*Zim Current Affairs Bulletin: Saturday 7 May 2025* *Headlines* *Power Play: Mnangagwa Promotes FAZ Boss Brigadier General Tapfumaneyi To Major General* *….As War Veterans Receive US$500K ‘Bribed'* *180 000 Zimbos With ZEP Permits To Remain In After Supreme Court Of Appeal Upholds Their Protection* *Health Authorities Warn Against Illegal Use Of Ozempic For Weight Loss* *OK Zimbabwe's US$30 million Lifeline Nears As Retail Crisis Deepens In The Country* *Government Contractors Warned Against Dishonesty: ZCATWU* *Two Zimbabwean Care Workers Stabbed In Brutal Attack In UK: One Dead, One Critical* *Impoverished Cop Releases Three Dangerous Armed Robbers For US$25* *South Africa To Ramp Up Vaccinations As Foot-and-mouth Disease Spreads* *Israel Warns Of More Attacks On Lebanon If Hezbollah Not Disarmed* *Norway 3-0 Italy: Italy In 'Difficult Moment' After Defeat By Norway* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *Stories in Detail:* *Power Play: Mnangagwa Promotes FAZ Boss Brigadier General Tapfumaneyi To Major General* The Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has promoted Brigadier General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi to the rank of Major General. Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, conferred the badges of rank on the newly promoted Major General Tapfumaneyi at ZDF Headquarters in Harare on Friday. In his acceptance speech, Major General Tapfumaneyi thanked President Mnangagwa and pledged his commitment to supporting the President’s vision and the Commander’s strategic plans in defending the nation and ensuring its continued security. Media reports last week indicated that Major General Tapfumaneyi has been appointed Chief of Staff of the Zimbabwe National Army. ZimLive reported a source familiar with the developments as saying Tapfumaneyi, a retired brigadier general, who left the CIO in March, had been “parked at his farm in Banket”. President Mnangagwa is said to be grooming Major General Tapfumaneyi for the position of army commander, with expectations that he could succeed Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu before 2027. Tapfumaneyi has been a controversial figure. Opposition parties and human rights groups accuse him of coordinating efforts to intimidate voters during the August 2023 elections, allegedly working with the ruling party-aligned Forever Association of Zimbabwe (FAZ). The United States placed Tapfumaneyi under sanctions for “leading the campaign to disrupt the 2023 electoral process through his leadership of ruling party-affiliated groups.” In March 2024, the US Department of the Treasury said Tapfumaneyi: “is also alleged to have been personally involved in past kidnappings.” *….As War Veterans Receive US$500K ‘Bribe'* President Emmerson Mnangagwa has unveiled a controversial US$500,000 cash package for war veterans, raising eyebrows over the timing and motive behind the generous disbursement. The announcement was made on Friday at the City Sports Centre in Harare, where Mnangagwa officiated at the launch of the War Veterans Empowerment Fund. The move comes amid mounting political tension and growing dissatisfaction within ZANU-PF’s traditional support base. Analysts say the large cash handout is a blatant attempt to secure the loyalty of war veterans ahead of internal party dynamics and possible unrest. According to ZANU-PF youth supporters present at the launch, the cash payouts are meant to support war veterans in starting businesses and improving their livelihoods. “These empowerment launches haasi kungoisirwa for fun but taking care of those beneficiaries,” one youth said. “Recently Hairdressers for ED were given money to boost their hustles, ladies all over the country benefited from the launch and now they have upgraded their saloons and so on.” Supporters of the initiative praised Mnangagwa’s leadership, viewing the move as part of a broader economic empowerment strategy. “On Friday the President together with others like Boss Tungwarara launched War Vets empowerment fund where over $500 000 USD in cash will be handed over to the war vets so that they can start businesses and also live a descent lifestyle. Thanks to the leadership, the initiative is very welcome,” another supporter remarked. However, critics argue that the disbursement is nothing more than political patronage disguised as empowerment. With Zimbabwe’s economy in crisis, public sector wages stagnating, and basic services underfunded, the optics of handing out half a million U.S. dollars in cash are difficult to ignore. Political analyst Dr. Raymond Masvora commented: “This is not economic empowerment; it’s transactional politics. Mnangagwa is buying allegiance in cash because he knows the ground is shifting. The war veterans are a vital bloc for ZANU-PF, and losing their support could have serious consequences.” The move has also sparked concern among civil society groups who question the transparency and sustainability of such handouts. With no clear guidelines on fund allocation, monitoring, or repayment, fears of corruption and misuse loom large. As Zimbabweans grapple with high unemployment and rising inflation, the President’s latest cash-based overture is likely to deepen public skepticism about the government’s priorities — and further fuel the narrative that state resources are being used to secure political survival rather than national recovery. *180 000 Zimbos With ZEP Permits To Remain In After Supreme Court Of Appeal Upholds Their Protection* South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed an appeal by the Minister of Home Affairs against a Johannesburg High Court ruling on Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEPs). The permits, which benefit approximately 180,000 Zimbabweans, grant a special legal status allowing them to live and work in South Africa. This latest judgment, delivered on Friday, 06 June, paves the way for the Zimbabwean Immigration Federation to return to court and argue that only Parliament, not the Minister of Home Affairs, has the authority to determine the continuation or termination of the ZEP regime. In 2023, the Johannesburg High Court overturned a decision by then-Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to terminate the ZEP programme, ordering that the matter be reconsidered through a fair and lawful process. In its ruling on Friday, the SCA noted that counsel for the Minister told the court that “the order is being implemented” and that “the Minister is following a fair process.” However, the Zimbabwean Immigration Federation still seeks to return to court, arguing that ZEP holders and their children enjoy constitutional rights in South Africa. According to the federation, if such rights are to be limited, this can only be done through an act of Parliament—“by enacting a law of general application,” as referenced in the SCA’s judgment. While the SCA did not express a view on the merits of that constitutional argument, it firmly rejected the Minister’s attempt to prevent the federation from making the case in court. When the High Court delivered its judgment, the Zimbabwean Immigration Federation and the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) were both involved in the proceedings. Though both parties sought similar outcomes, their legal arguments differed. The HSF requested a final order from the court, while the federation pursued an interim interdict, intending to argue its main case at a later stage. The court granted both: the final order sought by the HSF and the interim interdict requested by the federation. The Minister had already unsuccessfully appealed against the HSF’s final order. In this latest appeal, the Minister argued that the interim interdict granted to the federation was redundant, since the court had already issued a final ruling in favour of the HSF. The SCA rejected that view. Judge of Appeal David Unterhalter noted that the federation’s case raised “distinctive grounds of review” that had not been addressed in the HSF matter, specifically, whether the Minister has the power to terminate the ZEP regime in cases involving constitutional rights. If the federation’s argument is ultimately upheld, the court noted, it “would not permit the minister to terminate the ZEP regime” without parliamentary involvement. Said Unterhalter: That is a remedial outcome of a considerably more far-reaching kind because it reaches into the future and is not based on a reconsideration. He concluded that the argument of redundancy could not stand, as the Zimbabwean Immigration Federation’s case raised distinct and independent legal issues that had not been addressed in the Helen Suzman Foundation matter. *Health Authorities Warn Against Illegal Use Of Ozempic For Weight Loss* The Medicines Control Authority Zimbabwe (MCAZ) and the Health Professions Authority Zimbabwe (HPA) have issued a warning to the public regarding the illegal sale, purchase and use of Ozempic, commonly referred to as the "skinny jab." The prescription medication is primarily intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but reports indicate a troubling rise in its illicit use for weight loss. In a joint statement the organisations said Ozempic is a prescription medication primarily used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. "As a prescription medicine, Ozempic can only be accessed upon presentation of a valid prescription and should only be used under the strict supervision of a qualified and registered healthcare professional. Self-medicating with Ozempic for weight loss can have serious and potentially life-threatening consequences," the authorities said. MCAZ and HPA have advised the public against purchasing Ozempic from unauthorized sources, including online marketplaces, social media platforms, unlicensed premises, or unregistered individuals "These sources often lack quality control and may offer substandard and/ or falsified medications but also poses a significant threat to public health," read the statement. The organisations urged the public to seek medical advice and treatment only from registered health professionals and institutions in order to safeguard the public. "These can be identified by the possession of a valid practicing certificate from the practitioner’s respective Council, an HPA license for premise registration, and an MCAZ license for both person and premises," said the authorities. Citing relevant legislation, MCAZ and HPA said the selling prescription medicines without authorization is a criminal offense under multiple provisions of the country’s law. "Selling medicines by unlicensed persons from unlicensed premises contravenes Sections 50 and 52 of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control (General) Regulations, 1991, SI 150 of 1991, as read with Section 106 of the same Regulations. Additionally, the sale of unregistered medicines is in contravention of Section 29(1)(a) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act, as read with Section 29(1a) of the same Act," the authorities said. *263chat* *OK Zimbabwe's US$30 million Lifeline Nears As Retail Crisis Deepens In The Country* OK Zimbabwe Limited, one of the country’s prominent retailers, is in advanced discussions to raise up to US$30 million, a move that reflects the significant financial distress gripping the company and also