*Evening News Round-up: Wednesday 04 June 2025* *Headlines* *ZiG Inflation To Stay High Until September, Says RBZ* *Zesa Blames Councils For Street Light Blackout* *Woman Gang-Raped While Boyfriend Watches* *Armed Robbers Hit Sai Mart Supermarket In Nkulumane, Flee With US$2,000* *Taboo: Widow Caught With A Man A Week After Husband’s Burial* *Zvishavane Man (20) Sentenced For Sitting Maths ZIMSEC Exam On Behalf Of Another* *Cruise Company Bans Recruitment Of Zimbabweans For Deserting Into Canada* *South African Politician Sacked Over Visit To Fugitive Pastor* *DR Congo Bans Rreporting On The Ex-president* *Donald Trump’s 50pc Steel & Aluminium Tariffs Take Effect* *Trump Administration Scraps Biden-era Policy On Emergency Abortions* *Men 'Hid In Toilet For 27 Hours' To Watch Champions League Final For Free* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *Stories in Detail:* *ZiG Inflation To Stay High Until September, Says RBZ* The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has warned that annual inflation for the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency will likely remain high until September 2025, after reaching a peak of 92.1% in May. RBZGovernor, Dr John Mushayavanhu, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday. "The high inflation figures are a result of what you call the base effect of a new currency and also the once-off shock September 2024 effect which saw a spike in prices," Speaking at a press briefing on 3 June 2025, Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mushayavanhu addressed growing public concern about rising prices and inflation. He explained that the 92.1% figure, up from 85.7% in April, was largely due to statistical distortions. "The ZiG was introduced as a new currency in April 2024 and there was no base to calculate annual inflation figures up until May this year when 12 months lapsed," — Mushayavanhu explained. He added that a sharp rise in prices in October 2024—following a spike from 5.8% to 37.2% in month-on-month inflation—was skewing the year-on-year numbers. RBZ says the monthly inflation has been under 1% for the past three months, indicating underlying price stability. Dr Mushayavanhu said the inflation figures would stabilise later this year. "But overall the nation should expect a low annual inflation figures from around September 2025 which will provide a real picture of our inflation figures which will drastically come down,— he said. He emphasised that the current high annual rate does not reflect the true picture on the ground and should not cause panic among the public. The RBZ encouraged Zimbabweans to pay more attention to month-on-month inflation, which directly impacts purchasing power. The central bank believes this metric gives a clearer view of the economic environment. To further calm fears, the governor pointed to the strong backing behind the ZiG currency. The nation’s reserves have reportedly grown significantly. "Our reserves have grown at an unprecedented rate from US$257 million (approximately R4.8 billion) to just under US$700 million (approximately R13.2 billion) within a year of the ZiG’s introduction," — Mushayavanhu stated. The Reserve Bank reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining tight monetary policy to ensure continued price and exchange rate stability. "The prudent monetary policy management being pursued by the Reserve Bank will engender price, currency and exchange rate stability," — concluded the governor in a written statement dated 4 June 2025. *Zesa Blames Councils For Street Light Blackout* A wave of violent muggings has hit the cities of Bulawayo and Chitungwiza, plunging residents into fear and frustration as entire suburbs remain in darkness due to street light disconnections. The blackout crisis has been linked to a payment standoff between local authorities and Zesa Holdings, the national power utility. Zesa's distribution arm, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), confirmed that the outages stem from councils' failure to purchase prepaid electricity tokens for newly installed meters. "The current outages result directly from local authorities not purchasing tokens for the prepaid meters we installed," ZETDC said in a statement. The utility noted that it had communicated with municipalities about the meter transition since June last year, with final written notices issued in May 2025 warning of disconnections. While the meters were initially installed with starter units - 50 for single-phase and 200 for three-phase connections - the councils reportedly failed to buy further top-ups, leading to the disconnection of public lighting. As a result, criminals have taken advantage of the pitch-dark streets, with reports of a sharp increase in muggings, thefts, and other violent crimes across several high-density suburbs. In Bulawayo's Nketa and Pumula, and in Chitungwiza's Units L and H, residents say the absence of lighting has turned once-busy streets into danger zones. "The lights went off two weeks ago and since then it's been a free-for-all for thieves," said Thabani Sibanda, a vendor in Bulawayo whose stall was ransacked twice in the past week. "We need action, not