Govt plans major national housing drive
10/11/2012 00:00:00
by NewZiana
THE government plans to build modern flats in major cities to alleviate the shortage of accommodation across the country, a cabinet Minister has said.
Speaking after touring Mutare, Minister Giles Mutsekwa said the government would build six state-of-the-art apartment blocks in the eastern border city and other urban centres in the country to reduce the housing backlog. Mutsekwa said construction would begin in January next year.
"We are rolling out a scheme to build flats in the country's biggest cities to alleviate accommodations challenges. We are targeting Harare, Mutare, Bulawayo and Gweru," Mutsekwa said.
He said the government had mobilised the resources to build the flats and was only waiting for the local authorities to make the land available to his Ministry.
In Mutare, the Ministry intends to build six modern flats which would reduce the number of people on the municipality housing waiting list.
Acting Mutare Mayor George Jerison welcomed the government plans saying would reduce the housing waiting list, which currently stands at 50,000.
"Statistics that we have show that about 50 000 people are on our housing waiting list. Such a programme will solve accommodation problems in Mutare and probably other cities," he said.
Water Resources and Development Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo accompanied Mutsekwa.
Nkomo pledged that his Ministry would drill 10 boreholes in the high density suburb of Dangamvura as well as to resuscitate the irrigation scheme at Nyanyadzi, about 35 kilometres south of Mutare.
Earlier Nkomo had toured the irrigation scheme where he pledged to write off US$27,000 which farmers owe the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.
Labels: GILES MUTSEKWA, HOUSING
Read more...
Tsvangirai says Mutsekwa creating parallel party structures
By: Ralph Mutema
Posted: Sunday, June 27, 2010 7:07 pm
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has accused recently demoted minister Giles Mutsekwa of creating "parallel party structures" that threaten and undermine his leadership of the embattled Movement for Democratic Change party.
Former co-minister of Home Affairs Giles Mutsekwa, who was recently demoted in a move masked as a "restructuring exercise" or "reshuffle", Mr Mutsekwa was given a less influential post of Minister of Housing.
An MDC-T official who refused to be named told the Zimbabwe Guardian on Sunday that Mr Mutsekwa will go before a disciplinary committee of that party together with Prosper Mutseyami, the MDC-T provincial organising secretary in Manicaland.
The two are accussed of creating parallel structures in Mutare.
In an interview, a senior member of the MDC-T, Mr Tapiwa Mashakada, who is also the newly appointed Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion told this reporter that Mr Mutsekwa and Mr Mutseyami will be reined in and that the decision was made by the party’s national council.
"This is not witch hunting but every party has a disciplinary procedure and that's what the prime minister will be following," said Mr Mashakada.
"Why do you always speculate about issues. Mutsekwa is answerable to the prime minister, so there's no news here," he said before cutting the phone.
Mutsekwa is a more popular figure in Mutare than the prime minister
Reports of infighting within the MDC-T have taken centre-stage in various online and print media. The PM is said to be getting increasingly paranoid as his two terms are coming to and end. The MDC-T says a party leader cannot hold more than two terms.
Labels: GILES MUTSEKWA, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, TAPIWA MASHAKADA
Read more...
Mutsekwa calls for sanctions removal
Crime Reporter
HOME Affairs co-Minister Giles Mutsekwa has called for the immediate removal of illegal economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain and the United States of America saying they were adversely affecting the nation. He said the Zimbabwe Republic Police had not been spared, as the force could not diligently discharge its mandate.
Speaking at a farewell event for police officers leaving for the 2009 SARPCCO Games in Malawi, Minister Mutsekwa said it was disheartening to note that essential institutions such as the police had to bear the brunt of the illegal sanctions imposed by Britain and her allies.
"Therefore, I wish to categorically call for the immediate removal of these illegal sanctions, as their continued existence is affecting the ZRP’s ability to diligently discharge its mandate," he said.