highlights the broader struggles of Zimbabwe’s formal economy. This capital raise, intended to bridge a funding gap, settle supplier debts, and stabilise its financial position, comes amidst a challenging operating environment characterised by volatile exchange rates, inflationary pressures, and a competitive landscape increasingly dominated by the informal sector. The company’s cautionary announcement, initially issued on May 2, 2025, and further updated on June 4, 2025, reveals that the proposed capital raise will be a combination of a rights issue, private placement, and debt instruments. "Further to the cautionary announcement dated 2 May 2025, Directors of OK Zimbabwe Limited wish to advise shareholders and the investing public that discussions regarding the proposed capital raise in the sum of up to US$30 million are now at an advanced stage and are nearing finalisation," Margaret Munyuru, the company secretary stated. "Further details will be announced in due course. The Company will then publish a circular to shareholders incorporating notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Members for the purpose of considering and approving the capital raise. "Accordingly, shareholders and the investing public are advised to continue exercising caution when dealing in the Company’s shares. Further announcements will be made in accordance with regulatory requirements as and when there are material developments." Company documents from February indicated that OK Zimbabwe owed approximately US$30.34 million to suppliers, with a significant portion being creditor balances. OK Zimbabwe’s difficulties are not isolated. The wider formal retail sector in Zimbabwe is facing a severe downturn, as evidenced by the imminent closure of two Food Lovers Market branches in Avondale and Borrowdale. These closures, despite OK Zimbabwe having acquired their franchises in 2023, signal the profound impact of the country’s economic instability on businesses. The challenging operating environment has created an uneven playing field, where informal players often benefit from less stringent regulatory oversight and more favorable parallel market exchange rates. This has significantly impacted major retailers like N Richards Group, Spar, and Pick n Pay, leading to numerous store closures nationwide and a decline in consumer spending power. The Zimbabwean government, in April 2025, repealed Statutory Instrument 81A of 2024 by enacting Statutory Instrument 34 of 2025. This change granted businesses the freedom to set their own exchange rates, a departure from the previous mandate that forced formal retailers to use the official interbank rate, which had disadvantaged them against informal traders. Despite this policy adjustment, the general operating environment remains difficult. *nehandaradio* *Government Contractors Warned Against Dishonesty: ZCATWU* GOVERNMENT contractors have been urged to stop abusing payment delays by the Treasury as an excuse to cause mayhem in the construction industry. Recently, the Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) pressed the alarm button over delayed payments from Treasury saying the development is choking operations in the construction sector. However, responding to the problems raised by the contractors, the Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trades Workers Union (ZCATWU) general secretary, Nicholas Mazarura Tuesday criticized the contractors for amplifying the payment delays to justify underformance in the construction industry. He said surprisingly, even some contractors, who are not involved in business with the government were now taking advantage of the failure to pay by the authorities. "We would like to dispel some misconceptions arising from the issues put forward by the ZBCA. To set the record straight, ZCATWU confirms the challenges that were indicated by ZBCA to be affecting only a handful of employers. We note that the ZBCA seeks to blanket all players in the construction industry to be facing the same challenges," he said. That such dishonesty has the net effect of disturbing harmony in the industry as it has a huge bearing on collective bargaining. He revealed that for over a year now, the construction sector has been experiencing difficulties in negotiating salary and wages since such unscrupulous employers, including many without any business with government, had resorted to hiding behind the empty lies. "Most of the times when we engage for negotiations the response we get is that the government is failing to pay the contractors, but we are aware that we do have some contractors who are not contracted by the government and they are just not paying or increasing wages citing late payments by the government," said Mazarura. ZCATWU contends that the industry has the capacity to pay decent wages and appealed to the contractors’ representatives to advise some employers, who are not contracted by the government to utilise their Works Council platforms to complement the National Employment Council (NEC) efforts. He castigated the sector’s employers for leaving workers to reel under poverty conditions despite having the capacity to pay. "We also have foreign companies operating their businesses and are not willing to increase wages based on government contracts. "The industry is now riddled with several challenges as employers are now seeking to be exempted from paying gazette wages. They are now abusing Statutory Instrument 45 of 2013, which gives the right to employers and employees to waiver and is also very clear on the requirements of waiver," added Mazarura. *NewZW* *Two Zimbabwean Care Workers Stabbed In Brutal Attack In UK: One Dead, One