Saturday 15 February 2025 *AFTERNOON NEWS UPDATES* _• USD: ZiG Official Exchange – Z$25.69_ • _Black Market Rate - Zig 30:USD1_ • _Innscor in-store – Z$35_ • _KFC, Slice, Eat'n'Lick – Z$35_ New members who wish to receive detailed local, regional and international news from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should "follow" our channel on the link below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaASRLX6mYPM2XphWy2n *For advertising inquiries call, text or Whatsapp us on +263 778 242 692* *THE HEADLINES* *Beitbridge Crash – Where are the air ambulances?* *Mutsvangwa downplays Zanu-PF internal strife* *Chris Mutsvangwa Throws Shade At Wicknell Chivayo Over Starlink Deal* *Tshabangu survives ouster in CCC power struggle* *Zanu PF Heavyweights, State Agents Loot Auxillia Mnangagwa Donated Items* *Hunt now on for new TIMB boss* *Zimbabweans Are Using More Data Than Ever—Is It Because of Unlimited Plans? WhatsApp takes over…Econet’s limitations and failure to comprehend trends* *SA family reunited with boy who vanished in Zimbabwe* *‘Social Media Got It Wrong’: Harare Man in Viral Valentine’s Day Video Breaks Silence* *“Chivayo’s Wasteful Spending And Lavish Lifestyle An Insult To Hardworking Zimbabweans”* *Brighton vs Chelsea: Enzo Maresca decries 'worst performance'* *THE DETAILS WITH IGNITE MEDIA ZIMBABWE* _*Beitbridge Crash – Where are the air ambulances?*_ Government’s air rescue ambulances were in no show when they were needed the most as Beitbridge District Hospital was stretched to the limit following Thursday’s national disaster which claimed 25 people. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. Ten seriously injured people among the 56 attended to at the Beitbridge Hospital were transferred by road, enduring 200km and 321km to Gwanda and Bulawayo, respectively. Sections of that road are extremely difficult to navigate. Twenty-five people died on Thursday morning — 17 on the spot and another eight on admission at Beitbridge Hospital — when an Urban Connect bus was involved in an accident with a haulage truck about 25km outside Beitbridge along the Harare road. “This is when we hoped to see the air rescue ambulances at work. If not at such a disaster, when then? Some of the things said are just deceitful and embarrassing,” said a Beitbridge resident. Beitbridge Rural District Council and Beitbridge Municipality altogether contributed 120 litres of fuel for ambulances to ferry the injured. In 2023 soon after the arrival of the choppers, government said operationalisation of air medical rescue services within Zimbabwe’s public health system was expected to be “up and flying” by end of last year, starting with six helicopters across four provinces. Health and Child Care minister Douglas Mombeshora told journalists during a handover ceremony of Russian donated cholera commodities at the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) that they had trained some pilots for medical air evacuation. “This is where they should have come. Where else or it’s for a special type of people,” said the Beitbridge resident. Zimbabwe’s leadership has been criticised for their seemingly carefree attitude towards the health sector hit by a mass exodus of trained personnel to other countries citing poor remuneration and hostile working conditions in backward environment. Meanwhile, Beitbridge District Hospital was stretched to its limits on Thursday when it handled 56 victims of the accident. “Some nurses who were on night duty did not knock off,” a senior nurse said. “We were overwhelmed since we are short-staffed.” Calls by locals to have the hospital upgraded to allow more staff have been ignored by government. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. The hospital mortuary, designed for 12 people, was stretched and some bodies were laid on the floor. The hospital, apart from Beitbridge’s 90 000 people, caters for a transit population of 14 000 people using Zimbabwe and the region’s busiest port at Beitbridge. Newsday _*Mutsvangwa downplays Zanu-PF internal strife*_ As internal rifts within ZANU PF continue to escalate, party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa on Thursday sidestepped questions about growing factionalism, insisting he was unaware of any tensions. The ruling party is currently divided, with one faction advocating for the suspension of the 2028 elections to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's rule until 2030, while another, reportedly aligned with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, insists on adhering to the constitutional two-term limit. Neither Mnangagwa nor Chiwenga has publicly addressed the emerging power struggle, but tensions have been evident at national events. Recently, ZANU PF supporters were heard chanting rival slogans at Heroes Acre, with one group backing Mnangagwa and another supporting Chiwenga. At a press conference held at ZANU PF headquarters, Mutsvangwa brushed off questions about the divisions, saying, "That question is new to me. I am trying to focus on things which have consequences." However, signs of discord continue to emerge, with a faction of war veterans, led by outspoken member Blessed Geza, openly calling for Mnangagwa to step down, accusing him of overseeing a corrupt administration. Mnangagwa has previously stated he will not seek another term beyond 2028, despite growing calls from some of his supporters for an extension of his rule. Mutsvangwa indirectly took aim at Geza, suggesting he was being manipulated by forces seeking to unseat Mnangagwa. “I have a lot of angst about the way he is being used by people who have a certain agenda. Comrade Geza, I do not know what