Paul Nyathi: Junior Doctors have been on strike for thirty seven days as oftoday, but what exactly do they want from government?
For more on this we have extracted below an interview held between ZiFM live radio interview with the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association leadership, Dr Tawanda Zvakada and Dr Masimba Ndoro.
Views and listeners called on the state not to abduct the young doctors after the no hold barred interview.
“Please dont abdupt these innocent souls tokuzivai you ediots nxaa,” viewer Mabel Chipare screamed during the interview.
Chairman of Alpha Media Holdings (AMH)Trevor Ncube on Tuesday made significant changes to the editorial staff at his company.
Dumisani Muleya, who is the editor of the Independent, will step aside for Faith Zaba on November 1, to become group editor at large.
Wisdom Mudzungairi has been promoted from editor to editor-in-chief at NewsDay while Kholwani Nyathi will continue as the editor of The Standard. Said Ncube:
The board is convinced that these changes will ensure we enhance the quality of service to our clients as well as be more efficient in the execution thereof.
Ncube is reported to be unhappy with Muleya’s “hostile” stance towards President Mnangagwa’s government while Mudzungairi and Zaba supported the coup the ousted the late Robert Mugabe from power in 2017.
Ncube has allegedly made the changes to please Mnangagwa who appointed him to the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC).
Reports also indicate that Ncube recently opened talks with Mnangagwa’s son-in-law Gerald Mlotshwa (Sports and Recreation Board Chairperson) to take up 30 per cent shareholding in AMH.
Paul Nyathi|Doug Coltart, an attorney representing the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA), says that the government yesterday failed to make clear arguments in the Labour Court on why it is seeking an order to declare the ongoing strike by doctors either legal or illegal in terms of the local labour laws.
Coltart told reporters soon after court proceedings that the government has been ordered to place a full record of the court’s proceedings and other issues in court by Wednesday for a full hearing.
The Labour Court ruled that the Ministry of Health should make further submissions in the matter in which it is seeking a determination on the 36-day industrial action by the doctors demanding higher salaries and improved conditions of service.
Striking doctors on Monday defied a government ultimatum to return to work.
Coltart indicated that the state attorney conceded that the doctors’ industrial action was a result of incapacitation and not a strike.
“The minister determined the preliminary point but failed to give reasons as to why she issued a show cause order. So, the matter has been sent back to the minister, number one to give reasons on why she issued the show cause order and number two to give a full record, to place a full record in court. So, what we are expecting in that record are full minutes of the hearing before the Labour Court including oral evidence which was backed by Dr. (Tawanda) Zvakada (ZHDA acting president) about the incapacitation of doctors.
Protesting doctors in Harare …
“Doctors are saying we are not on strike, we are not unwilling to go to work but we are unable because we are incapacitated. That evidence was not laid before the court by the minister. The second thing what we are expecting to see in those minutes is that a concession was made by counsel for the Health Service Board to say that indeed doctors are incapacitated but they should go back to work anyway because other civil servants are doing so. With respect, once you make that concession that indeed doctors are incapacitated that’s the end of the matter. It’s not a strike, the doctors are simply unable to go to work.”
He said the Labour Court has made a determination that the necessary documents should be filed in the court Wednesday so that they can be inspected before a hearing is held on a date yet to be determined.
By Simba Chikanza| The government of Zimbabwe yesterday approved a new law that will cause the arrest of all citizens who comment on the Internet expressions that are deemed not “ethical.”
The bill is dubbed the Cyber Crime, Security and Data Protection.
It leaves to be seen how the bill will be administered, seeing that ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa should be the first to be charged since he is the gang leader of a group of online bullies, known as Varakashi.
Already the bill has been announced by the state media with the Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi being introduced as a political comrade “Cde,” rather than a cabinet minister.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Below is the state media full text –
Cabinet yesterday approved the Cyber Crime, Security and Data Protection Bill which seeks to combat cyber crimes and enhance security in the wake of rampant abuse of the platform. The Bill, which provides for an array of issues such as code of conduct and ethics, data protection authority and penalties for violations, will be gazetted soon. It will be tabled in Parliament for debate thereafter.
This was said by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu while briefing journalists about the 35th Cabinet decision matrix in Harare yesterday.Minister Ndlovu was standing in for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa. “Cabinet considered and approved the Cyber Crime, Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi.) The Bill seeks to combat cyber crime and increase cyber security in order to build confidence and trust in the secure use of information communication technologies,” said Minister Ndlovu. He said the Bill will also address issues to do with codes of conduct and ethics. “More specifically, the Bill provides for the following: provision and approval of codes of conduct and ethics to be observed by all categories of data controllers, data protection with due regard to constitutional rights and public interest under (the) Postal, Telecommunication and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe,” said Minister Ndlovu. “It will also seek to establish a data security centre and a Data Protection Authority, investigation and collection of evidence relating to Cyber Crime and unauthorised Data Collection and breaches thereof.”
He said the Bill will also seek to spell out the admissibility of electronic evidence for such offences and penalties for offences committed under the Act.
“The Bill will also provide penalties for the transmission of data messages inciting violence and damage to property, protection of citizens against cyber bullying and harassment, measures to address the production and dissemination of racist and xenophobic material using language that tends to lower the reputation or feelings of persons for the reason that they belong to a group of persons distinguished on the grounds set out in section 56 subsection 3 of the Constitution,” said Minister Ndlovu.
He said the Bill will provide for penalties for persons who generate, distribute or broadcast data concerning an identifiable person knowing it to be false and intending to cause psychological or economic harm; and curbing the transmission of pornographic material.
“In essence, the Bill advocates the use of ICTs for more constructive purpose,” said Minister Ndlovu.
There have been growing calls among citizens for Government to come up with mechanisms that control the abuse of the internet insofar as it has been used to tarnish the images of other people and used to propagate lies and hurtful messages.
Paul Nyathi|Grace Mugabe, the widow of the late former founding father of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe reportedly performed strange rituals on the body of her departed husband before, during and after burial.
Close family members told the Daily News this week that Mugabe’s sickness, death and burial were highly associated with superstition. One displeased family member who spoke to the Daily News said:
There was no body viewing on the day of burial. No one knows if Mugabe still had a nose, two eyes, two hands or two legs because Grace didn’t allow the viewing of his body.
Before the burial, she ordered out relatives and friends from where the body was, and remained in the room with her children for a considerable period of time.
No one knows what she was doing with the children and the remains of the former president. Our suspicion is that she was carrying out some rituals.
Leo Mugabe, the spokesperson of the Mugabe family said that the Mugabe family was not superstitious, but, Grace had brought superstition with her from Singapore.
He said she even claimed that Mugabe had ordered her not to allow his remains to leave her sight.
State Media|THE National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has dismissed as false and misleading reports that the commission has been rocked by divisions, with some commissioners said to be unhappy over the Government’s lack of commitment in addressing past human rights abuses and conflicts.
NPRC chairperson Retired Justice Selo Nare yesterday said such reports were deliberately distorted to suit a narrative by certain individuals and societies.
“It’s not true that there are emerging cracks within the commission. We want to dismiss such reports in the strongest of all words. As a commission we’re clear in terms of our constitutional mandate and we applaud the support that the Government has been giving us in terms of financial resources.
“We’re united as a commission than ever before. As a team, we know the importance of team work and we value all that in terms of the discharge of our duties. This is a narrative being driven by individuals and societies with their own agendas. It’s unfortunate that we’re not a commission that will push such agendas,” said Rtd Justice Nare.
He said while the commission was not exempt from financial constraints and other challenges, it was satisfied with the support it is receiving from the Government.
He said as a commission they were united and they were on the ground moving with programmes that have a reflection of victims and beneficiaries.
“Of course there can never be enough but we have received a sizeable and fair share of support from the Government. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has actually given us an additional budget for procurement of vehicles out of the initial budget.
“This clearly shows the political will and commitment. There’s never an institution that is satisfied in terms of resources but we’re comfortable with what we’re getting from the Government and we’re clear in terms of our mandate,” said Rtd Justice Nare.
He said one fact that must be recognised is that the commission was fairly new and the commissioners were working hard to put their work together as a team.
“Any commission at its inception stage is bound to have teething challenges but ours are not really much. We’re moving in the right direction, right across the country engaging stakeholders and the relevant groups.
“To us it’s been a big win. In terms of our values of having a reconciled Zimbabwe for all generations I think we’re on track. Where we have challenges we engage the rightful offices in the most professional manner.
“On peace building we have engaged at all levels of Government, starting from His Excellency President Mnangagwa. What is important is for us to implement and ensure that all our constituencies are reached,” said Rtd Justice Nare.
He added that he understood that in the peace building journey the commission cannot run away from the fact that there are spoilers who thrive on peddling falsehoods.
“We call upon the spoilers to be rational, uphold media ethics and see the bigger picture of Zimbabweans,” he said.
President Mnangagwa signed the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Bill into law in January, which operationalised the commission that was appointed in 2016.
The NPRC was established under Sections 251 to 253 of the Constitution to ensure post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation, to develop programmes to promote national healing, unity and peaceful conflict resolution.
President Mnangagwa assigned Vice President Kembo Mohadi to be in charge of the peace and reconciliation portfolio as a show of his administration’s seriousness in dealing with the issue.
DISGRUNTLED Bulawayo residents have criticised the selection process of 24 student nurses at Mpilo Central Hospital after 20 were selected from outside Matabeleland.
The 24 reportedly started their studies on Monday.
The Health and Child Care Ministry recently introduced an online nurses’ application forum after investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission concluded there were unacceptable levels of bribery in the old system.
In a letter to the hospital, disappointed applicants said there was need for responsible authorities to investigate the development. “The national advertisement came out a few months ago and we failed to access the website and if you did, you couldn’t know where to pay the RTGS$10 application fee. Internet is not accessible and affordable especially to our rural peers in and outside our region for example where will one get internet connection in Lupane, Bulilima, Nkayi, Tsholotsho?”
The letter also questioned why the selection and interviews were done “secretly” compared to the past years before online application system was adopted. “Some of us went and noticed that most of those coming for interviews are mostly from Harare and surrounding areas of Mashonaland East and Central. People from our region did not make it surprisingly but most if not all from other provinces came back to Bulawayo to start school on Monday at Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals.”
They also called on Health Ambassador First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, provincial ministers of state, MPs, councillors, and all activists to demonstrate against corruption.
The applicants claimed the health system was sidelining the Matabeleland region. “We should start fighting for the statistics in terms of allocation as we have hospitals in Matabeleland like Mpilo and UBH which are as big as Parirenyatwa. Mpilo School of Nursing enrols 25 students per intake, Gwanda 15, St Luke’s 10 while Harare hospital 50, Parirenyatwa 50, Chitungwiza 40, and looking at number it’s clear they don’t want us to learn. They keep lying that we are all quick to cross the border to South Africa but allocation of posts is not justifiable for starters,” reads the letter.
Some nurses at Mpilo Central Hospital said the students who came from other places were likely to be employed in their provinces of origin on completion of studies, leaving a gap in Matabeleland. Contacted for comment, Mpilo clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya who also heads the school of nursing said:
“I would like to confirm that this time around, the selection and interviews were done from Harare and none of us had a hand or were consulted. We have since received the 24 names of the student nurses who started on Monday and all these were a recommendation from the head office,” said Dr Ngwenya.
UBH clinical director Dr Narcissus Dzvanga could not be reached for comment. Another source from the hospital said what she described as “deliberate marginalisation” of Matabeleland prospective students would have far reaching effects on access to health.
“What they have simply done is declare that as a people from this region we do not deserve access to health care. From the list of 24, only four students are from this region and it is clear that they are not worried about our right to health,” she said.
She also said the online application though a noble idea, did not take into cognisance economic challenges.
POLICE have arrested one of two Zimra officials who were on the run after being fingered in a fraud case involving a syndicate that allegedly smuggled vehicles worth millions of dollars into the country through Plumtree Border Post.
Police arrested Teeklar Ndlovu (55), who was allegedly on the run since Friday while Ms Semukele Maphosa is said to be still in hiding.
The two women are suspected to be part of a criminal syndicate involving another Zimra official, Norest Ushe (29) who was arrested and has since appeared in court for fraud charges of over US$430 000 and ZW$1,4 million.
Ushe is accused of fraudulently clearing 50 cars into the Zimra capturing system without officially charging duty.
Sources said Maphosa and Ndlovu worked together at the Zimra registry, responsible for typing customs clearance certificates. They allegedly forged their superiors’ signatures on the certificates.
It is alleged that Ndlovu had gone into hiding on Friday before police officers got wind of her whereabouts and arrested her at her hideout, which has not yet been disclosed.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the development yesterday.
“I can confirm that we arrested Teeklar Ndlovu stationed at the Zimra Bulawayo office in connection with a suspected case of fraud through vehicle clearance at the border. Further investigations are underway,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“We are still looking for Semukele Maphosa who is still on the run and are appealing to members of the public to assist with any information that may lead to her whereabouts,” he said.
Sources who spoke to Chronicle said part of Ndlovu’s charge sheet includes fraudulently clearing luxury vehicles by undercharging or exempting duty.
“She cleared a 2018 Toyota Fortuner which was supposed to pay duty of R369 000, a 2008 Toyota Fortuner which was supposed to pay duty of R145 000 and a 2007 Hummer station wagon which was supposed to pay R109 000, amongst other things. The total of the three vehicles duty was R623 000. Zimra received less that R100 000 for the vehicles,” said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Police sources said Ndlovu was busted after alert auditors noticed that the three vehicles had been underdeclared and undercharged.
Ndlovu is expected to appear in court today, charged with fraud.
Ushe is alleged to have forged customs clearance certificates allegedly supplied by the syndicate that includes the two women, endorsed them with used serial numbers printed on bond paper and used them to register and license luxury vehicles without paying duty.
Paul Nyathi|The case in which Government was seeking determination on the legality of doctors’ job action has been deferred to Wednesday.
The postponement is to allow the Health Services Board to provide the court with further documents on their claims against the striking doctors.
Director Civil Division in the Attorney-General’s Office Mrs Fortune Chimbaru said that the case will now be heard on Wednesday at 2.15pm.
“The case was postponed for us to file a record of proceedings that transpired before the Minister (of Labour) leading to the minister issuing a show cause order to the Labour Court,” said Mrs Chimbaru.
A show cause order is a court order requiring a party to appear before a court to explain why a certain action should not be taken against them.
Junior and senior doctors have continued to defy Government’s directive to return to work citing financial incapacitation.
The doctors stopped reporting for work on September 3 in a bid to push Government to address their grievances.
All efforts by Government have been in vain to bring doctors back at work.
The doctors have rejected all offers tabled by Government, the latest being a 60 percent increment on allowances.
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA| Latest revelations coming out of London show Zimbabwe is no longer serious about bringing back the bones of the First Chimurenga war hero, Nehanda Nyakasikana.
Nehanda, was a female powerful and respected ancestral spirit. As one of the spiritual leaders of the Shona in Mazowe, she was one of the leaders of a revolt, the first Chimurenga, against the British South Africa Company in 1889. She was a ChiHera of the Hwata Mufakose Dynasty. She and her ally Sekuru Kaguvi and two other fighters, were captured and hanged. Zimbabwe commemorated them through the building of statues in her name, street names, hospitals, songs, novels, and poems; were made to immortalise the name of great Chihera. The legacy of the medium continued to be linked to the theme of resistance, particularly the guerrilla war that began in 1963. Her name became of increasing importance to the nationalist movements in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe always commemorates Heroes’ Day as it remembers the suffering and sacrifices made by our heroes in the fight against the evil colonial system.
In the war against the colonisers, not even one person could begin to understand what our heroes went through and the suffering they endured in order to free this country. It is saddening that nothing has been done to honour Nehanda except naming a road.
Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana also known as Mbuya Nehanda was born around 1840 and died in 1898. She was a svikiro, or spirit medium of the Zezuru Shona people.
It is sad to know of the gruesome murders of Nehanda, Kaguvi and the Mwari high priest by the former colonial masters.
The British colonised Zimbabwe in 1890, and they immediately instituted a regime of rough justice which oppressed the blacks who were the owners of the land. The Death sentence was declared on crimes which were very frivolous.
The local peoples’ land, mines and cattle were expropriated without compensation.
On top of that, the local people were forced to work for the English Pioneer settlers on their newly acquired farms, mines and factories under very harsh conditions and without payment. Laziness was rewarded with death.
In short, there was wide-spread misrule throughout the country. Blacks were stripped of their dignity.
Because of this oppression it took less than six years of British colonial rule, for the local people to rise up in arms and declared a bitter war on the colonial settlers.
That declaration of war on the settlers by the people took the British completely by surprise.
They did not understand a bigger reason for the people to rise up in arms – the revolutionary influence’ of the mhondoros or masvikiros – local spirit mediums which they referred to as ‘witchdoctors’. docile and cowardly suddenly declare war.
It was clear that the ‘mhondoros’ did not want whites in Zimbabwe hence spirit mediums were urging people to chase every British settler out.
This made the mediums to be targeted by the colonisers. The high priest of Mwari at Matopo hills in Matabeleland, was credited for the first chimurenga in his area. For that service he was the first spirit medium to be assassinated by the settlers. Russel Burnham who was an American was paid to take him out and that was done. So the Americans hand in destabilising Zimbabwe started long back.
The second spirit medium on the hit list was one Charwe Mbuya Nehanda who was the spirit medium of a famous guardian spirit called Nehanda.
Charwe Nehanda stayed in the Mazowe administrative district near Harare. Nehanda was falsely accused of murdering the native commissioner of her district, Henry Howlin Polland, who in fact had been killed in battle.
They then went on, in one of the shortest murder trials in history, to find her guilty and sentenced her to death.
The British High Commissioner based in South Africa at the time once got to know about the death sentence passed on Nehanda, he quickly dispatched a letter to the judge to have her executed immediately.
Below is part of the letter:
“The Queen against Nehanda in custody under sentence of death for murder.
I do hereby certify that a report of all the proceedings upon the trial of the said Nehanda for murder in and before the High Court held at Salisbury on March 1898, hath been transmitted to and laid before me as High Commissioner for South Africa by His Honourable the judge Watermeyer when sentence of death was there and then pronounced upon the said prisoner.
I hereby duly authorise and approve of the execution of the said sentence of death upon the said Nehanda.”
Once, judge Watermeyer had received the above authority, he immediately wrote an instruction to the sheriff authorising him to kill Nehanda.
Below is the instruction:
“To the sheriff of the territory of Rhodesia.
The Queen against Nehanda in custody.
His Excellency the High Commissioner has duly authorised and approved of the execution of the said sentence of death upon the said Nehanda on Wednesday April 27 one thousand eight hundred and ninety eight within the walls of the Gaol of Salisbury between hours of six and ten in the afternoon.
She shall be hanged by the neck until she be dead at such place of execution. This instruction is therefore to command you that cause execution of the said sentence to be had and done upon the said prisoner accordingly and that you keep and detain her in your custody until she shall have undergone the said sentence.”
And so Nehanda was taken to the gallows.
It is interesting to note that although judge Watermeyer instructed that Charwe Nehanada was to be ‘hanged by the neck until she be dead at such place of execution’, respectable written and oral accounts say Nehanda did not die by hanging.
For example, one Geoffrey Bond in his book Remember Mazoe which is based on eye-witness accounts of the First Chimurenga in the Mazowe area says categorically that: “Nyanda (Charwe Nehanda) and the condemned prisoners (such as Kaguvi) were blind-folded and shot dead by a squad of majonis (white officers).”
The above version of how Nehanda was killed tallies well with the popular version given by oral historians throughout Mazowe district who say, “Mbuya Nehanda vakachekwa.”
Now where was she buried then?
One Keith Martin helps us here.
He says the British South Africa Company created a cemetery in Harare christened Pioneer Cemetery.
It is that cemetery west of Mupedzanhamo Flea Market, near the hostels and Rufaro stadium.
It was opened on January 2 1893.
The cemetery was divided according to race and religion as well as military background.
Blacks had their own section to the west called the native section.
It’s a big area where graves are not marked.
Martin says: “Two of the Africans buried in that unmarked section with their graves unrecorded are of Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi of the First Chimurenga.”