Critical* A violent assault on two Zimbabwean care home workers has left one woman dead and another critically injured, sparking widespread outrage and calls for justice in Birmingham’s care sector. The victims, identified as Charity Kaseke (24) and her colleague Lucia Kwenya, were attacked late Tuesday evening while walking home from work. According to West Midlands Police, the women were ambushed by two unidentified individuals who demanded their possessions before launching a vicious knife attack. Charity Kaseke was found unconscious on a footpath by a passerby and remains in intensive care with life-threatening injuries. Tragically, the body of Lucia Kwenya was discovered the following morning in a nearby river, with police confirming she may have been thrown into the water during or after the attack. The incident has rocked the local community and the elder care facility where both women were employed. Colleagues described them as committed, compassionate, and central to the lives of the residents they cared for. "They were the heart of this place," said one co-worker. "This wasn’t just a robbery—it was an attack on two women who gave everything to care for others." Police have launched a major investigation and are appealing to members of the public for any information. Officers are particularly interested in dashcam or CCTV footage from the area near Small Heath between 9 PM and midnight on Tuesday. No arrests have been made, and the assailants remain at large. "This was a horrifying and senseless act of violence," said Detective Inspector Rob Hudson. "We are doing everything we can to find those responsible and bring them to justice. We urge anyone who saw anything suspicious or has relevant footage to contact us immediately." Community leaders and Zimbabwean diaspora groups in the UK have expressed shock and are demanding swift action and better protection for frontline health and care workers, many of whom are migrants. Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111. *thezimbabwemail* *Impoverished Cop Releases Three Dangerous Armed Robbers For US$25* A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly freeing three armed robbery suspects and accepting bribes. The officer, Shepherd Vutete (49), stationed at Nkulumane Police Station, appeared before Magistrate Archie Wochiwunga facing corruption charges. According to Prosecutor Tafara Dzimbanhete, the incident unfolded on 26 April 2025 when robbery victim Ronnie Chinembiri reported the crime at Nkulumane Police Station around 11:15 PM. A joint response team, including ZRP Nkulumane, the Canine Unit, and CID Homicide Bulawayo, swiftly arrested three suspects, Talent Sibanda, John Dube, and Eugene, and recovered their getaway car, a blue Honda Fit (AFL 4730). The suspects and the vehicle were handed over to Vutete for processing, with instructions from Assistant Inspector Bunga to detain all suspects and keep the car as evidence. However, at 4 AM, Vutete allegedly detained only Talent Sibanda, secretly releasing John Dube and Eugene, instructing them to return with US$30 if they wanted the car back. An hour later, the suspects returned with car owner Excellency Khabo Mkandla, who negotiated the bribe down. Vutete then accepted US$25 and ZAR100, releasing the vehicle. At 9 AM, CID Homicide officers returned to follow up on the case, only to find that both the suspects and the car were missing. The court has postponed the case to 17 June 2025, with Vutete remaining in custody. *Bmetro* *South Africa To Ramp Up Vaccinations As Foot-and-mouth Disease Spreads* South Africa is building up vaccine stocks and expanding inoculations to fight a worsening foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, the agriculture ministry said, as the country faces threats to beef supplies. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious, viral infection of cloven-hoofed animals that may also affect other species. Flare-ups have been reported over the past several months in five of South Africa's nine provinces, with KwaZulu- Natal being the worst affected. This week, Karan Beef, which operates the country's largest feedlot and one of the world's biggest, reported an outbreak at its facility in Heidelberg, about 50 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg. The quarantine imposed on the feedlot, which slaughters about 2,000 cattle daily, could impact beef supplies. The government has ordered over 900,000 doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines with the first batch expected to arrive next week, the agriculture ministry said in a statement late on Thursday. "These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks, but also about building permanent infrastructure to manage future risks," it said. There are growing calls by some cattle producers to declare a "state of disaster" and protect the industry from financial losses. Invoking disaster law gives the government additional powers to intervene in a crisis. The foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks have resulted in South African beef and related products being banned in markets such as China, Namibia and Zimbabwe. South Africa's livestock sector is also recovering from its worst avian flu outbreak, which destroyed a third of the national chicken flock in 2023. On Thursday, the government announced the first ever mass vaccination of poultry to prevent a repeat outbreak of high-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a bird flu that spreads rapidly in an infected flock, causing a high death rate. *Reuters* *Israel Warns Of More Attacks On Lebanon If Hezbollah Not Disarmed* The Israeli military will continue to bomb