Own Correspondent|Former ZANU PF Politiburo Member Professor Jonathan Moyo says ex-ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa assisted him to re-join the party in 2009 after he had been an Independent politician from 2004.

Moyo made the revelations when responding to a twitter conversation with ione Elijah Chihota who had said, “Jonathan Moyo, you are an ungrateful creature, you always call President Mnangagwa names even when you are unprovoked. You should thank the President do you remember those days when Webster Cremora Shamu did not want to see your return in ZANU PF? Who saved you?”

Moyo replied that, “It’s good to see you guys are worked up. The heat is on. Didymus Mutasa was behind my return in 2009 and the person who knows how is Juliet Machoba. Mnangagwa had nothing to do with it. Nothing!”

In December 2010 during the ZANU PF People’s Conference Mugabe told delegates, “I don’t want to call him a prodigal son. He is back as he was working in the party; he has talent and I am sure we will be satisfied with his work.”

In 2004 Moyo had fallen out of favour with Mugabe for allegedly organising the Tsholotsho Declaration where he lobbied several ZANU PF bigwigs to support the appointment of Emmerson Mnangagwa as vice-president at its December national conference ahead of current incumbent Joyce Mujuru.

An angry Mugabe fired him and suspended several party officials linked to the succession plot.

Political analysts, among them, Ibbo Mandaza one of the Founding Trustees of the Non-Governmental Network, SAPES TRUST have said that it is not feasible for Mnangagwa to be in power beyond the constitutionally stated two terms, each with five years.

His remarks come after ZANU PF Secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu had told Mnangagwa that Parliament can amend the constitution for him to have more than two terms. Mpofu had said:

Mr President, you can go beyond 2028 if you so wish because the issue of law can be taken care of in parliament.

While political analyst, Dr Tawanda Zinyama has warned that this “wishful thinking” will attract unnecessary anarchy as was the case in “the Great Lakes region in countries such as Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo”, Mandaza believes that Mnangagwa will be restricted not only by the Constitution. He said:

This is highly presumptuous given Mnangagwa’s age and the unknown in politics. This is political daydreaming.

When Mnangagwa came to power in 2017, taking over from Robert Mugabe who had ruled the country with a firm hand for nearly four decades, he pledged that he would, if revoted, be in power for only two terms.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has given his wife, Mary, until Friday, November 6, to leave their matrimonial home in Borrowdale, ZimLive reports.

The retired army general furiously cut ties his wife in July after a hospital bedside row in South Africa as he battled a mystery illness.

Mary, a former model and ex-wife of footballer Shingi Kawondera, was forced to return home as Chiwenga was flown to China where he received lengthy treatment before returning home on November 23.

Chiwenga has not been home to see Mary or their children after moving into their other property in Chisipite, from where he has been plotting his divorce.

Sources say a day after returning home, on November 24, the vice president sent an emissary to serve Mary with “gupuro” – a traditional Shona divorce token, typically a coin.

The couple were customarily married in 2011. The marriage is recognised under Zimbabwean law but carries complexities which notoriously bring grief to widows. Mary reportedly drew Chiwenga’s ire when she asked for a Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11) union as the 63-year-old battled for his life in a Pretoria hospital.

Chiwenga, who suspects that he was poisoned, reportedly told aides he feared his wife may have had a hand in his illness and accused her of infidelity.

Shortly after returning home, Chiwenga called in Harare lawyer Wilson Manase to finalise his separation.

Manase, while confirming Chiwenga was his client, declined to comment.

Court officials said the lawyer’s first move had been to obtain a gag order from a judge to officially conceal the file relating to Chiwenga’s divorce.

A letter was then delivered to the 36-year-old Mary directing her to vacate the property and leave behind their two children together – a boy and a girl aged eight and seven. The couple had been living with two other children, a boy and a girl, from Mary’s previous marriage.

A source close to the developments said Mary had also called her lawyers to fight the intended eviction, which follows a familiar script. Chiwenga divorced his first wife, Jocelyn, in 2010 to clear the path for his marriage to Mary.

Jocelyn was evicted from the matrimonial home and also had soldiers sent by Chiwenga – then the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces – to kick her out of their farm in Shamva.

Mary, currently battling poor health herself, was not answering calls on Thursday and had not responded to messages left on her mobile phone.

George Charamba, the presidential spokesman, said: “I don’t get into people’s private relationships or homes. Sorry, I can’t help.”

ZimLive

Vice President Kembo Mohadi and Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday took time to spend the day launching, the now out of sorts ZANU PF government, Community Resilience Bakeries Programme in Waterfalls, Harare.

According to ZANU PF the National Bakeries Programme initiative introduced by the Government early this year is aimed at improving the supply of bread at affordable prices to the country using very ancient methods of baking the bread.

VP Mohadi said Government, including other stakeholders, will continue to support the bakeries programme throughout the country so that more and more people can afford to buy cheaper bread.

“Not only are these bakeries closer to our people, they are run by community members who will also generate income from the projects,” said VP Mohadi.

“Our efforts and indeed our current thrust are to assist the new and existing bakeries to increase their production capacities in a bid to make bread affordable and accessible to all our citizens.

“The community bakeries are one of our quick-win solutions to the challenges we are currently facing as a nation and I am delighted that once they are fully functional, they will improve our people’s livelihoods and enhance community resilience in all the 10 provinces.”

VP Mohadi said community bakeries promoted rural industrialisation in addition to improving food and nutrition security.

He added that the country could only achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030 when food was available at affordable prices.

“The benefits of this programme at local level are immense as our communities will play an important role in rural industrialisation, employment creation, local value chains development and improving our food and nutrition security. This is in line with our economic blueprints — the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and Vision 2030.

“The impact of these blueprints is economic stabilisation and growth with the participation of all our citizens regardless of location. As we strive to transform our nation into a prosperous upper middle-income economy by the year 2030, a key success driver is a healthy and productive citizenry. We can only have a productive workforce if food is made available on the table at an affordable price and in adequate quantities,” said VP Mohadi.

“As Government we call for ethical conduct of business and urge established bakeries to forge win-win linkages with the community-based bakeries we are launching today. Our rich indigenous knowledge systems and locally available technology are making a huge positive impact on people’s lives; hence we should maximise their usage.

“It has also come to my knowledge that we can use alternative sources of energy to fuel bakeries such as biogas, LP gas and solar, among others,” he said.

He said this had created shortages of bread and bakery products in areas out of reach of big bakeries.

“It is therefore imperative that we engage marginalised communities in coming up with solutions such as these localised bakeries,” he said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said bread was not a luxury but a nutritional necessity and should never be in short supply.

Source: State Media

State Media|Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has warned politicians sponsoring machete gangs that the law will be applied on everyone regardless of social standing.

This comes as police have arrested over 5 000 people in eight months for offences ranging from illegal mining to possession of dangerous weapons.

Addressing a media conference in Harare yesterday after a meeting with his deputy, Cde Mike Madiro, police commanders and officials from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Minister Kazembe said the issue of machete gangs was now worrisome and a serious security threat.

Under an operation dubbed “No To Anarchy by Artisanal Miners” police have since March arrested 3 471 people for possessing dangerous weapons, among them, machetes, while 1 549 illegal artisanal miners were also arrested countrywide.

The biggest number of illegal artisanal miners was arrested in Matabeleland North with 546 offenders nabbed, while the least number was arrested in Bulawayo where 27 were accounted for.

Midlands had 219 arrests, Harare (200), Mashonaland West (186), Matabeleland South (147), Mashonaland Central (83), Mashonaland East (53), Masvingo (46) and Manicaland (42).

A number of deaths have been reported in mining areas, while rape cases are also said to be on the increase.

