New tax regime is totalitarian - MDC

Movement  for Democratic  Change (MDC)  bemoaned the tax regime which was amended through statutory instrument by  Minister of Finance, Mthuli Ncube recently.
In a statement,  MDC National spokesperson,  Jacob Mafume highlighted  that Fin minister gazzeted his predatory tax regime through a statutory instrument while purporting to repeal section 22G of the Finance Act.The new tax regime is totalitarian, draconian and fascist.
"The so called statute is unconstitutional in two ways. Firstly Parliament's primary law making power cannot be delegated and secondly a statutory instrument cannot repeal an act of parliament neither can it be in opposition of an enabling act.
"Fundamentally, the creation of a robber state which pick pockets the poor is an evil of the highest order.
"Forcing the suffering masses living in abject poverty to fund lives of the political elites who are the sole reason of economic decay is unbelievable, "said Mafume.

Mafume further  that It is also the opposite of the interventions required, taxing the citizens to death in a recession is digging the economy deeper into an abyss.
The opposition party called Ncube to step down for failing to handle the economy.
"We are  therefore  calli Mthuli  to resigns forthwith for causing economic chaos.  The new taxes must be reversed unconditionally
"Supply side solutions be employed - that is the sane way to expand fiscal leg room. National dialogue be initiated in line with President Chamisa's 5 point plan.. An Emergency Economic Recovery program must be adopted and stop the unpalatable suffering of the Zimbabwean people, " he said.

On the other  hand,  MDC discouraged  the appointment  of Kudakwashe  David Munangagwa  on the National  Building Society Board saying the move is corruptive in nature.
" As MDC we are irked by the decision to appoint Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa on the National Building Society Board.
"Just like any other form of corruption, nepotism has no place in a Democratic society. We have made the point of a total failure to break from the past by the regime.

"In previous arrangements, we witnessed appointments of President Mugabe's kins and folk into influential positions including the appointment of both Bona Mugabe and her husband to state institutions, "reads the statement
Mafume stated that  as party they are  of the view that the NBS must be concentrating on a radical housing program specifically for Development and Urbanisation of Rural Areas (DURA).
" Appointing a Mnangagwa to the board will not help this cause. As a NSSA-owned bank, a clear appointment criteria must be used and appointments must be made public.
"In our SMART document we suggest public interviews for appointments of this level.
"We also restate that NSSA reform is imperative to ensure the commercial section brings back profits to the core business of paying out pensions, we find this kind of corruption to be an impediment.
"More importantly institutions meant to combat corruption must investigate these kinds of decisions, " further  reads the statement.
He further  recited that the  Judiciary, National Prosecuting Authority, Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Anti-Corruption Commission must be strengthened and their independence guaranteed in line with reforms outlined in President Chamisa's five point plan.

ZB bank offers students opportunity to open accounts

By Elizabeth Demo

ZB bank opens an opportunity for above 320 Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) students at Mashava campus to open savings accounts with ZB bank Mashava branch.

In an interview with the branch manager, Enia Chipindu, she said that many have opened savings accounts with their bank with a minimum balance of US$2 and the bank charges only US$O,25 on every withdrawal.

“The great advantage of using ZB bank as students is that it provides E-wallet banking, it link your phone number and your bank account so that you can top up your phone, do ecocash transfers to your account,” said Chipindu.

“When the deposit has been made you will receive a message on your phone informing you that someone has deposited money in your account and if a withdrawal has been made you will be alerted on your phone,” she added.

The branch manager also said that ZB bank provides ATM cards that will help students to buy their groceries from any supermarket such as Pick n Pay, O.K, Spar and other supermarkets countrywide.

In an interview with Blessing Zhou a student, she said that, it is better to have ZB bank savings account because the charges are very low.

“The bank charges are very low as compared to ecocash, I withdraw all money being charged only US$0, 25 unlike ecocash which charged nearly US$2 when cashing out US$60,”she added.

ZB bank Mashava branch help students to deposit their school fees in the school account instead of travelling as far as Masvingo.

FACT donates goats to H.I.V positive people

By Elizabeth Demo

The Family Aids Caring Trust (FACT) had donated thirty goats to people living with H.I.V to start a project in Rusitu Dairy Scheme, Chipinge

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In an interview with the FACT project officer, Blessing Chigomba, he said that the aim of the organisation in donating the goats is to help the unemployed H.I.V people in sustaining themselves.

“The organisation provides everything that was necessary for the success of the project, we help in fencing the paddock and providing goat feeds,” he said

“Major purpose is to empower the affected people so that they have a better living since they are not working,” added Chigomba.

