*Morning News: Tuesday 03 June 2025* *Headlines* *US$88 Million Trabablas Interchange Sparks "Looting" Claims As Loan Matures* *New High-Quality ZiG Banknotes On The Way* *ZHRC Raises Red Flag Over Inhumane Conditions At Harare Remand Prison* *France's Labour Needs Open Doors For Struggling Zimbabwean Workers* *New Twist To Mpofu, Chimombe Fraud Case As Former Agric Perm Sec Gives Evidence* *More Than 700 Believed Dead In Nigeria* *Iran Demands Sanctions Relief Guarantee In Nuclear Talks With US* *Rugby Concussion Lawsuit Rises To 1,100 Former Players* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *STORIES IN DETAIL:* *US$88 Million Trabablas Interchange Sparks "Looting" Claims As Loan Matures* The US$88 million Trabablas Interchange and Divergence Routes Road Infrastructure Project, officially commissioned last Friday by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is facing intense public scrutiny over its escalating costs and alleged financial irregularities. The project, funded by an US$88 million loan from Fossil Mines (Private) Limited and augmented by allocations from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), has sparked widespread debate regarding its value for money and transparency. The loan agreement with Fossil Mines, formalized on December 6, 2021, under the Public Debt Management Act [Chapter 22:21], bears an interest rate of LIBOR plus 5% per annum and is set to mature this week, on June 6, 2025. A 9-month grace period was granted on the principal amount, with Fossil Mines directly overseeing and disbursing project funds. Concerns have, however, been raised that the US$88 million cost for the Trabablas Interchange is significantly inflated, reportedly more than double the regional market price for comparable or larger infrastructure projects. This has led to public skepticism regarding the government’s justification for the project’s expenditure. Investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has brought to light several critical points, alleging a pattern of financial manipulation. According to Chin’ono, the interchange, which he sarcastically renames "Trabablas" (meaning "nonsense" in Spanish), was originally designed in South Africa with an initial cost estimate of US$42 million, which included compensation for affected landowners. Chin’ono has claimed that the cost was subsequently inflated to US$88 million. He further pointed to a 2023 government gazette declaring the funding as a loan from Fossil Mines, a company associated with Kudakwashe Tagwirei and run by his ally Obey Chimuka. Chin’ono questions the unusually high interest rate of LIBOR plus 5% for a sovereign loan and highlights that LIBOR was officially discontinued in 2023, making its inclusion in a 2021 loan deal highly questionable. Chin’ono has alleged that funds from the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), received by Zimbabwe in 2021, were also allocated to the Trabablas project, creating a "double allocation" of funds. When pressed for details on the amount of IMF money allocated, government officials reportedly declined to comment, citing instructions from the President’s office. "Zimbabwe received SDR allocations from the IMF in 2021. The government did allocate part of these to infrastructure, and a portion of the SDRs was directed to the Mbudzi project. "The project therefore received a double allocation; a loan of US$88 million plus huge interest that you, the taxpayer, are expected to repay, and funds from the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights," he stated. Sources within the Ministry of Finance, according to Chin’ono, suggested that the IMF money was intended to service the Fossil Mines loan, a justification that has been met with incredulity, with one official reportedly stating,"Ndokudya kunoitwa nevakuru" ("That’s how the powerful eat" or "That’s how the elites benefit"), implying corruption. Furthermore, allegations have surfaced regarding inflated land compensation values, with properties reportedly valued at US$100,000 being acquired for US$500,000, allegedly in exchange for kickbacks. Chin’ono said Mnangagwa hoped that the "misplaced excitement" about Trabablas project would prevent the public from realizing how millions of dollars, which should have been allocated to vital public services like hospitals, schools, and clean drinking water, were instead allegedly looted through the interchange project. "In a country with only one terrestrial television station, where journalists are jailed without trial for exposing corruption, it is no surprise that Mnangagwa believed he could excite Zimbabweans with an interchange—hoping that such misplaced excitement would distract citizens from realising how the same misnamed project was used to loot public money (millions of dollars) meant for hospitals, schools, and clean drinking water," he stated. Exiled former cabinet Minister Jonathan Moyo has, however, praised the project as a "giant milestone". "A GIANT MILESTONE: As malcontents continue to peddle competing amounts on what they claim is its cost between US$88 million and US$100 million – depending on the time of the day or the audience they’re targeting; and while they fall on each other, acting like forensic engineers, to spotlight its alleged structural or retrofit faults; the Trabablas Interchange in