest ports of entry in Sub Saharan Africa. Furthermore, the population started increasing following the construction of the Alfred Beitbridge in 1929 and the New Limpopo Bridge in 1995. Beitbridge town is frequented by people from many countries, with at least 25 000 of them passing through it daily. Nearly 4 000 heavy trucks also use the border post daily. In a bid to speed up the redevelopment exercise, the Ministry of Local Government then appointed a six-member commission to oversee and run the project on July 6 2006. The commission's mandate included the delinking of the urban and rural set ups and the sharing of assets, the delimitation of urban and rural boundaries, identifying capital projects and also to come up with an administrative structure and to work with the rural district council in addressing other cross-cutting issues. Its tenure expired in 2008 when a new town council headed by Dr Sipho Singo was appointed. Since then, the town made tremendous growth in terms of infrastructure and service delivery with issues of intermittent water cuts and burst sewer pipes becoming a thing of the past. Residents have hailed the current council for a job well done and this has managed to cultivate a culture of expeditious payments for rates and services. The World Bank has also provided $2 3 million to the town council under the State Peace Building Fund (SBPF) - Beitbridge Emergency Water and Sanitation Project towards the upgrading and rehabilitation of water and sewer reticulation facilities to meet the needs of the ever-growing population. In a recent interview, former Beitbridge Commission secretary Mr Mandla Donga said the project was still on the right track and was quick to point out that the Government was still committed to the project. "The Government still has the zeal to complete the project and you will realise that a lot of strides have been made towards achieving a total uplift of the town from its former being. "At the moment we don't have enough money to steer the project, but we have undertaken to implement it until its completion. "This programme has raised hope among citizens across the country and, to that effect we will not abandon the project." A lot of civil works, he said, are underway and those are being constructed on priority basis, especially the housing of civil servants, a state-of -the-art truck inn and a hotel and Government composite complex. "The progress might be slow but we are still moving towards its completion. Since we started in 2006, a lot of face-lifting of the town has been done. Most roads have been tarred while others were resurfaced. The local authority is also working under the town redevelopment framework crafted under the NEDPP," he said. Mr Donga added that the expansion and re-organisation of Beitbridge will boost tourism and the country's image saying that the town was a preface of Zimbabwe to people coming in through South Africa. Had resources been readily available, most of the civil works could have been completed by the end of last year. Dr Singo echoed the same sentiments saying the local authority was incapacitated in terms of implementing some of its capital projects hence the need to bring other players on board. The town council has since unveiled a US$9 million budget for this year, which will see half of its revenue spent on capital projects aimed at transforming the border post into a medium modern town. Dr Singo said they would spend US$5 million on capital projects while the remainder would be spent on administration and other service charges. "Our interest is to regenerate the face of Beitbridge so that it is consistent with a modern urban set up and hence we have come up with a development oriented budget that would see half of it being spent on capital projects. "From last year, we were concentrating on the clean up of the town such as de-bushing, removal of solid waste that had piled in most areas across the town, monitoring and controlling the sewer systems. "The town was awash with blockages and sewer rivers. "We are also glad that people are paying up their rates to finance our operations. "A number of projects have been lined up with some of them already underway. The major focus will be on the tarring of roads and opening up of more access roads in the new suburbs, industrial sites and installation of traffic lights on seven points. "You will realise that the volume of traffic has drastically increased in this town and hence we need to come up with proper traffic management systems. "We are going to re-construct the Carinners intersection in the CBD which has become a nightmare to many motorists. "At the moment we have completed a feasibility study with the assistance of engineers from the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development. "Furthermore, we are going to rehabilitate the current Dulibadzimu Clinic into a modern health centre. "Soon after its completion, we will arrange with our Musina counterparts that some of our special cases be transferred there, which is a bit nearer than Gwanda and Bulawayo. "Apart from that, we have identified a site for the construction of a fire station near the Caltex garage which we expect to commence in February next year. "We have made it a priority that in two years time the border town will have a different face", he said. Dr Singo said they expected the largest chunk of their budget to be drawn from rates, leases and business licences. He said they would maintain their 2010 rates and charges saying they were consistent and affordable. He added that they were facing a host of challenges in areas of sanitation, sewer reticulation, and solid waste management and providing adequate accommodation. "We are just a small town council, which is incapacitated. "The only way we can succeed in improving service delivery is through public private partnership. We want to adopt a multi-stakeholders approach in developing the town into a medium modern city. "You will realise that we have luminaries in the different cities, towns and foreign lands. We want them to realise that Beitbridge is their home and that is where they need to put their money. "At the moment we have struck a deal with Zimre who are going to put up flats around the town as we move in to ease accommodation problems. "So far we have completed surveying over 800 residential stands and are still negotiating with other companies to service the land. We expect work to commence early next year," he said. Dr Singo added that the local authority had completed the survey of 600 high density residential stands and 200 low density residential stands. They need investors to service that land. Investors could take advantage of the availability of the Export Processing Zone in the town and establish their industries. "As a town council, we have a public private partnership concept which has since been embraced by the Government and we are committed to fostering development in our area", he said. He also called on private players and the business community to join hands with the local authority in championing development of roads, refuse collection, street lighting and the construction of a fire station. Beitbridge town has no fire station and relies on the services of the one in Musina, South Africa, in cases of emergency. He said they were still negotiating with two other NGOs which wanted to construct the new main bus terminus (Dulibadzimu). The current rank is in a low lying area which is water logged during the rainy seasons. Dr Singo said plans to move out truck ports from the CBD area were at an advanced stage. "We are still negotiating with other investors who want to establish a massive brick moulding plant and others who want to venture into other sectors," said Dr Singo. Beitbridge east Member of Parliament Cde Kembo Mohadi who is also the Co-Home Affairs Minister is on record as saying the Redevelopment programme was still on the right track as the Government was in the midst of mobilising resources to fulfil its mission. It's just a matter of time before this project is fully implemented and starts bearing fruit. www.herald.co.zw