Speaking to the chairperson of the project, Rudo Jack, she said that they are benefiting a lot from the project.

“The project became our source of income and we are now able to sustain ourselves through this project and our children are going to school we manage to pay the school fees,” said the chairperson.

FACT is non governmental organisation that once helped H.I.V and AIDS with fertilizer and maize and vegetable seeds in Chipinge.

No first, second V.P in Zimbabwe says Mphoko

By Elizabeth Demo

MASVINGO- The vice president honourable Phelekezela Mphoko says that they do not have first and second vice presidents in the structure of government at a public lecture held at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) on Thursday.

 Addressing university staff, students and other officials honourable Mphoko make it a point of correction that there is no first and second vice president but there are two vice presidents in the Republic of Zimbabwe.

“I want to correct something here that there are two vice presidents of the party and the vice president remain honourable,” he said.

“We have one secretary of the party who is the president and two secretaries of the party who are the vice presidents,” added the vice president.

The vice president also said that for country to develop, whether from social, political, economic or cultural perspective there has to be peace and harmony.

“Development cannot be sustainable if societies fail to live peacefully and are always at loggerheads with each other”, said Mphoko.

The lecture was held under the theme national healing, reconciliation and integration.

Journalists, students commemorate World Press freedom

By Elizabeth Demo

MASVINGO- Journalists and Media and Cultural Studies students from Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) commemorated belated World Press freedom day that was held at Charles Austin Theater on 9 May under the theme reform media laws now-for sustainable, diverse and free media.

Speaking at the belated World Press freedom commemorations, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) Masvingo senator Misheck Marava said that the media laws are repressive and they curtail freedom of the media.

“Zimbabwe media laws are repressive, journalists are striving to get information and without journalists there is no flow of information from government to the people,” he said.

 “The rights of journalists are tempered with the injury of one journalist is the injury of all journalists,” added the senator.

Marava took the opportunity to urge media practitioners to complement each other and succeed because they have one industry of reporting.

Speaking at the event, Masvingo mayor Hubert Fidze said that citizen journalists are doing a good job and he encourage journalists to supply information to the people.

“It is important for people to know what is happening in the city, go out and give people the news and ask us what people want to know,” he said.

The event was also attended by the chairperson of Media Institute for Southern Africa Masvingo region Golden Maunganidze, legal practitioner Martin Mureri and Joel Mukusha Great Zimbabwe University lecturer.

                                                     

MDC-T president attacks Z.B.C

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai attacked  Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (Z.B.C) radio and television at the party’s rally held in Mucheke.

Speaking to thousands of MDC  T supporters Tsvangirai said that in other countries media have to be taken to task after freedom because they have contributed to the violence.

“Let me warn the media that if you are champions of promoting division and violence you will answer one day and yesterday you spent thirty minutes muchiti Machingauta akarohwa nevanhu veMDC, ”said MDC T leader.

Tsvangirai confronted Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) journalist for taking pictures and videos that are not presented on the radio and television (cameraman who takes things which are not screened on TV's or broadcasted on radio,he said)

“ZBC is not ZANU broadcasting corporation and it forced us to accept zvakapusa kudaro kubva zuva richibuda muchingotaura zveZANU PF chete where are the other opinions hamunyari here?” said  Tsvangirai

 Tsvangirai also said that the MDC way forward motto was simple in liberating themselves.

“Our way forward is simple we shall act to liberate ourselves to ensure that Mugabe act to the voice of reason, in lifetime we shall have free and fair elections and liberate ourselves,” he said .

The MDC-T leader also encouraged his supporters to work and fight  together, and  make sure that they end the game of oppression . 

" I promised to give the last breath of  my  power to make sure that I achieve the goals. of the party "  he said

                                                                     



                                                                     

  Masvingo massively welcomes no reform, no election campaign by   MDC-T 

 The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) Masvingo province welcomed the" no reforms, no elections”campaign  at a  rally  which was recently held in Masvingo.

 Addressing Party supporters at Mucheke ground B, Party President Morgan Tsvangirai hailed that they must be reforms first  for MDC to contest in the coming elections.

“As MDC we want to take power through the ballot hatidi kutora power nepfuti, the conditions for free and fair elections is not there and there has to be reforms before election is conducted ,( Hatipindi tinovapa maseats acho kana vachida kutonga) give them power, power cannot solve problems of this country,”  said tsvangirai

The MDC leader also talked  on the issuse  of taking  position in  by elections as an important matter to the party .

“The next position is going to be serious and we are not  conducting on  fourteen seats to be contested,” he said.