It is interesting to note that not only are Sekuru Kaguvi and Mbuya Nehanda buried in the old Pioneer Cemetery which is now closed, Judge Watermeyer who sentenced Mbuya Nehanda to death is also buried there.
Furthermore the gaoler of Nehanda, one Patrick Hayden, who should in fact have hung her by the neck is also buried there.
On top of this, in that cemetery, there is a mass grave of Rhodesian soldiers who were killed in the First Chimurenga.
When one looks at the trials of Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi who were tried for being the spirits behind Chimurenga, one is left without doubt these so called trials were fake.
One is tried for murder and within a month, found guilty and killed. Was this justice? It is important tho to revisit the murder of Charwe Nehanda NyakSikana Vachihera. On April 27 1898, the brains and power of the First Chimurenga War, Mbuya Chahwe, the medium of the Nehanda spirit, and Sekuru Gumboreshumba, the medium of the Kaguvi spirit also known as Murenga, were hanged by the settler regime for daring to challenge colonial dispossession.Kaguvi was credited for being the spirit of the war. Tis was called the Murenga Spirit. It is from this spirit, that was alternatively known as Murenga, meaning “war spirit”, that the name Chimurenga was derived.
Mbuya Nehanda along with Zindoga, Hwata and Gutsa were arraigned before the courts charged of murder. It is worth mentioning that the murdered person was a brutal white native commissioner, one Henry Hawkins Pollard of the British South Africa Company who lived near Mazowe and terrorised people in that district. Rhodesian legal documents classified Mbuya Nehanda modestly as a Mashona woman residing at Chitawa’s Kraal in the Mazowe District; Zindoga as a native kitchen boy residing at Nehanda’s Kraal; and Hwata and Gutsa as native hunters residing at Hwata Kraal.
The four — along with Sekuru Kaguvi — were arraigned in the High Court of Matabeleland that sat in Salisbury on February 20 1898 and were subsequently convicted on March 2 1898 in a case entered as “The (British) Queen against Nehanda”. They were sentenced to death by hanging.The execution was authorised by the (British) High Commissioner for South Africa, one Alfred Milner, and endorsed by the (British) Imperial Secretary on March 28 1898. The presiding judge was Judge Watermayer, with Herbert Hayton Castens Esquire, as “the acting Public Prosecutor Sovereign within the British South Africa Company territories, who prosecutes for and on behalf of her majesty”.
The warrant for Mbuya Nehanda’s death commanded that she be executed within the wall of the gaol of Salisbury between the hours of 6 and 10 in the afternoon.
A Roman Catholic priest, one Fr Richertz, was assigned to convert Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi, Hwata and Zindoga. It is said the hapless Catholic priest failed to make headway with Mbuya Nehanda but managed to convert Sekuru Gumboreshumba, whom he baptised as Dismas, the ‘‘good’’ thief.Gutsa, Hwata and Zindoga were also converted and similarly hanged.it showed that Mbuya Nehanda refused to compromise on he belief. It is her resolve which made her the pillar of future and present rebellion.
According to Fr Richertz’s account, Mbuya Nehanda “ . . . called for her people and wanted to go back to her own country Mazoe and die there . She was not afraid of death.
Sekuru Kaguvi and all other men were baptised. Nehanda was taken to the scaffold. Her cries and resistance, when she was taken up the ladder, the screaming and yelling were that she wanted to be taken and be buried among her people. Nehanda had always wanted her bones to be buried in her land which is now called Mazowe. The other words which Mbuya Chahwe uttered were “Mapfupa angu achamuka (my bones will surely rise)”. This phrase became the back bone, the slogan the igniting force in Chimurengas. Those who picked up arms would take comfort that they sere the prophetic bones of Mbuya Nehanda.
The settlers then decapitated Nehanda’s head and transported it to the United Kingdom as a trophy. The displayed her head as they would do the head of a slaughtered animal. They walked tall as if they had made a serious achievement.
Finally Nehanda’s head was displayed at a museum in the UK. She hangs in a British museum as a defeated vagabond. The woman who was such an influence in the Chimurenga war now stays displayed as a tool.
Shame on all war vets- they moved in the bushes hiding behind the powers of mbuya nehanda but today they have forgotten about her bones.
Nehanda’s blood cries from a museum she is saying take my bones home.
Please Zimbabwe may the bones of Nehanda be repatriated back to Zimbabwe. For how long shall Nehanda grace the museums of those who murdered her? What sign do we need to bring Nehanda back home. Shame on us as a nation. One day her bones will be home.
CONTROVERSIAL politician and former Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Mr Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has quit politics in order to focus on agriculture at his Moria Farm in Mwenezi East.
Bhasikiti was expelled from ZANU-PF in 2015, during the late former president Robert Mugabe’s time following allegations of fanning factionalism in the party.
He then joined the National People’s Party (NPP) before unsuccessfully attempting to rejoin Zanu- PF and eventually settling for Nelson Chamisa’s MDC-Alliance.
Mr Bhasikiti confirmed his decision yesterday. “People do not eat active party politics. My previous involvement in party politics was based on a desire to participate in policy-making and contribute to the country’s economic growth,” said Mr Bhasikiti.
“I have therefore decided to abandon party politics and focus on developmental projects. As you know, I am have a thriving farming business where I grow mangoes, sugarcane and citrus fruit trees.
“Let it be known that I am different from other myopic politicians who engage in unnecessary political dogfights”, while the nation goes hungry.” During his time in Zanu-PF and Government, Mr Bhasikiti held several senior posts.
The party expelled him following glaring proof that he had linked up with ex-vice president Joice Mujuru’s camp, which was threatening to unseat the then president Cde Mugabe.
There was drama in 2015 when Zanu-PF Politburo members toured Moria Farm after Bhasikiti was accused of cutting down the citrus plantation on the farm due to disgruntlement over his expulsion from the party.
Mr Bhasikiti recently said some jealous politicians in Masvingo province were after his investments instead of participating in meaningful development.
“They lie to people about me. Instead of developing communities, they engage in unnecessary mudslinging,” charged Mr Bhasikiti.State media
Police have released more names of victims of the Kwekwe accident involving Govasberg and Mandeep buses on Sunday morning.
Twelve people perished in the horror crash. In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said; “The victims of the fatal road traffic accident that occurred on 6 October 2019 at the 234km per along Harare-Bulawayo road have been positively identified by their next of kin . . .”
The identified victims are Christina Mufambi, a female adult from Mushongwe Village, Chief Chireya, Gokwe North; Tanaka Nyamazana (4) of Zhombe Growth Point, Zhombe; and Absheber Imbayago (6) of Village Imbayago, Chief Chireya, Gokwe.
Others are Junior Livingstone Manyere (three-months-old) of Chief Chireya Village, Nembudziya; and Memory Laura (31).
Asst-Comm Nyathi said three bodies are yet to be identified and are being held at Kwekwe General Hospital Mortuary.
“Members of the public are free to approach the institution to assist with the identification. We urged drivers to be observant, exercise extreme caution, avoid speeding and above all be safety conscious while driving on the road,” he said.
On Monday, police had positively identified Tafadzwa Shambare of Overspill, Epworth in Harare; Richard Muchenje (40); Gedion Magwaza (40) of Chivi; and Shadreck Muyinisi Chirombe of Buhera.State media
State Media -Government has not received any letters from a British-based organisation, International Centre for Trade Union Rights (ICTUR), over alleged failure to investigate recent claims of abductions, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said yesterday.
This follows media reports that ICTUR director Mr Daniel Blackburn recently wrote to President Mnangagwa, Labour Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, and United Nations Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, alleging there was need for the adoption of measures that ensure Zimbabwe complied with obligations under international law.
Reports claimed that Government had failed to investigate and bring to account, people linked to the abductions of two unionists, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) leader Dr Peter Magombeyi and Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) leader Mr Obert Masaraure.
There are plans now to take the alleged issues to the next meeting of the International Union Rights Journal and cast Zimbabwe in bad light.
In an interview on Monday, Mr Mangwana said; “Government is not in receipt of any letters from the NGO in question. When any suspected criminal acts are reported to the police, they are fully investigated. What has been happening is that the alleged victims have not been cooperating with the authorities and in most cases, give very inconsistent and contradictory accounts of incidents, complicating the investigation efforts.
“We need to point out that the figures being floated around as the number of reported cases of abductions in Zimbabwe is a gross exaggeration of the actual cases reported to the police. We have had a few high profile clearly fake abductions which are being used for propaganda purposes.
“These appear to coincide with world events. We believe these are calculated to undermine the re-engagement effort by bringing negative spotlight on the country.”
Mr Mangwana added that the false abduction allegations were “contrived to ensure that Zimbabwe is viewed negatively by the world during major international events”.
He said during the January 2019 protests, there were claims that Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Mr Peter Mutasa had been abducted by security agents, yet he was in hiding.
Numerous other incidents of alleged abductions, which have turned out to be fabrications, have been made and these involved a number of civil society and MDC-Alliance linked individuals.- state media
Farai Dziva|MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa, who is also a pastor, has prophesied about the nation’s economic recovery.
“WE THE PEOPLE…Beyond this doom, the rise of Zimbabwe shall be a surprise to all and the breaking news to the whole world.
The changes will be dramatic and transformation supersonic. New minerals shall be discovered. Economists will not be able to explain the boom,” said Chamisa.
Chamisa is minister of the Gospel in the Apostolic Faith Mission Church.
“I know what we about to go through. The problem with many of us is we don’t understand that the answer and solution to any question or problem is always revealed to the chosen.
Action without strategy is futile. Strategy without action is fatal. Fortunately, we have both,” Chamisa told Bulawayo 24.
Farai Dziva|The MDC believes the high incidence of accidents is a result of the country’s poor roads.
Below is the party’s full statement :
The nation at large and the Kwekwe community in particular yet again witnessed a horrific and fatal road traffic accident in the morning of Sunday 6 October 2019.
The accident which authorities have so far confirmed to have resulted in more than 10 fatalities with hospital authorities fearing more deaths could be recorded due to the ongoing challenges in the medical fraternity where there are no doctors, no medication and staff morale is at its lowest because of the government’s failure to address genuine grievances raised by medical staff.
The accident was as a result of a head-on collision which occurred along the Harare- Bulawayo at the 267km peg towards Bulawayo, some 20km outside Kwekwe. The carnage is one of the many road traffic accidents in the public transport sector that have claimed so many lives in recent times.
The MDC continues to bemoan the narrow state of our highways which increases the risk of head- on and side-swipe accidents. The MDC remains worried at the continuous misuse of government funding in other non essential areas like foreign trips by the executive yet such funds could help speed up the dualisation of our highways.
The unaccountability of public funds by ZINARA remains the main reason behind the government’s failure to provide for safe highways that preserve life and property. As part of our SMART transport policy, MDC parliamentarians have moved for the adoption of the Road Traffic Accident Victims Compensation Fund, which fund is supposed to genuinely assist all victims of road traffic accidents.
It is sad that while Parliamentarians across the political divide have agreed to this motion, the government, despite twice committing to implement the same, continues to be lethargic while lives are being lost without any compensation being dispensed. The fund is supposed to be supported from a percentage of road licence fees as well as a percentage from Road Insurance without passing the cost to road users. Debate can ensue on the funding model but the principle as agreed to in Parliament is that victims of all road accidents must get compensation including taking care of the welfare of the bereaved, especially children.
The MDC pays its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. We wish all those injured in this latest tragedy a speedy recovery.
Hon Settlement Chikwinya
Secretary for Transport and Logistics
Movement For Democratic Change
Harare City Council plans to use ZESA Holdings’ billing system to recover about $1 billion the local authority is owed by ratepayers.
If the plan is approved, council will gradually recover the money every time indebted ratepayers purchase electricity tokens from the power utility.
The local authority also intends to introduce prepaid water meters across the city to complement the proposed ZESA deal.
Speaking on the side-lines of a Special council meeting on Monday, Harare town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango said council has devised a cocktail of measures to recover its debt.
“We are owed a lot of money and we want to devise new ways of recovering that debt. Among the possibilities is that we may engage ZESA so that when somebody pays for electricity there is a certain percentage that goes towards our debt.
“You know how ZESA has done it before to recover what they are owed,” he said.
Eng Chisango said if the city fails to reach an agreement with ZESA, it will seek to recover its debt through its own prepaid meter system.- state media
The High Court has shelved a Government plan to evict a local company from a farm in Hwange.
The company, Tetra Heights has, for some time, been locked in a wrangle with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement over Halfway Hotel which is on Gwaai Farm.
The ruling by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa follows an application by Tetra Heights challenging its eviction from the farm, citing the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Retired Chief Air Marshal Perrance as a respondent.
Tetra Heights, through its lawyers Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys, filed an application for rescission of a default judgment under case number HC3313/18, by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese, which directed the company to vacate the property.
Justice Makonese’s ruling followed an application by Minister Shiri seeking an eviction order against Tetra Heights.
In the latest development, Justice Mabhikwa rescinded his colleague’s ruling and gave Tetra Heights greenlight to file opposing papers under case number HC3313/18.
“It is ordered that the order under HC3313/18 be and hereby set aside. Applicant be and is hereby granted leave to file its notice of opposition and opposing affidavit under HC 3313/18 within 10 days of granting of this order,” ruled the judge.
In his founding affidavit, Tetra Heights representative, Mr David Mukonoweshuro said they were on the premises at Halfway Hotel with the blessing of Minister Shiri.
“The possession was first obtained through a ministerial directive and applicant was advised that it should occupy the premises until such a time that a new tenant would have been nominated by the Government. It is imperative to state that prior to occupation of the property by the applicant, it was occupied by Mr Rob Sterling who was dispossessed of the property in 2016,” he said.
Mr Mukonoweshuro argued that the Minister “secretly” filed a chamber application and failed to serve his company resulting in a default judgment in his favour.
“It is my averment that the applicant did not willfully default to respond to the chamber application as they were not served with the papers. It is therefore my submission that the relief of rescission ought to succeed given the above averment to prove on a balance of probabilities that there is good and sufficient cause to allow the relief to be granted,” he said.
In February last year, Tetra Heights filed a chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an order directing the Minister to suspend the notice ordering it to vacate Gwaai Halfway Hotel.
Tetra Heights also wanted Minister Shiri to be compelled to provide written reasons for rejecting its application to lease Gwaai Halfway Hotel.
The company argued that it has been in occupation of the premises since August 2016 with the blessing of former Lands Minister Douglas Mombeshora following the eviction of former owner, Mr Sterling, as part of the land reform programme.
Tetra Heights said it was advised that they should possess the property until such a time that the Government of Zimbabwe would have nominated a new tenant to occupy the premises.
When Mr Sterling was removed from the farm, his employees continued running the hotel until the Government brought Tetra Heights.
Tetra Heights was on January 4 last year given a notice to vacate the premises. In his founding affidavit deposed on behalf of Minister Shiri under case number HC3313/18, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Mr Ringson John Chitsiko, said the disputed property belongs to the State.
“The property in dispute was formerly owned as one business entity together with the farm prior to acquisition of the farm by the State. Upon acquisition of the farm, my Ministry decided to excise the hotel and service station from the remainder of the farm with the intention of creating a separate business entity which would be leased off to qualifying tenants who intended to utilise the same for business purposes,” he said.
Mr Chitsiko said the other portion of the farm was left out to a qualifying indigenous beneficiary to continue with the agricultural business.
In an effort to find a suitable tenant for the hotel and service station, the Ministry flighted an invitation to tender for the lease of the properties.
Tetra Heights was one of the companies that responded to the tender for the lease of the hotel and service station and its application was turned down.
In its submission, Tetra Heights argued that it was already in occupation of the hotel and service station through a lease granted to it by the former farm owner.
However, Mr Chitsiko argued that lease is not enforceable at law due to the fact that the farm is State land.
Tetra Heights has since 2017 been locked in a legal wrangle with former workers who have invaded Gwaai Halfway House Hotel wanting to control the property.-state media
The MDC leadership of the National Standing Committee met for seven hours in Harare today and took stock of the deteriorating economic situation that has affected ordinary citizens, particularly with respect to weekly fuel price increases that have triggered further increments on the prices of basic commodities.
Of concern to the leadership was that the illegitimate government of Mr. Mnangagwa has failed to deal with the burgeoning national crisis and the party resolved to take robust action in the near future on the side of the suffering people of Zimbabwe.
In any case, the leadership noted that the Mnagagwa regime was the biggest threat to the safety of the citizenry, judging by the regime’s clampdown on ordinary citizens and the proscription of their basic rights.
The party noted that there has been State capture as evidenced by cartels comprising top State players and a politically connected business elite. It is these cartels that are stealing taxpayers’ money through illegal deals and other nefarious activities that have brought the economy to its knees. The leadership also took note of the recent court judgement which ruled that the Mnangagwa administration had stolen from suffering Zimbabweans by collecting a 2 percent transaction tax for over six months outside any legal framework. The Mnangagwa government must simply have the decency of reimbursing Zimbabweans the money that it illegally collected from them.
Of major concern was the deteriorating predicament of the ordinary citizen as characterized by 18-hour power cuts as well as declining social services particularly in the health and education sectors. Transacting platforms for ordinary citizens such as the ecocash platforms have been virtually banned, further affecting despondent citizens who now can barely afford public transport costs and other basics.
The party leadership resolved that it will soon embark on a robust programme to respond to the national crisis through peaceful and constitutional means.
Luke Tamborinyoka
MDC Deputy National Spokesperson
Over 100 cattle from Ward 19 in Gwanda near Mlambapeli Border Post have been shot in Botswana in the past three weeks after they strayed into the neighbouring country.
In an interview Matabeleland South provincial veterinary officer, Dr Enat Mdlongwa said 112 cattle had been shot over the past three weeks. He said his office was engaging their Botswana counterparts over the issue.
“A total of 112 cattle from Ward 19 in Gwanda which borders with Botswana have been shot in the past three weeks after they strayed into the neighbouring country. This is a huge concern for us a country as these figures are alarming.
“We are continuously engaging our Botswana counterparts over the matter until we find a permanent solution. However, we should also note that Botswana is a sovereign country and we can’t interfere with policies that they put in place,” he said.
Dr Mdlongwa said despite efforts that had been made by the veterinary department to raise awareness among communities people continued to allow their animals to stray into Botswana. He appealed to farmers especially those situated along the border line to take extra care of their cattle.
The councillor of Ward 19, Tompson Makhalima raised concern as many villagers from his ward were losing their cattle after they had strayed into Botswana. He said there were seven villages in his ward which were affected.
Cllr Makhalima said elephants were destroying the fence along the border which made it difficult for villagers to restrain their livestock.
“People from my ward are going through a difficult time as their cattle are being shot after straying into Botswana. This problem has been ongoing for too long and it needs a permanent solution so that people don’t suffer loss.
“Elephants continue to destroy the border fence which creates a way for livestock to stray into Botswana. It’s difficult for people to control their animals under such circumstances. The Botswana officials don’t even notify us after impounding the cattle, we just hear shots as the cattle are being destroyed and they go on to burn them,” he said.
The Veterinary Department in Matabeleland South Province in conjunction with their Botswana counterparts recently held a campaign to educate farmers from the two countries against allowing their livestock to stray. This was to also help contain trans boundary diseases.
The campaign was targeting farmers that are situated along the border line namely those in Bulilima, Mangwe, Matobo, Gwanda and Beitbridge districts as they border Botswana.
It was also held as part of efforts to avoid cases of Zimbabwean animals being destroyed in Botswana after straying into the neighbouring country.
Botswana in 2016 introduced a shoot to kill policy to destroy all cattle that stray into their territory. A number of Zimbabwean animals have been lost as a result of the policy.
Authorities from the neighbouring country pointed out that they had resorted to this policy because the straying of Zimbabwe cattle was affecting their business of exporting beef as the country has had foot and mouth disease outbreaks. – state media
The MDC leadership of the National Standing Committee met for seven hours in Harare today and took stock of the deteriorating economic situation that has affected ordinary citizens, particularly with respect to weekly fuel price increases that have triggered further increments on the prices of basic commodities.