other issues might be bothering you, but we, the war veterans, always remember… I wish he would not follow fools who are misleading him," Mutsvangwa said. The ongoing power struggle bears striking similarities to past ZANU PF factional battles, particularly the infighting that led to the ousting of former President Robert Mugabe in 2017. With the 2028 elections approaching, tensions within the party are expected to intensify. _*Chris Mutsvangwa Throws Shade At Wicknell Chivayo Over Starlink Deal*_ Zanu PF spokesperson threw shade at flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who had initially sought to secure an exclusive deal to operate Starlink in Zimbabwe. In May 2024, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that he had approved Starlink’s licensing in Zimbabwe, stating that the satellite internet provider would operate solely through IMC Communications, a company owned by Chivayo. However, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) later reversed this arrangement, opting instead to license multiple operators rather than granting exclusivity to Chivayo. Chris Mutsvangwa Throws Shade At Wicknell Chivayo Over Starlink Deal. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. During a press briefing on Thursday, Mutsvangwa subtly mocked Chivayo’s failed Starlink ambitions. “By the way, Elon Musk is now a cabinet minister in Trump’s government. Go back, when the issue of Starlink was alive, our president negotiated and we got Starlink in Zimbabwe. Direct. Not through a switch of a particular gentleman who wanted to become the agent of Starlink in Zimbabwe,” Mutsvangwa said. Mutsvangwa went on to explain why Mnangagwa had allowed Starlink to operate in Zimbabwe without a middle man saying: “The argument for my President was, ‘If Starlink comes like the sun from God and if Starlink comes rain from God why should it come through the switch of a certain particular cellular company? I am the one who is elected.’ That’s why he signed the license himself because he is the representative of the people to God in Zimbabwe because Starlink descending on Zimbabwe like God’s gift.” Interestingly. Chris Mutsvangwa’s son Neville was arrested for possessing a Starlink internet router without a licence among other offences. He was accused of breaching the Telecommunications Act after he was found in possession of a Starlink internet router without having a licence. It also emerged that Neville Mutsvangwa had sold Starlink kits to ZBC and Zimpapers at inflated prices at a time when it was illegal to own the kits in Zimbabwe. ZBC allegedly paid setup fees of US$1500 and ‘Gold Packages’ of US$1200. _*Tshabangu survives ouster in CCC power struggle*_ Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) self-imposed interim secretary-general, Sengezo Tshabangu, has survived suspension and dismissal despite facing allegations of bringing the opposition party into disrepute. Tshabangu was summoned to a disciplinary hearing by a faction of the CCC led by Welshman Ncube after making unilateral changes in Parliament that resulted in the demotion of legislators aligned with the constitutional lawyer. The hearing took place on Wednesday. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. "Sengezo Tshabangu was charged with violating the CCC constitution by breaching party rules and regulations," party spokesperson Willias Madzimure said in a statement. "The national disciplinary committee, after hearing submissions from the arbiter general and witnesses for the applicant, as well as from Senator Sengezo Tshabangu's legal representative, Advocate Kucaca Phulu, judgment was reserved." Tshabangu had initially indicated to NewsDay that he would not attend the hearing, citing the ongoing legal battles between him and Ncube. However, he later reversed his stance and attended the proceedings. In addition to constitutional violations, Tshabangu was also charged with disrespecting the office of the party leader and its organs through making "derogatory remarks in the public media." Tshabangu dismissed the disciplinary hearing as a "non-event," arguing that the arbiter general presiding over the case was a "well-known personal friend of Ncube." He further threatened to use the party's parliamentary caucus and local government caucus, both comprising his appointees, to take action against Ncube. The Ncube-led faction had warned Tshabangu that failure to appear at the hearing would result in a default judgment being issued against him. Tshabangu controversially wrested control of the CCC from its founding leader, Nelson Chamisa, and initiated the recall of party legislators from Parliament. The follow-up by-elections to fill the resulting vacancies saw the ruling ZANU PF party securing a two-thirds majority in Parliament. The internal turmoil within CCC continues to deepen, with legal and political battles further complicating the party's future trajectory. _*Zanu PF Heavyweights, State Agents Loot Auxillia Mnangagwa Donated Items*_ Zanu PF heavyweights and state security agents have been accused of looting foodstuffs, hampers, and farming inputs that were donated to villagers by Mrs. Auxillia Mnangagwa on Wednesday. Mrs. Mnangagwa had been in Masvingo for a rally at the Masvingo Showgrounds, where thousands of attendees were bused in from across the province. School pupils were reportedly coerced into attending the event. