*Morning News: Tuesday 21 January 2025* *Headlines* *Zimbabwe Seeks Access To Global Climate Financing Amid Growing Challenges* *Ambassador John Mvundura Declared National Hero* *Minister To Pay US$100,000 For Legal Services Provided During Divorce 13 Years Ago* *Fire Brigade Vehicle In Road Crash While Rushing To Attend Kombi Accident With 25 'Seriously' Injured* *Seven Artisanal Miners Killed As Shaft Collapses At A Bindura Gold Mine* *Nigeria's Telecoms Regulator Agrees To Tariff Hike By Operators* *After Taking Office, Trump Pardons 1,500 Jan. 6 Defendants* *Chelsea 3-1 Wolves: Enzo Maresca's Side End Five-game Winless Run In Premier League* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *Stories in Detail:* *Zimbabwe Seeks Access To Global Climate Financing Amid Growing Challenges* FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube will be advocating for improved access to global climate financing, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting. Ncube will be leading Zimbabwe’s delegation at the WEF meeting which will run from January 20 to 24 in Davos-Klosters Switzerland under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”. poster Speaking in an X space the Finance Minister highlighted that climate change is a pressing issue for Zimbabwe and emphasized the urgent need to address its impacts. “The other theme that we will discuss at WEF pertains to protecting the planet which is a climate change issue and it is relevant to us here in Zimbabwe as you know our rains have not been as consistent. “Certainly last year we had the worst drought in 40 years, so climate change is real for us and we will be contributing here as Zimbabwe and how to reform global climate finance for the benefit of Africa and for the benefit of Zimbabwe. “Climate shocks are an issue that we should be alive to as economic policymakers. “The whole issue of sustainability is critical and also how we govern our carbon credits as a source of development financing is critical and Zimbabwe has a new policy in this regard. “When it comes to climate financing what is available out there we want to be able to access it,” Ncube said. Zimbabwe continues to grapple with the consequences of climate change, including shifting weather patterns and declining agricultural yields. *NewZW* *Ambassador John Mvundura Declared National Hero* Former Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairman, Ambassador John Mvundura, who passed away in Harare last week at the age of 81, has been declared a National Hero by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The announcement was made yesterday, with Zanu PF Deputy Secretary General, Cde Mike Nyambuya, delivering the news to the Mvundura family in Harare. Cde Nyambuya, accompanied by Zanu PF Deputy Secretary for Lands and Agriculture, Cde Mike Madiro, conveyed President Mnangagwa’s decision to honour Ambassador Mvundura for his remarkable contributions during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and in the years following independence. “I have been sent by President Mnangagwa to relay the message that Ambassador Mvundura has been accorded National Hero status,” said Cde Nyambuya. “His track record speaks for itself. He was a selfless and dedicated Zimbabwean who has left a distinct trail of his deeds during and after the liberation struggle.” Cde Nyambuya highlighted that burial arrangements would be announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage. Preliminary indications suggest that Ambassador Mvundura may be laid to rest tomorrow at the National Heroes Acre alongside Major-General (Retired) Solomon Siziba and former Minister Chenhamo Chimutengwende. Reflecting on Ambassador Mvundura’s legacy, Cde Nyambuya described him as a principled and fearless individual whose contributions to Zimbabwe would be remembered for generations. “He was a strong man with strong views, who never failed to make his opinions known. He gave his life for the liberation of this country, and we shall forever remember him,” he said. The Mvundura family expressed their gratitude for the honour. Ambassador Mvundura’s younger brother, Mr George Mvundura, thanked President Mnangagwa and the Zanu PF leadership in Manicaland for their support. “As a family, we are very grateful for this decision. We are so happy to know that we have a President who loves us and recognises us as a family,” he said. Ambassador Mvundura’s daughter, Ms Janet Mvundura, described her father as a loving and disciplined family man who valued integrity. “He always wanted us to walk in a straight path to safeguard the family name,” she said. Ambassador Mvundura is survived by his wife, Mrs Perpetual Mvundura, and 10 children. *Minister To Pay US$100,000 For Legal Services Provided During Divorce 13 Years Ago* MINISTER of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Marian Chombo will pay US$100,000 to top lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa’s firm being legal fees for services rendered during her divorce 13 years ago. This follows a High Court ruling by Justice Joel Mambara which compelled her to pay the fees despite her protestations. poster The judge said Mtetwa and