Harare commissioned yesterday is indubitably a giant milestone in the development of not just Harare but of the country itself; whose utility and benefit to the public cannot be ignored or over stated. "More of the same across the country – leaving no city behind – would be great for Zimbabwe,’ Moyo posted on his X handle. *nehandaradio* *New High-Quality ZiG Banknotes On The Way* Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor John Mushayavanhu has announced plans to introduce a new series of higher-quality ZiG banknotes in denominations of ZiG10, ZiG20, ZiG50, ZiG100, and ZiG200. He said the rollout of the higher denominations will be done gradually, based on market demand. Said Mushayavanhu: The process of procuring and producing banknotes, however, can be lengthy and the Reserve Bank will keep the public updated on the progress. In addition to issuing the enhanced quality banknotes, the Reserve Bank announced measures to support the increased use of ZiG, particularly in the informal sector. These measures include the planned enforcement of point-of-sale (POS) machines for all businesses in the economy. Moreover, actions being taken by Government to increase the demand for the local currency through tax requirements in local currency, such as the quarterly payment dates (QPDs), will also continue to entrench the demand and confidence in the local currency. The requirement for quarter provisional income tax payments (QPD) on a 50-50 basis for taxpayers that earn 50 percent or more income in local currency has effectively increased the demand for ZiG in the economy. The increased demand for ZiG has in turn contributed to the prevailing exchange rate stability, which is critical for anchoring inflation expectations. Currently, ZiG10 and ZiG20 banknotes are in circulation, but they are in short supply due to their fragility. Most of the notes in use are already dirty and worn out. *pindula* *ZHRC Raises Red Flag Over Inhumane Conditions At Harare Remand Prison* The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) says inmates at Harare Remand Prison are living in degrading and inhumane conditions. In line with its constitutional mandate, the ZHRC conducted a human rights monitoring visit to Harare Remand Prison on April 29, 2025, and found that prisoners were being held under severely inhumane circumstances. Addressing journalists in Harare on Monday, ZHRC chairperson Jessie Majome said the visit aimed to ascertain and verify concerns over the prolonged detention of inmates, particularly those arrested for politically sensitive reasons. "The mission was meant to ascertain and verify facts following concerns over the prolonged detention of inmates arrested for politically sensitive cases, including Blessed Mhlanga and the 94 detainees arrested in relation to the 31 March 2025 Protests," said Majome. Mhlanga, a first-year law student at the University of Zimbabwe, was arrested in February 2025 on charges of inciting violence after allegedly broadcasting a video statement by war veteran Blessed Geza. He spent 72 days in pre-trial detention and missed his examinations. Majome, a lawyer and former deputy justice minister, said political inmates are particularly vulnerable to extended detention without trial. "Inmates held in cases of political interests suffered prolonged pre-trial detention in violation of the right to be detained without trial and to be released on bail unless there are compelling reason justifying such detention. "The inmates experienced inhuman living conditions mostly due to overcrowding, with prison cells designed for 35 inmates holding more than 80, leading to unsanitary and degrading living conditions," said Majome. The rights body has urged the government to urgently address the situation. "In light of these findings, the ZHRC urged relevant authorities to take immediate action to prioritise urgent bail application since bail is a right to be enjoyed by all unless there are compelling reasons justifying continued detention, to conduct thorough investigations into alleged police misconduct and ensure accountability for any abuses. "Improve prison conditions, reduce overcrowding, restore communication facilities and ensure adequate medical care for all detainees," added Majome. However, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services has attributed the dire prison conditions to resource shortages. A report presented in the National Assembly in February 2023 by the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs confirmed that major prisons across the country are overcrowded. "At the time of the visits, it was gathered that Harare Remand Prison, with a holding capacity of 900 inmates, was housing approximately 1,485 inmates inclusive of 154 prohibited immigrants. "At Bindura Prison, a prison cell with a holding capacity of 20 inmates was housing 87 inmates instead," said the committee. As of April 2025, Zimbabwe’s combined prison population stood at 22,878, exceeding the national holding capacity of 17,000 inmates. The committee attributed the overcrowding to the frequent imposition of custodial sentences by the courts, instead of alternative sentencing options. *263chat* *France's Labour Needs Open Doors For Struggling Zimbabwean Workers* France’s escalating need for foreign labor to address its workforce crisis has presented new