Of concern to the leadership was that the illegitimate government of Mr. Mnangagwa has failed to deal with the burgeoning national crisis and the party resolved to take robust action in the near future on the side of the suffering people of Zimbabwe.
In any case, the leadership noted that the Mnagagwa regime was the biggest threat to the safety of the citizenry, judging by the regime’s clampdown on ordinary citizens and the proscription of their basic rights.
The party noted that there has been State capture as evidenced by cartels comprising top State players and a politically connected business elite. It is these cartels that are stealing taxpayers’ money through illegal deals and other nefarious activities that have brought the economy to its knees. The leadership also took note of the recent court judgement which ruled that the Mnangagwa administration had stolen from suffering Zimbabweans by collecting a 2 percent transaction tax for over six months outside any legal framework. The Mnangagwa government must simply have the decency of reimbursing Zimbabweans the money that it illegally collected from them.
Of major concern was the deteriorating predicament of the ordinary citizen as characterized by 18-hour power cuts as well as declining social services particularly in the health and education sectors. Transacting platforms for ordinary citizens such as the ecocash platforms have been virtually banned, further affecting despondent citizens who now can barely afford public transport costs and other basics.
The party leadership resolved that it will soon embark on a robust programme to respond to the national crisis through peaceful and constitutional means.
Luke Tamborinyoka
MDC Deputy National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa is likely to face impeachment, BBC has reported.
The Parliament of Zimbabwe is pushing for genuine dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa to save the country from the economic crisis, But ED stands with his POLAD .
Such ignorance from Emmerson Mnangagwa will lead to impeachment process, where the chances of surviving it are slim, according to BBC.
Speaking to BBC Zimbabwe, A Zanu PF MP said, genuine dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa would save Zimbabwe.
Commenting on impeachment, the MP refused to predict, saying,it was difficult to know what will happen if the situation reaches that stage.
By Simba Chikanza| The government of Zimbabwe yesterday approved a new law that will cause the arrest of all citizens who comment on the Internet expressions that are deemed not “ethical.”
The bill is dubbed the Cyber Crime, Security and Data Protection.
It leaves to be seen how the bill will be administered, seeing that ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa should be the first to be charged since he is the gang leader of a group of online bullies, known as Varakashi.
Already the bill has been announced by the state media with the Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi being introduced as a political comrade “Cde,” rather than a cabinet minister.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Below is the state media full text –
Cabinet yesterday approved the Cyber Crime, Security and Data Protection Bill which seeks to combat cyber crimes and enhance security in the wake of rampant abuse of the platform. The Bill, which provides for an array of issues such as code of conduct and ethics, data protection authority and penalties for violations, will be gazetted soon. It will be tabled in Parliament for debate thereafter.
This was said by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu while briefing journalists about the 35th Cabinet decision matrix in Harare yesterday.Minister Ndlovu was standing in for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa. “Cabinet considered and approved the Cyber Crime, Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill, which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi.) The Bill seeks to combat cyber crime and increase cyber security in order to build confidence and trust in the secure use of information communication technologies,” said Minister Ndlovu. He said the Bill will also address issues to do with codes of conduct and ethics. “More specifically, the Bill provides for the following: provision and approval of codes of conduct and ethics to be observed by all categories of data controllers, data protection with due regard to constitutional rights and public interest under (the) Postal, Telecommunication and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe,” said Minister Ndlovu. “It will also seek to establish a data security centre and a Data Protection Authority, investigation and collection of evidence relating to Cyber Crime and unauthorised Data Collection and breaches thereof.”
He said the Bill will also seek to spell out the admissibility of electronic evidence for such offences and penalties for offences committed under the Act.
“The Bill will also provide penalties for the transmission of data messages inciting violence and damage to property, protection of citizens against cyber bullying and harassment, measures to address the production and dissemination of racist and xenophobic material using language that tends to lower the reputation or feelings of persons for the reason that they belong to a group of persons distinguished on the grounds set out in section 56 subsection 3 of the Constitution,” said Minister Ndlovu.
He said the Bill will provide for penalties for persons who generate, distribute or broadcast data concerning an identifiable person knowing it to be false and intending to cause psychological or economic harm; and curbing the transmission of pornographic material.
“In essence, the Bill advocates the use of ICTs for more constructive purpose,” said Minister Ndlovu.
There have been growing calls among citizens for Government to come up with mechanisms that control the abuse of the internet insofar as it has been used to tarnish the images of other people and used to propagate lies and hurtful messages.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s wife Sithokozile has dismissed claims that he was heckled by her husband during the party’s anniversary celebrations at Rufaro Stadium.
See Sithokozile’s response to WCOZ’s claims :
Dear Madam,
It is with utmost shock that I learnt of your statement dated 4 October 2019 requesting a national apology and respect for women from Advocate Nelson Chamisa over an incident that happened at Rufaro stadium on 28 September 2019.
As the person who is purportedly directly affected by the actions of the said Advocate Chamisa, I find the action by your institution inconsistent for a number of reasons outlined below:
I am a fully paid up member of WCoZ. Surely, if you purport to act on behalf of women and allege as stated in your statement that I was heckled, then ought you not to have sought my side of the story. Alternatively, as you conclude that I am a victim of abuse, would not your first port of call have been to offer support to enable me to come out of the abusive circumstances.
I would allege further that in the publication of your statement you have even further abused and traumatised me by making me an object of public ridicule and pity as an “abused wife.”
You seem more worried about a national apology than the welfare of a woman victim who according to you continues to live with an “abuser.” I am further shocked that you have picked this one incident to act on my behalf when there have been other incidents of abuse targeted at me where the WCoZ has chosen to remain silent.
I have been subject of abuse on social media that included body shaming. I expected on those occasions for WCoZ to have responded with sisterly love and demanded respect for women but no support was forthcoming.
Earlier this year, The Herald carried a story with a scathing attack on me alleging that I had purportedly used my official position in one organisation to support a partisan agenda, a story that attacked my integrity as a professional woman.
The story was published by the Herald on 13 February 2019 entitled “Chamisa’s Breakfast Prayer Meeting: The Untold Truth.” Again as WCoZ member you would have known that to be false and I expected that would have come to my defence. I have also followed other incidents on abuse of women where I personally thought they were of such serious magnitude that WCOZ should have acted but you did not act.
A case in point is the abduction of popular comedian Samantha Kureya where the women’s voice was notably absent. The Herald for instance has on various occasions carried stories that have attacked women using very abusive language . A case in point is the attack on Hon Joanna Mamombe made on 29 June 2019 in an article “The Saturday Column: The day cyclone Mthuli came to town.” Again no response was heard from WCoZ.
Other WCoZ members Rita Nyamupinga and Sithabile Dewa are facing trumped up treason charges. . Again WcoZ was conspicuously silent. It is light of the above that your purported sympathy in the press statement you, made on 4 October then exposes your hypocrisy in the whole matter.
If as you say you represent the rights of women, your exploits in this regard must be consistent, holistic and informed. Otherwise they come across as partisan and lacking in all sincerity.
I felt compelled to register my displeasure personally by writing to you directly before I make any public statement on the matter so that we can engage constructively as a member of the movement who has served in it in various capacities.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s wife Sithokozile has accused WCoz of neglecting its members.
See Sithokozile’s statement :
Dear Madam,
It is with utmost shock that I learnt of your statement dated 4 October 2019 requesting a national apology and respect for women from Advocate Nelson Chamisa over an incident that happened at Rufaro stadium on 28 September 2019.
As the person who is purportedly directly affected by the actions of the said Advocate Chamisa, I find the action by your institution inconsistent for a number of reasons outlined below:
I am a fully paid up member of WCoZ. Surely, if you purport to act on behalf of women and allege as stated in your statement that I was heckled, then ought you not to have sought my side of the story. Alternatively, as you conclude that I am a victim of abuse, would not your first port of call have been to offer support to enable me to come out of the abusive circumstances.
I would allege further that in the publication of your statement you have even further abused and traumatised me by making me an object of public ridicule and pity as an “abused wife.”
You seem more worried about a national apology than the welfare of a woman victim who according to you continues to live with an “abuser.” I am further shocked that you have picked this one incident to act on my behalf when there have been other incidents of abuse targeted at me where the WCoZ has chosen to remain silent.
I have been subject of abuse on social media that included body shaming. I expected on those occasions for WCoZ to have responded with sisterly love and demanded respect for women but no support was forthcoming.
Earlier this year, The Herald carried a story with a scathing attack on me alleging that I had purportedly used my official position in one organisation to support a partisan agenda, a story that attacked my integrity as a professional woman.
The story was published by the Herald on 13 February 2019 entitled “Chamisa’s Breakfast Prayer Meeting: The Untold Truth.” Again as WCoZ member you would have known that to be false and I expected that would have come to my defence. I have also followed other incidents on abuse of women where I personally thought they were of such serious magnitude that WCOZ should have acted but you did not act.
A case in point is the abduction of popular comedian Samantha Kureya where the women’s voice was notably absent. The Herald for instance has on various occasions carried stories that have attacked women using very abusive language . A case in point is the attack on Hon Joanna Mamombe made on 29 June 2019 in an article “The Saturday Column: The day cyclone Mthuli came to town.” Again no response was heard from WCoZ.
Other WCoZ members Rita Nyamupinga and Sithabile Dewa are facing trumped up treason charges. . Again WcoZ was conspicuously silent. It is light of the above that your purported sympathy in the press statement you, made on 4 October then exposes your hypocrisy in the whole matter.
If as you say you represent the rights of women, your exploits in this regard must be consistent, holistic and informed. Otherwise they come across as partisan and lacking in all sincerity.
I felt compelled to register my displeasure personally by writing to you directly before I make any public statement on the matter so that we can engage constructively as a member of the movement who has served in it in various capacities.
Below is a picture of Norton MP Temba Mliswa barefooted, worshipping with Madzibaba.
Mliswa at Madzibaba shrine
FULL TEXT- CONSTITUENCY UPDATE 5-10-2019
Dear Nortonians,
This past week I have been involved in a number of land issues, not just in Norton, that have served to emphasized how the movement forward in this country is severely undermined by the proliferation of corruption and corrupt people. We need to take a strong position against the vice of corruption if we are to make any meaningful developments otherwise we shall be at the same place repeating platitudes whilst the country dies.
*SHOKO FESTIVAL*
I had the honour of being invited to this year’s Shoko Festival organised by Magamba Network in Harare and am glad to say the initiative is great interactive exercise with so many youths on issues such as youth participation in politics and governance, internet freedom and media issues.
As part of a panel that also included new Glen View MP Vincent Tsvangirai, we discussed all these issues with the mainly youths gathered and we had a great timesharing ideas.
I emphasized on the need for youths to stand up and be involved as it is their mandate.
*MDC ALLIANCE ANNIVERSARY*
This year I also attended the MDC Alliance anniversary celebrations held at Rufaro Stadium in Harare. I did this out of respect for the invitation that I got and in recognition of the mandate I have as an independent legislator, to represent those in my constituency who support the party.
That I witnessed ugly scenes of booing from a section of the crowd is an unfortunate exhibition of the political polarisation still manifesting in our body politick.
As a matter of record I was requested to do the party slogan but as a principled visitor with my own political persuasions as an independent I could not do that. Thus I declined and it is for that reason they was that unfortunate incident. However I still stand by my position as I feel that as a politician with principles I cannot go all around the place chanting slogans for whatever party’s event attend.
We still need to mature as a people and outgrow such tendencies to exhibit violence, whether verbal or physical, when we come up against people of a different thinking in relation to politics.
No one idea or party is universally correct but each is strengthened and fortified through interactions and convergences with the opposites.
Until we learn and accept this type of thinking our development as a nation will always be hamstrung by basic ills of immature politics. Strong democracies have political tolerance and have managed to development from there.
However I want to wish the Advocate Nelson Chamisa and MDC Alliance family a happy 20th Anniversary and wish them continued growth.
*ZIMCODD CONSTITUENCY ENGAGEMENT MEETING*
On 29 September the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) came and held constituency meeting at AFM church in Kingsdale. The idea behind the initiative is to bring leaders to meet with the electorate and discuss development issues.
It was a well-attended event with almost all the Norton Councilors.
I was glad because the electorate managed to come and air themselves, with each issue being directed to its rightful point people, either me, as the MP or towards the Councilors.
It’s however unfortunate that some of Councilor have become so antagonistic and can longer differentiate between a baring of facts to do with the shoddiness of business in Council business and attacks lacking facts.
Emotional responses to issues of their inability to lead development severely hampered the discussion and that was very unfortunate. As l always reiterate, I have nothing to gain from fighting the Councilors but all I’m seeking and pushing for is for them to do their jobs.
It’s unfortunate that some of them are still looking at things in a politicized manner and thus cannot move forward as they are heavily constrained by a wrong approach to matters. Politics ended after announcement of elections winners.
*ASPINDALE RESIDENTS*
Many people are coming to recognise the great work that we are doing here in Norton in combating land barons and I have since engaged with Kambuzuma residents of 48 Aspindale Park who are also grappling with a land baron issue.
This past week I visited the place for a meeting with the affected residents.
Initially they were given an offer letter by the government which has since been withdrawn after the coming in of a new Minister and given to a private developer.
The action is a deplorable conduct of gross corruption and insensitivity as the place already has hundreds who have already built complete houses but are now required to fork out thousands to the politically connected developer.
Together with Willias Madzimure, legislator for Kambuzuma, we have agreed to do our outmost to assist the people and hope that we will reach a people centered resolution.
*MASHLANDS RESIDENTS MEETING*
On Sunday I met with Mashlands residents over their issue of stands. This meeting came against the backdrop of my appearance before the Justice Uchena Land Commission where we were told that the state acquired the area along time ago.
Thus at the meeting we sought to get a clarification as to who really owns the place seeing as it they have been chains of different directors collecting funds from the people whilst they all don’t have the title deeds to the place.
Following the meeting I will be taking up the matter with higher offices so that the residents can be in a position to know where they stand and what the way forward is.
*KNOWE PRIMARY DINNER*
In a great development Knowe Primary School recently acquired a bus for their institution and last week we had a dinner to commission it whilst also fund raising for the school.
It was a great event attended by Council Chairperson Cllr Gumisirai, Knowe Headmaster and other local dignitaries.
As a development oriented leader it’s gratifying to see the young institution taking bold steps towards greatness.
*GUMANO RAPAUL MWAZHA*
Vimbai High School was the site for the massively attended Gumano raPaul Mwazha last week. I attended the African Apostolic Church service and had a great meeting with itsleaders present who included Bishop Mukasa (Mashonaland West Province), Reverend Rupanga (Norton) and Reverend Chupa (Darwendale).
Asa town seeking to develop it’s a great spiritual occurrence to have such events occurring in your constituency.
*METHODIST CHURCH SERVICE AND MUSIC CONVENTION*
This past week I was invited to and attended a Methodist Church service in Calfa. It was a great service to support the spiritual leaders and we were blessed both by the word and the entire service.
Since it was a special swrvixe to fundraise for the upkeep of the leaders i also managed to lend a hand to the cause with some money.
Giving in the house of the Lord remains a fundamental act of much importance.
On Saturday I was also invited to the Methodist Music Convention at Norton 1 Primary. The guest of Honour was the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa who was represented by the Mashonaland West Minister of State Mary Mliswa Chikoka.
It was a festive and great event with choirs from Harare West Province.
Progress as a town will forever remain a combined result of different forces and factors working together and no one person, party or entity will manage unless we come together. In our differences, the single biggest uniting factor is that we all want to see Norton progressing. If we can remain alive to that fact we shall achieve great things.
Farai Dziva|Former Dynamos and How Mine striker Victor Kamhuka has joined an Indian Premier Soccer League side.
The 29-year-old defender plays for Bhowanipure FC in the Indian league and he opened up on life there football wise, in an interview with Soccer24 from his base in India.
“Life in Indian football is good. It’s improving very fast due to the fact that more quality foreigners are coming but the main challenge is the weather because it’s hot. I’m-playing week in week out I thank God for that.”
“It’s every player’s dream to play for the national team and given a chance I would love to. I have played for my national team from under 17,20 and 23s and given a chance I would want to represent my country at senior level,” Kamhuka said.
Farai Dziva|Warriors coach Joey Antipas has named the provisional squad for the CHAN qualifier against Lesotho on the 20th of October.
The encounter will be played in Maseru and it’s a return fixture of the final round qualifiers. Zimbabwe carry a 3-1 lead from the first leg played in Harare last month.
Striker Evans Katema has been include in the squad despite carrying an injury he suffered on the eve of the first leg. Joel Ngodzo who was dropped from the previous selection due to passport issues has also been called.
It is with utmost shock that I learnt of your statement dated 4 October 2019 requesting a national apology and respect for women from Advocate Nelson Chamisa over an incident that happened at Rufaro stadium on 28 September 2019.
As the person who is purportedly directly affected by the actions of the said Advocate Chamisa, I find the action by your institution inconsistent for a number of reasons outlined below:
I am a fully paid up member of WCoZ. Surely, if you purport to act on behalf of women and allege as stated in your statement that I was heckled, then ought you not to have sought my side of the story.
Alternatively, as you conclude that I am a victim of abuse, would not your first port of call have been to offer support to enable me to come out of the abusive circumstances. I would allege further that in the publication of your statement you have even further abused and traumatised me by making me an object of public ridicule and pity as an “abused wife.”
You seem more worried about a national apology than the welfare of a woman victim who according to you continues to live with an “abuser.”
I am further shocked that you have picked this one incident to act on my behalf when there have been other incidents of abuse targeted at me where the WCoZ has chosen to remain silent. I have been subject of abuse on social media that included body shaming.
I expected on those occasions for WCoZ to have responded with sisterly love and demanded respect for women but no support was forthcoming. Earlier this year, The Herald carried a story with a scathing attack on me alleging that I had purportedly used my official position in one organisation to support a partisan agenda, a story that attacked my integrity as a professional woman.
The story was published by the Herald on 13 February 2019 entitled “Chamisa’s Breakfast Prayer Meeting: The Untold Truth.” Again as WCoZ member you would have known that to be false and I expected that would have come to my defence.
I have also followed other incidents on abuse of women where I personally thought they were of such serious magnitude that WCOZ should have acted but you did not act. A case in point is the abduction of popular comedian Samantha Kureya where the women’s voice was notably absent.
The Herald for instance has on various occasions carried stories that have attacked women using very abusive language . A case in point is the attack on Hon Joanna Mamombe made on 29 June 2019 in an article “The Saturday Column: The day cyclone Mthuli came to town.” Again no response was heard from WCoZ.
Other WCoZ members Rita Nyamupinga and Sithabile Dewa are facing trumped up treason charges. . Again WcoZ was conspicuously silent. It is light of the above that your purported sympathy in the press statement you, made on 4 October then exposes your hypocrisy in the whole matter.
If as you say you represent the rights of women, your exploits in this regard must be consistent, holistic and informed. Otherwise they come across as partisan and lacking in all sincerity. I felt compelled to register my displeasure personally by writing to you directly before I make any public statement on the matter so that we can engage constructively as a member of the movement who has served in it in various capacities.
THE RESERVE BANK OF ZIMBABWE (RBZ) SAYS WE ARE ONLY CONTROLLING COMPANIES’ FOREX ACCOUNTS, NOT PEOPLE’S – ARE THEY TELLING THE TRUTH? HERE IS THE EVIDENCE.
The below is a simple extrapolation (using simple day to day English) from the leaked RBZ memo which was debated in the parliamentary portfolio committee responsible, yesterday (see copies here).
Who is the account holder referred to in bullet point number 3, the company or the employee? This holder’s account has already been raided by the Central Bank.
The accounts talked about in bullet point 4 are those of employees and not the employer.
Bullet 5 clearly refers to employees bank account saying this is an account that has been credited with a salary, and that after a 30 day period the forex funds will be liquidated *that is – converted into Zim dollars.
Bullet 6 clearly refers to all bank accounts employer and employer that unutilised funds will be compulsory liquidated after 30 days.
Bullet point 7 is an instruction to banks to ensure compliance.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Life Project (ZLP) on Monday donated equipment and surgical consumables to several Zimbabwean hospitals.