4 ritual murder suspects in court

Beitbridge Bureau Chief

Tuesday, 15 March 2011 23:34

The four Zimbabweans who were at the weekend arrested in connection with the murder of a fellow countryman whose eyes and private parts they then removed in a suspected ritual murder in South Africa yesterday appeared in court. Innocent Muvembi (26), Johannes Chikukuta (31), Ngonidzahse Mapfumo (26) and Blessing Hove (17) were not asked to plead by a Musina magistrate. They were remanded in custody to March 22. They are accused of killing Munyaradzi Muthetwa and then hanging his body from a tree in Musina to feign suicide. Allegations are that they stabbed him to death between 8 and 11 March. After the murder they allegedly removed his eyes and private parts. The body was discovered last Friday afternoon by police patrolling the area. Investigations led to the quartet's arrest. The missing body parts are yet to be recovered. - www.herald.co.zw

Armed robbers jailed

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 23:21

Beitbridge Bureau Chief Three Beitbridge armed robbers were yesterday jailed eight years effective each for robbing at gunpoint a suspected smuggler of cigarettes worth R14 700. The complainant and his friends intended to smuggle cigarettes into South Africa through an undesignated point along Limpopo River. Vincent Zinhanga (30), Shadreck Manomwe (25) and Lucky Ndlovu (26) all of Dulibadzimu suburb had denied the charges. However, Beitbridge resident magistrate Mr Owen Tagu convicted the three because of overwhelming evidence. They were sentenced to 12 years in jail each but the court set aside four years for each on condition that they do not commit a similar crime within a period of five years. Prosecutor Mr Johannes Tlou proved beyond reasonable doubt that on September 12 last year at around 6am, the three and Canias Dube who is still at large followed the complainant to Panda Mine. The complainant, along with his friends, intended to smuggle Remmington Gold cigarettes through the Limpopo River into South Africa. The trio then spotted the complainant and his friends carrying the cigarettes walking towards the river. They pounced on them and ordered them to stop and surrender the cigarettes at gunpoint but the victims resisted prompting one of the robbers to fire three shots from a Star pistol in the air. The group dispersed and left the boxes of cigarettes behind. Manomwe and Ndlovu gave chase and assaulted their victims before threatening to stab them with okapi knives. They robbed them of the contraband and two cellphones all worth R14 700 and disappeared. The gang took the loot to Zinhanga's house in Dulibadzimu suburb. A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the three. The arrest also led to the recovery of the cigarettes and one cellphone worth R14 500. www.herald.co.zw