excuses about who should pay for what." Residents in Chitungwiza echoed the concern. "We are living in fear. Just last night three people were robbed on our street," said Nomalanga Ndlovu from Unit L. In response to the security threat, residents in some areas of Bulawayo have started community patrols to escort women and workers traveling after dark. Others are pooling resources to install solar-powered lights in key locations while awaiting official action. Shalvar Chikomba, national chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust, condemned both the Bulawayo and Chitungwiza councils for their failure to safeguard residents. "This bureaucratic paralysis is costing lives daily," Chikomba said. "Councils must immediately prioritise citizen safety and restore street lighting." ZETDC said it was working with councils to expedite meter registration and assist with bulk token purchases, but residents say such measures are too slow in the face of escalating danger. With winter deepening and nightfall arriving earlier each day, residents fear the situation will worsen unless urgent action is taken to restore street lighting and improve public safety. *Bulawayo24* *Woman Gang-Raped While Boyfriend Watches* A 21-year-old woman was gang-raped by armed robbers while with her 33-year-old boyfriend on Monday night. The attack occurred around 11pm after Richard Maravanyika’s vehicle broke down near the Kuwadzana turn-off on the Harare-Bulawayo highway. He pulled over and parked. As the couple considered their options, two men emerged from nearby bushes. One assailant struck Maravanyika on the head with a metal bar, knocking him unconscious. They bound his hands with a test meter cable and his legs with his t-shirt. The second robber, armed with a knife, pulled the woman from the passenger seat. Both men then repeatedly raped her while Maravanyika was held captive and forced to watch. Following the assault, the robbers searched Maravanyika and stole his money and cell phone, as well as the woman’s phone. Harare Province police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed that the rape and robbery are under investigation. *Hmetro* *Armed Robbers Hit Sai Mart Supermarket In Nkulumane, Flee With US$2,000* Armed robbers raided a Sai Mart Supermarket (formerly Choppies) in Bulawayo’s Nkulumane 12 suburb and allegedly made off with US$2,000 after firing a single shot inside the store. According to one of the shop’s managers, the suspects, believed to be three men, struck around midmorning. One of them reportedly fired a shot into the air to cause panic, while another stood guard at the main entrance. The manager said: They went away with just over US$2 000. None of the employees was injured during the robbery. The spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Bulawayo, Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said detectives from the homicide section were attending the scene. *Chronicle* *Taboo: Widow Caught With A Man A Week After Husband’s Burial* A young widow is being ridiculed by both her in-laws and netizens after she was caught with a man a week after her husband was buried. The now-viral video was shared on Crime Watch Zimbabwe, in which she was caught with another man red-handed. The video has managed to garner a lot of negative reactions towards the widow at how fast she moved on with her life. Young Widow Ridiculed For Having Boyfriend A Week After Husband’s Burial In the video, it seems like her in-laws caught her in bed with a man in her marital home. The family members started to ridicule the woman for moving on too fast after her husband’s death. To this, the woman shared that she had urges for intimacy ever since her husband died, and she acted upon them. The family went on to say that she should have opened up to them about her problems. To this, the woman questioned whether she should have eased her urges with their husband and her late husband’s brothers. The woman was defiant that her decision to get a boyfriend was the right one for her. She also accused the relatives of hitting her when they caught her during the incident. *Tradition’s Stance On Widows And Widowers* Our tradition usually frowns upon women who move on too fast after being widowed compared to men. Usually, someone is given a year to be in bereavement when their partner dies. After this period, the widow is then traditionally cleansed and given the go-ahead to find a new companion. While some men take less time to grieve and society stands with them, women get the short end of the stick and are faced with ridicule. *Zimbabwe reacts* Many Zimbabweans have concluded that the woman was already cheating when her husband died. Below are some of the comments from the post: @SamapendaHenry That was too early akagara anacho chikomba @ChiefZelizwe Akagara Ari mu game hake it’s an eye opener. Don’t dedicate your entire self to these women, most of them ain’t loyal. That’s why our fathers were polygamous it helped balance out these things while achieving the greater goal of pro creating another generation and legacy. @Saulmakosa Poverty is leading women to find a boyfriend so soon after the husband has passed , this happens