Speaking to the media after meeting members of ZLP who were being led by the chief executive officer Lucia Vambe, Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Stuart Comberbach, said:
As you know there is a diaspora directorate being set up in this Ministry now and right from the beginning of the new dispensation, President Mnangagwa has made it a real priority for our embassies and government to reach out to the diaspora wherever they are to encourage them to use their talent, skills and expertise to assist Zimbabwe as we rebuild our economy.
ZLP is a diaspora philanthropic group of 26 health professionals based in the United Kingdom. The group is in Zimbabwe on a two-week tour to share knowledge and experience with mental health staff in the country.
By A Correspondent- Many people in Zimbabwe are not able to acquire identity documents such as birth certificates, national IDs, and passports.
A 50-year-old Mutare woman, Jessica Makwela, whose parents were from Mozambique, told ZBC News that she and her 9 children and 13 grandchildren have no identity documents.
She said:
I don’t have national identity documents as my parents who are of Mozambican origin died when I was young and I don’t have any other relative in Zimbabwe to help me acquire identity documents.
I have 9 children and 13 grandchildren who also have no identity documents, and are deprived of benefits such as access to education and even the right to vote.
Access to identity documents is considered a human rights issue. However, the cost of acquiring the documents in prohibitive for many people.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean television personality and actress Vimbai Mutinhiri is off the market after announcing her engagement to her long-time boyfriend Nigerian Andrew ‘Dru’ Ekpenyong.
The 32-year-old Vimbai told her followers on her social media platforms about the engagement calling it ‘‘MyAfricanFairytale’’. Posting a pic with her beau, the former Big Brother Africa star said: “God’s time is the best time. ???? x ????”.
In the next post Vimbai showed off an engagement ring.
Friends, fans and media personalities from across Africa such as Nigerian actress Rita Dominic, singer Yemi Alade, South African actresses Tembi Seete and Terry Pheto, congratulated her.
Some asked why this relationship had been under the radar and not many people knew about it. Vimbai responded: “It was important to enjoy it and pray for it in our privacy first.”
Vimbai represented Zimbabwe in the Big Brother Africa reality TV show in 2011. After Big Brother, she was chosen as the new presenter for ‘‘Star Gist’’, on Africa Magic Entertainment.
Vimbai moved to Nigeria after Dstv moved ‘‘Star Gist’’ to the West African country. There she met the 33-year-old Andrew “Dru” who runs a family hotel in Nigeria’s tourist town of Calabar. He is the youngest son of Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong, a powerful tribal leader from Cross River State.
By Own Correspondent| Church pastors on Tuesday saying the two main political parties, MDC and ZANU PF are in a logjam that has paralyzed the country, proposed “a seven-year suspension of all political contestation for the sake of rebuilding trust.” Analysts said if the churches are under instruction from Emmerson Mnangagwa, this suggests he is now resigning and a transitional authority is taking over.
Below was their full statement.
ALSO WATCH VIDEO LOADING BELOW ….
https://youtu.be/2Ij8QypHIEs
CALL FOR NATIONAL SABBATH FOR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING 7th October 2019
We, the leaders of the ZHOCD made up of EFZ, UDACIZA, ZCBC and ZCC, met at the Africa Synod House on the 7th of October 2019 to consider the currently unfolding national crisis in its totality and to propose what we believe is a comprehensive but sustainable solution to it. We have prayerfully come to the conclusion that in light of the current political paralysis, deepening mistrust and the dehumanizing economic decline, the nation will need to take a bold decision to address the root causes of the our national challenges that have a very long history and will not be fully resolved by one entity. In this light we are calling the nation to SABBATH on all political contestation for a period of seven years to allow for the rebuilding of trust and confidence, reset our politics and chart a shared way forward towards a comprehensive economic recovery path in a non-competitive political environment. This position builds on the founding vision of the 2006 church discussion document, the Zimbabwe We Want. The position also builds on the proposal from the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations Episcopal Conference at the Large City Hall, Bulawayo of 08-09 May 2019.
1. The idea of the SABBATH is a deep theological theme in the Old and New Testaments of the bible and in Church tradition. It is based on God’s command to his people to set aside the seventh day for a rest. Seven years were also considered as SABBATH years. Seven seven-year sabbaths or forty-nine years constituted what was called the Jubilee season. In this Jubilee season, land would be left fallow so that it could recover its nutrients. Debts would be forgiven. New relationships would be built and God would bless his people. Since its independence in 1980, Zimbabwe reaches her Jubilee year in 2029. The nation could use the coming period to usher in a true Jubilee for the nation by removing all political contestation from the land and focus the period on healing past wounds, recover the economy, and build a new political culture of cooperation focused on nation-building.
2. The current deteriorating economic crisis which is characterized by systemic corruption, shortages of fuel, prices going out of control and collapse of the health sector needs to be built from the ground with everyone’s support. As we are meeting, doctors are on strike and other workers such as teachers are threatening the same as they find it difficult to make ends meet with their current remunerations. According to the ZimVAC figures for 2019, an estimated 7.7 million Zimbabweans are in need of food assistance due to drought. Malnutrition and the interruption of basic services such as health and education may have both immediate and long-term negative impact. When this is combined with high levels of unemployment, stagnant salaries and the loss of buying power of salaries for those who are still employed, one can only conclude that Zimbabwe needs an urgent and holistic solution in which the grassroots, organized society and political and policy sectors should contribute to and own.
3. The current political paralysis and logjam characterized by the failure of the ruling party and the main opposition party to find a workable collaborative model is an issue of great concern. The fact that the two main political parties remain stuck in the post-election mode and will soon embark on a new election mode means that Zimbabwe is unlikely to realize any meaningful engagement between these parties towards a shared constitutional alignment agenda. Without a shared approach to national processes, the efforts by one are undermined by the other, while any positive contribution towards the national good by each is read only within a party-political perspective. We foresee that, whichever political party wins an election, the paralysis will remain, if the opposing parties do not learn how to collaborate. It is the people who will continue to suffer if as a nation we fail to establish some unity in diversity.
4. Zimbabwe has not yet undergone healing from the various periods of national hurt. While we recognize the efforts of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, the failure of the nation to fully bring healing and mutually acceptable closure to the long past, immediate past and recent past means that hatred fossilizes and the propensity for revenge grows. Casual references to ethnicity as the organizing principle for political mobilization threatens national stability in ways many may not be aware of.
5. Having looked at these issues in a holistic fashion, the Church leaders have observed that the current environment does not allow for meaningful political reforms nor is it conducive for an inclusive economic participation for ordinary citizens. Such an environment of toxic political relations also renders our international re-engagement process futile, which international isolation inhibits investor confidence and slow economic growth. Such a polarized environment weakens respect for national institutions such as the courts, the police and the security sectors. Once such institutions are viewed as partisan and lacking in independence, it becomes impossible to ellicit cooperation among the policy and political actors to drive a national reform process in the best interests of the nation.
6. The Church leaders have also realized that since 2000, election periods have been characterized by violence and paralyzing polarization and have helped to provoke high levels of mistrust. On one hand, the ruling party has blamed the opposition for selective recognition of electoral processes and for celebrating when results go in their favor while crying foul when results go in favor of the incumbents. On the other hand, the opposition has continued to point to gross human rights violations and the skewed political playing field. Different observers and independent commissions have raised the need for a broad-based and comprehensive national dialogue to find lasting solution to these challenges and mutual accusation. What has not been proposed is the environment conducive enough to allow for such transformative national conversation to bring hope. It is such a solution the Church is humbly proposing to the nation.
7. While all the political bickering is continuing, the basic concern for the ordinary citizen across the political divide is to get on with their personal development. In the current context, the citizens have grown weary from struggling against the never-ending waves of electoral polarization that undermine their hard work, disrupt community building and erode progress. The danger is that, the more citizens lose confidence in democratic processes such as elections, the more apathetic they will become, and the less representative political offices will become. We must rescue this situation by providing, not yet other piecemeal solutions. What we need is a proper break with the current paralysis and move towards real renewal and transformation.
8. It is in this light that the Church leaders are proposing a national seven-year SABBATH period for the purposes of (a) establishing an emergency recovery mechanism to address the dire national situation, especially for the most vulnerable communities, (b) rebuilding trust and confidence by healing all the hurts of the past, (c) developing a shared national reform agenda to deepen our democracy, (d) establishing a shared and inclusive national economic vision. The SABBATH proposal entails the suspension of the constitutional provision of elections but such a deficiency will be redressed through a national referendum. The national referendum question would seek to ascertain from all Zimbabweans whether they agree with a proposal for a seven-year suspension of all political contestation for the sake of rebuilding trust and confidence by healing to all hurts of the past, sharing and executing a shared constitutional and political national reform agenda, and establishing and implementing a shared national economic vision.
9. The Church leaders are not proposing any detailed government structure of the SABBATH season. Such an implementation structure must emerge from a process of consultation of citizens at different layers of society. The structure will take into consideration the institutional and systemic requirements to achieve the objectives and safeguard the outcomes of the SABBATH. Through this SABBATH call, the church leaders are soliciting for national acceptance of the seven-year SABBATH period as a season for trust and confidence building, resetting of national politics, and creating an appropriate environment for economic recovery outside party political competition. The assumption is that once the principle receives national acceptance through a referendum, a consultative process to design the operationalization framework of the SABBATH season will be established through a broad-based and comprehensive national dialogue involving all levels of society.
10. Taking into consideration that the SABBATH call is a holistic and long-term process, but also being aware that we are currently faced with a national humanitarian and emergency situation, we as the church commit ourselves to upscaling our efforts towards health, education, development and humanitarian assistance. In the same vein, we call upon all political actors, state and non-state actors to respond to the immediate need for humanitarian assistance and social services to alleviate the suffering of Zimbabweans.
Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert… I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43: 18-19, 25)
By A Correspondent- Captains of industry and commerce yesterday asked Treasury to scrap or lower the controversial 2% intermediated money transfer tax (IMTT) imposed last year by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, saying it was an unsustainable additional cost to their already struggling companies.
The call came as various bodies representing industry and commerce appeared before the Felix Mhona-chaired Budget and Finance Portfolio Committee as part of the 2020 budget consultations.
The industrialists also urged government to stop funding the Command Agriculture programme because it was fuelling broad money supply and driving the economy into hyperinflation.
The US$2,8 billion that government used to support Command Agriculture has since been deemed as unauthorised expenditure after it was allocated without Parliament approval.
Ncube is yet to come before Parliament for condonation.
Command Agriculture has all along been supported by government through issuance of Treasury Bills (TBs), which is basically printing of money that government does not have.
Between 2017 and 2018, around US$2,8 billion was issued to Sakunda Holdings, owned by Kudakwashe Tagwirei to spearhead the Command Agriculture programme.
“The impact of the Command Agriculture programme has been to crowd out activities in the market, and we think that the Presidential Input Scheme should be the one funded through the budget,” Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive officer Christopher Mugaga said.
“Command Agriculture should be a specialised activity funded by banks. It is non-performing loans and at the end government incurred an expenditure and so Command Agriculture must not be on the budget figures,” Mugaga said.
Turning to the 2% tax, Mugaga said it has been a serious expenditure and so Command Agriculture must not be on the budget figures,” Mugaga said.
Turning to the 2% tax, Mugaga said it has been a serious cost to business.
“Running a budget surplus on the 2% transaction tax has always been high for us as business and we need to engage Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) and the Finance ministry so that they either remove it or reduce it to 1% because of its cost to business. If I send money to my mother today, it is taxed and it is too much.
The 2% (tax) is a major cost to business and you cannot celebrate a budget surplus driven by this when business is being lost through it and there is no cost benefit to it,” Mugaga said.
ZNCC president Tamuka Macheka weighed in, saying the major problem in Zimbabwe was that the policy environment was very unfriendly.
“The policy environment is so unfriendly that the 2020 budget submissions will not be efficient as long as the policies are unfriendly and inconsistent,” he said.
Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe president Webster Rusere said there was need to give time for implementation of newly-announced policies. For example, he said, when the 2% tax was announced, bankers were not given time to factor in system changes to implement it, which then led to confusion.
But Zimra Commissioner-General Faith Mazani told the committee that her organisation was in favour of the 2% tax.
“Last year, the ministry introduced the 2% transaction tax and I know that it is tax that has received negative publicity. But I want to explain that the major setback on revenue is that tax compliance is very low. There was a big fiscal deficit and so the 2% tax covered that gap, while we are building up capacity and encouraging companies to pay taxes,” Mazani said.
Commenting on talk currently doing the rounds that a new currency might be printed, Rusere said:
“Now people are asking when a new currency is coming, but it was announced that we are using the Zimbabwean dollar already and so what is the new currency. Whether we print new notes with a different face and coins and say it is the new currency – what we need to be clear about to the people is that when we talk about a new currency, we need to stabilise the Zimbabwean dollar by coming up with good monetary policies.”
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries’ Henry Ruzvidzo said while the 2% tax was meant to include previous non-taxpayers, it was severely affecting industries in that it is double taxation. He said if the tax was beneficial, then its gains must be seen through infrastructural growth.
“We appreciate that tax bands were recently reviewed to $700, but we believe the level is not sufficient enough to encourage spending. We are finding challenges of movement of our products and propose that the tax bands need to be reviewed upwards,” Ruzvidzo said.
The High Court recently rules that the 2% tax was illegal, but the court verdict morphed into an academic exercise as government has now enacted enabling legislation to support it.
Chamber of Mines chief executive officer Isaac Kwesi also painted a gloomy picture in the mining sector, saying the macro-economic challenges facing the nation had not spared the sector, especially electricity and water challenges, resulting in a decline in mining output from 10% to 45% in August compared to the same period last year.
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches also gave oral evidence on the economic challenges that the ordinary people were experiencing as a result of the economic meltdown.
By A Correspondent- Parliament yesterday grilled Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) president Webster Rusere over a circular which was recently leaked on social media by one of their members announcing that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will control withdrawal of foreign currency from people’s nostro accounts.
THE DEVELOPMENT COMES AS THE RESERVE BANK OF ZIMBABWE (RBZ) SAYS WE ARE ONLY CONTROLLING COMPANIES’ FOREX ACCOUNTS, NOT PEOPLE’S – ARE THEY TELLING THE TRUTH? HERE IS THE EVIDENCE.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
The below is a simple extrapolation (using simple day to day English) from the leaked RBZ memo which was debated in the parliamentary portfolio committee responsible, yesterday (see copies here).
Who is the account holder referred to in bullet point number 3, the company or the employee? This holder’s account has already been raided by the Central Bank.
The accounts talked about in bullet point 4 are those of employees and not the employer.
Bullet 5 clearly refers to employees bank account saying this is an account that has been credited with a salary, and that after a 30 day period the forex funds will be liquidated *that is – converted into Zim dollars.
Bullet 6 clearly refers to all bank accounts employer and employer that unutilised funds will be compulsory liquidated after 30 days.
Bullet point 7 is an instruction to banks to ensure compliance.
Appearing before the Felix Mhona-led Parliamentary Portifolio Committee on Budget and Finance to speak on the 2020 budget proposals, Rusere said:
“This circular that found itself on social media was an internal circular for a bank and it was commenting on approval for certain requests made by some companies, and it only referred to foreign currencies funded by export proceeds and does not relate to free funds.
This was an internal circular meant to guide on some conditions of approval, but unfortunately people chose to read one line which talked of disposal of those foreign currency assets. It does not relate to free funds.”
Mhona however said the internal memo had caused a lot of panic among nostro account-holders.
Last week, the leaked internal memo from a commercial bank revealed that the RBZ had instructed banks that Zimbabweans employed by exporting companies and who earn their salaries in foreign currency will now have their money converted into local currency, or only withdraw in forex after applying and getting approval from the central bank.
Two Zvishavane men, who had been terrorising motorists in and outside Harare, mainly targeting taxi drivers, were last week sentenced to 30 years in prison each after being convicted on three counts of robbery.
Patson Nyamande (23) and Dean Wilson Bwanawasa (24) – will, however, serve an effective 26-year jail term each after provincial magistrate Nyasha Vitorini suspended four years on condition of good behaviour.
It was the State’s case that on April 29, 2018, Prosper Isau was driving a Honda Civic along Harare’s Fourth Street (Simon Muzenda) when he offered a lift to three male adults to a destination along Samora Machel Avenue.
The court heard that upon arrival at their destination, the three grabbed Isau by the neck, produced two knives and threatened to stab him before pushing him out of the moving vehicle and disappeared from the scene.
On April 9, 2018, Nyamande and Bwanawasa pounced on Peter Muchenje (26), another taxi driver from Mabvuku.
The court heard that on the day in question, the gang approached Muchenje and hired him to take them to nearby shops.
The court heard that Muchenje drove towards the intended destination, but before reaching the place, he was instructed to stop and the pair grabbed him by the neck, produced a knife and threatened to stab him.
The pair then took control of the motor vehicle, pushed Muchenje outside and drove off with his valuables.
On May 15, 2018, the pair pounced on another taxi driver, Kumbirai Shepard Sakarombe (34). They hired him to take them to Msasa and upon arrival, one of the convicts pretended as if he wanted to relieve himself and ordered Sakarombe to park his vehicle by the side of the road. One of them then grabbed Sakarombe by the neck and pushed him out of the car after which they drove off, leaving his stranded.
They were, however, arrested by the police following a tip-off.
By A Correspondent- Over 100 pupils at the Anglican-run Cyrene High School in Plumtree were left without a roof over their heads a fortnight ago after heavy winds blew off the roofs of two hostels at the school.
The school has sent an SOS to well-wishers to help refurbish the hostels before the rains fall.
Pupils are now overcrowded in the remaining hostels.
The windstorm hit the school in the afternoon during lessons, but no casualties were recorded. Charles Bhebhe, the school head, yesterday confirmed the incident.
“It’s true we had a problem at the school when the strong winds blew off roofs of two hostels.
There were no casualties. We have since shifted the pupils into other hostels which they are now sharing with others,” he said, adding that they had since received pledges of assistance from well-wishers to refurbish the damaged hostels.
“There are companies which have pledged to help us refurbish the hostels. Help is forthcoming. We have done something and soon, the hostels would be repaired,” he said.
Cyrene Old Boys Association (Coba) chairperson Roy Tapela yesterday said they were also mobilising resources to help the school.
“Coba is doing its best to assist. I can only confirm exactly what we will do when we do it, end of this week most likely,” Tapela said.
Windstorms have perennially wreaked havoc in Plumtree, destroying a number of schools and villagers’ homesteads.
Recently, hundreds of pupils escaped death by a whisker after a whirlwind blew a roof off a classroom block at Phumuza Primary School in Bulilima.
The strong winds destroyed property worth $5 000.
Documents belonging to the Registrar of Births and Deaths, whose team was housed at the school, were also reportedly destroyed.
The team was part of the national outreach programme issuing births and national identification cards which was rolled out by the government two months ago.
By A Correspondent- Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri is leading the SADC Elections Observer Mission (SEOM) to Mozambique’s general elections set to be held on the 15th of October this year.
This was revealed by Shepherd Gwenzi, the spokesperson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He said:
The Republic of Zimbabwe, as Sadc Chair on the Organ of Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation will lead the Sadc Elections Observer Mission to the presidential, provincial and legislative elections to be held on October 15, 2019, in Mozambique.
As mandated by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs will lead the SEOM to the Republic of Mozambique from the period running from 2-22 October 2019.
A Zimbabwean team is leading the SEOM following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment to the role of chairman of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDSC).
Muchinguri-Kashiri is being deputised by Zanu-PF secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo.
By A Correspondent- Former First Lady Grace Mugabe last week reached out to her erstwhile political rival and former Vice President Joice Mujuru to apologise “profusely” for publicly humiliating the latter, leading to her sacking from the government in 2014.
The two met in Zvimba for the first time in five years, and again last week on Wednesday, according to the Daily News. The publication’s sources are quoted as saying:
When Mujuru came, Grace broke down. She wept for 30 minutes and was inconsolable. She narrated how the president had died and then apologised profusely for the way they had treated her (Mujuru) in 2014.
She (Grace) even revealed the name of the person who was used to record and film Mujuru talking negative things about the former president.