Nyambirai Law Firm had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The law firm through top lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa successfully represented Marian during her divorce from former minister Ignatius Chombo back in 2011. The court heard Marian engaged Mtetwa to represent her during acrimonious divorce proceedings that spanned several years. Despite receiving extensive legal services, the defendant failed to settle the agreed legal fees, leading to this action. The defendant’s defences lacked merit and were inconsistent with her own admissions and actions. “The acknowledgement of debt remains binding, and the court disregards the belatedly raised defences,” said the judge. Costs were claimed on the legal practitioner and client scale. The judge also noted that Chombo was very honest and remorseful that she failed to pay for the services rendered. “Despite the spurious defences raised in her papers, she made an undertaking to pay for the excellent legal services rendered by the defendant once she was in a position to pay. “In the result, the defendant is ordered to pay the plaintiff the sum of US$100,000 or its equivalent in Zimbabwean dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of payment. “The defendant is ordered to pay interest at the prescribed rate from the date of summons to the date of full payment. The defendant shall pay the costs of suit,” the judge ruled. Marian had acknowledged that the plaintiff had represented her diligently and that she had benefited from the legal services provided. She, however, insisted that the fee claimed was unreasonable and suggested a reduced amount of US$50,000 as fair compensation. The defendant testified that she made efforts to settle the debt by offering stands received from the divorce settlement. However, when the plaintiff attempted to verify the existence and value of the stands, it was discovered that the stand numbers provided did not correspond to any existing stands. *NewZW* *Fire Brigade Vehicle In Road Crash While Rushing To Attend Kombi Accident With 25 'Seriously' Injured* In a freak coincidence, three people were injured on Monday when a Harare fire brigade vehicle was involved in a road crash in Borrowdale suburb as they rushed to attend the scene of a serious road accident involving a commuter omnibus in which 25 people were injured. Confirming the misfortune, police said 25 people were injured in a head-on collision involving a Toyota Hiace Kombi and an Isuzu Light truck with no passengers on board along Domboshava Road. “The ZRP confirms a serious road traffic accident which occurred on 20 January 2025 at around 7.45AM along Domboshava Road opposite Philadelphia School, Borrowdale, Harare,” police said. “25 people were injured when a Toyota Hiace Kombi with 23 passengers on board was involved in a head-on collision with an Isuzu Light truck with no passengers on board.” Police said the accident was caused by the kombi driver who, according to witnesses, overtook another vehicle in the face of oncoming traffic. The injured were rushed for treatment at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Police said three more people were injured when a fire brigade vehicle with six passengers on board collided with a Nissan March with three passengers on board along the same road. Police urged drivers to be “safety conscious on the roads”. *ZimLive* *Seven Artisanal Miners Killed As Shaft Collapses At A Bindura Gold Mine* Seven artisanal miners were killed on Saturday following a mine shaft collapse as a disused Botha gold mine in mineral rich Bindura. In a statement, police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the tragic incident and further released the names of five of the victims who were all men from villages in Bindura. Police identified the victims as Leo Chapondama from Maganyani Village, Masembura; Zolani Nyani, 21, from Church Road, Chipadze; Samson Madyira, 20; Jacob Madyira Nongwe, 34; Mathew Madyira, 23, all from Waerera Village, Masembura, Bindura. The identities of the other two victims were yet to be established, according to police, who went on to issue a warning against illegal mining activities in the country. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns the public against conducting mining activities at illegal shafts and disused mine sites as the current incessant rains have made the ground wet and prone to collapse and mine trappings,” Commissioner Nyathi said. Fatal accidents during rampant illegal mining activities are common in Zimbabwe as unemployed youths and older men feeling the pressures of a tough economy plunge into dangerous tunnels in search of both a living and fortune. The outcome is often tragic as many get entrapped in the shafts resulting in death. During the rain season in 2023, the government discouraged artisanal mining activities in the country citing the prevalence of mine accidents during the wet period. *Nigeria's Telecoms Regulator Agrees To Tariff Hike By Operators* Nigeria's telecoms regulator will approve a 50% increase in current tariffs following a request from telecommunications operators, in line with rising costs in Africa's most