“We have met with our Mines and Mining Development Ministry counterparts and the police commanders today to discuss the topical issues of the machete-wielding gangs.

“The media is awash with stories of machete gang wars and this is worrisome to us as we want peace and security to prevail.”

“Everyone has a role to play in this fight against illegal activities. Politicians, church leaders, individuals and Zimbabweans at large should all come together in fighting this scourge.

“The law will not be applied selectively in dealing with illegal activities regardless of one’s social standing, including politicians,” said Minister Kazembe.

“We will continue with the raids because we are saying Zimbabwe is open for business. We cannot attract investors if law and order is not prevailing in the country. We have moved a gear up in the raids as these issues are of a security threat.”

He said they were doubling efforts to bring sanity in all areas across the country.

“The arrests made so far are evidence that police are on the ground dealing with this issue.

“We will continue working with other security arms so that this issue is addressed once and for all. We will also work with those tasked with protecting the environment so that the environmental damage is also addressed,” he said.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the arrest of illegal artisanal miners was an ongoing process.

“We have identified 260 panning sites across the country where police carry out constant raids as some of these areas are now havens of criminal activities like murder, robbery, assaults and rape.

“Those found in possession of dangerous weapons like machetes and iron bars will not be spared in the arrests. Arrests are being made across the country especially in areas where there are mining disputes,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi urged people to follow proper procedures in registering claims with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.

“No one should take the law into his or her hands regardless of political standing. Law and order will certainly prevail and Government wants peace in the country and as the police, it is our duty to guarantee this peace. The sanctity of human life should be respected.

“We recorded a recent death in Inyathi, Bubi District, Matabeleland North when a gang of about 50 illegal artisanal miners attacked other miners on Sunday and Monday and this is not acceptable,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo said the machete gangs called “MaShurugwi” had unleashed a reign of terror by killing, raping women and slaughtering people’s livestock.

“Our people are living in fear because of the violent behaviour of the hordes of illegal gold miners who come from other districts. The guys attack locals if they find them also panning for gold.

“They are always carrying axes and machetes. They are so daring that if the gold belt is stretching to people’s homesteads, these criminals violently force them out of their homes so that they can extract the mineral,” said Minister Moyo.

He added: “We are engaging police to ensure that they increase the deployment of their officers in these areas affected by the violent gold panners.”

The issue of the machete wielding gang wars also spilled into Senate yesterday, with Zvishavane Senator Lillian Timevous asking the leader of the House, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi on what Government was doing to thwart the gangs.

In response, Minister Ziyambi said: “The Home Affairs Ministry is alive to the issue. Measures are being taken and in the near future you will witness some changes on the issue pertaining these illegal activities. People should be allowed to go about their business freely without any fear of attacks from these gangsters.”

Own Correspondent|Government is putting a lot of attention on ZUPCO so much that it is beginning to raise eyebrows that something fishy could be happening behind the scenes.

With the culture of corruption and looting that is characteristic within the government, it will be no surprise in the nearest future when reports begin to emerge from the suspect transport company.

The heavily government subsidised company is expecting another batch of new buses next month.

Zupco acting chief executive officer Mr Everesto Madangwa said the batch would arrive from China and South Africa, but could not give the precise number of coaches expected.

There are now 516 conventional buses and 458 kombis in the Zupco fleet, with some of them operating under franchise to service both urban and inter-city routes.

Government is subsidising the fuel allegedly from revenue realised from excise duties.

“Everyday, the number of kombis registered under the Zupco franchise is rising,” said Mr Madangwa. “We are targeting to register 1 000 kombis by end of this month and so far, the progress made shows that we are heading towards reaching the target.

“More private operators are requesting to operate under the Zupco franchise. The scheme seeks to provide travelling convenience during the festive season and beyond.”

Source: State Media

State Media|ZANU-PF commercial enterprise, M and S Syndicate (Private) Limited, has contested the registration of three upmarket properties as part of the late former President Robert Mugabe’s estate.

The Mugabes villa — known as Blue Roof — in Harare’s elite suburb of Helensvale, Borrowdale, and another house where their daughter Mrs Bona Chikore lives, known as number 27 Quorn Avenue, Mt Pleasant as well as number 129 Forbes Road, Waterfalls — are registered in the name of M and S Syndicate.

The properties are mentioned as part of the late leader’s estate in the declaration filed at the Master of the High Court by the Mugabe family, recently.

The company, through its lawyers Chihambakwe, Mutizwa and Associates yesterday, set the record straight on the status of the three properties.

“These properties still belong to the company and at the moment they do not form part of the estate of the late former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe,” said Mr Simplisius Chihambakwe, a senior partner at the law firm.

The objection to registration of the properties with the Master of High Court came as Mrs Chikore was appointed executor of her late father’s estate during a private edict meeting held yesterday.

The appointment was undisputed. She now has the task to gather all the assets of the late liberation icon for purposes of compiling the final list for the desolution of the estate.

Mugabe’s widow Mrs Grace Mugabe, Mrs Chikore and her husband Mr Simba Chikore and an unidentified lady attended the edict meeting.

Also in attendance was the family lawyer Mr Terence Hussein of Hussein, Ranchhod and Company, who confirmed the edict meeting took place, saying it was conducted in a suave manner.

“In terms of the law, the Master calls a meeting of the late president’s very close relatives and children to appoint an executor, like what we did here today (Thursday).

“Surprise, surprise, the apple of his eye and one and only favourite daughter Bona Mugabe-Chikore has been appointed the executor of the late former president Robert Mugabe’s estate,” he said.

The job of the executor is to compile the list of assets and liabilities of the deceased.

Once that is done, a distribution account will be compiled which will list what is there on the ground (both the credit and debit side).

Rusell Goreraza is Mrs Mugabe’s son from her first marriage.

Commenting on reports that some of the properties such as Gushungo Dairy were not listed, Mr Hussein said: “Nobody can own the entire company but can only own shares. So Mugabe did not own Gushungo Dairy Pvt Ltd. It is owned by the Mugabe family.”

Mr Hussein dismissed as hearsay, reports that the former President owned properties in Dubai.

The lawyer, however, conceded that the upmarket Bluer Roof mansion was registered in the ruling party’s name and hailed Government and Zanu-PF for promising to transfer the ownership into Cde Mugabe’s name.

“It’s worthy to acknowledge what Government did on the Blue Roof property. It promised to transfer the ownership into Mugabe’s name despite the fact that he no longer exists. Also including the other house in Mt Pleasant.

“All the papers are being processed right now,” said Mr Hussein.

Mugabe died at the age of 95 in September this year in Singapore where he had been receiving treatment.

THE United Methodist Church was plunged into mourning ahead of its eastern annual conference at Old Mutare tomorrow after the death of one the convention organisers and his wife in a horror accident in Headlands on Wednesday evening.

The accident, which occurred at the 140km peg in Headlands along the Mutare-Harare Highway, claimed the life of Reverend Duncan Charwadza and his wife Janet Charwadza (52), Edwin Kudzaishe (26) and their driver Joice Mushamiri (26).

The victims were travelling in an Isuzu KB 205 which veered off the road after side-swiping a haulage truck.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident saying all four died on the spot.

Their bodies were later taken to Rusape General Hospital mortuary.
He said the haulage truck driver escaped unscathed.

“The driver of the Isuzu truck encroached into the opposite lane in a bid to overtake a haulage truck and sideswiped the haulage truck in the process,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.State media

A ZHOMBE man was found dead in his bedroom with an axe stuck at the back of his head in a suspected case of murder.

The body of Moses Moyo of Mgandani Village under Chief Malisa was discovered at an advanced stage of decomposition.

Acting Officer Commanding Police Kwekwe District, Superintendent Machiva Gwembe confirmed receiving the report.

