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Feature: ZNA officers trade guns for trowels to safe lives – NewsDay

The Clinic being built in Whunga

IN 1998, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) servicemen acquitted themselves well in combat in far flung N’Djili in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a central African country still torn apart by war today.

They fought the enemy with distinction as they faced real chances of being killed and, indeed, many perished.

After the DRC war, which became known as the Great African War, DRC villagers looked at local soldiers with pride as they left that country with their heads high, having defended people unknown to them.

Back home 25 years later in Whunga, 30 kilometres west of Zezani growth point, Matabeleland South province, three ZNA soldiers are involved in a different type war: To save lives, but not through the gun.

The three, from the army’s building unit, have been deployed to help villagers build a clinic, which will help reduce the distance travelled for health service.

And they are not alone in the new battlefield, having been joined by Simbisa Brands’ Chicken Inn, a fast food take away outlet known as a kitchen away from home.

While many of the Whunga villagers might not have tasted the food outlet’s delicacies, they have come to know the company as a life saver.

Away from the chips, chicken, pizza, hot coffee, ice cream and bread supplied by Simbisa brands, the organisation has contributed to the building of Whunga Clinic to serve close to 1 000 households in Beitbridge West.

“We have so far donated US$10 000 towards the building of that clinic. We are strengthening the community we work in. We benefit from a strong community and that is what drove us. We are giving them another US$2 500,” said Simbisa Brands operations manager at Beitbridge Frank Mudau.

The ZNA and Simbisa have partnered villagers in a project totally different from their lines of business namely war and food, something previously unheard of in the district where health services are still to be within five kilometres of all beneficiaries.

It might also be a first in the country.

“I feel proud to tell people in my area that builders helping us are soldiers. People associate soldiers with war and I am happy about this as a former soldier myself,” said Headman Mazibeli born Mbulawa Wisdom Mazibeli.

He is a veteran of the DRC war who later became an instructor in support weapons at the Mbalabala Military Academy.

“Soldiers must do these community projects in these times of peace,” he said.

Chairperson of the project Ratang Muleya said the clinic’s brickwork was done and they were working on the roof.

“We have a quotation of US$14 700 for the roof. This amount will help us a lot. We cherish this gesture by Simbisa and hope other corporates take a leaf and plough back to communities,” said Muleya. “Apart from the roof we have costs for guards and we also feed the members of the ZNA who have done wonderful work for us.”

The adviser to the clinic building committee and former headmaster of Manama High School, Taelo Muleya appealed to residents locally and in the diaspora, to donate towards the completion of the clinic.

Villagers contributed by buying a bag of cement per five households and also moulded bricks.

“And if those in the diaspora chip in, we will finish this project faster. We have done our best and will continue. This is our project and we are the ones to benefit,” he said.

“Our target is it should be operational soon rather than later,” he said.

Whunga, Tshokotshoko, Dombolidenje and Dendele villagers, who moulded 86 000 bricks for the clinic, will benefit from the clinic which soldiers hung their guns for shovels, spades and trowels to build.

Meanwhile, Simbisa Brands did not, like Vasco Da Gama, the 15th-16th century Portuguese discoverer of new worlds, invest in to discover a new market for its chips, chicken and pizza, but put money in a community needing it most.

It is hoped that others will take a leaf.

Business

Mthuli squeezes consumers, businesses – NewsDay

In his 2024 national budget presentation in Parliament, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube increased taxes to raise an additional ZWL$10 trillion to meet the new revenue targets.

GOVERNMENT yesterday announced a cocktail of tax increases, pushing up the cost of living and ease of doing business after reviewing its 2024 revenue projection upwards by 22,22% to ZWL$53,9 trillion.

In his 2024 national budget presentation in Parliament, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube increased taxes to raise an additional ZWL$10 trillion to meet the new revenue targets.

Treasury initially projected revenue collections to total ZWL$44,1 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year.

“Mr Speaker Sir, in line with the projected economic growth of 3,5%, total revenue collections in 2024 are estimated at ZWL$53,9 trillion, (18,3% of GDP), broken down as ZWL$51,2 trillion tax revenue and ZWL$2,7 trillion non-tax revenue,” Ncube said.

“Guided by the expected revenue envelope and the desired fiscal path, expenditures in 2024 are projected at ZWL$58,2 trillion (19,8% of GDP).”

Ncube announced an upward review on the Strategic Reserve Levy by US$0,03 and US$0,05 per litre of diesel and petrol, respectively, with effect from January 1, 2024, pushing up the cost of fuel.

Ncube also raised tollgate and passport fees beginning next year.

“I, therefore, propose an upward review of toll fees on premium roads, that is, Harare-Beitbridge and Plumtree-Mutare and other roads, with effect from January 1, 2024. Revenue derived from the increased fees will be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” Ncube said.

“I, further, propose that passport and selected fees charged by the Central Vehicle Registry be increased, with effect from January 1, 2024. Additional revenue generated from the above measures will be ring-fenced towards road infrastructure development.”

Ncube also introduced a US$0,02 levy per gramme of sugar contained in beverages, a development that will push up the prices of beverages.

He said the move was in response to growing concerns on the adverse effects of the consumption of sugar contained in beverages. Tax on beverages has also been implemented in a number of countries, including in the Southern African Development Community.

Ncube also introduced a new wealth tax to ensure that high-income earners pay taxes.

“In order to ensure that every person contributes to the fiscus in line with their levels of income. I propose to introduce a wealth tax levied at a rate of 1% of market values of residential properties with a minimum value of US$100 000,” he said.

“Resources derived from the levy will be ring-fenced towards urban infrastructure development, in particular roads, water, sewer and community health centres. Principal private residential properties owned by elderly persons above 70 years will, however, be exempt from the tax.”

While the minister reviewed the tax-free threshold on incomes to ZWL$750 000, from the previous ZWL$500 000, inflation has rendered the move mute because of the rising cost of living.

Ncube also targeted foreign companies by introducing the domestic minimum top-up tax (DMTT).

The tax ensures that qualifying entities located in Zimbabwe with an aggregate effective tax rate below 15% be charged a top-up amount, raising the cost of doing business.

“Under the GloBE Tax Rules, where a tax incentive results in an effective rate of less than 15%, the tax jurisdiction where the multinational is headquartered collects the difference between the effective tax under the tax incentive and the minimum effective rate of 15% (the top-up tax),” Ncube said.

“The DMTT allows the country where the low tax profits arise from the tax incentive to collect the top-up tax rather than ceding taxing rights to the headquarter jurisdiction.”

He said the calculation of the DMTT would be based on the effective tax rate charged on the jurisdictional profits, not the jurisdictions’ statutory corporate income tax.

“I, therefore, propose to enact DMTT rules to guard against ceding taxing rights to foreign jurisdictions on top-up tax arising from tax incentives that are provided to those investments,” Ncube said. The corporate tax rate was also reviewed upwards to 25% from 24%.

Ncube, however, reduced the mandatory value added tax (Vat) registration threshold to US$25 000 from US$40 000, starting next year.

Operators with a minimum annual turnover of US$25 000, or local currency equivalent thereof, are now required to register for Vat.

Failure to register will see applicable penalties invoked, Ncube said.

He said traders registered for Vat purposes and in possession of valid tax clearance certificates would be eligible to procure goods from manufacturers.

“The tax deferred will, however, be fixed at the foreign currency amount payable at the time of importation, albeit, payable in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of importation, albeit, payable in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment.”

Business

Mthuli squeezes consumers, businesses – NewsDay