Following Grace Mugabe’s elevation to the leadership of the ZANU PF Women Assembly, she went after Mai Mujuru, castigating her in public, accusing her and her Gamatox faction of corruption and incompetence.
Mai Mujuru was eventually fired by the then President, Robert Mugabe, in 2014 and went on to form a political party, Zimbabwe People First, alongside former ZANU PF stalwarts Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo.
By A Correspondent- In a horror incident, a 10 year-old girl from Chirongoma Village, a stone throw away from Lake Mutirikwi in Chief Mugabe’s area had the agony of watching her mother tie a rope around her neck before hanging herself from a tree.
The girl who cannot be named for ethical reasons saw the whole episode of suicide by hanging.
Her grandmother Mbuya Aleta Gunyangu–Jaricha said that the juvenile who is one of the most brilliant pupils at Boroma Primary School is showing signs of unexplained fear and may suffer nervous breakdown if she does not receive the right counselling as a matter of urgency.
The juvenile’s school head, Esdon Mukuma confirmed the story and said that one of the school teachers who specialised in the area of counselling will start working on the girl next week and the case will be taken to a district specialist if the problem proves to be too big for the local teacher.
The girl talked to The Mirror and said she cried throughout as her mother went through the paces of hanging herself.
“Mama vakasvuvura gavi, vakazvisunga muhuro. Vakabva vakwira mumuti murefu vakasungira gavi riya pamuti ndokubva vazvirembedza. Vakatanga kukava-kava vakaita weti. Ini ndaingochema ndichidaidza vanhu. Vanhu vakazouya vakandiudza kuti mama vako vatofa (My mother got a fresh tree bark and tied it around her neck. She climbed up a very tall tree and tied the bark to the tree branch. She then jumped off from the branch and dangled in the air and kicked around as she tried to remove the bark from her neck. She passed urine and I was crying out for help until some villagers came and told me that my mother was dead,” said the juvenile.
Masvingo Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said she is not aware of the incident.
Mbuya Jaricha said her daughter’s death pained her so much that she feels like dying. She however, said what made the death worse is that Ellen committed suicide while her own little daughter watched.
“I really don’t understand why Ellen had to do that when her daughter was watching. When I look at my granddaughter and try to think of what she went through I almost faint.
“My granddaughter came back from the hill a while after she left with her mother. She was holding her mother’s shoes in one hand and a mobile phone in the other. We were sitting here and I asked her where her mother was and she said she hung herself and was dead.
No one said anything. For what seemed like a decade everyone remained quiet.
“Now my granddaughter is afraid even to enter the house alone, even in the afternoon. She has fear. I am really frightened that she can have a nervous breakdown because of what she saw,” said Mbuya Jaricha.
Mukuma said the juvenile is one of the best grade four pupils in the school always coming among the top three in the two classes in her grade.
“She is a very bright pupil and we fear that her mother’s death might affect her perfomance and even her life in a very negative way,” said Mbuya Jaricha.
Ellen hung herself after some differences with her mother who was not happy that she left the mother’s home to go and stay with her father’s girlfriend Edna Chiringima in Mlambo village which is just close by.
On the fateful day Ellen’s father, her mother and other relatives had a meeting over the issue and Ellen agreed to go and bring back her clothes from her father’s small house where she was staying. She is said to have cried out aloud after the meeting. She then left with her daughter in tour and only to hang herself a few kilometres from home.
Her husband Nosta Muleya who comes from Maranda in Mwenezi but is now living in South Africa last communicated in 2014 and Mbuya Jaricha has been struggling to look after her daughter and the two grandchildren.
She appealed for assistance both for counselling and fees for the children who are both very bright.
Chiyangwa book now out. The book is titled Quotes Of A Maverick. It features the businessman's best quotes and was authored by ZTN journalist Robert Mukondiwa. pic.twitter.com/H6Y1zz0tmO
Local churches under the banner Zimbabwe Head of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) are pushing for the suspension of general elections to allow the country to ‘heal past wounds, recover economically and build a new political culture of cooperation focused on nation-building.’
Addressing the press, Rev Kenneth Mtata, who is the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) said the idea of a SABBATH followed a meeting convened by leaders of the ZHOCD to consider the currently unfolding national crisis.
“In light of this, we are calling the nation to SABBATH on all political contestation for a period of seven years to allow for the rebuilding of trust and confidence, reset our politics and chart a shared way forward towards a comprehensive economic recovery path in a non-competitive political environment,” said Mtata.
“The nation could use the coming period to usher in a true Jubilee for the nation by removing all political contestation from the land and focus the period on healing past wounds, recover the economy, and build a new political culture of cooperation focused on nation-building,” added Mtata.
He added that Zimbabwe was unlikely to realize any meaningful engagement as the two main political parties are stuck in the post-election mode.
“The fact that the two main political parties remain stuck in the post-election mode and will soon embark on a new election mode means that Zimbabwe is unlikely to realize any meaningful engagement between these parties towards a shared constitutional alignment agenda,” said Mtata.
Zimbabwe is currently going through one of its worst economic crisis with prices of basic commodities going up by over 500 percent while basic commodities such as bread, fuel and many others have disappeared from local shops.
Workers have also become restless amid demands for better salaries commensurate with the inter-bank rate while government is adamant it will not increase salaries as it does not have capacity to meet their demands.
Rev Mtata said they have since met opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa who committed to discuss with his party executive while efforts to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa did not yield results as they left a note at his offices
By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has left Harare for Uganda where he is set to grace that nation’s 57th Independence Anniversary celebrations as a special guest
He was seen off at Robert Mugabe International airport by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Minister of State for National Security Owen Ncube; Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Engineer Oliver Chidawu and other senior government officials including service chiefs.
President Mnangagwa was invited By President Yoweri Museveni to attend the celebrations as a special guest.
The celebrations will be held under the theme “Consolidation of National Unity, Security, Freedom and Prosperity”.
Addressing the media last Tuesday, Ugandan Minister of Presidency, Esther Mbayo said Presidents Museveni and Mnangagwa will use the time to discuss areas of cooperation between the two countries.
THE Mid-Term Monetary Policy Statement announced by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya can be described as a well-intentioned “transition to normalcy” statement. It comes at a time Zimbabwe is grappling with an unstable macro-economic environment characterised by weak fundamentals including:
Run-away inflation reaching 175% in June 2019 up from 5% in September of 2018.Unstable exchange rate characterised by a depreciating local currency. Negative real interest even with the bank rate at a high of 50%.
Low to negative GDP growth with the IMF projecting a 3,2% contraction in 2019.An extremely high unemployment rate estimated at over 90%.
Given the above challenges, the road is not yet clear on how the economy is transitioning back to normalcy. Many of the stated objectives in previous policy reform announcements are still far from being achieved. There are, however, positives including the following:
The apparent convergence of the parallel and interbank foreign exchange rates, albeit at a slower than desired speed but showing a narrowing of parallel exchange premium.
— Some supportive policy tools being implemented such as:
— Money Supply targeting.
— Upward review of the bank rate to 70% (curtailing speculative borrowings and impacting positively on exchange rate).
— The institution of a Monetary Policy Committee.
The introduction of measures supportive of a local currency system allowing the central bank to play its regulatory role and manage money supply. In particular, the governor acknowledged the shortage of cash as one symptom of the misalignment in the economy. This disequilibrium between supply and demand has led to arbitrage opportunities, creating distortions in the pricing mechanism. The governor acknowledged that the shortage of cash leads to the exclusion of the informal sector, rural populations and senior citizens.
(Currently notes and coins in circulation amount to ZW$600 million against a target of about ZW$1,5 billion. This has resulted in cash premiums as high as 50% by arbitrageurs exploiting this gap)
There still are significant grey areas though. These pose big risks on the direction in which the economy is transitioning.The statement betrays doubt in the authorities’ scope of thinking and creates some uncertainty on whether the multi-currency system is effectively dropped.
The authorities still view the United States dollar as a currency of use internally.The following points are notable:
The statement itself is denominated in United States dollars and all data are reported in same currency. It is not clear whether this means the bank has converted figures from the Zimbabwe dollar into United States dollars for purposes of the statement and if so, the exchange rates used.
Of more concern if not alarming, is the proposed introduction of the United States dollar denominated savings bond at an interest rate of 7,5% per annum. Given the current US dollar interest rates levels, which are actually falling, the proposed interest can only be described as strange. Indeed, there are considerations such as country risk which make libor benchmarking inappropriate. The bond may likely be aimed at the diaspora cousins. However, that might open another arbitraging window (A topic for another discussion) It is not clear for which reasons the country is now being incentivised to make their savings in United States dollars. This proposal seems to signal a U-Turn on the de–dollarisation policy introduced in February 2019 for which one expects further supporting measures for local currency. This product even has a tax incentive and appears as if the authorities are in fact encouraging US denominated assets. Many questions arise including:
— How will the local currency savings bond compete in an environment of mistrust that exists.
— Given the experiences of our country regarding savings (including pensions and insurance policies) in local currency, how will the existence of a tax free United States dollar denominated product encourage preference to local currency. At the bottom of this paper, a proposition is made to adopt a twin currency strategy, albeit with the rand instead. — The hiking of the bank rate to 70% is rather a forced outcome given the inflation levels. This will further dampen an already weak lending, lower demand and production. The economy may get trapped in a tail-spin of GDP contraction.
While the statement has a positive and bullish outlook about taming inflation, it acknowledges that it may first peak at 200% before coming down as pressures still exists due to businesses indexing their pricing on the parallel exchange rate.
It also is bullish about the financial sector soundness with good liquidity ratios as well as increasing profits. Total assets are at ZW$23,5 billion as at June 2019 with loans and advances standing at ZW$6 billion.
Profits were at ZW$930 million. However, it should be a worrying note that the composition of the profits is heavily skewed towards non-interest income as opposed to the traditional business of banks i.e. interest income.
In this case interest income only contributes 15% while foreign exchange contributes 30%, fees and commissions at 21% is even higher than the core income of the banks and in total, 85% of the incomes comes from other lines. This is a depressing picture that should be a source of worry for the bank’s supervisory role.
It is not a sustainable pattern. An economy transitioning to normalcy should have these figures in reverse to reflect the core business of intermediation by the banks, promoting lending to productive sectors and boosting GDP.
Finally, and in view of the signaled doubt on the removal of a multi-currency regime, since 46% of the country’s exports are to South Africa and the same country accounts for 35% of imports, it is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner and therefore it may be worthwhile to reconsider the issue of a sovereign currency in isolation.
Instead of a dramatic change, the adoption of a more gradual approach extending into the medium term (three to five years) may be preferable. It makes economic and trading sense to twin the local currency with the Rand during this transitioning period.
Examples abound in the Sadc region where dual currencies co-exist successfully, under varying degrees of exchange controls from completely free in Zambia to managed in Mozambique. The main difference however is that these countries twin theirs with the United States dollar which is where Zimbabwe is moving away from.
Tanzanian shilling co-exists with the United States dollar. The Mozambican metical co-exists with the United States dollar.The Zambian kwacha co-exists with the dollar.
In these countries their local currencies are stable and there is not a run on the United States dollar because there is enough confidence in the sovereign currencies. Zimbabwe, in transition, needs to enter a period of confidence building in a stepped manner. The removal of the United States dollar is acceptable as it has basically caused many of the distortions being experienced. While the Zimbabwe dollar (RTGS, bond notes) may be argued to be the strongest in the region, it is also correct to say it is probably the most useless simply because there is no market acceptance of it due to a dearth of confidence. The currency needs to be introduced with some level of support. A rand adoption, for the medium term, will gradually promote confidence and acceptance of the local unit.
Ugaro is a former expatriate banker and currently works as a Corporate Advisory Services Consultant. He is a member and past vice president of the Zimbabwe Economics Society.
The FBI has named convicted murderer Samuel Little as the most prolific serial killer in US history.
Samuel Little
The 73-year-old is serving time for the murders of three women but has now confessed to a total of 93 – of which 50 killings have been conclusively linked to him by US authorities.
Although Little’s other alleged murders have yet to be confirmed, the FBI believes all of his confessions are credible, The Independent reports.
The FBI says the lifelong drifter targeted “marginalised and vulnerable women who were often involved in prostitution and addicted to drugs”.
“For many years, Samuel Little believed he would not be caught because he thought no one was accounting for his victims,” said FBI crime analyst Christie Palazzolo. “Even though he is already in prison, the FBI believes it is important to seek justice for each victim – to close every case possible.”
Little strangled his victims in a killing spree that stretched from 1970 to 2005. However, many of the murders went undetected because his victims’ deaths were ruled overdoses or attributed to “accidental or undetermined causes”, says the investigative agency’s website. Some of his victims’ bodies have never been found.
Little had been a known criminal since his teenage years, with convictions for shoplifting, fraud, drug charges, solicitation, and breaking and entering. He dropped out of high-school in Ohio before embarking on a nomadic lifestyle.
“He would shoplift and steal in a city or town to gather the money to buy alcohol and drugs, but never stayed in one place for long,” says the FBI.
In the early 1980s, he was charged with the murders of multiple women in Mississippi and Florida, but “with limited ability to analyse DNA evidence, officials were unable to prosecute him”, says the Independent.
It wasn’t until 2014 that he was convicted and sentenced to three consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole for the murders of three Los Angeles women. – theweek.co.uk
We, the leaders of the ZHOCD made up of EFZ, UDACIZA, ZCBC and ZCC, met at the Africa Synod House on the 7th of October 2019 to consider the currently unfolding national crisis in its totality and to propose what we believe is a comprehensive but sustainable solution to it.
We have prayerfully come to the conclusion that in light of the current political paralysis, deepening mistrust and the dehumanizing economic decline, the nation will need to take a bold decision to address the root causes of our national challenges that have a very long history and will not be fully resolved by one entity.
In this light, we are calling the nation to SABBATH on all political contestation for a period of seven years to allow for the rebuilding of trust and confidence, reset our politics and chart a shared way forward towards a comprehensive economic recovery path in a non-competitive political environment.
This position builds on the founding vision of the 2006 church discussion document, the Zimbabwe We Want. The position also builds on the proposal from the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations Episcopal Conference at the Large City Hall, Bulawayo of 08-09 May 2019.
1. The idea of the SABBATH is a deep theological theme in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible and in Church tradition. It is based on God’s command to his people to set aside the seventh day for a rest. Seven years were also considered as SABBATH years.
Seven seven-year sabbaths or forty-nine years constituted what was called the Jubilee season. In this Jubilee season, the land would be left fallow so that it could recover its nutrients. Debts would be forgiven. New relationships would be built and God would bless his people.
Since its independence in 1980, Zimbabwe reaches her Jubilee year in 2029. The nation could use the coming period to usher in a true Jubilee for the nation by removing all political contestation from the land and focus the period on healing past wounds, recover the economy, and build a new political culture of cooperation focused on nation-building.
2. The current deteriorating economic crisis which is characterized by systemic corruption, shortages of fuel, prices going out of control and collapse of the health sector needs to be built from the ground with everyone’s support.
As we are meeting, doctors are on strike and other workers such as teachers are threatening the same as they find it difficult to make ends meet with their current remunerations.
According to the ZimVAC figures for 2019, an estimated 7.7 million Zimbabweans are in need of food assistance due to drought. Malnutrition and the interruption of basic services such as health and education may have both immediate and long-term negative impact.
When this is combined with high levels of unemployment, stagnant salaries and the loss of buying power of salaries for those who are still employed, one can only conclude that Zimbabwe needs an urgent and holistic solution in which the grassroots, organized society and political and policy sectors should contribute to and own.
3. The current political paralysis and logjam characterized by the failure of the ruling party and the main opposition party to find a workable collaborative model is an issue of great concern.
The fact that the two main political parties remain stuck in the post-election mode and will soon embark on a new election mode means that Zimbabwe is unlikely to realize any meaningful engagement between these parties towards a shared constitutional alignment agenda.
Without a shared approach to national processes, the efforts by one are undermined by the other, while any positive contribution towards the national good by each is read only within a party-political perspective.
We foresee that, whichever political party wins an election, the paralysis will remain, if the opposing parties do not learn how to collaborate. It is the people who will continue to suffer if as a nation we fail to establish some unity in diversity.
4. Zimbabwe has not yet undergone healing from the various periods of national hurt. While we recognize the efforts of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, the failure of the nation to fully bring healing and mutually acceptable closure to the long past, immediate past and recent past means that hatred fossilizes and the propensity for revenge grows.
Casual references to ethnicity as the organizing principle for political mobilization threatens national stability in ways many may not be aware of.
5. Having looked at these issues in a holistic fashion, the Church leaders have observed that the current environment does not allow for meaningful political reforms nor is it conducive for inclusive economic participation for ordinary citizens.
Such an environment of toxic political relations also renders our international re-engagement process futile, which international isolation inhibits investor confidence and slow economic growth.
Such a polarized environment weakens respect for national institutions such as the courts, the police and the security sectors.
Once such institutions are viewed as partisan and lacking in independence, it becomes impossible to elicit cooperation among the policy and political actors to drive a national reform process in the best interests of the nation.
6. The Church leaders have also realized that since 2000, election periods have been characterized by violence and paralyzing polarization and have helped to provoke high levels of mistrust.
On one hand, the ruling party has blamed the opposition for selective recognition of electoral processes and for celebrating when results go in their favour while crying foul when results go in favour of the incumbents.
On the other hand, the opposition has continued to point to gross human rights violations and the skewed political playing field.
Different observers and independent commissions have raised the need for a broad-based and comprehensive national dialogue to find a lasting solution to these challenges and mutual accusation.
What has not been proposed is the environment conducive enough to allow for such transformative national conversation to bring hope. It is such a solution the Church is humbly proposing to the nation.
7. While all the political bickering is continuing, the basic concern for the ordinary citizen across the political divide is to get on with their personal development.
In the current context, the citizens have grown weary from struggling against the never-ending waves of electoral polarization that undermine their hard work, disrupt community building and erode progress.
The danger is that the more citizens lose confidence in democratic processes such as elections, the more apathetic they will become, and the less representative political offices will become.
We must rescue this situation by providing, not yet other piecemeal solutions. What we need is a proper break with the current paralysis and move towards real renewal and transformation.
8. It is in this light that the Church leaders are proposing a national seven-year SABBATH period for the purposes of (a) establishing an emergency recovery mechanism to address the dire national situation, especially for the most vulnerable communities, (b) rebuilding trust and confidence by healing all the hurts of the past, (c) developing a shared national reform agenda to deepen our democracy, (d) establishing a shared and inclusive national economic vision.
The SABBATH proposal entails the suspension of the constitutional provision of elections but such a deficiency will be redressed through a national referendum.
The national referendum question would seek to ascertain from all Zimbabweans whether they agree with a proposal for a seven-year suspension of all political contestation for the sake of rebuilding trust and confidence by healing to all hurts of the past, sharing and executing a shared constitutional and political national reform agenda, and establishing and implementing a shared national economic vision.
9. The Church leaders are not proposing any detailed government structure of the SABBATH season. Such an implementation structure must emerge from a process of consultation of citizens at different layers of society.
The structure will take into consideration the institutional and systemic requirements to achieve the objectives and safeguard the outcomes of the SABBATH.
Through this SABBATH call, the church leaders are soliciting for national acceptance of the seven-year SABBATH period as a season for trust and confidence building, resetting of national politics, and creating an appropriate environment for economic recovery outside party political competition.
The assumption is that once the principle receives national acceptance through a referendum, a consultative process to design the operationalization framework of the SABBATH season will be established through a broad-based and comprehensive national dialogue involving all levels of society.
10. Taking into consideration that the SABBATH call is a holistic and long-term process, but also be aware that we are currently faced with a national humanitarian and emergency situation, we as the church commit ourselves to upscale our efforts towards health, education, development and humanitarian assistance.
In the same vein, we call upon all political actors, state and non-state actors to respond to the immediate need for humanitarian assistance and social services to alleviate the suffering of Zimbabweans.
Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert…I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43: 18-19, 25)
MDC President Nelson Chamisa & President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Local churches under the banner Zimbabwe Head of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) are pushing for the suspension of general elections to allow the country to ‘heal past wounds, recover economically and build a new political culture of cooperation focused on nation-building.’