“For now, I cannot comment further but we received a report to that effect. I will be able to comment after the return of our officers who are on the ground as we speak,” said Supt Gwembe.

Ward 13 Councillor, Cafemol Moyo, said the village was still in shock.State media

By A Correspondent- The United Methodist Church was plunged into mourning ahead of its eastern annual conference at Old Mutare tomorrow after the death of one the convention organisers and his wife in a horror accident in Headlands on Wednesday evening.

The accident, which occurred at the 140km peg in Headlands along the Mutare-Harare Highway, claimed the life of Reverend Duncan Charwadza and his wife Janet Charwadza (52), Edwin Kudzaishe (26) and their driver Joice Mushamiri (26).

The victims were travelling in an Isuzu KB 205 which veered off the road after side-swiping a haulage truck.

The deceased couple was travelling to Mutare, where Rev Charwadza is instrumental in organising the eastern conference which starts tomorrow and ends on Sunday.

The conference bid farewell to the church’s long serving leader, Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa.

Rev Charwadza and wife were part of the church cabinet members who had just returned from a foreign trip with the outgoing Bishop Nhiwatiwa on Wednesday morning.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident saying all four died on the spot.

Their bodies were later taken to Rusape General Hospital mortuary.

He said the haulage truck driver escaped unscathed.

“The driver of the Isuzu truck encroached into the opposite lane in a bid to overtake a haulage truck and sideswiped the haulage truck in the process.

Upon realising that there was an oncoming vehicle, the driver then attempted to move back to the correct lane, and behind the haulage truck, but failed and veered off the road resulting in the vehicle overturning, killing all the four occupants on the spot,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He advised motorists to be more careful on the roads.

“Police are deeply concerned with the loss of innocent lives in road accidents due to human error.

“We urge motorists to avoid overtaking in situations which endanger the lives of passengers and other motorists. Drivers should be exemplary while on the road,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

UMC administrative assistant to the bishop, Rev Alan Masimba Gurupira, also confirmed the deaths

“As you have been told by the police, it happened and I cannot say anything more than the police,” he said.

Mourners are gathered at 3 Dawson Avenue, Yeovil, Mutare.

– Manica Post

ZANU PF youths have been accused of terrorising business people in Harare by demanding donations for the ruling party’s People Conference which is slated for next week in Goromonzi.

About 7000 delegates are expected to grace the event with the party saying that preparations are going according to plan.

A businessman who spoke to the Daily News on condition of anonymity revealed that the youths were demanding money from business people.

He said:
We thought this ended with Mugabe when such demands were common, especially when there were rallies, national hero funerals, his annual birthday, but the culture is back now.

“The youths want me to contribute money, which they say is for transport and logistical costs. I wouldn’t mind if it was a genuine request but there is an element of demand.

This was confirmed by another businessman who expressed sadness over the development which he said was happening when things were hard for everyone.

The allegations were dismissed as false by Zanu PF Bulawayo’s fundraising committee spokesperson, Khumbulani Mpofu that the party was targeting its traditional donors admitting however that raising targeted $500 000 was utopian.

Business people used willingly fund the ruling party’s events to safeguard their business interests but the rapidly deteriorating economy forced many to assume a retreating role as they are also struggling to keep their businesses afloat.
Credit :Daily News

Farai Dziva|Elderly people and vulnerable children in Gutu District, Masvingo Province are being denied access to food aid for allegedly being sympathetic to the opposition.

This was revealed by MDC councillor for ward 27, Gutu South, Alderman Jeffrey Tangemhare.

“We have people who are really vulnerable; the elderly, widows, the sick and orphans. Most of these have totally run out of food because of the drought and now they are being left to starve to death by their own Government,” said Alderman Tangemhare.

Another source in area said:”Zanu PF activists have declared that they are determined to wipe out opposition supporters by denying them access to food aid.”

"Reform of any nature is difficult. Reform of the type and magnitude we are currently implementing at economic, political and legislative levels is even beyond difficult. It borders on the margins of hazardous in terms of degree of patients we as govt are asking from our people'' pic.twitter.com/lPP1LiXQgU

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) December 5, 2019

By A Correspondent- The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Ms Hilal Elver who recently completed an 11 day mission after an invitation was extended by the government from 18 to 28 November 2019, exposed the dire state of the economy which has resulted in acute food insecurity in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Peace Project has revealed.

ZPP said currently, many citizens are surviving on one meal a day and some have resorted to dehumanising means to obtain food for their families.

Reported the ZPP in its monthly monitor:

“In her preliminary report, the Special Rapporteur elaborated that “the most vulnerable segments of society, including the elderly, children and women, are forced to rely on early marriage, and sex trade to obtain food, behavioural patterns that often are accompanied by domestic violence, as coping mechanisms to mitigate the serious challenges they are facing.

This kind of struggle for subsistence affects their physical wellbeing and self-respect. It creates behaviour and conditions that violate their most fundamental human rights.

The Special Rapporteur’s report is a clarion call for the speedy address of the grim situation in Zimbabwe. She clearly articulated that women and children are mostly bearing the brunt of the food crisis.

The Special Rapporteur stated that “The vast majority of children I met in the rural parts of Masvingo and in Mwenezi, as well as in informal settings
in the suburbs of Harare, appeared severely stunted and underweight due to reduced food availability caused by high levels of poverty and the consequence of the recurrent drought and floods.”

She added that she saw effects of infants who are deprived of breast milk as their mothers are failing to access adequate food to produce breast milk.

This, she explained has a far reaching effect on the health and welfare of the children.

The report confirms that almost 8 million Zimbabweans in both rural and urban areas will need food and other aid until March 2020.

However, the vulnerability of this population is being exacerbated by the blatant politicization of aid and deprivation for those perceived to be opposition supporters.

This was evidenced by the rise in the number of cases related to food and other aid to 55 cases recorded during the month of November up from the October cases at 33.

Masvingo province recorded the highest number of this violation at 22 followed by Mashonaland Central province with 10.”

By A Correspondent- High Court judge Justice Webster Chinamora has ordered Kwekwe Polytechnic College to release the results for 93 electrical engineering and diesel plant fitting students.

The College had withheld the results of the 93 final students, who wrote their examination in March, on suspicion that they cheated after they scored extraordinarily high marks which were supposedly out of sync with the current regional trends.

In his ruling, Justice Chinamora absolved the students of the cheating allegations. He said:

It appears that candidates were penalised for the simple reason that they were expected to fail, without taking into account the possibility that they had confounded expectations for reasons other than cheating, for an example, preparing well for the examinations.

The students had petitioned the High Court to force the College to release their results and bar Higher Education Examination Council (Hexco) from ordering a re-write of the examination.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Controversial Madzibaba Spenlodge Madenyika who was facing fresh rape charges was last week acquitted with the presiding magistrate ruling that he had given him the benefit of doubt after realising that both he and the complainant were grossly dishonest.

Madzibaba Spenlodge was acquitted after a full trial by regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire.

In giving his ruling, Magistrate Nemadire said throughout the trial, the complainant showed that she was dishonest, she was an agent who sourced clients to stage fake miracles at Madenyika’s church which showed that she was a dishonest witness.

On the hand, Nemadire said Madenyika’s testimony in his defence case was not truthful and often contradicted himself and in the circumstances, the court is then forced to lean more towards the accused person even though it wasn’t really clear whether he raped her or not.

The State led by regional prosecutor Sheila Mupindu had claimed that on August 27, Madenyika called the complainant who is 27 years old and asked to meet her at a service station in Southerton so that he could give her some money.

At around 7:45, Madenyika picked up the complainant so that he could give her the money without anybody seeing it.

The court heard that Madenyika drove along Harare Drive and parked near Willow road with the complainant seated at the back.

