Login to BlackFacts.com using your favorite Social Media Login. Click the appropriate button below and you will be redirected to your Social Media Website for confirmation and then back to Blackfacts.com once successful.
Enter the email address and password you used to join BlackFacts.com. If you cannot remember your login information, click the “Forgot Password” link to reset your password.
THE 2021 budget presented by the finance minister Mthuli Ncube to Parliament shows that the minister was living in a ‘fantasy world,’ according to academic, Professor Austin Chakaodza. “Some of the major challenges facing our society are issues of poverty and unemployment. Ninety percent of the people of Zimbabwe were already unemployed before the eruption of COVID-19. The majority of the people continue to lack certain basic capabilities which are encapsulated in the socio - economic rights guaranteed in the constitution,” he said. “They continue to be deprived of basic capabilities - such as the capability to be free from hunger, to live in good health, to be literate and access to a social security safety net. This budget does not fulfil a number of human rights such as the right to food, health, education and training,” Chakaodza said. A big part of Mthuli 2021 budget is a range of new tax measures to fund the ambitious $421,6 billion budget. The highlight of this plan is how the taxman plans to go after the informal sector, which is the bulk of the economy but pays little tax. From new and higher taxes to a new tax unit targeting SMEs, it is a budget that gives away very little, but takes a lot. Here is how some of Mthuli’s measures will affect you. If you are a low-income earner There is not much tax relief for you. The tax-free threshold has only been raised slightly from $5 000 per month to $10 000 per month. Tax bands will begin at $10 001 and end at $250 000 per month. This does little for the poorest workers. For perspective; in October, a Zimbabwean family of five needed $18 750 just to stay above the poverty line. If you earn more than $250 000, you pay the highest marginal tax rate of 40%. If you are expecting a bonus, the bonus tax-free threshold has gone up from $5 000 to $25 000, with effect from 1 November 2020. If you were tired of the 2% tax, sorry The 2% tax on mobile money and other electronic transfers stays. The tax has been unpopular since it came in 2018, but Mthuli says it has “generated substantial resources that have enabled Government to support various infrastructure projects”, including the COVID-19 response. So, the Minister isn’t giving much of this cash-cow away. You will no longer pay the 2% for transactions of up to $500, which is just a small increase from the current $300. For forex transactions, this tax will apply above US$5. The maximum of this tax that your business can pay has been raised from $25 000 to $800 000 on transactions with values exceeding $40 million, with effect from 1 January 2021. If you were planning to import a car Government will now control the importation of cars that are 10 years or older. Owning a car has just slid further from the reach of the majority, who cannot afford new vehicles. According to Mthuli, Zimbabwe has spent around US$1,3 billion importing buses and used cars over the past five years. Cars older than 10 years are now off the Open General Import Licence. This means that, from 2021, you will need a special import licence for older cars.
\t On Friday, internet and international calls were cut off across the West African nation in anticipation of the election results, according to locals and international observers in the capital, Conakry.
\t This was the third time that Conde matched-up against Diallo. Before the election, observers raised concerns that an electoral dispute could reignite ethnic tensions between Guinea's largest ethnic groups.
Faith Education Centre has settled into its new location. The special-needs institution, which launched a GoFundMe campaign on May 21 to relocate from its Willodene, Spanish Town, location, has moved to Innswood Village, also in the Old Capital. “...
By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer U.S. stock indexes are modestly lower in midday trading Friday as Wall Street weighs another batch of corporate results from the summer earnings period. The S&P 500 was down 0.2%, after shedding a slight early gain. The benchmark index is on track for its first weekly loss in four weeks. Losses in technology stocks outweighed small gains in health care and other sectors. Treasury yields remained near their highest levels since June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 111 points, or 0.4%, to 28,254 as of 11:54 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite, […]
The post Stocks are down on Wall Street as more earnings come in appeared first on Black News Channel.
SOME of the country's major private sector groups yesterday jointly urged the Government to remove 'all duties and taxes' on digital devices for at least two years.
Tia Mowry is proud of the father her husband Cory Hardrict continues to be to their two young children. \"The Game\" actress shared a picture of her actor
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck is hoping that the Joint Select Committee on the Sexual Harassment Act 2020 can complete deliberations by March 2021 to speed up the passing of legislation that will give protection to hundreds of victims suffering in...
In summary While other states experience deadly surges in coronavirus cases, a national public health expert says the Golden State 'holds a lesson for all of us.' As COVID-19 cases surge alarmingly around the nation, California is in its own zone. And it's a better place than it was. Fourteen states, including Kansas and North […]
The post Now for some good news: California praised for recent handling of pandemic appeared first on Black Voice News.