Addressing the press, Rev Kenneth Mtata, who is the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) said the idea of a SABBATH followed a meeting convened by leaders of the ZHOCD to consider the currently unfolding national crisis.
“In light of this, we are calling the nation to SABBATH on all political contestation for a period of seven years to allow for the rebuilding of trust and confidence, reset our politics and chart a shared way forward towards a comprehensive economic recovery path in a non-competitive political environment,” said Mtata.
“The nation could use the coming period to usher in a true Jubilee for the nation by removing all political contestation from the land and focus the period on healing past wounds, recover the economy, and build a new political culture of cooperation focused on nation-building,” added Mtata.
He added that Zimbabwe was unlikely to realize any meaningful engagement as the two main political parties are stuck in the post-election mode.
“The fact that the two main political parties remain stuck in the post-election mode and will soon embark on a new election mode means that Zimbabwe is unlikely to realize any meaningful engagement between these parties towards a shared constitutional alignment agenda,” said Mtata.
Zimbabwe is currently going through one of its worst economic crisis with prices of basic commodities going up by over 500 percent while basic commodities such as bread, fuel and many others have disappeared from local shops.
Workers have also become restless amid demands for better salaries commensurate with the inter-bank rate while government is adamant it will not increase salaries as it does not have capacity to meet their demands.
Rev Mtata said they have since met opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa who committed to discuss with his party executive while efforts to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa did not yield results as they left a note at his offices.
By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe needs him more than he needs them and he
will easily bounce back into private practice – but one of the country’s best surgeons, who performed Zimbabwe’s first ever successful separation of siamese twins in 2014 (by local doctors), Dr Bothwell A. Mbuwayesango, has been punished for participating in the ongoing doctors’ strike. He was suspended from his lecturing job at the at the University Of Zimbabwe by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy, Prof P Mapfumo. Below is the letter of suspension:
….
NAME : Mr Bothwell A. Mbuwayesango DEPARTMENT/SECTION: Surgery POSITION HEW: Lecturer
DATE:
Monday, 7 October 2019
NATURE OF OFFENCE: SUSPENSION FROM DUTY WITHOUT PAY AND BENEFITS.
The University has good cause to believe that you contravened the University of Zimbabwe Code of Conduct Section 16, Schedule 13, subsection 16.2 which reads. “Any act of conduct or omission inconsistent with the fulfilment of the terms and conditions of his/her contract.” and subsection 16.31 which reads:
Inciting and/or taking part in the unlawful collective job action or strike by students or staff.”
We regret to inform you that we find it necessary to suspend you from duty without pay as from today whilst your offence is being investigated. If it is subsequently decided to dismiss you this will be effective from the date we inform you of this decision.
If however, it is decided not to dismiss you and/or alternative action is taken against you, this will be communicated to you likewise and your pay will be reinstated from the date of suspension.
The University will invite you to appear before a Staff Disciplinary Committee hearing to answer to the charges.
Harare City Council plans to use ZESA Holdings’ billing system to recover about $1 billion the local authority is owed by ratepayers.
If the plan is approved, council will gradually recover the money every time indebted ratepayers purchase electricity tokens from the power utility.
The local authority also intends to introduce prepaid water meters across the city to complement the proposed ZESA deal.
Speaking on the side-lines of a Special council meeting on Monday, Harare town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango said council has devised a cocktail of measures to recover its debt.
“We are owed a lot of money and we want to devise new ways of recovering that debt. Among the possibilities is that we may engage ZESA so that when somebody pays for electricity there is a certain percentage that goes towards our debt.
“You know how ZESA has done it before to recover what they are owed,” he said.
Eng Chisango said if the city fails to reach an agreement with ZESA, it will seek to recover its debt through its own prepaid meter system.
There were abnormally long queues at the Registrar General’s offices in Harare today as thousands, if not tens of thousands, of desperate Zimbabweans, turned up hoping to secure the now priceless document.
Most of these people were ultimately unsuccessful and had to endure a long thankless day at the offices. It turns out that most people went to the passport offices after being wrongly informed that their passports would be guaranteed if they topped up $250 before the 15th of October.
Explaining his ordeal, one unfortunate applicant said,
Passport Office update …..For some reason, maybe to generate extra revenue, the passport office announced something to the effect that if you top up zw $250 before the 15th October, you can get your emergency passport processed in 3 days, and today there must have been 20,000 people pushing their way down darkened corridors looking for the elusive cardboard box outside of the toilets, that we were meant to drop our application letters into for processing. It is absolute bedlam and I am not exaggerating. I am not ashamed to admit I failed, having spent the morning there I finally succumbed and came home having achieved nothing except preserving a semblance of my sanity. Not for the faint-hearted.
Another applicant added,
l was there, l was told to come back 8 October with an explanation letter why l need to top up, to my surprise l got there and tjo seemed the whole country was there only to have my letter thrown in a box that had millions of letters there and to come back on the 15th. l was really heartbroken and really wanted to cry today.
The Zimbabwean passport has become priceless as the government is reported to be battling to clear a backlog of over 350 000 passports while only producing less than 800 passports per day.
National Patriotic Front Spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire has claimed that Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube clashed with Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Panonetsa Mangudya in front of President Emmerson Mnangagwa over what policy direction to take to solve the country’s challenges.
Said Mawarire, “When Mthuli and Mangudya openly challenge each other and fight over the monetary policy direction in front of Mnangagwa and PAC members then you know the centre can no longer hold.”Mawarire had earlier on alleged that the Presidential Advisory Council were attacked by Mnangagwa who called them alarmists.
“After meeting PAC on 30 Sept 2019, Mnangagwa accused PAC members of being alarmists after the group gave him an appraisal of the dire economic conditions.” Mawarire added. “PAC members were shocked by his reaction and are convinced he doesn’t appreciate hardships faced by people or he doesn’t care.”
CONTROVERSIAL politician and former Minister of State for Masvingo provincial affairs Mr Kudakwashe Bhasikiti says he has decided to quit politics and focus on agriculture at his Moriah Farm in Mwenezi East.
Bhasikiti was expelled from the ZANU-PF in 2015 during the late former President Robert Mugabe’s leadership following allegations of fanning factionalism in the party.
He then joined the National People’s Party (NPP), attempted in vain to re-join ZANU PF and eventually defected to Nelson Chamisa’s MDC, among other political bed-hopping antics.
In an interview yesterday, the politician said he was quitting active party politics and venturing into full-scale farming activities at his Moriah Farm in Mwenezi.
“People do not eat active party politics. My previous involvement in party politics was based on a desire to participate in policy-making and contribute to economic growth,” said Mr Bhasikiti.
“I have therefore decided to abandon party politics and focus on developmental projects. As you know, l am already into a thriving business of growing mango, sugarcane and citrus fruit trees on my farm.
“Let it be known that l am different from other “myopic politicians” who engage in unnecessary political “dogfights”, while the nation goes hungry”.
Prior to the latest development, Mr Bhasikiti held several senior posts in both ZANU PF and government over the years.
The party, however expelled him following glaring proof that he had linked up with the Joice Mujuru camp, which was threatening to unseat the then President Mugabe.
Meanwhile, drama unfolded in 2015 as ZANU PF Politburo members toured Moriah Farm after Bhasikiti was falsely accused of cutting down the citrus plantation on the farm, out of disgruntlement over his expulsion from the party.
Mr Bhasikiti recently said some jealous politicians in Masvingo province were after his investments instead of participating in meaningful development.
“They lie to people about me. Instead of developing communities, they engage in unnecessary mudslinging,” said Mr Bhasikiti.
KING Lion Motorways (Private) Limited has been slapped with a $800 000 lawsuit by a survivor of 2017 bus disaster which claimed 43 lives on June 7 2017.
Aaron Muroyi was left disabled by the accident which occurred at the 257km peg near Nyamakate shops along the Harare-Chirundu Highway.
Muroyi was also robbed of his US$10 000 at the accident scene while he was still unconscious.
According to court papers, he was on his way to buy goods in Zambia for resale back home.
Following the accident, he is now unable to fend for his family and has lifetime injuries which will see him seeking medical assistance in future.
“The plaintiff as a result of the accident has 11 percent degree of disability and is at risk of spondylosis (damaged spine) and will require medical attention in future,” read the summons he filed against King Lion through his attorneys, Mugiya and Macharaga.
“The medical doctors who attended to plaintiff concluded that he will need a shoe raise for the rest of his life since his right leg is now shorter than the left leg with 2.55cm.
“Prior to the accident, plaintiff was in the business of buying and selling clothes from Zambia and when the accident occurred he was actually on his way to import goods for resale in Zimbabwe and was in possession of US$10 000 which was stolen at the accident scene as plaintiff was unconscious,” further reads the summons.
Muroyi prays that King Lion pays him $350 000 being damages for pain and suffering, $350 000 being damages for disfigurement and $70 000 being future shoe raise expenses.
He also want $30 000 being future medical expenses bringing the total to $800 000.
Recounting the horror crush Muroyi said he was one of the passengers who boarded a Scania Iriza bus registration ABQ 2875 owned by King Lion on the day in question.
The bus was being driven by Jimson Ruzvidzo who was employed by the first defendant.
He said Ruzvidzo was speeding and passengers had complained and warned him against that.
Muroyi said the driver was stubborn and ignored passengers’ concerns.
He said the driver then failed to negotiate a curve resulting in the bus veering off the road before hitting a big tree at around 10pm. The driver died on spot together with 42 passengers.
Muroyi sustained a broken thigh and arm. According to court papers he also sustained head injuries.
Nicoz Diamond Insurance Limited was also cited as a respondent in its capacity as the registered insurer of King Lion at the time of the accident.
State Media|The death toll in the Kwekwe bus accident involving a Gokwe-bound cross-border bus, Mandeep, which collided head-on with a Govasberg bus near Kwekwe River on Sunday morning, has risen to 12 after two more people died in hospital.
This comes as the police have so far released the names of four people who died in the accident after their next of kin had been informed.
Police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the four victims were Gideon Magwaza (40) of Vuravhi village under Chief Madhlangove in Chivi, Shareck Muyinisi Chirombe of Chirekwa village under Chief Nyashanu in Buhera, Tafadzwa Shambare of Epworth in Harare and Richard Muchenje (40), whose address was not given.
Kwekwe District Hospital officials announced the death of the two additional people during a visit to the hospital by the Kwekwe District Civil Protection Unit team yesterday to check on the state of 43 injured passengers that were admitted there.
The district CPU’s chairman Mr Fortune Mpungu said one of the two latest victims died upon admission to Kwekwe District Hospital on Sunday, while another victim died at Gweru Provincial Hospital where she had been transferred.
“It was a sad experience and as we mourn with those who lost their loved ones, our prayers are also with those in hospital and we wish them a quick recovery,” he said.
“We visited the hospital as Kwekwe District CPU and we learnt with sadness that two more people had died.
“One died upon admission to Kwekwe District Hospital on Sunday and the other victim died this morning (yesterday) at Gweru Provincial Hospital where she had been transferred.”
Mr Mpungu said the families of the accident victims will get State assistance.
He said they were still contacting families of the deceased.
“The families of the 12 victims will get $1 000 each and at the moment we are still making contacts with the families so that they can access money from the State assistance funeral fund,” said Mr Mpungu.
Kwekwe District hospital authorities said 33 people were still admitted after eight were treated and discharged.
WARRIORS coach Joey Antipas says it is unfortunate that they are not in action during the international break which begins tomorrow saying it could have helped him assess new players.
Antipas made it clear that he wants to try new players especially those playing in foreign leagues.
The international break runs from October 9 until October 16 and it seems Zifa, as usual, failed to organise any friendly for the boys.
While Warriors manager Wellington Mpandare said efforts were made, he admits it was not clear if they will get a team to play given the arrangements needed for players to travel for national duty.
Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said he is able to comment on the matter today.
This means Zimbabwe will watch their first opponents in the Afcon 2021 qualifiers – Botswana – in action against Egypt in an international friendly next Monday.
Warriors, who are in Group H together with Algeria, Zambia and Botswana, begin the campaign next month
They host Botswana on November 11 before travelling to Zambia on November 19.
“It’s unfortunate that we are not playing a friendly match on this International break,” said Antipas.
Antipas has called for Zifa to process documents for some of the players based in Europe while eligible to play for Zimbabwe.
He has expressed his wish to try Macauley Bonne while players like Kundai Benyu (Helsingborgs IF), Andy Rinomhota (Reading) and Tristan Nydam (Ipswich) could have been called for assessment.
Some of the players also doing well in foreign leagues include Victor Kamhuka who plays for Bhowanipure in the Indian Calcutta Premier Division.
“International break is where we are supposed to play our games so that we can build and assess all the players,” said Antipas.
He, however, said Zifa has the mandate of organizing the games and determines whether they play or not.
“Unfortunately the board has a say on this and they are the ones who decide whether we are playing or not and it’s not up to me to comment the reason why we are not playing.
“I understand that our next assignment is Botswana and they have a game against Egypt and we will just observe the match and study their play,” said Antipas.
Former Zanu-PF spin doctor and Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has lashed out at national war veterans chairman Chris Mutsvangwa describing him as functionally illiterate.
Prof Moyo was responding to a news report by the Sunday Mail where Mutsvangwa attacked Moyo of creating a fake Twitter account on his behalf.
This was after a screen shot of a twitter exchange between Prof Moyo and a Mutsvangwa parody account was widely circulated on social media with the two exchanging “jaw breakers.”
Mutsvangwa in the news report accused Prof Moyo of desperation after their attempts to use the death of former President Robert Moyo to score political points failed to yield intended results.
However, Moyo shot back saying he knew that it wasn’t Mutsvangwa’s account anyways.
“Come on guys. Has the heat you are getting become so hot that you cannot even take a joke? Everyone knows it’s a fake account because Chris Mutsvangwa is functionally illiterate to be on @Twitter. Just chill guys. Let’s have fun once in a while. Remember laughter is therapeutic,” said Prof Moyo.
Thrdre is no love lost between Mutsvangwa and Prof Moyo as the two fought from opposite ends in the succession battles between G40 fronted by Grace Mugabe and Lacoste led by now President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Farai Dziva|Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola still believes his team can catch Liverpool in the title race despite increasing pressure after losing 2-0 to Wolves on Sunday.
The Citizens who are in the second place dropped to eight points behind the Reds who maintained their perfect start to the campaign on Saturday when James Milner’s last-minute penalty handed them a victory against Leicester.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola admitted Liverpool’s lead is big but has backed his team to bounce back.
“I know these guys,” he said. “They are still incredibly involved and they can still do it.
“The distance is big, I know that. For many circumstances, they [Liverpool] didn’t drop points. It is better not to think one team is eight points ahead. It is only October. There are still a lot of games.”
Liverpool’s eight-point gap is the biggest lead any side has had after eight games in the Premier League era – the previous biggest was Chelsea in 2014, who went on to win the title.
ASTON VILLA have reacted with outrage, with the club saying they are ‘‘disgusted and appalled’’ by footage showing some of their fans racially abusing Marvelous Nakamba on Saturday.
The ugly chants, by a small section of the Villa fans, have once again thrown racism in football under the spotlight just a few weeks after FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, vowed to eliminate the cancer from the game.
It also marred Villa’s five-star show in which Nakamba was outstanding at Carrow Road where they crushed injury-hit Norwich City 5-1, under the gaze of royalty with their number one fan, Prince William, and his family.
Six-year-old Prince George, third in line as heir to the throne in British monarchy, even wore a Villa T-shirt.
This was the first time the Birmingham side had scored five goals in an English Premiership match away from home since a 6-0 win at Derby County in April 2008.
Villa also became the first promoted side to score five goals, away from home, in the Premiership since Bolton Wanderers at Leicester in August 2001 while Norwich suffered their biggest home defeat in the top-flight since April 2012 when they slumped to a 1-6 loss against Manchester City.
It was also Villa’s first away win in the Premiership in 1 519 days.
The racist Villa fans chanted Nakamba’s father was a ‘‘rasta,’’ and the player’s Scottish midfield teammate John McGinn was his ‘‘master,’’ while also mocking the Zimbabwean’s manhood.
The footage was widely shown on social media and led to Villa reacting strongly yesterday.
‘‘Aston Villa is disgusted and appalled by footage circulating on social media of supporters chanting a racist song which makes reference to two of our first team players (Nakamba and McGinn),’’ the club said in a statement.
‘‘The club wholly condemns the chant and urges other supporters to help us identify those responsible.
‘‘Chants of this nature besmirch the good name of Aston Villa Football Club and our fans. If the perpetrators are identified, they will be dealt with in the strongest manner by the club and be reported to the police immediately.
‘‘Our security staff will be vigilant at forthcoming games to ensure that anybody attempting repetition of this chant will be dealt with severely.
‘‘We know we can rely on the assistance of the majority of our fans to eradicate this toxic behaviour immediately. If anyone has any information please contact the club on 0121 327 2299.’’
The Aston Villa Supporters’ Trust on Sunday also released a statement in which they condemned the fans for their chants.
“AVST is disappointed to hear about the chanting directed towards Marvelous Nakamba. It’s a cheap and insulting stereotype that has no place in this day and age,’’ the statement read.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s wife Sithokozile has accused WCoz of neglecting its members.
She said the coalition remained mum when its members were openly tormented by suspected government agents.
See Sithokozile’s statement :
Dear Madam,
It is with utmost shock that I learnt of your statement dated 4 October 2019 requesting a national apology and respect for women from Advocate Nelson Chamisa over an incident that happened at Rufaro stadium on 28 September 2019.
As the person who is purportedly directly affected by the actions of the said Advocate Chamisa, I find the action by your institution inconsistent for a number of reasons outlined below:
I am a fully paid up member of WCoZ. Surely, if you purport to act on behalf of women and allege as stated in your statement that I was heckled, then ought you not to have sought my side of the story. Alternatively, as you conclude that I am a victim of abuse, would not your first port of call have been to offer support to enable me to come out of the abusive circumstances.
I would allege further that in the publication of your statement you have even further abused and traumatised me by making me an object of public ridicule and pity as an “abused wife.”
You seem more worried about a national apology than the welfare of a woman victim who according to you continues to live with an “abuser.” I am further shocked that you have picked this one incident to act on my behalf when there have been other incidents of abuse targeted at me where the WCoZ has chosen to remain silent.
I have been subject of abuse on social media that included body shaming. I expected on those occasions for WCoZ to have responded with sisterly love and demanded respect for women but no support was forthcoming.
Earlier this year, The Herald carried a story with a scathing attack on me alleging that I had purportedly used my official position in one organisation to support a partisan agenda, a story that attacked my integrity as a professional woman.
The story was published by the Herald on 13 February 2019 entitled “Chamisa’s Breakfast Prayer Meeting: The Untold Truth.” Again as WCoZ member you would have known that to be false and I expected that would have come to my defence. I have also followed other incidents on abuse of women where I personally thought they were of such serious magnitude that WCOZ should have acted but you did not act.
A case in point is the abduction of popular comedian Samantha Kureya where the women’s voice was notably absent. The Herald for instance has on various occasions carried stories that have attacked women using very abusive language . A case in point is the attack on Hon Joanna Mamombe made on 29 June 2019 in an article “The Saturday Column: The day cyclone Mthuli came to town.” Again no response was heard from WCoZ.
Other WCoZ members Rita Nyamupinga and Sithabile Dewa are facing trumped up treason charges. . Again WcoZ was conspicuously silent. It is light of the above that your purported sympathy in the press statement you, made on 4 October then exposes your hypocrisy in the whole matter.
If as you say you represent the rights of women, your exploits in this regard must be consistent, holistic and informed. Otherwise they come across as partisan and lacking in all sincerity.
I felt compelled to register my displeasure personally by writing to you directly before I make any public statement on the matter so that we can engage constructively as a member of the movement who has served in it in various capacities.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s wife Sithokozile has dismissed claims that he was heckled by her husband during the party’s anniversary celebrations at Rufaro Stadium.
See Sithokozile’s response to WCOZ’s claims :
Dear Madam,
It is with utmost shock that I learnt of your statement dated 4 October 2019 requesting a national apology and respect for women from Advocate Nelson Chamisa over an incident that happened at Rufaro stadium on 28 September 2019.