It was further alleged that Madenyika went to the car’s back seat and began molesting the complainant before he raped her and ordered her not to tell anyone as he was going to publish the matter in newspapers.

After the incident, Madenyika drove away from the scene and later dropped the complainant who dropped her panties in the car before she went to her friend’s house who accompanied her to their pastor’s house who in turn discussed the issue with complainant’s husband.

Charles Chikore appeared on behalf of Madenyika

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Former Warriors striker Nyasha Mushekwi said he avoided the unveiling ceremony of a luxurious 45-seater bus he donated to Caps United because he did not want to steal the limelight and become the focus of attention.

Mushekwi, instead sent his sister, brothers and grandmother to attend the ceremony that was held at the National Sports Stadium, Caps United’s home ground, on Tuesday. Said Mushekwi:

If I had come there, everyone would be wanting to talk to me, the cameras would be on me and not the bus and I thought that wasn’t right.

This wasn’t about me, but about God delivering something special to my old club and it was good that I wasn’t there when the bus was presented.

But my family was there, my sister was there, she represented me well, and my brothers and grandmother were also there.

The brand new bus reportedly cost over US$200 000 including shipment from the Far East.

Mushekwi donated the bus to the Green Machine as a “thank you” gesture following the club’s contribution in moulding him into a professional footballer.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has dismissed reports that he will deputise former Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere in a new political party to contest the 2023 elections.

Posting on the microblogging site, Twitter, Mzembi, who is said to be in South Africa, wrote:

I applaud every effort to democratise our country and wish @Hon_Kasukuwere well in his efforts, for the record I am not his Deputy in the #tysonwabantu nor in any structure.

I will pronounce myself in due course on Zimpolitics and my vision going forward.

Kasukuwere has begun a movement which is highly visible on social media – #Tyson WaBantu – as a launch-pad for his 2023 presidential bid.

By A Correspondent- An Isuzu KB250 vehicle was on Wednesday night side-swiped by haulage truck at the 140-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare highway killing four people on the spot.

The deceased persons are:

1. Edwin Kudzaishe (26) from Mutanda Village in Bikita
2. Janet Chawadza (52) from Chitiyo Village
3. Joice Mushamiviri (26) from Chitiyo Village
4. A Mutare man yet to be identified

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident.

He said:

The accident occurred around 7 pm on the 140 km peg along Harare-Mutare highway near Headlands, where the driver of an Isuzu KB250 heading for Mutare is said to have encroached into an opposite lane and side-swiped with oncoming haulage truck.

The driver of the Isuzu lost control of his vehicle and it veered off the road, overturned once before it landed on its wheels, killing four passengers instantly.

-StateMedia

 By A Correspondent- A Gokwe man was fined three cows after he bedded his stepmother before confessing that he had bedded half the married women in his area due to his insatiable sexual appetite.

Albert Musokeri (25) of Gokwe under Chief Chireya slept with his father’s second wife Ketina Musokeri (35) who is 10 years his senior.

A source close to the family said Albert and his stepmother had an affair close to two years behind Albert’s father, Joshua Musokeri. “Albert and his stepmother have been seeing each other for close to two years now but Albert’s father did not know about it.

“At some point he started suspecting that his wife was having an extra marital relationship with someone but not knowing it was his own son. He then hatched a plan to follow Ketina everywhere she went,” said the source.

On the fateful day, Musokeri followed his wife who had gone to fetch water but did not find her. He traced her shoeprint and caught the pair red handed having sex in the bush. He then reported the awkward incident to the village head who forwarded the matter to Chief Chireya.

Chief Chireya confirmed presiding over the case.

“I can confirm that l presided over a case where a man slept with his father’s wife. I ordered the man to pay three cows, and the woman to pay three goats,” said Chief Chireya.

“The young man also confessed that he had slept with over half of the married women from his area because his father had given him juju which resulted in him having a huge sexual appetite,” added Chief Chireya

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent| More than 1 500 illegal artisanal miners and 3 471 people found in possession of dangerous weapons including machetes have been arrested so far as police moves a gear up to thwart the marauding machete gangs.

Addressing a press conference in Harare this afternoon, Home Affairs and National Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said police will continue with the raids to ensure that sanity prevails in all mining areas across the country.

Matabeleland North topped the list of the illegal miners arrested with 546, while Bulawayo had the least with 27.
Mashonaland East had 53, Midlands (200), Harare (200), Manicaland (42), Masvingo (46), Mashonaland Central (83), Matabeleland South (147) and Mashonaland West (186) illegal miners arrested.

“We have met with our Mines and Mining Development ministry counterparts and the police commanders today to discuss the tropical issues of the machete wielding gangs.

The media is awash with stories of machete wielding gang wars and this is worrisome to us as we want peace and security to prevail.

“We will continue with the raids because we are saying Zimbabwe is open for business. We cannot attract investors if law and order is not prevailing in the country. We have moved a gear up in the raids as these issues are of a security threat,” said Minister Kazembe.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Vice President Kembo Mohadi said the government is focusing on the establishment of “community bakeries” across the country to make bread affordable while at the same time economically empowering community members.

Speaking at the launch of the Community Resilience Bakeries Programme at Waterfalls Incubation Centre on Thursday, Mohadi said:

… the Government has embarked on a national programme of supporting the establishment of community-based bakeries, which offer affordable bread to our communities.

Not only are these bakeries closer to our people, they are run by community members, who will also generate income from these projects.

The launch comes at a time when established bakeries have hiked the retail price of bread from about $14 to around $18 per standard loaf.

Also present at the launch were Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, in her capacity as acting Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, provincial affairs ministers and ZANU PF Politburo members.

-StateMedia

MINISTRY OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

PRESS STATEMENT ON SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AS KEY PILLAR OF THE COMPETENCY-BASED CURRICULUM

 BY HON. AMBASSADOR N. C. G. MATHEMA, MP MINISTER OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

A key focus of the competence-based curriculum is the development of skills, attitudes and values in addition to the knowledge which was the main thrust of the previous curriculum.

A key pillar of the New Curriculum is the development of school infrastructure so that learners and teachers concentrate on their work in a conducive teaching and learning environment.

Quality teaching and learning, and quality outcomes are guaranteed only if the school environment is suitable and this includes classrooms, specialist rooms and teachers’ accommodation.

The provisions for the teachers should be in keeping with their status. One of our challenges in the past is that once classrooms were constructed school commenced operations without regard to the circumstances of the teacher.

As a Ministry, we have our Education Management Information System (EMIS), and personnel at provincial, district and school levels that provide data on school infrastructure issues.

While we have this system of capturing data, I would also like to invite all Members of Parliament of both Houses to share with me any infrastructural challenges they may have with schools in their constituencies.

The intention is to ensure that no school is left behind as we do everything in our power to make all schools fruitful teaching and learning environments.

I want to emphasize that the education sector has space for all people of goodwill. We want to unlock the potential of all schools, and that of every teacher and learner.

This is a task where I would like the whole nation to participate in, and this is why I am extending a special invitation to all Honourable Members of Parliament in the two Houses to engage me with their written submissions about the status of schools in their constituencies.

As the nation is aware, the 2019 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Grade 7 results were released on 22 November 2019.

The selection into Form One is done through the electronic Ministry Application Platform (MAP), which is intended to reduce the inconveniences of the past when parents would criss-cross the country in search of a place at considerable cost.

Also, the public had raised concerns that negotiating for places directly with schools was creating space for some unscrupulous practices.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s policy is that the selection of learners into Form One is done by an Admissions Committee at each school.

The Admissions Committee consists of the Head of the school, the Deputy Head, the Senior Master/Woman, one Head of Department, one teacher and one representative of the Responsible Authority.

