*ZIMCURRENT AFFAIRS BULLETIN* _*Monday 02 June 2025*_ *HEADLINES* *After Trabablas Disaster, Mnangagwa Okays 5 More Road Road Tenders* *Chamisa Reignites Opposition Fire, Signals Political Comeback* *ZESA Targets Tower Lights With Prepaid Meters, Blames Councils For Blackouts* *Domboshava Couple Robbed Of Car Hours After Purchase* *Detectives Arrest Quartet Found In Possession Of 41 Pieces Of Ivory* *Nigerian Floods Death Toll Hits More Than 200, Officials Say* *Russia & Ukraine To Talk About Peace But Are Still Far Apart* *China Warns US Not To ‘Play With Fire’ Over Taiwan* *PSG Hold Parade To Mark Champions League Victory* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *STORIES IN DETAIL:* *After Trabablas Disaster, Mnangagwa Okays 5 More Road Road Tenders* As Zimbabweans reel from the unveiling of the flawed $88 million Trabablas Interchange, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has sparked new controversy by awarding five more road contracts—this time for the long-dilapidated Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road. The 435km stretch, crucial to Zimbabwe’s tourism and trade sectors, is finally set for rehabilitation. But coming just days after the unfinished, flood-risk-prone Trabablas Interchange was commissioned with crumbling embankments, missing road markings, and wooden signposts, critics are asking: how can the same government justify issuing more contracts without accountability for the last scandal? New members who wish to receive daily news updates from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should WhatsApp ‘join’ to 071 9999 012. In a press briefing on Sunday, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo confirmed that five contractors had been selected from eight applicants. He praised President Mnangagwa for "prioritising this highway," while revealing that Transport Minister Felix Mhona will launch the project on Thursday in Gwayi. However, no public details were provided about which companies were selected, what their past performance has been, or whether competitive bidding was involved — an omission that instantly triggered alarm bells. "After what we saw at Trabablas, Zimbabweans are owed full transparency," said a civil engineering analyst. "We just saw $88 million go into a visibly defective interchange. Now we’re trusting the same leadership with another major artery? On what basis?" The Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road is vital to Zimbabwe’s tourism economy, linking the country’s second-largest city with Victoria Falls and key border posts into Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia. Years of potholes, erosion, and collapsing shoulders have made it a high-risk route — frequently blamed for fatal accidents and soaring logistics costs. Yet the concern isn’t about whether the road should be rehabilitated — it’s how and by whom. "Tourism depends on safety, predictability, and quality infrastructure," said one Victoria Falls-based tour operator. "If this becomes another Trabablas-type showpiece for looting and corner-cutting, it could do more harm than good." What remains conspicuously absent from both the Trabablas and Bulawayo–Vic Falls projects is independent oversight and engineering review. Zimbabwe’s public works continue to be plagued by no-tender awards, opaque cost escalations, and politically connected contractors with questionable track records — such as Fossil Contracting, central to the Trabablas consortium. An audit of the Trabablas project is yet to be made public. Meanwhile, reports of structural shortcuts, brittle sand embankments, and missing basic road elements have become viral symbols of national mismanagement. President Mnangagwa may be counting on ribbon-cutting optics and grand pronouncements to shift focus from Trabablas. But the public is watching. Until full disclosure of contractors, details of the financing, and a published timetable of deliverables are released, many Zimbabweans will remain skeptical — and rightly so. After all, if $88 million couldn’t buy paint and proper drainage in Harare, what hope does Bulawayo–Vic Falls have under the same systems? *zim eye* *Chamisa Reignites Opposition Fire, Signals Political Comeback* After months of political silence and a shift toward spiritual messaging, opposition figure Nelson Chamisa has returned to the national spotlight, reigniting his criticism of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government and fuelling speculation about a formal political comeback. The 47-year-old founder of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), who dramatically exited the party last year citing infiltration by Zanu-PF, has resumed his trademark confrontational rhetoric, openly challenging recent government policies he deems oppressive and anti-citizen. Once focused on Bible verses and motivational posts to his 1.3 million followers on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Chamisa has now adopted a more pointed tone — publicly rejecting new regulations requiring motorists to purchase radio licenses before renewing vehicle licenses. "This is too draconian, anti-citizens and outright heartless," he wrote last week. "Why must I pay for a service I don’t use? Why should I fund partisan propaganda that demonises me from dawn to dusk?" He described Zimbabwe as a "crime scene" and lambasted the Mnangagwa administration for "pauperising" citizens through relentless taxation. *Strategic Shift Amid Rebuilding* While Chamisa has not officially announced the formation of a new political party, sources within his inner circle suggest his recent public statements are part of a carefully coordinated effort to rebuild political momentum from the ground up. "When Chamisa stepped away from CCC, it was never the end of his political journey — just the beginning of a new chapter," a close associate told The