populous nation, it said on Monday. Telecoms operators had requested a 100% tariff increase but the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it reached its decision taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will impact sustainability. Tariff rates have remained unchanged since 2013, despite the increasing costs of operation, the NCC said, adding that the increase was aimed at addressing the significant gap between operational costs and revenues while ensuring that service delivery is not compromised. Inflation has risen sharply after President Bola Tinubu devalued the naira currency and cut subsidies in 2023 to try to lift economic growth and shore up public finances. It started to ease in July last year as the impact of the naira devaluation began to fade, before a series of petrol price increases again spurred inflationary pressures. *Reuters* *After Taking Office, Trump Pardons 1,500 Jan. 6 Defendants* Donald Trump pardoned about 1,500 of his supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol four years ago as he moved swiftly to impose his will on the U.S. government just hours after reclaiming the presidency on Monday. After a day of ceremony, Trump signed a series of executive actions to curb immigration and roll back environmental regulations and racial and gender diversity initiatives. He did not take immediate action to raise tariffs, a key campaign promise, but said he could impose 25% duties on Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1. His decision to pardon supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is sure to enrage police, lawmakers and others whose lives were put at risk during an unprecedented episode in modern U.S. history. Roughly 140 police officers were assaulted during the attack, with some sprayed with chemical irritants and others struck with pipes, poles and other weapons. Four people died during the chaos, including a Trump supporter who was shot dead by police. Among those covered by the order were leaders of the far-right Oath Keepers and Proud Boys militant groups, who were serving long prison sentences. Earlier in the day, Trump, 78, took the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda, where a mob of his supporters had rampaged on Jan. 6 in an unsuccessful attempt to reverse his 2020 loss to Joe Biden. At the ceremony, Trump portrayed himself as a savior chosen by God to rescue a faltering nation. His inauguration amounts to a triumphant return for a political disruptor who survived two assassination attempts and won election despite a criminal conviction and a prosecution stemming from his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. "I was saved by God to make America great again," he said. Trump is the first president in more than a century to win a second term after losing the White House and the first felon to occupy the White House. The oldest president ever to be sworn in, he is backed by Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress. Trump moved quickly to clamp down on illegal immigration, a signature issue since he first entered politics in 2015. Shortly after he took the oath of office, U.S. border authorities shut down a program that allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. legally by scheduling an appointment through a smartphone. Existing appointments were canceled. At the White House, Trump signed an order that declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, which would unlock funding and allow him to dispatch troops there. He signed an order that would end a policy that confers citizenship to those born in the United States, which is certain to trigger a lengthy court fight. Another executive order designated Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. "We're getting rid of all the cancer ... caused by the Biden administration," Trump said as he signed a stack of executive orders in the Oval Office. Other orders revoked Biden administration policies governing artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. He also imposed a freeze on federal hiring and ordered government workers to return to the office, rather than working from home. He also signed paperwork to create a "Department of Government Efficiency," an outside advisory board headed by billionaire Elon Musk that aims to cut large swaths of government spending. In the State Department, more than a dozen nonpartisan senior diplomats were asked to resign as part of a broader plan to replace nonpartisan civil servants with loyalists. He also said he would issue orders to scrap federal diversity programs and require the government to recognize only genders assigned at birth. While Trump sought to portray himself as a peacemaker and unifier during his half-hour speech, his tone was often sharply partisan. He repeated false claims from his campaign that other countries were emptying their prisons into America and voiced familiar grievances over his criminal prosecutions. With Biden seated nearby, Trump issued a stinging indictment of his predecessor's policies from immigration to foreign affairs. "We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders, but refuses to defend American