As the co-Minister of Home Affairs, the minister said, he was aware that ZRP had for some time been forced to depend on the private sector and well- wishers for funding of its operations including vital activities such as sport.
Minister Mutsekwa said it was undeniable that the continued reliance by ZRP on the private sector compromised the efficacy of the force and also provided a fertile ground for corruption.
He said the police remained a coherent institution, which had stood the test of time and was a shining beacon in the country, regionally and internationally.
"It is undeniable that the organisation continues to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate despite the ferocity of the detractors determined to ruin the country.
"Thus I wish to commend the ZRP leadership, officers and members for demonstrating unparalleled commitment and astuteness to permeate the turbulent policing environment, which is sadly characterised by illegal sanctions," Minister Mutsekwa said.
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said 144 officers were going to represent Zimbabwe in Blantyre, Malawi, during the SARPCCO Games.
He urged them to maintain high levels of discipline, as it was the cornerstone of the organisation.
Labels: GILES MUTSEKWA, POLICE, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
Read more...
Mutsekwa calls for sanctions removal
Crime Reporter
HOME Affairs co-Minister Giles Mutsekwa has called for the immediate removal of illegal economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain and the United States of America saying they were adversely affecting the nation. He said the Zimbabwe Republic Police had not been spared, as the force could not diligently discharge its mandate.
Speaking at a farewell event for police officers leaving for the 2009 SARPCCO Games in Malawi, Minister Mutsekwa said it was disheartening to note that
essential institutions such as the police had to bear the brunt of the illegal sanctions imposed by Britain and her allies.
"Therefore, I wish to categorically call for the immediate removal of these illegal sanctions, as their continued existence is affecting the ZRP’s ability to diligently discharge its mandate," he said.
As the co-Minister of Home Affairs, the minister said, he was aware that ZRP had for some time been forced to depend on the private sector and well- wishers for funding of its operations including vital activities such as sport.
Minister Mutsekwa said it was undeniable that the continued reliance by ZRP on the private sector compromised the efficacy of the force and also provided a fertile ground for corruption.
He said the police remained a coherent institution, which had stood the test of time and was a shining beacon in the country, regionally and internationally.
"It is undeniable that the organisation continues to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate despite the ferocity of the detractors determined to ruin the country.
"Thus I wish to commend the ZRP leadership, officers and members for demonstrating unparalleled commitment and astuteness to permeate the turbulent policing environment, which is sadly characterised by illegal sanctions," Minister Mutsekwa said.
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said 144 officers were going to represent Zimbabwe in Blantyre, Malawi, during the SARPCCO Games.
He urged them to maintain high levels of discipline, as it was the cornerstone of the organisation.
Labels: GILES MUTSEKWA, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
Read more...
COMMENT - HIPC is prevented by ZDERA, Section 4C Multilateral Finance Restriction, point (2):
(c) MULTILATERAL FINANCING RESTRICTION- ... the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each international financial institution to oppose and vote against--
(1) any extension by the respective institution of any loan, credit, or guarantee to the Government of Zimbabwe; or
(2) any cancellation or reduction of indebtedness owed by the Government of Zimbabwe to the United States or any international financial institution.
Biti calls for lifting of sanctions
Nyasha Marimbe
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:37:00 +0000
FINANCE Minister Tendai Biti has called for the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe, breaking ranks with his party's top leadership that refers to them as "restrictive measures".
A report in the Herald newspaper says Biti authored a document entitled "Debt and Arrears Clearance Strategy" in which he advocates the lifting of the illegal sanctions that the West imposed on Zimbabwe.
In the document Biti is said to identify the so-called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera) — as a major outstanding issue which must be addressed before the economy can develop.
"He, however, abrogates the MDC-T of the duty to lead the anti-sanctions lobby that he says should be led by a group of 'Elders' like ex-US president Jimmy Carter and former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan," says the daily newspaper.
Biti said his proposed thrust would only work if sanctions were busted.