In addition, one Education Inspector from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will supervise and monitor the selection process at each boarding school.

It should be noted that there are 326 685 learners who completed Grade 7 in 2019. On the other hand, the nation has a total of only 24 000 boarding places.

We estimate that about 100 000 learners are seeking boarding places. Those who will not be successful in securing boarding places will, therefore, be accommodated at day schools in their school zones.

Clearly, there is a shortfall for boarding schools; the demand is just too high. But then, we actually have a national schools deficit of not less than 2 500 schools.

I am, therefore, inviting the Private Sector to partner with Government and the Ministry for us to build more schools in order to meet the demand and to improve the Infrastructure at our schools for both classrooms and teachers’ accommodation.

My best wishes to all the learners joining Form One in 2020.

Jane Mlambo| The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has reversed its earlier decision to reduce fuel blending level from E20 to E10 with the authority saying the move was done without consulting government and ethanol suppliers.

In an earlier communication, ZERA had announced that fuel will be blended with ethanol upto 10 percent from the usual 20 percent though it did not cite reasons for the move.

The authority has since reversed its earlier decision back to 20 percent arguing that it had assurances that the normal blending level will be sustained.

Zanu PF aligned and controversial businessman Billy Rautenbach’s company Green Fuel is the sole producer of ethanol in the country.

The tycoon has attracted a lot of controversy following mass eviction of Chisumbanje villagers to pave way for the project which is sitting on over 5000 hectares of arable land previously used by peasant farmers.

Below is the latest communication from ZERA.

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW…

Jane Mlambo| Former local government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has hit the ground running with pictures of women clad in t-shirts inscribed Tyson Wabantu emerging on social media.

Though we could not ascertain the place, this confirms that the former state security agent is now on a trail to canvass for support to challenge the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Social has since responded dismissing the bulky politician as a chancer who will fall the same way former vice President Joice Mujuru, Ambrose Mutinhiri and many other people did.

By Nkosiyazie Kanjirih| It is a pity that we have become a polarised nation with the ordinary citizen bearing the brunt of elitist politics.

Zanu PF, the ruling party since 1980, claims it won the 30 July election. MDC, the main opposition since 1999, also claims it won the same election.

The historical Supreme Court hearing with a panel of nine judges, witnessed by every Zimbabwean with access to ZBC TV, the nation’s sole broadcaster, could not save the nation from the looming political standoff.

If anything, it rubberstamped it.

Zanu Pf came out of the court all smiles headed towards the cockerel perched building, the Zanu PF shrine, set to occupy the famous Munhumutapa Building and form the next government.

The MDC marched to Harvest House, their headquarters, sullen but ready to occupy the streets and sing the illegitimacy song.

It has since become apparent to Zimbabweans that the Supreme Court ruling threw the country into a political logjam that has subsequently seen the nation heading towards one destination, the dead end.

In all this political quagmire, the ordinary Zimbabwean is stuck in the middle,  left to manoeuvre in the socio-economic quicksand  whilst the political elite from both ends of the political spectrum lives in affluent suburbs driving top of the range cars.

Zimbabweans are suffering. From all walks of life, whether one supports the MDC or Zanu PF, it is fact not fiction that the centre no longer holds.

Perhaps, the question that we must stop asking ourselves as a country is who won or who did not win the election. We have asked this, times without number and it has all been a wild goose chase.

Instead, what we should probably be asking ourselves is where do we go from here and what is good for the country. This is a simple question that however, has evidently been lacking in the matrix of solving the Zimbabwean crisis.

The, it-is-us-who-won-the-election narrative maintained by the two big parties betrays them – none of them has the interest of the nation at heart.

They are both pursuing party interests, at the expense of the larger Zimbabwean dream.

Sadly, even the ordinary voter has been hoodwinked into partisan politics and joined the band wagon of sacrificing the national agenda on the altar of party politics.

We have become a nation at war with itself with zealots from the two big parties being not only their own enemies but also foes of progress.

But, the politically naive, those not affiliated to any of the big parties know what they need and what is good for the country.

It is them whose children kick dust from school having been chased for not paying school fees. It is them who share pinches of salt over torn fences to season food that has become so difficult to come by.

It is them who are victims of elitist politics.

All they need is a Mugabe and Tsvangirai of 2008 and the Government of National Unity that followed in 2009.

However, their voice is not heard as they are deemed not politically astute to understand the dynamics of the polygamous government of 2009-2013.

Zanu PF regrets it. The MDC regrets it. The big parties lament it was the greatest political gaffe post-independence Zimbabwe. The big parties lost, but did the nation not win?

We are again at crossroads where neither a Zanu Pf win nor an MDC win matters. It is the laymen in the street, the politically naive that must win.

Unless the big parties and their hard-core fanatics stop chasing the wind, the innocent will remain the proverbial grass that suffers when two bulls fight.

Nkosiyazi Kan Kanjiri is a Social Work Masters Student at the University Of Fort Hare, South Africa. He can be contacted on (+27) 079 422 6246 or [email protected]

Farai Dziva|In spite of the claims by government that rubber bullets were used to disperse rowdy opposition supporters in Marondera, MDC deputy president Tendai Biti insists ZRP cops fired live ammunition at youthful party leader, Nelson Chamisa.

Biti on Tuesday met with diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe to brief them on the situation in the country and what transpired in Marondera on Sunday.

“We briefed them on the Marondera situation. We gave them a chronology of events. We told them there was no meeting, but it was just a tree-planting event,” said Biti.

He added: “They wanted the facts because government said there were no gunshots. The fact of the matter is there was live ammunition.

The whole story doesn’t hold water. Even if they only released teargas, as they lie, why do that?”

THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has announced a reduction in the levels of ethanol used in blending with unleaded petrol from 20% to 10%. The change is with immediate effect.

Announcing the increase the mandatory ethanol blending of unleaded petrol from 10 percent to 20 percent in June this year, ZERA said the increase in the ethanol to unleaded petrol ratio was expected to reduce the import bill and make the fuel available since ethanol is locally produced.

The statement by ZERA reads:

NOTICE TO THE FUEL SECTOR OPERATORS – BLENDING RATIO

Please be advised that the level of the blending of anhydrous ethanol with unleaded petrol has been reduced from E20 to E10.

Implementation is with immediate effect, 5 December 2019.

Press Statement|MLO would like to dismiss with contempt it deserves, the misleading falsehood that has unfortunately found its way into the media that the President of MLO Cde Paul Siwela sneaked into the country to bury his father.

For the record, Cde Paul Siwela did not sneak into Zimbabwe nor attend his father’s funeral due to the well known fact which is in the public domain that the government of Zimbabwe wants to assassinate him.

His safety is not guaranteed in the golgotha (place of skull) which is named Zimbabwe. This falsehood peddled by unscrupulous individuals and journalists borders on insensitivity and lack of respect for the bereaved Siwela family that should be allowed to mourn their departed loved farther in peace.

There are misinformed individuals who want to portray genocidist Mnangagwa as a saint because they have been offered positions in his government or organizations that are connected to the Zimbabwe government.

We remind you that the devil has been there since the formation of the makeshift state called Zimbabwe. He was Minister of State During Matabeleland genocide between 1980 and 1987. Worse more, he was the main strategist in the butchering of the people of Matabeleland calling them cockroaches.

He was Minister of Justice when Cde Paul Siwela Siwela was arrested and charged with treason which attracts a death penalty.

Mnangagwa is the most cruel being that walks on Zimbabwe soil. Those who present him as a saint must first tell us what caused Mugabe’s sudden death. They must show us where his comrades, Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasikuwere, Patrick Zhuwao and others are right now.