Blitz on illegal immigrants

Monday, 14 March 2011 02:00

Beitbridge Bureau Chief THE South African immigration departme-nt and police at Beitbridge Border Post have launched a blitz against Zimbabweans and citizens of other countries north of the Zambezi who attempt to enter that country without proper travel documents. Beitbridge residents and other conmen who ply their trade around the South African and Zimbabwean border were the hardest hit by the blitz. Over 60 conmen, wheeler-dealers and illegal immigrants were being denied entry into South Africa at the Foot and Mouth Control Centre on the South African side at the weekend. A heavy presence of police and immigration officers led by the border commander identified only as Colonel Radzilani were seen screening travellers at the point. A number of people were being turned away at the border for having not cleared their passports at the Zimbabwean side of the border, touting, facilitating illegal migration into South Africa and violating that country's immigration laws. A senior police officer on the South Afri-can border side who spoke on condition of anonymity said they wanted to restore order at the border post. "We don't want people milling around here for no good reason, the passage must be clear. "Some of these criminals are robbing innocent travellers at the Limpopo Bridge while others are causing unnecessary congestion at the border post. This must come to an end. We are staying put for ever," he said. The assistant regional immigration officer in charge of Southern region (Beitbridge), Mr Charles Gwede confirmed the development last Friday. He said those refused entry from South Africa were to be handed over to the Zimbabwean immigration authorities where they would be screened for prosecution. "They are actually screening touts, illegal immigrants and those who would be assisting people to illegally cross into South Africa. "Those rounded up will be handed over to us so that we screen them for contravening various sections of the immigration act. "Some will be fined for exit and entry by evasion, while others will be charged under the Protected Areas Act. "We are also tightening security on our side to ensure that we only allow bona-fide travellers passage into South Africa" he said. Off late there has been an increase of people loitering around the South Africa side of the border looking for invoices and receipts to claim their tax refunds from the South African revenue authority. Others will be looking for travellers without rebates so that they could facilitate their importation of goods into Zimbabwe. It is also understood that since South Africa introduced a system where Zimbabweans are only allowed 90 days per 12 calendar months some travellers have resorted to not stamping their passports on both sides of the border for fear of exhausting their 90 days. This development has resulted in South African authorities launch a blitz on such travellers. www.herald.co.zw

Businessman in trouble

Beitbridge Bureau Chief
Friday, 11 March 2011 20:41
Beitbridge businessman Bernard Mufokozana has been arrested for failing to pay R11 000 a month for the up keep of his ex-wife and four children since December last year.
His ex-wife sued for maintenance after the businessman failed to fend for his four children after he allegedly dumped them and went to live with another woman.
Mufokozana who resides at 176 Eland Road in the border town was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared before Beitbdridge resident magistrate, Miss Gloria Takundwa.
He was remanded out of custody to March 21 for trial.
Charges are that on December 8 last year, the court granted a maintenance order against him, ordering him to pay R11 000 per month with effect from December 31.
Despite getting the order Mufokozana refused to pay the amount and a warrant of arrest was then issued for failure to comply with the order. He was the arrested on Monday this week.
Mufokozana is embroiled in a bitter fight with his ex-wife Margret whom he married legally on 2 July 2008 under the Marriage Act Chapter 5:11.
The couple is awaiting finalisation of their divorce which is still pending at the High Court.
In her founding affidavit , Margret who is being represented by Mr Tawanda Martin Kanengoni alleges that Mufokozana left their matrimonial home in 2009 and went on to live with another woman.
She also alleged that they had four children together who were born between 1988 and 2008.
Since Bernard - who runs a trucking business in the border town left them, they have been deprived of the basic needs they previously used to enjoy.
Margret who is not employed said she has been struggling to support the children.
She, however, said she had been getting some relief from the R6 000 in rentals she collects from one of Mufokozana's houses in the same town until the businessman decided to collect the rentals himself.
Since then to date he has not paid any cent towards the upkeep of her ex-wife and their children prompting Margret to enlist the services of the Civil Court in November 2010.
Mufokozana denies that he is a businessman and argues that he is employed as a driver and he earns a monthly salary of R3 000.
www.herald.co.zw

Outcry over stands price

By Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge 9 March 2011

Beitbridge residents raised concern over the town council’s decision to peg fees for low density stands at R100 000, which they say is beyond the reach of many.