Standard. "We are focusing on grassroots structures to insulate the movement from elite-level divisions that have plagued past opposition efforts." The insider indicated that Chamisa’s silence was partly tactical, intended to avoid fuelling premature speculation while consolidating local support. However, there had been growing concern within his camp that his absence from political discourse was being misinterpreted as compromise or capitulation to Mnangagwa’s regime. "This new messaging is meant to correct that perception — and make it clear that he’s not going anywhere," the source added. *Criticism of Media Policy* Chamisa has also sharply criticised the government’s newly launched media policy, which many observers have described as another attempt to suppress press freedom. In a strongly worded post, he called the policy "a hollow gesture," and warned that no real reform was possible without dismantling the state’s tight control over the media. "The real crisis in Zimbabwe’s media sector is not the lack of policy — it’s the continued criminalisation of journalism," he wrote. "ZBC and Zimpapers must be transformed into genuine public service platforms, not echo chambers of outdated propaganda." He also called for self-regulation in the media industry and condemned vague laws that allow authorities to deregister journalists. *Looking Ahead* Chamisa remains one of the most recognisable faces in Zimbabwean politics, despite controversial defeats in the 2018 and 2023 presidential elections — both of which he refused to accept, alleging massive vote fraud. While he has yet to confirm whether he will lead a new political party into the 2028 elections, his growing criticism of Mnangagwa’s government has rekindled speculation about his next move. Attempts to reach Chamisa for comment on his political plans were unsuccessful by the time of publication. As Zimbabwe heads deeper into an economic and political crossroads, Chamisa’s re-emergence may mark the start of another chapter in the long-running struggle between entrenched power and opposition resistance. *thezimbabwemail* *ZESA Targets Tower Lights With Prepaid Meters, Blames Councils For Blackouts* ZESA’s power distribution arm, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), has started rolling out prepaid electricity meters on public street and tower lights. In a statement shared on Sunday, 1 June 2025, ZETDC announced the move as part of efforts to improve service delivery, reduce losses, and make sure local councils are paying for the power they use. Simply put, the power utility wants councils to take responsibility by pre-paying for electricity, just like regular households do. This, they argue, will help keep the lights on without piling up unpaid bills. ZESA to Install Prepaid Meters on Tower and Street Lights ZETDC said the rollout is currently happening in Bulawayo and Chitungwiza, where public lighting is being converted to prepaid meters. The company also pointed out that this plan didn’t come out of nowhere — councils were reportedly notified as far back as June 2024, and were sent written reminders in May 2025. "In line with this programme, public street and tower lights in various municipalities, including Bulawayo and Chitungwiza, are being converted to prepaid meters. It is important to note that ZETDC has consistently engaged with councils since June 2024," part of the statement reads. To make the transition smoother, each newly installed meter was pre-loaded with 50 units for single-phase and 200 units for three-phase systems — just enough to buy the councils some time to register and top up with their own tokens. *iharaare* *Domboshava Couple Robbed Of Car Hours After Purchase* A 26-year-old man from Domboshava has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after robbing a couple at gunpoint and stealing their newly purchased vehicle on New Year’s Eve. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that Blessed Bowa and a group of accomplices, who are still on the run, stormed into the victims’ homestead in Domboshava at around 8 PM on 31 December 2024. Armed with a gun, the gang threatened the man and his wife, demanding the Toyota Corolla they had just bought earlier that day for US$2,000. Fearing for their lives, the victim’s wife handed over the car keys and registration papers. The robbers took off with the vehicle, and it was only later that the victim realised his wallet, containing US$357, ID, driver’s licence and other important cards, had also been stolen. In a strange twist, Bowa contacted the victim on 1 March 2025, pretending to be a Good Samaritan. He asked about a machete that had been in the car and casually mentioned he had come across the victim’s wallet. The victim, realising something was off, reported the matter to ZRP Chinamhora. Police managed to track down the stolen vehicle on 20 March at Zimbiru Business Centre, where it was being driven by Bowa. He fled the scene with the car keys but was eventually arrested. Bowa was convicted of robbery at the Harare Magistrates’ Court and handed a 12-year prison sentence. Two years were suspended on condition he doesn’t commit a similar offence, and another five months were suspended provided he pays restitution to the victims. The court also ordered that the stolen vehicle be returned to its rightful owners. Police are still on the hunt for Bowa’s accomplices. *Pindula* *Detectives Arrest Quartet Found In Possession Of 41 Pieces Of Ivory* DETECTIVES from the police’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) last Friday arrested four suspects found in illegal possession of 41 pieces of elephant tusks. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest. "On May 30, 2025, ZRP CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna, Harare, acted on a tip and arrested Masauso Nevhaya (48), Priscilla Chabata (52), Wonder Bozho (51) and Stanford Mbiriyakura (49) for unlawful possession of 41 pieces of ivory weighing 237kgs," said Nyathi. The suspects, who were scouting for potential buyers, were apprehended by detectives in Braeside along Seke Road, near Telecel Zimbabwe. "Police recovered 35 elephant tusks, which were loaded in brown sacks in a Datsun Go vehicle. "Further investigations led to the recovery of six more tusks from Priscilla Chabata’s residence," he added. *NewZW* *Nigerian Floods Death Toll Hits More Than 200, Officials Say* The death toll after deadly floods hit the Nigerian town of Mokwa on Thursday has risen to more than 200, officials say. There are still 500 people missing in the town in north-central Niger State, as a search mission continues. The deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Musa Kimboku, told the BBC that rescue efforts have ceased because authorities no longer believe anyone could still be alive. The floods, said to be worst in the area for 60 years, swept through the towns of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa after a bout of torrential rain. In an effort to prevent disease in the area, authorities will soon start to dig out corpses buried underground, Mokwa's district head Muhammadu Aliyu said. Recounting scenes of catastrophe, local residents told the BBC that they saw their homes and family members get washed away. One man, Adamu Yusuf, lost his wife and newborn baby. "I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim," he told the BBC. Another resident, Saliu Sulaiman, said the floods had left him homeless and destroyed some of his cash business profits. "I lost at least $1,500 to the floods. It was the proceeds from the sale of my farm produce the previous day. I contemplated going back into the room to get it, but the pressure of the water scared me." On Sunday, the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) announced it had started the process of providing relief packages to people affected. The agency added in a post on Facebook that roads and bridges were also affected by the flood, which has had a knock-on effect on the local economy and traffic. The Nigerian Red Cross also released a statement on Friday saying the floods had caused "significant loss of life and widespread distress". Floods are not uncommon during the Nigerian rainy season, which lasts from April until October. In 2024, Nigeria experienced flooding from heavy rain which caused deaths and drove people from their homes. There was also severe flooding in 2022, when more than 600 people died and 1.3 million were displaced. *BBC* *Russia & Ukraine To Talk About Peace But Are Still Far Apart* Russian and Ukrainian officials are due to sit down on Monday in the Turkish city of Istanbul for their second round of direct peace talks since 2022, but the two sides are still far apart on how to end the war and the fighting is stepping up. U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Russia and Ukraine make peace, but so far they have not and the White House has repeatedly warned the United States will "walk away" from the war if the two sides are too stubborn to reach a peace deal. The first round of talks on May 16 yielded the biggest prisoner swap of the war but no sign of peace - or even a ceasefire as both sides merely set out their own opening negotiating positions. After keeping the world guessing on whether Ukraine would even turn up for the second round, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Defence Minister Rustem Umerov would meet with Russian officials in Istanbul. The Russian delegation will be headed by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, who after the first round invoked French general and statesman Napoleon Bonaparte to assert that war and negotiations should always be conducted at the same time. On Sunday, Ukraine launched one of its most ambitious attacks of the war, targeting Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers in Siberia and other military bases, while the Kremlin launched 472 drones at Ukraine, Ukraine's air force said, the highest nightly total of the war. The idea of direct talks was first proposed by President Vladimir Putin after Ukraine and European powers demanded that he agree to a ceasefire which the Kremlin dismissed. Putin said Russia would draft a memorandum setting out the broad contours of a possible peace accord and only then discuss a ceasefire. Kyiv said over the weekend it was still waiting for draft memorandum from the Russian side. Medinsky, the lead Kremlin negotiator, said on Sunday that Moscow had received a Ukraine's draft memorandum and told Russia’s RIA news agency the Kremlin would react to it on Monday. According to Trump envoy Keith Kellogg, the two sides will in Turkey present their respective documents outlining their ideas for peace terms, though it is clear that after three years of war Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart. Kellogg has indicated that the U.S. will be involved in the talks and that even representatives from Britain, France and Germany will be too, though it was not clear at what level the United States would be represented. Ukraine's delegation will also include its deputy foreign minister, as well as several military and intelligence officials, according to an executive order by Zelenskiy on Sunday. In June last year, Putin set out his opening terms for an immediate end to the war: Ukraine must drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw all of its troops from the entirety of the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed and mostly controlled by Russia. Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul will present to the Russian side a proposed roadmap for reaching a lasting peace settlement, according to a copy of the document seen by Reuters. According to the document, there will be no restrictions on Ukraine's military strength after a peace deal is struck, no international recognition of Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine taken by Moscow's forces, and reparations for Ukraine. The document also stated that the current location of the front line will be the starting point for negotiations about territory. Russia currently controls a little under one fifth of Ukraine, or about 113,100 square km, about the same size as the U.S. state of Ohio. Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops to invade Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops. The United States says over 1.2 million people have been killed and injured in the war since 2022. Trump has called Putin "crazy" and berated Zelenskiy in public in the Oval Office, but the U.S. president has also said that he thinks peace is achievable and that if Putin delays then he could impose tough sanctions on Russia. *Reuters* *China Warns US Not To ‘Play With Fire’ Over Taiwan* China has warned the United States against "playing with fire" over Taiwan in response to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling the Asian power a "threat to the region" at a high-profile summit in Singapore. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Hegseth said China was "credibly preparing" for military action to shift Asia’s power balance, accusing Beijing of rehearsing a potential invasion of Taiwan. China considers Taiwan, a separately governed island, to be a part of its territory and has vowed reunification by force if necessary. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future. Hegseth’s remarks provoked a swift rebuke from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stressed that Taiwan remains a domestic matter, warning foreign powers against using the issue as leverage. It described US actions in Asia Pacific as turning the region into a "powder keg". "The US should not entertain illusions about using the Taiwan question as a bargaining chip to contain China, nor should it play with fire," it said. Hegseth had called on allies in the Asia Pacific region, including key security ally Australia, to spend more on defence after warning of the "real and potentially imminent" threat from China. Calling the US a "true destabilising" force in the Asia Pacific, Beijing accused Washington of deploying offensive weapons in the South China Sea and aggravating regional tensions Beijing accused Hegseth of "vilifying China with defamatory allegations" and promoting a "Cold War mentality". "Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a threat," the ministry said, adding that it had lodged a formal protest with the US over what it described as "inflammatory rhetoric". China and the Philippines contest sovereignty over some islands and atolls in the South China Sea, with growing maritime run-ins between their coastguards as both vie to patrol the waters. Beijing also rejected US claims about threats to maritime navigation, insisting it has consistently promoted dialogue to resolve regional disputes and safeguarded its territorial rights within the bounds of international law. "The US is the biggest factor undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea," the statement read. China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun skipped the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security forum, with Beijing sending a delegation of lower-ranking representatives instead It was the first time since 2019 that China has not dispatched its defence minister to the high-level dialogue on regional defence, except when the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tensions are already high between China and the US – the world’s two biggest economic powers – over Trump’s ongoing trade war and tariff threats. *Al Jazeera* *PSG Hold Parade To Mark Champions League Victory* Paris St-Germain's players celebrated their Champions League victory in the city on Sunday afternoon, hours after trouble broke out across France. The Ligue 1 club beat Inter Milan 5-0 in Saturday's final in Munich to claim their first Champions League title. Luis Enrique's side held an hour-long open-top bus parade through the city, running from the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. There was a heavy police presence for the celebrations, following the widespread disorder in France that occurred on Saturday night after the match, when two people died. A 17-year-old boy died after being stabbed in the chest in the south-west town of Dax, while a 23-year-old man who was riding a scooter in central Paris was also killed after being hit by a vehicle. Paris police prefect Laurent Nunez said 192 people were injured in the overnight clashes, with 491 arrests in Paris alone. Flares and fireworks were set off, bus shelters smashed and cars torched, with much of the disorder occurring in the capital. Twenty-two police officers and seven firefighters were injured, while 264 vehicles were set on fire. A car ploughed into PSG fans in Grenoble in south-east France, leaving four people injured. All those hurt were from the same family, police said. Two were seriously injured. PSG released a statement condemning "in the strongest possible terms the violence that occurred during the celebrations". "These isolated acts are contrary to the club's values and in no way represent the vast majority of our supporters, whose exemplary behaviour throughout the season deserves to be commended," the club said. Despite the disorder, a decision was made to go ahead with the victory parade on Sunday. A cap of 100,000 attendees was put on the event. PSG's players made their way to the Elysee Palace after the parade to be greeted by France president Emmanuel Macron. They will close their celebrations with an event for season-ticket holders at the club's Parc des Princes stadium later on Sunday night. *BBC*