It would be gross negligence on our part as MLO to believe that our leader, Cde Paul Siwela’s safety is guaranteed in a country  where even the safety of leaders belonging to the ruling party is not guaranteed.

In 2017 Mnangagwa returned to Zimbabwe only when his safety was guaranteed by the Zimbabwe defense forces, it is in the same manner Cde Paul Siwela shall return to Matabeleland, when his safety is guaranteed by the new Matabeleland Defense Force

Izenzo kungemazwi!

Farai Dziva|Matabeleland Liberation Organisation has described Emmerson Mnangagwa as the most cruel being in Zimbabwe.

Read full statement below:
MATEBELELAND LIBERATION ORGANISATION (MLO)

PRESIDENT Paul Siwela will return only when Matabeleland is secured by Matabeleland Defence Forces

MLO would like to dismiss with contempt it deserves, the misleading falsehood that has unfortunately found its way into the media that the President of MLO Cde Paul Siwela sneaked into the country to bury his father.

For the record, Cde Paul Siwela did not sneak into Zimbabwe nor attend his father’s funeral due to the well known fact which is in the public domain that the government of Zimbabwe wants to assassinate him.

His safety is not guaranteed in the golgotha (place of skull) which is named Zimbabwe. This falsehood peddled by unscrupulous individuals and journalists borders on insensitivity and lack of respect for the bereaved Siwela family that should be allowed to mourn their departed loved farther in peace.

There are misinformed individuals who want to portray genocidist Mnangagwa as a saint because they have been offered positions in his government or organizations that are connected to the Zimbabwe government.

We remind you that the devil has been there since the formation of the makeshift state called Zimbabwe.

He was Minister of State During Matabeleland genocide between 1980 and 1987. Worse more, he was the main strategist in the butchering of the people of Matabeleland calling them cockroaches.

He was Minister of Justice when Cde Paul Siwela Siwela was arrested and charged with treason which attracts a death penalty.

Mnangagwa is the most cruel being that walks on Zimbabwean soil. Those who present him as a saint must first tell us what caused Mugabe’s sudden death. They must show us where his comrades, Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasikuwere, Patrick Zhuwao and others are right now.

It would be gross negligence on our part as MLO to believe that our leader, Cde Paul Siwela’s safety is guaranteed in a country where even the safety of leaders belonging to the ruling party is not guaranteed.

In 2017 Mnangagwa returned to Zimbabwe only when his safety was guaranteed by the Zimbabwe defense forces, it is in the same manner Cde Paul Siwela shall return to Matabeleland, when his safety is guaranteed by the new Matabeleland Defense Force

Izenzo kungemazwi!

Israel Dube
MLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs

Former Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association Secretary General Dr Bhebhe has alleged that a fake doctors association has been formed to negotiate a deal with the government over the more than 90 days strike that has been happening in the country.

Said Bhebhe, “A certain organization called PDAZ has claimed to be working with the Ministrey of Health and Child Care and government in trying to solve the ongoing impasse We understand its motivation is to strike a deal for doctors without the consent of the doctors. We shall see how this will end.”

The ZHDA has refused to bow down to the pressure of government who has fired doctors.

Journalisst Hopewell Chin’ono said the newly formed association called Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe is formed is made up  of army doctors.

“The Herald should simply say Government is forming an organisation to be called Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (PDAZ) with mainly army doctors who have been meeting for the past 3 weeks at State House!

“Forming a fake doctors association does not change the terrible state of public hospitals, instead of forming these funny associations, Government should be addressing the real issues!” Chin’ono said.

The government announced on Tuesday that the doctors who did not attend work on Monday will not be readmitted if they reapply.

Only 46 doctors have returned to work.

OFFICER-IN-CHARGE at Marondera Central Police Station, Chief Inspector Emson Jokonya, who allegedly fired shots during opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s visit to the farming town at the weekend, has been transferred over the incident.

Jokonya will now head Epworth Police Station and will be replaced by one Chief Inspector Mangwende.

According to top police sources, a signal was sent across all police stations informing of Jokonya’s transfer together with other police officers in different provinces.

“A signal is here, Jokonya has been transferred to Epworth and this was triggered by the weekend skirmishes that angered the authorities. He is not the only police officer who was transferred but there are others too. However, we are aware that he is the main target following the clash with Chamisa,” said the police source.

But national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was not aware of Jokonya’s alleged transfer.

Chamisa claims that he survived death by a whisker after police officers fired live shots during his tree-planting programme at Dombotombo Clinic on Sunday. A number of people were injured after police teargassed the medical centre as they tried to bar Chamisa from leading the programme.
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Police had earlier barricaded Cherutombo Primary School, the initial venue for Chamisa’s tree-planting event before the opposition party moved to the council-owned Dombotombo Clinic.

However, police rubbished claims that they fired live shots, saying they only used teargas to disperse the crowd after a defiant Chamisa had called for an unsanctioned rally.

Activists have been circulating a picture of Jokonya and his mobile number on various social media groups accusing the top cop of firing live ammunition at Chamisa.

Yesterday, the police boss could not be reached for comment and had exited all WhatsApp groups in Marondera.

ZANU PF youths have been accused of terrorising business people in Harare by demanding donations for the ruling party’s People Conference which is slated for next week in Goromonzi.

About 7000 delegates are expected to grace the event with the party saying that preparations are going according to plan.

A businessman who spoke to the Daily News on condition of anonymity revealed that the youths were demanding money from business people.

He said:
We thought this ended with Mugabe when such demands were common, especially when there were rallies, national hero funerals, his annual birthday, but the culture is back now.

“The youths want me to contribute money, which they say is for transport and logistical costs. I wouldn’t mind if it was a genuine request but there is an element of demand.

This was confirmed by another businessman who expressed sadness over the development which he said was happening when things were hard for everyone.

The allegations were dismissed as false by Zanu PF Bulawayo’s fundraising committee spokesperson, Khumbulani Mpofu that the party was targeting its traditional donors admitting however that raisingtargeted $500 000 was utopian.

Business people used willingly fund the ruling party’s events to safeguard their business interests but the rapidly deteriorating economy forced many to assume a retreating role as they are also struggling to keep their businesses afloat.
Credit :Daily News

Farai Dziva|Elderly people and vulnerable children in Gutu District, Masvingo Province are being denied access to food aid for allegedly being sympathetic to the opposition.

This was revealed by MDC councillor for ward 27, Gutu South, Alderman Jeffrey Tangemhare.

“We have people who are really vulnerable; the elderly, widows, the sick and orphans. Most of these have totally run out of food because of the drought and now they are being left to starve to death by their own Government,” said Alderman Tangemhare.

Another source in area said:”Zanu PF activists have declared that they are determined to wipe out opposition supporters by denying them access to food aid.”

Own Correspondent| A new party named Zanu PF Original has notified the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of its existence according to a copy of the letter circulating on social media.

The letter signed by Timothy Chimusoro who is the National Coordinator notified ZEC of its existence requesting to be included in all election related correspondencies.

A few weeks ago, another party named MDC Zimbabwe based in Gweru announced its existence with the electoral mother body accepting the request.

It remains to be seen if ZEC will accept the Zanu PF Original request considering that it could cause identity challenges to the current ruling party.

More to follow…

Farai Dziva|Former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has distanced himself from Saviour Kasukuwere’ s political project.

Regarded as one of the G-40 kingpins, Mzembi had been tipped to deputise, Kasukuwere in the supposed new political formation.

However Mzembi has dismissed suggestions that he will join be the second in command in Tyson’s formation.

“I applaud every effort to democratise our country and wish
@Hon_Kasukuwere
well in his efforts, for the record I am not his Deputy in the #tysonwabantu nor in any structure.

I will pronounce myself in due course on Zimpolitics and my vision going forward,” tweeted Mzembi.