especially if the woman was a housewife. *Zvishavane Man (20) Sentenced For Sitting Maths ZIMSEC Exam On Behalf Of Another* A 20-year-old man from Zvishavane has been convicted of impersonating another candidate during a Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) exam. Fidelis Chipungu was found guilty by the Zvishavane Magistrates’ Court after he posed as Hilton Malunga to sit for the ZIMSEC Mathematics Paper 1 at George Chipadza Secondary School on 26 May 2025. Chipungu used Malunga’s national identity card to gain access to the examination room and completed the paper in his name. The deception was uncovered shortly after the exam, when school authorities summoned Chipungu to the Deputy Headmaster’s office. There, he admitted to the offence. The matter was quickly reported to the police by the exam invigilator, leading to his arrest. In sentencing, the court imposed a two-month prison term, wholly suspended on the condition that Chipungu completes 70 hours of community service. *Cruise Company Bans Recruitment Of Zimbabweans For Deserting Into Canada* Princess Cruises has announced the immediate suspension of shore leave for all Zimbabwean crew members in Canadian ports, citing repeated desertion incidents involving seafarers from Zimbabwe. In an internal communication dated June 3, 2025, and addressed to ship captains, hotel general managers, and human resources officers, Elio Autiero, Vice President of Maritime HR Strategy & Operations, said the decision was driven by operational and safety concerns. “Desertion poses serious risks to our business and the safety of our teammates,” wrote Autiero. “Unfortunately, since the start of our Alaska season, there have been several desertion incidents in Canadian ports by seafarers from Zimbabwe.” The directive instructs ship officers to implement the shore leave suspension “with immediate effect” and applies exclusively to Zimbabwean nationals working aboard Princess Cruises vessels in Canada. Autiero acknowledged that the restriction “may be challenging” for affected crew members but emphasised its necessity. “It’s important for us to keep our teammates safe, stay in regulatory compliance, and reduce risks when we become aware of them,” he said. The memo further states that Zimbabwean crew will not be transferred to other regions but will be disembarked at ports outside of Canada upon completion of their contracts. The company is also reassessing future assignments for Zimbabwean nationals. “In addition, our crew planners and concession partners are working to reassign future joiners from Zimbabwe,” Autiero added. The suspension comes amid increased scrutiny from Canadian authorities over crew member movements, with Princess Cruises coordinating with both the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Staff with questions were directed to contact David Price, Senior Manager of GTP Management, who is liaising with border control agencies. The move is likely to spark concern among seafarer welfare advocates and Zimbabwean migrant worker organisations, who may view the decision as a form of collective punishment based on nationality. As of publication, Princess Cruises had not issued a public statement beyond the internal notice. *South African Politician Sacked Over Visit To Fugitive Pastor* A top official in one of South Africa's biggest political parties has been sacked after he visited a controversial Malawian pastor in April. Floyd Shivambu has been removed as secretary-general of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party barely six months into the job after he attended an Easter service at self-proclaimed pastor Shepherd Bushiri's church. Mr Bushiri, from Malawi, was one of southern Africa's best known preachers when he was arrested and charged with fraud in South Africa in 2020. After being released on bail, he managed to flee to his home country in unclear circumstances. South Africa has been trying to extradite him ever since. Mr Bushiri denies any wrongdoing and, together with his wife Mary, has applied to review a judgment that approved their extradition to South Africa, according to local news site Eyewitness News. The MK party, which was founded by former President Jacob Zuma, said in a press conference on Wednesday that Mr Shivambu's removal came after his actions "were found to be against the spirit and prescripts of the MK party's constitution". "The president and national officials were left with no other option but to act swiftly," said MK national chair Nathi Nhleko. He added that the trip "was not an officially sanctioned programme of the organisation". However, Mr Shivambu remains a member of the party and will instead represent MK in the National Assembly. Reacting to news of his demotion, Mr Shivambu said he "fully accepts" the decision taken by the party and looked forward to taking up his new role in parliament. Mr Shivambu joined the MK party in August last year from the rival Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and was later appointed secretary-general - one of the party's top positions. Under the leadership of former President Zuma, the newly formed MK party came third in last year's elections - a major factor in the governing ANC losing its majority for the first time since democratic elections were introduced in 1994. Mr Shivambu was widely criticised in April when he reposted footage shared on X by Mr Bushiri showing the self-proclaimed pastor asking hundreds of worshippers at his Jesus Nation church to welcome the South African politician. The politician, in his retweet, also praised Mr Bushiri for his "good work" and "for hosting us". Mr Bushiri is a millionaire who set up churches in several African countries. He is accused of preying on poor people who were desperate to improve their lives by selling merchandise including "miracle oil". The self-proclaimed prophet claims to have cured people of HIV, made the blind see, changed the fortunes of the impoverished and, on at least one occasion, walked on air. Mr Bushiri has also been charged with rape. He and his wife have denied any wrongdoing. Sanet Solomon, an analyst based at South Africa's University of the Free State, said Mr Shivambu's removal was "expected" given the negative publicity his visit to Malawi garnered. "His removal does, however, raise questions and concerns around leadership retention and succession planning as the party is preparing to welcome its sixth secretary general in its second year of existence. These changes further exacerbate concerns around the party's stability," she told the BBC. Mr Shivambu has been the MK party's longest-serving secretary general since the party's formation in December 2023. Ms Solomon added that Shivambu's "leadership style" and "tension with other party leaders" were contributing factors in his ultimate downfall within the party. The internal conflict between Mr Shivambu and some MK party leaders played out publicly when Zuma's daughter, Duduzile, was forced to apologise after calling him "useless" and "the worst thing that happened to MK" in a post on X earlier this year. "It would not be surprising if he [Shivambu] soon announces his departure from the party," Ms Solomon predicted. *BBC* *DR Congo Bans Rreporting On The Ex-president* The Congolese government has banned the media from reporting on the activities of former President Joseph Kabila and interviewing members of his party. This comes after Kabila returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo last month amid heightened tensions between himself and the government, led by his successor, President Félix Tshisekedi. The authorities are pushing to prosecute Mr Kabila amid accusations of treason and alleged links to the M23 rebels which have been fighting the army - something he has previously denied. Breaches of the ban could result in suspension, said the head of DR Congo's media regulator, Christian Bosembe. Responding to the announcement by the regulator, known as the the Supreme Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), an M23 spokesperson said the media outlets in parts of the country under its control would not abide by the ban. There has been no immediate response from Kabila, however, the secretary of his party, Ferdinand Kambere, rejected the ban, describing it as "arbitrary" on X. Kabila was last week seen in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, which is under M23 control. He has been highly critical of the government after the senate voted to lift his immunity over his alleged support of the M23 group. DR Congo's neighbour, Rwanda has been accused of backing the rebel group, but Kigali denies this. Kabila, who has not yet been charged with any crime, launched a scathing attack on the Congolese government last month, describing it as a "dictatorship". A government spokesperson at the time rejected Kabila's criticism, saying he had "nothing to offer". Reacting to the announcement by the CSAC, activist and president of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights, Jean-Claude Katende, said the ban constituted an "abuse of power", according to local media. Meanwhile, political analyst Ambroise Mamba indicated on X that the ban could be self-defeating because it could pique people's interest to find out about Kabila's movements and activities. Since returning to DR Congo after two years of self-imposed exile, Kabila's party has been posting his activities online, which include visiting civil society groups and local religious representatives in Goma. *Donald Trump’s 50pc Steel & Aluminium Tariffs Take Effect* In a move that has reignited trade tensions with key allies, United States President Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. The new rates, which came into effect early on Wednesday, raise duties from 25 percent to 50 percent. Trump says the measure is designed to bolster the struggling US metals sector. "We started at 25 and then, after studying the data more, realised that it was a big help, but more help is needed. And so that is why the 50 [percent tariff] is starting tomorrow," said White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett during a steel industry event in Washington on Tuesday. The executive order applies to all trading partners except the United Kingdom, which has reached a provisional trade deal with Washington during a 90-day pause on broader tariffs. British exports will continue to face a 25 percent rate until at least July 9. *Allies seek exemptions* The hike is expected to weigh heavily on Canada and Mexico, two of the US’s closest economic allies and among the largest suppliers of steel. Census Bureau data shows Canada alone exports more aluminium to the US than the rest of the top 10 countries combined. Almost half of the US aluminium consumption is imported. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office confirmed that "intensive and live negotiations" were ongoing to remove the tariffs. Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard slammed the decision as irrational, noting the imbalance in steel trade between the two nations. "It makes no sense for the United States to levy a tariff on a product in which you have a surplus," he said, adding that Mexico would seek an exemption. The European Union criticised the decision, saying it "strongly regrets" the move and warned it could take retaliatory action, accusing Washington of undermining attempts at a negotiated settlement. OECD chief economist Alvaro Pereira told the AFP news agency that the tariffs have already dampened global trade, investment and consumption, and that the US will bear the brunt of the fallout. While several of Trump’s tariff measures face legal scrutiny, they remain in force during the appeals process. *Al Jazeera* *Trump Administration Scraps Biden-era Policy On Emergency Abortions* U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday rescinded guidance issued during his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden's tenure requiring hospitals to provide abortions to women in medical emergencies regardless of various state bans on the procedure. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said the 2022 guidance, which interpreted a federal law that ensures patients can receive emergency "stabilizing care" as preempting state abortion bans, did not reflect the policy of the Trump administration. The agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said it "will work to rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability created by the former administration’s actions." The Biden administration issued the guidance in July 2022 weeks after the 6-3 conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court overturned its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that had recognized a nationwide right of women to obtain abortions. The 2022 guidance reminded healthcare providers across the country of their obligations under a 1986 federal law called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) to ensure Medicare-participating hospitals offer emergency care stabilizing patients regardless of their ability to pay. Medicare is the government healthcare program for the elderly. Hospitals that violate EMTALA risk losing Medicare funding. The 2022 guidance aimed to make clear that under EMTALA, physicians must provide a woman an abortion if needed to resolve a medical emergency and stabilize the patient even in states where the procedure is banned and that the federal law preempted any state laws that offer no exceptions for medical emergencies. After issuing the guidance, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of Idaho in a bid to stop it from enforcing its near-total abortion ban in medical emergencies. A federal judge at the Justice Department's urging blocked the Idaho from enforcing the ban during medical emergencies, but the Trump administration in March dropped that lawsuit, resulting in that injunction being lifted. The ban still remains blocked in emergencies due to a similar lawsuit brought by a hospital system. *Reuters* *Men 'Hid In Toilet For 27 Hours' To Watch Champions League Final For Free* Two Belgian men have claimed they hid in a toilet at Munich's Allianz Arena for 27 hours in order to watch last weekend's Champions League final for free. Neal Remmerie and Senne Haverbeke told Belgian broadcaster VRT News they managed to get into the ground the day before the match then emerged to watch Paris St-Germain's 5-0 win over Inter Milan. The pair uploaded a video, external on the social media platform TikTok which showed them sticking a homemade 'out of order' sign on two toilet cubicle doors before they waited in silence for more than a day as stadium staff used the facility. "We had a backpack with snacks and we played around on our phones to kill time," Remmerie said. "The lights were on all the time and the sitting position was uncomfortable, so sleeping was almost impossible. That made it physically and mentally difficult." As soon as the duo heard fans using the toilets on matchday they emerged from the hiding place and made it past another ticket check before taking a seat in a stand. "We looked carefully at which security guard was paying the least attention. While on the phone and with food in our hands, we just walked on, and suddenly we were inside," Remmerie added. "PSG won 5-0 and we were also in the supporters' section of the winning team. It was the most beautiful football match we have ever seen." BBC Sport has approached the Allianz Arena and Uefa for comment. *BBC*