THE cost of living for low income urban earners increased by $3,66 to $567,48 in May from $563,82 in April, a move caused by some retailers who have raised prices of basic commodities in anticipation of panic buying, the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has said.There have been reports that people might do panic buying following the announcement that the country will introduce bond notes and some busi

KING Lobengula’s “golden spear” that was stolen at Old Bulawayo Natural Heritage Site on the outskirts of Bulawayo is actually a replica of the original spear, an official has said.Assistant Curator of Monuments and Old Bulawayo site manager Miss Senzeni Khumalo admitted that a replica spear placed by King Lobengula’s statue was stolen and police were investigating the matter.“It is inde

ONE of Bulawayo’s private schools, Masiyephambili Junior, has been struggling to pay its teachers and staff on time as coffers have been dwindling allegedly after a number of parents withdrew their children due to continued economic challenges. The school which has its fees pegged at $1 000 per term, has also seen some of the teachers leaving due to the salary issues.Masiyephambili Junior headma

PRIMARY schools in Matabeleland North will this week start receiving food relief under the schools feeding programme to cater for pupils from Early Child Development to Grade 2 classes as the Government takes steps to address the effects of drought on education. Updating the Hwange district drought relief committee and stakeholders in Hwange on Thursday, Matabeleland North provincial social welfar

FATHER to two of the four children who died in Mwenezi last Wednesday after eating food suspected to have been laced with poison has demanded 25 cattle for his children to be buried. Five people including four juveniles and one elderly woman died when they ate food allegedly laced with an unknown herbicide at Village 7 in Masangula communal lands under Chief Chitanga.National police spokesperson S

Government will revoke licences and dissolve all medical aid societies that fail to meet their obligations to doctors by June 30, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr Aldrin Musiiwa has said.Dr Musiiwa said Government would not sit and watch as medical aid subscribers were prejudiced of their right to access treatment because of the greed of health insurers.“It is an obligation for medical a

GOVERNMENT is finalising compensation for white former commercial farmers as part of measures to bring to finality the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme, a Cabinet minister has said.Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa told The Sunday Mail that valuations had been done for about 1 400 of the roughly 6 000 farms concerned.He said the exercise was in terms of the Section 295 of

Government has capped the salary of Bulawayo’s town clerk at US$7 400 down from US$9 000, and ordered the local authority to peg the lowest salary at the poverty datum line, or just above US$500.The municipality’s 2016 budget was also rejected as it did not reserve 70 percent of revenue for service delivery and 30 percent for salaries.“After realisation that local authorities are paying unsu

GOVERNMENT will soon release US$6,4 million for payment of second term school fees for children and dependents of war veterans.This follows President Mugabe’s promise in April to improve the welfare of former freedom fighters and their dependents.About 43 000 children are listed as beneficiaries of the War Veterans School Fees Fund.Secretary for Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborato

MDC-T has resolved to recall acting Harare mayor Councillor Chris Mbanga for alleged violation of the opposition party’s position regarding the controversial appointment of James Mushore as the city’s town clerk.The decision was communicated via email last week by MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora to the party’s secretary for local government Mr Eddie Cross.Communications seen by The

Zanu-PF’s Politburo has tasked the National Disciplinary Appeals Committee to speed up processing of appeals filed by people expelled or suspended from the ruling party for various reasons.This comes as President Mugabe last Friday told the National Consultative Assembly that Zanu-PF would not tolerate unprocedural votes of no confidence on members.Officials who attended last week’s Politburo

HARARE - A 50-year-old Epworth man who acted on the advice of a n’anga that he would become rich after raping his daughter was brought to court yesterday. The man (name withheld) is said to have been on the run since 2010 after he raped and sired a son with his biological daughter. Police officers handling the rape case managed to trace him to Ruwange in Nyanga where he had engaged

HARARE - Sometimes we wonder if President Robert Mugabe was playing a practical joke on us when he appointed some officials to ministerial posts, but the shock is only fleeting if we look at the fact that the 92-year-old doesn’t care a hoot about the suffering multitudes. Apart from having a bloated Cabinet, Mugabe also has a troop of useless deputy ministers who are ill-equipped even to

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has defended its decision to raid various government departments, local authorities and parastatals suspected of corruption, saying the body is mandated by the Constitution to act against illicit dealings. The anti-graft body pounced on several ministries and parastatals as it seeks to gather incriminating evidence against officials suspecte

POLICE yesterday arrested 15 activists camped at Africa Unity Square since last week protesting against government’s alleged misrule.Five of the activists, including Partson Dzamara, the brother of missing activist Itai Dzamara, were arrested in the early hours yesterday morning, while 10 others were picked up later in the afternoon.The activists had vowed to spend 16 days and nights at the squa