*Zim Makes⏫ Progress on Arrears💰 Clearance Road🛣 Map*

Global financiers have expressed optimism about Zimbabwe’s recently launched Transitional Stabilisation Programme, which is aimed at instituting critical economic reforms.

This comes as Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube today met with heads of several global financial institutions in Bali, Indonesia as Zimbabwe expedites re-engagement with co-operating partners on the arrears clearance road map.

The meeting was chaired by the World Bank Group and was attended by the all three International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the African Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, Paris Club Group of creditors as represented by the French, the European Union, and other key bilateral partners such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, Netherlands, South Africa, among others.

“In the ensuing discussions, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube made a presentation on policy reforms being undertaken by the New Dispensation, focusing on Vision 2030, as enunciated by His Excellency, the President and the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), which is the policy implementation programme of Vision 2030.

“The Minister’s presentation centred on political and economic reforms being undertaken by Government, especially fiscal consolidation, state enterprises reforms, monetary sector reforms and a road map on arrears clearance,” said Treasury in an update.

*8⃣ Soldiers Killed⚰ in Clashes with 💥Boko Haram in Lake Chad Region*

Eight Chadian soldiers died and 11 were injured in a Boko Haram attack in the Lake Chad region on Wednesday, October 10, with 48 jihadists killed as the army retaliated, a military spokesperson said.

“Boko Haram terrorists attacked defense forces positions early this morning in Kaiga Kindji,” spokesperson Colonel Azem told AFP, saying the attack had been “vigorously” repulsed.

Boko Haram took up arms in 2009 in pursuit of an Islamic state in northern Nigeria. More than 27,000 people have been killed during the nine-year insurgency, which has spread to neighboring states bordering Lake Chad.

Chad, Cameroon and Niger have all joined the military effort by Nigeria to crush Boko Haram. Chad has seen a recent increase in attacks by the group.

A Chadian soldier was killed earlier this month after Boko Haram launched a mortar attack on a military camp in Litri, close to the Nigeria border.

On September 29, Chadian troops killed 17 Boko Haram militants in a counter-offensive after six people were killed in overnight attacks on Moussarom and Ngueleya in the Lake Chad region.

The previous Boko Haram attack on the Chadian side of the lake happened on July 22 in which 18 people were killed in a village south of Daboua near the border with Niger.

*Teacher Trainees 😟Lament Over High💰 Academic Fees*

Teachers Trainees in Ghana complained over what they say is the high cost of bills they are expected to pay in their various training colleges for the 2018/19 academic year.

In a statement issued by the leadership of the trainees, they said they were shocked when they found out the high fees does not include their feeding fees which will be taken from their allowances.

They urged the trainees not to pay the fees since the Education Minister has disclosed that the bill has not been approved by Parliament.

The trainees further called on the Ghana Education Service to release the results of the licensure exams on October 15 as promised since their members are growing anxious over their fate.

Bonucci⭐ Wants to Coach Juventus

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Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci says he has settled his dispute with Massimiliano Allegri and would like to emulate his head coach by taking charge of Juventus in future.

The 31-year-old incurred the wrath of Juventus supporters when he moved to AC Milan in July 2017 after falling out with Allegri during the previous season.

After a year at San Siro, Bonucci returned to the club where he won eight Serie A titles and he is compiling notes on Allegri and other coaches in his career, with a view to moving into the dugout at the end of his playing days.

"My dream is to become an important coach of a great team, possibly Juventus," Bonucci told Corriere dello Sport .

"So, I'm observing and putting aside all the secrets of the various coaches that I have had to try to get the best out of myself."

*I am Ready to Lead Zimbabwe Out of Crisis, 🗣Says Determined Chamisa*

As Zimbabwe’s economic crisis deepens - with critical drugs, fuel and wheat in short supply – the opposition MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has called for a crisis meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to try and bring the situation under control.

A new two percent tax on all electronic transactions announced by the Finance Minister on October 1 started a domino ramping-up of prices for goods and services across the entire economy

A directive by the Reserve Bank to banks to separate foreign currency accounts from the local real-time gross settlement accounts has dramatically devalued the bond note, a surrogate currency in use in the country.

Rights groups are preparing to go to court to contest both policy pronouncements.

“I am ready to lead Zimbabwe out of crisis”, Chamisa said, “but President Emmerson Mnangagwa must come to the negotiating table and resolve all hanging political issues.”

Churches under the banner of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) are also leading efforts to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa to the negotiating table to break the post-election conundrum characterised by a worsening cash crisis and escalating shortages of most basic products.

Mnangagwa and Chamisa were the main contenders in the July 30 presidential poll, seen as key to pulling the southern African nation out of international isolation and launching economic recovery.

Chamisa said the economic crisis was the symptom of a crisis of legitimacy, adding it would only end when all Zimbabweans were speaking to the international community with one voice.

“This requires Mnangagwa to come to the negotiating table,” Chamisa said.

*NCCE Condemns Vigilante Activities*

The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Josephine Nkrumah, has condemned activities of vigilante groups calling for their disbandment by political parties in the country.

According to the Josephine, it was only when such militant groups are dissolved from the rank and file of political parties that would show their commitment to peace and national stability.

Ms Nkrumah said this in reaction to a recent attack by a vigilante group called Delta Forces on Dr Akoto Osei, a Member of Parliament for Tafo Pankrono.

Reports indicate that a meeting between Dr Osei and his constituency executives over the weekend was disrupted by Delta Force vigilantes who threatened the MP and the executives.