borders, or more importantly, its own people," Trump said. Numerous tech executives who have sought to curry favor with the incoming administration - including the three richest men in the world, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg - had prominent seats on stage, next to cabinet nominees and members of Trump's family. Trump said he would send astronauts to Mars, prompting Musk - who has long talked about colonizing the planet - to raise his fists. Trump vowed to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and repeated his intention to take back control of the Panama Canal, one of several foreign policy pronouncements that have caused consternation among U.S. allies. Trump took the oath of office to "preserve, protect and defend" the U.S. Constitution at 12:01 p.m. ET (1701 GMT), administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. His vice president, JD Vance, was sworn in just before him. Outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in November, was seated next to Biden in a section with former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016, sat with her husband Bill. Obama's wife, Michelle, chose not to attend. The ceremony was moved indoors due to the extreme cold gripping much of the country. Trump skipped Biden's inauguration and has continued to claim falsely that the 2020 election he lost to Biden was rigged. Biden, in one of his last official acts, pardoned several people whom Trump has threatened with retaliation, including General Mark Milley, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who Trump has suggested should be executed for holding back-channel talks with China. Milley's portrait was removed from the Pentagon shortly after Trump's inauguration. He also pardoned five family members minutes before leaving office, citing fears that Trump would target them. *Reuters* *Chelsea 3-1 Wolves: Enzo Maresca's Side End Five-game Winless Run In Premier League* A dominant second-half display helped Chelsea beat Wolves to end their five-game winless run in the Premier League and move into the top four. Having seen Tosin Adarabioyo's opener cancelled out by Matt Doherty, two goals in five second-half minutes from Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke carried the hosts to victory at Stamford Bridge. Cucurella, making his 100th Premier League appearance, forced home from close range after Madueke's cross was flicked on by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Madueke then nodded home after Trevoh Chalobah, playing after returning from his loan at Crystal Palace, climbed highest at a corner. Those goals spared the blushes of Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez whose error allowed Doherty to equalise in first-half stoppage time. Sanchez had moved a few yards off his line, which was spotted by Matheus Cunha, and the Brazilian swung a delicious delivery goalbound which the Spaniard attempted to claim rather than punch clear. The error was keeper Sanchez's fourth that has led to a goal this season - only Ipswich's Arijanet Muric (five) has made more in the Premier League - and will lead to more questions around his selection with just one home clean sheet this campaign. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca defended Sanchez, telling Sky Sports: "You said it was the fourth mistake [leading to a goal]? OK, and how many times did he save us? More than four. So no problem. It happens. Mistakes happen to him, the strikers, the midfielders. He is doing well." Tosin's opener - which was awarded by the video assistant referee (VAR) after being ruled out for offside - came when Reece James' effort was deflected into his path following a corner. The victory moves Chelsea fourth, two points clear of Manchester City and Newcastle United. Wolves, who have now conceded a league-high 51 goals, remain 17th and Vitor Pereira's side are only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference. Chelsea made five changes - including a first Premier League start since his summer move from Leicester for Dewsbury-Hall - and began brightly. They had four shots in the opening five minutes and continued that pressure with Cole Palmer coming closest in the opening exchanges when his drive from the edge of the area was parried away by visiting keeper Jose Sa. Their fine start threatened to go unrewarded, before Tosin did well to control on his thigh and slot home for his first Premier League goal for Chelsea. The flag went up immediately but he was kept onside by Cunha, who had failed to push up with the rest of his defence at the back post. Chelsea's levels then dropped drastically and Wolves, who had offered little in the opening half an hour, took control. Doherty's equaliser was their first shot on target but came after a period of sustained pressure. Chelsea controlled the second period and had a fourth goal ruled out for offside after Nicolas Jackson had gone too early when latching on to a Palmer through ball and finishing. It extends Jackson's run without a goal in the Premier League to six games, which coincides with Chelsea's form dropping away and will be another issue for Maresca to tackle. *BBC*