In separate interviews yesterday they said the money was outrageous adding that the government needs to intervene as the matter of urgency.

The local authority allocated 140 low density suburb stands as they move towards easing accommodation problems that have perennially dogged the border town, while another 1100 high density suburb and 300 Medium density suburbs will soon be allocated to more residents.

The low density suburb stands are 10000square mitres in size.

It is understood that the local authority is demanding a deposit of R50 000 upfront while arrangements for the remainder will be made with the town treasurer.

“We are really concerned over the councils’ decision to peg the fees for low density stands at $14 000 (R100 000), this figure is beyond the reach of many, we are now appealing for the government to intervene.

“We are just a small town and this figure is just astronomical. We are calling on them to revise the figure downwards because very few people will afford to buy these stands. As residents we wish the figure be revised to around $5000 and they come up with flexible payment methods” said one resident who chose anonymity.

Another resident identified only as Mr. Shumba said the local authority’s behavior was discouraging to those people who wanted to invest in the border town.

He said that $14 000 was very speculative, considering that a lot of work needed to be done to transform the town’s current outlook.

“We are calling on the local authority and traditional leaders to come up with reasonable fees which everyone can afford. As much as they badly need money they should also consider our plight as residents” said Mr. Shumba.

In an interview yesterday the chairman of the Beitbridge business association, M. Salatiel Roy Muleya said there was nothing wrong with the figure adding that it was arrived at following wide consultations among all the key stakeholders.

“Beitbridge needs a state of the art low density suburb like any other progressive town. The whole idea is to have people with the requisite resources to build proper house with market value. People should understand that we are just a new town moving towards attaining municipality status.

“There is no need for an outcry because a lot of stands for low income earner will soon be allocated to them. This R100 000 was arrived at following a scientific study on the area where the suburb will be set up.

“The cost of servicing the stands, which is tarring, sewer, water, street lights and carrying out other logistic issues is $2 million. As the business association we understand that the outcry is coming from people who want the stands for speculative purposes.

“Literally the local authority has no money and as the residents we need to service them ourselves and hence those who are serious should pay the quoted fees” he said.

Echoing the same sentiments was the two secretaries, Dr Sipho Singo who said the figures were arrived at following consultations with other stakeholders.

“You will realize that people were getting stands at low prices and reselling them at that same money. Now that we are charging that some money they don’t want it get inn to the council coffers.

“We don’t want a middleman between the local authority and lands. This money we have quoted will be used for servicing the stands and come up with a state of the art suburb from the onset.

“We are saying people should understand that this is an urban set up and hence a lot of things will have to change so that we transform our town into a medium size city. Very soon we will be releasing another 1100 high density and 300 medium density suburbs which are meant for low income earners”, he said.

The town’ housing waiting list currently stands at over 6000.

www.herald.co.zw

Zimra employee in court for pornographic material

By Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge 8 March 2011

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) employee based at Beitbridge border post has been dragged to court for allegedly loading pornographic material into her employer’s computer before sending it to her friends using the organisation’s email facility.

Susan Phiri (32) of Flat Number 204, Limpopo View in the border town and employed as a communications technology specialist at the border post was not asked to plead to contravening a section of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act when she appeared before Beitbridge magistrate, Mrs Auxilia Chiumburu yesterday.

She was further remanded out of custody to 18 March for trial as key State witnesses from Harare failed to show up.

The state led by, Mr. Jabulani Mberesi alleges that sometime on 6 June last year, Phiri used her password to access the Zimra email were she then went to her files and selected the one with the name: “Some stretches to help you loosen up” and forwarded it to Robert Maganga, Vimbai Marare, Precious Musoni and Misheck Chaturuka.

He said the document contained DVD recordings and still photos of pornographic material showing couples having anal sex.

The case came to light sometime in October last year, when it was discovered that the Zimra computer network system was operating at a slow pace owing to an overload resulting in delays in the processing of customs formalities.

Thus this prompted some senior mangers to investigate the root of the overloading.

A special team from the organisation’s information and technology department started monitoring the computer system using software called Riverbed appliance, which is a computer traffic monitoring and acceleration utility leading to the discovery of the pornographic material.

The file was also viewed by the Board of Censors under reference BC4/56, which in turn confirmed that the file captured on DVD and still photo mode was obscene.

A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of Phiri’s subsequent arrest.

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