NURSES have objected to the decision by the Health ministry to scrap the flexible working hours system so that they can work for 40 hours a week. BY HARRIET CHIKANDIWA Health secretary Jasper Chimedza on October 19 directed provincial medical directors to resume normal working hours for all nurses, saying the flexi working hours were creating artificial nurse shortages. But Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enock Dongo, in a letter to Chimedza dated October 21, objected to the order, accusing the permanent secretary of making unilateral decisions. “The decision to implement the flexible working hour system is a product of agreement within the HSBNP [Health Service Bipartite Negotiating Panel]. It was not given unilaterally by the government nor did the employees adopt it on their own accord,” Dongo said. “With this in mind, your decision to unilaterally remove a system which you found in place and, in any event, was reached by agreement, is irregular and certainly not in good faith.” He added that the ministry’s circular ran contrary to the other communication they received on May 11, 2020, where it was put clearly that the flexible hour system would remain in place because it reduced exposure to COVID-19. He said the nurses, therefore, found it unfortunate that he proceeded to remove the flexible hour system when the risk of exposure was still quite high owing to poor supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). “Tied to the above, the flexi-hour system did not only address issues to do with PPE but also addressed issues of incapacity,” Dongo told Chimedza. “When you go to the origins of adopting this system, the reason was that regular working hours were becoming expensive to maintain on the salaries nurses were getting.” lFollow Harriet on Twitter @harrietchikand1
Australia Put up company bank cards paid for hair salon therapies, make up appointments and luxurious abroad accommodations for executives, in response to explosive claims from firm insiders. Besieged CEOChristine…
KwaZulu-Natal police have arrested seven suspects following shootings at two schools in the province. Another suspect was shot dead when police attempted to apprehend him.
By BEN FOX Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Earlier this month, President Donald Trump was predicting on Twitter that this election would be 'the most corrupt' in American history. A day later, the head of an obscure government agency he created offered a much different message. Christopher Krebs, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, closed an online conference with a warning about 'bad guys, whoever they are,' trying to 'sow chaos, sow doubt' about the integrity of the U.S. election. 'I have confidence that your vote is secure, that state and local election officials across this country […]
The post As Trump casts doubt on election, new agency contradicts him appeared first on Black News Channel.
P.J. Patterson, Former PM Jamaica Dear Mr. Dinkins, I am truly saddened by the news of the passing of your dear wife, Joyce Dinkins. Joyce Burrows Dinkins, the younger daughter of Daniel and Elaine Burrows, was an outstanding figure at the Howard University and First Lady of New York, among the many other services to which she contributed towards increasing […]
A 37-YEAR-OLD 1 Commando Regiment-based soldier was on Thursday night killed by three minors after he allegedly attacked their mother over suspected arson at his parents’ home in Zaka, Masvingo province. BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the murder of Aaron Bhasopayi by three children aged 15, 12 and 10 under circumstances still under investigation. “We are investigating what really transpired,” Nyathi said. But a leaked police memo indicated that the soldier travelled from Harare to Zaka on Wednesday on a revenge mission after his parents’ hut was allegedly set on fire by the minor children’s father over a debt. Bhasopayi arrived at the accused person’s home at around 10pm, forced himself into the accused’s room and woke them up before going to their mother’s bedroom, where he stabbed her with a knife, accusing her husband of torching his parents’ hut. The trio’s mother cried for help and on realising their mother was in danger, the 15-year-old accused person grabbed Bhasopayi from the back and the other two accused persons started to assault the soldier using logs. It is alleged the accused persons took an axe which was in the room and struck Bhasopayi several times on the head until he collapsed. The accused persons left him unconscious and alerted neighbours and police. The police officers attended the scene and found Bhasopayi’s body lying in a pool of blood. The police searched the body and recovered a Zimbabwe National Army identity card, three blue tablets, cigarettes and loose dagga. The body was taken to Masvingo General Hospital for post-mortem while the accused’s mother was referred to Ndanga District Hospital for medical attention. The matter is being investigated under ZRP Zaka CR117/10/20. lFollow Desmond on Twitter @DChingarande1
A woman was seriously injured when a tree fell on her and other squatters this afternoon at the first flooded field at Success, East Coast Demerara.
The article Woman seriously injured after tree falls on Success squatters appeared first on Stabroek News.
RICHMOND, Virginia-Research examining the link between hot weather and construction methods is allowing city officials to right decades-old wrongs resulting from discriminatory banking practices. A four-year study conducted by the Science Museum of Virginia shed [...]
By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The one thing most likely to conjure nightmares of the 2016 election night for opponents of President Donald Trump is the Needle. A graphic on The New York Times' website, the Needle measured in real time the probability of victory for Trump or Hillary Clinton as votes were counted. Its steady movement triggered anxiety for Clinton supporters, who repeatedly refreshed the page, and elation for Trump fans. The Needle won't be making a reappearance on Nov. 3, one change in the world of election probability gurus following the unexpected 2016 […]
The post The Needle goes away as probability experts assess 2020 race appeared first on Black News Channel.