As the person who is purportedly directly affected by the actions of the said Advocate Chamisa, I find the action by your institution inconsistent for a number of reasons outlined below:
I am a fully paid up member of WCoZ. Surely, if you purport to act on behalf of women and allege as stated in your statement that I was heckled, then ought you not to have sought my side of the story. Alternatively, as you conclude that I am a victim of abuse, would not your first port of call have been to offer support to enable me to come out of the abusive circumstances.
I would allege further that in the publication of your statement you have even further abused and traumatised me by making me an object of public ridicule and pity as an “abused wife.”
You seem more worried about a national apology than the welfare of a woman victim who according to you continues to live with an “abuser.” I am further shocked that you have picked this one incident to act on my behalf when there have been other incidents of abuse targeted at me where the WCoZ has chosen to remain silent.
I have been subject of abuse on social media that included body shaming. I expected on those occasions for WCoZ to have responded with sisterly love and demanded respect for women but no support was forthcoming.
Earlier this year, The Herald carried a story with a scathing attack on me alleging that I had purportedly used my official position in one organisation to support a partisan agenda, a story that attacked my integrity as a professional woman.
The story was published by the Herald on 13 February 2019 entitled “Chamisa’s Breakfast Prayer Meeting: The Untold Truth.” Again as WCoZ member you would have known that to be false and I expected that would have come to my defence. I have also followed other incidents on abuse of women where I personally thought they were of such serious magnitude that WCOZ should have acted but you did not act.
A case in point is the abduction of popular comedian Samantha Kureya where the women’s voice was notably absent. The Herald for instance has on various occasions carried stories that have attacked women using very abusive language . A case in point is the attack on Hon Joanna Mamombe made on 29 June 2019 in an article “The Saturday Column: The day cyclone Mthuli came to town.” Again no response was heard from WCoZ.
Other WCoZ members Rita Nyamupinga and Sithabile Dewa are facing trumped up treason charges. . Again WcoZ was conspicuously silent. It is light of the above that your purported sympathy in the press statement you, made on 4 October then exposes your hypocrisy in the whole matter.
If as you say you represent the rights of women, your exploits in this regard must be consistent, holistic and informed. Otherwise they come across as partisan and lacking in all sincerity.
I felt compelled to register my displeasure personally by writing to you directly before I make any public statement on the matter so that we can engage constructively as a member of the movement who has served in it in various capacities.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s wife Sithokozile has accused WCoz of neglecting its members.
See Sithokozile’s statement :
Dear Madam,
It is with utmost shock that I learnt of your statement dated 4 October 2019 requesting a national apology and respect for women from Advocate Nelson Chamisa over an incident that happened at Rufaro stadium on 28 September 2019.
As the person who is purportedly directly affected by the actions of the said Advocate Chamisa, I find the action by your institution inconsistent for a number of reasons outlined below:
I am a fully paid up member of WCoZ. Surely, if you purport to act on behalf of women and allege as stated in your statement that I was heckled, then ought you not to have sought my side of the story. Alternatively, as you conclude that I am a victim of abuse, would not your first port of call have been to offer support to enable me to come out of the abusive circumstances.
I would allege further that in the publication of your statement you have even further abused and traumatised me by making me an object of public ridicule and pity as an “abused wife.”
You seem more worried about a national apology than the welfare of a woman victim who according to you continues to live with an “abuser.” I am further shocked that you have picked this one incident to act on my behalf when there have been other incidents of abuse targeted at me where the WCoZ has chosen to remain silent.
I have been subject of abuse on social media that included body shaming. I expected on those occasions for WCoZ to have responded with sisterly love and demanded respect for women but no support was forthcoming.
Earlier this year, The Herald carried a story with a scathing attack on me alleging that I had purportedly used my official position in one organisation to support a partisan agenda, a story that attacked my integrity as a professional woman.
The story was published by the Herald on 13 February 2019 entitled “Chamisa’s Breakfast Prayer Meeting: The Untold Truth.” Again as WCoZ member you would have known that to be false and I expected that would have come to my defence. I have also followed other incidents on abuse of women where I personally thought they were of such serious magnitude that WCOZ should have acted but you did not act.
A case in point is the abduction of popular comedian Samantha Kureya where the women’s voice was notably absent. The Herald for instance has on various occasions carried stories that have attacked women using very abusive language . A case in point is the attack on Hon Joanna Mamombe made on 29 June 2019 in an article “The Saturday Column: The day cyclone Mthuli came to town.” Again no response was heard from WCoZ.
Other WCoZ members Rita Nyamupinga and Sithabile Dewa are facing trumped up treason charges. . Again WcoZ was conspicuously silent. It is light of the above that your purported sympathy in the press statement you, made on 4 October then exposes your hypocrisy in the whole matter.
If as you say you represent the rights of women, your exploits in this regard must be consistent, holistic and informed. Otherwise they come across as partisan and lacking in all sincerity.
I felt compelled to register my displeasure personally by writing to you directly before I make any public statement on the matter so that we can engage constructively as a member of the movement who has served in it in various capacities.
Farai Dziva|Former Dynamos and How Mine striker Victor Kamhuka has joined an Indian Premier Soccer League side.
The 29-year-old defender plays for Bhowanipure FC in the Indian league and he opened up on life there football wise, in an interview with Soccer24 from his base in India.
“Life in Indian football is good. It’s improving very fast due to the fact that more quality foreigners are coming but the main challenge is the weather because it’s hot. I’m-playing week in week out I thank God for that.”
“It’s every player’s dream to play for the national team and given a chance I would love to. I have played for my national team from under 17,20 and 23s and given a chance I would want to represent my country at senior level,” Kamhuka said.
The National Chairperson Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe 13 Bates Road Milton Park Harare
Dear Madam,
It is with utmost shock that I learnt of your statement dated 4 October 2019 requesting a national apology and respect for women from Advocate Nelson Chamisa over an incident that happened at Rufaro stadium on 28 September 2019.
As the person who is purportedly directly affected by the actions of the said Advocate Chamisa, I find the action by your institution inconsistent for a number of reasons outlined below:
I am a fully paid up member of WCoZ. Surely, if you purport to act on behalf of women and allege as stated in your statement that I was heckled, then ought you not to have sought my side of the story. Alternatively, as you conclude that I am a victim of abuse, would not your first port of call have been to offer support to enable me to come out of the abusive circumstances.
I would allege further that in the publication of your statement you have even further abused and traumatised me by making me an object of public ridicule and pity as an “abused wife.”
You seem more worried about a national apology than the welfare of a woman victim who according to you continues to live with an “abuser.” I am further shocked that you have picked this one incident to act on my behalf when there have been other incidents of abuse targeted at me where the WCoZ has chosen to remain silent.
I have been subject of abuse on social media that included body shaming. I expected on those occasions for WCoZ to have responded with sisterly love and demanded respect for women but no support was forthcoming.
Earlier this year, The Herald carried a story with a scathing attack on me alleging that I had purportedly used my official position in one organisation to support a partisan agenda, a story that attacked my integrity as a professional woman.
The story was published by the Herald on 13 February 2019 entitled “Chamisa’s Breakfast Prayer Meeting: The Untold Truth.” Again as WCoZ member you would have known that to be false and I expected that would have come to my defence. I have also followed other incidents on abuse of women where I personally thought they were of such serious magnitude that WCOZ should have acted but you did not act.
A case in point is the abduction of popular comedian Samantha Kureya where the women’s voice was notably absent. The Herald for instance has on various occasions carried stories that have attacked women using very abusive language . A case in point is the attack on Hon Joanna Mamombe made on 29 June 2019 in an article “The Saturday Column: The day cyclone Mthuli came to town.” Again no response was heard from WCoZ.
Other WCoZ members Rita Nyamupinga and Sithabile Dewa are facing trumped up treason charges. . Again WcoZ was conspicuously silent. It is light of the above that your purported sympathy in the press statement you, made on 4 October then exposes your hypocrisy in the whole matter.
If as you say you represent the rights of women, your exploits in this regard must be consistent, holistic and informed. Otherwise they come across as partisan and lacking in all sincerity.
I felt compelled to register my displeasure personally by writing to you directly before I make any public statement on the matter so that we can engage constructively as a member of the movement who has served in it in various capacities.
Farai Dziva|Warriors coach Joey Antipas has named the provisional squad for the CHAN qualifier against Lesotho on the 20th of October.
The encounter will be played in Maseru and it’s a return fixture of the final round qualifiers. Zimbabwe carry a 3-1 lead from the first leg played in Harare last month.
Striker Evans Katema has been include in the squad despite carrying an injury he suffered on the eve of the first leg. Joel Ngodzo who was dropped from the previous selection due to passport issues has also been called.
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa is likely to face impeachment, BBC has reported.
The Parliament of Zimbabwe is pushing for genuine dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa to save the country from the economic crisis, But ED stands with his POLAD .
Such ignorance from Emmerson Mnangagwa will lead to impeachment process, where the chances of surviving it are slim, according to BBC.
Speaking to BBC Zimbabwe, A Zanu PF MP said, genuine dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa would save Zimbabwe.
Commenting on impeachment, the MP refused to predict, saying,it was difficult to know what will happen if the situation reaches that stage.
Farai Dziva|The MDC believes the high incidence of accidents is a result of the country’s poor roads.
Below is the party’s full statement :
The nation at large and the Kwekwe community in particular yet again witnessed a horrific and fatal road traffic accident in the morning of Sunday 6 October 2019.
The accident which authorities have so far confirmed to have resulted in more than 10 fatalities with hospital authorities fearing more deaths could be recorded due to the ongoing challenges in the medical fraternity where there are no doctors, no medication and staff morale is at its lowest because of the government’s failure to address genuine grievances raised by medical staff.
The accident was as a result of a head-on collision which occurred along the Harare- Bulawayo at the 267km peg towards Bulawayo, some 20km outside Kwekwe. The carnage is one of the many road traffic accidents in the public transport sector that have claimed so many lives in recent times.
The MDC continues to bemoan the narrow state of our highways which increases the risk of head- on and side-swipe accidents. The MDC remains worried at the continuous misuse of government funding in other non essential areas like foreign trips by the executive yet such funds could help speed up the dualisation of our highways.
The unaccountability of public funds by ZINARA remains the main reason behind the government’s failure to provide for safe highways that preserve life and property. As part of our SMART transport policy, MDC parliamentarians have moved for the adoption of the Road Traffic Accident Victims Compensation Fund, which fund is supposed to genuinely assist all victims of road traffic accidents.
It is sad that while Parliamentarians across the political divide have agreed to this motion, the government, despite twice committing to implement the same, continues to be lethargic while lives are being lost without any compensation being dispensed. The fund is supposed to be supported from a percentage of road licence fees as well as a percentage from Road Insurance without passing the cost to road users. Debate can ensue on the funding model but the principle as agreed to in Parliament is that victims of all road accidents must get compensation including taking care of the welfare of the bereaved, especially children.
The MDC pays its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. We wish all those injured in this latest tragedy a speedy recovery.
Hon Settlement Chikwinya
Secretary for Transport and Logistics
Movement For Democratic Change
The nation at large and the Kwekwe community in particular yet again witnessed a horrific and fatal road traffic accident in the morning of Sunday 6 October 2019.
The accident which authorities have so far confirmed to have resulted in more than 10 fatalities with hospital authorities fearing more deaths could be recorded due to the ongoing challenges in the medical fraternity where there are no doctors, no medication and staff morale is at its lowest because of the government’s failure to address genuine grievances raised by medical staff.
The accident was as a result of a head-on collision which occurred along the Harare- Bulawayo at the 267km peg towards Bulawayo, some 20km outside Kwekwe. The carnage is one of the many road traffic accidents in the public transport sector that have claimed so many lives in recent times.
The MDC continues to bemoan the narrow state of our highways which increases the risk of head- on and side-swipe accidents. The MDC remains worried at the continuous misuse of government funding in other non essential areas like foreign trips by the executive yet such funds could help speed up the dualisation of our highways.
The unaccountability of public funds by ZINARA remains the main reason behind the government’s failure to provide for safe highways that preserve life and property. As part of our SMART transport policy, MDC parliamentarians have moved for the adoption of the Road Traffic Accident Victims Compensation Fund, which fund is supposed to genuinely assist all victims of road traffic accidents.
It is sad that while Parliamentarians across the political divide have agreed to this motion, the government, despite twice committing to implement the same, continues to be lethargic while lives are being lost without any compensation being dispensed. The fund is supposed to be supported from a percentage of road licence fees as well as a percentage from Road Insurance without passing the cost to road users. Debate can ensue on the funding model but the principle as agreed to in Parliament is that victims of all road accidents must get compensation including taking care of the welfare of the bereaved, especially children.
The MDC pays its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. We wish all those injured in this latest tragedy a speedy recovery.
Hon Settlement Chikwinya
Secretary for Transport and Logistics
Movement For Democratic Change
Farai Dziva|MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa, who is also a pastor, has prophesied about the nation’s economic recovery.
“WE THE PEOPLE…Beyond this doom, the rise of Zimbabwe shall be a surprise to all and the breaking news to the whole world.
The changes will be dramatic and transformation supersonic. New minerals shall be discovered. Economists will not be able to explain the boom,” said Chamisa.
Chamisa is minister of the Gospel in the Apostolic Faith Mission Church.
“I know what we about to go through. The problem with many of us is we don’t understand that the answer and solution to any question or problem is always revealed to the chosen.
Action without strategy is futile. Strategy without action is fatal. Fortunately, we have both,” Chamisa told Bulawayo 24.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa, who is also a pastor, has prophesied that the nation’s recovery shall be dramatic.
“WE THE PEOPLE…Beyond this doom, the rise of Zimbabwe shall be a surprise to all and the breaking news to the whole world.
The changes will be dramatic and transformation supersonic. New minerals shall be discovered. Economists will not be able to explain the boom,” said Chamisa.
Chamisa is minister of the Gospel in the Apostolic Faith Mission Church.
“I know what we about to go through. The problem with many of us is we don’t understand that the answer and solution to any question or problem is always revealed to the chosen.
Action without strategy is futile. Strategy without action is fatal. Fortunately, we have both,” Chamisa told Bulawayo 24.
In a horrible incident, a 10 year-old girl from Chirongoma Village, a stone throw away from Lake Mutirikwi in Chief Mugabe’s area had the agony of watching her mother tie a rope around her neck before hanging herself from a tree.
The girl who cannot be named for ethical reasons saw the whole episode of suicide by hanging.
Her grandmother Mbuya Aleta Gunyangu–Jaricha said that the juvenile who is one of the most brilliant pupils at Boroma Primary School is showing signs of unexplained fear and may suffer nervous breakdown if she does not receive the right counselling as a matter of urgency.
The juvenile’s school head, Esdon Mukuma confirmed the story and said that one of the school teachers who specialised in the area of counselling will start working on the girl next week and the case will be taken to a district specialist if the problem proves to be too big for the local teacher.
The girl talked to The Mirror and said she cried throughout as her mother went through the paces of hanging herself.
Vakatanga kukava-kava vakaita weti. Ini ndaingochema ndichidaidza vanhu. Vanhu vakazouya vakandiudza kuti mama vako vatofa (My mother got a fresh tree bark and tied it around her neck. She climbed up a very tall tree and tied the bark to the tree branch. She then jumped off from the branch and dangled in the air and kicked around as she tried to remove the bark from her neck. She passed urine and I was crying out for help until some villagers came and told me that my mother was dead,” said the juvenile.
Masvingo Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said she is not aware of the incident.
Mbuya Jaricha said her daughter’s death pained her so much that she feels like dying.
She however, said what made the death worse is that Ellen committed suicide while her own little daughter watched.
“I really don’t understand why Ellen had to do that when her daughter was watching. When I look at my granddaughter and try to think of what she went through I almost faint.
“My granddaughter came back from the hill a while after she left with her mother. She was holding her mother’s shoes in one hand and a mobile phone in the other. We were sitting here and I asked her where her mother was and she said she hung herself and was dead.
No one said anything. For what seemed like a decade everyone remained quiet.
“Now my granddaughter is afraid even to enter the house alone, even in the afternoon. She has fear. I am really frightened that she can have a nervous breakdown because of what she saw,” said Mbuya Jaricha.
Mukuma said the juvenile is one of the best grade four pupils in the school always coming among the top three in the two classes in her grade.
“She is a very bright pupil and we fear that her mother’s death might affect her perfomance and even her life in a very negative way,” said Mbuya Jaricha.
Ellen hung herself after some differences with her mother who was not happy that she left the mother’s home to go and stay with her father’s girlfriend Edna Chiringima in Mlambo village which is just close by.
On the fateful day Ellen’s father, her mother and other relatives had a meeting over the issue and Ellen agreed to go and bring back her clothes from her father’s small house where she was staying. She is said to have cried out aloud after the meeting. She then left with her daughter in tour and only to hang herself a few kilometres from home.
Her husband Nosta Muleya who comes from Maranda in Mwenezi but is now living in South Africa last communicated in 2014 and Mbuya Jaricha has been struggling to look after her daughter and the two grandchildren.
She appealed for assistance both for counselling and fees for the children who are both very bright.
–The Mirror
In a horrific incident, a 10 year-old girl from Chirongoma Village, a stone throw away from Lake Mutirikwi in Chief Mugabe’s area had the agony of watching her mother tie a rope around her neck before hanging herself from a tree.
The girl who cannot be named for ethical reasons saw the whole episode of suicide by hanging.
Her grandmother Mbuya Aleta Gunyangu–Jaricha said that the juvenile who is one of the most brilliant pupils at Boroma Primary School is showing signs of unexplained fear and may suffer nervous breakdown if she does not receive the right counselling as a matter of urgency.
The juvenile’s school head, Esdon Mukuma confirmed the story and said that one of the school teachers who specialised in the area of counselling will start working on the girl next week and the case will be taken to a district specialist if the problem proves to be too big for the local teacher.
The girl talked to The Mirror and said she cried throughout as her mother went through the paces of hanging herself.
Vakatanga kukava-kava vakaita weti. Ini ndaingochema ndichidaidza vanhu. Vanhu vakazouya vakandiudza kuti mama vako vatofa (My mother got a fresh tree bark and tied it around her neck. She climbed up a very tall tree and tied the bark to the tree branch. She then jumped off from the branch and dangled in the air and kicked around as she tried to remove the bark from her neck. She passed urine and I was crying out for help until some villagers came and told me that my mother was dead,” said the juvenile.
Masvingo Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said she is not aware of the incident.
Mbuya Jaricha said her daughter’s death pained her so much that she feels like dying.
She however, said what made the death worse is that Ellen committed suicide while her own little daughter watched.
“I really don’t understand why Ellen had to do that when her daughter was watching. When I look at my granddaughter and try to think of what she went through I almost faint.
“My granddaughter came back from the hill a while after she left with her mother. She was holding her mother’s shoes in one hand and a mobile phone in the other. We were sitting here and I asked her where her mother was and she said she hung herself and was dead.
No one said anything. For what seemed like a decade everyone remained quiet.
“Now my granddaughter is afraid even to enter the house alone, even in the afternoon. She has fear. I am really frightened that she can have a nervous breakdown because of what she saw,” said Mbuya Jaricha.
Mukuma said the juvenile is one of the best grade four pupils in the school always coming among the top three in the two classes in her grade.
“She is a very bright pupil and we fear that her mother’s death might affect her perfomance and even her life in a very negative way,” said Mbuya Jaricha.
Ellen hung herself after some differences with her mother who was not happy that she left the mother’s home to go and stay with her father’s girlfriend Edna Chiringima in Mlambo village which is just close by.
On the fateful day Ellen’s father, her mother and other relatives had a meeting over the issue and Ellen agreed to go and bring back her clothes from her father’s small house where she was staying. She is said to have cried out aloud after the meeting. She then left with her daughter in tour and only to hang herself a few kilometres from home.
Her husband Nosta Muleya who comes from Maranda in Mwenezi but is now living in South Africa last communicated in 2014 and Mbuya Jaricha has been struggling to look after her daughter and the two grandchildren.
She appealed for assistance both for counselling and fees for the children who are both very bright.