"Reform of any nature is difficult. Reform of the type and magnitude we are currently implementing at economic, political and legislative levels is even beyond difficult. It borders on the margins of hazardous in terms of degree of patients we as govt are asking from our people'' pic.twitter.com/lPP1LiXQgU

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) December 5, 2019

By A Correspondent- Addressing the politburo Wednesday, president Emmerson Mnangagwa castigated armchair leaders urging Zanu Pf to remain a listening party which prioritised the people’s needs and servant leadership.

Mnangagwa said:

“We will not tolerate armchair leaders. The culture of the Second Republic is servant leadership. Those who are not prepared to fold their sleeves and work for the party, bad luck. We must remain a listening party.”

Zanu Pf on Wednesday held its crunch Indaba at the party headquarters in Harare.

The meeting followed an announcement by the party’s Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu inviting party heavyweights to the politburo meeting.

Said Mpofu:

Zanu Pf’s Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday 4 December 2019 at the party headquarters commencing at 1000 hours.

The ZANU PF politburo is the party’s highest decision-making body outside Congress.

The politburo is constituted by members most of whom are handpicked by the party’s First Secretary, Emmerson Mnangagwa who in turn holds office for five years after nominations from the provinces.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Bulawayo province is holding a fundraising event in the city tomorrow as it races against time to raise funds for the party’s annual people’s conference in Goromonzi next week.

Southern Eye has established that Zanu PF’s fundraising committee in the city is having sleepless nights as the party’s usual targets, private companies, have declared incapacitation to fund them.

Each province is expected to raise at least $500 000 to mainly feed Zanu PF delegates attending the conference.

Last week, chairperson of the Bulawayo fundraising committee Charles Chiponda claimed that the province had raised as much as 30% to 40% of their required budget.

But spokesperson of the fundraising committee Khumbulani Mpofu in an interview yesterday said the going has been tough for them with targeted traditional donors only making unfulfilled promises.

“We have traditional donors who we are targeting, but we are racing against time. As at present, they are just giving us promises since, as you know, the situation is difficult for many companies. It’s tough, but we are positive that some traditional donors will come through even at the last minute and assist,” Mpofu said.

In the past, the ruling party was accused of coercing some private companies to donate towards its conferences and other activities.

There have also been reports of some party activists taking advantage of the fundraising drive to divert donations for personal use.

In 2015, Zanu PF youth district chairpersons ousted their provincial executive – then led by Mpofu who is the current fundraising committee chairperson – on charges of corruption and using the party name to extort struggling companies of monies, groceries and fuel, which they later shared among themselves.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- An armed member of the Presidential Guard has been arrested for committing a spate of robberies in the Masasa mining area in Mazowe last month.

The matter came to light at the Bindura Magistrates Courts yesterday where the suspect, Brighton Chizororo (30) of Chirwadzise village, Chief Ndanga in Masvingo appeared before magistrate Ethel Chichera facing robbery charges.

Chizororo pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody to December 10 for trial.

Prosecutor Tariro Janhi alleged that on November 24, Chizororo and his accomplice only identified as Buju, who is still at large, armed themselves with an AK47 assault rifle, serial number ZA31605, loaded with 11 rounds, and a syjambok before storming Masasa Mine.

Upon arrival, the pair waylaid unsuspecting miners Chrispen Mahere (40) and Munyaradzi Masusu. Buju moved behind the miners wielding a syjambok while Chizororo pointed the rifle at them.

He cocked the rifle while ordering them to lie down and they complied.

He then allegedly demanded cash and was given $500 before ordering the miners to run from the scene.

The accused moved to another gold claim where they met Anold Chomusina (23) Maccani Mapiriyawo whom they robbed of US$20 using the same modus operandi.

However, the miners teamed up after their misfortune and pursued the robbers. They caught up with Chizororo, disarmed him while his accomplice varnished into darkness.

This comes after another Presidential Guard solder was arrested few weeks ago after he fired a gun whilst on guard duty at Zimbabwe State House. He allegedly complained that he was facing economic hardships.

“A young presidential guard soldier emptied his magazine firing in the air at State House in Harare this morning. He was arrested as he was reloading. He complained of hardships and said he ‘can’t survive in dead economy’. He’s been detained by the military at its holding cells!” Jonathan Moyo posted on Twitter.

— NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Bona Mugabe-Chikore has been appointed the executor of her late father, former President Robert Mugabe’s estate.

Read a report by a local publication:

“Former President Robert Mugabe’s eldest child, Bona, has been appointed an executor of his estate. Her role is to identify and gather all the late president’s assets before overseeing their distribution to beneficiaries.”

Mugabe died on 6 September this year in Singapore where he had been receiving treatment for a couple of months.

His body was flown to Zimbabwe and later buried at his rural home at Kutama village in Zvimba district a few weeks after his death.

-ZimLive

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa broke tradition when he addressed the 334^th Zanu pf politburo at the beginning of deliberations in Harare on Wednesday.

He began by welcoming the Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who attended his first politburo meeting since his return from China where he was receiving treatment for about four months.

Mnangagwa told the meeting that the party was ready for the People’s conference to be held in Goromonzi next week adding that preparations were going according to plan.

He added that his association with communities around the country gave him an informed view of what the citizens need.

The president also thanked China for the medical assistance given to Chiwenga.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The great thinker T.E Lawrence once said, “All men dream, but not equally.

Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.”

All dreamers who dream that Zimbabwe will ever rise and be a normal country that it used to be are dreamers who dream by night and wake up to realise that they only had been dreaming.

The poor results of Grade 7 pupils in Zimbabwe is a clear indication of how much a failed state Zimbabwe is and an indication whether or not it will ever rise again from the dust.

Imagine what kind of leaders will Zimbabwe produce some 3 to 4 decades to come if its schools are under-performing as they are doing in all these past years.

When all other countries in the world are investing much in their young generations, Zimbabwe is totally destroying its simply because of its extreme desire of suppressing and oppressing Mthwakazi people in all forms. 

It does not come as a surprise to us as Mthwakazi to learn that most of the schools that under-performed are Mthwakazi schools.

Maybe Zimbabweans could be scratching their heads trying to figure out what went wrong as they have the government that wishes them well.

On the other hand it may not worry them again as they know that failing at any level of education has never been a hindrance to them to further their studies or landing them jobs anywhere as their government will issue them with back door certificates.

Their only worry could only be on, are they ever going to be able to run their country with success?

That  should be their only worry, bearing it in mind that if one of their most educated Mugabe failed them as he did with loads of educational qualifications that he was said to be having, then what will one reliant on back door certificates do for them.

Our investigation has revealed that teachers in Mthwakazi schools have not been getting paid while those in Mashonaland have been getting their pay. Although late sometimes, Mashonaland based teachers were getting paid to see them in school yards doing their work.

The investigation further revealed that with the stay away of teachers having started back in January, some teachers in Mthwakazi schools only went to their  schools to safeguard their jobs, not to teach children.

Very few of the teachers did their duties as usual under the conditions of no pay and those were Mthwakazi born teachers, while many of the Shona teachers deployed in Mthwakazi schools were going for days out of their school yards and if in school, they would dare be seen in learning rooms.

Therefore as people without the government for now and people who believe in a future that is bright when its young generation is happy, we call upon all Mthwakazi communities to unite and decide what is best for their children.

It is said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

It is the time that we trust the Zimbabwe and Shona government no more with the future of our children. Together as communities, let us put together the little of the resources we have and pay teachers who will educate our children.

The colonial Zimbabwe government hates us and it will never do anything for us because it strives to see us continue under its rule. For that reason it will do all it can to deprive our children some education because it fears the brain of an educated man.

If we start doing that, that will also help determine who teaches our children.

