YEAR 2013 REVIEW

The year 2013 marked the end of the inclusive government formed in 2009 by the country’s major political parties. It has been described as one of the worst in living memory by some. Below are some of the highlights

January

 

•  Flashfloods in Matabeleland, Masvingo and the Midlands leave thousands homeless.

•  Final draft of the new constitution is produced by Parliament’s Constitution Select Committee.

February

• Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono takes an unprecedented step of holding a Press conference with celebrity.

• Preachers Emmanuel Makandiwa and Uebert Angel following claims they were making money appear mysteriously in bank accounts or followers’ pockets.

• President Robert Mugabe sets March 16 as the date for the referendum on the new Constitution.

•   Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson judge Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe resigns on health grounds.

•   Supreme Court judge Rita Makarau appointed ZEC chairperson.

•   Bulawayo born musician Berita Khumalo wins the Metro FM best Afro-pop album award, for her album The Conquering Spirit.

•   Mugabe scoffs at fears about his health saying he was “fit as a fiddle” as he turned 89 on February 21.

March

•   Prominent human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa arrested for allegedly obstructing the course of justice after a police swoop on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s staff in Harare.

• Zimbabwe holds a referendum on the new constitution. The new constitution is backed by more than three million votes — nearly 95% of those who voted.

-It is supported by the countries’ three main political parties Zanu PF, MDC-T and MDC who have been in a power-sharing government since 2009. -The turnout is higher than the 2 696 670 who voted in the 2005 general elections, the 2 421 973 who cast their ballots in the March 2008 general elections and the 2 514 750 who voted in the June 27 2008, presidential election run-off. -The official turnout of 3 317 695, which is well more than half the 5,6 million eligible voters, was higher than many analysts had expected. The constitution’s approval paves the way for elections later in the year.

•   Bulawayo-based Chicken Inn lift NetOne Charity Shield beating Caps United 3-2 at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane.

April

•   Warriors legend Peter Ndlovu is cleared of culpable homicide charges following his brother Adam’s death in December 2012 in a car accident.

• False start to mobile voter registration for 2013 elections.

May

Keep Reading

• Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
• Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
• Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
• Councils defy govt fire tender directive

• Bulawayo City Council stops pumping water from Upper Ncema Dam

• Zimbabwe’s Big Brother Africa Amplified 2011 representative and winner Wendall Parson is arrested for an alleged $23 750 vehicle insurance fraud case.

•  Star FM DJ Munyaradzi Mlimo, aka DJ Munya, arrested for allegedly killing a man he suspected to be his wife’s lover.

•  President Robert Mugabe signs Zimbabwe’s new Constitution on May 22 effectively replacing the Lancaster House charter.

•  Former Zimbabwe ambassador to Cuba and first Matabeleland North governor Jevan Maseko dies and is buried at the Heroes’ Acre.

•  Constitutional Court orders Mugabe to hold elections before the end of July, adding to a political controversy over the timing and funding of the key vote.

June

•   President Robert Mugabe circumvents Parliament to declare July 31 as the harmonised election date.

• Sadc at a summit in Mozambique urges Mugabe to consider postponing election date by another two weeks. Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa seeks a postponement in the Constitutional Court, but emphasises Zanu PF did not agree to a delay.

•  Mugabe admits to cheating with current wife Grace while his first wife Sally was dying of kidney failure in an interview with Dali Tambo of SABC. He justified his actions by saying his mother Bona wanted a grandchild .

•   Alpha Media Holdings launches its second daily paper, Southern Eye and Sunday Southern Eye headquartered in Bulawayo and targeted at Matabeleland, Masvingo and the Midlands.

July

 

• On July 24 queen of mbira Chiwoniso Maraire dies of a chest infection.

• Bulawayo starts pumping water from the Mtshabezi Dam after a decade of waiting.

• Zimbabwe loses Cosafa Challenge final to Zambia 2-0 and Warriors coach Klaus-Pagels loses his job.

• Mugabe wins another term in office under controversial circumstances.

•  Mugabe 2 110 434 votes, 61,09%

-Tsvangirai 1 172 349 votes 33,94% -Ncube 92 637 votes 2,68% -Dabengwa 25 416 votes 0,74% -Mukwazhi 9 931 votes 0,29%

• Zanu PF party won 158 of the 210 parliamentary seats, giving it a two-thirds majority in the legislature. This will enable it to make amendments to the new Constitution.

• Two ZEC commissioners Joe Feltoe and Mkhululi Nyathi resign

•  Tsvangirai rejects the outcome of the polls and launches a Constitutional Court challenge.

August

• Victoria Falls and neighbouring Livingstone in Zambia co-host the 20th United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly drawing the highest number of delegates in the history of the organisation.