–The Mirror
The National Chairperson Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe 13 Bates Road Milton Park Harare
Dear Madam,
It is with utmost shock that I learnt of your statement dated 4 October 2019 requesting a national apology and respect for women from Advocate Nelson Chamisa over an incident that happened at Rufaro stadium on 28 September 2019.
As the person who is purportedly directly affected by the actions of the said Advocate Chamisa, I find the action by your institution inconsistent for a number of reasons outlined below:
I am a fully paid up member of WCoZ. Surely, if you purport to act on behalf of women and allege as stated in your statement that I was heckled, then ought you not to have sought my side of the story. Alternatively, as you conclude that I am a victim of abuse, would not your first port of call have been to offer support to enable me to come out of the abusive circumstances.
I would allege further that in the publication of your statement you have even further abused and traumatised me by making me an object of public ridicule and pity as an “abused wife.”
You seem more worried about a national apology than the welfare of a woman victim who according to you continues to live with an “abuser.” I am further shocked that you have picked this one incident to act on my behalf when there have been other incidents of abuse targeted at me where the WCoZ has chosen to remain silent.
I have been subject of abuse on social media that included body shaming. I expected on those occasions for WCoZ to have responded with sisterly love and demanded respect for women but no support was forthcoming.
Earlier this year, The Herald carried a story with a scathing attack on me alleging that I had purportedly used my official position in one organisation to support a partisan agenda, a story that attacked my integrity as a professional woman.
The story was published by the Herald on 13 February 2019 entitled “Chamisa’s Breakfast Prayer Meeting: The Untold Truth.” Again as WCoZ member you would have known that to be false and I expected that would have come to my defence. I have also followed other incidents on abuse of women where I personally thought they were of such serious magnitude that WCOZ should have acted but you did not act.
A case in point is the abduction of popular comedian Samantha Kureya where the women’s voice was notably absent. The Herald for instance has on various occasions carried stories that have attacked women using very abusive language . A case in point is the attack on Hon Joanna Mamombe made on 29 June 2019 in an article “The Saturday Column: The day cyclone Mthuli came to town.” Again no response was heard from WCoZ.
Other WCoZ members Rita Nyamupinga and Sithabile Dewa are facing trumped up treason charges. . Again WcoZ was conspicuously silent. It is light of the above that your purported sympathy in the press statement you, made on 4 October then exposes your hypocrisy in the whole matter.
If as you say you represent the rights of women, your exploits in this regard must be consistent, holistic and informed. Otherwise they come across as partisan and lacking in all sincerity.
I felt compelled to register my displeasure personally by writing to you directly before I make any public statement on the matter so that we can engage constructively as a member of the movement who has served in it in various capacities.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean television personality and actress Vimbai Mutinhiri is off the market after announcing her engagement to her long-time boyfriend Nigerian Andrew ‘Dru’ Ekpenyong.
The 32-year-old Vimbai told her followers on her social media platforms about the engagement calling it ‘‘MyAfricanFairytale’’. Posting a pic with her beau, the former Big Brother Africa star said: “God’s time is the best time. ???? x ????”.
In the next post Vimbai showed off an engagement ring.
Friends, fans and media personalities from across Africa such as Nigerian actress Rita Dominic, singer Yemi Alade, South African actresses Tembi Seete and Terry Pheto, congratulated her.
Some asked why this relationship had been under the radar and not many people knew about it. Vimbai responded: “It was important to enjoy it and pray for it in our privacy first.”
Vimbai represented Zimbabwe in the Big Brother Africa reality TV show in 2011. After Big Brother, she was chosen as the new presenter for ‘‘Star Gist’’, on Africa Magic Entertainment.
Vimbai moved to Nigeria after Dstv moved ‘‘Star Gist’’ to the West African country. There she met the 33-year-old Andrew “Dru” who runs a family hotel in Nigeria’s tourist town of Calabar. He is the youngest son of Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong, a powerful tribal leader from Cross River State.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Life Project (ZLP) on Monday donated equipment and surgical consumables to several Zimbabwean hospitals.
Speaking to the media after meeting members of ZLP who were being led by the chief executive officer Lucia Vambe, Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Stuart Comberbach, said:
“As you know there is a diaspora directorate being set up in this Ministry now and right from the beginning of the new dispensation, President Mnangagwa has made it a real priority for our embassies and government to reach out to the diaspora wherever they are to encourage them to use their talent, skills and expertise to assist Zimbabwe as we rebuild our economy.
ZLP is a diaspora philanthropic group of 26 health professionals based in the United Kingdom. The group is in Zimbabwe on a two-week tour to share knowledge and experience with mental health staff in the country.
By A Correspondent- Captains of industry and commerce yesterday asked Treasury to scrap or lower the controversial 2% intermediated money transfer tax (IMTT) imposed last year by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, saying it was an unsustainable additional cost to their already struggling companies.
The call came as various bodies representing industry and commerce appeared before the Felix Mhona-chaired Budget and Finance Portfolio Committee as part of the 2020 budget consultations.
The industrialists also urged government to stop funding the Command Agriculture programme because it was fuelling broad money supply and driving the economy into hyperinflation.
The US$2,8 billion that government used to support Command Agriculture has since been deemed as unauthorised expenditure after it was allocated without Parliament approval.
Ncube is yet to come before Parliament for condonation.
Command Agriculture has all along been supported by government through issuance of Treasury Bills (TBs), which is basically printing of money that government does not have.
Between 2017 and 2018, around US$2,8 billion was issued to Sakunda Holdings, owned by Kudakwashe Tagwirei to spearhead the Command Agriculture programme.
“The impact of the Command Agriculture programme has been to crowd out activities in the market, and we think that the Presidential Input Scheme should be the one funded through the budget,” Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive officer Christopher Mugaga said.
“Command Agriculture should be a specialised activity funded by banks. It is non-performing loans and at the end government incurred an expenditure and so Command Agriculture must not be on the budget figures,” Mugaga said.
Turning to the 2% tax, Mugaga said it has been a serious expenditure and so Command Agriculture must not be on the budget figures,” Mugaga said.
Turning to the 2% tax, Mugaga said it has been a serious cost to business.
“Running a budget surplus on the 2% transaction tax has always been high for us as business and we need to engage Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) and the Finance ministry so that they either remove it or reduce it to 1% because of its cost to business. If I send money to my mother today, it is taxed and it is too much. The 2% (tax) is a major cost to business and you cannot celebrate a budget surplus driven by this when business is being lost through it and there is no cost benefit to it,” Mugaga said.
ZNCC president Tamuka Macheka weighed in, saying the major problem in Zimbabwe was that the policy environment was very unfriendly.
“The policy environment is so unfriendly that the 2020 budget submissions will not be efficient as long as the policies are unfriendly and inconsistent,” he said.
Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe president Webster Rusere said there was need to give time for implementation of newly-announced policies. For example, he said, when the 2% tax was announced, bankers were not given time to factor in system changes to implement it, which then led to confusion.
But Zimra Commissioner-General Faith Mazani told the committee that her organisation was in favour of the 2% tax.
“Last year, the ministry introduced the 2% transaction tax and I know that it is tax that has received negative publicity. But I want to explain that the major setback on revenue is that tax compliance is very low. There was a big fiscal deficit and so the 2% tax covered that gap, while we are building up capacity and encouraging companies to pay taxes,” Mazani said.
Commenting on talk currently doing the rounds that a new currency might be printed, Rusere said: “Now people are asking when a new currency is coming, but it was announced that we are using the Zimbabwean dollar already and so what is the new currency.
Whether we print new notes with a different face and coins and say it is the new currency – what we need to be clear about to the people is that when we talk about a new currency, we need to stabilise the Zimbabwean dollar by coming up with good monetary policies.”
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries’ Henry Ruzvidzo said while the 2% tax was meant to include previous non-taxpayers, it was severely affecting industries in that it is double taxation. He said if the tax was beneficial, then its gains must be seen through infrastructural growth.
“We appreciate that tax bands were recently reviewed to $700, but we believe the level is not sufficient enough to encourage spending. We are finding challenges of movement of our products and propose that the tax bands need to be reviewed upwards,” Ruzvidzo said.
The High Court recently rules that the 2% tax was illegal, but the court verdict morphed into an academic exercise as government has now enacted enabling legislation to support it.
Chamber of Mines chief executive officer Isaac Kwesi also painted a gloomy picture in the mining sector, saying the macro-economic challenges facing the nation had not spared the sector, especially electricity and water challenges, resulting in a decline in mining output from 10% to 45% in August compared to the same period last year.
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches also gave oral evidence on the economic challenges that the ordinary people were experiencing as a result of the economic meltdown.
By A Correspondent- Many people in Zimbabwe are not able to acquire identity documents such as birth certificates, national IDs, and passports.
A 50-year-old Mutare woman, Jessica Makwela, whose parents were from Mozambique, told ZBC News that she and her 9 children and 13 grandchildren have no identity documents.
She said:
I don’t have national identity documents as my parents who are of Mozambican origin died when I was young and I don’t have any other relative in Zimbabwe to help me acquire identity documents.
I have 9 children and 13 grandchildren who also have no identity documents, and are deprived of benefits such as access to education and even the right to vote.
Access to identity documents is considered a human rights issue. However, the cost of acquiring the documents in prohibitive for many people.
By A Correspondent- Two Zvishavane men, who had been terrorising motorists in and outside Harare, mainly targeting taxi drivers, were last week sentenced to 30 years in prison each after being convicted on three counts of robbery.
Patson Nyamande (23) and Dean Wilson Bwanawasa (24) – will, however, serve an effective 26-year jail term each after provincial magistrate Nyasha Vitorini suspended four years on condition of good behaviour.
It was the State’s case that on April 29, 2018, Prosper Isau was driving a Honda Civic along Harare’s Fourth Street (Simon Muzenda) when he offered a lift to three male adults to a destination along Samora Machel Avenue.
The court heard that upon arrival at their destination, the three grabbed Isau by the neck, produced two knives and threatened to stab him before pushing him out of the moving vehicle and disappeared from the scene.
On April 9, 2018, Nyamande and Bwanawasa pounced on Peter Muchenje (26), another taxi driver from Mabvuku.
The court heard that on the day in question, the gang approached Muchenje and hired him to take them to nearby shops.
The court heard that Muchenje drove towards the intended destination, but before reaching the place, he was instructed to stop and the pair grabbed him by the neck, produced a knife and threatened to stab him.
The pair then took control of the motor vehicle, pushed Muchenje outside and drove off with his valuables.
On May 15, 2018, the pair pounced on another taxi driver, Kumbirai Shepard Sakarombe (34). They hired him to take them to Msasa and upon arrival, one of the convicts pretended as if he wanted to relieve himself and ordered Sakarombe to park his vehicle by the side of the road. One of them then grabbed Sakarombe by the neck and pushed him out of the car after which they drove off, leaving his stranded.
They were, however, arrested by the police following a tip-off.
By A Correspondent- Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri is leading the SADC Elections Observer Mission (SEOM) to Mozambique’s general elections set to be held on the 15th of October this year.
This was revealed by Shepherd Gwenzi, the spokesperson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
He said:
The Republic of Zimbabwe, as Sadc Chair on the Organ of Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation will lead the Sadc Elections Observer Mission to the presidential, provincial and legislative elections to be held on October 15, 2019, in Mozambique.
As mandated by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs will lead the SEOM to the Republic of Mozambique from the period running from 2-22 October 2019.
A Zimbabwean team is leading the SEOM following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment to the role of chairman of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDSC).
Muchinguri-Kashiri is being deputised by Zanu-PF secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo.
BY SIMBA CHIKANZA| THE RESERVE BANK OF ZIMBABWE (RBZ) SAYS WE ARE ONLY CONTROLLING COMPANIES’ FOREX ACCOUNTS, NOT PEOPLE’S – ARE THEY TELLING THE TRUTH? HERE IS THE EVIDENCE.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
The below is a simple extrapolation (using simple day to day English) from the leaked RBZ memo which was debated in the parliamentary portfolio committee responsible, yesterday (see copies here).
Who is the account holder referred to in bullet point number 3, the company or the employee? This holder’s account has already been raided by the Central Bank.
The accounts talked about in bullet point 4 are those of employees not employers.
Bullet 5 clearly refers to employees bank account saying this is an account that has been credited with a salary, and that after a 30 day period the forex funds will be liquidated *that is – converted into Zim dollars.
Bullet 6 clearly refers to all bank accounts employer and employer that unutilised funds will be compulsory liquidated after 30 days.
Bullet point 7 is an instruction to banks to ensure compliance.
By A Correspondent- The Labour Court is on Tuesday, 8 October 2019, expected rule on the legality of the ongoing strike by doctors at the country’s public health institutions.
In a statement on Monday, Health and Child Care Minister, Obadiah Moyo revealed that the government is eagerly waiting for the court’s verdict.
He said:
Further to the statement issued by Ministry of Health and Child Care on Saturday, October 5, 2019, regarding the ongoing withdrawal of labour by some doctors, Government today (yesterday) the 7th of October 2019 has made an assessment of the situation at public health institutions and noted that some doctors did not take heed of the appeal and still chose to stay away from their work stations.
Government is, therefore, allowing the due legal process to continue with the Labor Court scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 at 14:30 hours wherein the Labor Court will determine the legality of the mass job action.
Doctors have been on strike since the 3rd of September this year, citing poor salaries which have rendered them incapacitated.
The government offered the doctors a 60 per cent salary increase which was rejected out of hand, with doctors demanding their salaries to be quoted in US dollars and paid the equivalent local currency at the prevailing interbank rate.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has urged motorists to exercise extreme caution and lookout for children when driving following an accident that occurred in Ruwa in which a motorist knocked down a five year old who was trying to cross the Harare-Mutare highway.
The girl later died upon admission at a nearby hospital, the police have announced.
On 6/10/19 at about 1020hrs, a 5 year old girl was knocked down by a car while trying to cross the Harare – Mutare road near Ruwa. She later died on admission at a local clinic. We urge drivers to be cautious and lookout for children when driving.
— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) October 8, 2019
Former First Lady Grace Mugabe last week reached out to her erstwhile political rival and former Vice President Joice Mujuru to apologise “profusely” for publicly humiliating the latter, leading to her sacking from the government in 2014.
The two met in Zvimba for the first time in five years, and again last week on Wednesday, according to the Daily News. The publication’s sources are quoted as saying:
When Mujuru came, Grace broke down. She wept for 30 minutes and was inconsolable. She narrated how the president had died and then apologised profusely for the way they had treated her (Mujuru) in 2014.
She (Grace) even revealed the name of the person who was used to record and film Mujuru talking negative things about the former president.
Following Grace Mugabe’s elevation to the leadership of the ZANU PF Women Assembly, she went after Mai Mujuru, castigating her in public, accusing her and her Gamatox faction of corruption and incompetence.
Mai Mujuru was eventually fired by the then President, Robert Mugabe, in 2014 and went on to form a political party, Zimbabwe People First, alongside former ZANU PF stalwarts Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo.
By A Correspondent- Wellington Chindara, the director and actor in Sabhuku Vharazipi, one of the most famous plays of recent times has been nabbed by Police for alleged theft.
Chindara (46), was arrested on Monday evening when he was allegedly caught red-handed trying to steal an empty 200litre plastic drum at the Salvation Army Church in Masvingo.
Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula confirmed the story and told The Mirror that investigations are underway.
Sources told The Mirror that Chindara who stays along Josiah Gondo Street in Mucheke was arrested at the Salvation Army Church at around 3am when he entered the premises, emptied the drum that was filled with water and then attempted to carry it away.
Chindara was allegedly spotted by Tagwirei Mazulu (42), a pastor at the church and he threw the drum away and left.
A report was made to the Police leading to Chindara’s arrest.
By A Correspondent- Former First Lady Grace Mugabe last week reached out to her erstwhile political rival and former Vice President Joice Mujuru to apologise “profusely” for publicly humiliating the latter, leading to her sacking from the government in 2014.
The two met in Zvimba for the first time in five years, and again last week on Wednesday, according to the Daily News. The publication’s sources are quoted as saying:
When Mujuru came, Grace broke down. She wept for 30 minutes and was inconsolable. She narrated how the president had died and then apologised profusely for the way they had treated her (Mujuru) in 2014.
She (Grace) even revealed the name of the person who was used to record and film Mujuru talking negative things about the former president.
Following Grace Mugabe’s elevation to the leadership of the ZANU PF Women Assembly, she went after Mai Mujuru, castigating her in public, accusing her and her Gamatox faction of corruption and incompetence.
Mai Mujuru was eventually fired by the then President, Robert Mugabe, in 2014 and went on to form a political party, Zimbabwe People First, alongside former ZANU PF stalwarts Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo.
By A Correspondent- In a horror incident, a 10 year-old girl from Chirongoma Village, a stone throw away from Lake Mutirikwi in Chief Mugabe’s area had the agony of watching her mother tie a rope around her neck before hanging herself from a tree.
The girl who cannot be named for ethical reasons saw the whole episode of suicide by hanging.
Her grandmother Mbuya Aleta Gunyangu–Jaricha said that the juvenile who is one of the most brilliant pupils at Boroma Primary School is showing signs of unexplained fear and may suffer nervous breakdown if she does not receive the right counselling as a matter of urgency.
The juvenile’s school head, Esdon Mukuma confirmed the story and said that one of the school teachers who specialised in the area of counselling will start working on the girl next week and the case will be taken to a district specialist if the problem proves to be too big for the local teacher.
The girl talked to The Mirror and said she cried throughout as her mother went through the paces of hanging herself.
“Mama vakasvuvura gavi, vakazvisunga muhuro. Vakabva vakwira mumuti murefu vakasungira gavi riya pamuti ndokubva vazvirembedza. Vakatanga kukava-kava vakaita weti. Ini ndaingochema ndichidaidza vanhu. Vanhu vakazouya vakandiudza kuti mama vako vatofa (My mother got a fresh tree bark and tied it around her neck. She climbed up a very tall tree and tied the bark to the tree branch. She then jumped off from the branch and dangled in the air and kicked around as she tried to remove the bark from her neck. She passed urine and I was crying out for help until some villagers came and told me that my mother was dead,” said the juvenile.
Masvingo Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said she is not aware of the incident.
Mbuya Jaricha said her daughter’s death pained her so much that she feels like dying. She however, said what made the death worse is that Ellen committed suicide while her own little daughter watched.
“I really don’t understand why Ellen had to do that when her daughter was watching. When I look at my granddaughter and try to think of what she went through I almost faint.
“My granddaughter came back from the hill a while after she left with her mother. She was holding her mother’s shoes in one hand and a mobile phone in the other. We were sitting here and I asked her where her mother was and she said she hung herself and was dead.
No one said anything. For what seemed like a decade everyone remained quiet.
“Now my granddaughter is afraid even to enter the house alone, even in the afternoon. She has fear. I am really frightened that she can have a nervous breakdown because of what she saw,” said Mbuya Jaricha.
Mukuma said the juvenile is one of the best grade four pupils in the school always coming among the top three in the two classes in her grade.
“She is a very bright pupil and we fear that her mother’s death might affect her perfomance and even her life in a very negative way,” said Mbuya Jaricha.
Ellen hung herself after some differences with her mother who was not happy that she left the mother’s home to go and stay with her father’s girlfriend Edna Chiringima in Mlambo village which is just close by.
On the fateful day Ellen’s father, her mother and other relatives had a meeting over the issue and Ellen agreed to go and bring back her clothes from her father’s small house where she was staying. She is said to have cried out aloud after the meeting. She then left with her daughter in tour and only to hang herself a few kilometres from home.
Her husband Nosta Muleya who comes from Maranda in Mwenezi but is now living in South Africa last communicated in 2014 and Mbuya Jaricha has been struggling to look after her daughter and the two grandchildren.
She appealed for assistance both for counselling and fees for the children who are both very bright.
A Mash Central man is in court today, Tuesday for uttering words to the effect that the ZNAU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed.
Mr Saymore Mashorokoto (pictured) is on trial on charges of disorderly conduct.
Mr Saymore Mashorokoto with lawyer
He allegedly told a fellow resident that President Mnangagwa had dismally failed to revive Zim’s political and economic fortunes. The Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights are representing him.