AN internal audit has exposed over 180 “voluntary workers” who were bleeding Marondera Municipality amid reports that they were each claiming $60 per day for doing menial jobs such as guarding communal boreholes and digging trenches. BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA This was revealed in a recent council audit committee report. The auditors noted several discrepancies where at some sites five people were said to be guarding a single borehole, amid reports that the “guards” were seconded by mostly MDC Alliance councillors. Marondera town has 11 MDC Alliance councillors and one for Zanu PF. It has emerged that each of the councillors seconded at least 15 workers to perform paid voluntary work. “Audit was concerned with the number of voluntary workers which was sky rocketing,” read part of the report. “The concern was that a single borehole was being manned by five people and to some extent people were attending malfunctioning boreholes. Audit cited loss of revenue.” Council early this year drilled 16 boreholes using devolution funds to ease water challenges, with five of them malfunctioning. According to the audit report, a number of voluntary workers were not reporting for duty but claimed daily allowances. “The audit manager said he received reports from the finance committee chairperson that there were some volunteers who were being paid yet they were not at work. The chairperson said internal audit should do the investigations and report accordingly,” read the report. The local authority is currently operating on a shoestring budget after revenue flows were affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in revenue collection falling by 50%.
THE Westmoreland Health Department is embarking on targeted interventions aimed at influencing behaviour change as part of the fight against the novel coronavirus. Health Promotion and Education Officer Gerald Miller told JIS News that the move comes out of the recent findings of a Knowledge and Attitude Survey conducted among operators of public passenger vehicles (PPV).
FORMER Highlanders coach Reuben Tsengwa has died. BY SPORTS REPORTER Tsengwa died on Thursday of a yet to be confirmed ailment. Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe confirmed Tsengwa’s death in a statement yesterday. “We have learnt with sadness the passing on of a Bosso son Reuben Tsengwa who died yesterday at the age of 60. Tsengwa, a Bosso junior product himself, also served the club as juniors coach before deputising Methembe Ndlovu in the first team in 2006. He also had a short stint as the first team head coach before he left the club in 2009,” Mhlophe said. Burial arrangements are yet to be announced and mourners are gathered at Number Q44 Mzilikazi, Bulawayo.
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has reportedly refused to restore water supplies to Binga Rural District Council until the local authority has paid at least $300 000 of its $1,5 million debt. BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE Zinwa cut off water supplies to Binga in September, forcing residents and business operators to turn to boreholes and other unsafe water sources. Binga Residents Association vice-chairperson Samson Sibanda said Zinwa recently met council officials and indicated that it would restore water supplies after the local authority has paid at least $300 000 towards settling the bill. “We met and agreed on the way forward for water to be reopened. Council is the one that owes Zinwa money and not the residents. For water to be reopened Zinwa said they require at least $300 000 from the council,” Sibanda said. “Residents of Masoja area who are affected by the water cut started to protest and demonstrate saying they had been paying council and the issue has to be resolved immediately.” Binga district development co-ordinator Farai Marinyame confirmed that stakeholders met on Wednesday to try to resolve the crisis. “I was not on the ground, but there was a meeting between Zinwa, residents and the council to solve the ongoing water crisis. For now there is still no water as council is still negotiating with Zinwa so that they take that project,” Marinyame said. “The main problem is that residents are not paying up.” Binga RDC chief executive officer Joshua Muzamba said he was still out of Binga. “I am still out of Binga, just look for those on the ground who can give you information,” he said. Zinwa spokesperson Marjorie Munyonga, who previously pleaded with residents to pay up, yesterday said she was out of office and was yet to be briefed on the latest developments.
The value of the food lost or wasted is put at R60-billion or 2% of SA’s GDP, according to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
A 36-YEAR-OLD Ruwa tenant has been jailed to 18 months for forging her daughter’s birth certificate in a bid to inherit her late landlord’s estate. BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA Abigail Muchafuruka was sentenced by Marondera magistrate Ignatius Mhene, who later commuted the sentence to 420 hours of community service at Ruwa Police Station. The court heard that Muchafuruka forged her daughter’s birth certificate and submitted it in court on July 9 this year in a bid to claim a stake in her later landlord, Peter Kandawasvika’s estate. The forged document indicated that the deceased was the child’s biological father. Muchafuruka told the court that she had an affair with the late Kandawasvika, resulting in the birth of her daughter but her claims were dismissed after records at the Registrar-General’s Office revealed that the child’s original document had no father’s name. The matter came to light after the deceased’s wife noted that there was different printing on the child’s forged birth certificate. John Hama represented the State.
For the most part, treatment is supportive with hydration, rest, controlling fevers in isolation.
Source
[Nairobi News] Who has the right of way? That is the question many pedestrians in Nairobi keep asking themselves even with the recent conversion of several parking lots in the city centre into walkways and cycling paths.
The commitment by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to help increase opportunities and recognize the plight of African Americans as outlined in an exclusive editorial with Black Press USA resonated quite loudly with African American publishers and national board members from the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).