employment opportunities for individuals, including those from Zimbabwe, in key sectors such as healthcare, construction, and agriculture. The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) estimated in its 2022 census that there were at least 908,913 Zimbabweans living abroad, with South Africa and the United Kingdom hosting the largest populations. For instance, South Africa’s 2016 census estimated 574,047 Zimbabweans in that country, while Zimstat estimated 23,166 in the UK, though other sources suggest significantly higher figures for the UK. The country is currently seeing an accelerated migration due to the economic crisis, with UK data showing a 424% increase in skilled visas issued to Zimbabweans between 2020 and 2022, marking the biggest increase for any country during that period. A recent study by the French think tank Terra Nova projects a need for 250,000 to 310,000 foreign workers annually by 2040, driven by an aging population and declining local workforce participation. This growing demand presents potential opportunities for individuals from countries like Zimbabwe, currently experiencing accelerated migration due to economic challenges. According to Travelobiz.com, France in 2022 welcomed approximately 331,000 immigrants, a figure expected to remain steady or increase to meet the rising labour market demands. Key sectors already struggling to find enough local workers include healthcare, construction, agriculture, and cleaning services. The healthcare sector, in particular, demonstrates a high reliance on international professionals. In the Ile-de-France region, which encompasses Paris, foreign nationals constitute 61% of healthcare workers. Furthermore, about 20% of doctors in public institutions received their training overseas. Similarly, construction and agriculture face persistent shortages, especially for manual and seasonal labor, leading to increased government reliance on immigrant workers. *nehandaradio* *New Twist To Mpofu, Chimombe Fraud Case As Former Agric Perm Sec Gives Evidence* The case in which businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe are accused of defrauding the government of US$7 million in a botched presidential goats scheme Monday took a new twist after former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture John Basera acknowledged that they only partly failed to meet the contractual agreement. Basera was being cross-examined by Mpofu’s lawyer, Advocate Tapson Dzvetero, when he confirmed that the duo’s company, Blackdeck, had managed to meet their first-year target of a five five-year deal. Basera told High Court judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda that Blackdeck supplied 3,595 goats against 3,113, which was written in their agreement. The former permanent secretary also confirmed that the company had unforeseen challenges in mobilising the goats locally. "We had green, red and buffer zones because of Foot and Mouth Disease. If I remember well, we had made a recommendation of not transporting goats from one province to another province, but to do intra-province distributions because of Foot and Mouth Disease," he said. Basera confirmed that when the Agriculture Ministry asked Blackdeck to supply 500 goats for a launch project in Chipinge, the company delivered. Dzvetero also asked him to confirm that there were also other incidents where the company wrote to the company to supply the goats for other launches, and he said this was correct. The court heard that the ministry was supposed to call the guarantor or go for arbitration in cases of conflicts as outlined in the agreement but the ministry did not do so. Basera said wthat when he left the ministry, plans were being made to call the guarantor. The court also heard that the ministry instead went on to request the supply of more goats under the presidential goat pass on scheme despite the conflict which arose. The state alleges Blackdeck submitted fraudulent documents to win the US$87 million deal. It is alleged that the two were given an advance payment of US$7 million, which they failed to account for, and they both deny the charges. Trial continues Tuesday. *NewZW* *More Than 700 Believed Dead In Nigeria* The official death toll after deadly floods hit the Nigerian town of Mokwa on Thursday has risen to more than 200, officials say. Another 500 people are still missing in the town in the central Niger State however, local official Musa Kimboku told the BBC that rescue efforts had ceased because authorities no longer believe anyone could still be found alive. The floods, said to be worst in the area for 60 years, swept through the Mokwa districts of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa after torrential rains. 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." Some local residents have said that the flooding was so devastating because a nearby dam had burst, however the authorities have not confirmed this. Residents said the pressure of the floodwater was so intense that bodies had been washed up in the town of Rabba, at least an hour's drive from Mokwa. Mokwa's Deputy Vice-Chairman Musa Kimboku said they had told neighbouring villages to bury "any corpse that they find." District head Mr Aliyu said some bodies were unrecoverable because they had gone "through the River Niger". 