Vuka Mthwakazi Vuka

By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo- Zimbabwe is buffeted by lack of cohesion, it is buffeted by incapacitation, and it is buffeted by intra-party politics, indecisiveness and inconsistencies.

Political & Economic Indicators

1. The soldier who fired gunshots around State House

2. The woman who caused an ordeal around Munhumutapa

3. People running away from ED rallies during 2018 elections

4. MPs walking out of Parliament in defiance of ED

5. Mugabe’s snub

Complexities have forced 99% of the population to label “the” Government, the regime, rather than our Government. The general consensus is that Mnangagwa’s administration have failed and the conclusion is that it’s now a failed state.

A regime is described as authoritarian, and it is derived from a Latin word, regimen which means to rule. My comprehensive analysis is that there is a gap between the Government and the people.

There is no citizen engagement, decisions are made out of emotions and there is no tolerance, passion and love, these are based on gossip, lies and deception. One of the key aspects which has led us to be where we are today is the concept of “arrogance” and “force”.

Let’s come close home. Let’s analyze the phrase “Command Agriculture”. Look at the word “Command”, and how do you attract investors or development partners on the basis of “Command” or “force”.

For all these years when this facility was established, honestly you tell me we don’t have technocrats in the Government who could easily tell that the brand for this exercise reflected hostility?

How do you appeal to donors and potential investors with the command type of mentality? How do you define fairness, or can one negotiate when command is applied on any business model? 

Success of any nation thrives on fairness, competence, best practice, good business model, sense of humour, soberness, level headed and high level of maturity, and the above mentioned factors feed into success matrix of any given economy. 

How do you define Command type of Governance? Command narrative given birth to the following:

1. Looting

2. No negotiations

3. No fairness

4. No consultations

5. Don’t look back

6. Lack of cohesion

7. Inconsistencies

8. No trust

9. No love

10. Arrogance

The bottom line is the gap between Government and its own citizens is created by lack of understanding the real situation on the ground.

Demonstrations are a simple way of communicating to those who hold the instruments of power that we are grieved and frustrated.

From the time Mnangagwa took over the reigns of power in Zimbabwe, barely have you seen people demonstrating peacefully, it is either the demos are disrupted, banned or there is violence.

ED has never uttered a word concerning the state of our situation, and people are living from hand to mouth and life goes on like that. His silence may be concluded in three ways;

1. That’s none of my business

2. Who cares?

3. He is detached

4. He doesn’t have any solutions

5. Dare it and you will see?

It is so sad to see people hating their own Government. It is no longer “our” own Government, it is the Government. Is it necessary to have such kind of situation? Decisions can lead to such conclusions. Decisions can be based on frustration, anger, emotions and love. Do you have any feedback system in Zanu led administration? The question is do they really care about people? Or is it arrogance? Do they appreciate that they are living beings out there? Who cares?

Decision 1 – dismissing medical doctors plunging the whole country into serious crisis

Decision 2 – No National debt report

Decision 3 – banning demos

Decision 4 – Purchasing fuel & grain by – passing Parliament

Decision 5 – Grabbing of mines 

Decision 6 – killing of civilians on August 1 (case closed)

Apparently there is a disconnection between Government and civilians and it’s detrimental. With the growing frustration amongst citizens, a bad precedence is likely to be set when citizens are aggrieved. 

Hameno ikoko

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo – Doctor of Philosophy Candidate (Women’s University in Africa)

By A Correspondent| Mutare residents were left suspecting satanism and black magic after a couple on board a silver Toyota sedan dumped a seven-metre long python behind Mutare Motoring Club and sped off.

The reptile which was placed in a sack was covered with several red cloths

Initially, witnesses suspected that the couple might have dumped a baby and rushed to the scene to investigate.

They were left dumpfounded when they opened the sack and discovered the giant reptile and an assortment of witchcraft-related paraphernalia.

The snake was then dragged into the Central Business District by an unknown man with the mob in hot pursuit.

Business was literally brought to a standstill as people jostled to see the snake which was eventually taken to Mutare Central Police Station.

Officer Commanding Mutare Central Police Chief Supritendent Florence Marume said a 21-year-old woman has since been arrested over the case.

“We have arrested a suspect over the case and we are still investigating the matter,” she said.

-ManicaPost

Own Correspondent|Reports just received indicate that taxi drivers and their touts in Gwanda have beaten up a ZUPCO Bus Driver for allegedly taking away their business.

Sources who spoke to ZimEye.com on Thursday morning said that the driver was beaten up on Wednesday evening as he found his way home after knocking off from work.

“The bus driver was beaten up at the local taxi rank as he intended to board a taxi home after leaving the bus at the depot,” the sources indicated.

“The touts and the drivers beat him up claiming that he was taking away their business. They further refused him to use their taxis to go home telling him to use the ZUPCO Bus,” added the source.

Police in Gwanda could not immediately confirm the issue.

This is a developing story…….

NewsDay|EXILED former Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, who is being linked to a new plot to bounce back and challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2023 elections, has generated a fierce political storm after accusing serving ruling party elites of spending time on trivia instead of addressing the country’s worsening political and economic crisis.

Kasukuwere was the national political commissar when the late former President Robert Mugabe was toppled in a military coup in November 2017, and is reportedly launching a comeback bid.

A movement under the banner “Tyson waBantu” is taking shape amid reports the former Youth minister is angling to take Mnangagwa head-on and is enjoying the support of trained youths from the Zimbabwe National Youth Service, some youths in Zanu-PF and disgruntled ruling party officials, among others.

But the Zanu-PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda at the weekend described Kasukuwere as a baby whose movement had no capacity to dislodge Zanu-PF.

“All of a sudden you find babies like Kasukuwere being introduced and referred to as veterans of the struggle. How can they be veterans of the struggle while only 45 years old?” Matemadanda told a Zanu-PF provincial meeting in Mashonaland West.

Kasukuwere hit back saying: “It was a tragedy that Matemadanda, a senior official in the governing party was focusing on trivia while the country was burning.”
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“At least I was not a taxi driver like him while others were fighting in the liberation struggle. He must not lie to us. Just because he has an ugly face it doesn’t mean he went to war,” Kasukuwere fumed.

“He wants to use his ugly face kuvhundutsira vanhu (to scare people). He must tell people who he went to war with, who he reported to and what he did during the war. In any case, there is no need for trivia when the people are suffering like this,” the former Local Government minister said.

“We have a serious challenge on our hands. The health sector is in a crisis, people are dying and the country is on its knees. We can’t bury our heads in the sand and start focusing on issues that do not help the people.

“We need to focus on real issues on the ground and how to save the people from the crisis.”

By A Correspondent| A kombi driver is allegedly on the run following an accident which claimed five people.

Five people were killed, three of them on the spot, while 11 others were injured when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned near Morgenster Mission Hospital early yesterday morning.

The driver, Takudzwa Chipindu, disappeared from the scene after the crash and his whereabouts were still unknown by yesterday evening.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said the accident occurred around 5am when Chipindu allegedly lost control of the vehicle at the 31-kilometre peg along the Morgenster Hospital-Masvingo Road.

He said the injured were rushed to Morgenster Hospital where two more people died on admission, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to Masvingo General Hospital mortuary. Asst Comm Nyathi said the commuter omnibus was carrying 16 passengers. 

He said the vehicle, a Toyota Hiace, hit a tree, veered off the road to the right side and overturned before landing on its right side, killing three of the passengers instantly.

“Surprisingly, the driver ran away after the accident and we expect him to cooperate with the police,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“We have launched a manhunt and the long arm of the law will catch up with him.

“Motorists should be responsible and drive cautiously without speeding, especially ahead of the festive season.

-StateMedia