•  Constitutional Court throws Tsvangirai’s poll petition out after the MDC leader withdrew his challenge alleging bias by judges.

•  Zimbabwe qualifies for African Nations Championships to be held in South Africa by beating Zambia 1-0 on aggregate.

•  Mugabe inaugurated for a seventh consecutive term since 1980.

•  National Railways of Zimbabwe general manager Mike Karakadzai dies and is declared national hero.

•  Zanu PF founder Enos Nkala dies aged 81 and is declared national hero.

• Former Agriculture minister Kumbirai Kangai dies and is declared national hero

• Pilot Simba Chokore pays $35 000 in lobola for Mugabe’s first daughter Bona, they are expected to wed in March 2014.

• Bulawayo City Council gives notice to 800 vendors at Egodini to relocate to make way for construction of a regional transport hub.

September

• Bulawayo City Council decommissions Upper Ncema Dam.

• Former Matabeleland North governor Jacob Mudenda is voted National Assembly Speaker. Edna Madzongwe retains her post as Senate president.

•  Over 100 elephants killed at the Hwange National Park by poachers using cyanide. Several people including police officers are arrested in connection with the crime amid allegations Zimparks rangers tortured villagers to extract confessions.

•  Mugabe announces a 26-member Cabinet, recycling the old guard, demoting Mines minister Obert Mpofu, Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere to the less influential posts of Transport and Communication and Water and Climate respectively. Mugabe also unveiled the new portfolio of Psychomotor Activities headed by former Masvingo governor Josiah Hungwe and 10 ministers of Provincial Affairs. The Cabinet was criticised for poor women representation (11,5%).

• Jonathan Moyo bounced back as Information and Broadcasting Services Minister.

• Gweru council decommissions Gwenoro Dam.

• 72 people are killed after a three-day siege at the Westgate mall in Kenya’s capital Nairobi by Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants.

• Shabanie Mine pick the BancABC Sup8r Cup after dispatching FC Platinum 5-3 on penalties.

• Tsholotsho-born author NoViolet Bulawayo (Elizabeth Tshele) first novel We Need New Names is nominated for the Guardian first book award and the Man Booker Prize 2013, becoming first black African woman to get the nomination.

October

 

• Former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai spotted at Nigerian prophet TB Joshua’s church service.

• Fifa bans Dyanmos and Warriors midfield Devon Chafa for six months for using a prohibited substance.

• Bulawayo-born jazz musician Dudu Manhenga is sentenced to a 24-month jail term for culpable homicide case by a Harare magistrate. Manhenga had pleaded guilty to charges of knocking down and killing cyclist Graham Martin Millward in 2010. She was released the same month by the High Court pending appeal.

• Independent End Time Message church founder Robert Martin Gumbura is arrested for allegedly raping several women from his church.

•  Zanu PF unveils new economic blueprint — the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset).

•  Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries holds its annual congress in Bulawayo calling for urgent measures to revive the city’s ailing industry.

•  Big Brother Africa Amplified 2011 winner Wendall Parson acquitted of insurance fraud.

November

 

• The government threatens to prosecute foreigners operating businesses in sectors reserved for locals if they don’t comply with indigenisation law by January 1 2014.

• Dynamos for the third time in a row won the Castle Premier Soccer League title on the last day of the season, piping Highlanders and Harare City on goal difference.

• Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa is acquitted of charges of obstructing the course of justice.

• Prominent businessman Philip Chiyangwa’s wife files for divorces and exposes his expansive wealth.

• Highlanders ended their long cup drought by lifting the $130 000 Mbada Diamonds Cup after beating How Mine 3-0 at Barbourfields Stadium.

• Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono’s term in office ends after 10 years at the helm of the central bank.

•  Zanu PF holds divisive provincial elections. Senior politburo members take their fight to the public media.

December

• South Africa’s founding President Nelson Mandela dies aged 95.

• Former Reserve Bank governor Gono nominated Zanu PF senator for Buhera to replace Kumbirai Kangai.

• Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa 2014 national budget is anchored on revenues of about $4,120 billion (29,3% of gross domestic product).

•  Tax revenues to constitute $3,824 billion with the balance of $296 million being non-tax revenue. Budget announcement was delayed by over a month.

• Prominent Bulawayo soccer administrator Nhamo Rusamo dies.

• Bulawayo-born tennis umpire Ngoni Kufazvinei dies of cancer in the United Kingdom.

• President Robert Mugabe commissions the new Joshua Mqabuko International Airport terminal building, unveils Father Zimbabwe’s statue at corner Main Street and Eighth Avenue. Bulawayo’s Main Street is renamed Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street.

• Zimbabwe ambassador to Australia Jacqueline Zwambila defects a few days before being due to return home citing safety concerns.