Lebanon if Hezbollah is not disarmed, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned, saying "there will be no calm in Beirut" and "no order or stability in Lebanon" unless Israel’s security is assured. "Agreements must be honoured, and if you do not do what is required, we will continue to act, and with great force," the Israeli minister said in a Friday statement. Israel’s military launched a series of strikes targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday night, sending huge numbers of residents fleeing their homes on the eve of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday after issuing a forced evacuation order an hour earlier. Israel claimed, without providing evidence, that its latest attack was launched against Hezbollah "drone factories" in the Lebanese capital. The Israeli military said Hezbollah was "operating to increase production of UAVs [drones] for the next war" with Israel in "blatant violation" of the terms of November’s ceasefire. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli fighter jets had carried out about a dozen strikes in the attack. A Hezbollah statement said a preliminary assessment showed nine buildings had been destroyed, while dozens of others were damaged. Hezbollah also denied there were drone production facilities in the targeted locations. The Israeli attack was the fourth, and heaviest, carried out targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs – a Hezbollah stronghold – since the ceasefire ended hostilities on November 27. Israel’s last attack on the Lebanese capital, in which it claimed to destroy "infrastructure where precision missiles" were being stored by Hezbollah, came in late April. *‘Flagrant violation of an international accord’* Across Lebanon, Israel has violated the ceasefire on a near-daily basis in the seven months since it was signed, according to the Lebanese government of President Joseph Aoun, Arab nations and human rights groups. Aoun has appealed to the United States and France, guarantors of the November ceasefire, to rein in Israel’s attacks. Speaking late on Thursday, Aoun voiced "firm condemnation of the Israeli aggression", labelling the attacks a "flagrant violation of an international accord … on the eve of a sacred religious festival". On Friday, Ali Ammar, a Hezbollah lawmaker, urged "all Lebanese political forces … to translate their statements of condemnation into concrete action", including diplomatic pressure. In the months since the ceasefire, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed at least 190 people and wounded nearly 500 more, the Lebanese government said in April. Under the ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese military has been tasked with disarming Hezbollah – a political party and paramilitary group once believed to be more heavily armed than the state. But following Thursday’s attack, Lebanon’s army warned that such attacks are weakening its role in the ceasefire. It added that Israel rejected its proposal to inspect the alleged drone production sites in southern Beirut in order to prevent an air strike. "The Israeli enemy violations of the deal and its refusal to respond to the committee is weakening the role of the committee and the army," the military said in a statement. It added that continued Israeli attacks could lead the army to freeze its cooperation with the monitoring committee "when it comes to searching posts" and dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure near the Israeli border in southern Lebanon. The war between Israel and Hezbollah re-erupted in the wake of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, as the Lebanese group launched cross-border attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Subsequent Israeli attacks on Lebanon killed more than 4,000 people, including hundreds of civilians, before the ceasefire was signed. Hezbollah rocket fire in Israel killed a reported 87 Israeli military personnel and 46 civilians. *Al Jazeera* *Norway 3-0 Italy: Italy In 'Difficult Moment' After Defeat By Norway* Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said his side were in a "difficult moment" after a 3-0 defeat by Norway in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier. Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa put the hosts 2-0 up in Oslo before Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard set up Manchester City striker Erling Haaland to score a third - all before half-time. Italy, who have failed to qualify for the past two World Cups, are fourth in Group I though they have played two games fewer than the teams above them because of their involvement in the Nations League. Norway top the group on nine points, Israel are second on six points and Estonia are third on three points. "I am the head of this group, it is a squad I chose and so I continue with them," Spalletti told RAI Sport., external "We need to improve in certain aspects, because we cannot give advantages to the opponents by gifting the ball." Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma said he had "no explanation". "Our supporters don't deserve this kind of match," said the Paris St-Germain goalkeeper. "We need to do some soul-searching. It's unacceptable." Italy's next game is against Moldova, who are bottom of their group with no points from two games, on Monday. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Spalletti said it was a "difficult moment". He added: "There are always worries, because after a performance like that, you clearly have to ask yourself questions and realise there are problems, but you have to face them, because there is no other possibility." *BBC*