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. A Zanu PF source revealed the poor distribution of the donated goods, stating, “Attendees were divided into groups of 10 and made to share a 50kg bag of rice, while top government and Zanu PF officials received 10kg of mealie meal each.” Further reports from Benjamin Burombo indicated that the donated items were heavily looted by Zanu PF officials and state security agents. “The donated items were stolen by senior party members and state security agents. Senior government officials also stole the items,” a government source said, condemning the actions. These allegations have raised concerns about the misuse of charitable donations and the abuse of power by political and security elites. _*Hunt now on for new TIMB boss*_ THE hunt for a new Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) chief executive officer (CEO) is now on after the post was advertised recently. The majority of tobacco players are supporting an individual who will prop up the indigenous farmers that pushed for an increased production, NewsDay Weekender has gathered. Some players believe that stability within the sector for the past three years under acting CEO Emmanuel Matsvaire is likely to continue if the land reform gains are not reversed. “Generally, there has been a boost in tobacco production, achievement of nearly 300 million kilogrammes target of golden leaf and it was a record breaking for the past 40 years,” a local merchant who declined to be named said. “Tobacco production is boosting, with small-scale farmers playing their role besides some teething challenges since the land reform in 2000. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. “The farmers are now part of the game changers in the sector.” Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association president George Seremwe said the appointment is more of a technical issue, with the government and other stakeholders giving support whenever possible. “We urge the government to take into consideration on how the current leadership at TIMB has helped in the improvement and stability in the sector,” he said. “The government must be hailed for a better tobacco sector that we cherish. It is good that some farmers have improved their livelihoods.” Believe Tevera, a small-scale farmer based in Chakoma village under Chief Dotito in Mashonaland Central province added his voice, saying there was notable stability in the tobacco farming sector. “Some of small-scale farmers are happy with the future programmes for the sector,” he said. “It is important to give those at the helm more time to implement what they formulated.” Zimbabwe Progressive Tobacco Farmers Association president Mtandwa Mutasa differed, saying small-scale farmers were still yet to benefit from the so called improvement of tobacco industry due to value-addition chain limitations. “Yes, it is true that tobacco output is growing, but what it is that small-scale farmers can smile about remains a challenge,” he said. “We are celebrating milestone achievements, but tobacco growers are being treated as mere tobacco producers, not as game changers of the whole industry. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. “We are calling for the government to include tobacco as part of the value-addition chain, including the grower who is the backbone of the whole process. “Growers have been taken for granted for too long and we hope it will be rectified soon.” Tobacco sector operations have been decentralised to farming towns like Karoi, in Mashonaland West, Marondera in Mashonaland East, among others, marking yet another milestone of not living anyone or place behind. Newsday _*Zimbabweans Are Using More Data Than Ever—Is It Because of Unlimited Plans? WhatsApp takes over…Econet’s limitations and failure to comprehend trends*_ Globally, as internet access increases, voice calling falls. It’s not that people stop communicating; it’s that they use cheaper and superior internet-based calling. Zimbabwe will not be the exception, although voice has proved to have staying power in the country. Voice Traffic Declines in Q3 2024 However, in the third quarter of 2024 (July to September), voice took a stumble. Mobile voice traffic fell by 7.46%. The telecoms regulator, POTRAZ, attributes this to internet-based calling. Mobile Internet Traffic Surges It will not surprise you, then, to find out that mobile internet traffic increased by a whopping 19.22%, from 65.75 to 78.38 petabytes (PBs). Econet was mostly responsible for this increase: The total number of active internet subscriptions was 12,042,864 in the quarter. That means a share of under 6.5GB per person in three months—or about 2.2GB per month—which is a bit higher than you would expect. A few heavy users are raising the averages. We obviously still have many people only utilizing the weekly $1 WhatsApp bundle, which is capped at 120MB. That means they use about 1.4GB (120 * 4 * 3) in a quarter, which is much lower than the total average of 6.5GB per mobile internet subscription. The Role of WhatsApp and Econet’s Limitations What I find interesting is that the biggest mobile operator, Econet, handicaps its WhatsApp bundles so that one cannot make calls with them. So, users of these bundles are not able to resort to internet-based calling. Plain old texting and voice notes have become popular too, leaving voice calls for only the most urgent situations. That also explains the drop in voice calls. Affordability Remains a Barrier We would love to see more people enjoy an uncapped, unrestricted internet experience. For now, although a 19.22% increase in usage is commendable, it would be much higher if the affordability problem was solved. The demand is there; prices just need to match incomes. The Impact of “Unlimited” Data Packages That said, I think we will see an even bigger jump in data usage in Q4 2024 because, for the first time ever, we saw unlimited mobile data packages hit the market and gain popularity. Econet’s SmartBiz package kept finding its stride in Q4, and Smart4You bundles started popping up. These packages, while not technically truly unlimited, are a far cry from the Private WiFi bundles we had before. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. As a result, only Econet saw its market share increase in the quarter. Starlink’s Influence on the Market Of course, we have Starlink to thank for this sudden innovation by the mobile operators. I don’t know why I said ‘operators’ in plural—we are still waiting for Econet’s competitors to launch their own competing products. Speaking of Starlink, it will be interesting to see what kind of impact it will have on all this. The unfortunate part for the mobile operators is that their heaviest users are the ones who can afford the satellite internet solution. That means their mobile data usage might drop as they utilize their WiFi more. They better pray that the work-from-home bug doesn’t hit because when one is mostly camped out at home, they don’t tend to use mobile data much if there is a WiFi connection available. Anyway, Starlink was only licensed at the end of the quarter and will start submitting its quarterly returns in Q4 2024. We shall see what’s what then. Conclusion The decline in voice calling in Zimbabwe is following a global trend, with internet-based communication becoming the norm. The increase in mobile internet usage will obviously be helped by the introduction of so-called “unlimited” data packages. However, affordability remains a key challenge, preventing even greater adoption. Starlink’s entry into the market has already pushed mobile operators to rethink their offerings, but its long-term impact remains to be seen. As internet access continues to expand, traditional voice calling may become even less relevant, only used for business and urgent calls. The next few quarters will provide more clarity on how deeply all this changes will change this sector. I think we are headed in the right direction. Techzim _*SA family reunited with boy who vanished in Zimbabwe*_ An 11-year-old South African boy who vanished from his home in May 2023 and took a bus to Zimbabwe has been reunited with his family. The Department of Social Development said the child was brought back to South Africa from Zimbabwe after being separated from his family for almost two years. According to the department, the boy provided various justifications for his arrival in Zimbabwe, which complicated the countrywide search for him. This set off a complex cross-border child protection case, with his disappearance becoming a matter of national concern, prompting the department to work alongside its Zimbabwean counterparts to locate and return him home. While in Zimbabwe, he was diagnosed with autism. However, further assessments will be conducted to determine the full extent of his health condition. “His condition may explain why he wandered off and why repatriation efforts faced such obstacles,” a social worker from the department said. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. According to the social workers’ report, he consistently eluded law enforcement, leading to multiple failed attempts at repatriation. He was recently taken to the border at Beitbridge after being discovered on the streets of Harare. The boy made the trip to Johannesburg the next day, where he was reunited with his family, escorted by his mother, maternal aunt, and a Gauteng social worker. “He started crying when he saw me and was saying a lot that I couldn’t understand because it was in Shona; he’s lost his Zulu [mother tongue] and now speaks Shona fluently,” the boy’s 33-year-old mother said. The mother described him as an independent child who often wandered off. When he started primary school, his disappearances became more frequent, sometimes leading to police involvement or kind strangers returning him home. “We thought he was just a seriously naughty child, and we would punish him and ground him from playing outside,” said the mother. When asked about this behaviour, she admitted that it had been a confusing and painful journey. “It will empower me. I will know what medication he needs and what school I need to send him to. I also want to get him a tracking bracelet,” the mother said. Seated on the concrete veranda of his home in Alexandra, Gauteng, the small-framed, shy-looking boy plays quietly with his cousin and a two-year-old brother he has just met for the first time. One of the department’s officials who accompanied the boy’s mother to Limpopo, Lamlani Mthembele, said the moment of reunion was deeply emotional. “When they saw each other, he cried, his mom was crying, and even though we couldn’t understand what he was saying in Shona, it felt like he was saying he was happy to be back home and that he would never leave his mother’s side again,” said Mthembele. Additionally, the department has committed to getting social workers from the Gauteng region to support the boy’s mother in securing medical assessments and the necessary interventions for his well-being. The department has assured ongoing psychosocial support for the boy and his family to ensure his smooth reintegration and emotional healing. _*’Social Media Got It Wrong’: Harare Man in Viral Valentine’s Day Video Breaks Silence*_ A Harare man who went viral on Valentine’s Day has broken his silence, addressing the widespread speculation surrounding his video. Social Media Gets It Wrong The video, which quickly made rounds on social media, led many to believe that the man had suffered a heartbreaking betrayal. Users claimed he had planned an elaborate surprise for his girlfriend—complete with a saxophonist, roses, and a money bouquet—only to arrive at her workplace and discover that she had already left for a romantic date with someone else. In the footage, the man can be seen frantically making phone calls, leading social media users to assume he was desperately trying to reach his girlfriend. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. On Friday, the man in the video, identified as Tanyaradzwa Kamarizeni, also known as Tanya the Events Planner (Events Bae), took to Facebook to set the record straight. “Good evening my name is Tanya the Events Planner known as the Events Bae. I do acknowledge that it’s me in the trending videos doing the rounds on social media today,” Tanya confirmed. Tanya dismissed the rumours, explaining that he was simply making a gift delivery on behalf of a client. “I specialize in Event planning, decor, and gift sets. Today, I had a delivery to make on behalf of my client, who ordered Valentine’s gifts and a money bouquet for his wife,” he explained. Tanya further clarified that the video was taken while he was meeting the client’s sister, who had additional gifts for the recipient. “The videos were taken after we had gone out of the car with BigStar Nash to meet with the Man’s sister who had other gifts to with the Money bouquet I had made and yes, I was under immense pressure as the saxophone guy had other bookings to get to,” he added. As for the frantic phone calls, Tanya made it clear that they had nothing to do with a cheating girlfriend saying, “The video clearly shows me making calls, departing to meet with the lady with other gifts and getting into the mall to see the recipient of the gifts. In conclusion, that was a work call. Thank you!” _*”Chivayo’s Wasteful Spending And Lavish Lifestyle An Insult To Hardworking Zimbabweans”*_ Social media personality Mmatigari has again criticized Wicknell Chivayo for recklessly throwing around US dollars and flying with a group of “mapostori” in chartered jets, calling it a mockery of hardworking Zimbabweans who cannot identify any legitimate business he operates that benefits the public. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mmatigari said that if Strive Masiyiwa, John Moxon, or other business figures engaged in similar displays of wealth, people would not begrudge them, as they at least know the source of their money, despite potential disapproval of their business practices. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. Masiyiwa is the founder and chairman of Econet Global, a leading telecommunications company with operations in multiple countries, while Moxon has a major stake in Meikles Limited. The group includes renowned brands like Victoria Falls Hotel, TM Supermarkets, Meikles Stores, Meikles Centar Mining, and Tanganda Tea Company. Mmatigari suggested that if Chivayo were engaging in such antics in countries like China, he would have faced severe consequences. Wrote Mmatigari: If Strive Masiyiwa, or John Moxon, or other business people threw US dollars around recklessly, or flew around with a bunch of mapostori in chartered jets, people will not begrudge them at all. They may disapprove of their business tactics like pricing and data usage, but they at least know where the money is coming from. Even Chiyangwa, you may think he is devious, but you can go to his properties he build. It’s tangible. Chivhayo’s blatant antics fly in the face of honest hardworking Zimbabweans who cannot point to any business he runs that serves the people. The nation has spent the last several weeks plugging smuggling along the our borders, making sure people pay duty and taxes. There is even a ministerial committee making sure the government collects money. It’s a severe source of national disaffection if there are some devious characters with no known businesses throwing around hard currency like confetti in the face of so much hardship. In China, Xi Jinping would have waved his sjambok of discipline. Over the past several months, Chivayo has given away cars to several public figures including musicians and retired football players. _*Brighton vs Chelsea: Enzo Maresca decries 'worst performance'*_ Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has said "everything" went wrong as his team succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Friday, describing it as the worst performance of his tenure. It marks the second time in a week that Chelsea have fallen foul of Fabian Hurzeler's team. Maresca's side, who were without Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu through injury, were toothless up front and failed to register a single shot on target. "My frustration was about everything," Maresca told Sky Sports after the loss. "We feel sorry for the fans that came. In the position that we are, arriving with 14 games to go, we need to do much better. "We are in a moment when we feel we can concede easily and struggle to score. I think before the goal they didn't have some chances. There are many things we can do better. "Now is the moment we need to stick together. I always feel pressure but this was the worst performance since I arrived. We are still fourth and still in the race to finish in Europe." Chelsea have won just two of their last nine Premier League games and crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Brighton last week. They remain fourth in the table, though one of Manchester City or Newcastle United could leapfrog them with a win in their clash on Saturday. Brighton, meanwhile, moved into eighth with the win having won their first league game since the 7-0 humbling away at Nottingham Forest. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production.