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* *Iran Demands Sanctions Relief Guarantee In Nuclear Talks With US* Iran has demanded that the United States clarify exactly how sanctions will be lifted if the two sides are to reach a new agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmail Baghaei made the comments on Monday, days after the US submitted what it described as an "acceptable" proposal. Unverified reports claim that Iran sees the offer as a "non-starter" and is preparing to reject it. The pair has conducted seven weeks of negotiations over the nuclear programme, with the US seeking assurances that it is peaceful, while Iran hopes to escape punishing sanctions that have battered its economy in recent years. However, Tehran is now demanding Washington detail what it is offering, reflecting scepticismvoiced earlier this year by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In remarks carried by the official IRNA news agency, Baghaei stressed the need for guarantees regarding the "real end of the sanctions", including details on "how and through what mechanism" they would be removed. "The American side has not yet provided the necessary clarity in this regard," he said. Baghaei also reiterated Iran’s intention to continue enriching uranium for "peaceful" purposes. US envoy Steve Witkoff has said President Donald Trump opposes Tehran continuing any enrichment, calling it a "red line". A leaked United Nations report shows that Iran has ramped up production of uranium enriched to 60 percent, short of the roughly 90 percent required for atomic weapons but significantly above the 4 percent or so needed for power production. Baghaei dismissed the report as biased, accusing unnamed Western countries of pressuring the UN to act against Iran’s interests. Official sources cited by The New York Times said the recent US proposal includes a call for Iran to end all enrichment. While Tehran has confirmed receipt of the proposal, which the White House described as being in Iran’s "best interest", it has said it is still reviewing the document "Receiving a text certainly does not mean accepting it, nor does it even mean that it is acceptable," Baghaei said. The Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed Iranian diplomat as saying that Tehran is in the process of "drafting a negative response to the US proposal, which could be interpreted as a rejection". The official described the proposal as a "non-starter" because it does not soften the US’s stance on enrichment or offer a "clear explanation" of sanctions relief, according to the report. Iran has held five rounds of talks with the US since April 12 in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with the leading powers that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. *Al Jazeera* *Rugby Concussion Lawsuit Rises To 1,100 Former Players* More than 520 additional former rugby players have joined a concussion lawsuit against the sport's authorities, according to the law firm bringing the case. Rylands Garth says there are now more than 1,100 former players involved, with 784 from rugby union and 319 from rugby league. Steve Thompson, Mark Regan and Phil Vickery - part of England's 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning squad - former Wales stars Gavin Henson, Colin Charvis and Ryan Jones and England and British and Lions scrum-half Harry Ellis are among those seeking damages from World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union. In November, former British and Irish Lions duo Lee Byrne and Phil Greening were confirmed to have joined the concussion lawsuit. The former players claim the governing bodies were negligent in failing to take reasonable action to protect them from serious brain injuries. A similar action is being taken against the Rugby Football League (RFL) and the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA). "Players continue to play almost all-year round, with many elite players soon to embark on extremely physical summer tours across the rugby world. We will continue to fight for justice for those who gave so much to the game," a Rylands Garth spokesperson said. In March it was revealed that medical assessments carried out on behalf of the company suggested two-thirds of the claimants in the lawsuit against rugby league authorities showed symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). One of the claimants in the rugby league case is Roy Heaney, who played for Wigan and Salford in the 1980s, and was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable CTE. He told BBC Sport he sustained regular concussions and the care he received while training and playing matches during his rugby league career was insufficient. Friday 30 May marked the final opportunity for new players to join the legal actions before the case potentially goes to trial next year. Rylands Garth also represents approximately 130 former football players, taking similar action against the Football Association and others. Meanwhile, the company is awaiting the outcome of a Solicitors Regulation Authority investigation after a former England player alleged he was pressurised into joining its group claim. Former prop Will Green said he was pressured to sign up to the litigation even after a second scan, arranged independently of the legal action, found no signs of brain damage. *BBC*