Top news items in major Zimbabwean media outlets

HARARE, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The following are news highlights in Zimbabwe's major media outlets on Tuesday.

-- President Mnangagwa is determined to transform the lives of Zimbabweans and the reforms he is implementing will see France advocating the complete removal of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe, a French official has said.

French Minister of State attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Mr Jean-Baptise Lemoyne yesterday said President Mnangagwa wanted change for the people of Zimbabwe and France was pleased with reforms being carried out. (The Herald)

-- Government has signed a $1,5 billion deal with the Financial and Commodities Ecosystem (FinComEco) to develop a range of platforms, projects and initiatives in the agricultural commodity markets sector in Zimbabwe expected to create at least 630,000 jobs.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between FinComEco and the Office of the President and Cabinet is expected to be extended into a Memorandum of Agreement subject to approval under the new Joint Ventures Act which came into force in January. (The Herald)

-- Allies of former president Robert Mugabe have sent desperate distress calls to both sitting and former heads of state on the continent on fears that the government may arrest the nonagenarian and his wife Grace over festering allegations that he engaged in myriad criminal activities while in power. (Daily News)

-- Fresh disagreements have rocked the opposition MDC-T over a proposal to pay a gratuity to the family of the party's founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Highly-placed sources in the party said the MDC-T last week received 8 million U.S. dollars from the government as part of its share under the Political Parties Finance Act, putting paid to a feeble attempt by expelled former deputy president, Thokozani Khupe, to claim a share of the spoils. (Newsday) Enditem