"This strategy will be complemented by the need to repeal the Zimbabwe Economic and Democracy Act (Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act) of 2001, through lobbying for support for Zimbabwe’s position in the USA Congress and Senate.
"This could be done by Government approaching such former US Presidents like Jim Carter and Bill Clinton using other luminaries such as J(ohn) Kuffour (Ghana), K(enneth) Kaunda (Zambia) and (J)oaquim Chissano (Mozambique) through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"This should be seen within the context of the Government’s overall strategy of busting sanctions through engaging the European Union, the Commonwealth and the USA," said Biti.
Biti yesterday confirmed that he had presented the document to Cabinet and he becomes the second senior MDC-T member to admit to the reality of sanctions.
Early this month, co-Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa told a meeting of his colleagues and police chiefs at an Interpol conference that illegal sanctions had negatively affected the economy and the Zimbabwe Republic Police had not been spared.
Labels: GILES MUTSEKWA, SANCTIONS, TENDAI BITI, ZDERA
Read more...
Ministers headed for clash over Meikles specification
TH.
Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:12:00 +0000
A CLASH is looming between Co-Home Affairs Ministers Kembo Mohadi and Giles Mutsekwa over the specification of Kingdom Meikles Africa Limited, with the latter accused of trying to engineer the resumption of the company’s normal trading behind his counterpart’s back.
A fortnight ago, Government froze the assets of Kingdom Meikles, Tanganda Tea Company (Pvt) Ltd, Thomas Meikles Centre (Pvt) Ltd and Murlis Investments (Pvt) Ltd, all of which are linked to the Meikles empire, on allegations of externalising foreign currency.
Ministers Mohadi and Mutsekwa ordered the specification as per the constitutional prerogative and proceeded to appoint Messrs Budhama and Cleopas Mukungunugwa as investigators of the companies.
However, Minister Mutsekwa went on to meet emissaries of Mr John Moxon — the face of the Meikles empire — without Minister Mohadi’s knowledge and subsequently issued a public statement saying he would work for the company’s de-specification.
Mr Moxon is a former chairman of KMAL and was also specified in January this year, but is now based in South Africa.
Yesterday, Minister Mohadi said he was not aware that his counterpart had met Mr Moxon’s emissaries and stressed that KMAL remained specified and there was "no change of heart" on the part of the Government in that regard.
"I am not aware of the meetings. He has not informed me about it.
"There is no change of heart. They are under specification and what I know is that we both signed for their specification," Minister Mohadi said.
In a recent interview with SW Radio Africa, a pirate radio station, Minister Mutsekwa said he met Mr Moxon’s emissaries and confessed his desire to push for the companies’ de-specification as soon as possible.
Minister Mutsekwa also confessed having received representations over the KMAL saga from MDC-T, which has made it clear that it is against the specification because it "tarnishes" Zimbabwe’s image as an investment destination.
However, Reserve Bank Governor Dr Gideon Gono last week made it clear that the KMAL issue was a domestic affair and international investors need not feel apprehension over the move.
Minister Mutsekwa said: "I have since had various visits from people concerned who have come to me and who have explained to me the other side of the story.
"Apparently what has been taking place is that we have been listening to only one person who is an aggrieved character and we took it for granted, being a Christian, everybody thought he was up to his word.
"But, however, as I am saying, ever since the gazetting of that instrument the other side has also approached me and we have held various high-level meetings and I now understand that it was not all that I was being told by the first side that is correct and I appreciate the issue much better."
He said he met the emissaries soon after the specification order was gazetted and Mr Moxon had given his assurance that he would repay whatever he had externalised.
Minister Mutsekwa added: "So I’m happy as the minister that everything is on course and I am advised if people concerned take certain procedures so we rectify the issue."
He said Mr Moxon’s emissaries realised the gravity of their offence.
Minister Mutsekwa said KMAL had externalised US$21 million. - The Herald
Labels: GILES MUTSEKWA, KEMBO MOHADI, MEIKLES GROUP
Read more...
